Monthly Archives: December 2016

By Richmond Mercurio (The Philippine Star), Dec. 29, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – Japanese companies operating in the Philippines are the second most bullish across Asia and Oceania in terms of being profitable this year, a new survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) showed.

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star), December 29, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – The practice of “endo” or end-of-contract is officially no longer allowed. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday issued a new regulation banning it and other “labor only” contracting practices.

By Janvic Mateo (The Philippine Star), December 29, 2016 The 2015 Paris climate change deal took effect with the Philippines’ ratification this year. But after meeting with the Cabinet, President Duterte finally gave in, as joining the deal means necessary funds for the country’s environmental management initiatives.

By Prinz Magtulis (The Philippine Star), December 29, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – A few days after the 2017 budget was signed into law, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez gave both an assurance and a warning on government revenue prospects for next year.

By: Ed Margareth Barahan – @inquirerdotnetINQUIRER.net, December 29, 2016 One person was confirmed dead in a fire at a metal fabricator warehouse in Don Jose Street in Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday.

By Jose C. Sison (The Philippine Star), Dec 28, 2016 The general rule in Labor Law is that the burden rests on the employer to prove payment, rather than on the employees to prove non-payment of the wages she is entitled to. This is one of the issues raised and resolved in this case of…

Sunstar, December 28, 2016 AFTER outlawing subcontracting, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) told contractors Wednesday that they are also being prohibited from letting go of their workers once a project with a principal ends.

By Danessa Rivera (The Philippine Star), December 27, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – Shockwaves were felt in the energy sector in 2016, from the change in leadership to various controversies. At the start of the year, solar players were scrambling to beat the March 15 deadline to qualify for the second round of feed-in tariff (FIT-2)…

by E.J.C. Tubayan, Businessworld THE PHILIPPINES is gearing up to negotiate two big free trade agreements (FTA) next year, as countries under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) approach a consensus on the partnership’s terms, and with trade talks with the European Union (EU) set to resume in the first quarter next year.

by PHILIP PERRY, Dec 27, 2016 The Trump campaign ran on bringing jobs back to American shores, although mechanization has been the biggest reason for manufacturing jobs’ disappearance. Similar losses have led to populist movements in several other countries. But instead of a pro-job growth future, economists across the board predict further losses as AI,…

ABS-CBN News, Dec 27 2016 MANILA – The peso could weaken to P51 to the dollar next year and P55 in 2018, as policy tightening in the US drives funds out of emerging markets like the Philippines, UBS said. The peso touched the P50-per dollar level twice in the last two months. It weakened to…

An internal memo outlines plans to slash budgets by 30 percent at SEIU, the group behind the Fight for $15. by Josh Eidelson, Bloomberg, December 27, 2016 In a clear sign that labor unions are bracing for lean times under Donald Trump, the massive Service Employees International Union is planning for a 30 percent budget…

by PHILIP PERRY, December 27, 2016 The Trump campaign ran on bringing jobs back to American shores, although mechanization has been the biggest reason for manufacturing jobs’ disappearance. Similar losses have led to populist movements in several other countries. But instead of a pro-job growth future, economists across the board predict further losses as AI,…

By Heidi Turner, December 26, 2016 The phrase donning and doffing is used to describe situations where employees put on or take off special gear or clothing for their work, but donning and doffing lawsuits are part of a larger area of litigation known as unpaid wages litigation, where employees are not properly paid for…

By Czeriza Valencia, Philstar, Dec 25, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – While it remains to be seen if the Duterte administration can deliver the promises under its massive infrastructure push, the groundwork for game changing projects is being laid down at an unprecedented speed and with promise of greater resources.

by Janine Marie D. Soliman, Businessworld, Dec 24, 2016 FILIPINOS HAVE increased their use of basic financial services offered by banks after individuals gained more access to banking establishments in the past five years, according to the central bank.

By BusinessMirror, Dec 24, 2016 FUNDING for free education to all public-school students from grade school to college has been approved in the P3.35-trillion 2017 national budget. But assuring continued annual allocations for scholars in State-run universities and colleges, also known as SUCs, is still a work in progress.

By: Tarra Quismundo – Reporter / @TarraINQPhilippine Daily Inquirer, Dec 23, 2016 As she accepted the nation’s highest honor as a patron of arts and culture, Sen. Loren Legarda called for greater action on an “escalating social chaos” besetting the country, including political bickering, violence and attacks against indigenous peoples.

By Jose C. Sison (The Philippine Star), Dec 23, 2016 Change has indeed come to our country this year 2016. Since we became a Democratic Republic, this is the first time for us to have a President like Rodrigo Roa Duterte. And the change here is not only because he is the first President who…

By Maine Manalansan (The Philippine Star), Dec 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – For most people, Christmas is a time of celebration. Families shop for gifts together at the mall; they go to Ayala Triangle to take photos at the light show, and go on vacations in far-off places just to replicate the spirit of winter.…

By Al Jacinto, Abante, Dec 23, 2016 ZAMBOANGA CITY — Isang lalaki ang dinakip ng pulisya matapos na diumano’y mapatay ang baklang ­live-in partner nito sa Davao City.

By Business Mirror – DECEMBER 23, 2016 THE bonus that millions of Japanese seniors enjoyed in recent years when their pension income remained the same while consumer prices and wages fell is about to end.

As part of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women (VAW) in the Philippines, PMAP and TUCP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 23 November 2016 on joint work for programs against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at the workplace.among other issues. Gender based violence at work Convention to stop gbv Pmap tucp mou article

By Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines had the fastest average mobile internet speed in Asia Pacific in the third quarter, according to the latest report of content delivery network services provider Akamai.

By Alexis Romero and Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte yesterday signed into law the next year’s P3.35-trillion budget 2017, which he said would benefit the poor and vulnerable sectors. Duterte said the first ever budget of his administration would be “pro-people, pro-investment, pro-growth and pro-development.”

By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – Children make up almost a third of all human trafficking victims worldwide, while women and girls comprise 71 percent, according to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report.

By Janvic Mateo With Alexis Romero, The Philippine Star, Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte’s trust rating is declining in most areas but it is still “excellent,” the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows. Duterte’s net trust rating remained in the excellent threshold, obtaining a +72 in the results of the Dec.…

CTALK By Cito Beltran (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 You know we have a problem if business executives are more worried about the business environment than enjoying the Yuletide season. Instead of ticking off “must attend parties,” a number of company presidents and CEOs have been preoccupied meeting with government officials, stakeholders, crisis managers,…

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – As the government institutes reforms to revive the manufacturing sector, it should also improve the regulatory regime for services needed by producers and exporters, state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said.

By: Ed Margareth Barahan – @inquirerdotnetINQUIRER.net, Dec 22, 2016 The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon reminded the public on Thursday to be “extra cautious” with jobs offers by bogus companies and individuals as well as issuances of entry or working visas for companies in Portugal or other countries in Europe over the internet.