Philippines Morning News For December 7

Duterte to order mass arrest of communists
His officials said the terrorist classification of any group requires court approval, but President Duterte is already preparing for a roundup of communist peace consultants.
— Philstar

No WHO approval issued before Dengvaxia vaccination
THE Department of Health (DOH) in early 2016 went ahead with its mass dengue immunization program without any advisory from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the effects of the Dengvaxia vaccine, the WHO said Tuesday.
— Malaya

Huge poultry factory opens in the Philippines
The biggest poultry plant in the Philippines, based in Santo Tomas, has just been opened via a joint venture between Cargill and Jollibee Foods.
— Global Meat News

Philippines a dangerous country for green activists
Environmental activists are being killed in record numbers around the world, with the corruption-plagued Philippines one of the most dangerous countries, according to watchdog Global Witness.
— The Straits Times (paywall)

Government has spent P3 B for Dengvaxia
Since the Department of Health (DOH) has spent P3 billion of P3.5 billion for its controversial anti-dengue vaccination program, it now seeks to negotiate with French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur for still unused doses of Dengvaxia vaccine.
— Philstar

Dengue vaccine deal a scam, says ex-usec
FORMER Department of Health undersecretary Susan Pineda-Mercado yesterday branded a “scam” the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia deal executed under the previous administration of President Benigno Aquino III and former Health secretary Janette Garin.
— Manila Standard

Business group seeks passage of emergency powers bill
Foreign businessmen are clamoring for the passage of a bill giving the President of the country emergency powers to address transportation traffic and congestion.
— Malaya

Duterte: Give me another year vs drugs
A day after he brought the police back to his brutal war on illegal drugs, President Duterte yesterday said he needed one more year to end the narcotics problem, a mission that he described as a “sacred thing.”
— Philstar

Infra spend jumps 12%
The national government’s expenditures for infrastructure and other capital outlays jumped by 11.8 percent as of end-October versus the previous year’s level, data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed.
— Malaya

DTI: Coal tax to affect resurgence of local manufacturing sector
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urged policy-makers to reconsider the proposed hike in excise tax on coal, as its impact on electricity cost may temper the manufacturing sector’s growth.
— BusinessMirror

Philippine military under fire over aid blockade
Troops are blocking aid to almost 2,000 indigenous people who fled their homes amid intensifying military operations against communist rebels in Mindanao last week, according to church officials in the southern Philippines.
— Ucanews

DOF wants China-PH ‘significant’ trade disparity checked
The Department of Finance (DOF) ordered the Bureau of Customs to meet with its counterpart in Beijing to discuss the significant gap between China’s registered export volumes to the Philippines.
— Manila Bulletin

Chinese oil company eyes PH refining plant
Handi Group, one of the largest and advanced private specialty oil producers in China, expressed interest to invest in petroleum refining and a petrochemical manufacturing facility in the Philippines.
— Manila Standard

Philippines and Czech Republic consider moving embassies to Jerusalem after Trump announcement, report
Leaders of the Philippines and the Czech Republic have reportedly expressed interest in moving their embassies to Jerusalem, after US President Donald Trump announced he would be relocating his country’s embassy.
— The National

India-Philippines Coast Guard Exercise Spotlights Maritime Cooperation
This week, the Indian and Philippine coast guards carried out a bilateral maritime exercise. Though the interaction did not receive widespread media coverage, it was nonetheless significant within the context of the ongoing defense cooperation between the two sides, which extends into the maritime domain.
— The Diplomat

Manny Pacquiao: Boxer becomes a colonel in the Philippines army
Manny Pacquiao has lived a varied life outside of the ring and now the former eight-weight world champion has announced he has been promoted to the role of colonel in the Philippines Army.
— BBC

Government tightens screws on terror financing
The government has approved rules for tighter regulation of terrorist financing.
— Philstar

PH, Cambodia ink pacts on culture, defense
Cambodian and Philippine governments on Wednesday signed agreements on defense and preservation of culture and arts during their 2nd Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) held in Manila.
— Update Philippines

JFC wants Duterte to get special powers vs traffic
Businessmen belonging to the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) asked Congress to enact a measure mandating the grant of emergency powers to President Duterte to solve the traffic crisis.
— BusinessMirror

PH global hotspot for environmental murders
Environmental activists are being killed in record numbers around the world, with the Philippines one of the most dangerous countries, according to watchdog Global Witness.
— The Manila Times

Eight tribal leaders shot dead by Philippine troops
Religious leaders and human rights workers condemned the killing of eight tribal members during a military offensive on Dec. 3 against communist rebels on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.
— Ucanews

Duterte orders ‘mass arrest’ of NDF consultants out on bail
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he will order the “mass arrest” of National Democratic Front (NDF) consultants, who were released temporarily, following the collapse of the peace talks with the communist rebels.
— Philippine News Agency

PNP vows to take measures to ensure less bloody war vs illegal drugs
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to take all the precautionary measures to ensure a less bloody war on drugs following the order putting back the police on the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
— Manila Bulletin

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 7 added by Leakhena Khat on December 7, 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.