PinoyBusiness.ORG - Home » Employment http://pinoybusiness.org Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:52:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 SM to build 200-room hotel in Davao http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/05/10/sm-to-build-200-room-hotel-in-davao/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/05/10/sm-to-build-200-room-hotel-in-davao/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 07:42:16 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4265 A new 200-room hotel in Davao City will be build by SM Investment Corp. It will be in Lanang district, adjacent to the SM shopping mall.

SM, in its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, said its wholly owned subsidiary SM Hotels and Convention Corp. signed a contract with Carlson, a privately held global hospitality and travel company, for the very first Park Inn by Radisson in Davao, as well as in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 200-room new hotel will be located inside the 175,000-square meter mixed-use complex owned and developed by SM shopping mall subsidiary, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Aside from the hotel, the group also plans to construct an SM Supermall and a convenience center within the complex. The construction of the hotel will be started in the third quarter of 2011 and is expected to be operation by 2013.

Elizabeth Sy, SM Hotels and Convention president, said the signing of contract to open a Park Inn by Radisson in Davao City is just another step toward the fulfillment of the vision of her father, tycoon and SMIC founder Henry Sy, to make the Philippines a “world-class tourist destination.”

“We believe that Davao is an ideal location for such an undertaking because of its robust economy, vibrant population, and excellent infrastructure, including its international airport. In addition, the Park Inn Hotel will benefit from the business synergies that will be created with the other upcoming SM projects within the vicinity,” Sy said.

Park Inn by Radisson is one of the hotel brands under Carlson and is the largest mid-market brand for hotels under development in Europe. Radisson is also managing SMIC’s upscale hotel in Cebu.

Executive vice president and chief development officer at Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific Xerxes Meher-Homji said, “With the tagline Sleep Well, Live Well, Park Inn by Radisson hotels offers a hassle-free, clean and comfortable stay at a reasonable price.”

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/05/10/sm-to-build-200-room-hotel-in-davao/feed/ 1 Taiwanese businessmen plan to relocate to the Philippines http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/05/05/taiwanese-businessmen-plan-to-relocate-to-the-philippines/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/05/05/taiwanese-businessmen-plan-to-relocate-to-the-philippines/#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 08:51:26 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4248 Taiwanese businessmen are seriously considering relocating their manufacturing facilities to the Philippines from mainland China. The Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO) said the decision was made by the Taiwan diplomatic row with the Philippines following their frustrations from the stringent labor requirements in China.

The Taiwanese businesses are engaged in industrial plastics manufacturing with estimated investments of at least $120 million, according to MECO chairman Amadeo R. Perez Jr. He said they are considering relocating their factories from China to Subic and Clark Freeport zones for their export-oriented investments.

Perez said that four plastic products manufacturers have already visited Subic and Clark and another will be coming over to visit Batangas and Clark. One company engaged in bed frames and mattresses production is eyeing a warehouse in Clark which it can is suitable and can be converted for its business. “One project alone can command at least $20 million in investments,” Perez said. For the six projects that would translate to an estimated $120 million worth of prospective investments.

The bed frame and mattresses manufacturer is exporting its products to the EU, Asia and the US while the plastic products manufacturers are producing industrial products which are used for packaging applications and are exporting them all over the world.

Perez added that some of the Taiwanese have already gone to Vietnam and Indonesia because those countries are not very choosy due to their high unemployment rate. He said Taiwanese investors in mainland China have been turned off by policy changes in the labor sector.

MECO is implementing a major campaign to attract more Taiwanese investors into the Philippines, following the successful resolution of the bilateral issue early this year. However, Perez said the country’s only problem is the high cost of electricity, and Vietnam and Indonesia could beat the Philippines on that factor.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/05/05/taiwanese-businessmen-plan-to-relocate-to-the-philippines/feed/ 1 Philippine-China trade and conference fair set on June http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/30/philippine-china-trade-and-conference-fair-set-on-june/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/30/philippine-china-trade-and-conference-fair-set-on-june/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 08:56:27 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4205 The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)-Guangzhou and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) recently signed a cooperation agreement to co-organize the Manila-Guangzhou Trade and Investment Conference slated to be held on June.

