by admin | Sep 18, 2016 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
By: Jerome Auza.
For almost a decade now, Auza.Net has been publishing updates on technology relevant to Boholanos and the province. In the past year, we have seen significant efforts by the private and government sectors to encourage startups and entrepreneurship. This Technology Updates page covered many of the events such as Startup Weekends, Geeks on a Beach and various activities related to information and communication technology. There is a need though to highlight and encourage entrepreneurship in Bohol.
And for this reason, Auza.Net will start to highlight news relevant to entrepreneurship in Bohol. There has been many programs by various government agencies such as DTI, DOST and the provincial government to support entrepreneurship. Specific focus is on micro, small and medium enterprises that employ a significant amount of the workforce.
If you are a government agency, NGO or an entrepreneur yourself and you have news or press releases, you may send these to info@auza.net for publication. We will accommodate articles on a first come, first served basis. In this issue for example, we published the press release from DTI about the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP. The event has impact on MSME’s and by publishing this article, we hope to help spread the information to the general public.
This year and the next few years will be exciting to the startup community and entrepreneurs in Bohol because significant development in infrastructure are being implemented or lined up for implementation in Bohol. For example, the new airport in Panglao will definitely bring more opportunities in tourism. On top of that, there are plans drawn up to develop a tourism estate in Panglao. And just recently, major infrastructure projects for Bohol have been approved by the national government.
by admin | Sep 16, 2016 | Headlines, National News
MANILA—Government officials on labor and trade, business leaders and selected legislators gathered recently at the hall of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to discuss the implementation of the Right to Security of Tenure, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s resolve to end labor contractualization and end-of-contract (endo) schemes.
Organized by DOLE and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), led by Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, the high-level meeting exchanged views on the issues surrounding the trilateral relationship among the workers, the service providers and the principals or companies.
IN SEARCH OF A WIN-WIN SITUATION. Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez led the High-Level Meeting on the Implementation of the Right to Security of Tenure, participated in by other government officials, including Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion III, business leaders and selected members of the House of Representatives on 15 September, following the President’s resolve to end labor contractualization and end-of-contract (endo) schemes.
According to DOLE, there are 5,150 registered contractors and subcontractors deploying more than 416,000 workers to not less than 26,000 principals as of 2016.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez presented the so-called ‘win-win structure’ of labor relations involving the workers, the service providers and the companies.
In the ‘win-win’ set-up, workers can be hired by service providers as regulars, receiving full benefits such as leave credits, 13th month pay, as well as retirement, social security and health insurance plans, among others.
Companies, meanwhile, will have the flexibility to either directly hire workers as regular employees or outsource them through service providers, in view of seasonal job functions.
Subsequently, the trade secretary encouraged companies to ensure that service providers comply with laws safeguarding rights of the workers.
“What is critical now is the compliance of service providers in giving full benefits to the workers,” said Sec. Lopez, adding that the win-win structure has already received positive response from the President.
Other compelling issues discussed in the meeting focused on the system of recruitment between service providers and workers, the procedure of regularization and on probationary status, and the legitimacy of contractor and subcontractors.
The meeting also touched on the “four-fold test,” as determinant of employer-employee relationship, whose elements include the right to hire, payment of wages, power of dismissal or power to impose disciplinary actions and the power of control, which is considered as the most important of the four elements.
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by admin | Sep 16, 2016 | Headlines, National News
A trade pact that is part of an agenda to spur domestic reform, to improve the business climate and to secure economic gains was how Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) envisaged the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement on the first day of the Philippine hosting of the ASEAN Workshop on TPP, a two-day event on 15-16 September.
The Philippines’ possible accession to the TPP would mean greater opportunity to boost the country’s position in the global market through local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), workers and consumers, as they benefit from bigger potential markets and increased foreign investments, according to DTI Assistant Secretary for Industry Development Anna Maria Diaz-Robeniol.
Speaking on behalf of DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Robeniol said that the workshop may be viewed as a strategic avenue encouraging “an ASEAN discussion on relevant issues and concerns surrounding TPP,” whose package was finalized in October 2015.
“The sharing of insights and ideas will surely matter most as we talk about TPP as one of the most important trade agreements concluded in our time,” continued Robeniol, adding that the workshop would be “instrumental in identifying, discussing and developing answers to many issues that impact on the region’s investment attractiveness and growth potential.”
The workshop, participated in by delegates from ASEAN Member States, also aimed at providing practical knowledge on how the many different levels of development among TPP participating countries have been addressed in the key areas of market access in good and rules of origin, trade in services and labor, and investment, as well as other areas such as intellectual property rights, government procurement, state-owned enterprises and competition policy.
DTI also echoed President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration at the 13th ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Lao PDR last week that the Philippine’s economic thrust towards inclusive growth focuses on innovating MSME development, e-commerce, youth and women entrepreneurship.
“The Philippines’ current competitive position may be further enhanced through multi-lateral agreements, as the country continuously becomes a regional hub for growth, investments and exports—where peace and order is evident,” Robeniol added.
DTI noted that Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore and Viet Nam are already part of the TPP, and that the Philippines has already registered its interest to join said partnership, “with an objective to meet the high standards of the trade pact.”
