March 2014 – Page 29

Malaysia on lookout for ‘leader from Sulu’

News

Mar 022014

Malaysia on lookout for ‘leader from Sulu’

6:02 am | Monday, March 3rd, 2014 KOTA KINABALU—Malaysia’s security forces are closely monitoring information that another leader from Sulu in the Philippines plans to enter Sabah in order to meet with local political figures. Sabah police commissioner Hamza Taib said that should the Sulu leader—whom he did not name—follow the proper channels of entry into Sabah, this would not be a problem. “But if he threatens the security of the state, the police will act accordingly. “At the moment, we are keeping an eye on the individual (a senior leader of a Sulu group), who is planning to come to Malaysia to meet with a political leader. “As far as I am concerned, this individual can enter Malaysia legally as we are a free country and we do not stop people from coming here,” he said. “However, if anyone tries to cause chaos or threaten us, we will not hesitate to take stern action,” he told reporters after launching the second phase of a motorcycle patrolling unit at Taman Suria near Penampang here yesterday. Hamza was commenting on a statement by the inspector general of the police, Khalid Abu Bakar, that a senior leader of a Sulu group was planning to enter Sabah. The Sulu leader reportedly claimed his group was not related to the one led by Agbimuddin Kiram, the brother of the late self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram, which entered Lahad Datu’s coastal village of Tanduo on Feb. 12 last year, demanding the return of Sabah to Read More …

Hong Kong acts to stem abuse of maids

News

Mar 022014

A 44-year-old woman, surnamed Law, with covered head, is escorted by police officers for an investigation at her home in Hong Kong, on Jan. 21, 2014, for alleged maid abuse. Hong Kong has vowed to strengthen legal oversight over maid employment agencies following a spate of abuse cases that have caused widespread shock and anger. AP HONG KONG—Hong Kong has vowed to strengthen legal oversight over maid employment agencies following a spate of abuse cases that have caused widespread shock and anger. City authorities said they would step up surveillance against unscrupulous agencies and look into increasing penalties against those who take advantage of maids. The semiautonomous Chinese city is home to nearly 300,000 maids from mainly Southeast Asian countries—predominantly the Philippines and Indonesia—and criticism from rights groups over their treatment is growing. Earlier this year, the alleged torture of an Indonesian maid by her Hong Kong employer caused uproar, with thousands of helpers taking to the streets to demand justice in January. Images of the injuries sustained by Erwiana Sulistyaningsih, 22, who was reportedly left unable to walk following eight months of abuse, shocked the Southern Chinese city but campaigners warned such assaults were merely the tip of the iceberg. A 39-year-old female employer was arrested on suspicion of assault, a police statement said, following reports that she had attacked her maid with a knife. A spokesperson for the labor department said it would step up surveillance on agencies and show offenders that the government is serious about the Read More …

JG Summit allots P40 B for capex

Economy

Mar 022014

MANILA, Philippines – Conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. of tycoon John Gokongwei has allotted P40 billion for its capital expenditures this year. The hefty capital spending will ensure the continuous growth in profits and support the expansion of local and regional operations of JG Summit’s units ahead of the Southeast Asian economic integration, executives said. JG Summit senior vice-president Bach Johann Sebastian said the company pegged its capital expenditures at roughly P40 billion this year. “Last year was bigger, around P50 billion because the bulk of it was the petrochemical facility but that is nearly complete,” Sebastian said. The bulk of the spending will fund the expansion of property arm Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), aviation unit Cebu Air Inc. and the remaining requirements of the $800-million naphtha cracker plant in Batangas that will start operations in the second half. For this year, JG Summit is banking on new income contribution from power distribution giant Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to boost its profits while core businesses are expected to post further growth. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “In a nutshell, things are fairly good. The economy is robust and most of our businesses are doing well,” Gokongwei said. “Clearly, the Meralco acquisition is the biggest change in the portfolio. The equity stake should probably make it second in terms of contribution to the company after Universal Robina Corp. (URC),” said JG Summit president and chief operating officer Lance Y. Gokongwei. Late in September, the Gokongwei family bought Read More …

