by admin | Aug 30, 2017 | DTI Updates, Headlines
The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is set to send a trade mission to Jakarta and Manado on 4 to 8 September in a bid to sustain the Davao-General Santos-Bitung Roll-On, Roll-Off (RORO) operations and expand trade with Indonesia.
The DTI said it is lending support to the Davao Chamber of Commerce and the Indonesian Consulate in Davao in organizing the upcoming trade mission to Jakarta and Manado.
“Sustaining the RO-RO operations, launched in April this year by President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, is high on the agenda of DTI,” Trade and Investments Promotion Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado said.
“We want to see the sustained operations of the shipping service so our local entrepreneurs, particularly our small and medium enterprises in Mindanao, could begin to reap the gains from enhanced connectivity between Mindanao and Sulawesi, and the greater BIMP-EAGA region,” Undersecretary Terrado added.
The Philippine business delegation composed of government representatives and local entrepreneurs in Davao will focus on building networks and partnerships with Indonesian companies in the areas of trading, joint venture agreements, joint production schemes, and other forms of strategic partnerships.
Among the companies that are part of the delegation are Eagle Multi Purpose Cooperative, Mindanao Agriplus Corporation, Certuso Structural Speacialists Corporation, Halal Business Council, Aleson Shipping Lines, Inc. and Fastcargo Logistics Corp.
Business-to-business (B to B) meetings and networking sessions, site visits in Bitung Port as well as market and company visits are included in the mission’s itinerary.
DTI Regional Director Belenda Ambi noted that DTI expects targeted, high-quality meetings during the B2B and networking sessions. Meanwhile, market visits aim to help the business delegation to understand the Indonesian market in terms of product offerings, pricing, packaging, and competition.
“We enjoin the full cooperation of all stakeholders of both countries to maximize the opportunities being offered by the sustained operations of the route. This is a great opportunity that has been made available to local entrepreneurs to ensure that they could participate more in international business,” Ambi said.
by admin | Aug 25, 2017 | Bird Flu News, DOH Updates, Headlines
TAGBILARAN CITY, August 25, 2017 (PIA) –There is another strong reason why hunting wildlife as defined by the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and their Habitats Act is bad.
The onset of an avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak in Pampanga and in Jaen in Nueva Ecija makes it possible for migratory birds on a pit stop in the Candaba marshes of Pampanga can be potential carriers of the deadly virus that can mutate and affect humans, health professionals said.
Wildlife conservationists see Candaba as an important staging and wintering site of migratory birds, it being part of the East Asia Pacific Migratory Flyway.
Candaba, a popular nesting, wintering and feeding site for birds escaping from the harsh winters in the north, is also home to local birds and ducks, well within the outbreak affected sites.
As the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) totally protects 47 of these sites, 23 sites are partially protected and another 47 sites are not protected, according to the government environment agency.
Over that, several areas in Bohol which hosts migrating birds, ducks and mallards are not in the list of DENR protection.
As these migrating birds including teals make their stops in 117 more important bird sites in country while carrying the virus, in Bohol, some of these stop by Malinao Dam in Pilar and mingle with the native wild ducks and mallards, possibly passing on the virus, warned Bohol provincial veterinarian (Pvet) Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz.
Wild duck and wild birds hunting hobbyists remain to be a top concern for veterinarians, because according to Dr. Lapiz, getting exposed to these infected birds and their body fluids is dangerous.
Although avian flu viruses do not normally infect humans, sporadic human infections with avian flu viruses have occurred, Center for Disease Control and Prevention continues to warn.
Birds sharing food, water and roosting spots could pass the disease to each other and to people who come in contact with them, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
In fact, in the outbreak, DA-BAI has asked people to get involved in monitoring the spread of the virus.
Communities can help by reporting illegal transport of infected products and monitoring areas where migratory birds can be stopping and mingling with native flocks.
According to DA BAI, for animal movement concerns, people can report to 09189171407 while for potential disease cases reporting, BAI suggests informing 09208543119 (Smart) or 09951329339 (Globe).
The DA has suspended the transport of fowls and products from Luzon to other parts of the country, following a transport ban issued a week ago.
The lifting of the ban however does not include products from the affected areas.
In Bohol, the PVet has implemented quarantine checkpoints to buses and boats from Luzon.
