MANILA — The peso retreated against the US dollar Thursday as investors continue to asses latest development in Greece and other major economies like the US and China.

MANILA — Expansion of the domestic economy is expected to rise in the first half the year, a central bank official said citing results of the first quarter 2012 Business Expectations Survey (BES).

CEBU CITY — An official of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has assured the Cebu City Council the water district has no US$ 400-million or P17-billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

LEGAZPI CITY — The regional office here of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced on Thursday it would soon put up technology business incubators (TBIs) in the region to give local entrepreneurs a wide range of support to propel their businesses.

MANILA — The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) closed the sale of its 20-year retail treasury bond (RTB) Thursday and the 15-year Friday, ahead of schedule due to high demand for the debt.

MANILA — To promote fair trade competition, Senator Teofisto Guingona III is seeking to institutionalize a Philippine Fair Competition Commission that will reinforce the national competition policy and provide stricter penalties for anti-competitive acts.

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Some 80 local and international employment agencies are joining the Dia de Zamboanga Job Fair which will be held at Plaza del Pilar on Friday

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The city government through the City Veterinarian’s Office is now preparing for the Rabies Awareness Month celebration in March, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9482 aimed at building public awareness on the prevention and control of rabies through education and vaccination.

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has identified an additional 2,762 beneficiaries for its Senior Citizens Social Pension Program here in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The city government on Thursday has destroyed P30 million worth of pirated Digital Video Discs (DVDs), which were confiscated in this southern port city.

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have arrested six people in a buy-bust operation in this southern port city, a top PDEA official announced Thursday.

DAVAO CITY — The Multi-Sectoral Governance Coalition (MSGC) team is now conducting a field visit and assessment of flagship programs implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Talaingod and Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte from February 22-24.

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Authorities recovered some 20 pairs of military uniforms, black shirts, and pairs of boots, inside an abandoned house at Barangay Paco here, Wednesday night, a local government official said.

DAVAO CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao, in cooperation with the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP) and United Nations Procurement Division (UNPD) will converge some 120 exporters, manufacturers, traders, business associations, and academe to discuss business opportunities and procurement activities on various market prospects offered by the United Nations on Feb. 24 at Grand Men Seng Hotel in this city.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Due to insufficient power supply in the Mindanao grid, residential and business establishments in this city and two neighboring provinces will have to bear a daily rotating one-hour outage for about two weeks, an official said.