Tourist-boosting projects on
SEVERAL government programs and projects have been lined up this year to ensure a most vibrant tourism industry.
Much of the P182.2-billion government infrastructure program for 2012 will be used to build airports, roads and bridges that are instrumental in attracting tourists to visit...
PRC set to open more services for local, overseas professionals
THE Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will increase its walk-in examinations from twice to thrice a week as well as open the examinations to more professions as part of its programs for 2012.
PRC chairperson Teresita Manzala added that regionalized ID printing and issuance of ID...
Training for non-voice BPO jobs boosted
THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) is prepared to review and enhance its training regulations (TRs) in business process outsourcing (BPO) industry following a United States proposal, which discourages American companies from outsourcing overseas, including the...
DPWH told: Install rainwater collectors in public schools
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) field offices have been directed to immediately construct rainwater collection system (RCWS) in all public schools, with 547 RCW units worth P39.6-million targeted for installation this year.
The directive signed by DPWH Secretary Rogelio...
PhilHealth to deploy nurses as customer relations staff
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will recruit and deploy registered nurses as customer assistance, relations and empowerment staff (CARES) to government hospitals to provide better, more personalized services to members at point-of-service.
Deployment is expected to start next...
New requirements for DILG seal of good housekeeping
THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will introduce the bronze, silver and gold standards in its good housekeeping seal program this year to ensure that local government units really address local issues and become more business-friendly and competitive.
The stepping up...
Construction investments likely to contribute to economic growth
INVESTMENT is expected to post a strong growth in 2012 despite the global economic uncertainties, with construction likely to significantly contribute to this year's growth.
The National Economic and Development Authority, in its outlook for 2012 furnished Sun.Star, explained that the...
Government to save P20M due to energy efficiency project
AROUND P20 million projected annual savings is foreseen following the implementation of the Department of Energy's government building retrofit program under its Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP).
The retrofit targets 35 government buildings where existing lighting systems will...
GSIS bares 2012 programs
THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) said Friday that in the next six months, GSIS will focus on five programs in its effort “to be more consultative, transparent and member-focused.”
DOT: Tourism outlook strong
THE Department of Tourism said Friday the country remains an ideal destination with foreign individuals and groups continuing to arrive.
“So far, no cancellations have been made. The series of travel advisories on specific and isolated areas did not deter tourists from visiting the...
Fake advertising to be penalized
BUHAY party-list lawmakers Mariano Michael Velarde Jr. and Irwin Tieng have filed House Bill 5674, seeking to penalize false or fraudulent advertising.
“The public is beset with advertisements of food products claiming the same to be nutritious despite the public knowledge of them...
Farmers urged to advance rice cropping calendar
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is encouraging rice farmers to advance their “cropping calendar” by a month or two to avoid typhoons that usually occur during the months of October to November.
Labor department strengthens family welfare
THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) will further strengthen its family welfare program (FWP) even if more and more industries already adopted FWP as “a viable investment that pays off in terms of increased productivity and harmonious and cooperative labor-management relations.”
...
Product traceability system to be set up this year
THE Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Agriculture (DA) are designing a product traceability system to meet international standards and secure the country’s share in the global market for agro-industrial products.
A three-year joint project dubbed Program on Philippine...
P100M allotted for ‘sagip saka’
AROUND P100-million in priority development assistance funding was allotted to implement ‘sagip saka’ initially in 24 beneficiary agricultural communities, including the sugar farmers of Negros Occidental and in Victorias City.
‘Sagip saka’ is an advocacy to achieve sustainable modern...
New services to complement IT-BPO
INFORMATION Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) leaders seek to further develop four more offshoring and outsourcing services to complement the ‘sunshine industry’.
These include the healthcare information management outsourcing; finance and accounting outsourcing; human...
‘No report, no fund release’ rule in 2012
THE Department of Budget and Management will strictly implement a ‘no report, no release’ policy this year as one way to strengthen the campaign on transparency and accountability.
“DBM is very firm in enforcing the ‘no report, no release’ rule for the submission of budget accountability...
Trade Industry, stakeholders meet for roadmap development
THE Department of Trade and Industry will gather experts and stakeholders in a series of forums and dialogues in a bid to develop strategic industry roadmaps in collaboration with the private sector.
Inputs from all these forums will contribute to DTI’s overall trade and industry programs...
Online biz registry launched
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched the Philippine Business Registry (PBRS), a web-based business registration system which aims to streamline business registration process and eliminate red tape.
PhilHealth extends coverage of LGU-sponsored members
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation has extended until March 31, 2012 the health insurance coverage of members under PhilHealth's sponsored program (SP) who were paid for by local government units and/or other sponsors for 2011.
These include around five million poor families...
Probe into 'irregular' transfer of Tesda fund to NGOs proposed
ILONGGA Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago is pushing for an inquiry into alleged irregular transfer of funds from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to non-government organizations.
"Although there are already existing laws with regard to penalizing the...
Energy panel to finalize TOR on oil companies’ books
THE Department of Energy (DOE) will meet sector nominees of the independent review committee (IRC) on Monday to iron out details of a review of oil firms’ books that is expected to start next month.
DOE Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said he will meet with the IRC nominees to...
ERC eyes amendments to prepaid retail electricity
THE Energy Regulatory Commission is set to decide on the proposed amendments to the rules on prepaid retail electric service (PRES), including the applicable rates to be charged to consumers, as well as the charging of transaction fees by retailers of prepaid cards.
The ERC...
Metrobank bares search for outstanding teachers
THE Metrobank Foundation Inc. has launched this year’s search for outstanding teachers in cooperation with the Department of Education.
The search is open to all private and public school teachers in the elementary, secondary and college level, including alternative learning system, with...
Saro phase-out to start
THE Department of Budget and Management will start phasing out special allotment release orders (Saros) and agency budget matrices (ABMs) in authorizing fund releases to government departments and agencies.
“Release documents like the Saro and ABM are supposed to aid in recordkeeping and...
