The daily minimum wage in Metro Manila for private sector workers will increase by P35 starting July 17, a salary adjustment that will directly impact 988,243 minimum wage earners and may also affect around 1.7 million employees paid higher salaries.
Think tank and Fitch Group unit BMI said the Manila decision reducing the tariff on imported rice could help push the price of the staple higher in global markets.
The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has acknowledged the progress the Philippines has made in key areas of money laundering and terrorist financing that has fueled optimism for Manila to exit the FATF grey list.
The national government recorded a wider budget deficit of P174.9 billion in May as the 22 percent increase in spending outpaced the 15 percent growth in revenue.