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In a striking display of unity, former senior government officials from various administrations have come together to call on Finance Secretary Ralph Recto to halt the impending transfer of P89.9 billion in excess funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the national treasury.  This move, they argue, underscores a dangerous precedent: prioritizing political maneuvering over the pressing health …

A new financing program for franchising businesses will be launched this month through the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) financing arm Small Business Corporation (SBCorp). This, as the DTI, SBCorp and the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in Makati City Tuesday to promote micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development through franchising. Part of …

The North-South Commuter Railway System (NSCR) is expected to partially operate by late 2027 or early 2028, according to Transport Secretary Jaime J. Bautista.  “It will be from Clark Airport to Valenzuela City,” Sec. Bautista said during the ceremonial linking of the elevated NSCR viaduct at Bocaue, Bulacan, that now connects the Bocaue and Balagtas stations.  “Maraming magbebenepisyo rito, maraming …

A foreign shipping firm has decided to throw its hat into the Philippine domestic shipping arena, which has been plagued for decades with the high cost of doing business, lack of economies of scale and poor port infrastructure.  This is expected to lower the cost of domestic shipping which has higher than shipping from abroad.  CNC, the intra-Asia short sea …

By Rose de la Cruz The International Monetary Fund is giving a more realistic projection for the country’s economic growth citing the continued elevated inflation which would likely continue to weigh on domestic demand. The IMF cut the country’s gross domestic product outlook for 2024 to 5.8 percent from its previous 6 percent projection and for 2025 at 6.1 percent, …

By Rose de la Cruz For the sake of transparency and to reduce fraud and misuse of funds– frequently occuring in the bidding and awarding of procurements and projects– the World Bank is urging the government to increase the participation of civilian watchdogs in such processes. “Civil society organization (CSOs) often act as watchdogs, ensuring that the bidding process is …

By Rose de la Cruz The Asian Development Bank, long regarded as a meticulous and prudent lender of mostly Asian governments, is facing intense scrutiny over its oversight in the controversial airport fee hikes, which had not passed through the Cabinet for approval, making President Marcos very angry. A source of Bilyonaryo said industry stakeholders are asking why ADB– the …

By Nicole Hermione Atayde TAGUIG, Philippines—CIVIC Merchandising Incorporated, a leading force in the heavy equipment sector, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a grand event attended by its valued partners and esteemed guests last September 17. Established in 1974, CIVIC has evolved from a spare parts business to selling used equipment and becoming a dealer of major international brands such …

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines invites students and parents to attend the 9th EducationUSA University Fair in Manila on October 8, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Atrium of One Ayala Mall, Makati City, to learn more about study abroad opportunities in the United States.  Forty-three U.S. colleges and universities will participate in this year’s event, making it …

Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), the flagship of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) at the Port of Manila, received the inaugural call of CMA CGM Passion—the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered container vessel to dock at the terminal—on 26 September. The 7,327-TEU CMA CGM Passion operates under CNC’s KCS service, which offers direct sailings between South China and the …