June 2013 – Page 47

Biyahe with Drew

General

Jun 062013

MANILA, Philippines – Just because the summer is over, it doesn’t mean one has to postpone traveling until the next long break. This month, Drew Arellano (photo) goes on a series of road trips to destinations no more than three to four hours away from Metro Manila. Tonight, he visits eight towns in Pangasinan and samples the best of what they have to offer. He starts in Rosales, his mother’s hometown and then goes on hilltop adventure in Balungao. He then tries the different types of tupig in Villasis before paying his respects at the shrine of our Lady of Manaoag. From here, he heads to Calasiao where the famous white, sticky puto is made. His sixth stop is Dagupan where the milkfish is king. Finally, he hits the beaches of Lingayen and Alaminos, famous for the World War II memorial park and Hundred Islands, respectively. The following week, June 14, Drew goes on a mouth-watering food trip in Pampanga to discover the province’s “originals” — from sisig, to halo-halo, to the very first pizzeria. Drew also tries a bit of Korean cuisine as he visits Korea Town, an area near Clark Airfield, now home to many Koreans who have set up shops, restaurants, churches and schools there. On June 21, Drew heads to Subic to try various adventures on land, on water and even in the air. An adrenaline and nature-tripping combo awaits those who take a 48-hour trip to the former US naval base. Watch Biyahe ni Drew Read More …

DOE seeks help of LGUs in streamlining gas stations

Economy

Jun 062013

DOE seeks help of LGUs in streamlining gas stations

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) is urging local government units (LGUs) to streamline procedures in putting up retail gasoline stations in their areas, a ranking energy official said. Zenaida Monsada, director of the DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau, said they are coordinating with LGUs to explore ways on how to streamline business processes in their respective areas and pave the way for the construction of more retail stations around the country. “There is a lot of room for improvement in the existing retail rules. More players are coming in,” Monsada said during the Industry Emergency Response 2013, a safety forum organized by the Philippine Institute of Petroleum (PIP), an industry group of oil firms. She noted that at present, LGUs require so many documents before companies can put up gasoline stations. “There are numerous requirements. We have the mayor’s permit and so many other permits so what we’re looking at is how we can help the energy sector,” Monsada. Initially, the planned agreement with LGUs would focus on gasoline stations but may eventually cover other energy projects. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Monsada said they hope to finalize the agreement within the year. At present, there are 5,000 registered retail gasoline stations around the country. During yesterday’s IERO 2013 safety forum, industry players stressed the importance of safety as they warned the public against the practice of some merchants of selling fuel oil in bottles. Monsada said the unregulated nature of the “bote-bote” Read More …

Bread making seminar set

Economy

Jun 062013

MANILA, Philippines – The Golden Treasure Skills and Development program will conduct a one-day seminar on cake baking and bread making to be held at the mezzanine, rm. 14 and 15, SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, on June 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The day long seminar will have an actual demo, food tasting and hands-on experience on how to make different kinds of bread. Other topics to be discussed are sourcing of materials, costing, and step by step guidelines on how to venture into baking business. Each participant will be given a certificate of training right after the seminar. Lunch, snacks hand-outs and all the raw materials needed for actual demo and hands-on experience will be provided. For questions call 913-65-51; 421-15-77; cel. no 0905-205-0110 or 0949-930-8487 or log on to www.GoldenTreasureSkills.com or like us on facebook.

Binay bats for more German investments in Phl

Economy

Jun 062013

Binay bats for more German investments in Phl

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay has invited German businessmen to invest in the country. Binay, presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) concerns, urged the German business community to look past the Fraport-Piatco affair and take a second look at different investment opportunities in the Philippines. “It may not seem easy to think of doing business as usual without looking back at Fraport-Piatco affair. But that is now before the international courts, and we must let it take its own course as the stronger parts of our cooperation and partnership move on. We must not forget that we have gone through tougher things than this,” Binay said. On separate meetings, Binay reminded the Ostasiatscheveerein (Asia Pacific Business Association and the Thewirtschasftsrat Deutshcland (Economic Council Germany) that the Philippines continues to receive investment upgrades from the international credit rating agenices as well as attract many short-term and long-term investments from abroad. “So I believe we can move on, and I have come here to move on. The exchange of visits between Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario to Berlin in November 2011 and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle to Manila last February and Labor Minister Ursula von Der Leyen and a high-level group from the Bundestag also to Manila in March has, I believe, created a vigorous momentum for a fresh start,” Binay said. Binay also told German businessmen that a number of major infrastructure projects are up for international public bidding in the Philippines. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: Read More …

Fight gout with Goutritis

Economy

Jun 062013

MANILA, Philippines – Fight gout with Goutritis, an all-natural food supplement that contains tart or sour cherries, which have a high content of anthocyanins, antioxidants and potassium. All these natural nutrients combine to effectively and safely reduce inflammation and contribute to alkalizing the body, which is helpful in reducing pain associated with gout. Goutritis is FDA-approved. It is available directly from Whealth Inc. with customer hotlines 524-6549, 354-2208 to 09 and 09474890262. It is currently sold in jars of 90 capsules priced at P900. For additional product information, email info@goutritis.com or visit www.goutritis.com and www.facebook.com/GoutritisSupplement. Three capsules of Goutritis, taken daily before breakfast, will help the patient manage his gout on top of doctor’s orders to take the prescribed medication, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet low on Purine-rich foods, drinking plenty of water to rehydrate the body and flush out excess uric acid, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy body weight.

