Business
Faster economic growth seen in 2nd semester
January 29, 2019, 6:02 pm
MANILA -- The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to accelerate in the second half of the year, ING Bank Country Head Hans Sicat said. In a briefing by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Tuesday, the former president and chief executive of the Philippine Stock… Read More
ASEAN urged to boost integration
January 29, 2019, 5:59 pm
MANILA -- Policymakers in the 10-member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are being urged by their counterparts from the European Union (EU) to boost regional integration to counter the decline in intra-ASEAN trade, as well as global economic pressures. In a briefing… Read More
CIMB eyes at least 100K clients thru mobile app
January 29, 2019, 4:34 pm
MANILA -- An official of CIMB Bank Philippines, Inc. (CIMB Philippines) is optimistic about having at least 100,000 clients by July, with plenty of help from the bank’s mobile application, as it vies to be the country’s first all-digital and mobile-first financial institution. In an interview… Read More
Office lease rate in NCR gets more expensive
January 29, 2019, 3:29 pm
MANILA -- Office spaces in Metro Manila are getting more expensive as shown by the latest report of property consultancy services company Santos Knight Frank, which revealed that the weighted average for leasing such facilities has now breached the PHP1,000 per square meter (sq.m.) mark. In a… Read More
T-bill rates mixed anew
January 29, 2019, 7:34 am
MANILA -- The rates of Philippine Treasury bills (T-bills) ended mixed Monday but demand for the longer-tenor debt paper remains strong. The average rate of the bellwether 90-day paper, shortened by a day due to the Chinese New Year holiday on February 5, rose to 5.534 percent from 5.418 percent… Read More
Exempt infra projects from election ban: NEDA
January 28, 2019, 8:58 pm
MANILA — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will propose the exemption of big-ticket infrastructure projects from the election spending ban in order to cushion the economic impact of the 2019 national budget's delayed passage, the country’s chief economist said on Monday.… Read More
Local stocks go sideways, peso dips
January 28, 2019, 8:19 pm
MANILA -- Philippine equities managed a miniscule growth during the week’s first trading day amid volatilities but the peso weakened against the US dollar on reports that China’s industrial profit dropped in December 2018. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained 0.009 percent, or… Read More
GDP to fall below 6% on reenacted budget
January 28, 2019, 7:55 pm
MANILA -- The Philippines' growth rate may fall below 6 percent this year if delays in the approval of the proposed PHP3.757-trillion national budget will be prolonged. The Bicameral Conference Committee has yet to discuss the proposed 2019 national budget even after Senators have already passed… Read More
Quality investments created quality jobs since 2017
January 28, 2019, 6:52 pm
MANILA — Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said the kind of investments attracted into the country during the Duterte administration generated quality jobs for Filipinos. During the Presidential Communications Operations Office’s (PCOO) “The Presser: Dutertenomics… Read More
PH on track toward upper middle income status: NEDA
January 28, 2019, 6:29 pm
MANILA -- The Philippines is on track to becoming an upper middle economy by end-2019 on the back of reforms imperative in boosting growth amid global uncertainties, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Monday. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia expressed… Read More
Globe pushes for faster rollout of cell towers in PH
January 28, 2019, 5:51 pm
MANILA -- Globe Telecom is pushing for cooperation between the government and private sector in implementing policies that will hasten the deployment of cell sites necessary to improve communication services in the country. The telco said it is imperative that the lack of cell sites and… Read More
PRRD admin posts highest public construction value since 1999
January 28, 2019, 5:48 pm
MANILA — Commitment to modernize public infrastructure in the Philippines prompted the Duterte administration to post the highest gross value in public sector construction since the Estrada administration. Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno stressed this during the Presidential… Read More
Another oil price hike set Tuesday
January 28, 2019, 5:20 pm
MANILA -- Local oil firms announced yet another increase in the prices of petroleum products, set to take effect Tuesday morning. In separate text messages, industry spokespersons said their respective companies will hike diesel prices by PHP0.55 per liter, gasoline by PHP0.20 per liter, and… Read More
Tobacco farmers appeal for relief from excise tax hikes
January 28, 2019, 5:17 pm
MANILA -- Tobacco farmers across the country on Monday appealed to senators against further increasing the tobacco excise tax as this would exacerbate their increasingly difficult situation. The Senate committee on ways and means, chaired by Senator Sonny Angara, is set to take up on Tuesday… Read More
Critical infra projects in place by 2022
January 28, 2019, 4:51 pm
MANILA -- Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade said the government is making sure that critical infrastructure projects will be in place before the end of the Duterte administration, to help improve the lives of Filipinos. During the Presidential Communications Operations… Read More
Dominguez hopeful Bangsamoro region will drive Mindanao growth
January 28, 2019, 1:18 pm
DAVAO CITY -- Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III expressed hope that the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which would create a new autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao, would finally clear the way to the island’s rapid and sustainable development after decades of conflict.… Read More
DA offers easy loan to rice farmers
January 28, 2019, 11:36 am
DAVAO CITY -- Rice farmers will now be able to draw cash advances from the government for their pre-harvest requirements – from planting to other crop-related activities – starting this cropping season, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said. Piñol said the credit facility, which has… Read More
Maynilad’s P1.7-B JICA funded project completed
January 27, 2019, 7:03 pm
MANILA – The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) on Sunday said the completion of the PHP1.7-billion Parañaque water reclamation facility (WRF) of Maynilad will greatly help in cleaning Manila Bay of pollutants and other stagnant environment wastes. “We are happy with the… Read More
Astoria invests P1.5-B in Palawan
January 27, 2019, 3:34 pm
MANILA -- Filipino hotel chain Astoria Hotels and Resorts (AHR) has so far invested PHP1.5 billion for its ongoing project in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. AHR is developing Astoria Palawan, adding 30 new premier villas that have direct access to the beachfront of Sulu Sea. With these additional… Read More
PH-based businesses most optimistic in ASEAN: survey
January 27, 2019, 3:33 pm
MANILA -- Philippine-based businesses are the most optimistic in Southeast Asia in terms of outlook on the local economy this year, according to Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR). The IBR recently reported that 66 percent of surveyed businesses in the country are positive… Read More
