NPAs declared ‘persona non grata’ by NoCot villagers
Officials and residents of Barangay Datu Ladayon, Arakan, North Cotabato, had declared communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels as "persona non grata" or unwelcome, unacceptable people. The declaration was issued during a peace rally held at the village on Sunday.
Philippine News Agency, Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Be ready for new way to end insurgency, Madrigal told
President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday ordered new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, to be ready to take on a new approach to ending local communist armed conflict in the country. Duterte made this remark during Madrigal’s assumption of command ceremony, which coincided with the AFP’s 83rd anniversary at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Philippine News Agency

EO 70 is a thin veil to conceal Duterte’s brutal war
Malacañang yesterday announced Duterte’s issuance of Executive Order No. 70 forming the National Task Force which he will head with the declared aim of ending the armed revolution through the “whole-of-nation” approach and “delivery of basic services” to supposedly “address the root causes” of the armed conflict.
PRWC

Duterte: Gov’t now switching to civilian-led tactic to address insurgency
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday said the government is now shifting to a civilian-led approach in addressing communism in the country. In his speech during the change of command rites at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Duterte said his Executive Order No. 70 will tap government agencies and the private sector to bring basic services to the countryside and address the root causes of rebellion.
Philippine Daily Inquirer, CNN Philippines

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How one ship might have changed the course of the Marcos Regime
Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New Peoples’ Army, asked for arms and monetary support from China’s communist Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. Famed geologist and left-wing revolutionary Rolando Peña navigated the MV Karagatan, a wooden-hulled boat consigned to carry arms from Fukien to the Philippines in 1972. The arms landing was intercepted by the Philippine military. A second arms landing was undertaken in 1974, this time aboard a ship called the MV Andrea. Peña was aboard the ship when it hit the Pratas reef, and a series of almost comical misfortunes befell the beleaguered crew. Below is his account of events as they unfolded.
ABS-CBN News Channel

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NDF consultant’s wife set free as fiscal finds charges ‘preposterous’
Peace advocate Patricia Cora Casambre, wife of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Rey Casambre, was released from detention on Tuesday afternoon, after the city prosecutor found the allegation against the couple “preposterous.”
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Army in Panay not letting guard down this holiday season
Troops of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) will remain in offensive mode despite the announcement of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) for a unilateral ceasefire during parts of the Christmas holidays.
Philippine News Agency

PNP gives commanders discretion to raise alert level for Holidays security, reds truce
The Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership will be giving its commanders the authority to raise the alert level in their respective areas in time for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Manila Bulletin

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DND Task Force Balik-Loob launches Christmas campaign
The Department of National Defense (DND) Task Force Balik-Loob (TFBL) launched Monday its “Balik Loob, Balik Pamilya: Paskong Kay Saya” Christmas campaign – a collection of video infomercials, radio mini-dramas and messages for rebels.
Manila Bulletin

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AFP not discounting NPA threats vs. DepEd officials
The military is not discounting the possibility that some Department of Education (DepEd) officials and personnel were threatened by the New People's Army (NPA) to allow the operation of Salugpungan schools in the Davao Region. This was stated by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato in a message to the Philippine News Agency Monday.
Philippine News Agency

DepEd, AFP monitor community schools
An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday the department is closely working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to monitor community schools reported as "breeding grounds" for future members of New People's Army (NPA). "We are closely working with the AFP because this is not just an issue of education, national security also," DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said in an ambush interview.
Philippine News Agency

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MEMBERS OF NPA ORGANIZED MILITIAS AND UNDERGROUND MASS ORGANIZATION SURRENDERED; CONDEMN NPA IN SAMAR
On December 08, 2018, twenty three (23) members of Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) and four (4) Milisya ng Bayan of the Communists-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) surrendered during Peace Rally at Brgy Concepcion, Paranas, Samar. Lieutenant Colonel JIMMY V JIMENEZ INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer, 14th Infantry Battalion, said “The success of the counter-insurgency campaign of the unit in our Area of Operation snowballed into the surrender of NPA members, militias and CNTs UGMO in the red areas and encouraged other communities to take a stand”.
Kalinaw News (AFP - CMO Military Regiment)

