By Riza Lozada The government unveiled a bold program which it claims will bring down the poverty level to 18 to 20 percent by next year from the current 24 percent of the population through a poverty alleviation scheme in nine select provinces with the poorest families.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is speeding up the release of funds for climate change by allowing the online submission of the budget. The Unified Accounts Code of Structure (UACS) that will expedite reportorial of expenditures was also introduced in government offices with an information campaign launched last week.

Asia-Pacific nations, including the Philippines, can no longer pursue growth at any cost without embracing better governance to build economies that are socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable, according to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Independent Evaluation Department.

By Riza Lozada Service to the community will be highlighted through The Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Awards (BTCA), which returns for its 28th year. Coming from their successful run last year, the BTCA is once again in search for selfless leaders who have given back to the community through their own social causes that benefit the marginalized members of society.

Listed Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said electricity bills for May will be reduced by 70 centavos per kilowatt hour (kWh) or P140 for an average household with a consumption of 200 kilowatt hours (kWh).

EastWest Banking Corp. reported a 32-percent jump in net income in the first quarter to P600 million from P456 million a year ago, driven by strong growth in recurring revenue base. The bank’s total assets increased by 20 percent to P184.7 billion from P153.8 billion in the same period last year.

Globe Telecom recently launched a co-branded service with du, the Middle East’s fastest growing telecommunications company that’s based in the United Arab Emirates(UAE). With approximately 7.3 million mobile subscribers, the Kabayan offer of du allows their prepaid mobile subscribers to call Globe and TM for 20 percent less than the cost of calls to other networks in the Philippines.

By Jerry Maglunog Gold holdings are important as it is one of the components of gross international reserves (GIR), the money spent by a country’s central bank to sustain importation expenses and pay maturing debts.

By Jerry Maglunog There are plenty of big-ticket projects in the Philippines that cost billions of pesos, and only the giant conglomerates can complete them. These projects are those classified as public-private partnerships (PPP), the battlecry of the Aquino administration seemed to decrease severe lack in public infrastructure ranging from expressways, ports, roads, bridges and airports.

Exclusive By Riza Lozada The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) set a minimum bid price of P267.15 million for the 7,633.1-square-meter Metropolitan Theater (the Met), a price which barely matched what the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) said was needed just for the rehabilitation of the heritage structure.