Duterte, Widodo to discuss terrorism; PH, Indonesia military officials meet monthly to address ISIS threat
President Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo are set to discuss terrorism when they meet during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Gathering here Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

Seven Maute members surrender in Lanao del Sur
Seven Dawlah Islamiya/Maute members and supporters surrendered Tuesday to Joint Task Force Ranao in Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur. The 55th Infantry Battalion, under the Joint Task Force Ranao, spearheaded the surrender of the group along with their firearms.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

MARAWI

Families of missing people in Marawi suffer in silence
For World Mental Health Day (October 10), we shed light on the immense suffering of people still looking for loved ones who went missing in the 2017 Marawi conflict. Not knowing the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones, these families continue to live with uncertainty. To this day, they are unable to move on and find closure. The grieving process cannot start nor be completed.
ABS-CBN News

Arroyo meets with Duterte, commits to extend validity of Marawi rehab fund
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo committed to pass a joint resolution that would extend the validity of the P19.6-billion National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund for the rehabilitation of Marawi City until the end of 2019.
Rappler, Sunstar Manila

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      

FBI director says bureau is investigating 5,000 terrorism cases across the world
In a startling disclosure, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday that agents are conducting thousands of terror investigations around the world.
ABC News

Terrorism 'handbook' will dispel myths and raise understanding
A new handbook providing a comprehensive guide to terrorism and counterterrorism worldwide will tackle myths and raise understanding of the realities of both subjects, according to the academic behind the project.
Cranfield University

What Can We Do About Foreign Fighters Returning From Islamic State?
Yesterday, the Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Minister of State for Security at the Home Office, argued that terror laws need to be updated so foreign terrorist fighters returning from Islamic State can be brought to justice in the United Kingdom.
Forbes

Pushing terrorist propaganda 'underground' could make extremists harder to detect, government warned
Pushing terrorist propaganda “underground” online could make it harder for police to detect radicalisation, the government has been warned. The Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation’s annual report cautioned against proposed laws to make viewing terrorist material a criminal offence.
The Independent UK

Terrorism results from unjust policies: Azhar Grand Imam
Terrorism results from international unjust policies that lost all compassion toward the weak and the poor, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed el-Tayyeb said during his speech in the Sixth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstani capital,Astana. 
Egypt Today

Study Provides Fuller Picture of the Human Cost from Terrorist Attacks
Terrorist attacks injure far more people than they kill, leaving victims with lost limbs, hearing loss, respiratory disease, depression and other issues. But little research has measured the impact of that damage beyond the number of people who are hurt.
The University of Texas

Police 'must assess impact of terror inquiries on communities'
Police chiefs need to take into account the impact of large-scale operations on communities, the terror laws watchdog has said, after assessing the impact the investigation into the Manchester arena bombing had on the city’s Muslims.
The Guardian

Justice for ISIS Terrorists? Not in the UK or Canada
Why do America’s allies find it so hard to bring ISIS terrorists to justice? Two stories caught our attention recently. One, of a Canadian university student who left Toronto in 2014 to fight for ISIS. He was captured four months ago by Kurdish forces attempting to escape Syria into Turkey and is being held in a makeshift prison in northeast Syria by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
Clarion Project

Russian security services smoke out international terrorist sleeper cell in West Siberia
A sleeper cell of Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, an international terror group outlawed in Russia, was uncovered in West Siberia’s Tomsk Region, the Federal Security Service press service said on Wednesday.
Russian News Agency

China revises controversial anti-terror regulations
Anti-terror efforts in controversial "re-education centres" in China's Xinjiang region will be governed by new standardised rules, as international criticism mounts over the detention of as many one million in the restive far west.
The Straits Times

Share intelligence to stop spread of ISIS, Indonesia says
Indonesian Defence Minister ­Ryamizard Ryacudu has warned of an Islamic State “stronghold” emerging in the region and said lives could be lost if intelligence sharing did not improve.
The Australian 

$18bn: Iran’s expenditure to export terror
The US State Department has revealed that the Iranian regime had spent more than $18 billion over the past eight years to support terrorism in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The report, published by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday, said that the mullahs and the Quds Force under Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had transferred the money in ‘twisted’ ways to militias and groups fighting on its behalf in the region.
Saudi Gazette

