Rappler's latest stories on Ramon Lopez
Salons may reopen soon, but health measures must be in place
Barbershop and salon employees show that they can safely cut hair by wearing protective wear. The government, however, is still assessing the risks.

Filipinos' mall culture under threat due to coronavirus lockdowns
Loitering in malls will be prohibited under general community quarantine – a major adjustment for mall-loving Filipinos

Over half of MSMEs stopped operations due to coronavirus lockdown
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says almost 53% or about 525,000 out of the total 998,342 MSMEs in the country bear the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic

‘How can the couple kiss?’ Gov’t says postpone weddings during virus lockdown
‘What is one month’s postponement for love?’ asks Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles

'Mahusay!': Duterte impressed by Mark Villar, Tugade, Lopez
President Rodrigo Duterte gives 3 Cabinet members a thumbs up for their performance

Lufthansa Technik expansion brings PH closer to becoming regional aerospace hub – DTI
The $40-million expansion project of Lufthansa Technik Philippines in Villamor Air Base is expected to create 300 new jobs

DTI urges South Korean firms to import more Philippine goods
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez hopes more Philippine agricultural products will be exported to South Korea following the buying mission of the Korea Importers Association

DTI orders businesses to put English, Filipino translations on materials
This order comes after the Department of Trade and Industry inspected a food park in Las Piñas City which allegedly only catered to Chinese nationals

ASEAN economies affected by US-China trade war – Lopez
'ASEAN should be prepared and have better trading performance with other countries not involved in the US-China trade issue,' says Philippine trade chief Ramon Lopez

PH-China sea row not affecting fisheries sector – DTI chief
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also says there's no need to raise the Recto Bank incident during the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok where country leaders are expected to discuss a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea

Huge number of OFWs in Dubai 'big factor' in Duterte’s decision to join Expo 2020 – DTI
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says EXPO 2020 Dubai will be one of the biggest events that the Department of Trade and Industry, together with other agencies that form part of the Philippine Organizing Committee, will participate in

Philippines secures $1.24 billion in investment pledges from Japan
Japan, being one of the Philippines' strongest trade partners, would help generate 16,000 jobs if these investments push through

Duterte to skip APEC events due to 'urgent domestic developments'
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez will attend the November 18 events in the President's place.

ASEAN trade leaders sign pact to grow e-commerce
The 10 Southeast Asian nations agree to work together to make online shopping and other electronic transactions safer and more efficient

CA leaves it to Ombudsman to resolve P125-M PCG funds mess
The Court of Appeals 'warns' Coast Guard officers 'not to abuse the court process'
Duterte wants ex-military to head anti-red tape agency
For the new Anti-Red Tape Agency to 'have more teeth,' Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says President Rodrigo Duterte wants a former military general to lead the office

ICC on Duterte, Poe slams Roque, Malacanang on rice supply | Evening wRap
Watch the evening newscast with Marguerite de Leon
DTI's Lopez, Hyundai face plunder, estafa complaint
(UPDATED) The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption accuses Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez of favoring Hyundai, which the group claims should not have been given P1.1 billion in tax exemptions

Gov't turns over 500 houses to Marawi residents
Officials also report on the ongoing efforts to bring back livelihood and jobs in Marawi City

Lopez optimistic PH will keep EU-GSP+ preferential status
The European Union will assess whether or not to continue giving the Philippines privileges under the GSP+ program which allows a country's products to be exported to the EU duty-free

Behind the scenes, PH scrambles to mend EU ties
A European official sees the appointment of Edgardo Angara as special envoy as 'a positive sign' to 'control the damage' done by President Rodrigo Duterte

Trade tops agenda of ASEAN ministers' meetings
The 10 member states of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has set a 3-point agenda on the 1st day of the Manila summit on Sunday, November 12

Politics and trade do not mix, Lopez tells EU businessmen
'What we are just emphasizing is the importance of mutual respect for sovereignty,' Lopez says

PH aims to be among top 20 most competitive countries by 2020
The Philippines currently ranks 99th out of 190 countries in terms of ease of doing business according to the World Bank Group s International Finance Corporation