New OR reqm’t will proceed as planned – BIR

Economy

Jun 062013

New OR reqm’t will proceed as planned – BIR

MANILA, Philippines – The new regulations requiring all business establishments to print new official receipts, invoices and other business documents will proceed as scheduled on July 1, 2013, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said yesterday. BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares said “the complaints against the new regulation are without any basis” and that business establishments were given more than enough time to meet the requirement. Henares said the BIR issued the new policy last year and published the same in a newspaper of general circulation informing the parties concerned that existing receipts would expire on June 30, 2013. “We believe that six months is enough preparation for everyone to comply with such requirement,” Henares pointed out. The BIR, in issuing this new regulations, aims to regulate further the printing of all invoices, set validity period and generate reports relative to the Authority to Print official receipts. This was an offshoot of the agency’s discovery of businesses registered with the BIR that are not really engaged in any business except to sell invoices, thereby defrauding the government of billions in tax revenues. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 These businesses, the BIR noted, sell their invoices to entities who are either engaged in smuggling and/or purchasing goods without receipts. When BIR looked for these companies, mostly Small and Medium Enterprises, they cannot be found. The BIR also discovered that a lot of invoices that were printed in the ‘70s are still being used. Henares said the issuance Read More …

FTI offers new investment opportunities

Economy

Jun 062013

MANILA, Philippines – With the recent acquisition of Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) by Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) in late 2012, it is expected that the 120-hectare property will soon grow to become one of the brightest and busiest commercial business districts in Southern Metro Manila. In a signing ceremony witnessed by President Aquino at the Malacañang Palace, ALI executives led by chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala expressed their plans to develop the sprawling 74-hectare complex into a commercial district featuring dining, retail and entertainment for residents and employees in the area as well as travelers from various parts of the country. The complex already features various services and amenities such as banks, fast-food restaurants, food markets and the Sunshine Plaza Mall. FTI began as the Greater Manila Terminal Food Market in 1968 through a Presidential directive meant to ensure price stability and productivity of the country’s agricultural economy. In the 80s, FTI became involved in retailing various products at government subsidized prices, trading, food processing and cold storage. Today, FTI operates as a provider of prime lots for industrial, commercial and residential use. Many of its industrial buildings offer leasable facilities for various manufacturers, exporters and food producers. Conveniently located near the country’s major local and international airports such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, South Luzon Expressway, C-5 and C-6 roads, as well as surrounded by various communities, FTI is a promising hub for economic activity and a key pivotal convergence point for the south. The planned Read More …

Travel groups buck moratorium on landing permits

Economy

Jun 062013

Travel groups buck moratorium on landing permits

MANILA, Philippines – The moratorium on the issuance of landing permits at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is sending the wrong signal to international investors, the country’s largest travel/tourism groups said. In a joint statement, Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and the Federation of Tourism Industry of the Philippines (FTIP) said they are asking the government to study carefully the impact of the moratorium to the tourism industry and the economy as a whole. PTAA president John Paul Cabalza said the industry already anticipated the influx of request for permits to have regular flights into the country’s major gateways after the scrapping of the common carriers tax (CCT) earlier this year. “Having a strong Philippine tourism campaign requires the support of other government agencies and needs a singular voice on that same plan. We cannot give the international community mixed signals when we push hard to open a door and yet have that door being shut again,” he said. For her part, interim FTIP president Aileen Clemente said more than just addressing the flight congestion challenges of NAIA, “we want the government in general, to map out and address connectivity, tourism growth, and capacity build-up across the country.” Earlier reports came out that the Civil Aviation Board (CAB) has denied the request of both India’s Jet Airways and Oman Airways to mount regular flights to Manila. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Jet Airways is the second largest carrier in India with 21 international destinations across Read More …

Need for food security plan cited

Economy

Jun 062013

MANILA, Philippines – It is not enough that countries have sufficient food today; it is important to ensure that there will continue to be sufficient food tomorrow. This was stressed recently by leading European agriculture executive Martin Taylor before the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AMCHAM). According to Taylor, increasing food security “in an environmentally sustainable way” is an issue that must be addressed not just by the Philippines but by the international community as well. Taylor expressed concern that there are “seven billion people in the world who do not have enough to east despite significant growth in production over the past 50 years.” He said global food production needs to grow by 70 percent if countries are to meet the growing food requirement. The need is for global food security, not just food sufficiency, he added. This calls for a well planned strategy backed by both governments and the private sector, he underscored. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Concerning the Philippines, Taylor said the challenge to the business and agriculture sectors is “to give small farmers access to technology” to increase production and move closer to food security. He noted that most farmers in the country are considered small since they generally till one to three hectares of farmland. Taylor said technology does not only include the use of modern tools and equipment but also the development of seeds and farm inputs Read More …

Coco oil exports up 83% in May

Economy

Jun 062013

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s cocunut oil exports rose 83 percent to 136,985 metric tons (MT) in May from 74,613 MT a year ago due to a strong demand for the commodity in key markets, the United Coconut Association of the Philippines Inc (UCAP) reported yesterday. The rise in May shipments followed a 14.2 percent drop in April. UCAP executive director Yvonne Agustin said demand from key markets such as the US and Europe picked up in May as CNO price remained lower than palm oil, its main competitor in the market. In May, CNO was priced at an average of $811 per MT while palm kernel oil was priced at $852 per MT. CNO enjoyed a greater pricing advantage over another competitor in the market, soybean oil which was priced at $1,000 per MT in May. Agustin said demand is expected to pick up in the coming months as buyers replenish stock requirements. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 UCAP expects CNO shipments to reach 900,000 MT within the year, higher than 851, 913.18 MT shipped in 2012 and 821, 445.37 MT in 2011.

Older Entries Newer Entries