BSP sees November inflation slowdown
INFLATION likely slowed sharply in November from a nine-year peak, the central bank said on Thursday, citing falling oil prices and improved rice supply despite higher transport fares.
BIR says health card premiums not taxable
THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) has clarified that health insurance premiums are not taxable.
Marawi rehab gets P35-B pledges
DAVAO CITY -- Multilateral funding agencies and foreign governments have pledged P35.1 billion in assistance for the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City, covering almost half of the estimated P72.58 billion needed for the overall recovery program.
Mindanao SMEs cite concerns
REPRESENTATIVES of small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Mindanao cited the need for more government help in developing the farm sector and improving conditions for doing business during the last leg of the regional Sulong Pilipinas-Philippine Development Forum in Davao City on Wednesday.
Traffic crisis bill advances in House
THE HOUSE of Representatives on Tuesday approved on second reading a measure designed to address worsening traffic in three key metropolitan areas in the next three years.
MB member cites ebbing price pressures
INFLATION PRESSURES “have subsided” after overall price increases hit a nine-year peak the last two months, according to a member of the central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board, even as he cited the need to lift import restrictions for rice soonest as a key step to keep such pressures at bay.
Budget chief flags risk to spending
THE ECONOMY may not benefit as much from state spending -- lately a key driver of gross domestic product growth -- at least in the first half of next year due to an expected delay in enactment of 2019’s proposed P3.757-trillion national budget and the ban on public works ahead of the May mid-term elections, the head of the Department of Budget and Management told reporters on Tuesday.
Philippines’ top 1000 firms ride robust economic growth in 2017
THE COUNTRY’S top 1,000 corporations continue to post strong earnings in 2017 amid a backdrop of sustained economic growth.
Banks improve asset quality, but profitability slips
THE COUNTRY’s biggest banks saw their quality of assets improve in the third quarter even as their profitability and their capacity to absorb risky assets slipped.
QC tax hike deferment approved on 3rd reading
THE QUEZON CITY Council on Nov. 26 approved on third and final reading a proposal to suspend a planned increase in fair market values (FMV) until after 2019, council Majority Floor Leader Councilor Franz S. Pumaren said in a mobile phone message when asked for an update.
Tax reforms on financial, tobacco products gain ground in House
TWO tax reforms -- one simplifying levies on financial instruments and the other raising the rate for cigarettes -- advanced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Duterte government sets framework for long-term cooperation with China on infrastructure development
THE GOVERNMENT of President Rodrigo R. Duterte hopes to set the stage for long-term bilateral cooperation on infrastructure development with China, with a 10-year framework on this matter among the 29 deals signed during President Xi Jinping’s Nov. 20-21 state visit to the Philippines.