THREE global crises converged to threaten development in Asia and the Pacific in 2008: A Great Recession in developed countries, food and fuel price volatility and climate change calamities.

AS a result of continued inflows of remittances, the Philippines remain largely stable to render support for consumption demand, according to the 2009 Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific.

MANILA, Philippines – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) does not have the political will and capacity to create a human rights court in the region because there are member states that are still getting acquainted with the real meaning of human rights and are just beginning to manage and internalize it in their…

MANILA, Philippines – Lots of jobs and other incentives await workers on Labor Day.

MANILA, Philippines – Jesus Is Lord (JIL) founder and evangelist Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva will launch today a multi-sectoral organization and present its 25,000 “zero corruption army” in a bid to rid the country of corruption.

A non-governmental organization said yesterday that no Filipino company alone has the capacity to pursue the automation project for the local and national elections in 2010.

THE Philippines’ ranking on a global list of network-ready economies slipped four notches this year, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

STATE-RUN National Tax Research Center (NTRC) is bucking a congressional bill that proposes exempting from property tax the homes and land owned by senior citizens.

STATE-RUN Social Security System (SSS) said it sued delinquent employers for violations of the Social Security Law. In a statement, Romulo Neri, SSS president, said the pension fund brought to court 1,623 delinquent employers. Penalties include fines of up to P20,000 and a maximum imprisonment of 12 years.

THE Asia-Pacific region is not recession proof.

Not all Filipino workers who lost their jobs as a result of the global financial crisis are considered “permanently displaced,” according to an official of the Department of Labor and Employment on Friday.

Isuzu Philippines Corp. is bracing for a slight dip in its sales target for 2009 because of the global crisis, which is also bringing about shifts in strategy to boost its maintenance and repairs services, a top executive said.

SUBIC BAY: Patrick Molina had been working for just four months at the mammoth South Korean-owned Hanjin shipyard, northwest of Manila, when disaster struck.

Varying and longstanding traditions, cultures and religions hobble member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in looking at human rights as a major issue in governance, Philippine Ambassador Rosario Manalo said Friday.

Four of the most prominent foreign chambers in the country: the Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Philippines (Anzcham), the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) will once again hold the 2009 Local Employment Expo this summer.

Brussels30 March 2009 (ITUC OnLine): A new report released by the International Trade Union Confederation predicts a worsening of the already serious global food crisis unless urgent action is taken by governments and international agencies. The number of people without enough to eat increased by 150 million in 2008, and the global economic crisis is…

Calling all companies and employers! Participate in nationbuilding by joining: THE 3rd Urban Job Fair “Employment Opportunities in the Big City” April 17 & 18, 2009 Megatrade Hall 3, 5th Level SM Megamall B, Mandaluyong City

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s current account surplus narrowed to $4.2 billion in 2008 from the $7.1-billion surplus recorded in 2007, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – A gas tank of an Asian utility vehicle exploded while undergoing repair at a small shop in Quezon City yesterday afternoon, severely injuring a man who was just helping out at the shop.

Building Blocks MANILA, Philippines – EVEN if it’s not going to turn very positive, the country’s developers are nevertheless thankful that home building has never been negative for the Philippine economy.

Local advertising expenses went down by 20 percent to 30 percent because of the global economic downturn, according to an official of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA).

BANGKOK: Asia and the Pacific face a “marked risk” of social unrest as the global financial crisis bites, but the region continues to lead international prospects for recovery, a United Nation survey said Thursday.

The Internet use in the Philippines grew last year on the back of higher research and social networking activities accompanies by the expansion of internet centers and digital media, an AC Nielsen-Yahoo Net Index report said.

UN General Assembly, 25 to 27 March, 2009 Member States of the UN General Assembly participating in the Interactive Thematic Dialogue of 25 to 27 March 2009 viewed the dialogue as an opportunity to build worldwide consensus for global action to address the deepening crisis. The Interim Report of the Commission of Experts on reforms…

MANILA, Philippines – Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose L. Atienza yesterday expressed optimism that the Philippines will be able to achieve its original investment target this year of $1 billion instead of its revised target of just $800 million.

MANILA, Philippines – Electrification of the rural areas will be one of the priorities in the granting of loans by the World Bank, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo yesterday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to bring political and media killings down to zero amid fresh criticisms on the country’s human rights situation.

MANILA, Philippines — The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) has approved a $50-million loan to the Philippine government to help improve the country’s health care services, and make them more accessible and affordable for the poor.

MANILA, Philippines – Nearly 90 million jobs are needed to absorb the new entrants in the labor market and cut short the ongoing global financial and job crisis, the International Labor Organization (ILO) reported yesterday.

THE Maritime Industry Authority and Pilipinas Teleserv Inc. have streamlined the processing of the Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book.