Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has exempted a global manufacturing firm from the regular labor inspection after it secured a safety seal from the labor department on Tuesday. Unilever Philippines, Inc. joined a host of other big companies to be exempt from labor inspection following compliance with strict health and safety protocols in their workplaces. Also given the same privilege were CDO Foodsphere Inc., United Laboratories, and eight firms under the San Miguel Corporation group. Bello said the exemption is a result of Unilever obtaining their Safety Seal Certification for complying with the health protocols and safety standards implemented by…
Author: Chris Lam
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Petron Corporation sustained its positive performance as it ended the first half of 2021 with a consolidated net income of P3.87 billion, a remarkable rebound from the P14.24 billion net loss it suffered in the same period last year due to the pandemic. Oil prices steadily rose in the first semester this year with Dubai crude averaging US$72/bbl in June, up 44% from its December 2020 level. The bullish market was driven by the conservative stance of major oil producers in supply management, boosted by optimistic market sentiments with the global vaccination rollouts and gradual reopening of economies. With the…
The Bureau of Customs – NAIA (BOC-NAIA) intercepted a parcel containing fourteen (14) pieces of Live Beetles and Larva concealed in plastic tubes hidden in the packages of snacks, biscuits, noodles and chocolates on July 29, 2021 in Central Mail Exchange Center (CMEC). Beetles are plant-eating insects, commonly known as garden pests that damages crops, creating numerous small, round holes unto plants. Its larvae consumes plant roots, causing wilting, yellowing and stunted growth of host plants. The parcel arrived on July 24, 2021, at Cargo Mail Exchange Center (CMEC) and was subjected to physical examination, which resulted in the discovery…
Best practices in COVID-19 infection control protocols and hospital management were among the major topics discussed during a week-long visit of an Israeli health delegation to the Philippines. The team of experts also visited some hospitals and medical facilities in Metro Manila to observe their operations and provide recommendations on how they can further improve their systems and procedures. During an exit conference between the Israeli medical experts and their Philippine counterparts on Friday, July 30, Dr. Guy Choshen, infectious diseases and COVID-19 specialist, noted some of the key factors that need to be considered in treating COVID-19 patients. According…
The San Isidro and Peñaranda Solar-Powered Pump Projects of the NIA Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) Division IV located at Brgy. Pulo, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija and Brgy. San Josef, Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija was inaugurated on July 27, 2021. NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, Deputy Administrator Romeo G. Gan, UPRIIS Department Manager Rosalinda B. Bote and Division IV Manager Wilfredo A. Balauro led the ceremonies in three solar powered pump sites with Guest Local Chief Executives, Congresswoman Maricel Natividad-Nagaño; Representative of Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali, Executive Assistant V Ferdinand Abesamis; and Representative of San Isidro Mayor Vina…
Metro Manila consumers can now buy frozen meat at lower prices through the “Presyong Risonable Dapat (PRD) Program: Frozen Meat Edition” of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Robinsons Supermarket. Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Robina Gokongwei Pe, and Robinsons Supermarket Jody Gadia launched the PRD Program on July 29, 2021 at the Robinsons Supermarket Galleria. “This is your government working as one para sa ganun yung mga food and food products na para sa madla ay mabili ng affordable at ito yung…
The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) continues to extend available and responsive credit assistance to coconut farmers and other industry stakeholders engaged in the production and processing of coconut-based products. Under its Coconut Production and Processing Financing (Coco-Financing) Program, which has been in place since 2015, LANDBANK has cumulatively released P4.27 billion in loans that supported a total of 16 borrowers and 2,601 coconut farmer-beneficiaries. The borrowers are composed of six (6) large enterprises/corporations, four (4) small and medium enterprises (SMEs), three (3) cooperatives, two (2) associations and one (1) non-governmental organization (NGO)—of which nine (9) have outstanding balance…
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has underscored the importance of full transparency in the extractives industries to build public trust and enable policymakers and stakeholders to better assess their costs and benefits to the economy based on fair and accurate information. Transparency, which ensures the free flow of accurate data in the extractives industries, also allows better coordination, the implementation of appropriate interventions, and greater agility in responding during times of crises, Dominguez said. Recognizing the important contribution of the extractive industries to the country’s economic resiliency during this pandemic, Dominguez said the government will continue to rely on this…
The Social Security System (SSS) reminds covered employers that Sickness Benefit Reimbursement Applications (SBRAs) and Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Applications (MBRAs) can now be submitted online through the My.SSS Portal at www.sss.gov.ph. The online filing of SBRAs and MBRAs, which were introduced in July 2020 and May 2021, respectively, can be accessed through the E-Services tab of the employers’ My.SSS accounts. The online submission of SBRA is mandatory for new or initial claims with approved sickness notifications, but not for those that need adjustment or are re-filed claims, which must be physically filed at the SSS branch. The online submission of…
The Senate will resume its hybrid session on Monday, July 26, to continue its work on priority measures for the 3rd Regular Session of the 18th Congress. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who will deliver his speech during the opening of the morning session, said the Senate will work for the passage of 10 priority measures which include the Amendments to the Foreign Investment Acts (FIA), Amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA), Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE), Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act, Package 4 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform…
