Summit official brings good news to Cebu

Together with his wish for a peaceful Christmas celebration, an official of the ASEAN National Organizing Committee (NOC) brings an added ego booster to Cebuanos by confirming the report early this week about the attendance of the 15 heads of states in the 12th ASEAN Summit in January.

In a phone interview over ABS-CBN Cebu TV Patrol, 12th ASEAN Summit Spokesman Amb. Victoriano Lecaros said that the 15 heads of states have indeed confirmed that they are attending the international event.

He added that aside from the leaders, many of the economic ministers of the ASEAN member countries and dialog partners will also be coming to hold another round of talks.

“You see, all the talks about losses when the summit was cancelled due to the typhoon will now be dispelled for they (economic ministers and other officials) will come for the second time and spend their money here,” says Lecaros.

The summit was postponed next month after typhoon Seniang hit the Visayas islands shortly before the event should have officially opened here last week at the newly-built Cebu International Convention Center. (PIA)

US-based Microtel hotel chain to open Cebu branch

Cebu’s quest to become the next tourism hub in Asia got a boost after American hotel developer Microtel recently announced plans to establish next year its biggest project in the country so far on Mactan Island.

US-based Microtel Development Corp. (MDC) plans to construct a 150-room “bed and breakfast” theme hotel between two major hotels in Lapu-Lapu City.

”This will be the biggest Microtel Inn in the Philippines,” said Dean Cid, Microtel Philippines resident manager.

Microtel Inn Cebu will be MDC’s seventh development in the country. Microtel has branches in Baguio, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite and Boracay, which opened last Oct. 25.

Cid said apart from Cebu, the company is planning to put up a branch in Cabanatuan City.

He added that Microtel Davao is expected to open next year.

Cid also bared that Microtel plans to establish more branches in the country to add to its worldwide chain.

”As long as there’s traffic, ample business environment and good partners we hope to expand in every major province in the country,” he said.

Microtel opens its outlets to franchising at a rate of P1.5 million per room with a minimum requirement of 50 to 60 rooms per development.

The average area requirement for Microtel hotels is 3,000 square meters with a room size of 25 to 30 square meters.

The construction of Microtel Inn Cebu is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2007 with the target soft opening 10 months later, Cid said.

He said Microtel hotels have standard design and can be operational in less than a year.

Amenities in Microtel branches include chiropractic beds, restaurant, Internet connection, swimming pool, parking space and 24-hour security, among others.

Cid said unlike Microtel Boracay, which cater to the high-end market, Microtel Cebu will focus on “budget” travelers as its niche market.

He said room rates for the future Cebu branch will range from P2,000 to P3,000. (PNA)

DTI awards the top public markets of Cebu

In line with the government’s call to traders to prioritize the welfare of consumers, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu Provincial Office brings the advocacy further as it awarded the top three winners of the 2006 Pamilihan ng Lalawigan Search yesterday.

The awardees were Dalaguete Commercial Center (1st), Pardo Public Market (2nd), and the public markets of Tabunok and Consolacion shared in the third spot.

The search which does not only look at the cleanliness of the public market puts emphasis on the quality of enforcement of the fair trade and consumer protection laws, as well as the presence of proper market sectioning, vendor association, timbangan ng bayan, consumer welfare desk, market manager, and other related concerns that are beneficial to the buyer.

Each of the winners received a plaque of recognition, a token, and a banner that bears the information of their winning this year’s search.

DTI Cebu official Inez Cajegas who was with the Provincial Selection Team in the ocular survey said that in her observation each of the short-listed public market has its own good practices and potential for becoming the next Pamilihan ng Lalawigan.

The members of the selection team were representatives from DILG, DTI, PIA, DA, and a consumer group.

Among those who came to receive the awards were public market officials Felix Omilig (Dalaguete), Luis Calvo and Jose Delfino (Pardo), Jocelyn Sanchez and Winefredo Bas (Tabunok, Talisay City), and Teodoro Hatamosa (Consolacion). (PIA)

Cebu now ready for the 12th ASEAN Summit

The Philippines, specifically Cebu province, is all set for the hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on Dec. 10-14.

"All systems are go here for the Summit," ASEAN Summit Spokesperson Victoriano Lecaros said in an interview this morning over ANC Channel.

Ambassador Lecaros said physical and security matters are in place and Cebu is ready to host 16 leaders of the ASEAN member states and their dialogue partners despite the limited time given the Philippines to prepare for the regional event.

He said other host countries have at least two years to prepare for the top-level meeting, while the Philippines had only a year to do it after Myanmar declined to serve as the summit host for political reasons.

He added that the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) started only last April and in just a matter of nine months, it is now a world-class international convention center.

The CICC, one of the venues of the ASEAN leaders’ meetings, is now complete and everything is in place, including media and communications facilities, Lecaros said.

He added that the heads of states/governments and their delegations would be safe and secure as a composite of marines, police, coast guard and members of the Presidential Security Group have been deployed to make sure that peace and order is maintained during the summit.

"The whole world is watching Cebu now," he said as he stressed that the Philippines would definitely benefit from hosting the summit.

"There are long term benefits particularly in the tourism sector that Cebu and the country will gain from this event," he said. (PNA)

Cebuanos Call for Unity during ASEAN Summit 2006

Congressman Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City South District) called on fellow Cebuanos Monday to unite in giving visitors and delegates attending the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit a red-carpet welcome.

Cuenco said the holding of the summit provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will provide a slew of benefits to the province and to the country as well.

He pointed out that apart from the goodwill, there will also be a lot of revenues that will be generated from hosting the meeting and the influx of delegates who will stay in various hotels.

These benefits, Cuenco said, is a direct reflection of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's engagement in international relations which she is bringing home.

"Engagement with other countries introduces all our people to the opportunities that the world holds in store," he said.

Cuenco pointed out that while the province cannot prevent foreign and local groups from holding protest rallies in line with the ASEAN meetings, "they should hold their protest actions in peace" in accordance with the constitutional rights in a democratic country like the Philippines.

In a related development, Romeo Bautista, a computer technician of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, said that Cebuanos are peace-loving people as he appealed to militant groups coming from Manila not to disturb the ASEAN Summit.

"We want to welcome the delegates to our city. If the militant groups want to protest, they should protest in Manila or elsewhere and not in Cebu City. We want to show our guests that Cebuanos are warm and hospitable people," Bautista said. (PNA)

Central Philippines eyed as world tourist destination

The government will develop to the fullest various advantages of Central Philippines to make this super region a world-class tourist destination.

“We must develop its carrying capacity to attract more tourists and to make them feel comfortable,” President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Monday during the Tribuna España-Filipinas forum in Manila.

To fully develop the Central Philippines, she said the government will continue implementing vital public infrastructure projects and forge stronger ties with Spain so that communication as well as movement of people and goods within, emanating from and flowing into this super region can be facilitated.

More tourism activities are expected to help generate additional jobs in the super region to help lower poverty incidence there.

Mrs. Arroyo said Central Philippine areas of Bicol, the Visayas including Romblon Island, Palawan, northern Camiguin and Siargao continue topping the list of Philippine tourist destinations which most people visit.

“We’ll prioritize developing these since about 60 percent of our foreign tourists visit such places,” she said.

The President believes having Spain as a development partner will augur well for Central Philippines’ transformation into an eco-tourism destination. She said that country is experienced with such, having progressed into a becoming first-world State mainly through tourism.

Mrs. Arroyo likewise pointed out Spain can help push the government’s development thrust because that country is targeting more investments in the East as indicated in its 2005-2008 Asia-Pacific (AP) Plan of Action.

“We’re happy Spain isn’t just looking at giants like Japan, China and Korea but also an old friend, the Philippines,” she said.

Mrs. Arroyo is inviting the Spanish business community to invest in tourism ventures in the country.

Government's projects for Central Philippines are part of the P370 billion 2007-2010 public infrastructure program President Arroyo announced during her State of the Nation Address this year.

Malacanang earlier said the program’s implementation is now possible because its fiscal reforms are raising revenues for such purpose. (PNA)

Visayas OTOP Fair 2006 to showcase products of Central Philippines

A five-day trade fair that will display an array of exciting homegrown products from Central Philippines dubbed "Visayas - One Town One Product (OTOP)" 2006 is slated on November 23-27 at the SM Trade Hall, Cebu City.

Carrying the theme "A Feast for the Senses", this trade fair takes visitors on a journey of the senses, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the marketing arm of the OTOP.

In the Visayas OTOP Fair, visitors will take a tour of each region's most scenic views, captured on an adventurer's lens, hear the music of Central Philippines, feel the textures of indigenous weaves, smell distinctive aromas of regional delicacies and taste the delicious cuisine of different towns.

The Visayas Region composing of Regions 6, 7 and 8 have joined forces to create this revolutionary fair, to shape a new direction for the towns' developing industries, provide opportunities for budding entrepreneurs and develop a new culture of local pride.

It is the first time the three regions of the Visayas have come together to form a united front, a Supra-region, complementing each other through the sheer diversity of each region's products and tourist destinations that have captured more than half of the country's foreign visitors.

The OTOP Visayas Trade Fair is an activity that aims to highlight the OTOP program, a flagship project of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with the Local Government Units (LGUs) as the implementing arm.

The OTOP-Philippines is a priority program of the government to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs all over the country. Tourism and investment is promoted by capitalizing on what a locality already has -- the beauty of its culture and the ingenuity of the people, the DTI explained.

Under the OTOP, LGUs take the lead in identifying, developing and promoting a specific product or service, of which their areas have specific advantage. The chief executives of each city and municipality have the task of consolidating services needed by industries to develop as a trademark for their respective localities.

OTOP-Philippines provides a comprehensive assistance package through a convergence of services from LGUs, national government agencies and the private sector. This includes business counseling, skills and entrepreneurial training, product design and development, appropriate technologies and marketing.

The DTI said the OTOP-Philippines is designed to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME's) in the manufacturing and marketing of distinctive products and services to a much better level and achieve measurable results.

For more information on the trade fair, interested parties are advised to call Laura Rollan or Minerva Yap of DTI-7 at tel. nos. 412-1933/254-5317 r visit the DTI-7 Regional Office. (PIA)

4th ASEAN Business and Investment Summit to launch on November 18 in Cebu

As Cebu hosts the 4th Asean Business and Investment Summit in December, a formal launching and press briefing about the international event is set on November 18.

The holding of the business summit come December 7-10 is expected to open doors to new investments in the island and new global markets for the region's export products.

It will be a great opportunity for networking and business matching for our local enterprises in the Visayas.

The event will also serve as a venue for the region to showcase its products and its potential as host to various industry and business ventures.

Moreover, the summit will provide business and corporate leaders with invaluable insight into the implications of Asean integration for the strategies of the regional and global business and investment communities.

Likewise, the activity will also be an opportunity for the corporate world to engage heads of government on issues of the day that are of importance to the corporate world.

More than 10,000 Filipino companies and more than 50,000 throughout the Asean region and beyond are expected to link as for the three-day business conference.

The Cebu and Mandaue Chambers of Commerce and Industry will co-host the investment summit as both local chambers have been conducting regular meetings, together with some sectoral associations, concerned organizations and agencies.

Committees have already been formed on business agenda, finance, media and promotions, reception and entertainment to take care of various concerns for the successful hosting of the conference.

A major highlight of the summit are the conference exhibits that will showcase Philippine products not only to Asean businessmen but also to many other foreign countries such as USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, India and China.

There are now 20 booths available for all interested Cebu exhibitors. The booths are priced at $2,500 (3x3 m) and $1,500 (2x3 m).

All Visayas entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend. Early bird delegate fee is only P7,500 (if one registers before November 15).

The registration will entitle the delegate to attend all conferences, sessions and discussion, lunches, drinks, reception and full conference documentation for the three-day event.

Interested parties may contact the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) at tel. nos. 232-1421 to 24 local 107-109 and look for Rhea May Almacin. (PIA)

Cebu Shipbuilder Launches First RP made Pure Car, Truck Carrier

Cebu-based shipbuilding firm Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu), Inc. (THICI) on Friday launched its first pure car and truck carrier in Balamban town in the province’s western seaboard.

THICI is a joint venture of Tsuneishi Heavy Industries of Japan and the Cebu-based Aboitiz group.

The pure car and truck carrier has a capacity of 5,100 cars or 4,300 cars and trucks. It has 12 decks and a service speed of 19.3 knots. Its length is 170 meters, breadth of 32.2 meters, depth of 34.8 meters, full loaded draft of 9.5 meters and a gross tonnage of about 52,400 tons.

A Norwegian company ordered the ship from Kambara Kisen Co. Ltd. of Japan chaired by Makoto Kambara.

Kambara and his wife, foreign dignitaries and officials from the Naval Forces Command Central and the Central Command (Centcom) attended the ship’s launching.

Tsuneishi is now working on its second order for a similar ship. (PNA)

International Travel Magazine Survey Shows Cebu in Top 10 Tourist Destinations

For the third straight year, Cebu made it to the top 10 island destinations in the Asia/Indian Ocean region by the prestigious Conde Nast’s Traveler Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards for 2006.

Cebu maintained its eighth place finish last year in the region but it scored higher this year with 71 points compared to last year’s 69.5.
Cebu ranked seventh when it first emerged in the elite top 10 list of the best island destinations in the region in 2004.

But its ranking dropped a notch lower when its was overtaken by Lombok island in Malaysia last year.

Last year’s fourth placer, Maldives, is this year’s number one island-destination in the region.

Maldives received 91.5 points, knocking off 2005 winner Phuket in Thailand, which slid to number three spot at 81.8 points. It also ranked number one in the world.

Perennial favorite Bali in Indonesia overtook Phuket in the ranking to occupy the number two spot at 85.9 points.

Langkawi in Malaysia and Koh Samui where fourth and fifth placers with scores of 80.1 and 78.1, respectively.

The rest of the top 10 were Seychelles (sixth, with 77.8 points), Zanzibar (seventh, 71.7), Cebu (eighth, 71.0), Borneo (ninth, 63.2) and Mauritius (tenth, 62.7).

The Readers Choice Awards have been conducted by Traveler Magazine since 1998.

This year, 28,000 tourists participated in the survey and rated these destinations based on the activities, beaches, restaurants, lodging found on the islands as well as the friendliness of the residents.

Some 350,000 questionnaires were sent out to Traveller Magazine subscribers where they were asked to rate their choices for the different categories. The final tabulation was conducted by Media-mark Research, Inc., of New York City.

Traveler Magazine, considered as the world’s best travel magazine, has a worldwide circulation of around 750,000 a month and 1.8 million hits on its website monthly. Its readers have been described as the “most affluent, stylish and experienced travelers in the world.”

Traveler Magazine is published by Conde Nast along with Allure, Brides, GQ, Vogue, Vanity fair, Tattler and Wired.

The other entries from the Philippines that figured in the list were the exclusive Amanpulo resort in Palawan, which ranked 14th in the leisure hotels category in the Asia/Indian Ocean division with 86.27 points and the Peninsula Manila in the hotels category in the region with 93.7 points.
Shangri-La Mactan island resort and Spa ranked ninth last year in the resorts category in the Indian Ocean region. It did not make it the top 10 this year.

But the resort was included in the magazine’s Gold List of destinations for 2006 – the only entry from the Philippines. (PNA)

BFAR Central Visayas gets authority to issue export permits

Cebu-based exporters of fish and marine products can now secure health certificates and export permits from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7.

”This will answer problems of delays in shipment and collection of fees from exporters,” said Fred Escalona, executive officer of Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation (Philexport) Cebu Inc.

Escalona said exporters have been lobbying for “regionalization” or granting of authority to regional offices of national government agencies to issue export permits.

He said the centralized issuance of these documents causes unnecessary delays and higher costs in the export of fish and marine products, including those from Cebu.

Fish and marine products are highly perishable goods thus, a few days of delay in shipment would cause the goods to spoil, he added.

BFAR 7 fisheries inspection and quarantine services chief Jeffrey Cortes said after the regional office examines the goods, export permits will be issued within minutes instead of the usual processing period of one week.

”It will depend on the type of goods. For chilled products, it may take three to five days because we want to assure buyers it has gone through examination,” he said.

Exporters are advised to have their goods examined by the laboratory two weeks before the scheduled shipment.
While export permits will now be issued by BFAR 7, the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point certificate that is required by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and in Europe, still have to be secured from the central office of the fisheries bureau.

According to the Philexport-Cebu website, BFAR Director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. issued a “special order” last Oct. 12 delegating the issuance of health certificates and export permits to BFAR 7 director Dionisio dela Pena Jr.

Cortes reported that a team from the European Union had visited BFAR 7 to validate its laboratory facilities.
”We have upgraded our laboratories. They assured us that our laboratories are competent and ready for International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accreditation,” he said.

Cortes said the mission has already accredited the Bohol Agromarine Development Corp. in Tubigon, Bohol.
He is encouraging Cebu-based exporters to apply for accreditation.

Cortes also reported a strong demand for the province’s fish and marine products from Japan, Europe, the US and Korea. (PNA)

World leaders to converge in Cebu for 12th ASEAN Leaders' Summit

World leaders from 16 countries will converge in Cebu City in December for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Leaders’ Summit, the highest decision-making body of the regional economic grouping.

Assistant Secretary Louie Cruz, director general of the Asean Affairs Desk of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), said 10 of the 16 leaders are the heads of state from the member countries of the Asean. The six others are from China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia and India, Asean’s dialogue partners.

The 10 Asean members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Also expected to attend the Summit are leaders from France and other European countries, and the United States.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who left Friday morning for a five-day official visit to China, said she would meet with Asean and Chinese leaders during her trip to discuss security and other issues of common interest to Asean and its dialogue partners."My trip to China to meet with regional leaders of Asean and China is a step toward securing the peace and security we need. We are in a new era, and we must forge new alliances and new friendships to protect our way of life," she said in her departure statement.

Arroyo pointed out that meeting Asean leaders is another major step toward preparing the Philippines for greater prosperity, promoting openness and building friendships instead of aiding alienation and confrontation.While in China, the President -- who will chair the Asean Summit in December -- will co-chair the China and Asean leaders’ meeting in Nanjing.

The Philippines will be hosting an Asean Summit for the second time since the regional grouping came to being in 1967.

