PH road quality on par with Indonesia’s but well behind Thailand, Malaysia

 News
Jun 242013
 
PH road quality on par with Indonesia’s but well behind Thailand, Malaysia

By Jerry E. EsplanadaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:26 pm | Tuesday, June 25th, 2013 INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA—About 73 percent of national, provincial, city, municipal and barangay roads nationwide remain unpaved, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways. Despite this, the DPWH has noted a slight improvement in the quality of Philippine roads following the “adoption of new construction design specifications like the increase in concrete pavement thickness from 230 mm to 280 mm and outsourcing project inspection and quality control,” among other measures. In its midterm accomplishment report, the department said the country’s roads were already “at par with Indonesia” and targeted to be comparable to those in China and Thailand by 2016. Citing the latest Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum, the DPWH reported that on a scale of 1 to 7—1 being extremely underdeveloped and 7 extensive and efficient by global standards— the Philippines scored a 3.4 for its road network in the 2012-2013 period. That was an improvement of 0.3 from the 3.1 it scored in 2011-2012. The country’s roads scored 2.8 in the 2010-2011 period. Of 144 countries worldwide, the Philippines ranked 87th (from 114th during the previous WEF survey) for the overall state of its roads and bridges. Other countries in the region garnered the following scores for the quality of their roads in the 2012-2013 period: Malaysia, 5.4; Thailand, 5: China, 4.4; Indonesia, 3.4; and Vietnam, 2.7. Earlier, the DPWH said the government would look at Malaysia “as a benchmark Read More …

Retail heiress to speak at NRCE 2013

 Economy
Jun 202013
 
Retail heiress to speak at NRCE 2013

MANILA, Philippines –  Bangkok’s prominent retail heiress Busaba Chirathivat will be in Manila in August, to provide pointers to Filipino entrepreneurs and share her experiences in running the top retail and mall chain in Thailand. Chirathivat is one of the  foreign speakers invited by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA)  for the 22nd National Retail Conference and Stores Asia Expo 2013 (NRCE 2013) at the SMX Convention Center on Aug. 7- 8, 2013. As senior vice president of Central Retail Corp., the largest and most diversified retail group in Thailand, Chirathivat is considered one of Bangkok’s most important retail figures in the last two decades. She is the daughter and heiress of Tiang Chirathivat, the founder of the family-owned Central Retail Corp., but she did not rest on her family’s laurels. In fact, she was the brains behind Zen, the first lifestyle megastore in Thailand. Zen is now one of several retail brands and concepts under Central Retail Corp.  Other brands of the company are Central, Robinson, Zen, La Rinascente and Italy. NRCE 2013 offers educational sessions, including discussions on best practices, trends, and new technologies; tips to improve existing operations and grow profits; networking opportunities with retailers and leading business partners; and an Exhibit Hall bursting with services and solutions to improve business and operations. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 For inquiries, call the PRA secretariat at 687-4180 to 81 or email ebbs@philretailers.com , philretailers@philretailers.com or visit www.nrceph.com or www.philretailers.com. 

Mechanization is the only way to go

 Economy
Jun 142013
 
Mechanization is the only way to go

Many of our businessmen are keen on manufacturing, or import/export, or IT, or BPO. Only a few would give a second thought to the country’s agriculture sector, to the advances that we have gained over the last few years. Maybe because they are not trumpeted for the most part, but also because we tend to take agri news with a big ho-hum. What we know for a fact is that we have lagged behind our neighbors in this sector.  Where we used to be the lead producer of rice and sugar, we are now a net importer of rice and other countries have now challenged us too in sugar production. Countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and Korea have overtaken us simply because they have embraced technology far earlier than us, and their governments have taken the initiative of empowering their farmers initially through subsidies, but later through production and marketing support while we continue to wallow in bureaucracy,  corruption and blissful ignorance. But take a second look now at what is going on in the country’s agriculture sector. For one, we have taken the first big step in mechanizing. In the late ’90s, mechanization of our farms stood at a low .52 – .56 HP/hectare.  That means, the total horse power used is only about one half horsepower per hectare. In 2012, Philmech, the lead agency under the Department of Agriculture (DA) tasked with farm mechanization, took a survey and came out with brighter results: 1.26 HP/ha. That is a Read More …

Media killings still ‘major concern’

 News
Jun 052013
 
Media killings still ‘major concern’

By Nikko Dizon Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:08 am | Thursday, June 6th, 2013 Elisabetta Polenghi, younger sister of Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi, gives a Thai way ‘Wai” to express thanks in front of Thai media in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 29, 2013, after the court had found that Polenghi, killed while covering the military’s crackdown on anti-government protesters in Thailand’s capital three years ago, was shot by a high-velocity bullet like those issued to soldiers. Journalism remains a dangerous profession, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-Ifra) said Wednesday, June 5, 2013. AP PHOTO/SAKCHAI LALIT BANGKOK—Journalism remains a dangerous profession with 54 media practitioners killed in the line of duty, including one from the Philippines, over the past year, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-Ifra) said Wednesday. “The safety of journalists continues to be a major concern in areas of the world where conflict makes reporting the news dangerous, often deadly,” said WAN-Ifra’s Global Press Freedom Report. The report covered the period June 2012 to May 2013. WAN-Ifra’s recorded incident in the Philippines was the murder of commentator Julius Cauzo of radio station dwJJ in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija province. Cauzo was shot dead on Nov. 8 last year. Cauzo, WAN-Ifra noted, was critical of local politicians and had received death threats. The group emphasized that “impunity remains a bitter issue in the Philippines.” It said that investigations were “still ongoing into the Nov. 23, 2009, ‘Ampatuan massacre,’ which saw 32 journalists tragically killed.” Read More …

Philippines suspends live shrimp imports

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Philippines suspends live shrimp imports

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Philippine government today suspended the import of all live shrimps and susceptible crustaceans to prevent the entry and spread of shrimp diseases such as Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) in the country. The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) said it issued the suspension on the recommendation of shrimp disease expert Dr. Donald Lightner and after local shrimp operators expressed concern over the possible entry of infected shrimps from heavily-affected countries The DA said the Philippines remains free from EMS, a disease characterized by massive mortalities during the first 30 days. Infected shrimp samples show slow growth, corkscrew swimming, and pale coloration.   The government said it will closely monitor airports and seaports to ensure that infected shrimps from heavily-affected countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia will not enter the country.

Philippines to buy 187,000 tons of rice from Vietnam

 Economy
Apr 302013
 
Philippines to buy 187,000 tons of rice from Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – The Philippine government announced today that it had decided to  import 187,000 tons of milled rice from Vietnam to beef up stocks before the onset of the typhoon season in July. State-run National Food Authority (NFA) said Vietnam had given the “best offer” for the supply of 187,000 tons of 25 percent broken rice grade. NFA administrator Orlan A. Calayag said Vietnam’s Southern Food Corp. offered the best bid at $459.75 per ton. Vietnam and Thailand submitted bids for the right to supply the volume during a government-to-government tender held on April 3.   The Philippines may no longer need to import more rice as it expects another record harvest this year. For 2013, Philippine paddy rice output is projected to go up by 11 percent on year to 20 million tons. 

PSE among best stock markets in 2012

 Economy
Feb 252013
 
PSE among best stock markets in 2012

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Stock Exchange ranked third globally among top performing bourses last year in terms of domestic market capitalization, PSE reported on Tuesday. Citing a report from the World Federation of Exchanges, the local bourse said that it was only outpaced by the stock exchanges in Turkey and Thailand after posting a 38.9 percent expansion in 2012. WFE is composed of 50 bourses all over the world. “Ranking among the top markets around the world is a feat which I think all Filipinos can be proud of as we are pitted against the best of the best markets in these global rankings. This is a testament to what we have been saying that the Philippines is now indeed in the global radar for investments and these numbers prove our worth as a viable investment destination,” PSE President and Chief Executive Officer Hans Sicat said. The report likewise noted that the PSE ranked third after the Saudi Stock Exchange and the Bermuda Stock Exchange after posting a 25.3-percent growth in the value trading turnover. It also placed fourth in terms of trades growth and fifth in terms of broad market index growth. In 2011, PSE also ranked first in the growth of its broad market index, third in domestic market capitalization and fourth in trading turnover among 51 stock exchanges. PSE added that among the top performing stock markets in 2011, it was the only one which figured in the best performing markets list by posting growth across Read More …

PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL SIGNS HEALTH SERVICE PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. VINCENT MEDICAL CENTER FOR THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY

 Entertainment
Feb 072013
 
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL SIGNS HEALTH SERVICE PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. VINCENT MEDICAL CENTER FOR THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY

Consul General Maria Hellen M. Barber-De La Vega (left) and Mr. Jan N. Stein, Vice President and Executive Director, St. Vincent Foundation signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Los Angeles, 05 February 2013. – Consul General Maria Hellen M. Barber-De La Vega signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Jan N. Stein, Vice President and Executive Director of St. Vincent Medical Center (SVMC) Foundation, at a ceremony held this morning at the Conference Room of the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles. The MOU established a broad framework for cooperation between the two organizations in providing and improving access to health services for Filipino immigrants and expanding its services to the underserved Filipino community. St. Vincent Medical Center has similar partnership agreements with ten Consulates General in Los Angeles, two of which are from ASEAN, namely Philippines and Thailand. The project is an initiative of the ATN Section of the Consulate under Consul Charmaine Serna-Chua. Consul General Maria Hellen M. Barber-De La Vega (left) exchanging the Signed Memorandum of Understanding with Jan N. Stein, Vice President and Executive Director, St. Vincent Foundation.

CAMPI eyes 10% sales hike

 Economy
Jan 272013
 
CAMPI eyes 10% sales hike

MANILA, Philippines – Auto sales are expected to grow by 10 percent this year from last year on the back of the country’s strong economic performance. Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc.(CAMPI) president Rommel Gutierrez said in a text message that they expect sales to  reach 172,000 units this year. Last year, CAMPI sold 156,649 units, up 11 percent from 2011 due to an increase in purchases of both commercial vehicles and passenger cars as well as the influx of new models and availability of competitive financing schemes. The group said that last year’s growth could have even been higher if not for supply constraints in the first quarter as a result of heavy flooding in Thailand in 2011. For this year, Gutierrez said the higher sales will be driven by the “sustained economic growth, (and as) GDP (gross domestic product) per capita (is seen) to reach $2,500.” He said growth in remittances from overseas Filipino workers, election spending and overall positive economic outlook, are likewise seen to allow the group to achieve higher sales this year. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 On expectations of continued positive economic conditions, car firms are also looking to introduce new models in the market. Gutierrez said total industry sales are likewise expected to rise, hitting 200,000 units this year. Total industry sales in 2012 stood at 184,248 units. Total vehicle sales last year posted an 11.6 percent increase from 2011 due to the strong demand for both Read More …

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