How Was Nikki Haley on Radical Islam?
The media is filled with questions about our outgoing ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Why did she quit? Is she gearing up for a political career? But Clarion’s question is very simple: How was Nikki Haley on radical Islam?
Clarion Project

Al-Shabaab says it has killed British ‘spy’ in Somalia
The Islamist terror group al-Shabaab has said it has killed five people including a Briton whom it accused of spying. Three of the men publicly shot dead in al-Shabaab-controlled territory in Somalia were accused of spying for the US government and one for Somali authorities.
The Guardian
 

BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

Residency of 4,000 voters in Cotabato City questioned
Officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here have their hands full after more than 4,000 newly registered voters have been petitioned for disqualification due to non-residency issue.
Mindanews, NDBC News

IEDs found along Maguindanao highway disarmed
Military bomb disposal experts disarmed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found separately in two areas along the national highway in Maguindanao province Tuesday evening.
Philippine News Agency, NDBC News, GMA News

Mother of three transforms sleepy Maguindanao town
When Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu won the elections as mayor of this town of 28,000 people in 2013, its state was so bad that 7 out of 10 families were poor. Violence would occasionally erupt between the Muslim and Christian settlers; and also between some residents and that of nearby Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat province.
Business Mirror

Case vs Ampatuan strong despite recantation of witness—DoJ
The Department of Justice on Wednesday belittled the recantation of a witness in the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre case against principal accused Andal “Datu Unsay” Ampatuan Jr.
Manila Standard

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

Gruesome 1977 Patikul massacre recalled
 Oct. 10, 1977 was a day of infamy for the whole country. It was the day when Brig. Gen. Teodulfo Bautista, the soft-spoken commanding general of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division of the Philippine Army, and 34 of his men, were brutally massacred after they were lured into a “peace dialogue” by local Muslim rebel leader Usman Sali in Patikul, Sulu. Only one soldier who played possum survived the massacre.
Philippine News Agency

SAPP hails lifting of ban on barter trade
Former chief minister Yong Teck Lee has welcomed the lifting of the barter trade ban by the state government but warned it could backfire in terms of security on the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).
Free Malaysia Today

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

Duterte ‘secret special report’ bares drug links of active, ex-PNP, PDEA, BoC execs
A “secret special report” released by President Rodrigo Duterte has identified active and former top officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bureau of Customs who were allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin

PNP probes cops in new Duterte drug matrix
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday vowed that it will conduct a thorough investigation on the alleged involvement of seven active and retired police officers in illegal activities after their inclusion in a drug matrix released by no less than President Duterte.
Manila Bulletin

Be proactive vs. threats, Aquino tells PDEA personnel
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino on Wednesday urged its personnel to take the necessary proactive measures against threats and violence in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Philippine News Agency

8 suspects behind ambush of PDEA agents identified
Police have filed multiple and double frustrated murder against eight suspects in the fatal ambush of five agents of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM) in Lanao del Sur on October 5. 
NDBC News, Rappler, Business Mirror, ABS-CBN News

Guns, sketch plan seized from PDEA ambush 'mastermind'
Authorities recovered firearms and ammunition during Tuesday's search on the residence of a suspect in the deadly Lanao del Sur ambush that killed five anti-narcotics agents last week.
Philippine News Agency

Pinay gets life sentence in Indonesia due to drugs
A Filipina has been sentenced to life imprisonment for a drug-related offense in Indonesia, Philippine ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Tan Wee said Wednesday. “There’s another one in Semarang,” Wee said in a press conference attended by the Filipino media covering President Rodrigo Duterte’s attendance in the ASEAN Leaders’ gathering here.
Philippine News Agency

No lead on Peter Lim so far: DOJ
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said the government has yet to get fresh leads on the whereabouts of fugitive Peter Lim. "There are no lead(s) on Lim so far," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters.
Philippine News Agency

