SOUNDBYTES (From May 24 issue of Infobytes)

Extra holidays declared at the end of year
The Malacañang said Oct. 31 and Dec. 26 are declared as nonworking holidays to allow most Filipinos, mainly Catholics, to have longer observance of two important religious events.
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Domestic helpers in HK get pay raise
Labor Acting Secretary Manuel Imson said Hong Kong has granted a HK$50 or around P350 wage increase for foreign domestic helpers, raising to HK$3,320 or P23, 246.05 per month the minimum allowable wage from the previous $3,270.
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Businessmen still optimistic on economy
Businessmen are still optimistic on the economic prospects for the second and third quarter but their level of confidence is lower amid rising oil prices, a possible increase in the value added tax and a slowdown in foreign trade, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas assistant governor Diwa Guinigundo said.
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Making money out of animal waste
The firm which Samuel Stewart heads, Philippine Bio-Sciences & Engineering Co. Inc., converts pig manure into a power source.
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DepEd to release ‘notes’ for 80 error-filled textbooks
The Department of Education will issue “teaching notes” to accompany 43 elementary and 37 high-school textbooks that previously contained “minor errors.”
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Gov’t to require safety test of auto parts
Following reports of road accidents caused by substandard automotive items, the Department of Trade and Industry will soon require mandatory testing on six types of auto parts, Jesus Motoomull, director of DTI’s Bureau of Product Standards said.
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Oil prices still high, DOE pushes conservation
Crude oil prices remain relatively high compared with last year prompting the Department of Energy to call on the public to continue conserving energy despite the recent cuts in fuel prices.
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