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.

US Embassy trumpets programs, ‘easy visa’ processing, Americana in mall tour

 News
Mar 012014
 
US Embassy trumpets programs, ‘easy visa’ processing, Americana in mall tour

MANILA, Philippines—The United States Embassy in Manila on Saturday launched a multimedia event to celebrate Philippine-US ties and showcase the embassy’s programs and services, including “friendly” tourist visa processing. US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO Dubbed “America in 3D: A Road Show in Diplomacy, Development and Defense,” the weekend-long multimedia, entertainment and education activity was launched at SM Mall of Asia, highlighting the favorite activities of Filipinos and Americans such as shopping, food and music. Ambassador Philip Goldberg described Philippine-US ties as “very strong and very rich,” pointing to the four million Americans of Filipino descent living in the US and the 350,000 US nationals living in the Philippines. “This [event] shows our deep commitment to each other, which is people-to-people. We have our people here to help explain what the embassy does and help demystify some our services,” the ambassador told reporters in an interview. Another presentation also showed the step-by-step process of applying for a tourist visa. Goldberg dispelled perceptions that Filipinos have difficulty obtaining tourist visas to visit the United States. He admitted that the US Embassy compound in Manila may look intimidating with its high walls and strict security but, in reality, the procedure for visa application is “friendly.” “The vast majority of people who apply are approved for visas. [We have] a standard and easy process: You make an appointment, you go in, you have an interview. As long as you are a stable resident of the Philippines, you’re going to get your Read More …

Corpses still being found in Tacloban

 Entertainment
Feb 282014
 
Corpses still being found in Tacloban

U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce and USAID staff encourage Tacloban residents whose home was completely destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda. Royce (R-CA) with seven other members of U.S. Congress visited and assured continued U.S. humanitarian support for the people of Tacloban. (MNS photo) MANILA, February 27, 2014 (AFP) – Bodies are still being found under the wreckage almost four months after Super Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines as survivors struggle to rebuild their lives, officials said Thursday. The government’s confirmed death toll of 6,201 has not been updated for a month, as officials investigate whether the recently-discovered corpses are among the 1,785 listed as missing. This development came in the way of a U.S. congressional visit led by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce visited and assured continued U.S. humanitarian support for the people of Tacloban, the Philippine city devastated by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on Nov. 8. Accompanied by Mayor Alfred Romualdez during the visit to the city and surrounding areas, Chairman Royce visited U.S. and international-funded aid projects for residents, many of whom had their homes completely destroyed. At a rice distribution site, Chairman Royce and the delegation were briefed on aid efforts by representatives from the U.S.  Agency for International Development (USAID), which along with the World Food Program (WFP) and Samaritan’s Purse are distributing food aid to those in need. Chairman Royce and the delegation also visited a USAID shelter and settlement site, at which aid organizations such as Catholic Relief Services and PLAN Read More …

Philippines optimistic to win case against China

 News
Feb 272014
 
Philippines optimistic to win case against China

By Matikas SantosINQURER.net 8:44 pm | Thursday, February 27th, 2014 Philippine Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza is confident and optimistic that the international arbitral tribunal hearing the maritime dispute case between Philippines and China will rule that the nine-dash line claim of China is invalid. MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is optimistic and confident that it will win in its arbitration case against China, saying Beijing’s moves to pursue its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) are ‘invalid.” “We are here to prove that from the point of view of the rule of law, all of the actions and all of the claims of China are not consistent with the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and therefore they are invalid,” Jardeleza said in a forum organized by the Philippine Society of International Law Thursday. “We are a small country but we plan to win big on this litigation,” he said. The Philippines is protesting the nine-dash line claim of China that covers nearly the entire South China Sea including parts of the country’s 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Under the UNCLOS, a country is entitled to a 200 nautical mile EEZ from the coastline where it has the sole right to exploit the maritime resources within. Former University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law dean Merlin Magallona said in the forum that China’s interpretation of UNCLOS was wrong and that is the reason for the Philippines seeking arbitration before the UN. “The Philippines’ basis is telling China that you are wrong Read More …

Tax treatment of individuals employed by the UN and its specialized agencies

 Economy
Feb 262014
 

FOREIGN governments, embassies, diplomatic missions and international organizations located in the Philippines are granted immunity from taxes on their employees’ salaries, regardless of the workers’ nationality. In other words, such organizations are not treated as withholding agents of the Philippine government.

