Water world. A silhouette of a man is seen as he walks past a tank showcasing a fine bubble aeration product in Singapore, which is hosting International Water Week. The forum brings together policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together from around the world to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world. --AP

Higher imports swell deficit

INCREASED food and fuel imports have caused the country’s trade deficit to further increase to $2.6 billion in the first four months of the year, according to the latest report released by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

Total external trade in goods for January to April 2008 reached $36.32 billion, representing a 10.6-percent increment from $32.828 billion during the four-month period in 2007.

Farm ruin now P4.1B; RP, US ink agri pacts

THE damage wrought by Typhoon Frank on the farm sector is proving to be more extensive than earlier assessments by officials, as the total to crops, fisheries, livestock and poultry has already reached P4.08 billion.

Sulpicio probed on 2 angles

THE first hearing into why the Princess of the Orient capsized off Romblon shed light Wednesday on two possible liabilities of ship owner Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI): overloading of cargo, or failure to heed the revised Coast Guard guidelines on clearing boats for sailing during rough weather.

How to solve a problem like SLI?  

SENATEMinority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Sen. Rodolfo Biazon are eyeing the possible suspension of the franchise of Sulpicio Lines following the fourth major sea tragedy involving its interisland ships, which had claimed the lives of thousands of passengers.

This developed as Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan cited the legal basis for Sulpicio Lines’ liability in the wake of the capsizing of MV Princess of Stars carrying more than 800 passengers off Romblon province at the height of killer Typhoon Frank Saturday.

‘Flood ‘em with cheap rice’

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. prodded President Arroyo on Wednesday to tap windfall revenue from the value-added tax (VAT) on oil imports to be able to grant additional subsidy to the National Food Authority (NFA) to boost rice production, instead of allowing the NFA to incur more borrowings.

Funding for doles illegal–biz bloc

THE Action for Economic Reforms, Coalition against Corruption, Makati Business Club and the Transparency and Accountability Network  Wednesday said President Arroyo violated constitutional processes in the release of P2 billion for a poverty-alleviation program of the government to provide subsidy for the marginalized sector.

Managing change critical–CEO poll

THE largest study of chief executives ever conducted, known as the IBM Global CEO Study, shows a dramatic increase in the number of global business leaders who see important change ahead and highlights how the ability to absorb and manage change is widening the gap between winners and losers in the global economy.

‘Torture still fact of life in RP’

“I WAS with my friends inside a bus when policemen picked us up and brought us to the city jail….We were told to undress, they covered our faces with plastic and we could hardly breathe….They started slapping my face and tied me like a pig…. At night they started raping me and kept me inside a tomb to sleep.”

The narration in Pilipino came from a 21-year-old torture survivor arrested by policemen in Cubao when she was just 13 years old. The arresting policemen then hang a carton placard on her neck that reads: “Shoplifter ako. Huwag akong tularan [I am a shoplifter. Don’t follow my example].” And then paraded her in the busy streets of Cubao in Quezon City.

NGOs blast ‘secrecy’ in EU-Asean talks

VARIOUS civic groups are demanding full transparency and multisectoral consultations for the proposed EU-Asean free-trade agreement (FTA) as they seek to avoid a repeat of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa), the “horrors” of which, they said, were only made public after it has already been concluded by the Executive.

Pinoys face expulsion

KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysia’s government announced plans Wednesday to chase out tens of thousands of illegal immigrants, mainly Filipinos and Indonesians, who have become a major political irritant on Borneo island.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said authorities will soon launch a massive operation to flush out foreigners without travel or identification documents from eastern Sabah state, which borders both the Philippines and Indonesia.

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Recognition for ‘BM’. BUSINESSMIRROR publisher T. Anthony C. Cabangon receives from Papi president Juan Dayang the award for “Business Paper of the Year” conferred by the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (Papi) at the conclusion of its two-day summit at the Makati Sports Club. Joining them are (from second from left) SBMA Administrator Armand C. Arreza, BUSINESSMIRROR president Benjamin V. Ramos and Press Undersecretary Robert Rivera. --NONIE REYES