Day: September 27, 2024

Manila: The Philippines has leapfrogged 47 places over the past decade in the Global Innovation Index (GII) published by the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO). The country ranked 53rd this year from 100th place in the 2014 edition of the report, making the country one of the fastest 10-year risers along with China, Trkiye, India and Vietnam. The Philippines also advanced three notches from 56th place last year. The WIPO noted that the Philippines positioned itself in the top three among the lower middle-income group, along with India (1st) and Vietnam (2nd). ‘Notable areas in which it excels are trade-related

Manila: Former rebels have condemned acts of violence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front and expressed willingness to work with the government in attaining peace. The former rebels made the commitment in a two-page manifesto titled “A Call for Unity, Progress, and Collective Healing,” the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said in a news release Friday. “Our decision to condemn armed struggle does not mean abandoning our principles. We do not turn our backs on the fight for social justice. Instead, we embrace a new approach to struggle, one that

Manila: House of Representatives Quad Committee (Quadcom) overall chairperson, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Friday pushed for the passage of key legislative reforms aimed at dismantling criminal syndicates, holding corrupt officials accountable and restoring peace and order in the country. During the seventh public hearing of the joint panel into interconnected issues of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), illegal drugs, money laundering, and extrajudicial killings (EJKs), Barbers outlined legislative reforms that are crucial in addressing the root causes of criminality. The Surigao del Norte 2nd District congressman cited the need to revive the death penalty as a deterrent for heinous

Manila: Senator Win Gatchalian on Friday said he is optimistic that the Philippines will generate more tourist arrivals ahead of the seasonal peak during Christmas and New Year festivities as the enactment of Value-Added Tax (VAT) refund for tourism draws nearer. ‘I am hopeful that the measure will be enacted into law in time for the year-end holidays when many tourists come to the country to experience our Christmas and New Year festivities,’ he said in a news release. On Sept. 23, the Senate approved Senate Bill (SB) 2415 or An Act Creating a VAT Refund Mechanism for Non-Resident Tourists.

Manila: The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Western Visayas (RTWPB-6) will hold public hearings next month to discuss potential minimum wage adjustments for private sector workers and domestic workers, also known as kasambahay. In a recent advisory, the wage board said the consultations will be on October 10 and 21, 2024. The first hearing will be at Sam’s 21 Hotel on Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. The consultation for private sector workers will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by the session for domestic workers from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. This meeting will cover Iloilo