By: Ronnel W. Domingo, Philippine Daily Inquirer 22 Aug 2019 The Philippines is a “moderately attractive” location for investments, especially among the 122 countries that China has signed agreements with respect to its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

by Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star) 22 Aug 2019 MANILA, Philippines — The minimum salary of domestic workers in Mimaropa will increase this month.

by JULIET C. REVITA, Sun Star, 22 Aug 2019 THE Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat)-Davao said 38 cases of human trafficking, involving mostly minors, have already been resolved, resulting in the conviction of the suspects, including 10 foreign nationals.

by BEN KRITZ, Manila Times, Aug 22, 2019 THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and the Department of Finance (DoF) have been at odds for months over the latter’s proposal, contained in the second package of the comprehensive tax reform program (CTRP) currently stalled in Congress, to rationalize fiscal incentives. Because somebody at PEZA does…

by Bilyonaryo, 21 Aug 2019 Four of the country’s biggest banks were forced to book massive impairment losses after the bankrupt Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines defaulted on their combined $412 million loans.

By MAITA DE JESUS, LA, GMA News, Aug 21, 2019 It all started when Rach’s dad suffered a heart attack in 2013. He managed to recover in a few months, but things took a turn for the worse in 2016. For two years, he was in and out of the hospital due to his heart…

By: Christia Marie Ramos, INQUIRER.net, 21 Aug 2019 MANILA, Philippines — After the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) suspended the issuance of new applications for Philippine off-shore gaming operators (Pogos), China has called on the Philippines to take it a step further with a ban on all online gambling operations in the country.

Norwegian review of 36,000 cases links more activity overall, light or intensive, with lower risk of death by Nicola Davis, 21 Aug 2019 Even a small increase in light activity, such as washing dishes, a little gentle gardening, or shuffling around the house, might help stave off an early death among older adults, researchers say.

by Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News, 20 Aug 20, 2019 At least 120 Chinese nationals working at a coal plant in Mariveles, Bataan have contracted dengue, according to Mark Makalalad’s report on Dobol A sa Dobol B on Tuesday.

by Mary Grace Padin (The Philippine Star) – 20 Aug 20, 2019 MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Finance (DOF) has disputed the Philippine Economic Zone Authority’s (PEZA) claim it contributed P10 trillion to the economy from 2015 to 2017, saying the agency adopted a faulty method in coming up with its numbers.

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BY WILLIAM DEPASUPIL, TMT, Manila Times, 19 Aug 2019 THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has begun cleansing the overseas employment sector of misfits to protect the interest and welfare of Filipino workers seeking employment abroad.

by Mary Grace Padin (The Philippine Star) – 19 August 2019 MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Social Security System (SSS) are now entitled to unemployment benefits should they get involuntarily separated from their workplace, the state pension fund announced over the weekend.

by Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star), 19 Aug 2019 MANILA, Philippines — The government lost P1.3 trillion over three years to “unnecessary” tax exemptions and other incentives thousands of businesses are allowed “to enjoy forever,” the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on ways and means said yesterday.

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by Ben Serrano (The Philippine Star), 18 Aug 2019 BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — For allegedly offering her daughter and younger sisters to online sex predators, a woman was arrested during a raid on her house in Barangay Poblacion, Barobo, Surigao del Sur on Friday.

https://twitter.com/CommSec/status/1163325257282752512/photo/1

by Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star) – 17 Aug 2019 MANILA, Philippines — As the proposed second package of the government’s tax reform program hurdled the committee level at the House of Representatives, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has urged Congress to reconsider the scope of the bill seeking to rationalize fiscal incentives by…

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By Irene R. Sino Cruz|17 Aug 17,2019 CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas has lifted the work stoppage order (WSO) issued against a construction project in Lapu-Lapu City.

By Doris C. Bongcac, Philippine Daily Inqurier|17 Aug 17,2019 CEBU CITY, Philippines – An American national accused of raping underage Filipino girls and filming the abuse was sentenced to 84 years in prison by a United States court.

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By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo, Business Mirror, Aug 16, 2019 Representatives of government agencies and nongovernment organizations pledged their commitment to ensure a tourism industry that protects children and women from sexual exploitation and trafficking. Tourism Secretary Bernadette T. Romulo Puyat (seventh from left) led the signing of the covenant. Other signatories were: Dolores SD…

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The Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino conditional cash transfer program in the Philippines has been successful in overcoming governance challenges due to its effective design. By Bob Babajanian Carefully designed social programs offer the best chance to avoid corruption, inefficiency and other governance problems.

by Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) with Christina Mendez, Emmanuel Tupas, Robertzon Ramirez, Mayen Jaymalin – Aug 16, 2019 MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers yesterday raised concern about the presence of what they described as military-looking Chinese workers in a Philippine offshore gaming operation (POGO) facility in Las Piñas City.

By Samuel P. Medenilla, Business Mirror, Aug 16, 2019817 FOR good or for bad, the fate of they country’s real-estate industry is now tied with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo), which employ hundreds of thousands of foreign workers whose need for housing and work stations has caused property rates to spike.

By Gerg Cahiles, CNN Philippines, 16 Aug 2019 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 16)— Deputy Ombudsman Cyril Ramos reckons that the government might have lost to corruption around ₱1.4 trillion in the past two years.

by Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star), 16 Aug 2019 Filipinos marvel at new Manila Mayor Isko Moreno because he’s a magician. All he did was hose down dirty roads, parks and markets. And presto! In the process he curbed street chaos and bureaucratic sleaze, and is making the national capital livable again.

by Jess Diaz With Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star), 16 Aug 2019 MANILA, Philippines — Funds for the expanded or universal health care (UHC) program, which the government will implement starting in January next year will be short by P30 billion, a Department of Finance (DOF) official said yesterday.