PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS - MARCH 2, 2005.

MANILA, March 2 Asia Pulse - Highlights of today's newspapers:

MANILA TIMES:

- Dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) said Tuesday its net profit more than doubled to P28 billion ($512 million) in 2004, beating analyst forecasts for P22 to P25 billion.

- A mild El Nio weather disturbance has already affected some 15,345 hectares of farmland in Bukidnon, and 3,108 hectares in Misamis Oriental, the Department of Agriculture said.

- The Philippine automotive industry and government lawyers are in a bind on whether to file a motion for reconsideration at the Court of Appeals or go straight to the Supreme Court over a February ruling by the appellate court allowing the unimpeded importation of used vehicles, an industry source said.

- The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) is eyeing the National Development Co. (NDC) to take over the implementation of a $107.7-million (P5.9-billion) Laguindingan airport development project in Misamis Oriental to address budget cover constraints, according to a document obtained by The Manila Times.

- The Philippines is slated to finalize anytime this year two bilateral trade agreementsthe Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) and the Early Harvest Program (EHP) with China.