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Cebu Sun.Star
Police on full alert for APEC Business Advisory Council meetings
THE Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO 7) is on a full alert status for the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) Business Advisory Council meetings that will be held at Nustar Convention Center in South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City from July 27 to July 29, 2023.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is expected to join the event, that will be attended by around 150 delegates from all over the world.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO 7) Director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, they raised the alert status from normal to full alert.
Pelare said they also coordinated with the host local government unit and the intelligence community to provide security, although they had not received any reports of security threats.
Since this is a significant event, Pelare revealed that they are closely monitoring for a possible protest that will be organized by the cause-oriented groups.
Pelare, however, declared that they have strict security measures in place and urged the militant groups to adhere to their policy if they wanted to stage a protest.
Hundreds of police officers will be stationed at SRP and other tourist hotspots in the Central Visayas, where the delegates are anticipated to travel after the conference, according to Pelare.
The Cebu City police will also assist in providing security to ensure the safety of the visitors.(AYB, TPT)
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is expected to join the event, that will be attended by around 150 delegates from all over the world.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO 7) Director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, they raised the alert status from normal to full alert.
Pelare said they also coordinated with the host local government unit and the intelligence community to provide security, although they had not received any reports of security threats.
Since this is a significant event, Pelare revealed that they are closely monitoring for a possible protest that will be organized by the cause-oriented groups.
Pelare, however, declared that they have strict security measures in place and urged the militant groups to adhere to their policy if they wanted to stage a protest.
Hundreds of police officers will be stationed at SRP and other tourist hotspots in the Central Visayas, where the delegates are anticipated to travel after the conference, according to Pelare.
The Cebu City police will also assist in providing security to ensure the safety of the visitors.(AYB, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Man sued after killing pa with an ax
A MAN has been charged with parricide after he killed his own father in Sitio Upper Site, Barangay Pit-os, Cebu City around 6 p.m. on last Friday, July 21, 2023.
The victim, Renel Rogon Layson, 50, was watching television inside their home when his son Renan Jay, 21, attacked him.
The victim sustained a hack wound in the back and was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, where he expired at 7:50 a.m. of the following day, Saturday.
Responding policemen immediately arrested the suspect and charged him with parricide.
Renan Jay acknowledged to the crime but said that he committed it because his father had mauled his younger sister after raping her.
"Iya man gud gi rape ang akung manghod sir nya iya pa gyud kulatahon ang akung mga igsuon nga gagmay. Nakit-an man nako sir, nakadungog pa gyud ko," matod ni Renan Jay.
(He raped my younger sister, sir, and he even beat my younger siblings. I saw it, sir, and I heard it).
Renan Jay claimed that after witnessing his sister being raped, he slammed the door, left the house, and returned in the evening to kill his father.
However, the suspect's sister, who is about to graduate from education course, refuted the claim against their father, claiming that her brother was unaware of what he was talking and adding that their father is a good man.
"Wala na gyud mi masayod anang iyang mga rason, wala gyud na sila kulataha ni papa akung mga igsuon. Ang akung dakong pangutana nganong ingun ana iyang estorya gyud. Naa na gyud nay sayop sa iyang utok nadala na siguro na sa iyang gipang hithit," she said.
(We don't know what he was talking about, my father did not beat my siblings. My main concern is why he is speaking in that manner. There is something wrong in his brain, possibly as a result of sniffing).
Renan Jay was previously detained in Abuyog Penal Farm in Leyte after allegedly stabbing his employer in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
He was released in June 2023 after serving his jail sentence, but his behavior is said to have changed, which his family believes was caused by the use of illegal drugs.(AYB, TPT)
The victim, Renel Rogon Layson, 50, was watching television inside their home when his son Renan Jay, 21, attacked him.
The victim sustained a hack wound in the back and was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, where he expired at 7:50 a.m. of the following day, Saturday.
Responding policemen immediately arrested the suspect and charged him with parricide.
Renan Jay acknowledged to the crime but said that he committed it because his father had mauled his younger sister after raping her.
"Iya man gud gi rape ang akung manghod sir nya iya pa gyud kulatahon ang akung mga igsuon nga gagmay. Nakit-an man nako sir, nakadungog pa gyud ko," matod ni Renan Jay.
(He raped my younger sister, sir, and he even beat my younger siblings. I saw it, sir, and I heard it).
Renan Jay claimed that after witnessing his sister being raped, he slammed the door, left the house, and returned in the evening to kill his father.
However, the suspect's sister, who is about to graduate from education course, refuted the claim against their father, claiming that her brother was unaware of what he was talking and adding that their father is a good man.
"Wala na gyud mi masayod anang iyang mga rason, wala gyud na sila kulataha ni papa akung mga igsuon. Ang akung dakong pangutana nganong ingun ana iyang estorya gyud. Naa na gyud nay sayop sa iyang utok nadala na siguro na sa iyang gipang hithit," she said.
(We don't know what he was talking about, my father did not beat my siblings. My main concern is why he is speaking in that manner. There is something wrong in his brain, possibly as a result of sniffing).
Renan Jay was previously detained in Abuyog Penal Farm in Leyte after allegedly stabbing his employer in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
He was released in June 2023 after serving his jail sentence, but his behavior is said to have changed, which his family believes was caused by the use of illegal drugs.(AYB, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Missed the registration deadline? You have 5 days to reactivate your SIM
IF YOU still missed the SIM registration deadline, you have a final grace period to comply with the law.
Globe, TM, and Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi users who missed the July 25 deadline for SIM registration will already feel the impact of non-compliance, with their outgoing services and incoming calls deactivated.
But, as stipulated in the implementing rules and regulations of the SIM Registration Act, they still have five days- from July 26 to 30– to catch up and save their SIM from permanent deactivation. Their incoming SMS is still left active so they could receive a One-Time Pin for SIM registration.
"Globe recognizes the essential role of uninterrupted mobile and broadband services in our customers' daily lives. So, as provided for in the law, SIM users get this last chance to register their SIMs after missing the initial and extended registration deadlines. Our team is committed to assisting our customers who need help. We strongly urge everyone to seize this opportunity to avoid any inconvenience," said Ernest Cu, Globe Group President and CEO.
To reactivate your SIMs and restore full mobile services, customers have to connect to a WiFi network and complete their SIM registration via Globe's dedicated platform at https://new.globe.com.ph/simreg or through the GlobeOne app. Globe Stores and EasyHubs are also open to assist walk-in customers who need assistance. Reactivation of full mobile services will happen within 24 hours following.
Failure to reactivate during this five-day grace period will lead to permanent SIM deactivation. As a consequence, all services, including incoming and outgoing text messages, calls, and mobile data connectivity will no longer be available. This may also impact access to active mobile applications, including banking, transport, and other apps crucial for daily needs.
Starting July 31, 2023, all remaining load balances and promo registrations on unregistered SIMs will also be forfeited. Those with deactivated SIMs who need mobile services will have to purchase new SIMs, which will then also have to be registered to activate.
The SIM registration grace period is the final opportunity for customers to register their SIMs and secure their mobile services. Globe, TM, and Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi customers are encouraged to act swiftly to avoid the consequences of permanent deactivation.
Customers are reminded that SIM registration is an integral part of the broader initiative to strengthen customer security and prevent fraud. Completing this step is necessary not only to retain their mobile services but to ensure their digital safety.
To learn more about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/. (SPONSORED CONTENT)
Categories: Philippines News
Man nabbed for stealing construction materials in Mambaling
A 38-YEAR-OLD man was arrested for allegedly stealing construction materials intended for the building of a house.
The incident took place in Sitio Puntod, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City around 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
The suspect was identified as Handsome Tapang Ebon, 38, a resident of Sitio Lawis of the said barangay.
Jenny Managaytay, 30, and Jerry Mancao, both residents of Sitio Puntod, reported the incident to the police.
Police Major Jonathan Bethoven Taneo, chief of Mambaling Police Station 11, said Ebon took 20 2x2 pieces of wood worth P2,000, 10 steel bars worth P3,000 and five sheets of plywood worth P3,000.
Taneo said that Managaytay and Mancao noticed that Ebon kept coming back to get the construction materials, prompting them to seek police help.(BBT, TPT)
The incident took place in Sitio Puntod, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City around 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
The suspect was identified as Handsome Tapang Ebon, 38, a resident of Sitio Lawis of the said barangay.
Jenny Managaytay, 30, and Jerry Mancao, both residents of Sitio Puntod, reported the incident to the police.
Police Major Jonathan Bethoven Taneo, chief of Mambaling Police Station 11, said Ebon took 20 2x2 pieces of wood worth P2,000, 10 steel bars worth P3,000 and five sheets of plywood worth P3,000.
Taneo said that Managaytay and Mancao noticed that Ebon kept coming back to get the construction materials, prompting them to seek police help.(BBT, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
PRO 7 still waiting for order to replace CPPO Chief Ochave
RECENT news that came out revealed that Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) Chief Colonel Rommel Ochave was one of the 18 high-ranking police officers who submitted a courtesy resignation to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, the spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO 7) Director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, they have not yet received an order from Camp Crame and the Department of Interior and Local Government to replace Ochave, but he added that their office is ready to comply if there is one.
"We know of that news items circulating naa ang atoang (that our) provincial director sa Cebu Police Provincial Office Police Colonel Ochave naapil didto sa gipang-lista (is included in the list) accordingly, but as an office we are still waiting for the official instruction. As of now we cannot comment on his status because we are still waiting for the official order from the Philippine National Police (PNP)," Pelare said.
Pelare, however, explained that if there is a change in leadership, it will not affect their work since they have already prepared for it.
"Kining mga panghitabo sa (These events in the) PNP this is part of the process that we are undertaking and the PNP is a professional organization and will be compliant whatever the instruction of the higher headquarters," Pelare said. (AYB, TPT)
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, the spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO 7) Director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, they have not yet received an order from Camp Crame and the Department of Interior and Local Government to replace Ochave, but he added that their office is ready to comply if there is one.
"We know of that news items circulating naa ang atoang (that our) provincial director sa Cebu Police Provincial Office Police Colonel Ochave naapil didto sa gipang-lista (is included in the list) accordingly, but as an office we are still waiting for the official instruction. As of now we cannot comment on his status because we are still waiting for the official order from the Philippine National Police (PNP)," Pelare said.
Pelare, however, explained that if there is a change in leadership, it will not affect their work since they have already prepared for it.
