P2.1-B medical facility to rise in Makati

 Economy
Feb 212013
 
P2.1-B medical facility to rise in Makati

MANILA, Philippines – Real estate firm Century Properties Group Inc. aims to be a major player in the government’s push to develop the country’s medical tourism industry. The property firm said it is on track to completing the construction of the 28-story Centuria Medical Makati in 2014. “The P2.1-billion project is positioned to attract local residents and most especially medical travelers, who are looking for quality treatment in a world-class facility that can offer huge cost savings, as compared to costs of medical treatment in their own countries,” said Century Properties chairman Jose E.B. Antonio. The outpatient medical facility will serve as a platform to support the Philippine government’s thrust to offer world-class medical services to foreign patients, Antonio said. It will house 553 clinics for doctors specializing in various medical practices. Centuria will offer also offer a day surgery center, radiology center, diagnostic laboratory, digital imaging, pharmacy, recovery suites, and an ambulance transfer service. To date, 84 percent of Centuria’s clinic spaces have been pre-sold. Clinic sizes range from 27 square meters to 187 sqm, with a current average price of P160,000 per square meter. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “With the added push from the tourism and health departments of our government, Century Properties is very optimistic about the prospects of medical tourism in the Philippines,” Antonio said. In 2010, the Philippines posted $25.3 million in revenues from the health and wellness industry, 60 percent of which came from foreign visitors. Medical procedures in Read More …

Financial institutions urged to offer more retail products

 Economy
Feb 212013
 
Financial institutions urged to offer more retail products

MANILA, Philippines – Financial institutions should introduce more retail investment products to catch migrating funds from special deposit accounts (SDA), the country’s chief economic planner said. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said money parked in SDAs, estimated to amount to over P1.8 trillion, should be enticed to more productive investments similar to retail Treasury bills (RTBs). Balisacan likewise said that migrating investments in SDAs should be invested in agriculture, tourism and manufacturing activities to address poverty, employment and productivity. “What we want to put in place are instruments that are attractive for small savers, such as retail Treasury bills (RTBs),” he said on the sidelines of a Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) meeting yesterday. Balisacan, who is also director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said government wants banks and non-bank financial institutions to introduce retail products such as mutual funds. “We are getting all the actors to introduce market products that are retail in nature,” he added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has reduced the interest rate on SDAs from 3.5 percent to just three percent, in what is deemed as a slow process of re-injecting liquidity in the system. The regulator wants banks to re-lend money for productive activities. For economic activities, NEDA wants the money invested in the agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and the services sectors. These sectors can generate larger employment activities and further stimulate inclusive growth. Meanwhile, introducing or re-introducing retail Read More …

AmCham backs revision of Foreign Investment Negative List

 Economy
Feb 212013
 
AmCham backs revision of Foreign Investment Negative List

MANILA, Philippines – The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) supports the government’s plan to review the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL), citing that it is beneficial to update rules with the current environment. AmCham director Robert Sears said the group is backing the government’s plan to review the FINL. “It is always good to review outdated laws,” he said in a text message. Earlier this week, economic managers such as Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, National Economic and Development Authority director general Arsenio Balisacan and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo agreed to undertake a review and hold consultations for the FINL. Purisima said the plan is to present the results of the review and consultations to President Aquino. Sears, however, noted that only items in the list would be examined and they would not be review lifting economic restrictions in the Constitution. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The FINL identifies activities reserved to Filipino businesses and the limits to the participation of foreign enterprises in these areas. The latest list or the 9th FINL was released by the government in October last year. The FINL, which was introduced in 1991, is reissued every two years. Although the list is updated, it is not seen to have provided changes to help encourage more foreign investments. Earlier, the Joint Foreign Chambers said that since 1991, only two major changes have been made to the FINL, these include the opening of retail trade to foreign investors pouring in Read More …

DOTC: 2 flights canceled due to bad weather

 News
Feb 202013
 
DOTC: 2 flights canceled due to bad weather

Two domestic flights were canceled Thursday amid bad weather conditions brought by Tropical Depression Crising, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said. In a post on its Twitter account, the DOTC said the affected flights were those of Zest Air, between Manila and Tablas (Romblon). The affected flights were Z2-240 and Z2-241, from Manila to Tablas and back. Earlier this week, several domestic flights had been canceled due to bad weather conditions brought by Crising. PAGASA said Crising, which had brought rain to several parts of Mindanao this week, is heading for Southern Palawan. It said Crising may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by early Friday. — KBK, GMA News

Philippine papal bet wants people power for Church

 News
Feb 202013
 
Philippine papal bet wants people power for Church

Agence France-Presse 11:45 am | Thursday, February 21st, 2013 Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle wants to bring the Catholic Church closer to people, a vision his fans say comes from a genuine passion for helping the poor and one that could make him Asia’s first pope. The 55-year-old cardinal from a working-class family close to the Philippine capital is being touted at home and abroad as a genuine chance to succeed Pope Benedict XVI during a historic Vatican vote next month. Tagle has a reputation across the devoutly Catholic Philippines as a humble man with a lifelong commitment to helping the poor, while senior Church figures regard him as a moderate progressive who balances conservative doctrines. Tagle, the archbishop of Manila who was appointed a cardinal in November, has refused to discuss his chances for the papacy since Benedict announced he would resign on February 28 due to poor health. But speaking at a public seminar in Manila last weekend, Tagle elaborated on his well-known views that Church leaders needed to do a better job at reaching out to the people within their communities, particularly the youth. “The young want to be connected,” Tagle said at the forum. “That is the basic of the faith — (to be) connected to God, connected to others, to the Church. We need to go back to that fundamental.” Eloquent and with a soothing voice, Tagle has also made high-profile speeches in recent years calling for Read More …

Cardinal Tagle wants people power for Church

 News
Feb 202013
 
Cardinal Tagle wants people power for Church

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle wants to bring the Catholic Church closer to people, a vision his fans say comes from a genuine passion for helping the poor and one that could make him Asia’s first pope. The 55-year-old cardinal from a working-class family close to Manila is being touted at home and abroad as a genuine chance to succeed Pope Benedict XVI during a historic Vatican vote next month. Tagle has a reputation across the devoutly Catholic Philippines as a humble man with a lifelong commitment to helping the poor, while senior Church figures regard him as a moderate progressive who balances conservative doctrines. Tagle, the archbishop of Manila who was appointed a cardinal in November, has refused to discuss his chances for the papacy since Benedict announced he would resign on February 28 due to poor health. But speaking at a public seminar in Manila last weekend, Tagle elaborated on his well-known views that Church leaders needed to do a better job at reaching out to the people within their communities, particularly the youth. “The young want to be connected,” Tagle said at the forum. “That is the basic of the faith — (to be) connected to God, connected to others, to the Church. We need to go back to that fundamental.” Eloquent and with a soothing voice, Tagle has also made high-profile speeches in recent years calling for a humbler Church that is more open to the public’s concerns. Born in 1957 in the then-rural township of Imus, Read More …

UNA drops Chiz, Loren, Grace Poe as candidates

 News
Feb 202013
 
UNA drops Chiz, Loren, Grace Poe as candidates

In a statement, Navotas Rep. and UNA secretary general Tobias Tiangco said the UNA “is no longer obligated to include the names of Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda and Grace Poe-Llamanzares in its list of candidates.” Tiangco’s statement came a week after UNA said it will no longer campaign for its three guest candidates who will not physically show up in the coalition’s sorties. Tiangco said they tried their best to “accommodate the three candidates but that they were aware how the Liberal Party, through campaign manager Senator Franklin Drilon, has repeatedly warned them against joining their election activities.” “We would have wanted and were looking forward to having them join our nine UNA candidates in our rallies and sorties. Unfortunately, none of them have taken any concrete move or extended any meaningful gesture to assure us that they will live up to their commitments,” he said. He likewise said “public statements have been made by at least one of them ruling out participation in UNA events.” “It is clear that they have made up their minds. We need to move on,” Tiangco said. For his part, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, LP campaign spokesperson, said UNA’s decision to drop the three senatorial candidates was already “forthcoming.” “We are not surprised by the decision of UNA. Now, the lines are very clear between the reformists and the opposition. At least the people will now have a clear choice,” Evardone said in a text message. During the proclamation rallies last week, Escudero, Legarda Read More …

