Philippines Morning News Roundup For February 22

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.

Plunder raps vs Napoles upheld
A SUPREME Court decision on Tuesday meant alleged pork-barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles will not be released despite the solicitor general’s decision to reverse her conviction in a serious illegal-detention case.
— Manila Standard

NEDA OK’s Duterte gov’t economic blueprint
THE NATIONAL Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved in its meeting last Monday night the blueprint of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration to fire up economic growth to a faster pace while lifting more Filipinos out of poverty, the socioeconomic planner announced yesterday.
— BusinessWorld

Gov’t eyes ‘experts’ for new mine audit
THE GOVERNMENT BODY organizing a separate audit of mining operations nationwide — after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) earlier this month ordered nearly a hundred such projects to shut down, including more than half the country’s 41 operating metal mines — plans to field “experts” for this task which could start next month, officials said on Monday night.
— BusinessWorld

Philippines Seed Industry Outlook to 2021 – Rising Government Support to Improve Agriculture Sector with Demand for Hybrid Seed to Foster Growth – Research and Markets
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Philippines Seed Industry Outlook to 2021 – Rising Government Support to Improve Agriculture Sector with Demand for Hybrid Seed to Foster Growth” report to their offering.
— BusinessWire

Tokhang estopped: SC’s 2nd amparo out
THE Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a second writ of amparo with a protection order in favor of the family of an alleged drug pusher who was among the thousands who had been killed in the government’s war against illegal drugs.
— Manila Standard

Duterte bats for ‘strategic shift’ in ending war with Reds
President Rodrigo Duterte is working to change strategy in his effort to resolve Asia’s longest-running communist insurgency, according to chief presidential peace adviser Secretary Jesus Dureza in a statement on Tuesday, February 21.
— Rappler

BSP vows action vs forex disruptions
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has vowed to guard against disruptive and excessive movements in the foreign exchange market as the peso continued to fall to its weakest level against the dollar in more than a decade.
— Philippine Star

Philippines: Real estate developer Cebu Landmasters targets $75m IPO
Real estate development firm Cebu Landmasters Inc is targeting to raise up $75.5 million (P3.8 billion) from an initial public offering (IPO) in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) in May 2017.
— Deal Street Asia

Stärken is now in the Philippines
THE construction industry in the Philippines is going to experience a revolutionary development according to Stärken Philippines Inc. President Samuel Luison.
— BusinessMirror

Feature photo: Maynard Rabanal

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