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The Aquino administration is shortchanging Filipinos in terms of services rendered as compared to taxes collected, according to a study conducted by Prof. Benjamin Diokno of the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE).

By Riza Lozada Foreign trade groups are seeking a serious government review of the Omnibus Investment Code, particularly on ways to relax foreign-ownership rules outside of the Constitution; and the policy to limit tax incentives granted to new projects.

By Lito U. Gagni and Riza Lozada The country’s energy scenario has dimmed further as a result of the April 5 blackout in Mindanao that resulted in a collateral damage to AboitizPower’s 150-megawatt (MW) Unit 2 coal plant that would mean a 10-month delay in its commissioning.

By Luis Leoncio The local banking system is healthy overall as a result of measures the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) had taken, including the imposition of a strict requirement to ensure that Philippine banks are on par with international standards. But BSP records show that not only small banks, but even those considered “too big to fail” have fallen below …

By Luis Leoncio Widespread protests have forced the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to defer until next year the implementation of a new requirement that the bigwigs of the business sector consider to be a redundancy and a violation of their right to privacy.

By Jerry Maglunog Rural banks or RBs, generally considered the main source of funds for small borrowers, are facing hard times. In fact, most of them face extinction.

Cebu City—The Cebu City Development Council infrastructure committee has approved some P3.5 billion worth of infrastructure projects proposed by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Cebu City Engineering District for 2015.

Malacañang has welcomed a Board of Investments (BOI) report that country had double-digit growth in the first quarter (Q1) for investment pledges supported by registrations on big-ticket projects in the energy sector.

Luis Leoncio Notwithstanding its investment grade from the three chief rating agencies, the Aquino administration failed to deliver on its promise to attract foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country, which many blame for the prevailing paradox of strong growth but widespread poverty, especially in the countryside.

“Horribly expensive.” This was how a former official of the World Bank whom the multilateral agency tapped for development projects in the Philippines described the cost—in both human and material terms—of giving up on the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front by rejecting the Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL