Philippines – Page 55

Port cargo volume rises 5.3% in H1

Economy

Sep 142013

MANILA, Philippines – The volume of cargo shipped in and out of the Philippines grew 5.3 percent in the first half, mainly driven by the continued expansion of the local economy according to data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). Total cargo volume reached 97.96 million metric tons (MT) from January to June or 4.93 million higher than the 93.03 million MT recorded in the same period last year. Cargo shipped within the Philippines rose 8.2 percent to 40.77 million MT, while cargo shipped in and out of the country climbed 3.34 percent to 57.18 million MT. Private ports handled 58.5 million MT, accounting for 59.7 percent of the total cargo volume, while government-run ports handled 37.5 million MT for a share of 40.3 percent. PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana attributed the increase in cargo volume to the expansion of the country’s domestic output as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP) by 7.6 percent in the first semester, from 6.4 percent in the same period a year ago. For the second quarter alone, the country’s GDP grew 7.5 percent from 6.3 percent in the same period last year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Sta. Ana also traced the improvement to the increase in cargo volume handled in 16 port management offices (PMOs). The port of Tagbilaran booked the highest growth of 49.7 percent followed by Legazpi with 46.3 percent due to the increase in domestic shipment of aggregates, heavy equipment and construction materials and Read More …

Real estate sector to benefit from tourism

Economy

Sep 142013

Real estate sector to benefit from tourism

MANILA, Philippines – Tourism is still the next big thing in the real estate sector, according to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a leading real estate services firm. JLL country head David Leechiu, in his speech during the recent general membership meeting of the Chamber of Thrift Banks, said for the next four years, there are over 12,431 rooms that are expected to be built. He noted that around half of the upcoming hotels will rise in the Entertainment City. “There are expected about 8,550 supply of hotel rooms in Entertainment City (launched and planned),” he said. The hotels that would be constructed in Entertainment City include: Belle Grande Manila Bay of Belle Corp. (2013); Manila Bay Resorts (2014); Radisson Hotel Manila of SM Investments Corp. (2014); Resorts World Bayshore of Genting Berhad Group/Alliance Global Inc. (2016); Luxury Hotel of Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Inc.; and Mercure Hotel Manila of CDC Holdings Inc. Other hotels in the pipeline which will be located all over the metropolis and expected to be constructed within 2013-2017 include: WorldHotel Residences of WorldHotels (Makati); Marco Polo Ortigas of Edsa Grand Realty and Development Corp. (Ortigas); Ascott of CDC Holdings Inc. (Bonifacio Global City); Novotel Manila Araneta Center of Araneta Group (Araneta, Quezon City); Citadines of CDC (Makati); Citadines Millennium of CDC (Ortigas); Shangri-La at the Fort of Shang Properties (BGC); Grand Hyatt Manila of Federal Land Inc. (BGC);Conrad Hotel Manila of SMIC (Seaside Boulevard, Pasay City; Movenpick Hotel Manila of Picar Development Inc. (Makati); Savoy Hotel Read More …

Microtel Philippines

Entertainment

Sep 092013

by : Rhony Laigo Microtel Philippines Director Albert Banaag during Tuesday’s presentation of Microtel Philippines’ planned expansion in the country by building 14 more inns & suites all over the archipelago for a total of 25 by 2016. The U.S.-owned hotel chain offers an affordable, family-friendly, “clean & safe” suites for an average of $85 per night for a family of four, including taxes and breakfasts. Photo: Joy Marino Microtel Philippines, part of the Wyndham hotel chain, will build more hotels thereby offering more rooms as it looks to a bullish Philippine tourism industry that is expected to double if not reach 10 million tourists in the next few years. In a U.S. roadshow presentation, Microtel Philippines officials said they plan to expand to the Bicol Peninsula and Subic while the new Microtel branch at the Ayala UP Technohub near the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City is expected to open later this year. Microtel Philippines Director Albert Banaag who, along with Mindanao Area General Manager Rene Alberto Jorolan flew all the way from Manila, met with Los Angeles-based Fil-Am journalists in Glendale last Tuesday and said they expect to have 25 Microtel Philippines Inns & Suites up from the current number of 11 by 2016. Each Microtel Philippines Inns & Suites has at least 50 “safe and clean” rooms. According to Banaag, the first Microtel in the Philippines was built in Tarlac near Hacienda Luisita in 2006, which was the first international hotel suite chain of its Read More …

