FINANCING COMPANY Aeon Credit Service Philippines recently opened its first branch in Mindanao, located in Davao City, and has started offering its services to members of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODA). “We saw the potential of growth in Davao considering its strategic location. That is why we wanted to have established a branch here that would also cater to the rest of the Mindanao region,” Aeon Credit Executive Vice-President Dennis C. Siapno said in an interview. “It is very difficult to borrow if you don’t have any credit history, but for us, we took the risk and we really support the government’s financial inclusion. That is the vision of Aeon even in Japan. We wanted everyone on board through financial services that eventually improve their lives and provide them source of livelihood like the tricycle drivers,” Mr. Siapno said. Michael C. Tabaday, vice-president for Business Control Division, said they are now working with over 30 TODAs in Davao City and their goal is to cover as much as a hundred, then expand to the cities of Tagum and General Santos within the year. “We are aiming to achieve that by working with the TODA presidents. Secondly, we want to work closely with Emcor,” Mr. Tabaday said. Emcor is a distributor of the Indian motorcycle brand Bajaj. Aeon Credit is a subsidiary of AFS Corporation Co. Ltd., a holding company under Aeon Bank and wholly-owned by Aeon Financial Service Co. Ltd. (AFS). — Maya M. Padillo

1ST REMOTE HEARING TO HOLD IN DAVAO CITY
THE FIRST remote court hearing, to be done through video teleconferencing, will be conducted in a Davao City court on September 2. This is pursuant to the Supreme Court’s approval in June 25 of the guidelines which will allow for the remote appearance of inmates in courts. The hearing will be hold at the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 16. The cases involved are frustrated murder and multiple attempted murder. The court previously said the guidelines drafted by Associate Justice Diosdado M. Peralta are intended to eliminate safety, security, and health risks of inmates considered to be high-risks or inflicted with contagious disease. Family courts in 2001 were allowed to use video-conferencing equipment during testimonies of children in trials. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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