Indonesia’s Value-Added Tax (VAT), the equivalent to Singapore’s Goods and Services Tax (GST), is slated to hit 12 per cent at the start of 2025, matching it with the Philippines as the highest in …
The Philippines is going all-in on transition minerals and endangering Indigenous lands
A new report from Global Witness, an international human rights advocacy group, says that increasing demand for transition minerals necessary for green energy are putting Indigenous peoples, like the …
Analysis: Hopes for food and agriculture finance fall on stoney ground in Baku
On November 16, as COP29 was getting under way in Azerbaijan, Typhoon Usagi was making landfall in the Philippines, one of an unprecedented six tropical storms to strike the country that month.
China says Philippines has ‘provoked trouble’ in South China Sea with US backing
China accused the Philippines on Friday of having “provoked trouble” in the South China Sea with U.S. backing, a week after Beijing and Manila traded accusations over a new confrontation in the …
Defense experts predict Philippines will join future Yama Sakura military drills
The Philippines will soon become a full participant in annual Yama Sakura warfighting drills involving U.S., Japanese and Australian ground forces, according to defense experts. The Philippine navy, on Thursday, posted photos on social media of Filipino …
Filipina on Indonesia death row says planned transfer to the Philippines a ‘miracle’
JAKARTA – A Filipina inmate on death row in Indonesia said on Dec 13 her planned transfer to the Philippines was a “miracle”, in her first interview since Manila and Jakarta signed an agreement last …
Makati Business Club Appoints Apa Ongpin as New Executive Director
The Makati Business Club, one of the most powerful and high-profile business clubs in the Philippines, is getting a new leader. In an email sent to members on Friday (December 13), the club said that …
Swedish investors seek full foreign business ownership in more PH sectors
Swedish companies are seeking a further relaxation of foreign business ownership rules in the Philippines, according to consulting agency Business Sweden on Thursday. While several economic …
Climate change ‘supercharged’ the parade of typhoons the Philippines experienced in November
The Philippines was battered by six storms in four weeks. And for a first time since record-keeping began in 1951, four of them were simultaneously found in the Pacific Basin.
ADB OKs $500 million loan to improve public finance
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500 million loan to support the Philippines’ public financial management (PFM) reform agenda. In a statement, the multilateral lender said the loan is …