Cruz said that to underscore Asean’s concern for the welfare of the people in the region, the organization agreed to adopt: "One Caring and Sharing Community" as the theme of the Cebu City Summit.In 2004, Asean adopted the Vientiane Plan of Action, a road map designed to "come up with an Asean Community in 2020."

Cruz explained that to achieve the goals of the Plan of Action, the regional leaders "decided to come up with three areas of cooperation – in politics and security, economic, and socio-cultural aspects."He added that the Philippines batted for the adoption of the "One Sharing and Caring Community" concept to stress the pro-people thrust of the Plan. (gov.ph)

China's Jiangxi province donates RMB1-M to upgrade Bohol hospital facilities

Jiangxi province donated on Sunday 1-million renminbi (about P8 million) to Bohol, its Philippine sister province, for the upgrading of the medical equipment of Bohol’s provincial hospital.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who arrived in China Friday on a five-day official visit, witnessed the turnover of the Jiangxi donation in simple ceremonies held at the Hayden Room of the Sofitel Trilec Hotel here last night.Governor Huang Zhiquan of Jiangxi province handed over the donation to Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado.

"The Jiangxhi provincial people's government has decided to donate one million RMB yuan to the state hospital of Bohol province in the Philippines for the purchase of medical equipment," the commemorative plaque on the donation read.The donation was also part of the warm welcome for the President to Jiangxi and to "further enhance the friendly relationship between Jiangxi and Bohol and to promote the development of the public health sector in Bohol, particularly the Bohol State Hospital to purchase medical equipment," it added.

Aside from being sister provinces, Jiangxi and Bohol share the distinction of being the first sister provinces to share "sister mountains."Bohol’s famous Chocolate Hills, one of the Philippines’ leading tourist attractions, share the same "bloodlines" with Jiangxi’s Mount Lushang, also one of China’s tourist hubs.

The establishment of the "sister mountains" program is designed to spur tourism in both countries, particularly in Bohol and Jiangxi. It also encourages and supports exchanges and cooperation between the two provinces’ respective tourism administrative departments, travel agencies and relevant tourism service businesses. (gov.ph)

Western Visayas urged to tap available resources to attract more tourists

Speaking before guests and participants during the opening of the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly on Monday, Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab said this region is a host to seven of the 10 best tourist destinations in the country, a great come-on for millions of tourists worldwide.

Palayab said with the facilities soon to be put in place like the airports, roads and bridges, time will come when tourists will not just be visiting Boracay Island, but also other parts of Panay and Negros Islands, two places playing host to various tourists attractions.

In his message, he said Dinagyang festival is already an institution that no longer require further promotion.
Likewise, he said the recent Maskara Festival of Bacolod City has proven its worth to be an institution too and has become known worldwide after 27 years.

He said the Philippines is known for its fiestas and festivals and "we never thought that these festivals could become economic opportunities."

Meanwhile, he noted the increasing number of arriving tourists in the country. Out of 800 million markets worldwide, 120 million are from the Asia-Pacific region which is a great challenge for everybody.

He stressed that the resources are already abundant and the national government is just there to complement what is already in place. He added that what is important is for those at the local level to "do meaningful actions to show to the whole world that the Filipinos maybe poor now but are never wanting in ideas." (PNA)

DTI sets Public Consultation on the Technical Standards for Autogas Industry

Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will conduct a Public Consultation on the Technical Standards for the Autogas Industry and its related issuances on October 30, 2006 at 8:00 in the morning, Audio Visual Room, University of San Carlos Main Campus, P. del Rosario Street, Cebu City.

The activity is in coordination with the Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) and Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB) of the Department of Energy, the Land Transportation Office and the Department of Transportation and Communications and the USAID-ECAP.

The public consultation, a support to the government’s Autogas Program, will deal with the following topics: Auto-LPG dispensing station – General Requirements, Automotive LPG components – containers, Motor Vehicles using liquefied petroleum gases in their propulsion system and DOTC Circular on the Guidelines in the Registration of Auto-LPG.

Considering that seats are limited, interested parties are advised to call Grace Durano of DTI at tel. nos. 254-5317 or 412-1933 for confirmation of participation not later than October 26. (DTI7)

24 Pass Real Estate Brokers Licensure Exam in Cebu City

The Department of Trade and Industry-Central Visayas Office (DTI-CVO) announced that a total of twenty four examinees successfully passed the real estate brokers licensure examination administered by the DTI in Cebu City on May 28, 2006.

The successful examinees are: Alonte, Kenneth C.; Barola, Ma. Teresa P.; Barong, Jared B.; Cahig, Marlo Luvert H.; De La Torre, Napoleon Jr. B.; Fernandez, Globert Y.; Fritzsche, Antonina T.; Gepte, Rosemary T.; Jugao, Marlyn B.; Kintanar, Sheldon Vincent B.; Manticajon, Corazon C.; Mendoza, Sandra T.; Narciso, Mae E.; Paradela, Invictus M.; Quiokeles, Dennis R.; Quiokeles, Fleurdemae Y.; Salvador, Pearcy Joy T.; Sasil, Marcial Jr. A.; Secretaria, Glory Mae B.; Sen, Neil allen A.; Siarot, Jen Elizabeth C.; Temblor, Barbara May R.; Torda, Carl Dennis D.; and Tumulak, Mallah Z.

According to DTI-CVO, all examinees may obtain their ratings at the DTI provincial offices. (DTI 7)

Iloilo City hosts 1st Bangus Congress in Western Visayas

More than 300 pond owners, operators, processors, hatchery operators, feed millers, cold storage operators and other stakeholders in the region and from other parts of the country will gather in the 1st Bangus Congress in Western Visayas slated on October 24 - 26, 2006 in this city.

The Iloilo Fish Producers Association, Inc. (IFPA) is the host of this event that carries the theme "Promote and Revitalize the Milkfish Industry in Western Visayas: Market Safe and Quality Products".

The Congress aims to strengthen the bangus industry by linking the different players in the value chain; enhancing business tie-ups between buyers and suppliers; understanding the market requirements and promote the capability of the region as producer of quality bangus and source of quality input materials; and encouraging potential joint ventures, said IFPA, Inc. President Antonio Buyco in a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) press report.

At present, Region 6 has 55,011 hectares of fishponds operated by more than 4,600 fish pond owners. Concentration is in the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental.

The three-day event will kick off with the Opening of Exhibits and Induction of Officers of the different fish producers association at 3:00 p.m. on the 24th. The next day participants will be given update on the status of Bangus Industry in the Philippines by Philip Cruz of Aquaculture Corporation in Negros Occidental.

Other speakers and topics to be discussed on the second day of the Congress include: Milkfish Value Chain by former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Dr. Cefererino Follosco; Western Visayas Vision and Direction for the Bangus Industry by former Negros Occidental Governor Daniel "Bitay" Lacson; Current Local Marketing Practices for Hatchery Produced Fry by Jimmy Montalvo, Chairman, National Bangus Philippine Fry Association; Pond Produced Milkfish by David Villaluz, Secretary, IFPA, Inc.; Feed Millers by Christopher Co, Vice President Oversees Feeds Corporation, Cebu City; Canned and Bottled Fish by Nelson Sotomil of Victorias Manufacturing Corporation; Value Added Products by Ramon Macaraig of Alsons; EU Market Demand and Requirements by Dr. Uwe Scholz, Head of Fisheries, GTZ Head Office, Eschborn, Germany; and US Market Demand and Requirements by Dennis Voboril, Director, US Agricultural Trade Office, US Embassy, Manila.

DTI Senior Undersecretary Thomas G. Aquino will keynote the event. Also expected to attend the opening are top officials of the city and province of Iloilo and Guimaras and GTZ Trade Policy and Trade Promotion Project Manager Anja Gomm.

A draft resolution that would respond to the needs of the industry is one of the expected outputs of the Congress. (DTI/PIA)

DOST SETUP boosts Siquijor SMEs

Siquijor businesses now get a boost as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) began pouring in its package of support for local entrepreneurs here.

“I’m talking about the DOST’s SETUP (Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program) that aims to boost their productivity and ultimately create stable employment for our rural folks”, Engr. Mario de la Pena, Provincial Science and Technology Officer said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

As the DOST’s response to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s call to strengthen the country’s entrepreneur that are seen as the engine for job creation and wealth distribution, SETUP provides a package of intervention in the form of technology upgrading and acquisition, packaging and labeling, technical consultancy services, product standards development, and identification, training and networking assistance.

Four manufacturers/producers from this province are up for funding this year totaling some P843,000 and five more are prepared for 2007 funding.

Approved for this year’s release are mostly for the food sector namely Jainen’s Cakes and Pastries, P251,000, Ever’s Special Peanut Processing, P178,000, R&J Homemade Meat Products, P134,000 and the Naning’s Furniture, P280T.

For 2007, proposed projects are the establishment of Accelerated Vinegar Making Facility, P150T, Upgrading of Island Fresh Milk Facility, P180T, Technology, Upgrading of Vi’s Special Torta Production Facility, P150T and Establishment of Wrought Iron Forming Facility, P180T.

“Our local entrepreneurs from the food; furniture; gift; houseware and decors; marine and metals who are in need of technology upgrading increase productivity are our top priority”, Engr. De la Pena said.

