Last Saturday (which providentially was also World Indigenous People’s Day), an interesting round table discussion was held at the University of Asia and the Pacific on indigenous people’s rights. It was led by Ambassador Jose Romero, and done under the auspices of the Center for Research and Communication and UA&P’s School of Law and Governance.…

“Every Filipino, regardless of status in life, should have equal access to healthcare. This is the essence of Kalusugan Pangkalahatan,” Secretary of Health Enrique Ona said.

TORONTO, Canada – While there is considerable upward mobility among children of immigrants in Canada some groups, including Filipino youth, are less likely to be among them, a study reported.

RECENT hints from Philippines President Benigno Aquino about running for a second term are clearly a political trial balloon. It needs to be popped, fast.

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino workers pay the highest income tax in the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, according to the Tax Management Association of the Philippines.

Energy saving initiatives to alleviate the power supply situation in the summer of 2015 must be a coordinated effort of the government, consumers and private sector, instead of approaching the impending crisis to each his own, a government official said Tuesday.

“Taxation is the rule and exemption is the exception.” This basic principle in taxation law has been sustained in a number of decided cases by no less than our Supreme Court. The highest tribunal has consistently held that the law does not look with favor on tax exemptions and that he who would seek to…

MANILA, Philippines — Theft, mugging, and rape were the most common crimes committed by minors in the first half of the year, data from the Philippine National Police showed. Figures from the PNP’s Directorate for Investigative and Detective and Management recorded 7,764 offenses by minors, a slight dip from the 7,825 cases over the same…

STA. CRUZ, Zambales—Thousands of mine workers staged a protest caravan here during the weekend to press their demand to re-open four mining companies ordered closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), organizers said on Sunday.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Agrarian reform continues to divide groups calling for equitable land distribution but can’t agree on how it should be done.

LAGUNA, Philippines – Sex for food? “Before, clients from Calauan came here with a motorcycle. Then they pick up somebody with just one kilo of rice and a can of sardines. But now, they’d do it even with just a packet of noodles,” narrated Fr Salvador Pablo, head of the Salesian community in Bayan ni…

PUBLIC SATISFACTION with the general performance of the national government fell last quarter to a fresh all-time low for this administration, with declines recorded across all indicators, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest report.

MANILA, Philippines — The most number of complaints over violence against women in the first half of the year were filed in Western Visayas, statistics from the Philippine National Police showed.

During the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (1995-2004), the United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed August 9 every year as International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. In 2004, the UN proclaimed a Second International Decade (2005-2014), as “A Decade for Action and Dignity” for indigenous peoples (IPs). The decade strengthens international…

Not all sectors of the economy will come out as winners once the single ASEAN market in enforced next year, according business executives of highly successful Philippine companies, who say there are obvious differences that will weigh on how a particular sector will fare under an integrated region of more than 600 million people.

Nana lives in a remote village. She is married with three children. Both she and her husband are farmers. Nana went to school up to grade 3. Every now and then, the households in her community are asked to attend a meeting. One day, the village leader requested her to attend a meeting the next…

As International Youth Day approaches next week, I’ve found myself wondering what are the primary issues affecting young people throughout the world. One topic that seems to be a common thread across regions and income groups is youth unemployment, which remains more than double the rate of unemployment for the general population.

STEVE Jobs was quoted as saying: “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.” Was his death a hazard of occupation? Your opinion will be as good as mine.

MANILA, Philippines – A non-government organization identified with at least two Cabinet officials has apparently cornered the bulk of projects to be funded by a multibillion-peso lump sum provision in the proposed P2.606-trillion national budget for 2015, an opposition lawmaker said yesterday.

Taxpayers, specifically condominium corporations and unit owners rejoiced when the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) came up with the recent decision in the case of Officemetro Philippines, Inc. (Formerly Regus Centres, Inc.) vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, CTA Case No. 8382 (Officemetro case).

MANILA, Philippines – In Caraga (Region 13), one out of four workers in palm oil plantations are children who spend their day hauling oil palm fruit bunches that weigh 15 to 45 kilograms each, according to the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR).

It’s World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) on August 1 to 7 and this year’s theme is “Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal – For Life!” Ensuring breastfeeding is protected, promoted and supported is indeed a splendid goal with lifelong benefits for our children, mothers and the society. Making it thrive is the simplest and cheapest way for our…

No working permits only tourist visas THE Bureau of Immigration in the Davao region has launched a crackdown on illegal foreign nationals working in establishments without permits.

Overseas Filipino workers availing of repatriation from troubled countries were reassured of “focused and comprehensive” reintegration services from the Department of Labor and Employment.

Forbes magazine has released its list of top 50 richest people in the Philippines. On top for the sixth straight year is mall tycoon Henry Sy, with a $12 billion net worth – a $2.9 billion increase from a year ago.

Any deterioration in the Philippines’s per-capita income, already low by global standards, and the state of governance that foreign observers rate as weak, could revert the country’s hard-won sovereign rating to below investment grade, a credit watcher said on Thursday.

The women come to Australia under the promise of a happy marriage, only to be exploited by their partners SYDNEY, Australia – Kanya thought she was starting a new life in Australia after arriving from India to marry her husband, but it quickly turned into a nightmare.

Every administration brags about bountiful remittances it is able to derive from overseas Filipino workers to augment domestic incomes. It’s something to be ashamed of, though, for it actually reveals their failures. Eleven million talented Filipinos are forced to work abroad because there is no steel industry to spark businesses, boost employment, and modernize agriculture.…

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The construction of a P25-billion power plant of the AboitizPower Corp. has been affected by the detention of 49 foreign workers who were found to be without working permits.

PHILIPPINE economic growth could slow this year and the next as it moves closer to its trend path, Fitch Ratings yesterday said, with low incomes, muted revenues and political uncertainties holding back the country’s potential. Slower growth of 6.5% is “likely sustainable,” according to Fitch Ratings.