We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Women-owned businesses getting more loans; non-performing assets less than 2.5 pc: Smriti Irani at WEF
Davos [Switzerland], January 17 (ANI): Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said her government in New Delhi is working with a mantra of women-led development, and it has helped in empowering them. She said the PM Awas housing scheme, where a majority of the beneficiaries are women, and the Ujjwala gas connection for poor women have helped empower them. The total number of gas connections in India rose.....»»
World Court says Israel must take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza
(1st UPDATE) The World Court says Israel must ensure its forces do not commit genocide and take measures to improve the humanitarian situation for Palestinian civilians in the enclave.....»»
ADB appoints Mio Oka as country director for India, pledges continued support for development
New Delhi [India], February 6 (ANI): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Mio Oka as its new Country Director for India, succeeding Takeo Konishi, who has been elevated to the position of ADB Director General for South Asia at the Manila headquarters. According to ADB, in her new role, Oka will spearhead ADB's operations in India, forging partnerships with the government and other development stakeholders. She w.....»»
Old school calendar returning next year
The Department of Education will commit to President Marcos’ decision to revert to the old school calendar by next year, according to an agency official......»»
Free expression under attack, artist groups urge UN to probe PH laws
“Our gravest concern now is the new policies which attack freedom of expression: specifically the Anti-Terror Law and Executive Order 70 which created the NTF-ELCAC. This emboldened state actors, such as the police and military to commit abuses on a scale last seen during the first Marcos administration.” The post Free expression under attack, artist groups urge UN to probe PH laws appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Asia: Regional Leadership Needed on Human Rights
(Bangkok) - Increasing repression by governments in Asia is negatively affecting human rights locally and internationally, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its World Report 2024.In 2023, the Chinese government continued to commit.....»»
BSP finalizes blueprint for cross-border payment
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is set to issue the blueprint for multilateral cross-border payments connectivity among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations......»»
EAM Jaishankar discusses security, maritime cooperation with his Philippine counterpart in Manila
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to Manila, held a 'warm and productive' meeting with Philippines Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Enrique Manalo on Tuesday and discussed wide-ranging issues of security and maritime cooperation. During the meeting, both leaders exchanged views on global, regional, and multilateral issues, including Indo-Pacific, ASEAN,.....»»
Marcos Jr. urges developed states to rectify climate injustice
Developed countries should do more and act immediately to rectify climate “injustice,” President Marcos said yesterday, as he called for a multilateral approach to pushing back climate change......»»
17th Asian Financial Forum explores pathways to shared economic growth
Themed "Multilateral Cooperation for a Shared Tomorrow," the Asian Financial Forum commenced on Wednesday at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre......»»
‘Balikatan’ warships stalked by China vessel
MANILA, Philippines — The multilateral Maritian exercises (MME) being conducted off Palawan as part of this year’s “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) war games apparently continued to be tracked by another Chinese gray ship which was spotted on Sunday morning. The presence of People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels near the exercise area has not bothered the Armed Forces.....»»
ASEAN cross-border remittance service to go live by 2026 – BSP
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas along with other central banks in the region aims to operationalize multilateral cross-border fund transfers by July 2026......»»
The road to transformational growth
Leading think tanks, analysts and multilateral agencies have recently forecasted that the Philippines will be a high-middle-income country within this decade and the 18th-largest economy in the world by 2050......»»
More Infra Needed as BPO Workers Rises to 1.7 Million Workers by End of 2023
The business process outsourcing in the Philippines employed a total of 1.7 million workers and generated revenues worth at least 35 billion USD at the end of 2023, according to a report. But for the local industry not to get left behind by other countries, stakeholders want continued investment in infrastructure, real estate, reliable internet, […].....»»
Davao Bus Project to begin major infra construction
FOLLOWING the ceremonial signing of civil works contracts for the construction of the Davao Bus Project’s infrastructure facilities (e.g. terminals, depots and bus stops), the City Government of Davao extended its gratitude to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and appealed to the agency to guarantee appropriation necessary to deliver the project on time......»»
