Monthly Archives: October 2010

HALF of the artificial family planning methods in the Reproductive Health Bill could be illegal, a lawmaker said Friday. Rep. Anthony Golez Jr. of the Lone District of Bacolod City noted that such figure would surface if it the state will decide to adopt the idea that life begins at fertilization, not at implantation.

For almost four centuries, Intramuros was the seat of Spanish colonial rule in the East and was the center of commerce, education, government and religion. Its decline, however, as the center of Manila resulted from World War II. The historic streets, buildings and palatial homes in Intramuros lost its old grandeur and glory—when they were…

CEBU, Philippines – Close to the 200,000 scholars have been trained while another 100,000 have been certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority within 100 days of its new leadership under director general Joel Villanueva.

MANILA, Philippines – Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday to look into the working conditions of bus drivers, saying their lack of sleep and rest between long trips could be a key factor in the rash of road accidents.

MANILA, Philippines – Migrante International called yesterday on Congress to immediately investigate the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Jordan despite the deployment ban, saying it is “state-sponsored human trafficking.”

Be late. But at the same time never be more than 30 minutes early. Do not pressure the interviewer by being someone s/he has to entertain and care for. Wear perfume or cologne, because an excess of this will be a mark against you. One tiny spray is enough, if you really must. You’re there…

Why are there job interviews? Companies need to determine who is best suited for the job opening and who is most likely to fit in with the existing team. Your attitude may matter more than your credentials at this point.

If you are like most employed people, chances are, your salary, whether high or low, never seems to be enough. There are just so many things that you can do with your hard-earned money: pay bills or for your child’s schooling; buy groceries or a new TV set; save for a rainy day or invest…

MANILA, Philippines—Without OFW remittances, it would be difficult for the Philippines to sustain the annual GDP growth of 7 percent or more. It is fortunate that the outlook for the earnings of OFWs remain bright, despite the very slow recovery of the developed countries.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -— If there is one government agency that is feeling the impact of overpopulation, it is the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

BANGKOK—The Philippines’ “heavy reliance” on remittances of migrant workers—reaching $19 billion last year—has been crippling its domestic productivity for many years, said a regional official of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

MANILA, Philippines — Middle East countries Kuwait and Syria are not safe destinations for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly domestic helpers, a migrant workers group based in the region said.

ASEAN LABOUR CONTROLS TO EASE IN 2015 Thailand’s labour development policy is failing to equip workers with the skills they need for a free labour market in Southeast Asia over the next five years, academics say.

Nearly one in 10 credit card customers pay off only the minimum payment each month, potentially costing them a fortune in interest, according to a survey from comparison website Moneysupermarket.com.

With the International Violence Against Women Act, the U.S. is in a powerful position to make a difference, points out Ritu Sharma Violence against women is one of the greatest barriers to economic freedom for women worldwide. Every day, all over the world, women are victims of some of the worst physical atrocities, including acid…

singapore_compactBy now is it well-known that the South-East Asian countries have joined hands to launch the ASEAN CSR Network during the International Singapore Compact CSR Summit held in Sentosa recently. During the launch, Singapore Compact for CSR president Olivia Lum said that ASEAN has recognised the importance of CSR “not just to achieve the socio…

A lawmaker on Friday urged for a multi-sectoral dialogue on the reproductive health (RH) bill to help settle the controversial issue.

The Supreme Court has ordered listed Manila Mining Corp. to compensate employees who were terminated after the shutdown of mining operations in Butuan.

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has asked local government units to consider programs that will meet UN-sponsored Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in planning for their 2011 budget.

STATE ASSISTANCE to the automotive industry should be prioritized as it has the highest multiplier effect in generating jobs, an economist said yesterday.

SYDNEY, Australia — As other countries in the Asia Pacific count their gains in the war against the tobacco lobby, the Philippines remains a haven for the cigarette industry and its millions of loyal patrons.

Labor officials in Mindanao have drawn up an action plan to eliminate child labor – particularly the use of children in mining activities – there. According to Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 11 office’s plan focuses on the mines of Maragusan in Compostela Valley province.

Amid diverse and divergent views over efforts to implement a 12-year education program in the country, a school in a fifth class municipality in the Mountain Province may just be proof of how the plan can work.

President Aquino and his Budget chief Florencio “Butch” Abad will get what they want from Congress by way of its members no longer questioning the lump sum appropriations insisted on by Malacañang in the 2011 national budget, with former President now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo getting the biggest “pork barrel” from the Department of Public…

My Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) colleagues were in Brussels for the 8th Asia-Europe Peoples Forum (AEPF) this week. The AEPF is an interregional network of progressive civil society organizations across Asia and Europe. It emerged in the 1996 from a common desire and need among organizations across the two continents to open up new venues…

SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday renewed his call for the operation of a nuclear power plant to wean away the country from dependence on expensive fossil fuels.

Although various sectors of society have given President Benigno Aquino 3rd high marks for his first 100 days in office, at least one group said that he could have done more during that period.

Philippine business leaders on Friday gave a “high mark” to President Benigno Aquino 3rd for his first 100 days in office, welcoming his early moves to curb corruption, slash red tape and boost the economy.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expressed support yesterday for the proper management of the population. “We are pro-management of the population,” PCCI committee chairman Samuel Lim said in a press conference.

WASHINGTON – The Philippines fell in the world’s economic freedom ranking to 76th from 69th previously among 141 countries surveyed, the Economic Freedom of the World 2010 annual report said.