MANILA, Philippines – Despite appeals by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) not to increase their tuition, 339 colleges and universities went on with their fee hikes for academic year 2010-2011.

MANILA, Philippines – The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) announced yesterday that workers in Metro Manila are finally getting a P22 increase in their daily take-home pay after two years of waiting for adjustments.

PRETTY soon, public schools and government agencies will sport a “greener” look with bamboo desks, chairs and tables.

LOANS for housing and commercial real estate development rose 9 percent in the quarter through March 2010, reflecting the economy’s 7.3-percent expansion during the period, the central bank said over the weekend.

MANILA, Philippines – Organized labor today urged President apparent Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to resurrect the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill as proof of his anti-corruption campaign.

New range for metropolis is P367-404, to take effect later this month DAILY MINIMUM WAGES in Metro Manila were ordered hiked by P22 yesterday, kicking off a round of nationwide adjustments shelved last year amid the global economic downturn.

OFFICIALS of Clark Development Corp. (CDC) announced the peaceful conclusion of the collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with two CDC employees’ unions recently.

MANILA, Philippines—The holding of automated elections on May 10 was “mismanaged” because the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and its technology partner, Smartmatic-TIM, did not follow technical requirements, including security features, mandated by the automation law and the terms of reference of the bidding for the automated system.

PRELIMINARY development plans for the next administration are already being crafted, officials said, with the focus still on economic growth and poverty reduction.

DESPITE the speeches about overseas Filipino workers being heroes of our country, not very many really care about them. The bad treatment they get at government offices—especially at the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration—is a sign that they are not really looked up to as…

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) warned that the debt crisis in Europe could dampen remittances, as fresh data showed the global financial turmoil has crimped money sent home by Filipinos working in the eurozone.

BEIJING: China’s strong economic recovery is drawing much interest from economists, policymakers and media around the world as developed countries struggle to overcome the global downturn. Yet, common misunderstandings about China are increasing as more people unfamiliar with the country air their views. Inaccurate criticism of China’s exchange rate policy, investment environment and global warming…

The Department of Education (DepEd) is urging the next Congress to act on the Special Education Act of 2010 as it stands to benefit some 5.49 million children with special needs (CSNs) in the country.

With the new academic year about to start, the EcoWaste Coalition warned of possible presence of a dangerous compound in school supplies. The group bought five samples and had them tested. The products tested positive for di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP, a suspected carcinogen, exceeding by 200 times the limit imposed by the US government.

JAPANESE investors are looking at the Philippines as an alternative to China and Vietnam, the managing head of the Board of Investments said.

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – A labor union leader was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding men while on his way to work in Sta. Rosa, Laguna last Thursday, police said.

Two years after the financial markets suffered the worst of the US subprime and credit crises, another perfect storm is brewing across the horizon. In fact, several crosscurrents are currently sweeping through the markets, causing increasing turbulence. These are the following:

Some pretty desperate private sector leaders of the tourism industry sought me out last Friday for help in getting a message to President-to-be Noynoy that they need him badly to make things right for tourism. They were shocked by some of the names being mentioned as potential new tourism secretaries. They told me they have…

MANILA, Philippines – Monetary authorities said over the weekend that inflation would no longer hit six percent this year in light of lower oil prices, stable commodity prices, cheaper power and water rates as well as the stronger peso.

Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus was quoted by the media recently as saying that it is now timely for the Philippines to negotiate a free trade agreement with Taiwan following the warming of its relations with China and the imminence of an Economic Framework Agreement (ECFA) between the two. A Philippine-Taiwan FTA may be on hold…

MANILA, Philippines – The semiconductor and electronic business in the Philippines is being revitalized this year through the initiative of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (Comste) by forging an agreement with the Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

MANILA, Philippines – The impressive rebound of the electronics industry can be driven into sustained high growth if the Philippines embarks on an aggressive investment promotions campaign aimed at luring in the big multinationals, officials of a major electronics association said.

MANILA, Philippines – Investors are now looking at the Philippines as a viable investment destination when compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors, the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ said.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) has activated its annual Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) Information and Action Center where parents, students and the general public can seek assistance on matters concerning the start of classes.

MANILA, Philippines – Employees of the Bureau of Customs assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport may soon get their overtime pay after five years of waiting.

If the incoming administration is really sincere in reforming the government it should at least have a new look. This means an overall revamp of the Cabinet by appointing fresh faces with novel ideas in performing executive functions. It should not retain any of the past or present Cabinet members of the outgoing administration. To…

MANILA, Philippines – It won’t be an easy task for Chief Justice Renato Corona once he assumes the country’s top judicial post, especially considering the limited resources allocated to the judiciary.

MANILA, Philippines – Transferees and latecomers are still allowed to enroll in public schools until this week, the Department of Education said yesterday. Education Secretary Mona Valisno said she has ordered principals in more than 45,000 public schools nationwide to accommodate late enrollees and transferees with incomplete documents.

THE Philippines’ efforts to raise money from the sale of state assets face headwinds amid a dour external environment and the threat of a legal challenge to one of its privatization ventures.

Lower prices of fuel, electricity, rice and corn in May helped ease inflation to 4.3 percent in May, well within the government target of 3.5 to 5.5 percent, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Augusto Santos said.