Maniolas

Singapore is Singapore, one might say. But a look into their Land Transport Master Plan 2013 will make us wish we had a semblance of this in our country, especially in the metropolis. After all, we tout ourselves as having surpassed other countries in the region in economic growth recently. Singapore’s population growth was higher than expected, so the city-state has embarked on a comprehensive land transport plan for its inhabitants to move around. By 2030 the city-state’s planners envision four out of five households living within a 10-minute walk from a train station. Eighty-five percent of public transport journeys less than 20 kilometers will be completed within 60 minutes. Seventy-five percent of all journeys in peak hours will be undertaken on public transport. Singaporeans have increased expectations of a better quality of life and, correspondingly, an improved travel experience. Increased demand This increased demand for transport is driven by a larger economy and a bigger population. Aware of their country’s much smaller land size, the citizens of Singapore express their views and opinions, especially those who use public transport systems every day. The government’s engagement with the people through the website “Our Singapore Conversations,” where feedback is analyzed and reviewed, results in the people’s views being incorporated into the Land Transport Authority’s policy formulation. The rail will remain the backbone of the public transport system, with more connections to the MRT network and new hubs. They will develop new bus, walkways and cycle routes. The numerous routes from the Read More …

Dominador A. AlmiranteLabor case digest COMPLAINANTS Josephine Solano and 10 others filed a complaint for illegal dismissal, monetary claims and damages against Podden International Philippines, Inc. (Podden) and respondent Alejandro Cruz-Herrera. They engaged the services of petitioner Atty. Emmanuel D. Agustin to handle the case upon the verbal agreement that he will be paid on a contingency basis, at 10 percent of the final monetary award. The complainants, through Atty. Agustin, obtained a favorable ruling before the labor arbiter (LA). No appeal was taken from the judgment. Hence, on Feb. 2, 1999, a motion for execution was filed. The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), in a resolution dated May 7, 2003, ordered the labor arbiter to immediately issue the corresponding writ of execution for the enforcement of the decision, the total monetary award of which as of July 20, 1999 reached P3,358,441.84. On Aug. 6, 2004, respondent Herrera filed a petition for certiorari before the Court of Appeals (CA) assailing the resolution of the NLRC. While the petition was pending on Aug. 30, 2005, a joint compromise agreement was submitted to the CA. In a resolution dated Sept. 30, 2005, the CA approved the compromise agreement and entered judgment. Displeased, Atty. Agustin filed a petition for review on certiorari with the Supreme Court. He assailed the CA resolution, contending, among others, that the compromise agreement was unconscionable and executed without his knowledge and consent. While the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the compromise agreement, it ruled that Atty. Agustin Read More …

Centenario deep-water drilling platform stands off the coast of Veracruz, Mexico in the Gulf of Mexico.(AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) MEXICO CITY — The government announced on Thursday the start of bidding for oil exploration rights in 14 areas of the Gulf of Mexico being opened to domestic and international companies as Mexico ends a seven-decade state monopoly on the petroleum business. Bidding will continue until July 15. Companies wishing to bid must meet a set of requirements, including showing their participation in at least three exploration projects and oil extraction of at least $1 billion and capital on hand of at least the same amount. Mexico nationalized its oil industry in 1938. Prior to this year’s reforms, the state company Petroleos Mexicanos was the only one allowed to do oil exploration and production. The parcels up for bid are in shallow water, less than 500 meters (1,640 feet), off the coasts of Veracruz, Tabasco and Campeche states. The areas will be explored through shared production contracts running for 25 years. Businesses may bid independently or as part of a consortium, but no company can try for more than five blocks. Interested companies will have access for six months to detailed data about each of the parcels through a website. “Mexico is betting a lot on this audacious opening,” said Energy Secretary Pedro Joaquin Coldwell. “For that reason the Mexican government’s commitment to transparency is crucial.” Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Undersecretary of Energy Lourdes Melgar said every Read More …

PETRON CORP. has assured that it can keep fuel prices and supply stable even with the looming shutdown of its operations at Manila’s Pandacan district as ordered by the Supreme Court (SC).

MANILA, Philippines – The Social Security System (SSS) said its provident fund for overseas Filipino workers has much more room for growth as only two in every five OFWs set aside money for investments and savings. Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)’s 2013 survey on overseas Filipinos, SSS senior vice president and international operations division head Judy Frances A. See said only 40.7 percent of 1.9 million OFWs had savings from cash remittances. This was 2.2 percent lower than the 2012 figure. Given this, See urged OFWs registered with the state pension fund to invest in its Flexi-Fund program, a provident fund type of retirement plan offered exclusively to OFW members. Under the program, an OFW member could contribute at least P550 based on the P5,000 minimum monthly salary credit (MSC) for OFWs to a maximum of P1,760 per month based on the maximum MSC of P16,000. “Saving should be a priority because once they come back home and their income stops, they would likely have to live off whatever amount they have set aside. It is, therefore, important that they accumulate funds for a reserve, such as their SSS savings to mitigate loss of income.” See said. SSS savings would redound to their benefit in the form of payments for contingencies such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement and death, she said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “For only a minimum of P200 paid in excess of the maximum contribution, it already enables an OFW member Read More …