Maniolas

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s healthcare information management service industry employed 100,000 people last year and generated $1.9 billion in revenues, the Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP) said. HIMAP president Beng Coronel said the industry is on track to hitting its target of employing 210,000 people by 2022, translating to a 100 percent jump in revenues to about $5 billion. Actual revenue growth could even be higher given the potential of the industry, Coronel said. “This is a conservative growth in revenue forecasted at 250 percent from $1.9 billion in 2015 and these figures were shown during last year’s conference,” she said. The industry has been growing since 2011 with service providers showing strong capability to offer more work. It has diversified from just medical transcription such as medical coding, medical billing, outpatient care services, telemedicine, pharmaceutical and healthcare application support. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 As the industry continues to grow, it is expected to offer a wide array of career opportunities for healthcare professionals including nurses who often find it difficult to find gainful opportunities in the country. HIMAP is organizing the Global Convergence Enabling Inclusive Care and Innovation on Sept. 15 to discuss ways on how to further grow the industry. The conference is expected to look into stakeholder roles in healthcare and how some trends disrupt the growth and innovation in healthcare industry. Coronel said the conference aims to look back at the achievements of the industry and look forward to opportunities for sustained Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Lopez-led Energy Development Corp. (EDC), is now supplying power to the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), the oldest and largest state university in Region 3, with green energy under the retail competition and open access (RCOA) regime. EDC said it supplies CLSU with up to 2.9 megawatts (MW) of power following a retail supply contract with EDC affiliate First Gen Energy Solutions Inc., a retail electricity supplier (RES). Under the contract, EDC provides CLSU’s 658-hectare campus with green power from its geothermal power station in Bicol, which started on June 26, 2016.  “The entire CLSU campus will benefit from environment-friendly power all year round and not rely on imported and carbon-emitting fossil fuel energy sources or stopgap supply measures that could not guarantee reliable and uninterruptible power,” EDC vice president for corporate affairs Ricky Carandang said.  “In addition, we are committed to provide CLSU with customized energy solutions, fair pricing, competent technical assistance and responsive customer support at all times,” he said. Under the RCOA scheme, contestable customers are given the choice to choose their power supplier, a scheme aimed to foster competition in the generation and supply sector. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 EDC is the country’s leading producer of geothermal energy with total installed capacity of 1,169 MW in Leyte, Negros Islands, Bicol and North Cotabato. It also owns and operates the 150-MW wind farm in Burgos, Ilocos Norte and has 60 percent equity in the 132-MW Pantabangan-Masiway hydropower plants in Nueva Ecija.

MANILA, Philippines – An internet advocacy group has criticized ongoing efforts of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to probe the P70-billion buyout of the telecommunication assets of San Miguel Corp. as anti-consumer since it prevents the use of the idle 700-MHz frequency. Ramon Jose, lead convenor of the Internet Surfers Guild of the Philippines, said the 16-page preliminary statement of concerns released by the PCC’s Mergers & Acquisitions Office (MAO) distracts from the real consumer issue which is the immediate improvement of the state of the internet in the country. He said both PLDT and Globe were given a deadline by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to improve their internet services as a condition for the approval of the deal and co-use of the 700-MHz and 2600-MHz frequencies.  “The government and the public will hold these telcos accountable if they fail to deliver within the given time frame. However, seeing that the PCC is hampering the telcos from using these frequencies, all the more the dream of having high speed internet will remain just a dream,” Jose said. ISGP said the role of PCC to look into the welfare of consumers and businesses must be recognized but they must not treat the SMC deal as an ordinary anti-competition case because of a bigger underlying concern which impacts consumers – that of the frustratingly slow internet speeds in the country. Jose stressed that the telecommunications sector should not be treated as an ordinary consumer industry like many of the anti-competition cases because Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – From its humble beginnings 27 years ago supplying products and services to golf courses in the country, The Turf Company has grown into a one-stop shop that provides total solutions to the management and maintenance of golf courses and sports-themed estates, resorts and recreation facilities, hospitals, commercial landscapes like retail developments, and private and residential projects. Today, it is considered a leading force in the industry with an extensive roster of prestigious clients who have remained loyal to the company through the years. “As we mark our 27th year, we express our appreciation and gratitude to our customers who believe in us and continue to patronize us. The journey of our company has been exciting and fulfilling, to say the least. We have gained milestones in our history, beating the ups and downs of the local market,” said Mario Lopez, president and COO of The Turf Company. “We owe our growth through the dedication and commitment of our team and the support of our principals. They are our valuable partners.” The Turf Company enjoys some of the most established relationships in the industry, including partnerships with world-class brands which it distributes in the country. These include the Toro brand of golf course maintenance equipment and irrigation systems which accounts for about 80 percent of the company’s turf management business. Other flagship brands that The Turf Company proudly distributes are Orec precision mowing equipment, Club Car & Texas Eagle golf cars and allied products. As The Turf Company Read More …

OUTBOUND shipments of crude coconut oil (CNO) exports dipped more than a fifth year-on-year in July as the sector reeled from one of the worst dry spells to hit the country in decades, according to industry data released on Friday.