Uncertainty of economic survival after losing one’s job is the underlying reason why the government opted to adopt stringent laws on job security, or “security of tenure” as we know it here. The Constitution clearly guarantees that, and so does the Labor Code.

MANILA, Philippines – The Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations (FASA) remains cautiously optimistic on the shipping industry despite its recovery in 2010.

Sec. de Lima should reverse dismissal call, says PAO head DESPITE supposed lack of civil-service eligibility, according to the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta and her deputies can stay at their posts and they need not even take the Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) examinations.

Next week is already the Sinulog Week for Cebu (how time flies, indeed) and I asked Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to be my special guest on our talk show “Straight from the Sky” so we did the taping in the new mayor’s office in Cebu City, which is now located at the ground floor…

RP’s neglected nutrition security problem Millions of children throughout Southeast and South Asia are not getting the nutrition they need for proper physical and mental development during childhood or to maximize their productivity as adults. To help fight this, the European Union has just announced a 20 million euros grant to Unicef to tackle undernutrition…

THE Makati Business Club (MBC) on Friday lauded the government for Moody’s improved rating outlook on the Philippines and the completion of the country’s second global peso bond sale, saying these developments reflect renewed confidence in the economy.

With the rapid technological advances seen in recent years, Sen. Edgardo Angara urged the government to integrate computer lessons into the basic curriculum of all public and private schools.

The Philippines yesterday reiterated that the government-enforced ban in Lebanon will not be lifted until the working conditions for Filipinos in the Middle East state is improved.

The Philippines got a $4.97-million World Bank grant to help farmers cope with the effects of climate change, the multilateral lender said in a statement released on Friday.

WASHINGTON – The US economy may finally be hitting its stride even if growth remains too weak to put a real dent in the nation’s jobless rate, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday.

A Philippine-sponsored resolution pushing for interfaith dialogue towards global peace and development has been adopted by the United Nations (UN). The Philippine mission to the UN said that the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution to spur global efforts for comprehensive peace and development.

MANILA, Philippines –  Workers in Metro Manila and other regions are unlikely to get a salary increase anytime soon despite the expected rise in transport fares and other commodities.

MANILA, Philippines –  Communist rebels want issues on the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), human rights and political prisoners tackled during preliminary talks with the government in Norway this month.

MANILA, Philippines –  Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima bared yesterday that the administration of President Aquino is contemplating on privatizing the headquarters of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Quezon City to further pump prime the economy.

MANILA, Philippines –  President Aquino assured Filipinos of a “better life” this year under his administration, notwithstanding the challenges and uncertainties faced by the nation.

MANILA, Philippines –  President Aquino is set to convene his entire Cabinet on Monday to discuss which of the 188 pieces of legislation submitted by officials and foreign business groups would comprise his administration’s priority programs.

MANILA, Philippines –  Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman yesterday expressed support for the Reproductive Health Bill.

JAKARTA (Xinhua) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has made great contribution not only to the regional order, but also international cooperation, an Indonesian envoy said on Thursday.

JAKARTA, Jan 6 (Bernama) — Indonesia Thursday said it was promoting a people-centred Asean during its chairmanship of the regional association this year.

VIGAN CITY, Philippines — Minimum wage workers in the private sector in Region 1 will receive an increase of between P5 and P8 in their daily basic wage after the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-I approved Wage Order No. RB1-14.

The Philippines Contact Center for the past two years is practically recession-proof industry and is emerging as one of the most important contributors to its economy. In 2008, output of the outsourcing industry increased to S$ 6.1 billion from US$ 4.5 billion in the preceding year. Overall, the BPO sector accounted for 3.5 percent of…

January 7, 2011 press release prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Gilberto G.B. Asuque met ranking officials of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) to discuss the protective measures for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) under Republic Act (RA) 10022, otherwise known as the Amendatory Law on the Magna Carta for Migrant…

(This blog was originally published on The Asia Foundation’s blog, In Asia. Reposted with permission.) New Year in the Philippines comes in literally with a bang – with vigorous fireworks (derived from Chinese traditions) reaching a crescendo at midnight. While each year the media dutifully record the toll of injuries, Filipinos love the boisterous noise…

CAVITE, Philippines – Officials in Cavite are strengthening their battle against HIV-AIDS by boosting the protection and awareness program following a report from the Department of Health (DoH) that the prevalence of the disease is high in the province.

EXPERTS IN a symposium on “technopreneurship” and entrepreneurship education last year called on small businesses to take advantage of services offered by the government and industry groups to help boost the economy and create more jobs.

DAVAO CITY — The World Bank is encouraging local government units (LGUs) to propose ‘big ticket’ projects for funding under the current second phase of the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP), a statement here said.

THE COMMITTEES on information and communications technology and government reorganization of the House of Representatives have jointly approved a bill that seeks to form the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), a move business chambers have been pushing to further boost the industry.

PARIS — A study by marine scientists has given powerful backing to campaigners who say the future of many of the world’s fisheries lies in co-management by government, local people and fishermen.

Overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) organizations in the Middle East are launching on Friday an online signature campaign to call on the Aquino administration to step up efforts in seeking justice for Filipino victims of rape and murder in the region.

To double inbound tourists MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has underscored the need for Philippines to further improve its infrastructure in order achieve its target of increasing tourism arrival and revenue for 2011.