Infra development important to tourism growth: Thai official

INFRASTRUCTURE development can help the Philippines attract more tourists, a top tourism official from Thailand said Friday.

Phanom Kaributa, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) executive director for Asean South Asia and South Pacific Region department, said that what made Thailand the biggest draw of tourists in Asia are aggressive tourism promotions and improved infrastructure and tourism services.

Research highlights need for changes in IT measurement

HP recently shared research that shows a growing need for IT performance measurements to be more automated and closely aligned to organizational objectives in Asia Pacific and Japan.

Innovation ‘necessary ingredient’ in organizations

INNOVATION is about managing the tension between the entrepreneurial and executive mindsets, a global marketing strategist told a recent startup event.

ALI invests P5 billion more in Cebu

AFTER investing a total of P14 billion in Cebu in the last three years, property developer Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and its subsidiary Cebu Holdings Inc. (CHI) are pouring in a fresh investment of P5 billion for its various projects in Cebu this year.

Included in the capital expenditure (capex) for Cebu is the P1.6-billion ACC Corporate Center, which will soon rise on the western side of the Ayala Center Cebu property along Bohol Street, and other residential and retail projects.

New firm targets contact center, IT service jobs

SEEING potential to grow business in the country, an Australian investor has partnered with a group of Filipinos to put up a diverse outsourcing company in Cebu.

One Global Support Business Solutions formally opened their 320-square-meter facility yesterday at the Crown 7 IT Building along Juan Luna Ave. They will cater to medium-sized businesses overseas looking to outsource customer service, IT and web-based services and other back office operations.

Batuhan: A call to order

POPE Benedict XVI declared the period from October 2012 to the end of the liturgical year in November 2013 as “The Year of Faith.” The period marks two of the most significant events in modern Church history, namely, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Almirante: Liability of a purchasing corporation

Dominador A. Almirante Labor case digest

THE petitioners were regular employees of the Philippine Banking Corp. (Philbank). In February 2000, Philbank merged with Global Business Bank, Inc. (Global Bank), with the former as the surviving corporation and the latter as the absorbed corporation, but the bank operated under the name Global Business Bank, Inc.

Singapore announces new attractions to encourage Filipinos to travel there

With summer a few months away, Singapore Tourism Board’s area director for the Philippines and Brunei Sherina Chan hopes to get many Filipino travelers with a slew of new attractions Singapore is offering for tourists.

Chan said most Filipinos view Singapore as an expensive destination. She, however, is confident that the quality and variety of what Singapore has to offer makes travel to their country “sulit.”

Top 20 importers account for more than half of taxes

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Cebu yesterday said the 20 top importers in Cebu contributed more than 50 percent of the P8.8 billion duties and taxes collected for 2012.

Outgoing District Collector Ronnie Silvestre said these 20 top importers also provide jobs to the Cebuanos and taxes to local government units (LGUs).

I.Protect: Parody registration

Clint Fabiosa & Ana Liza Villamor

Ng: Apple slowing down

A LOT of things have been happening in the last two weeks in technology. The period saw Apple landing from its high-flying performance. Its sales have been below expectations and the company has lost a lot of ground.

Breaking out of Cebu

THOUGH it is the youngest out of the three brands under the Harbour City Dimsum House Co., Inc., Dimsum Break’s fast food setup has allowed it to be their fastest growing brand.

Pawnshop chain works with Federal to offer CTPL insurance coverage

VEHICLE owners can now obtain and renew their compulsory third-party liability (CTPL) insurance from any branch of Cebuana Lhuillier, after the pawnshop chain forged a partnership with Federal Phoenix Assurance Company (FPAC) Inc.

KTV bar opens 3rd Cebu outlet

A CEBUANO businessman affiliated with about 20 corporations in the food and leisure sector nationwide launched over the weekend a third branch of the Wat Ever Family KTV bar at The Ridges in Mabolo, Cebu City.

Jim Anthony Uy, 30, said that in order to succeed, the bar’s management and staff will focus on the four critical factors of marketing: product, place, price and promotion.

Pag-ibig Visayas nets P2.3B

THE Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-ibig) Visayas Group earned a net income of P2.3 billion in 2012, the agency’s consolidated operations performance report showed.

Banking on ‘flat bread’ for dough

SEEING an opportunity in franchising, Kevin Lance D. Lim, 22, launched on Saturday the Big Flat Bread (BFB), a pizza house at The Ridges on F. Cabahug St. in Mabolo, Cebu City.

While many young people are afraid to risk their chances in business, Lim said he opted to test the waters at a young age to create a foundation for his future.

Firm wins certifications

A LOCAL player in the fruit processing industry has passed international standards for food manufacture, boosting its plans of reaching more buyers abroad.

SM stores now accept payments for Veco as authorized channels

WITH 35 percent of bills paid through third-party channels, the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) hopes more of their customers will trust the new systems and pay through different means.

Billing and collection manager Sandro Aboitiz said that currently, most Veco bills paid are over the counter. Only few have opted to try paying online or through automated teller machines.

Trade matching features Thai tools, machines

ENTREPRENEURS are invited to a trade matching activity with a delegation from Thailand on Thursday, Jan. 31, in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City’s North Reclamation Area.

Twenty-three companies from Thailand will present their company profiles and products, in the hopes of finding exclusive distributors or business partners in the Philippines, said a press statement from The Office of the Honorary Trade Advisor of Thailand and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

Cebu, as ‘official destination’, hopes for mileage in pageant

CANDIDATES of the Czech Miss 2013 beauty pageant are set to arrive in Cebu City on Thursday, Jan. 31, as part of the pageant’s tour of the Philippines.

The 10 finalists, according to Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Director Rowena Montecillo, will also visit other key cities in the Philippines, like Manila and Palawan.

Tax notes: Issuance of transfer pricing regulations

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued the Transfer Pricing Regulations implementing Section 50 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (NIRC) on the power of the BIR Commissioner to distribute, apportion, or allocate the gross income or deductions between or among related organizations.

Security Bank opens 72 units

PUBLICLY-listed Security Bank Corp. (SBC) yesterday said it added 72 branches to its network, opening 2013 with a total of 208 branches nationwide.

Of the total, 170 of these branches are for its main bank while the 38 branches are for its subsidiary, Security Bank Savings (SBS).

Developer invests P1.5B

A REAL estate player is allocating some P1.5 billion for the construction of 1,500 houses in the Visayas and Mindanao this year.

Devotion to Niño sustains their craft

FOR more than 40 years, Tony Febroa, 61, has carved a living out of making wooden Sto. Niño sculptures on the sidewalk of the Ayala access road in Cebu City.

Regular customers keep coming back, ordering new carved images or needing repairs for their old pieces.

Sustained momentum

IF past trends are to be made basis, the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) 7 has reason to believe the economy of Central Visayas grew by six percent “at the very least”.

An economic situation report prepared by Neda 7 Assistant Regional Director Efren Carreon stated that past trends show the region’s growth is faster than that of the national economy.

Cebu welcomed 10.6% more tourists

SOME two million visitors arrived in Cebu City from January to November in 2012, the latest data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 show.

The arrivals grew by 10.63 percent from the 1.8 million arrivals recorded in the same period in 2011.

2 travel websites green-light Blu

EMPLOYEES of Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu pledged to further improve their hotel services and operations, after the hotel reaped two recognitions from travel websites.

A hotel official announced that TripAdvisor, one of the largest travel websites worldwide, has named Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu as one of the best hotels in the Philippines.

Artist wears his art on his tees, gains followers

IT ALL started as a freelance gig for Nicolo Nimor, 25, owner and designer of Nick Automatic, a homegrown clothing line that stemmed from Nimor’s penchant for art and graphics.

A hobbyist since grade school of all things artistic and rock, Nimor thought of art and apparel as a good mix. But he didn’t really expect his “doodling” would translate to money when he began printing his ideas on T-shirts in 2009.

Batuhan: The redeeming power of “Les Misérables”

SEN. Juan Ponce Enrile is someone who at once fascinates and intrigues me. I have observed his career in the spotlight, from his days as the iron enforcer of Marcos’ martial rule, to his moment of redemption as one of the pillars of the People Power Revolution, and then his backslide to glory hunter as a vilifier of Cory Aquino, to being the elder statesman in the Senate who seems to have subordinated personal gain for the public good— culminating in his impartial, deft and exemplary handling of the Renato Corona impeachment trial.

Almirante: Refusal to submit to drug test

Dominador A. Almirante Labor case digest

THE petitioners are former drivers of respondent Kingspoint Express and Logistics (Kingspoint Express), which is in the business of transporting goods. They were members of a union named “Kakampi”. They were charged with dishonesty, serious misconduct, loss of confidence and acts inimical to respondent. They also refused to undergo drug testing. They alleged that the charges against them were fabricated and that their dismissal was prompted by Kingspoint Express’ aversion to their union activities.