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By Luis Leoncio  The country’s growth estimate for this year received another downgrade in the run-up to the national elections in May, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its 2016 projections to 5.7 percent, from 6 percent; and next year’s to 6.2 percent, from 6.3 percent. 

By Dean dela Paz  The first promise was when Benigno Aquino III, still then a new president and still enjoying his political honeymoon, complete with his newly draped attendant mantle of trust, had boldly told businessmen across the country, then taking off from a 7.3-percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth during the last year of the previous administration, would henceforth be …

President Aquino has authorized the conferment of medals of honor on the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos of the Philippine National Police who died in battle in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in commemorative rites on Monday marking the first anniversary of the ill-fated mission. 

By Luis Leoncio (First part) Globe Telecom has called on the government to make Internet infrastructure among its first priorities to enable businesses to realize their full capabilities amid the strong economic growth and robust digitization of various industries. 

By Riza Lozada The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has said it will not intervene in the foreign-currency market, even as the peso continues its slide to record lows. 

By Luis Leoncio  The government will widely miss its forecasts in 2015 and this year due mainly to troubles brewing in major economies and the chronic underspending of the current administration. 

Washington—A scary sell-off in Chinese stocks is magnifying concerns about the health of the world’s second-biggest economy. 

By Jerry Maglunog  Former National Treasurer Leonor Magtolis Briones asked voters to challenge those running for Congress to reveal their positions on the P3.0002-trillion 2016 national appropriations that her group, Social Watch Philippines (SWP), has described an “election budget loaded with lump-sum appropriations and pork.” 

By Christopher Bodeen / The Associated Press Beijing—Two civilian jets landed on the airstrip of a new island that China built in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea, drawing more protests over China’s activities in disputed waters. 

By Luis Leoncio The property sector is expected to make a strong comeback this year, with eight areas, led by Metro Manila cities, seen to fuel strong growth through new projects, according to online real-estate market site Lamudi in a report.