THE population of the Philippines is projected at 105 million by the end of 2017, driven by continuing high levels of fertility among women of childbearing age.
Dec 292016
Dec 292016
A BACK — UP power plant in Pililla, Rizal will be operated when the Malampaya natural gas platform offshore Palawan shuts down early next year, while a privately owned natural gas-fired plant is being tested to run on diesel, also as a mitigating measure.
Dec 282016
THE SUBIC BAY Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is a step closer to its plan to build a P100-billion multi-modal coastal highway linking the free port to the Port of Manila as part of continued efforts to decongest the metropolis.
Dec 282016
THE GOVERNMENT yesterday invited parties to bid for the P553-million Sangley Airport Development Project, with the intention of immediately decongesting air traffic in the country’s main gateway.
Dec 282016
The tourism sector seems to be going through an interesting phase now that it has been called on to take a bigger challenge — to be sustainable and competitive against other tourist destinations in the region. What else could possibly make it more fun in the Philippines? In the field of taxation, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) appears to likewise recognize the urgency of effecting Republic Act (RA) No. 9593, otherwise known as the “Tourism Act of 2009,” as a roadmap to developing Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZs) aimed at enhancing the capacity of tourist attractions and its facilities in priority destinations. Through the issuance of Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 7-2016, the BIR recently acted upon the directive to implement the rules and regulations governing the tax incentives available to Registered Tourism Enterprises (RTEs) with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). The realization of these incentives comes seven years after RA 9593 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were passed.
Dec 272016
THE GOVERNMENT is waiting to assess the impact of three typhoons on major rice-producing provinces in the fourth quarter before deciding whether it will resort to rice imports next year, the National Food Authority (NFA) said.
Dec 272016
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will work with five leading microfinance institutions (MFIs) to allocate an initial P1 billion to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), a measure intended to discourage them from tapping usurious lenders.
Dec 272016
THE Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2017-2022 aims to address the issue of brain drain and cut the economy’s dependence on overseas remittances, targeting expansion of opportunity in sectors like culture, the arts, science and technology.
Dec 262016
FOLLOWING the allocation of P8.3 billion to fund free tuition in state universities and colleges (SUCs), the passage of a free higher education bill will be a government priority in January if the program is to be implemented by the second half of 2017.
Dec 262016
THE PHILIPPINES is gearing up to negotiate two big free trade agreements (FTA) next year, as countries under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) approach a consensus on the partnership’s terms, and with trade talks with the European Union (EU) set to resume in the first quarter next year.