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The country slipped anew in terms of its global competitiveness ranking 43rd out of 57 countries in the World Competitiveness Yearbook that Swiss business school IMD released yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) yesterday called on the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to recognize its visitorial powers by stating “clearly and without equivocation” that such an authority of the constitutional body must be respected by all members of the military and its establishments.

MANILA, Philippines – Families of unemployed workers, especially those laid off from their jobs, are significantly suffering from hunger, according to the latest survey by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS).

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government yesterday admitted that there were lapses in its reportorial obligations as a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, but vowed to address all of the concerns raised about specific cases in the country.

China loses low-cost manufacturing crown   SHANGHAI: China has lost its position as the world’s lowest-cost components manufacturer to India and Mexico, a study indicated Wednesday, in a blow for the Asian giant as it fights the financial crisis.

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it will push for amendments to the decade-old Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998 to shield consumers from “expensive” fuel prices. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director General Ralph Recto said there is a need to revisit the law to strengthen the Department of Energy’s (DOE)…

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Wednesday said many displaced Filipino workers have returned to work in Taiwan, as its electronics industry began to recall workers.

The Philippines ranked lower in terms of global competitiveness this year and still lagged behind its Asian peers, according to the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook.

UNDP blames falling enrolment, shortages    The Philippines may face an “education crisis” because of falling enrolment as well as shortages in classrooms, books and teachers amid the government’s tight fiscal situation, experts warned Wednesday during the launching of a UN report.

Following a letter of inquiry spearheaded by Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and co-signed by four other Members of Congress, the World Bank has finalized construction guidance that would drastically decrease the use of asbestos in new construction projects.  The report, originally commissioned in 2006, was technically reviewed in 2008 but stalled awaiting final administrative approval. …

Year after year, the Bicol region (Region 5) is at the bottom, together with ARMM, of the Neda ranking poorest or most underdeveloped region of the country.

The Philippines is not ready yet to adopt a “social market economy” system as it does not have the necessary conditions in place, economists said.

THE Philippines’ ranking as a preferred location for business-process outsourcing (BPO) and call-center operations inched up amid the global financial crisis, but still lagged behind neighboring countries, according to a survey of multinational companies. In its Global Services Location Index 2009, A.T. Kearney said the Philippines climbed from eight to seventh place out of 50…

FOREIGN buying of shares of listed local companies fell sharply in the first four months this year, according to Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

BAGUIO CITY: A communist guerrilla commander who had his brother assassinated for giving up their armed rebellion has been arrested, police said Tuesday.

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has renewed her push for a free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and India to help give Asia a stronger voice in global economic affairs.

MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said its zero-growth remittance projection for 2009 is now considered conservative, with inflows growing by 2.7 percent in the first quarter of the year.

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has ordered the Department of Education (DepEd) to strictly enforce the policy against the collection of any fees from pre-school up to grade four in public schools.

Brussels, (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC strongly condemns the trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the world’s only incarcerated Nobel Prize winner,  which went into its third day today. The only purpose of this mockery of a trial seems to be to make sure she plays no part whatsoever in the upcoming “elections” of 2010.

Brussels, (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC has welcomed news that the text which will guide negotiations up to the December Copenhagen Climate Summit includes a recognition that a “just transition” is needed for workers whose livelihoods are likely to be affected by global efforts to make deep cuts in carbon emissions.

We’re at an all-time low. Today’s voyeur scene is alive and well and overrun by sex videos.There is the Katherine Luna and ex-boyfriend sex video. There are the Hayden Kho and Brazilian, plus celebs, sex videos. And there is the threat of even more sex videos exploding, one of them reportedly involving a young star…

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile disagrees with Chief Justice Reynato Puno’s declaration in Davao City that the country is controlled by oligarchs.

BASEL, Switzerland (AFP) — The financial crisis has forced central banks to take on “significant” risks, raising the issue of what role they should play in safeguarding financial stability, the BIS said Sunday.

SEOUL (AFP)–The worst of the global economic crisis is probably over but any early recovery is unlikely due to massive debts worldwide, Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said Tuesday.

The Department of Finance is pushing for a legislative measure that would create the Philippine Rubber Authority under the Office of the President, the National Tax Research Center (NTRC) said.

MANILA, Philippines – Yields of government’s Treasury bills (T-bills) went up during yesterday’s auction but officials dismissed the slight uptick saying that these movements are insignificant.

MANILA, Philippines – The country recorded a budget surplus of P7.9 billion in April, normally the year’s biggest tax collection month, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – It’s a silent killer that takes the lives of 274,000 women worldwide every year. What’s strange is that the carriers of the disease don’t even know they have it until it’s too late.

We’ve gotten used to taking pills for much that ails us, but these days, the medicine cabinet is looking like a rogue’s gallery. There’s been bad news about the painkiller rofecoxib (Vioxx), the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia), and, more recently, the cholesterol-lowering combination of ezetimibe and simvastatin (Vytorin). Problems with hormone therapy and antidepressants have…