INTERNET freedom in the Philippines remains among the best in the world, though its score went down with the passage of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, according to an annual ranking published by Washington-based advocacy group Freedom House.
Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares presenting at a budget hearing of the Senate of the Philippines in September 2012 (photo courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Poe) MANILA, Oct. 3 (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe on Thursday sought for the creation of a suicide prevention program for people suffering from depression as it remains the number one cause of death in the country. Poe filed Senate Resolution 257 which urged the Senate committee on health and demography to conduct a study in relatively high rates of suicide and depression cases in the country. “The importance of focused suicide prevention program should be studied and assessed by the government to help people with suicidal tendencies and those suffering from depression,” Poe said in a statement. Following depression, death of a loved one is the second reason for suicide followed by separation or break up from a relationship, loss of custody of children, loss of job, house and money, terminal illness, chronic physical pain, loss of hope, and those who were victims of violence, rape, physical or verbal assault and serious legal problems. The neophyte senator explained that in the Philippines, many people still do not consider depression as an illness, but something that “one eventually snaps out of”. She added that it was also the reason why so many people suffering from depression feel embarrassed to seek help. In a country which is predominantly Catholic and where suicide remains to be unacceptable, Poe explained, suicide incident among family members will likely be reported as deaths from other Read More …
MANILA, Philippines – The amount of remittances sent by overseas Filipinos is estimated to grow six percent to $26 billion this year, making up over six percent of the $414-billion forecast global remittance level this year, the World Bank said in a report. The World Bank said the forecast top recipients of remittances for 2013 are India ($71 billion), China ($60 billion), the Philippines ($26 billion), Mexico ($22 billion), Nigeria ($21 billion), and Egypt ($20 billion). Other large recipients include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Ukraine. In its latest issue of the Migration and Development Brief, the global financial institution said the figure could have been bigger. “Several large remittance recipient countries such as Russia, Latvia, Lithuania and Uruguay are no longer considered (by the World Bank) as developing countries,” the report said. In addition, the data on remittances also reflect the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) changes to the definition of remittances that now exclude some capital transfers, affecting a few large developing countries like Brazil. Growth of remittances has been robust in all regions of the world, except for Latin America and the Caribbean, where growth decelerated due to economic weakness in the United States. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Remittances in the East Asia and the Pacific region (including the Philippines) are expected to expand 7.4 percent in 2013 to $115.3 billion. The inflows would account for about 28 percent of total remittances to developing countries. Figures earlier released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Read More …
Overseas Filipinos hauling “balikbayan” boxes gather in an airport preparing to fly back to the Philippines. Jeff Youngstrom MANILA, Philippines – A Hong Kong-based finance publication attributed the latest investment grade rating from Moody’s Investor’s Service to overseas Filipino workers (OFW) remittances more than to government. Finance Asia business editor Nick Ferguson said in a report Thursday that while Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima gives credit to “sound fiscal and monetary policy” under President Benigno Aquino III, it is the 15 million OFWs who contributed to the upgrade. OFWs remitted $12.627 billion so far in 2013–a 5.8 percent leap from the same period in 2012. Related: OFW remittances up 6.6% in July “This windfall means that remittances are more than enough to service the government’s $125 billion national debt, given ultra-low interest rates, which has allowed the government to avoid addressing much-needed tax reform,” Ferguson writes. Bulk of the remittances were from Filipinos working in the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Canada and Japan. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 On Thursday, Moody’s gave the country a Baa3 credit rating, citing that the country’s robust economic performance warranted the upgrade. Related: Moody’s gives Phl 3rd major investment grade rating The firm also said the sovereign rating was due to “improved fiscal management” leading to increases in infrastructure and social spending. It also suggested that the Philippines improves in revenue generation at par with other investment-grade countries.
Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:19 am | Friday, October 4th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Negotiators for the Philippines and the United States are addressing certain “gaps” in the key provisions of a framework agreement that would allow increased US military presence in the country amid a territorial dispute with China. What these “gaps in the critical provisions” are that need further discussions, the Philippine panel is not saying. But Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino said that the major provisions are what make the framework agreement “unique from other agreements.” “There’s more work needed to be done on these provisions that will define this agreement. Both parties recognize that we have to work on them with more deliberation,” Batino said. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta, the spokesman of the Philippine panel, said the negotiators were able to cover a large number of provisions in the proposed agreement during the last four rounds of negotations. “However, there remain major details of the substantive issues which both sides need to iron out, and we want to make sure that this agreement would be mutually beneficial,” Sorreta said. The provisions needing “more focused discussions” are contained in the article that covers the scope, agreed installations or Armed Forces of the Philippines facilities, prepositioning of defense equipment, supplies and materiel, ownership, and security. Despite the “gaps,” the panels ended the recent round of negotiations “with optimism,” said Batino. “Both sides look forward to the next round. Therefore, we are very hopeful on finding consensus within the remaining Read More …
President Benigno S. Aquino III answers questions from the members of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) during the BCBP Grand Breakfast at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday (October 02). The BCBP develops Christian leaders to become agents for justice and sound development in the work environment. In photo are Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., BCBP national president Lito Manuel Jimenez and BCBP chairman of the board Eduardo Pelaez, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson. (MNS photo) MANILA, Oct 3 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the Newborn Screening Society of the Philippines, Inc. (NSSPI) for its cooperation with the government to curb disease. “I am confident that your solidarity will drive our efforts to curb disease at its roots, and to protect our youth from potential impediments to their individual progress,” the Chief Executive said in his message to the NSSPI on Thursday. The NSSPI opened on Thursday its two-day Annual Newborn Screening Convention 2013 entitled, “Facing the Challenges of Expanded Newborns Screening” at the Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila. “Our nation relies on your collective to establish the practice of newborn screening as a determined step towards a robust tomorrow, with the fresh research and innovations you will uncover today,” the President said. President Aquino said the pursuit of development is centered on capacity-building, beginning from the empowerment of the people and extending to the advancement of the Read More …
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government will investigate whether it should put in place safeguard measures on imports of newsprint from other countries amid claims by the domestic industry that newsprints imports are threatening the local newsprint production. In a notice posted on the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) website, the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the international body said the country has initiated a safeguards investigation on the imports of newsprint from various countries. “The investigation was initiated on Sept. 20, 2013,” the notice read. The investigation is being conducted following an evaluation of the petition filed by the domestic newsprint industry represented by Trust International Paper Corp. (TIPCO). TIPCO is the dominant local player for newsprint. Locally produced newsprint is made mainly from recycled paper. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 It is used for newspapers, books and school pads. In the notice, the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the WTO said the documents submitted by the petitioner showed that “increased imports have caused serious injury to the local newsprint industry as indicated in their declining market share, production, sales, capacity utilization, productivity, profitability, price suppression, depression and undercutting.” DTI assistant secretary Ceferino Rodolfo said in a text message yesterday that since the investigation would look into safeguards, two elements have to be established by the investigation. In particular, the investigators would look at whether there was an increase in quantities of imports and whether such are causing serious injury to the local industry. Read More …
MANILA, Philippines – The investment grade status the Philippines received from Moody’s Investors Service propelled the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) to positive territory on Thursday. The benchmark PSE index closed 0.4 percent or 25.39 points higher at 6,387.65. This brings the main index’s year-to-date gains to 9.9 percent. Intraday, the local bourse hit 6,418.15. “Now that all three major rating agencies have an investment grade rating on the country, we are even more excited about the economic prospects of the Philippines. The investment grade rating is a vote of confidence in the fundamental strengths of the economy. As investors train their eyes on us, we hope to continue to interest them behind the growth outlook of our listed companies and the variety of investment products that we will soon be offering,”PSE President and Chief Executive Officer Hans Sicat said. The broader all shares index similarly grew, adding 5.52 points or 0.14 percent to close at 3,842.32. Four subindices advanced, led by the holding firms. The financials and industrial subindices dipped, on the other hand. Total volume reached 921.63 million, valued at P6.11 billion. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Decliners outpaced gainers 72 to 62, while 52 issues were unchanged.
Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:03 am | Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 Pope Francis: Help sought. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Apparently inspired by Pope Francis’ call for decent work and social justice, workers laid off by Philippine Airlines (PAL) has sought papal intervention in the labor dispute and in their campaign to be reinstated in their jobs. In a one-page letter to Pope Francis, Gerardo Rivera, president of the PAL Employees Association (Palea), brought to the Holy Father’s attention the plight of the airline workers who were laid off in 2011 as a result of the flag carrier’s decision to implement an outsourcing scheme. “As the only majority Christian nation in Asia, we deem an appeal from Your Holiness to the stakeholders involved—our employer [PAL] and the government—will (persuade them to) exercise moral suasion (that) may prove decisive in a settlement fair to the workers,” wrote Rivera. “We were fired with the intention of being rehired as contract workers doing the same jobs without security of tenure, lower wages, longer hours of work but without benefits,” he said. Such a scheme, the union official said, was “in contravention” of the social teachings of the Catholic Church, which has been advocating the primacy of labor over capital. Rivera said the union members were inspired and overjoyed after hearing the Holy Father call for decent work and social justice on World Labor Day five months ago. In his remarks on the occasion, Pope Francis encouraged governments and those in public service to make an Read More …
US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr.: Advancing shared vision. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Amid the pork barrel scam that may well have tainted the image of the country’s thriving nongovernment organization community, the United States on Monday announced a P984-million ($24 million) grant-giving facility that aims to fund over the next five years deserving Philippine NGOs in pursuing “innovative solutions [to] the country’s development challenges.” The US Embassy in Manila said the Philippine-American (Phil-Am) Fund, initiated by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is a component of the continuing implementation of the American Partnership for Growth Program (PFG), a wide-ranging program that seeks to help the Philippines steer itself toward inclusive growth. Reflecting its continuing faith in the country’s NGO community, the US Embassy announced the grant facility just as the Philippines continues to investigate the misappropriation of state funds for bogus programs through fake NGOs allegedly perpetrated by the now jailed Janet Lim-Napoles. “I am very pleased to be a part of this exciting and innovative project that will help advance our shared vision of broad-based and inclusive growth under the Partnership for Growth Initiative. Under the PFG, our governments are committed to work together to achieve inclusive economic growth in the Philippines,” said US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. The Philippines is one of only four countries where the United States is implementing the White House-led PFG program, which seeks to improve the country’s education, governance, justice and financial systems through collaborative engagements between the US and Philippine officials Read More …