BFAR backs WTO ban on fisheries subsidies

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the Philippines must comply with a World Trade Organization (WTO) ban on fishing subsidies, which is designed to deter illegal fishing, even amid pressure from fishing organizations to provide government support for fisherfolk.   Demosthenes R. Escoto, BFAR officer-in-charge, said that the WTO agreement against subsidies […]

Why we resist the suspension of fuel taxes and the reversal of other hard reforms

The latest Pulse Asia Survey poll on the public’s most pressing concerns reveals that inflation is the most urgent issue among Filipinos (57%), followed by other economic issues such as workers’ incomes (46%), poverty (33%), and jobs (29%)1. The data show how highly concerned most of us are about the uncertainties of post-COVID recovery and […]

More fertilizer subsidies seen needed to shield farmers from high global prices

INCREASED FERTILIZER subsidies are required if farmers are to deal with higher global prices for the farm input, Agriculture experts said, after a key Senator called for immediate government intervention to prevent farmers from going further into debt for the next planting season. “Current fertilizer prices are burying local farmers deeper in debt even before […]

GOCC subsidies climb in August

SUBSIDIES extended to government-owned firms rose 747% year on year to P42.35 billion in August, led by the increased budgetary support provided to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) reported. The BTr said government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) subsidies were also much higher compared with the P6.08 billion recorded […]