News Report
25 November 2019 Local
1. Duterte dismisses Robredo as drug czar
The Philippine Star, 25 November 2019, p. A1, continued on p. 2
Just days after President Duterte disclosed he could not trust Vice President Leni Robredo, he fired her yesterday as co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Robredo’s services were “terminated” after both she and Sen. Francis Pangilinan, head of the opposition Liberal Party, “taunted” Duterte to fire her.
Korea
2. Duterte visit to elevate PH-SoKor ties - envoy
Manila Bulletin, 25 November 2019, p. 1, continued on p. 10
Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man said President Duterte’s upcoming bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in will help boost the 70-year-old ties between the two countries. He further said that the two presidents will be talking about pending issues from political, people-to-people, and even enhancing cooperation on military and logistics.
3. Duterte flies to Busan for ASEAN-ROK Summit Business Mirror, 25 November 2019, p. A16
President Duterte is now in Busan to attend Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-
Republic of Korea (ROK) Commemorative Summit as well as to discuss issues of mutual concern in his bilateral meeting on Monday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
4. PH eyes 3 deals with South Korea in Duterte-Moon meeting ABS-CBN News, 25 November 2019
The Philippines expects to sign at least 3 agreements with South Korea when President Rodrigo Duterte meets with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday afternoon, according to Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Noe Albano Wong. Both governments are looking to sign deals on education, tourism, social security and fisheries.
5. PH-Korea free trade deal delayed
Philippine Daily Inquirer, 25 November 2019, p. B1
The Philippines will not sign a free-trade agreement with South Korea this year, a disappointing end that came months after both sides vowed to sign a deal today at an international summit in Busan, South Korea. Instead, both countries will sign what Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez called an “early achievement package,” which is essentially a progress report on the free-trade agreement (FTA).
6. South Korea may introduce visa-free policy for Filipinos, says envoy Philippine Daily Inquirer, 25 November 2019, p. A11
South Korea may extend visa-free privileges to Filipinos once steps are taken to reduce the estimated 15,000 “illegal” Filipinos living in the country, according Korean Ambassador Han Dong- man.
7. Resolve banana tariff issue with SKorea, gov’t told The Manila Times, 25 November 2019, p. B2
For the nth time, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association Inc. (PBGEA) has called on the Philippine government to immediately resolve with South Korea the proposed reduction of tariff rates on banana shipments.
Economic
8. PH-US free trade talks to start in 2020 The Manila Times, 25 November 2019, p. B1
The Philippines and the United States are seen to start negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) next year. American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. ( AmCham) Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe expressed confidence negotiations between the countries, which he intends to bring up to the Congress early next year, would not take too long.
9. NEDA lists priority bills for last 3 years of Duterte
Business Mirror, 25 November 2019, p. A1, continued on p. A2
At least a dozen bills are being eyed as priority legislation in the last three years of the Duterte administration to boost economic growth, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).The priority bills include the land use bill for the agriculture sector; e-vehicles bill, industry sector; and open access in data transmission bill, services sector.
10. Japanese firms plan to expand Phl operations The Philippine Star, 25 November 2019, p. B13
Half of Japanese firms in the Philippines are planning to expand operations in the next two years even as concerns remain on the possible impact of the proposed rationalization of fiscal incentives, as well as on complicated tax procedures, according to a survey from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).
11. Phl nickel sector to collaborate with China’s biggest battery group The Philippine Star, 25 November 2019, p. B2
The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) recently inked a memorandum of understanding with China Industrial Association of Power Sources (CIAPS) for linkages and possible joint venture and investments among member companies. China, being the world’s largest producer of electric vehicles, continues to look to the Philippine nickel mining industry as a strategic partner in the sustainable e-vehicle industry.
