Economy

Philippines president: ?We are not relaxing on fiscal reforms?

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wants to assure investors, creditors, and credit watchers that the Philippines is not going to backslide in its bid to shore up finances, saying the government can balance the budget and fund an ambitious infrastructure program even without new taxes.

The Chief Executive issued the statement as international ratings agencies and multilateral institutions recently warned the government against being complacent with respect to fiscal reforms.
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From Throughout Asia: Honing Expertise in the Political Economy of Policy Reform

By V. Bruce J. Tolentino
The Asia Foundation

Economic policy reform is inherently political. Economic policies are codified into public laws, regulations, ordinances and other legal instruments that establish the ?rules of the game? and allocate access and assets among various members of the body politic. Changes in economic policy affect the status or welfare of communities in varying ways, often evoking resistance from those whose welfare or status may be diminished by the reforms.
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Street education


A pupil does her homework on the sidewalks of C.M. Recto Street as she waits for her parents to pick her up. Classes in the city began last week, with several public schools lacking facilities. The Philippine educational system is once again facing the same set of problems that Filipinos face each beginning of the school year. (davaotoday.com photo by Barry Ohaylan) | Read Davao Today's coverage of education issues

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Fighting rural poverty key to elimination of hazardous child labour in agriculture

Today is World Day Against Child Labour

GENEVA ? The theme 2007 being on elimination of child labour in agriculture, especially the worst forms, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) is pleased to join the International Labour Office (ILO) and other partners to sign a Declaration of intent on cooperation on child labour in agriculture. ?Let?s be clear,” said the Secretary General of IFAP David King during his address at the Signing Ceremony, “child labour in agriculture is a rural poverty issue and has to be handled with rural development driven solutions.?

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Mindanao folk receive free cataract surgery from Philippines, US navies

MANILA — Operating room personnel from the Philippine and United States navies have performed cataract surgery at Basilan General Hospital during a free medical clinic offered by the two militaries to local residents. U.S. and Philippine medical specialists spent two days performing free cataract surgery on patients in the area who could not otherwise afford the procedure.
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