In 2005, SETUP has also released some P863,000 in project fund for CJP Furniture, P150T; Duran’s Banana Crackers, P207, 500 and Renie’s Peanut Processing, P155,500.

“Our support even includes proposal preparation and MOA signing aside from the equipment acquisition, laboratory analysis, shelf-life testing, trainings and consultancy services”, de la Pena said.

To cite the local DOST has initiated the development of packaging and labeling design of Siquijor products which were showcased in the Halad Siquijodnon 2006 Trade Fair and Exhibits last month that higlighted the Araw ng Siquijor celebration.

“This assistance of DOST is very helpful to SMEs and I only wish that there will be more SETUP funding in the future”, de la Pena said, stressing that the main factors for beneficiaries to succeed are the positive attitude to the assistance and their commitment to the project coupled with good linkages with the government sector.

Meanwhile, the Government is making good progress in the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) as acknowledged by the UNDP country representative Nileema Noble in a recent meeting with President Gloria Arroyo.

The Philippines is on track to meet the MDG targets to cut poverty substantially by 2015 on the back of rising incomes, more jobs, better schools and broader social services. (PIA)

Congress on competitiveness unfolds in Central Philippines

In its quest to help realize Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s goal of making Filipino products and human resources meet if not exceed world quality standards, the Philippines Quality and Productivity Movement of the Visayas (PQPM-Visayas) will hold the 9th Regional Congress in support of the theme “Competitiveness in Central Philippines: Beyond Boundaries” on October 19-20, 2006 at the Parklane Hotel, Cebu City.

The said congress is made possible with the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The two-day Regional Congress will bring together distinguished guests and speakers from the different sectors of the industry, the government and academe in Central Philippines.

The congress will showcase cutting edge quality and productivity concepts and practices exemplified and shared by speakers who are trailblazers in their own field.

For inquiries and confirmation of attendance, interested parties are advised to contact Ted Segura at (032) 231-0995 or Noemi Igloria at (032) 253-1280 or email: rtwpb7@pldtdsl.net

Activity sessions will consist of an impressive array of topics focusing on Competitiveness Ranking and Statistics of Central Philippines, development plans to promote the tourism industry in the islands of regions 5, 6, 7 and 8, Corporate Social Responsibility, as well as, the importance of Sustainable Water Management. (PIA)

Siquijor symposium on pro-active programs for competitiveness slated

In line with its thrust to make local organizations globally competitive, the Department of Trade and Industry-Center for Industrial Competitiveness (DTI-CIC), the implementing agency of the Philippine Quality Award (PQA) in cooperation with the DTI-Siquijor Provincial Office will hold a Symposium on the Pro-Active Programs for Competitiveness/PQA Roadshow.

Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio of the DTI here said, the activity aims to promote quality and productivity improvement programs that are essential to the well-being of the nation's economy and our ability to compete effectively in the global marketplace.

The PQA, a national quality program which is institutionalized as the through Republic Act 9013 was created to help stimulate companies to improve quality and productivity for the pride of recognition while obtaining a competitiveness edge through increased profits and providing example to others, she said.

The PQA also provides guidelines and criteria that can be used globally-minded organizations of all sizes and sectors, including both private and public organizations that wish to evaluate their own quality improvement efforts.

A brief overview of the PQA will be presented and guest speakers will share their quality strategies and successful performance practices on how their organizations were able to change their cultures and achieve eminence.

The activity will also introduce DTI-CIC's Pro-Active Programs for Competitiveness, an array of training programs developed and designed to the needs of organizations aiming to further develop its human resources. (PIA)

Summit in Cebu tackles ASEAN charter

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo expressed hope Tuesday that the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to be hosted by the Philippines will be able to finalize the promulgation of the ASEAN Charter that would give it a legal personality.

Romulo, chair of the 10-nation summit slated December 10-14 in Cebu City, made the pronouncement during the symbolic turnover and presentation ceremonies of vehicles pledged by BMW Philippines and Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. for the use of heads of state and delegates attending the five-day event.

Romulo pointed out that as of now, ASEAN has three main components, which, when put together, will help create the ASEAN Charter.

"These three components are the ASEAN economic community, the ASEAN social-cultural community and the ASEAN political-security community. We want to put that together in what we call the ASEAN Charter so that it should ultimately bring benefits to the people in the region. That is the objective," he said.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Aside from pushing for the promulgation of the Charter, Romulo said the Summit hopes to discuss further the topics taken up during the 11th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

"We have many (other) objectives here, one of course is we are going to tackle the energy security and cooperation (topic). We will tackle the economic stability of the region. We will handle the counter-terrorism and we hope we can finalize what we call the ASEAN Charter which gives juridical personality but more than that gives direction, the vision and principle for unity among ASEAN countries," he explained.

Romulo expressed confidence that the summit, which has for this year’s theme "One Caring and Sharing Community," would proceed smoothly with a complete attendance.

During the turnover of vehicles at the Kalayaan grounds of Malacanang, BMW president Jeorg Breuer and Honda Cars Philippines Inc. General Manager Takashi Sekiguchi, pledged their company’s support for the country’s hosting of the summit.

Breuer and Sekiguchi were met by Romulo and Chief of Protocol and Chairman of the ASEAN National Organizing Committee Marciano Paynor, Jr.

Breuer, who was accompanied by BMW Phils. marketing and corporate communications director Lito German, handed over to Romulo and Paynor a replica of a BMW sedan symbolizing their company’s pledge of more than 50 units of 7-series and 5-series luxury sedans.

The BMW 7 and 5 series sedans are the top-of-the-line models of the Bavarian car manufacturer and retail for P7.5 million and P4 million, respectively.

Sekiguchi, who was accompanied by HCPI senior vice president and treasurer Alfredo Magpayo, likewise pledged their company’s top of the line sedan – the Honda Accord.

Magpayo said their company had pledged to supply the visiting ministers the use of their Accord sedans that will be available in 3.0-liter V6 and 2.4-liter variants. The Accords retail at P1.6 million and P1.4 million respectively. (PNA)

President Arroyo inaugurates P643M road improvement project in Samar

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently inaugurated the P643-million Catarman-Lope de Vega-Calbayog-road improvement project on the sidelines of her visit here to attend the 58th anniversary of Calbayog's citihood.

The ceremonial inauguration, one of the main features of this city's Charter Day celebration, took place at the Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST) in downtown Calbayog.

The President arrived in Samar from Manila to attend Calbayog's Charter Day and discuss with local officials from the three Samar provinces various development projects of the national government in the Samar island.

The 47.33-km. highway cuts across the rugged terrains of the neighboring provinces of Northern Samar and Samar, coast to coast from Catarman to Calbayog.

When the project is completed early next year, travel time between Catarman and Calbayog will be shorter by one hour than the travel time between the two points on the existing Catarman-Allen-Calbayog route.

The project includes the concreting of unpaved sections and the rehabilitation of badly damaged sections of the highway, the construction of one bridge and the repair of 26 existing spans.

Started in May 2004, the project is under the Arterial Road Links Development Project, Phase V, with funding assistance from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC). The project contractor is China State Construction Engineering Corporation.

Local officials led by Calbayog City Mayor Mel Sarmiento said the project will improve transportation and communications in the two neighboring provinces, enhance the flow of commerce, encourage more investments and business opportunities and thus promote further economic growth.

It is also expected to uplift the living conditions of the people, especially in the interior parts of Samar and improve their mobility.

The President was assisted in the ceremonial inauguration of the road project by Mayor Sarmiento, Samar Congressman Reynaldo Uy and Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan and several other local officials. (PNA)

Cebu opens training-seminar on heavy equipment operation

Wondering where those heavy equipment operators learn how to operate those chugging machines that are indispensable in major construction sites?

Now, as the prospects of heavy equipment operations rev recently with construction and infrastructure blueprint laid down by the national government’s prioritized infrastructure development in the super regions, the poser again ambles out.

This has also pushed the Department of Trade and Industry to announce for those interested workers eager to gain the skills, to a rare Seminar on Heavy Equipment Operation in Punta Princesa Cebu.

Set for October 16-20, the seminar would be conducted by the Construction Training Center of the Don Bosco Technology Center.

Aside from giving the worker trainees the right skills to run the equipment, the course is also designed to provide the trainees the knowledge and skills in common safety applied on the job site.

It also provides the proper work attitude in construction sites as well as the technique in operating the heavy equipment productively by maximizing its use.

The course offers to the worker trainee the technical capability to understand the basic and mechanical operations of the handled equipment so as to efficiently proceed to trouble shoot the equipment, organizers said.

It was not however clear if the seminar also includes a certification of experience for participants that would obviously be considered by contractors for the operator applicants.

At the end of the course, worker trainees should be able to perform the rudimentary skills in conducting daily check and maintenance of equipment; ensure daily productive operations and plan his course of bulldozer operations with the least time and resources wasted.

As for the fees, DTI said the participation is pegged at P4T per head to cover cost of materials and consumables.

An additional P1T would also be charged for the use of the basic training equipment.

For more information and reservation, call Ms. Grace Durano at (032) 412-1933 of DTI-7. (PIA)

New Bus Terminal in Danao, perfect example of collaboration

Danao City Mayor Ramon "Nito" Durano III said the newly-inaugurated bus terminal cum public market in Barangay Poblacion in the city is a perfect project example of a National and Local Government collaboration.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this morning led the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the bus terminal cum public market that costs P74M that is constructed in a 10,056 sq.m. lot.

