September 9, 2022
Philippine labor force situation
Source BusinessWorld
Queen Elizabeth II dead at 96 after 70 years on the throne
BusinessMirror, September 9, 2022
Danica Kirka, Jill Lawless and Sylvia Hui/The Associated Press
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and a symbol of stability in a turbulent era that saw the decline of the British empire and embarrassing dysfunction in her own family, died Thursday after 70 years on the throne. She was 96...
Jobless rate eases to 5.2% in July
BusinessWorld, September 9, 2022
Ana Olivia A. Tirona
The Philippines' unemployment rate in July dropped to its lowest since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic...
Dollar reserves decline to $99 billion as of end-August
BusinessWorld, September 9, 2022
Keisha B. Ta-asan
The Philippines' dollar reserves slipped to its lowest level in two years as of end-August, amid the National Government’s debt repayments and the lower valuation of the central bank’s gold holdings...
Peso posts record low at P57.18 vis-a-vis $1 for fifth straight day
Manila Standard, September 9, 2022
The peso sank to a new record low for the fifth straight trading day on Thursday, losing 4.5 centavos to close at P57.18 to the US dollar following the release of dollar reserves data for the month of August...
Optional mask: LGUs, traders approve but docs still worry
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Alden M. Monzon, Kathleen de Villa
The business community on Thursday welcomed the policy shift to an optional wearing of face mask outdoors, but health experts warned that COVID-19 cases could spike if vaccination coverage remained low and adherence to other protocols declined as well...
Marcos gets $14.36B investment deals from Indonesia, Singapore
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
President Marcos brought home $14.36 billion, or P804.78 billion, in investment pledges from Indonesia and Singapore seen to aid the country’s economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic...
Go co-sponsors bill on safe pathways
The Manila Times, September 9, 2022
Javier Joe Ismael
Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go co-sponsored Senate Bill 1290, also known as the "Safe Pathways Act," which seeks to establish networks of safe pathways of bicycle lanes, walkways and slow streets throughout the country. The measure was principally authored by Sen. Pilar Juliana "Pia" Cayetano....
DFA rejects issuance of ‘lifetime’ passport for seniors and elderly
BusinessMirror, September 9, 2022
Malou Talosig-Bartolome
The Department of Foreign Affairs has opposed the proposal of Senator Raffy Tulfo that would grant senior citizens and elderly a lifetime validity of passports...
NEDA proposes changes to arbitration and MAGA clauses in revised rules for BOT Law
BusinessWorld, September 9, 2022
Diego Gabriel C. Robles
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) proposed new revisions to the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, which reflect the government’s willingness to share the risk in public-private partnership (PPP) projects...
PHL waives Singapore employer bond, guarantee requirements
BusinessWorld, September 8, 2022
John Victor D. Ordoñez
The Philippines has waived the performance bond and bank guarantee requirements for Singapore employers seeking to hire Filipino workers, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Wednesday...
PEZA, ecozone firms want longer 30% WFH
Daily Tribune, September 9, 2022
Raffy Ayeng
Business enterprises inside special business sites and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority has reiterated the clamor for the extension of the 30 percent work from home set-up until March 2023...
Apple announces satellite emergency SOS feature for iPhone 14
CNN Philippines, September 8, 2022
Samantha Murphy Kelly and Jackie Wattles, CNN
Apple announced a forthcoming satellite connectivity feature called Emergency SOS via Satellite at its iPhone 14 launch event. The tool is intended to help people using the company's next-generation phones to communicate when their cell service isn't working — a process that Apple said took years to make a reality...
An architect asked AI to design skyscrapers of the future. This is what it proposed
CNN Philippines, September 8, 2022
Oscar Holland, CNN
Manas Bhatia has a bold vision of the future -- one where residential skyscrapers covered in trees, plants and algae act as "air purification towers."...
GCash rolls out new anonymity feature, assures no data breach in system
CNN Philippines, September 8, 2022
CNN Philippines
Mobile wallet GCash has rolled out a new anonymity feature in a bid to further boost consumer data protection. In a statement issued Thursday, GCash announced an application update which hides the full names of users in its send money service...
