by admin | Nov 5, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
TAGBILARAN CITY, November 4 (PIA)—What could have happened if then Bohol Governor Carlos Polestico Garcia did not speak fluent spanish?
Well, he could not have met and be endeared by then President Manuel L. Quezon.
And he could not be placed under the tutelage of the country’s top politician to write his name in history.
But even if he did speak fluent Spanish, if not for a big political figure in Bohol who died, he may still be nailed to a seat in an obscure province minding its intramural processes.
But the death of Senator Jose Arsenio Clarin, the senate speaker protempore and the country’s third most powerful man seemingly opened a way for the Boholano teacher, poet and governor to be starting his shortened way to the country’s top seat, sums up Bohol historian Jose Marianito Luspo.
Professor Luspo was retellingat the radio forum on air the accounts as told to him by fellow Tagbilaranon Jose Maria Rocha, the Boholano Presidents executive secretary.
The sudden death of JA Clarin had President Quezon’s executive secretary Jose Yulo (who would later be appointed Justice Secretary) come to Bohol to finalize the funeral arrangements and lay the way for the guests. IT was when he met the governor for the coordination that Yulo noted Garcia speaking impeccable Spanish.
While President Quezon also speaks perfect Spanish, Yulo told the President to just meet the governor and find out, Luspo who was invited to the Kapihan on Popularizing Caloy said.
As the President, also known as the Big Spanish, was so impressed with the guy from Bohol, he accordingly told him to run for senate.
While Garcia thought even with the president’s backing, we still could not be that popular to win the elections, the next thing the president did was to declare a block voting in the elections of 1941, the retired professor and respected historian narrated.
That way, the candidates were not elected per se, it was the president’s party, the Nacionalista which won, and the nationally unknown Garcia along with it.
Already a senator by 1941, the Japanese invasion disrupted government functions and President Quezon accordingly told Garcia to go home to Bohol to help the people carry the hardships of the occupation.
In Bohol, Garcia had other things in mind.
Totally against the Japanese occupation, the former governor organized resistance movements as a guerrilla leader, earning even more trust and fame from his co-guerillas and the national leaders who learned of his exploits in Bohol.
By 1953, Garcia was so popular that he was picked to be the running mate of Ramon Magsaysay, who both won in the elections.
By March 17, 1957, President Ramon Magsaysay died in a fatal airplane crash in the slopes of Mount Manuggal in Cebu, which ushered to his eventual ascent to the country’s top seat to lead the country until the end of the remaining term.
By the next Presidential elections, Garcia won with Diosdado Macapagal as Vice President.
Just like that star that sits in the Bohol flag, Carlos Polestico Garcia was destined to shine in his own time, Luspo stated.
He was a man destined for greatness, and like a start that is destined to shine in its appointed time, Garcia, Bohol’s most illustrious became the 8th President of the Philippines and the 4th President of the Third Republic. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
by admin | Nov 3, 2017 | Headlines, Photo Story
TRADE CHIEF TO PH CONTRACTORS: TAKE CHALLENGE TO BUILD BUILD BUILD. As this year’s host of the regional meet, the Philippines recently (25 October) took the lead with the first ASEAN+6 Construction forum to advance institutional and people-to-people linkages among construction industry players in ASEAN Member States (AMS). Delivering the keynote address, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez (center) shared the ASEAN vision of creating an integrated and seamless regional community, promoting competitiveness, prosperity, and inclusiveness. The forum aims to ramp up the PH construction industry in preparation for the Golden Age of Infrastructure through President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘Build Build Build’ program. “To boost our global presence and keep up with our ASEAN counterparts, the Department of Trade and Industry is committed to its role in crafting fiscal and governance policies, while regulating contractors in comprehensive big-ticket infrastructure projects,” said Sec. Lopez. The Trade Chief further called on the local construction industry players to take on the challenges and opportunities of the ‘Build Build Build’ program as this would create and generate more local employment opportunities for Filipinos. To date, there are around 8,400 Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) registered contaractors in the country, with over 300 under the Triple A and Quadruple A categories. “We should keep in mind that all of these efforts is to ensures that we attain our ultimate goal of creating inclusive growth leading to shared prosperity for all, especially for our fellow countrymen at the bottom of the pyramid,” he concluded. Included in the picture are: DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo (4th from R), Department of Public Works and Highways Maria Catalina Cabral (2nd from R), Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Datu Abdul Alonto (4th from L), and other construction Industry Executives.
