Maniolas

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine real estate industry is expected to grow further next year as the looming Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) Economic Integration continue to attract foreign investors and with the region’s increasing role in global economy. According to Noel Cariño, president of Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association, the country’s largest organization of key players in the domestic real estate industry, the Asean integration in 2015 will change the economic landscape of the whole region, particularly the real estate market. The elimination of tariffs on goods and services by a single Asean economy would drive consumer spending higher. “The demand for residential spaces adjacent to malls, retail complexes and other recreational spaces would go up and will likely increase the already healthy real estate market,” Cariño said. The influx of investment and elimination of trade barriers will allow each country in Asean to enjoy unimpeded and free flow of goods, services, labor and capital. The potential impact of the integration would require more commercial and residential infrastructure for highly urbanized cities within the region including key cities of the Philippines. “Residential, commercial and retail developers, which will be exposed to international market will expand their operations and acquire properties inside and outside the country. While foreign investors and corporate executives with local operations in the country will look for residential spaces for a place to stay,” Cariño added. CREBA however, reiterated the country must continue to pursue relevant market reforms in order to remain Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – A new standard of care is now introduced that makes a cavity-free future possible by the latest breakthrough technology from Colgate, new Colgate maximum cavity protection plus sugar acid neutralizer toothpaste. It is the first and only anti-cavity toothpaste that goes beyond the protection of fluoride that directly fights sugar acids in plaque – the number one cause of cavities. A common misconception is that sugar is the main cause of cavities; however, any kind of food can be the culprit – even healthy food such as fruits and vegetables – due to sugar acids. Sugar acids are created in the mouth when common oral bacteria feed on starchy food residue, causing the acid level in the mouth to rise and enabling sugar acids to attack, therefore weakening the teeth and causing cavities. The latest breakthrough in cavity protection from Colgate fights cavities in two ways with the unique combination of sugar acid neutralizer and fluoride. Sugar acid neutralizer helps deactivate the sugar acids in plaque making it easier for fluoride to strengthen and repair the teeth, thus preventing cavity formation.

MANILA, Philippines – More companies are focusing their hiring activities in the field of accounting and finance over the ever popular sales roles and marketing roles.  In a survey conducted by JobStreet.com, 37 percent of companies indicated their demand for accounting and finance professionals, followed by sales at 35 percent, while IT software and marketing professionals share third place at 21 percent. While sales, accounting and finance, and marketing have been dominating previous JobStreet.com surveys, it would be the first time that demand for sales professionals has dropped from its top spot. This is also the first time IT professionals has claimed a spot among the top three specializations.  The trend of new specializations dislodging old ones shows how robust and dynamic the recruitment market has become despite already being in the latter part of the year. Fifty-one percent of employers surveyed said that compared to the same period last year (July to September 2013), employment outlook in their respective industries are better. Only 4 percent of companies forecast worse, while 44 percent expect the employment outlook to remain the same.   Company expansions are expected to boost hiring activity, with 42 percent of respondent companies looking to grow operations, and thus hire more personnel. Thirty percent claim they would be replacing and filling essential positions, while only 5 percent and even a smaller 3 percent of companies would hire less and would not be hiring at all, respectively. Despite the optimistic outlook shared by most respondents, there are still challenges Read More …

Conglomerate looking at P123-B Lakeshore dike   MANILA, Philippines – Conglomerate Ayala Corp. vowed to continue to participate in the bidding for major infrastructure projects under the government’s public private partnership (PPP) program amid the impending rebidding for the P35.4-billion Cavite – Laguna expressway. “We will continue to participate in PPP projects, “ Ayala Corp. managing director John Eric Francia said in a text message. Francia said the conglomerate through property giant Ayala Land Inc. is looking at the P123-billion Laguna Lakeshore expressway dike project – the largest PPP project to be rolled out by the Aquino administration. The 47-kilometer expressway dike would facilitate traffic flow and mitigate flooding in the western coastal communities along Laguna Lake from Bicutan in Taguig City through Calamba to Los Baños in Laguna. The project also involves the reclamation of about 700 hectares of raw land. Likewise, he disclosed the company is also interested in the P24.4-billion Bulacan bulk water supply project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) through Manila Water Company Inc. as well as the operation and maintenance (O&M) of Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT-2) through Light Rail Manila Holdings (LRMH). Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 On the other hand, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is bidding out a contract to operate and maintain the LRT-2 system including the proposed P9.7 billion extension to Antipolo City and Port Area in Manila. “Currently we are looking at LRT2 through LRM Holdings, Laguna Lakeshore through Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is contemplating on raising the minimum capital requirements for new entrants to the local casino industry to ensure their financial capability. Pagcor chairman Cristino Naguiat said he is looking at a minimum capital requirement of $1.5 billion for casino companies that will operate for the first time in the Philippines, 50 percent higher than the current requirement of $1 billion. The terms of reference are now being fleshed out by the agency and are expected to be finalized within the year. Naguiat said several foreign casino firms have signified interest to set up shop in the Philippines to capitalize on the rosy prospects of the local gaming industry. Among them is US-based casino giant Caesars Entertainment Corp., which submitted a letter of intent to open a casino in the Philippines, Naguiat said. He declined to name the other entities that expressed interest to enter the Philippine gambling industry. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Caesars is hammering out a reorganization plan that will pave the way for a restructuring of $18.3 billion in debt after incurring massive losses since 2009.  Naguiat is confident that Entertainment City, the country’s version of gaming hubs like Las Vegas and Macau, would boost more foreign investments into the Philippines and provide employment to as much as 80,000 Filipinos once completed. Philippine gaming revenues are seen to grow double digit this year with the opening of Macau casino giant Melco Crown’s City Read More …