Peace Talks

Incidents/ Operations  

MARAWI

New AFP chief Madrigal: Never again to attacks like the Marawi siege
Never again to attacks on the Filipino people such as the Marawi siege. Newly appointed Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal made this promise on Tuesday during the Change of Command ceremonies that paved the way for his formal assumption as head of the military, replacing General Carlito Galvez, Jr.
GMA News

Lawmakers visit Marawi to assess rehab works
A delegation of lawmakers from the Lower House visited this city Monday to inspect the 250-hectare "most affected area" (MAA) here. The lawmakers, who are members of the Subcommittee on Marawi Rehabilitation and Reconstruction under the House Committee on Disaster Management, also inspected the 39-hectare site in Brgy. Kilala where some 2,000 units of permanent housing--to be funded by San Miguel Foundation--will be built.
Philippine News Agency

SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE WORLD      

UK: Anger over terrorism conviction for "Stansted 15' activists
A group of activists who stopped a deportation flight from leaving the United Kingdom to Africa 18 months ago have been convicted of criminal charges linked to terrorism offences. The so-called "Stansted 15" say they were convinced the lives of the people on the flight would have been in danger if they had been deported.
Aljazeera

Over 10,000 people involved in terrorist activities banned from entering Russia in 2018
Over 10,000 people suspected of being involved in terrorist and extremist activities were banned from entering Russia in 2018, Federal Security Service (FSB) Director and National Antiterrorism Committee Chairman Alexander Bortnikov said at a Committee meeting on Tuesday.
Russian News Agency (TASS)

EU Countries Oppose Return of 'ISIS Widows, Orphans' from Syria
Countries such as Russia, Indonesia and Sudan have accepted the return of their ISIS’s widows and orphans in Syria, but Western countries, such as the United States, Britain and France are refusing to accept them back, according to the National Public Radio (NPR), a US privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization.
Asharq Al-Awsat

UN decries series of terrorism on S. Libya
The wave of assaults southern Libya is suffering from was decried on Monday by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). In a statement, the Mission expressed "its strong condemnation of Sunday's consecutive, but unrelated, attacks against civilians and facilities in the South of Libya and calls on the Libyan authorities to take prompt and effective actions against the lawlessness engulfing the region."
MENAFN

How AlQaeda and ISIS Teach Central Asian Children: Different Methods, Common Goals
Some Western countries mistakenly think that the al Qaida-linked Salafi-jihadi groups from Central Asia and Chinese Xinjiang are fragmented, weak and less dynamic; therefore they do not pose a big threat compared to the Islamic state.However, in-depth study of their activities and ideological doctrine shows that the Central Asian al Qaida ally groups today are actively engaged in the ideological education of children and youth, which in the future will become faithful fighters of the global jihad.
Modern Diplomacy

Another year of unresolved terror in Bangladesh
Threats to Bangladesh’s internal security continue to emanate from groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State (IS). The key groups operating in Bangladesh are the Jamma’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Ansar al-Islam. An IS-centric offshoot of JMB, often referred to as the Neo-JMB, is also active. Despite sustained counter-terrorism operations, these groups continue to adapt to the evolving security environment and form new alliances.
East Asia Forum

A Conversation with Petter Nesser on Foiled Terrorist Plots – Part 1
Petter Nesser is a senior researcher at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment’s Terrorism Research Group. He is the author of “Islamist Terrorism in Europe: A History” (C. Hurst & Co, 2015). He is a political scientist, historian and Arabist, educated at the University of Oslo (UiO) and The American University in Cairo (AUC). Dr Nesser has conducted extensive research on European jihadism for more than a decade, concentrating on why and how terrorist cells emerge and how they operate.
European Eye on Radicalization

Trump approves strategy on combating WMD terrorism
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday approved the National Strategy for Countering WMD Terrorism, in a bid to counter extremist groups' attempt to use Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) against the United States. According to a statement issued by the White House, the new strategy marked Trump's "decisive step" to counter WMD threat posed by terrorists against the United States by highlighting "the urgency of placing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons beyond the reach of the world's most dangerous people."
Xinhua
 