"Kining mga panghitabo sa (These events in the) PNP this is part of the process that we are undertaking and the PNP is a professional organization and will be compliant whatever the instruction of the higher headquarters," Pelare said. (AYB, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Primary Homes launches 2nd Bohol development
AMID the growing demand for affordable housing in the country, premier developer PrimaryHomes Inc. has launched its second Richwood Homes property in the Province of Bohol, the fifth of the Richwood Homes series.
“With the growing tourism and business sectors in Bohol, as well as the sustained OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) remittances, we are seeing a strong demand for affordable quality housing in the province,” Ramero Espina, the company’s vice president for sales and marketing, said during the launch of Richwood Homes Bohol Dos on July 7, 2023.
The Richwood Homes Series is the affordable residential house-and-lot offering of PrimaryHomes which mainly targets middle-income families and individuals looking for quality homes at reasonable prices.
A Richwood Homes Bohol Dos unit costs as low as P1.7 million. The project offers 50 square meter two-storey townhouse and duplex units with modern design and functionality-optimized layouts.
Located in an accessible location in San Isidro, Dauis, Panglao Island, the residential project is designed with the first-time homebuyers in mind, and built to suit the needs of starting families or even young professionals who want to live independently.
"Others can also take advantage of the steady demand for own abode among the younger market by getting a unit for rental, specially with the project's favorable location," Espina added. Convenient location The Richwood Homes Bohol Dos development would be near basic necessities such as commercial establishments, schools, and even Panglao Island's leisure destinations and the Bohol-Panglao International Airport.
The P1 billion worth, 951-unit project has already started construction and the first phase is is expected to be completed on the third quarter of the year.
Richwood Homes developments carry the mantra Tatak Primary, Tatak Quality.
"Like our other developments, our affordable housing offering is built with the same collaboration and synergy of the Primary Group of Builders, a conglomerate with a reputable track record of over 70 years in the construction industry, and over 30 years in real estate development," Espina said. Modern tech With the Primary Engineered Building System, the modern methodology used for the Richwood Homes series, the projects' construction utilizes a combination of durable pre-cast materials and LightStrong wall system to ensure cost-effective, time-efficient, top-quality construction.
This building technology takes into account forces such as heavy rains, strong winds, earthquakes and fire.
In tropical humid places, thermal insulation works by reducing the transfer of outside heat to the inside of the structure, keeping the cooler air within the structure and providing a cool and comfortable home environment. Live-work-play Richwood Homes provides live-work-play environment where homeowners can work-at-home while living comfortably.
The subdivision also features amenities perfect for community bonding activities like the multi-purpose hall, basketball court, open areas, and more managed by a reliable property management team for the peace of mind and convenience of the homeowners as well as the preservation of their investment.
With an easy homebuying process and flexible financing options, Richwood Homes Bohol Dos is undeniably a perfect choice for the first-time Boholano homebuyers. / DCL S
“With the growing tourism and business sectors in Bohol, as well as the sustained OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) remittances, we are seeing a strong demand for affordable quality housing in the province,” Ramero Espina, the company’s vice president for sales and marketing, said during the launch of Richwood Homes Bohol Dos on July 7, 2023.
The Richwood Homes Series is the affordable residential house-and-lot offering of PrimaryHomes which mainly targets middle-income families and individuals looking for quality homes at reasonable prices.
A Richwood Homes Bohol Dos unit costs as low as P1.7 million. The project offers 50 square meter two-storey townhouse and duplex units with modern design and functionality-optimized layouts.
Located in an accessible location in San Isidro, Dauis, Panglao Island, the residential project is designed with the first-time homebuyers in mind, and built to suit the needs of starting families or even young professionals who want to live independently.
"Others can also take advantage of the steady demand for own abode among the younger market by getting a unit for rental, specially with the project's favorable location," Espina added. Convenient location The Richwood Homes Bohol Dos development would be near basic necessities such as commercial establishments, schools, and even Panglao Island's leisure destinations and the Bohol-Panglao International Airport.
The P1 billion worth, 951-unit project has already started construction and the first phase is is expected to be completed on the third quarter of the year.
Richwood Homes developments carry the mantra Tatak Primary, Tatak Quality.
"Like our other developments, our affordable housing offering is built with the same collaboration and synergy of the Primary Group of Builders, a conglomerate with a reputable track record of over 70 years in the construction industry, and over 30 years in real estate development," Espina said. Modern tech With the Primary Engineered Building System, the modern methodology used for the Richwood Homes series, the projects' construction utilizes a combination of durable pre-cast materials and LightStrong wall system to ensure cost-effective, time-efficient, top-quality construction.
This building technology takes into account forces such as heavy rains, strong winds, earthquakes and fire.
In tropical humid places, thermal insulation works by reducing the transfer of outside heat to the inside of the structure, keeping the cooler air within the structure and providing a cool and comfortable home environment. Live-work-play Richwood Homes provides live-work-play environment where homeowners can work-at-home while living comfortably.
The subdivision also features amenities perfect for community bonding activities like the multi-purpose hall, basketball court, open areas, and more managed by a reliable property management team for the peace of mind and convenience of the homeowners as well as the preservation of their investment.
With an easy homebuying process and flexible financing options, Richwood Homes Bohol Dos is undeniably a perfect choice for the first-time Boholano homebuyers. / DCL S
Categories: Philippines News
Body retrieved from water off Ouano wharf
A BODY floating in the waters off Quano Wharf in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City was discovered on Tuesday noon by the crew members of an ocean liner that was passing by the area.
The crew members immediately notified the Philippine Coastguard, which then launched a retrieval operation.
Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol, the deputy chief and spokesperson of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said on Wednesday July 26, 2023, identified the victim as Mario Bering Garcia, 47, a resident of Barangay Babag, Lapu Lapu City.
The victim was allegedly intoxicated when he drowned.
The victim's daughter May (not her real name), claimed that her father visited Barangay Toril in Lapu-Lapu City at around 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, to drink with his relatives.
But about 5:30 p.m., they noticed her father swimming and waving in the middle of the ocean, which prompted them to try to save him but were forced to retreat due to the strong water current.
May stated that they returned to the water in four boats to rescue her father, but the victim could no longer be found. (HIC)
The crew members immediately notified the Philippine Coastguard, which then launched a retrieval operation.
Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol, the deputy chief and spokesperson of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said on Wednesday July 26, 2023, identified the victim as Mario Bering Garcia, 47, a resident of Barangay Babag, Lapu Lapu City.
The victim was allegedly intoxicated when he drowned.
The victim's daughter May (not her real name), claimed that her father visited Barangay Toril in Lapu-Lapu City at around 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, to drink with his relatives.
But about 5:30 p.m., they noticed her father swimming and waving in the middle of the ocean, which prompted them to try to save him but were forced to retreat due to the strong water current.
May stated that they returned to the water in four boats to rescue her father, but the victim could no longer be found. (HIC)
Categories: Philippines News
Hipodromo residents complain about debris falling from construction site
RESIDENTS of Sitio Greenside in Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City have been complaining about the falling objects that struck their houses due to the ongoing construction of a condominium there.
The incident has affected at least 28 homes.
According to Jun Salomon, one of the home owners, his family is in danger.
He said the construction materials dropped and almost hit his kids around 8 p.m. on Monday, July 24.
The roof on the third floor of their house also collapsed after the signage of the building fell.
"Nagtan-aw mig telibesyon sir kalit nga dunay milugapak sa taas. Pagsusi no nabungkag ang atop uban sa kisami" Salomon said.
(We were watching television Sir when something unexpectedly dropped upstairs. When we checked, the roof and the ceiling were both damaged).
He disclosed that at first they believed someone had fallen, but later realized that heavy iron signage and construction materials had fallen onto their roof.
However, the contractor promised to pay damages and make repairs to their property.
Hipodromo barangay captain Dondon Bacolod revealed that 28 houses were affected.
While the 36-story condominium is still being built, some were compensated, while others were advised to rent another home.
However, while the development is still going on, the residents within the vicinity continue to worry about their safety.
Bacolod said he will arrange a meeting with the locals, representatives of Ayala administration, building contractor Monocrete Company Philippines Inc., the Department of Labor and Employment and the Office of the Building Official of Cebu City to discuss the issue. (GPL, TPT)
The incident has affected at least 28 homes.
According to Jun Salomon, one of the home owners, his family is in danger.
He said the construction materials dropped and almost hit his kids around 8 p.m. on Monday, July 24.
The roof on the third floor of their house also collapsed after the signage of the building fell.
"Nagtan-aw mig telibesyon sir kalit nga dunay milugapak sa taas. Pagsusi no nabungkag ang atop uban sa kisami" Salomon said.
(We were watching television Sir when something unexpectedly dropped upstairs. When we checked, the roof and the ceiling were both damaged).
He disclosed that at first they believed someone had fallen, but later realized that heavy iron signage and construction materials had fallen onto their roof.
However, the contractor promised to pay damages and make repairs to their property.
Hipodromo barangay captain Dondon Bacolod revealed that 28 houses were affected.
While the 36-story condominium is still being built, some were compensated, while others were advised to rent another home.
However, while the development is still going on, the residents within the vicinity continue to worry about their safety.
Bacolod said he will arrange a meeting with the locals, representatives of Ayala administration, building contractor Monocrete Company Philippines Inc., the Department of Labor and Employment and the Office of the Building Official of Cebu City to discuss the issue. (GPL, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
BARCINO Brings Authentic Spanish Cuisine and World-Class Wine Selection to Cebu
AFTER 15 years of unwavering dedication to Spanish gastronomy, BARCINO is all set to bring its dining experience to the Queen City of the South, marking the restaurant's first branch outside Metro Manila.
This exciting venture intertwines Cebu's rich Spanish heritage and BARCINO's genuine Spanish essence, rekindling the historical connection dating back to Ferdinand Magellan's arrival in Cebu in 1521.
Opening its doors at NUSTAR Cebu, the city’s first and only Integrated Resort, BARCINO is poised to offer an authentic Spanish culinary experience to the city's discerning crowd.
BARCINO prides itself on its delectable cuisine, under the helm of Spanish-native Executive Chef Nicholas Diaz.
Known for its time-honored Northern Spanish recipes, BARCINO tantalizes taste buds with signature dishes that include hearty paellas, mouthwatering tapas, and a range of unique regional dishes. This gastronomic journey of Spanish cuisine has been crafted to please every palate, ensuring a remarkable culinary experience for all.
