Agencies’ budget usage rate improves to 70 percent
State agencies recorded a better spending rate at the start of the year as the government ramped up the release of its cash allocations to fund various projects......»»
Consumers express mixed reactions on slight power rate increase
Consumers of Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. have expressed mixed reactions to a slight increase in the overall power rate starting January 2024. The increase is attributed to higher market prices affecting the generation rate. Noriza Mabanding, a virtual assistant, noted the impact on her energy usage and the need to schedule appliance usage to save energy. Jenalyn Manguiob, a small business owner, expressed dissatisfaction with the increase's effect on her business but acknowledged the global market's influence and the importance of conserving energy. The increase amounts to P0.0774 per kWh, resulting in a minor increase in electricity bills for residential customers......»»
Travel agencies group warns about cheap, illegal operators
The Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA) has issued a warning about unregistered and illegal travel and tour operators in their area. These operators have been found to be offering travel and tour services without proper licensing, leading to issues such as lack of refunds, scheduling problems, and other travel arrangement discrepancies. Pia Partoza Montano, a travel agency owner and Vice-President for the Travel and Tours Sector of DTAA, emphasized the prevalence of these unauthorized operators, particularly in inbound tourism, and the challenges in monitoring and regulating them due to their large numbers. Montano also highlighted the potential risks associated with using these unregistered agencies, as they may offer cheaper rates but could lead to problems in case of incidents. To address this issue, the Department of Tourism-Davao (DOT-Davao) has introduced a QR code system to help the public verify the legitimacy of travel agencies by accessing data on authorized and registered operators. The DOT-Davao encourages travelers to transact with accredited enterprises to ensure the quality and reliability of their travel arrangements. Currently, there are at least 109 registered travel and tour agencies in Davao City under DOT-Davao's accreditation. The DOT-Davao also provides information on the requirements for registration and renewal for travel agencies on their official website. This warning serves as a reminder for the public to be cautious and discerning when engaging with travel and tour operators to avoid falling victim to unauthorized and illegitimate services......»»
2.4M Dabawenyos working as of Oct 2023
The October 2023 Preliminary Employment report by the Philippine Statistics Authority-Davao Region (PSA-Davao) reveals that 64 percent of the 3.780 million Dabawenyos aged 15 and above are part of the labor force, indicating that 2.42 million individuals are employed. This represents a 1.8 percentage point increase from the previous year. The report also highlights a 97.1 percent employment rate in the Davao Region as of October 2023, with a 2.9 percent unemployment rate, lower than the national average. Despite this, the region still maintains the highest employment rate in the Philippines. Additionally, the report compares employment rates across different regions, with Soccsksargen, Barmm, Central Luzon, CAR, Caraga, Western Visayas, Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, and Central Visayas surpassing the national average. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) records the highest labor force participation rate among 17 regions, while the Zamboanga Peninsula has the lowest rate. The data is collected through the Labor Force Survey (LFS) conducted quarterly and monthly by the PSA central office and its regional statistical services offices. The Davao Region, with nearly 6 million inhabitants, remains the 7th most populous region in the country......»»
Philippines inflation rate slows to 2.8 pct in January
MANILA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Year-on-year inflation in the Philippines further eased to 2.8 percent in January from 3.9 percent in December 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday. PSA head Dennis Mapa told a press conference that the January inflation rate is the lowest since the 2.3 percent inflation rate was recorded in October 2020. In January 2023, inflation rate was 8.7 percent.....»»
State agencies have more time to spend 2024 budget
The Department of Budget and Management has given state agencies more time to obligate and disburse this year’s record P5.768-trillion budget......»»
Consumer sentiment in PH improves slightly in Q1 2024
Consumer sentiment in PH improves slightly in Q1 2024.....»»
Consumer sentiment in Philippines improves slightly in Q1 2024
Consumer sentiment in Philippines improves slightly in Q1 2024.....»»
Philippines jobless rate drops to decades-low in December 2023
MANILA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The unemployment rate in the Philippines decreased to 3.1 percent in December 2023, the lowest since 2005, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday. "The full-year unemployment rate for 2023 was 4.3 percent compared to 5.4 percent in 2022," PSA head Dennis Mapa said at a press conference. Mapa said about 1.60 million were jobless in December last year. "This w.....»»
