Nov 292015
 
PNoy just wanted proper perspective on laglag bala: Palace

President Aquino attends the inauguration of Pointwest Digital Center at Rockwell Business Center in Pasig City (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang on Tuesday denied that President Benigno Aquino III was being insensitive when he indicated that the reports of alleged laglag bala extortion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were overblown by the media. In a radio interview, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said Aquino merely wanted to put the issue in the proper perspective, pointing out that there was still an ongoing investigation on the alleged racket at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals. “Hindi rin naman po siguro makatuwirang sabihin na manhid o insensitive ang gobyerno. Ilalagay lang po sa tamang perspective,” said Coloma. “Ginagawa naman ng pamahalaan iyong pagmamanman kung mayroong nagsasamantala. Patuloy pa nga ang iyong imbestigasyon. Humingi lang nang konti pang panahon ang Department of Justice,” he added. Critics of the Aquino administration pounced on the President’s recent remarks wherein he dismissed as sensational the reports of extortionists preying on passengers caught with bullets in their luggage. In an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, Aquino said the controversy, which supposedly victimizes overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), appeared to have been sensationalized. He said some groups even used the controversy against his administration. “Medyo na-sensationalize at medyo may mga nakinabang na mag-sensationalize niyan. Okay, pero dulo nito, hindi tayo pwedeng dumaan sa haka-haka,” said the president. Aquino said all allegations should be backed up with proof as he Read More …

Nov 272015
 
APEC CEOs see broadband connectivity as a growth pathway

The APEC CEOs identified broadband connectivity as a priority among the several growth-driven areas in a survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCooper (PWC) among the region’s top business leaders. APEC CEO Summit 2015 [by SeongJoon Cho via The Age] PwC Int’l. Ltd. Chairman Dennis Nally reported on the findings of their APEC CEO survey as “reflective of a region in transition” from intra-APEC trade outpacing global trade in 2016 to digital technology streamlining manufacturing and high-quality education increasing the ranks of the middle class. APEC CEOs expressed in the survey that growth prospects for the region will be enhanced with improved connectivity.  Of the CEOs surveyed, the highest – at 28% — went to broadband connectivity compared to new transport and maritime corridors, Trade Facilitation Agreements (TFA) and others. “Estimates on the impact on the GDP across Asia Pacific of the 700MHz band alone, as allocated to mobile, is a tenfold increase to US$1 trillion by 2020,” said Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo as he cited GSMA’s forecast from the harmonization of the 700/800MHz bands.   Globe Telecom is a co-member along with other telco service providers, from all over the world, of GSMA or Groupe Speciale Mobile.  GSMA is an international trade body for telecommunications advocacy – representing network operators that use GSM technology for their networks. Castelo added that in their talks with GSMA, they were informed that the Philippines was one of only two countries in the world with major issues which lie in the way of adoption of the APT Read More …