The event, which is aimed to further boost the Philippine-China trade and investment relations, is expected to gather around 500 business leaders, industry captains and government officials from both countries.

Part of the activities of the conference will be a product promotion through a virtual trade fair which would feature top export products of China, and business matching activities. There will also be office and factory visits to be arranged for the estimated 200 businesses and industry leaders comprising the Chinese delegation.

PCCI President Dr. Francis Chua said, “The Philippines and Chinese’ economies are open to mutual cooperation in trade and investments. While initially, the idea behind the conference is to promote Chinese-manufactured products for export to the country, we are making it a point to ensure that local enterprises and industries get maximum exposure and gain from the visit of top-level Chinese businessmen. That is why we are arranging business meetings and site visitations on the sidelines of the conference.”

China is the country’s top trading partner with export receipts reaching US$51.39 billion in 2010. Data from the National Statistic Office (NSO) show that the combined markets of China and Hong Kong in 2010 accounted for about 19.52 percent of the Philippines’ total exports.

Guangzhou Vice President of CCPIT Madame Li San Jian said, “China is a very big market. With increasing domestic demand and infrastructure development, Philippine export products such as mineral-and-metal-based resources as well as processed and fresh food products can easily gain entry into the Chinese market.”

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/30/philippine-china-trade-and-conference-fair-set-on-june/feed/ 0 Aircraft maintenance company to expand facility in the Philippines http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/29/aircraft-maintenance-company-to-expand-facility-in-the-philippines/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/29/aircraft-maintenance-company-to-expand-facility-in-the-philippines/#comments Fri, 29 Apr 2011 22:45:16 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4191 Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) plans to expand its facility in Manila in order to increase the variety of aircraft it can serve, including the Airbus A380, which the world’s largest passenger plane. The Airbus A320, designed for short to mid-range flights, is among the most-used aircraft by local airlines and is ideal for trips to domestic and international destinations within the Asia Pacific.

The aircraft maintenance company, which is a joint venture between Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. and Germany’s Lufthansa group, said it will be spending $30 million in the next year to expand its facility at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The company said the expansion will “boost its capability in servicing the growing range of Airbus models that includes the A320, A330, A340 and A380, which is the world’s biggest and most technologically advanced commercial aircraft.”

For its part, MacroAsia said, “The Philippines will be one of the few places of A380 maintenance in the world, and this definitely cements the country’s place in the global aviation map.”

LTP said that once its expansion is completed, the Philippines’ position and presence in the global aviation map would be enhanced. The company will also be hiring additional 2,700 workers more when its new hangar becomes operational by January 2012.

The expansion will cover a new 8,484 square meter facility which will be built in accordance with the strictest design codes. It will add to LTP’s four existing hangars. This would be able to accommodate one wide-body and two narrow-body or four narrow-body planes all at the same time.

Among the international airlines currently served by LTP are Lufthansa German Airlines, Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific. Among the local airlines, the company serves Cebu Pacific, Zest Airways, and LTP affiliate Philippine Airlines.

Aside from the Manila hangars, LTP also has an aircraft maintenance facility at the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/29/aircraft-maintenance-company-to-expand-facility-in-the-philippines/feed/ 0 China auto company to open manufacturing facility in the Philippines http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/24/china-auto-company-to-open-manufacturing-facility-in-the-philippines/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/24/china-auto-company-to-open-manufacturing-facility-in-the-philippines/#comments Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:22:44 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4177 Chery Automobile Ltd. announced it will build a manufacturing facility in the Philippines which will be the company’s left hand drive manufacturing hub in the Southeast Asia. Chery Philippines sales marketing manager Raymond Tribdino said the manufacturing facility will be constructed in the next three years. He said, aside from serving the local market, the company also plans to sell Philippine made vehicles to the ASEAN market. They plan to build Philippine specific models for both passenger cars and small vehicles.

“We will have a local partner. We will subcontract. We are in the trial phase and we are working out the shares in the company. We are not sure how much the total investment will be, but normally, one line costs more than $10 million,” Tribdino explained.

He also added that they would like to bring in cheaper electric vehicles to the Philippines and ASEAN market, “For electric cars, we would like to introduce the first commercially available electric vehicle.” Tribdino said the lithium ion battery is 60 percent of the price. The Chery full electric vehicle is estimated to be at P1.8 million but it could be more. For a single charge, it can run up to 250 kilometers.

Chery Philippines is asking the government to grant them incentives like a parking lot with charging station, lower registration rate and zero percent import duty from China. The current import duty is 30 percent. If the said tariff is removed or is the same as AFTA at one percent, Tribdino said the small e-vehicle will be cheaper at P1.057 million. Although the vehicle is over P1 million, he said the running cost is low with the high cost of fuels.

Tribdino also said they are looking to beef up their local sales as Chery China took over from old distributors Easy Way Motors. The company bought Easy Way’s assets worth P150 million. He said they are looking at matching their 2010 sales target last year which was 1068 units. Their 2010 sales stood at 1,134 units.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/24/china-auto-company-to-open-manufacturing-facility-in-the-philippines/feed/ 0 SSS reports payments of benefits for 2010 up by 7% http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/21/sss-reports-payments-of-benefits-for-2010-up-by-7/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/21/sss-reports-payments-of-benefits-for-2010-up-by-7/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2011 08:06:03 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4145 The Social Security System (SSS) reported that its benefit payments for 2010 has increased by 7% to P77.17 billion, with the bulk of the payment going to retirement claims and death benefits. SSS president and chief executive officer (CEO) Emilio de Quiros Jr. said in a statement that the state-run agency paid P38.23 million to more than 800,000 retiring members last year while another P27.65 billion went to death benefits of families of about 740,000 members.

De Quiros said, “SSS entitles workers to many types of benefits. Monthly contributions help members save for retirement and give them a safety net during contingencies that disrupt their capacity to earn.” The pension fund provides retirement, sickness, maternity, disability, death and funeral benefits. Membership to pension fund is mandatory for private sector employees and self-employed workers.

The pension fund chief earlier proposed an increase of 0.6% in the contribution rate to 11% and P5,000 increase in the maximum monthly salary credit. De Quiros said that if his proposal is approved, the adjustment would allow the agency to implement a 10% across-the-board pension increase, give pensioners a P500 one-time grant, as well as hike other benefits.

“The average monthly pension is about P3,500 and we want pensions to be nearer the amount of their last salary. Members are being deprived of proper benefits because of limitations in the SSS structure, which we are now trying to adjust gradually,” he said. “The small steps we are taking are also directed toward a perpetual SSS fund life. The proposed reforms would add 7 years to the SSS fund life, extending in from 3029 to 2046,” he added.

De Quiros also noted that the contribute rate being used the pension fund is much lower than that being used by the Government Services Insurance System (GSIS) which is 21%.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/21/sss-reports-payments-of-benefits-for-2010-up-by-7/feed/ 0 DOLE announced more than 100,000 jobs available on Labor Day job fair http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/19/dole-announced-more-than-100000-jobs-available-on-labor-day-job-fair/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/19/dole-announced-more-than-100000-jobs-available-on-labor-day-job-fair/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:37:32 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4127 The job opportunities available on the Labor Day job fair spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have already reached more 100,000 as confirmed by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz. She said there are around 1,000 companies and recruitment agencies who would be offering both locals and foreign employment opportunities at the different Jobs and Livelihood Fairs on May 1.

“We have already announced the schedule and venues of the regional job and livelihood fairs and our preparation is in full swing,” she added.

The venue for Metro Manila will be Rizal Park and 200 companies and recruiters will be there offering 30,000 jobs. Labor Undersecretary Hans Cacdac said they are expecting around 50,000 applicants on the Rizal Park job fair. The agency is expecting more applicants this year because of the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were displaced by the conflicts in Libya and the Middle East.

“As we expect thousands of jobseekers, graduates, and displaced OFWs to (visit) the designated venues across the country…we are continuously exerting all efforts and exhausting all means to provide a vast array of productive and matched job opportunities,” Baldoz said.

