Maniolas

Could lady luck be turning her back to the powers-that-be at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA)? Just recently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reportedly stood by the Baguio City government in not finalizing BCDA’s application for a special patent covering the 14 barangays within the Camp John Hay (CJH) reservation.  DENR Cordillera OIC Paquito Moreno Jr. said the special patent being sought by BCDA could not be issued in view of Baguio City Resolution 362 (1994) which listed 19 conditions for the city government’s turnover of the erstwhile US military camp to BCDA.  Condition No. 14 of that resolution excluded from the CJH reservation 14 barangays, namely, Green Water, Country Club, Upper Dagsian, Lower Dagsian, Sta. Escolastica, Hillside, Happy Hollow, Loakan Apugan, Atok Trail, Loakan Proper, Camp 7, Loakan Liwanang, Lucnab and portions of Outlook Drive. SunStar Baguio reported that the DENR move has “strengthened the resolve” of the city government to appeal to the BCDA to comply with the 19 conditionalities, and has prompted Baguio City mayor Mauricio Domogan to order the city’s Legal Office to file a case for specific performance against the BCDA for breach of this resolution in applying for a special patent covering the 14 barangays. BCDA suffered another setback when the Baguio City government reportedly opposed BCDA’s application for a permit with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to tap Barangay Greenwater as a source of spring water for CJH. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Read More …

Control your own destiny or somebody else will. —Jack Welch Who are your personal heroes or people you admire the most and wish to emulate in terms of success? Whether it’s tycoons John Gokongwei Jr., Lucio C. Tan or revolutionary Andres Bonifacio, reading about the exploits and lives of achievers in biographies will inspire you as well as give valuable lessons. At a recent luncheon, I was seated beside entrepreneur JR Palomo of Be/Loved boutique photography and his parents, Robert Palomo and Evelyn “Toots” Palomo, who own 40 outlets of Great Image Studio, which has been in SM malls for the past 30 years. When I asked who they most admire as a business icon or role model, former Ayala Group investment banker Robert Palomo replied: “Jack Welch.” The 79-year-old retired businessman John Francis “Jack” Welch Jr. is a chemical engineer who became one of the most legendary business leaders in the history of capitalism. He served as chairman and CEO of General Electric from 1981 and 2001, changing GE and leading it towards explosive growth as one of the world’s most valuable companies. Under his leadership, GE’s value rose 4,000 percent! Fortune magazine in 1999 hailed him as “Manager of the Century.” When I asked for five reasons why he admires Jack Welch, Palomo enumerated the following, and I am adding my personal comments to each: 1. Jack Welch looks at the bottom line. I agree. No matter how colorful or impressive a chief executive officer can be, one Read More …

Agri-entrepreneur awardee Senen Bacani, author Joey Concepcion, Secretary Francis Pangilinan, Senator Cynthia Villar, Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, Dr. Jaime Alip and New Zealand Ambassador Reuben Levermore with the over 7,000 participants and delegates inside the World Trade Center The first Agri-Negosyo Summit was a huge success! Over 7,000 participants showed their keen interest in this sector. The various speakers showed that there’s money in agriculture, as exemplified by their respective negosyo models, and how several institutional enablers can assist them.  Over 40 resource persons/ agripreneurs and enablers surely empowered all the participants that day.  The learnings and opportunities have been provided and it is now up to the participants to make good use of them.  The choice is ours. And, as we say, success is for those who want it most. That is why Go Negosyo is promoting agripreneurship, because millions of Filipinos live near lands dedicated to agriculture and they should maximize it. With the Go Negosyo bill now signed into law, agri-negosyo should be a major component in the development of the economy of this country.

MANILA, Philippines – The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) is planning to tie-up with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to encourage more European businesses to check out opportunities here. ECCP vice president for external affairs Henry Schumacher said in a text message the ECCP recently met with the PCCI to discuss how they can work together under the European Union (EU)-Philippines Business Network (EPBN). The EPBN seeks to encourage networking activities of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the trade bloc and the Philippines.“European business organizations have launched an EU Commission co-financed project called EPBN that is tasked to bring EU based SMEs to the Philippines and match them with business opportunities or Philippine SMEs. PCCI is interested to partner in this endeavor to create win-win deals for the Philippines and for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) economic integration,” he said. The two business groups are currently preparing a memorandum of agreement that will outline the tasks of both parties. “We are drafting it at the moment. Signing will be in the first half of August,” Schumacher said. As the ECCP wants to encourage more European SMEs to do business here, the PCCI also wants to promote partnerships between local and foreign firms. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 PCCI president Alfredo Yao said earlier the business group ispromoting the Philippines as a potential hub in the region to foreign firms and the group’s partner business councils in other Read More …