Better product, service quality vital to Phl – study

 Economy
Jun 162013
 
Better product, service quality vital to Phl – study

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Metrology, Standards, Testing and Quality Incorporated (PhilMSTQ Inc.), a non-government organization, recently launched “Quality Matters”, an advocacy for an improved National Quality Infrastructure (NQI). “Quality Matters” aims to raise awareness on the country’s system for quality. PhilMSTQ hopes to engage consumers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), business, and government agencies to improve the country’s NQI. “A strong and well-coordinated national quality infreastructure (NQI) with the inherent elements of metrology, standardization, testing, certification and accreditation is vital to a country’s economic growth,” said PhilMSTQ Inc. president,  Cirila Botor. During the launch, PhilMSTQ presented a copy of the Executive Summary of the NQI Study to Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Group Zenaida Maglaya. The main recommendation of the study is the establishment of a single NQI Policy and Strategy supported and endorsed by regulators and all relevant stakeholders. The study further identifies the current strengths and weaknesses of the Philippines’ quality infrastructure and provides recommendation to help regulators move forward to create the conditions for the improvement of the country’s NQI.

PIRA seeks deadline extension

 Economy
Jun 162013
 
PIRA seeks deadline extension

MANILA, Philippines – The government should hold the implementation of higher paid up capital for insurers by the end of this month and just await the passage of a new law, non-life insurers said. “Once (the) new code is signed by President Aquino, the existing Department of Finance Order 2007-06 outlining the capitalization level becomes moot and academic,” said Emmanuel Que, chairman of the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA). “We will appeal to the Insurance Commission (IC) to extend the deadline in consideration of this development,” he added. PIRA is the umbrella group for non-life insurers and reinsurers. Finance and insurance officials could not be immediately reached for comment. According to the 2006 order, insurance companies should hike their minimum paid up capital to P250 million from P175 million by this year.  The capitalization should be formalized on paper by June 30. Any company that fails to meet the requirement will not be issued a license to operate by the Insurance Commission. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Industry sources said that 19 of the 84 licensed non-life companies have yet to comply with the P250-million minimum capital requirement. However, as the Finance department pursues its order, amendments to the 1974 Insurance Code of the Philippines have passed the bicameral conference committee and will simply need Aquino’s signature to take effect. Que said it would be prudent for the government to wait as there are conflicting provisions between the new code and the department order. Among Read More …

Interest rates seen staying at lowest levels

 Economy
Jun 162013
 
Interest rates seen staying at lowest levels

MANILA, Philippines – Interest rates are expected to remain at their lowest levels this year as the current market sell-off, the worst since 2008, remains manageable thanks to the country’s strong fundamentals. On Thursday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) kept policy rates steady at 3.5 percent and 5.5 percent for overnight borrowing and lending, respectively. It also held the rate it charges on special deposit accounts (SDA) at two percent. Policy rates – which serve as benchmark for banks in charging their loans – have been maintained at their historic low levels since October last year, with the BSP choosing to reduce SDA rates by a total of 150 basis points earlier this year to push out more funds into the system and support economic growth. “It’s neutral for now. It’s both hard to say at this point whether this is the end of the cuts or is just a pause at the end of the year,” BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. told CNBC in a televised interview, adding that “if it is needed, we have scope to further ease.” For analysts, the decision – which one described as a “disappointment” – was a show of strength from the BSP, which has successfully maneuvered the country from the global financial crisis five years ago to help it become Asia’s fastest growing economy now. “There were economic reasons for the BSP to pursue another SDA reduction, but it chose to pause,” said Emilio Neri Jr., lead economist at the Bank Read More …

Are we ready for more calamities?

 Entertainment
Jun 162013
 
Are we ready for more calamities?

