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Bicol International Airport project halfway done — DoTr

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) said construction of the Bicol International Airport is 50% complete and is well on track for its opening in 2020.
In a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 28, the government said the project is 50% complete after finishing the runway, taxiway apron and perimeter fence of the airport.
“The construction of the runway, taxiway apron and perimeter fence has been completed, while land-side facilities, which includes 17 buildings for cargo, air traffic control, material recovery facilities, and water reservoir is still ongoing,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
It added the airport is scheduled to be opened in two years, and would be able to handle an annual passenger volume of 2 million. — Denise A. Valdez

Isuzu D-Max 3.0 LS A/T 4×4: A workhorse packed with premium items now gets a better engine

THE second generation of the Isuzu D-Max has been around since 2013 — which isn’t unusual given that the model before it was in the market for a decade. Like its predecessor the current truck can also come with frills normally associated with premium models, but all without losing nothing when it comes to its ability to perform dirty work. What differentiates the latest version of the current model from the previous one is a more advanced diesel mill.

 
 
 
• Isuzu’s BluePower engine makes it to the latest D-Max in either 1.9-liter or 3.0-liter displacements. The truck being reviewed here packs the latter. The higher power output — especially torque output — of the 3.0 liter means the engine remains unstressed at hauling the D-Max’s heft, not needing to rev too hard to get a quick response. In unpredictable traffic, this is quite welcome.
• As an engine with new-generation features, the BluePower mill spews out cleaner emissions — according to Isuzu, at least. What is certain is that it retains, or even marginally improves, the D-Max’s impressively frugal fuel consumption. To think that in a government-organized mileage testing done in 2016, the D-Max (not yet equipped with the BluePower engine) bested a three-cylinder, gasoline-fed mini hatchback. In daily driving, it takes an inordinate amount of time spent in traffic for the truck’s fuel gauge to delete a lighted bar from its readout (a full set of lighted bars means a full tank of fuel).
• When compared against the diesel mills of German cars, those on Japanese cars can feel crude, being more clattery and shaky. This BluePower engine though is a notch quieter and vibrates less than the previous 3.0-liter engine, getting closer to the diesel units of German-made commercial vehicles.
• The five-speed automatic gearbox bolted to the engine may be a cog — in some cases, even two cogs — down compared to the D-Max’s rivals. But it is still adequate at spreading the engine’s torque so that revs do not rise as much; this means the engine remains quiet, and less thirsty for fuel. It also shifts from one gear to another without lurching, the act passably muted.
• In this top-spec variant the D-Max boasts leather furniture, a multimedia unit that can connect with various digital devices, electrically adjustable driver’s seats, and ambient lighting. In short, the truck’s cabin rivals those of premium cars’. It also does not lack space front or rear, and the backseat isn’t too upright, so sitting on it is comfortable enough.
• Despite its many frills the D-Max is proven to be as capable off-pavement. Its suspension is quite robust and has been tested to remain free of any rattling even after years of tough use. In this top variant the truck’s bed is also lined with a protective layer of composite material, making it resistant to dents and scratches.
• Switching from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive (4WD high and 4WD low), or vice versa, only requires twisting a dial on the console.

 
 
 
• The roomy cabin and large bed equate to length, and as a result the D-Max is one long vehicle, with an equally big distance between the front and rear axles. This means the truck is hard to park in tight spots —thank heavens for its parking sensors and camera.
• Not helping any is its slow steering (meaning one has to spin the steering wheel more times to get the wheels to turn). Maneuvering in tight places could be quite a workout.
• The reverse parking camera is slow to switch from displaying multimedia functions to a monitor for what’s behind the truck. It’s best then for the driver to wait about a couple or so seconds before letting the D-Max move backwards when reversing it in a cramped spot.

 
 
 
The D-Max’s mix of usefulness, pleasant cabin furniture, styling, fuel-miser ways, grunt and capability to go off-road is already established. Putting a new-generation diesel mill under the hood only makes this truck more appealing. — Brian M. Afuang

BLUFFER’S BOX
Isuzu D-Max 3.0 LS A/T 4×4 Bluepower
Price: P1.638 million
Engine: 3.0-liter inline-four, common rail direct injection diesel with inter-cooled variable geometry turbocharger; 175 hp @ 3,550 — 3,650 rpm, 380Nm @ 1,800 — 2,800 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Four-wheel drive
Wheels/Tires: 18 inches, 255/60
Key features: Projector head lamps with LED daytime running lights; power-folding side mirrors; LED tail lamps; multi-function display; leather steering wheel, seats and shift knob; 12-volt power socket; multimedia unit with eight-inch touch screen and USB, aux-in and Bluetooth connectivity; smart entry system; automatic climate control; Terrain Command Select dial

Lancia convertible wins top award in Rolex-sponsored Monterey show


A 1953 Lancia Aurelia PF200C Spider on Aug. 24 entered the Rolex Circle of Champions in The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, one of the highlight events of the Monterey Classic Car Week.
The Aurelia won The Quail’s Best of Show award, besting 235 internationally acclaimed entries. The Pininfarina-penned car, voted for its futuristic styling marked by a grille resembling a jet engine, is owned by Anne Brockinton Lee. Ms. Lee received an engraved, two-tone Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust for the honors.
Rolex has been recognizing the excellence of the cars entered — as well as the dedication of their owners — in The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering since 2005 as the Swiss brand serves as Official Timepiece.
“I’m so excited to have won and to have received a Rolex watch — this is in memory of my late husband, who was a big car collector. I have a great team who have worked very hard on this outstanding car and I’m very proud,” Ms. Lee said.
Held in California’s Santa Lucia mountain range, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering combines notable vehicles with global cuisine, drawing more than 6,000 classic car collectors and gourmets every year. In the last edition, The Quail highlighted Porsche’s 70th anniversary by honoring the Porsche 356 (the brand’s first production car), and by holding the Alois Ruf Reunion in which the star was the high-performance CTR Yellowbird, based on a Porsche 911.
“While celebrating the rich history of the automobile, every year The Quail offers something new and exciting. Seeing these wonderful cars and hearing their unique stories always gives me a sense of nostalgia and allows me to reflect on my journey, especially this year as I celebrate 50 years with Rolex. Cars and watches go hand in hand and both have played — and continue to play — an incredibly important part in my life,” said Rolex Testimonee, or brand ambassador, and three-time Formula One champion Jackie Stewart.

Volvo continues to pitch safety systems as brand’s key strength

VOLVO Philippines is hyping the three advanced driver assistance systems fitted to the Volvo XC60 SUV, which is available locally with a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine.
The company explained the safety features are “designed to provide the driver with automatic steering assistance or support — when required — to help avoid potential collisions, and that these make the XC60 “one of the safest cars” in production.
The three safety systems are City Safety, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and Blind Spot Information.
Volvo said the XC60 received an updated version of City Safety, which now includes steering support. The function engages when automatic braking alone would not help avoid a potential collision, providing steering assistance to avoid an obstacle. Steering support, which will activate only at speeds between 50 kph and 100 kph, helps avoid collisions with vehicles, pedestrians and large animals.
Oncoming Lane Mitigation helps the driver who may have unwittingly wandered out of a lane by automatically steering the car back into the lane. This system is active between 60 kph and 140 kph.
Blind Spot Information System alerts the driver of vehicles not readily visible from within the XC60’s cabin. The system has also been upgraded to include steering assist so the car may avoid colliding with vehicles in its blind spot.
“All three… features represent clear steps in our work towards fully autonomous cars,” said Malin Ekholm, senior director at Volvo Cars’ safety center. “We have all of the benefits of the safety technology we introduced in our larger 90 Series cars in the new XC60. This is fully in line with our strategic approach to develop automotive safety systems based on real-life, real-road safety. Our vision is that no one will be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car by the year 2020.”
Volvo said the XC60 can also be equipped with large animal detection and run-off road mitigation, plus Pilot Assist, the semi-autonomous driver support and convenience system.

