BUSINESS   Despite external factors that had most food and beverage businesses reeling from slower-than-anticipated growth in consumer demand, San Miguel Corporation today announced its full-year consolidated sales revenue of P168.0 billion, 14% higher than 2007 levels of 148.0 billion.

Construction firms that have been blacklisted by international funding agencies for corrupt practices face permanent ban from participating in infrastructure projects of the government if a proposal of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) is enacted into law.

The 2,000 factory workers in Intel Philippines about to lose their jobs this year topped the headlines today. The alarming rate of displaced workers, not only in Intel, can never be concealed to the public anymore.
Hardest hit are mostly non-unionised workers in the electronics and car manufacturing in export processing zones in CALABARZON.
Amkor Technology [...]

Business, tourism and migrant workers groups have hailed the forthcoming aviation talks between the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines as a major opportunity to expand and strengthen economic ties at amidst the global economic slowdown.
After a long hiatus of six years, the negotiating panels of the Philippines and the UAE are scheduled [...]

MANILA – Philippine Airlines cancelled its morning service to Bangkok today and is closely monitoring developments in the Thai capital before deciding whether to operate its evening service.
Flight PR 730, scheduled to depart Manila at 10:30 a.m., was called off, as was the return flight, PR 731, which was scheduled to depart Bangkok at 2:00 [...]

ECONOMY  By Sonny Africa  |  While the Philippines has been made vulnerable to external financial shocks as a result of the US crisis and made internally weaker by globalization, the Arroyo administration is still pushing for more of the same through the constitutional amendments.

BUSINESS | TECHNOLOGY   Consumer group TxtPower said today that Smart’s move could “end the e-loading businesses of at least 3,000 dealers and their tens of thousands of partners.” There is a possibility that Smart’s plan would affect Smart subscribers, it added.

ECONOMY   By Carlos H. Conde |  The Philippines appears to be walking an economic tightrope again. Three of the pillars of its economy – call centers, electronics exports and inward remittances — are all deeply exposed to the US economy, which is going into the tank.

BUSINESS & FINANCE  Philippine Airlines today reported a total comprehensive loss of $113.8 million for the first six months (April to September) of its current fiscal year – principally the result of the unprecedented surge in fuel prices that occurred in the second quarter.

By Keith Bacongco |  Pujada Bay is home to the endangered sea cows (dugong) and sea turtles while the Mt. Hamiguitan range is known both for its pygmy forest and also as a home of the endangered Philippine Eagle which is itself a protected species. The proposed mining project, opponents say, will destroy the environment.

San Miguel Corporation today announced a September year-to-date consolidated net income of P20.9 billion, nearly 200% higher than the same period last year.

By Ellen Tordesillas and Chit Estella | Vera Files  |  The government is pushing through with plans to parcel out the controversial gold rush site in Diwalwal, Compostela Valley province to various foreign mining companies, despite the tangle of unresolved legal issues that are threatening to fuel a potentially explosive situation.

By Yasmin Arquiza | Vera Files  |  Because of their rapid expansion, Davao’s big banana plantations are encroaching into the city’s built-up areas and farmlands, where small farmers grow crops and fruits that are sold in Davao City markets. Communities around these plantations have been complaining of health problems every time toxic pesticides would drift their way.

MANILA — Members of the Philippine press are entitled to a 10-percent discount on all books at Bound Bookshop, a bookstore in Quezon City owned and operated by journalists.
“All our colleagues have to do is present their press cards to us and we will give them discounts,” said Carlos Conde, one of the owners of [...]