Complementing the menu is an extensive wine list, curated by Ricardo López of Bares and Estrellas. Offering over 111 wine labels, BARCINO's selection features wines from various origins, meeting the tastes of both beginners and seasoned wine enthusiasts.
But the allure does not stop at wine—BARCINO also presents a variety of cocktails, beers, and its best-selling Sangria Tinto, a signature crowd favorite.
The design aesthetic of BARCINO, created by Cyndi Fernandez of Moss Manila, is a cohesive blend of tradition and modernity. With an alfresco dining area offering stunning views of NUSTAR Cebu’s seaside, BARCINO offers a breathtaking atmosphere for celebrations or business gatherings.
The restaurant's unique design features four bespoke dining areas—the Madrid, Valencia, Salamanca, and Barcelona rooms that echo Spanish elegance and Cebu's vibrant culture. Highlighting the floor-to-ceiling wine room—a marvel to behold, it houses BARCINO's extensive wine collection, promising a unique tasting experience for every wine lover.
Mark your calendar for BARCINO’s grand opening on July 27, 2023. BARCINO will be serving generous portions of Spanish cuisine from 11 a.m. to 12 midnight for Sundays to Thursdays and until 2 a.m. for Fridays to Saturdays.
To extend a warm welcome to all, BARCINO is offering a special 20 percent off the total bill for customers who reserve a table 2 weeks in advance! This promo runs until August 27, 2023. Contact BARCINO at 0956-022-9720 or message BARCINO today to reserve your table and #ExperienceSpainEveryday. (SPONSORED CONTENT)
Categories: Philippines News
The new Nissan Almera: a modern, cutting-edge sedan
THE NEW Nissan Almera has everything you want in a sedan: cutting-edge style combined with innovative technology.
You can now start its engine from afar using your mobile phone and have immediate assistance in case of an emergency by just pressing an SOS button.
With the Almera’s latest technology, you can do a lot of things!
The New Nissan Almera now comes with “NissanConnect” Services—a new way to stay connected to your vehicle through your mobile phone, offering excitement and seamless connectivity that enables you to access some of its integrated features—a first in the market for subcompact sedans.
A three-year subscription to NissanConnect Services worth P30,000 is included with every purchase of the Almera VL variant.
NissanConnect Services allow you to start your car and even get the air-conditioning running with the Remote Engine Start/Stop feature, so it’s cool when you enter the cabin. Not sure if you locked your car? The Remote Lock/Unlock feature lets you conveniently double-check through your phone. But if your car gets broken into, Theft Alert will notify you whenever it detects any forced entry. In case of a collision or when the airbags deploy, the Almera's integrated emergency services can get you immediate assistance through features such as Automatic Collision Notification or the SOS Emergency Call Button.
The NissanConnect Services app also allows you to monitor your vehicle's health and reminds you of maintenance appointments.
On top of those, the New Nissan Almera also comes with the best of Nissan Intelligent Mobility like the Intelligent Around View Monitor with
Moving Object Detection, while adding new class-leading features such as Lane Departure Warning* and High Beam Assist* for a safer and more confident drive. Never run out of juice for your gadgets as it comes with a wireless charging pad** for added convenience.
With great technology comes great style. The New Nissan Almera updates its look with newly designed front and rear fascias, a new 16” alloy wheel design, and black leather interiors with dark blue contrast stitching. And to top it all off, it even comes with a Nissan 5-year warranty to give you peace of mind and convenience.
Elevate your drive with the latest in cutting-edge tech, wrapped in a stylish exterior. Experience a sedan that’s truly engineered for excitement: the New Nissan Almera.
Know more about the Almera here: www.nissan.ph/almera (SPONSORED CONTENT)
You can now start its engine from afar using your mobile phone and have immediate assistance in case of an emergency by just pressing an SOS button.
With the Almera’s latest technology, you can do a lot of things!
The New Nissan Almera now comes with “NissanConnect” Services—a new way to stay connected to your vehicle through your mobile phone, offering excitement and seamless connectivity that enables you to access some of its integrated features—a first in the market for subcompact sedans.
A three-year subscription to NissanConnect Services worth P30,000 is included with every purchase of the Almera VL variant.
NissanConnect Services allow you to start your car and even get the air-conditioning running with the Remote Engine Start/Stop feature, so it’s cool when you enter the cabin. Not sure if you locked your car? The Remote Lock/Unlock feature lets you conveniently double-check through your phone. But if your car gets broken into, Theft Alert will notify you whenever it detects any forced entry. In case of a collision or when the airbags deploy, the Almera's integrated emergency services can get you immediate assistance through features such as Automatic Collision Notification or the SOS Emergency Call Button.
The NissanConnect Services app also allows you to monitor your vehicle's health and reminds you of maintenance appointments.
On top of those, the New Nissan Almera also comes with the best of Nissan Intelligent Mobility like the Intelligent Around View Monitor with
Moving Object Detection, while adding new class-leading features such as Lane Departure Warning* and High Beam Assist* for a safer and more confident drive. Never run out of juice for your gadgets as it comes with a wireless charging pad** for added convenience.
With great technology comes great style. The New Nissan Almera updates its look with newly designed front and rear fascias, a new 16” alloy wheel design, and black leather interiors with dark blue contrast stitching. And to top it all off, it even comes with a Nissan 5-year warranty to give you peace of mind and convenience.
Elevate your drive with the latest in cutting-edge tech, wrapped in a stylish exterior. Experience a sedan that’s truly engineered for excitement: the New Nissan Almera.
Know more about the Almera here: www.nissan.ph/almera (SPONSORED CONTENT)
Categories: Philippines News
The new Nissan Almera: a modern, cutting-edge sedan
THE NEW Nissan Almera has everything you want in a sedan: cutting-edge style combined with innovative technology.
You can now start its engine from afar using your mobile phone and have immediate assistance in case of an emergency by just pressing an SOS button.
With the Almera’s latest technology, you can do a lot of things!
The New Nissan Almera now comes with “NissanConnect” Services—a new way to stay connected to your vehicle through your mobile phone, offering excitement and seamless connectivity that enables you to access some of its integrated features—a first in the market for subcompact sedans.
A three-year subscription to NissanConnect Services worth P30,000 is included with every purchase of the Almera VL variant.
NissanConnect Services allow you to start your car and even get the air-conditioning running with the Remote Engine Start/Stop feature, so it’s cool when you enter the cabin. Not sure if you locked your car? The Remote Lock/Unlock feature lets you conveniently double-check through your phone. But if your car gets broken into, Theft Alert will notify you whenever it detects any forced entry. In case of a collision or when the airbags deploy, the Almera's integrated emergency services can get you immediate assistance through features such as Automatic Collision Notification or the SOS Emergency Call Button.
The NissanConnect Services app also allows you to monitor your vehicle's health and reminds you of maintenance appointments.
On top of those, the New Nissan Almera also comes with the best of Nissan Intelligent Mobility like the Intelligent Around View Monitor with
Moving Object Detection, while adding new class-leading features such as Lane Departure Warning* and High Beam Assist* for a safer and more confident drive. Never run out of juice for your gadgets as it comes with a wireless charging pad** for added convenience.
With great technology comes great style. The New Nissan Almera updates its look with newly designed front and rear fascias, a new 16” alloy wheel design, and black leather interiors with dark blue contrast stitching. And to top it all off, it even comes with a Nissan 5-year warranty to give you peace of mind and convenience.
Elevate your drive with the latest in cutting-edge tech, wrapped in a stylish exterior. Experience a sedan that’s truly engineered for excitement: the New Nissan Almera.
Know more about the Almera here: www.nissan.ph/almera (SPONSORED CONTENT)
You can now start its engine from afar using your mobile phone and have immediate assistance in case of an emergency by just pressing an SOS button.
With the Almera’s latest technology, you can do a lot of things!
The New Nissan Almera now comes with “NissanConnect” Services—a new way to stay connected to your vehicle through your mobile phone, offering excitement and seamless connectivity that enables you to access some of its integrated features—a first in the market for subcompact sedans.
A three-year subscription to NissanConnect Services worth P30,000 is included with every purchase of the Almera VL variant.
NissanConnect Services allow you to start your car and even get the air-conditioning running with the Remote Engine Start/Stop feature, so it’s cool when you enter the cabin. Not sure if you locked your car? The Remote Lock/Unlock feature lets you conveniently double-check through your phone. But if your car gets broken into, Theft Alert will notify you whenever it detects any forced entry. In case of a collision or when the airbags deploy, the Almera's integrated emergency services can get you immediate assistance through features such as Automatic Collision Notification or the SOS Emergency Call Button.
The NissanConnect Services app also allows you to monitor your vehicle's health and reminds you of maintenance appointments.
On top of those, the New Nissan Almera also comes with the best of Nissan Intelligent Mobility like the Intelligent Around View Monitor with
Moving Object Detection, while adding new class-leading features such as Lane Departure Warning* and High Beam Assist* for a safer and more confident drive. Never run out of juice for your gadgets as it comes with a wireless charging pad** for added convenience.
With great technology comes great style. The New Nissan Almera updates its look with newly designed front and rear fascias, a new 16” alloy wheel design, and black leather interiors with dark blue contrast stitching. And to top it all off, it even comes with a Nissan 5-year warranty to give you peace of mind and convenience.
Elevate your drive with the latest in cutting-edge tech, wrapped in a stylish exterior. Experience a sedan that’s truly engineered for excitement: the New Nissan Almera.
Know more about the Almera here: www.nissan.ph/almera (SPONSORED CONTENT)
Categories: Philippines News
PSA 7 responds to hacking of FB page
AN OFFICIAL of the Philippine Statistics Authority in Central Visayas (PSA 7) said they are now closely coordinating with the agency’s central office in Manila and also with Meta, the company behind Facebook, to delete their old hacked Facebook page that recently went viral for posting “random photos.”
Director Ariel Florendo of PSA 7 encouraged the public to refrain from sharing the newer posts of their hacked Facebook page to avoid creating confusion among social media users.
The chief statistician also revealed in an interview with SunStar Cebu on Monday, July 24, 2023 that this is the first time this has happened to them.
“It is sad that somebody has to do that. I do not know if the hacker is foreign or local. I do not know what they can get out of this,” he said.
New page
The infamous hacking of the agency’s official Facebook page also prompted them to release a public advisory through their new page named “Philippine Statistics Authority - Central Visayas” explaining the situation to the public on Monday.
