Next-generation HP ProLiant Servers, the world’s most self-sufficient servers

 Economy
Feb 062013
 
Next-generation HP ProLiant Servers, the world’s most self-sufficient servers

Veronica A. Escalante, Category Manager, Industry Standard Servers (ISS), HP Philippines, is excited about the road ahead and the future of server technology. In this interview, Veronica shares details on the recently launched HP ProLiant Generation 8 (Gen8) servers, the world’s most self-sufficient servers, and says that the new line of servers have laid the foundation for multiple generations of server technology to follow.  Q: What are the current challenges that enterprises face when it comes to server technology? A: Today, the demand for data and content is growing at a breathtaking rate and traditional server infrastructure has become a constrained resource that is impacting business growth for enterprises. The volume and frequency of server management tasks, error alerts and installations are increasing expenses, resource allocation and complexity in the infrastructure, costing organizations nearly $157 billion in 2012, according to IDC. Consider these numbers: ·         Companies spend on average $24 million over three years on manual operations just to support servers; ·         Growing server energy and facilities expenses cost companies up to $29 million over three years; ·         And, unplanned downtime costs clients approximately $10 million an hour. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Frankly, those are costs are unsustainable in the long run. And at HP, we sent a wakeup call to the industry with multi-year initiatives. We were able to foresee ‘cloud’ and the ‘information explosion’ coming and we embarked on a three-phase plan to transform server technology and redefine data center economics. Q: Project Read More …

P-Noy’s birthday gift wish

 Economy
Feb 062013
 
P-Noy’s birthday gift wish

After reaching another record high mark, the Philippine stock market’s performance seems to be for real, and not just a passing fancy that can be attributed to the inflow of “hot” money, meaning foreign investments in the local stock market by speculators. In less than two months, the local bourse breached its high point 15 times, now less than 30 index points away from the 6,500-level. It seems that P-Noy will get his birthday wish this year, though not exactly on his birth date come February 8. The push, according to my insider friend, is coming from the low interest rates accruing many financial instruments. And the Philippine equity market, being one of the most bullish in the region, is attracting solid capital. The influx of new investors, many by retirees, in the stock market is also causing blue chips to rise in value. We’re seeing successive increases in the stock prices of group member and affiliated companies of SM, San Miguel, Ayala, and PLDT, as well as real estate firms. With the Philippines just a hop away from getting its investment grade status from international credit rating agencies, expect the bullishness in our stock market to continue, and perhaps even cause the index to rise over the 7,000 mark within the year. Consumer-led businesses as well as those involved in real estate are now crediting investor confidence as a primary reason for their upbeat view of 2013 and the medium-term. There’s money going into Philippine business ventures now, a Read More …

Philex renews call for MGB to lift order

 Economy
Feb 062013
 
Philex renews call for MGB to lift order

MANILA, Philippines – Philex Mining Corp. is prodding the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to immediately allow it to temporarily resume operations to enable it to fill the void in the compromised tailings pond no 3 of its copper-gold mine in Padcal, Benguet before the onset of the rainy season. Philex earlier petitioned the MGB to be allowed to temporarily resume operations to produce fresh tailings to fill the void and increase the stability of the tailings pond. The process called beaching was recommended by the foreign consultants hired by Philex for the rehabilitation of the tailings pond. Because the tailings pond was designed to hold solids, 3.5 million tons of fresh tailings should be dumped into the ponds to push away the water from the dam. This will create what is called a beach. It will take about three to four months to produce the volume of silt needed for beaching.  “We are requesting the MGB to lift the suspension to enable Philex to undergo rehabilitation before the rains come,” Philex president and chief operating officer Eulalio Austin Jr. said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Another option to fill the void in the tailings pond is to gather the spilled tailings from the contaminated waterways. However, this would be expensive and time consuming because the company would still have to install additional infrastructure such as roads and pumps in the mine site. Libby Ricafort,  Philex vice president for operations and Padcal resident manager, said the Read More …