Operations/ Incidents

4 men, ex-cop nabbed in Region 9 anti-drug ops
Authorities arrested five people, including three newly-identified drug personalities and a former policeman, and seized more or less PHP150,000 worth of illegal drugs, in separate operations here in the region, police said Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

P176K 'shabu' found on South Cotabato BJMP van
Jail personnel in South Cotabato recovered around PHP176,000 worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" from an inmate on Tuesday. Juan Lanzaderas, warden of the South Cotabato Rehabilitation and Detention Center or provincial jail, said Wednesday the illegal drugs were left by inmate Crislam Fulgencio Ambalgan, 26, inside the prisoner's van after arriving at the jail in Koronadal City at around 12:40 p.m.
Philippine News Agency

Police uproot P750K worth of marijuana in South Cotabato
Police operatives in South Cotabato uprooted more than P750,000 worth of marijuana in a plantation in the mountain village of Tampakan, South Cotabato on Wednesday.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

SCAM 

WestMinCom acts on alleged car rental and money market scam
The military is now trying to account for hundreds of vehicles entrusted to soldiers by a now controversial money market outfit in exchange for cash investments.  
NDBC News 

Hundreds of vehicles in Cotabato City rent-a-car investment scam still missing
The military is now trying to account for hundreds of vehicles issued to soldiers who put money in a rent-a-car and investment scheme in Cotabato City. Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said Wednesday that military lawyers are working to resolve problems caused by an apparent scam by a firm called Lahdin's Marketing, which collected money from investors in exchange for vehicles from another set of investors.
Philippine Star
 

Duterte flies to Bali for ASEAN leaders’ meeting
President Duterte is expected to push for closer regional cooperation for inclusive growth and greater security when he meets with fellow Southeast Asian leaders in Indonesia.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency, ABS-CBN News

How President Duterte has changed Asia
WHEN President Rodrigo Duterte attends the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Singapore on November 11-15, his his fellow Asean leaders, international media, and curious onlookers may be watching for telltale signs of illness.
The Manila Times

Duterte’s Luster Dulls as Rice Prices Soar in Philippines
Through controversy after controversy, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has always been able to count on his appeal among the nation’s poor. But soaring prices for staples like rice are starting to alienate that vital base of support.
New York Times

Duterte ‘The Punisher’ Fixes on Revenge as Economic Woes Mount
A slumping currency, a brewing inflation crisis and one of the world’s worst performing stock markets should be enough to focus Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s attention on his nation’s economic woes.
Bloomberg

Duterte defends Bautista appointment to DSWD, says military men ‘follow orders and get job done fast’
President Duterte is confident that incoming Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista could do a better job than his predecessor due to his military background.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte meets with Arroyo, House leaders to discuss pending bills
Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang on Tuesday to discuss several legislative measures pending at the House of Representatives.
Philippine News Agency

Duterte asks Arroyo to add AFP, PNP housing fund in 2019 nat’l budget
President Rodrigo Duterte has requested House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to include in the 2019 national budget funds for housing projects that would benefit members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, among others.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Unwrapping Duterte’s Christmas gift to nation
President Duterte pledged in his last State of the Nation Address to bring in a new telco player to stir up competition and ensure that the country’s telecommunications services are reliable and inexpensive. Given the President’s imprimatur, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) have been acting expeditiously on the matter.
Business Mirror

-----------

Lorenzana denies he gave mutineers application to SolGen
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana denied on Wednesday that he gave some of the amnesty applications of the Oakwood mutineers to the Office of the Solicitor General in order to help pin down Senator Antonio Trillanes IV when his amnesty was revoked by President Duterte.
Manila Bulletin

Reopening of Trillanes’ coup d’état case now up for resolution
The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 might issue a ruling soon on whether or not to reopen the dismissed coup d’état case against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. This developed after the court submitted for resolution on Wednesday the motion of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to revive the coup d’état case against Trillanes.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Robredo insists role as Duterte's successor
Vice President Leni Robredo has insisted that she is constitutionally mandated to take over the presidency in case President Rodrigo Duterte will not be able to do so. The draft federal charter at the House of Representatives excludes the vice president from the line of succession in the transition government.
Philippine Star

