Vehicle assemblers’ sales up 19.3% in January

 Economy
Feb 112015
 
Vehicle assemblers’ sales up 19.3% in January

MANILA, Philippines – Sales of the country’s group of local vehicle assemblers grew by nearly a fifth in January from a year ago supported by the positive performance of both the passenger car (PC) and commercial vehicle (CV) segments. According to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI), its combined sales with the Truck Manufacturers Association Inc. (TMA) reached 18,662 units last month, the highest January sales performance ever achieved and up by 19.3 percent from the 15,647 units sold in the same month in 2014. “January has been traditionally a slow month following a hectic selling period in December, but this year’s January sales results is yet another milestone achieved by the automotive industry,” CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said. Driving the growth in sales last month was the PC segment which posted a 35.8-percent uptick in sales to reach 7,200 units this year from the previous year’s sales of 5,301 units. The CV segment also contributed to the higher sales in January, having sold 11,462 units this year, which climbed 10.8 percent from 10,346 units a year ago. By company performance, Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. improved its leadership as it captured 46.7 percent of total sales. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Another Japanese firm, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp., placed second with its 17.4- percent market share, followed by Ford Motor Co. Philippines Inc. with its 8.8-percent share. Settling for the fourth and fifth spots were Isuzu Philippines Corp. and Honda Read More …

On a short break

 Economy
Feb 112015
 
On a short break

I am currently out of the country for a short trip. This column will resume on Feb. 19 to tackle issues and concerns that affect the country. Facebook and Twitter We are actively using two social networking websites to reach out more often and even interact with and engage our readers, friends and colleagues in the various areas of interest that I tackle in my column. Please like us at www.facebook.com and follow us at www.twitter.com/ReyGamboa. Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.

Why the mad rush for bilateral talks with SIA?

 Economy
Feb 112015
 
Why the mad rush for bilateral talks with SIA?

Many are wondering why the government seems to be in a mad rush to hold bilateral aviation talks with Singapore Airlines this week considering that barely a year ago, airlines were given the right to increase flights to about two million seats per week on the Singapore-Manila route, with Singapore’s airlines accorded “open skies” privileges to all other airports in the country. To think neither Singaporean nor Filipino airlines have maximized the use of the two million seats, so why the unseemly haste to hold talks with the city-state that is our competitor in the multi-billion-dollar business of travel and tourism marketing, with both countries vying for the attention of tourists from China, Japan, Korea, Europe and other countries? Admittedly, Singapore already enjoys great advantages that include a squeaky clean rep while the Philippines is only just beginning to play in the big leagues again as far as travel and tourism are concerned.  On top of the “More Fun in the Philippines” campaign and our efforts to improve safety and security, we are building the Entertainment City complex of casinos, with the City of Dreams being the latest example.  Our airlines are also investing in new routes and new aircraft even as government struggles to beef up airports and air navigation systems in a bid to make the Philippines a strong regional player in travel and tourism. Unfortunately, the Department of Tourism seems to be the driving force behind the mad rush for air talks with Singapore, perhaps not fully Read More …

‘Powering’ the business sector

 Economy
Feb 112015
 
‘Powering’ the business sector

Go Negosyo executive director Mon Lopez presents the books and DVDs to DTI Sec. Greg Domingo, Sen. Bam Aquino, re- gional director Wilhelm Malones and Iloilo MSMED chair Valerie Maravilla, to symbolically show the support being giv- en by Go Negosyo to the Negosyo centers, in terms of help- ing develop entrepreneurial mindset and competencies via seminars, trainings, mentorship network, product and market development. The other week, Unilever’s country chairman and CEO Rohit Jawa and I, together with my brother John, who is the managing director of our Selecta ice cream JV with Unilever, met Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla and his team to discuss the power situation.  Selecta is the market leader in ice cream with close to 80- percent share, with several thousands of freezers deployed in many sari-sari stores that are adding more income to small entrepreneurs. It is in the peak summer months that they benefit the most from selling ice cream. We wanted to get an assessment on how bad the power situation really is and whether or not we would be having brownouts that could affect the businesses of many micro entrepreneurs as well as the operations of all those in business.  Sec. Petilla had a very comprehensive and objective assessment of the situation. We believe he is on top of the situation and he is one of the best Energy secretaries that we ever had. In summary, he mentioned that while there is ample supply of power even during the summer months, there is still a Read More …