It’s been a few weeks already since I haven’t gone out of town for a coverage. That means good news because that only means that things have been quiet in some parts of the Philippines. No major disasters, for now. I hope I don’t sound like a doomsday prophet. But even years ago, Al Gore said that because of climate change, typhoons are expected to be stronger and more vicious. Just a few days ago, outgoing Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim cancelled afternoon classes and work because of flooding, and that was not even a typhoon yet, but another habagat. It’s the rainy season-cum-typhoon season. Good luck to us. But instead of leaving it to sheer luck, or accident, it is again time to for us take an active part in disaster preparedness. The good news is, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) conducted flooding drills in some barangays, and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conducted its declogging operations. However, even MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino was frank enough to admit that flooding cannot be absolutely mitigated. But we don’t leave it up to government to help us. Remember, it took days for help to arrive to Ondoy areas. So what do we do? Prepare, prepare and prepare. This week’s baha is another case in point of people getting stranded in so many areas, and traffic was in a standstill. Pity the students. I am not aware if staying put is an option given by universities in case Read More …

PAGASA: TD Emong maintains strength, accelerates slightly

 News
Jun 162013
 
PAGASA: TD Emong maintains strength, accelerates slightly

PAGASA: ‘Habagat’, LPA, ITCZ bring rain to various parts of PHL. PAGASA said in its weather bulletin early Sunday morning that the Bicol region, Central and Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides.” PAGASA Tropical Depression Emong accelerated slightly and hovered near Legazpi City in Albay Province on Sunday night, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA, in its 11 p.m. advisory, said Tropical Depression Emong was estimated to be 380 km east of Legazpi City as of 10 p.m. It said Emong packed maximum winds of 45 kph near the center and is forecast to move north-northwest at 13 kph. “Tropical Depression Emong is still far to directly affect any part of the country. However, it will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” it said. It added Emong “is likely to intensify within the next 24 to 48 hours.” PAGASA said Tropical Depression Emong is expected to be at 360 km northeast of Legazpi City by Monday evening, and 400 km east of Aparri, Cagayan by Tuesday evening. By Wednesday evening, it is forecast to be 530 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan. Tropical Depression Emong may bring 5 to 15 mm per hour of rainfall (moderate to heavy) within its 300-km diameter, PAGASA said. — DVM, GMA News

Filipino Global Runner Cesar Guarin completes Middle East leg of his solo run around the world

 Entertainment
Jun 162013
 

The first Filipino global runner and the “Father of Ultramarathon” in the Philippines Cesar Guarin is back from his successful Middle East run, which lasted 30 days from April 15 to May 17, and covered a total distance of 932 kilometers. After running in six countries in the Middle East, Guarin continues to bring pride to his […]

MILF: New batch of Indonesian ceasefire observers coming

 News
Jun 152013
 
MILF: New batch of Indonesian ceasefire observers coming

Amid a “deadlock” in peace negotiations, a new batch of Indonesian observers is arriving late June to replace the Indonesian contingent to the International Monitoring Team keeping watch over the ceasefire between Philippine government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The MILF on Sunday cited information from the IMT that the “pioneer” Indonesian contingent, which includes 10 military and five civilian officers, will end its tour of duty June 24. “We can never compensate the contributions of (contingent head) Col. Khairully and his men but surely Allah will reward them and their families for their noble efforts and services to the Bangsamoro aspiration for peace and justice,” said MILF central committee secretariat head Muhammad Ameen. “We hope the Indonesian will stay with the IMT for as long as necessary,” he added. Also, the MILF said the replacements for the Indonesian and two Malaysian IMT members will be coming soon, as the two countries’ governments committed to continue sending members to the IMT. The MILF said the Indonesian contingent under Col. Khairully started its tour of duty on June 24, 2012 and headed the IMT Team Site 5 based in Davao City. It said its central committee is now organizing a farewell program for the outgoing Indonesian IMT officers. The IMT monitors on the ground the implementation of the security, humanitarian, development, socio-economic, and civilian protection aspects of the government-MILF peace process. It has members from Malaysia as head of mission, and from Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Norway and the European Read More …

