Amidst calls on the reduction of the 12 percent value added tax (VAT)by the different to alleviate the effect of continuing oil prices, Malacañang remained firm on its stand that the VAT will stay. Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas said during a recent visit to Zamboanga that the Aquino administration has no plans of supporting to [...]

The Philippine Peso weakened on Thursday as an effect of investors concerns in the local economy. After hitting its strongest thus far in three years early this week, the peso closed at 42.17 against the US dollar on Thursday. Down by 6 centavos from Wednesday’s 42.11.

Senator Manuel Villar’s statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) reflects his assets to reach P725,221,964 while maintaining no liabilities. Compared to his filed SALN for the previous year, Villar’s asset were reduced from close to P1 billion to about P725 million in the election year of 2010. Despite the decrease in asset size, [...]

Private employees from Metro Manila will receive and additional P22 in their cost-of-living allowance (COLA) per day, in lieu of a wage increase. The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) approved Wage Order No. 16 increasing the COLA of employees. This will take effect 15 days after its publication on the daily [...]

A new payment system that will replace the present “fee for service” scheme in reimbursing hospitals will be adopted by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) and hopes to implement it next month.
The Philhealth plans to adopt a new system called the “case payment” system which will have fixed rates for medical services and surgical [...]

Major oil player Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation is preparing 200 gasoline stations nationwide to serve as jeepney lanes for the fuel subsidy program of the government, with issuance of the fuel discount card’s under the “Pantawid Pasada” program already underway.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is not keen on new taxes just to increase the income of the government, instead he said that existing tax exemptions or incentives should be reviewed. Aquino said that rationalization plan for fiscal incentives is being discussed and stressed that the government would continue on its efforts to increase revenues [...]

A mix of wage and non-wage benefits for the country’s workforce was announced by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Labor Day.
The president said over a million government workers can receive another salary increase in June, or a month earlier than schedule, due to the government’s prudent fiscal management. For the private sector, he gave [...]

Local transport firm Green Frog Zero Emission Transport Corp. dared to take the huge risk in the electric vehicle industry and expressed interest to buy some 3,000 electric buses in the next seven years, with the initial 38 units coming in from China within the year.
Green Frog director Philip Apostol said the 36-passenger buses will [...]

The Diskwento Caravan (Discount Caravan) will soon roll out to areas outside Metro Manila to bring cheaper goods to more Filipino consumers.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) secretary Gregory L. Domingo said, “We also want consumers in various regions to experience the reduced prices of goods sold at the caravan which Metro Manila residents were [...]

The Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoenaed Ang Galing Pinoy Party List Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and his wife Angela ordering them to appear before the justice department to answer the charges for the P73.85-million tax evasion cased filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) April 7.
The former presidential son and his wife were [...]

The Aboitiz Power Corporation offered to invest P25 billion to jumpstart construction of its proposed 300-megawatt coal-fired power facility in Davao, with the said investment coming from its internally-generated cash. “To save time, Aboitiz Power is ready to invest its own fund, amounting to P25 billion instead of seeking financing from other institutions to [...]

The Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp.’s plan to raise fresh fund for power generation via stock rights offer was approved by the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
The Phinma-led company got the nod from PSE when the latter posted a memorandum on Friday saying that its board has approved the listing of 1.16billion additional common shares [...]

The Philippine government believes that the country deserves a better credit rating, that is why it is wooing the three major credit rating agencies for an upgrade in its credit scores, amid the improving fiscal situation and external liquidity.
The three credit rating agencies – Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings, and Standard & Poor’s (S&P), were [...]

Globe Telecom, in its letter to the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC), is asking the agency to take a look, and intervene, in the recent acquisition of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) of a majority stake of Digital Telecommunications Phils. Inc. (Digitel). Globe warned that the PLDT-Digitel is threatening to free competition and gravely [...]

The much anticipated announcement on Labor Day will not be heard this coming May 1. Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) clarified that there will be no announcement of wage increase on May, despite Malacañang’s pronouncement before that it is coming out with a Labor Day gift to help workers [...]

The Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) earmarked P900 million for the expansion of its coal mining ventures in Zamboanga Sibugay in Western Mindanao. The state-run oil exploration company said that its board of directors has already approved the special budget “to fund the development of existing coal mine” that will enable it to double [...]

The Social Security System (SSS) reported that its benefit payments for 2010 has increased by 7% to P77.17 billion, with the bulk of the payment going to retirement claims and death benefits. SSS president and chief executive officer (CEO) Emilio de Quiros Jr. said in a statement that the state-run agency paid P38.23 million to [...]

Giant conglomerate Ayala Corp. allots a record-high P79 billion for its capital expenditures this year. The company said it is in an excellent position to delve into various investment opportunities. It is particularly eyeing the power and infrastructure sector.
During the annual stockholders’ meeting, chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said that while the company is [...]

The House of Representatives approved last week on third and final reading a bill requiring all hospitals and clinics to post price list of all their series, incidental expenses and medical supplies in a conspicuous place in their premises to ensure accessible, transparent, and reliable delivery of services.
House Bill 4308 author Pasig Representative Roman Romulo [...]