by Jess Shankleman and Chris Martin, Bloomberg, Jan. 3, 2017 Global average solar cost may fall below coal within 10 years Countries from Saudi Arabia to Mexico planning auctions Solar power is now cheaper than coal in some parts of the world. In less than a decade, it’s likely to be the lowest-cost option almost…

By James Manyika, Michael Chui, Mehdi Miremadi, Jacques Bughin, Katy George, Paul Willmott, and Martin Dewhurst Automation is happening, and it will bring substantial benefits to businesses and economies worldwide, but it won’t arrive overnight. A new McKinsey Global Institute report finds realizing automation’s full potential requires people and technology to work hand in hand.

By Federico D. Pascual Jr. (The Philippine Star), Jan. 1, 2017 YOU have seen or survived the first six months of the six-year Duterte regime. For the new year starting this blessed day (killers do not rest even on the Sabbath), it will be more of the same – only stricter, meaning bloodier.

By Richmond Mercurio (The Philippine Star), Dec. 29, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – Japanese companies operating in the Philippines are the second most bullish across Asia and Oceania in terms of being profitable this year, a new survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) showed.

By Jose C. Sison (The Philippine Star), Dec 28, 2016 The general rule in Labor Law is that the burden rests on the employer to prove payment, rather than on the employees to prove non-payment of the wages she is entitled to. This is one of the issues raised and resolved in this case of…

by E.J.C. Tubayan, Businessworld THE PHILIPPINES is gearing up to negotiate two big free trade agreements (FTA) next year, as countries under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) approach a consensus on the partnership’s terms, and with trade talks with the European Union (EU) set to resume in the first quarter next year.

by PHILIP PERRY, Dec 27, 2016 The Trump campaign ran on bringing jobs back to American shores, although mechanization has been the biggest reason for manufacturing jobs’ disappearance. Similar losses have led to populist movements in several other countries. But instead of a pro-job growth future, economists across the board predict further losses as AI,…

ABS-CBN News, Dec 27 2016 MANILA – The peso could weaken to P51 to the dollar next year and P55 in 2018, as policy tightening in the US drives funds out of emerging markets like the Philippines, UBS said. The peso touched the P50-per dollar level twice in the last two months. It weakened to…

By Czeriza Valencia, Philstar, Dec 25, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – While it remains to be seen if the Duterte administration can deliver the promises under its massive infrastructure push, the groundwork for game changing projects is being laid down at an unprecedented speed and with promise of greater resources.

by Janine Marie D. Soliman, Businessworld, Dec 24, 2016 FILIPINOS HAVE increased their use of basic financial services offered by banks after individuals gained more access to banking establishments in the past five years, according to the central bank.

By BusinessMirror, Dec 24, 2016 FUNDING for free education to all public-school students from grade school to college has been approved in the P3.35-trillion 2017 national budget. But assuring continued annual allocations for scholars in State-run universities and colleges, also known as SUCs, is still a work in progress.

By: Tarra Quismundo – Reporter / @TarraINQPhilippine Daily Inquirer, Dec 23, 2016 As she accepted the nation’s highest honor as a patron of arts and culture, Sen. Loren Legarda called for greater action on an “escalating social chaos” besetting the country, including political bickering, violence and attacks against indigenous peoples.

By Jose C. Sison (The Philippine Star), Dec 23, 2016 Change has indeed come to our country this year 2016. Since we became a Democratic Republic, this is the first time for us to have a President like Rodrigo Roa Duterte. And the change here is not only because he is the first President who…

By Maine Manalansan (The Philippine Star), Dec 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – For most people, Christmas is a time of celebration. Families shop for gifts together at the mall; they go to Ayala Triangle to take photos at the light show, and go on vacations in far-off places just to replicate the spirit of winter.…

By Al Jacinto, Abante, Dec 23, 2016 ZAMBOANGA CITY — Isang lalaki ang dinakip ng pulisya matapos na diumano’y mapatay ang baklang ­live-in partner nito sa Davao City.

By Business Mirror – DECEMBER 23, 2016 THE bonus that millions of Japanese seniors enjoyed in recent years when their pension income remained the same while consumer prices and wages fell is about to end.

By Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines had the fastest average mobile internet speed in Asia Pacific in the third quarter, according to the latest report of content delivery network services provider Akamai.

By Alexis Romero and Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte yesterday signed into law the next year’s P3.35-trillion budget 2017, which he said would benefit the poor and vulnerable sectors. Duterte said the first ever budget of his administration would be “pro-people, pro-investment, pro-growth and pro-development.”

By Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – Children make up almost a third of all human trafficking victims worldwide, while women and girls comprise 71 percent, according to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report.

By Janvic Mateo With Alexis Romero, The Philippine Star, Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – President Duterte’s trust rating is declining in most areas but it is still “excellent,” the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows. Duterte’s net trust rating remained in the excellent threshold, obtaining a +72 in the results of the Dec.…

CTALK By Cito Beltran (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 You know we have a problem if business executives are more worried about the business environment than enjoying the Yuletide season. Instead of ticking off “must attend parties,” a number of company presidents and CEOs have been preoccupied meeting with government officials, stakeholders, crisis managers,…

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star), Dec. 23, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – As the government institutes reforms to revive the manufacturing sector, it should also improve the regulatory regime for services needed by producers and exporters, state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said.

By: Ed Margareth Barahan – @inquirerdotnetINQUIRER.net, Dec 22, 2016 The Philippine Embassy in Lisbon reminded the public on Thursday to be “extra cautious” with jobs offers by bogus companies and individuals as well as issuances of entry or working visas for companies in Portugal or other countries in Europe over the internet.

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star), Dec. 22, 2016 According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, one of the provisions of the new DOLE department order (DO) to be implemented in early 2017 is the prohibition against sub-contracting. File photo MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is set to finally stop the…

Tayyiba Iram, Dec 22, 2016 Hiring managers rarely have the time or resources to look at each résumé closely, and they typically spend about six seconds on their initial fit/no fit decision. If you want to pass that test, you need to have some solid qualifications — and the perfect resume to highlight them. Here…

By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star), Dec. 21, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has included a provision in the proposed P3.35-trillion national budget canceling the need for patients seeking treatment in hospitals to present a Philippine Heath Insurance (PhilHealth) card as a condition for availing themselves of benefits from the state health insurer.

By Francis Elevado (The Philippine Star), Dec. 21, 2016 CAMARINES NORTE, Philippines – Three miners drowned in Labo, Camarines Norte on Sunday. Reports reaching Camp Wenceslao Vinzons Sr. identified the fatalities as Florentino Mallanes, 47; Mark Alvin Echano, 22, and Joel Cena 36, resident of Barangay Dallas.

QUEZON CITY, Dec 21 — In its aim to strengthen the Philippines’ commitment into eliminating 1 Million Children from Child Labor, the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC), chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources…

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star), Dece. 21, 2016 MANILA, Philippines – Foreign investment pledges approved by the country’s seven investment promotion agencies (IPAs) fell 45 percent in the third quarter this year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported yesterday.

Ban spoke the same day the Security Council unanimously approved its first-ever draft resolution on human trafficking in conflict situations. By: AP, Dec. 21, 2016 Outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Tuesday on all countries to investigate and prosecute cases of human trafficking and said the most vulnerable victims are women, children and refugees caught…