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PH advances support for startups, opens hub in San Francisco
The Department of Trade and Industry through its Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Silicon Valley advances efforts in promoting the Philippine startup ecosystem development through projects that support the growth of the community. In partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco (SF PCG), PTIC Silicon Valley recently launched the Spark447, a co-working space and resource center at the Philippine Center’s building in San Francisco that aims to cater to Filipinos and Fil-Am start-up communities in the Bay Area. Ambassador Jose Miguel Romualdez and Consul General Henry Bensurto Jr. led the soft launch last 22 May 2017. “SPARK447 provide avenues for bringing the community in San Francisco closer together. But it doesn’t stop there, it will bring the Filipino tech community in San Francisco closer to our ecosystems in Manila and make change happen,” said PTIC Silicon Valley Trade Representative May Niña Celynne Layug. Spark447 is a shared office space, networking hub, and a place uniquely designed for rising entrepreneurs, freelancers, digital nomads and internet professionals. It is part of the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco’s “Spark, Connect, Empower” (SCE) movement that aims to gather Filipino and Fil-American communities and individuals in the United States in building collaboration and partnerships that promote nation building. According to DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group Undersecretary Nora Terrado, the establishment of Spark447 will be instrumental in showcasing the technology and business opportunities in the Philippines. “This will greatly complement our initiatives in promoting opportunities in the Philippines and the talents that we have particularly in advanced industries including manufacturing and the IT-BPM,” said Terrado. DTI in close partnership with... read morePhilippine cacao draws interest from Swiss chocolatiers
Geneva, Switzerland – Department of Trade and Industry’s Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) – Geneva tested the cadmium level of Philippine cacao beans and the results are encouraging! “Davao-sourced fermented cacao beans have low cadmium level that is well within the acceptable values, providing a big opportunity for Filipino cacao farmers,” said Michiel Hendriksz, Executive Director of FarmStrong Foundation. The test was made in light of the European Union’s (EU) new limits on the cadmium levels in cocoa products by 1 January 2019 (EU No 488/2014) that could pose a serious threat to many smallholder cacao farmers, and present a challenge to chocolate producers. “While Switzerland is not part of the EU, it adopts the EU General Food Law and exports majority of its chocolate production to the EU. Swiss consumers also have the highest per capita rate of chocolate consumption worldwide,” according to Mr Jean-Benoit Charrin, Director of Operations of FarmStrong Foundation. Cadmium is a heavy metal found both through natural occurrence and from industrial and agricultural resources. The maximum levels for cadmium in food have existed in EU legislation since 2001. Thus, to reduce exposure levels to the metal in certain food groups where exposure is highest or where the consumer groups were most vulnerable, new recommendations for maximum exposure levels in a range of infant products and cocoa-based products were released. Three maximum levels have been set for chocolate, where the strictest maximum levels apply to chocolate varieties most eaten by children, while a maximum level is also set for cocoa powder destined for direct consumption. Cacao beans from Latin America are... read more
Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act: A gamechanger, says DTI
The Department of Trade and Industry expressed optimism that the newly-enacted Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 will make doing business in our country easier as it promotes efficient government. “Under the EODB/Efficient Government Act, businesses can expect streamlined processes, reduced processing times from all government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). Government agencies shall be made to comply with the prescribed processing time: three (3) working days for simple transactions, seven (7) working days for complex transactions, and 20 working days for highly technical transactions.” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said. The EODB-EGSDA Act, which amended the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, requires all local government units to streamline procedures for the issuance of business permits, clearance and other type of authorizations by implementing unified business application form. LGUs are mandated to setup Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) to facilitate business permits application. The law also provides that barangay clearances and permits must be issued at the city or municipality to speed up transactions. Apart from streamlining, the law also provides for the creation of a Central Business Portal that will receive and capture application data on business-related transactions, while Philippine Business Databank shall provide LGUs and national government agencies access to information to verify validity and existence of businesses. With this, businesses are not required to submit the same documentary requirement previously submitted. The DTI Secretary, who now chairs the Ease of Doing Business and Anti Red Tape Advisory Council (EODB/ARTAC) called RA 11032 a landmark legislation that will have a direct impact on all citizens and business sector. “We realized that for...OCEAN 16 to pave collaboration towards Industry 4.0