Durano said construction of the bus terminal cum public market was done in six months and has 120 available stalls accommodating about 120 vehicles at a given time. The terminal will be fully operational in a week's time.

Of the total project cost, P53M is a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines and P21M came from local funds, Durano bared.

In his welcome address, the mayor thanked Pres. Arroyo for declaring a portion of the city as a special economic zone where Mitsumi Corp., a Japanese semi-conductor firm, is based. With the declaration, four new locators have already invested in the zone, which are providing more employment to the residents of the city and its neighboring towns, Durano said.

However, Durano said the special economic zone that envelopes 25 hectares are not owned by the city government but by Mitsumi Corporation.

Durano said Mitsumi is employing about 15T workers as he expressed hopes of enticing more companies to come to Danao City in order to provide more livelihoods to the people. The city has a population of 90,000.

The mayor likewise expressed his gratitude to the President for endorsing the North Coastal Road as a priority project in consonance with her 'Super Region' concept as this project will continue the economic upswing of the northern part of Cebu Province.

After the inaugural activities, the President together with her party composed of Trade Sec. Peter Favila, Presidential Chief of Staff Sec. Mike Defensor and Tourism Sec. Ace Durano were invited to a brunch at the mayor's residence.

The President and her party left slightly before 12:00 noon for Mactan Ebuen Air Base in Lapulapu City for her departure back to Manila. (PIA)

International water convention reels off in Dumaguete, Oriental Negros

Some 100 participants from about 500 various water districts in the country have converged in Dumaguete City for a three-day international water convention that reeled off here Wednesday.

At the opening program of the 14th International Convention and Exhibition on Water Resources Management, Oriental Negros Governor George Arnaiz welcomed the participants as he urged everyone to work together to be able to reach the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goal on water protection and conservation.

The convention aims to come up with a unified plan on water resources management that would benefit the entire Filipino people.

In his message read by Vice Mayor William Ablong, Dumaguete Mayor Agustin Perdices expressed the need for increased public concern and awareness of residents on how to manage the city’s water resources.

For his part, Arnaiz said the activity is not merely a wake-up call but a “call for action” for all concerned to be more committed to providing quality water to the people.

Arnaiz disclosed during the conference that the province of Oriental Negros will receive next week the national Gawad Galing Pook Award for its water and sanitation programs that have benefited the people in the province.

The governor also stressed the need to protect the country’s water resources.

A memorandum of agreement is in the offing between the Dumaguete City Water District, the provincial government, and the Rotary Club for a reforestation project costing more than half a million pesos. (PNA)

Central Visayas among top poultry, livestock producers

Central Visayas ranked among the highest livestock-producing regions in the cattle and swine industry, an agriculture official said.

Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 livestock coordinator Joel Elumba said a report of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) 7 showed that as of January 2006, Central Visayas was among the top-producing regions in the cattle industry, accounting for a total of 261,699 heads.

Among the provinces, Cebu ranked fourth with 108,237 cattle heads, producing 179,229 metric tons of beef. The other top-producing provinces are Pangasinan and Batangas.

In the swine inventory, Central Visayas ranked fifth with 934,420 heads as of January, this year, a 1.9 percent growth from the same period last year with only 916,890 heads. Cebu accounts for 404,650 swine heads, ranking fifth among the provinces that are top producers of swine.

Provincial Agricultural Statistics Officer Melchor Bautista said backyard farming contributes to the province's growth in the livestock industry.
Elumba reported that 300 to 500 heads of beef and goat are shipped to Manila per week. He also cited a strong demand in the province’s poultry industry, including egg and broiler production.

”Around 70 to 80 percent of egg production in Central Visayas comes from Bantayan Island off the northernmost tip of Cebu,” Elumba said.

Earlier, agribusiness journalist Boyet Cortes said Bantayan Island alone generates close to 11 million poultry eggs in a day. These are being distributed in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Cortes said the province shows a “good demand” for gamefowl-raising used in derbies. ”We are not promoting gambling but gamefowl-raising is a multi-billion-peso industry,” he said.

Bautista said that because of a strong demand for livestock in the province, it is “unusual” for prices for meat and meat-produce to be relatively high.

Elumba said the entry of livestock and poultry traders from neighboring provinces was due to the high prices of meat in the province. However, Elumba said the increase in the price of meat is not significant and still falls on the limit.

An increase in the average farm prices of hogs for slaughter in Central Visayas, specifically in Cebu, can be observed during the months of July to December, Bautista reported.

Elumba and Bautista both urged Cebuanos to venture into livestock-raising as the industry still shows a considerable demand.

On the other hand, Cortes acknowledged that the mass media plays a vital role in encouraging the people and reaching out to hog-raisers in remote areas.

Cortes is optimistic that programs like “Let’s Do Business,” which is a Cebuano agribusiness TV program, will encourage most people to engage in agriculture-related business, spurring growth in the sector. (PNA)

Cebu IT Park expects increase in workers

Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp., owner of Asiatown IT Park (AITP) in Lahug, here, expects to increase the park’s 5,700 working population with the recent opening of the Engineering Sciences Building of the Primary Industrial Properties Corp. (PIPC) and Skyrise Building of the Skyrise Realty and Development Corp., the company said in a statement.

PIPC is currently completing its second building with 17,611 square meters of leasable office space.

For contact center employees, the park posted an increase of more than 50 percent this year.

AITP administrator Raul Manaquil said the contact center workers, which increased from 1,424 to 2,384, comprise almost 60 percent of the total employees in the park.

”Around P1.4 billion in annual employee’s compensation will go to the local economy of Cebu by the end of 2006, not to mention the income tax component generated out of the employees’ wages,” Mananquil said.

The two newly built buildings are fully occupied. The Engineering Sciences Building has eTelecare, Dash Engineering, SPI Technologies and a ground level retail strip.

The Skyrise building houses PeopleSupport, Epson, Astro Ship, Info Weapons, Qualfon International, and Microsoft.

PeopleSupport, one of the country’s pioneering contact centers, needs 1,600 seats for its expansion.

Mexico-based Qualfon International, which opened last June, will exclusively service Tracfone Wireless Inc., a US-based cellphone company with about seven million customers.

Microsoft has now set up a base in Cebu. Microsoft-Cebu office is temporarily at the Ayala FGU Center but will move to the park by November.(PNA)

DTI holds Assessor Preparatory Course, Oct. 25-28

The Department of Trade and Industry – Region 7, in cooperation with the DTI-Center for Industrial Competitiveness and the Philippine Quality Award Foundation, will hold the PHILIPPINE QUALITY AWARD (PQA) ASSESSOR PREPARATORY COURSE on October 25 – 28, 2006 at Cebu Grand Hotel, Cebu City.

The course will provide would be assessors the ability to interpret the criteria; evaluate an application report submitted by an applicant organization and provide meaningful feedback.

Topics for discussion will include: Understanding the PQA; Getting to Know the Applicant Organization; Assessing the Approach Deployment with focus on Strategic Planning, Customer, Market, Analysis and Knowledge Management, Human Resource and Process Management; Assessing the Result Items; Consensus Review and Evaluation, Packaging Feedback Report for Judges and Applicant; Roles and Responsibilities and Qualifications of a PQA Assessor.

Because of limited seats, participants will be accepted on a first-come-first serve basis. Interested participants are therefore advised to contact Ms. Roselyn Suelto of DTI 7 at telephone number 253-7465 or email to dticentralvisayas@gmail.com

The PQA is the highest level of national recognition for exemplary organizational performance of private and public organizations in the Philippines .

The PQA was created to help stimulate local companies to improve quality and productivity for the pride of recognition while obtaining a competitive edge through increased profits and providing example to others.

The PQA is a means by which a company can distinguish itself from the rest – with the Phil. Quality Award considered a mark of distinction among quality-conscious companies and organizations.

The PQA is also an instrument for self-assessment or self-measurement, and provides guidelines and criteria for globally minded organizations of all sizes and sectors, including both private and public organizations that wish to evaluate their own quality improvement efforts.

This award was created through Executive Order 448 and was institutionalized under Republic Act No. 9013 also known as the Philippine Quality Award Act. It is now on its ninth (9th) year and is considered as an integrated management tool for organizational excellence. (DTI 7)

Ubay tops best Bohol markets

Asserting its pivotal role in anchoring trade and commerce in Northeastern Bohol, Ubay Public Market, which occupies a total land area of 2 hectares emerged as the best market in the province-wide Pambansang Pamilihan search for best markets in evaluations held recently.

Not to be left out while reassuring the people of its new identity as an awakened economy, market administrators and Local Government Units should be green with envy at newcomer Catigbian Public Market, which revolutionized market sectioning in a color coding scheme to place second best in Bohol.

Catigbian only missed 0.6 points to possibly even its weight with Ubay, which tipped the team’s scales at 91.6 points. Queuing at third place is Valencia Public Market at 88 points.

With their ranks, the three markets also earn the benefit of representing the province in the regional screening and evaluation, which should start this week.

