Metro Manila – Page 4

Penshoppe eyes 25 new stores abroad

Economy

Mar 232014

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fashion retailer Golden ABC Inc. is expanding it business by opening more new stores locally and overseas this year. “I am very excited about our international expansion. We are looking at about 25 stores abroad,” Golden ABC Inc. chief executive officer Bernie Liu told reporters in a chance interview noting that all new stores to be set up overseas are for the Penshoppe brand. The firm is looking at opening five to 10 more stores in the Middle East and about 10 stores in Indonesia. Liu said the firm will also be entering a new market this year, as it is slated to set up in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. “Store investment is going to be done by our partner,” Liu said. The firm currently has presence in markets such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “For domestic (expansion), we are targeting 25 (stores) as well,” Liu said, noting that such would require about P200 million worth of investment. The locations for the new outlets will depend on where new malls will be rising. “We have to be a bit selective where we’re opening. Metro Manila is getting a bit crowded. The opportunities are really outside Metro Manila,” Liu said. He added that the new outlets in the local market will be a combination of its different brands. Aside from Penshoppe, Golden ABC creates and sells ready-to-wear clothing under the Oxygen, ForMe, Memo, Regatta and Read More …

Construction seen to drive growth in next 3 years

Economy

Mar 222014

Construction seen to drive growth in next 3 years

MANILA, Philippines – The construction industry will likely emerge as one of the main drivers of the economy in the next three years due to its strong growth potential, the research arm of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. said. “Given the base and seasonal effects, the construction industry still has a substantial upside potential in the next three years and would be one of the fast movers in the Philippine economy,” Mabellene Reynaldo, research analyst at Metrobank, said in a research note. “Private construction will still be propped up by steady real estate demand, especially as tight supply in Metro Manila drives growth in other regional hubs,” she added. “Reconstruction efforts in typhoon-damaged areas will also support both private and public construction values,” the Metrobank analyst further said. Construction contracted 0.8 percent in the fourth quarter last year, paling in comparison with a 29.9 percent growth seen in the same period in 2012, government data showed. This dragged last year’s construction growth to only 11.1 percent, slower than the 15.7 percent recorded in 2012. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “The fourth quarter contraction so far is not indicative of a slowing construction industry,” Reynaldo pointed out. “A high fourth quarter 2012 base factored in the contraction, and private construction for the first nine months of 2013 was actually strong at 12.6 percent year-on-year,” she noted. The analyst also added construction work is done during the first half historically due to a wet season experienced by the 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 …

Rockwell invests P2B in Cebu

Economy

Feb 062014

PROPERTY developer Rockwell Land has finally entered Cebu with their 32 Sanson residential project as its introductory development outside Metro Manila. The P2-billion project will sit on a 3.2-hectare property in Lahug, where a furniture factory owned by the Aboitiz family used to operate. Rockwell bought the land in 2012, said 32 Sanson general manager Paolo Ernesto V. Reyes. Rockwell president and chief executive officer Nestor J. Padilla told Sun.Star Cebu in a separate interview that the company has chosen to build in Lahug because of its proximity to vital business districts and prominent schools, “while at the same time remaining tranquil and private.” The 32 Sanson project will introduce Rockwell’s low-rise development, which Reyes said has been matched to its surroundings, encircled with greenery. Reyes said there will be five structures of five floors each; all are set to be completed in 2016. Natural “Rockwell’s expansion outside of Manila was a natural step following our expansion throughout Metro Manila. After the positive reception Rockwell received in Ortigas, Quezon City, and San Juan, we were truly eager to venture out regionally,” said Padilla. Rockwell has already completed eight residential projects since it started in the 1990s. Currently, it has six ongoing residential developments. The developer has also ventured into commercial developments, with two already completed and one ongoing project, still concentrated in Metro Manila. “The vibrant city of Cebu has always been attractive to Rockwell. Its booming economy, relaxed lifestyle and lively personality was something Rockwell sought to participate in,” Read More …

DOTC sets May 15 deadline for bus terminal

Economy

Dec 272013

DOTC sets May 15 deadline for bus terminal

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is giving interested companies until May 15 next year to submit their bids for the proposed P2.5 billion Integrated Transport System (ITS) project – Southwest Terminal. In an invitation to bid, the DOTC said the Southwest terminal would be situated in a 2.9-hectare property located at the Coastal Road Terminal along the Manila-Cavite Expressway. The terminal would connect passengers coming from Cavite to other urban transport systems such as the future Light Rail Transit line 1 (LRT) South Extension to Bacoor in Cavite, city bus, taxi, and other public utility vehicles plying Metro Manila. The DOTC said the project would include a passenger terminal building, arrival and departure bays, public information system, ticketing and baggage handling facilities and park-ride facilities. The proposed terminal is the fourth public private partnership (PPP) project of the DOTC and would be under a Build-Transfer-Operate arrangement. The DOTC pointed out that the proponent would finance, design, construct, operate, and maintain the ITS project for a period of 35 years. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 To qualify to bid for the project, the DOTC stated in the invitation that a bidder must have local or international experience within the last 10 years and have completed one or more eligible projects with a cumulative cost of at least P2 billion and with capacity of at least 300 parking bays for vehicles. Furthermore, the agency added that a bidder should have local or international Read More …

