No one else among our Southeast Asian neighbors saw poverty worsen in the last 10 years the way we did in the Philippines, in the face of record economic growth at that. Ours is a classic case of growth that has failed to be “inclusive,” now the favored term to describe economic growth with widest participation and benefits, best ensured through equal opportunities. Our situation stems in turn from a highly concentrated economic structure, with a very narrow segment of the economy accounting for an inordinately large share of total output and incomes in the economy (measured by gross domestic product or GDP). We have an economy where total output and income is dominated by a small number of very large enterprises. Read the rest of this entry »

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has announced another big deal that made his state visit to China a success: “more than 10%” of the $1-billion ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) China Fund. Read the rest of this entry »

Economic officials within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) cited the strategic role small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play in the region’s economic integration bid. Read the rest of this entry »

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Monday said it aims to create more jobs in the countryside by strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Read the rest of this entry »

Many months back, in my column entitled Victory, I somehow said that the Philippines will soon be rerated as investment grade with the continuing surge or inflow of OFW remittances. This has led our Gross International Reserves to hit a record-high $69 billion, which is 10.3 months worth of imports, and surpasses our gross external debt of $61 billion. The new government, under Pres. Aquino, is quite determined to get rid of corruption, with the unraveling of the issues surrounding PCSO and PAGCOR, among others. This seems to be what the public and foreign investors want to hear and see from the government. The budget deficit also appears to be under control with the government really tightening its purse strings. Read the rest of this entry »

Saying there is a need for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to be represented in the crafting of major economic policies, the National Economic Protectionism Association (NEPA) called on the government to have a proactive stance for their development and growth. Read the rest of this entry »

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport) is strongly supporting the proposed amendatory law making incentives to micro enterprises more accessible than those offered by the Baranggay Micro Enterprise Act of 2002. Read the rest of this entry »

EXPERTS IN a symposium on “technopreneurship” and entrepreneurship education last year called on small businesses to take advantage of services offered by the government and industry groups to help boost the economy and create more jobs. Read the rest of this entry »

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) are the most bullish about the opportunities in their own country compared to other Asian SMEs, according to the UPS Asia Business Monitor (ABM) 2010 findings.   Read the rest of this entry »

EVEN SMALL businesses have to adapt to unavoidable changes in climate and help mitigate their adverse effects, experts said in a forum organized by the Institute for Small-Scale Industries at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman early this month. Read the rest of this entry »