Monthly Archives: February 2012

FEF REACTION: Reacting to our Postscript last Sunday on the Aquino administration’s renewable energy program, Calixto V. Chikiamco, president of the Foundation for Economic Freedom, published in the FEF website a purported letter to our editor saying:

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino’s “inordinate focus” on convicting Chief Justice Renato Corona and his vindictiveness are already taking their toll on the economy and urgent legislative work, lawmakers said yesterday.

This question is often asked, because it is a reality. A lot of times, the most undeserving get all the blessings, especially the most cherished of all — good health and a long life. But some of the kindest, gentlest souls are serrated by the loss of a loved one, financial misfortunes, or a painful,…

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has received P1.166-billion funding support for the ecozone rate program (ERP). PEZA director general Lilia B. De Lima said the Office of the President approved the funding support of P1.166 billion and has directed the Department of Budget and Management to source out and adopt a…

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Wednesday admitted that it was compelled to open the domestic market to imported fish because of the continued decline of domestic catch.

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Wednesday reminded bus operators that starting this month, bus drivers and conductors plying the Metro Manila route will receive minimum wage and other statutory wage-related benefits under a fixed pay scheme, replacing the old commission-based pay practice.

President Aquino is seriously considering to use his powers to halt what seemed to be an uncontrollable increases in prices of petroleum oil products. He also assured the public the country has a buffer stock of petroleum products that would still be good for at least 24 days.

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

DILIMAN, Quezon City, Philippines – An 800-percent increase in HIV infections. A steady rise in the number of poisoning cases. A 17-percent reduction in the number of Filipinos suffering from worm infections.

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Wednesday signed two agreements here to protect the rights of Filipino workers in Lebanon and pave the way for the lifting of a ban imposed by the Philippine government on the deployment of Filipino workers to that country.

Government raises alert level three over state of unrest in Iraq, offers voluntary repatriation of Filipinos there Manila: The Philippine government banned new deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Iraq, due to escalation of unrest and bombings in the capital, following the withdrawal of the military forces of the United States last December, said…

MANILA, Philippines – The local auto industry is asking up to 100 percent excise tax rebate from the government to make local manufacturing more competitive.

We have to make up our minds sooner than we want to. Our car manufacturing industry, or what little of it that we have, is on the verge of dying. Our car market is growing, but the share of locally manufactured (assembled) cars is going down. In 1993 when the total number of vehicles sold…

If there is voluntary resignation and waiver or quitclaim, there can be no illegal dismissal. This is illustrated in this case of Tessie. Tessie was a flight attendant of a Mideast airline company (Saudia) having been hired on May 13, 1986. During the course of her employment she was assigned to work at the Manila…

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has approved on third and final reading the bill defining acts that will constitute cybercrime. With a vote of 13 in favor and one against, the Senate approved yesterday Senate Bill 2796, which defines cybercrime and provides the penalties for those found guilty of these acts.

MANILA, Philippines – Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman downplayed yesterday the findings of the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed that hunger incidence in the country went up to 22.5 percent at the end of 2011.

THE automotive manufacturing industry roadmap, which was unveiled on Tuesday at the Third Automotive Manufacturing Summit, proposes the transformation of the industry from assembly of completely knocked down units for the domestic consumers to outright manufacturing of vehicles for the local and export markets.

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang justified yesterday the country’s 3.7 percent economic growth, saying that the government made investments in social services and the administration would implement measures to further improve the economy.

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines has declared the province of Ilocos Norte insurgency-free, bringing to 25 the total number of provinces that the military claimed were completely freed from the influence of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

THE Department of Energy on Tuesday announced the final members of the Independent Review Committee that will look into the books of oil companies to ensure transparency in fuel pricing.

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday announced that it has listed several programs that will directly solve hunger in the country. Deputy spokesman Abigail Valte said that results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey done in December showed that self-rated hunger was statistically identical to results of the September 2011 survey.

The administration of President Aquino was chided yesterday by a lawmaker for the dismal performance of the country’s economy in 2011. Posting a mere 3.7 percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP) compared to 7.6 percent the year before, the economy, according to Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, was mishandled because of the administration’s…

Filipino workers in Spain have joined calls to stop the closure of Philippine diplomatic missions this year as they decried the government’s plan to cease the operation of the country’s three-year-old consulate in Barcelona.