Monthly Archives: April 2010

The government will roll out the new Motor Vehicle Development Program (MVDP) by mid-June, Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus said.

THE government said non-life insurance companies have paid up only a fraction of the total claims made by clients who were hard hit by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Most of the business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the country plan to increase their workforce, but the lack of qualified workers worries them.

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources expressed alarm over the country’s food security—not for lack supply, but because of increasing demand.

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is recommending the expansion of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program to benefit more poor Filipino households.

No progress has been made by the Philippines in achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations since 2007, a high-ranking UN official said on Wednesday.

Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos of Ilocos Norte on Wednesday warned government officials and business owners of mounting unrest among the ranks of workers because of the allegedly constant rejection of their proposed wage increases.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and its allied government and private sector entities have arrived at contingency measures to ensure adequate power for the May 10 automated elections.

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development defended its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from accusations that it is being used by local candidates for their election campaigns.

CEBU, Philippines – Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza yesterday said their concerns are not only the issues related to labor, but also the need to improve the health services to the people in the barangays.

SURE WINNER?: Concern was expressed by a number of readers reacting to our Postscript of April 25 calling attention to propaganda that the only way Candidate X, who thinks he is a sure winner, to lose is for him to be cheated.

The highest incidence of poverty is found in our agriculture and fishing sectors, according to the National Economic Development Authority statistics. Oxfam, in their 2008 report Harnessing Agriculture for Development, pointed out: “Across a wide spectrum of countries…from Cambodia and the Philippines to Pakistan…investment in agriculture is still considered highly relevant due to the high…

Starting today, The STAR is running a series on the party list organizations and their nominees, based on official records submitted to the Comelec.

MANILA, Philippines – Millions of Asian and African women workers remain at high risk of exploitation and violence, especially in the Middle East, despite reforms in countries hosting a large number of migrant workers.

WASHINGTON – Filipino politicians have one of the worst records in Southeast Asia for stiffing the poor, coddling the rich and indulging themselves, The Washington Post said.

ASIDE from producing safe food products, organic agriculture can also help halt global warming. Dr. Rodel Maghirang of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños said organic agriculture is a production system that promotes health of soil, ecosystems and people.

We tend to take small things—and people—for granted. I’m guessing the boys would know the name of the building receptionist, but do you know the custodian cleaning your floor or the guard downstairs? Pathetically, I don’t either.

For the last time during her incumbency, President Gloria Arroyo on Tuesday met with leaders of labor groups in the country in what was seen as a kick-off for the country’s celebration of Labor Day, May 1.

BEIJING, China—China announced Tuesday that it had lifted travel restrictions for foreigners with HIV and AIDS ahead of the 2010 Expo.

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Philippines — President Macapagal-Arroyo signed Wednesday the National Framework on Climate Change, a complementary policy document to the newly enacted Climate Change Law (RA 9729), which provides the overarching policy directions on how the Philippines will cope with global warming and climate change.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines dropped nine notches in the emerging opportunity market index due to the low projected economic growth for the country this year, the latest issue of the International Business Report (IBR) of global auditing from Grant Thornton noted.

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s imports climbed 27.6 percent in February from a year earlier, slowing from January’s seven-year high growth of 31 percent, mainly due to lower purchases of oil and oil products, the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – The government incurred a budget deficit of P63.9 billion in March, 21.3 percent higher than the deficit incurred in the same month last year, the Department of Finance (DOF) reported yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – Two non-government organizations are urging Filipinos to vote for candidates who favor the reproductive health bill.

About two weeks ago, I received a bookbound copy of an academic thesis done by a fourth year high school student from Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary in Novaliches, Quezon City. It was a research about The Philippine Party-List System in the 14th Congress: A Study.

MANILA, Philippines – There will be no announcements of wage hikes from President Arroyo on Labor Day but workers may expect a P200-million non-wage and livelihood assistance package.

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday ordered DCD Construction to stop work on the building for the expansion project of Aegis People Support at the AsiaTown IT Park after a portion of the building collapsed on Saturday.

Manila (27 April) — “The workplaces have become increasingly dangerous place for workers. The five new deaths in Cebu construction and 10 others from mining accidents in Nueva Vizcaya this April alone, showed continued disregard for workers’ safety and health and with safety standards and laws. How many more workers have to die before we…

Message of Atty. Alejandro Villaviza, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) 3rd day of the National Tripartite Conference on Freedom of Association 4 December 2009, Sofitel Plaza Hotel, Manila

So, what on earth did you do for Mother Earth on her special day last Thursday, April 22 (aside from wear green with your heart on your sleeve)? Earth Day may be over, but hey, it doesn’t mean we have to stop doing our bit for the earth and our fellow earthlings. Why not make…