PAL shops around for more planes

 Economy
Jun 172013
 
PAL shops around for more planes

MANILA, Philippines – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is still on the lookout for new aircraft as part of its fleet modernization program. PAL has already ordered around 70 new aircraft that will lower operating costs moving forward, its top official said last week. “Slowly, we are looking at different aircraft types,” PAL president Ramon S. Ang said when asked if the airline is still planning to buy more airplanes. Ang said PAL is also factoring in “good opportunities, good prices and good performance” for further aircraft acquisitions. Since the entry of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) in April 2012, PAL has embarked on a massive refleeting program aimed at acquiring 100 new aircraft to replace its existing fleet. It expects to save as much as $400 million from fuel and maintenance costs per year as part of its refleeting program. PAL entered into a $7-billion contract with Europe’s EADS Group in August for the acquisition of 54 Airbus aircraft consisting of 34 A321ceo, 10 A321neo, and 10 A330-300s, and another $2.5 billion deal in September to exercise an option to buy 10 more A330 aircraft. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Ang, who is also president and chief operating officer of SMC, said PAL’s order is already more than 70 aircraft. Diversified conglomerate SMC owns 49 percent of PAL and is in charge of the airline’s management. “Our investment in PAL and sister airline PAL Express is also an important piece in our overall vision for SMC,” Read More …

Vehicle imports rise on higher LCV sales

 Economy
Jun 172013
 
Vehicle imports rise on higher LCV sales

MANILA, Philippines – Vehicle importers reported a slight increase in sales in the January to May period from a year ago due to strong demand for light commercial vehicles (LCV). The Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) said in a statement yesterday it sold 12,898 units as of end-May, up slightly from the 12,888 units sold in the same period last year. This was supported by the strong demand for LCVs, with 6,317 units sold, 29.3 percent higher than the 4,884 units sold in the comparable period in 2012. Passenger car (PC) sales meanwhile, reached 6,581 units as of end-May, down 17.8 percent from the previous year’s 8,004 units. For the month of May alone, AVID sales rose 16 percent to 2,615 units from 2,255 units in the same month last year. This, as LCV sales jumped 59 percent to 1,237 units from 779 units a year ago. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 PC sales however, dipped seven percent to 1,378 units from the previous year’s 1,476 units. AVID president Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said the group remains upbeat that sales would continue to post growth for the rest of the year given the positive economic developments. “Current economic indicators signal a solid degree of optimism for the auto industry for the rest of the year. Benefitting from this current growth momentum, AVID commits to stay ahead in bringing world-class design, cutting-edge technology, and premium service to the Filipino consumers,” she said. Total vehicle sales Read More …

Two dead, dozens rescued after ferry sinks

 Entertainment
Jun 172013
 

By Mynardo MACARAIG MANILA, June 14, 2013 (AFP) – Fishermen and rescue workers hauled dozens of people out of the sea after a ferry sank in the central Philippines on Friday, but at least two passengers drowned, authorities said. In the latest disaster to hit the nation’s notoriously dangerous sea transport industry, the ferry mysteriously […]

President Aquino signs law declaring the province of Kalinga as Tourism Development Area

 Entertainment
Jun 172013
 

MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed a law declaring the province of Kalinga in the Cordillera Region as a Tourism Development Area (TDA) in a bid to boost the country’s tourism industry. The Chief Executive signed on May 17 Republic Act No. 10561 otherwise known as the “An Act Declaring the […]

Labor Sec. Baldoz cries foul over PHL ‘slave nation’ tag

 Entertainment
Jun 172013
 

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Monday decried the “slave nation” tag given to the Philippines by Hong Kong football fans who booed the Philippine football team Azkals recently. “The remarks are derogatory,” Baldoz said. With almost half of the 300,000 domestic helpers in Hong Kong coming from the Philippines, Hong Kong remains […]

Karylle no longer aloof to Marian Rivera

 Entertainment
Jun 172013
 

MANILA  (Mabuhay) -– Kapamilya host and singer Karylle is glad that things are now okay between her and actress Marian Rivera. This comes after Karylle and Rivera smiled at each other during the 50th anniversary celebration of veteran host German Moreno last month. Karylle said she and Rivera may only have exchanged smiles but it […]

‘Fishing talks between PH, Taiwan may violate ‘one-China’ policy’

 News
Jun 172013
 
‘Fishing talks between PH, Taiwan may violate ‘one-China’ policy’

SAYS LAW EXPERT: By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 6:44 pm | Monday, June 17th, 2013 Harry Roque, chairman of the Center for International Law MANILA, Philippines — The start of fisheries talks between the Philippines and Taiwan might violate the country’s one-China policy and Manila should instead craft any future pact with Taipei as a local government of China, an international law expert said. Harry Roque, chairman of the Center for International Law, however, welcomed the decision of the two sides to avoid the use of force in fishing disputes — a positive step in what has been rough relations between the Philippines and what it considers a province of China. “Talks may violate the one-China policy. All talks with Taiwan should be because it is part of China. The alternative is to craft as an agreement with a local government of China,” Roque said on Monday. As part of the government’s one-China policy, the Philippines handles its ties with Taiwan not through the Department of Foreign Affairs but through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office under the Office of the President, with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office as its counterpart. Roque, however, has a positive view of the agreement against the use of force in fishing issues, saying the right to life is above the right to use natural resources. “But I welcome the agreement not to resort to use of force against illegal poachers. The right to life is preeminent and superior specially to mere ecological rights Read More …

UN voices concern over child warriors in PH

 News
Jun 172013
 
UN voices concern over child warriors in PH

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 6:28 pm | Monday, June 17th, 2013 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Some 26 children were recruited as soldiers, messengers and informants in conflict zones while dozens of other minors were slain and maimed in militant attacks and gunfights in the Philippines last year, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said in a report. In the report “Grave violations committed against children in 22 situations of concern” released on June 12, Ban expressed concern over the use of children as operatives, informants and messengers in conflict areas, recruited by terror groups, militant organizations and even state agents. The report specified the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Philippine military as those involved in using children in their operations. “During the reporting period, the country task force recorded 11 incidents of recruitment and use of children, involving 23 boys and 3 girls between 12 and 17 years of age,” read Ban’s report, which the UN publicly released last week but was first reported to the UN Security Council on May 15. Culled by a UN country task force, the confirmed cases represent a decrease in child involvement in conflict but the world body remained concerned that minors are at all involved. “That figure represents a decrease in 2012, given that there were 26 incidents affecting 33 Read More …

SC Associate Justice Leonen denies walking out of The Hague event

 News
Jun 172013
 
SC Associate Justice Leonen denies walking out of The Hague event

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 3:40 pm | Monday, June 17th, 2013 Marvic Leonen file photo MANILA, Philippines—Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen denied reports that he made an “outburst” during the 10th International Judicial Colloquium on Insolvency in The Hague, Netherlands last month. High Court’s Information Chief Theodore Te, who was authorized by Justice Leonen to speak on the matter, said Monday the report was “totally wrong and there were gross factual inaccuracies in the report.” Based on the report, Leonen allegedly had an outburst after he was erroneously referred to as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals in the application and registration of documents at the event. The report said Leonen walked out of the event and boycotted all succeeding conferences. There was really an error, Te said over the phone, but there was no outburst. “There was a clerical error in the position attributed to him. It was pointed out by his staff. By the time the conference started, the error has been corrected and that was that. He attended the conference, there was no further issue,” Te said. “His staff sent an email to the American Bar Association (ABA) and informed them of the error,” Te said adding that it was later on corrected. He said Justice Leonen attended all sessions except for one because he has a migraine. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts Read More …

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