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PH sends trade mission to Jakarta and Manado
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... read moreHunting migrating birds doubles avian flu threat
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... read more
PH exports expand by 11%
The Department of Trade and Industry through its Export Marketing Bureau sees solid growth for Philippine merchandise exports this year as it continues to expand by 11.68% with total sales of $53.11 billion for the period January-October 2017 compared to the same period last year with total $47.55 billion of export sales. For ten straight months, the value of merchandise exports in the review period was shared almost evenly by electronics and non-electronics at 50.78% and 49.22%, respectively. In a preliminary report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Year-On-Year (YOY) growth for October 2017 showed the country’s total export sales increased by 6.6% from $5.04 billion last year to $5.37 billion this year supported by the double-digit growths of six out of top ten major Philippine exports including fresh bananas. Six gainers for October 2017 exports sales include gold (297%), electronic equipment and parts (43.3%), metal components (21.9%), fresh bananas (20.8%), other mineral products (19.6%), and electronic products (13.8%). Receipts for top ten major exports for October 2017 reached $4.25 billion with a total share of 79.2% of the total export receipts. Electronic products led the top ten commodities with total export sales of $2.86 billion, accounting for 53.2% of the total exports revenue for the month of October 2017. “Export sector is a big employment generator and we welcome these positive developments as this will translate to more job opportunities,” said DTI Undersecretary for Trade and Investments Promotion Group Nora K. Terrado. Japan remains as the top export destination for October 2017 with total exports receipt of $871.36 million and a share of 16.2% in total exports. “Japan is...SMC-Telstra’s ace: best frequencies for mobile data
San Miguel Corporation, the potential joint venture partner of Australian firm Telstra, holds an ace up its sleeve. It currently owns 90% of the 700MHz frequency range that is said to be the ideal frequency for mobile data service. The 700MHz frequency allows the service provider to use lesser cell sites because the signals at this frequency can travel further compared to the higher frequencies used by the existing large mobile data players Globe and Smart. In 2005, Globe requested the National Telecommunications Commission or NTC for an allocation of the 700MHz frequency but was denied. Just recently, PLDT joined the call for redistribution of the 700MHz frequency through an auction. Globe reiterated their request for allocation this year. This is probably why Telstra was confident in its announcement last month that if the joint venture with SMC will push through, they would be able to provide much better service than Globe and PLDT. However, some netizens interpret this move by Globe and PLDT as an attempt to prevent a 3rd player to compete. Others say that such requests are just excuses of the poor service provided by the two telcos. Others commented that Globe and Telco should just reduce advertising expense and spend the money instead on better...Local News/ Bohol Balita
Bohol PPOC seeks Barot extension
Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, September 21, 2012 (PIA) –The Provincial Peace and Order Council resolves to urge the Philippine National Police to reconsider the imminent transfer of Bohol police chief after a relatively successful two year tour of duty here. At its meeting September 18 held at the Crab House, Local Monitoring Board coordinator Romeo Teruel brought up the string of successes the police in Bohol attained under the leadership of Negros Oriental son and Bohol Police Senior Superintendent Constantino Barot. Teruel cited that continued decrease in crimes in Bohol under Barot watch, which peaked when Philippine National Police Chief Nicanor Bartolome pinned on Barot’s breast the Medalya ng Kagalingan for police officers. According to the PNP website, the Medalya ng Kagalingan (Merit medal) is often awarded to PNP members who attained heroic achievements for single act of heroism in a duty responsibility. It may be recalled that under Barot’s watch, Bohol was declared insurgency free, and his top achievements include the neutralization of criminal elements, accounting of wanted persons and the recovery of fire-arms and huge volumes of dangerous drugs. Medalya ng Kagitingan is one of the eight Administrative citations that the PNP issues to its officers which includes medal of valor, distinguished conduct, bravery, heroism, outstanding conduct, commendation and wounded personnel medals. As most of the awards indicate a succeeding promotion, Teruel said he could sense that an imminent transfer for Barot was in the offing. Moreover, Barot, who said begging for assignment retention is not encouraged in the police, added that he has prepared for the eventual transfer after successfully completing two years of...Soldiers yield guns For pens in Bohol
Rey Anthony Chiu BILAR, Bohol, September 20, 2012 (PIA) – Believing that a pen is mightier than the sword, or the gun, army special forces here picked their writing skills to train for their new tasks: as information advocates to the villages. Assigned in a place where restored peace made combat tactics inconsequential, soldier members of the army’s elite Special Forces battalion here draw the battle plans in winning another ground in the fight: the determining factor of winning the community’s hearts through information dissemination. For this, they train in news writing and photo-journalism in a bid to equip them with the bring out the good news happening in communities to the mainstream, said Tiara Lourdes Torero Bulilan of Capitol’s socio economic and environment management (SEEM) cluster. Torero, along with mediaman Ric Obedencio and the Philippine Information Agency in Bohol handled the newswriting and basic photojournalism courses for the SF at their camp at Riverside in Bilar August 22 and September 20. The trained SF members team up with police officers and Bohol community organizers as part of the Prosperity Teams organizing the Countryside Development Program (CDP) Purok Power Movement (PPM) in Bohol’s villages, said SF Civil Military Operations officer Captain Jason Que. When assigned to organize communities and galvanize them against possible incursions by radical elements exploiting social issues to instigate people to turn against the government, the PRO team members morph into developmental communicators from their usual warrior image, Liza Quirog, Capitol Seem Cluster and PRO Teams coordinator...Bohol to host RADIO 7 convention next month
Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, September 22, 2012 (PIA)—Bohol information officers from local and national government agencies are in the heat of preparations for the upcoming Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO) Convention to be hosted here October 24-26, 2012. In fact, September 19 was like no ordinary meeting of the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) of Bohol, hosts of the conference. The gathering aspires to bring to Bohol Central Visayas-wide network of information officers from local governments and national government agencies of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor at the Bohol Tropics to discuss on the use of the new media in the gargantuan challenge of development information dissemination. Also slated to attend the conference as speaker is Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) chief Sonny Coloma, whose office will handle a raging topic on the Trends in the New Media. “Other interesting topics for the gab include Internet broadcasting, video streaming and the social media, including its effective use and the popularity of information boards as strategic launch pads for disaster and developmental communications,” said Elvira Bongosia, of the Philippine Information Agency and convention secretariat. The conference, which adopts “Information Officers and the New Media,” is a perfect opportunity to engage information officers to a network of information disseminators which take on the technology, not as a threat but an opportunity to advance government information agenda, according to Capitol’s Augustus Escobia. Escobia sits as AUDIO head and presides over a network of information officers from 47 towns and city as well as national government agencies with their offices in Bohol. With AUDIO in next...August crimes up Cops say at PPOC
Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, September 21, 2012 (PIA)—Crimes in Bohol increased by 17 more from July 12 to August 12, according to police reports at the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting held at the Crabhouse, September 18. Bohol police chief Senior Superintendent Constantino Barot however added that total crime volume this year is still lower by 31.7% compared to last year when total crimes here in the island province registered a high 274 over this year’s 187. At 187 crimes recorded until August 12 from July 12, the record breaks the trending decrease in crimes here recorded since the continued downslide sustained its momentum from March 12, 2012 until last month. Police noted Bohol crimes peaking at the period of February 12 to March 12 when 288 crimes got into police blotters. The monthly tally of crimes then dropped from 288 to 209 (April), 209 (May), 193 (June) and 170 (July) before picking up again at 187 this month. This month’s 187 crimes comprise of 75 non-index and 122 index crimes, according to PSSupt Barot in his PPOC report. Earlier, Camp Dagohoy authorities explained that a high crime volume can also be telling of how the local police are getting pro-active against criminality. Central Visayas Police Assistant Regional Director for Operations Louie Oppus explained that even with a high crime volume recorded in a locality, if the high volume is brought about by a high non-index crimes, it means that the police are getting more proactive by initiating operations on their own, against crimes punishable by special laws. In Bohol, outgoing police director Barot...DOST-ICTO holds ICT Roadshow in Tagbilaran City
The Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) holds the ICT Roadshow in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on September 13, 2012. The event is the 3rd leg of the nationwide program of the DOST-ICTO with the theme “ICT Roadshow in the Next Wave Cities: Harnessing ICT for a Smarter Countryside”. The roadshow is intended to promote ICT career opportunities among Boholanos. Mr. Monchito B. Ibrahim, Deputy Executive Director of DOST-ICTO presented the government perspective of the ICT Industry and the Next Wave Cities. Ibrahim highlighted the two main capabilities lacking among potential employees in the BPO industry are problem solving and critical thinking. He encouraged the students in the audience to ensure that they have these capabilities when they graduate. Ms. Genny I. Marcial, Executive Director for External Affairs, Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) presented the private sector perspective of the industry. Marcial presented a video that highlighted the main requirements of the BPO industry for its employees: critical thinking, communication skills and initiative. She encouraged the students to challenge the status quo and go beyond the minimum requirements. Testimonials from a local BPO startup, two career employee in the a BPO company and a parent of a BPO employee. There was also an Industry Panel Discussion with the following Panelists: Ms. Genny Marcial, Executive Director for External Affers, BPAP, Mr. Michael Kho Lim, Executive Director Animation Council of the Philippines, Mr. Alvin Juban, President of Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Dr. Josefina Lauchangco, Vice President of Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines and Ms. Bettina Quimson, Vice President of...National News
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