The labor secretary is also urging applicants to pre-register for the job fairs by logging on at the www.phil-job.net. She said the Public Employments Services Offices (PESO) will be distributing free Phil-Jobnet digital cards containing the applicant’s curriculum vitae for those who pre-register.

Jobs available in Metro Manila include managers, cashiers, copywriters, data encoders, dining and kitchen personnel, graphic artists, fashion designers, safety engineers, computer technicians, and heavy equipment mechanics and automotive electricians. Information technology (IT) staff and supervisors, as well as call center agents are also in demand.

While in other regions, Baldoz said employment opportunities include jobs in agriculture, fishing, mining, manufacturing, construction, and hotel and restaurant industries.

Bureau of Local Employment Director Maria Criselda Sy said that in 2009, the number of applicants hired on the spot took 10 percent of jobs offered at the livelihood fairs. This was increased to 13 percent in 2010. “So this year, we hope that the trend would continue. Hopefully 15 percent,” Sy said.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/19/dole-announced-more-than-100000-jobs-available-on-labor-day-job-fair/feed/ 0 Immigration barred 34 OFWs from leaving http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/13/immigration-barred-34-ofws-from-leaving/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/13/immigration-barred-34-ofws-from-leaving/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:04:46 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4081 The Bureau of Immigration (BI) barred 34 prospective overseas Filipino workers from leaving the country. The passengers were prevented from boarding a Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight to Bangkok after confessing that they were OFWs disguised as business travelers after intense questioning from immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

BI airport operations chief Lina Andaman Pelia said, “They were offloaded for not having the required clearances and employment permits from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).”

The Bangkok-bound passengers said they were supposed to find employment in Thailand. Some of them had work in Dubai and other Middle East countries. They were allegedly travelling on a business visa that was provided by a company in Dubai that was supposed to process their work permits in Thailand.

BI Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. commended the immigration officers for their vigilance and asked them to be more careful and step up their efforts in not allowing undocumented OFWs. The immigration office, however, refused to divulge the names of passengers as the anti-human trafficking law prohibits the public disclosure of both the traffickers and their victims.

During the course of their investigation, the immigration officer found out that the travelers were going to work for the Super Giant Touring Carnival owned by Apirom Properties Company Ltd., an affiliate of the Big Fun World based in Dubai and where many of the passengers previously worked.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/13/immigration-barred-34-ofws-from-leaving/feed/ 0 DOLE to conduct job fair on Labor Day http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/11/dole-to-conduct-job-fair-on-labor-day/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/11/dole-to-conduct-job-fair-on-labor-day/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:39:30 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4057 As part of the oncoming celebrations for Labor Day on May 1, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) disclosed the venues that will hold jobs fairs that will provide some 30,000 job opportunities. According to DOLE secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, the Labor Day celebration on May 1 will carry the theme, “Matuwid na Daan Tungo sa Kaunlaran Para sa Lahat.”

She said in a news release posted on the DOLE website, “We are offering workers the opportunity to find productive jobs, as well as safety nets and non-wage benefits, in the Job and Livelihood Fairs that are one of the centerpiece events of the celebrations.”

The government will partner with the private sector in the commemoration, to highlight its policy reforms of inclusiveness and social dialogue to foster social justice, increase productivity, and promote economic growth. The labor secretary added that there are initially 150 local employers who are already committed to the job fair in Metro Manila to be held at Rizal Park. About 50 licensed private overseas recruiters are also said to join the job fair to offer employment overseas.

The venue for the job fairs in the DOLE’s 16 regional offices to provide job opportunities in their respective regions are:

•  Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR): SM Baguio and Baguio Convention Center
•  Region 1 (Ilocos): SM Rosales, Pangasinan
•  Region 2 (Cagayan Valley): Francisco L. Dy Coliseum, Cauayan, Isabela
•  Region 3 (Central Luzon): SM San Fernando, Pampanga and SM Baliwag, Bulacan
•  Region 4A (CALABARZON): SM Sta. Rosa, Laguna and SM Rosario, Cavite;
•  Region 4B (MIMAROPA): Divine World College, Calapan City
•  Region 5 (Bicol): SM Naga City
•  Region 6 (Western Visayas): SM Iloilo and SM Bacolod
•  Region 7 (Metro Cebu and Central Visayas): SM Cebu City, Cebu International Convention Center, Abellana Sports Complex City, Cebu City and Macias Sports Complex, Dumaguete City
•  Region 8 (Eastern Visayas): Tacloban City Convention Center
•  Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula): Western Mindanao State University Gymnasium, Zamboanga City, and Gaisano Capital, Pagadian City
•  Region 10 (Northern Mindanao): SM Cagayan de Oro
•  Region 11 (Davao Region): SM Davao, Gaisano Mall Davao
•  Region 12 (Central Mindanao): KCC Mall General Santos
•  CARAGA: DOLE Regional Office.