In defense of liberalism
The broad definition of liberalism is that it is a political and moral philosophy based on liberty and equality espousing civil rights, democracy, secularism, gender and race equality, internationalism and the freedom of speech, the press, religion and markets.
Philippine Star

DISASTER

DND deploys relief goods to tsunami-ravaged Indonesia
The Philippine government on Wednesday deployed a Lockheed C-130 “Hercules” cargo aircraft full of relief goods and other materials to earthquake and tsunami-ravaged Indonesia.
Manila Bulletin

Taiwan donates P13.5-M aid to 'Ompong'-hit northern Luzon
Victims of Typhoon Ompong in northern Luzon are set to receive USD250,000 or approximately PHP13.5-million worth of assistance from Taiwan. Peiyung Hsu, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, turned over the donation to Angelito Banayo, chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Tuesday night.
Philippine News Agency

MINDANAO

ELECTION RELATED

Election fever is on, Comelec hopes filing of CoCs won’t be a circus
The election fever is on as the filing of the certificates of candidacy for the May 2019 National and Local polls begins tomorrow, Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

Comelec expects 61 million registered voters in 2019 midterm polls
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) expects around 61 million registered voters in the May 2019 midterm polls. “We expect that in 2019 we may have close to 61 million voters,”COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez said in a forum in Manila, Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

Comelec to accept CoCs of 'narco-politicians'
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will accept the Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) of politicians who are on the government's drug watch-list unless election officers are compelled by law to deny their application to run in the 2019 mid-term next year.
Philippine News Agency

Will midterm elections affirm public support for Duterte?
Political fever heats up ahead of next year's polls. This, as political analysts look at the midterm elections as a referendum on President Rodrigo Duterte's performance and popular support. 
ABS-CBN News

Opposition coalition to announce Senate slate on Oct. 24
Vice President Leni Robredo, chair of the once-ruling Liberal Party, said on Wednesday the opposition coalition will announce its final senatorial slate on October 24, a week after the filing of certificates of candidacy.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte says he supports Mocha in 2019 election bid
President Duterte has thrown his support behind the planned congressional bid of resigned Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson in the 2019 elections.
Manila Bulletin

Political Violence

PNP monitoring 77 armed groups
Police forces across the country are now hunting down various criminal groups which they believe would revive their operations as gun-for-hire and goons of political warlords for the midterm elections next year.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

PNP moves to avert revival of gun-for-hire groups, goons in 2019 elections
Police forces across the country are now hunting down various criminal groups which they believe would revive their operations as gun-for-hire and goons of political warlords for the midterm elections next year.
Manila Bulletin

Davao police to intensify security in mid-term polls
The Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11) will strengthen and intensify security measures such as checkpoints, intelligence monitoring, and police community relations and information drive during the start of the 2019 mid-term election period.
Manila Bulletin

DOJ summons Trece Martires mayor over vice mayor's murder
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has subpoenaed Trece Martires Mayor Milandres de Sagun and four others over the murder of city Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan.
Philippine News Agency

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

House takes step to revert VP out of succession in proposed charter
The House of Representatives unanimously agreed on Wednesday night to remand the proposed Constitution to the committee, thus, paving the way for the naming of the vice president first in the line of succession in case the post of president is left vacant during the transition for the full effectivity of a new Constitution.
Manila Bulletin

Lagman wonders if Duterte still wants cha-cha
Does President Rodrigo Duterte even care about amending the Constitution at this point? Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman wondered out loud about the topic Tuesday even as he and his fellow opposition congressmen sneered at the revived talks about charter change (cha-cha) in the Lower Chamber.
Manila Bulletin

DILG stands by, upholds ConCom proposed federal constitution
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stands by the Consultative Committee’s (ConCom) proposed federal constitution in the light of a new draft federal constitution submitted by the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, an official said Wednesday.
Philippine News Agency

Draft charter a ‘desperate’ attempt to remove me from office — Robredo
The new draft charter that puts the Senate President in the line of succession if President Rodrigo Duterte is unable to perform his duties is a “desperate” attempt to remove her from office, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

