A LAWMAKER has filed a resolution that calls for a Senate panel assessment of the Philippine’s reproductive health education policy in view of the rising number of teenage pregnancies and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among the youth. Senate Resolution 13 will review the scope and effectiveness of the existing sexuality education policy, which mandates […]
Tag: policy
Analysts say Congress should keep watch on executive branch’s foreign policy decisions
THE PHILIPPINE legislature, with majority of both chambers allied with the Marcos administration, should exercise its authority as an independent body in keeping watch over the foreign policy decisions of the executive branch, analysts said at the weekend. “The legislature is expected to play an important role in deliberating (assessing and evaluating) the viability and […]
PSE index falls on profit taking after Fed meeting
THE MAIN INDEX closed below the 7,000 level on Thursday on profit taking after surging the day prior and as the US Federal Reserve raised rates by 25 basis points (bps) at its policy meeting this week. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went down by 49.57 points or 0.7% to close at 6,986.19 […]
More militarist approach to security policy seen with Año’s appointment
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter ANALYSTS expect a shift towards a more militarist approach in the Marcos administration’s national security policy after the appointment of a former military general to the National Security Council (NSC). Malacañang on Saturday announced that Eduardo M. Año, a retired general of the Philippine Army, has been appointed as […]
Monetary Board flags more rate hikes in Dec. meeting minutes
THE MONETARY Board signaled its readiness to continue raising benchmark interest rates if inflation persists, putting it at odds with other central banks which have indicated their intention to slow the pace of monetary tightening, according to the minutes of the board’s December meeting. When the board met last month to weigh another rate increase, […]
BSP chief hopes to cut rates in 2024
By Keisha B. Ta-asan, Reporter THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) may cut key benchmark rates in 2024, as well as lower the reserve requirements for banks in the first half of 2023, its chief said on Thursday. “Now hopefully by 2024, when pent-up demand is gone, then monetary policy hopefully at that time will […]
BSP raises rates by 50 bps, signals more tightening
THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Thursday raised its benchmark interest rate to its highest in 14 years, and signaled more tightening albeit at a slower pace. The Monetary Board (MB) increased its overnight borrowing rate by 50 basis points (bps) to 5.5%, as predicted by 13 of 15 analysts in a BusinessWorld poll […]
Shares slip ahead of US CPI data, Fed meeting
STOCKS inched lower on Tuesday as investors wait for the release of latest US consumer inflation data and the US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, as these could affect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) decision this week. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) inched down by 2.82 points or 0.04% to close at 6,582.38 […]
Elton John quits Twitter
BRITISH musician Elton John quit Twitter on Friday, the latest high-profile celebrity to leave the social media platform following its acquisition by billionaire Elon Musk. Mr. John, who is currently on his last-ever global tour, blamed Twitter’s recent policy change as a reason for quitting. “All my life I’ve tried to use music to bring […]
Volatile trading seen ahead of Fed, BSP meetings
PHILIPPINE STOCKS may see a volatile trading week ahead of the policy meetings of both the US Federal Reserve and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) added 54.96 points or 0.84% to close at 6,580.12 on Friday, while the broader all shares index increased by 11.54 points or […]
Peso strengthens further vs the dollar on dovish Fed comments
THE PESO continued to strengthen against the dollar on Thursday following remarks from the US Federal Reserve chief that cemented market expectations of slower rate hikes moving forward. The local unit closed at P56.22 per dollar on Thursday, gaining 34 centavos from its P56.56 finish on Wednesday, based on Bankers Association of the Philippines data. […]
Philippines slips in budget transparency ranking
By Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson, Reporter THE Philippines placed 19th out of 120 countries in the Open Budget survey, which gauges the transparency of government spending, falling nine places from the previous survey in 2019. “The survey assesses transparency of how public resources are raised and spent; opportunities for participation in budget policy decisions; […]
BSP has to raise rates along with Fed to support peso — Medalla
The Philippine central bank will have to raise interest rates if the US Federal Reserve tightens policy further to support the peso and prevent the currency’s weakness from further stoking inflation, its governor said on Friday. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has raised interest rates by 300 basis points this year to curb inflation, running […]
BSP to match Fed’s 75-bp rate hike
By Keisha B. Ta-asan, Reporter THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it plans to raise its key policy rates by 75 basis points (bps) at its next meeting, matching the US Federal Reserve’s latest monetary tightening. The Fed delivered its fourth straight 75-bp rate increase on Wednesday, as it continues to fight persistent inflation. […]
Give schools autonomy on face mask policy, senator tells gov’t
SCHOOLS should be given autonomy to decide on their face mask policy, an opposition senator said after the Education department announced that it would follow the President’s order lifting the face mask mandate except in public transportation and health facilities. “Although the voluntary wearing of face masks can be aligned with the national policy, due […]
Central bank faces tough balancing act — economists
THE BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) still has room to raise borrowing costs, but it will be tough to balance growth while ensuring price stability, economists said. “BSP is fully aware of the need to preserve price stability but it also recognizes that it must never put the horse before the cart. Wielding its double-edged […]
Peso weakens to P59:$1 level on hawkish Fed meet minutes
THE PESO closed at its record low for the third time this month as the minutes of the US central bank’s September meeting showed policy makers want to continue raising rates. — BW FILE PHOTO THE PESO retreated versus the greenback on Thursday following the release of the minutes of the US Federal Reserve’s September […]
As China party congress looms, signals sought on easing COVID policy
BEIJING — The mounting economic toll of China’s zero-COVID policy is raising investor hopes that Beijing may finally begin laying the groundwork for the tricky epidemiological and political task of shifting course following this month’s Communist Party congress. It is not clear whether the ruling party congress from Oct. 16 will shed any light on […]
Zero-tariff policy on electric vehicles expected by end of 2022
THE proposed zero-tariff policy for electric vehicle (EV) imports is expected to be released within the year, an official with the Department of Energy (DoE) said. Patrick T. Aquino, director of the DoE’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau, said at a briefing in Taguig City on Thursday that the policy is awaiting evaluation by the Committee […]
Oral arguments on ‘no-contact’ policy moved to December
A CCTV installed along Main Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City is part of the no-contact apprehension system used by the city government. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS THE SUPREME Court (SC) has set Dec. 6 for the oral arguments on several petitions filed against the government’s use of video surveillance and digital cameras to catch […]