MANILA – Sy-led lender BDO Unibank Inc. is the country’s top taxpayer for 2019 with nearly a month ahead of the thrice extended deadline, according to the Department of Finance on Monday, May 25. As of May 19, 2020, BDO is the top corporate taxpayer with Robinsons Land Corp in second place followed by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), Bank of …

BANGKOK  – Thai exports of computers and components rose in the 1st quarter of 2020 to Bt128 billion, making the country the top exporter of computers, components among Asean nations, said Department of Trade Negotiations director-general Auramon Supthaweethum. “The a rising demand for computers came from increasing online activities amid the Covid-19 lockdown worldwide.” In the same period last year, …

MANILA – The Philippines has secured the top spot of the most fiscally transparent budget in Southeast Asia in in the 2019 Open Budget Survey (OBS) transparency index released on April 29. The country’s score exceeded its South east asian neighbor with Indonesia’s score at 70, Thailand’s 61, Malaysia’s 47, Timor-Leste’s 40, Vietnam’s 38, Cambodia’s 32 and Myanmar’s 28. Philippines …

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has climbed up to rank 101 in the latest 2020 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Malaysia took home the biggest increase among 180 countries, topping the South-east Asian neighbors like it did in the 2019 Index, followed by Indonesia (119th) Philippines (136th) Myanmar (139th) Thailand (140th) Cambodia (144th) Brunei (152) Singapore …

KUALA LUMPUR –  Two Malaysians are among this year’s top 50 world contenders of the prestigious Global Teacher Prize 2020.  Samuel Isaiah, 33, and Norhailmi Abdul Mutalib, 39, were among the 50 running to win USD1 million (about RM4.4 million) award of the competition. It is given to an exceptional teacher who has made a monumental contribution to their profession. …