They also confirmed that they are also in contact with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the Department of Information and Communications Technology for a crackdown on the hacking incident.
They also urged the public to report and unfollow the hacked account.
The hacked account went viral over the weekend after it posted a reel of several men vaping or smoking electronic cigarettes inside a vehicle.
Several more random posts were made since the hacking on the following days, including random photos of unidentified women and shared reels from other pages.
The hackers also posted several statements including “YOU LIKE ME??” and “No one [loves] me why.”
The page’s profile picture was also updated twice to a picture of a woman.
Memes
Netizens’ comments have taken the page’s posts by storm, with its comment section now resembling one of a “meme-posting” page.
A meme is a pop culture term for an image, video, piece of text, and others, typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users.
“Yong birth certificate ko asan na (Where’s my birth certificate)?” one netizen commented with an angry emoji.
“Philippine Slay Authority,” another netizen commented on a random photo of a woman posted on the hacked page.
The page’s last post before getting hacked was an update of their cover photo showcasing PSA 7’s officials.
For updates on statistics, civil registration, the Philippine Identification System and other activities, PSA 7 advised the public to like their new official Facebook page. (WITH CNU INTERN MIGUEL ANGELU LUMEN)
Director Ariel Florendo of PSA 7 encouraged the public to refrain from sharing the newer posts of their hacked Facebook page to avoid creating confusion among social media users.
The chief statistician also revealed in an interview with SunStar Cebu on Monday, July 24, 2023 that this is the first time this has happened to them.
“It is sad that somebody has to do that. I do not know if the hacker is foreign or local. I do not know what they can get out of this,” he said.
New page
The infamous hacking of the agency’s official Facebook page also prompted them to release a public advisory through their new page named “Philippine Statistics Authority - Central Visayas” explaining the situation to the public on Monday.
They also confirmed that they are also in contact with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and the Department of Information and Communications Technology for a crackdown on the hacking incident.
They also urged the public to report and unfollow the hacked account.
The hacked account went viral over the weekend after it posted a reel of several men vaping or smoking electronic cigarettes inside a vehicle.
Several more random posts were made since the hacking on the following days, including random photos of unidentified women and shared reels from other pages.
The hackers also posted several statements including “YOU LIKE ME??” and “No one [loves] me why.”
The page’s profile picture was also updated twice to a picture of a woman.
Memes
Netizens’ comments have taken the page’s posts by storm, with its comment section now resembling one of a “meme-posting” page.
A meme is a pop culture term for an image, video, piece of text, and others, typically humorous in nature, that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users.
“Yong birth certificate ko asan na (Where’s my birth certificate)?” one netizen commented with an angry emoji.
“Philippine Slay Authority,” another netizen commented on a random photo of a woman posted on the hacked page.
The page’s last post before getting hacked was an update of their cover photo showcasing PSA 7’s officials.
For updates on statistics, civil registration, the Philippine Identification System and other activities, PSA 7 advised the public to like their new official Facebook page. (WITH CNU INTERN MIGUEL ANGELU LUMEN)
Categories: Philippines News
Lapu-Lapu City gov't flagged for 8 missing signatures, 'overpriced' alcohol purchase, reimbursement of expenses
THE Commission on Audit (COA) flagged several transactions undertaken by the Lapu-Lapu City Government in 2022 as irregular, including the absence of signatures of eight Typhoon Odette (Rai) victims and 46 individuals who received twice their financial assistance.
State auditors also questioned the purchase of overpriced alcohol with a total price of almost P181,000, and payments of P4.751 million for the acquisition of supplies, meals, accommodation, and various maintenance and other expenses made through reimbursement instead of direct procurement from suppliers, depriving the City Government of an advantage in competitive prices.
Missing signatures
In its 2022 audit report, COA said the Lapu-Lapu City Government received various financial assistance from national government agencies for the victims of Typhoon Odette.
However, upon verification, state auditors discovered that there were eight missing signatures of the beneficiaries of the cash aid from Barangays Ibo, Gun-ob, Baring and Caubian. They were supposed to receive either P2,000 or P5,000 in aid, totaling P22,000.
The audit team also found out that the cash aid was tagged as fully liquidated in the account book of the disbursing officer and in the subsidiary ledger.
“The absence of the signatures of the payees on the payroll creates doubt as to the actual payment made to the concerned payees. In case payees could not receive payments personally, they are allowed to authorize in writing, persons specifically allowed by law and regulations to represent them,” COA said.
COA also flagged the disbursement of financial assistance twice to 46 individuals, either receiving P5,000 or P2,000, totaling P221,000, as this deprived the other equally deserving beneficiaries.
The audit team recommended to the City that the disbursing officer require the eight beneficiaries to sign on the payroll as an acknowledgment of receipt; otherwise, the officer must refund the P22,000. The City, in its reply, agreed with it.
The City also agreed to COA’s recommendation that the 46 beneficiaries who received twice their financial assistance refund the excess P5,000 or P2,000, or mandate the person responsible for the double listing to refund the total amount of P221,000.
It was agreed by both COA and the City Government to direct the City Social Welfare and Development Office to scrutinize the list of beneficiaries of all financial assistance programs of the City, ensuring that the assistance intended for eligible beneficiaries will get to them.
Expensive alcohol
State auditors also flagged the procurement of P180,779.85 worth of alcohol that was considered “overpriced” based on the Department of Health circular, “Price Freeze of Essential Emergency Medicines and Medical Devices due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Health Event.”
COA said the purchase also violated Section 5 of its Circular 2012-003, which defines what an excessive expenditure is.
In its reply, the City said it had overlooked the particular DOH circular; however, it was never its intention to neglect it.
The City explained that during the purchase, it had not received a copy of the said circular.
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) also made sure that the purchase of the alcohol was not “unreasonably high and excessive” in accordance with the City’s expenditures.
“From one supplier to the next, the Committee remained attentive to the different prices of the medical supplies and, to the best of their discretion, chose the most inexpensive ones available. Yet, admittedly but inadvertently, they failed to recognize the applicable department issuances due to the urgency of the matter because of the pandemic,” the City said in its reply.
Reimbursement
COA further reported that the City Government reimbursed the purchase of P4.751 million worth of supplies, meals, accommodation, and various maintenance and other expenses.
State auditors argued that, as a general rule according to Section 48.2 of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, local government units must always adopt public bidding as the mode of procurement; however, there are instances that payments are made through cash advance.
However, COA noted that city officials and employees resorted to reimbursements as payment of government expenses through cash.
COA mandated Mayor Junard Chan to stop the said practice of reimbursement as payment for procuring goods and services, except for purchases that are paid out of the petty cash fund or cash advance. It also said that the city accountant and city treasurer must ensure that all payments are made through a check directly to the intended creditor, while BAC must also implement the mode of procurement stipulated in the Revised IRR of RA 9184.
In its reply, the City Government said the purchases under reimbursement were due to urgency and with the discretion of the city mayor through his discretionary funds, such as the payment of meal expenses on occasions when the need arose.
It said the City will adopt “the suggestion of having a framework agreement and planning ahead for the needs of each department in the City through the identification of such necessities and bidding out supplies or catering services for the entire year to lessen payment through reimbursements.”
“However, there are reimbursements where situations require immediate actions during that time which cannot be avoided,” it added.
State auditors also questioned the purchase of overpriced alcohol with a total price of almost P181,000, and payments of P4.751 million for the acquisition of supplies, meals, accommodation, and various maintenance and other expenses made through reimbursement instead of direct procurement from suppliers, depriving the City Government of an advantage in competitive prices.
Missing signatures
In its 2022 audit report, COA said the Lapu-Lapu City Government received various financial assistance from national government agencies for the victims of Typhoon Odette.
However, upon verification, state auditors discovered that there were eight missing signatures of the beneficiaries of the cash aid from Barangays Ibo, Gun-ob, Baring and Caubian. They were supposed to receive either P2,000 or P5,000 in aid, totaling P22,000.
The audit team also found out that the cash aid was tagged as fully liquidated in the account book of the disbursing officer and in the subsidiary ledger.
“The absence of the signatures of the payees on the payroll creates doubt as to the actual payment made to the concerned payees. In case payees could not receive payments personally, they are allowed to authorize in writing, persons specifically allowed by law and regulations to represent them,” COA said.
COA also flagged the disbursement of financial assistance twice to 46 individuals, either receiving P5,000 or P2,000, totaling P221,000, as this deprived the other equally deserving beneficiaries.
The audit team recommended to the City that the disbursing officer require the eight beneficiaries to sign on the payroll as an acknowledgment of receipt; otherwise, the officer must refund the P22,000. The City, in its reply, agreed with it.
The City also agreed to COA’s recommendation that the 46 beneficiaries who received twice their financial assistance refund the excess P5,000 or P2,000, or mandate the person responsible for the double listing to refund the total amount of P221,000.
It was agreed by both COA and the City Government to direct the City Social Welfare and Development Office to scrutinize the list of beneficiaries of all financial assistance programs of the City, ensuring that the assistance intended for eligible beneficiaries will get to them.
Expensive alcohol
State auditors also flagged the procurement of P180,779.85 worth of alcohol that was considered “overpriced” based on the Department of Health circular, “Price Freeze of Essential Emergency Medicines and Medical Devices due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Health Event.”
COA said the purchase also violated Section 5 of its Circular 2012-003, which defines what an excessive expenditure is.
In its reply, the City said it had overlooked the particular DOH circular; however, it was never its intention to neglect it.
The City explained that during the purchase, it had not received a copy of the said circular.
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) also made sure that the purchase of the alcohol was not “unreasonably high and excessive” in accordance with the City’s expenditures.
“From one supplier to the next, the Committee remained attentive to the different prices of the medical supplies and, to the best of their discretion, chose the most inexpensive ones available. Yet, admittedly but inadvertently, they failed to recognize the applicable department issuances due to the urgency of the matter because of the pandemic,” the City said in its reply.
Reimbursement
COA further reported that the City Government reimbursed the purchase of P4.751 million worth of supplies, meals, accommodation, and various maintenance and other expenses.
State auditors argued that, as a general rule according to Section 48.2 of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, local government units must always adopt public bidding as the mode of procurement; however, there are instances that payments are made through cash advance.
However, COA noted that city officials and employees resorted to reimbursements as payment of government expenses through cash.