Profit taking seen happening this week

Economy

Mar 022014

MANILA, Philippines – Episodes of profit taking are expected to mark this trading week, a development that will allow the benchmark index to create a stronger base prior to testing the 6,500 level. Investors are advised to selectively accumulate stocks particularly during profit-taking driven pullbacks, analysts said. “We expect the local equities market to trade within range this week, but with a downward bias as investors try to book profits made from the recent rally,” BPI Asset Management said in a market report. It pegged the trading range at 6,350 to 6,550. “Given its sudden surge in the 6,400 level, we expect a minor pullback as the stocks are already at overbought levels,” Abbygayle M. Estrella, an analyst at AB Capital Securities Inc. For Grace Cerdenia, an analyst at brokerage firm 2Trade-Asia.com, the main index is poised to traverse the 6,500 mark, albeit on a more modest tone. Astro del Castillo, managing director of First Grade Finance Inc., said a healthy correction is in the offing following the strong performance of the stock market last week. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Week-on-week, the Philippine Stock Exchange index rallied 1.85 percent or 116.63 points to 6,424.99, marking its third straight weekly gain. It is also the highest closing of the main index since ending at 6,436.49 on Nov. 7, 2013. Investors cheered strong local corporate earnings and the US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen’s assurance of gradual tapering.BPI Asset Management said foreign investors are beginning to turn Read More …

Magat hydro plant rehab to be completed in June

Economy

Mar 022014

Magat hydro plant rehab to be completed in June

MANILA, Philippines – SN Aboitiz Power Corp., a joint venture of SN Power of Norway and the Aboitiz Group’s Aboitiz Power Corp., expects to complete the refurbishment of the 360-megawatt Magat hydropower plant in June, a ranking official said. “We are on the last unit of the Magat refurbishment. We expect that to be running early June or earlier than that. After this unit is completed, the whole Magat facility has gone half-life refurbishment, something which has not been done in the 25 years that the plant has been operating under Napocor so once this unit is done it’s all completely new Magat,” said SN Aboitiz president Emmanuel Rubio. SN Aboitiz Power owns the 360-MWt Magat hydro power plant. It earlier applied with the Energy department for a renewable energy service contract covering the 115 MW Magat expansion. Rubio said that once the DOE approves the service contract for the Magat expansion, the company covered proceed with project implementation. “The application for expansion of Magat is still pending with the DOE,” Rubio said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The expansion, in particular, involves the installation of a pump storage for 115. The company had earlier successfully rehabilitated all four units of the Binga hydro power plant in Itogon, Benguet, which the company won in 2007 with a bid of $325 million. The Binga plant, constructed in 1956 and commissioned in 1960, had been operating for almost 50 years. SNAP-Benguet acquired the facility in 2008, along with Read More …

Mining sector seeks inclusion in Palace action plan on poverty reduction

Economy

Mar 022014

Mining sector seeks inclusion in Palace action plan on poverty reduction

MANILA, Philippines – The mining industry wants to be included in Malacañang’s new action plan to reduce poverty in the country by increasing funding and assistance in 30 priority provinces that need heightened economic activity. In a statement, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) said the mining industry should not be left out in this approach as a strong minerals development sector is a “critical component for industrialization.” “The Chamber of Mines applauds this approach but we also urge the government not to forget minerals development in its plans as a vital gear in driving the economy forward,” said COMP. During a recent full cabinet meeting, President Aquino ordered the employment of a so-called geographical and surgical approach to poverty reduction that entails increased support for the country’s 30 poorest provinces through job creation, trade facilitation and increasing their resilience to natural disasters. “Of the 30 poorest provinces in the country, at least 10 provinces have significant mineral potential which, to date, remain largely unexplored and untapped,” said COMP. “If these provinces’ mineral resources are properly harnessed, the economic growth that they experience will be transforming,” it added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 COMP said that a “flourishing” mining industry could provide at least 410,000 jobs by 2018. As provided for in Executive Order No. 79, also known as the New Mining Policy, no new mineral agreements shall be entered into until a law rationalizing the existing revenue sharing scheme between the government and Read More …

BPO firm Ubiquity Global to expand presence in Phl

Economy

Mar 022014

BPO firm Ubiquity Global to expand presence in Phl

MANILA, Philippines – New York-based business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Ubiquity Global Services is expanding its presence in the Philippines as it is set to open a new contact center in Bacolod in Negros Occidental next month. In a statement, Ubiquity founder and president Matt Nyren said the company chose Bacolod for its expansion citing the availability of talent pool. “We’ve been very impressed with the professional talent available in Bacolod and in the Province of Negros Occidental,” he said. The company’s contact center will be the first to open in the province’s Information and Communications Technology complex, the Negros First CyberCentre. The new facility can accommodate more than 1,000 employees. Ubiquity intends to hire more than 200 employees in Bacolod for the new facility over the next 90 days. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Throughout the year, the firm will continue operational expansion. “We look forward to rapid expansion in the CyberCenter, which will be an ideal site for the delivery of our servicing solutions,” Nyren said. Ubiquity has been operating in the Philippines since 2005 through its facility in Bonifacio Global City. The firm offers customer experience management solutions designed to improve user satisfaction while reducing total servicing costs. Its solutions include live customer support services, interactive voice response solutions, multichannel real-time servicing and a variety of physical correspondence services. Aside from the US and the Philippines, Ubiquity also has a facility in El Salvador.

Filing charges over ‘pork’ scam up to DOJ, not Malacañang – Coloma

News

Mar 022014

Filing charges over ‘pork’ scam up to DOJ, not Malacañang – Coloma

Malacañang said Sunday that filing charges over the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund is up to the Department of Justice. “Wala po sa hurisdiksyon ng Malacanang ang pag-aaral ng mga kaso o mga usapin hinggil diyan,” Presidential Communications Operations Office secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said over government radio on Sunday. “Simula sapul, malinaw po ang batayang prinsipyo ng ating Pangulo at pamahalaan. Kinakailangang hayaan yung ebidensya na magturo kung saan patungo yung imbestigasyon,” he added. The statement came after Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) secretary general, said said Saturday that the investigation into the so-called pork barrel scam seemed to be aimed only at members of the opposition. The opposition stalwart on Saturday said the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation have yet to file charges against administration allies named in a Commission on Audit report on alleged misuse of their PDAF. Tiangco said members of the Liberal Party who were identified in a COA report released last August as having received excess “pork barrel” allocations from 2007 to 2008 have yet to face charges. “Imagine, inabot na ng 200 days pero wala pa ring nakakasuhan sa mga kaalyado ng Liberal Party? What’s really obvious and dubious is that the cases are all focused on the opposition. Ayaw na nilang idagdag ang mga kaibigan nilang sumawsaw sa PDAF. Malinaw na may cover up dito,” he said in a statement. But Coloma said Sunday that the findings of the Audit commission still Read More …

Group calls on govt to provide proper disposal system for spent fluorescent lamps

News

Mar 022014

Group calls on govt to provide proper disposal system for spent fluorescent lamps

Warning against health hazards from improper disposal of busted or spent fluorescent lamps, an environmental group on Sunday urged the government to lay down guidelines on the handling of these waste products with high amounts of mercury, a highly toxic substance. “The indiscriminate disposal of busted or spent fluorescent lamps as ordinary trash is putting the health of waste workers and the general public at risk of exposure to mercury, an extremely toxic chemical even at low levels of exposure,” the EcoWaste Coalition said. Also, it said local governments in Metro Manila have failed to provide proper guidelines regarding the disposal of used fluorescent lamps. “Reckless disposal practices may cause the glass tubes to break and explode, especially during mixed waste hauling operations, instantly crushing the lamps and releasing their mercury content in vapor form. This irresponsible practice not only pollutes the environment, but also exposes waste handlers and recyclers to serious harm,” said Von Hernandez, president of the coalition. To help stop the harmful practice, the group also launched an online publication called “The Toxic Silence of the Lamps,” which contains over 100 photos of current lamp waste disposal practices in Metro Manila’s 17 local government units. Moreover, the group asks government to order manufacturers to provide the public necessary information toxic materials. “The results of our investigation should push the government into fast-tracking an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system that will make the lighting industry responsible for the management of busted or spent lamps,” said Thony Dizon, Coordinator Read More …

Comelec urges Congress to pass law on money ban during elections

News

Mar 022014

Comelec urges Congress to pass law on money ban during elections

In a bid to deter vote-buying, the Comelec is asking lawmakers to pass a law that will impose a money ban for a specific period prior to Election Day. “It is a measure that intends to curb the practice of vote-buying by prohibiting the unjustifiable withdrawal of certain sums of money or the actual possession of certain amounts of cash in the period immediately preceding Election Day,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters on Sunday. Also, he said: “This is a Comelec initiative… We hope to bring it up for consideration so that the legislature can craft a law that will achieve the same thing, perhaps operate along the same line.” In 2013, the poll body moved to impose a money ban. But the Supreme Court junked Comelec Resolution No. 9688 that would have prohibited the withdrawal of over P100,000 per day as well as the transport of more than P500,000 during the span of six days until Election Day. “It was declared unconstitutional simply because of the absence of legislation yet for it. It can be cured simply by someone crafting legislation. The SC has already said that it needs a law. Being declared unconstitutional does not mean legislation cannot be passed for that,” he added. Jimenez assured the coordination of the commission with the legislators in coming up with a proposed measure. “Our resolution is already a matter of public records. We believe it will be a good starting point (for lawmakers)… And if we get invited for a working Read More …

Older Entries Newer Entries