by admin | Oct 27, 2017 | Business, Headlines, Negosyo Center Updates
26 October 2017, Manila – With 280 exhibitors in 2×3 sq. meters of exhibition space virtually overflowing in Megatrade Halls 1-3, the Sikat Pinoy National Arts & Crafts Fair focuses on the living traditions of the country’s indigenous people to preserve our rich cultural heritage. Complementing the wealth of heritage and artisanal products on display, the fair is also a “festival of the senses” with a daily program of onsite artistic performances, skills demonstrations, and entrepreneurship learning sessions. As Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Rosvi C. Gaetos stated in her opening remarks, Sikat Pinoy National Arts & Crafts Fair has gone beyond the usual “flea market” style bazaars and is presenting the best products of the regions.
The Sikat Pinoy National Arts & Crafts Fair is at the Megatrade Halls 1-3, 5th Level, Mega B, SM Megamall and will run from 26-29 October 2017. The Sikat Pinoy National Arts & Crafts Fair is a project of the Department of Trade and Industry.
In photo: DTI Asst. Secretary Rosvi C. Gaetos opens Sikat Pinoy National Arts and Crafts Fair 2017.
by admin | Oct 27, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Philippines recently co-hosted with Chinese Taipei the “APEC Policy Dialogue on MSME Marketplace & O2O Forum” targeted at promoting the application of online-to-offline (O2O) business models and encouraging MSMEs to invest in innovation.
DTI Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (center), DTI Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Director Jerry Clavesillas (left), Chinese Taipei Ministry of Economic Affairs Small and Medium Enterprise Administration Deputy Director General Pei-Ti Hu
Since the inception of APEC O2O initiative in 2015, the Forum has showcased more than 200 best practices in the Asia-Pacific region.
For the Philippines, three innovative startups have won the O2O best practice awards namely: Medifi, revolutionizing healthcare with cloud based health profile management, video consultations, and medical imaging support; SnipePH, your one-stop solutions partner for employment engagement and business needs, and; recently we have BeamAndGo, specializing in consumer-related E-Commerce products and the first in the Philippines to offer a digital SMS gifting solution delivered as a text message.
“Technological innovations have the capacity to reduce costs, allowing ease of doing business which enables SMEs to access resources they need to grow and expand their business and accelerate the on-boarding of currently excluded markets into the global economy.” DTI Regional Operations Group (ROG) Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), e-commerce helps local businesses access global value chains. It enables them to have a presence in foreign markets through exports and imports. This process leads to higher productivity because of more efficient use of technology, heightened competition, and greater consumer choice; and creates jobs as firms start to expand.
The Asia-Pacific region has the largest market share in the digital economy, accounting for 33% of total market scale but only a few SMEs in APEC are currently taking full advantage of new digital opportunities.
The role of private and public sector in supporting more SMEs to turn these opportunities into business will be a key driving force for economic growth.
“Now more than ever, it is becoming increasingly important to call for closer cooperation and stronger collaboration as we work towards helping SMEs become our partners in promoting inclusive growth. And we do so by making them competitive and resilient as they embrace the opportunities and challenges globalization brings.” Maglaya said.
Undersecretary Maglaya also highlighted the financial technology (FinTech) as one of the digital transformations in the MSME growth and development. For one, there is Acudeen Technologies, an online facility that provides accessible financing to underbanked SMEs in the Philippines by letting them sell their receivables from multinationals and blue chip companies to Acudeen’s Financing Marketplace. Within its first 7 months of launching, Acudeen has successfully transacted over 50M PHP worth of receivables with 0% default and only 1.5% repayment delay rate out of over 1000 transactions.
