Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 10047

DILG given power to fill up vacant local gov’t posts

By Vince Angelo C. Ferreras
PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte has authorized Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año to appoint temporary officers for vacant elective local government posts to avoid crippling operations and the delivery of public services.
“There are instances when, despite the application of the modes of succession under RA (Republic Act) 7160 or for reasons that the same cannot be applied, there remain vacant positions of elective local officials, which vacancies may disrupt the delivery of basic services and may paralyze local government operations in such areas,” states Administrative Order No. 15, signed last Dec. 14 and published on Dec. 19.
The order defines a temporary vacancy as when a “governor, city, or municipal mayor, or punong barangay is temporarily incapacitated to perform his duties for physical or legal reasons.”
The DILG-designated official will have limited powers such being able to appoint, suspend or dismiss employees only if the period of temporary incapacity exceeds 30 working days.
Asked for comment, DILG Spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya told BusinessWorld in a phone message that they are currently reviewing the order.
University of Santo Tomas Political Science Department Chairperson Dennis C. Coronacion, meanwhile, cautioned that DILG should “think twice” regarding the order.
“They should think twice because it’s going to scare the public, especially that there are rumors about the President’s plan of setting up a revolutionary government,” Mr. Coronacion said in a phone message to BusinessWorld.
He added, “The appointment of those officials can be questioned by their constituents. They might suffer from lack of legitimacy.”

LTFRB opens bus, jeepney licenses for PITX routes

THE LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is opening applications for public utility buses and jeepneys that would ply routes to and from the newly-inaugurated Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
Memorandum Circulars No. 2018-024 and No. 2018-025, published in newspapers on Wednesday, outlined the requirements for the public utility vehicle license.
There will be four PITX routes for buses with 15 units each, going to and from the following: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA); Bonifacio Global City in Taguig via NAIA Expressway; Ayala, Makati City via Buendia; and Lawton in Taguig via Roxas Boulevard.
For jeepneys, there will be two routes with 20 units: Barangay Paliparan, Dasmariñas, Cavite via Molino; and Dasmariñas City, Cavite via Aguinaldo Highway.
Applicants for a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) must submit documents proving legal, technical and financial qualification, among which are the proof of financial resources of at least P8 million for buses and P2 million for jeepneys, and financial projections for the first five years of operations.
Based on the guidelines, qualification documents must be submitted by 2 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2019. These will be evaluated within seven days by the pre-qualification committee chaired by LTFRB Executive Director Samuel Aloysius M. Jardin.
The PITX, a P2.5-billion terminal built by Megawide Construction Corp. subsidiary MWM Terminals, Inc., was opened in early Nov. and has seen increasing foot traffic up to more than 36,000 as of Dec. 17, based on data presented by the DoTr yesterday.
The terminal is intended to ease passenger movement from the south to Metro Manila, but there have been numerous complaints on the lack of public transport going into the capital. — Denise A. Valdez

Nationwide round-up

4-year TechVoc program launched as Lapeña officially takes over TESDA


THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) launched on Wednesday its four-year technical-vocational program as its new director general, Isidro S. Lapeña, made his first official appearance as the agency’s head. The National Technical Education and Skills Development (NTESDP) 2018-2022 focuses on tourism, construction, information and communications technology (ICT) and IT-BPM, transport, storage, agriculture and agro-processing, food and electronics manufacturing, health, wellness and other social services. “With this plan as a guide, we will not only focus on the development of the Filipino workforce to fill in the manpower requirements of industries but also empower those hard to (reach) or unreached sectors of the Philippine population,” Mr. Lapeña said at the launch. The NTESDP will be implemented in the next four years in partnership with local government units, the education sector, technical vocational education and training (TVET) associations, industries, and other stakeholders. — Gillian M. Cortez

Courts get additional days off on Dec. 26, Jan. 2

THE SUPREME Court (SC) on Wednesday announced the suspension of work in all courts on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, 2019. The SC Public Information Office said the additional holidays are intended “to allow the officials and personnel of the judiciary full opportunity to celebrate the holidays with their families.” Malacañang on Monday suspended work in government offices under the executive branch, including corporations and state universities and colleges, on Jan. 2, also “to give employees of the government full opportunity to celebrate such holiday with their families and loved ones.” The Palace gave the discretion to respective head/management of other branches of government and private companies to follow suit. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Duterte on Roxas order to kill Loot: Just kidding

