PRESIDENT Aquino, assisted by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Emmanuel Joel Villanueva, distributes ballers to the participants of the 7th Puregold ‘Tindahan Ni Aling Puring Sari-Sari Store’ Convention during the tour and inspection of the booths at the World Trade Center at the corner of Gil Puyat Avenue Extension and Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City, yesterday. (Photo by: Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)
AMERICAN contemporary ballet company Trey McIntyre Project performs at Central Philippine University in Iloilo City. Its 10-day Philippine tour is a joint program of the U.S. Embassy in Manila and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (Photo by Tara Yap)
CAGAYAN’s Junar Arce (center) finds himself sandwiched by Gio Ciriacruz and Kelly Nabong of Blackwater during PBA D-League action last night at The Arena in San Juan.
MIAMI Heat guard Dwyane Wade, foreground, regains control of the ball as he is guarded by Indiana Pacers guard Paul George, rear, during Game 2 of their NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series in Miami.
VENDORS arrange bananas in a makeshift stall on Road 10 in Tondo, Manila, as they sell ‘lakatan’ at P30 per kilo yesterday morning. The Philippines’ fruit exports to China, particularly bananas, seem to have trouble getting cleared by Chinese Customs amid a tense standoff between the two countries over the disputed islands on the West Philippine Sea. Fruit shipments, especially bananas, were rotting in Chinese ports because pests were allegedly discovered in some produce, prompting stricter quarantine inspections. (Photo by Linus Escandor II)
Home » Of Trees and Forest
Brain Drain
MANILA, Philippines – BRAIN drain, which resulted from the migration of many Filipino professionals, is one more reason for me to pursue the establishment of a national program to help cancer patients. Read More »
Let’s rally behind the President
Manila, Philippines – THE ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China involving Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal, is an issue that transcends political and other differences among Filipinos. Incoming search terms:aquino panatagphilippine defense newsphilippines rally scarboroughphilippines presidentphilippines economicphilippines china shoalphilippines...
Let’s raise the minimum wage
Manila, Philippines – I’M a businessman and I support an increase in wages for Filipino workers. My position may run counter to the consensus among employers. In general, I know that capital will always complain when wages are raised, so let me explain my position. Incoming search terms:latest news minimum wage increase philippinesminimum wage philippineswhose to blame for firing workers...
State Should Lead Cancer Fight
MANILA, Philippines — News that Warren Buffett, 81-year-old world’s third richest person, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, prompted me to make a second pitch to push my proposals to make cancer drugs free and to establish facilities devoted to cancer treatment and research. Buffett, head of the investment firm Berkshire Hathaway, announced to Berkshire shareholders last April 17 that he...
Remove The V.A.T. On Medicines
MANILA, Philippines — The debate over domestic oil prices always brings up the issue of removing the Value-Added Tax (VAT) to at least partly offset the impact of increases in prices of imported crude oil. Past and present administrations have rejected the proposal, with support from multilateral institutions, including the World Bank. One reason for this is that the VAT has been generating billions...
Free Medicines For Cancer Patients
MANILA, Philippines — Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the Philippines today. It is outranked only by communicable and cardiovascular diseases, claiming one death for every two new cases within a year, while cancer, which afflicts 189 per 100,000, kills four Filipinos every hour or 103 every day. The incidence and mortality rate of cancer in the Philippines has been increasing in the...
Climate-Smart Agriculture For R.P.
MANILA, Philippines — Climate change is upon us, and the whole world is seeing its destructive impact. The Philippines, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change because of its numerous active volcanoes, geographic faults, and its location on the path of typhoons, has already suffered the disastrous results of climate change on lives, livelihood, and food security. On average, more...
Cheaper Medicines
MANILA, Philippines — In less than three months from today, we will mark the fourth anniversary of Republic Act 9502, “The Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act,” signed in June 6, 2008. Last March 8, the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, which I chair, conducted a public hearing to review the progress of implementing the cheaper medicines law and whether it has benefited...
Primary responsibility
MANILA, Philippines — Undoubtedly, we need the private sector and private capital to undertake major infrastructure projects that require huge investments. Infrastructure is, indeed, vital to our country’s development. But the current state of our infrastructure has been blamed for our failure to attract a large chunk of investments that would have spawned the growth of industries and provided...
