SUSTAINED domestic political conflicts may not only impact next year’s polls but also the country’s economic and fiscal performance, according to Fitch Ratings.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is finalizing agreements with envoys from Pakistan and India to secure commitments for the supply of a combined 2 million metric tons (MMT) of rice.

FINANCE Secretary Ralph G. Recto believes another 25-basis-point (bps) reduction in the country’s policy rate this week would be beneficial to spur economic investments next year.

THE scheduled signing of the proposed P6.35-trillion 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is now facing delay and line veto as it undergoes more “rigorous and exhaustive” review from President Ferdinand Marcos and his Cabinet, according to Malacañang....

THE Gencars group, a leading Isuzu dealership group in the Philippines, warmly welcomed a delegation from Isuzu Motors Ltd. (IML), Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) and select Isuzu Japan dealers on November 27, 2024, at Isuzu Makati—the first of its seven...

Civilian government employees, including public school teachers, will receive P7,000 in medical allowance as early as January next year, according to Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman.

WHILE many leave their homes for the promise of better opportunities abroad, migrant workers often face higher unemployment than their local counterparts, reflecting systemic barriers that hinder their integration into labor markets.

THE Toyota Group expects receipts from the exports of auto parts to reach $1.21 billion by the end of 2024, a 3-percent decline from the $1.26 billion recorded in 2023 due to the slowdown in demand in the United States and Japan.

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) has some P78.41 million in unutilized funds accumulated from 2019 to December 2023, which could otherwise have been allocated to important tourism projects and marketing programs.

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has directed all Private Distribution Utilities (PDUs) to refund the remaining amounts collected from consumers for regulatory reset expenses that were not utilized.

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has unveiled a series of digital transformation initiatives designed to streamline processes and enhance transparency across the energy sector.

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced last Wednesday it has officially opened a new extension office in Lipa City, in line with its efforts to facilitate business formation, invest in high-growth regions, and keep a closer watch on fra...

AYALA Corp. announced last Wednesday its executives signed a 50-million euro (about P3.1 billion) “social” loan from ING Bank N.V. to support the growth of the portfolio of its wholly-owned subsidiary Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health).

Image credits: Jimbo Albano

IN a society striving for progress, the formative years of a child’s life must not be ignored or neglected. This is because the early stages of development are pivotal in shaping both the child’s future and the future of society as a whole. Therefore, ...

John Exter was an American economist, central banker, and financial consultant “known for his significant contributions to monetary theory aånd policy”. Interestingly, in 1948 he served as adviser to the Secretary of Finance of the Philippines on the e...

PRAGUE—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recently released three publications mapping the Philippines’ path into becoming a nation with a “middle soft power” status.

THE Christmas season in the Philippines is a time of joy, togetherness and giving. Yet, amid the glittering lights and festive gatherings, it is easy to forget that the greatest gifts are not material but those that touch the heart—kindness, love and e...

Experiencing chronic sinusitis, hearing loss, ear infections, sore throats, or colds that lasts more than a week or keeps coming back? Then it’s time to see an otolaryngologist.

The Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of the Philippines, Inc., inaugurated the country’s first-ever “family room” aimed at offering comfort to families of children battling illness,...

Premier medical institution Asian Hospital and Medical Center, with the support of Boehringer Ingelheim, recently launched the Interstitial Lung Disease Center in the newly established Asian Institute of Respirology (AIR) for the comprehensive manageme...

Patient groups have emphasized the critical need for the institutionalization and adequate resourcing of Health Technology Assessment (HTA).

OVERSEAS Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso on Wednesday pleaded for executive clemency upon her arrival in the country after spending almost 15 years in jail for drug trafficking charges in Indonesia.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill postponing the first regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from May 12 next year to May 11, 2026, with 198 votes in favor and ...

Responding to mounting concerns over the abuse of barangay-issued residence certificates in voter registration, Sen. Nancy Binay has underscored the urgent need for legislative action to tighten residency verification using advanced biometric technolog...

THE National Police (PNP) is set to join the campaign against agricultural economic saboteurs like profiteers, hoarders and smugglers

PRESIDENT Marcos is banking on five new infrastructure projects in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao to deliver more comfortable travel and boost economic activity.

A LAWMAKER has filed a resolution urging a legislative inquiry into the alleged improper implementation of senior citizen and persons with disabilities (PWD) discounts by ride-hailing and food delivery companies.

THE National Economic and Development Authority Board approved on Tuesday the revised design of the Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Abra Irrigation Project (Inisaip), addressing concerns over its previous plans.

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said around 8,000 individuals previously employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) have yet to comply with the government-mandated deadline to voluntarily leave the country by the end of the year.

The widening of the trade gap caused the country’s current account deficit (CAD) to more than double in the Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

FULL recovery of the Philippines tourism industry will likely take place in 2027, breaching the 8-million international arrivals level.

Asian economies are resilient enough to ride out turbulence, International Monetary Fund economists said, underscoring the importance of taking turmoil in stride at a time when the region faces various internal risks in addition to Donald Trump’s retur...

THE Philippines has secured a new $30 million-worth loan for public–private partnership (PPP) projects from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

I just got back from Japan a few days ago with my wife, daughter and granddaughter to have our first experience of autumn. While there, I didn’t buy anything for myself. Instead I brought home five smooth pebble stones as mementos.

OSLO, Norway—A 92-year-old Japanese man who lived through the American atomic bombing of Nagasaki described on Tuesday the agony he witnessed in 1945, including the charred corpses of his loved ones and the ruins of his city, as he accepted this year’s...

Older adults whose cholesterol levels fluctuate from year to year may face an increased risk for dementia and cognitive decline compared to people whose cholesterol levels remain more stable, new research finds.

AMB. Kazuya Endo recently welcomed the 11th batch of Nihongo Partners to the Embassy of Japan. The 10 Japanese language teachers were accompanied by representatives of the Japan Foundation Manila led by its director Ben Suzuki.