June 2014 – Page 42

Outlaws and typhoons

News

Jun 072014

NEW YORK, New York —Anews item recently got my attention. Apparently, in a study of the deadly effects of hurricanes (or typhoons), a group of researchers observed that, in the United States at least, there were more fatalities and more destruction wrought when the hurricane/typhoon had been christened with a female name. Why was this? The researchers’ hypothesis was that those living within the area to be struck by the horrific act of nature didn’t think the typhoon would be as terrible as it would have been had it had a male name, and thus they took fewer precautions than they normally would have. Were the scientists perhaps having a private joke premised on the saying that hell hath no fury like a woman (and typhoon) scorned? I doubt that such theorizing holds any water, no pun intended. In the Philippines, at least, afflicted as we are by an average of 20 typhoons a year, folks take such natural disasters seriously, but as was shown in the case of Hurricane Haiyan/Typhoon Yolanda, the devastation was nevertheless extraordinary. By the way, the typhoons that plague our archipelago are usually named after women. But while a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, it might be time to rethink this whole business of naming typhoons. If the intent is to make the inhabitants of the endangered area extra alert to the very real dangers of the impending fury, then I suggest the typhoons be named after historical figures Read More …

Ransom paid for release of Chinese tourist, says OFW

News

Jun 072014

Ransom paid for release of Chinese tourist, says OFW

Abu Sayyaf group. AFP FILE PHOTO MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato—The Filipino migrant worker abducted in Malaysia along with a Chinese national by suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists in April believes a ransom was paid for their release by the family of her fellow captive. Forty-year-old Mercedita Dayawan, of this town, said she took part as a translator in the negotiations for the release of Chinese national Gao Hua Yuan. The two were seized by Filipino gunmen from the Singmata Adventures Reef and Resort on Sabah on April 2. Dayawan worked at the resort as a receptionist while Gao was there as a tourist. “I served as a translator between Gao and the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers so I know how much money was involved,” Dayawan said in an interview over Church-run Radio dxMS. She said that Gao, 29, a student from Shanghai, was in touch with her parents. The kidnappers, she added, initially demanded P500 million for her release. “Gao would talk to her parents and then tell me in English what the conversation was all about. I would then translate it to Filipino for the captors,” Dayawan said. She said the kidnappers eventually settled for P300 million, to which the Gao family agreed. “I was convinced money was paid because that was repeatedly demanded by the kidnappers before they would free us,” she said. But Philippine and Malaysian authorities would insist that no ransom was paid, she said. She said the group, led by an Alhabsi Misaya, held them in the jungles Read More …

PNOC confident to strike oil off Palawan

General

Jun 072014

PNOC confident to strike oil off Palawan

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE/ http://www.pnoc-ec.com.ph A consortium led by the state-run Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC) has embarked on a $22-million energy exploration project off the western coast of Palawan, which is “estimated to contain oil-in-place volumes of [up] to 676 million barrels, and an upside potential of 977 million barrels.” Should the consortium succeed in drawing oil from Baragatan, it could supply roughly 10 percent of the country’s crude oil consumption, he noted. PNOC-EC chair Gemiliano Lopez Jr. has reported the “positive development” to President Benigno Aquino III. PNOC-EC is “confident that [it] will strike oil” in the 20 square-kilometer Baragatan prospect—part of the firm’s Service Contract No. 63, Lopez reported in a June 2 letter to Mr. Aquino, a copy of which was furnished the Inquirer. The company, as project head, utilized “the brand-new jack-up oil rig UMW Naga 5 to conduct exploratory drilling works last May 15,” the former Manila mayor said. He cited a project briefing paper, which showed that the Albion Head 1 well, a 1975 oil drilling operation in the same area, “missed the Baragatan prospect, leaving it untested.” The prospect is said to “contain thick, mature oil-prone source rocks. These are the same source rocks which have produced the majority of oil and gas discovered offshore in the northwest Palawan basin,” he said. Lopez said that although the operation would be “costly and risky,” the rewards of attaining success would have “far reaching positive implications economically,” and boost the country’s energy security. Expense Read More …