VP Binay eyes Germany's dual vocational system vs unemployment

 News
Jun 152013
 
VP Binay eyes Germany's dual vocational system vs unemployment

The Philippines could learn from Germany’s  use of a dual vocational system to help address the problem of unemployment, Vice President Jejomar Binay said. Binay, who recently returned from a working visit in Germany, said the dual vocational system is reason for the relatively low unemployment among German youths. “We hope we can apply a similar scheme in the Philippines especially with the implementation of the K-12 program and we look forward to a possible cooperation with Germany on this in the future,” he said. Binay, the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino worker concerns, discussed the matter with German Labor Minister Dr. Ursula von der Leyen during his recent working visit to Germany. He said von der Leyen, who talked about the dual education system with the chief executive officer of Ayala Corp., “expressed her interest to return to the Philippines to speak more about the dual vocational system of training.” Also, he said Germany is offering to help the Philippines integrate the K-12 basic education system to the dual vocational system. Under the German dual vocational system, students take apprenticeships in a company and vocational education at a vocational school. The training at the firm lasts two to three-and-a-half years, with the trainees getting a certificate at the end of the training. Binay also noted those taking the vocational courses are treated like professionals. “Isa ‘yan sa ipinagmamalaki nila. That is giving dignity doon sa mga vocational courses,” he added. Equivalency of academic degrees Meanwhile, Binay said he and Read More …

Climate talk shifts from curbing global warming to adapting

 News
Jun 152013
 
Climate talk shifts from curbing global warming to adapting

Associated Press 7:07 am | Sunday, June 16th, 2013 In this Tuesday, June 11, 2013, photo, lower Manhattan is visible from the Staten Island Ferry, in New York’s Upper Bay. Giant removable floodwalls would be erected around lower Manhattan, and levees, gates and other defenses could be built elsewhere around the city under a nearly $20 billion plan proposed Tuesday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to protect New York from storms and the effects of global warming. AP PHOTO/RICHARD DREW WASHINGTON—Efforts to curb global warming have quietly shifted as greenhouse gases inexorably rise. The conversation is no longer solely about how to save the planet by cutting carbon emissions. It’s becoming more about how to save ourselves from the warming planet’s wild weather. It was Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s announcement last week of an ambitious plan to stave off New York City’s rising seas with flood gates, levees and more that brought this transition into full focus. After years of losing the fight against rising global emissions of heat-trapping gases, governments around the world are emphasizing what a U.N. Foundation scientific report calls “managing the unavoidable.” It’s called adaptation and it’s about as sexy but as necessary as insurance, experts say. It’s also a message that once was taboo among climate activists such as former US Vice President Al Gore. In his 1992 book “Earth in the Balance,” Gore compared talk of adapting to climate change to laziness that would distract from necessary efforts. But in his 2013 book “The Future,” Gore Read More …

PAGASA: LPA hovering off Surigao City; floods, landslides threaten Bicol, Vis-Min

 News
Jun 152013
 
PAGASA: LPA hovering off Surigao City; floods, landslides threaten Bicol, Vis-Min

Flash floods and landslides threaten parts of Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao as a low-pressure area hovered off Surigao City Sunday morning, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA said the LPA is embedded along the inter-tropical convergence zone and was estimated at 460 km east of Surigao City as of 4 a.m. “Bicol region, Central and Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. It added Palawan and the rest of Visayas will be “cloudy with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.” Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have “partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” it said. PAGASA said Metro Manila may expect temperatures of 25 to 34 degrees Celsius, while Tuguegarao City may expect temperatures of 25 to 33 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds from the southwest to southeast will prevail over Central and Southern Luzon and from the east to southeast over Northern Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Light to moderate winds coming from the north to northwest will prevail over Visayas and from the southwest over Mindanao with slight to moderate seas, it added. Heavy rain falls on Davao City Heavy rain pelted Davao City Saturday night, with the city government’s responder teams placed on alert for possible flooding. In posts on its social networking sites, Read More …

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