(Agence France-Presse), 5 Nov 2020 RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it will ease key restrictions on millions of foreign workers, as part of plans to reform its long-criticized labor policy.

by Ronnel W. Domingo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 5 Nov 2020 Coal-fired power plants conti­nue to be an important component of the Philippines’ energy mix and the government cannot afford to mandate a retirement of such facilities although it is prepared to disallow additional projects, according to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

By: Ben O. de Vera, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 5 Nov 2020 The value of products sold by the Philippines abroad inched up by 2.2 percent year-on-year to $6.22 billion in September and cut short six straight months of exports decline—a green shoot of recovery seen largely dependent on China’s economic growth despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

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by Andrew J. Masigan (The Philippine Star), 4 Nov 2020 Alas, Vietnam, a backwater communist country just 40 years ago, has overtaken us in terms of per capita income. The Philippines, once the star economy in the 50’s and 60’s, has fallen behind in the region’s development race and is now only wealthier than Cambodia,…

by Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star), 4 Nov 2020 Four million young aliens who bribed their way into the country since 2017 are a menace. Mostly Chinese, they are stealing as many Filipino jobs. Some have taken Filipino spouses, to acquire land. They enjoy privileges reserved for Filipinos, like extracting natural resources, and owning utilities…

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by Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star), 3 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The downturn in output of the Philippine manufacturing sector was among the steepest in the world in the first nine months of the year, according to IHS Markit.

by Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star), 3 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Fifty-four countries have lifted inbound border restrictions on Filipino travelers as of yesterday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

by Meg Adonis, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 3 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has called on schools to lessen the burden of students and teachers amid the new coronavirus pandemic, saying they must not require them to do tasks outside instructional management and that they need to provide psychosocial interventions.

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by Ben O. de Vera, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 3 Nov 2020 The Philippines needed to step up fiscal support for its COVID-19 war chest next year as private-sector demand for financing would rise alongside economic recovery such that the government could not rely on the central bank’s assistance as much as it did this year,…

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by Doris Dumlao-Abadilla, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 3 Nov 2020 Health plan usage plunged across the globe this 2020 as most people avoided hospitals, forfeited routine check-ups and delayed elective procedures in fear of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, likely resulting in a slower increase in the cost of medical benefits next year.

by Roy Stephen C. Canivel, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 3 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Three local business groups are calling for a review of a draft circular on licensing and registration of food businesses, producers and processors, arguing that it will just be an added burden for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

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by Christian Deiparine (Philstar.com), 3 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Nearly a month since blended learning for millions of Filipino students began, the education department has come up with suggested measures for an “academic ease,” which a teachers’ group scored as insufficient to address the existing problems under the new setup.

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November – month of safety, health, environment and anti-violence in the Philippines. Homes Safety Month Filipino Values Month Traditional and Alternative Health Month National Consciousness Month for Punctuality and Civility Environmental Awareness Month National Children’s Month Weekly Observances: Nov 19-25: Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week Nov 23-29: National Girls’ Week Nov 25 –…

November 16 is International Day of Tolerance! Stay safe! Wear mask. Wash hands. Physical distancing. No tolerance – for inequality and injustice.    

by Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star), 2 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Poverty alleviation programs for households near the poverty line should include the provision of affordable insurance and specialized access to credit to help them cope with economic shocks from extreme weather conditions, according to a report by the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU).

by Catherine Talavera (The Philippine Star), 2 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines — The recently declared moratorium on endorsements of new coal power plant projects is seen to guide energy investors into the renewable energy sector, an official of the Department of Energy said.

by Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine Star), 2 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines — Economists of private banks have raised their inflation forecasts for 2020 as recovery starts following the government’s decision to gradually reopen the economy, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

by Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star), 2 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines — A House of Representatives panel has approved a substitute bill that will allow on-site relocation of thousands of informal settlers in the country and also provide them with their means of livelihood.

by AFP Relaxnews, 2 Nov 2020 The pandemic has had a very strong impact on the economy and the health sector — but what about interpersonal relations?

by Ben O. de Vera, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2 Nov 2020 MANILA, Philippines—As the Philippines bears the brunt of typhoons getting stronger because of climate change, the government hoped to bring in more renewable energy sources through generous tax perks, according to President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief economic manager on Monday (Nov. 2).

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The Korea Herald/Asia News Network, 1 Nov 2020 SEOUL — Front-line medical professionals taking care of COVID-19 patients are at risk of developing mental illnesses, a study said Sunday.