Footbaths, chemical spraying of vehicle tires and inspections of animal transport permits, veterinary certificates have been implemented, according to Bohol veterinary quarantine officer Maria Eleonor Abisado.
This as the government continues to issue warnings against eating raw poultry meat or eggs and thoroughly cooking them, to make sure the disease contamination is stopped.
Bird flu virus dies at 70 degrees and its exposure to the sun kills it, Dr. Lapiz added.
At this, she also reminded people: never get in contact with migratory, wild or resident birds, do not release of expose birds to the wilds and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after accidental exposure to birds and fowl. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)
DENR’s Cora Colarines explains during the Kapihan sa PIA the country’s wetlands and the migration of birds from the north. Migratory birds stopping by Candaba in pampanga could pick up the bird flu virus and carry it to Bohol, she warned. (PIABohol)
by admin | Aug 24, 2017 | Headlines, Tech Talk
DICT, successful Silicon Valley Fil-Ams lead 400 participants
Some 400 participants from the government and the private sector, including successful technology entrepreneurs from Southeast Asia and Silicon Valley, has gathered in Puerto Princesa, Palawan as Geeks on a Beach 2017 starts today.
For two days, participants will get to listen to valuable insights from big names in the startup and technology community. There will be keynotes, panels, and discussions with separate breakout tracks in between.
Successful Filipino-Americans Yobie Benjamin and Aldo Carrascoso lead the list of the world’s prominent names in the field of startups and technology who arrived at the Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa Hotel in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Navigating startup ecosystem
The first day will open with keynote speeches by Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron, Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Monchito Ibrahim, Voyager Innovations Vice President and Managing Director Dindo Marzan, and Token.io and ClickSWITCH.com Chief Technology Officer Yobie Benjamin.
This will be followed by the panel “How Founders Can Navigate Treacherous Seas; Path to potential Unicorns in the Philippines” where technopreneurs from Tokien.io, ClickSWITCH.com, GlycoProX Biosciences, Veem, Jukin Media & Verego, Plug and Play Technology Center, InnoVantage, Inc., StartUp Village, and MobKard will display the story of their success.
Another panel entitled “Startup Ecosystem – How to increase # of successful startups in the Philippines” will highlight speakers from the DICT, Department of Science and Technology – PCIEERD, Department of Trade and Industry, TechTalks.ph, IdeaSpace Foundation, and the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA).
An investor panel which will bring together tech, design, and startup entrepreneurs to brush shoulders with the world’s biggest venture capitalists and investors in the tech world will meanwhile feature Greylock Ventures, North Ridge Partners, Plug and Play, Hatchd Digital, Endeavor Philippines, and Anthill Ventures.
The first day will include the presentation “Startup Nation – The Israel Story” by Sagiv Massad who is the Director of Technology and Cybersecurity for Business Profiles Inc. and Director of the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines”. Jojo Flores of StartupPH.org will also present “State of the Nation’s Startups: How Competitive can PH Startups Get?”
Corporate Digital Transformation
The second day will kick-off with keynotes by DOST-PCIEERD Engr. Russell Pilli, Center for International Expositions and Missions Executive Director Clayton Tugonon, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce Engr. Ramon Escueta
The panels for the day include “Corporate Digital Transformation: Becoming Victorious in a Collision between Businesses and Today’s Challenging Digital Forces” featuring Dragonpay Corporation, BlastAsia & Xamun Inc., PLDT Innolab, Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Payoneer, and the Puerto Princesa Chamber of Commerce, “The way of Creatives: Establishing a Sustainable Niche in a Disruptive Economy” with creatives startups GrupoMM, CreateCebu, 22 Tango Records, and Altum, and “Role of Incubators and Accelerators in Growing Mature Startups” with the BNEFIT, NICP, IdeaSpace Foundation, Muru-D Singapore, UP Enterprise, QBO, ASEAN Centre of Entrepreneurship, and MaGIC Malaysia.
There are also talks on “Boosting FilipinoTrailblazers in Gaming and Animation” by Synergy88 Digital Inc. Managing Director and Co-Founder Jacqueline Chua, “Cultivating Creativity in the Circular Economy” by Altum Director Carlo Delantar, and “Chinese Tech Investment into ASEAN and How Startups in the Philippines Can Leverage On It” by EnterPH Interviews President Atty, Rocky Chan and Kay-Mok Ku of GobiVC.com.
