The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Wednesday has launched a PHP75-million project that would help women working in Metro Manila’s solid waste and recycling sectors gain access to business and livelihood opportunities. The four-year Women in Waste’s Economic Empowerment (WWEE) project would provide business and personal empowerment training, as well as funding and mentorship opportunities so that women in these sectors can continue to support their families and further contribute to the country’s economy. “USAID is pleased to work with the government of the Philippines, private sector, and non-governmental organizations to advance gender equality and women’s economic

A lawmaker on Wednesday called on Congress to allot appropriations for active transport and service contracting in the budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in the proposed 2022 budget. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda made the call following the plenary deliberations on the proposed PHP150.76-billion budget of the DOTr. “The absence of any appropriation for active transport and service contracting in the budget of the Department of Transportation is dismaying, especially given that Covid-19 is unlikely to be completely over by next year,” Salceda said. He said funding these items would likely be crucial to the conduct of the May

A lawmaker on Wednesday said the House hearing on the government’s procurement of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) supplies has clarified some issues on alleged overpricing, ghost deliveries, and legality of the procurement process. In a media forum, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability was able to establish that the face shields purchased from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. at the onset of the pandemic were not overpriced at all. “There was a misconception that the face shields were overpriced. ‘Yon po ang perception ng tao because sa Senado lumabas nga ‘yong issue