Companies join tech experts and changemakers in leading digital revolution Breakthroughs in technology are fundamentally transforming whole systems of production, management, and governance to aid societies overcome challenges from business and energy, to transportation and climate change. Called the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” or “Industry 4.0,” this trend presents an opportunity for the Philippines not only to keep up with more advanced nations, but also solve urgent problems plaguing the country. “This year in Davos, we talked about the Fourth Industrial Revolution – how high technology will promote rapid industrialization and how digital can impact lives for the better,” said Winston Damarillo, a Filipino Young Global Leader recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) which held its 2016 meeting at Davos-Klosters, Switzerland in January. Several organizations are already working towards supporting Industry 4.0 in the Philippines by helping companies and government adapt to Big Data, Cloud Computing, and other digital innovations. Energy goes digital With new demands and advancements disrupting power industry norms, energy giant Meralco is spearheading discussions on emerging solutions with its annual Technology and Innovation Summit (MTECH). Already in its second year, MTECH brings in fresh insights and experiences from global technology companies to help inform the local energy industry and pave the way for smarter utilities. This year, the summit revolved around creating intelligent customer-centered solutions that enhance human lives. Alongside the discussions, Meralco implemented its Automated Distribution Management System (ADMS) this year to digitize the electrical grid and automate power distribution in the event of an outage. ADMS is part of the company’s efforts to transform the business, enabling it to support alternative forms of...Local News/ Bohol Balita
“Anti-swertres” drive overruns 44 pushers
TAGBILARAN CITY, June 28 (PIA)–When Bohol Provincial Police Office shifted its gears to implement the anti-swertres drive, the campaign amassed P28,460.00, nabbed 44 ushers, 11 runners and filed 47 cases in 52 anti illegal swertres operations from May to June 22. As orders to get serious on illegal gambling emanated from the police higher-ups, Camp Dagohoy, Bohol Provincial Police Office issued several directives in the campaign against all forms of illegal gambling particularly swertres, PCSuperintendent Lorenzo Batuan reported at the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC). Batuan, in his prepared Powerpoint presentation enumerated these directives they also sent to the police stations to cruise their local drives too. He said Camp Dagohoy sent to the police stations the memorandum from the national headquarters contained in the Letter of Instructions 05-2012 on the crafting of the Regional Anti-Illegal Gambling Special Operations Task Force dated May 4, 2012. Camp Dagohoy also informed them of the Police Regional Office 7 implementing plan on the mandated operation of the Regional Anti-Illegal Gambling Special Operations Task Force dated May 8, 2012. Moreover, he recalled the One Strike Policy memorandum from PRO7 dated November 5, 2012 which also detailed the Anti-illegal Gambling Campaign implemented earlier. For the region, Camp Dagohoy has also transmitted through radio messages last March 3, 2016 on the Conduct of Illegal Gambling operations. Another radio message from PSSUpt Dennis Agustin dated March 4, 2016 also directed a reinvigorated Illegal Gambling drive, particularly on “Suertres.” Thress days later, PD Agustion again sent a radio message dated March 7, 2016 directing police stations to conduct aggressive anti-illegal gambling operations. This, Batuan was was...City crimes plunge, in May, so is CSE
TAGBILARAN CITY, June 28 (PIA)–Crimes in Tagbilaran City plunged 45% in May 2016 as against the same period last year, and so is its crime solution efficiency (CSE). In May 2015, crimes recorded in City police logbooks reached 171 compared to May this year which only had 94 cases. But in 2015, CSE was 59.06% for solving 101 cases over 171 cases logged while with 94 cases in 2016, city police officers only considered 51 charges solved as against the 94 cases filed. This equals to 54.25%, according to city operations chief, SPO1 Celso Orapa. SPO1 Orapa reported at the City Peace and Order Council in lieu of PCSuperintendent George Vale, who begged off due to sore throat. City police chief PCSupt. George Vale however introduced before the 33 council members present, the Orapa report, also picking as spoiler, the huge disparity in crime volume between the two compared dates. While of the city police solved or at least filed appropriate charges to suspects in the 101 cases to tally a better batting average, only 51 charges have been filed pertaining to suspects involved in crimes out of the 94 cases logged in City police blotters in 2016, thus a lower efficiency. Of the May 2015 crimes which totaled 171, index crimes reached 101 while non index crimes topped 70. By the same month in 2016, total crime volume reached 94: with 69 index and 25 non index crimes, according to Orapa. Comparing the crime statistics in the two months of separate years, police noted a 45% decrease in crime volume, 31% dive in index crimes and a huge...DTI CONDUCTS COOKERY TRAINING IN DUERO
DTI Bohol, through TESDA conducts a 2 ½ month training on Basic Cookery in Duero, Bohol. The training which ran from March 18 to May 21 this year, was one of the activities under the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) Program of the municipality, which is implemented by DTI. Some twenty nine (29) out-of-school youth, teachers and working mothers were trained on the preparation of different dishes and desserts, as well as on the proper use of kitchen utensils and equipment. TESDA Certificates were issued to the graduates during the culmination exercises last June 23 at the Duero Function...Bohol seeks RDC endorsement for P96.973M peace, security projects
TAGBILARAN CITY, June 23, (PIA) – Bohol pushes forward some P96.973 million worth of projects in support of peace, security and development and proposes for the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Central Visayas to endorse the lump of projects for funding to at last four concerned national agencies. The lump of projects, 17 of them came out during various consultations with communities from the different towns in Bohol as facilitated by the Community Development Project (CDP) teams Purok Power Movement (PPM) or Prosperity Teams. It may be recalled that the concerted efforts of Local Government Units, national government, civil society organizations, peoples’ organizations successfully mounted a unified effort to oust the hounding problem of insurgency, not much by the military force, but by directing the fight to alleviating poverty and creating jobs. To maintain Bohol status as conflict and insurgency-free province, the Provincial Government ensured open lines of dialog between government and the populace through the deployment of CDP PPM teams, especially to distressed areas. From these dialogs, consulted communities identified priority development projects that they believe could end the resorting to armed conflicts by opening up the tables for talks and negotiations. After a series of validation and community workshops, development authorities identified four potential government agencies which Bohol could tap for funding support and have endorsed them to the Provincial development Council, according to Provincial Planning and Development Officer Atty John Titus Vistal. Identified for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) funding are the construction of concrete rubble and masonry with apron river dike to solve the flooding problems of Barangay Casbu, Guindulman town, the construction...DSWD continues relief opns to El Nino victims
TAGBILARAN CITY, June 23, (PIA) –Responding to the effects of the long dry season and the searing heat brought about by the El Nino, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) mobilized its resources to bring crucial relief to distressed communities in the island barangays of Bohol. And, for its initial mobilization, DSWD Bohol reports the delivery of relief food and water packs to 22,771 individuals in 14 towns, most of them from the deprived sectors. DSWD Bohol Chief Papiasa Bustrillos said with local resources, they are constrained to prioritize the distribution of rice, canned goods and water to families of farmers and fishermen of Bohol’s island barangays and towns, them being severely affected by the long dry season. The drought brought about by the El Nino has not just damaged millions of pesos worth of agriculture, its searing and persistent heat ruined the multi-million seaweeds industry feeding thousands of seaweed farmers in the island barangays of northern Bohol, Bustillos revealed over at Kapihan sa PIA. Right now, we are again continuing to pack more relief to be delivered to other areas in Bohol needing such, she said, adding that the delivery however depends on the availability of trucks from Bohol Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Council (PDRRMC). We also intend to ask the Congressman from the Second District, Congressman Aristotle Aumentado to lend us his boat so we could deliver the goods to other islets, she said, as she hinted that the office continues with the relief despite the sudden change in climate from drought to a possible extremely wet. The repacking, she added, is based on...National News
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