Headlines
DTI chief pushes for pragmatic direction in RCEP deal
Tokyo – Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez urged his fellow ministers to be more realistic to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP. Sec. Lopez represented the Philippines (PH) during the 5th RCEP Intercessional Meeting in Tokyo on June 30 to July 2, 2018, where he joined Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock-Hoi, and trade ministers from the 16 RCEP Participating Countries (RPC), namely the ASEAN 10 and ASEAN free trade partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. The group targets to finish negotiations this year to finalize the agreement by next year. “It is about time that we shift gears and lean towards being more realistic than idealistic. While we attend to our own interests, we should also remember that a mutually-beneficial agreement requires trade-offs,” said Sec. Lopez. “We should also keep in mind that this mega-regional trade pact should be inclusive and progressive and should cater not only to today’s generation but also of the future,” he added. The free trade agreement that began negotiations in 2013 covers trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement and other issues. On trade in goods, some countries’ submissions were still below the targeted 92% for tariff elimination. RPCs committed to submit improved offers by the middle of July. Meanwhile, Sec. Lopez commended the progress on e-commerce for closing several articles in the RCEP Key Elements Paper. He said that e-commerce significantly lowers the barriers to entry and operating costs for businesses, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise 99.6% of... read moreBohol MSMEs Participate in Live Streaming Forum on Empowering Philippine SMEs thru Digital Tools and Mentoring
TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL – More than twenty Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) viewed an online learning event last June 27, 2018 in an initiative to provide wider access to government information. The event, entitled Empowering Philippines SMEs with Digital Tools and Mentorship Opportunities, was a whole day event held at the Philippine Trade and Training Center (PTTC) in Manila with the aim of enhancing the capabilities of MSMEs using digital systems and facilities that can be utilized according to their needs. Among the presenters of the event includes the United States Ambassador to the Philippines Amb. Sung Kim, President of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Ms. Alegria S. Limjoco, and Secretary Ramon M. Lopez of DTI. In an initiative of one of the organizers, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provided a live streaming platform for the MSMEs in all of its offices to join the said event without travelling physically to the venue. Two venues were designated by Bohol Province which includes the Provincial Office and Negosyo Center BOSS in order to deliver a wider access of viewership. Aside from the speeches from the keynote speakers, MSMEs were able to view and absorb the information discussed by mentors from panel discussions to workshops as well as clinic sessions. Among the topics discussed were the digitalization and improving of Filipino MSMEs’ reach to global market, effective marketing content making and improving enterprises’ access to finance. This enabled the Boholano businessmen to learn the current challenges and opportunities the industry is facing in the digital age at the same time as the participants in the Capital.... read more
DTI chief opens Bagong Buhay Boracay store
Boracay initiative to help MSMEs of Boracay, Aklan MAKATI – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez led the opening of the Bagong Buhay Boracay store, the latest program of the agency in providing market access to the products of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Boracay. “This is just the beginning of bringing Boracay products to the mainstream market. We will continue to extend financial, technical, design, and marketing support to our MSMEs in the area even after the island re-opens,” said Sec. Lopez. Following the closure of the island to tourists and a series of consultations with the local government and MSMEs in the island, DTI Regional Operations Group, DTI Region VI, Bureau of Domestic Trade and Promotion (BDTP), and Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) pooled their expertise and resources in launching the store in Makati. The store, located at the BDTP West Wing Showroom, features food delicacies, wearables, fashion accessories, home décor, and souvenir products from 21 MSMEs in the island, comprising of 7 food processing businesses and 14 craft manufacturers. These exhibitors have over 150 beneficiaries in Boracay. Some items available for sale are products of social enterprises supporting out-of-school-youths in Boracay and Aklan. DTI will also bring Aklanon products to malls, supermarkets, pasalubong centers, airports, seaports, jetty ports in Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo. In a recent development, some items featured in the Bagong Buhay Boracay store will also be carried by Kultura in SM Megamall. “We guarantee our MSMEs that DTI will keep on providing holistic assistance for their products in terms of microfinancing support through the Pondo sa Pagbabago at...Bohol, Naga, Davao pilots in connectivity
By JUNE S. BLANCO FORTY national government agencies in one-stop shops in Ubay and Talibon towns? Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District), chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology said the idea is not far-fetched. This after Bohol in the Visayas, Naga in Luzon and Davao in Mindanao will be piloted for the first ever satellite-based internet connectivity project. Aumentado said the project augurs well for a stable connection so that Ubay and Talibon as well as their counterpart towns in Luzon and Mindanao may soon set up these one-stop shops initially with These will spell savings for residents in these and nearby towns as they may just go to these shops to secure clearances and transact businesses with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Trade and Industry, Social Security System and the like – for an initial 20 agencies. Aumentado said Ubay and Talibon still has poor connectivity hence he pushed for the inclusion of these towns as project pilots. Ubay and Talibon, he said, are the most populous towns in Bohol. Both have seaports while Ubay has an airport. This spells booming business for both towns although at times, he said, the connectivity is poor. “That is why Ubay and Talibon should get the first crack at better connectivity,” he explained. This will give Bohol a competitive edge in the wake of the Asean integration, he said. It is about time that Ubay should level up its business climate. With reliable internet, suppliers can find clients and buyers can find suppliers. Since both parties are working from their...Local News/ Bohol Balita
DWCT-HS Batch ’91 Reunites at 25
The DWCT-HS Batch 91 held its 25th anniversary reunion on July 15-16, 2016 with the theme “Reunited and Jubilant”. The gala night was held at the Metrocentre Hotel on July 15 , Tagbilaran City. There were about 17 teachers who attended the program that was dedicated to them. The batch gave their former teachers tokens of appreciation. The batchmates who were not able to attend sent their video messages which was shown in the program. Those that were able to attend came home from various places in the country and from abroad. On July 16, a Holy Mass was held at the chapel at the Holy Name University followed by group picture taking and a beach party at a private beach resort in Panglao. The beach party included lots of games facilitated by “Inday Ruping” and company. Then there was also a rock band playing 80’s and 90’s music. The organizers of the reunion extends their gratitude to the various donors whose donations were sufficient to cover all the expenses for the various activities. They also are grateful for the various volunteer batchmates who contributed by time and effort in the...Chatto orients mayors on “InSPIRE HEAT IT Bohol”
TAGBILARAN CITY, July 16 (PIA)–On his first official meeting with Bohol mayors, Governor Edgar Chatto rallies everyone to be inspired even as he stresses for unity for Bohol and its entire development. At the Provincial Government Development Framework Consultation held at the Bohol Tropics Resort last week, Chatto who has just touched grown immediately after getting a fresh mandate, intends to orient mayors of the development direction Bohol is taking, in a bid to engage local governments to dovetail their respective development frameworks into the province’s agenda. “During this first meeting at the start of a new term, I thought it would be best to gather, to look into the development plans so everyone dovetails to it,” Chatto said. Although the governor still waves the HEAT IT Bohol as his development guide, a recent participatory strategic planning with Bohol’s Management Executive Board along with Bohol representatives and the University