PLDT, Smart, Voyager, PayMaya, ePLDT, Smart DevNet, PLDT Enterprise, PLDT Innolab, Ideaspace, and QBO are supporting GOAB as co-presenters while ASPACE Philippines is co-producer. GOAB is held in partnership with the City Government of Puerto Princesa, Palaweño ICT Association, DOST-PCIEERD, and Mindanao Development Authority. The official airline partner is Philippines Airasia and the official ticketing partner is Ticketbase. The silver sponsors include Payoneer, Zalora, PouchNATION, Istorya.net, Synergy 88 Digital, Uniform Solutions, Temasys, AtoX Solutions, and MaGIC. The bronze sponsors are NXTLVL Academy, LabPH, Spring Valley Corporation, North Ridge Partners, Amazon Web Services, Eastern Communications, Startechup, and Gobi Partners.
The media partners are e27, Tech in Asia, Bohol News Daily by Auza.net, InnoPub Media, Geeks in Cambodia, Asian Journal Publications, Balikbayan Magazine, Mobile Ecosystem Forum, ConnectedWomen.co, QueenCityCebu.com, GMA News Online, MyTV Channel Network, BeFast.TV, Wazzup Pilipinas, TechBlade PH, eMedia Production Network Inc., Inc. Southeast Asia, NU107.COM CO., SnippetMEdia, and Bloomberg TV Philippines. The organizational partners are the Philippine Software Industry Association, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, UP CeBuinIT, Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Developers Connect, Science and Technology Advisory Council – Silicon Valley, Mynimo, Teradoor, Israel Chamber of Commerce Philippines, and the Cloud Security Alliance Philippines. GOAB is supported by Purple Cow, Orange Hub, iSkwelahan.com, DOST-MIMAROPA, Science and Technology Advisory Council Silicon Valley, and Science & Openvate Labs.
(From L-R) Token.io Founder and CEO Emeritus Yobie Benjamin, Plug and Play Technology Center Co-founder and VP Operations Jojo Flores, GOAB Founder/Lead Organizer Tina Amper, Ideaspace Executive Director Diane Eustaquio, Ideaspace President Rene “Butch” Meily, Smart DevNet Co-Founder and Senior Developer Evangelist Paul Pajo, Voyager Innovations Inc. Managing Director and Vice President Dindo Marzan, and PLDT ICT Research and Development Vice President and Head Joey Limjap.
First staged in 2013, GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, powered by Sym.ph, branding by Happy Garaje, and pr by PRWorks. For further details, visit www.GeeksOnABeach.com, follow on Twitter/Facebook Geeks On A Beach, or contact hello@GeeksOnABeach.com
by admin | Aug 23, 2017 | Headlines, National News
The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), brings women business leaders and disruptors together as through the ASEAN Women’s Business Conference (AWBC) on 31 August 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
The conference will put forward the women agenda in the business and economic landscape in ASEAN. It will gather ASEAN women business leaders, government representatives, officials from ASEAN dialogue partners and representatives from supporting international organizations.
AWBC with the theme, “ASEAN Women: Leading Change,” will highlight three sub-themes: Women Innovators in ASEAN, Women in Trade and Inclusive Business, and Women and Human Capital Development.
“This will be an opportunity for the Philippines to lead discussions between ASEAN, the private sector, and our dialogue partners about the current state of women in the economic and business sector. This will also support our stronger call for a truly inclusive, innovation-led growth in ASEAN,” said DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group Undersecretary and ASEAN CBIP Chairperson Nora K. Terrado.
AWEN Chair Pacita “Chit” Juan reiterated private and public sector collaboration as integral in achieving key outcomes for the advancement of women in various fronts.
“AWEN, as chaired by the Philippines until 2018, will be instrumental in making collaboration and cooperation as integral elements in giving a stronger voice for women within the ASEAN region. As a network, it allows women to discuss issues and concerns in women’s economic participation particularly in innovation and technology, accessing markets, and finance,” explained Juan.
Events supported by ASEAN dialogue partners are also set to take place at the PICC on28-30 August.