The era of wheeling and dealing on Twitter

THANKS to accessible social-media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, information dissemination has been democratized. What this has done is basically cut the middleman (or traditional media, to be exact). In the past, if people wished to announce anything to the world, they had to go to a radio or TV station and then beg said station to let them go on air for one minute to make their statement (which was usually about a missing relative or a stolen vehicle). Today, anyone — and that literally means anyone (even a jobless freeloader who happens to have a smart phone) — can fire off a similar message online and the message may then be read by folks even halfway across the globe. For free.
Brands, too, are now able to reach their customers without having to pay big advertising money to glossy magazines and old-school newspapers. If they have a huge following on social media, they can simply tweet or post their latest product or promo and their target market will be promptly notified.
Well and good. Hurray for free speech and open communication. Unfortunately, this kind of freedom has also given way to a lot of falsity in practically every aspect of our society — particularly politics and business. If you ever need proof, all you have to do is check out the state of affairs in America, supposedly the most powerful nation on the planet. The country has a sitting president who tweeted his way to the White House, and still tweets his thoughts to his supporters whenever he feels like doing so. What’s wrong with that, you ask? Well, 90% (possibly more) of what this guy says is either erroneous or misleading. And therein lies the problem: Social media removed the filter (also known as the editor, the proofreader, the fact-checker). Uneducated, gullible and stupid individuals — and there are millions of them, it turns out — are unwitting victims of the carefully manufactured lies that make it to their news feed.
I discuss this because I’m now beginning to wonder if the automotive industry isn’t in a similar boat with the likes of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who, like Donald Trump, enjoys sharing his brain farts with his 22.4 million followers on Twitter. In 280 or fewer characters, he reveals plans and ideas about his business concerns, including his electric-car company. And this has now gotten him into trouble, legal or otherwise.
On Aug. 7, the controversial businessman tweeted about his desire to take the publicly held Tesla private at $420 a share. “Funding secured,” he added. With that single tweet, the automaker’s shares went through the roof. And so did the astonishment of the firm’s investors, who apparently had no clue as to what Musk was talking about. The posting was so unexpected that there were even speculations afterward that the Tesla boss had been smoking weed when he composed the message (‘420’ is a code for cannabis).
After Musk had moved and rocked the market with his weird tweet, it would later become clear that no such funding had been secured for Tesla’s $72-billion privatization, resulting in investors filing lawsuits and the US Securities and Exchange Commission launching an investigation. On Friday, Aug. 24, the executive disclosed he was no longer pursuing the idea of taking Tesla private. Just as the company’s shares had soared after his Aug. 7 tweet, the same took a dive upon the published reversal of Musk’s intent.
What was Musk thinking? Did he really have tangible support for his Tesla privatization plan? Or was he merely attempting to artificially inflate the company’s value to lure more investors? Musk, it should be noted, has been accused by some quarters as a scammer who runs a pyramid scheme (by attracting new investors just to compensate existing ones). With the way Tesla has missed production deadlines and failed to turn profit for years, the imputation is getting harder and harder to ignore.
In November last year, Musk claimed to have in the Tesla pipeline a 10,000-Nm electric roadster that was bound to be the world’s quickest car, citing incredible performance figures to wow the motoring community (including a 0-to-100 kph time of 1.9 seconds). He also bragged about an electric truck that could accelerate from rest to 100 kph in five seconds, and then travel 800 kilometers on just a single charge. In both cases, he offered no evidence other than his confident words and some audiovisual presentation. Automotive media outlets fell for it hook, line and sinker. Largely because they have this romantic image of Elon Musk as a real-life Tony Stark.
But is he Tony Stark or just the car industry’s version of Donald Trump? Someone who takes to Twitter to make people believe what he wants them to believe about his underachieving EV company and its prospects — truth be damned. What happens to Tesla in the coming months should provide the answer.