COA mandated Mayor Junard Chan to stop the said practice of reimbursement as payment for procuring goods and services, except for purchases that are paid out of the petty cash fund or cash advance. It also said that the city accountant and city treasurer must ensure that all payments are made through a check directly to the intended creditor, while BAC must also implement the mode of procurement stipulated in the Revised IRR of RA 9184.
In its reply, the City Government said the purchases under reimbursement were due to urgency and with the discretion of the city mayor through his discretionary funds, such as the payment of meal expenses on occasions when the need arose.
It said the City will adopt “the suggestion of having a framework agreement and planning ahead for the needs of each department in the City through the identification of such necessities and bidding out supplies or catering services for the entire year to lessen payment through reimbursements.”
“However, there are reimbursements where situations require immediate actions during that time which cannot be avoided,” it added.
Categories: Philippines News
COA: Rama’s P1.99M spending for trip to Canada ‘irregular’
A NOTICE of disallowance will be issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) on Cebu City after it found irregular disbursement of cash advances for a trip to Canada by four city officials including the mayor.
In its 2022 audit report, COA stated that the travel of four city personnel with a total cash advance of P1.992 million contravenes several provisions of Executive Order (EO) 77.
EO 77 prescribes the rules, regulations and rates of expenses and allowances for official local and foreign travel of government personnel.
Disallowance is the disapproval in audit of a disbursement transaction (either in whole or in part) found to be illegal, irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or unconscionable.
On August 19, 2022, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, alongside Executive Director of Sister Cities Karla Paula Henry-Ammann, Protocol Officer Cinbeth Orellano and City Administrator Collin Rosell, who was the mayor’s executive secretary at the time, travelled to British Columbia, Canada to attend the Enthronement of the Image of the Sto. Niño at the Shrine of the Sto. Niño de Cebu at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Agassiz.
No approval
The state auditor noted that Section 10 of EO 77 states that regardless of length of travel and the number of delegates, foreign travels and payment of expenses must be approved by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) or their authorized representative.
Investigation on the documents showed that only Mayor Rama had the proper travel authority that was approved by the DILG Secretary. In addition, payment of cash advances for the travel had no approval from the DILG Secretary.
The authority of the other personnel to travel was issued by Rama without any authority from the DILG Secretary.
The report also showed that each drew a cash advance amounting to P498,000 comprising the airfare and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA). In addition, it was revealed that the amount of the DSA exceeded the correct amount by at least 2.5 days or an equivalent of around P217,000.
Section 14 of the EO states that the DSA shall only start upon arrival at the country and cease upon departure.
The summary of activities revealed that the group left for Canada on August 19 and stayed until August 25, which was the day of their departure back to the Philippines, which means the total travel time was seven days. But as per the attached itinerary of travel, the DSA was given from August 19 to 27 for a total of nine days.
The airfare was also called into question since the amount of P300,000 was considered excessive and was not supported with the airline’s flight price. Based on COA’s research, airline fares from Cebu to Vancouver were at a range of P25,000 to P28,000 for a one-way ticket.
COA also said Section 9 of EO 77 prescribes that the authorized approving authority keep the number of trip participants to the barest minimum, but that the travel order signed by Rama showed that the travel purpose of the three officials was similar, indicating that “the total number of four was not in the barest minimum.”
COA said the parameters behind the EO are there to prevent unnecessary travels that require immense cost from the government.
COA recommended that all provisions of EO 77 be followed for future travels and transactions to avoid disallowance in audit, which the Cebu City Government agreed to.
Sought for comment Tuesday, Rama said he had yet to receive a copy of the notice of disallowance but that it will be taken care of by Rosell and City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo.
“The usual disallowance has to be answered, and I don’t want to be confronting COA because they are also doing their job,” said Rama.
In its 2022 audit report, COA stated that the travel of four city personnel with a total cash advance of P1.992 million contravenes several provisions of Executive Order (EO) 77.
EO 77 prescribes the rules, regulations and rates of expenses and allowances for official local and foreign travel of government personnel.
Disallowance is the disapproval in audit of a disbursement transaction (either in whole or in part) found to be illegal, irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or unconscionable.
On August 19, 2022, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, alongside Executive Director of Sister Cities Karla Paula Henry-Ammann, Protocol Officer Cinbeth Orellano and City Administrator Collin Rosell, who was the mayor’s executive secretary at the time, travelled to British Columbia, Canada to attend the Enthronement of the Image of the Sto. Niño at the Shrine of the Sto. Niño de Cebu at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Agassiz.
No approval
The state auditor noted that Section 10 of EO 77 states that regardless of length of travel and the number of delegates, foreign travels and payment of expenses must be approved by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) or their authorized representative.
Investigation on the documents showed that only Mayor Rama had the proper travel authority that was approved by the DILG Secretary. In addition, payment of cash advances for the travel had no approval from the DILG Secretary.
The authority of the other personnel to travel was issued by Rama without any authority from the DILG Secretary.
The report also showed that each drew a cash advance amounting to P498,000 comprising the airfare and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA). In addition, it was revealed that the amount of the DSA exceeded the correct amount by at least 2.5 days or an equivalent of around P217,000.
Section 14 of the EO states that the DSA shall only start upon arrival at the country and cease upon departure.
The summary of activities revealed that the group left for Canada on August 19 and stayed until August 25, which was the day of their departure back to the Philippines, which means the total travel time was seven days. But as per the attached itinerary of travel, the DSA was given from August 19 to 27 for a total of nine days.
The airfare was also called into question since the amount of P300,000 was considered excessive and was not supported with the airline’s flight price. Based on COA’s research, airline fares from Cebu to Vancouver were at a range of P25,000 to P28,000 for a one-way ticket.
COA also said Section 9 of EO 77 prescribes that the authorized approving authority keep the number of trip participants to the barest minimum, but that the travel order signed by Rama showed that the travel purpose of the three officials was similar, indicating that “the total number of four was not in the barest minimum.”
COA said the parameters behind the EO are there to prevent unnecessary travels that require immense cost from the government.
COA recommended that all provisions of EO 77 be followed for future travels and transactions to avoid disallowance in audit, which the Cebu City Government agreed to.
Sought for comment Tuesday, Rama said he had yet to receive a copy of the notice of disallowance but that it will be taken care of by Rosell and City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo.
“The usual disallowance has to be answered, and I don’t want to be confronting COA because they are also doing their job,” said Rama.
Categories: Philippines News
NGCP to prioritize completion of 2 Visayas power projects
THE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has pledged to complete its deliverables, starting with two Visayas projects, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called the firm out over its delayed transmission line projects during his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 24, 2023.
In a statement posted in its official social media page late Monday, NGCP expressed its readiness to fulfill all the energy initiatives mentioned in Marcos’ Sona 2023, attributing the delays to issues on right of way (ROW) and the issuance of permits.
“Ipinangako ng NGCP na ibubuhos nila ang gawain tungo sa pagkumpleto ng mga kritikal na proyekto habang pabibilisan ang pagtatapos sa iba pang nakakasa na,” NGCP said.
(The NGCP has promised to pour work towards the completion of critical projects while expediting the completion of other pending ones.)
Review
A performance review of the private concessionaire will be conducted, Marcos said in his Sona specifying that over 68 projects were delayed based on data from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
“We finally have a Unified National Grid, with the interconnection of the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids. The ‘One Grid, One Market’ will enable more efficient transfers and more competitive pricing of electricity throughout the country,” Marcos said.
“We look to NGCP to complete all of its deliverables, starting with the vital Mindanao-Visayas and Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnections,” Marcos added.
NGCP president and chief executive officer Anthony Almeda said it will prioritize the immediate completion of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) and Stage 3 of the Cebu-Negros-Panay Interconnection Project.
Almeda added that the transmission firm has been working on it for a long time and both of these projects have already been energized.
The P52 billion MVIP was completed in 2022, energized on May 3, 2023 and it was expected to power up the country with a total of 450 Megawatts (MW) of output capacity before the end of the third quarter of the year.
The transmission facility allows the export of surplus power supply from Mindanao to the Visayas and then to the Luzon grid.
However, the NGCP asked the support of the local government units (LGU) to expedite the issuance of permits and provide the necessary assistance to address the problems.
Delays
ERC ordered the NGCP on June 14, 2023 to explain the delays in the completion of 37 projects that ranged from 21 to 2,561 days, or face administrative penalties. The commission said 26 of the projects were uncompleted, while three had yet to begin.
About eight NGCP projects in the Visayas region were delayed, including the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230 kiloVolts (kV) Backbone Project (Stage 1), Cebu-Lapu Lapu Transmission Project, Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project, Naga (Cebu) S/S Upgrading Project, Stage 3 of Cebu-Negros-Panay 230 kiloVolts (kV) Backbone Project, Tagbiliran 69kV Substation Project, Visayas Voltage Improvement Project, and Stage 2 of Cebu-Negros-Panay 230 kiloVolts (kV) Backbone Project (Cebu Substation 230kV Upgrading).
According to Transmission Development Plans submitted by NGCP to the Department of Energy (DOE), there had been only an eight percent increase of the transmission grid in terms of line expansion since 2009.
The report showed its 19,425 circuit-kilometers of lines in 2009 growing to only 21,027 circuit-kilometers in 2022, with even its expansion in the 2011-2018 pre-pandemic years averaging only 1.05 percent per year.
On track
Almeda, however, said “it is on the right track and it will work harder to implement these programs as soon as possible.”
It insisted that comprehensive, centralized and systematic planning in the energy sector was essential.
NGCP is currently intensifying its grid stabilization against disasters through a continuous upgrading of equipment and personnel, especially those that will be repaired quickly in times of calamities.
It will also accelerate its capabilities to accommodate the use of renewable and other sustainable energy sources through its partnership with State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC).
SGCC owns 40 percent of NGCP, while Philippine billionaires Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr. control 60 percent of the company.
NGCP was also currently investing in Filipino youth who want to become engineers through training and scholarship grants.
In a statement posted in its official social media page late Monday, NGCP expressed its readiness to fulfill all the energy initiatives mentioned in Marcos’ Sona 2023, attributing the delays to issues on right of way (ROW) and the issuance of permits.
“Ipinangako ng NGCP na ibubuhos nila ang gawain tungo sa pagkumpleto ng mga kritikal na proyekto habang pabibilisan ang pagtatapos sa iba pang nakakasa na,” NGCP said.
(The NGCP has promised to pour work towards the completion of critical projects while expediting the completion of other pending ones.)
