SPEAKER Pantaleon D. Alvarez wants to prohibit the conversion of agricultural, irrigated, and irrigable lands for non-agricultural purposes to ensure “food security.”
Jun 182017
Jun 182017
In the last few years, the global banking industry has been dominated by significant uncertainty, and the year ahead is no different given the implications of Brexit, a new US administration in the USA, and the delays in the finalization of Basel IV regulations. Despite these factors, banks need to find ways to improve financial performance, either by growing or optimizing their business. This was the focus of the 2017 EY Global Banking Outlook survey, “Uncertainty is no excuse for inaction.” Based on the responses of senior executives from almost 300 banks worldwide, many are seeking ways to improve profitability, despite tighter budgets, continuing risks and different regulation agendas in the market. This article focuses on the survey results and implications significant to the Asian region.
Jun 162017
THE CENTRAL BANK trimmed its forecasts for the 2017 balance of payments (BoP) position as it now projects a second year in deficit on the back of uneven global growth that could weigh on the country’s prospects.
Jun 162017
THE Trade department and members of the electric vehicle industry are proposing the creation of a federation of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote the use of e-vehicles.
Jun 152017
FINANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said potential foreign investors can count on infrastructure investment to continue in the countryside despite the unrest in Mindanao.
Jun 152017
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warned that the Department of Finance’s (DoF’s) plan to tax sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is allegedly discriminatory to foreign products and may leave the country vulnerable to a World Trade Organization complaint.
Jun 152017
THE PHILIPPINES placed 46th out of 63 economies in a global ranking on digital competitiveness conducted by the International Institute of Management Development (IMD).
Jun 142017
THE government’s deadline for completing the P18.72-billion Kaliwa dam, set for the end of the President’s term in 2022, will be tough to meet given the project’s scope, but Metro Manila will have alternative water sources even beyond 2022, some industry participants said.
Jun 142017
DAVAO CITY — The Lorenzo family-owned Lapanday Foods Corp. (LFC) has decided not to revive its plant for packaging materials located here, which was burned down by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) on April 29.
Jun 142017
Mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate combinations (or simply, “M&As”) are a big part of the modern-day business world. They help businesses grow quickly and, if put to good use, positively impact the economy. From a business standpoint, they provide a way for parties from both sides to obtain valuable assets, both tangible and intangible. They also provide an opportunity for companies to achieve synergy (i.e., be more profitable as a single entity as compared to the individual combining parties). M&As could even be beneficial to smaller firms by giving them a chance to adopt business practices of larger, more established firms. These benefits are acknowledged by our Tax Code which grants an incentive to firms seeking to enter such transactions. Considering the intent of the law and the economic benefits M&As could bring, this incentive should be made easily available to taxpayers.