Senator seeks probe of unreleased CCT funds

Senator Leila M. De Lima has filed a resolution seeking investigation on Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries not receiving their cash grants, which she said could have helped them amid high prices in commodities and living.
“It is imperative that the government continues to deliver an effective social welfare program and social protection mitigating mechanisms helping the poorest and marginalized households by ensuring that the funds intended for CCT are given to beneficiaries who truly need them,” Ms De Lima said in a statement on Tuesday.
The opposition senator has signed Senate Resolution No. 850 which seeks to investigate the unreleased P1.323 billion under the 4Ps for a period that ranges from 30- to 2,190 days after payout.
Ms. De Lima, who’s the chair of Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, stressed, “The failure of these funds to reach qualified beneficiaries is an inefficiency that we cannot afford to have as many of our countrymen are in dire need of assistance, especially now that we are experiencing crippling levels of inflation.” — Gillian M. Cortez

ISM sells 30% of shares for P1.22 billion

ISM Communications, Inc. is selling around 30% of its shares to a Singapore-based fund management firm for P1.22 billion, a few weeks after it sold a majority stake in the company to businessman Dennis A. Uy.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday, ISM said its executive committee has approved Accion Common Development Fund SPC’s purchase of 841.95 million treasury shares in the company at P1.45 apiece. This represents 30.07% of the company’s resulting outstanding capital.
The company said a fourth of the acquisition price will be paid upon purchase. ISM’s executive committee mandated that the sale and purchase documents be executed no later than the end of September. The remaining 75% will be paid by the end of the year. — Arra B. Francia

SEC warns public against illegal lending firms

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against investing in Almasai Finance and Investment and EMMRJ Lending Investors Corp. or EMMRJ Loan Consultancy Corp., saying none of these firms are licensed to solicit investments or act as lenders.
In an advisory posted on its website, the SEC said it received information that EMMRJ Lending has been presenting itself as a lending company despite not being registered as a corporation or partnership with the commission.
EMMRJ Loan Consultancy was also found to be soliciting investments from the public. The entity however does not have the authority to invite investments, as it does not have the necessary secondary license or permit required by law.
With this, the SEC may prosecute and hold criminally liable those who act as salesmen, brokers, dealers, or agents of EMMRJ Lending and EMMRJ Loan Consultancy. This entails a maximum fine of P5 million or a penalty of up to 21 years or both, as per the Securities Regulation Code (SRC).
Meanwhile, the SEC also warned the public against investing in Almasai Finance and Investment or Almasai Equity Holdings, Corp., which is being used as an investment vehicle for a non-government organization called Sangguniang Masang Pilipino International Inc. (SMPII). — Arra B. Francia

DoTr seeking end of arbitration case on NLEX toll adjustments

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it is asking NLEX Corp. to terminate its arbitration case regarding the overdue toll adjustments for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), in favor of staggered toll hikes.
“The general approach, papunta na po sa settlement yan. Hinihingi namin yung arbitration, mawala yung kaso. Ang pagkasunduan na lang namin, yung mekanismo kung pano mapapaimplement yung contractual provision regarding increases,” DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said in a panel session during the annual Economic Journalists’ Association of the Philippines Forum in Manila on Tuesday, Aug. 28.

