CALAMBA CITY—There won’t be any wage increase on Labor Day Saturday for at least 4 million workers in one of the most highly industrialized suburban areas of Metro Manila, labor department officials said.

STATE CORPORATIONS IN the first quarter received from the government a total of P3.33 billion in subsidies—most of which went to those engaged in housing, health and livelihood projects.

HOMES FOR HOMELESS THE METRO MANILA INTER-Agency Committee on informal settlers (MMIAC) has approved its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to be able to carry out a uniform shelter program for squatter families in the metropolis.

MANILA, Philippines–For every 4 voters that will go to the polls in May, 1 intends to watch the counting of votes, according to a special survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will start investigating next week some of the country’s private inter-related companies suspected of applying the transfer pricing policy to substantially cut down on their tax payments.

The Supreme Court has directed the government to answer a landmark petition filed by Ramon Magsaysay awardee Antonio Oposa Jr. and other environmentalists in a test-case for the new writ of kalikasan (environment).

THE Labor Department has assumed jurisdiction over the outsourcing dispute within Philippine Airlines, stopping the labor union from striking and ordering its management to “refrain from committing any act that might exacerbate the situation.”

MANILA, Philippines—The National Labor Relations Commission has ruled in favor of the Sentosa Recruitment Agency anew, INQUIRER.net learned.

MANILA, Philippines—Fire hit a three-story garment factory in Valenzuela City early Thursday, authorities said.

THE Alliance of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) here yesterday threatened to boycott May 1’s Labor Day celebration activities to dramatize its protest over the government’s failure to approve its petition for a wage increase in northern Mindanao.

SAN FRANCISCO – Two Filipino caregivers are celebrating their legal victory against their employer who they say abused them for years.

WORKERS may not expect a wage increase in time for Labor Day because the wage boards need at least three weeks to decide on the higher pay petitions, an official said Tuesday.

Somebody has asked me if I believe there is a so-called “OFW vote.” “Yes,” I readily answered. “And OFWs have the numbers to make Susan ‘Toots’ Ople win.”

The government will roll out the new Motor Vehicle Development Program (MVDP) by mid-June, Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus said.

THE government said non-life insurance companies have paid up only a fraction of the total claims made by clients who were hard hit by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Most of the business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the country plan to increase their workforce, but the lack of qualified workers worries them.

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources expressed alarm over the country’s food security—not for lack supply, but because of increasing demand.

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is recommending the expansion of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program to benefit more poor Filipino households.

No progress has been made by the Philippines in achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations since 2007, a high-ranking UN official said on Wednesday.

Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos of Ilocos Norte on Wednesday warned government officials and business owners of mounting unrest among the ranks of workers because of the allegedly constant rejection of their proposed wage increases.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and its allied government and private sector entities have arrived at contingency measures to ensure adequate power for the May 10 automated elections.

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development defended its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from accusations that it is being used by local candidates for their election campaigns.

CEBU, Philippines – Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Partylist Rep. Raymond Mendoza yesterday said their concerns are not only the issues related to labor, but also the need to improve the health services to the people in the barangays.

SURE WINNER?: Concern was expressed by a number of readers reacting to our Postscript of April 25 calling attention to propaganda that the only way Candidate X, who thinks he is a sure winner, to lose is for him to be cheated.

The highest incidence of poverty is found in our agriculture and fishing sectors, according to the National Economic Development Authority statistics. Oxfam, in their 2008 report Harnessing Agriculture for Development, pointed out: “Across a wide spectrum of countries…from Cambodia and the Philippines to Pakistan…investment in agriculture is still considered highly relevant due to the high…

Starting today, The STAR is running a series on the party list organizations and their nominees, based on official records submitted to the Comelec.

MANILA, Philippines – Millions of Asian and African women workers remain at high risk of exploitation and violence, especially in the Middle East, despite reforms in countries hosting a large number of migrant workers.

WASHINGTON – Filipino politicians have one of the worst records in Southeast Asia for stiffing the poor, coddling the rich and indulging themselves, The Washington Post said.

ASIDE from producing safe food products, organic agriculture can also help halt global warming. Dr. Rodel Maghirang of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños said organic agriculture is a production system that promotes health of soil, ecosystems and people.

We tend to take small things—and people—for granted. I’m guessing the boys would know the name of the building receptionist, but do you know the custodian cleaning your floor or the guard downstairs? Pathetically, I don’t either.