Imee says diplomatic protests vs China incursions ‘not working’
BusinessMirror, September 8, 2022
Malou Talosig-Bartolome
Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chided the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for sending “too many” diplomatic protests against China for incursions and harassments against Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)...
PBBM’s Indonesia, Singapore trips reap P804 billion in business deals
BusinessMirror, September 8, 2022
Samuel P. Medenilla
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. said he was able to reap over P804 billion worth of business deals during his “fruitful and engaging” four-day State Visits in Indonesia and Singapore...
Taiwan visa requirement causes confusion
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Tina G. Santos
Taiwan’s announcement that it was suspending Filipinos’ visa-free privilege has caused confusion among travelers, prompting the country’s de facto envoy to clarify that it was just a misunderstanding...
Philippines asks ICC: Don't resume drug war probe
The Manila Times, September 8, 2022
Agence France-Presse
The Philippines on Thursday called on the International Criminal Court not to resume its investigation into former president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war, insisting the tribunal has no jurisdiction...
PH okays 10K job orders for Singapore
The Manila Times, September 9, 2022
Franco Jose C. Baroña
The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) has approved close to 10,000 job orders in Singapore...
PHL, UK boost Mindanao security tie up in fight vs terrorists, maritime defense
BusinessMirror, September 8, 2022
Rene Acosta
The United Kingdom (UK) and the Philippines have agreed to work on common security issues, including terrorism, as the British government pledged a bigger and wider support to the country’s overall defense concerns that may very well include maritime security...
WTA awards boost local tourism
Manila Standard, September 9, 2022
The Philippines was again named Asia’s leading dive and beach destination in the 2022 World Travel Awards (WTA) in Vietnam on Sept. 7, and Intramuros reclaimed its title as the continent’s leading tourist attraction...
Japan, US, Philippines to step up maritime security ties
BusinessMirror, September 8, 2022
The Associated Press
An American diplomat in Tokyo on Tuesday criticized China’s “increasingly hostile maritime actions” as a threat to the safety of waterways in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific, as the United States seeks to strengthen security cooperation with allies Japan and the Philippines...
PH, China agree to bilateral talks, DFA chief says
Manila Standard, September 8, 2022
Macon Ramos-Araneta
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed anew to a bilateral consultation mechanism over the issue of the West Philippine Sea...
World briefly unites to mourn 'Elizabeth the Steadfast'
Philippine Star, September 9, 2022
Agence France-Presse
Leaders from every corner of the globe briefly united Thursday in homage to Queen Elizabeth II, after the world's longest-serving monarch died at her Scottish home at age 96...
What changes will UK see with a new monarch?
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Reuters
From a new face on the country’s stamps and coins to new words for the national anthem, Britain will see changes with the death of Queen Elizabeth and the accession of her son Charles to the throne...
More US legislators visit Taiwan amid tensions
The Manila Times, September 9, 2022
Associated Press
Another United States congressional delegation is visiting Taiwan as tensions with China remain high over its claims to the self-ruling East Asian island...
Ukraine claims to have taken back dozens of communities as Blinken visits
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Reuters
Ukraine on Thursday hailed a lightning counteroffensive it said had recaptured swathes of its territory in the east and south, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the country to pledge further aid...
Queen Elizabeth was the rock on which modern Britain was built, says PM Truss
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Reuters
British Prime Minister Liz Truss hailed Queen Elizabeth on Thursday as the “very spirit of Great Britain” and the rock on which modern Britain was built after the monarch died peacefully at her home in Scotland...
Blinken, in Kyiv, unveils $2B in US military aid for Europe
The Manila Times, September 8, 2022
Associated Press
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unscheduled visit to Kyiv on Thursday as the Biden administration announced major new military aid worth more than $2 billion for Ukraine and other European countries threatened by Russia...
