Philippines Morning News For December 6

‘997 children got sick after vaccination’
Nearly a thousand children in public schools had fallen ill over a five-month period after receiving their first dose of the controversial dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, The STAR learned yesterday.
— Philstar

ADB hikes funding for infra in PH
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has increased available funding for the Philippines’ infrastructure-related investments from 34 percent of actual lending approvals covering the 2011 to 2016 period, to 48 percent over the next three years in recognition of the government’s resolve to bridge the country’s massive infrastructure gap.
— Malaya

Duterte declares NPA terrorist organization
President Duterte yesterday signed a proclamation classifying the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) as terrorist groups following the cancellation of peace talks.
— Philstar

WHO denies recommending Dengvaxia for nat’l immunization programs
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said it never recommended to countries the use Dengvaxia in their national immunization programs.
— CNN Philippines

Proponent seeks guarantee for $25M ocean tidal power plant
Power generation firm, H&WB Asia Pacific Corp. which is currently co-developing a $25 – million ocean tidal power plant, has urged the government to approve the creation of a single state-run guarantee agency.
— Malaya

‘PH debt to grow by 11% next year’
Total debt for the Philippines is expected to expand by 11 percent next year, S&P Global Ratings said, the second-fastest among Asia Pacific economies.
— The Manila Times

Manila, Washington hold exploratory talks on FTA
Manila and Washington are now exploring a potential free-trade agreement (FTA) to deepen the economic relationship between the two countries, as discussed by President Duterte and US President Donald J. Trump in their meeting last month.
— BusinessMirror

Duterte ‘the destroyer’ invents a new class of cronies
President Rodrigo Duterte swore to craft an independent foreign policy after decades of governance heavily influenced by the United States.
— Ucanews

Revolutionary government
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte aka Digong has vowed to quit the presidency if an amended Constitution could be crafted that would be “inclusive”, “improve everything” and approved by the people in a referendum.
— Malaya

FDA suspends sale, marketing of Dengvaxia
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the sale, distribution, and marketing of the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia to protect the general public.
— Manila Bulletin

Philippines’ Duterte Reactivates Police in ‘Drug War’
The government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has resumed police anti-drug operations in response to what it describes as a “clamor from the public.”
— Human Right Watch

Gov’t picks up pace for Clark airport dev’t
Government is moving fast on the development of Clark International Airport, announcing plans to already bid out before the end of the year the operation and maintenance (O&M) contract of the airport.
— Malaya

PH getting 5 new French-made vessels starting June 2018
The Philippines will be getting four 24-meter fast patrol boats (FPV 72 MKII) in June 2018 and one 82- meter offshore patrol vessel (OPV 270 MKII) in August 2019 from French shipbuilder OCEA, this was confirmed by OCEA officials to the inspection team of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
— Update Philippines

Duterte’s martial-law edict legal, SC rules with finality
THE Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday stood pat on its ruling issued in July affirming the legality of President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in the entire Mindanao region.
— BusinessMirror

WHO never endorsed Aquino’s dengue vaccination program
CONTRARY to the claims of former Health Secretary Janette Garin, the mass vaccination program ordered by former President Aquino was neither approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) nor did it comply with its guidelines.
— The Manila Times

Vaccine Safety Concerns Shut Down Immunization Campaign In Philippines
The world’s only vaccine against dengue has hit a roadblock, and this complication is causing some countries to restrict use of the vaccine.
— NPR

Class suit over dengue vaccine possible — Duque
Amid fears brought by dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III yesterday raised the possibility that private individuals may file a class suit against those responsible for the program.
— Philstar

Senate tax reform version is pro-taxpayer
Deliberations on the first package of the Duterte administration’s tax reform bill – dubbed the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Bill – are on the final stretch, with representatives of the two houses of Congress locked in bicameral conference committee meetings to hammer out a final version for the President’s signature before Christmas.
— The Manila Times

High oil, power prices to accelerate inflation
Filipinos could pay more for consumer goods next year due to the increase in the price of crude oil, local economists and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said on Tuesday.
— BusinessMirror

Mindanao eyed as third PH shipbuilding hub
In addition for Subic and Cebu, Mindanao is being eyed as third shipbuilding location in the Philippines. This was revealed by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary for industry development and trade policy Rafaelita M. Aldaba.
— Update Philippines

Spanish firm, DMCI, First Balfour to build Cebu-Cordova toll bride
Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) has awarded Cebu Link Joint Venture (CLJV) to design and build the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX). The Notice of Award was issued to CLJV on November 23, 2017 at an agreed contract amount of PHP 22.6 billion.
— Update Philippines

Feature photo Brian Evans

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Philippines morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Philippines news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Philippines Morning News For December 6 added by Leakhena Khat on December 6, 2017
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.