CNN Phls to air this mo

 Economy
Feb 102015
 
CNN Phls to air this mo

MANILA, Philippines – 9TV of Radio Philippines Network channel 9 (RPN9) would be rebranded as CNN Philippines this month exactly four months after a new group led by Ambassador Antonio Cabangon-Chua took over the company and partnered with Time Warner Inc. Nine Media Corp. president Benjamin Ramos said the company’s 9TV would be rebranded as CNN Philippines within the month. “Yes the rebranding will take effect this month,” Ramos replied via text when asked if the rebranding would push through as scheduled this month. Last Aug. 23, Solar News Channel was renamed 9TV and Solar News organization became 9News marking the beginning of the channel’s thrust to reach wider audience and strengthen the presence on free TV RPN9. This after the group of Cabangon-Chua acquired the stake of businessman Wilson Tieng in Solar TV Network Inc. (STVN). STVN’s Solar Entertainment Corp. used to own 34 percent of RPN9 while the Benedicto family through Far Eastern Manages and Investors kept its 32 percent of RPN9 while the government has a 20- percent interest in the broadcast firm. Under the agreement between Cabangon Chua and Tieng’s Solar Group, STVN would have to forego the Solar name and change its corporate name before the end of last year. STVN would also stop using the Solar brand as well as logo. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Cabangon-Chua’s media empire includes Business Mirror and tabloid Pilipino Mirror as well as DwIZ 882 AM and 97.9 Natural FM through Aliw Broadcasting Corp. Read More …

Century Properties expects P2.5-B sales from new tower

 Economy
Feb 102015
 
Century Properties expects P2.5-B sales from new tower

MANILA, Philippines – Riding high on an office sector boom in the country, upscale real estate developer Century Properties Group Inc. has launched its latest commercial property offering in Makati expected to generate P2.5 billion in sales. Century Properties said its new office spaces at the Century Spire tower in Century City is part of its plan to expand its commercial assets given the country’s strong economy that fuels demand for office space, especially for the business process outsourcing (BPO) and IT sectors. “We are aggressively pursuing our business expansion plans this year, which includes strengthening our commercial portfolio on top of our current concept residential projects. Diversifying to other product offerings, such as for sale strata office space, is instrumental in sustaining the growth for the company,” said Century Properties chief operating officer Marco Antonio. The listed property firm owned by former ambassador Jose E.B. Antonio said Century Spire would be adding a minimum of 23,000 square meters of office space to the market upon its completion. Century Properties said the units would be sold to end users seeking a prime location for their business, as well as to those seeking to lease out their purchased units.  Century Spire’s single unit office spaces ranges from 50 to 90 square meters and are priced from P185,000 to P205,000 per square meter. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Current rental rates for prime office in Makati, meanwhile, ranges from about P900 to P1,300 per square meter per month, Read More …

What do you play for?

 Economy
Feb 102015
 
What do you play for?

The author (center, back row) with STAR Motoring editor Manny N. de los Reyes (center) and Chevrolet Philippine distributor The Covenent Car Company Inc.’s Senior Vice President for Marketing and Customer Services Lyn Buena. For many football fans, winning or losing a game is a matter of life and death. But if you ask the folks around Old Trafford, they’Il tell you that that’s ridiculous. It is far more important than that. Welcome to Manchester, England. Home to the legendary Manchester United football team. In automotive terms, this would be what Scuderia Ferrari is to Formula One, or because love ‘em or hate ‘em, the sport wouldn’t be the same without them. It’s my first time to watch a match live. Well, one of this league at least. But this is not just any match; this is the most epic rivalry in football history: Manchester United versus Liverpool, which loosely translated is Ali vs Fraser, Prost vs Senna, Ateneo vs La Salle, and Roadrunner vs Coyote all rolled into one. Yes, I know. It is strange for a motoring journalist to be covering a football match, but I have been invited by Chevrolet Philippines through their global sponsorship program to understand precisely that. Because even though Chevrolet is pulling out of Europe, they are finding new roads in Asia and other emerging markets where football is the fastest growing sport, and using the power of play to make dreams become possibilities. “Followed passionately by billions of people around the world, Read More …

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