JUDICIARY

CA associate justice appointed to SC
President Duterte has appointed Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando as Supreme Court (SC) associate justice, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin, Philippine News Agency

Who is Duterte's new SC appointee?
President Rodrigo Duterte has named Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando as the newest magistrate of the Supreme Court. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, a member of the Judicial and Bar Council by virtue of his position, confirmed this to reporters.
Philippine Star

LEGISLATIVE

Congress foregoes P3.757-B budget approval, to study ‘insertions’ and ‘spending’ bill
The House of Representatives will adjourn its session without approving on third and final reading the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, as small committee has yet to scrutinize the amendments to the spending measure, Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo said Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

Congress opts to focus on inflation instead of TRAIN 2
Economic managers have reportedly conceded that the second tranche of the government’s tax reform program would not hurdle Congress anytime soon.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

TOMMY OSMEÑA: Cebu City’s own
Tommy Osmeña has turned silent. He used to be a bullish mayor, engaging even then-justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in a word war. But he has stopped his weekly press conferences, where he expressed his take on issues concerning his city and country. He has also limited his public appearances.
Rappler

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

US reiterates offer to sell F-16 jets to PH: Lorenzana
The US government reiterated its offer to supply the Philippines with the Lockheed Martin F-16. The offer took place during Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's visit to Washington D.C. last September where he met with US Secretary James Mattis.
Philippine News Agency

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Rising world oil prices culprit behind PH’s high inflation — Duterte
President Duterte took exception to criticisms that “crucify” government for the country’s soaring prices of commodities. The President explained that the rising world oil prices were the culprit behind the country’s high inflation, which reached 6.7 percent last month.
Manila Bulletin

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

GMA backs Build, Build, Build program
House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has expressed her full backing to the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build program as he took part Tuesday morning in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation Measures in low-lying areas of Pampanga Bay Phase 1 project.
Manila Standard

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

DoF denies China ODA was leverage for joint exploration
THE DEPARTMENT of Finance (DoF) said that Chinese loans and grants were not employed as leverage to arrive at a joint energy exploration agreement in the South China Sea.
Business World Online

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

Preparations underway for Duterte-Xi meeting in Manila
Preparations for the first-ever state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines next month are underway. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua made this remark in his courtesy call to President Rodrigo Duterte at Malacañang Palace last Monday.
Philippine News Agency

PH passport ranks 75th worldwide
The Philippine passport ranked 75th in the latest world’s most powerful passport list according to a global ranking body. The 2018 Henley Passport Index showed that the Philippine passport has visa-free access to only 66 destinations.
Manila Bulletin

PH envoy: Veloso an unlikely topic in Duterte-Widodo meet
Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Leehiong Wee said that the case of Filipina Mary Jane Veloso will unlikely be discussed when President Duterte and President Joko Widodo meet here Thursday.
Manila Bulletin

Cayetano seeks deeper ties with EU states
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday underscored the need for the Philippines and Europe to deepen their engagement for better understanding of each other's countries.
Philippine News Agency

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

House starts deliberation on bill increasing pay for nightshift BPO workers
The House Committee on Labor and Employment started on Wednesday its deliberation on the bill increasing to 25 percent from 10 percent the night shift premium pay in business process outsourcing (BPO) firms.
Manila Bulletin

Bahrain 'regularizes' stay of undocumented OFWs: DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said the Bahrain government has facilitated the "regularization" of undocumented Filipino workers in the Arab state. The initiative will allow the Philippine Embassy in Manama to purchase two-month visas to give undocumented Filipinos time to seek employment and regularize their stay.
Philippine News Agency

TRANSPORTATION

House approves taxi passengers’ ‘bill of rights’
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill of rights for taxi passengers that will be the transportation service standards in the country. With 204 affirmative votes and zero negative, the Lower House passed House Bill 7774 or the Bill of Rights of Taxi, Tourist Car Transport Service and Vehicle for Hire for Passengers.”
Manila Bulletin

UK audit firm to monitor Grab’s operations
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has selected United Kingdom-based auditing firm, Smith & Williamson, to monitor the operations of ridesharing firm Grab Philippines.
Philippine News Agency

