Security risks top of mind in ASEAN
HEADS of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday led off the ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statement on Partnership for Sustainability with pledges to “strengthen defense cooperation to tackle traditional and non-traditional security challenges”; “enhance strategic dialogue and promote practical cooperation on regional defense and security issues”; “reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea”; promote guidelines to avert “unplanned encounters at sea”; to “combat terrorism in all its forms” and to “enhance cybersecurity cooperation” besides a host of more general resolutions in the economic, social and cultural spheres.
Pernia: Q2 GDP growth likely better than 1st quarter but slower than a year...
By Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan
Reporter
SECOND-QUARTER gross domestic product (GDP) growth likely raced faster than the first three months’ pace on the back of continued...
Central banks say no tapering, but markets are not buying it
LONDON/NEW YORK — Central bankers worldwide have been unequivocal: There are no plans to cut back on money printing any time soon, let alone raise interest rates.
AMRO expects PHL economic growth to pick up
THE PHILIPPINES will remain “resilient” with the rest of Southeast Asia and the region’s three major neighbors in the north, “heightened global risks and stronger external headwinds” notwithstanding, with the country’s economic growth picking up this year and the next, according to latest assessments the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) released early this morning.
Tobacco tax measure makes it out of Congress
THE CONTENTIOUS proposal to further increase excise tax rates for tobacco products barely made it out of the 17th Congress after the Senate scrambled to revise the version it approved Monday night in order to make it acceptable to the House of Representatives.
PHL counted among economies that will benefit from tax reform
THE PHILIPPINES is one of few developing Asia-Pacific economies better-placed to benefit from tax reforms due to more effective debt management and state spending, according to a May 30 report of Moody’s Investors Service that was e-mailed to reporters on Thursday.
LEDAC to start quarterly meetings
THE LEGISLATIVE-EXECUTIVE Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) will hold quarterly meetings to ensure smooth action on priority measures, Senate leaders said after the body’s organizational meeting on Monday.
Tourism contribution to national output biggest since at least 2012
THE TOURISM INDUSTRY’s contribution to the economy grew in 2018, according to data which the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released on Thursday.
PHL lags in global education survey
FILIPINO STUDENTS fared poorly in a survey that ranks 79 participating economies according to their performance in reading, science and math.
Gov’t postpones panda bond sale
THE GOVERNMENT will likely tap the offshore market to raise around $1 billion to $1.5 billion in dollar-denominated papers and $1 billion via yen bonds this year, but is unlikely to return to the yuan bond space in the first half as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak continues to affect China’s economy.
