CEBU CITY, Cebu — The Board of Investments (BOI) is encouraging more industry players under the creative sector to capitalize on additional incentives provided for them by the government.

Recognizing the significant contribution of the creative sector to the general economic landscape of the country, BOI Governor Gerry Sta. Ana said the creative sector ranks second among BOI’s list of preferred investments for 2013 during a public hearing held in Cebu recently.

Philex Mining Corporation has resumed operations at its Padcal Mines, in Benguet, after the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) lifted its temporary suspension.

The suspension was lifted to allow Philex to undertake urgent remediation measures in its Tailings Storage Facility No. 3 (TSF3) to further protect the environment.

MANILA, Philippines --- An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday asked young people to observe Earth Hour not only by shutting off electricity but also by turning off their gadgets such as cellphones.

“It is not only the electricity that we need to shut down, but also gadgets like mobile phones, playstations, portable iPad, etc,”  Fr. Conegundo Garganta, CBCP’s youth commission executive secretary, said in an interview with CBCP News.

MANILA, Philippines --- Despite international and local awareness and support, laws protecting women’s rights in the country have yet to be fully implemented, partly because many of its beneficiaries are still unaware of them.

This fact prompted Team PNoy senatorial bet and Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara to call on Filipinas to know and exercise their rights as enumerated under Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.

PAGBILAO, Quezon — A farmers cooperative has received post-harvest facilities from the provincial government headed by Quezon Governor David C. Suarez. The Barangay Binahaan Farmers’ Credit Cooperative led by Aniceto Glodiviza received the double pass rice mill, welding machine, air compressor, and hermetic storage bag from the provincial government. The new equipment is expected to boost agricultural development in the province.

President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed Republic Act (RA) No. 10372 which amends provision of the Intellectual Property (IP) Code.

Signed on February 28, 2013, RA No. 10372 amends RA No. 8293 or the “Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.”

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said it is important for the public to be made aware of the amendments on intellectual property following concerns raised in social networking sites and the media on the new law.

After the public disagreement on the Reproductive Health law, the icy relations between President Aquino and the Catholic bishops are starting to thaw.

The President has expressed willingness to hold more dialogues with the Catholic Church officials and designated Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. as his liaison officer.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda confirmed that Ochoa will be “more like a coordinator” amid efforts to improve ties with the prelates.

“Behave.”

This was the instruction given by Capt. Will Pennington, the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) commanding officer, to crew members of the United States 7th Fleet command ship while they are in Manila for a four-day routine port visit.

The USS Blue Ridge dropped anchor at the South Harbor in Manila Thursday morning. The ship is scheduled to depart Monday, March 11.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to spend P203.8 million to upgrade airports in Mindoro Occidental, Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte and Aklan amid expectations of increased tourist arrivals after the country received good reviews from international travel publications and ratings institutions.

The Supreme Court (SC) has decided to resolve on its merits the petition filed by several groups challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 10083 that created the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Port (Apeco) in 2010.

In a notice sent to the parties to the case, the SC decided to “give due course to the petition” after “considering the allegations, issues and arguments adduced in the petition, as well as in the comments thereon, and in the consolidated reply.”