Philippines Morning News For November 6

Factory output growth likely up 4.1% in Sept
PHILIPPINE manufacturing output likely grew by 4.1 percent in September, accelerating slightly from August’s 2.8 percent, Moody’s Analytics said in an estimate ahead of the release of official data this week.
— The Manila Times

Pinoy Mass Comms Graduate Wins Prestigious Asean Youth Video Comp (video)
A 21-year-old Bachelor of Arts graduate of Ateneo de Davao University, the Philippines, Murphy P Caballero, has taken first place and $1,000 in prize money in the 3rd Annual Asean Youth Video Contest for a video titled Asean in the eyes of the youth.
— AEC News Today (video)

PH bishops lead thousands in call to end killings
Catholic bishops on Sunday led thousands of worshippers in calling for an end to killings in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war as they urged police and troops to stop the violence.
— ABS-CBN

Islamic State’s grip widening in southern Philippines, says MILF leader
From the air, Mindanao island in the southern Philippines is a stunning mass of lush greenery surrounded by sparkling blue waters, an unexpected stunning sight.
— Channel NewsAsia

PH still seeking free trade with US
The Philippines remains keen on pursuing a free trade agreement with the United States believing this would make for a stronger and sustainable economic partnership with the world’s largest economy.
— Malaya

PH telecoms not only the lousiest, but also the most expensive
TELECOM services in our country are not only the lousiest in Southeast Asia, but also the most expensive. This is according to the latest data from the authoritative International Telecommunications Union, a United Nations specialized agency.
— The Manila Times

Unesco chief calls for justice for slain journalists
Injustice against journalists is costly for society, a senior United Nations top official has said.
— Philstar

Upswing in global demand boosts PH manufacturing sector
Manufacturing output likely expanded by a faster 4.1 percent year-on-year in September on the back of recovery in global demand, the research arm of Moody’s Corp. said.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ayala group to start exporting motorcycles to China, Thailand
THE AYALA group will start exporting its locally produced KTM motorcycles to Thailand by year-end, and to China by February 2018.
— BusinessWorld

Gov’t won’t jam cell phone signals during Asean summit
Unlike previous events when authorities used jammers to cut off telecommunication signals, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy said the government would not request telecommunications companies to suspend their operations at the venues of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
— Philstar

Cement manufacturers post lower Jan-Sept profits
Cement manufacturers reported lower profits for the first nine months of the year, hitting P2.3 billion, a 56.92 percent drop from P5.43 billion the prior year, for Holcim Philippines Inc.
— Malaya

Poll sees Oct. inflation at three-year high
INFLATION could have picked up in October amid rising fuel, utility, and food prices to possibly hit a three-year high, according to a BusinessWorld poll of analysts, who said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will likely keep borrowing rates steady as estimates remain within target.
— BusinessWorld

DOJ starts ‘pork’ probe of Drilon, Trillanes
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has started its reinvestigation into the multibillion-peso Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam.
— Philstar

Philippines urges tighter Asean border control
THE head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines urged members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to fortify their border security to curb transnational crime and prevent the entry of terrorists.
— The Manila Times

Customs bureau wrestles with multifaceted issues
IN line with President Duterte’s plan to rid the Bureau of Customs (BOC) of its corrupt image, the bureau and the Department of Finance have implemented a number of measures to help cut red tape and reform the agency.
— BusinessMirror

Poorest Filipinos spent more for food in Q3–PSA
The poorest 30 percent of Filipinos had to shell out more money in the third quarter due to the increase in the price of food items, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
— BusinessMirror

BOC improves cash collection
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) was able to generate P42 billion in revenue collection in October, slightly below the P42.5 billion target for the month.
— Malaya

Tax reform eyed to fund free medicines
THE Senate version of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) aims to expand the government’s free medicines for the poor.
— The Manila Times

Philippines shrugs off Australia terror threat warning
Philippine authorities assured Filipinos and foreign nationals on Saturday that it is safe in the Philippines.
— Gear Of Biz

‘Unemployment insurance’ pushed
State-run Social Security System (SSS) is pushing for the inclusion of unemployment insurance benefit for its more than 35 million members as part of its proposed SS Reform Act of 2017.
— Malaya

Mega rehab a miscalculation, Palace admits
The mega rehabilitation center in Nueva Ecija can be used for other purposes, Malacañang said yesterday, after the chief of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) described the construction of the facility as a “miscalculation.”
— Philstar

DOF: Reforms will improve ease of doing business
Carlos Dominguez III, finance secretary, is confident the reforms the government intends to implement will result to improvements in the ease of doing business in the country.
— Malaya

PH frees 4 East Timorese to attend ASEAN meeting
Philippine immigration authorities freed four East Timor delegates after holding them for 12 hours at Manila airport in a security clampdown ahead of the ASEAN and East Asia Summit next week.
— ABS-CBN

Planned new retail industry rules will open opportunities, create jobs
Filipino retailers have nothing to fear of the further opening up of the retail industry as this would open opportunities for local entrepreneurs and would create jobs.
— Malaya

Feature photo Asian Development Bank
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 November 6 added by Leakhena Khat on November 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.