Category: Hot News

PHILIPPINE SHARES continued to decline on Wednesday ahead of the release of March US consumer inflation data overnight. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) declined by 10.21 points or 0.15% to close at 6,469.42 on Wednesday, while the broader all shares index fell by 4.59 points or 0.13% to end at 3,475.27. “The local […]

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said on Wednesday that it has received unsolicited proposals for two commuter rail systems for Metro Manila, which it plans to evaluate within the year.  “We are in the process of identifying other railway lines. There are four operating lines now, the next operating line will be MRT-7 (Metro Rail […]

PHILIPPINE pork imports will be lower than initially expected this year due to weak domestic demand and high international prices, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said. In a report, the USDA estimated Philippine pork imports at 525,000 metric tons (MT), down 12.5% from its previous forecast issued earlier in 2023. The USDA said […]

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has reactivated its El Niño task force to mitigate the impact of the expected dry spell on crops. “When there is a calamity, whether it’s El Niño or typhoons, the biggest hit is always to agriculture,” Agriculture Deputy Spokesman Rex C. Estoperez told reporters. Mr. Estoperez said that […]

THE Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) have entered into a partnership to improve the evaluation process for customer satisfaction at government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs). “With this streamlined and harmonized performance measurement system, we can clearly envision a clearer platform for analyzing government performance that will help us improve […]

FITCH SOLUTIONS said on Wednesday that it maintained its 5.9% growth forecast in 2023 for the Philippines with inflation cooling though interest rates remain elevated. “We are forecasting GDP (gross domestic product) growth to slow from 7.6% in 2022, to 5.9% in 2023, slightly more downbeat than the official government forecast range of 6-7%,” Fitch […]

REGISTERED BIRTHS and deaths in the Philippines declined by 8% and 31.6% year on year, respectively, in the 11 months to November, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Wednesday. Preliminary data indicated that births during the period totaled 1.15 million from 1.25 million a year earlier. Calabarzon — consisting of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, […]

YOUTH and family development programs need to be insulated from potential shocks and be more adaptive to emerging beneficiary needs, according to the World Bank. “In particular, it proposes regular updating of module content to maintain relevance and applicability, strengthening alternative modes of program delivery to increase coverage, providing training to facilitators to improve capacity, […]

Many of us are always on the lookout for bargains, whether these be the monthly sales offered in online shopping sites or seat sales for air travel. Bargains are opportunities for most people to get more value for money. For corporations, the recent amnesty offered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appears to be […]

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter PHILIPPINE military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US may be used by both countries during “emergency situations” aside from disaster relief, according to the Philippine military.  “EDCA facilities may be used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in ordinary days but of […]

PHILIPPINE STOCKS declined on Tuesday ahead of the release of March US consumer inflation data and amid geopolitical concerns. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index fell by 8.88 points or 0.13% to close at 6,479.63 on Tuesday, while the broader all shares index dropped by 6.88 points or 0.19% to end at 3,479.86. “Philippine equities […]

THE PESO weakened to a near one-month low against the dollar on Tuesday following strong US jobs data, which could mean another rate hike by the US Federal Reserve, and after Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe M. Medalla hinted at a possible pause in its tightening cycle. The local currency closed at P54.93 […]

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said Tuesday that the Palace has ordered a review of the inflation impact of two commuter rail fare hikes the department had approved in late March. The Palace decision effectively pushes back the implementation date of the fare hike for Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2. The DoTr […]

ELECTRICITY prices are likely to rise when power generators sign new supply deals for liquefied natural gas (LNG), with price volatility in the fuel likely to be passed on to consumers, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said Tuesday. “As contracts are renegotiated, generation companies will push to pass through volatile imported […]

PARTS of Metro Manila and nearby provinces will likely experience a water shortage next year with dry spells expected with the El Niño weather phenomenon looming, a former water regulator aid. “If rains fail to bring up the water level of Angat dam, we won’t reach safe levels that will carry us to next year. […]

FACTORY PRODUCTION grew at the slowest pace in two months in February, signaling weakening demand. Preliminary results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) indicated that manufacturing, as measured by the volume of production index (VoPI), expanded 7.2% year on year in February. This reading was lower than […]

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it approved the release of P42.93 billion to cover the health insurance premiums of senior citizens for one year. Around 8.6 million enrolled senior citizens are expected to benefit from the release, the DBM said. Under the 2023 budget, about P79 billion is allocated to cover health […]

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said Tuesday that the 137 barangays where African Swine Fever (ASF) has been detected represent a tiny percentage of the national total. “If you’re looking at the effects of ASF nationwide, we are looking at 137 barangays… only 0.3% of the total,” DA Deputy Spokesperson Rex C. Estoperez said in […]

THE PHILIPPINES and United States kicked off their biggest joint military exercises on Tuesday as they try to counter China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Almost 18,000 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and US military will participate in the Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder) war games on April 11 to 28. […]

MOST Filipinos support a proposal to revive mandatory military training for college students, according to a senator. Eight of 10 Filipinos are in favor of reinstating the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement on Tuesday, citing a poll he commissioned for Pulse Asia Research. The 78% approval rate […]