Review
A performance review of the private concessionaire will be conducted, Marcos said in his Sona specifying that over 68 projects were delayed based on data from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
“We finally have a Unified National Grid, with the interconnection of the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids. The ‘One Grid, One Market’ will enable more efficient transfers and more competitive pricing of electricity throughout the country,” Marcos said.
“We look to NGCP to complete all of its deliverables, starting with the vital Mindanao-Visayas and Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnections,” Marcos added.
NGCP president and chief executive officer Anthony Almeda said it will prioritize the immediate completion of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) and Stage 3 of the Cebu-Negros-Panay Interconnection Project.
Almeda added that the transmission firm has been working on it for a long time and both of these projects have already been energized.
The P52 billion MVIP was completed in 2022, energized on May 3, 2023 and it was expected to power up the country with a total of 450 Megawatts (MW) of output capacity before the end of the third quarter of the year.
The transmission facility allows the export of surplus power supply from Mindanao to the Visayas and then to the Luzon grid.
However, the NGCP asked the support of the local government units (LGU) to expedite the issuance of permits and provide the necessary assistance to address the problems.
Delays
ERC ordered the NGCP on June 14, 2023 to explain the delays in the completion of 37 projects that ranged from 21 to 2,561 days, or face administrative penalties. The commission said 26 of the projects were uncompleted, while three had yet to begin.
About eight NGCP projects in the Visayas region were delayed, including the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230 kiloVolts (kV) Backbone Project (Stage 1), Cebu-Lapu Lapu Transmission Project, Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project, Naga (Cebu) S/S Upgrading Project, Stage 3 of Cebu-Negros-Panay 230 kiloVolts (kV) Backbone Project, Tagbiliran 69kV Substation Project, Visayas Voltage Improvement Project, and Stage 2 of Cebu-Negros-Panay 230 kiloVolts (kV) Backbone Project (Cebu Substation 230kV Upgrading).
According to Transmission Development Plans submitted by NGCP to the Department of Energy (DOE), there had been only an eight percent increase of the transmission grid in terms of line expansion since 2009.
The report showed its 19,425 circuit-kilometers of lines in 2009 growing to only 21,027 circuit-kilometers in 2022, with even its expansion in the 2011-2018 pre-pandemic years averaging only 1.05 percent per year.
On track
Almeda, however, said “it is on the right track and it will work harder to implement these programs as soon as possible.”
It insisted that comprehensive, centralized and systematic planning in the energy sector was essential.
NGCP is currently intensifying its grid stabilization against disasters through a continuous upgrading of equipment and personnel, especially those that will be repaired quickly in times of calamities.
It will also accelerate its capabilities to accommodate the use of renewable and other sustainable energy sources through its partnership with State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC).
SGCC owns 40 percent of NGCP, while Philippine billionaires Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr. control 60 percent of the company.
NGCP was also currently investing in Filipino youth who want to become engineers through training and scholarship grants.
Categories: Philippines News
CCAP official: AI bolsters productivity, not job threat
THE Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) is confident of hitting 2.3 million jobs by 2028 even as the industry moves towards the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in business processes.
“We are confident that the target employment figure will be achieved even with the emergence of generative AI (artificial intelligence). Contrary to common assumptions, our group believes that the new technology will bolster the sector’s productivity instead of threatening jobs,” said CCAP managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury.
“Generative AI can enhance the strengths of our Filipino agents who can then focus on active listening and become more empathetic and engaging when rendering service to our customers,” she said.
Sona mention
In a press conference Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Bradbury said the industry is inspired and encouraged to work doubly hard following its special mention of being an economic driver during the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24.
“As we address our weaknesses and develop competitiveness in other potential areas, we must play to our strengths. Our competitive advantage must be leveraged,” Marcos said.
The President added that as a “service export powerhouse,” government must continue to nurture the growth of the services sector, particularly the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) and tourism industries.
Amid the fast advancement in technology, Bradbury said agents are continuously being upskilled to further equip them with the right knowledge and skills amid the evolving nature of jobs across the sector and the industry.
“Agents can be redeployed and upskilled to make them always relevant to the future business model,” she said.
Generative AI is a type of AI that can create a wide variety of data, such as images, videos, audio, text and 3D models.
Targets
CCAP-member firms aim to hit 2.3 million full-time employees (FTE) out of the 2.5 million employment target of the entire information-technology business process management (IT-BPM) industry by 2028.
The local contact center sector has also set a yearly annual revenue target of US$59 billion by 2028—about $49 billion of which is expected from CCAP-member organizations.
As an indication of its strength, the sector posted actual revenues totaling $27 billion, accounting for 84 percent of overall IT-BPM industry revenue of $32 billion.
CCAP is holding a three-day Contact Islands Conference from July 26 to 28, 2023 in Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu with over 500 delegates.
The Contact Islands Conference is an international conference on customer experience in the outsourcing and offshoring space — a venue for the exchange of views, coaching, networking, and benchmarking for the sector’s leaders and decision-makers.
Seeking talent
Talent development is at the core of the CCAP’s Sectoral Roadmap 2028. The group wants to ensure a sustainable supply of skilled talent by introducing new and future-relevant educational courses, revising existing curricula, strengthening training programs, and proactively positioning IT-BPM as a preferred career option.
“There is no scarcity of employees. There is just difficulty in finding the right skilled and employable talent,” said Bradbury.
She explained that the graduates now are unfortunately not attuned to the new requirements of businesses.
But companies, according to Jamea Garcia, Alorica’s regional vice president for human resources, have embarked on programs to ensure a high-quality supply of workforce for the industry including hiring high school graduates and upskilling them.
Companies are also using technology to upskill them fast.
Garcia said the industry is also spreading its wings, looking for talents outside of Metro Manila.
Part of achieving CCAP’s goal in terms of job generation is for its member companies to expand their operations in the countryside to spread wealth.
The average entry-level pay for Manila and Cebu workers is P15,000 to P20,000. This industry is also well known for giving its employees monetary and non-monetary incentives.
CCAP’s ambition is to capture a talent mix of 60 percent from Metro Manila and 40 percent from the countryside.
Aiming for such, according to Garcia, will decongest Metro Manila and at the same time propel growth in the countryside.
Digital cities
The Department of Information and Communications Technology has identified 31 digital cities across the country that contact center firms are eyeing for their next investments.
Based on a survey among CCAP-member companies, Metro Cavite tops the list of cities for nationwide expansion. Also on the list are Metro Rizal, Puerto Princesa, Batangas, Iloilo, Calamba (in Laguna), General Santos City, Tarlac, Zamboanga, Dagupan and Cagayan de Oro, among others.
But Cebu and Davao are still among the favorites of investors to bring in or set up a business.
“The DICT has been ramping up the value proposition of these cities,” said Bradbury.
Wage increase
Meanwhile, another issue the sector is facing pertains to possible wage increases, which some analysts see as a pending threat to the industry’s cost-effective advantage.
Bradbury emphasized that labor cost is just one of the many factors that clients look at when signing up for contact center or BPO services across the globe.
“Clients look at the quality of experience and work that is rendered. Customer experience covers the quality of care and assistance delivered,” she said.
“Thus, Filipino agents always stand out. They are outstandingly customer-centric. Their empathy enables them to go the extra mile when serving customers. This is why the Philippines has always been the ‘heart of CX,’” Bradbury added.
Big employers such as the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines joined other organizations in opposing the legislated wage hike that would raise the salary rate in the National Capital Region by P150 to P720 from the current P570.
“We are confident that the target employment figure will be achieved even with the emergence of generative AI (artificial intelligence). Contrary to common assumptions, our group believes that the new technology will bolster the sector’s productivity instead of threatening jobs,” said CCAP managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury.
“Generative AI can enhance the strengths of our Filipino agents who can then focus on active listening and become more empathetic and engaging when rendering service to our customers,” she said.
Sona mention
In a press conference Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Bradbury said the industry is inspired and encouraged to work doubly hard following its special mention of being an economic driver during the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24.
“As we address our weaknesses and develop competitiveness in other potential areas, we must play to our strengths. Our competitive advantage must be leveraged,” Marcos said.
The President added that as a “service export powerhouse,” government must continue to nurture the growth of the services sector, particularly the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) and tourism industries.
Amid the fast advancement in technology, Bradbury said agents are continuously being upskilled to further equip them with the right knowledge and skills amid the evolving nature of jobs across the sector and the industry.
“Agents can be redeployed and upskilled to make them always relevant to the future business model,” she said.
Generative AI is a type of AI that can create a wide variety of data, such as images, videos, audio, text and 3D models.
Targets
CCAP-member firms aim to hit 2.3 million full-time employees (FTE) out of the 2.5 million employment target of the entire information-technology business process management (IT-BPM) industry by 2028.
The local contact center sector has also set a yearly annual revenue target of US$59 billion by 2028—about $49 billion of which is expected from CCAP-member organizations.
As an indication of its strength, the sector posted actual revenues totaling $27 billion, accounting for 84 percent of overall IT-BPM industry revenue of $32 billion.
CCAP is holding a three-day Contact Islands Conference from July 26 to 28, 2023 in Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu with over 500 delegates.
The Contact Islands Conference is an international conference on customer experience in the outsourcing and offshoring space — a venue for the exchange of views, coaching, networking, and benchmarking for the sector’s leaders and decision-makers.
Seeking talent
Talent development is at the core of the CCAP’s Sectoral Roadmap 2028. The group wants to ensure a sustainable supply of skilled talent by introducing new and future-relevant educational courses, revising existing curricula, strengthening training programs, and proactively positioning IT-BPM as a preferred career option.
“There is no scarcity of employees. There is just difficulty in finding the right skilled and employable talent,” said Bradbury.
She explained that the graduates now are unfortunately not attuned to the new requirements of businesses.
But companies, according to Jamea Garcia, Alorica’s regional vice president for human resources, have embarked on programs to ensure a high-quality supply of workforce for the industry including hiring high school graduates and upskilling them.
Companies are also using technology to upskill them fast.
Garcia said the industry is also spreading its wings, looking for talents outside of Metro Manila.
Part of achieving CCAP’s goal in terms of job generation is for its member companies to expand their operations in the countryside to spread wealth.
The average entry-level pay for Manila and Cebu workers is P15,000 to P20,000. This industry is also well known for giving its employees monetary and non-monetary incentives.
CCAP’s ambition is to capture a talent mix of 60 percent from Metro Manila and 40 percent from the countryside.
Aiming for such, according to Garcia, will decongest Metro Manila and at the same time propel growth in the countryside.
Digital cities
The Department of Information and Communications Technology has identified 31 digital cities across the country that contact center firms are eyeing for their next investments.
Based on a survey among CCAP-member companies, Metro Cavite tops the list of cities for nationwide expansion. Also on the list are Metro Rizal, Puerto Princesa, Batangas, Iloilo, Calamba (in Laguna), General Santos City, Tarlac, Zamboanga, Dagupan and Cagayan de Oro, among others.
But Cebu and Davao are still among the favorites of investors to bring in or set up a business.
“The DICT has been ramping up the value proposition of these cities,” said Bradbury.
Wage increase
Meanwhile, another issue the sector is facing pertains to possible wage increases, which some analysts see as a pending threat to the industry’s cost-effective advantage.
Bradbury emphasized that labor cost is just one of the many factors that clients look at when signing up for contact center or BPO services across the globe.
“Clients look at the quality of experience and work that is rendered. Customer experience covers the quality of care and assistance delivered,” she said.
“Thus, Filipino agents always stand out. They are outstandingly customer-centric. Their empathy enables them to go the extra mile when serving customers. This is why the Philippines has always been the ‘heart of CX,’” Bradbury added.
Big employers such as the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines joined other organizations in opposing the legislated wage hike that would raise the salary rate in the National Capital Region by P150 to P720 from the current P570.
Categories: Philippines News
CCAP official: AU bolsters productivity, not job threat
THE Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) is confident of hitting 2.3 million jobs by 2028 even as the industry moves towards the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in business processes.
“We are confident that the target employment figure will be achieved even with the emergence of generative AI (artificial intelligence). Contrary to common assumptions, our group believes that the new technology will bolster the sector’s productivity instead of threatening jobs,” said CCAP managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury.
“Generative AI can enhance the strengths of our Filipino agents who can then focus on active listening and become more empathetic and engaging when rendering service to our customers,” she said.
Sona mention
In a press conference Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Bradbury said the industry is inspired and encouraged to work doubly hard following its special mention of being an economic driver during the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24.
“As we address our weaknesses and develop competitiveness in other potential areas, we must play to our strengths. Our competitive advantage must be leveraged,” Marcos said.
The President added that as a “service export powerhouse,” government must continue to nurture the growth of the services sector, particularly the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) and tourism industries.
Amid the fast advancement in technology, Bradbury said agents are continuously being upskilled to further equip them with the right knowledge and skills amid the evolving nature of jobs across the sector and the industry.
“Agents can be redeployed and upskilled to make them always relevant to the future business model,” she said.
Generative AI is a type of AI that can create a wide variety of data, such as images, videos, audio, text and 3D models.
Targets
CCAP-member firms aim to hit 2.3 million full-time employees (FTE) out of the 2.5 million employment target of the entire information-technology business process management (IT-BPM) industry by 2028.
The local contact center sector has also set a yearly annual revenue target of US$59 billion by 2028—about $49 billion of which is expected from CCAP-member organizations.
As an indication of its strength, the sector posted actual revenues totaling $27 billion, accounting for 84 percent of overall IT-BPM industry revenue of $32 billion.
CCAP is holding a three-day Contact Islands Conference from July 26 to 28, 2023 in Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu with over 500 delegates.
The Contact Islands Conference is an international conference on customer experience in the outsourcing and offshoring space — a venue for the exchange of views, coaching, networking, and benchmarking for the sector’s leaders and decision-makers.
Seeking talent
Talent development is at the core of the CCAP’s Sectoral Roadmap 2028. The group wants to ensure a sustainable supply of skilled talent by introducing new and future-relevant educational courses, revising existing curricula, strengthening training programs, and proactively positioning IT-BPM as a preferred career option.
“There is no scarcity of employees. There is just difficulty in finding the right skilled and employable talent,” said Bradbury.
She explained that the graduates now are unfortunately not attuned to the new requirements of businesses.
But companies, according to Jamea Garcia, Alorica’s regional vice president for human resources, have embarked on programs to ensure a high-quality supply of workforce for the industry including hiring high school graduates and upskilling them.
Companies are also using technology to upskill them fast.
Garcia said the industry is also spreading its wings, looking for talents outside of Metro Manila.
Part of achieving CCAP’s goal in terms of job generation is for its member companies to expand their operations in the countryside to spread wealth.
The average entry-level pay for Manila and Cebu workers is P15,000 to P20,000. This industry is also well known for giving its employees monetary and non-monetary incentives.
CCAP’s ambition is to capture a talent mix of 60 percent from Metro Manila and 40 percent from the countryside.
Aiming for such, according to Garcia, will decongest Metro Manila and at the same time propel growth in the countryside.
Digital cities
The Department of Information and Communications Technology has identified 31 digital cities across the country that contact center firms are eyeing for their next investments.
Based on a survey among CCAP-member companies, Metro Cavite tops the list of cities for nationwide expansion. Also on the list are Metro Rizal, Puerto Princesa, Batangas, Iloilo, Calamba (in Laguna), General Santos City, Tarlac, Zamboanga, Dagupan and Cagayan de Oro, among others.
But Cebu and Davao are still among the favorites of investors to bring in or set up a business.
“The DICT has been ramping up the value proposition of these cities,” said Bradbury.
Wage increase
Meanwhile, another issue the sector is facing pertains to possible wage increases, which some analysts see as a pending threat to the industry’s cost-effective advantage.
Bradbury emphasized that labor cost is just one of the many factors that clients look at when signing up for contact center or BPO services across the globe.
“Clients look at the quality of experience and work that is rendered. Customer experience covers the quality of care and assistance delivered,” she said.
“Thus, Filipino agents always stand out. They are outstandingly customer-centric. Their empathy enables them to go the extra mile when serving customers. This is why the Philippines has always been the ‘heart of CX,’” Bradbury added.
Big employers such as the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines joined other organizations in opposing the legislated wage hike that would raise the salary rate in the National Capital Region by P150 to P720 from the current P570.
“We are confident that the target employment figure will be achieved even with the emergence of generative AI (artificial intelligence). Contrary to common assumptions, our group believes that the new technology will bolster the sector’s productivity instead of threatening jobs,” said CCAP managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury.
“Generative AI can enhance the strengths of our Filipino agents who can then focus on active listening and become more empathetic and engaging when rendering service to our customers,” she said.
Sona mention
In a press conference Tuesday, July 25, 2023, Bradbury said the industry is inspired and encouraged to work doubly hard following its special mention of being an economic driver during the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24.
“As we address our weaknesses and develop competitiveness in other potential areas, we must play to our strengths. Our competitive advantage must be leveraged,” Marcos said.
The President added that as a “service export powerhouse,” government must continue to nurture the growth of the services sector, particularly the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) and tourism industries.
Amid the fast advancement in technology, Bradbury said agents are continuously being upskilled to further equip them with the right knowledge and skills amid the evolving nature of jobs across the sector and the industry.
“Agents can be redeployed and upskilled to make them always relevant to the future business model,” she said.
Generative AI is a type of AI that can create a wide variety of data, such as images, videos, audio, text and 3D models.
Targets
CCAP-member firms aim to hit 2.3 million full-time employees (FTE) out of the 2.5 million employment target of the entire information-technology business process management (IT-BPM) industry by 2028.
The local contact center sector has also set a yearly annual revenue target of US$59 billion by 2028—about $49 billion of which is expected from CCAP-member organizations.
As an indication of its strength, the sector posted actual revenues totaling $27 billion, accounting for 84 percent of overall IT-BPM industry revenue of $32 billion.
CCAP is holding a three-day Contact Islands Conference from July 26 to 28, 2023 in Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu with over 500 delegates.
The Contact Islands Conference is an international conference on customer experience in the outsourcing and offshoring space — a venue for the exchange of views, coaching, networking, and benchmarking for the sector’s leaders and decision-makers.
Seeking talent
Talent development is at the core of the CCAP’s Sectoral Roadmap 2028. The group wants to ensure a sustainable supply of skilled talent by introducing new and future-relevant educational courses, revising existing curricula, strengthening training programs, and proactively positioning IT-BPM as a preferred career option.
“There is no scarcity of employees. There is just difficulty in finding the right skilled and employable talent,” said Bradbury.
She explained that the graduates now are unfortunately not attuned to the new requirements of businesses.
But companies, according to Jamea Garcia, Alorica’s regional vice president for human resources, have embarked on programs to ensure a high-quality supply of workforce for the industry including hiring high school graduates and upskilling them.
Companies are also using technology to upskill them fast.
Garcia said the industry is also spreading its wings, looking for talents outside of Metro Manila.
Part of achieving CCAP’s goal in terms of job generation is for its member companies to expand their operations in the countryside to spread wealth.
The average entry-level pay for Manila and Cebu workers is P15,000 to P20,000. This industry is also well known for giving its employees monetary and non-monetary incentives.
CCAP’s ambition is to capture a talent mix of 60 percent from Metro Manila and 40 percent from the countryside.
Aiming for such, according to Garcia, will decongest Metro Manila and at the same time propel growth in the countryside.
Digital cities
The Department of Information and Communications Technology has identified 31 digital cities across the country that contact center firms are eyeing for their next investments.
Based on a survey among CCAP-member companies, Metro Cavite tops the list of cities for nationwide expansion. Also on the list are Metro Rizal, Puerto Princesa, Batangas, Iloilo, Calamba (in Laguna), General Santos City, Tarlac, Zamboanga, Dagupan and Cagayan de Oro, among others.
But Cebu and Davao are still among the favorites of investors to bring in or set up a business.
“The DICT has been ramping up the value proposition of these cities,” said Bradbury.
Wage increase
Meanwhile, another issue the sector is facing pertains to possible wage increases, which some analysts see as a pending threat to the industry’s cost-effective advantage.
Bradbury emphasized that labor cost is just one of the many factors that clients look at when signing up for contact center or BPO services across the globe.
“Clients look at the quality of experience and work that is rendered. Customer experience covers the quality of care and assistance delivered,” she said.
“Thus, Filipino agents always stand out. They are outstandingly customer-centric. Their empathy enables them to go the extra mile when serving customers. This is why the Philippines has always been the ‘heart of CX,’” Bradbury added.