'Record high' 11 percent of Visayas expect bleak Christmas – SWS

News

Dec 232013

'Record high' 11 percent of Visayas expect bleak Christmas – SWS

Given the major natural disasters in late 2013, 11 percent of Visayas residents expect a bleak Christmas this year, according to a new poll by Social Weather Stations. “In Visayas, the expectation of a happy Christmas declined to a new record-low 57 percent in 2013 as the expectation of a sad Christmas reached record-high 11 percent,” the SWS said in its poll. Last Oct. 15, a magnitude-7.2 quake devastated Central Visayas, while super typhoon Yolanda devastated the Visayas last Nov. 8. The SWS noted the expectation of a happy Christmas in Visayas declined by nine points, from 66 percent in 2012 to 57 percent in 2013. Before to 2013, SWS said the lowest recorded expectation of a happy Christmas was 60 percent, in 2006. “Conversely, the expectation of a sad Christmas in Visayas increased by four points, from 7 percent in 2012 to 11 percent in 2013,” the pollster said. The survey was taken from Dec. 11-16. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 1,550 adults, with sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±4% for Visayas, and ±6% for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Mindanao. National numbers Nationwide, the SWS said slightly more than three out of five Filipinos (62 percent) still expect a happy Christmas. The 62-percent figure was a slight decline from the 64 percent in the fourth quarters of 2011 and 2012. Also, nine percent of Filipinos expect a sad Christmas this year, while 28 percent expect it to be neither happy nor sad. “The expectation of Read More …

DBM releases P3.38 B to NHA for housing dev’t

Economy

Dec 032013

DBM releases P3.38 B to NHA for housing dev’t

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management approved the release of P3.38 billion to the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the continued implementation of its housing development and settlement program. The money will be used to cover the construction and completion of off-city housing projects which include 3,086 housing lots as well as address the perennial flooding in several problematic areas in Metro Manila by relocating informal settler families to safer ground. “The Aquino administration still prioritizes the implementation of housing projects and the relocation of informal settler families from pre-determined danger areas , especially because we continue to experience the effects of the rainy season and the risks associated with storms and weather disturbances,”DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said. “At the end of the day, the primary goal is to prevent the potential loss of property and lives caused by flooding, primarily through the provision of safe housing alternatives to our informal settlers,” he added. As of August 2013, the NHA has already spent P3.82 million for the development of 12,941 off-city lots, of which 12,291 housing units have been constructed. This benefited about 6,511 families. The money was likewise used to beef up its land holdings. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 According to the DBM, a total of 24,851 new housing units will be built upon completion of the housing program in 2014. The P3.38 billion cash funding, sourced from 2011 savings, was transferred to the NHA from the Bureau of Treasury Read More …

LTFRB to start processing applications for Xmas special permits

News

Nov 302013

LTFRB to start processing applications for Xmas special permits

Starting Monday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will open the door to applications by public utility vehicle operators for special permits plying popular routes during the Christmas season. LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez on Saturday said his office expects to accept and process applications from Dec. 2 to 9. “Kahit another probinsya ito from Metro Manila, para makabyahe sa probinsya na nangangailangan (The permits will allow public utility vehicles to ply routes from Metro Manila to provinces where there may not be enough PUVs),” he said in an interview on dzBB radio. The special permits allow PUVs to ply routes outside the areas specified by their franchises, but for a limited time. Filipinos are expected to flock to their home provinces in the second half of December, to spend the holidays with their families. Ginez said they will check the applicants to see if their units are roadworthy, and take added steps to ensure passengers’ safety. “Maaga kami magbibigay ng special permit (We want to give the special permits early),” he added. — LBG, GMA News

Gov't passes $4.22 B worth of infrastructure projects

Economy

Nov 212013

Gov't passes $4.22 B worth of infrastructure projects

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has approved a series of infrastructure projects that worth P184.2 billion (about $4.22 billion) today. The list of seven projects include three rail projects and one airport, transport terminal, hospital, and water supply projects. Of the seven projects approved by the NEDA Board, six will be undertaken through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. “The rail projects will connect the train systems and make it convenient for passengers to transfer from one train to another. This will also help reduce passengers’ travel time,” the Director- General of the NEDA Arsenio Balisacan said. Meanwhile, the other projects included Mactan-Cebu International Airport New Passenger Terminal Project ($401.60 million); the Development of Transportation System at the Southern outskirts of Metro Manila ($176.70 million); the Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center ($128.51 million); and the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project ($559.94 million).

Phl needs P2.3 T to fix transpo system – JICA

Economy

Nov 122013

Phl needs P2.3 T to fix transpo system – JICA

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government will have to spend a total of P2.293 trillion from next year until 2030 to improve its transport system and fix the traffic problem in the Greater Capital Region which covers Metro Manila, Central Luzon and the CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Speaking at the Management Association of the Philippines’ Special General Membership Meeting yesterday, JICA project manager Shizuo Iwata said that based on a roadmap prepared by the agency for transport infrastructure development in Metro Manila and surrounding areas, the investment would be used for projects to address the worsening traffic congestion in the area. Among the projects being pushed by the JICA is to connect the North and South Luzon Expressways. “We already have good expressways in north and south but it is not connected. It can contribute in reduction in EDSA traffic,” he said. Connecting the two expressways, he said, would also lead to improved port access which would be beneficial for operations of businesses. Aside from linking the expressways, the JICA is also proposing to elevate the rail tracks of the Philippine National Railways in Metro Manila, as well as to build a new subway from San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan until Dasmarinas in Cavite, so that new roads could be created. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 He noted that if the investment is made,the country would be able to generate savings in vehicle operating costs amounting to P2.1 billion Read More …

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