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Tuesday that former interior secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, one of his opponents in the 2016 presidential elections, had ordered the killing of his “protege,” retired police chief superintendent Vicente A. Loot, who is now the mayor of Daanbantayan in northern Cebu. However, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said the President’s statement was just another joke. The President’s statement was: “Loot has been ambushed twice but he just can’t be killed…. I wasn’t the one who ordered for his ambush. It was Roxas. Roxas ordered his ambush, not me.” Mr. Panelo, meanwhile, said: “I think it was more of an expression of displeasure said in jest.” “Mr. Loot is a known protege of Secretary Roxas,” he noted. Mr. Panelo added that it was just “a joke” and cannot be taken as an “accusation.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Higher fines for illegal parking postponed to Jan. 7

THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has moved the implementation of higher fines for illegal parking and road obstruction to January 7. MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo S. Garcia Jr., in a press conference on Wednesday, said the postponement is due to ticketing system adjustments and in consideration of the Christmas season expenses. “Inaayos pa namin ang aming (We are still fixing our) ticketing collection system (for) traffic violation. Marami ring naghihigpit ng sinturon ngayong Kapaskuhan (A lot of people are also tightening their belts this Christmas),” he said. The new rates are P1,000 for an “Attended Illegally-Parked” vehicle, which means a driver is present within or outside the car, and P2,000 for those unattended. The old rates were P200 and P500, respectively. Motorists obstructing the road will now have to pay a fine of P1,000 from only P150. The increase is based on regulations signed by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA. Under the new rules, a motorist can be fined up to P4,000 a day. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

DoT caps ‘Kain Na!’ food fest in Bacolod with noche buena delights

THE Kain Na! Food & Travel Festival of the Department of Tourism (DoT) makes its 7th and last stop in Bacolod City on Dec. 19-21 with traditional Filipino Christmas dishes as the centerpiece. “The finale event in Bacolod City, aptly titled ‘Kaon Na Ta!’ Food & Travel Festival, is envisioned to capture the joyous spirit of Christmas in the Philippines with noche buena delights as its traditional centerpiece,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement. The food roadshow, held in partnership with the Ayala Malls, was launched simultaneously in Legazpi City, Albay and Cebu City last October, followed by events in Cagayan de Oro City in Nov., and in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna and Davao City early this month. “The Bacolod cookfest, which will feature international culinary luminaries like Margarita Fores, is a fitting culmination to our efforts to promote awareness about the Philippines’ rich and diverse gastronomy and establish the country as a world-class food hub,” Ms. Romulo-Puyat said. Aside from Ms. Fores, other prominent chefs who will serve their special recipes include Nico Millanes, Don Colmenares, Joeri Arro, Patrick Go, Niño Laus, Kalel Demetrio and JP Anglo. Native delicacies, bamboo products, handcraft items, fresh fruits and vegetables will also be on display at the Ayala Mall in Bacolod.

BoC-Davao exceeds 2018 collection target

THE BUREAU of Customs (BoC) Port of Davao has already reached its collection goal for the year as of Wednesday, Dec. 19.
In a statement, the BoC said the Port of Davao has collected P25.3 billion so far, 25% higher than the P20.1 billion target for 2018.
It is also 54% higher than the P16.4 billion collected for full year 2017.
“We are looking at around P5.5 billion in surplus by the end of 2018,” Port of Davao District Collector Romalino G. Valdez was quoted as saying.
“The Port of Davao takes to heart that hitting our collection target means assurance that every infrastructure, health, educational, economic, and financial project of the government will be well funded,” he added.
“Hitting our collection target was also made possible through the help of the BoC stakeholders and the individual taxpayers. I would like to thank them for their contribution to the funding of the projects of the government,” said Mr. Valdez.
The ports of Cebu and Tacloban have also hit their 2018 collection target as of mid-December.
The BoC earlier said the depreciation of the peso and the increase in global fuel prices have also helped them grow their revenues.
The Customs bureau also revised downwards its collection target for the year by P10 billion to P584.9 billion from P594.9 billion initially, due to the delayed implementation of the fuel marking program.
The fuel marking program is mandated under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law that took effect in January this year.
In a bid to curb smuggling, the program mandates that fuel should be marked with dyes to prove proper taxes have already been paid, before it is released from Customs ports, or warehouses, to the market.
The government has already awarded the contract in October and the Department of Finance expects it to be rolled out in 2019.
As of October based on the Bureau of the Treasury’s cash operations report, total BoC collections stood at P490.6 billion, 34% higher from P366.7 billion in the same period last year. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Hataman calls for BOL support in his final state of the region address

