WASHINGTON – The Philippines made notable improvements in investment, business and monetary freedoms and control of government spending in the previous year, making its economy the 89th freest in the world.
In the 2014 Index of World Economic Freedom, the Philippines scored 60.1 points, 1.9 points higher than the previous year, and advanced in the rankings of 178 countries surveyed to 89th from 97th previously.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines ranked 16th among 42 countries.
The index, an annual guide published by The Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington and The Wall Street Journal, rates countries in 10 categories – business, trade, labor and fiscal freedoms, monetary, financial and investment freedoms, government spending, property rights and freedom from corruption – and the results are averaged to create an overall score.
A report issued on Tuesday said improvements in seven of the 10 economic freedoms, including significant gains in trade freedom, investment freedom and freedom from corruption, have been partially offset by deterioration in property rights.
With its third consecutive year of overall score improvement, the Philippines has risen back to “moderately free” in the 2014 Index.
The report said the government has pursued a series of legislative reforms to enhance the investment environment in the Philippines.
It said despite progress, lingering institutional challenges would not be overcome without a deeper commitment to reform.
Although the perceived level of corruption has declined, the report said corruption and cronyism are rife in business and government, with a few dozen leading families holding an outsized share of wealth and political power.
Only Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand and Canada, the top six countries in the index, were rated free.
The United States in 12th place was said to be mostly free.
ASEAN members listed in the index between runner-up Singapore and the Philippines were Malaysia (37), Brunei (40) and Thailand (73). The bottom dweller in the list was as usual North Korea. –Jose Katigbak STAR Washington bureau (The Philippine Star)
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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