Almonte: Best policy to solve sea dispute is ‘people to people’ strategy

News

Jun 072014

Almonte: Best policy to solve sea dispute is ‘people to people’ strategy

Former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte (inset) talks about the best solution to the Philippine territorial disputes with China. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—For former National Security Adviser Jose Almonte, a retired Army general, the best strategy for handling the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea is the “people-to-people approach.” After all, he said, citizen initiatives are “more authentic” and “more enduring,” unlike those of politicians who are “constrained” by personal interests. Also considered the father of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), Almonte, however, did not name any politician in his meeting with several Ateneo de Manila University graduates—called the Ateneo 198—in Greenhills in San Juan City on Thursday. “This nation is still too important to be left to the politicians,” Almonte said, two days before Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is running for the presidency in 2016, was reported to be conducting “back-channel” efforts with top Chinese Embassy officials to lay the groundwork for patching the frayed relations between the Philippines and China. Under the people-to-people strategy, Almonte proposed that the Philippines’ “intellectuals” “connect” with the many intellectuals in China who oppose the Chinese leadership’s policies in the South China Sea. Exploration of possibilities He said “any mode of communication,” such as Facebook, Twitter and other social media, would do. “Maybe some of us can … explore possibilities, maybe China can exploit the exclusive economic zones, but under the laws of the (affected) littoral countries,” he said. Almonte said the Philippines, a littoral Read More …

BSP likely to keep key rates steady

Economy

Jun 072014

MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is still likely to keep key rates steady during its policy meeting this month despite inflation creeping up to the three to five percent target range. In a research note, Singapore-based DBS Bank, however, said it expects a 50-basis point increase in key policy rates that will transpire in the second half of the year. “Following the adjustment done to the reserve requirement rate in the two previous policy meetings, expect the BSP to adjust its key policy rate higher going forward,” DBS said. “Look for a total of 50 bps rate hikes in 2H14 (second half 2014),” the bank added. The BSP’s next rate-setting meetings are slated on June 19 and July 31. The policy-making Monetary Board of the BSP has maintained the overnight borrowing and overnight lending rates at 3.5 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively, during its first three meetings for the year. However, the reserve requirement ratio has been raised by a total of two percentage points to mop up excess liquidity in the system. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Last week, the Philippine Statistics Authority said inflation climbed to a 30-month high of 4.5 percent in May amid higher food prices following supply shocks that emanated after strong typhoons hit the country late last year. This brought the five-month average to 4.1 percent, above the midpoint of the BSP’s three percent to five percent target for the year. “At the current pace of Read More …

Learn to collect debts through the small claims court

Economy

Jun 072014

Learn to collect debts through the small claims court

MANILA, Philippines – Whether you are a sole proprietor, a small or medium-sized enterprise, a large-scale company, a financing institution or a financier, collecting money from abusive debtors has now been made easier. You can present and argue your case in court with no lawyer required. You can have a speedy trial with your case heard and resolved in one day with the judge’s final, executory, and non-appealable decision. The Center for Global Best Practices is launching a pioneering seminar entitled, “Best Practices Guide in Using the Small Claims Court: How to Collect Debt Without Using a Lawyer” on Friday, June 25, 2014 at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. The establishment of the Small Claims Court has made settlement of collection cases become more convenient, less complicated and generally hassle-free. When you need to collect P100,000 and below that amount against non-paying debtors, all you have to do is to file your cases in the small claims court. Yes, you can easily do it yourself. No lawyers needed. No costly litigation expenses, no delays with speedy resolutions of your collection cases. Learn all of these and empower yourself in this one-day comprehensive program where you will be taught the rules and procedures on what to file, where to file, how to file your collection cases in this practical, easy to understand and comprehensive program. What if your total collection is beyond P100,000? The amount limit does not include interests and costs. Thus, an indebtedness of P100,000 that earned Read More …

No price hikes yet on basic goods – DTI

Economy

Jun 072014

MANILA, Philippines – Prices of basic necessities and prime commodities should remain stable as pending requests for adjustments in suggested retail prices (SRP) are still under evaluation, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said. “The DTI has pending requests for new SRPs on these products from their manufacturers. These requests are still for evaluation, thus, we do not expect any price increase on said products,” DTI Undersecretary Victorio Mario Dimagiba said in a statement. The DTI’s statement comes amid reports that there are sudden spikes in prices of canned and powdered milk, canned meat, bath soap, sugar, and bottled water. A common reason cited by manufacturers for the request to be allowed to adjust prices is the rising prices of imported raw materials in the last quarter of 2013 and first quarter of this year. As a price freeze was declared following Super Typhoon Yolanda last year, the DTI has not granted any requests for price increases. Manufacturers are appealing anew for the review of the SRPs to narrow the price difference among competing brands and to correct the margins in their previously submitted SRPs. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The DTI argues that such reason does not merit a price increase. “We have immediately routed a memorandum to the DTI Regional and Provincial offices to verify these reports on price shoot up for several basic necessities and prime commodities. We have required them to report promptly if there are spikes on prices and to Read More …

