MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has downgraded its economic growth forecasts and raised its inflation projections for the Philippines in 2008 and 2009.
The Asian Development Outlook 2008 Update (ADO Update) forecasts that the economy will expand by 4.5% this year and 4.7% next year, down from 6.0% and 6.2% projected in April. [...]

HONG KONG, CHINA – Developing Asian countries must implement structural reforms that support the agricultural sector or else face another dramatic rise in food prices, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warns in a new major report.
The Asian Development Outlook 2008 Update (ADO Update), released today, says that even though the price of food staples, like [...]

HONG KONG, CHINA – Developing Asia will face a prolonged period of high and volatile oil prices that will temper growth and force governments around the region to make painful adjustments to policy to encourage increased energy efficiency among consumers, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says in a new major report.
The Asian Development Outlook 2008 [...]

Developing Asian economies will revert to a more moderate growth outlook of 7.5% this year and 7.2% next year after posting its fastest growth of 9% in nearly two decades in 2007, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says in a new major report.

“ANZ is lying through their teeth by saying they have no involvement in the OceanGold Didipio Gold-Copper mining project. The bank is listed as one of the top shareholders in the latest OceanaGold Corporation annual report,” said Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of militant environmental group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE).
Kalikasan PNE was among [...]

High prices of commodities could also have been mitigated if government had not surrendered control over the oil industry by maintaining oil deregulation.

Donor governments have failed not only to improve the quality of aid but also even to make progress towards delivering committed amounts, according to independent think-tank IBON Foundation.

Quality assurance management services expanding
(Manila, Philippines, September 5, 2008) – Rapid growth of the Philippines software development industry is catalyzing the development of related support sectors such as quality assurance (QA) management and testing, said Nora Terrado, country manager of Headstrong, a global consulting and IT services film.
According to the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), [...]

Indonesian officials said Indonesia’s main exports, such as agricultural products and timber, will continue to face high non-tariff barriers in the form of quality standards, while Japanese high-tech imports will be able to enter the Indonesian market with lower import taxes.

MANILA — International and national non-government organizations press for measures to arrest high prices of medicines and strict implementation of penalty provisions as they present to Health Undersecretary Alex Padilla today their proposal of the IRR of the Cheaper Medicines Bill.
The proposed IRR that also seeks transparency and clearer accountabilities of public officials and government [...]

“Instead of generating jobs and protecting bank employees’ right to job security, BSP Circular No. 268 would lead to the dislocation of bank employees,” Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano said.

Statement by Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
WASHINGTON, Aug 29, 2008 — For the second time in a month, Philip Morris International has had to withdraw sponsorship and promotion of a concert in a developing country after coming under international criticism for engaging in cigarette marketing that appeals to children.
This time, Philip [...]

By Kang Wu, Fereidun Fesharaki, Sidney B. Westley and Widhyawan Prawiraatmadja

HONOLULU (Aug. 25) — Concerns about energy security affect economic performance and political stability all over the world, but nowhere are these issues more critical than in Asia and the Pacific – and oil is at the heart of the region’s energy challenge.
Countries in Asia [...]

The “GMO-free rice restaurants” campaign, launched Wednesday at Fish and Co. restaurant in Ortigas Center, aims to gather the commitment of restaurants around the country to serve only GMO-free rice.

In a letter to the Department of Trade and Industry and some lawmakers, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP), an anti-tobacco group, urges an “immediate investigation” and for the Inter-Agency Committee-Tobacco to “take the necessary action to ensure faithful observance and implementation of the provisions of RA 9211 on tobacco sponsorship and advertising.”