Aug 082013
 
Index eases ahead of long weekend

MANILA, Philippines – Local stocks barely moved yesterday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of a long weekend. The Philippine Stock Exchange index fell 0.26 percent or 16.56 points to settle at 6,404.23, while the broader all shares index slipped 0.13 percent or 4.93 points to 3,918.63. “The market was quiet again. It seems like most investors are already on a holiday mood given the long weekend as seen in the value turnover,” Astro del Castillo, managing director of First Grade Finance Inc. Financial markets are closed today due to Eid al-Fitr celebration. Asian bourses closed mixed, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 continuing to suffer from volatility as it declined 1.59 percent or 219.38 points to 13,605.56, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index inched up 0.31 percent or 67.04 points to 21,655.88. Wall Street also failed to bring good news to the local market. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.3 percent or 48.07 points to 15,470.67, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 index shed 0.4 percent or 6.46 points to 1,690.91 on disappointing earnings. In the local bourse, most subindices were in the red, led by holding firms that eased 0.37 percent or 21.21 points to 5,784.31. Mining and oil bucked the trend, barely rising 0.09 percent or 13.32 points to 14,500.33. Turnover value dropped anew to P4.18 billion from P4.94 billion on Wednesday. Advancers barely outplayed decliners, 63 to 61, while 57 stocks did not change.

Aug 082013
 
UK eyes more investments in infra, energy and retail sectors

MANILA, Philippines – The British government is looking at increasing investments in the infrastructure, energy and retail sectors in the Philippines as part of strengthening the economic ties of both countries. “Infrastructure, energy and retail, these are the areas the United Kingdom is interested to invest in (here),”newly appointed UK Trade and Investment director for Manila Iain Mansfield told reporters yesterday. He said British firms are interested in infrastructure projects under the public private partnership since they have expertise in building rails as well as airports. Some British companies, he noted, are part of the consortia which have expressed interest in the proposed P17.5 billion Mactan Cebu International Airport passenger terminal project. The UK, he also said, sees opportunities in the area of infrastructure in the country since the Philippine government is moving to hike its investments to address the lack of infrastructure here. Apart from infrastructure, he said British firms are interested in wind, hydro as well as energy efficiency projects since they have been involved in similar projects in the past. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The UK is also interested in bringing more retail brands here given the big market. Among the British retail brands active in successful franchising here are Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Topshop and Burberry. Mansfield said as part of efforts to encourage British firms to invest in the Philippines, the UK government is planning a trade mission in September to present available opportunities here, particularly in the energy sector. Read More …

Aug 082013
 
Tales of a frequent flyer

In my seven decades of going around the world, I have had more than my fair share of experiences in multiple airlines and airports.  Allow me to recount some which you may find interesting and helpful. My first experience was in March 1945 when my family was airlifted together with the family of President Sergio Osmeña to the United States.  Manila was not yet completely liberated and there were Japanese snipers on the way to the airport. I remember taking off from  what is now Makati Avenue. The plane was a US Army Air Force C-47 (DC-3).  It was neither comfortable nor fast.  We must have landed in every Pacific island on the way to San Francisco. Fast forward to the 1950s: I flew Philippine Airlines for summer vacation a couple of times.  There was no distinction between first or economy class. The service was excellent and the stewardesses were well trained, charming and very pretty. Today, PAL is different and it needs substantial improvement particularly because of its old fleet going to the United States.  I look forward to the future when the ban is lifted and the new planes ordered by Ramon Ang are utilized on this popular leg. However, I am constrained to draw attention to the uncompetitive pricing structure. My granddaughter had an economy ticket Toronto-Manila-San Francisco.  I decided to give her a treat and upgraded her to business class on the flight back to the US.  I was astounded that it would cost me $2,900 Read More …

Aug 082013
 
Purisima urges retailers to source materials locally

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine retailers should source materials for their products locally in order to contribute to economic growth through improved income of more people and stronger domestic consumption, a cabinet official said. Speaking at the 22nd National Retail Conference, Finance secretary Cesar Purisima said retailers have a role to play for the country to sustain its strong economic growth. He said that while the country has seen economic gains during the past three years, it now faces the challenge of sustaining the strong investor confidence and positive economic performance in the coming years. “Instead of doing the easy way by ordering from China or importing from abroad, (you retailers should) start looking at how you can engage Filipino suppliers,” he said. For instance, Purisima said those in the food business should source their vegetables locally by engaging with Filipino farmers and telling them to produce according to their requirements. By sourcing locally, retailers could help local suppliers by providing them a market, as well as helping them earn more. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Helping them earn more in turn would enable them to consume more goods, which would also be beneficial to retailers. Purisima said that to encourage retailers to engage with local suppliers for their products, the Department of Finance (DoF) is open to providing perks or assistance such as duty-free importation of capital equipment as well as building infrastructure, making credit available and providing training. The DoF however, does not support providing Read More …

