‘Maritime policy needs integration’

HAVING been appointed officer-in-charge of Road and Maritime Transport, Transportation Undersecretary Aristotle Batuhan sees a problem in integrating policies between agencies in the maritime industry.

Batuhan, who spoke to reporters at the 12th International Network of Affiliated Ports (Inap) conference yesterday, said there were many things that needed to be improved. One of the problems he sees is the different agencies that have their own policy direction.

Cebu bankers step up campaign to recirculate coins with fun run

THE Cebu Bankers Club (CBC) is taking a new approach in encouraging Cebuanos to bring out the coins in their drawers and piggy banks. CBC will hold a fun run next month to help increase awareness on the need to recirculate coins.

In a press conference yesterday at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) regional office, CBC president Chito Cabaero said that the event is in support of the BSP’s coin recirculation campaign.

Firm launches ‘clean air device’

CALIFORNIA - based Sone-Care Technologies, Llc launched in Cebu last Monday its clean air device (CAD2000G) for non-turbo type engines to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.

CAD Manufacturing, Llc president Cirilo Paulo said the new device is equipped with “corona discharge technology,” which he said reduces emissions and fuel consumption and optimizes engine performance.

Globe lets SMEs create own postpaid plans

GLOBE has changed the way small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) subscribe to postpaid plans, the company said in a press statment.

Globe said Business Plus is the new customizable postpaid plan that enables SMEs to choose the mobile services that best suit them. It allows them to put together their preferred plans and pay only for what they need.

Region's fish output up in 2Q

FISH production in Northern Mindanao has reached 44,432 metric tons (MT) during the second quarter this year, registering a five percent increase from the same period last year.

Cebu Pacific boosts international passenger growth

LEADING budget airline Cebu Pacific registered a seasonal 37-percent growth of international passengers carried for the first nine months of the year as the company trained its sights for more foreign routes.

Code of industry to boost growth in BPO employment

LABOR and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has expressed confidence in the bright prospect of employment in the information and communications technology-business process outsourcing (ICT-BPO) sector in Mindanao as she announced the formal adoption by the sector of a code of industry best practices tomorrow.

Software developers gear up for first exhibit here

BE THE first to witness Davao Region's unveiling of its best kept secret in "SEx in D' City!"

CDA sees brighter future for coops under new code

THERE's a bright prospect for the cooperatives under the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008, according to the regional director of the Cooperative Development Authority.

RP fruit exports still below global standard: Unctad exec

A TOP United Nations official has expressed dismay and skepticism over the slow progress of the Philippine government in achieving the high global standards required in the world's fruit exports.

German group trains incubators

AFTER the success of its business incubation project in Southeast Asia, a German capacity-building organization is passing on its technical expertise to local residents in hopes that they too can train others in managing a business incubator.

Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklung gGmgh or Inwent, led by senior project manager Dr. Joachim Langbein, welcomed eight Filipinos and nine Indonesians to a “Train the Trainors” workshop yesterday.

Social networking helps chef build a business selling cakes

HE Chocolate Leaf Patisseri has been in the business for almost four years, thanks to the social networking that has helped entrepreneur Cheryl Go navigate her way to success.

“Since I am into cake decoration, pictures of previous works are very essential. This is how customers can tell the extent of work I am able to do. With social networking I can just upload my portfolio online and it is easy for my clients to browse through it without having to visit me in person. It makes inquiring or ordering easier for my potential clients,” Go said.

AboitizLand raises P1B from maiden notes issue

ABOITIZLAND, Inc., the real estate and property arm of the Aboitiz Group, recently raised P1 billion in fresh capital through the issuance of privately placed corporate notes.

The company will use proceeds from the notes to fund its development projects in Cebu, namely, Ajoya, its first residential development in the Lapu-Lapu and Cordova area; Persimmon North Tower, the second of four 15-storey mid-rise towers that will compose The Persimmon, the company’s urban village development; and Pristina North Residences, an enclave of terraced townhomes.

Tax notes: New BIR rules on 15% tax of ROHQ employees

WITH the issuance of Revenue RegulationsNo. 11-2010, the Regional Area Headquarters (RHQs) or Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQs) need not file a request for a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ruling to confirm the eligibility of Filipino employees to be taxed at either 15 percent of their gross income or at the regular rate of their taxable income under Section 24 of the Tax Code. Instead, the company should file certain reports and sworn declarations with the concerned BIR office.

Finance department backs state firm reforms

THE Department of Finance department expressed its support for a Senate initiative to limit bonuses and allowances for executives of state firms.

Tadeco hikes productivity

THE Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc. has tremendously increased its productivity from 3,235 box a hectare to 5,095 boxes a hectare in 12 years mainly because of good farming practices.

October food prices stable despite 'Juan'

FOOD prices remained stable for the month of October despite Typhoon Juan, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Tropika: The 'green' hotel

TRAVELERS seeking a cozy hotel in the northern side of the city can enjoy this new business hotel in Lanang area offering comfortable and stylish guestrooms equipped with great amenities.

Stimulus worries exporter

THE US Federal Reserve’s decision to pour in $600 billion as economic stimulus would further hurt local exporters, an official from the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) said on Saturday.

Reeves: Citizenship for children born abroad to US citizens

UNITED States immigration laws are structured so as to provide benefits to children born abroad to US citizens. Whether the parent is a citizen by birth or naturalization, the child can acquire US citizenship. The laws that allow children to derive or acquire citizenship vary depending on the particular circumstances of each family. It is extremely important for parents to consult with an immigration expert to determine whether his or her child is eligible.

Child Citizenship Act 2000

2 regions get wage hike

THE National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) announced over the weekend that two regional wage boards, Bicol and Soccsksargen, increased the minimum pays of workers in their areas.

Footwear fuses art, nationalism

WHETHER it’s fad or not, Filipinos are not running out of ideas to make sure they can be loud and proud of their nation.

IBM faces another setback on GSIS case

THE Court of Appeals dealt another blow to IBM Philippines Inc., denying its bid to stop a Pasay court from hearing the P100-million suit filed by the Government Service Insurance System against the software firm.

Global warming may thwart food production

"THE global warming is very simple," said Dr. Robert Watson, chair of the Nobel-winning United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). "We are increasing emissions of greenhouse gases and thus their concentrations in the atmosphere are going up."

AboitizPower ups income by 165% in 3rd quarter

ABOITIZPOWER Corp. recorded a consolidated net income of close to P6 billion for the quarter ending September 30, 2010, a 165 percent increase as compared to the same period last year.

Globe Telecom leads in BlackBerry sales

GLOBE Telecom takes the lead in the Philippine deployment of BlackBerry® devices, beating key competitors in terms of sales and number of subscribers using the device.

Tabije: Practical tips

WHEN this article comes out, I'd be flying out to Singapore and Malaysia on a one-week business trip. My apologies in advance if I will not be able to promptly answer emails and texts.

Airline expands flights to Cebu, other areas

LEADING budget airline Cebu Pacific continues to leverage from the growing tourism market in the Philippines as it announced more international and domestic flights, especially those going in and out of Cebu City.

No Globe ‘unlimited’ promos on Christmas holidays

GLOBE Telecom, Inc. will suspend its unlimited call and text promotions for its 25.4 million subscribers on selected dates this December to avoid network congestion during holiday breaks.

Ernest Cu, Globe Telecom president and chief executive officer, said the “network freezing” scheme might be practiced again on December 24, 25, 31 and January 1 to minimize problems related to heavy traffic of text messages and phone calls.

Dole lists occupations considered in demand

A LABOR market study conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has categorized 12 areas that have in-demand occupations and 11 hard-to-fill occupations in the country.

A separate list of jobs for emerging industries shows another seven areas that have jobs that are in demand and hard to fill.