September 2013 – Page 18

PLDT ties up with Dana Telecom

Economy

Sep 042013

MANILA, Philippines – Dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has tied up with Dana Telecom (Datelco) of the Durano family to provide telecommunication services in Danao City in Cebu. PLDT president and chief executive officer Napoleon Nazareno said in statement that the company entered into an agreement yesterday to provide services in Danao City in Cebu as Datelco is in the midst of winding down its local exchange carrier (LEC) business. “We welcome this opportunity to further expand our coverage in Cebu where we recently rolled out our fiber-to-the-home facilities,” Nazareno said. Under the agreement, PLDT would take over the existing customers of Datelco. Nazareno said PLDT and Datelco would also embark on joint marketing and promotions of PLDT’s products and services in fifth district of Cebu “Beyond the agreement that we signed today, we are genuinely interested in joining hands with Datelco in contributing to the development of areas north of Metro Cebu city that holds so much promise,” he said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 After more than 20 years of operations, Datelco president Oscar Rodriguez said the company decided to wind down its LEC business as the cost of upgrading its own network became untenable. “We are pleased to turn over our customers to PLDT who we believe will be able to take care of them very well. Being the largest telecoms company in the Philippines today, PLDT will be able to provide Danao’s residents and business establishments quality voice, data, Read More …

Globe launches new service in Canada

Economy

Sep 042013

MANILA, Philippines – Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. further expanded its presence overseas by offering telecommunication services in Canada to cater to almost one million Filipino permanent resident and transients. Rizza Maniego-Eala, head for International Business Group of Globe, said the company has extended the reach of its international inbound calling offer DUO International to over 900,000 Filipinos living and working in Canada. “Almost 90 percent of Filipinos in Canada are permanent migrants who are unable to visit family and friends back home as frequent as those in other countries, and we are proud to be able to give them an innovative and affordable way to keep in touch with loved ones in the Philippines for less than CAD$1 a day,” Maniego-Eala stressed. Canada is one of the top countries worldwide that houses the most number of overseas Filipinos making it a viable market for the telco’s roster of international services. DUO International is also offered in the US, Korea, and the United Kingdom. DUO Canada is a subscription service that assigns a virtual Canadian landline number to a registered Globe number in the Philippines. This allows Filipinos in Canada to call their loved ones in the country through their virtual Canadian landline number. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Calls to the virtual Canadian landline number assigned to the Globe subscriber would be charged at domestic Canadian call rates, effectively lowering call costs. “This allows Filipinos in Canada to contact loved ones at a much affordable rate Read More …

UK-based private group sees slower growth for Phl

Economy

Sep 042013

UK-based private group sees slower growth for Phl

MANILA, Philippines – The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) expects the economy growing by only 5.3 percent this year amid weak demand from China. “Strong growth in consumption and government spending in the Philippines will drive output up by 5.3 percent in 2013,” ICAEW said in a report. “While this is down on 2012, when GDP grew by 6.8 percent, it is 0.6 percentage points higher than average annual growth over the previous five years,” ICAEW said. This sharp deceleration from year-ago levels means slower growth for the second half of the year as the Philippine economy already grew by 7.6 percent in the first half. Moreover, this is below the government’s full-year economic growth target of six to seven percent this year. This expectation came as ICAEW expects growth in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to slow down to 4.7 percent this year from 5.5 percent in 2012. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “This slowdown will be largely driven by easing demand from China while a squeeze on the availability of capital in 2014 and 2015 as US monetary policy is tightened will also hold back growth,” ICAEW said. ICAEW expects China’s growth to slow down to 7.2 percent this year, from an average of 10.5 percent in the last 10 years due to a drop in demand for Chinese exports. ICAEW also expects the economy to grow by 5.4 percent in 2014 before falling to 4.6 percent in 2015.

