PHILIPPINE NATIONAL Police (PNP) Director General Oscar D. Albayalde said the crime rate decline in Mindanao can be attributed to the imposition of martial law.

THE National Food Authority (NFA) has failed to secure the remaining balance for the additional 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice after the governments of Thailand and Vietnam has pulled out from the bidding.

THE GOVERNMENT will immediately pursue amendments to current laws to further open them up to foreign participation after “marginal improvements” were realized in the latest Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL).

RISING CREDIT was behind a recent increase in investment, the Department of Finance (DoF) said, by way of disputing the Philippines’ decline in ranking on the World Bank’s ease of doing business list due to weak scores in access to credit.

THE government should consider reducing its planned spending as another route to temper inflation, ANZ Research said, as softer domestic demand could ease price pressures.

REGULATED barter between southwestern Mindanao and neighboring countries is expected to get rolling by next year with the state government of Sabah in Malaysia ready to open its borders to the trade by January, according to an official of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

THE Department of Health (DoH) on Monday said it is seeking higher tobacco taxes to increase funding of the Universal Health Care (UHC) bill, which will cost around P257 billion in the first year of implementation.

A BILL granting tax relief to businesses and monthly cash assistance to residents affected by continuing restrictions on business in Boracay island has been filed at the House of Representatives.

LOCAL EQUITIES surged on Monday as investors flooded the market after the long holiday break in anticipation of inflation figures to be released on Tuesday morning.

THE PESO strengthened against the dollar on Monday as markets see better inflation data and economic growth figures later this week, boosting prospects for the Philippines.

THE BUREAU of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned that shellfish collected at Matarino Bay in Eastern Samar, Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur, coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol, and the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison beyond the regulatory limit.

GOKONGWEI-OWNED Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI) has asked the Cebu Regional Trial Court to dismiss the case filed against it and the Cebu City government by a barangay official seeking to stop the P18-billion resort-casino project at the South Road Properties in Kawit Island.