Philippines

The 18th round of RCEP negotiations began yesterday in Manila as civil society organisations express deep concern about the mega trade agreement being negotiated secretly by 16 nations, including the 10 ASEAN members plus Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, China and India, spanning 50% of the world population and 29% of the world’s GDP.

Key project partners representing PSI affiliates from the Philippines, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa came together in Manila on November 28-30 to showcase project achievements, identify current and future challenges and discuss the next phase of PSI’s programme on migration and refugees.

More than 80 participants representing trade unions, farming communities, indigenous peoples, health networks, women’s organisations, academia and civil society organizations met on 27-28 July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to take stock of the new generation of mega regional FTAs emerging in the region.

The website of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has no mention of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on which officials from 16 countries, including India, met for a round of secret trade talks in Brunei from 15-19 February. This mega Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to be concluded by the end of 2016.

Education International has published a new study on the extent of for-profit education in the Philippines. "Corporatised Education in the Philippines: Pearson, Ayala corporation, and the emergence of affordable private education systems" details how private secondary schools are growing at an alarming rate.

Around 40 members of health sector affiliates from across Asia and the Pacific met in Manila, Philippines on 7-8 September to discuss issues affecting healthcare systems and healthcare workers in the region and to look for ways to strengthen their campaigns and actions through working together.