Budget-friendly travel hacks: How Filipinos can plan a memorable vacation on a budget
Budget-friendly travel hacks: How Filipinos can plan a memorable vacation on a budget.....»»
Budget officers in CV undergo financial management training
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Over 600 budget officers in Central Visayas underwent Public Financial Management (PFM) Training in Cebu last month. The initiative, led by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in collaboration with the Association of Local Budget Officers-Central Visayas Inc., took place at a hotel in Mandaue City. This training was a.....»»
Breakthrough treatment improves cancer survival rate
With the introduction of a breakthrough treatment, there is now an improved overall survival rate for those suffering from biliary tract cancer,according to cancer experts......»»
DSWD-Davao raises child feeding budget to P21
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) has increased its budget for the Supplementary Feeding Program to P21 per child, up from the previous P15 allocation. Kyla Denise T. Pamat, a nutritionist dietician at DSWD-Davao, shared in a radio interview on Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on January 26, 2024, that the enhancement is a result of a budget insertion in 2023. The 13th cycle targets 122,400 children in Davao Region, with five local government units (LGUs) already initiating the feeding program, while others are in the procurement process. The program focuses on children aged two to four in child development centers and supervised neighborhood places, providing hot meals (rice and viand) for 80 days and alternative meals (pancake, nutribun, and fruit salad) for 40 days during the 120 feeding days. Additionally, selected LGUs with a prevalent number of underweight children receive milk feeding for the entire duration. The 12th cycle showed an 82.27 percent improvement in the weight of underweight children, reducing their number from 4,567 to 784 after the 120 feeding days. Pamat highlighted its alignment with Republic Act 11037, also known as the Masustansyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act, and encouraged LGUs, communities, and parents to support the program for continuous improvement......»»
Philippines slightly upgrades GDP growth to 6 pct in Q3
MANILA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday slightly upgraded year-on-year growth of gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2023 to 6 percent from preliminary estimate of 5.9 percent. "The major contributors to the upward revision were manufacturing, from 1.7 percent to 1.8 percent; financial and insurance activities, from 9.5 percent to 9.6 percent; and accomm.....»»
Inflation Rate (IR) in Eastern Visayas drops to 2.4 percent in July 2023
The Inflation Rate (IR) in Eastern Visayas slowed down further to 2.4 percent in July 2023 from 3.3 percent in June 2023......»»
Salt imports decline as local output improves
The country’s salt imports decreased to 84 percent of total requirements last year from 90 percent in 2022 as local production improved, a ranking official of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said......»»
Xinhua world economic news summary at 0900 GMT, April 1
MANILA -- The Philippine government's budget deficit increased to 164.7 billion pesos (2.93 billion U.S. dollars) in February, the country's Bureau of the Treasury said Monday. "The wider budget gap stemmed from the 22.14 percent year-over-year increase in expenditures, matched with moderate revenue growth of 5.73 percent," the bureau said. With the February turnout, the bureau said the year-to-date fiscal balan.....»»
P3.3 trillion in agency budget released
A total of P3.3 trillion has been released to state agencies to implement priority programs and address the problem of underspending, according to the Department of Budget and Management......»»
AI use cuts Globe’s power usage by 8%
Mobile giant Globe Telecom Inc. has introduced artificial intelligence into its energy-saving program, allowing it to cut power consumption by up to eight percent in base stations......»»
Yellow Cab launches Half Moon Pizza
Yellow Cab Pizza Co. introduces Half Moon Pizza, a “just-for-you” size ideal for solo diners and available in Pepperoni and Hawaiian flavors for only P159.00. This budget-friendly alternative is designed for solo diners on a tight budget and is perfect for budget-conscious individuals or someone looking for a lighter meal. Yellow Cab’s Half Moon Pizzas.....»»
‘4Ps registered P9 billion deficit due to budget cuts’
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the government had already registered a “budget deficit” of P9 billion after Sen. Imee Marcos slashed its budget by P13 billion......»»