Business

ADB to fund more projects in Mindanao

ADB to fund more projects in Mindanao

May 3, 2018, 7:18 pm

MANILA -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced Thursday that it will finance more projects in Mindanao in support of a sustainable peace and to spur its economic development. “We want to invest more in Mindanao. To sustain peace in Mindanao, we need to develop Mindanao in a broader sense.… Read More

PH seeks ADB support for infra projects

PH seeks ADB support for infra projects

May 3, 2018, 6:21 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine government is seeking further support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to advance its infrastructure program, especially for projects that will address Metro Manila's traffic problem, which it says is key to creating jobs and reducing poverty. During the institutional… Read More

Increase in human capital to help Asian seniors get jobs

Increase in human capital to help Asian seniors get jobs

May 3, 2018, 6:18 pm

MANILA -- Asian countries should invest on education and training programs that will enhance the employment prospects of retirees and other senior citizens who are still willing to work. Increasing human capital will help address the challenge of aging societies in the region, according to… Read More

Market, product diversification to counter protectionism: Guinigundo

Market, product diversification to counter protectionism: Guinigundo

May 3, 2018, 5:09 pm

MANILA -- The Philippines should explore other markets and diversify its product lines to shield itself from the effects of trade protectionist policies recently adopted by some countries. On the sidelines of the Institute of International Finance seminar at the 51st Annual Asian Development Bank… Read More

Tech advances threaten jobs, say ADB economists

Tech advances threaten jobs, say ADB economists

May 3, 2018, 4:07 pm

MANILA -- Economists from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday stressed the need to establish employment security amid technological advancements that all too often result in human labor being supplanted by machines. In a media briefing on the Asian Development Outlook 2018 Report at the… Read More

BOC exceeds April revenue target

BOC exceeds April revenue target

May 3, 2018, 3:42 pm

MANILA -- The Bureau of Customs (BOC) made another revenue feat for April as it hit above its collection target by 2 percent. Based on the preliminary data released by BOC-Financial Service, a total of PHP47.394 billion has been collected in April with P930 million in revenue surplus against the… Read More

51st ADB meet opens in Manila

51st ADB meet opens in Manila

May 3, 2018, 9:52 am

MANILA -- The 51st Annual Meeting of Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Governors has formally opened Thursday at the ADB Headquarters in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. More than 4,000 participants from public and private sectors from Asia, North America, and Europe are attending the… Read More

Air Asia gives discounts to gov't workers on domestic flights

Air Asia gives discounts to gov't workers on domestic flights

May 2, 2018, 9:22 pm

MANILA -- Government employees will now earn discounts on their domestic flights as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has signed Wednesday a Government Fares Agreement (GFA) with budget air carrier Air Asia Philippines. The agreement will enable government workers to enjoy discounted… Read More

BTr awards P10-B T-bonds in full

BTr awards P10-B T-bonds in full

May 2, 2018, 7:49 pm

MANILA -- The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) has fully awarded the re-issued PHP10-billion treasury bonds (T-bonds) at average yield of 5.592 percent on Wednesday’s auction. It fetched a total bid of PHP18.9 billion, showing a strong market demand for the T-bonds. “With the auction result,… Read More

Top economists back fiscal perks in TRAIN 2

Top economists back fiscal perks in TRAIN 2

May 2, 2018, 7:44 pm

MANILA – Economists under the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) have expressed support for the rationalization of fiscal incentives under the proposed second phase of the administration's tax reform program otherwise known as Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion 2 (TRAIN 2). In a… Read More

Peso weakens, local shares dip

Peso weakens, local shares dip

May 2, 2018, 7:42 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine peso lost ground against the US dollar on Wednesday while the local stocks barometer also stumbled back to the 7,700 level during midweek trading. The local currency finished the day at PHP51.86, 12 centavos weaker than Monday's PHP51.74. Meanwhile, the Philippine Stock… Read More

BOI, PEZA investment approvals up 53% in Q1

BOI, PEZA investment approvals up 53% in Q1

May 2, 2018, 6:05 pm

MANILA -- The value of projects approved by the Philippine government's two investment promotion agencies (IPAs) increased by a substantial 53.2 percent in the first quarter of 2018 relative to the same period last year. Combined investment approvals by the Board of Investments (BOI) and the… Read More

Grab to LTFRB: Hike TNVS units to meet rising passenger demand

Grab to LTFRB: Hike TNVS units to meet rising passenger demand

May 2, 2018, 4:16 pm

MANILA -- Ridesharing company Grab Philippines is asking for a dialogue with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to increase the number of transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) units amid increasing passenger demand. Grab said the suspension of the… Read More

'Build, Build, Build' jobs await returning OFWs from Kuwait

'Build, Build, Build' jobs await returning OFWs from Kuwait

May 2, 2018, 3:02 pm

MANILA -- Jobs here at home await returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait, particularly those employed in construction, with the government’s Build, Build, Build Program, the chief of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said during… Read More

Manufacturing sector on the rise latest PMI shows

Manufacturing sector on the rise latest PMI shows

May 2, 2018, 2:41 pm

MANILA -- The country’s manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI), which measures the crucial sector's performance, further rose at the start of the current year's second quarter, IHS Markit reported Wednesday. IHS Markit data showed that manufacturing PMI in April grew to 52.7 from 51.5 in… Read More

Budget reform bill ensures agency accountability: Diokno

Budget reform bill ensures agency accountability: Diokno

May 2, 2018, 2:05 pm

MANILA -- The passage into law of the budget reform bill would enhance accountability of government agencies over the use of public funds with the shift to an annual cash-based budgeting system from a two-year obligation-based budget, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Wednesday. During his… Read More

Smart to complete upgrade of QC cell sites

Smart to complete upgrade of QC cell sites

May 2, 2018, 1:24 pm

MANILA -- The management of Smart Communications announced Wednesday that it expects to complete the upgrade of its cell sites in Quezon City within this month. Hopes are high that with the completion, delivery of mobile services in the country's most populous city would improve substantially.… Read More

DBM assures higher UCT, military pension in 2019

DBM assures higher UCT, military pension in 2019

May 2, 2018, 12:07 pm

MANILA -- Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Wednesday expressed confidence that the budget proposal for 2019 could provide enough funding for the increase in the unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) and pension for military retirees. During the regular forum… Read More

DBM to release P490-M fund for Boracay road rehab

DBM to release P490-M fund for Boracay road rehab

May 2, 2018, 11:26 am

MANILA -- Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno has announced that the national government is releasing PHP490 million for the rehabilitation of the Boracay Circumferential Road. This is on top of the initial budget of PHP50 million allocated under the 2018 fund of… Read More

Meralco Q1 income up 7% at P4.9-B

Meralco Q1 income up 7% at P4.9-B

April 30, 2018, 9:17 pm

MANILA -- Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Monday announced an unaudited Consolidated Core Net Income for the first quarter of 2018 of PHP4.9 billion or 7 percent higher than the same period last year. The firm's Consolidated Reported Net Income for the first quarter is PHP5.3 billion, 10… Read More