On 28 August, Women ICT Frontier Initiative (WIFI), the flagship activity of the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Center for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UN-APCICT), will hold its ASEAN Sub-Regional Launch at the PICC. As a key program advancing women’s potential in utilizing information and communication technologies (ICT), APCICT partners with AWEN in the promotion of ICT in advancing businesses as well as the capacity of government business leaders in creating an enabling environment for ICT-empowered women entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, the Philippines-Australia ASEAN Women in Business Forum will be held on 29 August. The event expects women representatives and leaders from ASEAN and Australia.
For more information about the ASEAN Women events, kindly contactawen.asean@gmail.com.
by admin | Aug 20, 2017 | Headlines, Local News / Bohol Balita
By JUNE S. BLANCO
WHAT is it in election years that pulls down net satisfaction ratings (NSRs) of candidates?
This was what happened to three of Bohol’s incumbent top leaders in 2016 – except for Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) whose NSR increased by six percentage points.
The three top leaders managed to recover in 2017. Gov. Edgardo Chatto and Rep. Rene Ralampagos (Bohol, 1st District) moved up by four percentage points each – from +81 to +85 for the former and from +50 to +54 for the latter. Rep. Arthur Yap (3rd District) fared better: +74 this year from +63 in 2016 or up by 11 percentage points.
But Aumentado topped his six-point increase of +63 in 2015 to +69 in 2016 with a 15-point jump to +84 this year.
While Chatto’s, Relampagos’ and Yap’s yearly ratings from 2014 to 2017 would look like the pulses of the heart in an electrocardiogram. Aumentados’s ratings steadily climbed, with no dips at all.
Aumentado thanks his supporters for the trust and confidence in him.
While he rode on the good name, accomplishments and popularity of his father and relished the sympathy votes when he first entered politics as replacement candidate and won in 2013, he said the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Bohol Poll results already reflect what his constituents feel about how he has gone about his work.
To note, his namesake father, immediate congressional predecessor and former Gov. Erico Boyles Aumentado, passed away on Christmas Day of 2012 – at the height of the campaign.
The solon said the 2017 results inspire him to strive even more to bring to a higher level his services to his constituents – and development to his district.
And, he added, he dedicates this “ace” to his father. He had always looked up to his father as his role model in public service, he explained.
by admin | Aug 18, 2017 | Headlines, Tech Talk
International financial technology firm Payoneer is supporting the global startup conference Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) for the second straight year as one of this year’s most awaited event’s silver sponsors.
Miguel Warren, Payoneer Philippines Country Manager, said the company is delighted to once more take part in this year’s GOAB which will be held at Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines on August 24-25, 2017.
“We are in Geeks on a Beach to talk about the huge potential of e-commerce, freelancing, and outsourcing in the Philippines; and how Payoneer can help these fields with their online and cross-border payments.” said Warren.
This year’s GOAB, which has been done annually since its first staging in Boracay Island in 2013, again promises to bring together some of the biggest names of the tech, design, and startup world from across the world.
“We really like to see the kind of folks gathered together in Palawan for the Geeks on a Beach – startups, techies, and corporates – to see how we can help them facilitate payments on an easy, convenient, and cost-efficient way,” said Warren.
Warren is part of the panel on “Corporate Digital Transformation: Becoming Victorious in a Collision between Businesses and Today’s Challenging Digital Forces” during the second day of the GOAB conference.
His fellow panelists include Robertson Chiang of Dragonpay Corporation, Arup Maity of BlastAsia & Xamun Inc., Joey Limjap of PLDT Innolab, Ramon Escueta of Philippine Chamber of Commerce, and Annabelle Ong of the Puerto Princesa Chamber of Commerce.
This panel is especially envisioned for corporates and businesses wishing to jumpstart their digital innovation by incorporating automated processes and tools, using software to reach out to new customers and expand profits, harnessing the power of social media and digital marketing techniques to increase revenue and boost their branding, and partnering with experienced and trusted digital experts.
PLDT, Smart, Voyager, PayMaya, ePLDT, Smart DevNet, PLDT Enterprise, and PLDT Innolab, Ideaspace and QBO are supporting GOAB as co-presenters while ASPACE Philippines is co-producer. GOAB is held in partnership with the City Government of Puerto Princesa, Palaweño ICT Association, and DOST-PCIEERD.
GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, powered by Sym.ph, branding by Happy Garaje, and pr by PRWorks. For registration or partnership information or further details, visit www.GeeksOnABeach.com, follow on Twitter/Facebook Geeks On A Beach, or contact hello@GeeksOnABeach.com.