Abacus Securities thinks SM REIT and Prime Infra IPOs will be delayed and that GCash IPO will happen overseas
Nicky Franco, head of research for Abacus Securities, said that the SM REIT and Prime Infrastructure mega-IPOs will probably not happen in 2024 based on PSE President Ramon Monzon’s expectation of about P40 billion in total IPOs this year on the PSE......»»
Pag-IBIG releases record P126 billion in home loans
The Home Development Mutual Fund, commonly known as Pag-IBIG, has released a record P126 billion in housing loans last year for nearly 97,000 members......»»
Delivery drivers urge Mayor Baste for business permit exemption
Title: Delivery Drivers Seek Exemption from Business Permit Requirement A group of delivery drivers in Davao is urging Mayor Sebastian Duterte to exempt them from the mandatory business permits. The drivers, including those from various delivery apps such as Grab and FoodPanda, are concerned about the financial burden imposed by the business permits, which range from P2,000 to P6,000. They argue that this requirement is unique to Davao City among all cities and provinces in the Philippines. Grab rider Rolando Atico emphasized the need for solidarity among all delivery drivers, regardless of the app they work for. He urged fellow drivers to support each other, as the financial impact may extend beyond just Grab and FoodPanda. Atico also requested Mayor Duterte to reconsider the requirement and reinstate the previous occupational permit, which only cost P125. The group is facing a 30-day deadline to obtain the business permits, and they are citing financial constraints as a reason for their request for an extension. Failure to comply could result in their removal from the delivery platforms, jeopardizing their livelihoods. Additionally, they are advocating for changes to Davao City's Revenue Code, proposing a model similar to Cebu City, where only an occupational permit is required. The drivers are also calling for an inquiry into the lack of transparency and unilateral actions of food delivery companies, particularly concerning rider capitalization and financial concerns. They believe that a thorough investigation will help ensure fairness and equity in their financial obligations and working relationship with the delivery companies. Maribel Paguican, the Business Bureau officer-in-charge, stated that non-certified delivery riders categorized as service contractors must obtain a business permit. She mentioned two permits for occupational and business activities, with a discounted structure for delivery riders. However, concerns have been raised about increased taxes, potentially ranging from P3,000 to P6,000, along with an additional tax on top of the declared income of P1,400. The delivery drivers' plea for exemption from the business permit requirement reflects their concerns about the financial impact and the potential threat to their livelihoods. Their call for solidarity and support from fellow drivers highlights the urgency of the situation. This story sheds light on the challenges faced by delivery drivers in Davao and the implications of the business permit requirement on their financial well-being. It also underscores their efforts to seek fairness and equity in their working relationship with the authorities and delivery companies......»»
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......»»
Groups urge to include placemaking in planning for public spaces
The push for placemaking in planning for public spaces was emphasized by various groups during a recent forum in Davao City. ATTY. Mark Peñalver, executive director of Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis), stressed the importance of incorporating placemaking in public space planning to not only enhance the physical environment but also to promote inclusivity. He highlighted the exclusion of certain sectors in existing public spaces and emphasized the need for stakeholders' input and acknowledgment of their stories in the planning process. Dr. Derlie Mateo-Babiano, an associate professor in Urban Planning Assistant, described placemaking as a means to transform places into spaces that people will cherish. She emphasized the significance of engaging the community in the planning process to understand their cultural, environmental, and other needs. Peñalver also cited a successful placemaking project in Davao Executive Homes, which catered to children, the elderly, and individuals with special needs, demonstrating the positive impact of placemaking. Furthermore, Peñalver advocated for the institutionalization of placemaking in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and other development plans in Davao City. He highlighted the potential of placemaking to ensure that government projects are beneficial to the community. Architect Harold Delima, co-convenor of Placemaking Davao, discussed ongoing workshops with various demographics to integrate placemaking into the city's development. The groups involved are hopeful that placemaking will become a fundamental aspect of public space planning in Davao City, aiming to create inclusive and community-centered environments......»»