Maniolas

MANILA, Philippines – The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) intends to implement programs that would increase awareness of the public and improve enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) to ensure the country would remain out of the Office of the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) Watch List. IPOPHL director general Ricardo Blancaflor said in a press conference    yesterday that while the country’s removal from the USTR’s list of countries with IPR violations and problems is a milestone, challenges remain such as internet piracy, changing technology and prosecution of those involved in the sale of counterfeit items.        “What steps do we have to take so we will not be back on the list? We    have to be vigilant,” he said.        The IPOPHL, Blancaflor said, would implement programs that would increase the awareness of the public on the importance of IPR so that they would    stop patronizing counterfeit products.        Based on a survey conducted by the agency, 54 percent of the respondents know about IPR.        “What we want is to bring this (54 percent) to 100 percent. They should not just have awareness, but also have respect for IP,” IPOPHL deputy director general Allan Gepty added.       Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1  The IPOPHL is working with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to come up with a model ordinance which would cover activities to raise the public’s IPR consciousness.        The IPOPHL is also continuing with the training of prosecutors on IPR.        The government, he Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Association of Flour Millers Inc. (PAFMIL) assures the public there would be no increase in bread prices despite the provisional duty imposed on Turkish flour imports. According to PAFMIL, there should be no upward movement in the price of bread products such as pan de sal and Pinoy Tasty as flour product prices are stable. The assurance was given amid concerns that there would be price increases following the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) decision to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on imported Turkish flour. “The public should not be unduly worried that bread prices will increase after the DA move. The higher bread price scenario is pure speculation and bereft of any basis,” PAFMIL executive director  Ric Pinca said. Trade Undersecretary Victorio Mario Dimagiba likewise said the imposition of additional anti-dumping duties on Turkish flour would not have any effect on the prices of pan de sal and Pinoy Tasty as bakers have given assurances that they would not raise their prices. Dimagiba said the price of the 450-gram Pinoy Tasty would remain at P37 per loaf, while that of pan de sal would stay at P22.50 for each 10-piece pack.  Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 While locally milled flour is used for these bread products, he said even the bread made from branded imported flour would not have any price increase. Philippine Federation of Bakers’ Associations, Inc. president Chito Chavez said his group is also not in favor of any increase Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – Job hunting is undeniably a challenging experience and although technology and social media provide many tools to connect applicants to potential employers, a call for an appointment is not always guaranteed. To address this issue, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) together with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will hold the biggest Job Fair of the year on Labor Day, May 1, 2014 at all SM Supermalls nationwide. This event allows jobseekers to explore from various job opportunities, be interviewed by potential employers, and even get hired on the same day. SM Supermalls, being home to over 300, 000 employees, continues to make efforts in providing jobs to the growing Filipino workforce. Coming from a huge success last year in which 2, 400 companies joined and 394, 000 jobs were offered, this year’s Job Fair is expected to be as successful. So this coming Labor Day, be sure not to miss this big opportunity. Ready your resumes, dress to impress, and go to the nearest SM malls near you. For a complete list of the 49 participating malls and drop boxes for the Job Fair, please visit www. smsupermalls.com or www.facebook.com/smsupermalls.

PRICES of flour and bread will remain unchanged, even as the Department of Agriculture (DA) imposed provisional higher duties on imported Turkish wheat flour, local millers yesterday said.

MANILA, Philippines – Phoenix Semiconductor Philippines Corp., a unit of a South Korean semiconductor giant, is taking advantage of the recovery in global electronics industry to raise P2.15 billion from an initial public offering (IPO). The debut of Phoenix Semiconductor in the local bourse marks the latest IPO of a semiconductor company since Laguna-based Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp. listed in 2011. “The Korean play is unique. This is a testament to the Philippines as an investment destination,” said Eduardo V. Francisco, president of underwriter BDO Capital & Investment Corp. The Philippine unit of South Korea’s STS Semiconductor & Telecommunications Co. Ltd. will hold a roadshow for qualified institutional buyers. The Clark-based Phoenix Semiconductor is seeking the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval to sell 572.186 million shares at a maximum price of P3.76 apiece, for a total P2.15 billion. Francisco said Phoenix Semiconductor is a good company despite the challenges in the sector. It has relocated some of its facilities from China given the good labor force in the Philippines, he said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 So far, Phoenix employs 2,000-3,000 Filipino workers to provide various customers a wide range of products like SD cards and memory modules for personal computer and notebooks. “Phoenix Semiconductor plans to set up a complete organizational structure (assembly, test and module), quality control system, and a leading information technology system…to meet customer’s requirements,” the company said in its website. The last time a semiconductor firm did an IPO in the Read More …