Galvez to join Cabinet as new Presidential adviser on peace process
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Carlito Galvez Jr. will join the Cabinet next week as the new Presidential adviser on the peace process, President Duterte said Tuesday. The President announced the new government post of Galvez as he congratulated him on a “successful tour of duty” as military chief.
Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Business World Online, ABS-CBN News

Local execs favor extension of ML in Mindanao
Officials on Tuesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to extend the martial law in Mindanao not just for one more year but until his term ends in 2022. Members of the Lamitan City council said they do not oppose an extension of the martial in Mindanao that the President declared immediately after the May 23, 2017 siege of Marawi City by combined Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists.
NDBC News

BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW

From Darapanan to ARMM to BARMM: thousands rally for “Yes” to Bangsamoro
The campaign period for the plebiscite to ratify RA 11054 or the Bangsamoro law began Friday but the Peace Implementing Panels of the Government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) opted for an “official launch” of the campaign Monday inside the compound of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the 28-year old institution that would be abolished upon the ratification of the law creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Mindanews, Luwaran

Over 150,000 ex-MILF fighters to vote in Bangsamoro plebiscite
More than 150,000 former combatants from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) registered to take part in the plebiscite to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), said Commission on Elections (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez on Tuesday, December 11.
Rappler

Massive support shown in BOL campaign launch
Hundred of thousands of supporters of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) flocked to Cotabato City for the kickoff rally on Monday December 10 to officially launch the massive campaign for the law. Clad in green shirts printed with “Yes to BOL”, the participants occupied the compound of the ARMM and both lanes of the 676-meter Gov. Gutierrez Avenue leading to the venue were closed to traffic from early morning up to noontime.
Luwaran

MILF questions 'efforts to block residents' from Bangsamoro event
Leaders from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Tuesday, December 11, questioned the "efforts" of some local officials from Cotabato City who supposedly prevented residents from participating in a campaign event held in support of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Rappler

Lidasan: The opportunities and challenges of a Bangsamoro vision
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued Resolution No. 10425, which sets December 7 to January 19 as the campaign period for the January 21, 2019 plebiscite to ratify Republic Act 11054 (Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-OLBARMM) within the core territory. OLBARMM or Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is a product of the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB).
Sunstar Davao

BoL last chance to peace, says Murad
The Bangsamoro Organic Law (BoL), which Congress passed in July, provides the last opportunity to achieve lasting peace in Muslim Mindanao, Hadji Murad Ibramim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said. He was addressing thousands of residents and peace supporters gathered in a huge assembly here on Monday.
Manila Standard

Japan mulls financial aid to Bangsamoro body
The Japanese government is planning to modify its existing support to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for the establishment of the new Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda said Tuesday. "The new BTA that will replace the ARMM government needs to be well supported financially, and in terms of capacity building," he said during the Bangsamoro Forum in Makati City.
Philippine News Agency

MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO CITY

Father, son wounded in Maguindanao shooting
Authorities are on the lookout for a male suspect, who shot and injured a father and his five-year-old son in the Maguindanao town of Pagalungan Monday.
Philippine News Agency

LANAO PROVINCES

BASILAN

SULU 

Duterte eyeing a visit to Jolo, Sulu soon to bond with gov’t troops
President Duterte is eyeing a visit to Jolo, Sulu soon to bond with government troops in the area. The President said his upcoming Jolo visit would coincide with the deployment of a new military division to the province to address security threats.
Manila Bulletin

TAWI-TAWI 

DRUGS

DOJ asks court to turn witness Kerwin’s drug co-defendant
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has sought to turn as state witness a co-accused of self-confessed drug lord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa in a drug case he is facing before a Manila court. DOJ’s state prosecutors have filed on Monday a motion asking Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 to discharge accused Marcelo Adorco as state witness.
Manila Bulletin

Pro-medical marijuana group thanks GMA for support
Patients and volunteers from the Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society (PCCS) made a poignant impression on House Speaker, former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Tuesday as they pushed for the passage of the measure granting lawful access to medical marijuana.
Manila Bulletin