Lapid's wife gets 3 years probation in US for cash smuggling

 News
Feb 062013
 
Lapid's wife gets 3 years probation in US for cash smuggling

A United States court has sentenced Sen. Lito Lapid’s wife, Marissa, to three years probation for cash smuggling, a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras” said Wednesday. Marissa’s lawyer, Elliot Krieger, said she was “very relieved” that her case was finally over. “We’re pleased with the results in terms of the way it came out and she’s very relieved to have this over with and behind her,” Krieger said in the report. Krieger explained that Marissa will be under the US Department of Probation for three years and will only be allowed to go to the Philippines only with the department’s permission. Marissa was arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)  on January 15, 2012 for her failure to declare the $50,000 she was carrying at the time. US federal law requires arriving passengers to declare any currency or monetary instrument totaling $10,000 or more. Sen. Lapid’s camp has yet to comment on Marissa’s sentence, the report said. The senator had earlier said that the money was supposed to be used for his wife’s treatment for a heart ailment. — KBK, GMA News

Senate panels recommend proceedings vs Glenn Defense over waste dumping

 News
Feb 062013
 
Senate panels recommend proceedings vs Glenn Defense over waste dumping

The Senate committees on foreign relations and environment and natural resources are recommending administrative and criminal proceedings be started against Malaysian shipping firm Glenn Defense Marine Asia for dumping waste into Philippine waters last year. In a speech delivered Wednesday, Senate foreign relations committee chair Senator Loren Legarda said that the two panels are recommending that the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) file administrative charges and impose the necessary penalty against Glenn Defense for failure to comply with the country’s environmental and marine protection laws. She said they are also recommending that the three agencies suspend all permits issued to Glenn Defense until the completion of the sanctions and proceedings. She also said that they are recommending that the Department of Justice further investigate the matter and determine if Glenn Defense shouldd be blacklisted and if criminal cases should be filed. Legarda said that they are likewise recommending the review of the Visiting Forces Agreement to ensure that it is compliant with Philippine laws. “This incident and the unfortunate grounding of a US minesweeper in Tubbataha Reef are two different incidents, grounded on the same issue – the need for better coordinative and implementing arrangements to ensure, as stated in the Executive Order creating the VFACOM, ‘respect for Philippine laws, state policies… and strict compliance with rules and regulations’ by our treaty partner and all entities performing services outside of the VFA,” she said. “Our government agencies need Read More …

285 pass Physical Therapist Licensure Exam — PRC

 News
Feb 062013
 
285 pass Physical Therapist Licensure Exam — PRC

A total of 285 out of 579 examinees passed the  Physical Therapist Licensure Examination while  32 out of 64 passed the Occupational Therapist Licensure Examination given in the cities of Manila and Cebu earlier this month, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Wednesday.   [Click here for list of passers in Physical Therapist Licensure Exam.] [Click here for list of passers in Occupational Therapist Licensure Exam.] The results were released in two working days from the last day of examinations. Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on February 21 and 22, 2013, the PRC said. It said the date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees will be announced later. — KBK, GMA News

House 'kills' FOI bill

 News
Feb 062013
 
House 'kills' FOI bill

The House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, which seeks to promote transparency in government transactions and data. The chamber adjourned Wednesday’s session without a single mention of the FOI bill at the plenary. The measure has been pending at the floor since December. The FOI bill only went as far as the period of sponsorship—the first step in plenary discussions of the measure—at the House during this Congress. The Senate was able to pass its version of the proposed legislation two months ago. Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, chair of the House committee on public information that passed the FOI bill last December, blamed his fellow lawmakers’ “reluctance” to pass the measure for their failure to approve the proposed legislation. “If the congressmen were enthusiastic about it (FOI bill) and showed up during sessions, then we could have acted on it,” Evardone said in a phone interview. He also said that he observed a “lack of support” from his colleagues in pushing for the bill’s passage. Both houses of Congress are to take a three-month break to give way to the campaign period for the May elections. Congress will resume session in June but only from June 3 to 6 before its final adjournment. Palace blamed Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño, however, said that Evardone himself had a hand in “killing” the FOI bill. The measure languished before Evardone’s committee for more than a year before it was recommended for plenary Read More …

