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Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno has highlighted the need to strengthen real property taxation to boost the financial capacity of local government units (LGUs) during the Key Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Collaborating for Local Government Commitment to the Local Governance Reform Project (LGRP) on December 11, 2023. “[W]e must strengthen the potential of real property taxation to empower our local units …

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has capped its nationwide roadshow pitching the capital market as an accessible funding source for small businesses and startups for the year. At the same time, however, the Commission has launched a new platform for small businesses and startups to explore and learn more about their financing options in the capital market. The SEC …

During the 5th Joint Commission on Economic Cooperations (JCEC) Meeting, the Philippine and Hungarian governments took note of the progress made in their trade and investment relations. They discussed opportunities to boost economic activities between the two countries.  The two officials cited constant increases in bilateral trade, both exports and imports, for the last three years. The Philippines’ top exports …

The Philippines and the European Union (EU) convened the Third Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation in Brussels, Belgium on November 21, 2023. At the meeting, both the Philippines and EU emphasized their shared interests and values, as well as their commitment to continue their partnership through development cooperation under the EU-Philippines Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The Sub-Committee Meeting …

Lotto bettors are in for grand Christmas prizes, after the  Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) offers more than P1-B in combined winnings for lucky bettors. This was announced recently by PCSO General Manager Mel Robles saying the Grand Lotto (6/55) and Ultra Lotto (6/58) games will have a guaranteed minimum grand prize of P500 Million. The high-stakes games started last …

Ranking Filipino and American military chiefs have agreed to maintain closer ties amid China’s illegal and aggressive actions targeting Philippine vessels performing their mandate in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This came following Monday’s phone conference between Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and US Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Gen. Charles Brown Jr., where …

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and affiliated business organizations are targeting to create over a million additional jobs in 2024 as part of their joint commitment to support the Marcos administration’s employment agenda. ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said on Friday that the private sector-led employment-generation initiative called “Project Jobs” would be pursued in collaboration with the Philippine …

The Department of Finance (DOF) urges the speedy distribution of a $100-billion minimum funding for climate change-mitigation projects for developing countries each year under the United Nations’ sustainability goal. In a statement released Monday last week, the DOF said the fund will be part of the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance which is slated to be launched next …

The November 2023 inflation of 4.1 percent is within the BSP’s forecast range of 4.0 to 4.8 percent. The latest inflation outturn is consistent with the BSP’s projections that inflation will likely moderate over the near term due to easing supply-side price pressures and negative base effects. The balance of risks to the inflation outlook still leans significantly towards the …

Chairman Michael Ted Macapagal of the Philippine National Railways expressed admiration for One Ayala Transport Terminal, saying it is a good model for the government to emulate in its effort to minimize traffic gridlocks, if not to solve it outright. The construction of PNR’s North-South Commuter Railway, which will run upon completion from Angeles City in Pampanga to Calamba City …