Jobless rate up in July

Economy

Sep 092013

MANILA, Philippines – The number of jobless Filipinos rose in July 2013, the government said Tuesday. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ARsenio Balisacan announced that unemployment rate in the Philippines rose to 7.3 percent in July 2013 from 7 percent in July 2012. He said that although the Philippine economy, which had surprised with a strong growth in recent quarters, generated 620,000 new jobs, more Filipinos are looking for work. (To be updated)

Cardinal Tagle prescribes 'moral transformation' as cure for corruption

News

Sep 072013

Cardinal Tagle prescribes 'moral transformation' as cure for corruption

With the interfaith vigil against the pork-barrel system, know as “EDSA Tayo”, just a few days away, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Friday said that he was saddened by the Philippines’ inability to break the cycle of corruption that has plagued it for decades. “Sa kasaysayan natin sa bansa ay napakarami na nating narinig, nabunyag na mga pagkakataon ng corruption, ng pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan at yung napakamali sa paggamit ng pera na nakalaan sana sa paglilingkod sa bayan,” Tagle said in an interview on Radyo Veritas. “Sa aking lifetime so far, hindi ito ang first time na tayo ay humaharap sa ganyan, kaya ako ay nalulungkot.” Tagle recently, and very openly, expressed his views on the pork barrel scam, in which lawmakers allegedly misused billions in pesos of government funds for kickbacks. A few weeks ago, the cardinal shed tears as he spoke about the “heartbreaking” scam in a press conference at the University of Santo Tomas. Last month, the cardinal surprised protesters in the so-called Million People March by showing up at the Quirino Grandstand, where he characterized Filipinos as a “people of honor.” Tagle’s fellow bishops, too, are very open about their views. On Friday, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a pastoral statement expressing support for an upcoming prayer vigil against the pork barrel system. The vigil is scheduled on September 11, at the EDSA Shrine. Meanwhile, in the Radyo Veritas interview, Tagle said political solutions only provide a temporary answer to Read More …

Politicians steal our dreams

News

Sep 072013

By Cristina DC PastorThe FilAm/INQUIRER.net 11:27 pm | Saturday, September 7th, 2013 FILIPINO crane and heavy equipment operators in Saudi Arabia say their piece via social media. Photo courtesy of Junar Elmedo/Inquirer.net NEW YORK—Let’s see now. When was the last time we Filipinos got so angry we marched on the streets to scream, curse and throw insults out of rage? SEAFARERS join the protest, too. Photo by Edgardo Tuangtuang/courtesy of Migrante International/Bulatlat.com I remember being at Edsa People Power 1 in 1986 where millions came out in defiance of the Marcos Dictatorship. That was totally spontaneous. I don’t remember calling a friend saying, “Hey let’s meet at Greenhills and then we can have coffee afterwards.” I remember watching TV and seeing people pouring out into the streets. Inflamed by that scene, the husband and I got on a jeepney in our tsinelas and joined the swelling crowd. I had left the country by the time Edsa 2 happened in 2001, but I doubt I would have joined even if I was back home. The corruption of Joseph Estrada may have been a big issue then but for some reason, it did not get me all riled up maybe because Filipinos knew they were up against an individual with no scruples but voted him anyway. BANGKOK-BASED Filipinos turn a welcome party into a gathering to demand the abolition of the pork. Photo courtesy of Lan Mercado/ Inquirer.net At last Sunday’s rally outside the Philippine Consulate building, I was feeling pretty riled Read More …

