Philippines Morning News For February 5

PH mobile broadband speeds slow down in latest Ookla Speedtest report
The latest report from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index points to a generally better speeds for the Philippines compared to July 2017, despite a dip in speed for mobile broadband connections.
— Rappler

Gordon eyes PH-made ships to boost territorial defense
The government should develop the ability to build its own ships to ensure that the military can secure its territorial waters from piracy and terrorism, Senator Richard Gordon said on Sunday.
— ABS-CBN

Research firm bullish on PH LNG industry
The Philippines will have a thriving liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry within a few years and will have a capacity of 7 million metric tons yearly (mtpa) by 2020, the earliest estimate when indigenous fuel from the Malampaya gas field would run out.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHL to regain bird flu-free status by March
The Philippines could finally become bird flu-free before the end of the first quarter after the government has successfully completed the cleaning and disinfection process in the last affected farm in Nueva Ecija.
— BusinessMirror

Philippines: Healthcare firm Philab invests $9.6m in US-based Veritas Genetics
Philippine-listed healthcare holding firm Philab Holdings Corp seeks to break into the global genetics market with its Php500-million ($9.6 million) investment in US-based Veritas Genetics.
— DealStreetAsia

Philippines gripped by dengue vaccine fears
Fears over a dengue vaccine in the Philippines have led to a big drop in immunisation rates for preventable diseases, officials have warned.
— BBC

‘Philippines can build own ships to boost military capability’
The Philippines can develop its own shipbuilding industry to ensure the military will have the capability to secure the country and its territorial waters from piracy, terrorism and encroachment, Sen. Richard Gordon said yesterday.
— Philstar

Meralco considering Solar PH bid
MANILA Electric Co. is considering Solar Philippines’ bid to provide cheap round-the-clock power supply to Meralco in a move to diversify its energy sources, a top executive said.
— The Manila Times

Philippines orders checks on labour compliance
The Philippine labour department has deputised 126 inspectors from labour organisations, employers and professional groups to help inspect enterprises for their compliance with labour standards.
— Human Resources Director

Duterte appoints PDP-Laban official to Clark firm board
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Michael Ted “Mike” Macapagal, Olongapo-Zambales PDP-Laban chapter president, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Clark Development Corp. (CDC).
— The Manila Times

Audit teams formed to check compliance of IFMA holders
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has ordered the creation of audit teams to look into compliance of all industrial forest management agreement (IFMA) holders in 29 provinces across the country.
— Manila Bulletin

PLDT to keep spending at record levels
As it set its highest ever capital expenditures at more than P50 billion this year, PLDT Inc. will keep spending at record levels over the next two years to continue network improvements and deliver better services to customers.
— Philstar

Philippine travel startup Bliimo eyes expansion to six countries
Bliimo, a travel experience-based startup from the Philippines, is targeting to expand into at least six countries in the next two years, with its newly-launched app that provides a fully-integrated platform for users to book trips and customize itineraries.
— DealStreetAsia

Philippines National Forum on Global Sustainable Tourism Standards & Management to be held
With the aim of supporting sustainable destination development and management in the Philippines, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) together with the Society for Sustainable Tourism & Development Inc. (SSTDI) and LEADimpact Asia, are set to deliver, with proposed partners, national agencies such as Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment & Natural Resources, the GSTC – The Philippines, National Forum to be held on March 15-16, 2018, Boracay Island.
— Eturbo News

Czech Republic offers 1,000 jobs to Pinoys
The government of the Czech Republic has announced the approval of 1,000 job openings for qualified Filipinos as part of its three-country expansion for foreign workers.
— Manila Bulletin

Cigarette tax take substantially higher
Cigarette excise tax revenues have substantially increased following Japan Tobacco, Inc.’s takeover of Mighty Corp., the Finance department said.
— The Manila Times

India eyes military cooperation with Philippines, ASEAN
India is ready to pursue mutual defense cooperation with the Philippines and its neighbors in Southeast Asia amid tension in the South China Sea, an official has said.
— Philstar

How Filipinos can get a Good Conduct Certificate
Filipinos applying for a job in the UAE who need to secure a Good Conduct Certificate may obtain one from the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, an official said.
— Gulf News

US-version Silk Road: Is PHL ready for Internet’s dark side?
NEARLY four decades ago, Luke Skywalker rejected Darth Vader’s notion of the Dark Side of the Force. Three decades after The Empire Strikes Back film was released, the Dark Side of the Internet was born.
— BusinessMirror

Russia open to Filipino workers
I recently came across a series of articles about the allegedly unsuitable conditions and dangers for Philippine household service workers applying for jobs in Russia.
— Philippine Daily Inquirer

It’s final: Ayala Land loses Las Piñas golf course
The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed with finality its earlier decision to void Ayala Land Inc.’s (ALI) title over a 49-hectare golf course in its Southvale development in Las Piñas City.
— The Manila Times

Feature photo Adam Cohn

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 February 5 added by Leakhena Khat on February 5, 2018
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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.