(TOP) SARAH JANE CUA holds aloft the giant replica of the prize for Sudoku Asia-Pacific champ: S$10,000. (Below) The Philippine team arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport: Dielle Tio, Mariel Dee, Cua, Matthew Chris Chan and Alvin Chan. --BUTCH FERNANDEZ, RHOY COBILLA

Bigger fiscal problems seen in ’09

If Filipinos think the country’s financial problems will start to ease with tempered inflation and lower taxes next year, think again—bigger problems, particularly on the fiscal side, are about to drop a surprise next year.

Outgoing SSS chief says post reason of ailments

“I’m going to make a baby.”

This was just classic Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo. I ask a serious question why she is resigning from the Social Security System (SSS) after being its president for seven years, and she makes a joke out of it. Hearty laughter follows her declaration—both from her and me; I suppose she is probably tired of answering the same question over and over again since news of her leaving, and subsequent replacement, hit the media.

PSE wants government to adopt more market-friendly policies

IT seems the local bourse is between a rock and a hard place. The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) wants the government to adopt more market- friendly policies and laws rather than scrapping or reducing the value-added tax (VAT)on gasoline prices.

Impossible to meet MDG targets 

The worsening enrollment rates in many provinces is now making it impossible for the Philippines to meet the education targets stated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

VAT windfall as transport subsidy mulled

PUBLIC transport is hurting and the government is looking at how to ease its plight possibly by a subsidy to be sourced from the value-added tax (VAT) windfall income.

“The subsidy [for the transport sector] could be part of the VAT’s windfall, and a task force is looking at how to apportion the additional revenues from VAT,” said Finance Secretary Margarito Teves.

Diesel, LPG, kerosene prices up

PUBLIC motorists and households will have to pay more for fuel when they refill their tanks, as oil companies have increased the price of diesel and kerosene by P1.50 per liter and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by P1 per kilo, or P11 for an 11-kilo tank.

Pira asks SC to change ruling on CTPL

A group of Philippine insurers has asked the Judiciary to reconsider its decision exclusively granting the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) the privilege of insuring the requirements of millions of vehicle owners.

Manila still has one of lowest parking rates

UNREASONABLE parking rates? Complain if you’re in Sydney or Mumbai, since Manila is still among cities in the Asia-Pacific region offering relatively cheaper daily parking rates.

Ship officers question board’s procedures

TWO veteran merchant-ship officers faulted the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) of the Coast Guard as lacking good procedural practices that could be seen by their “allowing the Sulpicio Lines counsel to take control of the inquiry” into the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars.

We need to learn English again

What did we speak before 1521? I imagine each tribe its own dialect, as we were convivial neighbors. I am told that language travels better across oceans, so dialects preferred to cross seas instead of mountains. Nobody really cared then. They all just spoke what they knew how to speak.

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BSP Hall of Fame Philippine National Bank won the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Hall of Fame award for best bank respondent in overseas Filipino remittances and Bank of Philippine Islands as top bank in remittances. DOLE Philippines won as outstanding exporter of the year during the 2008 BSP stakeholders’ awarding ceremony held at the BSP Complex in Manila. The awards were given by BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. (third from right) and Monetary Board member Juanita Amatong (third from left). --ROY DOMINGO