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Quorum REGION 4-A, NCR & OTHER PROVINCES. THE SUM OF ALL PARTS.
E MPOWERING C OMMUNITY P UBLICATION ON B USINESS & P OLITICS
Edition No. 005
Manila, Philippines February 1-15, 2011
Mazda posts 54% growth Motoring Page 10
PAL takes over Zest Air routes Aviation Page 16
P20
App Store hits 10 billion downloads
Tech Page 14
AFP MESS LED EX-DEFENSE CHIEF ANGIE REYES TO COMMIT SUICIDE?
Dingdong still has time for Marian Entertainment, Page 7
‘Not my family!’ THE dragging of his family’s name in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) fund scam may have driven former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes to end his own life, according to an exclusive Quorum source who requested anonymity. “Kung siya lang kaya niyang harapin ang mga kontrobersiya dahil matapang si Angie but it became too much for him when his family was being dragged into the controversy,” said the source. “Si Angie ay isang family man at ang kanyang pamilya ay pinakaimportanteng bagay sa kanya,” he added. Reyes died Tuesday morning after sustaining a gunshot in his chest in an apparent suicide. Reyes has been named as one of the corrupt military chiefs in the on-going probe into the Garcia plea bargain deal. Col. George Rabusa accused Reyes of receiving P50-million send-off money or pabaon upon his retirement as AFP chief in 2001. Rabusa said that ex-military chief Angelo Reyes’s wife and children also received money from the AFP. Rabusa said he released AFP funds to Teresita Reyes, wife of the former chief of staff, for her domestic and international trips and “boys’ night out” expenses for the children. “Pag abroad, ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per trip. Lalo pag sa US, malaki yan, minsan over pa,” he said. Reyes, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class ’66, was AFP chief under President Joseph Estrada, and secretary of defense, interior and local government, and energy during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2001 to 2003. He graduated as the class valedictorian in high school and was among the top ten graduates of the PMA. He went on to obtain two masteral degrees, namely: Masters in Business Administration from Asian Institute of Management in 1973 and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1991. He also took up International Defense Management Course in Monterey, California in 1983. In 1987, he graduated No. 1 in Trust Operations Management Course conducted by the Trust Institutes Foundation of the Philippines at the Ateneo Business School which eventually earned him a scholarship to the Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.
Quorum, JRS Express join forces
Defense Sec. Angelo Reyes (right) meets with US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz (foreground) at the Pentagon in this May 8, 2003 file photo.
Death of a general: Know Angelo FORMER Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes' death brings an end to a political career marked with controversy, culminating in a corruption scandal that involved at least 3 former military chiefs during the Arroyo administration. Reyes first grabbed nationwide attention when, asArmed Forces chief, he joined opposition forces during the 4-day bloodless revolt that ousted then President Joseph Estrada in January 2001. Ironically, it was Estrada himself who chose him to become chief of staff of
the military a year earlier. His role in the "EDSA 2" revolt won him favor in the Arroyo administration. During the incumbency of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he shuttled to different Cabinet posts as secretary of the environment, defense, interior and local government and energy departments. During the "Hello, Garci" wiretapping scandal, he became part of a cabal of officials who remained loyal to President Arroyo despite calls for her removal.
Last year, Reyes ran for Congress as representative of party-list group 1-Utak but was disqualified by the Commission on Elections. Last month, he was accused by his former military budget officer George Rabusa of pocketing P50 million in military funds upon his retirement as AFP chief in 2001. He was also accused of protecting his former military comptroller Carlos Garcia who is facing plunder charges for allegedly stealing P303 million in military funds.
Reyes’ testimony important piece in AFP scam WHILE mourning the death of former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, law-
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makers said his absence would be the missing piece in the investigation on massive corruption within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Representatives Roilo Golez of Paranaque and Rodolfo Farinas of Ilocos Norte expressed condolences to the family of Reyes, who was also former AFP chief of staff. “We have yet to listen to his own tale, his own testimony because he kept quiet about it. Ngayon wala na, hindi na masasagot ‘yan, unless meron ibang evidence. Baka meron siyang anti-mortem
statement ,” Golez said. Farinas said that congressional inquiries about corruption should have immediate resolution to ferret out the truth. The justice committee of the House of Representatives resumed Tuesday morning in a somber mood amid the passing away of Reyes. The committee is looking into the plea bargain agreement between state prosecutors and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia, who is facing plunder changer for allegedly amassing some P300-million in AFP funds.
The QUORUM newspaper has tied up with JRS Express, the country’s No. 1 courier service company, for the delivery of its copies to major provincial government offices and LGU’s nationwide. With 280 branches nationwide, JRS has agreed to deliver copies of Quorum Newspapers to provincial capitols and city and far-flung municipal halls, ensuring that news will reach Filipinos wherever they are aside from the internet. “JRS Express’ committment to ontime delivery is shared by our newspaper and we know that our company is in good hands with them as our partner,” said Quorum publisher Ismael Amigo. The JRS business corporation was organized by its original incorporators and duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the 16th of June 1960. It was granted a franchise by the defunct Congress in 1961 under Republic Act No. 3260 to conduct a messenger and delivery express service for a period of fifty (50) years In the same year of 1961, the company was acquired by the late Dr. Jaime L. Claparols who reorganized the company, infused fresh capital and technical Know-how. Under the leadership of the late Dr. Jaime L. Claparols, who served as chairman and President from that time on until his untimely demise in December, 1975, the company grew steadily through the years. By that time, the company had expanded its scope of operations to include 130 branches nationwide to meet the rising demands of its clientele. In 1971,the JRS BUSINESS CORPORATION expanded its business operations to include air freight forwarding. It was granted a letter of authority to engage in the business of domestic air freight forwarder by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). This makes the JRS BUSINESS CORPORATION as one of the few companies with dual authority. With the promulgation of PD # 240 in 1973, JRS BUSINESS CORPORATION was granted an authority to operate Express and/or Messenger Delivery Service by the Postmaster General. In 1980, JRS BUSINESS CORPORATION adopted and registered the trade name “JRS Express” for its use in order to place emphasis and stress its capability of effecting next-day delivery of express mail matters. Thereafter, in order to cope up with (Cont’d on page 2)
Nation Quorum
2
THE PROVINCES (Sum of all parts)
More Mindanao agri projects from WB, says DA THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said cities and towns in Mindanao will now be able to put up more agricultural infrastructure projects, as equity for projects under the World Bank (WB)-sponsored Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) which was reduced from 50 percent to 10 percent. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said that with the reduced counterpart funding, local government, farmers’ associations and cooperatives will be able to put up more communal irrigation and potable water systems, farm to market roads, postharvest facilities and other agricultural infrastructures. The DA chief, who takes on as “team captain” of the MRDP, said that of the total cost of a project, World Bank (WB) will fund 50 percent, DA 40 percent, and Local Government Units 10 percent. “This new scheme will definitely bring in more projects to benefit the Filipino farmers,” he added. The adjustment of counterpart funding schemes follows the impressive review of MRDP projects that have continuously built up the agriculture potential of Mindanao. Program Director Lealyn Ramos revealed that close to P10 million-worth of projects will be managed at the provincial level. “WB also recommended that more funds be allocated to active local government units to further increase the disbursement of the program,” Ramos said.
Camiguin establishes P25-M farm-to-market roads MAMBAJAO, Camiguin -– The provincial government of Camiguin will establish this year 14 farm-to-market road (FMR) projects worth more than P25 million to help farmers increase their productivity and income. The funding of the provincial government on agriculture will be thoroughly implemented to help poor families in far-flung towns of Camiguin. “Our main concern is the very needs of our farmers because they are part in the economic development of our province,” said Gov. Jurdin “JJ” M. Romualdo. The province already identified 14 sites for the FMR projects. Four of them already started. Romualdo assured that the remaining identified sites will be started within the year. The four biggest FMR projects are in Jang-Tacangon, San Miguin, Butay, and Bura. Aside from the provision of access roads, the provincial government also distributed 25 sets of water pumps to protect farm produce during dry season. Last year, the province constructed one multi-purpose drying pavement. At least 62 women beneficiaries’ also received livelihood assistance through the Plant Now Pay Later (PNPL) program. It further extended trainings and educational tours to women and rural-based organizations in the island province.
Pangasinan mothers urged to use iodized salt LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The Provincial Health Office (PHO) is urging all mothers to be healthy and wise by giving their children brain power through the use of iodized salt. The call was made as part of the information campaign of the Department of Health in connection with the celebration of the Goiter Awareness Week (GAW) from Jan. 23 to 29. Provincial Health Officer Anna De Guzman said the week-long celebration includes an intensified information campaign for the promotion of the salt iodization program and the Patak sa Asin sa market and warehouses program in which the rural health unit personnel will conduct household and market salt testing. The activity also coincides with the celebration’s theme “Iwas Goiter ni Mommy, Lusog Isip ni Baby,” De Guzman said. The DOH campaign seeks to inform mothers that iodine deficiency disorders pose a serious problem especially if they are pregnant. De Guzman said pregnant women who become afflicted with goiter due to lack of iodine may have miscarriages or give birth to abnormal babies. The babies may even become retarded, have low IQ, become deaf and mute, short in height and the worst is it may result in the death of the child. She said that in order to avoid such problems, pregnant or lactating mothers must have an intake of iodized salt everyday as salt can prevent iron deficiency.
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February 1-15, 2011
Palace bares list of priority bills LEDAC to convene Feb. 28 EXECUTIVE Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. has bared the list of priority bills that President Beningo S. Aquino III will present to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting to be held this month. Ochoa said 12 of the 17 proposed measures had already been drafted, while the remaining proposed measures were in the final stages of drafting. In an interview over dzMM, the Executive Secretary said among the priority legislation Malacanang will submit to the LEDAC were the promotion of fiscal discipline in government-owned or -controlled corporations, reforms in the land administration and creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Amending the BOT Law, extending the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as defining maritime zones and establishing archipelagic sea-lanes in the country are also part of the legislative agenda of the Aquino Administration, he said. According to Ochoa, the priority bills are envisioned to steer the country to human development, infrastructure development, economic development, sovereignty and security, and good governance—all of which are consistent with the 16-point agenda of the administration. “We have clustered the priority bills under five areas of concern. Of these five key areas, human development is the primary, but we cannot discount or treat as independent one cluster from the other,” Ochoa pointed out. At the same time, Ochoa said, the President has not changed his position on the proposed legislation for responsible parenthood. “The President has not backtracked on this (Responsible Parenthood Bill). We are aware of the sensitivity of this issue and the President is keen on listening to all sectors concerned,” the Executive Secretary said. He said this proposed bill was still be-
ing studied and consultations with concerned sectors and stakeholders were still ongoing and the results from which will be incorporated before coming out with a final version for consideration by Congress. The 17 priority bills were selected from at least 180 proposed measures earlier received by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office from various departments and the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines. There were proposals that were dropped from the initial list of priority bills because these proposals needed further study. But these proposals may already be included in the next batch of priority measures to be submitted to lawmakers. Ochoa noted that the President did not want to hold up the LEDAC meeting and the presentation of the draft bills while provisions of the other proposed legislation were being finalized.authorizing the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects by the private sector, and for other purposes,” appropriating Funds for the said purpose, and for other purposes III. Economic Development (1 Bill) An Act rationalizing the grant and administration of fiscal incentives for the promotion of investments and growth, and for other purposes IV. Sovereignty, Security and Rule of Law (4 Bills) a. An Act to establish the archipelagic sea lanes in the philippine archipelagic waters, prescribing the rights and obligations of foreign ships and aircrafts exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage through the established archipelagic sea lanes and providing for the associated protective measures therein b. An Act to define the maritime zones of the Republic of the Philippines c. An Act to strengthen the modernization of the Armed Forces of The Philippines, extending the implementation of the modernization program of the AFP,
Quorum, JRS... (From page 1)
the requirements of its growing clientele, the JRS BUSINESS CORPORATION further expanded its service to the international market. The Civil Aeronautical Board (CAB) granted it authority to operate International Air Freight Forwarder in 1982. To date, the JRS BUSINESS CORPORATION (JRS Express) from its humble beginning has risen, modesty aside, to an outstanding messengerial services company providing employment to about 1,000 employees and with over 200 branches nationwide.
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South Cotabato gov eyes livelihood program for inmates GENERAL SANTOS CITY -– The provincial government of South Cotabato plans to launch a livelihood program for inmates at the South Cotabato Rehabilitation and Detention Center or the provincial jail to allow them to raise funds for their basic needs and the required expenses for their pending court cases. South Cotabato Governor Arthur Pingoy Jr. said Friday they came up with such plan to provide poor inmates the opportunity to earn some income while in jail and open up alternative means for some of them to raise the necessary funds for the litigation of their cases as well as the payment of their bail bonds. He said the move will allow the pending cases of some inmates to move and eventually help address the jail facility’s problems on overpopulation. In a meeting with prosecutors and trial court judges in the province earlier this week, the governor said he found out that one of the main reasons why many inmates were overstaying at the provincial jail was their inability to pay for their bail bonds. “There are a lot of inmates who were already allowed by our courts to post bail and return to their homes but had failed to do so because they can’t afford to pay the required bail bond,” the governor said. Lawyer German Operiano, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) South Cotabato chapter, immediately expressed support to the local government’s plans. He admitted that some of the inmates at the jail could already gone home a long time ago if not for their hefty bail bonds. “We cannot just adjust the amount of the bail bonds, especially for capital offenses, but we can help the inmates raise them by providing them some income opportunities,” he said. Felicito Gumapac, acting South Cotabato jail warden, said the provincial jail facility currently houses some 902 inmates.
instituting necessary reforms in the AFP, amending for the purpose certain provisions of Republic Act No. 7898, otherwise known as the AFP modernization act and for other purposes d. An Act resetting the date of the regular elections for elective officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Synchronizing theARMM Elections with the synchronized national and local elections 2013, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 9333, Entitled “An ActAffixing the Date for Regular Elections for Elective Officials of the ARMM Pursuant to RA 9054” Entitled “An Act to Strengthen and Expand the OrganicAct for the ARMM, amending for the purpose RA 6734, Entitled An Act Providing for an Organic Act for the ARMM, as Amended,” and for other purposes V. Good Governance (2 Bills) a. An Act instituting reforms in land administration b. An Act to promote financial viability and fiscal discipline in GovernmentOwned or Controlled Corporations and to strengthen the role of the state in its governance and management to make them more responsive to the needs of public interest and for other purposes.
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Business Quorum 3
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February 1-15, 2011
PHL economy to grow 4.6% in 2011 THE Philippine economy is likely to grow 4.6 percent this year, according to a United Nations (UN) report. In its "World Economic Situation and Prospects 2011," the UN said the Philippine economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), is projected to expand by 5.1 percent next year. The GDP is the total value of final goods and services produced in the country. The UN GDP projection for the Philippines was lower than the government target of between seven percent and eight percent starting this year until 2016. The World Bank earlier projected that
the Philippine economy may grow five percent this year and 5.4 percent next year. The UN said inflation rates in the Philippines may hit 4.2 percent this year and in 2012. In 2011, the UN said export revenues are expected to grow further, although at a much slower pace than in 2010, as demand from developed economies weakens. The UN said the GDP in East and South Asia expanded by 8.4 percent in 2010, up from 5.1 percent in 2009, the report states. A moderate slowdown is expected in the near outlook with GDP forecast to
grow, on average, by 7.1 percent in 2011 and 7.3 percent in 2012. The UN projected that Indonesia will grow 6.2 percent this year and 6.4 percent next year; Malaysia, 5 percent and 5.3 percent; Thailand, 4.8 percent and 5.1 percent; Vietnam, 7 percent and 7.2 percent and Singapore, 4.6 percent and five percent. The report added that the impact of the crisis on output growth and government spending during 2008 to 2010 and a projected slow and gradual economic recovery towards 2015, Nicaragua and the Philippines would suffer a setback of two percentage points in poverty reduc-
tion. Bolivia, Ecuador and Kyrgyzstan would experience a setback of about 1 percentage point. In the face of these setbacks, the UN said the governments of Ecuador, the Philippines and Nicaragua would need to spend an additional 1 percent to 1.5 per cent of GDP per year between 2010 and 2015 in order to meet the MDG targets for education, health and basic services, compared with the pre-crisis scenario. The report added that the mood for fiscal tightening also seems to be taking hold in many developing countries, even
in those with a policy intention of safeguarding “priority” social spending. "This is a worrying trend, particularly where GDP growth is moderating because of weaker export growth and continued weak domestic demand, and also because protecting social spending is not the same as the significant expansion needed in most countries that still display large shortfalls in MDG achievement," UN said. The MDGs are a set of time-bound, concrete and specific goals to reduce extreme poverty, illiteracy and disease that 189 national leaders committed to achieve by 2015.
Consortium to invest US$ 1-B in Malampaya gas field
TELUS International Philippines (TIP), one of the country’s top contact centers and business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions providers, announces its first group of TELUS International University (TIU) students will start school next month. TIU is a unique empowerment program that provides continuing education opportunities for ambitious team members. TIP has partnered with leading educational institutions in the country, such as De la Salle University and University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), to provide the opportunity for team members to earn college degrees in various fields while concurrently working full-time. By participating in TIU, qualified team members can save up to 50 percent on the cost of their tuition. TIP will also make its training facilities available for this initiative so that instructors and professors from participating schools will hold classes directly on the very same TELUS sites where team members are already working.
PH BPO industry seen growing by 30% THE Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) is projected to grow 30 percent this year, or 15 percent higher than global rate, according to an executive of a leading BPO firm. SPi Global president and chief executive officer Malik Parekh in a forum held in Makati City said the country's BPO sector is now growing faster than those globally. "This is good news for us (BPO companies) based in the Philippines," he said. Parekh also predicts that by 2016, revenues coming from the BPO sector worldwide will hit the USD124 billion mark, or significantly higher than the USD45 billion recorded in 2011. The country's BPO labor force stands at 532,000. Parekh expects it to hit the 1.3 million mark by 2016 due to the opening of new markets in Western Europe and Asia-Pacific region. But despite the significant BPO growth in the Philippines, Parekh said, Filipinos should not be complacent. To reap the benefits of the growing market for outsourcing services, they should develop their skills particularly to meet the needs of the non-voice sector, he noted. Parekh said already majority of BPO companies are reporting that 58 percent of their revenues are coming from the nonvoice sector compared to the 42 percent generated by the traditional voice-related services. "BPO companies in the Philippines should re-orient their
services in order to tap into this market as this service heralds the new era of the call center industry," he said. Parekh said BPO companies should likewise introduce services needed by their clients to expand their niche in the field. He also expressed confidence that SPi Global is well equipped to handle such challenge as the company has already sufficient number of personnel capable of handling such service. At the moment, SPi serves more than 500 clients locally and globally, with some of them leading figures in the the banking, air transport and real estate businesses. And to further protect the company from being caught unaware by any developments that could trigger a new service sensation, Parekh added, SPi has already created a new department which solely focus on research and other trends in the BPO field. He is also confident that SPi will continue to grow in the BPO field due to its "solution centered, people centric and innovation centered" philosophy. SPi is one of the world's most largest and diversified knowledge process and customer relationship management service providers in the country in terms of clients, geographic presence and capabilities with more than 14,000 dedicated employees globally. It is also the largest Filipino-owned BPO company housing 11,000 employees in the Philippines.
'Triple double' TESDA scholars to work in ME growth seen as heavy equipment operators THE Philippine Economic ZoneAuthority (PEZA) expects exports to hit $ 247.089 billion for the period 2010-2014 and employment rising to 1.077 million by 2014 from the 2010 actual of 735,672 direct jobs. PEZA Director-General Lilia B. De Lima said in a presentation as part of the DTI Roadmap the agency is eyeing for “triple double” growth or 10 percent annual growth in investments, exports and employment until 2014. “Our triple double growth is anchored on expansions and reinvestments of existing locators,” De Lima said. Earlier, PEZA said its investments for the five-year period are expected to reach P1.241 trillion. She said that more than 60 percent of PEZA investments are expansions and reinvestments of PEZA locators. In terms of exports, PEZA-registered enterprises reached $ 40.473 billion in 2010. For this year, PEZA exports are expected to hit $ 44.52 billion, increasing to $ 48.972 billion in 2012 and $ 53.869 by 2013. By 2014, PEZA exports should have grown to $ 59.255 billion or a total of $ 247.089 billion for the five-year period.
THE two-week intensive training provided by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has become the passport of the 16 young scholars for employment abroad. The TESDA scholars are soon flying to either Dubai or Qatar to work as heavy equipment operators in accredited institutions there and will have a chance to earn P30,000 to P40,000 per month. The scholarship grants were part of the commitment of TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva to the Mindanao Technical Vocational Education Training (Mintvet) Association to aid its chosen students in pursuing their studies using funds from the agency’s Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP). The scholars underwent training on heavy equipment operation (Backhoe Loader NC II) for 122 hours from November 15 to 30 last year in Salay, Misamis Oriental under the Skills Mastery Institute, a member of Mintvet. After completing the training, they took TESDA’s National Certification Assessment on December 22 to 23, and is now preparing for the final interview. Meanwhile, a total of 264 TESDA schol-
ars in Mindanao are also expected to finish their course next month and will be ready for possible employment in the country or abroad. The scholars are beneficiaries of the more than P70 million budget of TESDA for its TWSP in the region. Of the amount, P2.5 million was allocated for Mintvet. The training commenced on November 3 last year and is expected to end on February 28, 2011, according to a January 15 status report by the TESDA office in Mindanao. Of the 264 scholars, 184 (70 percent) percent have been assured of job placement after undergoing competency assessment in March. The training courses offered to students were on heavy equipment operation NC II, food and beverage NC II, barangay health services NC II, automotive servicing NC II, computer hardware servicing NC II, commercial cooking NC II, housekeeping NC II, consumer electronics NC II, and emergency medical services NC II. These courses were offered by eight technical vocational institutions that passed the qualification requirements of TESDA
THE Malampaya gas-to-power consortium is planning to invest $ 1 billion to ensure the reliability of the Malampaya gas field and bring in an additional 300 megawatts. Energy Undersecretary Jay Layug said in an interview at the sidelines of the Makati Business Club joint membership meeting that the consortium is prepared to invest $ 1 billion for the Malampaya gas field in northwest Palawan over a five-year period. He said the consortium, led by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. as operator, is planning to start the second phase of the project this year. The energy official said the second phase of the project involves ensuring the reliability of the Malampaya platform and constructing the needed additional facilities for the additional gas supply. "To maintain the project (to ensure its reliability) is not cheap," Layug said. Layug said the consortium is now negotiating for gas supply purchase agreements with possible offtakers or buyers of the 300 MW additional gas. "The consortium is looking at additional sale from Malampaya of around 300 MW," Layug said. Spex and Chevron own 45 percent of the Malampaya gas project while government-controlled PNOC Exploration Corp. owns the remaining 10 percent. "Our advise to them (consortium) is to do a public bidding or a negotiated sale with full transparency," he said. Layug said the government has generated around P100 billion from the Malampaya project since 2002, which includes taxes and royalties. The Malampaya gas project contains reserves of up to 3,000 MW. Only 2,700 MW is being used to power up three natural gas power plants, namely Sta. Rita and San Lorenzo and Iligan power facilities in Batangas. The Malampaya project provides about half of the requirements of the Luzon grid and 30 percent of the entire power needs of the country. The National Power Corp. is supposed to take the remaining 300 MW for its San Pascual project but it did not push through. Power industry players have been eagerly waiting for the additional gas supply for their expansion plans.
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Profiles Quorum & TOURISM
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February 1-15, 2011
Subic Freeport eyes 7-M Asian cruise travelers SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has set its sights on the projected surge of Asian cruise travelers in the next five years through joining pioneering industry players in the region to market Asia as one cruise destination. SBMA administrator Armand Arreza said Subic has signified its intention to capitalize on the growing cruise market by joining the Asia Cruise Terminal Association (ACTA). “We’re banking on positive industry projections for this growing market niche, now that the global economic crisis has been hurdled,” Arreza said.
“As a regional organization, ACTA could well deliver the numbers to help push the local tourism industry,” he said. ACTA was formed in July last year under the initiative of the Singapore Cruise Centre Pte Ltd. (SCC) and the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Development Company as a joint effort among member countries to tap Asia’s growth potential and develop the area into the “Caribbean of the East.” Since its incorporation, ACTA has attracted 12 cruise terminal operators as members. These include Shanghai Wusongkou, Xiamen, and Yantai in China; In-
cheon and Busan in Korea; Kobe, Osaka, and Sakaiminato in Japan; Keelung in Taiwan; Danang in Vietnam; SCC in Singapore; and Subic Bay in the Philippines. Raul Marcelo, SBMA deputy administrator for tourism and chairman of the Subic Bay Cruise Ship Committee (SBCSC), said Subic will be represented in the organization by Rose Baldeo, president and CEO of Global Terminals and Development Inc., the operator of the only passenger terminal in Subic Bay. Global Terminals, which also operates the high-end Segara Villas resort near Subic’s Alava Pier, now has the capabil-
ity and the facilities to serve visiting cruise ships, Marcelo noted. ACTA’s move to develop the Asian cruise market was bolstered lately by projections among industry experts that the region is set to experience an unprecedented growth as more cruise liners set their sights on Asia following a turnaround of the global economy after the recent financial crisis. The optimism was further buoyed by the growing middle class in Asia, said Ronnie Yambao, head of the Manufacturing and Maritime Department of the SBMA’s Business and Investment Group, who attended the ACTA plenary session
in Singapore last December. “As more members of the Asian middle class fly out to the United States and the Caribbean for cruises, ACTA forecasts that the cruise industry in the region may attract as much as seven million passengers per year. That is about three times the number that was projected in 2005,” Yambao said. In anticipation of the growth potential and as a direct response to the challenge of making Asia a more attractive “cruise playground”, ACTA will be formally launched in March 2011 in Shanghai, China, Yambao added.
Unusual destinations try to lure tourists
The Philippines will be a favorite cruise destination once SBMA’s project goes into high gear.
DOT to focus on rural tourism to fight poverty SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim has vowed to give more attention to rural tourist destinations as local executives and tourism stakeholders around the country conveyed their support to the government's program on community-based tourism to counter poverty in rural areas. Addressing more than 600 governors, mayors and local tourism officers during the opening of the three-day National Conference on Planning and Developing Community-Based Rural Tourism held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) recently, Lim said that with local community support, communitybased rural tourism (CBRT) could be a big boost to local economies.
"We are going to build a lot of emphasis on product development in the rural areas where poverty is in the highest level," Lim said. He said President Benigno Aquino III is putting tourism on top of his agenda because of the potential of the industry to help reduce poverty. Over the years, he said, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has granted some P55 million to about 123 rural communities to help develop and improve indigenous tourism products and facilities as well as for trainings on tour and trek guiding, native craft making, and local food catering. The fund was granted through the Grassroots Entrepreneurs Employment
and Tourism (GREET) program, which aims to generate employment and livelihood with balanced ecology and environmental protection to promote ecotourism sites and develop tourism at the community level. Based on the report of the National Statistics Office, Lim said that although the tourism industry ranks number four as foreign exchange earner, it is now number one in creating jobs. "These jobs are jobs in the rural areas, where most of our most beautiful attractions can be found," he added. The CBRT conference was organized by the Subic-based International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), in collaboration with the Asian Productivity
Organization (APO), the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), and the DOT. ISST chairperson and former tourism secretary Mina Gabor said the conference aims to enhance the knowledge of local tourism stakeholders on the concept of rural tourism as a strategy to create economic opportunities in the rural areas. Gabor narrated that in 2007, an icon in information technology took his backpack and went to his home in South Africa and immersed himself in the community, dancing and eating with the people. On his return to America he said, "This is the way tourism should be developed to enjoy your travel in different countries."
DOT 7, Mactan airport brace for tourism growth CEBU CITY -– Department of Tourism (DOT) 7 Director Rowena Montecillo said she is optimistic the government’s target of getting six million foreign tourists before the end of this administration will be met. The government’s target was to reach 3.3 million foreign tourists last year and she believes this target has been met. Montecillo noted that with the government’s thrust to adopt an open skies policy, more flights will be coming in to the
country, including Cebu. Should the government adopt an open skies policy, the Mactan Cebu International Airport is ready to accommodate more flights, general Manager Nigel Paul Villarete assured. Villarete said the airport is completing its P178-million expansion, expected to be done by November. ”We can handle any increase of arriving and department flights,” he said. The expansion included the addition
of two more air bridges and tubes for both domestic and international terminals that are expected to quicken the movement of passengers. Aside from this current expansion, Villarete said they will be exploring the possibility of putting up another terminal to be ready for more incoming flights. Villarete said the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will be conducting a feasibility study for another
8,725 migratory birds surface in Candaba, Pampanga CANDABA, Pampanga -- At least 8,725 migratory birds of 41 species were found roaming around the Candaba Wetlands during the 2011 Asian Water Bird Census (AWC) held at the Wildlife Reserve Park in Sitio Dona Simang, Visal San Pablo here. The census was spearheaded by Mike Lu, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) president, and other club members in coordination with the municipal government officials headed by Mayor Jerry Pelayo. Lu noted that the number of migratory birds in Candaba significantly decreased as compared to at least 11,000 record last year. "The ducks did not stay maybe because of lost of habitat," he said. The WBCP president disclosed that during their previous visit in the wildlife reserve park, they found that most of the areas were flooded. However, in the recent census, he observed that the water level was no longer the same.
"This could have contributed to the decrease of migratory birds here," he said. Leny Manalo, chief of staff of Mayor Pelayo, said the level of water decreased naturally due to climate change. In fact, he said, most villages here did not submerge in floodwaters last year. The Asian Water Bird Census, initiated in 1987, is aimed at providing the basis for estimates of waterbird populations and monitor changes in waterbird numbers and distribution by regular and standardized counts of representative wetlands. The bird census is part of the global water bird monitoring program of the International Water Bird Census coordinated by the Wetlands International and the ProtectedAreas and Wildlife Bureau. Meanwhile, it can be recalled that before the year 2010 ended, the Candaba wetlands marked another Philippine record when for the first time, a Greater White-fronted Goose, a bird living usually in Northern and Central North America and Europe, was spotted in the area.
terminal and another study for an airport master plan. If the project pushes through, the next terminal could be built beside the international terminal. The USD1.4-million feasibility study is scheduled to be finished by April, while the airport master plan is due in August. Until the study is completed, Villarete could not say if the another terminal or an extension of the existing building will be built.
MADRID, Spain -- Brave a few "security problems" and trek the mountain ranges of Pakistan, take a vacation in Kuwait where the sand is very, very hot, or risk a bit of heli-skiing in Uzbekistan. If you are a tourist ready to go somewhere a bit different, there is a growing queue of destinations desperate to welcome you; 166 nations jostled for attention this week at the World Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid. Pakistan International Airlines joined for the first time, keen to get some of the action from 200,000 trade and general public visitors anticipated at the five-day fair ending Sunday. "We are here to promote our new route from Barcelona to Chicago," two cities with large Pakistani communities, said the airline's Spain director, Saleem Ullah Shahani. "We also wanted to show that Pakistan still exists for tourism, even if the situation is complicated right now," he added, conceding there are some "security problems." Rising religious extremism is a grave concern in Pakistan, where this month a provincial governor was shot and killed by his own bodyguard because he wanted to amend stringent anti-blasphemy legislation. And any tourists will probably want to steer clear of the tribal belt of northwestern Pakistan, suspected by Western intelligence agencies to be the global center of Osama bin Laden's AlQaeda. "Before 2009 we used to take many tourists to Pakistan to go to the mountains, which are more beautiful than in Switzerland. Now there are still tourists but very few," Shahani said. Pakistan is also keen to foster business tourism, he said. Next month, PIA will take executives from leading Spanish department store chain El Corte Ingles, he said. Spanish clothing chain Zara has already taken a tour; its interest was cheap production of shoes and clothes. For Kuwait, the challenge is to show off its natural heritage and erase a cliche conception of the country. "Everyone knows us as a petroleum country," lamented state tourism undersecretary Ali Abdullah Al-Baghli.
China as future top world destination MADRID -- UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General Taleb Rifai said Thursday he expects China to become the world's largest tourism destination within five to seven years. Rifai spoke to Spain's State television network RTVE a day after opening of FITUR tourism exhibition here. China is well represented at FITUR with 22 different exhibitors. After China received 53 million foreign visitors in 2010, Rifai expects that number to increase. "We can expect to see China become the number one country in terms of both receiving and sending tourists
in the next five to seven years. It is simply natural development," he said. "China occupied the place of Italy as the fourth most important destination two or three years ago and now it is in third place." "China is the country with the biggest population in the world and it is also an extensive and diverse country. That means it is very attractive for tourists and visitors," he noted. "China is full of attractions, it has a huge variety which goes from sea to mountain and cultural destinations and it is a culture that is not just immaterial but tangible from its food down to its ancient legacy," Rifai said.
Congress Quorum
5
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House leader wants P-Noy to certify VAST bill as urgent A RANKING House leader urges President Aquino to certify as urgent House Bill 3850, which seeks to impose a Value Simplified Tax (VAST) in lieu of the Value Added Tax (VAT). In a letter to the President dated January 17, 2011, Rep. Hermilando Mandanas (2nd District, Batangas), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means said the VAST will encourage the "bayanihan" spirit of sharing and engender an equitable distribution of the tax burden, between the private sector and the public consumer. "With the VAST, we believe that your
administration will be true to its word Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap! Through your leadership, we in the House of Representatives are able to best serve the Filipino nation," Mandanas said. Mandanas said the house body had exhaustive hearings and consultations on the VAST bill and "it is unfortunate that Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima nor the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs Commissioners did not attend its deliberations." "The Department of Finance is not supportive of the VAST bill but would rather increase the VAT from 12 percent
to 15 percent and repeal the senior Citizen's exemption from the VAT, which we believe will be more burdensome to the Filipino taxpayer," said Mandanas. The committee approved on December 7, 2010 the VAST bill which is an equitable revenue generating measure that reduces the direct tax payment of the consumer from a VAT rate of 12 percent to a lower VAST rate of 6 percent. Mandanas stressed the VAST bill is the House of Representatives' contribution to the administration's effort to lower the budget deficit. "The VAST measure also sends a con-
crete and clear message that the Aquino Administration is sensitive to the needs of the ordinary Filipino taxpayer by reducing their direct tax burden," Mandanas said. Mandanas said the primary feature of the VAST is the removal of the Input Tax Credit System, which provides occasions for graft and corruption, thereby eroding the revenue collection of the government. "The VAST will reduce graft and corruption which was perpetuated by the complicated system and paperwork under the Input Tax Credit System, which is vulnerable to corruption with the use
Criminalize dumping of waste into the seas -- Arroyo LAWMAKERS have moved to criminalize the act of dumping of wastes into the sea, streams and rivers, in a bill which will impose a stiffer penalty for such an offense. Reps. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) and son Rep. Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur) filed House Bill 1579 to be known as the "Anti-Sea Dumping Act of 2010." "Despite growing environmental awareness and global efforts to curb and adapt to the effects of climate change, much is yet to be done, as mankind has destroyed in just a few centuries what it took mother nature millions of years to create," Macapagal-Arroyo said.