Westmincom personnel undergo random drug test
 Some 409 personnel of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) headquarters here tested negative in a random drug test, military officials said Tuesday. Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, Westmincom information officer, said the drug test was conducted on Monday at Camp Navarro gymnasium by the Task Force Moses of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Philippine News Agency

Operations/ Incidents

P25M worth of ‘shabu’ seized in Central Visayas
The Central Visayas Police have scored a huge catch of “shabu” weighing over three kilograms and worth about P25 million in a series of big-time operations against illegal drugs over the weekend. Police said on Tuesday that 254 drug suspects were arrested in the string of operations. At least 23 of them were in the drug watch list.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Police nabs ex-convict anew for 'selling shabu'
Police arrested on Monday afternoon an ex-convict for allegedly selling shabu, the same crime that he was charged with five years ago. Crispin Merced Lumaya, 38, single, of San Jose Extension, Taclobo, Dumaguete City, fell in a buy-bust operation held by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) headed by Senior Insp. Van Joel Tingson, under the supervision of the city police chief, Supt. Jonathan Pineda.
Philippine News Agency

Big-time drug pusher nabbed in Ligao City
A big-time drug pusher was nabbed Tuesday morning by anti-narcotics operatives who seized from him close to PHP400,000 worth of suspected shabu in a drug operation in Ligao City. Chief Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Police Regional Office-5 (PRO-5) spokesperson, identified the suspect as Dennis Valencia alias Choy, a notorious drug peddler from Barangay Abella in Ligao.
Philippine News Agency

5 pushers nabbed in SoCot raids
Police arrested five suspected drug pushers while another reportedly eluded arrest in a series of raids on Monday in Polomolok town, South Cotabato province. Senior Supt. Joel Limson, South Cotabato police director, said Tuesday the raids were in line with the "one time, big time" operation launched by joint operatives in Barangays Poblacion and Lumakil in Polomolok.
Philippine News Agency

Recovery and Rehabilitation  

130 drug surrenderers complete rehab program in Iloilo City
An additional 130 drug surrenderers from the seven districts of this city received their certificates of completion after finishing the community drug rehabilitation program of the city government here Monday.
Philippine News Agency

ILLICIT FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION

Man nabbed with gun at Cotabato BOL campaign launch
Security forces nabbed a 33-year-old man for bringing a gun at the gathering of thousands of people at the campaign launching of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) here Monday. Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director, identified the suspect as Mohaimen Burong Nurol, 33, of Barangay Punod, Tangcal, Lanao del Norte.
Philippine News Agency

2 killed in buy-bust of firearms in Navotas
Two unidentified suspects were killed in a buy-bust operation of firearms launched by the police in Navotas City Tuesday. Operatives of the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) of the Northern Police District, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and Navotas City Police Station conducted the operation at around 4:15 a.m.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CROSS-BORDER TRADING/ SMUGGLING  

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

ILLICIT FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

Duterte to new AFP chief Madrigal: Sustain progress in keeping peace, order
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday ordered new Armed Forces chief Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal to build on the gains of his predecessors to ensure that the country is peaceful and secure.
GMA News

Paolo Duterte's anti-administration list 'fake news' – Lorenzana
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday, December 11, dismissed as "fake news" presidential son Paolo Duterte's list of personalities, groups, and business establishments allegedly conniving to unseat President Rodrigo Duterte.
Rappler

‘Ano ba talaga, kuya?’ Nancy Binay hits Paolo Duterte's 'unvalidated' list
Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday, December 11, called out presidential son Paolo Duterte for releasing an unvalidated list of alleged destabilizers which, she said, reflected the "sorry state" of intelligence-gathering in the country.
Rappler

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Historic church bells finally arrive in PH after 117 years
AFTER 117 years, the three church bells which were turned into war booty by American forces have finally arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, December 11. “After years of waiting and uncertainty, this season of Advent, the season of waiting, is yielding us an early Christmas gift—the return of the Bells of Balangiga. God has shown great favor to our local Church and, by extension, to our country,” said Reverend Crispin Varquez, the bishop of Borongan.
Sunstar Tacloban, Manila Bulletin

CBCP thanks gov’t, Duterte for efforts in reclaiming Balangiga bells
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has expressed its gratitude to the government and President Duterte for their vigorous efforts in reclaiming the Church’s priceless religious treasures, the Balangiga bells.
Manila Bulletin