The three markets, apart from possibly garnering potential regional awards have every reason to celebrate. They qualify for a provincial award apart from recognition in a ceremony set as one of the main activities of the Consumer Welfare Month celebration.

The three markets topped the province’s 14 town and city markets, which earlier pre-qualified for the Pambansang Pamilihan 2006 search, as implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry.

A component of the Bantay Bilihin Program, the Pambansang Pamilihan is a nationwide search of public and private market places complying with fair trade laws including price tags and other regulations on weights and measures, safety and quality standards.

A province-wide screening of public markets was conducted starting August, by a selection team, whose members gathered individual public market profiles.

The screening also included ocular inspections and evaluations to sum up Bohol’s top three winners to vie for the regional competition, a Provincial Selection Team (PST) member said.

Members of the PST are representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Tagbilaran Association of Concerned Consumers, Inc. (TACCO) and the Department of Trade and Industry.

As envisioned, the project aims to motivate the public and private market administrators and vendors to actively participate in ensuring and upholding consumer rights.

Moreover, it also aims to establish standards to be followed by public and private market places to ensure consumers’ health and safety so that consumers are protected from inaccurate weighing scales, thereby goading market operators to abide by the prescribed standards. (PIA)

CCCI nominates Cebu City for most business-friendly LGU award

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has nominated the Cebu City government for the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) award this year.

The Most Business-Friendly LGU Award is an undertaking of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in cooperation with key national business organizations.

The search is divided into three categories: Most Business-Friendly Municipality, City, and Province.

”The award will recognize the commendable efforts of each group using the following criteria: sound implementation of business-friendly procedures and processes; accountability, transparency and efficiency in administering daily business transactions and methods; and competitive entrepreneurship in their areas.”

CCCI president Francis Monera signed, filled out and submitted the official nomination form to PCCI, which set the date of the judging Monday during the 32nd Philippine Business Conference in Manila.

The nominees are evaluated through questions answered in the form that are classified under the business regulation; availability of primers on policies and business related procedures, efficiency and seamless quality of business-related procedures; incentives to businessmen and special services.

Most questions dealt with how fast and friendly are the procedures for the processing of permits for business, building and occupancy.

Monera, however, skipped two questions under the investment incentive ordinance, which asked if Cebu City has an investment incentive ordinance and how long this has been in place.

But Monera filled out all the blanks under the competitiveness criterion where he confirmed that Cebu City Hall has an investment plan and an investment promotion center, which is the Cebu Investments Promotion Center.

All the other points raised in the nomination form were also answered, particularly in the regular conduct of consultation with the private sector in the local development council, peace and order council and the bids and awards committee.

Naga City took home the most business-friendly city award in 2002 and 2003. The key to its success, Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo said, was the establishment of the Naga City website.

”It is where the people will know exactly what services they expect from the government, what is the procedure to do it, and who they will make responsible if this is not done,” he said. (PNA)

PhilEXIM approves P25 M wholesale credit line to Cebu-GTH

State-firm Philippine Export-import Credit Agency (PhilEXIM) has approved a P25 Million revolving credit line facility for the Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Inc. (Cebu-GTH), one of the country’s biggest exporters’ association, a senior official said yesterday.

PhilEXIM President and CEO Virgilio R. Angelo announced the facility during the launching of the agency’s Wholesale Financing Program at the Casa Espanol in Cebu City.

He said this move is the institution’s response to the government’s call for more accessible credit and financing opportunities to the SME sector. ”We are opening the facility as a model for wholesale financing to be able to address the SME exports. No less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wanted credit availability to be reached by a greater number of our SME groups, especially in the regional areas, where growth and development must begin,” Mr. Angelo said.

With the wholesale financing, Mr. Angelo said, PhilEXIM hopes to open more financing options more financing options not only for SMEs, but also for similar exporting associations, subcontractors and suppliers. Moreover, he added, this model will be a relief of exporters from fallings ales owing to the local currency appreciation.

Meanwhile, Cebu-GTH President Jenifer Cruz lauded PhilEXIM for continuously assisting organizations such as theirs, adding that the agency is in the opportune moment to come up with such programs that further the business growth and competitiveness of any export organization.

“We thank PhilEXIM for this partnership. Many of our members will be relieved and more importantly, assured that our collaboration with the government will yield productive pursuits for us,” Mr. Cruz said.

Last March, PhilEXIM and Cebu-GTH signed a Memorandum of Agreement wherein the state sovereign guarantor will provide a wholesale lending facility through a revolving credit line to be made available for suppliers and subcontractors which are members of the Cebu-based organization.

Mr. Angelo explained that the facility, apart from credit accessibility, will greatly reduce exporters dependence on opportunistic financing that charge prohibitive rates.

He added that the program feature of the facility is designed for exporters that may be SEC-registered primary associations, federations, chambers, chapters of cooperatives.

He further explained that the wholesale program can be turned-over four times by export subcontractors leading to the production to some US$8.0 Million in export sales.

Under the program conduit associations can avail of a credit limit with a minimum of P1 Million or maximum of P25 Million, with a single borrower’s limit of P500,000 per end-borrower. (PhilEXIM)

DTI HOLDS SYMPOSIUM ON PHILIPPINE QUALITY AWARD, OCT. 25

The Department of Trade and Industry – Cebu Provincial Office and the DTI's Center for Industrial Competitiveness will hold the PHILIPPINE QUALITY AWARD (PQA) SYMPOSIUM on October 25 (Wednesday), from 9:30AM to 3:00 PM., Cebu Grand Hotel, Escario Street, Cebu City

The PQA is the country's national quality award, and the highest level of national recognition for exemplary organizational performance in the Philippines .

The activity will be attended by productivity and quality-conscious companies and business organizations.

Because of limited seats, reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. DTI-Cebu must receive the confirmation of attendance on or before 20 October 2006.

Interested participants are advised to contact the DTI-Cebu's Ms. Marilyn C. Tancinco or Marivic V. Aguilar at tel. no. (032) 253-2631 or 412-1863, or email dticebuphil@yahoo.com.

The PQA is part of the government's ongoing campaign to promote Quality and Productivity Improvement Programs that are essential to the well-being of our Nation's economy and our ability to compete effectively in the global marketplace.

The PQA was created to help stimulate local companies to improve quality and productivity for the pride of recognition while obtaining a competitive edge through increased profits and providing example to others.

The PQA is a means by which a company can distinguish itself from the rest – with the Phil. Quality Award considered a mark of distinction among quality-conscious companies and organizations.

The PQA is also an instrument for self-assessment or self-measurement, and provides guidelines and criteria for globally minded organizations of all sizes and sectors, including both private and public organizations that wish to evaluate their own quality improvement efforts.

PQA was established through Executive Order No. 448 in 1997 and signed into law on February 28, 2001 through Republic Act 9013, otherwise known as the Philippine Quality Award Act. (DTI 7)

Global ICT congress to be held in Cebu on Nov. 16-17

Cebu will host the two-day International Congress on ICT (information and communications technology), which will kick off on Nov. 16, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The event, which will be participated in by delegates from 40 countries across the globe, is organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 7, Department of Education (DepEd) 7, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 7.

The congress will take up issues on the global challenges in education.
Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP), an international multi-stakeholder network committed to harnessing the potential of ICT for sustainable and equitable development, will take part in the event.

Some of the topics to be discussed is “Achieving Universality in Education Through ICT,” which will be tackled by Walter Fust, GKP chairman.

The other congress topics are Vision for IT Education, Emerging Resources and Tools for Education and Distance Education: Making IT Work for Us. (PNA)

Investment plan for Cebu gets nod from PDC

The Cebu Provincial Development Council (PDC) has approved the proposed P672-million annual investment plan (AIP) for 2007, a huge chunk of which goes to road improvement.

The provincial government has alloted some P300 million for infrastructure. For next year, it would set aside some P20 million as financial support for the Malapascua Island Eco-Tourism Plan.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said the P300 million for road projects was part of her campaign promise of asphalting 400 of the 544 kilometers of provincial roads in three years.

If the 400 kilometers is divided in three years, she said the province will have to asphalt an average of 133 kilometers a year.

Garcia said a P300 million allocation last year was estimated to asphalt 157 kilometers based on prices in that year.

But the province has completed asphalting 67 kilometers because contractors have difficulty coping with the number of projects they have to work on in the province, she said.

Cherry Ballescas, chairperson of the non-government group Partnership for Progressive Cebu that sits as a PDC member, said the NGOs did not endorse its approval because they want the details on where the money will be spent, and what happened to the funds allocated for this year.

In her reaction, Garcia ordered the Provincial Accounting Office to make a “centavo-by-centavo accounting and full report” of Capitol projects, including materials and labor costs per project. She also tasked the Provincial Budget Office to specify what amount has already been set aside for what. (PNA)

Cebu department stores deploy mobile outlets

If you can't go to the department store, then the department store will go to you.

This is the latest sales strategy of department stores chain Prince Warehouse Club to keep business afloat amid the tough competition in the retail trade.

If in the past, consumers from the provinces needed to travel to the city to buy merchandise, now department store operators are bringing their products to consumers' doorsteps, especially in special occasions like town fiestas.

Prince Warehouse Club chain president Roberto Go said his store would usually go to a certain town to bring house wares, RTW (ready-to-wear), electronic products, among others, a week or two before a town fiesta.