of the Philippines Advisory Council has enhanced the development guide. Now enhanced, HEAT IT Bohol picks infrastructure, social services, peace and order, interconnectivity, reforms, economic environment and disaster and risk reduction, explains Planning and Development Officer Atty. John Titus Vistal. HEAT IT Bohol means Health, Education and Environment, Agriculture, Tourism and Information Technology as the primary sectors that could jumpstart Bohol’s sustainable development. In the last 6 years, Bohol has continued in its surge even with the earthquake recovery it has to do. He said he has seen the development, but has to ask where the development gains has gone? Gunning for a better equitable distribution of wealth and resources, Chatto intimated what he thinks: equitable distribution is essentially what...Voters’ registration alang sa SK ug Brgy. eleksyon, gisugdan na karong adlawa
TAGBILARAN CITY, July 15 (PIA)–Mahimo nang magparehistro sugod karong adlawa ang mga mobotar alang sa Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) ug barangay eleksyon. Molanat ang pagparehistro hangtud sa Hulyo 30, adlaw nga Sabado. Alang sa mga magparehistro sa SK, apil sa mga requirement mao nga kinahanglang Filipino citizen, may edad 15 taman 30 anyos ug residente sa barangay diin didto siya mobotar nga dili moubos sa unom ka buwan sa Oktubre 31 ning kasamtangang tuig. Samtang alang sa magparehistro sa barangay eleksyon, kinahanglang Filipino citizen, 18-anyos sa adlaw sa eleksyon, residente sa Pilipinas sulod sa usa ka tuig ug residente sa barangay diin siya planong mobotar nga dili moubos sa unom ka buwan sa adlaw sa piniliay. Gi-awhag sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang mga botante ilabi na kadtong wala pa naka-parehistro sa niaging nasodnong piniliay nga pahimoslan kining higayon aron makapatala sa voters’ list....Natividad, ni-asumir na; Agustin, gipasidunggan
TAGBILARAN CITY, July 15 (PIA)–Pormal nang ni-asumir ni Senior Supt. Felipe Natividad isip bag-ong provincial director sa Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) kagahapon. Atol sa turnover ceremony kagahapon sa Kampo Dagohoy ning syudad, si Natividad miingon nga dakong hagit kaniya ang mga nahimo ni kanhi BPPO director Senior Supt. Dennis Agustin ilabi na sa operasyon sa pakigbugno batok sa kalihokan sa ilegal nga droga sa lalawigan ug plano niya kining ipadayon ug hingosgan pa. Ang pagdawat sa command ni Natividad gikan kang Agustin, gipangunahan ni Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Director Chief Supt. Noli Taliño. Sa gipahigayong programa sa turnover ceremony, si Agustin gipasidunggan sa PRO-7 sa Medalya ng Kasanayan o Philippine National Police Efficiency Medal. Ang maong medalya gihatag kang Agustin tungod sa iyang pagkugi human sa magnitude 7.2 nga linog nga nitay-og sa Bohol niadtong 2013, sa pagmintinar sa kalinaw ug kahapsay sa niaging eleksyon ug pakigbugno batok sa kalihokan sa ilegal nga droga sa lalawigan. Samtang laing pasidungog usab ang gihatag kang Agustin sa kagamhanang probinsiyal sa Bohol tungod sa iyang kontribusyon sa lalawigan. Si Agustin kinsa mao na nga Directorial Staff chief sa PRO-7 karon, gihatagan usab og plake sa Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry ug sa Philippine Army’s 302ndInfantry Brigade. Ang maong turnover ceremony gitambongan nila Gob. Edgar Chatto, Vice Gob Dionisio Balite, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Arnulfo Matanguihan, ubang opisyal sa gobyerno ug mga police chief sa kalungsoran sa Bohol....COMELEC, may pahinumdom sa mga molansar sa Barangay ug SK elections
TAGBILARAN CITY, July 14 (PIA)–Nihatag og mga pahinumdom ang Commission on Elections (COMELEC) sa mga nagplanong molansar sa brangay ug Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. Base sa gipagawas nga Resolution No. 10151 sa COMELEC, gitakda nila ang pagsang-at og certificates of candidacy (COC) sa mga modagan sa barangay ug SK elections sa Oktubre 3 hangtud 5 lamang. Kalabot niini, mahatagan lamang ang mga kandidato gikan Oktubre 21 hangtud 29 aron mangampanya. Pahinumdom pa usab sa COMELEC, ipatuman na sa panahon sa campaign period ang mga ginadili matag panahon sa piniliay sama sa pagpanghatag og mga donasyon, paggamit sa mga armadong sakyanan, ug bisan ang pagpahigayon og mga konstraksiyon sa mga kalsada ug uban pa. Apan wala man gibawalan ang pagpahigayon og mga panagpulong sa barangay o sa mga kandidato. Ipatuman usab ang gun ban sa panahon sa election period nga magsugod gikan Oktubre 1 hangtud Nobyembre 7....National News
Latest News
Contributors
Daily News
