BusinessWorld (Philippines) articles from August 2011, page 17

BusinessWorld (Philippines) archives from August 2011

WEALTH MANAGER.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Donald Lim I am always told that even if I have a fan page, it is useless if I do not engage the fans. What does that mean and what is a good measure I am engaging my fans on my Facebook page well? - Noreen, owner of a clothing line...

Peso may strengthen more.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Ann Rozainne R. Gregorio THE PESO is expected to further strengthen against the dollar this week as US lawmakers continue to work out a way to raise the country's debt ceiling, but the local unit's appreciation may be limited,...

Local HSBC office to focus on expansion.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Ann Rozainne R. Gregorio GLOBAL BANKING giant HSBC will continue to expand its business operations in the Philippines, a spokesman said, clarifying a report that said the bank would slash 10,000 jobs worldwide. "[There would be] no...

10-year bond rate could fall due to demand.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Ann Rozainne R. Gregorio TEN-YEAR Treasury bonds up for auction tomorrow could fetch lower rates, with investors preferring long-tenored securities due to expectations inflation has been tamed. Bond traders interviewed last Friday...

YIELD TRACKER.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Karen Joyce Q. Ang STRONG DEMAND for Philippine debt papers amid "sound economic fundamentals" pushed yields lower almost across the board last Friday. Yields dropped by an average 26.7 basis points (bps) on a monthly basis and 2.5...

COURTSIDE.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Anthony L. Cuaycong When Tiger Woods tees off this Friday at the Bridgestone Invitational, he will, as always, be angling for a win; it's in his makeup to play for nothing less, and any result other than with the trophy in his hands...

FEU wins back to back; SSC, SBC stay spotless (College hoops roundup).
August 1, 2011... Byline: Michael Angelo S. Murillo THE FAR EASTERN University Tamaraws were greatly challenged last week at the University Athletic Association of the Philippines but held their ground to make it a 2-0 workweek to hold their spot at solo...

High-tech putting lesson.
August 1, 2011... PING GOLF has introduced a new putter fitting software that will analyze putting strokes and match those strokes to specific putters. The putter fitting software can be downloaded free-of-charge from the iTunes App Store for the iPhone 4 and...

CHESS PIECE.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Bobby Ang Wesley at AAI AAI International GM New Delhi, India June 22-July 2, 2011 Final Standings 1. GM Fabiano Caruana ITA 2714, 7.0/10 2. GM Krishnan Sasikiran IND 2676, 6.0/10 3. GM Viktor Laznicka CZE 2681,...

Luxury watch brand offers 9 new lines.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Camille Erika R. Sarte AFTER OPENING its first flagship boutique in New York earlier this year, luxury watch brand Breitling will be opening its second boutique in the Philippines in the first quarter of 2012 at Fort Bonifacio High...

Tahitian flower inspires new perfume.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Camille Erika R. Sarte Versace's new fragrance, Vanitas, plays with the Tahitian tiare flower and flaunts a woman's vanity. "It's showing off the personality of a person," Marcella Mae Pabellano, group brand manager from Prestige,...

TAKE TEN.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Behn Cervantes I was not a fan of Emilio Estevez until very recently. And only because I bought, watched and was thoroughly beguiled by the film Bobby. At the onset, Emilio seemed to suffer in comparison to his darker- haired...

BIR expects P23 billion from drive vs tax evaders.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Diane Claire J. Jiao THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) expects to collect about P23.38 billion through the cases it has so far filed against suspected tax evaders. The BIR has filed a total of 57 cases, so far, with the...

Farm department lifts import ban on birds, poultry items from Japan.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Louella D. Desiderio THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture has lifted the ban on the entry of birds and poultry products from Japan, following a report made by that country to the World Organization for Animal Health or Office of...

More rate hikes seen by yearend.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Antonio Siegfrid O. Alegado GLOBAL FINANCIAL services group Credit Suisse expects the central bank to increase key rates by another 50 basis points (bps) by yearend in a bid to rein in inflation. "We continue to expect another 50...

VESTIGES.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Jose S. Arcilla S. J. On July 31, 1556, more than 400 years ago, St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, died after months of ill health. The day before, he had asked his secretary, Fr. Juan Polanco, to ask for the...

CORPORATE WATCH.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Amelia H. C. Ylagan It is almost the story of Christmas Past that Uncle Sam has become the rich uncle Ebenezer Scrooge who would hold on to his fortune whilst his impoverished relatives gaped in open-mouthed anticipation for what...

FENCE SITTER.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Antonio R. Samson Careers that are perceived to require only common knowledge and good connections are vulnerable to unsolicited advice. The apparently low threshold of needed expertise invites kibitzers of all sorts including the...

YELLOW PAD.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Nepomuceno Malalauan and Solomon Lumba Part 2 A closer look at Redmont reveals that the decision does not represent an abandonment of the control test. The application of the control test is further elaborated in Department of...