ARROYO
Macapagal-Arroyo also said the wanton destruction of Earth's natural environment has led to the extinction of much
of the planet's flora and fauna, and has brought about imbalance in the food chain. "Our seas and oceans, which is one of the main sources of food, are slowly losing their once flourishing biodiversity, slowly causing scarcity, which affects not only consumers, but also fishermen and fisher folks who largely depend on their daily catch to make a living," Macapagal-Arroyo said. Macapagal-Arroyo said one specific threat to the open waters is garbage, a plethora of garbage that has created island-like patches, such as the Great Pacific Ocean Gyre, which causes death to sea creatures through countless ways like ingestions, entanglement and poisoning.
"Dumping of sewage sludge and industrial wastes, either directly to the sea or through drainages, streams and rivers, slowly finding its way to the seas and oceans, also causes the slow poisoning of the marine life," said Arroyo. Arroyo said with the imposition of heavier penalties, "the measure is seen as an effective deterrent to the widespread pollution of the country's internal waters." "The Philippines is widely recognized as possessing one of the richest marine sanctuaries in the world. With its bountiful resources, it becomes imperative therefore for each Filipino to take a proactive role in protecting and preserving its natural wealth," Arroyo said.
Nograles mulls stronger CHR DECLARING that respect for human rights gives more meaning to national development, a young neophyte Mindanao lawmaker said it is crucial to strengthen the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to make it more effective as the country's human rights watchdog. "There is a necessity to clearly define the CHR's mandate which includes investigative, monitoring and advocacy powers and functions," said Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, Vice Chair of the House Committee om Human Rights, in filing House Bill 1141, one of two measures now being consolidated in the committee level. The young lawmaker, likewise, lauded Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., for endorsing his bill as one of the priorities on the human rights issue which the House of Representatives has in its legislative mill. Aside from HB 1141, Speaker Belmonte revealed that now in the various committees are proposed laws on the following: improvement of human rights promotion and protection; the reinforcement to the Philippine commitment to human rights promotion and protecdtion through the establishment of human rights resource centers throughout the country; prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity; strengthening of the right of the people to free expression, peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of gievances; and the amendments to the Magna Carta for disabled persons and the Anti-Torture Act. The Nograles measure provides for the delineation of the organizational structure of the Commission, created under the 1987 Constitution, as a collegial body with the corresponding powers and functions sascribed unto each office and the pertinent rank and qualifications of every officer therein. Nograles also proposes a staggered term of the chairperson and members of the CHR in order to preclude their appointment by only one President even as it guarantewes the continuity of policies and progtrams of the Commission.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS -- Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. warmly receives a distinguished delegation from the Social Democratic Party of Sweden - Hons. Bertil Kinnunen, Helena Proos, Hanna Lindmark, Kristina Thoren, Matts Johansson and Marlene Haara - who are guests of the Akbayan Citizen's Action Party. They are shown accompanied by Akbayan Rep. Kaka Bag-ao (right) during a courtesy call at the Speaker's office where they discussed issues promoting closer inter-parliamentary and inter-party relations with the House leader.
Prescribed nutrition labeling for food products eyed LAWMAKERS have expressed concern over the absence of a law requiring manufacturers, packagers, or distributors to indicate the nutritional value of food products on their labels. Rep. Diosdado Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur) and his mother, Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) has filed House Bill 1469 or the "Nutrition Labeling Act of 2010," promoting health consciousness among the public through proper labeling of nutritional contents in food products. Arroyo said with the absence of a law and due to the deluge of various food products in the market, "the consumers must be advised of their right to information with regard to food products." Arroyo explained that the measure is pursuant to the declared policy of the State to ensure that consumers have access to accurate information as to the nutritional contents of food and food products to facilitate value comparison and promote a free market economy.
Under the measure, the commodity shall bear a label specifying the identity of the commodity and the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. The bill also provides that a separate label statement of nutritional content shall appear conspicuously and in easily legible type in distinct contrast by typography, layout, color, embossing, or molding with the other matter on the package. The label shall contain the number of servings or other units of measure per container, total number of calories derived from any source and derived from the total fat and any vitamin, mineral or other nutrient to be placed on the label or labeling of food if it will assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices. The bill provides further that the amount of the following nutrients in each serving size or other unit of measurement of food shall contain the following: total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber, and total protein.
Quisumbing calls to implement Climate Change Act REP. Gabriel Luis R. Quisumbing of the 6th District of the Province of Cebu calls on the national government and its concerned agencies to meet and discuss on how to effectively implement RA 9729 or "The Climate Change Act" to respond to the changing weather conditions. In light of unpredictable weather conditions, the recent spate of rains causing
heavy floods in the different areas of the country and the latest news that several passengers aboard a shuttle ferry bound for Camotes Island in Cebu were stranded after their vessel stalled due to the bad weather, Quisumbing said, "The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) should be ready to support urgent disaster risk reduction and
management measures, in anticipation of disasters related to and aggravated by climate change". "We have entered the season of climate-induced disasters. The Climate Change Commission needs to coordinate with appropriate agencies not only with respect to disaster risk reduction,� Quisumbing said.
of fake or re-cycled receipts, repeated tax credit claims, or the understatement of sales, and is exacerbated by weak, inefficient and ineffective monitoring and auditing," Mandanas said. "It also aims to increase the national government's revenue. The VAST will potentially generate an incremental revenue of not less than P50 billion with both the private sector and the end-consumer sharing the burden of paying the tax," said Mandanas. Mandanas likewise assured the President that the VAST will not increase the prices of essential goods and services.
Solon bats for September school opening LAWMAKERS are strongly pushing to reset the opening of the school year from June to September for the health protection, safety and overall well being of school children and student youth. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) said such a move would also make the school calendar most suited to Philippine climatic conditions and address the change in the global weather patterns caused by climate change. Under House Bill 1388 filed by Rodriguez and his brother Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), the annual school calendar for preelementary and secondary levels shall comprise of two semesters, with two hundred twenty (220) school days for every calendar years. "The first semester shall start the first week of September and shall continue until the second week of January; and the second semester shall start the third week of January and continue until the last week of May," Rodriguez said. The proposed bill to be known as the "School Calendar Act of 2010" shall also include three trimesters for post-secondary and tertiary levels with 220 school days for every calendar year. Under the bill, the First Semester of the proposed school calendar for post-secondary and tertiary levels shall be September to December to avoid the months of heaviest rains and greater number of typhoons; the Second Semester from January to April with provisions for the holidays and traditional graduation ceremonies; and the Third Semester from May to August to cover hot summer days and months with the heaviest rains. The Rodriguez brothers filed the bill as they expressed alarm over the adverse climatic conditions affecting the 15.5 million pre-elementary, elementary and secondary school children. Authorities have reported an additional enrolment of about 300,000 each year. "The Filipino children and student youth are the future human resources of the nation," Rodriguez said. "Public health and safety is an important issue that will be resolved when the change of school calendar will be institutionalized." The lawmakers strongly pushed for the immediate approval of the bill as they noted that the months of June to August are the heaviest rainy months where there are a greater number of typhoons and monsoon rain occurrences. "The nation can no longer ignore the reality that our school children and student youth suffer needlessly from having to go to school during the monsoon and typhoon/cyclone months of June to August," Rodriguez said. "School children are subjected to the irregularity of school days due to the rains and floods, horrendous difficulties of commuting to and from school, danger to life from open drains resistance and aggravated by intermittent cough, colds, chills and other diseases. Added to the usual climatic conditions, the La Nina phenomenon aggravates the already not so good situation," Rodriguez said. Likewise, "many of our public schools are also unfit for appropriate classroom instruction and the health of the school children become at risk when the rains come," Rodriguez said.
Opinion Quorum 6
February 1-15, 2011
The Quorum is published forthnightly (15th & 30th) by EL Amigo Media Solutions with office address at Lot 4 Blk 30 San Antonio Heights, Phase 4A, Avida Sto. Tomas, Batangas (Region 4-A). For press and photo releases as well as adverttising inquiries, text or call Advertising Manager Eugene Labadan tru mobiles 0908-9874708 and 09175437729 or Hotlines Globe 09155517486 and Smart 0919-5794784. Email: esns03@yahoo.com.
Ismael ‘El’ Amigo Publisher / Editor-in-Chief
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Ana Montana Managing Editor
Eugene Labadan / Ram Buendia Base PR & Advertising Managers
Life as we make it THE Wikipedia defines suicide (Latin suicidium, from sui caedere, "to kill oneself") as the act of a human being intentionally causing his or her own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair, or attributed to some underlying mental disorder which includes depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug abuse. Financial difficulties, troubles with interpersonal relationships and other undesirable situations play a significant role. EDITORIAL Undesirable situation or situations. Indubitably, with due respect to the dead, ex-general and defense secretary Angie Reyes, may have silently suffered more than enough of those courtesy of an inquisitive senate committee that grilled him along with other high-ranking ex-military officers suspected of embezzling hundreds of millions of pesos from the coffers of the AFP. The media played an important role here, feeding the Filipino people live, blow-by-blow account of former Lt. Col. George Rabusa in major radio stations and ANC. But no, finger-pointing as to who is to blame over Angie's death/suicide wouldn't help. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada tersely answered a media query related to it: "No, I'm not guilty." The good senator is entitled to his own opinion and now Sen. Gringgo Honasan let it out to the media next time they would somewhat go easy on inquiries and investigation against their "visitors" time and maybe they will just hold their investigations indoors away from the working press. No, that would be tantamount to killing us media practitioners and our right to information and the lawmakers' addiction to publicity altogether. But whatever. Truth will always set us free. Honesty, good deeds in a publicly entrusted job or position are impregnable parameters and good deterrents against any future senate or congressional inquiries. Who would be afraid of anyone if someone has not committed any misdeed against any one? Who would be afraid of the media, senate/congressional inquiry if someone has not committed any misdeed or embezzled public funds? Whatever. Life we lead and live is always a life we deserve to lead and live. It's life as we make it.
Good move forDOTC ASIDE from calling it a good move for the interest of the riding public, the indefinite shelving of the scheduled Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) fare increases could at least ease the brunt that the Aquino administration is taking from the public amid the hike in jeepney fare and other basic commodities. The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) decided not to implement the scheduled fare hike next month after consultations with various sectors, thus helping the Aquino government recover some of its lost luster (P-noy's administration still enjoys 64 percent approval rating from SWS's latest survey). Whether they admit it or not, the Aquino government's appeal to the public is slowly fading away, especially after the
Quorum Waiver All commentaries and or opinions submitted by our columnists and herein published shall remain as personal opinion of any of Quorum’s column writers. As such, these cannot and never be construed nor considered as similar to that of this publication (Quorum)’s stand on issues discussed. Be that as it may, Quorum shall not be held liable to any legal issues related to, or any column/commentaries that may appear herein.
FITZGERALD CECILIO
Crunch Time series of increases in gasoline, toll, basic goods and taxi and jeepney fares. And one way to get back in the good graces of the public is to shelve the planned fare increase for MRT and LRT, which would surely make thousands of riders happy and in return, could return Malacanang to its old glory. Earlier, the government decided to increase fare to P30 to ease the burden that the government is carrying just to make MRT and LRT financially accessible to the riding public. For years, the government has been subsidizing the operation of the MRT and LRT to make them more affordable to the public. According to reports, commuters who regularly take the MRT will be receiving fare subsidies from the government totaling P7.3 billion, or P23,850 a year per passenger.
‘Pasalubong’ and pabaon HE "pasalubong" and “pabaon” imbroglio in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) involving retired top honchos has put the spotlight and public’s eye on the eight-month-old 15th Congress. Both houses of Congress are now busy digging deeper into the mind-boggling expose of Col. George Rabusa, who revealed that some former AFP chiefs managed to pocket as much as P50 million as “pabaon” during their retirement. Recently, Col. Rabusa faced the Senate and dropped the bomb on former AFP head Angelo Reyes that he allegedly pocketed P50 million when he retired. Also, Rabusa said the AFP also shouldered the travel and other expenses of Reyes and his children. In one of his testimonies, Rabusa also claimed retired Generals Cimatu and Villanueva also received as much as P160 million as "pabaon" before fading back as private citizens but Gen. Ligot failed to corroborate it maintaining he cannot recall of such transaction prompting Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to call him in jest as "Gen. Limot." Not to be outdone, the House invited former Commission on Audit auditor Heidi Mendoza, who claimed that she uncovered a P200 million Land Bank check that was encashed by Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia but P50 million of which mysteriously disappeared. -000-
ISMAEL ‘EL’ AMIGO
Better Late Than Never Lawmakers are claiming that they are doing it in aid of legislation, to help them enact laws that will make the AFP a strong and transparent organization. But as the hearings unfolded over ANC, I cannot help but notice the grilling lawmakers were doing it just to grandstand and show their constituents that they are doing their job. Pasikat, ika nga. I also heard a radio anchor’s remark that the chairman of the House committee that was hearing the issue “did not give his resource persons a chance to speak because he was doing the talking all the time.” Oo nga naman, inimbitahan mo pero ayaw mo namang pagsalitain. Ano pa ang silbi nila. -000For me, if Rabusa and Mendoza have
enough evidence to prosecute Reyes, Garcia and other AFP chief-of-staffs who benefitted from the “pabaon” system, they should immediately file the case in the proper venue and don’t let themselves be used by some publicity-hungry politicians. Congress, sad to say, is not the right venue as it can only recommend the filing of charges against persons implicated by Rabusa and Mendoza. It is such a waste of precious time and people’s money. Another thing, they can also suffer the same fate as NBN-ZTE whistleblower Jun Lozada, who, after several appearances, he was subsequently dropped like a hot potato after his damaging testimony against then President Arroyo. Kapag wala nang makukuhang pakinabang sa kanila, puwede na silang ibasura at hayaan na lang silain ng mga kalaban o ng inaakusahan. -000Both Rabusa and Mendoza said they decided to come out because they believe that justice system is working now in the Aquino administration. If so, then they should bring their accusations to the proper venue, which is the court of law, and not in the court of public opinion where anyone can be prosecuted and presumed guilty without the benefit of trial. -000React: email esns03@yahoo.com
Garcia’s `real protector’; Rabuza evidence LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “Jesus said, `If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’…” (John 8:31-32, the Holy Bible). -oooWHO IS GARCIA’S REAL PROTECTOR, SEN. TRILLANES? If Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV fully knew that it was not former AFP Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes who was protecting Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia on the issue of military corruption, why was Trillanes so angry with Reyes during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing where Lt. Col. George Rabuza testified? Was this a case of old grudge, a personal vendetta, considering that Reyes was a big part of the Arroyo government that sent Trillanes to jail for a number of years? Or was this a case of Trillanes trying to divert attention from the real protector of Garcia, so that the identity of this real protector would not be disclosed? And, can a senator of the Republic like Trillanes refuse to disclose the name of the supposed protector of a military corruption clique, despite having been asked to do so by someone being suspected to be the protector himself, like Reyes? -ooo-
ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO
Kakampi Mo Ang Batas COURT OF APPEALS IGNORED IN TAIWANESE CASE? I can understand the position of the Aquino government in deporting to China, not Taiwan, the 10 Taiwanese citizens arrested in Makati City December last year on charges that they defrauded some Chinese businessmen to the tune of US$20 million, and this is clearly pursuant to the Philippines’ One China Policy. But is it true that there was a Court of Appeals order restraining the government from proceeding with the deportation, at least while the court was hearing a case filed by the Taiwanese suspects? If so, why did the government refuse to follow the Court of Appeals’
order? Holding in abeyance the deportation, while the order was in effect, could not have been contested both by China and Taiwan. As it is, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan are now reported to be facing termination from their jobs, and that Taiwan is no longer accepting OFWs, as a matter of official policy. On the other hand, there is now a very strict admission policy for OFWs as far as China is concerned, on account of the August 23, 2010 Luneta hostage incident, where Chinese nationals were killed by a Filipino police officer. -oooRABUZA HAS NO DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE? Lt. Col. George Rabuza is right in deciding to pursue his exposes on corruption at the AFP, for the people have a right to know what is going on at the institution which the Constitution says is the protector of the Filipino people. But, did you notice that what he has presented to all of us so far are his mere words, without any documentary back-up, support or evidence? If you will read court decisions hereabouts, mere allegations of witnesses are generally not given any credence unless there are documents other object evidence to prove them.
Entertainment Quorum 7
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Dingdong still has time for Marian DESPITE his showbiz projects and responsibilities as Youth Ambassador of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, actor Dingdong Dantes wanted to spend more time with girlfriend Marian Rivera. Dingdong is currently taping "I Heart You Pare" soap with Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez, while Marian is working with her primetime comeback project "Amaya". According to Dingdong, he promised to work on his schedule this year to make sure to spend more time with his girlfriend. "Ang plano ko talaga, ayusin yung pag-manage ng oras kasi ang daming responsibilidad, pero syempre hindi pwedeng mawala yung time sa sarili," he added. Though he has a lot of things going on, Dingdong said there were people who encouraged him to do better whether it is in or out of the entertainment industry. Now that February is just around the corner, he was asked if he and Marian are leaving the country for a vacation. Dingdong said by February 7, his upcoming primetime series will air on GMA Telebabad and for sure Marian is also doing some showbiz projects. "By that time busy na sya sa 'Amaya' then ako naman sa 'I Heart You Pare', pero siguro maganda na makauwi man lang ako ng isang magandang painting para sa kanya. Kukuha ako ng isang symbolic gift na ma-iuuwi ko for her," he said. When asked if this gift translates to an engagement ring, the actor neither confirmed nor denied, but said they are taking things one step at a time. But he promised that if that day finally happens, they will surely announce it to all their fans and loved ones. "Kung mangyari po yun, siguradong malalaman nyo. I'll be very proud to announce it," he noted.
Ryza Cenon not ready to go sexy KAPUSO actress Ryza Cenon shared that though she needs to show more skin in her upcoming series with Aljur Abrenica, she is still hesitant to pose for men's magazine. The 23-year-old actress welcomed the entertainment writers during the press launch of "Machete" in her white tube top and black tights. She appears sexier now than before but still very reserve. Ryza said though she will be wearing sexy clothes, the show needs to maintain a wholesome image for the younger audience. She also set limitations on herself. “Slight lang na sexy dito, konting skin lang.” The actress admitted she is not yet ready to show off her body especially on men's magazines. “Hindi ko pa talaga rin siya kaya. Ang hirap kasing pumasok sa isang commitment na wala naman dun ang puso mo. Parang ang hirap, kaya hindi ko muna siya inoohan,” she said when asked about a daring pictorial offered to her. What stops Ryza is the fact that she will be wearing skimpy clothes and people will feast on it. “Hindi ko kaya yung sexy na damit tapos makikita ng tao yung katawan ko.” She cleared that her decision has nothing to do with her non-showbiz boyfriend. The actress said her boyfriend understands the needs of her work and her dressing is not an issue at all.
MARIAN RIVERA
Edu Manzano denies marrying Pinky Webb ACTOR Edu Manzano has denied marrying broadcaster Pinky Webb in a clandestine ceremony abroad. Manzano laughed off reports that he and Webb got hitched overseas because they don't want their marriage to become like a carnival.
Manzano attended awarded poet and journalist Jose F. Lacaba’s “Salinawit,” a regular show done in selected music bars in Metro Manila. The show features some Filipino songs translated by Lacaba from original English and other languages. Manzano admitted that his
CROSSWORD 8 Sister of Venus 9 Rich king 10 Irish fairy 11 Collect in abundance 12 Infiltrator 15 More intense 18 Adolescent 22 1977 U.S. Open champ 24 Trojan War hero 26 Polish-American author Sholem 27 Musical Mitchell 28 Vermont's capital 30 Calculator key 32 Director Minnelli 34 Jane Austen classic 35 Active sort 37 Old photo tone 38 Actors McKellen and Holm 41 "Tartuffe" dramatist
Across 1 Rascals 5 Liberal pursuits 9 Chowder morsel 13 "Fiddlesticks!" 14 Remedies 16 San ___ (Riviera resort) 17 Darling 19 Milky gemstone 20 Dinner course 21 Cantankerous 23 City near Phoenix 25 Snaps, crackles and pops? 26 One of the United Arab Emirates 29 Starfleet officer Picard 31 Any minute now 32 Delivery vehicle 33 Cut 36 News station 37 Flower Power era 39 Latin lover's word 40 Hired killers 42 Musical sense 43 Seethe with rage
44 Filmgoer's purchase 46 Underwater detection system 47 Shows to be false 48 Individual performance 50 Trust 52 Be a Nosy Parker 56 Superior's inferior? 57 Not mass-produced 59 Grandstand section 60 Sgt. Bilko 61 Noted first name in jazz 62 Take a risk 63 Witnesses 64 Not e'en once Down 1 "___ dixit" 2 Cut, as grass 3 Bard 4 Civil War general 5 ___ and pains 6 Strong-scented herb 7 Snare SOLUTION NEXT ISSUE
friendship with Webb has deepened even after they split up. They broke up after he decided to run for the second highest position in the country in May 2010 elections. “It's not true. I didn't marry Pinky,” he said. “Although I just arrived from my Asian trip last night (Monday), it doesn't mean I got married.” Manzano, fondly called Doods by his close friends, has been shuttling around Asia because of his work with the International Intellectual Property Alliance, a private organization of which he is a member.
RYZA CENON
“Wala namang problema sa kanya yun eh. Hindi naman kasi siya nakiki-alam sa trabaho ko and alam nya na work lang talaga yun.” Ryza added that her boyfriend of four years does not limit her to do things especially when it comes to her career. But when asked about details
about her boyfriend, the actress politely excused herself from answering the questions because she wanted to protect his privacy. “As much as possible, ayoko po na idamay sya or ipasok sya sa mundo ko. Sorry po kung hindi ako makakapagsalita, pero hindi po kasi sya showbiz na tao,” she ended.
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43 Male servants 45 Academy Awards 46 Disparaging remark 47 Soviet secret police chief 1938-53 49 Woodwind instruments 50 No longer active: Abbr. 51 "___ kleine Nachtmusic" 53 Raconteur's offering 54 Aimless 55 Approaching 58 Be deceitful
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P-Noy unveils Hanjin’s bulk carriers SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Korean shipbuilding giant Hanjin Heavy Industry and Construction Co., Ltd. – Philippines (HHIC-Phil Inc) boldly welcomed the New Year when it unveiled its simultaneous naming ceremony of two newly-built bulk carriers on Thursday at the company’s sprawling shipbuilding facility in Redondo Peninsula, Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The unprecedented vessels-naming ceremony was witnessed by His Excellency President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino II who stood as one of the vessels’ sponsors. The President said that today Kore-
ans make up a significant portion of the country’s expat and community and Korean investors like Hanjin, are among the most aggressive in placing their bets in the Philippines. “As the country’s leading foreign direct investors in the first semester of 2010, Hanjin poured out Php24.2 billion or forty percent of the total foreign direct investment. Korea have continued to pour in more long term investments in the country and continue to generate jobs for the Filipino people,” the President cited. During the vessels-naming ceremony, Mr. Jin Kyu Ahn, President of HHICPhil, reminisced the challenges the com-
pany had to go through in putting up stateof-the-art shipyard in the country’s premier Freeport. He also commended the Philippine government, the Filipino workers and the Filipino people in general for the friendship, positive attitude towards work, and their hospitality. Ahn also made mention of the company’s earnest desire to permanently put the Philippines as the best shipbuilder in the world. “We need the unwavering and reliable support of the Philippine government pursuant to the main thrust of President Aquino’s administration towards a strong
public-private partnership that will propel the economy for the long term benefit of all stakeholders and the country as a whole,” Ahn added. This event was also attended by the HHIC Group’s Chairman, Mr. Nam Ho Cho, Adani Group’s Managing Director, Mr. Rajesh Adani, Department of Energy Secretary Jose Almendras, Zambales 1st District Representative Milagros Magsaysay, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga, SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, Local Government officials and guests. The two vessels, M/V “Rahi” and M/V “Vanshi” named after sponsors
Miss Rahi R. Adani and Miss Vanshi R. Adani, will be delivered a day after the naming ceremony at the Adani shipyard in India. Both vessels have a Dead Weight Ton (DWT) 175,000 Metric Ton (MT) Bulk Carrier. Their hulls are made of steel with overall length of 289 meter, registered length is 279.98 meter. Registered breadth is 45.00 meter and its registered depth is 24.60 meters. Gross tonnage is 91,892.0 ton and the net tonnage is 59,082 ton. Last year, Hanjin also sent off two 114,000 deadweight ton (DWT) Crude oil tankers, to Turkey-based Kaptanoglu Shipping Line.
Number of Chinese immigrants in PHL doubled in 2010 -- BI
President Benigno S. Aquino III walks on his way for a photo opportunity after he spearheaded the naming ceremony of two (2) vessels, M/V Rahi and M/V Vanshi of the Adani Group at the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corporation (HHIC) Shipyard on Thursday (Jan. 6) at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.
Int'l shipping lines to impose congestion fee SEVERAL international shipping lines servicing Manila's South Harbor and the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) will be imposing a congestion surcharge starting this January, the Philippine International Seafreight Forwarders Association (PISFA) said. The surcharge will be equivalent to US$ 50 for each twenty-footer and US$ 100 for each forty-footer for all inbound and outbound containers. The fee is on top of the container im-
balance charge (CIC) being collected by carriers for shipping empty containers out of Manila. According to PISFA, foreign shipping companies made this decision due to the chronic traffic jam in the said ports which is preventing them from disembarking and loading cargoes immediately. Meanwhile, congestion at the South Harbor and MICT has somewhat eased with operators of the two facilities sending some of their empty containers to their
respective Batangas and Subic terminals. Several shipping lines have also begun picking up their empties at South Harbor and the MICT. But it still requires five to eight hours for a truck to drop an empty container at any of the ports and about the same length of time to carry a laden container out of the port facilities. PISFA said that several carriers have in fact begun imposing the congestion surcharge right after notifying the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) of such a
IACAT hopes to lift PH from human trafficking watch list DEPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, head of the Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking in Persons (IACAT), has expressed his confidence that the country will be out of the watch list this year. In his report to Vice President Jejomar Binay, Salazar said that the IACAT has made very significant inroads towards the removal of the Philippines from the said watch list. The lifting of the country from the Tier2 Watch List in the Trafficking in Persons Report of the United States Department of State, will also remove the country from danger of losing some US$ 700million in non-humanitarian aid from the US. According to Salazar, the IACAT has
already made 15 convictions for violations of Republic Act No. 9208, also known as Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, since the last quarter of 2009 up to 2010. More convictions are expected within the next few months, he said. Earlier, Salazar said that the DOJ has issued a memorandum to all prosecutors to expedite the hearing of human trafficking cases as well as requiring them to submit a periodic report of the status of the cases. The DOJ has also started a program giving recognition to prosecutors who have successfully tried human trafficking cases and secured convictions over the past year. Salazar said this will hopefully pro-
vide incentive to government prosecutors to passionately pursue human trafficking cases they are handling. The Supreme Court (SC) through the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) earlier ordered all local courts to expedite resolution of human trafficking cases. The anti-trafficking campaign of the government, Salazar said, was further bolstered with the full support expressed by Binay. Binay said he is willing to extend the influence of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) both in securing additional funding for the campaign and political persuasion to oppose influential persons from meddling in the prosecution of cases involving highly-connected traffickers.
BoC impounds liquor, ukay-ukay worth P30M THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has impounded shipments of alcoholic products and used clothing worth P30 million at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). The undervalued and prohibited items came from the United States. Customs CommissionerAngelitoAlvarez said two shipments declared as wine were later found to contain brandy and other liquor variants. He said two other container vans were found stuffed with used clothing. The wine shipment was consigned to Siropia Incorporated of 7B YL Holdings Building, Salcedo Village cor. Rufino Streets, Legaspi Village, Makati.
Upon verification the shipment contained only 1,224 bottles of Duque Sevilla Wine while the rest were 24,000 bottles of brandy and whisky. Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Horacio Suansing, Jr. pointed out that brandy and whisky “command a higher value and are therefore subject to higher excise taxes than ordinary table wines.” Two container vans of used clothing were also apprehended, misdeclared as either fabric, bags and school supplies. The shipment, worth some P10 million, was consigned to ACAB Enterprises of No. 65 Rizal Street, Poblacion,
Muntinlupa City and ASAB Commercial located at B26 L11 Manfil Kapayapan Village, Canlubang, Calamba City. Republic Act No. 4653 bans the importation of used clothing. Meanwhile, the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Bureau of Customs (Boc) have joined hands in the fight against rice smuggling. NFAAdministrator Angelito T. Banayo and BoC Commissioner Angelito A. Alvarez recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to strengthen the campaign of the two agencies against rice smuggling.
THE number of mainland Chinese nationals who immigrated to the Philippines more than doubled in 2010 despite the tragic incident in Manila that claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong tourists in August of that year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said. BI Acting Commissioner Ronaldo Ledesma said the number of Chinese living in the country went up from 30,809 in 2009 to 61,372 in 2010. Ledesma said the Chinese have thus dislodged the Koreans as the top foreign citizens who choose the Philippines as their second home, the latter registering a slight increase from 24,876 in 2009 to 28,090 last year. He said the bureau has registered 90,413 foreign immigrants and 98,733 non-immigrants as of Jan. 1, 2011. The BI chief believes the geographic and cultural proximity of China to the Philippines, and the fact that Filipino-Chinese communities are firmly established in the country, may account for the rise of Chinese immigrants here. He said that majority of the Chinese and Korean migrants are students, businessmen, and missionaries who prefer Metro Manila, with its high-rise condominiums and cheap apartments. Ledesma also said a number of foreign tourists have also expressed preference to studying English in the Philippines, where it is cheaper than in their respective countries of origin. He said that aside from Chinese and Koreans, the other top foreign nationals who have decided to live in the country
are Americans (24,909), Indians (23,317), Japanese (8,931), British (4,781), Taiwanese (3,640), Iranians (3,260), Germans (2,965), and Australians (2,645). According to Ledesma, the number of foreign migrants in the country grew 50 percent in the last three years from 60,554 in 2007 to 90,413 in 2010. He said the aggressive marketing approach by the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the innovative visa scheme by the BI, attracted more foreigners to come to the Philippines. Ledesma added that the number of Chinese, Korean, American, Japanese and Taiwanese tourists also went up because Filipinos speak English well and can communicate effectively with foreigners in the English language. For his part, BI Alien Registration assistant division chief Ferdinand Arbas said that Boracay, Bohol, Cebu and Palawan remain the top tourist destinations in the country. Arbas also said that apart from the short-term tourists who usually stay in the country for less than a week, some of them choose to live here permanently as they believe the Philippines offers good opportunities in trade and commerce. “Foreigners living here experience a high-quality standard of living for a very low cost, with loyal live-in maids and helpers, cheap taxis, and fine rental homes in quality neighborhoods," Arbas said. He added that the country offers a wide range of entertainment, nightlife, golf courses, international restaurants, and stunning resorts.
15 aliens expelled from July to December 2010
BI steps up deportation of foreign fugitives THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested and deported a total of 15 foreign fugitives from July to December 2010 as the agency stepped up its campaign against aliens wanted for various crimes in their homelands. The figure was almost double the number of deportations of fugitives in the first half of the year which stood at eight. Immigration officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma, who was appointed to his post in July by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, said the fugitives are now either undergoing trial or serving their sentences in their countries of origin after being expelled from the Philippines. The wanted foreigners were arrested by the BI-Interpol unit after hiding in the country for years to evade prosecution, Ledesma said. They were placed in the blacklist of undesirable aliens and banned from reentering the country.
Ledesma vowed to pursue without letup the campaign against foreign fugitives, saying, “Our country should not be used as a sanctuary for wanted criminals.” He said the bureau will continue working with the Interpol and the different foreign missions in Manila to track down foreign fugitives believed hiding in the country. Americans topped the list of the deported fugitives in the second half of 2010 with 11 deportees followed by two Koreans, one Swede, and one Japanese. Among the crimes committed by the fugitives in their country of origin were child molestation, incest, sexual battery, embezzlement, fraud, murder, aggravated robbery and military desertion. BI Intelligence chief Faisal Hussin attributed the successful drive against fugitives to Ledesma’s move of beefing up the manpower and resources of the bureau’s Interpol unit by adding at least six intelligence operatives.
Sports Quorum
9
February 1-15, 2011
Donaire hopes to silence critics NONITO "The Filipino Flash" Donaire vowed to silence his critics who underestimate him, saying he will take down Mexican champion Fernando Montiel in their title bout on February 19 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. "There are plenty out there who are doubting my ability as a champion and that's fine. It's up to me to prove to them. Once I take Montiel down, then that is more of a sweet victory," he said in BoxingScene.com. "I think it will definitely get my name out there as one of the elite. There will be no more doubters left out there," he added. Donaire, Ring Magazine's Top 5 pound-for-pound boxer in world, said his critics will realize that that he, too, can be considered a gem in the sport. "I think that the big boys will notice what I'm capable of, what I bring to the table, what I bring to the audience," he said. The 28-year-old is now rallying to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titles from Montiel. Donaire has shone brighter since defeating Wladimir Sidorenko last December. "The Filipino Flash" knocked out the Ukranian champion in the 4th round. Donaire is now seen as following the footsteps of the more popular Manny Pacquiao, which the Fighter of the Decade himself acknowledged. Donaire has a professional record of 25-1 with 17 KOs. Donaire said he will have to sustain his focus in boxing to be successful against Montiel. "I'm fighting a guy who has been there for quite a while. This guy can be a Hall of Famer when he's done with boxing,"
Rotary District 3810 sets 25th year sportsfest for youth
Donaire rocks Wladimir Sidorenko with a solid punch to the face.
he said. Montiel is a veteran of 44 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws. He has compiled a record of 34 knockouts. He is coming off 4 consecutive KO victories– all of which were achieved last year. Despite the pressure, the Filipino said he was excited about his upcoming match.
"I usually feel a little bit of butterflies. Maybe when I walk into the ring. But for now I'm really looking forward to this fight. It's like do or die, all or nothing and I'm ready to give it my all," he said. Meantime, Top Rank Promotions, who keeps Donaire in its stable along with Pacquiao, assured that stardom will come to the Filipino Flash once victory over Montiel is bagged.
"I think it would establish him as the best bantamweight in the world, having beaten a Hall of Fame fighter," the promoting company's top honcho Bob Arum said. Arum also said Donaire is expected to climb higher weight classes such as super bantamweight and featherweight. He said this will also boost the boxer's credentials.
Codinera hopes to make UE regain lost glory
IVERSON
Iverson wants to play 'several more years' ALLEN Iverson, the former NBA MVP and scoring champion, will see a specialist next Tuesday to have the undetermined growth in his right calf surgically removed, his business manager, Gary Moore, said. Iverson returned last week from Turkey, where he was playing for the professional team Besiktas, after pain in the calf became unbearable and tests showed a growing lesion between the muscle and the bone. Moore said Iverson is committed to returning to Turkey this season, and hopes he can be back on the court in four to six weeks. "He's determined," said Moore. "He wants to play several more years." Iverson spent 10 seasons in Philadelphia before bouncing through Denver and Detroit, ending up in Memphis last season. He played only three games before returning for a second stint with the Sixers, where he averaged 13.9 points in 25 games. He took a leave of absence toward the end of the season to deal with some family matters, which he said have been resolved. When no NBA team was interested in him, Iverson was wooed by Besiktas executive board member Seref Yalcin to continue his career overseas.
THE man who helped University of the East (UE) win its last UAAP men’s basketball championship 25 years ago vowed to bring the Warriors back to their glory days in the 1960s up to the '80s. Jerry Codinera, who, along with Allan Caidic and Boysie Zamar, to mention a few, powered the Warriors to that 1986 title conquest, said on Friday that he would like to see his alma mater on top of the UAAP totem pole again before his three-year contract expires as new UE coach. “It’s a little bit tough job, if you ask me, because we have to start from scratch. But since I accepted the job, I might as well do my best to realize the reason why the school management took me as coach,” Codinera told SCOOP members at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura. Codinera, called the “Defense Minister” during his playing days in the professional Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) because of his defensive brand of style, said he already has lost five of last season’s mainstays -- two on graduation and three on injuries.
The Warrior's top scorer last year, Paul Lee, still has a year to play but opted out for reasons he only knows, said Codinera, a seven-time member of the PBA defensive team, the most by any player, revealed during the forum. “I’m not privy to his plans. That's his career, I can't do anything if he does not want to play for UE," added the owner of an all-time record 11 block shots in the pro-league. "I have heard that the former 'King Warrior' intends to play for the Smart Gilas national squad." But Codinera believes he can still build a strong, competitive team. "We have an open tryout for the team. Anybody who wants to try his luck can go to the Tanduay gym near Arlegui.” He admitted though that getting good players nowadays is difficult because at least two UAAP teams are ready to spend a fortune to beef up their already strong squads. “Me? I believe in my dad's (baseball/ softball great Filomeno “Boy” Codinera) saying that one need not have oodles of money to buy good players in any sport.
What you need is constant practice. And there’s no substitute for wholehearted training,” he philosophized. "I think my team is okay. Last Saturday, we beat La Salle in the Father Martin Cup. La Salle is one of the strongest teams in the coming UAAP season along with Ateneo and FEU. That means we can be at par with those at the top." Codinera mentored the Teletech team for one season in the PBL besides acting as assistant mentor of Air 21 in the PBA and University of the Philippines (UP)last year. He said he plans to transform the Warriors from a purely offensive team, for which they were known the past several seasons, to a running, defensive club. “As a center when I was still playing, my job is to defend the paint, grab those rebounds to set the stage to transition plays.” "I think I have some materials whom we'll be testing in the coming days. We will take part in summer tournaments in the coming months, so by the time the competition proper comes, we will see where we're headed to."
More international tourneys await Pinoy fighters A MORE comprehensive international training and sufficient exposure are being lined up by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) for local pugs in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics. At least seven international tournaments for the country's top amateur male and female boxers are on tap this year, according to ABAP executive director Ed Picson. Topping the list of the heavy international assignments for the Pinoys is the World Boxing Championship set in Baku, Azerbaijan from September 16 to October 1. The World Championship is one of two qualifying events for the London Games. A second qualifying event for Asia is being planned by the International Ama-
teur Boxing Association (AIBA) for next year. The Filipinos will also prepare for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) from November 11 to 25 in Palembang, Indonesia, while the country plays host to the MVP Cup slated in July. "So far, these are the tournaments we will definitely join this year, since the AIBA has yet to announce other competitions lined up for the year. We will be having more tournaments and training because we are looking at a tougher year for boxing this 2011," said Picson. Three boxers delivered medals in the recent Guangzhou Asian Games, including a golden performance by Rey Saludar. Saludar also won a gold in the Tammer Cup in Finland. Two other boxers — lady pug Annie
Albania and Saludar's younger brother, Victorio, won silver and bronze medals, respectively. Except for Albania, the Saludars and other national team members, members of the training pool started their training last January 3. "We plan to send them to training camp either in Canberra, Australia or in Mongolia. We're looking at the month of February when they will go on a three-week training," added Picson. In 2010, the team trained in China in preparation for the Asian Games. "We are looking at other countries for our camp and clinics to give our boxers and coaches varieties on how to train and prepare our boxers. Experience gained from different techniques will help them become better boxers and coaches," stressed Picson.
TO COMMEMORATE its 25th year of continuously holding a sports contest for the youth under its jurisdiction, District 3810 of Rotary International (RI) under Global Gov. Tranquil Gervacio Salvador III is holding the “Rotaract/Interact” Sportsfest 2011 on February 6, 2011 at the Philippine Sports Commission ULTRA track and field oval. In a press statement, Senior Deputy Governor Karen Tamayo, the public relations chair of District 3810, said the sportsfest will be conducted under the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of University District Manila, led by its Global President Rosalina Co. “Unlike in previous years, this Sportsfest will spell a very big difference for it will show and present new sports events, including group events and fun games other than individual games. A Special Cheerleading presentation will be also be added to highlight celebration of its 25th Anniversary,” President Co said. The final list of events during the sportsfest, for the morning session, includes: 8 x 50m relay (mixed); sack race relay; 4 x 100m relay (male/female); tug of war (preliminary elimination, semifinal elimination, and final contest); sipa sa mangis; patintero; group jumping rope; obstacle course; threading, jumping rope, planting straw, tumbang preso, and puzzle. The afternoon session, after lunch, will be allotted to a cheering competition, then to the awarding and closing ceremonies. Senior Deputy Gov. Karen Tamayo said cash prizes and trophies await the winners. A Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored organization of persons whose ages range from 18 to 30, while an Interact is likewise a Rotary-sponsored organization of children who are between the ages of 12 to 18. RI District 3810 is composed of Rotary Clubs from Manila, Pasay City, Cavite and Occidental Mindoro. Gov. Salvador said there are two objectives for the yearly sports festival: to strengthen fellowship, camaraderie, goodwill, and good health among the youth and their adult counterparts, and to discover and enhance Rotaractors and Interactors capabilites in the field of sports and involve them in social actions as an essential ingredient of quality leadership and sportsmanship. Coordinating the activites with the Rotary Club of University District are Past President Wilson Lei Yee and Rotarian Rene M. Navarro, the chairmen of District 3810’s District Youth Olympics. Interested parties may coordinate by calling 5591952 or 0919 448 2449.
Asian Tour goal THE National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), the country’s governing body for the sport, is making the necessary measures to have the Philippine Open get its Asian Tour sanction. The NGAP and Asian Tour officials have had a couple of meetings already and the results have been positive. It is a good sign, considering that the recent 94th PHL Open at Valley Golf, though a local-run tournament, is filled with top-caliber Asian players from the Asian Tour roster. But here lies the danger. As in previous years, the Asian Tour is requiring the NGAP to raise $500,000 to nail the contract. Of the amount, $300,000 will go to the prize money ($47,550 to the champion) and the rest for operation expenses.
Motoring Quorum
10
February 1-15, 2011
Mazda posts 54% sales growth in 2010 MAZDA Philippines has reported an all-time full-year sales record for the brand that rose to 3,148 vehicles in 2010, a 54 percent increase year-over-year. As the second-fastest growing automotive brand in the Philippines, Mazda attributed its robust performance in 2010 to the successful launch of the Mazda2 sub-compact, continued strength of the Mazda3 and the strong demand for the Mazda CX-7 crossover SUV. Following its successful launch in March, the Mazda2 sub-compact saw sales of 911 units, while the Mazda3 remains to be the brand's best-selling nameplate since its introduction in 2004 with full-year sales of 1,230 units. Having redefined the category, the Mazda CX-7 remains to be one of the most popular compact SUVs, having sold 732 units last year. Also demonstrating leadership in customer sales satisfaction, Mazda Philippines emerged in the top position at the most recent J.D. Power Asia Pacific Study in terms of sales satisfaction in 2010. With a score of 832, Mazda ranked highest and performed particularly well in four of seven factors: delivery process, salesperson, delivery timing and dealer facility. “We are absolutely delighted to have ended the year on such a high note, which helped deliver record full-year sales for the Mazda brand in 2010. Not only are we the second-fastest growing automotive brand in the country, we are also a leader in sales satisfaction. We look forward to carry this momentum in to a strong 2011,” said Randy Krieger, Ford Group Philippines president.
MAZDA CX-7 CROSSOVER SUV
Toyota developing alternative electric motor for Prius TOKYO --Toyota Motor Corp., maker of the popular Prius hybrid car, is developing a new type of electric motor to cut its dependence on rare earth metals and lower costs, a company spokesman said. The new technology will help free the world's No. 1 automaker from relying on China, which produces 97 percent of the global output of rare earths needed for many high-tech products, including the current generation of hybrid gasoline-electric motors. Beijing sent shock waves through Japan's high-tech sector late last year when it blocked exports of the exotic metals after a diplomatic spat, and prices have soared as China gradually tightens its output. "Toyota is always looking for a reduction in resources and in terms of costs," said spokesman Paul Nolasco. The company has not released any specific uses or timeline for the new motor, he said. Toyota has bet big on gasoline-electric hybrid technology, and an executive said last year it will begin selling a completely electric vehicle in 2012 in the U.S., Japan and Europe. The company is also working on an electric sport-utility vehicle with U.S. luxury electric car maker Tesla. Analysts said production of such vehicles was still small enough that there was little short-term risk from a shortage of rare earths, but this could change quickly. "This isn't a major issue right now, but as these types of cars become more popular, it becomes a big risk if supply is limited or cut off," said Mizuho Investors Securities auto analyst Ryoichi Saito. He said it made sense for companies that make high-tech products to be developing alternatives, given trade uncertainties with China. Japan has also actively pursued deals around Asia to develop alternative sources.
GM introduces new name, brand for S. Korean unit SEOUL -- U.S.-based global automaker General Motors Co. (GM) on Thursday introduced a new name for its South Korean unit and brought the internationally renowned brand Chevrolet to boost the company's sales here. The South Korean unit, GM Daewoo Auto & Technology, has been renamed GM Korea Co. "The company changes its name to GM Korea Co. to reflect its heightened status in global operations of GM," it said. The name change will be effective before the end of March, according to Mike Arcamone, president and CEO of GM Korea, who said the move was an "inevitable evolution" as the former name, Daewoo, was too domestic. "(The change) of the company name is an evolution from a company that does export sales and also domestic sales. We are a global company that works in Korea," Arcamone said at a press conference. "This is a revolutionary pivot for us and an imperative decision." The name Daewoo comes from a now defunct domestic automaker acquired by
GM in 2002. GM Korea currently exports vehicles to some 150 different countries, with one out of every four Chevrolets sold globally produced in South Korea, according to Arcamone. The company is also renaming its vehicles, with the exception of only three vehicles, to Chevrolet to increase its domestic sales. "Through a series of detailed studies, we came to a conclusion that Chevrolet enhances our brand power," Arcamone said, adding nearly 40 percent of his company's customers were already paying out of their own pockets to have their GM Daewoo vehicles transformed to Chevrolet cars. "In short, this is a good change. It is in the best interest of customers, our company, its employees, shareholders, dealers, suppliers and indeed the people of Korea," he said. All new GM vehicles, as well as refreshments of existing vehicles, sold in Korea will be branded Chevrolet with the exception of the recently launched luxury sedan Alpheon and two commercial vehicles.
Kiplinger’s 10 best cars of the past decade (Part 1) HOW does anyone pick the 10 best vehicles of the past 10 years? Fortunately, Kiplinger ranks cars and SUVs every year, picking the best in various price categories based on performance, value and safety. So we combed a decade's worth of our buyer’s guides to find the vehicles that showed up as winners time and time again. When the choices got tough, we gave the nod to iconic vehicles that pioneered a category and have stood the test of time.
TOYOTAPRIUS (Economy) When the Prius made its U.S. debut in 2001, it barely registered a blip in the auto industry. But then the Hollywood green crowd adopted the little gas-electric hybrid as a symbol of saving the planet. Ten years and two redesigns later, the 2011 Prius is roomier, peppier and even more fuel-efficient than its predecessors, not to mention still affordable. It has paved the way for a slew of other hybrids and alternative-
HONDAACCORD (Family Sedan) For most of the decade, the Accord has vied with the Toyota Camry for overall best-seller in the U.S. But Accord has outshone Camry in the Kiplinger rankings, winning four nods in the past ten years, to Camry’s two. Accord fans seem to prefer a slightly stiffer, sportier suspension and more weighted steering feel than Camry stalwarts. Its outstanding resale value and reliability have also won customers. You can choose from a plethora of models – from the modest LX, a four-cylinder with cloth seats and manual transmission ($22,730) to the near-luxury EX-L V6, with leather seats, navigation and rear-view camera ($32,380).
LEXUS LS 460 (Luxury) The Lexus LS has won a Kiplinger’s Best award a remarkable eight times over the past ten years. The luxury division of Toyota introduced its flagship sedan in 1989 as a competitor to the Euro luxmobiles, such as the Mercedes S-Class, at a much lower price. Over 10 years, its record of reliability is unmatched in its class. Last redesigned for the 2007 model year, it is superbly crafted and a technology leader –- for example, it was the first car sold in the U.S. that could park itself. Status seekers may still consider the LS a luxury wannabe, but we think it has proven its mettle.
MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS (Luxury) Understated yet elegant, the E-Class has been a luxury segment staple since it was first introduced in the 1950s and later badged the E320 in 1994. Over the past decade, Kiplinger has picked the E-Class as best sedan or wagon five times -based on its power, roominess, resale value and reasonable sticker price. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class also comes in a diesel version ($51,775), a V8-powered E550 ($57,975), a coupe, a cabriolet, a wagon and a supercar -- the E63 AMG ($137,835), with a 518-hp 6.3-liter V8 that will rev up from zero to 60 mph in less than five seconds. BMW 3-SERIES (Entry Luxury) BMW has a long heritage as maker of “the ultimate driving machine,” and the 3series is an affordable way to gain entry—although many drivers actually prefer its compact size and deft maneuverability over the bigger Bimmers. The 3-series, launched in 1975, is now in its fifth generation, so it benefits from years of refinement. The 328i is the least-pricey model in the lineup; on the other end of the spectrum is the diesel BMW 335d ($44,825), which came to the U.S. in the 2010 model year (when it won Kiplinger’s Best in Class honors). You can also get a 3-series coupe, cabriolet and wagon.
Bamboo bike, e-trikes part of green transpo initiatives THE Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) identified the development of electric vehicles and green transport as priority projects of the commission for 2011. Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of COMSTE, enumerated the flagship projects of the commission, which are Telehealth for remote areas and Digital Medical Records, Remote-Sensing for Agriculture, Electronic Vehicles and Green Transport and Disaster Science, Biotechnology for Health and food security, and Renewable Energy Systems. AngarasaidthatinnovativeGreentransport systems such as electric tricycles, hybrid jeepneys, buses and electric bicycles havethepotentialtolessenpollutioncaused by conventional transportation and the dependency on fossil fuels. "We import roughly 96% of our petroleum, the majority of which is consumed by the growing transport sector. This same sector accounts for the biggest share of the energy use, nearing 40%," said Angara, who Chairs COMSTE. "It has long been one of the goals of the government to become energy independent. I believe that this can be achieved by promoting innovative projects that can reduce our foreign dependence on fuel and at the same time create a less-polluted, environmentally friendly cities," noted Angara Angara referred to a recent ADB study showed that Metro Manila ranks high among the megacities of Asia that have air quality problems, with a level of suspended particulate matter (SPM) that is more than double the standard of the World Health Organization. The DENR has also identified that 70% of air pollution in Metro Manila is from motor vehicles, "highlighting the need for a cleaner mode of transport," Angara said.
Motoring Quorum
11
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February 1-15, 2011
Grand-Theft Auto violence No, they don’t know how to haggle for lower prices of your vehicle that’s up for sale. They won’t bargain for anything from you but under the barrel of a gun. They won’t even bother to ask the owner how far can he/she go down with his/her asking price for his/her vehicle. They won’t bother for anything but to forcibly take that vehicle away that’s for sale at all cost. They will just break you down or plant a 9mm bullet in your head before burning you down and cart away your car in a brutal, inhuman way. These are the stark reality we now have in the world we live in aside from other life’s challenges. Perpetrators of this new modus of carjacking, WRP freely presumes, may have mastered Sony Play Station’s brutal and bloody game known as GrandTheft Auto (GTA) where points are
earned through brutal means: bashing the head of car owners, strafing pursuing police down with utomatic rifles, setting other cars on fire and everything that constitutes highway/road violence. WRP condoles with the families of the victims but what happened to Atty. Oliver Lozano’s engineer son, Gerry; an OFWwho only opted to sell his Isuzu Alterra to start up a business instead of going back abroad and other victims recently, all have the makings of GTA’s level of violence and everything’s that’s in there. Now I know why other car owners prefer to look like law enforcers even when they are not. They’d put on intimidating stickers or commemorative plates to scare away bad elements with bad intentions. But how about us, other motorists who has nothing to show off? Oh, well, WRP’s advice is as simple as putting up an imaginary EWD (early
el amigo ISMAEL ‘EL’ AMIGO
Wheels, Roads & Places (WRP) warning device) in your system. When travelling alone, trust no one. Before alighting from your car at parking lots or gasoline stations or roadside restaurants, scan the surroundings for usual suspects. Mark them, avoid them. Or if you have somebody with you, ask them to help you do the same and don’t forget to report your travel progress by texting it to a relative. React: esns03@yahoo.com.
AFTER YEARS OF RESTRUCTURING, BANKRUPTCY
Optimism returns to Detroit autoshow DETROIT, Michigan -- Optimism returned to the Detroit auto show Monday as US automakers celebrated rising sales and a remarkable recovery after years of painful restructuring and the bankruptcy of General Motors and Chrysler. "This is the feel good movie of the year," Barron Meade, the show's chairman, said at the opening ceremony. GM and Ford scored an early win after the Chevy Volt plugin hybrid and Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle were named the North American Car and Truck of the Year by an association of automotive journalists. Green cars were once again a dominant theme as automakers prepare for tough new fuel economy regulations. Ford introduced a family of 10 new-generation, fuel-efficient smaller cars, including an all-electric version of its Focus and two hybrids, and announced plans to hire 7,000 new workers as it expanded production to meet rising demand. "These 10 great cars are what our One Ford plan is all about," said Ford chief executive officer Alan Mulally. "Today it all comes together with a tremendous vision for more great products our customers will love, a strong business from a smarter global approach and a better world with major improvements in fuel economy and electrification. What is so cool is that this is just the beginning." Chrysler, which did not even host a press conference at the show last year because its product offerings were so old and weak, unveiled a totally new version of its popular 300 sedan after a one-billion-dollar makeover. "It's time for Chrysler to come back," Olivier Francois, chief executive officer of the Chrysler Brand, told reporters.
"The all-new 2011 Chrysler 300 is an icon of American ingenuity and symbolizes the greatness Detroit-designed vehicles offer the streets, highways and boulevards of the world." GM introduced a new compact Buick and was set to launch its new subcompact -- the Chevy Sonic -- at a reception celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Chevrolet brand. The Motor City has been under the pall of the Detroit Three's decline amid a steady loss of market share to Asian rivals and the worst economic downtown in decades. But after hitting rock bottom in 2009 with sales at their lowest level since the recession of 1983 and GM and Chrysler forced into a government-backed bankruptcy, sales began to improve in 2010 and the leaner Detroit Three are reaping the rewards. GM posted a two-billion-dollar third quarter profit and then launched the biggest initial public stock offering in history in November. Chrysler managed to increase its market share in 2010 and is expected to post a net profit this year. Ford, the only one of the Detroit Three to survive the deepest downturn in decades without government aid, regained the number two spot in the US market from Toyota for 2010 after its share grew for the second year in a row. With sales forecast to grow significantly both in the United States and worldwide, and Toyota still smarting from a series of mass recalls, the prospects for big gains are good. More than a dozen automakers vied for the attention of 4,500 journalists with the presentation of 30 to 40 worldwide debuts. Toyota unveiled new siblings for its popular Prius hybrid -- a brand new midsized wagon, a plug-in electric hybrid and a stylish new compact Prius aimed at the younger market.
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In this product image provided by General Motors, the company's new Buick Verano is shown. The company says it will unveil the upscale compact car on Monday, Jan. 10, 2011 at the Detroit auto show, GM’s only new model to debut at the event
GM's Buick to get luxury compact for first time DETROIT – For the first time in its history, General Motors' Buick luxury brand will get an upscale compact car. The company says it will unveil the Buick Verano on Monday at the Detroit auto show, GM's only new model to debut at the event. The Verano is a small car based on the Chevrolet Cruze that GM says is designed to compete against the Audi A3 and Volvo S40 in the entry-level luxury market. GM engineers say they went to great lengths to make the car different from the Cruze, enhancing its handling and ride with a suspension borrowed from Europe's Opel Astra, changing the body to give it a more sculpted, aerodynamic look and making the car quieter with better insulation and window glass. GM also says the car has a far more luxurious interior than the Cruze. In past years, GM was guilty of selling the same car across many of its brands
with only minor cosmetic differences between them. But Jim Federico, the car's chief engineer, said the Verano will be far different from the Cruze to compete with sophisticated European and Japanese luxury brands. "We learned from our mistakes," he said. The Verano, to be built in Michigan, will arrive in showrooms sometime in the fourth quarter. Pricing was not announced, but the car is expected to cost somewhere between the luxury version of the Cruze, which starts around $22,000, and the midsize Buick Regal, which starts around $26,000. The car also is expected to attract younger buyers, helping Buick as it tries to shed its image of offering cars for senior citizens. Last year the average age of a Buick buyer was 65. Buick sales rose 52 percent last year with a series of revamped models such as the Regal and LaCrosse larger luxury sedan.
Sales of imported vehicles in S. Korea reach record high SEOUL -- Sales of imported vehicles in South Korea climbed to a record high in 2010, indicating a rapidly growing demand here for luxury vehicles, a local traders' group said. A total of 90,562 import vehicles were sold here last year, up 48.5 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA). The sales increase also shows overall growth for the South Korean automobile market as local manufacturers earlier reported 5.2 percent growth of their sales in the domestic market last year. "The import vehicle market completely recovered in 2010 from its regression due to the economic crisis as improved customer sentiment following the economic recovery, coupled with the introduction of new vehicles and aggressive marketing by each brand, pushed up sales," Yoon Daesung, a senior official at the KAIDA, said. BMW was the best-selling brand in 2010 with 16,798 vehicles sold here, closely followed by its German competitor Mercedes-Benz that sold 16,115 cars.
By size, vehicles with 3.0-liter or smaller engines accounted for over 73 percent of all import vehicles sold last year with 4,660 vehicles with 4.0-liter or bigger engines accounting for 5.2 percent, indicating local customers' strong taste for luxurious, yet efficient vehicles. Improvements in sales for import brands continued mostly throughout the year and again in December when 8,294 vehicles were sold, up 35.6 percent from the same period in 2009, according to the KAIDA. In December, Mercedes-Benz overtook BMW as the best-selling brand with 1,437 vehicles sold, compared to 1,366 BMW vehicles. South Korea's auto exports could reach a record 2.9 million units in 2011, thanks to better overseas brand recognition for local carmakers. The forecast by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said outbound shipments should rise a solid 4.7 percent on-year with overall vehicle production expected to climb 4.8 percent to an unprecedented 4.4 million units in the new year.
INTERN ATION AL INTERNA TIONAL MO TORING UPD ATE MOT UPDA
Japan new vehicle sales at 5M units TOKYO -- Domestic sales of new vehicles including minicars in 2010 logged the first year-on-year increase in six years thanks to government subsidies and tax breaks for the purchase of eco-friendly cars but remained below 5 million units for the second consecutive year, industry bodies said Wednesday. Overall sales of new vehicles in 2010 rose 7.5 percent from the previous year to 4,956,136 units, according to data released by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the Japan Mini Vehicles Association. In December alone, however, sales of cars, trucks and buses in Japan plunged 28.3 percent from a year earlier to 179,666 units, representing the sharpest drop for the month of December since records began in 1968.
GM's turnaround lies in Akerson's hands DETROIT, Michigan -- The future of General Motors is now firmly in the hands of Dan Akerson, who expanded his role to become both chairman and chief executive officer of the iconic American carmaker. Akerson replaced Ed Whitacre as chief executive in September, but the straighttalking Texan who came out of retirement to lead GM through a government-backed bankruptcy and back to profitability remained chairman until the end of the year. Akerson has built on Whitacre's success, leading GM through a 23.1-billion-dollar initial stock offering -- the largest in history. He insists that the work of transforming GM is far from over, and gives every appearance of relishing the challenge.
Health Quorum
12
Your Press/Photo Releases get published here! February 1-15, 2011
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LGUs told to keep checking water to prevent diarrhea CEBU CITY -– Health officials have reminded local government officials to install chlorinators and conduct regular, tests to check the potability of water in their area. Health emergency management staff coordinator Dr. Expedito Medalla said that although there are no reports of water contamination in Cebu province, the agency will continue its monitoring activities. He said the diarrhea cases remained low in Catmon town because health personnel immediately reported the cases to the province. ”They also implemented public health measures like the 'pulong-pulong' where they told residents to boil water, maintain cleanliness in their surroundings and to use chlorine,” said Medalla. ”The barangay captain of Macaas convened the barangay health workers to check households that do not have san-
itary toilets,” he said. Last month, 15 diarrhea cases and one death in Catmon were reported by the health agency. Dr. Medalla said the regional office received a report last Jan. 16 that there are about 10 diarrhea cases in Enrique Villanueva town in Siquijor Province. A team was sent to the area and rectal swabs were taken from the patients but results are not yet available. Medalla advised other towns to heed the call of Department of Health (DOH) 7 Director Dr. Susana Madarieta to install improvised chlorinators in water sources and to conduct regular water testing. ”The LGUs should not wait until they receive reports of diarrhea cases in their area,” he said. ”For diarrhea cases, the people are asked to seek medical attention right away,” he added. Recent incidents of cholera and ty-
phoid fever cases, which are life-threatening illnesses, should serve as a warning to other towns and cities. He was referring to the more than 600 typhoid cases and three deaths reported form Alegria town last month and about 300 cholera cases and six deaths in Danao City. The DOH, the National Anti-Poverty Commission and the Department of Interior and Local Government agreed lat month to implement water and sanitation projects for some 1.5 million households without access to safe drinking water. At least 36 towns in Central Visayas are “waterless municipalities” or those where less than half of all households have safe water connections, The DOH website does not indicate whether any of these municipalities are in Cebu. Nationwide, there are an estimated 432 “waterless municipalities.”
MEDICAL MISSION -- The City Government of San Fernando, in coordination with some volunteers coming from Texas USA, has conducted a free medical mission in Northville Community today. The free services include free dental and medical check-ups, surgical, distribution of medicines, among others.
Dengue cases in Central Visayas dip CEBU CITY -– A weekly dengue report of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 showed there are only 45 cases and no deaths recorded in Central Visayas in the first two weeks of the year. The figure is 91 percent lower compared to the same period last year when health personnel recorded 510 cases, six deaths and a case fatality rate of 1.2 percent. The report, gathered by the Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (Resu), was taken from disease reporting units in the region from Jan. 1 to 15. The age range of the patients is from one year old to 27 years old. But 35.6 percent or most of those affected were under the 1-to-5-year group. Dengue fever is a disease caused by any one of four strains of viruses. The symptoms include high fever, body weakness, abdominal pain, vomiting and in worse cases, nose bleeding. The dengue virus is transmitted from one person to another
by an infected Aedes aegypti, a day-biting mosquito that thrives in clean and stagnant water. The city with the most number of cases is Lapu-Lapu with nine cases, followed by Cebu City with four cases and Sibulan town in Negros Oriental with four cases. The other towns and cities in the top 10 list are: Consolacion, Liloan, Bogo Cordova, Danao City and Mandaue City in Cebu province, while Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental has recorded two dengue cases. The DOH 7 promotes the “four S campaign” against dengue that calls on communities to conduct search and destroy operations to eliminate breeding sites of mosquitoes, encourages people to seek immediate consultation and impose self-protection by refraining from wearing black clothes and using long sleeves. The community is also encouraged to use indiscriminate fogging only when there is a dengue outbreak in their area.
Japan Hepatitis B patients Ok $39-B deal
Japanese Hepatitis B sufferers thought to have caught the disease from repeated use of needles during a vaccination programme have agreed to settle a dispute with the state, at the cost of $39 billion.
TOKYO -– Japanese Hepatitis B sufferers thought to have caught the disease from repeated use of needles during a vaccination programme have agreed to
settle a dispute with the state, at the cost of $39 billion. The decision will bring to an end a series of lawsuits across the country but
it will pose the government with a headache as it looks for ways to raise the 3.2 trillion yen, with the possibility it may have to to raise taxes. Tokyo had already expressed a readiness to accept the proposal, bringing to an end the country's largest medical dispute that will see it compensate about 430,000 people infected with the potentially fatal disease during decades ago. "This is a tough decision, but we decided to accept (the proposal) to end this issue swiftly," the plaintiffs said in a statement issued Saturday. "We demand that the government learn from this lessen and do the best to solve this problem as soon as possible," said one of the plaintiffs, Mieko Taniguchi, adding that the court proposal was not enough to rescue everyone.
Non-invasive brain imaging technology is demonstrated at the Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology in Magdeburg in 2005. Good news for chronic migraine sufferers: even the most severe forms of these blindingly painful headaches do not cause damage to the brain.
Migraines don't damage brain, study reveals PARIS -– Good news for chronic migraine sufferers: even the most severe forms of these blindingly painful headaches do not cause damage to the brain. "It is almost always the first question that migraine patients ask," said Christophe Tzourio, a doctor and researcher at the Universite Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, and the main architect of a study published online this week in the British Medical Journal. "Today we can provide an answer: there's nothing to worry about," he told AFP. Migraines are acutely debilitating headaches -- sometimes with an "aura", in which patients have the impression of seeing through frosted glass -- that strike around one out of nine adults. The causes remain uncertain, but are known to involve a link with blood vessels in the brain. Earlier research using magnetic resonance imaging technology showed that people with a history of full-on migraines are more likely to incur tiny lesions to microvessels inside the brain. Such ruptures result from a deterioration of the small cerebral arteries that supply blood to so-called white matter, which facilitates the flow on information across different parts of the brain.
The same type of lesions are more common in elderly people, diabetics and hypertension sufferers. In large quantities, they have been linked to depression, an increased risk of stroke, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, and impaired memory and reasoning. Tzourio and colleagues wondered if migraine patients are more likely to show some of these symptoms, so they tested the cognitive abilities of more than 800 over-65 seniors living in Nantes, western France. Nearly 15 percent of the volunteers had suffered from migraines over the course of their lives. On average their scores were indistinguishable from the others. Even seniors who had endured the most debilitating type of migraine, with aura, showed no cognitive damage. "This is a very reassuring result for the many people who suffer from migraine," said co-author Tobias Kurth, also a researcher as Universite Pierre et Marie Curie. "In spite of the increased presence of lesions of the brain microvessels, this disorder does not increase the risk of cognitive decline," he said in a press release.
Iloilo, Smart to pilot-test e-health referral system ILOILO CITY -- The Iloilo provincial government received from Smart Communications four of seven computers donated for piloting the company's interfacility health electronic referral system project. Smart Senior Manager Darwin Flores and the company's strategic business development consultant Ramon Duremdes Jr. turned over the computers to Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor and four chiefs of hospitals where the project will be pilot-tested. Flores said the project aims to enable these hospitals to relay, in a timely, accurate and inter-active manner, referral and case records of respective patents. Patients will benefit from this project since the electronic referral system will bring forth faster matching of cases and health facilities, reduce expenses from
repetitive but avoidable procedures and increase patient safety due to availability of more accurate information. Through the electronic system, health care professionals can use a computer to access the data via a Smart-designed web portal. Pilot-testing will run for the next six months. The provincial government, through its provincial health office, must decide afterwards on whether to run the project in all of Iloilo's 12 hospitals. Institutions that received computers for the pilot-testing are Iloilo provincial hospital in Pototan and three other district hospitals in Balasan, Janiuay, and Dumangas. Other potential recipient-district hospitals are in Calinog, Sara and Aleosan areas.
WHO calls for junk food ban in schools, playgrounds GENEVA -– Junk food should not be sold in schools and playgrounds, the World Health Organisation said Friday in a series of recommendations aimed at promoting a healthy diet and cutting child obesity. However it fell short of calling for a ban on advertising directed at children for foods high in saturated fats, sugars or salt, opting instead to ask member states to "consider the most effective approach to reduce" such marketing. The non-binding recommendations will be put to a high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases during September's General Assembly in New York, WHO officials said. "Settings where children gather should be free from all forms of marketing of foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or salt," said the UN health agency. "Such settings include, but are not limited to, nurseries, schools, school grounds and pre-school centres, playgrounds, family and child clinics and paediatric services and during any sporting and cultural activities that are held on these premises," it added . Some 43 million pre-school children are obese or overweight, according to WHO data.
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Property Quorum
13
Your Press/Photo Releases get published here! February 1-15, 2011
Fil-Estate, Megaworld to develop 1,149-hectare land in Tagaytay FIL-Estate has announced it is teaming with Megaworld Corporation to develop more than 1,149 hectares of land in Tagaytay into a world-class tourismoriented community to be called Twin Lakes. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the real estate company also announced it has just commenced the master-planning of Twin Lakes, a project set to offer resort estates overlooking panoramic views of its very own waterway as well as Taal Lake. "The entire community will be developed by phases and will become the country's most integrated tourism estates," FilEstate vice president Sylvia Hondrade said. Initial phases of the development will host a luxury hotel, residential villas and
One of Fil-Estate’s world-class golf courses in Tagaytay City.