DOTr eyes bigger subsidy for jeepney drivers
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking to buy old jeepney units to give owners more funds for new vehicles. DOTr Assistant Secretary Mark de Leon said Wednesday his office was eyeing a bigger subsidy for drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV), as the price of modern jeepneys has gone up.
CNN Philippines

HEALTH 

Palace thanks Senate approval of the Universal Health Care Bill
Malacañang has thanked the Senate for the approval of the “landmark” bill providing affordable and quality health services to Filipinos.
Manila Bulletin

AGRICULTURE

Duterte certifies as urgent bill imposing tariff on rice
President Duterte has appealed to Congress to swiftly pass a priority bill imposing tariffs on rice in place of import quotas.
Manila Bulletin

Use rice tariffs to boost rural productivity — Recto
Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday urged the government to ensure that the country’s farmers will not be left out as it opened the importation of rice to private traders.
Manila Bulletin

Rural school’s role in agriculture
Dr. Frank D. Gorrez, PhD, an agronomist who graduated from UP Los Baños, shares with us a farming syllabus that he helped develop with the Shalom Science Institute for teachers, students and farmers in Banago, Balabagan, Lanao Del Sur, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.
Philippine Star

OPINION: Beyond Rice Tarrification
The Philippine government is now entering into a tariff-based regime with the expected lifting of the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice after three extensions granted by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The first QR extension was 1995 to 2005 followed by the second extension from 2005-2012 (17 years of special treatment).
ABS-CBN News

EDUCATION

DepEd engages in bilateral partnerships for better basic education
Recognizing the need to collaborate with various communities to address pressing concerns in the education sector, the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to enhance its international partnerships in basic education.
Manila Bulletin

ENERGY

Sen. Gatchalian asks gov’t to explore untapped oil and gas for energy self-sufficiency
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said the Duterte administration must be more aggressive in its pursuit of energy self-sufficiency by launching an aggressive program to explore and develop the country’s untapped oil and natural gas resources.
Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror

POVERTY

Filipino families who say they’re poor increased, says SWS
The rate of families considering themselves poor was up by four points to 52 percent, as shown in the third quarter of 2018 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results released on Wednesday.
Manila Bulletin

No family will go hungry, gov’t assures after SWS survey of increased poor families
The government has vowed to bring food on the table of poor families following a latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing more families have classified themselves as poor.
Manila Bulletin

HOUSING

TOURISM

Duterte has no plans to see Boracay reopening
President Duterte has no plans to visit Boracay once it is reopened to tourists following a six-month rehabilitation effort.
Manila Bulletin

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Hundreds of clandestine small-scale mines in Itogon closed
The National Task Force on Mining Challenge (NTF-MC) continues to implement the Cease and Desist Order (CDO) of all small-scale mining activities in the region that was issued by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Sept. 17.
Philippine News Agency

DoF still hoping to get its way on mining royalty
THE DEPARTMENT of Finance (DoF) will continue to push for its version of a new fiscal regime for the mining industry as the legislation moves forward through Congress, an official said Wednesday. The House ways and means committee approved on Monday a tax reform bill that diluted the DoF’s original proposal to make it more acceptable to the mining industry.
Business World Online

Biomass expert harnesses uplands’, nipa’s potentials
CRAIG JAMIESON may have been in the Philippines for only six years, yet he already considers this country as his very own home. He had been to other parts of the world, but he chose to reside here after the United Kingdom, particularly  in Harpenden, Hertfordshire,  where he was born.
Business Mirror

Not much time left
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released this week its most alarming report yet on climate change. It said that damage to the planet would be irreparable should the world fail to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within the next 12 years.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Jobs or environment? 
Jobs or environment? The firm answer by environmental advocates is both. One can clean up the environment while preserving existing jobs or creating new and better ones.
Business Mirror

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Guevarra assures participation of foreign players for 3rd telco
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has assured foreign companies may compete in the country’s search for its third telecommunications player. “Foreign equity participation in public utilities is allowed under the 1987 Constitution, provided it complies with the 60-40 equity requirement,” the Secretary told reporters.
Manila Bulletin

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR