Pampanga eyes Tagum's program for butchers

THE Provincial Government of Pampanga that prides its place as the home of the country's leading meat processing plants is set to replicate Tagum City's successful program on butchering.

The local government of Tagum received last week the team from Pampanga who engaged in a forum with stakeholders to know how the city managed its skills training program for butchers where after passing rigorous trade tests to measure their skills by foreign employers are then hired to work either in Australia or Canada.

Econ strategies for exporters up in Philexport-Davao meet

THE Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc in Davao Region (Philexport 11-Davao) will be holding its 1st General Membership Meeting for the year 2013 on April 19, at the Grand Regal Hotel, Lanang, Davao City.

The assembly will serve as a venue to directly address the current major economic and industrial development strategies plotted for exporters from the entire region.

Business leaders ‘very optimistic’

FOLLOWING rosy forecasts for the country from different institutions, Philippine business leaders expressed high business optimism for the year, an international survey showed.

Limpag: Will you let Facebook take over your phone?

FACEBOOK Home was unveiled last week after weeks of widespread speculations that the social networking behemoth was launching its own phone. What Mark Zuckerberg unveiled last week, however, was a launcher for Android that, according to the company, “puts your friends at the heart of your phone.”

Owners of family firms told: don’t force kids to take over

FAMILY business owners should not pressure their children to immediately take over the company, said speakers at a forum held over the weekend.

University of Asia and the Pacific co-founder Bernardo Villegas said during the Family Enterprise Excellence Conference last Saturday that succession must be viewed as a future opportunity and part of the growth of the business, rather than an obligation.

SSS hikes education loans, eases eligibility terms

MORE college and vocational-technical (voc-tech) course students can expect to meet their financial requirements for enrollment as the Social Security System (SSS) further liberalized the guidelines of its educational loan facility called the SSS Educational Assistance Loan Program or "Educ-Assist".

SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros Jr. said members earning P25,000 and below per month are now eligible for Educ-Assist loans, replacing SSS' former limit of P15,000 on the monthly income needed to qualify under previous guidelines.

Modern township unveiled

A TWO-DAY event, dubbed as "A Showcase of Camella Lifestyle" at the SMX Convention Center at SM Lanang Premier, marked the official launch of Camella Davao, the new township development of Camella in Communal, Buhangin.

A joint-venture between Camella and the family of Compostela Governor Arturo Uy, this modern residential development project, spanning close to 30 hectares, is the latest addition to Camella's roster of master-planned communities in South Mindanao area, including Solariega, Toscana, Camella Cerritos, Camella Northpoint -- all in Davao City -- and Camella Tagum, Camella General Santos and its upcoming development in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

200MW will soon be added to Mindanao grid: DOE exec

SOME 200 megawatts (MW) will be added to Mindanao grid once the modular generator sets come into play as another measure to ease power deficiency.

Irma Exconde, assistant secretary for electricity power industry management of Department of Energy (DOE), made the announcement during the public consultation on Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM) Friday at the Grand Regal Hotel.

Therma Marine rates lowest in 24 months

POWER rates of AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Marine last month was one of the lowest in 24 months owing to the continued dip in world oil prices.

For March 2013, Therma Marine's power cost to customers was at P7.13 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) based on 100-percent utilization. This was on the back of an average fuel purchase of P29.13 per liter on the same month.

AirAsia starts P1 anniversary seat sale

CLARK FREEPORT – Philippines’ AirAsia is offering a one peso base fare promo for all destinations starting April 5 as part of its first year anniversary celebrations.    "It is hard to believe, it has been a year already since we launched our operations. We had many challenges but the potential for growth is tremendous and we aim to play a big role in growing the market. The passenger traffic in Clark has grown tremendously last year and we have consistently remained committed in providing our guest with the highest standards in safety, efficiency and quality service,” Freddy Herrera, AirAsia Inc. Commercial Head, said.

San Pedro: CRK Near, Not ‘Too Far’

ONCE in a while, we get brickbats from Filipinos based overseas but the recent ideas threshed out by a certain Architect Ben Lao are points to ponder although I may not agree with some of his contentions.

‘Include cargo in CCT exemption’

THE Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc. (JCCIPI) called for exempting foreign air and sea carriers from paying the three percent common carrier’s tax (CCT) as a means to improve the country’s export competitiveness.

Forum today to tackle family business

MORE than 50 percent of enterprises in the country are family-owned and have evolved as one of the formidable forces in the Philippine economy.

But how can family businesses make the most of this opportunity if they are facing internal problems such as conflicts between siblings, balancing the family interest with the business interest or encountering succession difficulties, inter-generational conflicts and lack of family governance?

Japanese sets up English school

WITH Cebu becoming a tourist and investment destination for Asians, a 32-year-old Japanese who studied English in the city saw an opportunity to create his own school for Japanese to learn the language at an intensive level.

Almirante: Regulations, part of CBA

IN 1992, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (Decs) issued the Revised Manual of Regulations for Private Schools, among the provisions of which requires college faculty members to have a master’s degree as a minimum educational qualification for acquiring regular status.

