Monthly Archives: August 2013

MANILA, Philippines – Merchandise exports recovered in June, gaining 4.1 percent to $4.490 billion from $4.314 billion a year ago due to increases posted by four major commodity groups, the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported yesterday.

Last week, I explained the Philippine “labor surplus” story by referring to the roles played by (a) high population growth rate; (b) misdirected economic nationalism; (c) the long process of protectionist policies promoting import substitution; and (d) the high welfare standards pursued by government intervention in the labor market.

The euro-zone economy AT LONG last the second leg of the euro area’s double-dip recession seems to have come to an end. In the second quarter of this year, the euro zone grew by 0.3%, or a 1.2% annual pace. That marked the first rise in output since the third quarter of 2011. Olli Rehn,…

(Reuters) – The most ambitious radiation clean-up ever attempted has proved costly, complex and time-consuming since the Japanese government began it more than two years in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear meltdown. It may also fail.

TAIPEI, Taiwan – The hiring of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan is back on track.

Aug 15, 2013 (Menafn – The Manila Times – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) (Conclusion) When LA Laker Earvin “Magic” Johnson revealed he was HIV-positive in 1991, he almost single-handedly altered the public’s perception of the typical HIV/AIDS patient.

More suggestions on how to improve our traffic problem in Metro Manila have been coming in. The latest is from Fernando Anluagui, and here’s what he says:

With all the vertical building projects rising in Metro Manila, and even in other major cities in the county, you’d wonder if all of these would be put to good use.

LAGUNA, Philippines – Armed men posing as police officers burned 10 passenger buses after disarming five security guards in a raid on the garage of the two bus companies in Pagsanjan town, shortly after midnight yesterday.

What is good life? What is happiness? What is success? What is pleasure? How should I treat other people? How should I cope with unfortunate events? How can I get rid off unnecessary worry? How should I handle liberty?

Halfway across the world, more than a half-million people live on American time. The Philippines is home to the largest call center industry in the world, and to man the phones during American business hours, many Filipinos adjust their lives to a global schedule.

MALOLOS CITY , Philippines – Authorities are set to investigate reported gold panning operations at the boundary of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija allegedly involving Chinese nationals.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines – The 18 Chinese nationals held early this month for allegedly engaging in illegal black sand mining in Aparri, Cagayan have been released by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to the custody of their employer.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla has warned that the Luzon grid would require 600-700 megawatts of additional capacity each year in the next three years. If we don’t get the private sector to put up those plants, we are in serious trouble. Only the private sector can invest in power generation plants under EPIRA.

MANILA, Philippines – As business confidence in the Philippines reached a record last quarter, Japanese investment bank Nomura said this could be a precedent to a surge of fixed-term investments as investors, worried of high stock valuations, seek new places to park their money.

Download the document here http://www.dole.gov.ph/files/DO%20131-13(2).pdf

SEVERAL months ago our No. 2 son moved out of our house and into a condominium near his office. For the first two months we barely saw him, as his newfound freedom from the watchful eye and protection of his parents and family meant late nights and long weekends of enjoying that freedom.

MANILA – Armed men torched 11 buses in Pagsanjan, Laguna before dawn Monday, police said.

MANILA, Philippines – A lot has been said about the horrific traffic situation in Metro Manila, especially on EDSA. Social media usually lights up with complaints whenever gridlock clogs the metro’s main artery.

MANILA, Philippines – Even as the sex-for-flight scheme is still being investigated, a Palace ally has urged President Benigno Aquino III to consider deploying more social welfare attaches (SWAs) to countries which have a high incidence of Filipinos in distress.

Nasawi ang chief carpenter ng ginagawang condominium building sa Mandaue City, Cebu matapos siyang mabagsakan ng precast slab o malaking tipak ng bato.

A MEMBER of the Legislative Council of St. Petersburg, Russia urged Filipinos to seek employment in their place as there are more than 8,000 vacancies for those in the medical field and around 1,000 in the construction and social sectors.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Finance (DOF) is calling for increased transparency, particularly on the grant of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to various industries as part of the government’s good governance reform program.

If there’s any big disappointment that we can expect this month, it’s the announcement that the Department of Trade and Industry will be releasing the much awaited industry roadmaps, a task that had been set in motion even as early as 2004.

MANILA, Philippines – The government’s economic team is confident that the country could exceed growth targets this year with the economy seen expanding more than seven percent on the back of robust consumer spending and an improving global investment climate.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has set a higher tourism employment target of 7.4 million by 2016 from earlier target of 6.8 million due to the projected improvement in the country’s domestic tourism in the near-term, official documents showed.

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

MANILA – Militant groups held a rally at the Occupational Safety and Health Center in QC where the Regional Tripartite Wage Board held its third and final public consultation on petitions to raise the minimum daily wage.

Some thirty labor leaders, representing 14 national and enterprise-level unions, urge employers and government to institute and accelerate productivity improvements, equitable profit and gain sharing schemes, and compliance with and respect for core labor standards. The call comes with union commitment to pursue social dialogue and constructive industrial relations in their respective workplaces. The call…

For China it’s all for resources. It occupied the Mischief Reef and Bajo de Masinloc Shoal for the rich fishing grounds, and is invading the Recto Bank for the offshore oil. It is also into illegal, destructive mining in the Philippine mainland to feed its industries with precious and rare earth metals.