Last March, at the 22nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Thailand, the Philippines, through then-DTI Secretary Adrian Cristobal, offered to host and organize the workshop. The event was co-organized by the ASEAN Secretariat.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Sep 14, 2016 | Tech Talk
Fifty-eight year old Josefina from Trinidad, Bohol only had P15,000 in savings when she started her small sari-sari store in 1999. Wanting to support the growing needs of her nephews, being single herself, Josefina requested P20,000 which she used to expand her business and attract more customers. She received financial assistance from 15 individual microlenders via one of Kiva’s Field Partners, Community Economic Ventures, Inc., which provides not only loans but training and insurance coverage as well.
Cebu-based Shayne Mae, on the other hand, is a hardworking entrepreneur who also needed additional funds to use as a working capital for her clothing sales business. With the assistance of eight individual microlenders under another Kiva Field Partner, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), Shayne Mae was able to borrow P11,999 to sustain her business. She dreams of saving enough money to send her children to college and renovate her family home.
Josefina and Shayne Mae are just two of hundreds of Filipinos which Globe Telecom and international non-profit organization Kiva are crowdfunding loans to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the underserved population in the country.
San Francisco-based Kiva is an online crowdfunding platform that enables anyone in the world to make a microloan to micro enterprises in over 80 countries in the areas of agriculture, food, retail, and services in a bid to alleviate poverty.
“This high impact partnership between Globe and Kiva enables Filipinos to support Filipinos in a sustainable and empowering way. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Globe, Kiva’s first corporate partner in Southeast Asia, and we look forward to all that we will accomplish together moving forward,” says Karen Little, Kiva’s Director of Development for the US and Asia.
Through GCash mobile money service and Globe Rewards, millions of Globe customers can now make a difference in the lives of micro-entrepreneurs. “Globe strives to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities by offering marginalized micro-entrepreneurs new possibilities for prosperity through ICT. We want to assist those who are currently at the base of the pyramid by exploring means in which they can increase their income. At the same time, we want to pave the way for other people to do something meaningful through our mobile services,” said Fernando Esguerra, Director for Globe Citizenship.
With GCash as the secure platform to receive donations, lending can be done through #TeamGlobe. Interested citizens may donate any amount to local beneficiaries in the areas of agriculture, food, retail, and services by accessing *143#, select GCash, choose Donate to Kiva, enter amount, GCASH PIN and email address. Those funds are then put into a revolving loan fund to go towards Filipino borrowers.
At the same time, Globe is also giving customers a chance to give back and support micro entrepreneurs through Kiva Gift cards. Customers just need to text Kiva to 2158-Kiva (5482).
Leveraging on its online facility and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva provides loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. The micro-finance institutions, which are called Field Partners, administer the loans in the field, giving people in need a safe and affordable access to fresh capital to further their lives and that of their families.
To-date, Kiva has over 1.5 million individual lenders from every country in the world. These lenders have funded loans amounting to over US$890 million to 2.1 million beneficiaries.
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For more information, please contact:
Yoly C. Crisanto
Head, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom, Inc.
Email Address: gtcorpcomm@globe.com.ph
Globe Press Room: www.globe.com.ph/press-room
Twitter: @talk2GLOBE │ Facebook: www.facebook.com/globeph
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by admin | Sep 14, 2016 | Headlines, Health and Medicine, Major Events
TAGBILARAN CITY, September 14 (PIA)–Opisyal nang gilusad kagahapon sa Holy Name University (HNU) ang Janssen Radio o DYJR 106.5 FM.
Gipasabot ni Fr. Ruel Lero, SVD, Vice President for Academic Affairs nga namugna ang paghingan niini sa DYJR Janseen Radio isip pasidunggog sa founder sa Society of the Divine Word (SVD) nga si St. Arnold Janssen.
Katuyoan niining bag-ong radio station ang pag-edukar sa mga tinun-an sa HNU ug maghatag og kalidad nga impormasyon lakip na ang kalingawan samtang mag-prodyus og maabtikon nga mga tinun-an sa Communication nga mamahimong media practitioners sa umaabot.
Isip ika-limang campus radio station nga gipadagan sa SVD sa tibuok nasod, ang Janssen Radio nisubay sa misyon ni St. Arnold Janssen nga mamahimong saksi sa pulong ug mensahiro sa ebanghelisasyon.
Gi-bendisyonan mismo ni HNU President Fr. Francisco Estepa, SVD ang lawak sa DYJR nga nahimutang sa 5th Floor, Scanion Building sa HNU, Janssen Heights, distrito sa Dampas, ning dakbayan.
Pormal kining napaminaw sa kahanginan niadtong adlawa, Setyembre 13 sa buntag.
Gipasalamatan ni Fr. Estepa ang tanang mitambong ug sa mga nihimo sa maong paglusad nga malamposon.
Ang maong paglusad gitambongan nila Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap, Bohol Chronicle Radio Corp. General Manager and President, Peter Dejaresco ug Word Broadcasting Corporation Chairman of the Board, Fr. Eduardo Rocha, SVD.
Gitambongan usab kini sa mga tinugyanan sa National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), HNU administration ug lakip na ang mga faculty ug estudyante. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