Online hiring up in second quarter — report

Online hiring in the Philippines went up year-on-year in the second quarter but has slightly declined compared to the previous quarter due to lingering concerns on rising inflation, research firm Monster.com said.
In its second quarter Monster Employment Index (MEI), Monster noted in a year on year comparison, the months of April, May and June post an increase by 12%, 7% and 11%, respectively.
However, due to the stronger performance in the first quarter, the second quarter’s performance declined by 3%.
“Although it may not meet the government’s targets, the Filipino economy is performing well and on a solid growth trajectory, which is reflected in a steady demand for talent and online recruitment activity,” Monster said.
Online hiring for advertising, market research, public relations, media and entertainment in the Philippines posted the fastest growth in the months of April (21%), May (10%) and June (13%) compared to Malaysia and Singapore, Monster said.
“While a comparison with 2017 is positive, the sector decreased by 11% compared to the first quarter of the year. However, this is largely due to a very strong quarter, as the general upwards trend continues,” the research firm added.
Likewise, the Philippines also came out as the leader in the HR and administration sector. One of the industries with the largest online hiring demand since the start of 2018, HR and administration posted a 20% growth. However, demand for talent has decreased by 10% in the second quarter from the first.
Monster said that it will continue to be a priority in the second half of the year in Southeast Asia.
Over all trend, however, still posted double-digit growths year on year in the months of April, May and June by 28%, 24%, and 25, respectively.
Monster noted that despite the high demand for HR and administration, the “looming cloud-based HR tech solutions this sector may be disrupted in the near-future.”
The Philippines also saw a weaker performance in the second quarter for information technology and business process outsourcing sector, stagnating at a 9% growth all throughout the three months. This is 4% lower from first quarter results which noted a strong online hiring activity.
Monster noted that as this sector has always been a strong contributor to the country’s economy, it can further add to the Philippines’ advantage amid the US-Chine trade war.
Online hiring for banking, financial services and insurance in the Philippines registered double-digit growth in the second quarter, the highest being on April at 22%. Compared to the first quarter’s stronger performance, however, this is a 2% slip.
The research firm noted that as the inflation rate continues to rise, this might destabilize the sector.
Despite a slightly slower quarter on quarter growth, Monster said that the Philippines will continue to see a “healthy second half of the year” for online recruitment. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

United Paragon Mining bags exploration permit for Camarines Norte mining site

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued United Paragon Mining Corp. (UPM) an exploration permit for its Camarines Norte property.
In a disclosure to the Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Aug. 28, UPM said that it has received the exploration permit which was issued by DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) last Aug. 20.
UPM has exclusive rights to operate on Camarines Minerals, Inc.’s 395-hectare property in Longos, Paracale, in Camarines Norte through an operating agreement.
“In 2016, UPM amended its application to conform to DENR-MGB’s policy on meridional blocking thus expanding the applied area from 395 hectares to 580.272 hectares,” the company said.
“However, in the same year, DENR Secretary Gina Lopez issued a memorandum order that covered the extensive audit of all mines as well as the moratorium on new mining projects.”
The moratorium halted the acceptances, processing and approval of all exploration for metallic and non-metallic minerals.
It was only last July when it was lifted under President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s order to improve the competitiveness of the mining industry despite threatening to “shut down” all mining operations due to environmental degradation. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato

Should your restaurant start offering delivery?

As the digital era continues to take over Filipino life, more opportunities are becoming available to food brands looking to get their menu offerings into the hands (and mouths) of hungry customers all over the metro.
Food delivery is going beyond its status as simply an add-on for restaurants, becoming a necessity in the industry globally. According to international information firm The NPD Group, foodservice delivery in the United States has been taking in sizable gains in terms of visits and sales over the last five years, despite the general weakness of the market.
“Delivery has become a need to have and no longer a nice to have in the restaurant industry,” Warren Solochek, The NPD Group senior vice-president for industry relations, said. “It has become a consumer expectation.”
“Convenience is among the chief reasons that consumers visit restaurants, and delivery brings a heightened level of it,” Mr. Solochek said. “We forecast that delivery will grow over the next five years and the growth will source to non-traditional delivery outlets and dayparts.”
In the Philippines, the availability and the growth of services like Foodpanda, Honestbee, and The Delivery Guy is proof enough that such international trends are making their way here. The restaurant landscape is changing fast, and sooner or later Filipino brands will have to adapt.
When ride-sharing and logistics services giant Grab Philippines unveiled its smart city vision to “empower a future of seamless mobility,” on-demand food delivery services were one of the company’s top priority services to be integrated into its app.
According to Grab, its existing and new delivery partners from its already-thriving GrabExpress courier service, can generate additional income and job opportunities from delivering food orders on top of delivering parcels.
The company also plans to go beyond just delivering food, by providing restaurants with their own online and mobile storefronts. By leveraging their fleet of delivery partners, Grab hopes to help eliminate the need for restaurants to rely solely on foot traffic for their revenues.
With more and more Filipinos moving online, small food enterprises might want to look into mobile services that can help them make the digital leap and tap those migrating consumers.

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