Tourism officials step up campaign

JUST how much is the government willing to spend for the Philippines’ lone entry to the New Seven Wonders of Nature search?

A lot, if a P7-million raffle grand prize and a host of other prizes is at stake.

Ceres Liner buys new fuel-efficient units

VALLACAR Transit Inc. (VTI), the operator of Ceres Liner, sees bright prospects in the transportation business despite volatility of fuel prices. A company official said Cebu’s booming tourism industry is one of the factors that contributed to the healthy growth of the company.

Smart offers free FB app for feature phones

SMART Communications and Facebook announced the offering of a new Facebook mobile application for Java-based feature phones.

Smart is also sponsoring the launch by enabling their customers to download and use this application for three months without incurring any data charges.

Head in the Cloud, feet on Cebu

IF WE do things right, Exist president and chief executive officer Jerry Rapes said, the opportunity is really big.

From $9 billion and 500,000 direct jobs in 2010, the information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector in the Philippines is targeting $25 billion in revenues and 1.3 million workers by 2016.

MBM 2011 to focus on innovation

THIS year’s Mandaue Business Month (MBM) will focus on innovation as a key aspect of business, said MBM 2011 chairperson Stanley Go.

Last Friday, the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) launched MBM 2011, which will be held in August.

Reeves: In immigration, not all marriages are created equal

MANY people mistakenly believe that marrying a US citizen is an easy way to obtain their lawful permanent residency or green card. However, the reality is that obtaining a green card through marriage to a US citizen is far more difficult than simply filing an application and awaiting the arrival of a green card.

Tax notes: CWT on interest payments by top 20T corporations

INTEREST income payments made by a power-generating company to its affiliate pursuant to a loan agreement to finance the latter’s acquisition of its power plant is not subject to two percent creditable withholding tax (CWT) on income payments made by the top 20,000 private corporations under Revenue Regulations (RR) No. 2-1998, as amended by RR Nos. 06-2001, 17-2003 and 14-2008.

‘Don’t shun local furniture buyers’

WHILE most in Cebu’s furniture industry are exporters, a trade show organizer hopes they will not shut out domestic buyers.

Eduardo Zuluaga, who chairs the Manila Now show of the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines, urged Cebuano furniture companies to sign up for the country’s first co-located furniture show, called the Manila Fame International.

Islands Group to expand hotel chain

ENCOURAGED by the healthy occupancy rate during its dry run, Islands Stay Hotel hopes to expand its hotel operations to various tourism destinations through franchising, a top official said on Friday.

Limpag: Make your business card interactive through QR codes

WHEN you meet new business contacts, do you still hand out business cards? Or do you just use mobile applications like Bump to wirelessly exchange contacts data?

In certain circles, however, people hand out business cards with an interactive twist – contacts details are encoded using QR or quick response codes. The recipient of the calling card can view and immediately save the contacts details in their phone by scanning the QR code, which looks like a two-dimensional bar code.

Firm on lookout for best engineers

BECAUSE they want to employ the best software engineers, an outsourcing company hires only those who have had two years working experience.

Taylor Science and Technology, which opened its new office at the TGU Tower in the Asiatown IT Park last Friday, currently employs 56 software and QA engineers, technical support staff, graphic designers and administrative personnel, but they hope to add more to their growing company in the future.

UC, Australian group sign deal on training

SEEKING to improve its hotel and restaurant management program, a local university is teaming up with Australian agencies to provide additional training for its students.

The University of Cebu Banilad signed a memorandum of understanding with the Australian Trade Training College and Global Skills Group to provide the needed training for local graduates to acquire Australian qualification.

‘Count ecozones in’

THE exclusion of economic zones in competitiveness surveys may have affected the Philippines’ global ratings, the Department of Trade and Industry contends.

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo pointed out that locators in the country’s economic zones have very high satisfaction ratings when it comes to doing business and that the revenues coming from economic zones have a high impact on the country’s economy.

‘Super bridge’ gains support

BOHOL Gov. Edgar Chatto supports the proposal to construct a “super bridge” that would link Cebu and Bohol as this would pave the way for more economic growth in the region.

“We should always think about regional growth,” he said at the sidelines of the Sandugo Trade Expo press conference in Tagbilaran City.

Batuhan: Cafeteria Catholicism

CAFETERIAS are an interesting place. In the place where I work, we have concessionaires whose food choices cater to a whole host of individual tastes. There is traditional Filipino food—from the regional cuisines of places like Bicol and Pampanga—as well as international selections from Chinese, Italian, and of course—American fare. Indeed, something for everyone’s taste buds.

ChinaBank Savings appoints president

CHINABANK Savings, Inc., a subsidiary of China Banking Corp., announced the appointment of Alberto Emilio V. Ramos as president of ChinaBank Savings, with signing authority effective Aug. 1.

He succeeded Samuel L. Chiong, who returned full- time to run the Branch Banking Group of China Bank, as he is tasked to continue the aggressive branch expansion program of the main bank.

Almirante: Jurisdiction

IN A case for illegal dismissal and money claims, Premier Allied Contracting Services, Inc. (PACSI) and petitioner Paquito V. Ando were directed to pay respondents’ award of separation pay and attorney’s fees.

Consumers take advantage of low prices in DTI Diskwento Caravan in Consolacion

SEEING a big can of condensed milk with a price slashed by half was enough for Maria Theresa Navares of Barangay Tayud, Consolacion to grab hold of four cans from a market stall in the town.

What was normally priced at P29 a can, now cost P14.50 each from a Unitop booth at the Consolacion Public Terminal, she said.

GIZ sets aside 10M euros to help country’s SMEs

THE German Development Cooperation (GIZ) has allotted 10 million euros to the Philippines to support various activities to help enhance competitiveness of the country’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector.

GIZ manager for Private Sector Promotion Program Volker Steigerwald said in a press briefing on Wednesday that the allocation covers the one-year assistance of the German government to the country’s SME sector.

Cebu Pacific ranks 5th in list of profitable low-cost carriers

THE country’s largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific ranked fifth most profitable leading value airline in the world, according to the July 2011 issue of Air Transport World (ATW).

ATW’s World Airline Report special feature cited Cebu Pacific as 5th in net profit and 8th in operating profit in a list of international low-cost carriers including USA’s Southwest Airlines and Europe’s Ryanair. They based the financial rankings on data for the most recent fiscal year.

I.Protect: Trademark registration abroad

Clint Fabiosa & Ana Liza Villamor

AS DISCUSSED previously, trademarks are protected only in the countries where they are registered. A number of local businesses have opted to register their trademarks abroad even before their products reach the foreign destination.

Ng: Using a Windows 7 phone

I JUST got a new Windows 7 phone. It’s a Samsung Omnia 7 and I was pretty excited to get it. It looked slick and when you turn it on, the first thing you see is its graphics – bright, colorful and sharp. Newer phones nowadays have LED screens and you can really see a great difference.

Advisory company tells Cebu to look into 6 factors to develop outsourcing industry

AN INTERNATIONAL advisory firm believes Cebu can improve and develop further in the outsourcing industry by taking in six factors: workforce, infrastructure, cost, risk profile, business catalyst and the quality of life.

Sandugo expo highlights ‘green opportunity’

TAGBILARAN CITY – The week-long celebration of the Sandugo Trade Expo 2011 that opened yesterday highlighted not only green products but also opened opportunities for local suppliers to forge linkages with local tourism establishments, officials said.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 said this year’s trade exhibition will focus on the tourism industry as possible market for local players.

Airphil offers P888 promo fare to HK

AIRPHIL Express is offering travelers an opportunity to “fly out and take on an adventure in Hong Kong without breaking the budget,” the company said in a press statement.

The promotional Express Sale allows travelers in Cebu to avail themselves of the one-way airfare of P888 to Hong Kong . The Cebu-Hong Kong leg of Airphil Express will soon inaugurated and is considered a strategic route in terms of recreation and business.

ICT firm eyes 100% growth in Cebu

A SOLUTIONS provider and systems integrator for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) said it will focus more on its investments in the Visayas and Mindanao area.

A top official of the company cited the booming industries of business process outsourcing (BPO), manufacturing, construction and tourism as growth drivers, particularly in Cebu.

Mind ‘12 Ps’ of starting business: company owner

IN STARTING a business, most entrepreneurs are encouraged to bear in mind 12 things and these all start with the letter “P.”

In a presentation on building an entrepreneurial organization, Edwin Jardin, proprietor of Suisprintsonic Digital and Offset Printing Press, said there were 12 P’s in business and each was essential in accomplishing a business model, marketing strategy and in closure and delivery.

Beach club owners to develop chain of pension suites

BANKING on the country’s healthy tourism industry, the owner of Cebu-based San Remigio Beach Club is set to develop a chain of pension suites in other parts of the country.

The company said they hope to expand operations of San Remigio Pensionne Suites in Bohol and Palawan. The firm currently has a pension suite in Mabolo.

MCCI elects 7 members of board of trustees

THE Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) recently named seven members of its board of trustees who topped the MCCI Elections last June 29 at the Mahogany Hall, Oakridge Business Park.

Six incumbent trustees, namely Philip Tan of Wellmade Motors Dev’t Corp.; Stanley Go of Virginia Foods, Inc. ; Michelle Co of RCBC; Brian Chua of Suzuki Auto Cebu; Edgar Allan Po of Winner Plastic Corp.; and Donato Busa of DMC Busa Printers were given fresh mandates by the chamber’s general membership.

BlackBerry relies on Asian markets

BLACKBERRY manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) is banking on Asian markets like the Philippines for growth as it faces intense competition in the mobile smartphone segment.

A top official said the Philippines has a huge potential in the smartphone market because of its growing population and its status as the text messaging capital in the world.