Get more for less on Ford’s latest service offerings

Economy

Sep 032013

Get more for less on Ford’s latest service offerings

MANILA, Philippines – Ford Philippines today announced the launch of a new service promotion, extending its popular ‘Get More for Less’ promotion to Ford’s service offerings. Dubbed as Get More for Less on Ford Service, Ford vehicles with expired warranties can avail of a free Genuine Ford Oil Filter and a 10 percent discount on Ford Genuine Parts for any general repair at any authorized Ford dealership. This is part of Ford’s ongoing commitment to ensure the highest performance of all Ford vehicles, old or new. “While offering best-in class Ford vehicles across the country, we always aim to go further and offer our customers – old and new – a world-class customer service experience through our expanding network of authorized dealerships and attractive promotions,” says Margo Delfinado, Director, Ford Customer Service Division. To qualify, customers must avail of either a Periodic Maintenance Service (PMS) or a General Repair worth PhP5,000 and above. The Get More for Less on Ford Service is offered to all out-of-warranty Ford vehicles sold by any authorized Ford dealership nationwide.

Filipinos in Malaysia warned of new crackdown on illegals

News

Sep 032013

Filipinos in Malaysia warned of new crackdown on illegals

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:24 pm | Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya. Photo from J Eduardo Malaya Facebook account MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has called on Filipinos to complete their immigrant documentation and carry their papers at all times after the Malaysian government initiated a new crackdown on illegals this month. In a statement, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya reminded Filipinos to always bring their passports with valid visas and work permits with them as Malaysian authorities conduct immigration checks on foreign nationals. “We wish to remind our Filipino nationals to have proper documents, notably work permit or passport with valid visa, and carry it with them in case of immigration checks, in order to avoid inconvenience. Also, Filipinos who wish to enter Malaysia for work should have approved work permits or similar papers as they start their jobs here,” Malaya said. On Sunday, Malaysian authorities started an operation to apprehend undocumented foreigners across Malaysia. The crackdown has so far led to the arrest of some 2,433 foreign nationals, but no Filipinos is known to be among them, the embassy said. Among those arrested were illegals from Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal. “We checked with the immigration detention facility in Putrajaya, and we were informed that Filipinos are not among those arrested and currently held in said facility,” Consul General Medardo Macaraig said in the statement. Philippine Embassy officials made the rounds of areas where Filipinos are known to hang Read More …

OFWs in Jeddah warned on repatriation scheme by fake passport office staff

News

Sep 032013

OFWs in Jeddah warned on repatriation scheme by fake passport office staff

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 4:25 pm | Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) warned undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Jeddah against an extortion scheme promising a faster way back to the Philippines for a fee. FILE PHOTO The Consul General in Jeddah had received reports that people posing as personnel of the district passport office or “Jawazat” were approaching undocumented OFWs and asking for 100 Riyals payment in exchange for being repatriated, the DFA said in a statement Tuesday. “The OFWs are really brought to the airport but they will not be able to leave,” it said. The Jawazat personnel had claimed they were helping the OFWs go back home upon orders of the King of Saudi Arabia, the DFA said. “This information has been confirmed by the Consulate with the Jawazat. The Jawazat said that there was no such order from the King and that no one can be sent home without going through the process under the repatriation and regularization program,” DFA said. “We reiterate that the repatriation is free of charge and anyone who gets an exit visa but is unable to buy airplane tickets may ask for help from the Consulate,” it added. The DFA reminded that there are no such charges or fees to get a “reference number” on their travel document, to have their fingerprints recorded, or to get exit visas. Those who have fallen victim to such schemes, or have information to share, they may call Read More …

China set impossible conditions for Aquino visit—DFA

News

Sep 022013

China set impossible conditions for Aquino visit—DFA

Associated Press 7:37 pm | Monday, September 2nd, 2013 DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III canceled a trip to a Chinese trade fair after Beijing demanded that he first withdraw a legal complaint over disputed territories in the South China Sea, Filipino officials said Monday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and two other diplomats relayed conditions for Aquino to attend the annual China-Asean Expo, which opens Tuesday in the southern city of Nanning, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez told a news conference. Hernandez declined to detail the conditions, but said these were “absolutely inimical to our national interest.” The Chinese side asked that the conditions not be publicly disclosed, he said. They were discussed by Wang and Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario in Beijing on Wednesday. Because of the conditions, Aquino decided to call off his publicly announced trip to the trade fair, Hernandez said, adding the Philippines will instead send a delegation headed by its trade secretary. “The president stood firm in the defense of the country’s national interest,” Hernandez said. Two Philippine officials told The Associated Press that China wanted Manila to withdraw a U.N. arbitration case over disputed islands in the South China Sea. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters. Chinese officials have also cited a new standoff between China and the Philippines over the Second Thomas Shoal, which is called Ayungin Shoal by Filipinos Read More …