US launches Asia economic forum to counter China
ABS-CBN News, September 9, 2022
Agence France-Presse
The United States began a series of meetings with ministers from the Asia-Pacific in Los Angeles on Thursday at an economic summit aimed at countering China's growing influence in the region...
Queen Elizabeth II dies, Charles III succeeds
Philippine Star, September 9, 2022
Stuart Graham, Agence France-Presse
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history and an icon instantly recognisable to billions of people around the world, died at her Scottish Highland retreat on Thursday. She was 96...
EU eyes overhaul of debt rules as crises pile up
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 8, 2022
Reuters
Byzantine, politicized or just plain stupid, European Union fiscal rules have been called many names and changed many times. Now the EU is starting another debate to reform them as it faces overlapping crises the rules were not designed to deal with...
ECB promises more rate hikes after unprecedented increase
Rappler, September 9, 2022
Reuters
The European Central Bank (ECB) raised its key interest rates by an unprecedented 75 basis points on Thursday, September 8, and promised further hikes, prioritizing the fight against inflation even as the bloc is likely heading towards a winter recession and gas rationing...
North Korea law allows for nuclear first strike, makes programme ‘irreversible’
Manila Standard, September 9, 2022
Agence France-Presse
North Korea has passed a law allowing it to carry out a preventive nuclear strike and declaring its status as a nuclear-armed state “irreversible”, state media said Friday...
Big oil companies are spending millions to appear ‘green.’ Their investments tell a different story, report shows
CNN Philippines, September 8, 2022
Lauren Kent, CNN
Big oil companies are spending millions to portray themselves as taking action on climate change, but their investments and lobbying activities don’t live up to their planet-friendly claims, according to a new report...
DBM allocates P2.5 billion for airport modernization
BusinessMirror, September 9, 2022
Bianca Cuaresma
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it has allocated a total of P2.5 billion to develop various airports nationwide...
Labor groups: Workers suffer from lack of quality jobs even with drop in unemployment rate
BusinessMirror, September 8, 2022
Samuel P. Medenilla
Workers are still facing tough challenges despite the drop in unemployment rate due to “poor”quality of available jobs, according to labor groups...
`Charge execs in sugar mess'
The Manila Times, September 9, 2022
Bernadette E. Tamayo and Bella Cariaso
The Senate blue ribbon committee has recommended filing graft charges against four agriculture officials implicated in the foiled attempt to import 300,000 metric tons of sugar...
Not yet time to put down masks – expert
The Manila Times, September 9, 2022
Red Mendoza
An infectious disease expert said the government should focus first on stepping up Covid booster shots before making the wearing of masks outdoors optional...
Health workers slam proposed 2023 health budget
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Zacarian Sarao
Health workers on Thursday slammed the government for its proposed health budget for 2023 as it further privatizes public health services for the public by cutting the budget for government-owned hospitals...
‘No compelling evidence’ to prove gov’t is serious in probe on Duterte’s drug war — HRW
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Beatrice Pinlac
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday that it has found “no compelling evidence” to show that the state is thoroughly investigating the crimes against humanity purportedly committed by the erstwhile administration, particularly for its controversial war on drugs...
DOH pushing to extend Covid-19 state of calamity
BusinessMirror, September 8, 2022
Samuel P. Medenilla
The Department of Health is pushing to extend the state of calamity declaration due to Covid-19 to prevent any disruption in their measures to mitigate the pandemic...
DAR to hire more lawyers to hasten resolution of agrarian cases
BusinessMirror, September 8, 2022
Jonathan L. Mayuga
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the agency mandated to provide social justice on top of distributing land to the landless, will be hiring additional lawyers to speed up the resolution of agrarian cases, the agency’s top official said...
NTC hit for failure to avert spate of spam texts
Manila Standard, September 9, 2022
Macon Ramos-Araneta and Darwin G. Amojelar
Sen. Grace Poe on Thursday chided the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for being remiss in its job to avert the spread of text scams currently victimizing millions of mobile users...