Gaisano Main department store, which also operates the Gaisano Country Mall has also been doing similar retail approach.

According to Go, a truck of merchandise will be transported to a certain town, and display these products to community centers for residents to buy. This brings a mini Prince Warehouse Club department store to towns.

This strategy, he said, has proven to be very effective in widening its market base and improve sales.

Prince Warehouse Club has been doing this mobile retail caravan for some time now, and it is a good sales performance booster, he added.

While the Prince Warehouse Club mobile caravan has only been concentrating in the Cebu province, Go said the company still has no plan to bring this kind of a concept off the island.

He said if the company were to entertain this kind of retail approach in other islands in Visayas and Mindanao, it still has to consider the cost of shipment and labor expenses.

He said Prince Warehouse Club still has to focus on bringing its goods to the different towns in Cebu province, from north to south.

Aside from boosting its retail business, he said consumers in the far-flung towns will benefit easier shopping spree, which saves them transportation money going to the city.

He said the farther the town, the more sales is noted, because consumers in these particular areas do not often go to the city and buy goods in cheaper prices.

Generally, he said, the retail business in Cebu has been performing very well, because of tourism, and quite good economic situation, compared to other regions in the Philippines.

However, he said department operators, or big retailers still have to think of strategies to attract patronage, as competition has increased significantly. (PNA)

Parishes offer prayers every mass for successful ASEAN Summit in Cebu

Fr. Carmelo Diola, Cebu Archdiocesan liaison officer to the Cebu Organizing Committee (COC) for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit bared all parishes in Cebu are offering prayers after every mass dubbed 'Oracho Imperata' for a successful conduct of the summit.

Ricardo Cardinal Vidal mandated every parish in Cebu to offer prayers to raise the consciousness of the public on how significant the summit is as well as for the awakening of spiritual and moral powers.

Diola said he will asked the Department of Foreign Affairs whether there are pamphlets that can be distributed to the different parishes that answers frequently asked questions so the people may have a better understanding of the Asean event.

The Cardinal sees a positive impact of the summit to Cebu and the country in general as he wants the people to cooperate and support the biggest international event in the country, according to Diola.

Diola, during the 888 News Forum this morning at Parklane Hotel, promoted a church-initiated activity called 'Dila-ab,' a heroic Christian fellowship that looks at Asean and beyond where a good Christian is akin to a good citizen.

The Cardinal's concern is integral human development as the ASEAN is another phase of globalization and that the ASEAN body should not be looked at in the context of economic and political perspective but must also include the spiritual and humanistic side, according to Diola.

Diola disclosed that before the start of the COC meeting held earlier this week, Catholic and Muslim prayer were offered as an Imam was likewise invited. Diola said they are exploring the possibility of an interfaith dialogue during the summit. (PIA)

Roaring economy of the Philippines

No wonder the Filipino people are happy as the last quarter of the year begins with good, healthy and vibrant economic signs in sight for the country.

For the common man on the streets who do not have the full grasp of the rosy economic pictures attained by the country at present, the almost weekly lowering of prices of oil products to P0.50 centavos per liter and the recent good news on the lowering of prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to P2.00 per kilogram are simple signs of economic turn around that bring not only a sense of gratification but an ease to the financial burden carried everyday by the financial managers of each Filipino households.

Relatively, the economic benefits that the common masses have reaped is just part and parcel of the bigger and more stable economic gains that the country have achieved at present.

By trying to look at the larger view of the country’s economy, we can readily see a roaring tiger economy in the picture willing to unleash its sharp teeth to destroy all the odds that may block along the way to economic development.

By taking a closer look at the present economic situation in the country, one can see how the Philippine peso kept its strength as to the dollar which as of yesterday’s trading of the Philippine stock market is equivalent to P49.88 against 1$.

Foreign and local economists are likewise upbeat with the strong performance of the peso against a dollar coupled with the continued lowering of prices of oil products, thus they likely forecasted an easement of the inflation rate probably at 5.7% to 6.2% compared to 6.3% in the month of August.

Not only foreign and local economists are upbeat with the good picture of the economy of the country but President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself.

The President assured the Filipino people that the momentum of the economic gains achieved by the country at present will continue as doubling of the efforts of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is on headway to achieve the much needed revenue to balance and sustain the country’s economic growth and performance.

Words from Malacañang thru Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Presidential Spokesman, mirrors the economic achievements by saying that the Filipino people and the Filipino nation as a whole are reaping the global confidence from the sound stewardship of reforms, tough decisions and growing political stability. Press Secretary Bunye said that all of these economic gains are credited to the over all discipline and spirit of enterprise of the Filipino. (PIA)

Media inspects CICC on Wednesday

A media tour on the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) is slated on Wednesday to provide the media a first-hand ocular inspection on the ongoing construction of the center.

The 12th Asean Summit Cebu Organizing Committee (COC) Chair Gov. Gwen Garcia stated a media tour on the CICC is necessary to update the press on the recent developments of the ongoing construction.

The CICC, one of the identified sites of the summit, has woven a lot of controversy whether it can be finished on time. The deadline for its completion has been targeted on November 15.

During the COC executive meeting this morning, Garcia said the media tour will allay fears or negative feedback from the public on the architects being able to meet the target completion date.

Apart from the tour, the media will be brief on the progress of the construction by architect Guanzon.

Garcia said at this point in time when the summit draws nearer, Cebuanos have to give their support and prayers for a successful hosting as all eyes in the world are focused in Cebu. The show of support includes a positive attitude, according to Gov. Garcia.

The international press center will be based at the CICC that will house a working area equipped with communication facilities and a press conference area. About 2,500 foreign media and another 300 from the Philippine press are expected to cover the summit.

The outcome of the ASEAN leaders meeting will be called the Cebu Declaration for future reference in succeeding summits. (PIA)

Maasin City to establish a college soon

The City of Maasin at present has no government-run college to cater to the educational needs of the poor but deserving students.

In this regard, City Vice Mayor Maloney Samaco filed an ordinance establishing the Maasin City college and appropriating funds for the said purpose.

Samaco explained that the venture of establishing a local college will generate additional income to the city, though the funds earned will be used to develop the said institutions.

Schools on the other hand can crop up economy of a community, as the local college will accept enrollees from other parts of Southern Leyte and other neighboring provinces. Boarding houses, eateries, internet cafes and other business establishments will boost, he said.

The college shall offer courses not offered in the private schools in Maasin City to refrain from competition, Samaco further noted. Courses that will be offered include Bachelor in Public Administration and Governance, Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in Agronomy, Bachelor in Social Work, Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Bachelor in Business Administration major in Marketing. Short-term vocational courses may also be offered, he added.

Samaco stated in his ordinance that salaries of the employees will be shouldered by the city government, subject to the Salary Standardization Law.

In addition, the city government shall be the one to establish the building for the classrooms, administration, library, laboratory and other facilities of the college as required by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The city government shall also provide a lot for these buildings and facilities which shall be in the name of the City of Maasin.

Though education offered by the Maasin City College will be much cheaper compared to private schools, good quality education shall be the main thrust of the institution, Samaco further explained.

Moreover, assistance from the Congressman and the provincial government of Southern Leyte and other donors could also boost the facilities of the new-born college. This is also one of the most important legacies in the administration of City Mayor Damian G. Mercado-establishing the Maasin City College. (PIA)

International tour operator lauds tourism potentials of Region 8

Mr. Francisco Atayde, Jr., the proprietor and manager of the La Viajera Travel and Tours in Manila, extolled the tourism potentials of Region 8 even as he praised the natural beauty of the countryside.

Rotarian Atayde was with some Rotarians from Manila who together with the sister club Rotary Club of Kandaya conducted a Medical Mission in Dulag, Leyte .

The group also conducted another medical and dental mission in partnership of the Rotary Club of Borongan, Eastern Samar at the municipality of Llorente , also in Eastern Samar .

Having had the chance to see the countryside of Region 8, Atayde who is an international travel and tour operator said that there is so much that the Region can contribute to the Tourism Industry of the country even as he volunteered to help in the promotion of the tourism industry of the Region with in the country and also abroad.

Mr. Atayde who is the President of the Rotary Club of Pasay Illustrado, was guest of the joint meeting of the Rotary Clubs of Kandaya, San Juanico, Tacloban and Leyte Gulf last week, where he campaigned for the attendance of the local Rotarians to the forthcoming Rotary International Convention in Salt Lake City Utah on June 17 -20, 2007.

He said that the Rotarians themselves can promote the tourism industry of the Region whenever they attend Rotary gatherings. Their attendance at the Rotary International Convention may also serve as a promotions and marketing mission for the tourism industry of the Region.

The mere presence of Rotarians coming from Region 8, in the Rotary International Convention will already make the Rotarians from other countries curious about Region 8, Atayde said.

It is actually not the place alone which make people come, more important is the people. Having acquaintances in a particular place, is a plus factor for people from other places to visit a certain place.
In the case of Rotarian Atayde and his group, they decided to come to Region 8 because of the Rotarians. (PIA)

Bright prospects await Cebu real estate industry

The prospect of Cebu's real estate industry this year is brighter, according to Cebu Board of Realtors (Cereb) vice president Raffy Toledo.

