International hotel opens in Angeles City
THE Tune Hotel, an international chain of hotels, has opened its first five-star 160-room hotel in Angeles City on Friday.
Inflation to settle within target
FOLLOWING the drop in inflation rate to 3.9 percent in January 2012, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the rate is seen to settle within the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 target of three to five percent for 2012, using the 2000-based Consumer Price Index (CPI) series.
Exports dropped 20.7%
PHILIPPINE exports dropped sharply in December last year as the crucial electronics sector struggled with soft demand in Japan, the United States and other key markets, official data showed Friday.
Export earnings fell 20.7 percent year-on-year to $4.2 billion in December, dragging the decline for all of 2012 down to 6.9 percent, the National Statistics Office said in a statement.
Architect urges urban planners to rethink ‘sprawl development’
RATHER than expand territories by building exclusive communities in the suburbs, a US-based architect is pushing for development that allows homeowners to be nearer to the city centers.
Senen Antonio, partner and director of business development of Duany Planter-Zyberk (DPZ) and Co., in a forum organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., said today’s urban planners have succumbed to “a disease called sprawl.”
Chamber begins search for its 2012 awardees
NOMINATIONS are now being accepted for the 17th Grand Chamber Awards of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
The awards are meant to recognize and highlight entrepreneurs who are key players in making businesses flourish in Cebu. It also aims to inspire aspiring entrepreneurs to emulate the character and excellence the awardees exemplify.
Homegrown music school seeks international accreditation
ENTREPRENEUR Pia Salonga-Chiong Quisido plans to have her music school, Salonga School of Rock, certified by the Rock School UK to position the facility as one of Cebu’s premier schools for pop and rock music.
“The accreditation would give more credibility to the school, although we have already proven to the industry our capability of producing good talents. This will also give us an edge over other rock music schools in the country,” Quisido said in an interview.
Almirante: Voluntary resignation
Dominador A. Almirante Labor case digest
PETITIONER Ma. Joy Teresa O. Bilbao was a flight attendant of respondent Saudi Arabian Airlines assigned to work at the Manila office. Together with 10 others, she was transferred to Jeddah.
Breast cancer detector now at Oro med
PATIENTS with diagnostic mammogram needs will no longer travel outside the city as the Cagayan de Oro Medical Center (COMC), one of the city’s most trusted medical institutions, now offers state-of-the-art mammogram service.
CEB posts close to 50% market share
THE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB) continues to serve the most number of Filipinos with close to 50-percent market share in top three cities outside Manila in 2011.
CEB posted 48-percent domestic market share in Cebu, where it operates the most extensive network with more than 500 weekly flights between Cebu and 19 domestic destinations. These routes allow passengers to take direct flights from Cebu to the Bicol Region, Northern Mindanao, Palawan and North Luzon, among others.
Be a cupid and have a combo Valentine’s treat!
TIRED of the same old and overused gimmicks on Valentine’s Day? Looking for new and unique ways to celebrate hearts’ day? Make your Valentine’s Day this year a memorable and fun event with your loved ones through the following combo feats:
1. Text and beyond! Why stop at text messages when you can send so much more? Relay your love through your mobile phone with a combination of text messages and MMS. Video or voice-record a short but sweet message to make it more personal and memorable.
Samsung tops smartphone manufacturer in 2011
DESPITE Apple claiming the top spot in the fourth quarter of 2011 with the launch of its iPhone 4S, Samsung closed 2011 as the year's top smartphone manufacturer with 94 million units shipped and a market share of 19.1 percent, IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone Tracker research has found.
Trade department exec says companies complied freeze order
DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial director for Misamis Oriental Eliza Pabillore said Thursday establishments in Cagayan de Oro complied with the freeze order it released during the aftermath of Tropical Storm Sendong.
Pabillore said major groceries and supermarkets in the city positively responded to calls of freezing the prices of basic commodities badly needed by the victims.
She said they did not even spare convenient stores from regular inspection and monitoring.
“So far, it was good. Generally, we have no problem about the compliance,” she said.
