THE European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) is expecting the Philippines to attract “billions” worth of investments after various industries were cleared to receive up to 100% foreign ownership. ECCP President Lars Wittig said at a launch of event in Makati City on Thursday that the group is expecting “billions of dollars” worth of […]
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Davao ICT industry targets doubling of BPM workforce
DAVAO’s information and communications technology (ICT) industry is planning to double the current business process management (BPM) workforce in the region to 150,000 by 2028. Xavier Eric B. Manalastas, president of the ICT-Davao, Inc. industry association, said this was the region’s commitment to the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, whose own target […]
Economists, legal experts frown upon charter change
AMENDING the Philippine Constitution should not be the top priority of Congress at this point, economists and legal luminaries said on Thursday, citing the need to focus more on measures that will address poverty and development as well as changing the political landscape dominated by dynasties. At a House committee meeting on Thursday tackling proposed […]
68 diplomatic protests sent to China under Marcos government
THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said 68 diplomatic protests over maritime incidents have been filed against China since the Marcos administration began in July. “That’s 68 NVs (note verbale),” DFA Spokesperson Maria Theresita C. Daza told reporters. “From 2016 to 2021, there were 262 NVs sent. In 2022, 195, and as of […]
Proposed new term limits for president, VP opposed
A FORMER lawmaker opposed the proposed change in term limits for the two highest elected positions in the country to five years with a chance to run for a second 5-year term. “The basis (of this provision) is not clear, especially that there are examples of (Congress) in other countries that are able to do […]
Slain labor activist’s wife appeals dismissal of murder raps vs cops
THE WIFE of slain labor activist Emmanuel Asuncion has asked the Department of Justice (DoJ) to reconsider its decision clearing 17 cops linked to the murder of her husband during a series of police raids in March 2021 where nine activists died. In her appeal filed on Thursday, Liezel Asuncion said the police officers involved […]
BoC intercepts P9.5-M smuggled onions in Zamboanga
CUSTOMS and law enforcement authorities seized P9.49 million worth of suspected smuggled red onions inside boats that arrived in Zamboanga City on two separate operations. In a statement on Thursday, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) said the onions have no Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance from the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry. BoC […]
Bantayan growers raise egg prices
POULTRY owners in Bantayan Island have increased the prices of their eggs due to the increase in prices of feeds they purchased from Cebu City. Alan Pastoril, president of the Bantayan Island Layer and Hog Raiser Association Inc. (BILHRA), told SunStar Cebu Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, that this is the main reason they imposed another […]
Journalists still in danger of being killed, harassed under Marcos gov’t, says CPJ
By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter FILIPINO journalists remained at risk of getting killed and harassed under the government of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). “All four of the murders in the Philippines were of radio journalists covering local politics, highlighting the dangers faced by […]
ILO urged to look into plight of Filipino contractual workers
PHILIPPINE labor groups on Wednesday called on the International Labour Organization (ILO) to look into the plight of contractual workers who lack job security. “We call on the ILO to look into the plight of job order workers to ensure their rights of association and security of tenure,” Gian Siapo, a representative from Kawani Laban […]
DICT eyes combining SIM card registration with national ID biometrics
THE DEPARTMENT of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday said it will study the possibility of simultaneously capturing biometrics for the government’s national ID system while registering subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, especially in remote areas. “We will be coordinating with the Philippine Statistics Authority on this,” DICT Undersecretary Anna Mae Y. Lamentillo said […]
DoH says no word yet from Marcos on COVID-19 state of calamity extension
PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. Marcos, Jr. has yet to decide whether he will extend the COVID-19 state of calamity in the Philippines, according to a Health official. There has been “no categorical and no official response” yet from Mr. Marcos to the Department of Health’s (DoH) request for an extension of the state of calamity, Maria […]
DMW to set up overseas offices to verify employers
THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Wednesday said it aims to set up offices in every country destination for Filipino workers to verify potential employers after it was revealed in a Senate hearing that an increasing number of Filipinos are being trafficked by fake companies abroad. Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, who chaired […]
PHL urged to upgrade cybersecurity infrastructure, policies
A SOUTH KOREA cybersecurity solutions company said the Philippines urgently needs to fast-track upgrades to its cybersecurity infrastructure and policies as it emerges from the pandemic. “There’s no doubt that digitalization in the Philippines is heading in the right direction,” NETAND Chief Executive Officer Hochul Shin said in a statement on Wednesday. “Now that the […]
Cebu Pacific: We’re fully back
MAKATI — Budget carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) announced Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, that it has restored 100 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity and the destinations it flies to. “We are back. It is so good to be back… We have restored 34 of our 34 domestic flights and 25 of our 25 international flights,” said […]
Marcos says red tape tops foreign investor concerns
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. cited red tape and power costs as the top issues raised by foreign investors. Responding to a question from a media panel on Monday about transparency concerns surrounding his administration, Mr. Marcos said: “They bring up ease of doing business, they bring up the cost of energy, they bring up […]
Feed millers bat for corn industry modernization
THE Philippine Association of Feed Millers, Inc. (PAFMI) said the government needs to modernize the corn industry in light of increasing demand for animal feed. “A national corn development program that encompasses the whole value chain starting from the farm until the produce reaches the market and industrial users will allow the country to reduce […]
Lawmakers seek POGO ban, cite ties to dirty money, kidnapping
By Alyssa Nicole O. Tan, Reporter and Beatriz Marie D. Cruz LAWMAKERS on Tuesday renewed their call for the government to ban offshore gaming operations in the Philippines, saying these have become a breeding ground for illegal activities including kidnapping and money laundering. “There have been multiple reports of kidnapping and even murder of those […]
Sovereign wealth fund bill could face lawsuit
By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz A PROPOSED sovereign wealth fund that Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. pitched to world and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland this month risks getting voided by the courts for “sequestering” dividends from state companies, a congressman said on Tuesday. The so-called Maharlika Investment Fund bill, which the House of […]
Filipino among 11 dead in Monterey Park shooting
A 68-YEAR-OLD Filipino was among 11 people who died at a mass shooting inside a dance studio in Monterey Park in Los Angeles, California at the weekend, according to the Philippine consulate general. It issued the statement after verifying the facts with US police, Filipino-Amercian organizations and media. Most of the victims were seniors. Of […]