Maniolas

MANILA, Philippines – Member of the OceanaGold emergency response team demonstrated their expertise in disaster response by emerging as the overall champion in the regional Fire Olympics conducted by the Bureau of Fire Protection in Paguiran Stadium Ilagan Isabela recently. “I commend our emergency response team who are continuously improving and evolving in their disaster rescue skills. From Bohol earthquake to Yolanda disaster rescue operation, they have showed exemplary courage and dedication to serve others“ said OceanaGold country director Bradley Norman. The Annual Fire Olympics competition is attended by various local government units and industrial companies located in Region II. The competition aims to test the capabilities of the emergency responders during disasters such as fire preventions. OceanaGoldERT will be representing the whole region of Cagayan Valley to the National Fire Olympics on Dec. 19-20 in Metro Manila. According to Bradley Norman, this kind of competition enables OceanaGold to test the judgment, knowledge and abilities of their emergency response team in rescue situations while developing a network of emergency responders who are likewise competent in handling any kind of disasters.

MANILA, Philippines – The series of international roadshows conducted by the Aquino administration to drum up interest for major infrastructure projects has lured big Canadian and American companies to participate in biddings for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in the country. PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said the Philippines has successfully showcased close to 50 PPP projects worth about $21 billion during a roadshow in North America, including Toronto and Montreal in Canada as well as New York and Washington in the US. “The roadshow attendees have expressed their interest to engage in the PPP program either as bidders, funders, operators, sub-contractors, or as consultants, among others,” Canilao said. Canilao talked with Canadian Council for PPP (CCPPP) as well as P3 Canada in Toronto to discuss best practices and country experiences in implementing PPPs and in other areas such as strengthening of the legal and regulatory frameworks and capacity building. She also met with several companies including Manulife Capital, C&I Constructive Edge, and Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) to discuss the current investment opportunities in the Philippines. More than 40 participants joined the forum. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 In Montreal, Canilao had a meeting with Canada’s largest pension fund manager Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ). According to her, Manulife, OMERS, CDPQ, and PSP Investments are keen on assessing possible areas of investment in infrastructure and PPPs most likely through partnerships with local players. Canilao also met with major companies including Blackrock,  Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Falling oil prices in the global market are expected to temper upside risks to domestic inflation, the research arm of Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. said.  “Domestic inflation may have a downward bias if oil prices continue to decline, although most of the pressure will be in terms of local supply and seasonal demand,” Mabellene Reynaldo, research analyst at Metrobank, said in a report. Inflation slid to 4.4 percent in September from 4.9 percent in August and in July amid lower increases of food prices, housing and utility rates. The price of Dubai crude, a benchmark for oil trading in Asia, declined to an average $87.99 per barrel on Oct. 1 to 22 from an average $96.59 per barrel in September. “Expect global commodity prices to remain muted in the fourth quarter, as concerns on slow global demand and a stronger dollar weigh down on commodity prices,” Reynaldo said. As global commodity prices continue to decline, the index for energy prices in September dropped to its lowest level in two years, she noted. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “Oil prices reached two-year lows in September as the International Energy Agency reported that oil demand is slowing at a significant pace while supplies are moving steadily despite possible production disruptions from Middle East countries,” Reynaldo said. Inflation has so far averaged 4.4 percent in the nine months to September, above the midpoint of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ three to five percent target range. Read More …

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – United States-based Filipino entrepreneurs belonging to the Federation of Philippine-American Chambers of Commerce (FPACC) are planning to put up businesses in this Freeport. According to FPACC delegation of 65 members came over here for the Luzon leg of the US Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines and they have met with officials of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), local industry leaders, and heads of local government units (LGUs). The mission, which visited the country Oct. 17 to 24, was organized by the Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation, Inc. to help promote Central Luzon as an ideal investment destination. Gus Mercado, head of mission and executive director of FPACC, said they aim to bridge and facilitate business and cultural ties between the two nations through the Philippine-American chamber network. Mercado said the delegates represent various endeavors and businesses, but all are entrepreneurs in their own right and represent the creme dela creme of the Filipino community in the United States. He said the delegates have expressed interest in real estate, eco-tourism, manufacturing, light-industrial machinery, and retirement facility. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “The majority of us here were born in the Philippines, and we have what they call pusong Pinoy,” Mercado said. “Our non-Filipino members of the delegation will understand why although we have been away for so long, we still have “pusong Pinoy”. Deep in our hearts, we are still Filipinos,” Mercado added. He also noted that despite its Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Australia’s Energy World Corp. (EWC) is aiming to have its 400 megawatt gas-fired power plant ready by the summer of 2015 to help ease a looming power shortage. EWC executive director Brian Allen said the first 200-MW gas turbine and generator have arrived at the plant site in Pagbilao, Quezon, with the second 200-MW turbine and generator expected to arrive within three weeks.  “Under the accelerated program, we hope to have the first 200 MW unit ready for generating power into the Luzon grid by early 2015 and the second 200 MW unit to come on line shortly thereafter,” Allen said. He said by achieving this program, EWC would meet the Department of Energy’s request to bring into commercial operation an additional 400 MW of power capacity to the Luzon grid by the summer of 2015, thus addressing the foreseen shortfall in Luzon’s power generation capacity. While the company did not provide a definite date for the commissioning of the respective 200 MW units, Allen said they are working diligently to meet the request of the DOE to have the units ready for commercial operation as soon as it can. Additional development would come thereafter. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1  “Our planning is for the additional 250 MW steam turbine package to be phased into this development by yearend 2015 or early 2016,” Allen said. Based on timetables released by the DOE in February last year, EWC’s first unit was supposed to be Read More …