Funds parked at the Bangko Sentral continued to rise in May despite a series of rate cuts aimed at increasing lending to businesses.

Whilst the economic crisis serves as a daily reminder of the importance of social dialogue, many employers and governments in the Asia-Pacific region remain bent on repressing trade union activity. The latest ITUC Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights denounces hundreds of cases of harassment, arrests, attacks and assassinations targeting trade unionists in…

It was once called the “magic mineral” and was touted as Canadian gold — a unique resource that was going to bring our country wealth and prosperity.

Online petition launched MANILA, Philippines — “Tens of thousands” of Australians signed a petition opposing their government’s decision to allow the importation of bananas from the Philippines, Australian media reported Tuesday.

MANILA, Philippines – The business community expressed its strong objection yesterday to the planned establishment of a Philippine Workers’ Compensation Authority (PWCA) to replace the existing Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System.

A consumer group is asking the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to assess and evaluate the privatization of the National Power Corp.’s generation assets by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM).

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, Philippines – A 66-year-old broadcaster and former vice governor of this province was shot and stabbed to death by a still unidentified suspect outside his house in San Jose town yesterday morning, police said.

MANILA, Philippines – As the country braces for a rally today against the planned convening of a constituent assembly by the House of Representatives, business groups have joined the chorus of protests against the lawmakers.

NSCB says global crisis trimmed median-income group   A FILIPINO household has to earn close to half a million pesos this year to remain in the middleclass, according to the National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB).Romulo Virola, NSCB secretary-general, said the country’s middle class is likely to have shrunk in light of the global financial crisis.

The town of  Marshall, North Carolina, according to story in the News-Record & Sentinel, has been cited by the state department of labor for several serious violations regarding the removal of asbestos-containing tiles from its city hall.

I’m not one for cliches, but whoever said “You are what you eat” was onto something. Fill up on doughnuts and pizza, and you’re more likely to sport a round shape with a soft center. But if you munch on fresh produce, fish and poultry, chances are you’ll be as lean as what’s on your…

THE country is sending fewer domestics to Hong Kong, Singapore and Italy, where Indonesian women are willing to work for less than the $400 a month that Filipinos charge, Labor officials said yesterday.

111th Anniversary of Philippine Independence Kalayaan 2009 MEGA JOB & LIVELIHOOD FAIR June 12-14, 2009 In 19 cities involving 1,000 employers offering at least 170,000 vacancies.

Diokno, Salceda says 2nd quarter may get worse   The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Monday described the worse-than-expected first quarter economic growth results as “a mild recession.”

MANILA, Philippines—Like breast cancer, abuses against women in the Philippines are as rampant and as deadly if left undetected.

MANILA, Philippines – More decent and high paying jobs await Filipino workers with higher job orders abroad, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.

The casualties are increasing around the world and tension has reached fever pitch. Even church authorities have declared a holy war against this modern-day evil. Now, you don’t have to hold hands with the persons next to you when you pray or sing Our Father during Mass.

Q. My mom is 91 years old. She is taking nine prescription medicines and three vitamins every day. Lately, she is often confused, dazed, and slow in moving. Could this be due to her medicines? Can you help us? — Marivic

Exercise: It’s cheap, readily available, and the single most effective step people can take to avoid chronic and potentially fatal diseases. If it were being hawked on late-night TV, you’d think the phone lines would be tied up for hours.

HAGONOY, Davao del Sur, Philippines – Residents of a village here have called on the Department of Health (DOH) to reconsider its call for a stop to aerial spraying of fungicide in view of its serious repercussions to the banana industry and to their livelihood.

MANILA, Philippines – Government employees will receive higher salaries starting July 1, Malacañang announced yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Noli de Castro has remained as the country’s top performing and most trusted government official in the country while President Arroyo continued to receive the highest disapproval rating, a recent survey by Pulse Asia revealed yesterday.

The New People’s Army staged a daring daylight attack on a military camp in Baragay Polangi, Catarman, Northern Samar. Killed were two soldiers belonging to the Philippine Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion. The attackers carted away firearms and ammunition. Fr. Santiago Salas, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines Eastern Visayas, congratulated the NPA…

MANILA, Philippines – Various groups have expressed support for the creation of a special court that will try intellectual property (IP) violations.

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Energy (DOE) expects to draw in as much as $27 billion in new investments in the country’s renewable energy sector over the next 20 years.

MANILA, Philippines—A member of an international mission has recommended that the Philippine government condemn all forms of attacks against lawyers and judges, and prosecute all perpetrators “with urgency and fervor.”

Movie directors, composers, authors, legal experts, policy-makers and others are meeting here this week to discuss the “threats and opportunities” the Internet poses to copyright in the digital age.

Slump worse than the 9/11 aftermath   KUALA LUMPUR: The world’s airlines are expected to lose nine billion dollars this year, industry body IATA said Monday in a drastic reassessment of the worst slump the industry has ever faced.

AUTOMOBILE sales picked up in May from the previous month, but the number of vehicles sold in the first five months was still lower than last year, according to industry groups.

Despite being hit by the global financial crunch, South Korea is expected to employ some 5,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the next 10 months under a memorandum of understanding that was signed recently between Seoul and Manila.