PLDT unit to provide high speed connectivity to Koreans in Phl

 Economy
Feb 252014
 
PLDT unit to provide high speed connectivity to Koreans in Phl

MANILA, Philippines – PLDT Alpha Enterprise, a unit of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), has tied up with IT.Corea Inc. to provide integrated connectivity service to the growing Korean community and businesses in the country. Jovy Hernandez, first vice president of PLDT and head of Alpha Enterprise, said the partnership would allow Koreans in the country to avail and communicate their information technology (IT) requirements without the language constraints from coordinating with local firms. “By tapping PLDT’s robust international and domestic high speed fiber network, IT.Corea will be able to provide the Philippine-based Korean community with business and communications solutions for their various needs,” Hernandez said. While many Koreans come to the Philippines as English language students, others have been attracted by business opportunities in various industries including manufacturing, import and export as well as food service. Through IT.Corea, Hernandez said Koreans could now avail landlines for their home or business, mobile pre-paid lines, and Internet from PLDT, and avoid application issues like the language barrier in acquiring these services. “There are so many things that our companies can do in synergy and the great thing about this kind of collaboration is that both PLDT and IT.Corea play an active role in ensuring that our customers get the right solutions for their needs,” he added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 IT.Corea Chairman Jae J. Jang said the company is looking forward to providing Koreans in the Philippines through the partnership with PLDT Alpha with the Read More …

Max’s seals acquisition of Pancake House

 Economy
Feb 252014
 
Max’s seals acquisition of Pancake House

MANILA, Philippines – The Max’s Group, led by the Fuentebella family, has completed the purchase of Pancake House in a P3.5-billion transaction, making it one of the country’s biggest full-service and family-style dining restaurant chains with a combined network of more than 450 stores. In a statement, Max’s said it acquired a total of 89.95 percent stake in Pancake House, equivalent to 233.16 million shares after minority shareholders tendered their shares before the offer deadline. The tender offer involved 39.98 million Pancake House shares.  The shares were acquired for P15 apiece, the same price per share that Max’s has agreed to pay the majority shareholders for the acquisition of 193.18 million Pancake House shares. The acquisition brings together two of the Philippines’ largest and historically successful heritage brands that share a long history of brand recognition and innovation, customer loyalty and proven track records for expansion. Max’s president Robert Trota said Pancake House would remain as a listed company despite the entry of a new shareholder group. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The group led by the Fuentebella family is also the master franchisee of US-based coffee and doughnut brand Krispy Kreme in the Philippines. “The Max’s Group is extremely excited about having completed another historic milestone in the Philippine restaurant industry. We appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm for what we can do to build our casual dining brands together, execute a business strategy that delivers consistently high quality food with exceptional customer service.  Together, we look forward Read More …

MVP Group still keen on agri investments

 Economy
Feb 232014
 
MVP Group still keen on agri investments

MANILA, Philippines – The group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan is still intent on pursuing agriculture investments in the country despite the difficulty in acquiring substantial tracts of land. Interviewed on the sidelines of the launch of new TV 5 program Yaman ng Bayan on Friday night, Panglinan said Hong-Kong based First Pacific Co. Ltd. is still interested in pursuing commercial rice cultivation in the Philippines and bullish about sugar prospects in the country. Pangilinan said the prospective agricultural investments in the Philippines would be carried out by First Pacific’s food unit PT Indofood, the largest food producer in Indonesia. In 2012, Pangilinan and hybrid rice seed grower SL Agritech Corp. engaged in talks for a partnership on large scale rice farming in which First Pacific would provide the tracts of land while SL Agritech will provide the rice seeds. “It’s still under discussion with SL Agritech. But it would still be pursued here,” Pangilinan said. SL Agritech, owned by businessman Henry Lim Bon Liong  is a subsidiary of the Sterling Paper group of companies. It was formed in 1998, performing research work on hybrid rice. At least 10,000 hectares is needed for the project. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Pangilinan said he is interested in the development of agriculture as a major industry in the country because of numerous opportunities and challenges brought about by the implementation of the free trade regime within Southeast Asia in 2015. “We want to go for agriculture as a Read More …

Gov’t to fasttrack measure on mining revenues sharing

 Economy
Feb 232014
 
Gov’t to fasttrack measure on mining revenues sharing

MANILA, Philippines – The government is looking to fasttrack the draft bill for the revenue sharing scheme of the mining industry, a cabinet official said. “As soon as possible, we’d like to come up (with the draft bill) so we can lessen the anxiety of the industry. We don’t want the industry to be anxious about it,” Trade secretary Gregory Domingo told reporters. He said the draft bill being crafted by the Environment, Finance andTrade departments, is close to completion with just one administrative matter left to be decided by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council(MICC). The MICC, a joint committee of the Economic Development Cluster and the Climate Change Cluster created by Executive Order 79 or the miningpolicy released in 2012, has approved in principle the revenue-sharing scheme which will provide the government a higher tax take from mining activities. Domingo said under the approved scheme, mining firms will have to pay taxes based on a certain percentage of gross or net revenues, whichever is higher. He said the government will also get a share when a mining firm gets extraordinary profit from its operations, like in times of high metal prices.“It starts when their profit exceeds a certain level,” he said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 At present, mining firms pay taxes depending on their contract with the government. A Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement for mining requires 50-50 sharing of revenues between the firm and the government.A Mineral Production Sharing Agreement meanwhile, specifies a Read More …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries