• 'PHL could attract more investments with right IP ecosystem'

    Providing the “right” Intellectual Property (IP) ecosystem could help the Philippines attract more investments, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) said. “Just not being on the [United States Trade Representative Special] 301 report is huge. A lot of countries we go to that’s the one thing they want

  • DSWD shuts down QC orphanage, takes custody of 149 children

    The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday announced it will take custody of the 149 children from a private orphanage in Quezon City, which was temporarily shut down due to protocol violations. DSWD Secretary Rexlon "Rex" T. Gatchalian disclosed they proceeded with the transfer to their care

  • DICT targets to deploy 10,000 more free WiFi sites

    The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) is now targeting 10,000 additional sites under its Free Public Internet Access Program (FPIAP). DICT Secretary Ivan E. Uy said the sites will be located in 1,364 localities nationwide. As of last April 23, he said FPIAP covered 3,961 sites in 493 localities. Uy made

  • Malaysia wooing back Philippine tourists post-pandemic

    MALAYSIA is going full throttle to win back Filipino tourists, targeting families, shoppers as well as wellness and health travelers. A big delegation from Malaysia led by Tourism Malaysia Director General Dato Dr. Ammar bin Abd Ghapar, is here in the Philippines to hold two back-to-back sales missions in Manila

  • Makati City launches task force to respond to El Niño

    The Makati City government has created the El Niño and Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Task Force to help mitigate the effects of the weather phenomenon in the city. "Makati is taking proactive action to mitigate the risks and impacts of extreme weather conditions on our citizens. As early as now, we

  • ‘Inflation to cut Q2 growth to 5.8%’

    THE “elevated” prices of goods and services will dent the country’s economic performance in the second quarter, slowing it down further to 5.8 percent, the lowest in nine quarters, a local think tank said. The First Metro Investment Corporation-University of Asia and the Pacific (FMIC-UA&P) Capital Market Research projected that

  • Importers seek low meat tariffs; locals balk

    MEAT importers are lobbying the economic managers to lower the tariff rate levied across all meat products, including offal, to just 5 percent, arguing that it would keep inflation in check amid global economic and food challenges. The biggest farm coalition called out the importers’ bloc, however, reminding them that with government support being anemic, “tariff is the local industry’s last refuge.”

  • Japanese firms seek WFH setup in ecozones

    SOME members of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc. (JCCIPI) have raised issues on the work-from-home (WFH) arrangements and the proclamation of new economic zones in the Philippines as the business group vows to strengthen its partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) in attracting foreign direct investments (FDI).

  • Comelec readies rules for seafarers’ vote via internet

    THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is drafting guidelines to enable overseas Filipino seafarers to vote via the internet for the midterm elections in 2025. Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said they are targeting the release of the guidelines for seafarers by next week. Garcia hopes that by shifting to online

  • Mobility, safety weighed as motorcycle taxi bill pushed

    WITH the revelation that only 30 percent of the 45,000 motorcycle taxi supply in Metro Manila operates at any given time, lawmakers believe that it is important to increase the supply cap to serve Filipino commuters, while providing ample data to the pilot study. In a Senate hearing on Tuesday,

  • ‘Government retook PNOC-EC stake in malampaya’

    A FORMER top energy official implemented a directive in 2005 to sell half of the government’s stake in the Malampaya project to a Korean consortium in 2005, but the deal subsequently fell through. “The instruction to sell the 50 percent, meaning the 5 percent of the 10 percent of PNOC-EC

  • 3 more suspects recant affidavits in Degamo slay case

    THREE more suspects in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and nine others last March 4 have recanted their previous affidavits wherein they admitted their participation to the crime and pointed to suspended Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves as the mastermind.