FINANCE SECRETARY Carlos G. Dominguez III said he is looking forward to expanding the Philippines’ economic ties with China, citing the “synergy” to be realized from a closer “partnership,” while dismissing irritants to the bilateral relationship.

THE government will allocate P110 billion over three years for the salary increase of government workers, including nurses and teachers, a key legislator said.

THE mining regulator has identified six potential areas suitable for small-scale miners and expects final approval of the sites by the end of the year.

THE SENATE finance committee will at least maintain the P673.019 million budget of the Office of the Vice President for 2020, with its chairman citing the possibility of a significant increase.

LEGISLATORS have fled a bill requiring landowners to test for safe levels of pesticide before allowing farm workers to work on their sites.

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA -- Louisiana Economic Development (LED), a development agency, is looking to Asia and Europe as the main destinations for the US state’s natural gas in the coming years.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has signaled that it will conduct transfer pricing audits with the promulgation of its Transfer Pricing Audit Guidelines under Revenue Audit Memorandum Order (RAMO) No. 1-2019. The Transfer Pricing Guidelines were issued in 2013 through Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 2-2013.

THE “worst-case scenario” for the Philippines’ African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak is one as serious as Vietnam’s, which has crippled that country’s livestock industry, analysts said.

DAVAO CITY -- Mindanao’s business leaders are hoping for more clarity on the southern island’s new railway, which is expected to begin construction later this year.

THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said it will conduct a public hearing on Wednesday to discuss the application of a new student fare discount law on air travel.

RESTRICTIONS on boat operations between Panay Island and Guimaras have made transport links unpredictable and are hindering the tourism industry of Guimaras, the island province’s governor said.

DAVAO CITY -- A law creating the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA) is expected to improve airport facilities and increase the city’s overseas connectivity, the business sector said.