More than 80 stakeholders including Google, Cerebra Technologies Co. Ltd., Acudeen Technologies, and other participants from APEC economies attended the forum and participated in the discussion focusing on the current digital opportunities and challenges of MSMEs in the globalization.
Among the eight (8) innovative start-ups and MSMEs from seven economies who shared their experience of O2O innovation and technology, Markedshot from Singapore was recognized as the top performer and given the “APEC SME O2O Best Practice” award with qualification to attend the “2018 APEC O2O Summit” in Taipei. BeamandGo, the PH tech startup who won in the last O2O Forum in Viet Nam will likewise join Markshot at the 2018 APEC O2O Summit.
The Philippines, together with the Chinese Taipei, continue their efforts to enhance MSMEs’ digital competitiveness and resilience toward quality growth through the APEC O2O Initiative.
by admin | Oct 25, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
On the Forum on Trade & Investment Opportunities in the Philippines, co-organized by the Trade Office, Philippine Consulate General-Toronto and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines held on October 23, 2017, at the Ontario Investment and Trade Centre, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Toon City Academy and Seneca College was signed. The MOU confirms the cooperation between the two institutions which seeks to widen the career opportunities of animators and create possibilities for professional exchange of staff expertise.
Photo by: Bin Kon Loo, Filipiniana News, Toronto
In photo: (Seated, L-R) Mr. David Agnew, President, Seneca College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and Mr. Rene de Guzman, VP, Resources Development, Tooncity Academy, Philippines. Witnessing the signing are: (Standing, L-R) Undersecretary for Trade and Investment Promotion Group, Ms. Nora K. Terrado, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines and The Honourable Minister Michael Chan, Ministry of International Trade, Ontario.
by admin | Oct 23, 2017 | Business, Headlines, National News
The Philippines (PH) under the Duterte Administration continues to enjoy the confidence of foreign direct investors with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Board of Investments (BOI), welcoming the investment intentions of Chinese firms Huili Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd. and Yi Ding Tai International Corporation.
The investments, focusing on iron and steel manufacturing and shipbuilding, are worth USD 4.5 billion with 8,000 employment opportunities.
“This is one of several investment proposals we have received on the steel industry that will allow us pursue President Duterte’s vision of having a globally competitive iron and steel industry, to support the growing economy, to alleviate poverty, and to create jobs for every Filipino,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
A private equity firm based in Beijing, China, Huili Fund expressed its intention to partner with PH and private sector entities through a letter of intent signed earlier this year and endorsed by China’s Ministry of Commerce. The company plans to implement a two-phased project of a world-class integrated steel manufacturing facility that will employ 6,000 people by 2022.
In a recent courtesy call on Sec. Lopez on 5 October, Huili Investment Fund Management Co., Ltd. Chairman Dr. Meng Xiaosu presented the plan for the facility where the first phase will include production of billets, long, and flat products. The chain will be completed on the second phase through iron ore. Currently, a feasibility study is being conducted that includes the possible location to set up the facility, where the availability of port and low electricity cost are considered.
“Producing the steel here will be favorable to both parties as it will generate jobs for Filipinos and be cost-effective for the company. This complements our drive to provide opportunities to uplift the lives of those at the bottom of the pyramid as we take a step forward to inclusivity and shared prosperity for all,” Sec. Lopez added.
Dr. Xiaosu also cited the benefits of putting up a facility in PH given that it is on the Maritime Silk Road and will help the company expand in the region while reaching other ASEAN countries with lower freight cost.
The trade chief shared during the meeting that the project will also contribute to the Philippine Manufacturing Resurgence Program (MRP) through knowledge-sharing of advanced technological know-how in support of the Philippines’ bid to be a major producer of high-quality and safe steel products by 2030.
Meanwhile, Yi Ding Tai International Corporation has selected PH as the best location for the development of a shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) facility for frontier-island, regional size vessels with 15,000 deadweight tons, including advanced ship and vessel designing, manufacturing, repair, sales, and financial support.
Feasibility studies are currently ongoing following international maritime safety standards as the company is intent on investing in an SBSR facility with a local company in PH worth USD 1.5 billion. The facility is set to open job opportunities for at least 2,000 people by 2022.