Legarda denies filing bill reducing pay, benefits of govt employees

 News
Feb 062013
 
Legarda denies filing bill reducing pay, benefits of govt employees

Senator Loren Legarda on Wednesday belied rumors that she had filed a bill decreasing the salaries and benefits of government employees. In a speech delivered before the Senate on Wednesday, Legarda said rumors about her allegedly filing a bill reducing the leave credits and retirement benefits of public servants have been circulating through text messages and social media. “This information is totally false and fabricated, with no other purpose than to destroy my reputation as a champion for the rights of our dedicated government workers,” she said. “No legislator will introduce such a bill which would diminish the salaries and benefits of our personnel in government institutions that provide services critical to public safety and order,” she added. She countered that, rather than reduce benefits, she filed Senate Bill 2355 which seeks to increase the combat duty pay of Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel by 25 percent. Legarda, meanwhile, urged the “source of the malicious and baseless messages” to stop spreading falsehoods against her. “We should be cooperating and creating positive change not spreading lies that will distract us from our goals and that will result in unnecessary conflicts,” she said. She also noted it was suspicious that it happened just as the election was drawing nearer. Legarda does very well in the polls for Senate candidates. She came in second to fellow senator Francis Escudero in the last Pulse Asia survey. “Sinuman nag nagkakalat niyan harapin ninyo ako,” she challenged. The senator said she has an idea on Read More …

Korean faces raps for protected area encroachment

 News
Feb 062013
 
Korean faces raps for protected area encroachment

By Maricar Cinco Inquirer Southern Luzon 6:43 pm | Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 THE TAAL Volcano Jung Ang Leisure and Resort facility during its dismantling by the DENR in July last year. PHOTO COURTESY OF CENRO BATANGAS SAN PEDRO, Laguna, Philippines—A Korean national, who owns the P5-million floating restaurant that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had shut down, is facing charges of violating Philippine environmental laws. Alexander Sandoval, assistant Batangas prosecutor, recommended the case against Kim Young Ok, the owner and president of the Taal Volcano Jung Ang Leisure and Resort located in Barangay Buco in Talisay town. In a resolution dated Dec. 10, 2012, Sandoval said Ok violated the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 for building and operating a restaurant in part of Taal Lake, a protected area. The DENR, through the office of the Taal Volcano Protected Landscape (TVPL), in June 2012 closed down the facility after the owner refused to heed a notice of violation of environmental laws and voluntarily close down the facility. Sandoval agreed to the findings of the TVPL that the establishment did not have a waste disposal facility. He said its toilets, for instance, are not connected to any septic tank and flush out waste directly into the lake. The TVPL also said the company illegally reclaimed a 20-square meter portion of the lake when it built a wharf that connected Read More …

8 PH international airports to get security cameras—CAAP

 News
Feb 062013
 

By Jerome Aning Philippine Daily Inquirer 6:33 pm | Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said Wednesday it has allocated P100 million for the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in the immigration areas of eight alternative international airports in the country. CAAP Director General William Hotchkiss III said the installation of the surveillance camera systems was in line with the agency’s safety and security program for all Philippine airports. According to Hotchkiss, CAAP will be signing this month an agreement with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat) which would co-manage the operation of the CCTV systems that would record goings-on at the immigration counters. “The agreement is a joint effort by the Iacat and the CAAP designed to enhance airports’ capability in monitoring passengers and other airport users’ movement in the immigration areas,” Hotchkiss said in a statement. The eight airports are the Clark International Airport in Pampanga; Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City; Iloilo International Airport; Bacolod–Silay International Airport; Kalibo International Airport; Puerto Princesa International Airport; Zamboanga International Airport; and Laoag International Airport. Under the agreement, CAAP will provide funding for the surveillance equipment through competitive bidding while Iacat will co-manage the operations of the integrated surveillance systems. The Iacat, composed of five government agencies and three private-sector representatives, is tasked with crafting and implementing policies to stop trafficking in persons. There have been allegations that unscrupulous immigration and airport officials are conniving with traffickers to allow in and out of the Read More …

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