DFA reveals story behind Aquino’s cancellation of China trip

News

Sep 022013

DFA reveals story behind Aquino’s cancellation of China trip

By Matikas SantosINQURER.net 4:21 pm | Monday, September 2nd, 2013 DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – No deal. President Benigno Aquino III refused several conditions set by China for him to attend the annual China-Asean Exposition, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assistance secretary Raul Hernandez told reporters Monday. “There were subsequent concerns and conditions to the President’s attendance and such conditions were absolutely inimical to our national interest,” Hernandez said. “The President stood firm in the defense of the country’s national interest,” he said. Hernandez refused to divulge the conditions, which were conveyed by at least three Chinese Foreign Ministry sources and confirmed by two Philippine Foreign Ministers during a meeting in Beijing last August 28, 2013. “To avoid embarrassment on the Chinese side, we will not state these conditions but you may wish to address this specific question to Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing,” Hernandez said. “We were advised that these conditions should not be made public and should not be discussed at Ministerial level,” he said. The DFA maintained that Aquino was invited to the event. 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 on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: China , Features , Global Nation Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Read More …

Military drills set amid talks on more US troops in PH

News

Sep 022013

Military drills set amid talks on more US troops in PH

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 3:18 pm | Monday, September 2nd, 2013 AFP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – About 2,300 members of the Philippine and US military will hold joint military drills later this month amid talks of increased rotational presence of US forces here and continuing tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Part of the bilateral exercises include staff planning exercise to increase the capability to conduct bilateral maritime security and territorial defense operations, field training exercises and humanitarian and civic assistance projects. The three-week joint exercises hosted by the Philippine Marine Corps will start September 18 in several Philippine military camps including the Naval Education and Training Command in San Antonio, Zambales; Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac; Marine Base Gregorio Lim in Ternate, Cavite; Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown in Metro Manila; and at the Basa Airbase and Clark Field in Pampanga. The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade from the United States Marine Corps will be paired with Philippine Navy, Air Force and Army units in the annual Amphibious Landing Exercises 2014 dubbed as Phiblex 2014. “Phiblex 14 is designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness and enhance the ability to respond to natural disasters or other regional contingencies,” said First Lieutenant Vince Edward Salmingo, Public Affairs Officer of Phiblex 2014 in a statement. At the same time, Phiblex will also enhance local infrastructure and quality of life and build upon vibrant professional and personal relationships between Philippine and US Marines, Read More …

Workers' protests highlight fast-food economics

Economy

Sep 012013

Workers' protests highlight fast-food economics

In this Aug. 29, 2013, file photo, Becky Rafter, left, Courtney Hanson and Emilia Kaiser with Georgia WAND (Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions) protest in front of a McDonald’s on Moreland Avenue in Atlanta, on a day where organizers say fast-food employees in 50 cities across the country are calling for $15 an hour and the right to unionize. Thousands of fast-food workers and their supporters have been staging protests across the country to call attention to the struggles of living on or close to the federal minimum wage. The push raises the question of whether the economics of the fast-food industry allow room for a boost in pay for its workers. AP NEW YORK — American fast-food workers often earn about $7.25 an hour to make the $3 chicken sandwiches and 99-cent tacos that generate billions of dollars in profit each year for McDonald’s, Taco Bell and other chains. Thousands of the many millions of U.S. fast-food workers and their supporters have been staging protests across the country in the past year to call attention to the struggles of living on or close to the federal minimum wage. The push raises the question of whether the economics of the fast-food industry allow room for a boost in pay for its workers. The industry is built on a business model that keeps costs — including those for labor — low so companies can make money while satisfying America’s love of cheap, fast food. And no group along the food Read More …

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