Philippines Morning News For January 19

Duterte govt’s approval rating highest in 4 decades
PUBLIC satisfaction with the Duterte administration rose to its highest at 79 percent in December 2017 – the highest satisfaction rating ever received by a president since post-Edsa People Power days.
— Malaya

Government to spend P4.82 trillion for 4,095 infrastructure projects
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) on Thursday said the national government will spend P4.82 trillion for 4,095 infrastructure projects, which are expected to create 6.27 million jobs, until 2022.
— BusinessMirror

Philippines-China maritime cooperation shows good start
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte allowed China to research with the University of the Philippines at the Benham Rise, an area off the Philippines’ Pacific coast, according to Reuters.
— Global Times

New Philippines operator to be blocked from selling to Globe or PLDT
KDDI, LG Uplus and an unidentified Taiwanese company are all competing with China Telecom for the right to build the third mobile operator in the Philippines.
— Capacity Media

Philippine military welcomes LGBT applicants
In searching for 10,000 Filipinos who want to volunteer to become new soldiers, sailors, airmen, or marines, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said they would not discriminate against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community who may want to apply.
— Update Philippines

China eyes Philippines’ strategic eastern shores
After consolidating control over Philippine-claimed features in the South China Sea, China is now casting its gaze on the island nation’s eastern waters opening onto the Pacific Ocean.
— Asia Times

Infra giant beefs up logistics biz
Infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), through its unit Metropac Movers Inc. (MMI), is eyeing to acquire two to three logistics firms this year, according to the company’s chairman, Manuel Pangilinan.
— Malaya

House threatens to go solo on Con-Ass
AFTER being spurned by the Senate, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday said the House of Representatives will go it alone in convening a constituent assembly to introduce amendments to the Constitution.
— Malaya

Labor groups hope Duterte’s new EO will ban all forms of contractualization
The country’s largest labor groups are hoping that a new executive order (EO) set to be signed by President Duterte this month will finally prohibit all forms of contractualization, as what they sought in their draft EO that was submitted to Malacañang last year.
— BusinessMirror

Fast Asia Open: Philippines balance of payments, Thailand forex reserves
The US government has moved closer to a possible shutdown after President Donald Trump appeared to complicate Republican efforts to pass a stop-gap measure needed to fund federal agencies and the military beyond Friday night.
— The Financial Times

20 gas stations ordered to explain price hikes
The Department of Energy (DOE) has ordered at least 20 oil retailers to explain why they hiked fuel prices due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.
— Philstar

‘Current policies burdensome to small data-service providers’
The rapid migration to the digital age should prompt the government to come up with policies that will empower small data-service providers, as this could help solve issues on Internet speed and access throughout the Philippines, an expert said.
— BusinessMirror

Philippines Women’s Rights Group Demand Justice Over ‘Comfort Women’ Issue
The Philippines erected a seven-feet bronze statue in Manila in December, drawing ire from several human rights groups.
— Telesur

Is this the beginning of the end for freedom of the press in the Philippines?
President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has never gotten along with the press. Three media companies have incurred his particular ire: the ABS-CBN television and radio network, the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper, and the news website Rappler.
— Washington Psot

Over 50 district and deputy collectors, other Customs officials given new assignments
A sweeping change greeted Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials and personnel for the new year, with several district collectors, deputy collectors, and division chiefs assigned to new posts.
— Manila Bulletin

PH, Japan reaffirm strong ties
President Duterte has reaffirmed the Philippines’ strong ties with Japan during his meeting with Special Adviser for Foreign Affairs Katsuyaki Kawai.
— Tempo

Duterte reminds gov’t workers to stay away from casinos
The President said he has directed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to prohibit state workers from entering the casino floors.
— Manila Bulletin

DPWH to begin construction of new Evacuation Center in Ormoc City
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to begin construction of a P36-million Evacuation Center as a temporary shelter for families displaced by the calamity in Ormoc City, Leyte.
— Update Philippines

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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 January 19 added by Leakhena Khat on January 19, 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.