Binay-led UNA political party swears in Metro Manila candidates for 2013 polls
Metro Manila candidates for the 2013 elections took their oath before members of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Wednesday, September 26. Among those who took oath before Vice President Jejomar Binay include Caloocan City 1st District Rep. Oscar Malapitan, Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro, and Rita Crisologo, wife of Quezon City 1st District Rep. Vicente Crisologo.
S&P hikes PH growth forecast
International ratings agency Standard & Poor's raised its growth forecast for the Philippines this year from 4.3 percent to 4.9 percent, particularly attributed to the country's lesser reliance on exports to propel its economic growth as factor of emerging resilience against the unfavorable economic prospect in Europe and the US. Meanwhile, S&P downgraded its growth forecast for Hong Kong (1.8 from 2.8 percent), India (5.5 from 6.5 percent), China (7.5 from 8.0 percent), Japan (2 from 2.5 percent), South Korea (2.5 from 3 percent), Singapore (2.1 from 2.6 percent), Taiwan (1.9 from 2.4 percent), and Australia (3 from 3.2 percent). About 30 percent of the PH's GDP comes from export earnings, while in neighboring countries, exports account for 50 percent.
