Tens of thousands were driven from their homes by floods and three fishermen were missing Saturday as Tropical Storm Kai-Tak barrelled towards the eastern Philippines, officials said. The Philippine islands of Samar and Leyte have a combined population of about 4.5 million Kai-Tak, packing gusts of up to 100 kilometres (62 miles) an hour, was poised to smash into the north of the country's third-largest island Samar overnight Saturday before slicing across the central Philippines, the state weather service said.More than 38,000 people have moved to evacuation camps, local officials said, after days of heavy rain unleashed by the approaching cyclone caused floods and landslides on Samar and nearby Leyte island.These islands, with a combined population of about 4.5 million, had borne the brunt of Super Typhoon Haiyan four years ago, which left more than 7,350 people dead or missing.Ferry services on the two islands remain suspended due to rough seas, with three fishermen also … [Read more...] about Three missing, thousands flee as storm heads for Philippines
Philippines
Philippines passes major tax reform law
The Philippines has passed a tax reform bill at the heart of President Rodrigo Duterte's economic agenda, officials said Thursday, raising levies on coal, cars, soft drinks and cosmetic surgeries to finance the country's crumbling infrastructure. Economists and environmentalists have praised the package, with the Philippines winning a credit rating upgrade this week from Fitch Ratings and green campaigners hailing the higher tax on coal. Officials said the tax reforms, the most significant revenue-boosting measure introduced since Duterte took office last year, would finance increased spending on infrastructure to ease the cost of doing business. "The tax reform (act) seeks to achieve a simpler, fairer, and more efficient tax system characterized by lower rates and a broader base, to encourage investment, job creation, and poverty reduction," Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said in a statement. The government has warned that bad roads, crowded trains and poor internet speed have … [Read more...] about Philippines passes major tax reform law
Philippine Congress approves martial law extension in Mindanao
Philippine military in Mindanao (Source: Xinhua/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The PhilippineCongress on December 13 has approved the one-year extension of martial law inMindanao Island, aiming to completely eradicate terrorists and rebels in thecountry’s southern region.Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte onDecember 11 asked theCongress to extend martial law in the southern island of Mindanao by the end of2018 to continue tracking down Islamic militants.The extension is necessary to prevent pro-ISmilitants’ uprisings again in Mindanao, he suggested in the letter sent to thecountry’s lawmakers.The military rule was declared in Mindanaoon May 23 in response to attacks by terrorists of Islamic groups in the city ofMarawi. The martial law is limited to 60 days by the 1987 Constitution, but anextension was issued until December 31.Long-running battles between the Philippinegovernment and Maute terror group in Marawi city claimed about 1,000 lives anddisplaced … [Read more...] about Philippine Congress approves martial law extension in Mindanao
Philippine Congress approves Duterte’s bid to extend martial law in south
Philippine lawmakers overwhelmingly backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to extend martial law for all of next year on the southern island of Mindanao. The extension, until Dec. 31 next year, would mark the longest period of martial law since the 1970s era of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, one of the darkest and most oppressive chapters of the country’s recent history. At a joint session of Congress, 240 out of 267 lawmakers agreed with Duterte on the need for tough measures to stop pro-Islamic State militants recruiting fighters and preparing for a new wave of attacks after occupying Marawi City for five months this year. That conflict, the Philippines’ biggest security crisis in decades, killed more than 1,100 people, mostly militants. It forced more than 200,000 residents to flee Marawi, whose center was flattened by shelling and air strikes. The government worries that mountainous, jungle-clad Mindanao, a region the size of South Korea that is home to the … [Read more...] about Philippine Congress approves Duterte’s bid to extend martial law in south
Philippines’ Duterte wins extra year of martial law powers
Duterte's request to extend martial law in the Mindanao region until December 31 next year and detain suspected rebels there without charge was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate and House of Representatives."The motion to further extend the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is hereby approved," House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said after a 240-27 vote at a joint session.In May Duterte imposed military rule and suspended the writ -- a constitutional guarantee against warrantless arrests -- across the region of 20 million people, hours after armed Islamic militants seized the southern city of Marawi.The initial period of martial law was limited by the constitution to 60 days. However, in July Congress authorised Duterte to extend martial law until the last day of 2017 as he moved to retake the city from hundreds of gunmen he accused of plotting to turn Marawi into a regional base for the Islamic State group.Duterte declared … [Read more...] about Philippines’ Duterte wins extra year of martial law powers
