Monthly Archives: November 2009

MANILA, Philippines – The National Geographic Magazine had named the Philippines as “One of 25 Best New Travel Destinations in the World in 2010” and the country’s ancient cultures, structures and biodiversity were cited as key reasons to visit the archipelago.

MANILA, Philippines—If Filipinos are wondering how government officials and employees become millionaires overnight, buying expensive cars, moving to upscale homes, or taking frequent trips abroad, the answers can be partly found by checking their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

The President says that as a trained economist, she firmly believes in the sanctity of the free market. And yet she has become the most interventionist leader since the crony days of Marcos.

The respected and world-renowned scientific agency has spoken on a controversy regarding research data, methodology and analysis. Quick, bring in some Catholic bishops to refute it on “moral” grounds.

LEFTIST party-list groups are divided over a dispute at the Hacienda Luisita, the candidacy of Senator Benigno Aquino III, one of its owners, and the future of agrarian reform.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) has issued guidelines stating that any business, firm or establishment violating any of the provisions of Republic Act 9231 more than three times may be ordered closed by the secretary or the regional directors.

MANILA, Philippines – Armed with P45 billion in investible funds, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the state-owned pension fund, has embarked on a buying spree of select blue chips the past several weeks after unloading the bulk of its investments last year and in 2007.

MANILA, Philippines – More Filipino families consider themselves poor in the past three months, according to a latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Ace Style Intimate Apparel Ltd. will hire 900 more workers to beef up its workforce for three to six months amid the seasonal surge in demand from the United States for the company’s high-end lingerie.

THE World Bank says the Philippine economy will grow by 1.4 percent this year despite the global economic crisis that pushed many countries into recession, but warns the destruction caused by three recent storms will push more than a million Filipinos into poverty.

An Act Granting Cooperative Member-Workers the Right to Self-Organization,Amending for this Purpose Certain Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 442, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Labor Code of the Philippines Includes “cooperatives” and “cooperative members” in the definition of “employer” and “employee”, respectively in Article 212 (e) and (f) and “cooperatives” in the coverage and…

MANILA, Nov. 4 (PNA) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has increased its benefits for normal spontaneous deliveries done in all accredited hospitals and lying-in clinics in the country effective this month.

Can ordinary courts assume jurisdiction over a dispute concerning the terms and conditions of employment under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)? This is the question resolved in this case of Patty and several other female flight attendants-labor union members in an airline company (PAL).

FOLLOWUP: Our Postscript last Tuesday (“Pinoys abroad treated to distorted TV news”) elicited spirited discussion among readers, so I decided to pursue the subject with this borrowed piece on Filipinos being rated in a survey as the world’s 14th happiest people.

MANILA, Philippines – Oil industry sources disclosed yesterday that some oil companies are forced to close several service stations due to losses in revenues caused by the implementation of Executive Order 839 that mandated a freeze of pump prices in Luzon following the devastation of recent typhoons.

MANILA, Philippines – The World Bank has upgraded its growth forecast for the Philippines this year, reversing an earlier estimate of a 0.3-percent contraction to an expansion of 1.4 percent, as it noted that an expected global economic recovery would further lift the inflow of remittances, boost exports and encourage consumer spending.

Workers are the primary social and economic force. However, they are the most vulnerable to the negative impacts of stiff competition and volatile economic conditions. When some enterprises go under, the creditors and government are the first to get their claims against bankrupt businesses.

creasingly global epidemic, plaguing more people in developing countries where mortality rates are higher and many lack access to care, US researchers warned Monday.

MANILA, Philippines—Former Dubai-based bus driver Lisandro feels less awkward despite having been on the road on a passenger seat for over 10 hours. He and 136 male bus drivers have grown accustomed away from the steering wheel since having been stranded in Dubai for three months before coming home April.

WASHINGTON—The fight against acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in developing countries is facing a drastic funding shortfall amid rapidly rising treatment and prevention costs during the global financial crisis, experts said Tuesday.

CEBU, Philippines – Two Cebu congressmen have been very vocal about their opposition to the proposed Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008, saying they will continue to lobby against the bill in the succeeding sessions of the lower house.

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines has urged the Commission on Higher Education to reveal the names of the 177 schools with substandard nursing education so that parents and nursing students may be guided accordingly.

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang disputed yesterday the findings of a group, which was accredited to administer English proficiency tests that the skill of Filipinos on the language is deteriorating.

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang rejected yesterday calls from various business groups for the lifting of the Luzon-wide price freeze on petroleum products.

Concerned government agencies must work together Manila, Philippines (27 Oct. 2009) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) must inspect removal, handling and disposal of asbestos to ensure the health and safety of workers, their families and the public, said the Associated Labor Unions (ALU),…

ILO Global Wage Report 2009 download here

GENEVA (ILO News) – Global growth in real wages slowed dramatically in 2008 as a result of the economic crisis and is expected to drop even further this year despite signs of a possible economic recovery, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said today.

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The US Federal Reserve is unlikely to raise key interest rates this week or unwind emergency support as the economy starts a tough recovery from recession, analysts say.

A landfill that will take in about 40 percent of Metro Manila’s garbage has qualified to receive cash under the carbon finance program of rich countries.

MORE Philippine households opted to rack up debt to cope with the global financial crisis, according to state-run Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS). In a presentation, Celia Reyes, PIDS senior research fellow, said the most common coping strategy adopted by households was to borrow money at 39.4 percent of survey respondents.