News Report 10 February 2020 Local
1. 32 Filipinos return from Wuhan
Manila Bulletin, 10 February 2020, p. 1, continued on p. 10
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) successfully brought back to the country on Sunday 32 Filipinos, including two Philippine consulate staff in China, from Wuhan City, ground zero of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCoV ARD).
Upon arrival, the repatriates were safely and swiftly transferred from the plane into their dedicated buses and brought to the Athlete’s Village in New Clark City (NCC) in Tarlac which will be their home for the 14-day quarantine period.
2. Senate to pursue review of VFA
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10 February 2020, p. A2
The Senate will recommend the review of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and United States, saying the Philippine government should not scrap the VFA, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
3. Coast Guard orders its largest vessels yet Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10 February 2020, p. A5
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will soon have their largest vessels when a Japanese shipbuilder delivers two new multirole response vessels in 2022. The 2 new vessels are part of the
government’s Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project which is partly funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). The cost of the new vessels will be P6.7 billion.
Korea - Economic
4. Credit rating upgrade to boost investments - NEDA The Philippine Star, 10 February 2020, p. B9
he National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) welcomes the recent credit rating upgrade of Tokyo-based Rating and Investment Information Inc. (R&I) from “BBB+” to “BBB” for the Philippines, saying it is a recognition of the country’s ability to invest in innovation and
education that will enable it to transition to a knowledge-based economy.
5. Marikina River dam readied
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10 February 2020, p. B1, continued on p. B4
The government will build a massive dam in Marikina River with the help of the World Bank, which will extend by next year a $400-million loan for the $700-million Pasig-Marikina River Basin Flood Management Project.
Besides floodwater management, the project will also develop early warning and flood forecasting systems as well as emergency-response planning and inundation mapping.
6. IMF: Infra buildup to dictate PH’s poverty reduction success Philippine Daily Inquirer, 10 February 2020, p. B2-5
In a report titled “The Philippines: A Good Time to Expand the Infrastructure Push,” the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the Philippines would be able to achieve fast its poverty-reduction goal if the Duterte administration would be able to deliver on its “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.
