MANILA (Sept. 21) -- The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is getting behind the high-level mission sent by the International Labor Organization (ILO) to Manila investigate widespread complaints of violations of the rights of Filipino workers to freely organize themselves.

"We are absolutely supportive of the mission," said TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera.

DAR ES SALAAM – At the opening of two-day conference in the Tanzanian capital of Dar es Salaam, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominque-Strauss-Kahn told finance minister and central bank governors from across Africa that world economic growth could plunge “below zero” in 2009, according to agencies’ reports.

MOUNTAINSIDE NJ (Aug. 4)  —The Internal Revenue Service reminds consumers to avoid identity theft scams that use the IRS name, logo or Web site in an attempt to convince taxpayers that the scam is a genuine communication from the IRS. Scammers may use other federal agency names, such as the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

MANILA (June 25) -- Factory output declined for the sixth straight month in April at a faster rate, the National Statistics Office reported.

HERZLIYA (June 10) – In an International Festival at the Interdisciplinary College (IDC) held in this city on Monday, June 8, Philippine products turned out the top seller. The Philippines was among the 20 participating countries in the festival aimed at providing foreign students at IDC the opportunity to showcase food items, drinks and crafts.

MANILA (May 29) -- The Philippines and the Republic of Korea (ROK) will sign 10 agreements on trade, energy, and labor during the visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to Seoul from 30 May to 2 June.

President Arroyo will travel to ROK for an official visit on May 30-31, upon the invitation of South Korean President Lee Myung Bak. She will also participate in the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Jeju Island on June 1-2.

MANILA (May 26) -- Dollars sent home by sailors continue to buoy the overall remittances from migrant Filipino workers, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said Tuesday.

"The rate of increase in remittances from sea-based Filipino workers abroad continues to outpace considerably the growth (rate) in money transfers from land-based laborers," TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera said.

MANILA (May 21) -- Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo and Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura signed and exchanged notes for two grant aid projects worth JPY911 million (approximately P450 million), the Department of Affairs has announced.

The projects involve JPY301 million (approximately P147 million) for the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) and JPY610 million (approximately P303 million) for the Bridge Construction for Expanded Agrarian Reform Communities Development.