Duterte 'strong political will' led to Balangiga Bells' return: Palace
President Rodrigo Duterte's "strong political will" paved the way for the return of church bells that were seized by US troops from Balangiga town as war bounty 117 years ago, his spokesman said Tuesday.
ABS-CBN News

Balangiga bells reminders of Filipinos’ gallantry, heroism, national pride – Palace
The Filipino nation will always assert its sovereignty and reject any subjugation by any foreign power, the Philippine government told the international community following the historic return of the Balangiga bells to the country.
Manila Bulletin

Return of Balingaga Bells ‘signficant step in correcting historical wrong’ – Hontiveros
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said Tuesday the return of the Balangiga bells seized by American troops as war trophies during the Philippine-American War marks an important milestone in Philippine history.
Manila Bulletin

'Indescribable feeling,' says descendant of Filipino who rang Balangiga bell in 1901
Balangiga town resident Nemesio Duran, 81, craned his neck from his seat at the grandstand at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, for his first glimpse of the Balangiga Bells that he had thought he wasn’t going to see anymore.
Rappler

Keep one Balangiga bell at National Museum, senator urges
With the return of the Balangiga bells to the country, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has asked the government to “share with the Filipino people” one of the country’s historic relics by placing it in the National Museum.
Manila Bulletin

Opposition senatorial bets welcome return of Balangiga bells
Three senatorial candidates from the opposition on Tuesday welcomed the historic return of the Balangiga bells to the Philippines. Oposisyon Koalisyon’s senatorial bets Florin Hilbay, Romulo Macalintal, and Chel Diokno issued their statements about the return of the three bells after 117 years.
Manila Bulletin

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Robredo hails restoration of P100 million to OVP’s 2019 budget
Vice President Leni Robredo is elated over the restoration of P100 million to her office’s budget for 2019. This, after the Senate swiftly approved the P547.6-million appropriation for the Office of the Vice President next year. The amount was the original proposed budget for Robredo’s office.
Manila Bulletin

DISASTER

Czech Republic donates P6.66 M for ‘Ompong’ rehab
The Czech Republic has donated some P6.66 million for the rehabilitation of the settlements in Northern Luzon that were ravaged by Typhoon “Ompong” in September, 2018. In a statement on Tuesday, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila said the six-month project will be implemented by United States-based non-government organization “Build Change” in areas most affected by the typhoon, such as the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and the Ilocos Region.
Manila Bulletin

MINDANAO

Davao expects more demand for Chinese-speaking tour guides
Demand for Chinese-speaking tour guides is expected to grow with the opening of direct flights between Davao City and Quanzhou, China by Xiamen Airlines on December 18, City Tourism Office head Generose Tecson said on Tuesday.
Mindanews

ELECTION RELATED

Election-related Violence

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

House approves draft federal constitution
The House of Representatives approved on 3rd and final reading the resolution that seeks to shift the Philippines to a federal system of government. Legislators voted 224-22-3 in favor of Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 15 on Tuesday, December 11, a week after the House approved the resolution on 2nd reading.
Rappler, Manila Bulletin

'Pinakawalanghiya': Opposition hits House's draft charter
Opposition lawmakers denounced the House of Representatives' approval of its controversial draft federal constitution, with one congressman calling it the "most shameless" among all charter change attempts in the country.
Rappler

Con-com spokesman blasts House approval of Arroyo’s draft federal Charter
The draft federal Charter principally authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “should go straight to the trash bin.” Former Consultative Committee (Con-com) spokesman Ding Generoso aired this sentiment on Tuesday after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading its controversial draft that would replace the prevailing 1987 Constitution and pave the way for a shift to federalism.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

JUDICIARY

LEGISLATIVE

DBM assailed over P75-B ‘insertion’ in proposed national budget for 2019
It’s not P51 billion, but a whopping P75 billion that the Department of Budget Management (DBM) allegedly “inserted” in the proposed 2019 national budget – a development the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is not aware of.
Manila Bulletin