Jobseekers and other interested parties may visit www.phil-job.net for more details.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/11/dole-to-conduct-job-fair-on-labor-day/feed/ 0 New aviation firm to invest in Clark airport http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/06/new-aviation-firm-to-invest-in-clark-airport/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/06/new-aviation-firm-to-invest-in-clark-airport/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:56:45 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=4038 Another major aviation firm is going to invest in the Clark Freeport Zone. Metrojet, a leading business aviation firm in Asia is earmarking $40 million for maintenance, repair and overhaul of facility in Clark. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said Metrojet will set up the facility in a three-hectare property inside the Clark Airport Complex in Pampanga.

The entry of Metrojet, which owns a fleet of 26 aircraft of various types and capacities, sends a strong signal to the international community that the Philippines is ready to play a central role in the global aviation industry. “The president has announced that the country is open for business, and the decision of Metrojet to set up a shop in Clark is proof that foreign investors are listening,” Ochoa said.

Metrojet is a part of Kadoorie Group which owns China Lights and Power Company and the Peninsula Hotel Chain. It is scheduled to begin construction of the project in June and will start its operations in Clark by the end of 2011.

The services to be offered by the aviation firm ranges from aircraft charter, comprehensive aircraft management, maintenance, co-ownership programs, aircraft acquisition and sales. Metrojet’s proposed heavy maintenance for Clark will also include avionics upgrade and exterior paint work for aircraft.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) secretary Ramon Carandang credited the efforts of the government “to improve aviation, to remove many of the restrictions on foreign carriers, to address the technical and safety issues raised by the FAA and the European aviation actions to ensure that it becomes a viable place for investments.” He added, “That investment by Metrojet is another sign that people are ready and willing to invest in Philippine aviation, even if we’re still in the process of improving the situation.”

Carandang said that Executive Order 29, or the open skies policy could be on the factors that might have motivated Metrojet’s decision. “I think the business community sees that our efforts are serious. I would say that that’s the kind of a vote of confidence for the efforts that we’re undertaking,” he said.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/04/06/new-aviation-firm-to-invest-in-clark-airport/feed/ 0 AirAsia Inc. sets hub of Philippine operations in Clark http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/03/24/airasia-inc-sets-hub-of-philippine-operations-in-clark/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/03/24/airasia-inc-sets-hub-of-philippine-operations-in-clark/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:29:40 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=3975 Clark airport in Angeles City Pampanga beats Subic International Airport in Subic, Zambales in bidding for the right to host the hub operation of AirAsia Inc. in the Philippines. AirAsia, Inc., an affiliate of Malaysia’s AirAsia Group, picked Clark as the base of its operation in the country. It will have its office at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport when it starts operating international flights from the airport in the fourth quarter of 2011.

AirAsia Berhad chairman Tony Fernandez said that their choice of Clark is in line with the airline company’s commitment to developing transportation and tourism hubs outside Manila. Chief executive officer Marianne B. Hontiveros of AirAsia Inc. said, “This is part of our plan to contribute to the development of the country as whole.” She added, “AirAsia Inc. is excited to start contributing to the economy of Clark and the rest of the country by boosting tourism and offering job opportunities to Filipinos.”

The Clark airport is located north of Manila and is accessible to 23 million people from the National Capital Region, Central and Northern Luzon. Incidentally, it is also where the airline’s sister company, AirAsia Berhad has been flying to and from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu since 2005.

