THE European Union (EU) expressed support for the resumption of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) but remained mum on assuming a role in the International Contact Group (ICG) that the Philippine government and the MILF agreed in September to create to help facilitate the immediate resumption of the peace negotiations between the government and the Moro secessionists.

DAVAO CITY—Monitoring done by Mindanao’s largest banking network showed a huge jump in remittance earnings from overseas Filipinos to their families and relatives, indicating that the same amount has also been plowed to the local economy, easing the apprehension of a deep backlash of a rampaging global recession.

THE management of the contracted capacities of the National Power Corp.’s (Napocor) independent power producers (IPP) 1,000-megawatt (MW) Sual and 700-MW Pagbilao were turned over to its new IPP administrators (IPPAs) San Miguel Energy Corp. (SMEC) and Therma Luzon Inc., respectively.