Philippines Morning News For November 7

UP Manila opposes medical marijuana 
The University of the Philippines-Manila is opposing the legalization of medical cannabis or marijuana, saying this poses a “serious threat to public health.”
— Philstar

Philippine troops kill 9 remaining militants in Marawi city
Philippine military officials say troops have killed at least nine remaining militants aligned with the Islamic State group over the weekend in southern Marawi city and are attempting to determine whether a Malaysian who may have taken over the militants’ leadership is still alive.
— Philstar

PH e-commerce industry to dominate Southeast Asia by 2020 -Lazada
Lazada, the dominant e-commerce company in Southeast Asia, said by 2020 they expect the Philippines to be the top player in Southeast Asia’s e-commerce industry.
— TechnoChops

PH proposes 6 more priority infra projects for China funding
The Philippine government has identified at least six infrastructure projects, bulk of which is located in Mindanao, under the second basket of projects it would propose for possible funding by China.
— Philippine News Agency

LTE speed, coverage in PH improved: global report
LTE wireless internet speed and coverage in the country improved last month compared to the same period last year, a global report said Monday.
— ABS-CBN

‘Government must be careful in choosing next MRT 3 maintenance provider’
TERMINATING the maintenance contract of Busan Universal Rail Inc. might be a sound decision on the part of the government, but it must thoroughly study its game plan for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 so as not to make the same mistake twice.
— BusinessMirror

Palace welcomes UN’s recognition of PH as ‘rising star in FDIs’
The Philippine economic prospects have been fairing significantly based on different economic and trade reports with the United Nations calling the Philippines “a rising star in foreign direct investments”, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Monday, November 6.
— Philippine News Agency

PH firm ups investment in Indonesia
Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) has expanded its exposure in Indonesia’s toll business.
— Malaya

Philippines hunts for possible new Islamic State ‘emir’ in Southeast Asia
PHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES were on the lookout on Monday for a Malaysian who could be the new leader of pro-Islamic State (IS) groups in Southeast Asia, security chiefs said, following the deaths of several high-profile regional extremists.
— BusinessWorld

PH to monitor movements of China’s new ‘island-maker’
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines will monitor the movements of China’s “magical island-maker,” a massive dredging ship capable of building artificial islands similar to what Beijing has already built in the South China Sea.
— Rappler

Conglomerate consolidates food businesses
San Miguel Corp. is folding its alcoholic beverage units — San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB) and Ginebra San Miguel Inc, (GSMI) — into its food unit San Miguel Pure Foods Inc., (Purefoods).
— Malaya

DOTR to finish 5 projects in 2018
The government expects to complete a handful of infrastructure projects in 2018 with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) vowing to “continuously push for the development and faster completion of transport infrastructure projects”.
— Manila Bulletin

DOF tells rating agencies: Gov’t to push tax reforms
The Department of Finance (DOF) assured the two major international credit ratings agencies that the Duterte administration is prepared to pursue “difficult and necessary” reforms to improve revenue collection efficiency.
— Manila Bulletin

Tourism earnings double in August on China factor
EARNINGS from tourists in the Philippines recovered in August 2017, powered by the increase in arrivals from mainland China.
— BusinessMirror

Rody to meet Trump in Vietnam
It will be at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Da Nang, Vietnam on Friday and Saturday that President Duterte and United States President Donald Trump will have the chance to meet for the first time, possibly for bilateral talks.
— Philstar

PH, Chinese rail contractor end row
Government has settled its dispute with a Chinese company over a rail project, a move that would save government at least P5 billion in potential payment of claims.
— Malaya

PH rule of law rating drops, Marawi stragglers, Australia travel warning | Evening wRap
The Philippines’ rule of law rating drops in the scorecard used by the United States to determine if a country can receive aid from its Millennium Challenge Corporation.
— Rappler

Trade, security top Duterte-Trump talks
THE first meeting between President Duterte and US President Donald Trump will happen in Da Nang, Vietnam during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
— Malaya

Govt scraps rail deal with Korean firm
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) on Monday terminated its contract with South Korean firm Busan Universal Rail Inc. (BURI), the maintenance provider of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3.
— The Manila Times

Resign now, spare sc from damage
Malacañang on Monday called on Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to step down and spare the judiciary from further damage.
— The Manila Times

DA to ensure cattle imports from Brazil will be free from foot-and-mouth disease
The Department of Agriculture (DA) will see to it that live cattle to be imported from Brazil would be free from the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which usually affects cattle, pigs and sheep.
— BusinessMirror

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 7 added by Leakhena Khat on November 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.