GOVERNOR MUJIV S. Hataman, who has been head of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) since 2011, called for support in the educational campaign and a “yes” vote for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) next year. In what he considers his final state of the region address on Wednesday, Dec. 19, he said, “Bumoto para sa mas nagkakaisa, mas makatarungan, at mas masaganang bukas. Hinihimok ko kayong nandito ngayon: Maging instrumento ng liwanag at kaalaman ukol sa BOL (Vote for a more united, just, and prosperous tomorrow. I am urging all of you who are here now: Be instruments of enlightenment and knowledge on the BOL.” Mr. Hataman, who is running for Basilan congressional representative in the May 2019 midterm elections, said he is proud of the ARMM government’s accomplishments in the last seven years, highlighting developments in infrastructure, social service delivery, and overall economic improvement. He gave special credit to former President Benigno S.C. Aquino III, who appointed him as officer-in-charge regional governor of the ARMM in 2011. “Nagtiwala siya sa ating mga Moro, na kaya nating pamunuan ang ating mga sarili, kaya nating makilahok sa pagbabago, kaya nating umasenso basta’t tama ang kundisyon (He trusted us, the Moro people, that we can lead ourselves, we can participate in change, we can progress given the right conditions),” he said. The BOL, which will create a new Bangsamoro government and territory, will be subject to a plebiscite early next year, with voting dates on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6.

Another 7 Abu Sayyaf members in Sulu surrender

A DAY after a new infantry was activated in the island province of Sulu to combat the Abu Sayyaf, seven members of the kidnap-for-ransom and extremist group turned themselves in to authorities. In a statement late Tuesday, Dec. 18, the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) said the seven men led by Darwin Ladja Basal surrendered that morning to Lt. Col. Jessie R. Montoya, commanding officer of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion. Brig. Gen. Rey Pabayo, Jr., commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, said the group of Basal “surrendered through the combined efforts of the different teams of the Community Support Program and the sustained conduct of intelligence operations of the ground troops in Sulu.” The group also yielded various firearms. “We are confident that more Abu Sayyaf members will decide to cross the line and return to the folds of the law with our campaign to resolve the internal conflict in Sulu through peaceful means. Nevertheless, the Western Mindanao Command will not rest on its laurels but will, instead, continue with its combat and intelligence operations to defeat hardcore members of the terrorist group in Sulu,” said WesMinCom head Lt. Gen. Arnel B. Dela Vega. Since early this year, the WesMinCom has been reporting on the surrender of Abu Sayyaf members. On Monday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who led the activation of the 11th Infantry Division in Sulu, said, “I do not want a war. I do not want to kill Filipinos. I do not want the government to kill its own people… but there are certain developments, especially the entry of the ISIS, which have influenced the people to become more revolutionary.”

