A clueless bureaucrat?

 Economy
Feb 082015
 
A clueless bureaucrat?

For a taxpayer who must work over four months of a year to pay a bureaucrat’s salary, it is frustrating to hear them publicly exposing their lack of knowledge. We all know that the problem of congestion at NAIA is on account of its single working runway. (They have stopped using the other cross runway for safety reasons.) Even if we build 10 terminals there but if there is only one runway, planes will still have to fall in line to take off and circle around to land. That is simple and logical even laymen should be able to understand. Here is how someone with technical knowledge explained the situation for me: “At present the separation between aircraft movements is 1.5 mins. or 40 per hour. On landing that means the aircraft behind you is only six km away and as you slow down for final landing that aircraft is only four km away.  To try to compress the separation is too risky. “On departures, the push back time from the terminal is critical to meet your take off slots. A delay in terminal departures destroys the entire slot program for that hour and creates a domino effect on the other hours. “Yes you will hear guys talking about NAIA doing 60/hr on one runway. They are talking through their ears. That is only possible with a multi-runway airport with the correct ICAO design standards. Yes you can bring aircraft movements close to even 20 to 30 secs separation but Read More …

Best practices guide on contract law

 Economy
Feb 082015
 
Best practices guide on contract law

MANILA, Philippines – Don’t be duped, fooled, or taken advantage by others in business deals and personal transactions because of unfamiliarity on contract law. Life is a series of agreements and it will be useful to understand contract law, especially for non-lawyers in family businesses and for professionals. It’s a life skill that all citizens must know. Don’t be one of the many who have become victims of flawed, void or voidable contracts that cannot be enforced. To help you avoid pitfalls and traps in creating and enforcing agreements, the Center for Global Best Practices is launching a one-day seminar entitled, “Best Practices Guide on Contract Law for Non-Lawyers” on Friday, March 6, 2015 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. For details and a complete list of upcoming seminars including How To Prevent, Collect and Prosecute Those With Bouncing Checks, International Trade Training Seminars, HR Laws, Education Law, and more, you may log on to www.cgbp.org or call (+63 2) 842-7148/ 59 and 556-8968/ 69, Cebu lines: (+63 32) 512-3106 or 07 or Baguio line: (+63 74) 423-5148. This pioneering seminar is designed to update professionals, businessmen and non-lawyers about the fundamentals and sticky areas of Philippine law governing obligations and contracts. Knowledge of the substance and form of agreements can prevent serious conflicts and business losses that can snowball into lawsuits and even violence. A legally enforceable contract binds the parties to their respective promises and signals the start of a smooth and continuous relationship for them. Read More …

Phl factory output up 7.5%

 Economy
Feb 082015
 
Phl factory output up 7.5%

MANILA, Philippines – Factory output likely expanded by 7.5 percent in December due to a strong demand from the domestic market and a rise in export performance, Moody’s Analytics said. “Industrial production in the Philippines grew strongly through the second half of 2014 and we expect this to continue in the December report,” Moody’s Analytics said in a research note. “Robust domestic demand improving export demand are driving a solid upturn in manufacturing,” the research firm said. Manufacturing output, as measured by the volume of production index, grew faster by 8.1 percent in November from 7.7 percent in October. Official December factory output data will be released on Tuesday. “Fourth quarter GDP figures have already been released, showing a 7.3-percent year-on-year expansion in manufacturing,” Moody’s Analytics said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “We expect a similar return in the final industrial production print for the year,” Moody’s continued. The November performance was driven by the increases in the production of printing products, fabricated metal products, beverages, paper and paper products, non-metallic mineral products, and basic metals, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. Meanwhile, the value of production index also went up by 7.5 percent in November from a year ago. The PSA said this was due to higher returns from printing products, fabricated metal products, beverages, paper and paper products, non-metallic mineral products, and leather products. The country’s manufacturing sector recorded double-digit growth in the second half of 2013, helping the domestic economy achieve a Read More …

Go Negosyo’s inspiring Filipina entrepreneurs

 Economy
Feb 082015
 
Go Negosyo’s inspiring Filipina entrepreneurs

Helena Benitez: One of our Mother of All Mother Entrepreneurs, she was the chair of the Philippine Women’s University, the first alumna who became its president and chairwoman. She was an active educator, society leader, legislator, and women’s advocate. Three weeks from now we will once again celebrate Women’s Month: March. And for the past six years, Go Negosyo has celebrated the contributions and successes of many Filipinas through our Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit. This summit is dedicated to all Filipinos — particularly Filipinas — who strive to improve their lives and contribute to the country’s success. For six years in a row, this summit, which usually has over 5,000 attendees, empowers our Filipinas by equipping them with a positive mindset and the tools and concepts necessary for them to pursue the path towards success, most especially by being entrepreneurial and enterprising. This year, during our seventh Filipina Summit, we will continue to recognize a new batch of Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur Awardees who have inspiring stories of success in their own different fields. We all know that the business sector is no longer dominated by men. Even Pinays can be champions in the various fields and industries of this country. Before we name the latest batch of Filipinas, let me share with you some of our Most Inspiring Filipina Awardees for the past six seasons of the Filipina Summit. They have shared their stories, inspirations and advice with many. We hope that before we name the latest batch, you can learn Read More …

