THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it will be adding more construction materials to the list of products subject to mandatory certification and labeling standards to support the government’s aggressive infrastructure campaign.

THE House Committee on Appropriations has confirmed that Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo has transmitted the National Expenditure Program (NEP) in time for the budget hearings beginning Tuesday.

SUBSIDIES given to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) rose 7.34% in the first half of the year, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.

Companies around the world are now understanding that the talent paradigm is shifting. There is, in fact, a continuous war for talent worldwide, with a pressing need for businesses to develop a skills strategy that looks at both the need to operate the business in a cost-efficient matter, while redefining the business model at the same time.

In the 2018 SONA, President Duterte affirmed his unequivocal ownership of TRAIN 1 and 2. What welcome news for TRAIN advocates who felt orphaned when, previously, the President hinted that he will leave the tweaking of TRAIN 1 (in view of inflation) to the ‘wisdom’ of Congress! A successful flagship economic program will ensure Duterte a bright legacy; a mangled one will sink that legacy no matter the political projects. Even so, TRAIN 2 still has ways to go.

The “sharing economy” involves strangers sharing several services among themselves without being forced or mandated by a government to do so. They do so voluntarily, allowing suppliers to earn income for services they are willing to provide to consumers who are willing to avail of them at a price both have agreed upon.

Expectations could not be higher for newly confirmed Secretary of the Department of Tourism, Bernadette “Berna” Romulo-Puyat. Following Wanda Teo who used her position as a piggy bank for the entire Tulfo clan, the public now demands a sensible, no nonsense tourism program.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) was so boringly bereft of his usual colorful language and blitzkrieg declarations, but not at all uneventful. In the hour-and-a-half waiting for the SONA, Filipinos were watching live, the daring coup on the House floor that ousted House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and instantly installed Gloria Arroyo as the new House Speaker by 184 votes and 12 abstentions (philstar.com July 23, 2018).

THE Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) held its first Bangsamoro Consultative Assembly at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao Sunday, July 29, amid efforts to acquaint residents and voters in the proposed Bangsamoro Region with the draft Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte last week.

A LEADING ally of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio “wields a lot of influence..., in the national scene,” when sought for comment about the mayor, following a power struggle in the House last Monday, July 23.

BORACAY, MALAY — Accreditation for establishments in Boracay that are compliant with all environmental and legal requirements will be released beginning Aug. 16, in time for the October 26 reopening of the island tourist destination.

DISCRIMINATION related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is still predominant in the workplace, despite widespread awareness now on the illness, a labor organization reported.