MANILA, Philippines – Growing investor confidence in the country was recently affirmed by the improved ranking of the Philippines in the 2012 Global Real Estate Transparency Index, a biennial Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) worldwide survey that assesses transparency in 97 real estate markets by weighting 83 different factors.

MANILA, Philippines – The adoption of a seven percent single levy for all mining operations – combining excise and royalty taxes – as well as the phasing out of mineral production sharing agreements (MPSA), where the government only collects two percent excise taxes, and a 10 percent “cash-flow surcharge” is being recommended by the International…

The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) welcomes the release of the new Executive Order (EO) implementing reforms in the Philippine mining sector, issued under the authority of the Office of the President and appreciates it as a constructive framework upon which responsible mining can move forward in the Philippines.

There’s trouble in the European Union (EU) and the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. At the heart of the problem is the euro, the common and exclusive currency of the 17 nations that comprise the eurozone. The eurozone is not the EU, which has 27 member states. The 17 eurozone…

ANALYSTS have cast doubt on growth targets the Aquino administration has set for the remainder of its term, describing these as too bullish given uncertainties. Slower export growth expectedPopulation management needed to spur growthPhilippines could be ‘next rising star’Philippines seen better positioned in ASEANEconomic planner sees Q2 growth ‘close’ to 6.4%

MANILA, Philippines – To project where the Philippine economic growth will be heading, watch how the eurozone crisis is unfolding and how it will affect China. This was the message of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan to reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday, July 11, days after the interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC)…

THE COUNTRY’S medium-term economic blueprint will be “updated” by next year to take into account internal and external developments, a Cabinet official yesterday said. Slower export growth expectedPopulation management needed to spur growthPhilippines could be ‘next rising star’Philippines seen better positioned in ASEANEconomic planner sees Q2 growth ‘close’ to 6.4%

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) will start the midterm review of the three-year-old Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and the still unfinished Public Investment Program (PIP), which is expected to be completed next quarter.

HERE’S a puzzler: The factors that pulled down last year’s growth—low export activities and government underspending—are now the very same ones pushing the economy to greater heights.

With respectable economic growth and benign inflation in the past three years, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said on Wednesday that it was expecting a reduction in poverty incidence in 2012.

LA TRINIDAD Benguet: There is a bright future for coffee production here in the Cordillera region. Philippine Coffee Board co-chairperson Pacita Juan, made this assertion in her keynote address during the first Cordillera Coffee FIESTA (Farm and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda) held at the Benguet State University (BSU), here, recently.

To the ordinary consumer, it is almost impossible to fathom why a public utility company like the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) continues to increase its rates year after year, even as it earns billions in profits per annum. In the first quarter of this year, for example, the power distribution company saw profits surge by…

The report that Speaker Feliciano Belmonte of the House and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will revive discussions to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution brings back to life an important issue of economic policy. It had been completely eclipsed when political theater got dominated by the impeachment of the Chief Justice.

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign direct investments (FDI) were in the red for the first time this year, recording a net outflow of $13 million in April, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has stopped the implementation of a government order fixing the salaries of bus drivers and conductors starting this month. The high court issued yesterday a status quo ante order, enjoining the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) from implementing the…

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) reported yesterday an improvement in its claims processing system as seen in the increase of claims from 340,000 to 450,000 per month. Late last year, PhilHealth began addressing the issues of delayed claims payments and claims backlog by fixing its management and Information Technology (IT) system.

FILIPINO households are saving less despite higher incomes, a worrisome trend considering that those who are not setting money aside are also cutting back on important items such as education.

MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration is seeking P2.006 trillion as appropriation for 2013 to fund projects that aim to bolster the country’s bid to achieve economic growth of six to seven percent in 2013, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said yesterday.

When organizers ban from competing in road races foreign runners like the Kenyans who are believed to be far more superior to local runners simply because they are far more superior to local runners, that’s DISCRIMINATION.

Last week’s column, which I suspected was even-handed enough to upset both sides in the dispute within the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), triggered a letter of polite protest from one of the parties which deserves some space.

MANILA, Philippines – Mining industry players welcomed yesterday the signing of an executive order on a new mining policy, calling it a positive step toward full development of the mineral industry.

MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration is seeking P2.006 trillion as appropriation for 2013 to fund projects that aim to bolster the country’s bid to achieve economic growth of six to seven percent in 2013, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – Mining will be banned in protected areas and in tourism sites – including Palawan and Boracay – while no new permits for mining operations will be issued until Congress passes a new revenue sharing scheme that is more advantageous to the government. The new mining policy is contained in Executive Order 79…

MANILA, Philippines – The economy is projected to grow by six to seven percent next year and accelerate to 7.5 to 8.5 percent in 2016, according to Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad, citing the latest macroeconomic assumptions approved by the interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).

MANILA, Philippines – Bank workers want to be part of the decision-making process regarding bank closures, takeovers and liquidations.

General Santos City in South Cotabato province serves as prowling grounds for 30 individuals with full-blown HIV-AIDS—most of them are commercial sex workers and some are professionals.

DAVAO CITY, July 9 (PIA) — A proposed safety and health policy to be imposed in all renewable energy (RE) facilities would ensure protection program for the workers.

MANILA – President Benigno Aquino III’s new socioeconomic planning chief on Monday said Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term as president coincided with the Philippines’ “lost decade,” a period marked by moderate economic growth coupled with high income inequality.

MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos are spending between four hours and five hours a day in front of television sets making the Philippines among the longest TV viewers in Asia, a survey conducted by Kantar Media. In a roundtable discussion, Kantar Media general manager Gabriel Buluran said the National Rural Ratings Data June 2012 survey showed…

MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration is reviewing the compensation structure for heads and executives of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) who sit in various private corporations in their capacity as GOCC executives, a ranking official said.