WATCH: House receives martial law briefing from PH cabinet
Watch it on Rappler

House to meet with Cabinet over Mindanao martial law on May 31
Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas says the briefing will be open to the public unless the officials request for a closed door session

PH, Russia sign defense agreement, 9 other deals
The two countries sign a total of 10 deals including a defense agreement deal to share intelligence and share knowledge on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes

Trade, tourism chiefs downplay impact of martial law in Mindanao
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says the isolated incident that prompted the declaration of martial law in Mindanao will not counter the country s growth momentum

ASEAN ministers to raise flag vs protectionism
Yes [we are] against protectionism Any move to reverse the track towards globalization it will be hard Integration should push through so trading as well as flow of goods and services will be easier Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says

Duterte's Middle East trip to 'create 62,000 jobs'
Call it Dutertenomics Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says at the end of President Rodrigo Duterte s trip to the Middle East

South China Sea, Marcos, Kushner | Midday wRap
Watch the midday newscast with Chay Hofileña

#ThewRap: Videos you need to watch this week, March 13-19, 2017
Hello Here s a round up of videos from the past week that you need to watch

PH trade is up and looking bright despite headlines – DTI
Department of Trade and Industry head Ramon Lopez talks to Rappler about the surge in foreign investments new doors in China and how government is dealing with negative perception

Rappler Talk: DTI's Ramon Lopez on trade in the time of Duterte
Trade secretary Ramon Lopez talks about how the government plans to empower micro small medium enterprises

DTI backs proposal to raise car taxes
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says the luxury car segment will not die if the proposal to impose higher excise tax on new vehicles is approved

Cabinet officials back Duterte's tax reform plan
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says however his department is coordinating with the DOF to fine tune the excise tax brackets being proposed for vehicles

CA confirms Manny Piñol, Ramon Lopez
Members of the Commission on Appointments laud both Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez saying they are highly qualified for their posts

Duterte calls on ASEAN to help small businesses, empower women
The President invites entrepreneurs businessmen and investors to attend 9 business related fora to be held in the Philippines this year as part of ASEAN 2017

DTI chief Lopez: Trump's reforms align with Duterte's
In an early session at the World Economic Forum 2017 DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez says he has observed that the US new economic priorities are aligned with Duterte s thrust to spur economic growth

Top businessmen pledge support for Sulu's economic revival
Tycoons like Manny V Pangilinan Ramon Ang and Lucio Tan declare their support for the Duterte administration s bid to unleash the economic potential of violence stricken Sulu

Bong Go 'beats up' Pacquiao, Trade chief Lopez
The man closest to President Duterte shows his funny side in a video he posts on Facebook featuring boxing champ Senator Manny Pacquiao and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

DTI seeks to stop '5-6' lending
Starting 2017 the government will set aside P1 billion for lending to micro and small enterprises

Malaysian investors eye more palm oil plantations in PH
Malaysian businessmen want to develop 300 000 hectares of land in the Philippines into palm oil plantations a wish expressed during President Duterte s visit to Malaysia

No economic loss in Duterte’s 'separation' from US – trade chief
Realistically you can’t stop transactions between the US and Philippines We have many investments with us from the US We export we import says Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

Duterte bringing home $24B worth of deals from China
UPDATED Of the total 15 billion accounts for company to company deals while 9 billion accounts for loans to be made available by private banks says Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

LIVE: President Duterte's official visit to Vietnam
Follow Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte s first official visit to Vietnam live on Rappler

Duterte off to Vietnam this week for working visit
Communications Secretary Marin Andanar says DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez is set to join President Rodrigo Duterte during the trip and will also meet with Filipinos there

Duterte, De Lima, Yahoo | 6PM wRap
Watch Rappler s 6PM newscast with Pia Ranada

Duterte gov't assures PH economic policies 'predictable'
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says despite Duterte s unpredictability the country s economic policy is to protect foreign investments and comply with trade agreements

DTI chief wants prepaid load expiry date removed
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez says there s no reason for prepaid load to expire
