FINANCE Secretary Cesar Purisima said Sunday the economy would comfortably achieve 5-percent growth this year, which would be two or three percentage points off the government’s “aspirational target” of 7 to 8 percent.

CEBU, Philippines – Labor relations within Philippine Airlines promises to become stormy yet again as its employees’ union, Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA), oppose the national flag carrier’s plan to employ contractual workers on June 16.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) signed a wide-ranging Memorandum of Understanding with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Monday 13 June, on key issues including promoting gender equality, eliminating sex discrimination, protecting domestic workers, promoting social protection floors and combating gender-based violence at work.

SPENDING by government departments and agencies was close to target as of end-May, even as the total was down from a year ago, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said in a statement yesterday.

MILAN — The ravages from half a century of intensive farming must give way to a more sustainable approach if farmers are to feed the world in 2050, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) yesterday said.

EXPECTATIONS for the outsourcing industry have been scaled down but are better compared to the more uncertain view recently offered for merchandise exports.

Manila, Philippines – The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) yesterday called on the Aquino government and employers to liberate workers from “labor woes” in celebration of today’s Independence Day.

MANILA, Philippines – A survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that more and more beneficiaries of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are turning to savings and investments as the central bank stepped up its advocacy on the productive use of remittances.

Dear PAO, I am asking for help, I’m a single mom. What should I do? I want to ask for financial support for my child who is 7 years old. His father is working in a company but if I don’t force him to give money he will not give any for our son. He…

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) would look into reports of foreigners flocking to this landlocked province, raking in millions of pesos from illegal mining activities.

Something is wrong with our sense of values if we prefer imitations instead of the real thing. We will never have a strong sense of nationalism or love of country if we are fond of things imported than of things made here. Yet some members of our Congress particularly some leftist groups with alleged “nationalistic”…

MANILA, Philippines – Former presidential economic adviser and now Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has welcomed President Aquino’s recent move to double Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s coverage, saying this would significantly reduce the expenditures of households for hospitalization and outpatient medical maintenance.

At least 188 criminal activities were blamed to the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in some provinces in Mindanao region, victimizing civilians and small businesses through massive extortion activities, during the first six months of the year.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada advised President Aquino to act decisively and avoid giving his allies caught dipping their fingers into irregularities a kid gloves treatment to get through a hail of criticisms over the “KKK” or his favored Kaibigan (crony), Kaklase (classmates) and Kabarilan (target range shooting buddies).

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna ,Philippines – The global crop protection market is shrinking. This can be attributed to, among other things, the “biotechnology revolution” sweeping the international agriculture sector.

MALOLOS CITY, Philippines  – Pro-life advocates called anew for the junking of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill during a rally last Friday, saying deliberations on the measure are a waste of time.

House approves on final reading MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a bill that would compel credit card firms to clearly indicate in their billing statements the high price that cardholders would have to pay, should they decide to settle only the minimum monthly amount due, and…

Compared to a minimum wage policy which is a short-term remedy, a decent living wage will ensure workers’ wages are on par with current economic reality.

The information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry is expanding at a pace that makes other sectors of the economy absolutely green with envy.

MANILA, Philippines – Merchandise exports rose by an annual 19.1 percent in April, their fastest growth rate this year, as shipments to Japan remained strong despite the natural and nuclear disasters there, the government announced yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported yesterday that net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows surged 142 percent in March as equity infusion more than doubled while withdrawals declined.

DOHA — A fresh round of investigations is being considered in the Senate on the use of hundreds of millions of Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds for the repat-riation of thousands of Filipi-nos from Libya a few months ago.

BLASTS BISHOP FOR CALLING ON NOYNOY TO RESIGN President Aquino and his Palace aides have turned paranoid, saying they have detected a “pattern” of destabilization through a “pattern” of demonization of the current chief executive which they claim is being hatched by the opposition forces, following the series of criticisms leveled against Aquino’s leadership and…

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday expressed concern over the alarming increase in the number of minors being involved in illegal drug activities in the country.

THE Philippines is celebrating its Independence Day tomorrow, June 12, but throughout the world June 12 is celebrated as the World Day Against Child Labor.

GENEVA (AFP) – International Labor Organization (ILO) member-states are expected to adopt proposals designed to offer protection to an estimated 52.6 million domestic workers worldwide during its 100th annual conference next week, with the Philippines among a number of states urging the passage of this landmark treaty.

Millions of domestic workers around the world are employed in private homes, often unregulated by public authorities, making them vulnerable to exploitation. This week the ILO has been meeting in Geneva to design a convention to protect them.

As the World Day Against Child Labor on June 14 approaches, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) pushed for a “tripartite effort” in fighting against child labor.

MANILA: The rate of new HIV infections has seen a 25 per cent drop in the last decade. However, in the Philippines, the number of people infected has risen – particularly among call-centre workers.