Contractors told to renew license

THE Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (Pcab) has called on contractors to renew their licenses soonest to avoid rush, delay and penalties.

Starting the first day of February, PCAB, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), has already been accepting renewal applications for the fiscal year 2013-2014. However, it has been observed that some who are into the construction business have not yet submitted their renewal application.

Vista Land net income jumps 29%

VISTA Land & Lifescapes, Inc., the country's largest homebuilder, announced that the company's net income for the first quarter of 2013 compared to the first quarter of 2012 rose by 29 percent to P1.342 billion from P1.036 billion.

Revenues were P4.86 billion for the first quarter of this year compared to the P4.02 billion realized during the comparable period last year.

Non-voice overtakes voice operation in Cebu

CEBU has become more than just a call center destination, as non-voice operations outnumbered the voice operations in the number of business process outsourcing and IT companies at the end of 2012 showed.

Polambato port in Bogo seenas convenient hub for shipping

WITH its proximity to inter-regional and national trade destinations, the port in Barangay Polambato in Bogo City, Cebu is seen as a convenient channel for local shipping and logistics.

After its accreditation with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, the port was declared an open harbor for cargo and logistics shipments.

Ng: Android going strong

IT looks like Google is going strong with Android. According to the company head of Android, over 400 million Android devices were activated in 2012. This is a huge increase from the 100 million activated in 2011.

Related goods

THE OWNERST of registered trademarks owners have protection from: a) infringers with the same goods; b) infringers with related goods; and c) to market areas that are in the normal expansion of their business. In Mighty Corp. v. E. & J.

Student launches startup in SWC

COLLEGE student Robert Mandin and his friends built kamikini.com, an online advertising platform for anime and cosplay-related merchandises. However, they did not know how to move forward with the business and decided to put it on hold.

Globe launches inbound calling offer for Koreans in PH

KNOWN for innovative and ground-breaking products and services, Globe Telecom recently launched Globe DUO Korea, an international inbound calling offer for Koreans in the Philippines.

Condos in fastest growing sector

RESIDENTIAL apartments and condominiums were the fastest growing sector in real estate construction last year, the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) 7 said.

Pages: Bo’s Coffee: Proudly brewed by Steve Benitez

STEVE Delantar Benitez and I are members of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP).

We call each other “Bro.”

PhilExport asks gov’t: Encourage banks to extend loans to exporters

ALTHOUGH banks reported that they are now more open to provide small and medium enterprises (SME) access to capital, the umbrella organization of exporters in Cebu said otherwise.

In an interview, Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport) Cebu executive director Fred Escalona said the government should urge banks to make capital easier to obtain by the sector.

PH exports rice from Mindanao

THREE metric tons of aromatic and organic black, brown and red rice is being exported to Hong Kong in a ceremonial send-off in Tefasco Wharf on Wednesday.

Led by Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Dante Delima, the ceremony was a historical milestone for the country since for a long time the country was a dependent importer of rice from Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and other rice exporting countries.

Australian exhibit in Davao to feature 20 schools

A TOTAL of Australian colleges and Universities will be exhibited in Australian Education Exhibition on May 17 hosted by IDP Philippines for the first time to be hold in Davao City.

The schools will showcase their programs and campus facilities to anyone who is aspiring to experience an international education.

Native delicacies at Maro Polo

MARCO Polo will be showcasing the regional flavors of Filipino delicacies entitled "Flavors of the Philippines" starting Wednesday up to 31th of this month.

This is part of their monthly promotion activity in partnership with the Department of Tourism in Davao Region.

Terminal collection down in first quarter

THE Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) reported a decrease in revenue collection in the first quarter of 2013, but noted an increase at the beginning of second quarter.

DCOTT officer-in-charge Edgardo Colvo said they posted a revenue collection of P4.910 million from January to March this year, which showed a slight decrease from P4.934-million collection during the same period last year.

'Food Revo' to invade schools

ELEVEN beneficiaries of Mother for Peace Superfood Carts, initiated by Mindanao Commission on Women (MCW), have started selling healthy food products as part of their advocacy to eradicate junk food.

Davao City has been chosen as pilot area for the health program and economic enterprise for women in Mindanao as part of MCW's Mothers for Peace Social Enterprise Program.

Coop to export black, brown rice

THE Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative will be holding a ceremonial send-off for the export of black, red and brown rice to Hong Kong at Tefasco Wharf in Panacan, Davao City today, Wednesday.

The ceremony will be facilitated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Processo Alcala.