Digital tweets and thoughts

 Economy
Feb 072015
 
Digital tweets and thoughts

If you have been hurt and offended, I have three things that I want to share with you. These will liberate you: 1. Oscar Wilde says, “always forgive your enemies, nothing annoys them so much.” 2. It’s better to forgive and forget than to resent and remember.  3. Lewis B. Smedes says, “to forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Reading these three statements is different from simply hearing them. I write this column and maintain a radio segment. Both have the same name. The words may be the same when heard and read, but the effect on the receiver of the message is different. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 But what about posting the same words in digital platforms like Facebook, Twitter, blogs or even in LinkedIn? The effects are totally different. I post stuff in all of my digital spaces everyday. If I miss a day, that’s probably because I am in an aircraft and I have no access to the Internet. Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook continues to grow in size and engagement, that there are 1.32 billion people connecting on Facebook each month, and 63% of them are daily visitors. Also, there are 650 million people using their mobile services daily. This is a marketing person’s dream and an advertiser’s nightmare. Digital media has radically changed the way business is conducted. Social media has changed the way we live our lives as well. Most people are Read More …

Turkish flour exporters urge probe on smuggling

 Economy
Feb 072015
 
Turkish flour exporters urge probe on smuggling

MANILA, Philippines – The Turkish Flour Yeast & Ingredients Promotions Group (TYFI), a group representing Turkish flour exporters, is calling on the government to conduct an investigation on claims that Turkish flour is being smuggled into the country. In a statement, TYFI chairman Turgay Unlu said the claim made by the Philippine Association of Flour Millers, Inc. (PAFMIL) that Turkishflour is being brough into the country and declared as Indian flour to avoid payment of dumping duties is a serious matter that needs to be looked into. Late last month, the PAFMIL said some 1,800 bags of Turkish flour declared as Indian flour were intercepted by the Bureau of Customs in General Santos City. Imports from Turkish flour milling companies are subject to a dumping duty of 2.87 to 16.19 percent under a Tariff Commission (TC) decisionissued last year. The TC decision was issued following a conduct of formal investigation on a petition filed by the PAFMIL which claimed that local flour couldnot compete with Turkish flour being sold at dumping prices. Flour from India meanwhile, has no dumping duty and has a tariff rate of seven percent. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Unlu said the TYFI supports a conduct of investigation on the matter. He said that the TYFI opposes fraudulent activities that cast doubt on the conduct of business here. “TYFI takes pride in its corporate culture focused on a set of uncompromising values, specifically integrity and professionalism. The organization, with its entire membership, Read More …

DPWH extends anew deadline for Central Luzon toll project

 Economy
Feb 072015
 
DPWH extends anew deadline for Central Luzon toll project

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has extended anew the deadline for the submission of prequalification documents for the proposed P15 billion Central Luzon link expressway (CLLEX), which will connect Tarlac to Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija. DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut said the deadline for the submission of qualification documents for the Public Private Partnership (PPP) project has been deferred to Feb. 23 instead of Feb. 9 to give interested bidders more time to prepare their documents. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson earlier extended the deadline to Feb. 9 instead of Feb. 2 to enable the agency to respond to additional clarification or queries raised by prospective contractors or bidders.  “This is to preclude any issue that may arise later during the procurement process. We have to address all the issues or concerns being raised, otherwise, these may again be the causes of the delay in project implementation,” Singson said. The submission of prequalification documents for the first phase of CLLEX  scheduled last Jan. 19 was called off due to the scheduled visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines. This was rescheduled to Feb. 2. Some contractors and bidders have requested that they be given ample time to secure or acquire necessary documents from the country of origin due to the long Christmas holidays. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The first phase of the CLLEX project worth P14.9 billion would cover a 30.7-kilometer four-lane expressway stretching from Tarlac to Cabanatuan City in Read More …

Government, private sector to fasttrack Clark projects for APEC hosting

 Economy
Feb 072015
 
Government, private sector to fasttrack Clark projects for APEC hosting

MANILA, Philippines – The government and the private sector have decided to fasttrack projects in Clark, Pampanga with the area serving as one of the venues for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) events this year. In a statement, Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president and chief executive officer Arthur Tugade said the country’s APEC hosting has encouraged both government and the private sector to advance the implementation of their respective projects. The Philippines is hosting the APEC meetings this year. The APEC senior officers meeting started in Clark on January 26. Tugade said projects such as the Clark Rotunda, Clark Museum, Clark 4D Theatre and Clark Integrated Command Center are to be implemented this year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The renovation of the Clark Parade Ground, which is in its final stages, is expected to have a rubberized overlay for the jogging path, renovated park bencher, as well as shower room for sports participants upon completion. Tugade said some locator firms in Clark have also advanced the dates of their development plans. Among these locators is Fontana Leisure Parks which is expanding the seating capacity of its convention center to more than 1,800 seats from 500, at present, putting up new villas and rooms and adding 1,000 workers. Oxford Hotel meanwhile, has committed to invest P1 billion in the next five years to put up a new hotel, casino and restaurant with one-stop commercial complex as well as employ 615 individuals. Widus Hotel and Casino Read More …

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