Flights between Phl and Italy to increase after EU air ban lifted

Economy

Sep 072013

Flights between Phl and Italy to increase after EU air ban lifted

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Philippines and Italy recently agreed to increase the number of air flights bound for both destinations after the European Union lifted its ban on Philippine air carriers last July, a senior official said here today. The development would be a boost to the country’s tourism sector and a relief to Filipinos working in Italy, said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. Under the new terms, the Philippines and Italy would have 14 flights per week. This number of flights is a tremendous increase from one flight a week since 1969. “This is one of the good news particularly to the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers). They do not need to make long trip, (because) they could now take direct flights,” Valte said in an interview over a state-run radio station on Saturday. At present, there are 170,000 Filipinos working or staying in Italy. Valte said the increased flights between the two countries will boost the Philippine tourism front, which has been posting continuous increase in the number of visitors entering the country. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The Philippines’ Civil Aeronautics Board said earlier that the Philippines and Italy had agreed to increase seat entitlements between the two countries during the air service talks held in Rome on Sept. 5 and 6. The air service talks between the Philippines and Italy came after the European Union lifted its ban on Philippine air carriers, starting with Philippine Airlines, on July 10.

Phl, Italy agree to hike flights

Economy

Sep 062013

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and Italy have agreed to increase weekly flights between the two countries, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said. “We got 14 flights per week between the Philippines and Italy,” CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla said in a text message to reporters. The agreement was reached during the air talks held in Italy on Wednesday and Thursday. Under the previous agreement entered into in 1969, only one flight is allowed per week between the two countries. Arcilla noted that there are 170,000 Filipinos in Italy. “Rome and Milan can also be a jump off point for traffic between Southern Europe and the Philippines,” he added. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The development comes as the European Union (EU) lifted in July a ban it imposed three years ago which prevented airlines from the Philippines, led by flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), from operating in Europe. EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux said the ban was lifted as the European Commission and the Air Safety Committee were encouraged by the actions being undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and PAL to address outstanding aviation safety issues. PAL president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang announced after the lifting of the EU ban that the airline intends to fly to Rome as well as other popular European destinations such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Madrid. The air talks are being held in line with the open skies policy. Executive Order 29 which Read More …

DFA: PHL envoy to China in Manila for consultation amid Panatag issue

News

Sep 052013

DFA: PHL envoy to China in Manila for consultation amid Panatag issue

The Department of Foreign Affairs instructed Philippine Ambassador to China Erlinda Basilio to return to the country for a consultation. Basilio will be taking part in a consultation with top DFA officials regarding the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China, according to a report on “24-Oras” Thursday night. Basillio will return to China in a few days, the report said, adding that the order for her to be in Manila came a day after the Philippine government discovered concrete blocks scattered within the of Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Manila and Beijing figured in a standoff in Scarborough last year, which ended temporarily when President Benigno Aquino III ordered Philippine vessels to withdraw due to bad weather. China never left the area and even roped off the entrance to the shoal to prevent Filipino fishermen from gaining access and shelter in the vast lagoon. The South China Sea – a strategic waterway where a bulk of the world’s trade passes and believed to be rich in oil and natural gas – had been a source of conflict among competing claimants the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, China and Taiwan. Analysts fear the competing claims could spark a military conflict in the region. China claims the waters nearly in its entirety, citing historical entitlements as the basis for its huge claim, which Manila branded as “excessive and a violation of international law.” — with a report from Andrei Medina /LBG, GMA News

Pinoy youths to represent country at animators' meet in Timor Leste

News

Sep 052013

Pinoy youths to represent country at animators' meet in Timor Leste

Filipino youths will share learning and best practices with their counterparts from other countries at the Southeast Asia 2 Youth Animators’ Meeting and Workshop in Dili, Timor Leste on September 8 to 13. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the gathering held every two years will have representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, and Timor Leste. “This initiative is to help countries share the richness of youth ministry for the possibility for the exchange of information to happen, to take place, especially best practices in doing youth ministry,” said CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta. Representatives from the ECY and the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate (NSYA), as well as youth leaders from several regions in the Philippines will be attending the workshop, the CBCP said on its news site. Garganta said the meet seeks to establish solidarity and unity among the SEA2 countries by threshing out youth issues unique to the region. It will also have the participants “collectively exploring ways of journeying with and assisting young Asian Catholics,” he added. Organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences Office on Laity and Family Life (FABC-OFL), the SEA2 Meeting and Workshop aims to have participants share “views and opinions to motivate the youth animators.” Meanwhile, the CBCP said the participants will reflect on and be guided by the messages of Pope Francis, especially during this Year of Faith. Indonesia hosted the last SEA2 meeting. — LBG, GMA News

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