Learn from the good and learn from the bad

Economy

Jun 072014

Learn from the good and learn from the bad. This is what I constantly say in my leadership seminars. Take our bosses for example. Good bosses are everywhere and unfortunately, bad bosses are everywhere as well. You know as well as I do that some bosses behave more like jerks than inspiring leaders. Instead of inspiring their subordinates, they make life difficult for those who have no choice but to follow them. Unfortunately, this kind of leadership can cause serious problems; I have known sufferers of strokes or heart attacks as a result of high stress levels following such leaders. But then, there are those who benefit greatly from working under inspiring leaders who help them tap into their hidden potential, and excel in their skills. Leadership skills are not always taught in the way it should be. There are many teachings and seminars on theoretical leadership. They show matrixes, quadrants, and draw up frameworks for leadership. The students or seminar participants leave the room carrying with them tons of valuable theoretical principles but find them hard to relate to actual happenings in the work place. While many books and articles offer useful information in the subject of leadership skills, most of these ideas are really taught experientially. New managers or emerging leaders, for better or worse, often mimic what their former managers did when they were under their charge. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 If you are a regular reader of this column then you Read More …

Divine warning

Economy

Jun 072014

Lightning does hit twice and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) can attest to that. Last Tuesday, lightning struck a Kamuning area cable that powers the train system, forcing management to idle half of the line from the North Avenue to the Shaw Boulevard station for almost two hours. The following day, another lightning bolt struck MRT3 also in Quezon City, prompting management to again suspend the MRT run from the North Avenue to Shaw Boulevard station that rainy afternoon. That’s twice in a row. Then there is of course the award by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to PH Trams and then to APT Global as interim maintenance providers of MRT-3, two private companies believed to have connections to sacked MRT general manager Al Vitangcol and the powers-that-be. MRT-3 has already become associated with disaster (last March 26’s foul-up of an emergency brake system injured 10 passengers at the Guadalupe station) ever since the DOTC dumped in 2012 its decade-old operation and maintenance (M&O) contractor TES-P/Sumitomo in favor of an undercapitalized firm controlled by alleged Liberal Party (LP) campaigner Marlo dela Cruz and Vitangcol’s uncle-in-law Arturo Soriano. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Another incorporator-director of PH Trams who has now become infamous is Wilson de De Vera, a defeated LP mayoralty bet, who – according to Czech Ambassador Josef Rychtar – was Vitangcol’s “emissary” who had tried to extort $30 million from Inekon chief executive officer Josef Husek in exchange for this Read More …

Camella bags Reader’s Digest award anew as Asia’s Trusted Brand in property dev’t

Economy

Jun 072014

MANILA, Philippines – Camella’s numbers tell a clear story – 250,000 homes in Mega Manila and 38 other key provinces and 65 cities and municipalities. It is clearly a story of nearly 40 years of determined perseverance driven by the dream to give Filipinos a home they can enjoy and be proud of wherever in the Philippines they long to set down roots and raise their families. But in June of 2014, one number gave the company inspiration like no other. For three years running, Reader’s Digest named Camella as one of Asia’s Trusted Brands – and for the third straight year, the company was handed a Gold Award. It was a very palpable pat on Camella’s back by Filipinos and Asians alike – indisputably a sign that the company was on the right track. That its hard work and intense perseverance did not go unnoticed. That the Filipino people had developed a loyalty to the brand that has taken 38 years to build, as well as a loyalty to the dream that fueled it. The Reader’s Digest’s Asia’s Trusted Brands award is the premier consumer-based international measure for brand preference across Asia. Each year, it approaches ordinary consumers, as well as Reader’s Digest subscribers, soliciting their opinion on what brands of specific products and services are important to them. The consumer polls are conducted across seven markets in Asia – namely, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. From this survey comes a list of the Read More …

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