Nation at a Glance — (12/20/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Liver cancer patients find hope in new surgical technique

The liver is the largest organ in the body and has an awesome responsibility. It produces proteins that help blood clotting and immunity. It serves as a ‘filtering organ’ and purifies the blood of toxic chemicals or infective organisms and processes nutrients from the food we eat and stores energy. Unfortunately, while performing these filtering functions, it can be infected by toxins and impurities which lead to organ malfunction and worse, cancer.
According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2017, liver disease deaths in the Philippines reached 8,401 or 1.36% of total deaths. In the same study, liver cancer deaths in the Philippines reached 8,010 or 1.29% of total deaths. Put together, this data is quite alarming.
Senior surgeon and liver specialist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Dr. Stephen Chang, was in Manila recently to share information on the advances in medical treatments for vital organs like the liver, gall bladder and pancreas. Because of the high incidence of liver disease in the Philippines, his talk focused on liver disease treatments.
Here are the highlights of his presentation:
“Depending on the stage of the liver cancer, treatment ranges from surgery, tumor ablation (heat therapy), chemotherapy, targeted cancer therapy, and radiotherapy. Surgery is the prescribed treatment for patients with early stage liver cancer. Previously, liver surgeries require big incisions in the abdomen to expose the liver, which is located under the rib cage.”
Because of the risks and hardships associated with this type of open surgery, many patients forego treatment and often seek medical help only when the disease is at its advanced stage and very hard to treat.
“Nowadays, the surgical treatment of liver cancer has gotten better,” Dr. Chang revealed. “Surgeons have developed a new technique called minimally invasive surgery, which reduces pain and blood loss and speeds up patient recovery.”
With minimally invasive surgery, surgeons are now able to make much smaller cuts where a medical telescope is inserted to examine parts of the body that are located deep within, like the liver.
Dr. Chang then explained an even more advanced minimally invasive procedure – the Single Incision Laparoscopic Liver Resection. “A single-port device is inserted into the abdomen where surgeons scan and remove small liver tumours through a small scar well hidden at the belly button. This ‘scar-less’ procedure is helping patients to be more receptive to surgery at the early stage of their disease, when they can benefit most. Their recovery is so much faster and they can return to their normal lives sooner.”
Dr. Chang is a pioneer in the single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) described above. He has published numerous papers on SILS for the liver, gall bladder and pancreas. He is also active in the development of the living donor liver transplant program in Singapore, another treatment approach for more advanced stages of the cancer.
At the end of his presentation, Dr. Chang advised his listeners that prevention is still the best way to control the disease.
“There are several things you can do to prevent liver cancer. These include:

  1. Get Hepatitis B vaccination.
  2. Minimize consumption of known liver carcinogens, especially alcohol.
  3. Minimize your intake of fatty foods.
  4. Do not eat moldy peanuts, grains and nuts. They contain aflatoxins, a toxin produced by some mold that is linked to liver cancer.
  5. Go for regular screening if you are in the high-risk group (those infected with the Hepatitis B and C virus). We recommend blood tests for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) every 3 – 6 months and ultrasound scans of the liver every 6 – 12 months.”

For more information about the liver disease and other condition, visit www.mountelizabeth.com. sg/healthplus. Health Plus is an online health and wellness resource developed by Mount Elizabeth Hospitals, Singapore.
To make an inquiry or appointment, contact our Central Patient Assistance Centre: 24-Hr Helpline: +65 6735 5000; Email: cpac@parkwaypantai.com; Online appointment: www.mountelizabeth.com.sg