Triple-A developer builds image with on-time delivery THE mark of success for developers is seeing a project as a thriving community with residents who consider the confines of their home as a safe, nurturing environment. DMCI Homes, the a triple-A builder/ developer backed by a construction heritage of more than 55 years, continues its objective to provide a wide variety of residential projects designed for young professionals and start-up families with modest income and discerning tastes. These residents now have more options to choose from, with the certified ready-for-occupancy status declared for at least eight DMCI Homes communities: Illumina Residences Manila in Sta. Mesa, Ohana Place in Las Pinas, Tivoli Garden Residences and Dansalan Gardens Condominium in Mandaluyong; Cypress Towers, Royal Palm Residences, and Magnolia Place in Taguig; and Willow Park Homes in Cabuyao, Laguna. These projects represent the rise in status of DMCI Homes from a fledgling company to a recognized leader in the medium-rise segment. With the company’s portfolio of projects, there is no mistaking their place in the property industry today. Competitors have even adopted the company’s pioneering designs, pricing scheme, even marketing strategies. “We believe that after 10 years, we are now enjoying a reputation in the market,” said Elmer G. Civil, DMCI Homes Director for Design & Construction. “We started in 1999 during an economic crisis. As a new player, we could not rely on pre-selling, which is why we focused on a strategy of building first and then selling. After we build, we studied what adjustments were required in each project, such as which amenities were frequently used or not, and came up with a way to balance these factors.”
Eventually, the company came up with an ideal formula for its product of medium-rise condominiums, characterized by such advantages as a contemporary architectural theme, resort-style amenities, medium-density living, generously-spaced units, property management services, plus an affordable pricing scheme. By 2004, Civil said they were selling more than building because of the growing demand for projects, a reflection of the rise in confidence for DMCI Homes brand. He also emphasized that the company’s philosophy of focusing on the needs of their end users paid off well, since on-time delivery is critical for this segment. “We don’t over-promise. We just over-deliver. In fact, most if not all of our projects are turned over ahead of schedule for at least six months for the mid-rise and one year for the high-rise. We know that for our end users, they need to move-in to their home as soon as possible, and we encourage this so that the community can be more livable,” Civil noted. Another practice started by DMCI Homes that is radically changing the real estate business is the priority completion of common amenities, like the clubhouse area, to coincide with the turnover of the first building. The focus on customer satisfaction is extended even after turn-over, since DMCI Homes also runs the Property Management Office in each development. As builder, developer, and property manager, there is a hands-on system that is put into place by the company to ensure the satisfaction of residents by giving not only their needs, but also “some of their wants.” Aside from the eight ready-for-occupancy projects, the company is focused on 12 projects with four launched in the last three months.
Ayala Center 15 years of higher living: The Crown Asia story Cebu breaks THE dream was to build master-planned communities that Thus, in 1995 Crown Asia, a subsidiary of Vista Land, the ground would represent the ideal standards of living for upwardly mo- country’s largest builder and the pioneer in creating themed residents. These are communities with themed-homes in- homes and communities, was born. From the completion of the for P2.8-B bile spired by architectural design and stylized landscapes from La Marea project in San Pedro Laguna all the way to the launchthe world. Neighborhoods were developed with wide ing of Valenza in Sta. Rosa, Ponticelli in Alabang and Marina expansion around and secure spaces where families can spend time together for Heights in Sucat, the company made its mark as the premier CEBU CITY -– Officials of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) on Monday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the P2.8billion expansion of the Ayala Center Cebu mall at the Cebu Business Park. The ceremony signals the start of construction of another section of the mall. The planned expansion will complete the circular design of the mall which also serves as the centerpiece of the mixeduse development within the masterplan of Cebu Business Park, a press statement said. Scheduled to be completed in 2013, the four-level structure will add more than 30,000 square meters of leasable space at the mall. Introducing new cosmopolitan shopping in Cebu, the expansion strengthens Ayala Center Cebu’s position at the helm of shopping, dining and entertainment, reinforcing its image as the lifestyle center in Cebu. Ayala Center Cebu is a project of Cebu Holdings Inc., an Ayala Land affiliate. Now on its 16th year, the mall has helped enhance the cosmopolitan lifestyle in Cebu and has become the preferred shopping and dining destination in the Visayas. With the addition of The Terraces more than two years ago, Ayala Center Cebu has added a new dimension of being a favorite venue for gatherings with top local and first-in-Cebu dining concepts.
relaxation. Crown Asia kept in mind the kind of people who believed that a person’s home reflects its inhabitant’s dreams and aspirations. These were people who understood that the achievements gained from sacrifice must be rewarded: The greater the success, the bigger the reward. People who deserved something better in life, and who understood the concept of higher living. “Crown Asia was made for people who have achieved a level of prominence and success in their lives,” said Crown Asia COO Mary Lee Sadiasa. “When it comes to choosing their homes, they deserve to live in a place where luxury reigns.”
real estate company that lives up to the standards of higher living. In 2004, the company was awarded Top Real Estate Company of the Year followed by The Philippine Marketing Award for Most Outstanding Residential Real Estate Company in 2005 and the Gold Trusted Brand Award for Property Developer in the Philippines in 2006. These rewards recognize the real estate company’s 15 years of hard work in providing elegant architecture and modern design for Filipino families. Enough reason for Crown Asia to have a reputation of being the standard of higher living since 1995 and for the years to come.
Filipino hospitality: Making your home guest-ready THE trademark quality of Filipinos everywhere is hospitality. We take care of guests, whether they are strangers or family, and we go considerable lengths to make their stay comfortable, even at the cost of our own comfort. A Filipino house should always reflect this quality. It need not be large, super neat or modern- all it needs to be is to feel like home. Welcome guests with good food, entertain them and make their temporary abode as comfortable as possible, and you can be sure to get the same treatment when it's your turn to visit them. When expecting guests who intend to stay over, it works very well to keep a checklist of things to do. 1.) Clean the house. This goes without saying. The state of your home reflects you and your family, so keeping things neat and tidy will definitely make a good,
lasting impression on your honored guests. 2.) Get your guest room ready. This means replacing the sheets with new ones, clearing out closet space, putting some new hangers, and dusting the furniture. Also place extra blankets within easy reach. You could also place a clock radio on the bedside table if the room doesn't have one yet, as it is quite useful. 3.) If your guest room has its own bathroom, be sure to stock up on necessary bathroom amenities such as shampoo, soap, and tissue. Hang up a few towels and make sure the faucets, drains and shower heads are all in working order. 4.) If your guests are bringing children, it would be prudent to remove breakables and objects of delicate stature into safekeeping. Similarly, make your house childfriendly by covering unused plug sockets and keeping sharp objects out of reach.
5.) Stock up on snack food and liquids such as milk and juice, so you'll have something ready to beat hunger with at any time of the day. Also make sure to throw out all expired food out of the refrigerator- the last thing you want to happen is to have your guests suffer from food poisoning because they snacked on moldy cheese. 6.) Make sure to replace any broken light bulbs, and place signs to warn them of any house structure quirks such as a creaky step, a tricky doorknob, noisy pipes or sticky windows. 7.) Empty all trash bins and garbage cans. If your guests arrive on a day where trash is scheduled to be collected, be sure to inform them well ahead, so they don't drop by on the unfortunate moment when the garbage truck is parked in front of your gate.
condominiums, a shopping village, botanical garden, sports and country club and plantation estates. The project cost of the initial phases is estimated to exceed P5 billion. "Twin Lakes stretches from Tagaytay's mountain peak down to its lakeside. The project's vast land size opens up a lot of possibilities for development," Hondrade added. Succeeding phases will offer a golf course, international hotels, boarding schools and a retirement village complete with wellness and medical amenities. "We want to take advantage of the cool weather in Tagaytay. Our ultimate goal is to transform these resort estates into prime destinations for medical and educational tourism over time," she concluded.
Latest Eastwood building to boost $11-B target EASTWOOD City Cyberpark’s new business process outsourcing (BPO) office building will boost the country’s drive to meet its $11 billion BPO export revenue target this year. According to Megaworld Corporation FVP for Business Development Jericho Go, the new Global One Center building will be able to accommodate new and established BPO players across 16 office floors and its total 32,000 sqm floor area. Global One Center rises 21 stories high, including the podium parking levels, in the new Palm District of the country’s first and pioneering IT park. Eastwood City Cyberpark remains one of the country’s brightest BPO spots. The cyberpark’s outshoring and offshoring (O&O) locators raked in US$348.31 million, an increase of 7.8 percent from 2008 figures, based on the most recent data from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) from 2009. With the entry of Global One and its new locators, Eastwood City Cyberpark’s revenue figures for 2011 will rise and contribute significantly to the national total, Go forecast. He estimated that with the turnover of Eastwood City Cyberpark’s 10th BPO building last month, the cyberpark will be able to generate more than 5,000 new jobs for Filipinos to usher in the new year. This will bring the cyberpark’s total employment figure to about 35,000. “More than inaugurating new buildings, we are delighted that Megaworld, together with our BPO partners and locators, is able to help thousands of Filipinos to not just get jobs, but gain long-term careers in the BPO sector,” Go said. The new building offers tenants a 24/7 wired environment. Ample telecommunication lines, back-up power and fiber optic cables assure locators uninterrupted operations and flow of information and data. BPO tenants that will locate here are also entitled to income tax holidays and other exclusive perks, as guaranteed by PEZA. At Global One Center, BPO employees get a chance to live and play where they work. Leasing opportunities abound in any of the nearby residential condominiums. The office building is also a stroll away from Eastwood Citywalk 2’s restaurants, cinemas and shopping outlets. The new Eastwood Mall offers even more dining and shopping delights.
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Apple's App Store hits 10 billion downloads AFTER two and a half years (or so) of existence Apple's iOS App Store has seen 10 billion downloads. To celebrate, Apple is handing out one $10,000 iTunes gift card. Folks were entered into the drawing by downloading an app from the App Store or visiting Apple's website between January 6 and the download of the 10 billionth app. Contest aside; this marks a huge milestone for Apple and the storefront launched a few years ago to go along with Apple's iPhone SDK. Apple CEO Steve Jobs first publicly demonstrated the then-new App Store in March of 2008 along with the iPhone 2.0 software, calling it "an application we've written to deliver apps to the iPhone." And deliver it did. It took nine months to reach one billion downloads and a little over a year to hit two billion. All the while Apple col-
lected a nice percentage of revenue from each app that was sold. Many developers made a pretty penny in the App Store, too. Movies by Flixter, the fifth most downloaded free iPhone and third most downloaded free iPad app, was created by Jeffrey Grossman, a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University. In 2008, Flixter acquired the app from Grossman for an undisclosed amount. Grossman was also given a consultant position at Flixter while attending school. Not too bad for a college student. Not everything about the App Store was pretty. Everyone remembers the 2009 Google Voice debacle, in which Apple rejected Google's official app from showing up in the App Store. The move inspired the FCC to look into Apple's vague app approval process, which was frequently criticized.
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Apple CEO Steve Jobs displays the company’s IPad.
Last September, Apple finally demystified the approval/rejection process by releasing App Store Review Guidelines. In November, the official Google Voice app finally made its way into Apple's store. It goes without saying that the App Store has been a huge success for Apple and its wide selection of apps is arguably one of the biggest things standing between the iPhone and its competitors. But that may soon change. The Android Market is gaining ground quickly. In December 2010, AndroLib reported that the Android Market had more than 200,000 apps. That report came just two months after Google announced it had 100,000 apps in its market. PC World writer Daniel Ionescu projected that the Android Market could overtake Apple's iOS App Store by this spring if growth continues at the same rate.
Telcos optimistic on mobile money transfer business PHILIPPINE telecom firms expect the mobile money transfer (MMT) industry to grow "significantly" in the next three years as most Filipinos are still unbanked or underbanked. Rizza Maniego-Eala, the president of G-Xchange, the wholly-owned mobile commerce subsidiary of Globe, told reporters that the real growth will be in two years to three years because, right now, the infrastructure is taking into place as well as the platforms. "We really believe that in two to three years, the momentum is translating to large number for the business," Maniego-Eala said. She said that out of the total 90 million Filipinos, 70 million are unbanked or underbanked, "so, the addressable market is still big." Unbanked refers to a person with no bank account, while underbank refers to someone who has a bank account but still uses financial services, such as check cashing, buying money orders and availing of pay-day loans. Maniego-Eala said that the company has a monthly value transaction of P5 billion for its GCash service, mostly from domestic remittances, mobile payments and salary disbursements, among others. GCash service is an “electronic wallet” that allows users to send and receive cash and make payments — including bills, donations and online purchases — via text messaging. Currently, Globe’s GCash subscribers had reached over a million. In 2010, Globe's GCash outlets reached more than 18,000, making the company the largest remittance network in the Philippines. Traditionally, the GCash is offered at Globe Business Centers, rural banks, pawnshops and other remittance partners. Now, the service will be available at more loading stations, including sari-sari (variety) stores, gift shops, pharmacies, Internet cafes, boutiques, food establish-
ments, photocopying stations, school supply stores, bakeshops, rice dealers, farm and poultry supply stores, gas stations, multipurpose cooperatives, cell phone shops and various stores nationwide. Lance Blockely, managing director of Edgar Dunn & Co., said the Philippines, China and the US will dominate the mobile money transfer market. "We see a huge growth over the next five years in these markets," he said. In 2010, Blockley said 19 million users in Asia would make 69 million mobile money transactions, accounting for $ 1 billion in value. Orlando Vea, chief wireless advisor of Smart Commnications Inc., said its mobile financial services platform Smart Money processes P13 billion or $ 300 million worth transactions on a monthly basis. "We ourselves believe that we have already scratched the surface of mobile money's true potential," Vea said. Smart Money, users of which stand at 8.5 million, is a reloadable electronic payment card linked to a mobile phone. In the next few years, Vea said Smart will embed mobile money services into other industries beyond banking and financial services. "Smart, as a member of the PLDT and Metro Pacific Group, is uniquely-positioned in the Philippines and perhaps globally to pursue such initiatives. Smart's affiliate companies in this group include, among others, the major power distribution company, one of two major water distribution companies, the largest tollways operator, one of the largest TV and satellite broadcast networks and the biggest hospital chain," Vea said. He added that mobile payments will be a key enabler and enhancer of business for these companies. For example, Vea said prepaid electricity and water are among the applications that the company is developing.
Loren wants wider IP Code coverage to curb internet piracy SENATOR Loren Legarda is pushing for the passage of a measure that seeks to widen the scope of the Intellectual Property Code (Republic Act No. 8293) to include the protection of copyrighted materials over the internet. "In this modern age when the internet has become a necessity to access, send, spread, download and upload almost all kinds of information, the protection from piracy of copyrighted data and other literary and artistic works has become more challenging," Legarda said on Sunday. The lady lawmaker has filed Senate Bill No. 2628 which seeks to amend the IPC to respond to the upsurge of internet piracy. She noted that according to the International Telecommunications Union, there are currently more than two billion internet users worldwide, about 1.2 billion of which come from the Philippines and other developing countries. Legarda said that even as many more are gaining access to the internet, the responsibilities of users are not clear under the law, which has now led to the unlawful and irresponsible use and even reproduction of protected materials. ”Many people think that everything on the internet is free, without being mindful that the materials they are copying, downloading or spreading are original compositions of people who put much effort and talent to come up with such creative works," she explained.
SUPERICE IS MY PRIZE -- Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) Director Mario Capanzana (middle) congratulates school children who won packs of SupeRice in a mini-quiz show during the SupeRice launch Nov. 22 at San Felipe town of Zambales. SupeRice is one of the Department of Science and Technology’s answers to the problem of micronutrient malnutrition in the country. Spearheading the commercialization of SupeRice in San Felipe are Dr. Imelda Agdeppa, FNRI research team leader (leftmost); Mayor Carolina Pariñas (second from left); DOST provincial Director Bernadette Montevirgen (second from right); and local officials (in green). Superice, an iron-fortified rice developed by FNRI-DOST, contains 6 mg iron per 100 gram rice. About 4 to 6 cups of cooked Superice, approximately a day's intake, already meets the daily iron requirement of the body.
Facebook raises $1.5 billion, valued at $50-B SAN FRANCISCO -- Facebook has announced that it had raised $1.5 billion from investors in a private share offering that valued the booming social network at approximately $50 billion. "Our business continues to perform well, and we are pleased to be able to bolster our cash position with this new financing," Facebook chief financial officer David Ebersman said in a statement. "With this investment completed, we now have greater financial flexibility to explore whatever opportunities lie ahead." Facebook said US investment bank Goldman Sachs completed an oversubscribed offering to its non-US clients in a fund that invested $1 billion in Facebook Class A common stock. Russia's Digital Sky Technologies, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., and funds managed by Goldman Sachs meanwhile invested $500 million in Facebook Class A common stock
at the same $50 billion valuation. Facebook also said it expected to surpass the ceiling of 500 shareholders sometime this year and would start filing public financial reports no later than April 30, 2012. US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules require firms with 500 or more shareholders of record in a given type of stock to publicly disclose certain financial information. Facebook, the world's top social network with nearly 600 million members, said it had "no immediate plans" for the newly raised funds, indicating it "will continue investing to build and expand its operations." Earlier this week, Goldman Sachs, citing "intense media coverage," said it was excluding US clients from the private offering of shares in Facebook. "Goldman Sachs concluded that the level of media attention might not be consistent with the proper completion of a US private placement under US law," it said.
