Monthly Archives: January 2017

Malacanang announced last week that President Duterte has approved the long awaited proposal to increase by P2,000 the SSS pension, in two gives, P1,000 this year (2017) and P1,000 in 2022 when he leaves office. PUDU30 also adjusted the MSC cap from P16k to P20k. He also plans to increase SSS contribution by 1.5% starting…

A creaky tax system can make China an expensive place to produce things by Economist, Jan. 14, 2017 WHEN China was gripped by political turmoil in the 1960s and 1970s, Cao Dewang cut his teeth as an entrepreneur. Mao’s chaotic rule forced him out of school and he took to the street, a scrappy teenager…

Read the article here.

By: Jaymee T. Gamil, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan. 13, 2017 Amid a government crackdown on mining, a contentious proposal has arisen: The formalization of small-scale mining.

Minimum-wage jobs are physically demanding, have unpredictable schedules, and pay so meagerly that workers can’t save up enough to move on. BARBARA EHRENREICH, Jan 13, 2017 Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson made a move that was unprecedented at the time and remains unmatched by succeeding administrations. He announced a War on Poverty, saying…

By: Ben O. de Vera, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan. 13, 2017 The amount of so-called “hot money” that flowed into the country last year outpaced the amount that was pulled out, resulting in net inflows of $353.59 million, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported Thursday.

Businessworld, January 13, 2017 FLAT, orange robots glide under stationary cars and ferry them to empty Chinese parking bays, using space more efficiently and, their creators say, reducing driver stress.

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT, Manila Times, JANUARY 13, 2017 DESPITE President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades against the United States, majority of Filipinos still trust the global superpower and its leading ally Japan, while having the opposite view toward China and Russia, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Dec. 15, 2016 – Victims of gender-based violence (GBV) are entitled to 10 days domestic violence leave with pay. Not many government agencies, unions and workers know this! Very understandable, considering that concerted government and private sector information campaigns on GBV do not exist. Predictably, 92% of those surveyed by ITUC AP and its affiliates…

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Read the article here.

View the video here.

Read here.

Read the article here.

by Marvin A. Tort, Businessworld, January 12, 2017 Almost five years ago, I wrote a column about my concerns regarding the life span of the Social Security System (SSS). I expressed my opinions based on a study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), released in the third quarter of 2012, on pension systems in the…

by Sarah Godoy, Forbes, January 10, 2017 January 11th marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, an opportunity for community members to show support for trafficking victims and survivors through simple acts–like wearing blue and sharing #WearBlueDay on social media–or fully immersing themselves in the anti-trafficking movement, and everything in between.

By: Jodee A. Agoncillo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan. 12, 2017 MANILA — One of the six workers of the Omni Gas Corporation who were seriously injured in a fire at the Regasco refilling station in Pasig City passed away on Wednesday night, local officials said. Senior Inspector Anthony Arroyo, chief of the investigation unit of…

SMC Prez denies link between coal power plant and ailments, but commits to foot the bill By: Jaymee T. Gamil, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jan. 12, 2017 MANILA — Are the health problems of residents in Limay, Bataan caused by ash fall or a spill from a byproduct storage facility being used by the San Miguel…

By Catherine Pillas, Businessmirror, Jan. 12, 2017 The country’s hosting of several international events, such as the 65th Miss Universe, will allow the Philippines to attract 6.5 million foreign tourists this year, an official of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Thursday.

Higher minimum wage have losers, US studies find By New York Times, Jan. 12, 2017 CHICAGO—A growing number of economists have found that many cities and states have considerable room to raise the minimum wage before employers meaningfully cut back on hiring. But that conclusion may gloss over some significant responses to minimum-wage increases by…

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT, Manila Times, JANUARY 12, 2017 T PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has issued an executive order (EO) to “accelerate” the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RP/RH) law to ensure “zero unmet need” for contraception and reduce poverty, a senior Cabinet official announced on Wednesday.

BY RICARDO SALUDO, Manila Times, JANUARY 12, 2017 How can ordinary Filipinos help President Rodrigo Duterte beat corruption for good? In his message on Monday’s Black Nazarene procession, he extolled the Filipino’s untiring faith and unrelenting fight against injustice and corruption. Duterte now needs both to win against sleaze for good.

Citing Republic Act 8282, Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon says the SSS cannot recommend an increase in benefits that require a corresponding increase in contribution by Camille Elemia, Rappler, January 11, 2017 MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon and Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV questioned the planned increase in the monthly contribution…

By: Jodee A. Agoncillo – Reporter / @jagoncilloINQPhilippine Daily Inquirer, January 11, 2017 Edited @ 10:15 a.m., Jan. 11, 2017, to include the names of the victims and to revise the number of those hurt.

BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO, TMT, Manila Times, JANUARY 11, 2017 Reforms seen supporting PH economy for the medium term Ongoing reform in the Philippines is likely to boost the country’s medium-term economic growth, Moody’s Investors Service said, but it warned that domestic political risk, though low, is becoming more unpredictable and could disrupt progress for…

Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 11, 2017 Net satisfaction with the general performance of the Duterte administration declined in the fourth quarter of 2016, dropping across areas and economic classes.

By Jonathan L. Mayuga, Businessmirror, JANUARY 11, 2017 Rescued Hacienda Luisita sugar-plantation workers from Mindanao on Wednesday blamed the “contractualization” scheme for the “slavery” that continue to victimize landless farmers in agricultural plantations.