Damosa Land, Inc. wins Corporate Excellence Award in APEA 2018

Top property developer Damosa Land, Inc. (DLI) received the Corporate Excellence Award for Property Development Industry in the recently concluded Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards (APEA) held at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.
Damosa Land joins 11 other companies representing various industries under the Corporate Excellence Category in APEA, which is organized annually by Enterprise Asia, the region’s leading non-governmental organization for entrepreneurship.
Damosa Land cited major growth — both in quantity and quality — as the reason for the company’s latest award. “We roughly increased our revenue fourfold over the last six years. But more than just financial success, we’ve successfully executed quality projects across several real estate sectors in such a short period of time,” Damosa Land vice president Ricardo Floirendo Lagdameo told BusinessWorld.
“Behind these accomplishments is a hardworking team,” Lagdameo stated. “With so many moving parts, it really takes a good, dedicated team to execute successfully. APEA took notice of that.”
This remarkable recognition brought both excitement and inspiration for Damosa Land. “We’ve been pushing the team so hard over the last few years so they feel a sense of achievement from this award. This will motivate them further to achieve new heights,” he added.
The Corporate Excellence Award for Property Development Industry is the second recognition Damosa Land received this year. Before APEA, Damosa Land bagged the Asia CEO Awards last October.
These awards add to the accomplishments that the real estate developer attained this 2018, which was “characterized by completion of projects and the continuous planning and roll out of new ones”.
These accomplishments include the completion of two towers of the six-tower Seawind Condominium in Davao City; and of the first phase of the Anflo Industrial Estate, the first fully-operated industrial park located in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
Damosa Land also finishes this year with the ground breaking and beginning of construction of the Damosa Diamond Tower, the newest office tower in the Damosa Information Technology (IT) Park. The Damosa IT Park is the first park in Davao City to be accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
As Damosa Land celebrates a very successful and profitable year, they are ready to embrace 2019 as they continue to grow their businesses across various projects. First, the Anflo Industrial Estate will see the start of operations of several foreign manufacturing companies. Also, Damosa Land continues to work diligently on the Damosa Diamond Tower, which is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2020.
Also ahead are the launch of two breakthrough projects. Situated in Brgy. Pandan, Panabo City, Agriya —Damosa’s “master planned township with agriculture as its central theme” — is positioned to be the first agritourism city in Asia. It will house a residential component and the University of the Philippines Professional School for Agriculture and the Environment. Bridgeport, their “master planned seaside development which will feature [an exclusive] marina”, promises work-life balance and leisure living for its residents.

The four skills you need to be ready for the digital future

As firms struggle to find their footing in the digital era, the burden of future-proofing falls on the new entrants to the workforce. Knowledge that was deemed sufficient to get a good job a decade ago will not be enough in the immediate future.
As a result, there is an increasing demand for a particular set of “new” skills. With rising anxiety over jobs lost to new technologies, these skills aren’t only a means to get ahead, but the best ways to keep up.

Coding

While coding is not a requirement in all jobs, knowing the basics can give you a fresh take on digital fundamentals. Coding allows you to have a better understanding of how computers and programs work and how to break down complex ideas. Being technically savvy can boost your résumé and your chances of getting a lucrative job.

Data analyzing

Data is the new oil, and firms will need savvy professionals capable of mining and utilizing it. The rise of cloud computing and deep learning means firms will have more access to data than ever before. And companies will be looking employees that know how to use that data to improve their systems and workflows.

Problem solving

The World Economic Forums lists creative problem solving as an essential skill for the future workforce. As technology blurs the lines between industries and roles, being able to see relationships amidst shifting landscapes and apply them to the vague, but pressing challenges industries face will be essential.

Negotiating

“Right brain” skills, like intuitiveness and social intelligence, will become even more important in a world of increasing mechanization. Technology can make workers more efficient, but soft skills make workers happier, better. Prospective employees that possess what are innately very human skills, like the power of good negotiation, will not be replaced by automation anytime soon.
Fortunately, it has never been easier or more convenient to find workshops and classes to help equip you with the skills you will need. Learning can happen anytime and anywhere and this has never been more apparent than in the current digital age we live in. Even those who value face-to-face learning will still use online means to make the experience easier.
As long as you have a connection to the Internet and a device, whether it be a computer, mobile phone or notebook, you have access to unlimited opportunities to learn something new.
The future may appear intimidating but it has never been easier to learn new things and to be prepared. People will need to adapt, be curious and attain new skills in order to succeed in the future workforce.

SpeedyCourse is a training course finder which provides learners with an easy way to search and enroll for classes and workshops. Students can simply type in keywords to any chosen topic they want and they will be provided with an array of classes that they can enroll in. There is a plethora of topics and classes available in any field or specialization of one’s choosing, including the skills mentioned earlier. From short courses to seminars to hands-on workshops, SpeedyCourse has a means for learning fit for anyone’s needs.
If students have any questions or concerns about the course, they can send their inquiries directly to instructors through the contact form. Once they have decided on a class they want to take, they can simply register, enroll, and pay online using their mobile devices. The SpeedyCourse process is easy, quick, and can be done anytime and anywhere.

1...10,04610,04710,048...12,720Page 10,047 of 12,720
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube