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By Luis Leoncio The government warned businesses against exploiting the start of the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) to cheat consumers as it threatened to slap profiteering charges against those suddenly jacking up prices of commodities particularly oil products.

A sea change in the country’s economic relations with its Asian neighbors primarily China resulted in the opening of the investments tap in 2017 following President Duterte’s foreign policy rebalancing towards Asia.

The inter-agency Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) has raised some of the government’s economic targets as a result of domestic and overseas development, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.

The signing into law of the first package of its Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) at the end of last year gave President Duterte his first major legislative victory.

Economists and economic managers are confident that with the spike in infrastructure spending, the economy will maintain its position as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia with a sustained growth path over the next few years.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members should focus not only on economic interests but also on the wider needs of their people as the region moves toward economic integration, Datuk Seri J. Jayasiri, secretary-general of Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry, said.

Listed chemical products distributor SBS Philippines Corp. has signed a deal with The Coca Cola Export Corp. (TCCEC) to acquire a 4.7-hectare warehouse facility in Calamba City in Laguna for P520 million.

The interagency Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) will start this month its “fact-finding and science-based” review of an initial batch of 26 mine sites ordered either suspended or shut down last year by the previous leadership at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), following the completion of the list of 25 experts who will undertake this reevaluation.

By Luis Leoncio Controversy hounded the Congress’ ratification of President Duterte’s revenue enhancement bill, the controversial Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) as taxes on coal, mining, and tobacco were raised.

By Riza Lozada The government is setting up a community-based economic zone in Marawi City to help speed up the recovery of the city which was devastated by five months of fierce battle between Islamic State (IS)-inspired militants and government forces.