The optimistic Toledo said property development projects have mushroomed in the province and this is due to the confidence of several developers in the local economy.

"An indicator that the industry is growing is a spur in development of projects, such as residential condominiums, memorial parks, high-end to low-cost housing. And Cebu 's hosting of the Asean Summit in December is also a
"contributing factor" in the success of the industry," Toledo said.

He reported that several developers are looking at feasible sites in the northern part of Cebu as "progressive areas" for residential housing.

The average price for socialize housing is between P400,000 to P500,000 while high-end housing is priced at P3 million and up, said Toledo.

Overseas Filipino workers and Filipinos married to foreigners remain to be the industry's top market because of "their willingness to invest in quality housing," he added.

Toledo bared that Cebu still has many available lots for development. Even memorial park lots are considered 'good investments.'

He said healthy competition between memorial park developers in Cebu is a manifestation of the province's acceptance of the market.

Meanwhile, Cereb secretary Emily Cabillada said there is an increase in demand for residential condominiums in the metropolis, as well as in Mactan, due to limited space in these areas.

She also revealed that the real estate industry wants to have more "quality" professional property development managers to ensure continuous growth of the industry.

"These managers will make sure the building is in proper condition, and its staff is working efficiently," she said.
Cereb is set to conduct a seminar program on property management on Sept.30 and Oct.01 and is encouraging all building owners, property developers and real estate brokers to attend. The program will teach participants basic skills, knowledge and discipline needed to execute specific duties and responsibilities of building and property management professionals. (PIA)
Cabilla said the group is targeting 50 to 60 participants. (PIA)

Regional Development Council OKs six more bridges

Bridges in national highways being washed away or destroyed will be a thing of the past with the endorsement of the Regional Development Council of six more bridges in Western Visayas.

According to the RDC resolution, the proposed project aims to provide structurally sound permanent bridges along all national roads to improve basic social, industrial and agricultural activities in the affected areas and will provide safer transport facilities that would effectively make full use of the existing road system.

The project is under the Department of public works and Highways (DPWH) Bridge Construction/Replacement Project to be funded by the Spanish government Financing facility.

Under this project, it would involve the generation of a total of 295 linear meters of ready/reusable bridges in Region 6, utilizing the appropriate mix of loan and imported modular steel bridging materials from Spain.

With this, the durability and strength of the proposed bridges is further assured and people can rest easy that even during flooding, the structures will not easily give way.

Antique has three proposed bridges - the 25 linear meter Igtoog I Bridge in San Remigio, the 20 linear Bagtason Bridge in Bugasong and the 85 linear meter Hamtic Bridge. Capiz will have a 90 linear bridge for the Agbalo Bridge in Pontevedra, while Guimaras will have the 20 linear Guimawod bridge in Sibunag. One bridge has been slated for Negros Occidental, the Sum-ag 1 bridge in Bacolod City consisting of 55 linear meters.

The six bridges are estimated to cost P236 million. (PIA)

Virgin coco oil processing center to boost farmer's income in Siquijor

New hope sprouts for Siquijor folks as the provincial government ventures on a project that gives way to income generation and job creation in the province.

Approved by the Department of Energy (DOE), a P2.5 million-Integrated Virgin Coconut Oil Processing Center will soon rise in Lilo-an, Maria, Siquijor that aims to generate employment and increase farmers' profitability, says Medel V. Panzo, Officer-in-charge of the Philippine Coconut Authority here.

The project is funded out of the Development and Livelihood Fund (DLF), provincial and the regional share accrued from the commercial operations of Palinpinon Geothermal Power Plant 1 & 2 and Cebu Thermal Power Plant 2. DLF Siquijor share is P708,702.70 while Interprovincial/Regional share is P1,791,297.30, according to the report.
Panzo said, the project is seen to boost farmers' income through maximum utilization of coconut products and its by-products and eventually generates job in the province.

This stems from the fact that coconut is one of the prime commodities that the province produced. Records from PCA revealed that the area planted to coconut in the province is 6,808 hectares or 680,800 trees; 510,000 of which are bearing trees with a production of 18.4 nut per tree per year or 9,395,400 nuts. Production of this crop has become an important source of income to farmers.

The project is in line with the priority thrust of the provincial government to create employment and uplift the lives of the ordinary folks. Earlier, President Arroyo called the people to sustain the momentum of enterprise and productivity towards poverty alleviation, peace building, and law and order.

"The project is going in the right direction because of its potential to contribute in the government's effort to harness coconut as also a source of alternative fuel, " Panzo also said.

He said producing crude coconut oil, that is the raw material used in producing coco bio-diesel is also possible. "It is one of the alternative fuels being tapped by the government to lessen the country's dependence on imported fossil fuel," he said.

The DOE also said that the use of coco bio-diesel will be a sustainable and strategic approach in cleaning the air and energizing the economy.

Meanwhile, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo L. Neri said growth in any sector is welcome, as it fuels growth in others as well. "For example, building public highways leads to private real estate investment, which in turn feeds construction, the cement industry, iron and steel, utilities. Jobs created in one sector are multiplied into others,' explained Neri, who is also director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Neri added government must sustain the momentum of fiscal reform. He noted, "Now that we are well on our way to resolving our fiscal deficit, of putting our fiscal house in order, the next step would be now to bring in more investments, among which are core projects in infrastructure."

Neri said government needs funds to build highways, farm-to-market roads, water supply networks, irrigation facilities, classrooms, and health centers. "It is vital to ensure the resources for such infrastructure as they directly lift families out of poverty," he asserted. The socioeconomic planning secretary also noted that growth must promote employment.

Neri said the government should continue its interventions in agriculture and pursue adequate infrastructure spending to boost economic growth and employment. Other policy agenda that should be pushed, he said, include support to micro entrepreneurship and an improved industry regulatory framework. (PIA)

More entrepreneurs in Borongan get gov't assistance

In line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's vision to provide better job and livelihood opportunities for the poor, Quedancor of Borongan has, since August of 2004, released a total of P83M in credit facilities to small time agri-business operators.

This was reported by Quedancor Borongan Manager, Eddie Quillopa in a brief interview with Sammy Candido (PIA). Quillopa disclosed that some 2,429 beneficiaries, government employees included have in fact availed of the assistance.

Also, Quedancor extends assistance to informal sectors, the fisherfolks, entrepreneurs and product marketers. While other banks would not grant loans to these groups because of collateral requirements, they do welcome landless individuals as so mandated by the President to continue the commitment.

Quillopa further said that three or four member-groups are preferred to be granted with the loan, such that P25,000.00 to P150,000.00 is availed of each member of a small group of microfinance entrepreneur: farmers, fisherfolks, meat vendors and sari-sari store. However, a mayor's permit is required to be complied with, background investigation and credit investigation report.

Mrs. Lolita Alar who owns a mini grocery in a Borongan poblacion barangay was one of the lucky Quedancor borrowers. She and her two other women were granted some P300,000.00, but as the group leader, she is tasked to promptly collect the monthly amortization to avoid charges for delayed remittances. Mrs. Alar finds happiness in her booming store as the lending institution has extended her and her group additional capital.

Another business-minded individual who availed of the loan was a piggery owner Raul Patungan of brgy. Bato. Patungan proudly reported that from his first loan he was able to purchase 30 heads of fattening pigs for P2,000.00 each.

Having fully paid the P60,000.00 he first loaned, he was granted P224,000.00 which made him buy 20 heads of sows.Patungan jibed that since he is a good payor, Quidancor increased his loan availment. He added that a borrower is only given a year to pay his loan, and if he is not a delinquent payor more "blessings" are granted to him in loan. (PIA)

Cebu councilor urges DTI to conduct info drive on product warranty

A Cebu City councilor has urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to conduct information drive to inform consumers on the product service warranty provision of the Consumers Act of the Philippines.

Cebu City Councilor Arsenio Pacana, Cebu City Council chairman of the committee on business, trade and industry, said the council is set to pass a resolution requesting the DTI to act on this matter to protect the consuming public from trade malpractices and from substandard hazardous products.

He said many consumers still fall prey to some blatant and sales malpractices observed in some business establishments or stores in malls selling appliances. Pacana cited the non-observance of the product and service warranty provision of the Consumers Act of the Philippines.

He said most of the unpopular brands of appliances sold in merchant stores were not covered by appropriate warranties because the manufacturer of these appliances had no branch office or service center in the locality.

”It must be stressed that the failure of some business establishments or appliance stores to provide buyers, especially those buying unpopular branded appliances, the lack of appropriate warranties clearly violates the mandate of the Consumer Act,” Pacana’s proposed resolution stated.

He also called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipnas and the DTI to make guidelines on appropriate credit card surcharges to protect consumers particularly those who buy appliances in merchant stores.

Pacana said merchant store owners selling appliances usually impose extra surcharges on consumers using credit cards.

Based on informal survey of appliance stores in shopping malls, Pacana said, credit cards users pay three to six percent more for their purchases compared to those who pay in cash.

He said there is a growing clamor to protect consumers from the unfair practice of appliance stores imposing the additional surcharge.

”Using credit cards instead of cash has a positive effect on the economy since it would encourage consumers, local and foreign tourists to safety shop around and buy goods without necessarily bringing cash,” the resolution said. (PNA)