Pursuant thereto, petitioner University of the East (UE) hired respondent Mariti D. Bueno in 1997 and respondent Analiza F. Pepanio in 2000, both on a semester-to-semester basis, to teach in its college. They could not qualify for probationary or regular status because they lacked postgraduate degrees.

Batuhan: Catholic vote

A FEW months back, I was having a somewhat late lunch in one of Cebu’s more popular restaurants. What I had hoped would be a quiet time to unwind and relax after somewhat of a hectic morning turned out to be anything but.

Philippine Prudential remains stable, says exec

THE top executive of Filipino-owned insurance company, the Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company Inc. (Philippine Prudential), assured Friday that the firm has remained "financially sound," and will continue to protect the interest of its 1.8 million policyholders and their families.

"Philippine Prudential is financially sound, as it remains to be a stable and strongly capitalized company, duly-licensed by our government regulator, the Insurance Commission," Philippine Prudential president and CEO Gregorio D. Mercado said in a statement.

Cebuana Lhuillier launches insurance product in Davao

THE Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions (Clis), the insurance arm of pawnshop chain Cebuana Lhuillier, launched on Thursday its latest product to offer a more affordable compulsory third party liability (CTPL) insurance to vehicle owners.

This developed as Cebuana Lhuillier is also bent to become a total microfinance solution center other than being a pawning and remittance outlet.

Firm to put up P2-B hotel in Clark

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Eagle Sky Corporation is set to establish a five-star hotel and casino worth P2 billion inside the Freeport.

Dr. Ireneo “Bong” Alvaro, president of Eagle Sky Corporation, said the two-building, six-storey Hotel Midori with 120 rooms was designed by Taiwanese architects from Harvard University.

Retailers told to install cameras

CEBUANO retailers were encouraged by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to beef up security measures in their business establishments.

Police Supt. Paul Gacayan Labra II said on Wednesday surveillance cameras help prevent crimes like robberies and thefts from happening in stores. He said CCTV recordings also help policemen track suspects and solve crimes.

No property bubble...yet: official

THE quick growth of real estate in the country has many people wondering if a property bubble might be anywhere close, but those in the business have no fear of such an event.

In an investment forum held recently, Jones and Lang LaSalle’s head for research, consulting and valuation advisory services Claro Cordero Jr. admitted there “might be a developing bubble, but it’s not here yet.”

Ng: Project Moonshot

FOR the last few years, there have not been as many exciting developments in computer technology. It has always been just the same – except a little bit slicker, faster or with more memory. The advent of cell phones and tablets were two very exciting developments. Now there might be something changing also in the back office-the servers.

DTI sets free enterprise seminar

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu has once again scheduled its regular free enterprise development seminar (EDS) this month.

In an interview on Wednesday, DTI Cebu business development division chief Elias Tecson stressed the importance for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to initiate new businesses and strategies based on their interests, not on what others are already doing.

Firm prepares to turn over units to Amalfi buyers

BUYERS of Amalfi units can now look forward to moving into their new homes. The first building of the Italian-inspired retreat by the sea is now complete. Qualified unit owners can now schedule their unit inspection and start the turnover process for occupancy.

I.Protect: Trademark connotation

Clint Fabiosa & Ana Liza Villamor

Asean climate change, tourism workshop in Davao

A TWO-DAY Asean climate change and tourism workshop was conducted in Davao City on April 8 to 9 at Park Inn by Radisson Davao in a bid to thresh out measures on how tourism industry can take part in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) chief Jason Magnaye, in a text message, said around 25 participants, from the 10 country members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), including the Philippines, attended the workshop.

SPMC to adapt HP technology

THE Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), one of the biggest medical centers in the country, is on its way of employing a fully-digitalized system as part of the modernization initiative that the state-run hospital has to implement to improve public service.

SPMC will be utilizing the latest technology HP Converged Infrastructure of Hewlett-Packard (HP), the largest solutions provider in healthcare industry, to aid the medical operation of SPMC and keep pace with the growing number of patients.

DTI sets business seminar, April 16

THE Department of Trade and Industry-Davao City Field Office (DTI-DCFO) will conduct a one-day seminar to equip those who want to start their own business.

Dubbed as "Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset," the seminar is set on April 16, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the DTI Conference Room, 2/F Mintrade Building, corner Monteverde and Sales Streets, Davao City.

Sid: Ratings upgrade acknowledges PNoy's inroads in good governance

THE investment grade status granted by Fitch Ratings to the Philippines is a landmark achievement of the Aquino administration in its continuing effort to improve the economy of the country and win the fight against poverty.

This was the assessment of Rep. Isidro T. Ungab of Davao City's Third Congressional District, main author in the House of the Sin Tax Law and a leading sponsor of the just signed law granting reciprocal tax exemptions to international air and sea carriers whose country of origins give Filipino airlines and shipping companies the same privileges.

UCPB backs call for greener environment

WITH almost 50 years of providing topnotch financial services to its clients, the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) continues to exceed industry-standards and ventures into another project focused on preserving and protecting the environment to create a better society.

Dubbed as the UCPB Corporate Office Power Conservation Project, the initiative is the bank's way of supporting the call for a "greener environment" in the modern workplace.