Mindanao topographic maps up for validation
THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) presented for validation newly completed digital maps of Mindanao during the “Topographic Mapping for Peace and Development in Mindanao” 2nd Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) Meetings held recently all over the island.
Mr. Yutaka Kokofu, Topographic Map Project Team Leader of Jica, reported the successful production of new digital topo-maps covering all regions of Mindanao, copies of which were distributed to local government units (LGUs) and line agencies for validation.
Implement organic agriculture program
ORGANIC farming advocates urged President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on Tuesday to take the lead in implementing the National Organic Agriculture Program to scale up production areas for safe, healthy foods and food products through organic farming.
Tune Hotels sets foot on Philippine shores with opening of Angeles Hotel
ANGELES CITY -- Global value hotel chain Tune Hotels has spread its wings to the Philippines with the official opening of Tune Hotel Angeles City here Friday.
City collects P220,000 in fine from waste segregation law
THE City Government of Davao has collected some P220,000 in administrative penalties since the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) started implementing the "No segregation, No collection" policy in July last year.
Modern rice processing plant to boost production, income
CONSTRUCTION of the P160-million modern rice processing complex in Matanao, Davao del Sur is now ongoing and is expected to improve the quality and quantity of rice production in the area.
The facility is a joint project of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (Koica), which gave a grant of P120 million for the project, the region and the local government of Matanao, as well as the Department of Agriculture (DA), which also contributed funding for the project.
GSIS grants 2-phase loan respite to ‘Sendong’ victims
THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced that in addition to the grant of an emergency loan for members affected by Tropical Storm Sendong, the GSIS Board extended a moratorium on the payment of their outstanding loans as well.
"The moratorium will enable Sendong-hit victims to use the deferred payments on their outstanding GSIS loans for more urgent needs such as doing the repairs to damages brought about by the typhoon," GSIS president and general manager Robert G. Vergara said.
Rice being fortified for healthier Pinoys
PLANT breeders at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the country's lead in rice research and development, are developing micronutrient-rich varieties to help lessen hidden hunger, the country's leading nutritional problem.
During the recent National Biotechnology Week, Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso, director of the Crop Biotechnology Center of the Department of Agriculture, said rice fortified with iron, zinc, and beta carotene are in the pipeline to help reduce the mortality and morbidity rates caused by micronutrient deficiencies.
‘Imported’ goods do well in China: trade official
TO penetrate the domestic Chinese market, the keyword is “imported.”
A Chinese business services firm that came to Cebu to discuss with local exporters on now best to penetrate the Chinese market said that for the Chinese, imported goods means good quality.
Savemore opens another branch in Mandaue City
SAVEMORE Market, the neighborhood grocery store brand under the SM Food Retail Group, is planning to open 26 to 40 more branches this year, buoyed by the country’s vibrant consumer sector.
Included in the company’s expansion plans are more outlets in the Visayas and Mindanao areas, where there is a large unserved demand, said Jose Ronaldo Tagbo, vice president for operations of Savemore Market.
I.Protect: Levi’s vs. Europress
Clint Fabiosa & Ana Liza Villamor
Ng: Spared
WHEN the earthquake struck early this week, I started to check in the office that everything and everybody was all right as well as the building. I then climbed the highest point of the building and viewed things around. The city was okay. The shake was not that hard (at least the way I felt it) and it looked like the damage was minimal.
I started checking on the Internet. There were a lot of comments, particularly in Twitter, but this is good because when people posts, you can get wind of the response.
Public hearing on proposed BMBE law amendments set
CLOSE to 150 participants from the House of Representatives, local government units (LGUs), National Government agencies (NGAs), academe, local business sector, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) throughout the region will gather at the Grand Men Seng Hotel on February 10, to tackle the proposed amendments to Republic Act 9178, or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) Act of 2002.
Advertising agency opens in Davao, boosts tourism
THE Ad Foward Online Group of Companies (Ad-FOR), an online advertising agency, sees Davao City as a potential area to start a new advertising venture.