Big employers such as the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines joined other organizations in opposing the legislated wage hike that would raise the salary rate in the National Capital Region by P150 to P720 from the current P570.
Categories: Philippines News
USC grads top interior design licensure exam
TWO graduates from the University of San Carlos in Cebu City topped the July 2023 Interior Designer Licensure Examination, the Professional Regulation Commission announced Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
Ryan Japhet Albiso Gablines ranked first with a rating of 87% while Renzo Villanueva Montenegro landed in the third place with 86.05%.
Gablines shared the spot with Jena Carla Edquila de Guzman of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
PRC said that out of 443 examiners, 202 passed the exams.
The Interior Designer board exam was conducted on July 4 to 6, 2023 at the testing centers in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao. (CLC)
Ryan Japhet Albiso Gablines ranked first with a rating of 87% while Renzo Villanueva Montenegro landed in the third place with 86.05%.
Gablines shared the spot with Jena Carla Edquila de Guzman of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.
PRC said that out of 443 examiners, 202 passed the exams.
The Interior Designer board exam was conducted on July 4 to 6, 2023 at the testing centers in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao. (CLC)
Categories: Philippines News
Carvajal: Crying on other people’s shoulders
People close to me know there is no love lost between me and the Marcos family. Nevertheless, I now give credit to Junior’s decision to disengage from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and assert sovereignty over the drug-war probe.
But in the same breath I must add that I am with him only on the objective reality of his decision. I do not pretend to know the subjective reality of his motives. For all I know these could be as self-interest-dictated as most if not all decisions are of what have so far been our elitist rulers.
It’s not like I don’t believe in crime and punishment either. It’s simply that while the core issue is whether or not extra-judicial killings occurred and to what extent, the immediate issue is who should conduct the probe, the ICC, a foreign entity, or our courts of law, our very own legal system.
I know where people are coming from when they push for the ICC to do the probing and proving (and punishing?). They, we, do not trust our courts of justice. And we can’t exactly be faulted for that because it is a sad reality that our judicial system sucks. It is essentially two-tiered, one tier quick and harsh on the poor and the other slow and lenient on the rich and powerful.
Which now begs such questions as: Isn’t the provision of justice a sovereign people’s responsibility? Can a sovereign people cry on other people’s shoulders for justice in their land? Can we run to the ICC and still keep our self-respect when we are not exactly lifting a credible finger to reform our ambiguous judicial system?
For indeed, what are we doing about our elitist democracy and its two-tiered justice system? Where, for instance, is a sovereign people’s indignation when the Supreme Court (SC), after decades of litigation, upholds the Sandiganbayan’s decision to dismiss for reasons of insufficient evidence (?) the P200 billion plunder case against the Marcos family? And where is the outcry for the P203 billion realty tax the SC has decided the Marcos family should pay but doesn’t?
If we want to be truly sovereign, we must solve our own problems. If we want justice, and we should, we must demand it from our own judicial system. And if the system is part of the problem, the solution is not to cry on the ICC’s shoulders but to work to reform our failed justice system. I’d like to believe we have more than a few good men and women in our legal system.
Junior has rightly asserted sovereignty over the drug-war probe. It’s now for us Filipinos to see to it that our justice system does the probing with integrity and bring those found guilty to justice. We can neither allow ourselves to be insulted by the ICC nor to be effectively neutralized by our rulers so they can do their thing with impunity.
Speaking of impunity, we must do whatever is necessary to put a stop to it. A day of reckoning must come and a self-respecting sovereign people must be the ones to bring it on.
But in the same breath I must add that I am with him only on the objective reality of his decision. I do not pretend to know the subjective reality of his motives. For all I know these could be as self-interest-dictated as most if not all decisions are of what have so far been our elitist rulers.
It’s not like I don’t believe in crime and punishment either. It’s simply that while the core issue is whether or not extra-judicial killings occurred and to what extent, the immediate issue is who should conduct the probe, the ICC, a foreign entity, or our courts of law, our very own legal system.
I know where people are coming from when they push for the ICC to do the probing and proving (and punishing?). They, we, do not trust our courts of justice. And we can’t exactly be faulted for that because it is a sad reality that our judicial system sucks. It is essentially two-tiered, one tier quick and harsh on the poor and the other slow and lenient on the rich and powerful.
Which now begs such questions as: Isn’t the provision of justice a sovereign people’s responsibility? Can a sovereign people cry on other people’s shoulders for justice in their land? Can we run to the ICC and still keep our self-respect when we are not exactly lifting a credible finger to reform our ambiguous judicial system?
For indeed, what are we doing about our elitist democracy and its two-tiered justice system? Where, for instance, is a sovereign people’s indignation when the Supreme Court (SC), after decades of litigation, upholds the Sandiganbayan’s decision to dismiss for reasons of insufficient evidence (?) the P200 billion plunder case against the Marcos family? And where is the outcry for the P203 billion realty tax the SC has decided the Marcos family should pay but doesn’t?
If we want to be truly sovereign, we must solve our own problems. If we want justice, and we should, we must demand it from our own judicial system. And if the system is part of the problem, the solution is not to cry on the ICC’s shoulders but to work to reform our failed justice system. I’d like to believe we have more than a few good men and women in our legal system.
Junior has rightly asserted sovereignty over the drug-war probe. It’s now for us Filipinos to see to it that our justice system does the probing with integrity and bring those found guilty to justice. We can neither allow ourselves to be insulted by the ICC nor to be effectively neutralized by our rulers so they can do their thing with impunity.
Speaking of impunity, we must do whatever is necessary to put a stop to it. A day of reckoning must come and a self-respecting sovereign people must be the ones to bring it on.
Categories: Philippines News
Tell it to SunStar: Upgraded TVET is the answer to unemployment
The talents that job seekers possess and the skills that businesses demand do not match. The educational system frequently falls short of providing students with the knowledge and skills needed by the labor market. Finding suitable employment becomes difficult as a result. These issues demand a multifaceted strategy. However, there is one that might be successful and beneficial: a thorough improvement of what we have already begun.
To fulfill the growing demand for trained workers across several industrial booms, industries all over the country primarily rely on technical and vocational education. Integration of TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) in training centers, senior high school and college education is crucial for preparing trainees/students in an era of quick technical breakthroughs and a constantly shifting labor market.
A considerable number of out-of-school youth, referring to individuals who are not enrolled in any formal educational institution and who are not actively pursuing any form of education or training, should be freely admitted to Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) without a scholastic standing requirement in a special program. Out-of-school youth are often more susceptible to exploitation, including engaging in informal or hazardous work, being paid low wages, and facing poor working conditions. They may lack awareness of their rights or be more desperate for employment due to their economic circumstances. They also have the right to be equipped with skills and education. A partnership of Alternative Learning System of DepEd and Tesda is also a good formative step where academic and technical attributes of the trainees/students are all in one program. More training centers should be established in every barangay. This shall be operated by Tesda with more qualified instructors, equipment, infrastructure and budget. This shall also include scholarships, school feeding programs, and addressing barriers such as poverty, lack of transportation, and distance to training centers/schools. Many barangays in urban areas are home of multi-industries. Building partnerships with them assures the success of the TVET program. Those who live in far-flung barangays can establish a memorandum of agreement with urban barangays.
For the youth unable to pursue further education, TVET is frequently seen as a backup plan. Technical and vocational careers are stigmatized in society since it is often believed that they offer less prestige and income potential than white-collar occupations. Many trainees/students, as well as their families, are unaware of the variety of careers that can be pursued through TVET. A poor grasp of the possible advantages and prospects of technical and vocational jobs is caused by a lack of career guidance and counseling services. Due to these issues, a concerted effort will be made to promote TVET as a viable career route and provide career assistance and counseling in communities and schools.
TVET programs should be developed and updated in conjunction with stakeholders and industry professionals. This guarantees that the curriculum is current and in line with the most recent technical developments and industry standards. This can be achieved through partnerships with relevant industries, offering internships and apprenticeships, and involving industry professionals in the curriculum development and teaching process. By keeping the programs up-to-date and relevant, training centers and schools can ensure that their graduates are well prepared for the demands of the job market. With proper implementation and industry alignment, TVET training centers and schools have the potential to revolutionize education and empower out-of-school youth and students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
To fulfill the growing demand for trained workers across several industrial booms, industries all over the country primarily rely on technical and vocational education. Integration of TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) in training centers, senior high school and college education is crucial for preparing trainees/students in an era of quick technical breakthroughs and a constantly shifting labor market.
A considerable number of out-of-school youth, referring to individuals who are not enrolled in any formal educational institution and who are not actively pursuing any form of education or training, should be freely admitted to Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) without a scholastic standing requirement in a special program. Out-of-school youth are often more susceptible to exploitation, including engaging in informal or hazardous work, being paid low wages, and facing poor working conditions. They may lack awareness of their rights or be more desperate for employment due to their economic circumstances. They also have the right to be equipped with skills and education. A partnership of Alternative Learning System of DepEd and Tesda is also a good formative step where academic and technical attributes of the trainees/students are all in one program. More training centers should be established in every barangay. This shall be operated by Tesda with more qualified instructors, equipment, infrastructure and budget. This shall also include scholarships, school feeding programs, and addressing barriers such as poverty, lack of transportation, and distance to training centers/schools. Many barangays in urban areas are home of multi-industries. Building partnerships with them assures the success of the TVET program. Those who live in far-flung barangays can establish a memorandum of agreement with urban barangays.
For the youth unable to pursue further education, TVET is frequently seen as a backup plan. Technical and vocational careers are stigmatized in society since it is often believed that they offer less prestige and income potential than white-collar occupations. Many trainees/students, as well as their families, are unaware of the variety of careers that can be pursued through TVET. A poor grasp of the possible advantages and prospects of technical and vocational jobs is caused by a lack of career guidance and counseling services. Due to these issues, a concerted effort will be made to promote TVET as a viable career route and provide career assistance and counseling in communities and schools.
TVET programs should be developed and updated in conjunction with stakeholders and industry professionals. This guarantees that the curriculum is current and in line with the most recent technical developments and industry standards. This can be achieved through partnerships with relevant industries, offering internships and apprenticeships, and involving industry professionals in the curriculum development and teaching process. By keeping the programs up-to-date and relevant, training centers and schools can ensure that their graduates are well prepared for the demands of the job market. With proper implementation and industry alignment, TVET training centers and schools have the potential to revolutionize education and empower out-of-school youth and students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Categories: Philippines News
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