Internet exhausting addresses, but no IPocalypse PALO ALTO, California – The Internet is running out of addresses. With everything from smartphones to Internet-linked appliances and cars getting online, the group entrusted with organizing the Web is running out of the "IP" numbers that identify destinations for digital traffic. The touted solution to the problem is a switch to a standard called IPv6 that allows trillions of Internet addresses, while the current IPv4 standard provides a meager four billion or so. "The big pool in the sky that gives addresses is going to run out in the next several weeks," said Google engineer Lorenzo Colitti, who is leading the Internet giant's transition to the new standard. "In some sense, we are driving toward a wall. We have to do something, and IPv6 is the only real long-term solution." The pool in the sky is a fast-draining reservoir of IP addresses maintained by the non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN has been calling for a change to IPv6 for years but websites and Internet service providers have been clinging to the old standard since the birth of the Internet. "One of the reasons it has taken so long to change is that there is no obvious advantage or killer application for IPv6," Colitti said. The number of addresses that IPv6 allows for amounts to 340 "undecillion" (followed by 36 zeroes); enough for a trillion people to each be assigned trillions of IP numbers, according to ICANN chief Rod Beckstrom. "I guess if we could somehow link an IP address to every atom, we might begin to run into problems," Beckstrom said of IPv6 during an interview in his office in the Silicon Valley city of Palo Alto. "As far as thinking about the number of objects that humans own and use, we are pretty safe." With about seven billion people on the planet, the IPv4 protocol doesn't allow for everyone to have a gadget with its own online address. The situation has been equated to not having enough telephone numbers for everyone. Once the supply of IPv4 addresses ICANN distributes to the five regional centers around the world are gone, computers and other gadgets might have to start sharing instead of having unique identifying numbers. "You will start to share with your neighbors, and that causes problems because applications can't distinguish you apart," Colitti said. "If your neighbor ends up in a blacklist, you will too." "The Internet won't stop working; it will just slowly degrade," he continued, explaining that systems would eventually have trouble handling multiple connections on shared addresses. "Things will get slower and flakier."
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Cebu Pacific passenger traffic up 19% in 2010 ATTRACTION: Cebu Pacific flight attendants perform a dance number as part of the inflight safety demonstration at the arrival area of the Manila International Airport on January 6, 2011, as Cebu Pacific reaches a milestone when it flew its 50 millionth passenger, awarding the 50 millionth passenger.
PH aviation liberalization to benefit local carriers, boost tourism -- P-Noy PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has assured players of the local carriers that opening the country’s sky to international aviation industry will definitely provide opportunities for them that will redound to further boost the country’s tourism industry and the economy. The Chief Executive echoed this statement after he led the awarding of the Cebu Pacific’s 50 millionth passenger in simple ceremony at the departure lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City. “I am aware of the concerns of our local carriers and I can assure you that as we liberalize aviation, it will be undertaken in a way that will open up opportunities for competitive and world class domestic carriers like the Cebu Pacific,” the President said adding that once the open sky policy is implemented, local carriers would benefit from it because more visitors from the neighboring countries will be coming in. “Once implemented, we expect more international airlines to enter the market. Aside from opening our doors to more
PRESIDENT AQUINO
visitors that will strengthen our tourism, this will also allow us to enjoy a free market for products to further boost our economy. This, of course, will redound to thousands of additional jobs, which in turn will provide decent living to many Filipino families,” he said. Being a “new pilot,” the President said, he always has to ensure that no turbulence affects the government flight to progress as the country is now in a posi-
tion that can soar to greater heights. The President noted that no turbulence, no disastrous weather, and no challenges will lead his administration astray from its course amid the dark clouds of cynicism that will continue to threaten the country’s peaceful flight. “I ask everyone: do not let go, and fasten your seatbelts. We have reached our cruising altitude of stronger trade, more jobs and greater public confidence in the government. The skies are clear, and we are headed for daylight. With the renewed confidence of the Filipino people, and with the help of partners such as the Cebu Pacific, I am confident that we will reach our destination ahead of schedule,” the President said. The government earns P3.20 billion (approximately $ 70 million) for charging the international airlines to the Philippines for the CCT and GPB taxes but the continued erosion of foreign and perhaps Philippine carrier flights that support Philippine trade and economic growth will benefit the other Asian economies in terms of business and employment opportunities.
PAL sees higher profits in March 2011 PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) has said it may post a higher profits in the fiscal year ending March 2011 due to the recovery of the U.S. economy and improved passenger traffic. "We are almost close to our projection," PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista told reporters in a press briefing, without disclosing the actual figure. In December alone, Bautista said the company recorded a total revenue of $ 6 million because of the holiday season. "December is one of the most profitable months of the year," Bautista said. He, however, said that fuel expenses are also rising. The PAL executive said the price of jet fuel went up to $ 90 per barrel from last year's $ 80 per barrel. Bautista estimated that for every $ 1 increase in jet fuel prices, PAL's fuel expenses increases by $ 55 million a year. Fuel accounts for a third of an airline’s operating cost per passenger, and is the second-highest expense next to labor. Bautista also said that the company is on track in meeting its $ 1.5 billion revenue target for its fiscal year (April 2010March 2011). PAL also wants the Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE) to reverse its ruling granting hefty back salary increases and higher retirement age for flights attendants. Bautista said that the DOLE ruling was "confiscatory" as it obliges the flag carrier to share income it did not earn. He added that the DOLE decision has no "legal and factual basis." “DOLE expects PAL to produce the money but as to how, the decision did not say,” Bautista said. He said PAL could only infer that the DOLE is probably of the view that future income of the company from April 2010 forward can be applied to the salary increases it granted to FASAP for July 2007
to 2008, July 2008 to 2009, and July 2009 to 2010. “But this will result in an absurd situation. It is an unthinkable fiscal maneuvering. Considering that the DOLE had already ‘pledged’ any income of PAL for the next years, one can only wonder where PAL is supposed to source funds for the succeeding demands for salary increase when negotiations for the 2010 to 2015 PAL-FASAP CBA begin,” Bautista said, quoting a portion of PAL’s motion for reconsideration. To prove its point, PAL said it suffered losses of $ 297.8 million in fiscal year 2008 to 2009, and $ 14.3 million for fiscal year ending March 2010.
THE management of Cebu Pacific Air has said its passenger traffic rose by a fifth last year mostly because of higher international passengers. In a statement, Cebu Air Inc. (CEB) said it flew almost 10.5 million passengers in 2010, up by 19 percent compared to 8.76 million in 2009. The budget airline's growth was mainly driven by a 38 percent increase in international passengers, which numbered over 2.23 million in 2010. The airline flew 8.23 million domestic passengers, up by 15 percent from 7.14 million in 2009. The average load factor last year for both domestic and international routes was 85 percent, an increase of 8 percent compared to 2009. “We were able to grow our market to Hong Kong and Singapore by 29 percent and 45 percent, respectively, because of additional flight frequencies and our extensive network from Manila, Clark and Cebu. CEB also carried 65 percent more passengers to Kuala Lumpur in 2010,” Candice Iyog, the airline's vice president for Marketing and Distribution, said. She added that the airline's entry into
Brunei and Beijing also further strengthened its route network by providing passengers more access to North and Southeast Asian countries. For the fourth quarter of 2010, the airline took delivery of three brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft from Toulouse, France. This additional capacity boosted the number of Cebu Pacific's passengers in the fourth quarter to 2.7 million, a 19 percent increase compared to the same period in 2009. The average load factor in the fourth quarter was 87 percent, well above industry average. In 2010, the airline increased frequencies to China such as Macau, Taipei, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong from 68 to 80 times weekly. Cebu Pacific also increased frequencies to Southeast Asia like Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, Brunei, Bangkok, Jakarta from 58 to 80 times weekly, and to Korea and Japan from 19 to 21 times weekly. “We will continue to offer the lowest fares in every route we operate in, and offer better connectivity and flight schedules, as we take delivery of five more brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft in 2011,” Iyog said.
BREAKTHROUGH -- The RTT80 device, which combines a CT and X Ray scan, and has been tested at Manchester Airport.
High-speed new scanner for airports A TEAM of academics from Manchester has scooped a top prize for a new airport scanner which could revolutionise security. Professor Bill Lionheart and his colleagues from the University of Manchester, working with security firm Rapiscan, won the defence and security category at the Engineer’s Technology and Innovation Awards. They picked up the accolade for designing the RTT80 scanner, which has been tested at Manchester Airport and by the US government. The machine produces a 3D image of the contents of a case or bag to detect any hidden explosives or weapons. At the moment, suitcases and large bags go through large x-ray systems and are sent to a second line of security if anything suspicious shows up.
They are then put through a CT scan, similar to those used in hospitals. But the double-layered security system is slow and requires extra operators, so the sophisticated new scanner was designed to speed up the process with a combined CT and xray scan. Kenn Mann, technical director of aviation security at Rapiscan, said: "We expect the RTT to be a step change in baggage screening, bringing the highest detection performance at the fastest speeds. "Our collaboration with The University of Manchester has been a great success and has produced some very impressive results." Prof Lionheart, an applied mathematician, assembled a team to work on the design after securing funding from Rapiscan and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Airbus launches air traffic management firm ProSky PARIS -- Airbus has launched a new subsidiary company called "Airbus ProSky," aiming to enhance development and support of modern air traffic management (ATM) systems in Europe and other regions. Airbus ProSky will function to interact and develop ATM programs such as "Single European Sky ATM Research" (SESAR) in Europe, resembling what
NextGen does in the United States, the European leading aircraft maker said in a statement. The Airbus subsidiary will also work to implement air traffic management cooperation between the European and the United States by "capitalizing on the technological, operational and commercial synergies," it added.
The new entity will be headed by Eric Stefanello, vice president of ATM at Airbus, and supported by Marc Hamy, formerly chief-of-staff for France's Transport Minister. The first such undertaking announced by Airbus ProSky was the recent MoU with Chinese authorities for cooperation in ATM, whereby Airbus ProSky will assist the Chinese Air Traf-
fic Management Bureau (ATMB) with the introduction and implementation of new ATM concepts, airspace design, deployment support, training and best practices. Furthermore, authorities in other countries are also exploring the opportunities of working with Airbus ProSky to adopt the principles and know-how developed for ATM systems in Europe and the US.
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146 pilots, flight attendants sue JAL over dismissals TOKYO -- A total of 146 former pilots and cabin attendants of Japan Airlines Corp. filed a lawsuit Wednesday with the Tokyo District Court, seeking to nullify the carrier's decision to dismiss them at the end of last year as part of its rehabilitation efforts. The move comes on the first anniversary of JAL's filing for bankruptcy protection with the court and is believed to involve one of the largest numbers of plaintiffs seeking to reinstate their jobs with a restructuring compa-
ny, according to the plaintiffs' lawyer. Upcoming developments in the court battle will likely have an impact on JAL's rehabilitation as well as the attitude Japanese companies will take in downsizing their workforces. “We hereby announce the voting results (voting period up to November 19, 2010) for the reorganization plan that we submitted to the Tokyo District Court on August 31, 2010,” JAL said in a statement.
PAL to take over two Zest Air Mindanao daily routes DAVAO CITY -- The Philippine Airlines will take over the operation of two Mindanao routes from its sister company, Zest Air by April this year. PAL vice president for Mindanao lawyer Domingo Duerme said the two routes are the Davao-Cagayan de Oro and Davao-Zamboanga routes. Although Duerme did not give details as to the transfer of operation to PAL, he said this will take effect on April 1, 2011 using Q400, an 80-seater aircraft. Flights will be daily with schedule from Cagayan to Davao at 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. and Davao to Cagayan, 11:40 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The daily flight for Zamboanga-Davao is 1:10 p.m. to 2:20 p.m. and Davao to Zamboanga at 2:40 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. He also said they are still promulgating the route for Cagayan to Zamboanga even as he said they are planning to open this route by the second quarter this year. The origin of these routes will be in Cebu City. Operating these routes, Duerme said are of mixed purposes from business to vacation and other personal concerns saying that travelling by land to these places would take almost a day. Meanwhile, Duerme said they noted the increasing growth in the industry with the coming in of new players in the island. With PAL, he said compared to their performance between 2009 and 2010 they noted an increase. "But I cannot give you the figure because our fiscal year will end still by April 2011," he said. He said they maintain a 90 percent load factor during the peak months of November, December and January. He also said Davao is still a passenger route considering that the bulk of their passengers are from here. He said many still travel by air be-
cause of the promo fares plus the fact that it is easier to access and cheaper to buy tickets through online booking. Duerme said PAL has four daily flights for the Davao to Manila using 747 aircraft with seating capacity of 425, 42 for
business class and 383 economy; 330 has 302 capacity with 42 business class and 260 economy, 340's seating capacity is about 264 with 44 in the business class or Mabuhay and 220 economy and the 320 has 12 for business class and 144 in the
economy. He attributed the increasing passenger load with the bullish economy of Davao City with the boom on real property and the location of more business process outsourcing businesses here.
2010 air traffic gets boost from better economy UNITED NATIONS -- Passenger and freight air traffic grew substantially in 2010 as positive economic prospects worldwide overshadowed the depressed levels of 2009 caused by the global financial crisis, according to preliminary UN figures. In a report on trends compiled annually for its members, the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said the substantial growth in traffic reflects positive economic prospects worldwide based on a forecast of a four per cent increase in the world’s real gross domestic product and that total scheduled passenger traffic, both international and domestic, measured in passenger-kilometers performed, increased by about eight per cent year over year. Created in 1944, the ICAO promotes the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation; setting standards and regulations necessary for safety, security, efficiency and regularity, as well as for aviation environmental protection. The 190 countries that make up the organization’s member-
ship use the report’s findings for planning purposes, in areas such as infrastructure and plane purchases. ICAO said that the number of passengers carried in 2010 was up 6.3 per cent over 2009, at some 2.5 billion passengers, while cargo measured in freight-ton kilometers performed posted a dramatic jump of 18.9 per cent after a sharp decline of 11 per cent the previous year. The jump in cargo traffic was in with a sharp rebound in global trade and its largest increase in three decades. International passenger traffic grew by 8.8 per cent, led by a strong rebound in business and leisure long-haul travel, particularly in emerging markets such as the so-called BRIC countries Brazil,Russia, India and China where outgoing tourism flourished. The largest percentage growth was registered by the airlines of the Middle East with 21 per cent, followed by those of the Asia/Pacific region with 12.9 per cent, Latin America with 11.4 per cent and Africa with 10 per cent.
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India relaxes visa rules as PAL flies to Delhi March 27 THE Indian government has relaxed visa rules to attract more Filipino visitors as Philippine Airlines (PAL) launches a long-awaited service between Manila and New Delhi on March 27, 2011. “I am happy to announce that we will extend our visa-on-arrival facility to nationals of…the Philippines…with effect from January 1, 2011,” said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a recent speech before the 8th India-ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. “We invite many more tourists from the ASEAN countries to visit India to see the splendor of its rich cultural heritage,” the Indian leader added. Citizens of three other ASEAN states, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, will also enjoy the same relaxed visa rules. PAL’s new service to New Delhi will operate six times weekly, with three nonstop flights between the two capitals and three flights routed via Bangkok. The direct service (PR758) departs Manila every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m. Arrival at the new Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport is at 1:10 a.m. the following day. The return flight, PR 759, departs Delhi on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:00 a.m. and arrives in Manila at 12:00 noon. The one-stop service via Bangkok (PR752) meanwhile, departs Manila every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:45 p.m. Arrival in the Thai capital is at 9:05 p.m. the same day and in Delhi at 1:10 a.m. the following day. The return flight, PR753, departs Delhi on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 2:45 a.m., reaching Bangkok at 8:25 a.m. and Manila at 1:50 p.m. the same day. Modern, wide-body Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which seat 42 in Mabuhay Class (business) and 260 in Fiesta Class (economy), will be deployed on both routes.
Solons move against aviation noise impact LAWMAKERS have moved for the immediate passage of a measure that would prescribe a uniform system for determining noise impact at airports. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and his brother Maximo Rodriguez Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao, Inc.) filed House Bill 1649, which aims to set down aviation noise limits and provide for its management and reduction especially in the surrounding residential areas. Rodriguez said there is no existing law that fixes a uniform system for determining noise impact at airports taking into account the characteristics of an area, including its proximity to an airport and its non-aircraft background noise. "This is important to protect the public against significant disturbances in human activities such as sleep and rest," Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said it is the declared policy of the State to protect public health by determining noise impact at residential areas near airports and by establishing programs for the management of noise levels. "The State shall ensure the constitutionally protected right of quiet enjoyment of private property," Rodriguez stressed. "To be able to achieve this, the proposed bill provides for a staged plan
RODRIGUEZ
which involves zoning, land use planning and relocation," Rodriguez added. Under the measure otherwise known as the "Aviation Noise Limit Act," the Air Transportation Office of the Department of Transportation and Communications shall develop a medium-term plan to reduce by at least 75 percent the number of individuals residing in residential areas in the vicinity of an airport who are exposed to a yearly day-night average sound level of sixty decibels or above. The ATO shall consider various methods for aviation noise reduction, including soundproofing, relocation incentives, the use of a quieter aircraft, as well as operations restrictions and revision of air routes.