Maniolas

WITH supply running low, the prices of vegetables and other farm products have gone up, the Philippine Statistics Authority-Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (PSA-BAS) has reported. The agency monitored an increase from P2 to P40 in selected vegetables and other agricultural products at the Bankerohan Public Market as of January 9. The prices of pork lean meat, ampalaya, sitao, carrots, eggplant, native pechay, and papaya have also increased. Habitchuelas or beans had the highest price increase: from P40 last December 23 to P80 on January 9. Sitao rose from P40 to P80. A P20 increase was also recorded in ampalaya, now selling by as much as P80. Native pechay went up by P10, to P80. Pork lean meatis now P175 up by P5. A P7 to P5 increase was recorded for eggplant, wherein it is now priced at P25 to P30 from P18 to P25. Papaya went up to P20 to P25 from P18 to P20, a P2 to P5 increase. Native garlic remains high at P360 to P380 since December 19due to a lean supply. PSA-BAS noted a drop in the prices of tilapia, cabbage, red onion, white potato, and calamansi. Cabbage was P30 as of January 9, down from P60 in December 23. Tilapia was P100,down from P120. Potato was down to P70 from to P80,and red onion to P70 from P80. Calamansiwas P30, down from P35. The prices of other commodities remained stable. Well-milled rice is at P41 to P46 with a prevailing price of P43 while regular-milled Read More …

THE year 2015 or the year of the Wooden Sheep will have businesses keep their momentum of businesses, according to Feng Shui enthusiast Edgar Hao. “The year of the Sheep will be better than last year. This is a year good for business and opportunities,” Hao said in an interview on Tuesday. The year of the Wooden Sheep which will officially kick in on Feb. 19, has the sense of balance as all the five elements including wood, water, metal, fire and earth will be found in this year’s Feng Shui chart, which serves as their guide in making predictions. “There is momentum. The balanced astronomical signs signify a year of prosperity and a year of opportunities. The presence of fire element, for instance, will continue to push opportunities especially in business,” said Hao, who has been practicing practical Feng Shui for 15 years. 2 elements The year of the sheep is symbolized by two elements— with yin wood sitting on top of earth. Although this signals disharmony as the “wood conquers earth on the destructive cycle,” such conflicts, according to Hao, may be more easily resolved with compromise and concessions in 2015 as the nature of the yin wood is a flower which is easy to adjust directions and is much more flexible. “Yin wood symbolizes the small branches of tree which is not stubborn and can easily adjust to changing circumstances. With such character, expect 2015 will be comparatively less violent than 2014,” said Hao. “In 2015, the Read More …

TOP TECH INVESTOR Dave McClure of 500 Startups (center) was in Cebu for Geeks On A Beach. With McClure are TechTalks.ph founder Tina Amper (left) and IdeaSpace founder Earl Valencia. Geeks On A Beach was one of the biggest tech events to be held in Cebu this year.  (SUN.STAR FILE) CONSIDERED one of the top growth drivers of Cebu and Central Visayas, the information technology and business process management industry has transformed many lives of locals. Although consistently showing huge growth numbers, the Cebu Educational Foundation for Information Technology (Cedf-IT) and the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) believe the official figures are still lower than what the industry produces. Cedf-IT and Neda 7 are teaming up to better understand the local IT-BPM industry and validate actual employment and revenue figures being produced. According to the Neda 7, the first quarter of 2014 employed 29,000 new workers while the second quarter employed about 30,000.However, these figures were culled from firms registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza). “There are many IT-BPM companies that are not located in IT parks and are not part of the official reports right now,” said Neda 7 Director Efren Carreon. Employment figures He said there are legally registered, small-scale companies scattered about but are not included in the final reports because of their locations. He admitted these companies may be small, but he said even a startup with two to three employees could serve a large market and earn a substantial amount in revenue. He hopes, Read More …

THE renewal of business permits will start on January 3, 2015 at the City Council and NCCC Mall of Davao in Matina. It will run until January 20. The Business Bureau will be accommodating renewal application on weekdays and weekends. Maribel Paguican, assistant head of the Business Bureau, told Sun.Star Davao in a phone interview that they will be offering all of their services at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, aside from the renewal of permits, while their one-stop shop at NCCC Mall of Davao will only transact applications for renewal. She also said Councilor January Duterte, president of Association of Barangay Captains, issued a memorandum that Barangay Halls will be open on weekends to cater to business owners who will get their barangay clearance. Requirements needed for renewals are previous Mayor’s or business permit; notarized list of all employees; authority to transact the renewal of Mayor’s or business permit with the Business Bureau, special power of attorney for sole proprietorship, secretary’s certificate for corporations, and partnership resolution for partnerships; clear copy of valid ID of all signatories and the transacting person; original copy of barangay clearance; certified copy of Proof of Exemption, if any; and available financial statment of the previous year. However, the office said “additional documents may be required depending on the line of business engaged in.” Paguican said they are expecting some 30,000 to 35,000 business establishments to renew their Mayor’s or business permit. The schedules at Sangguniang Panlungsod and NCCC Mall of Davao are: 8 a.m. to Read More …