Aug 082013
 
Pagcor sees revenues rising to P45.47B in ‘14

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) sees its gross revenues rising to P45.47 billion in 2014 from the projected P42.9 billion this year, largely due to the opening of the first integrated resort in Entertainment City as well as improving operations of existing casinos. Pagcor president and chief operating officer Jorge Sarmiento said the state gaming regulator remains bullish on the local gaming industry’s prospects given significant contributions from Solaire, which turned in a net profit of P22.7 million in the second quarter, a reversal of the P126.9 million loss incurred in the same period last year. In the first half, Pagcor generated a net income of P1.4 billion or just five percent shy of its P1.476 billion target for the period. Revenues amounted to P21.06 billion, slightly lower than the P21.32 billion recorded in the same period in 2012.  The amount, however, exceeded the state-run gaming regulator’s revenue goal of P20.97 billion during the period. The government’s share from Pagcor’s revenues amounted to P6.97 billion. Under RA 7656, Pagcor is mandated to remit at least 50 percent of its annual revenue to the government. Pagcor likewise contributed P1.345 billion to the Office of the President’s Social Fund. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Revenues from gaming operations reached P14.73 billion or 3.17 percent higher than agency’s target. Income from other related services, on the other hand, amounted to P5.7 billion while other income stood at P636.22 million. Pagcor expects to remit around Read More …

Aug 072013
 

Sexy actress Cristine Reyes denied that she’s dating a married man. “Hay! Hindi ah. Sino ang nag-imbento noon? Wala akong date, wala nga akong dini-date. Wala akong time para mag-date,” Reyes told members of entertainment media in a recent interview. Reports that Reyes is dating a married man surfaced after a photo of her and […]

Aug 072013
 

MANILA, Aug 6 (Mabuhay) — Oral debates on the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health continued at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, with a lawyer insisting the law should not be implemented in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. In his speech, lawyer Luis Gana said they went to the court not to contest the constitutionality […]

Aug 072013
 

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE (Mabuhay) — President Aquino admitted that despite implementing tightened procedures, the government could not complete eliminate the opportunities for corruption. But Aquino quickly pointed out the “dramatic drop” in the amount being allegedly lost to graft compared to the previous administration. Aquino made the comment when asked by reporters about the […]

Aug 072013
 

by: Rey Andres California’s top small entrepreneurs who didn’t give up on the economy and persevered and are now reaping the fruits of their unwavering tenacity will be honored at the 50th Annual Small Business Week Awards at the Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel on August 7. These honorees, America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners,  are anything because […]

Aug 072013
 
NGCP nears completion of critical transmission projects

MANILA, Philippines – The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) assured yesterday that some of its transmission line projects, including those being upgraded, are in the final stages of completion to address load growth in many areas around the country. NGCP President Henry T. Sy Jr. told the 34th Annual General Membership Meeting of Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) at PICC yesterday that some critical transmission lines and upgrading projects are expected to be completed by end of 2013. Sy, in a speech read for him by his assistant Joseph Ferdinand M. Dechavez, said that NGCP is pursuing the implementation of projects like the Colon-Cebu 138-kV Transmission to mitigate the impact of line rental charges on customers in Bohol and Panay.  “This will reinforce the Cebu backbone which is transmitting the 246 MW of CEDC Coal and the 200 MW of KSPC Coal Power Plants to electric cooperatives in Cebu and in Bohol,” adding that the Visayan Electric Company, BOHECO I, Mactan Enerzone Corporation, General Milling Corporation and the Waterfront Hotel and Casino would benefit from the project once completed in December 2013. In Mindanao, Sy said that the Balo-i-Villanueva-Maramag transmission project would also be finished in December, completing the Mindanao 230-kV transmission backbone which links northern and southern Mindanao. Also, Sy added, the second circuit of the Butuan-Placer 138-kV transmission project that would provide power supply to mining operations in northeastern Mindanao would soon be implemented. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 More Read More …