Probe ‘pork’ in 2019 budget, Lacson urges Ombudsman
It is now time for the Office of the Ombudsman to flex its powers over the realignment of billions of pesos worth of suspected pork barrel in the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019.
Manila Bulletin

No more time to pass 2019 P3.757-trillion budget in Senate this year – Zubiri
Senate will not be able to pass the P3.757-trillion proposed 2019 national budget within the year, unless President Duterte would ask for a special session during the Chrismas break. Senate Majority Juan Miguel Zubiri admitted this Tuesday as he cited the Upper Chamber’s lack of time to debate on the items of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) with the holding of a joint session regarding the Mindanao martial law.
Manila Bulletin

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs)

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

PRRD awards 500 houses to Scout Rangers
Living up to his promise to provide decent and affordable housing units for the uniformed personnel, President Duterteturned over an initial 500 housing units to Army Scout Rangers Monday.
Manila Bulletin

ECONOMY AND INVESTMENTS

Philippines to become 18th largest economy by 2037 — report
The Philippines is expected to become the 18th largest economy in the world over the next twenty years, Capital Economics reported, citing the Southeast Asian nation’s young workforce. In its “Long-Term Global Economic Outlook” report released last week, the London-based economic research consultancy forecasts the Philippines’ nominal gross domestic product to hit $1.414 trillion by 2037.
Philippine Star

Peso rebounds on easing concerns over US rate hike
The Philippine peso rebounded against the US dollar on Tuesday, following easing concerns of a US rate hike. The local currency gained 3 centavos to close Tuesday at P52.77:$1 versus Monday's finish of P52.8:$1. In an email interview, Land Bank of the Philippines market economist Guian Angelo Dumalagan said the peso's strength was driven by easing concerns over the possible US rate hike this month.
GMA News

US top market for PH exports, China top supplier of imports
The United States was the top market of the country’s export products valued at $999.86 million in October 2018 while China was the biggest supplier of import products worth $2.12 billion in the same period, data released on Tuesday by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
Mindanews

Agri reforms needed to attract FDI — AmCham
THE Philippines needs to reform its agriculture sector to attract foreign investors and boost economic growth, according to an official with the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham).
Business World Online

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

DPWH taps Project Noah maps to identify hazard areas, no-build zones
As part of the guidelines of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), maps from the UP National Operational Assessment of Hazards (Project Noah) will be used as reference for acquiring permits and certifications for projects.
Rappler

OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

FOREIGN RELATIONS  

West Philippine Sea

LABOR

TRANSPORTATION

HEALTH 

DOH says suspension on Dengvaxia likely to remain
The Department of Health (DOH) said that the suspension on the product registration of the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine, which is set to expire on December 29, will not likely be lifted.
Manila Bulletin

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Usapang Bigas: FOI Practice on Availability, Price Stability, and Importation of Rice
The Right to Know, Right Now! (R2KRN) Coalition has been a staunch advocate for the passage of the FOI Law since it was convened in 2002, initially as the Access to Information Network (ATIN), before expanding into R2KRN in 2009. It is the main civil-society network that engages both the executive and legislative fronts.
PCIJ

EDUCATION

DepEd assures teachers of bonuses, allowance hike
An official of the Department of Education (DepEd) assured on Monday that all teachers and personnel will receive their bonuses for the year. "We will make sure that everyone will receive the anniversary bonus, this is PHP3,000. That's all employees. Also, the year-end bonus," DepEd Undersecretary Finance-Budget and Performance Monitoring Annalyn Sevilla said in a press briefing.
Philippine News Agency

ENERGY

Energy World revives talks with lenders for Pagbilao project funding
THE local unit of Australia-listed Energy World Corp. Ltd. (EWC) has revived talks with lenders to finance the completion of its 650 megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas-fired power plant after it has received certification from the government that the project is one of national significance.
Business World Online

POVERTY

HOUSING

TOURISM

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY

House panel OKs move to transfer controlling interest of Mislatel to consortium partners
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises has approved a concurrent resolution seeking the transfer of the controlling interest of Mindanao Islamic Telephone Company, Inc. (Mislatel) to its three other consortium partners.
Manila Bulletin

DEVELOPMENT SECTOR