MANILA, Philippines – The Senate and the House of Representatives are not disposed to give in to the clamor of justices, judges and other personnel of the judiciary for more funds next year.

THE government has allocated funding for training business process outsourcing (BPO) near-hires to attune the workforce with the latest trends in IT as the industry expands its skills set to include electronics engineers.

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – President Aquino is set to issue this month an executive order (EO) enforcing an open skies policy nationwide except Manila, thus opening the country’s secondary airports to foreign airlines.

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona and nine other Supreme Court (SC) justices voted yesterday to void the Truth Commission created to investigate alleged anomalies in the nine-year administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Cut in family health budget non-negotiable MANILA, Philippines—Senators Tuesday served notice to their counterparts in the House of Representatives that they would not enter into a compromise on the decision to reduce the Department of Health’s budget for contraceptives by P872 million.

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have agreed that life begins during fertilization, thus the need to protect unborn babies in the reproductive health bill.

From: Kathleen Ruff To: Serge Boislard Sent: August 06, 2009 Subject: Thank you for your letter Dear Mr Boislard, Thank you for your letter of July 24. I appreciate your taking the time to communicate your comments.

Both sides of asbestos mining spoke out today issuing press releases. One side claims that health and safety is at stake while the other claims its jobs are at stake.

A total of 1,085 or 34 percent of women workers from 204 establishments in Western Visayas inspected under the Project LEAP or Labor Enforcement and Assistance Program are receiving below the minimum wage, according to the Department of Labor and Employment 6.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 7, 2010) � Philippine health officials have raised the alarm over the rising cases of HIV or the human immunodeficiency virus in northern Mindanao.

Quebec: A familiar crusade, even if it has come from far away… ASBESTOS, QC, Dec. 7 /CNW Telbec/ – The Mouvement Pro Chrysotile simply cannot believe the considerable efforts being expended by anti-asbestos activists to prevent the Jeffrey chrysotile mine in Asbestos from opening. Not satisfied with having recently pontificated from the heights of their…

In an effort to trim down the number of Public Utility Buses (PUBs) plying along Edsa and in metropolis, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is planning to effect gradual phasing-out of old and dilapidated PUB vehicles.

The Philippines has wrested from India the distinction of being the call center capital of the world, according to industry data and the government.

LAST WEEK, donations in the millions of pesos were announced for a computer and Internet literacy program. It could just be another fund-raising activity if not for the fact that almost half of the donors were local government units — some representing the remotest parts of Mindanao with several topping the pledges made by multinational…

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has announced its plan to lay off 2,600 ground employees as part of its cost-cutting program. PAL president, Jaime Bautista, has argued for the necessity of this step to ensure the survival of the company.

AS the Aquino administration grapples with its new medium-term plan, business groups are launching initiatives aimed at complementing the government’s governance agenda. Raul Concepcion, chairman of newly formed “Gov’t Watch,” told reporters that they would present to President Benigno Aquino 3rd early next year a shortlist of suggestions aimed at enhancing the operations of four…

THE ECONOMY could grow by a higher 5.0-5.5% next year, research firm GlobalSource Partners, Inc. said in a new report where it adjusted its 2011 forecast from 4.7% previously.

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it may ask President Benigno Aquino 3rd to extend the deadline for the draft of the country’s new six-year economic blueprint because of the government’s new “thrusts.” “We’re still discussing it [new deadlines]. Actually, the President has instructions, so we cannot just change. It has to be…

A high-level United Nations (UN) body has adopted a jurisprudence on the rights of migrant domestic workers worldwide and recognized recommendations for the protection of these workers.

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is “now looking into” the row between the labor union and management of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO).

The IBM Global Locations Trend said in its latest report that the Philippines has already overtaken India as the world’s number 1 country for shared services and business process outsourcing (BPO).

The government has set aside P1 billion ($22.7 million) for the “reintegration” of returning overseas Filipinos in their home country, President Benigno Aquino 3rd said on Monday.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is urging commuters to report abusive taxi drivers by calling its “Oplan Isnabero” action center hotline, 7890, or sending a text message to cell phone number 0918-8848484.

MANILA, Philippines – Shoppers were advised yesterday against buying toys laced with harmful substances that pose health risks to children.

MANILA, Philippines – A top executive of the World Bank assured President Aquino yesterday of the institution’s strong support for his administration’s good governance and anti-poverty agenda.

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives will fight for the restoration of the P880-million fund for the purchase of contraceptives in the proposed P1.645-trillion national budget for 2010, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday.

WASHINGTON – The economy is starting to fire on almost every cylinder these days but the one that matters most: Job creation. Factories are busier. Incomes are rising. Autos are selling. The holiday shopping season is shaping up as the best in four years. Stock prices are surging.

MANILA, Philippines – Eight in 10 Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay, the latest survey by Pulse Asia showed.

The Philippines and the European Union on Friday signed a €36-million support pact for the country’s health program, aimed at improving the delivery of health services in key areas in the country.

MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration aims to lower the government’s debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio to 53 percent by 2013 from the projected 58 percent ratio this year.