MANILA, Feb. 3 — Malacañang has welcomed the results of the 2016 Economic Freedom Index that showed a big improvement in the Philippines’ world ranking. The country jumped to 70th place from 76th place last year, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Tuesday. “We welcome the results of the 2016 Index of Economic Freedom, which shows the Philippines jumping from 76th place in 2015 to 70th place, having scored 63.1 out of a possible 100 points—up from […]
Other News
Ecuadorian and Venezuelan FMs meet opposition as President Martelly’s term nears end with no successor
Representing CELAC (The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), the Ecuadorian and Venezuelan foreign ministers met with opposition parties on Tuesday (February 02) as the international community seeks to resolve political deadlock in the Caribbean nation after presidential elections were cancelled late last month amidst violence and accusations of fraud. Government supporters took to the streets as Haiti’s opposition rejected a proposal by outgoing President Michel Martelly to form a temporary government to organise […]
DENR co-hosts first environment summit
QUEZON CITY, Feb. 3 — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will play co-host next month to a three-day, first-of-its-kind summit dedicated to environmental issues and their interrelation with sustainable development. Slated for February 9 to 11 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, the “First Philippine Environment Summit: Breakthroughs and Innovations toward Sustainable Development” will bring together some 1,000 stakeholders from various sectors. It is co-organized by the Green Convergence for Safe […]
Election returns posted in COMELEC’s website, beneficial or not?
QUEZON City, Philippines (February 3) – It is true that in every Philippine election, negative issues and concerns have never failed to appear. According to asiafoundation.org, elections in the Philippines have been marred by allegations of widespread cheating and other electoral malpractice. The most famous (or perhaps infamous) method of cheating is called dagdag/bawas (add-subtract), when votes are subtracted from the opposition candidate and added to a favored candidate, and vice versa. Also, concerns over election credibility have […]
Trump decries media portrayal of his Iowa result
Donald Trump, the New York businessman seeking the Republican U.S. presidential nomination, said on Tuesday (February 2) he felt “a tinge” of disappointment after losing to Texas Senator Ted Cruz in the Iowa caucuses. Asked before a rally in Milford, New Hampshire on Tuesday (February 2) evening if he planned to change his campaign strategy, Trump told a news conference he felt confident in his methods, but he was adding more town hall-style events. When […]
Ecuador confirms first pregnant woman with Zika
ECUADORIAN authorities confirmed 22 cases of Zika, including the first reported case of a pregnant woman with the virus in the Andean nation. According to Ecuador’s National Institute of Public Health Investigations (INSPI) the woman is 19-years-old and is in the 27th week of her pregnancy. The institute has said the woman’s condition is stable and they do not believe the baby is at risk of microcephaly because the mother is at the end of her […]
Joint memorandum circular addressing child labor signed
MANILA, Feb. 3 — The government’s fight against child labor, particularly its worst forms, has leveled up with the signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular on the Guidelines in the implementation of the H.E.L.P. M.E. Convergence Program to Address Child Labor. “The Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) is being issued to provide policy guidelines and procedures in the implementation of the HELP ME Convergence Program to Address Child Labor,” Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said […]
Real estate markets in Asia Pacific expected to deliver strong total returns in the next 3 years
(Reuters) — Real estate markets in Asia Pacific are expected to deliver strong total returns in the next three years driven by the huge weight of capital coming into the region. And with global stock markets expected to experience heightened volatility this year, real estate investment is likely to see even more interest. Stuart Crow, Head of Capital Markets in Asia for real estate expert JLL, said: ”We’ve got some of the world’s largest […]
Expert urges Europe to be vigilant against Zika virus outbreak
(Courtesy CCTV) — A Portugal tropical disease expert urged Europe to be vigilant against possible Zika virus outbreak. Vitor Laerte, an expert at the Portuguese Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Diseases, said that “Based on previous cases that we’ve recorded here in Europe of other viruses like Chikungunya, we have had cases in Italy, south of France, south of Spain, so [in] these areas, there is a species of mosquito, albopictus, that adapts itself […]
Farmers meeting the challenge of ASEAN Integration
ILOILO CITY, Feb.3(PIA)—Farmers in Iloilo are keeping up with the challenges of the deluge of agricultural imports, once the ASEAN Integration impacts on the country. The imports can compete with the local produce and farmers should also be competitive, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations Edilberto de Luna said during a visit here. “We should make our rice production competitive” de Luna told the farmers in one of the areas he visited. It can be learned […]
Palace: OFW engineers, architects will not be easily displaced by Qatar’s new job policy
QUEZON CITY, Feb. 3 — Overseas Filipino engineers and architects will not be easily displaced by Qatar’s new equivalency system as the demand for Filipino workers in Qatar continues to rise, a Palace official recently said. Citing Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said that Qatar’s job orders of Filipino workers “increased from 85,000 in 2014 to 104,000 in 2015.” Qatar’s new policy requires a 12-year basic education equivalent to a […]
Stormy seas ahead for the Philippine economy?
By Gilbert M. Llanto President of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) (Courtesy East Asia Forum) — The Philippines has performed well in the past few years relative to its peers. It demonstrated great resilience to exogenous shocks that would have undone less capable economies. But will it be able to sustain its positive economic position? There are positive signs. Revised forecasts put GDP growth in 2015 between 5.7–6 per cent and forecasters […]
