Philippines Morning News For March 8

Welcome to the Philippines morning news roundup by AEC News Today, your one stop for Philippines news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities.

Environment chief asks Duterte to halt second review of mines
THE COUNTRY’S Environment chief has asked President Rodrigo R. Duterte to halt a second review of 28 mines that she ordered closed or suspended, challenging its legality despite initially supporting it.
— BusinessWorld

China commits $3.4B for Philippine infra projects
China has committed to finance at least three infrastructure projects in the Philippines worth $3.4 billion, two of which could be rolled out in the first half of this year, trade officials from both countries said on Tuesday.
— ABS-CBN

Phl, China reconvene joint trade panel
The Philippines and China reconvened yesterday their Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation (JCETC) after a five-year hiatus brought about by the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, with the two nations forging various agreements that seek to strengthen and deepen their economic and trade relations.
— Philippine Star

Duterte goes slow on smoking ban
The forthcoming executive order on a smoking ban is expected to be patterned after a similar measure in Davao City, where President Duterte had served as long time mayor, Malacañang said yesterday.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte orders arrest of Mighty Corp. owner
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said he has ordered the arrest of Alex Wong Chu King, owner of local cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corp., for the alleged use of fake cigarette tax stamps.
— Manila Times

Abad liable over DAP – Ombudsman
The Office of the Ombudsman has found basis to file a complaint against former Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad for violation of Article 239 (Usurpation of Legislative Powers) of the Revised Penal Code in connection with the implementation of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
— Manila Times

The Philippines’ Alarming Death Penalty U-Turn
The Philippine House of Representatives voted today to reinstate the death penalty for serious drug-related offenses in yet another blow to the country’s deteriorating human rights situation.
— Human Rights Watch

Philippines Angered by Fictional President Portrayed on ‘Madame Secretary’
Relations between the U.S. and the Philippines have deteriorated sharply since controversial new president Rodrigo Duterte took office.
— NBC News

Mindanao Power Corp., Railways bills hurdle House committees
BILLS CALLING for the establishment of Mindanao Power Corp. (Minpocor) and Mindanao Railways Corp. were approved recently by the House committee on government enterprises and privatization in its joint hearings with the committees on energy and on transportation.
— BusinessWorld

Japan going bananas for Philippine food exports as trade chiefs eye record business at FoodEx show
The 17-strong delegation of Philippine food firms showcased at FoodEx Japan this week is targetting record total sales topping US$28m from the four-day event – with banana-based products booming in the Far East.
— FoodNavigator-Asia.com

PLDT sees earnings recovery this year
PLDT Inc. expects 2017 to be a better year as it implements initiatives to increase revenue particularly from the fixed line business.
— Philippine Star

Plunder, graft trials for Napoles, ex-Rep. Valdez over pork scam raps to begin in May
The Sandiganbayan has finally set the trial dates for the plunder and graft charges against businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and former APEC party-list Rep. Edgar Valdez over the alleged pork barrel scam.
— GMA News Online

Feature photo: Asian Development Bank

The Philippines morning news roundup is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.