MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has submitted to the Senate a list of new projects, which will be prioritized in the second tranche of the allocation of congressional initiatives or the pork barrel for this year.

MANILA, Philippines – The government is proposing a revolving, self-sustaining fund for exporters to replace the P1-billion emergency export support fund that was released last year.

MANILA, Philippines – The government is looking at entering into free trade agreements (FTA) with six countries led by the United States to boost foreign trade.

MANILA, Philippines – Economic managers of the Aquino administration admitted yesterday that former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did well in managing the economy during her incumbency.

MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals has upheld the refusal of the management of telecommunications leader Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) to grant danger exposure allowance (DEA) to its supervisors.

MANILA, Philippines –  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expects investments to hit more than P400 billion this year, surpassing the P345-billion yearend target of the government.

MANILA, Philippines— (UPDATE) Senators unanimously adopted on Wednesday a resolution urging President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to immediately suspend all the “unusually large and apparently excessive allowances, bonuses, incentives and other perks of the governing boards” of government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) as well as of government financial institutions (GFIs)

CREDIT CARD use seems to be widening the gap between the rich and poor, based on results of a study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. According to a Reuters report by Kristina Cooke, “Credit Card Fees Transfer Wealth to Rich, Study Finds,” credit card use acted “as a transfer of wealth from…

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 31 – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is reactivating its anti-child labor action team in Camarines Norte, an area in Bicol once considered by the International Labor Organization (ILO) as a province in the Philippines with high incidence of Worst Forms of Child Labor (WFCL).

After being pilloried for weeks in media regarding his alleged scandalous P26.8 million annual compensation as administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Armand Arreza was finally given the chance to correct what turned out to be inaccurate reports of his actual pay.

Hong Kong’s wage commission has announced it has agreed on a figure for the territory’s first minimum wage. But the agreed level – likely to raise the earnings of 11% of the working population – is unlikely to satisfy employers or workers.

THE Philippines loses as much as P145 billion a year from underinvestment in sanitation. The World Bank, in a 122-page report entitled “Sustaining Water for All in a Changing Climate,” said Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam lose about two percent of their annual GDP from underinvestment in sanitation.

I’ve occasionally heard it said that any law where all parties are dissatisfied in a good law. But I’m skeptical. Consider Hong Kong’s new minimum wage provision. BBC News reports that:

HOUSE Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II is seeking an investigation into the reported large-scale fraudulent use of Home Development Mutual (Pag-ibig) Funds to finance bogus housing loans and questionable housing development projects.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday said it is planning to issue its first Clean Energy bond to support renewable energy projects in Asia.

The departments of Energy and Environment and Natural Resources on Wednesday said that talks are underway on how to tackle an “extended producer responsibility” program for mercury lamps, including a policy study on establishing a plan of action for it.

MANILA, Philippines – Transportation authorities are stepping up their watch on the condition of buses on the road in the wake of recent bus accidents in the country.

Liberia’s 14 year war left gaping holes in the infrastructure critical to investment and recovery and delayed a generation of youth from entering the labour market. Today, almost two-thirds of the population live in poverty. Youth between ages of 15 and 35 make up 53 per cent of the workforce, yet constitute 58 per cent…

MANILA, Philippines – Labor leader Ernesto Herrera claimed on Wednesday that reports of massive termination of Filipino maids in Hong Kong are “grossly exaggerated”.

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro said the Kindergarten-12th Grade (K-12) education model will help high school graduates qualify for jobs without obtaining a college degree.

Local traders said the recent strong showing of local exports does not mean an overall recovery for the entire sector since the growth is not spread out.

A recent comparative survey of investment-related costs in the Asian region conducted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) showed Manila as being among the most cost-efficient business location.

The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the payment of back wages and damages by a popular local spa to its manager who was fired from her job upon the advice of the owner’s feng shui master.

THE judiciary on Monday is hoping that the Congress would approve its P23-billion proposed budget for 2011 to settle all unpaid benefits of judges and justices. This as Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez on Monday said that some P900-million worth of benefits have not yet received by some 2,308 justices and judges nationwide since 2007.

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Tuesday it will continue to provide assistance to Filipino seafarers currently held captive by Somali pirates as it reiterated its call against high-seas kidnapping.

CEBU, Philippines – A top ranking health official yesterday expressed concern on iron deficiency anemia.

CEBU, Philippines – The Eversley Childs Sanitarium Employees Union (ECSEU) has filed two urgent motions with the Department of Health – Center for Health Development – Region 7 (DOH-CHD-7) seeking to hasten the hearing of its case against the Sanitarium’s chief Dr. Primo Joel S.Alvez and Dr. Joanri T. Riveral.

MANILA, Philippines – A party-list congressman expressed concern over a looming protest from local poultry farmers over an alleged “midnight” importation of chicken choice parts that is now competing with their products in the local market.

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said it has initiated an investigation into the dismal passing rate of graduates in the different colleges and universities throughout the country who are taking different board licensure examinations given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

MANILA, Philippines – The government is readying a plan ‘B’ just in case the United States Congress does not pass the Philippines’ proposed ‘Save Our Industries Act’ which is expected to save the local garments industry.