MANILA, Philippines – Remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) could drop to as low as $11.4 billion this year, cutting the country’s economic growth down to two percent due to the expected decline in consumption spending.

MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is extending a 20 percent tax discount for persons with disabilities through the issuance of Revenue Regulation 1-2009.

In Masbate, there is an alternative to going to school despite the inability of people to afford formal education. The Department of Education (DepEd) has introduced the alternative learning system (ALS), a free education program that benefits those who cannot afford formal schooling and it follows whatever is their available schedules.

THE Supreme Court has given the go-signal for the prosecution of two members of the rebel military group Reform the Armed Forces of the Philippines Movement (RAM) in connection with the killing of Kilusang Mayo Uno head Rolando Olalia and his driver Leonor Alay-ay 23 years ago

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said the sluggish growth in earnings of Filipino workers over the last decade is “alarming,” particularly because the figures did not expand faster than the economic growth rate.

WHILE it’s all gloom and doom on most economic fronts, at least the business process out-sourcing (BPO) sector seems to be painting a rosy picture. And just as well, seeing that BPO companies have more or less sustained the Philippine economy for much of this decade.

The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (Dole-7) introduced on Tuesday another project that will give employment to registered nurses whose parents or siblings lost their jobs because of the global economic crisis.

The world economy is set to shrink by between 0.5% and 1.0% in 2009, the first global contraction in 60 years.

Water shortages are predicted across large parts of Africa, Europe and Asia Growing world population will cause a “perfect storm” of food, energy and water shortages by 2030, the UK government chief scientist has warned.

Around 1,500 government workers and managers will gather for the National Workers’ Congress on March 23, 2009 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

It is not only poverty that prevents Filipino children from going to school but also bullying, humiliation, physical maltreatment and sexual harassment perpetrated not only by fellow students but also by teachers. And violence against children proves to be prevalent with at least five out of 10 children in Grades 1 to 3, seven of…

The public is paying the subsidy for the mismanaged Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRT) and the government would be better off taking over the operations of the mass transit firm, opposition Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said.

As vessels are laid up owing to sharp falls in world trade, up to 40,000 Filipino seafarers working for Japanese shipping companies stand to lose their jobs this year, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto yesterday assured that the government would step up efforts to address the rising unemployment rate in the country.

MANILA, Philippines – Despite its resilience, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the Philippine economy is still sensitive to a deeper and protracted global economic downturn requiring prompt and decisive policy action.

More Filipino workers here and overseas are facing retrenchment in the coming months, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

The Pasig River ferry sails further upstream to Napindan Channel while the Department of Public Works and Highways starts this month its P48-billion C-6 Expressway alignment.

As jOB losses mount, the Social Security System will make available P500 million in emergency loans for its members who have been displaced by the global economic crisis.

The Commission on Human Rights will look into the series of unexplained killings attributed to the “Davao Death Squad” and unmask those behind the vigilante group.

SINGAPORE: Singapore has urged Myanmar’s ruling generals to take “bolder steps” to promote national reconciliation and work with the international community amid fresh reports of arrests in Yangon.

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) is asking the government to act on the increasing number of illegal Korean travel agencies and tour operators in the country, which are taking a toll on their business.

Growth in the information and communications and technology (ICT) sector has been targeted as a major growth area by the government. Just recently, the Central Luzon Cyber Corridor, one of five Super Regions planned by the government, has been touted to be “an oasis of hope” in the face of the global economic meltdown. Its…

Thousands of Filipino seamen working for Japanese shipping companies face downsizing this year, as vessels are laid up because of the sharp fall in world trade, an official said Wednesday.

I am told that the Philippines is the only country in Asia that has no social pension for poor, older people. These are mostly the ones who were not formally employed when they were younger and therefore did not have social security or insurance that they could draw from in their older years.

It takes as short as several months to as long as a year or two before prices of household commodities rise. No matter the length of time, it is a given that families have to set aside a large portion of their budget for food and other necessities. In the Philippines, there are a lot…

Close this DENPASAR — More than 70,000 children across Asia are being used by sex tourists, mainly in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, an independent expert said Thursday.

It’s clear that the current recession is not going to be a fleeting phenomenon. Managers need to learn how to lead under extraordinary marketplace pressures and decreased morale, amid pay cuts, spending cuts on strategic projects, and staff reductions. As a leader, you can get through this mess in a positive manner if you take…

MANILA, Philippines – A labor study group warned Wednesday that occupational health risks in the outsourcing industry are likely to increase after the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) said companies are scaling down growth targets and hiring of new personnel, if not already laying off some.

Premium contributions to the Pag-IBIG Fund are likely to increase if Congress approves a bill strengthening the housing fund scheme.

The P1.4-trillion General Appropriations Act for 2009 purportedly contains an economic stimulus package worth P330 billion, the equivalent of about $6.8 billion. However, only P30 billion, or about $613 million, are actually “new” allocations, according to Dr. Rene Ofreneo, executive director of the Fair Trade Alliance (FairTrade).