DOH, experts for mandatory mask use as COVID persists
Manila Standard, September 9, 2022
Willie Casas and Maricel Cruz
The Department of Health (DOH) prefers to keep the wearing of face masks mandatory while the COVID-19 pandemic persists, its officer-in-charge said Thursday...
Batanes seeks buyers amid garlic glut
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Nathan Alcantara, Nestor Corrales
Officials in the northernmost province of Batanes on Thursday confirmed that there was an overproduction of local garlic, especially in this town, prompting Gov. Marilou Cayco to appeal to the public to buy the crop from farmers...
Lawmakers seek OK of ’23 budget for gov’t agencies
Manila Standard, September 8, 2022
Maricel Cruz
The House of Representatives committee on appropriations on Thursday batted for the approval of the 2023 budgets of the departments that look after the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the homeless, workers, as well as micro-, small-, and medium-scale entrepreneurs...
'System slowdown' in LTO probed
The Manila Times, September 8, 2022
Franco Jose C. Baroña
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) initiated on Thursday its investigation into the "system slowdown" experienced at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) that delayed the processing of some online transactions in the agency...
PRC ‘utang-tagging’ exposed in budget hearing
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Jeannette I. Andrade
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Thursday vowed to investigate complaints that some teachers are having a hard time renewing their licenses at the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) purportedly because of unpaid debts...
Gatchalian probes DepEd’s service fee to PS-DBM
Manila Standard, September 8, 2022
Macon Ramos-Araneta
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday questioned if the Department of Education’s (DepEd) P69 million “service fee” to the Procurement Service- Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) was worth it...
‘Why allow ‘hostaging’ of Pinoys on power service contracts?’
Daily Tribune, September 9, 2022
Chito Lozada
The Energy Regulatory Commission was taken to task yesterday for allegedly not fulfilling its mandate to protect consumers, particularly in not allowing the unilateral withdrawal of power contracts...
‘DOH needs P76b, not only P20b for healthcare workers’ benefits’
Manila Standard, September 8, 2022
Willie Casas and Macon Ramos-Araneta
The Department of Health (DOH) needs at least P76 billion to sustain the health-care workers’ COVID-19 benefits for the whole of 2023, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Thursday...
Manufacturing output up 2.5% in July on base effects
BusinessMirror, September 9, 2022
Cai Ordinario
The country’s manufacturing output grew 2.5 percent in July 2022, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)...
PHL banking sector’s NPL ratio drops to 22-month low in July
BusinessWorld, September 9, 2022
K.B. Ta-asan
The banking industry's nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio fell for a fifth straight month in July to its lowest in almost two years as bad debt continued to decline despite lenders’ bigger loan book...
Agri dep’t preference for imports seen as hurdle to RCEP approval
BusinessWorld, September 8, 2022
Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) recent track record of preferring imports as opposed to developing productive farms has been cited as a potential deal-breaker as the Senate struggles to approve the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal...
Who gains, who loses as peso drops vs dollar
The Manila Times, September 9, 2022
Ed Paolo Salting
Some sectors stand to gain while others will end up hurting from the peso's falling to record lows versus the dollar...
Fisheries output up 5.6% by volume in second quarter
BusinessWorld, September 8, 2022
Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
The Philippine Statistics Authority said fisheries production in the second quarter rose 5.6% year on year to 1.21 million metric tons (MT), driven by the aquaculture, commercial, and marine municipal fisheries segments...
Forex reserves dwindle to lowest level in 2 year
Philippine Star, September 9, 2022
Lawrence Agcaoili
The country‘s foreign exchange buffer slipped for the sixth straight month, falling below $99 billion in August as the peso continues to hit record lows due to the extremely strong dollar, which can be attributed largely to the Federal Reserve’s aggressive policy to tame soaring inflation in the United States...
Unemployment now at lowest level since start of pandemic
Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 9, 2022
Ronnel W. Domingo
The number of unemployed Filipinos decreased to 2.6 million in July this year from 2.76 million in April, according to preliminary results of the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest labor force survey...
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