MAP statement of the week.
August 1, 2011... OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN AS P-NOY'S ANTI-CORRUPTION TOOL The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) highly commends President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III for appointing former Supreme Court Associate Justice CONCHITA CARPIO-MORALES...

INTROSPECTIVE.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Romeo L. Bernardo If the SONA had a theme, it would be to end what the President called the culture of entitlement in the country, as symbolized by the wang-wang (a word mentioned 11 times in the report) - notoriously used by...

BEYOND BRUSHSTROKES.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Marivic Rufino Part 2 The government can intensify the campaign to protect and save the environment through education on all levels, a massive media information campaign. It can enact strong laws and enforce those laws. It should...

PLDT makes final plea for mega deal, hits 'hypocritical' rivals.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Kathleen A. Martin THE PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) urged regulators to see through the "vested interests" of parties opposing the firm's takeover of Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) in its final...

Keppel reports income surge after gaining from asset sale.(Financial report)
August 1, 2011... Byline: Kathleen A. Martin PROFITS OF shipyard operator and property investor Keppel Philippines Holdings, Inc. ballooned to P500.6 million in the first half from P14.4 million in the same period last year on the back of a one-time gain. ...

Belle profits fall on lower sales.(Financial report)
August 1, 2011... Byline: Franz Jonathan G. de la Fuente BELLE CORP. profits dropped in the first half due to lower revenues, data from the luxury developer and gaming firm's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed. The Sy-led firm...

Poultry virus, cost hikes cut Bounty Fresh earnings.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales THE BOUNTY Fresh group of companies posted losses in the first half due to higher input costs and lower production due to a poultry infection, its top executive said late last week. But a recovery is expected...

Total denounces BIR audits.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Emilia Narni J. David PETROLEUM RETAILER Total Philippines Corp. hit tax collectors for repeated audits, warning that such efforts were scaring away legitimate investors that are reportedly scrutinized more than smaller firms. "The...

World Bank bans affiliate of blacklisted contractor.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Noemi M. Gonzales THE WORLD Bank on Friday announced the debarment of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Ltd. and all of its subsidiaries from working on projects funded by the financial institution, in line with a new...

Credit watcher retains top debt rating for Aboitiz Power.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Neil Jerome C. Morales DEBT WATCHER Philippine Rating Services Corp. (PhilRatings) has retained the top credit score it assigned to Aboitiz Power Corp.'s almost P7 billion worth of debt instruments, citing the power generator's strong...

Ship sinks off Iloilo; no casualties: PCG.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Francis Allan L. Angelo ILOILO CITY - A passenger ship sank off in Iloilo province after it was battered by strong waves yesterday even as all passengers and crew were safe, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said. All 162...

Lake Sebu hit by tilapia fish kill; damage estimate: P1.2M.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Romer S. Sarmiento KORONADAL - A tilapia fish kill hit an upland town in South Cotabato province, with damage estimated at P1.2 million, officials said. Undersecretary Benito T. Ramos, National Disaster Risk Reduction and...

Moros start fasting for holy month.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Amilbahar S. Mawallil ZAMBOANGA CITY - Muslims start today the traditional month-long fasting for Ramadan, officials said. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Bai Omera D. Lucman and Commissioner Sharif Jul Asiri J....

Lower IRA share expected.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Sarwell Q. Meniano TACLOBAN CITY - The Budget department has informed officials and residents in Eastern Visayas of a lower share from national tax proceeds next year. Imelda C. Laceras, Department of Budget and Management regional...

Rebels want to defer key projects pending final peace deal.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Romer S. Sarmiento and AFP KORONADAL - A rebel group wants the government to suspend key developments in the island pending the conclusion of peace negotiations. Of particular concern was the privatization of the Agus and Pulangi...

Navy can evict former officers without a court order - SC.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Nathaniel R. Melican THE PHILIPPINE Navy can evict retired officers from their leased residences in a Metro Manila camp even without a court order, the Supreme Court (SC) has ruled. "Respondents and intervenors had long retired...

Displaced residents returning to homes.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Louie O. Pacardo GENERAL SANTOS CITY - About 6,000 civilians displaced by a series of clashes involving members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat are returning to their homes, a military official...

Juaning death toll hits 52; new storm affecting local situation.
August 1, 2011... Byline: AFP and Al Gerard G. Dela Cruz THE DEATH toll from tropical storm Juaning (international name: Nock- ten) rose to 52 even as another approaching storm left two more people missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management...

President commemorates Cory's 2nd death anniversary.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Johanna Paola D. Poblete PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. C. Aquino III commemorates today the second death anniversary of his mother, the late former President Corazon "Cory" C. Aquino, in a mass, a Palace aide said yesterday. Deputy...

Cooking gas to be tested as alternative bus fuel.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Emilia Narni J. David THE ENERGY department will introduce the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in buses in response to rising fuel prices, an official said on Friday. "We are in the final stages of agreement for the conversion...

