Economy

By Riza Lozada The Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost) is under criticism for featuring twice a living person—Manny Pacquiao—on its special stamp.

The British government and the civil-society organization Bantay Kita signed its third grant agreement last week, sealing their partnership in ensuring good governance in the extractive industry through the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Exporters lamented the prevailing high trucking costs, which they said raises the cost of doing business, despite the rate reduction claimed by trucking companies following the resolution of the port congestion.

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.

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.

International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s (ICTSI) Subic Bay Freeport unit, Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), recently opened a one-stop shop (OSS) to fast-track documentary transactions in Subic Bay’s container terminals. Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras led the launch of the OSS, together with SBMA Chairman and Administrator …