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)
Friday, November 17, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
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)
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)
Thursday, November 09, 2006
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)
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)
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)
Thursday, November 02, 2006
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)
”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)
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