MANILA, Philippines – The business sector’s outlook improved for the third straight quarter this year as companies expect low inflation and interest rates, stable peso, sustained foreign exchange inflows, and robust remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The national network for micro-finance institutions (MFIs) is seeking the passage of a bill that would allow to the government to collect gross revenues tax in lieu of all other national and local taxes to boost microlending in the country. In a briefing, Ruben de Lara, Microfinance Council of the Philippines Inc. (MCPI) president, said…

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says growth and recovery are expected in 2010 in just about all world regions.

The Philippines, on global television, has become a vivid victim of climate change disasters with the serial onslaught of super typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, Santi. There are forecasts of more ferocious storms to come. More than ever, the observance of Climate Change Consciousness Week, November 19-25 declared by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo becomes very urgent and relevant…

MANILA, Philippines – The Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) urged the government to provide computers with Internet access to all public schools after a recent study showed that 46 percent of schoolchildren in the country spend P300 a month for Internet rentals.

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo signed on Tuesday night Republic Act 9775, otherwise known as the Anti-Child Pornography Law, Tarlac Rep. Monica Teodoro, its principal author in the House, announced yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines ranked 139th among 180 countries in corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI)’s 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released yesterday. The country’s ranking slightly improved from last year’s 141, with a score of 2.4 in CPI this year.

MANILA, Philippines – High global sugar prices are likely to prevail for the next two years, according to Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) head Rafael Coscolluela.

All over the world, more and more companies are embracing corporate social responsibility or CSR practices in the way they conduct their business, realizing that they can maintain profi-tability while giving positive contributions to society. In the Philippines, the concept of CSR (also known as corporate responsibility or corporate citizenship) has been practiced for more…

MANILA, Philippines – The World Bank (WB) has extended a $405-million loan to the Philippines to help improve the government’s social welfare programs aimed at reducing poverty.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines exceeded its 2009 budget deficit goal in just 10 months due to weak revenues and higher spending on reconstruction following strong typhoons that damaged crops and infrastructure in Luzon.

MANILA, Philippines – After consulting with local and international health experts, the Department of Health yesterday recommended the banning of aerial spraying of pesticides, saying that this is harmful to humans and the environment.

Women do a larger part of agricultural work in developing countries Women in developing countries will be the most vulnerable to climate change, a report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned.

The offices of London’s carbon trading companies are a little quieter than usual. The firms – many based in the City – buy and sell one of the world’s newest commodities: carbon dioxide.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of ILO Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining. While much has changed since the Convention was adopted in 1949, collective bargaining remains a fundamental right, an important tool to improve incomes and working conditions, and advance social justice. ILO Online spoke with Susan Hayter,…

THIS IS a reaction to the news item titled “Pay for climate change, RP to urge rich nations.” (Inquirer, 11/06/09). The report stated that “Secretary Heherson Alvarez, presidential adviser on global warming and climate change, has been tasked by President Macapagal-Arroyo to lead the delegation from the Philippines to the climate change summit in Copenhagen…

MANILA, Philippines—Stunned by the vehement rejection of migrant workers rights’ advocates, recruiters on Tuesday said they are withdrawing their proposal to Congress for mandatory insurance coverage for overseas Filipino workers.

SAYS INITIAL RESEARCH MANILA, Philippines—Family expectations, money, relationship with employers, and food and religious beliefs in host country are five of the most common causes of stress among women overseas Filipino workers.

The Philippines should immediately pursue a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), as the country lags behind most of its Southeast Asian neighbors in negotiating for similar agreements, a think-tank of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said. “Philippine business cannot continue losing out on trade and investment opportunities…

While most economies and peoples worldwide are going through hard times, there’s no stopping Manila’s rich and famous from enjoying the good life, a new survey shows. “Affluent consumers in Manila continued to spend despite the recession in the past year,” according to the findings of the 2009 PAX survey conducted by market intelligence firm…

MANILA, Philippines – Police filed criminal charges against the kidnappers of two Chinese working in a plywood factory who remain in captivity in Basilan.

MANILA, Philippines – Small oil players Eastern Petroleum Corp., Unioil Petroleum, Flying V, and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines fired the first volley of oil price hikes yesterday after the lifting on Monday of the government-imposed price cap on petroleum products.

MANILA, Philippines – Small sugarcane producers aligned with the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) are appealing to the government to delay lowering the tariff cover on sugar to give sugar sector more time to adjust to trade liberalization.

The imbroglio over Malacañang’s attempt to put a cap on petroleum product prices may be over but the debate on how to handle the industry isn’t. Senators and congressmen will try to win brownie points as they advocate the repeal of the oil deregulation law. People who want this to happen don’t realize the implications…

THE annual meeting of the Philippine Economic Society (PES) held last week ended with a panel discussion on the outlook for the Philippine economy, now a regular feature of the organization’s yearly gathering. The panel—composed of PES past presidents Dondon Paderanga, Arsi Balisacan and yours truly, along with incoming president Art Corpuz—focused on three key…

A HOUSE panel yesterday approved a bill that seeks to ban the importation, manufacture, processing and use or distribution in commerce of asbestos and asbestos-containing products.

MANILA – While everyone else was cutting expenses and beefing up savings amid the economic downturn, affluent consumers in Manila were on a spending binge, according to a survey by global market intelligence company Synovate.

NEW YORK—All United Nations member-countries, including the Philippines, have agreed over the weekend to a new mechanism to monitor and implement a global treaty to fight corruption.

Wellness for multitasking working A HAPPIER WORKFORCE YIELDS greater productivity and creativity in the work environment. Aware that the modern-day woman leads a stressful life now more than ever, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. (HSBC) developed workshops tailored to the concerns of today’s multitasking woman.

The Apec summit, now starting in Singapore, brings together leaders from dozens of nations and major world powers. As the BBC’s South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey has been finding out, behind all the economic talk lies a deeper search for meaning.