Rich man, poor man. Piles of boxes containing bananas at Manila’s North Harbor are ferried by local workers on the ever-reliable pedicab, which relies on sheer leg power, thus sparing merchants and commuters from the headaches of continuing gas-price hikes. But, as the photo at left shows, while ordinary folk look for ways to save money, Congress is not in a penny-pinching move. Scaff oldings have mushroomed at the House of Representatives’ cavernous building for a P200-million renovation that opposition solons deem needless and insensitive. --NONIE REYES

Cutting VAT on oil an ‘option’

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said Tuesday it is “looking into” proposals to reduce the value-added tax (VAT) on oil, including a “possible” revenue-neutral scheme that would plow back the government’s windfall to targeted sectors.

Inflation cancels wage hike; hope pinned on new law

THE government could help labor cope with inflation by seeing to it that wages, previously taxed even for low-income workers, are retained in pay envelopes—as mandated in a new law exempting minimum-wage earners from income tax and increasing tax-exemption levels. The law takes effect today.

Double-digit inflation likely

THE intense pressure on food and energy prices by oil-price increases has pushed the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to increase its inflation projection for the rest of the year by as much as 9 percent, boosting the belief that double-digit inflation may be possible by year-end.

P1 hike for jeepneys, buses; P10 for taxis  

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board on Tuesday approved a P1 minimum-fare hike for jeepneys and buses nationwide, and an “add-on” of P10 for Metro Manila taxis, to take effect later this week.

Ease rice crisis, avert civil unrest

THE head of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has maintained that governments in the Southeast Asian region must aggressively address the impact of the current rice crisis to “avert any civil unrest” erupting in food riots such as those in poor African countries.

‘Show accounts’ link to DA scam’

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has directed the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to present in one week proof that strongly links the 70 accounts it earlier ordered frozen to the P728-million fertilizer-fund scam involving former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante.

P200M for House face-lifting?

AS the government faces difficulty in mitigating the national crises brought about by the larger world crises in oil and food, the House of Representatives is spending P200 million for the renovation of the main building and adjacent structures at the Batasang Pambansa, prompting some legislators to accuse the House leadership of insensitivity in the wake of the country’s worst economic crunch in two decades.

CSOs seek new aid mechanisms

IN the face of raging climate-change issues, Asia-based civil-society organizations are pushing for the creation of new multilateral mechanisms that will not only extend much-needed financial help to poor countries but strengthen representation by developing countries.

Who are stalking Mindanao human-rights lawyers?

DAVAO CITY—Activist lawyers in at least three cities in Mindanao have reported that their offices were cased by unidentified men in the past few weeks, raising concern among colleagues that this followed the pattern of surveillance on victims of political killings shortly before their murders.

‘Asean Quest’ computer game to instill harmony, unity

THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Foundation will tap the strong appeal of computers to instill among the youth in the region the importance of harmony and unity.

Social welfare agencies to be clustered

PRESIDENT Arroyo on Tuesday ordered existing programs of various agencies related to social- welfare to be clustered under a national social welfare program that would provide “targeted” responses to the impact of the global economic slowdown on the poor.

Under Administrative Order 232, Mrs. Arroyo tasked the administrator of the Social Services Systems (SSS)—who shall be granted Cabinet rank—to oversee the program.

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Aspire, acquire. Acer Philippines general manager Manuel Wong delivers short remarks at launch rites to introduce the latest notebook and desktop lines of the computer giant. New, visually appealing products with stronger power and abundant user-friendly attributes were unveiled. --RHOY COBILLA