CV 1Q tourist arrivals up 13.5%

CENTRAL Visayas recorded 840,237 in tourist arrivals in the first quarter this year, an increase of 13.55 percent against the 739,958 recorded in the same period in 2012.

In a partial report released by the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7, domestic arrivals stood at 471,476 while foreign arrivals were 366,331. Both markets logged increases at 12.33 percent and 16.01 percent, respectively, compared to arrivals last year.

PSE net income grows 27.8%

THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) posted a net income growth of 27.8 percent for the first quarter of 2013 behind the strong performance of the stock market. The stock index breached several record highs during the year as trading activities once again reached unprecedented levels.

Canada ‘needs skilled workers’

CANADA needs skilled workers and this demand can be met by Filipinos, the country’s ambassador said.

Canadian ambassador Christopher Thornley said this last week during the press conference held to inaugurate the Canadian Welding Bureau Facility (CWB-F) and the Hospitality Training Center (HTC) of Primary Structures Educational Foundation, Inc. (PSEFI) on General Maxilom Ave., Cebu City.

Toral: The top senator

AS OF this writing, senatorial candidate Grace Poe has emerged at the top in the partial and unofficial tabulation results. With the tight politicking happening to a lot of reelectionists, it seems there are voters who just want new blood and fresh faces in the Senate.

It reminded me of what Manuel L. Quezon III said at iBlog4 five years ago: the politicians in power will retire sooner or later. Some of them will pass away due to old age. And that beginning 2013, we will see changes on how we will vote. This will be further evident in 2016.

Pinoy exec to judge in int’l science fair

A FILIPINO engineer turned executive and advocate for technology entrepreneurship is set to judge at the coming Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Arizona next week.

Earl Martin Valencia, president of IdeaSpace Foundation, Inc. (IdeaSpace) and head for corporate development and strategic innovation at Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) will join other science and technology leaders as one of the grand award judges of the world’s largest international pre-college science competition.

Telco, bank to launch service for kasambahays

A NEW payment service will be launched to facilitate convenient e-payment of the mandatory monthly contributions to government agencies of kasambahays in the country.

This is in line with the implementation of Republic Act 10361, or the Kasambahay Law.

Maritime holds training for personnel, applicants

TWO days before the May 13 midterm elections, Magsaysay Maritime Corp. (MMC), a leading and awardee of Best Human Resource in the Philippines, conducted a summer education for families of its crew and applicants about do's and don'ts during the election and a job fair for Dabawenyos.

MCC president Marlon Rono said it is not only intended to educate the participants but also to bring the opportunities of being employed and to experience the services offered by the company to its people.

Industry leaders to ease Mindanao power crisis

HARNESSING diesel as an alternative energy source was among the solutions proposed at a meeting of national and Mindanao-based business leaders to ease the power shortage in the southern region.

Robert Mallillin made the proposal at a recent meeting of the technical working group (TWG) of the businessmen's energy and power committee on ways the private sector can help relieve the energy shortfall in the region.

Sincerity key ingredient in running business, says Rico’s Lechon owner

FOR 53-year-old entrepreneur Enrico Dionson, sincerity is important in running a business.

“Business is based on trust. The reason my lechon business is thriving is that I have been honest since I started this venture,” said Dionson, owner of one of Cebu’s top lechon brands Rico’s Lechon.

Fair trade group to sign agreement with CCCI

A GROUP that aims to support small producers in the countryside is planning to sign a partnership with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to promote fair trade standards and sustainability.

Appointment seen to strengthen ties with Norway

THE appointment of University of Cebu’s (UC) chancellor as Cebu’s Norwegian consul is seen to further strengthen Philippine bilateral relations with Norway.

“As the new regional consul, I am now ‘married’ to Norway for the furtherance of the country’s influence in the Philippines and vice versa,” said Candice Gotianuy during her official appointment ceremony at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.

PH needs to work to spread benefits of upgrade: officials

THE recent investment upgrades of the country will benefit small business players but the country needs to work for it to happen, officials said.

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Lito Maderazo says he hopes that the officials elected in yesterday’s elections will have integrity and will support good governance to sustain the country’s economic momentum.

McDonald’s names new product endorser

A FASTFOOD company unveiled its latest endorser in an event in Cebu over the weekend. McDonald’s Philippines unveiled 23-year-old actor Xian Lim as its summer refreshments endorser.

“Effective endorsers should understand and fit the advocacy of the brand they represent,” said media and communications officer Puch Calma of McDonald’s Philippines.