LGC is Huper Optik country distributor

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Laus Group of Companies (LGC) marked another milestone in its history as it became the first and exclusive distributor of the revolutionary Huper Optik Nano Ceramic Window Films in the Philippines.

Baguio welcomes new call center firm

AN AMERICAN contact center company will put up its 14th facility in Baguio City as the business process outsourcing industry boom continues in the Philippines.

Baguio tourism back on its feet

Baguio City, the Philippines' summer capital, is back on its feet.

Aquino assures support to Negros Occidental priority sectors

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III reiterated his government’s support to the thrusts of Negros Occidental as he spoke before participants of the Philippine Economic Briefing at the L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City Friday.

He said the government is already working on the province’s priority sectors, which he enumerated as bio-fuel, tourism, business process outsourcing (BPO), aquaculture, micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), water and power.

Rice importation to be reduced

THE Department of Agriculture said rice importation will be reduced this year until food sufficiency is attained by end of 2013.

“We expect a good summer harvest,” said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. “We are no longer the world’s biggest importer.”

Aquino moves to ensure stable petroleum supply

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has formed an Inter-agency Energy Contingency Committee (IECC) “to ensure the continuous, adequate and stable supply of petroleum and other energy sources in the country.”

In Administrative Order (AO) 6, Aquino said that “although there is no imminent danger of any oil supply disruption, the government deems it prudent to issue this Order as a precautionary measure to ensure that necessary preparations are in place in the event the situation deteriorates.”

GSIS urges pensioners to renew active status

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is reminding its old-age and survivorship pensioners to renew their active status once a year, preferably in their birth month, to ensure the continuous receipt of their monthly pension.

GSIS said pensioners must bring their eCard to the nearest GSIS servicing office or the nearest government office with a GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (G-W@PS) kiosk during their birth month.

Inflation hit highest level in February

PRICES of consumer goods surged to their highest level in nine months last February, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said on Friday.

AEV’s income up 163% in 2010

DESPITE losses incurred in the sale of its integrated transport and logistics business unit, Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) reported a consolidated net income of P21.9 billion, recording an increase of 163 percent year-on-year for 2010.

Common currency ‘a long way off’

WHILE studies are continuing on the adoption of a single currency among Asian regions, an official of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) believes that the move will still take some time.

“It would be a long discussion. The formation may take 50 to 60 years,” said BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo.

New law places food exports to US under greater scrutiny

FILIPINO businesses and suppliers shipping food to the United States will have to brace themselves for the new food safety legislation, an exporters’ group advised.

Batuhan: The road less travelled

INTEGRITY is a lonely road to follow.

We know for a fact that in government, this path is a much disused one. For every Heidi Mendoza, we have hundreds of General Garcias and Ligots, who would much rather be in merrier company, than walk alone. Sometimes being squeaky clean in public service is considered a sign of insanity, a mark of weakness, or even a condemnation of being less-than-competent.

Rank demotion, diminution of salary

RESPONDENT Angel U. del Villar was the transportation services manager of petitioner Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. under the business logistics directorate, which was reorganized in 1996.

As a result of the reorganization, del Villar was appointed as staff assistant to the corporate purchasing and materials control manager. He continued to receive the same salary.

40 exhibitors join mega travel sale

MORE than 40 exhibitors are joining the 2nd Davao Mega Travel Sale at the Atrium of Gaisano Mall of Davao, which formally opened Friday.

Guv proposes ferry system to make Igacos accessible

TO EASE traffic congestion in Davao City just to get to the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo has proposed to make use of the sea lanes.

In an interview Thursday, the governor floated the idea of fully developing a ferry system that would provide access to Igacos from all the provinces of the Davao Region.

Pacquiao, local execs hold forum on coal plant

ALABEL, Sarangani -- A legislative forum on Power Generation and Sustainability was held Thursday among local legislators to seek majority opinion on Conal Holdings' proposed 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Barangay Kamanga, Maasim.