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is anticipating more applicants for Domestic Work assessment this year compared to the total number of assessed applicants last year. The agency announced that it has already assessed 54,233 Domestic Work applicants just halfway of the Year 2020. This is higher by 7,980 compared to the 46,253 assessed applicants in 2020. Secretary Isidro Lapeña explained that the rise in the number of Domestic Work assessments this year is being made possible by the accessible services provided by TESDA and the consideration made by the Inter-agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).…
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Offices (FOs) VI and X, continues to provide augmentation support to local government units (LGUs) that are under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) category. Since the ECQ was imposed on July 16 in some LGUs in Western Visayas, DSWD FO VI has released 22,000 Family Food Packs (FFPs) to augment the resources of Iloilo City and other 24 municipalities in the Iloilo Province. As of press time, various relief distributions were already conducted by the FO in Rizal Ibarra in Iloilo City, Cabatuan, and island barangays of Igbon and…
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reaches another milestone as it records over 4 million registrants for its online Step 1 Registration. The PSA reports that as of 15 July 2021, a total of 4,159,269 registrants have already completed the PhilSys Step 1 Registration via https://register.philsys.gov.ph. PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, Ph.D., National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, extends his gratitude to Filipinos who continue to show support and interest in this project, “The PSA expresses gratitude to all Filipinos who willingly took part to reach this milestone. With this additional achievement of the PhilSys project, we are more determined to work on…
The Bureau of Immigration announced that they will be implementing the most recent directive from Malacanang expanding the travel ban to include passengers coming from Malaysia and Thailand starting July 25 until July 31. The two adds to the already 8 existing countries temporarily banned to prevent the further spread and community transmission of emerging Covid-19 variants. The other countries covered by the travel ban are India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. “Foreigners arriving from said countries or with a travel history there within the last 14 days will be denied entry and…
The total current operating income of the local government units (LGUs) rose from P738.54 billion in 2019 to P825.2 billion in 2020, representing an increase of P86.66 billion or 12%, as a result of their higher internal revenue allotment (IRA) and improved local tax collections. In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) said the increase in the 2020 current operating income of provinces, cities and municipalities is mostly attributed to the 18-percent growth in the external revenue sources of LGUs, including the IRA, which amounted to P509.65 billion, or 11% more…
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has ordered Lyka, a social media platform that provides payments service, to stop operations unless it has registered with the central bank. In a virtual briefing on Friday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the mobile application launched by a Hong Kong-based company “allows its users to purchase, exchange, and use gems (gift cards in electronic mode) as payments for goods and services” –a service regulated by the central bank. “The Monetary Board has asserted that these activities make Lyka an OPS (operator of payment service), and is thus required to register with the BSP,”…
Investment approvals in investment promotion agencies (IPAs) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have increased from 2016, indicating the improving investment environment in the country in the past five years. Data from DTI showed that combined approved investments of the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) reached PHP5.2 trillion from 2016 until June 2021. The BOI had the lion’s share in these approvals amounting to PHP4.33 trillion, while PEZA-approved investment registrations reached PHP841 billion since 2016. When the Duterte administration began in 2016, investment approvals of BOI and PEZA amounted to PHP660 billion.…
Greenergy Holdings Incorporated executed Friday a Memorandum of Agreement with Dito Telecommunity Corporation whereby the Company shall render commission-based lead generation services to DITO to lead the public to DITO-related programs and services through offline or online/digital means using its own system or the system of any of its third-party affiliates. The Company and DITO will also collaborate in other areas through co-marketing efforts to support the expansion of DITO’s client base and at the same time promote the Company’s digital initiatives. The MOA shall have a term of one (1) year, renewable upon the agreement of the parties. This…
A digital platform for non-techy sellers, an online community for K-culture fans, an IT skills training program for increased employability — these are the first three angel ventures that have successfully secured funding from 917Ventures to bring them closer to their dreams. Two of the ventures, Fanlife and KodeGo, belonged to the first batch which joined 917Ventures’ three-month Velocity bootcamp last December. The third, BentaTV, came from the company’s internal Venture Builder program. 917Ventures is the country’s largest corporate venture builder wholly owned by Globe. Through the Velocity program, it brings external talent and their ideas into the 917Ventures family,…
eading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc. is investing Php 210 million in projects to reduce the fuel consumption and increase mineral additive usage of its cement plants in Bacnotan, La Union and Lugait, Misamis Oriental, as part of efforts to raise business and sustainability performance. Horia Adrian, President and CEO of Holcim Philippines, said the projects are part of the company’s commitment to continuously invest in its facilities to support the country’s progress and better serve customers. Furthermore, the projects will contribute to the company’s goal of making operations more sustainable. “More efficient operations will help us deliver better…