THE PHILIPPINE economy likely grew by 6.6% in the first quarter, an economist at ING Bank N.V. Manila said, which would allow the central bank to keep monetary policy steady while financial markets also await more guidance on the policy track of the next president.
PHILIPPINE factories ramped up production for the ninth straight month in March, led by the double-digit growth in 10 out of the 20 major sectors.
In the past few years, our country’s credit rating has improved. From being tagged as the “sick man of Asia,” the Philippines is currently rated “investment-grade” by three of the major global credit rating agencies. Based on the publications issued by the outgoing administration, the increase in rating can be attributed to the strong performance of the service sector, trade, real estate and business activities, and manufacturing and construction subsectors.
President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the inaugural drive-thru of the Yawa Bridge during the inauguration ceremony in Rawis, Legaspi City, Albay on Thursday (May 05). Also in photo are Albay Governor Joey Salceda and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson. (MNS photo) Manila, Philippines | AFP – The Philippines holds elections on Monday to choose a successor to President Benigno Aquino. Here are 10 crucial victories and setbacks that came to define his six years in office: – August 23, 2010: Hong Kong hostage crisis Barely two months in office, Aquino faces his first major crisis when a disgraced policeman takes a busload of Hong Kong tourists hostage. The gunman and eight hostages are killed in a hail of gunfire hours later in a bungled police rescue operation that deeply embarrasses the young administration and strains ties with the Chinese territory for years. – November 18, 2011: Arroyo arrest Benigno Aquino makes good on a vow to have his predecessor and arch-rival Gloria Arroyo arrested and stand trial for vote fraud. When the country’s chief justice, Renato Corona, takes steps to get Arroyo bailed, Aquino allies have him impeached and removed from office. Arroyo remains under house arrest for the rest of Aquino’s term as the trial drags on with little progress. – December 21, 2012: Reproductive health law Aquino signs a landmark law mandating the state provide free contraceptives to poor couples and teach sex education in schools, defeating years of opposition by the dominant Roman Catholic church. – March 27, 2013: Read More …
Businessman Antonio Tiu and Senator Atonio F. Trillanes IV as they walk along the Rosario property, that people are reffering to as the Binay Farm in Rosario Batangas. October 23 MANILA, May 10 (PNA) – With Rodrigo Duterte still enjoying wide margin in the presidential race, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday assured the Davao City mayor that she will not be a hindrance to the reforms that Duterte will implement in the next six years. ”I respect the will of the Filipino people. They have spoken clearly and resoundingly hat the want Mayor Duterte to be our next president,” Trillanes said in a press statement. ”I assure the Mayor and our countrymen that will not be a hindrance to the reform initiatives he intends to push in or government,” he added. Trillanes, however, said: “I will continue with my advocacies as a legislator in our system of checks and balances.” ”May God bless our country,” he added. Trillanes, one of the leaders of the coup attempts against the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, made life difficult for Duterte towards the end of the 90-day election campaign. However, the senator’s expose on the alleged hidden wealth hardly affected the popularity of Duterte who is now enjoying over six-million vote lead over Liberal Party bet Mar Roxas. Based on the latest partial and unofficial results from the Comelec transparency server, Duterte has already 15,219,591 votes while Roxas is far in the second spot with 9,164,292 votes followed by Senator Read More …
By Jelly F. Musico Vice presidential candidate Sen. Francis “ Chiz” Escudero of Team Galing at Puso, together with his wife, Actress Heart Evangelista, cast their votes at Precinct No. 0079A of Buhatan Intergrated National School in Brgy. Buhatan, Sorsogon City on Monday morning.(MNS photo) MANILA, May 10 (PNA) – Like her running mate presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe, Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero has conceded defeat in the presidential race. Escudero made his announcement in his home province in Sorsogon on Tuesday morning, eight hours after Poe conceded to frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. ”Tinatanggap ko ng buong pagpapakumbaba ang resulta ng halalan. Naging malaking karangalan sa akin na makatrabaho lahat ng nakatrabaho at nakasama ko nitong nakaraang buwan kaugnay ng halalan na ito,” Escudero told the media interview. With Escudero 4,562,806 votes, Escudero is currently in fourth place behind fellow candidate from Bicol congresswoman Leni Robredo (13,251,341), Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (13,124.911), and Senator Alan Cayetano (5,421,493 votes). Escudero congratulated Duterte and encouraged his supporters to support whoever wins the elections. ”Binabati ko si Mayor Duterte at sa dikitan laban sa ikalawang pagkapangulo, binabati ko sino man sa kanila manalo pero syempre mas ninanais ko na ang kababayan ko kung may mananalo,” Escudero said. Escudero did not name names but two other vice presidential aspirants Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Gringo Honasan are also from Bicol but currently in fifth and sixth spot with 792,778 and 711,450 votes, respectively. Escudero said he is looking forward “to quieter times” Read More …
By Jelly F. Musico Presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe visited the tomb of his late father Fernando Poe Jr. at the North Cemetery before going to her precinct in San Juan City on Monday (May 9, 2016) to cast her vote. (PNA photo courtesy of Poe-Chiz media bureau) MANILA, May 10 (PNA) – Senator Grace Poe became the first presidential candidate to concede to frontrunning Rodrigo Duterte as the Davao City mayor’s lead has ballooned to five million based on the partial and unofficial results of the presidential race. Poe announced her decision late Monday night in a press conference at the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) headquarters at Scout Borromeo in Quezon City moments after she called up Duterte as show of respect and recognition to democracy. ”Ako si Grace Poe at naging kandidato para sa pagkapangulo ngayong 2016 ay nagbibigay-daan kay Rodrigo Duterte na siyang maliwanag na nangunguna sa kasalukuyang bilangan at siyang napili ng nakararami sa ating mga kababayan,” Poe said in a press statement she read before the mediamen. ”Bilang isang masidhing tagapagtaguyod ng repormang pang-eleksyon, matatag ang paniniwala ko sa boses at kalooban ng ating taumbayan. Iginagalang ko ang resulta ng ating halalan,” she added. Poe congratulated Duterte and promised her cooperation for the healing of the nation and for the progress of the country. Poe said her camp made a good and clean fight, staying away from mudslinging despite attacks thrown against her particularly the disqualification cases. ”Mga minamahal kong kababayan, naging malupit ang tatlong Read More …
Members of the Compact for Peaceful and Democratic Election (COMPACT) launch the 2016 International Observer Mission(IOM), in an effort to ensure free, peaceful and fair elections in Quezon City, Friday. Fifteen foreign observers will monitor the conduct and outcome of upcoming elections.(MNS photo) DUMAGUETE CITY (PNA) – The embassies of the United States of America and Australia in Manila have sent some personnel to Negros Oriental to act as observers in Monday’s synchronized polls. Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, acting provincial election supervisor of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), confirmed that the foreign observers have coordinated with him prior to Monday’s elections. Castillano disclosed he has met with two people from the US Embassy and two others from the Australian Embassy. The American foreign observers will visit four schools in Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, while the Australian Embassy personnel were scheduled to visit Dauin town and also some schools in Dumaguete, Castillano further disclosed. As observers, Castillano said they are accredited by the Comelec and have a checklist of what to do. They don’t meddle, they don’t question the voters and before they can enter the voting precinct, they have to ask permission from the BEI, he added. The Australian Embassy duo were spotted at the Dumaguete City High School in Barangay Calindagan, Dumaguete on Monday morning. They declined an interview by this reporter but in a casual conversation they expressed appreciation of the “democracy” experienced by the Filipinos and how “passionate” the Filipinos are in exercising their Read More …
WASHINGTON, D.C – Vote now for AARP’s inaugural Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Hero Awards to acknowledge the hard-working staff and volunteers of non-profit organizations serving AAPIs age 50-plus. Visitfacebook.com/AARPAAPICommunity to cast your vote during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month until May 31, 2016 at 11pm ET. Three heroes and their organizations will each receive a $1,000 cash prize when the winners are announced in June. “We’re thrilled with the caliber of all the nominees who were submitted for consideration by their colleagues, friends and family,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. “Each and every one of the nominees provides invaluable service to our community. Many have been serving for decades. We’re proud to recognize this outstanding group of individuals for their commitment to making a difference in the lives of older adults and ask that you vote now! We hope that by highlighting these community members we will inspire people to either volunteer or to work for our older adults.” The ten AARP Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Hero Award finalists are: Lourdes Santos Tancinco of the Veterans Equity Center in San Francisco, CA Katty Chow, Kin On Community Health Care in Seattle, WA Enoch Fung, Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco, CA Julie Kimiyo Hubbard, Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Servicein San Jose, CA Shiao-Lin D. Hui, Chinese Community Center Free Clinic at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Chicago (CCBA) in Read More …
INVESTMENTS in major mining projects last year totaled $924.94 million, down by 22.5% from the total investments of $1.193 billion in 2014, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said in a statement on Tuesday.