GENERAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
[EDITORIAL] ‘Sin’ taxes must rise
28 May, 2019 at 12:01
Legislators are expected to be busy in the next two weeks tackling the issue of whether taxes on so-called “sin” products such as cigarettes and liquor are high enough to discourage smoking and drinking, but at the same time not kill the industries behind them, to allow the government to get funding for its health care program.
5 more gov’t regulatory agencies join online...
28 May, 2019 at 11:53
Five more government agencies are expected to join the online TradeNet platform this year ahead of the full coverage mandated for 76 regulatory agencies in 2022, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
‘SOT bill will still allow contractualization’
28 May, 2019 at 11:47
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said contractualization will still be allowed under the pending of Security of Tenure (SOT) bill, allaying fears of employers the legislation will abolish the controversial work arrangement.
[PRESS RELEASE] Gatchalian seeks amendment of Foreign...
28 May, 2019 at 11:39
Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for the amendment of the Foreign Investments Act (FIA) of 1991 in a bid to provide a renewed boost to the entry of foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country and stimulate job creation.
[OPINION] Keeping up with technology
27 May, 2019 at 15:25
Technology is changing the way people live in our world today whether we are ready for change or not. Countries resistant to change or simply not ready for change, will find it very difficult to compete against nimbler economic and political rivals.
Tugade eyes privatization of PPA
27 May, 2019 at 15:18
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade is targeting to privatize the operations of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) before the end of the Duterte administration.
Easing of investment rules pushed
27 May, 2019 at 15:12
The country’s chief economist is pushing for Congress’ approval of the bills aimed at further opening up the economy to bolster not only foreign investments but also economic growth.
Senate will not allow mangling of SOT...
27 May, 2019 at 14:02
Senate President Vicente Sotto III allayed concerns by a jittery labor sector that last-ditch lobbying in Congress could still derail bicameral efforts and mangle the final version of the so-called End of Endo reform embodied in the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill.
[VIDEO] Senate Committee on Finance
27 May, 2019 at 13:39
Agenda: Status of implementation of the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget; Effect of the four-month re-enacted budget on the 2019 Projected Economic Growth; Deviation, if any, on the Fiscal Year 2019 macro-economic projections as presented in the 2019 Budget of Expenditure and Sources of Financing (BESF)
Goodbye, decent broadband!
24 May, 2019 at 10:02
The Senate has approved the creation of a Philippine Space Agency which aims to make us space capable in the next decade. That’s a laugh. We can’t even have decent broadband service in this country and here is the Senate prioritizing the creation of a space agency…
What the country needs in a dict...
24 May, 2019 at 09:56
The drafters of the law creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) surely had the best of intentions in setting forth the qualifications of the secretary that would lead the government agency tasked with “the primary policy, planning, coordinating…
Showdown seen over ‘End of Endo’ at...
24 May, 2019 at 09:19
Labor leaders on Thursday said they will be ready to counter possible attempts from government economic managers and business groups to derail the passage of the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill as it goes through the bicameral conference next week.
Senate okays ‘End of Endo’ bill
23 May, 2019 at 16:40
The Senate passed on third reading on Wednesday the “End of Endo” bill, outlawing employers’ practice to circumvent labor laws by hiring contractual workers, whose short-term contracts expire before they qualify for permanent employment under existing law.
Deeper economic reforms a must after Duterte’s...
23 May, 2019 at 16:15
The mid-term elections gave a resounding victory to all but one of President Duterte’s endorsed senatorial bets.
DOE starts enticing new power investments
23 May, 2019 at 16:02
Without it admitting yet that it might have missed planning trajectories, the Department of Energy (DOE) is finally stepping up into inviting new power projects to satiate the country’s long-term energy needs.
PEZA chief addresses talk she is at...
23 May, 2019 at 07:12
There is talk in the foreign business community that the head of the government’s economic zone promotion agency is at risk of losing her job due to a drop in committed investments and her opposition to the Finance department’s push to remove tax incentives deemed redundant.
Vague rules barriers to trade: DICT
22 May, 2019 at 12:01
The inadequacy of laws in information and communication technology (ICT) sector and the vagueness of the scope of power of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) have resulted in certain barriers in the country’s trade and investment…
Overhaul of mining policies pushed
22 May, 2019 at 11:23
The country’s premier think-tank has urged the government to review its mining policies after its study showed that the current legal framework of the mining sector had too many inconsistencies that gave way to corrupt practices and continued to hinder the industry’s growth.
[VIDEO] Incentives help PH keep, grow foreign...
22 May, 2019 at 09:43
Incentives for companies in economic zones help offset high operating costs in the Philippines, making the country more attractive to foreign investors, the head of a manufacturing group said Monday.
[VIDEO] Australian, NZ businessmen on ‘wait-and-see’ over...
21 May, 2019 at 10:59
Investors from Australia and New Zealand are keen on locating in the Philippines but are wary over corporate tax reforms that are pending in Congress, a business group head said Monday.
Anti-terror, ‘Endo,’ amended PSA bills top Senate...
20 May, 2019 at 14:58
The Senate leadership is convening an all-senators’ caucus right after lawmakers reconvene for their regular session on Monday to finalize their list of priority bills to be front-loaded for plenary approval as Congress is set to adjourn anew from June 8 to July 21, under its approved calendar of session.
Biz groups push okay of Public Service...
20 May, 2019 at 13:46
Business leaders have closed ranks behind a final push to prod the 17th Congress—which resumes sessions on Monday (May 20) for its final three weeks of work—to pass the amended Public Service Act (PSA) before leaving office in June.
Low storage costs keep containers in PH
20 May, 2019 at 13:43
The country’s largest truckers association is putting part of the blame for the lingering congestion at the country’s main ports on low storage costs that have allowed international shipping lines to keep empty containers in the country.
CBCP urges solon to pass job-generating laws
20 May, 2019 at 12:29
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged newly elected lawmakers to craft laws that would help generate employment in the country so workers would no longer be forced to go abroad, where they may end up being abused by their employers.