Rice falls after Vietnam secures Philippines contract
Rice falls after Vietnam secures Philippines contractTrung Chanh CAN THO - Prices of rice and paddy (unhusked rice) on the domestic market have skidded against late last month though Vietnam won a government-to-government contract to provide the Philippines with 150,000 tons of 25% broken rice at a tender on August 31. Rice and low-grade paddy IR 50404 have dipped by VND200 per kilo against late August to VND6,000-6,100 per kilo and VND4,200-4,300 per kilo, respectively. Nguyen Thanh Phong, director of Tien Giang-based Van Loi Company, said the volume of rice which Vietnam will sell to the Philippines is much lower than expected, and that exporters have stocked up on large volumes of rice. “The rice volume which companies can sell at the moment is far higher than that Vietnam will deliver to the Philippines in September and October. Therefore, the falls in paddy and rice prices are inevitable,” he said. Ngo Ngoc Yen, director of Yen Ngoc rice firm in HCMC, shared … [Read more...] about Rice falls after Vietnam secures Philippines contract
Vietnam, Philippines find common ground over settlement of sea disputes
Vietnam, Philippines find common ground over settlement of sea disputesThe Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte have agreed that all disputes in the East Sea should be settled by peaceful means. At a meeting on the sidelines of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings in the Lao capital of Vientiane on Tuesday, the two leaders stressed the importance of maintaining peace and security, stepping up cooperation, and resolving disputes by peaceful means in compliance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The leaders concurred to work together for those goals, a Vietnam Nam News Agency report said. In a speech delivered to the plenary session of the 28th ASEAN Summit, PM Phuc underlined the need for ASEAN to promote confidence-building activities, preventive diplomacy, a code of conduct in the East Sea and observance of law, especially the UNCLOS, … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Philippines find common ground over settlement of sea disputes
Philippines considers extended martial law in Mindanao
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte takes time to appreciate the painting of his portrait which was presented to him in Malacañan Palace on December 5, 2017 (Source: philstar.com) Hanoi (VNA) – Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on December 11 askedCongress to extend martial law in the southern island of Mindanao by the end of2018 to continue tracking down Islamic terrorists.Theextension of the military rule on the island is necessary to prevent pro-ISmilitants uprising again in Mindanao, he suggested in the letter sent to thecountry’s lawmakers.“I ask the Congress of the Philippines to furtherextend the proclamation of Martial Law and the suspension of the privilege ofthe writ of habeas corpus inthe whole of Mindanao for a period of one year, from January 1, 2018 toDecember 31, 2018,” he wrote.The Philippine Congress schedules to vote on therequest for martial law extension this week.The military rule was declared in Mindanao on May23 in … [Read more...] about Philippines considers extended martial law in Mindanao
Philippines defied experts’ advice in pursuing dengue immunization program
As she announced in January 2016 that the Philippines would immunize one million children with a new dengue vaccine, the nation's then health secretary Janette Garin boasted it was a world-first and a tribute to her country's "expertise" in research.At the time, it seemed the Philippines could be on the cusp of a breakthrough to combat a potentially lethal tropical virus that had been endemic in large parts of the Southeast Asian nation for decades.Almost two years later, the program lies in tatters and has been suspended after Sanofi Pasteur, a division of French drug firm Sanofi, said at the end of last month the vaccine itself may in some cases increase the risk of severe dengue in recipients not previously infected by the virus.Documents reviewed by Reuters that have not been disclosed until now, as well as interviews with local experts, show that key recommendations made by a Philippines Department of Health (DOH) advisory body of doctors and pharmacologists were not heeded before … [Read more...] about Philippines defied experts’ advice in pursuing dengue immunization program
Philippine army backs martial law extension in Mindanao
Philippine soldiers patrolled after Marawi was liberated on October 17 (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – TheArmed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) support the extension of martial law in thesouthern region of Mindanao to address security threats, said AFP spokesmanMajor General Restituto Padilla.Speaking at a recent pressbriefing, Padilla stressed the need for the extension of the martial law as extremistswho survived the Marawi siege are recruiting more members and violence isincreasing.Earlier, the Philippine NationalPolice and Army had recommended President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial lawfor one year.The President declared martiallaw in Mindanao on May 23 to quell the IS-inspired Maute group after itattacked Marawi city.It is set to expire on December31. If Duterte is to follow the recommendation of the police and military, hewill have to ask the Congress to approve the extension.The Marawi conflict ended after154 days of fighting between Government forces and the Maute group, … [Read more...] about Philippine army backs martial law extension in Mindanao