"We want assurance from Conal on the environmental impact of the project," Representative Manny Pacquiao said.

Japan donates database for Mindanao development thrust

JAPAN's international aid agency this week donated a database that profiles the socio-economic conditions of specific areas in Mindanao to the Philippines' so-called "Peaceful and Resilient Communities" program known as Pamana.

Norio Matsuda, representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), through which the government of Japan funnels its assistance as leader of the International Monitoring Team's socio-economic sub-group, turned over the data to Teresita Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp).

Tech can make cities smart: IBM

TECHNOLOGY can help governments run cities better, IBM Philippines said yesterday.

Officials of IBM Philippines said they are in constant talks with different local government units nationwide for the promotion of “smarter cities,” a program that uses technology for governance.

Libya turmoil to hurt remittances: BSP

REMITTANCES of overseas Filipino workers who had to evacuate Libya is seen to affect the amount of remittances sent to the country, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas admitted.

BSP deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo said the Libyan dinar is not easily converted into other currencies.

I.Protect: Holistic test

AS discussed last week, the “holistic test” to determine confusing similarity between trademarks states that trademarks are to be compared as a whole as they appear in their respective labels and/or the containers or packages. Jurisprudence says that it should be the over-all impression created by the mark as a whole, and not merely the parts thereof, which is the key in determining the likelihood of confusion.

Using the holistic test, the courts have ruled that there need not be duplication or an exact imitation to cause confusion.

40 Davao-based companies commit to energy efficiency

FORTY private companies in Davao Region committed to practice energy conservation management system in their respective establishments, as they underwent a national workshop on energy efficiency and conservation held Wednesday at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City.

Creation of department for migrant Filipinos sought

SENATOR Manny Villar on Thursday said the government should seriously consider the creation of a separate department for migrant Filipinos to adequately address the needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) around the globe, especially during critical periods.

DBP bats for public listing of SMEs

STATE-OWNED Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) are encouraging small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to improve their competitiveness and financial capability by going into the stock market.

Hanjin to train 50 welders

HANJIN Heavy industries Construction Philippines Inc. recently approved the fielding of 50 welders from 80 barangays in Cagayan de Oro to be trained at their base company in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Kapatagan inaugurates new public market

KAPATAGAN, Lanao del Norte – True its slogan “Yes, Kapatagan can!” Mayor Benjie Baguio was ecstatic during the inauguration rites after finally seeing the completion of the new Kapatagan Public Market on March 1 at Poblacion here.

Nokia provides financial targets linked to new strategy

NOKIA outlined a new strategic direction, including changes in leadership and operational structure, to accelerate the company’s speed of execution in a dynamic competitive environment.

OFWs allowed to exchange Libyan dinars with pesos

FILIPINO workers from Libya will be allowed to exchange Libyan dinars with pesos after the Philippine central bank approved a currency exchange facility (CEF) that will make the transaction possible.

Energy office to check fuel price disparity in Negros

THE Department of Energy (DOE) has yet to determine why prices of petroleum products in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental are higher by P4.50 to P5 per liter than in the National Capital Region (NCR).

This as DOE Undersecretary Jose Layug disclosed that the main offices of oil companies based in NCR were also allegedly at a loss as to the difference in the pricing imposed by local gasoline stations.

CNG-fed provincial buses exempted from franchise moratorium: DOTC

THE Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will accept franchise applications of provincial passenger buses using compressed natural gas (CNG).

Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus, in Department Order 14-2011, said “the exemption of CNG-fueled public utility buses from the franchise moratorium is meant to help address pollution concerns.”

P4.24-M death benefit claims of village officials readied

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is ready to release the amount of P412,000 to beneficiaries of 31 deceased barangay officials from Western Visayas.

These death benefit claims, as per Executive Order (EO) 115, cover four barangay captains whose beneficiaries would avail of P22,000 each; 20 village council members, four village secretaries, two village treasurers and one youth council chair at P12,000 each.