Day: February 1, 2025

Quezon City: Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should be taken into consideration before making a decision on the proposed PHP200 daily wage increase, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Saturday. According to Philippines News Agency, DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma emphasized during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City that the feasibility of the proposed wage hike needs to be assessed in light of the fact that over 95% of the more than one million enterprises in the Philippines are micro and small enterprises. Laguesma stated, “Whether it’s doable or not doable, perhaps, to put it in

Aguilas: Tournament favorites Pilipinas Aguilas and Philippine Navy square off Sunday in the main game of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) at Mandaluyong City College Science and Technology Gym. The Aguilas are fresh off a 66-55 victory over the New Zealand-Bluefire Valkyries, but head coach Ryan Monteclaro is still expecting a close game with the Navy. According to Philippines News Agency, Monteclaro commented, “Definitely a tough team to match up against. They have Afril Bernardino, who is really versatile and one of the best in women’s basketball. The team is loaded with shooters like Andrea (Tongco) and Trixie

Manila: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona said the Monetary Board may ease policy rate by at least 50 basis points (bps) this year. On the sidelines of the BSP Media Information Session (MIS) here Saturday, Remolona said the size and timing of the rate cut could be 25bps each in the first and second half of 2025. According to Philippines News Agency, Remolona mentioned that a 75bps rate cut ‘might be too much’ this year as the country may still need policy insurance against inflation. He expressed confidence that the Philippines would not experience a spike in

Manila: Rev. Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr., the newly appointed Bishop of Balanga, will be ordained later this month. In a social media announcement on Saturday, the Archdiocese of Manila – Office of Communications said the episcopal ordination will be held on Feb. 25 at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros. According to Philippines News Agency, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas will officiate the ordination and be joined by Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos and Cubao Bishop Emeritus Honesto Ongtioco. Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles John Brown, is expected to grace the event. Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula will deliver the homily.

Quezon City: Adopting a ‘derisking’ strategy would prevent China from gaining full control over the Philippines’ critical infrastructure, a political analyst said on Saturday. Speaking at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, professor Richard Heydarian acknowledged that the Philippines could not simply ‘take out China from the equation’ but must take steps to limit its influence over key industries. According to Philippines News Agency, Heydarian emphasized the importance of implementing ‘derisking’ measures, which he described as “high fence, small yards,” to ensure issue-specific but clear safeguards. He praised the recent Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) agreement to acquire a 20