NDRRMC: Death toll from 'Crising' rises to 2; 120k people affected

 News
Feb 202013
 
NDRRMC: Death toll from 'Crising' rises to 2; 120k people affected

Satellite image at 8 a.m., 20 Feb 2013. Tropical Depression Crising at 8 a.m., 20 Feb 2013 Weather Central The death toll from Tropical Depression Crising rose to two as of Thursday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. In its 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said the most recent fatality was Erwin Campana, 43, who drowned while crossing a river in Montevista town’s Barangay Camansi in Compostela Valley. Earlier, the NDRRMC said the other fatality – Francisco Digaynon – drowned while crossing the Taytayan River in Barangay Andap in New Bataan, Compostela Valley. Moreover, the NDRRMC said the number of missing people also rose to two. The latest was identified as Suden Abdullah, who went missing while on his way home. It said Abdullah, a resident of Barangay Pinol in Maitum in Sarangani province, was on his way home from fishing when his boat encountered big waves. Earlier, 63-year-old Percela R. Apolinario was reported missing while crossing the river in Brgy. Magugba. The NDRRMC said Crising has affected 25,350 families or 120,269 people in 80 villages in Regions 9, 10, 11 and 12. Of these, 864 families or 3,950 people were brought to seven evacuation centers. At least seven roads and six bridges were affected in Regions 8, 10, 11, and 12. The NDRRMC also said at least two houses in Regions 10 and 11 were destroyed while 85 were damaged. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development recorded 23,000 affected families, DSWD-Disaster Risk Reduction Read More …

Multiple organ infection may have led to Lolong's death, necropsy shows

 News
Feb 202013
 
Multiple organ infection may have led to Lolong's death, necropsy shows

Lolong, the Philippine crocodile that held the record as the world’s largest crocodile before it died earlier this month, may have suffered from multiple organ infection even before it was captured in 2011. This was one of the findings of a necropsy conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, according to a report of Jun Veneracion on GMA News’ Saksi Wednesday night. “Based dun sa nakita dun sa lesions, talagang hindi rin siya tatagal… [may] multiple organ infection,” said PAWB Director Theresa Lim.  Lolong was found dead last Feb. 10. With its death, the Guinness World Records now recognizes Australia-based Cassius as the world’s biggest crocodile in captivity. Lim said Lolong may have already been weakening due to infection of major organs including the heart, kidneys and liver. She also said this condition could have preceded the pneumonia earlier tagged as the cause of Lolong’s death. “Maaring before pa siyang nahuli meron na siyang infection,” she said. The “Saksi” report also quoted Dr. Emilia Lasticay of the University of the Philippines’ College of Veterinary Medicine as saying they are still trying to establish if Lolong’s condition was chronic. “We are trying to establish yung timeline kung recent lang ang condition o kung matagal na ang condition,” she said. — RSJ, GMA News

PH immigration awaits travel papers for 9 Myanmar crew

 News
Feb 202013
 
PH immigration awaits travel papers for 9 Myanmar crew

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net 9:11 am | Thursday, February 21st, 2013 Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David on Thursday said they were waiting for travel documents from the Myanmar embassy for the repatriation of the nine  surviving crewmen of a Myanmar ship that sunk last week off the coast of Bolinao , Pangasinan. David said the nine crewmen were turned over by the BI to the custody of the Myanmar embassy last Monday. They were identified as Kyi Win, Khin Maung Win, Aung Kyaw Khine, Aung Thu Nyein, Win Saw, Win Min Thein, Aung San Win, Thant Zin Moe, and Cho Aye. Theodore Pascual, BI bay service section acting chief, disclosed that until last Monday the Myanmar nationals have been under the custody of immigration officials in Region 1 since the mishap occurred last February 16. Pascual said the crewmen were initially under the custody of the BI field office in Dagupan before they were turned over to the BI office in San Fernando City , La Union. “They were eventually turned over to the Myanmar embassy which is now processing their travel documents which are required to facilitate their repatriation,” Pascual explained. A crew member died while 14 others went missing when the foreigners’ vessel sank Saturday night. The Philippine Coast Guard said the MV Arita Bauxite encountered engine trouble and sank 17 nautical miles (31 km) northwest of Cape Bolinao at about 11:30 p.m. The nine survivors were reportedly Read More …

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