Recycling a boon to venture.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Joel B. Escovilla DAVAO CITY - A manufacturer of fashionable bags made from recycled plastics is venturing into receptacles to replace cartons that are used to carry game fowls. Twenty-seven-year-old Joseph B. Castillo, owner of...

Petition vs power rate increase junked.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Nathaniel R. Melican PETITION OF consumer groups against a power rate increase implemented by Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) last year has been dismissed by the Supreme Court (SC) for failure to seek redress in a proper forum. In a...

Palace drops ex-poll official as witness to irregularities.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Johanna Paola D. Poblete THE PALACE has dropped prospects of a controversial former poll official testifying in a fraud case during the 2004 presidential elections, an official said yesterday. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson...

Focus set for fisheries R&D until 2016.
August 1, 2011... THE GOVERNMENT has identified 12 commodities as the focus of its fisheries research and development (R&D) efforts till 2016 due to their potential as dollar earners and sources of rural livelihood, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR)...

Landbank's loans to small farmers, fisherfolk hit P14B.
August 1, 2011... LOANS of the Land Bank of the Philippines to small farmers and fisherfolk rose 33% in the first six months of the year, according to a statement released over the weekend. Landbank said it extended P14.1 billion worth of loans to these...

SUITS THE C-SUITE.
August 1, 2011... Byline: John T. Villa (First of two parts) In August 2010, the International Accounting Standards Board, through a joint project with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (collectively referred to in this article as the Boards),...

Aquino abolishes Mindanao river basin rehab task force.
August 1, 2011... MALACANANG has abolished the Cotabato City-based Presidential Task Force on Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development (PTFMRBRD) and distributed its functions among three other offices, a Palace official said in a statement on Sunday....

Simpler processes sought for SMEs.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Eliza J. Diaz GOVERNMENTS in Asia and the Pacific are pushing for single-window and paperless systems to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region's developing economies gain a bigger share of the global export market, a...

State funding for nuke dev't studies cut.
August 1, 2011... THE ENERGY department wants to use part of the budget earmarked for studying nuclear technology for anti-smuggling and alternative fuel programs, an official said over the weekend. "We are submitting for realignment the [P100-million] nuclear...

Gov't to borrow for PSALM (DBCC approval of request expected to.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Diane Claire J. Jiao THE COUNTRY could borrow more than what has been set for next year as state-owned Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has secured Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) approval...

House Budget Hearings Start Today
August 1, 2011... Byline: Noemi M. Gonzales PUBLIC HEARINGS on next year's P1.816-trillion national budget start today at the House of Representatives, with legislators vowing to pass a reconciled measure before Congress' Christmas break. President Benigno...

Higher infrastructure outlay programmed.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Diane Claire J. Jiao INFRASTRUCTURE budgets for next year have been increased by the government in a bid to set the foundation for economic growth. "Rapid, inclusive and sustained economic development does not only require...

Analysts expect inflation to have inched up in July.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Antonio Siegfrid O. Alegado HIGHER FOOD and fuel costs likely led to inflation again inching up in July, analysts said, with the monthly rate expected to continue rising but the year's average keeping within the official target range....

IPP regulations finally out this week - Trade exec.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Eliza J. Diaz SPECIFIC GUIDELINES for the latest Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) will finally be published this week with stricter conditions on corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects and clarifications for eligibilities in...

Market to be tested by US debt crisis.
August 1, 2011... Byline: Franz Jonathan G. de la Fuente DESPITE closing adt the week's highest level last Friday - its second highest overall after piercing the psychological 4,500 mark on July 20 - the local market will be significantly tested this week with...

QC road extension project to open soon.
August 1, 2011... THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) road extension project in Quezon City is now substantially completed and will be opened to vehicular traffic in the coming days. In his report to DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson, DPWH...

Julie's Bakeshop marks 30th year via promo.
August 1, 2011... BUYING FRESHLY baked bread products at Julie's Bakeshop has just become even more of a treat for loyal customers as the country's largest bakeshop chain gets set to launch a grand nationwide promo to liven up its 30th anniversary. Starting...

Acer donates computers to foundation for farmers.
August 1, 2011... GREENEARTH HERITAGE Foundation, Inc., a private foundation formed two years ago to do its share in alleviating the country's grinding poverty by uplifting the lives of a growing farming community under its care, recently got a boost for its...

CONSUMER GUIDE.
August 1, 2011... Zwilling J.A. Henckels teams up with culinary schools CHEFS AND HOMEMAKERS agree that the quality of a knife affects the whole cooking process. "A good knife makes food preparation easier, faster and more enjoyable. It is made of...

BRIEFS.(Company overview)
August 1, 2011... Service offered WIMDU, the new global traveller accommodation site, has received a $90-million funding, prompting media abroad to dub it the world's largest start-up. The German-based Internet company, which offers business travelers and...