A BILL implementing a new revenue-sharing scheme between the government and mining firms is expected to be submitted to the Office of the President this week, a Cabinet official said over the weekend.
May 252014
May 252014
THE PHILIPPINE government has tapped higher educational institutions to help boost the capacity of local government units (LGUs) to handle public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
May 252014
NOWADAYS, businesses are trying to remain competitive by making substantial investment in information technology (IT). This is particularly true for large organizations where the use of IT is essential to deploying effective business strategies, enhancing productivity and developing increasingly innovative products and services. Top executives from around the world understand that any transformation agenda requires the effective use of IT, particularly to ensure cost competitiveness.
May 252014
At long last, the construction of the Puerto Prin-cesa International Airport is apparently about to move with the awarding of the project to a Korean contractor, Kumho. The airport project was the first of many big ticket airport projects to be approved by P-Noy after he assumed office. But it took DOTC quite a bit of time to get the project off and running. It was then DOTC Sec Mar Roxas who announced Malacañang’s approval of the project in late 2011. “P-Noy just OK’d our P4.5-billion Puerto Princesa airport project,” Roxas said in a “tweet” on social networking site Twitter.com. He said his target for the start of construction of the project is late 2012. “(I) feel big responsibility to deliver this. Tuloy-tuloy na ’to.” Tuloy tuloy turned out to be teka teka. The project was supposed to be a PPP project and some of our local conglomerates have expressed interest. But Mar had second thoughts about PPP and shifted his preference for ODA financing instead. I am glad the airport project is finally moving. But it will not be completed until first quarter of 2017, too late for P-Noy to inaugurate it and claim credit for it. Maybe that’s how life really is because P-Noy inaugurated and claimed credit for the Arroyo initiated but still to be really completed Laguindingan airport in Cagayan de Oro. Interestingly, Laguindingan was also funded by Korean ODA. It took seven years from the time when then President Arroyo broke ground in January 2006 to Read More …
May 242014
MANILA, Philippines – Global Business Power Corp. (GBP), the power generation company of banking tycoon George Ty, has partnered with Lafarge Republic, Inc. (LRI) in developing an initiative aimed to lower the costs of rehabilitation projects in areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda. The project involves the introduction of a special cement variant, GBP said over the weekend. Under the project, the two companies would provide a type of cement that could be used for the rehabilitation of homes in Yolanda-affected provinces. Dubbed Kapit-Balay, the project involves the use of a high quality proprietary cement blended with fly ash, particularly coming from the Cebu Energy Development Corp. and Toledo Power Co., that provides appropriate structural strength suited for one- to two-story homes being built by non-government organizations (NGOs), local government units and other government agencies. Fly ash is a non-hazardous coal power plant by-product derived from clean coal technology, a process involving injection of limestone during combustion of coal. It is a fine powder that could be utilized as a pozzolan, a material that has greater compressive strength and lesser environmental impact used in high-performance blended cement, the company said. LRI director Don Lee said that GBP’s fly ash has passed the cement company’s standards. Cement with fly ash possesses good workability, smoother finish, enhanced durability, and good strength. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 GBP chairman Francisco Sebastian, for his part, said the company has had projects in the areas of health, environment, education and development. Read More …
May 242014
Barbara Wold is a renowned customer service speaker, a leader in her craft and a fantastic person. I was fortunate to have met her when I gave a talk about leadership to international airline executives a couple of years ago in Miami, Florida. Barbara is such a pleasant and professional guru. She has so much wisdom and so much enthusiasm to share. Her works and insight on sales and quality service are certainly top-notch. The methods she uses on presenting her thoughts are incredibly entertaining and humorous to no end. Also, she is not a stranger to the Philippines; she once spoke in a Philippine retail conference. And it is with great gratitude that she has given me permission to feature some of her articles on customer service. Customer retention, as you know, is a very crucial part of a business offering retail or any other business deals for that matter. It is a sign that they trust a business, a sign that they are satisfied. And this is what businessmen work sincerely hard for: trust, loyalty and patronage. Now, allow me to share with you some of the information she shared with me and a few comments of my own. Barbara says: Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The probability of selling to an existing customer is 60-70 percent. The probability of selling to a new prospect is 5-20 percent (credit: Marketing Metrics). Research also shows that a 10 percent increase in customer retention results in Read More …
May 242014
MANILA, Philippines – As the principals in contracting relationships, employers are not liable for the claims of individuals deployed by contractors since these persons are not their employees. However, there are pitfalls which if companies fail to avoid can make them liable for various employment claims as if the workers of contractors are their employees. To avoid such costly mistakes, Center for Global Best Practices invites business owners, management decision-makers, HR practitioners, lawyers and all those in outsourcing businesses to attend this one-day pioneering seminar entitled “Best Practices Guide to Valid Job Contracting and Subcontracting” scheduled on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cebu City, Philippines. For details and a complete list of seminars including lectures on Legal Best Practices in Crafting Your HR Code of Discipline, Best Practices in Designing Your HR Forms, Notices and Contracts, Labor Laws for School Owners and Administrators, you may log on to www.cgbp.org or call (02) 842-7148/ 59 and 556-8968/ 69; Cebu lines (032) 512-3106 or 07 or Baguio telephone (074) 423-5148. Mistakes committed in dealing with contractors will hound companies relating to liabilities such as illegal dismissal, back wages, reinstatement, separation pay, money claims, SSS, Philhealth, Pag-Ibig and social legislation benefits, among others. This can cost you millions of losses years ahead when unchecked and unresolved. With that, you have to make sure that you know all the technicalities, strategies and best practices to ensure that you prevent liabilities from unnecessary labor claims and illegal dismissal judgements.
May 242014
MANILA, Philippines – Low-cost carrier giant AirAsia Group of Malaysia has raised close to P100 million for the reconstruction of 500 homes and livelihood opportunities for survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda. The airline raised a total of P97 million from its ‘To Philippines with Love’ campaign (#toPHwithlove) in aid of reconstruction efforts in Yolanda affected areas. “We express our deepest gratitude to guests who contributed generously to this fund-raising effort which exceeded all our expectations. We started this campaign as an expression of ASEAN unity for survivors who lost so much and we are incredibly touched to find that the campaign received donations from people in 75 countries all over the world. AirAsia is proud to match this donation and ensure that every cent goes to rebuilding lives,” AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said. The donations would be distributed to four development partners to fulfill the airline’s pledge to support rebuilding of homes and livelihoods for survivors in the hardest hit areas. The Philippine Red Cross would build 345 homes in Panay using funds amounting to P46 million raised from matching and partner funds managed by AirAsia Foundation. On the other hand, Habitat for Humanity Philippines would receive P37.4 million to construct 187 permanent housing units in Tacloban designed to withstand an intensity 8 earthquake and 250-kilometer per hour windspeed. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Contributing partner companies include Credit Suisse, Tune Insurance, Queens Park Rangers Football Club, CIMB Group and EQ8. AirAsia was Read More …
May 242014
MANILA, Philippines – High income inequality is still widely prevalent in the Philippines and government must collect more taxes from the country’s conglomerates to narrow the gap and boost revenues, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said. The Washington-based fund said the government has achieved progress on the fiscal front but still needs to improve tax administration, cut tax exemptions and broaden the tax base further to boost revenues. “As we discussed, there are still issues related to inequality. There is still very high poverty. Those issues you need to tackle in the medium term,” Naoyuki Shinohara, deputy managing director of IMF told The STAR in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on East Asia. While he lauded reforms and progress achieved on the fiscal front, he said the government must raise taxes slapped on conglomerates. “I think what is important is to strengthen the tax administration, broaden the tax base by eliminating various exceptions. Get more cooperation from conglomerates. Tax administration needs to be stronger,” he said. He said that generally, increasing income tax is better than relying mainly on value added tax (VAT). Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 He also said the government must fight smuggling to plug revenue leakages. “Your government is carrying out prudent fiscal policy. The budget deficit is under control. There’s not much concern on that level,” he said. The National Government fiscal deficit for the first month of 2014 stood at P34.2 billion, an indication of Read More …
May 232014
EMERGING Asian economies, including the Philippines, must implement labor policies that promote workers’ rights if the region is to realize and sustain its growth potential.