Daily Archives: March 8, 2020 | 11:37 pm

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expects to determine this month the need for safeguard measures against automotive imports.

THE Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) said it backs the passage of a tax reform bill gradually lowering corporate income tax and urged the Senate, where the legislation is pending, to give it top priority.

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said it signed an agreement with the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) to provide labor information through online seminars.

Digital technology has undoubtedly revolutionized the world economy. With the growing popularity of online shopping in particular, businesses can reach consumers without needing a physical location. The increasing digitization of the world economy has not only made the sale of goods and services instantaneous and efficient -- it has also provided a convenient way for consumers to purchase goods without having to waste time being stuck in heavy traffic.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will sign an order today declaring a public health emergency after the Health department confirmed at the weekend the first case of human coronavirus transmission in the country, his spokesman said on Sunday.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte won’t ban offshore gaming companies in the Philippines despite the ills that critics say they bring, because they are a major source of tax revenue, his spokesman said on Sunday.

A LAWMAKER urged Congress on Saturday to exempt face masks, sanitizers and other protective goods from import duties and taxes after the Health department asked the government to declare a public health emergency amid a novel coronavirus outbreak.

AFRICAN SWINE Fever (ASF) cases have been confirmed in nine villages in Solana, Cagayan, acting Provincial Veterinarian Noli V. Buen said on Saturday.

THE COMMISSION on Audit (CoA) has “partially granted” the petition of Aquasolv Philippines, Inc. against the Makati City government for a claim of almost P1 million involving the maintenance of sewerage treatment plants and water treatment.

A 10-HECTARE property in the small town of Sablan is being eyed for development as an information technology (IT) economic zone as part of the BLISTT (Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay) growth strategy.

TWENTY BUSES are set to ply the streets of Cebu City for the Interim Bus Service (IBS) starting March 15.

ILOILO CITY Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has issued an order prohibiting ships from China and its administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau, from entering ports in the city amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

BOHOL Governor Arthur C. Yap aims to bring more support to the province’s agricultural sector through the development of “creative” products.

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Since our quarterly outlook issued a little over two weeks ago, the Philippines reported three new cases of the COVID-19 disease in addition to the three cases detected at the time of our report (with one death). In the meantime, travel ban for inbound travelers from certain regions of South Korea has been imposed, alongside that for China and its administrative regions. With the virus spreading rapidly in different continents, the fear is that the virus is spreading undetected within the country. Analysts in the meantime have started to increase their estimates of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 on local growth with some shaving 0.3 percentage points (ppt) off their original forecasts.

The communities of Didipio, Nueva Visacaya have been up in arms against the operation of Oceana Gold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI). OGPI has been operating a copper-gold mine in Barangay Didipio in Kasibu, Province of Nueva Vizcaya. A Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) was awarded to OGPI in 1994, but the company only started its full operations in 2011. The first commercial production was reported in April 2013. Now, the FTAA has expired and is up for renewal.

In the early 2000s, the rise of fast-fashion brands like Zara, Mango, H&M, and Topshop caused a bloodbath among traditional fashion retailers. Unable to compete in price, style turnover, and vastness of selections, brands like Nine West, Diesel, and The Limited either filed for bankruptcy or were absorbed by bigger firms. Years later, when fast fashion brands hit the Philippines, local clothing retailers such as Regatta, Tab, Monakiki, Tyler and many others were either bought-out or closed.

Nulla poena sine lege (Latin for “no penalty without a law”).

IN 416 BCE a mighty army from Athens, the superpower of the day, showed up on the small and neutral island of Melos in the Aegean Sea. The Athenians told the Melians to submit and pay tribute or be obliterated. Stunned, the Melians appealed to morality, justice, law, even the gods. There’s been a misunderstanding, the Athenians replied: You simply have a choice between doing as you’re told and being destroyed, so please stop wasting our time. This isn’t fair, the Melians insisted.

DEFENDING UAAP men’s volleyball champions National University Bulldogs made it two straight wins to begin their Season 82 campaign after defeating the Adamson Soaring Falcons in three sets, 25-21, 25-17, 25-23, in the opening game on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

FOR the sixth straight year the Philippine Basketball Association most valuable player award ended up in the hands of San Miguel big man June Mar Fajardo.

THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines Fighting Maroons got some redemption following their so-so debut in UAAP Season 82 women’s volleyball, beating the University of the East Lady Warriors in four sets, 25-23, 25-20, 18-25, 25-17, in league action on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

WHILE as expected they found the going tough against Greece in their World Group II Davis Cup tie at the weekend, still the Filipino netters savored the opportunity to play against top talent and gauge where they are at.

LANZ Ralf Zafra and Mikaela Joy Miranda De Guzman bested their respective foes to win the open singles titles of the 13^th Prima Pasta Badminton Championships at the Powersmash badminton courts in Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City recently.

DETROIT -- Bojan Bogdanovic fired in 32 points and the visiting Utah Jazz stretched their winning streak to five games by topping the Detroit Pistons 111-105 on Saturday.

IN line with its group mission of helping the market it serves lead a healthier life, Philam Vitality moved to present the Spartan Philippines 2020 Race Season last month.

When Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving formally announced their decision to sign with the Nets in the offseason, they made sure to underscore the prevailing culture as a primary reason for the move. The more illustrious Knicks -- who counted the Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of hoops and just a subway ride from Barclays Center -- were among the numerous suitors who likewise knocked on their doors, but they decided to latch their futures on a franchise historically closer to futility than success. They argued that the foundations were solid -- epitomized by the two-way collaboration between management and the coaching staff, and particularly between general manager Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson.