By Samuel P. Medenilla, 25 Dec 2019 File photo: Angkas riders conduct a unity ride along Edsa on December 22, 2019 as a sign of protest against the decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to limit the number of its bikers.

A once-flourishing industry mounts a comeback with focus on quality rather than price By: Matthew Reysio-Cruz, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 25 Dec 2019 LIFETIME COMMITMENT For Neil Nepomuceno, a second generation shoemaker, Marikina shoes are here to stay. MANILA, Philippines — The story of shoemaker Neil Nepomuceno’s family is, in a way, the story of a…

By: Roy Stephen C. Canivel, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 24 Dec 2019 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) plans to give out a total of P350 million next year to jumpstart livelihood programs in poor communities.

By: Daxim L. Lucas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 18 Dec 2019 Prices of basic goods and services were likely to remain stable in the next three years, according to the government’s economic managers.

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by Neil Arwin Mercado, 24 Dec 2019 MANILA, Philippines — Twelve suspected human trafficking victims who were about to leave the country were rescued at the Zamboanga International Seaport (ZIS), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Tuesday.

By: Neil Arwin Mercado, INQINQUIRER.net, 24 Dec 2019 34 ‘trafficking victims’ rescued at NAIA – BI MANILA, Philippines — Twelve suspected human trafficking victims who were about to leave the country were rescued at the Zamboanga International Seaport (ZIS), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Tuesday.

by Vito Barcelo, 24 Dec 2019 Immigration officers at the international seaport in Zamboanga City barred from leaving the country 12 suspected human trafficking victims who attempted to leave the county via the southern backdoor.

By: Doris Dumlao-Abadilla, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 23 Dec 2019 Retroactive changes in water concession deals exemplify high regulatory risk and deficiencies in due diligence and contracting process in the Philippines and may hurt investor confidence in the short-term, research firm Fitch Solutions said on Monday.

By: Ben O. de Vera, INQInquirer Business, 23 Dec 2019 The Department of Finance (DOF) will make a big push for the passage of the remaining packages of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program in 2020, Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said. “The task of bringing forth change is a long and painful one.,”…

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By: Dale G. Israel, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 21 Dec 2019 CEBU CITY, Philippines — A business process outsourcing firm in Cebu started to implement an “inclusive policy” that will allow persons with disabilities (PWDs) to join their workforce — the first one to do so among the hundreds of call centers at the Cebu IT…

The Safe Streets and Public Spaces Ordinance covers acts like unwanted invitations, sexual comments or gestures, stalking, persistent telling of sexual jokes, and even intrusive gazing or leering by John Tan Sitchon, 21 Dec 2019 CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Cebu City council passed on Wednesday, December 18, an anti-sexual harassment ordinance, punishing acts of…

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By CNN Philippines Staff, 19 Dec 2019 CNN Philippines (Metro Manila, December 19) – The Philippines’ ranking has dropped five notches in the Human Freedom Index (HFI), indicating that it has become “less free” compared to the past years.

By: Ryan Arcadio, INQUIRER.net, 19 Dec 2019 Casual flirting, such as compliments and jokes, with colleagues at work may help reduce one’s stress levels, a new study suggests. A study published in November in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes found that “positively experienced social sexual behavior” can help relieve stress.

By CNN Philippines Staff, 19 Dec 2019 CNN Philippines (Metro Manila, December 19) – President Rodrigo Duterte has declared to institutionalize a diversity and inclusion committee to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, and persons with disability (PWDs) ,among other sectors.

By: Doris Dumlao-Abadilla, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19 Dec 2019 MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is sliding into a dark path where it may be unable to attract new investors—except for “cronies” — if the government could easily disregard the sanctity of contracts and get away with it, according to an economist, who is also a…

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By Raffy Ayeng, 18 Dec 2019 TO strengthen collaborative efforts on combating forced labor and exploitation of fish workers, the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and child-focused development and humanitarian organization Plan International Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on it on December 11.

by Richmond Mercurio (The Philippine Star) – 18 Dec 2019 MANILA, Philippines —With fewer women in key government positions, the Philippines has dropped out of the top 10 most gender-equal countries for the first time.

By: Matthew Reysio-Cruz, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 18 Dec 2019 MANILA, Philippines — Entry-level public school teachers will receive a daily pay increase equivalent to a kilo of rice under the proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) that has sailed through the Senate and is scheduled for final approval by the House of Representatives after being certified…

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by Macon Ramos-Araneta, 18 Dec 2019 Medicine manufacturers have offered to reduce their prices to the public by as much as 75 percent for around 150 medicines that cover 36 disease categories.

by Alexis Romero With Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star), 17 Dec 2019 MANILA, Philippines — Senators approved last night Senate Bill 1219 on second and third or final reading.