Hontiveros said, “We plan to make Clark the hub for flights to popular destination including Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Korea and Japan,” adding that it would make travelling much easier and more affordable for tourists and overseas Filipino workers.

AirAsia Inc. is owned by Hontiveros, Antonio O. Cojuangco Jr. and Michael L. Romero who has total shares of 60 percent, while the 40 percent is owned by AirAsia Berhad. AirAsia Inc. in Clark will become the 13th hub of the AirAsia Group in the region.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/03/24/airasia-inc-sets-hub-of-philippine-operations-in-clark/feed/ 0 PEZA said Japanese will not pull out from the country http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/03/22/peza-said-japanese-will-not-pull-out-from-the-country/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/03/22/peza-said-japanese-will-not-pull-out-from-the-country/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:12:02 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=3933 The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said, in spite of the tragedy that hit their country, Japanese firms in the Philippines will continue with their business operations here and will not be laying off any workers. The PEZA added that because of the twin disasters that hit Japan, these businesses are even prompted to transfer some of their operations in their plants here.

Elmer San Pascual, PEZA group manager promotions and public relations, said that tsunami in Japan resulted in the temporary transfer of production here in the Philippines so that they will be able to make up for the deficiency in their production in Japan brought about by the calamities. “There are two to three firms that said they would like to expand their operations here,” he said.

San Pascual was quick to point out, “I don’t know where the news of retrenchment came from but that is not true.” He added, “Employers of Japanese firms operating in the Philippines need not worry that they will lose their jobs.”

However, he also said that the transfer of operations in the Philippines will not directly result in the hiring of additional workers. It will depend on how long the transfer of operations are. The firms may opt to hire new workers for the production. San Pascual said the Japanese firms operating in PEZA zones have a capacity of 85% to 95%. He said that if the capacity balloons to 95%, then the firms would have no choice but to undergo expansion. “The Japanese are worried about the power supply there because they have rotating blackouts,” he said.

San Pascual noted that there are 618 Japanese firms from the 2,700 plus companies in the PEZA zones. Most of them are in the electronics and semiconductor business. The others are in auto parts and ship building. He said those Japanese firms belonging in the auto sector have not signified any intention yet of expanding their operations in the country.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/03/22/peza-said-japanese-will-not-pull-out-from-the-country/feed/ 0 Canlaon to put up P5.2B bioethanol plant in Negros Occidental http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/03/16/canlaon-to-put-up-p5-2b-bioethanol-plant-in-negros-occidental/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/03/16/canlaon-to-put-up-p5-2b-bioethanol-plant-in-negros-occidental/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:32:25 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=3886 The Canlaon Alco Green Industrial Corporation will be investing P5.192 billion for a bioethanol plant in Bago, Negros Occidental. And because of its multi-million investment in the bioethanol project, Canlaon will be receiving six years worth of income tax holiday (ITH), according to Lucita P. Reyes, executive director of the Board of Investments (BOI).

Reyes said that the bioethanol project is one their banner investments for the first two months of the years, which helped propel their 185 percent investment growth for January to February, compared to the same period last year. BOI investments stood at P28.237 billion.

Canlaon applied for the incentives from the BOI and it qualified for the ITH under the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) of the government. The bioethanol plant is expected to be operational by December 2012 and is projected to produce 52.2 million liters of bioethanol per year.

Reyes said that despite the Canlaon’s investment, the country still lacks bioethanol. She said that by 2012, the demands for bioethanol locally will be 849 million liters. At present, there seven bioethanol plants operating with their 2012 productions expected to reach only 193 million liters. There will still be a deficit even with the 52.2 million of Canlaon’s. “We still need to encourage more investments in bioethanol,” she added. The Canlaon plant will be supplying the bioethanol to local petrol companies, according to Reyes.

She also said that aside from the bioethanol, the production site will have a byproduct of purified carbon dioxide. This will be sold to beverage companies. The project will employ 160 workers, excluding the farms.

The Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA) has already certified the project. The certification was necessary to ensure that the proposed plantation site is not used for food. Canlaon, at present, has a growing agreement with the farmers of Bago, which covers 2,300 hectares of land capable of producing 161,000 metric tons of raw sugar cane per year.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/03/16/canlaon-to-put-up-p5-2b-bioethanol-plant-in-negros-occidental/feed/ 0 More employment opportunities in Clark this year http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/02/23/more-employment-opportunities-in-clark-this-year/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/02/23/more-employment-opportunities-in-clark-this-year/#comments Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:26:05 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=3830 The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) said that it expects the employment at the Clark Freeport Zone to surge this year as operations of new investments starts. The CDC said as early as the end of January 2011, the number of workers in Clark had already grown by an annual 4.7% already.  The Freeport Zone administrator said that workers inside Clark’s 453 locators reached 60,322 as of January 31 versus the 57,602 they have in the same period last year.

The CDC said that this workforce is composed mostly of employees in the electronics assembly industries, the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, and from other manufacturing industries. The state agency said at least 7,000 more jobs are expected to be generated in the near future because of several projects coming this year.

Some of these projects include the “multi-billion dollar” investment of Phoenix Semiconductor of the Philippines, the expansion of Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc., and of course, more investments from the business process outsourcing sector.

The CDC broke down the figure as follows: 3,000 workers would be needed by Phoenix Semiconductor; Yokohama Tire would need 1,500; and BPO locators like Cyber City Teleservices, Inc., Sutherland Philippines, Inc. and Global Streaming, would hiring at least 2,500 more additional employees. “The improvement in employment in Clark is an indication that the Freeport Zone is becoming an investment haven for multi-national firms,” the Freeport zone administrator stated.

With the expected surge in employment, the CDC is projecting to reach a 15% increase in investment pledges to P30.508 billion this year after commitments had already grown by more than four-fold to P26.529 billion in 2010.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2011/02/23/more-employment-opportunities-in-clark-this-year/feed/ 1 Sitel offers more job for Filipinos http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/11/04/sitel-offers-more-job-for-filipinos/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/11/04/sitel-offers-more-job-for-filipinos/#comments Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:19:47 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=3759 Because of securing a contract with new clients, and with their existing clients also expanding the services that they outsourced to them, business process outsourcing firm (BPO) Sitel will hiring 4,000 more new employees for its Manila and Baguio Sites.

Sitel recruitment director Joan Laquindanum said they have opened as many as 4,000 positions in one go, to support the new and existing clients’ requirements.

And because of the demand for BPO employees very high, thanks to the continuing development and growth of the outsourcing business in the Philippines, Sitel provided “attractive compensation and benefits packages” to its employees. Among those perks is their in-house pharmacies where employees can order medicine and supplements on a non-cash basis.

Laquindanum said that their employees are enjoying generous leave entitlements, as well as health, life, bereavement and retirement insurance plans. “Our bereavement benefits are extended to all family members of associates, considered the first in the industry. As we continue to grow, giving only the best to our associates is a welcome challenge for Sitel,” she added.

The hiring officer also said that the 4,000 hiring requirement is just the start, and it would be followed by even more job openings in the future as they also planned to expand its operation the Philippines further.

At present, Sitel has 11 sites in the country which provide services such as acquisition and sales, back office, collections, customer care and technical support. The company’s Philippine site serve customers in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. They support English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Spanish languages.

The Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) said the outsourcing business could be a $20-billion industry by 2016 with continued concerted industry effort and strong government support. The organization said that in its “IT-BPO Road Map 2011-2016: Driving Global Leadership,” adding that by 2016, the industry could be employing as much as 900,000 call center workers.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/11/04/sitel-offers-more-job-for-filipinos/feed/ 0 DOLE intensifies language training program to help Filipino nurses find jobs in Japan http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/09/04/dole-intensifies-language-training-program-to-help-filipino-nurses-find-jobs-in-japan/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/09/04/dole-intensifies-language-training-program-to-help-filipino-nurses-find-jobs-in-japan/#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2010 01:09:00 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=3669 The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is intensifying their Japanese language training for those wishing to work in Japan. This is part of their initiative to provide more jobs for Filipino nurses there. According to labor secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, there are very few Filipino nurses who are being hired in Japan because of their inability to speak and write the Japanese language.

She said that only 1.2 percent of foreign nurses, which include Filipinos, who are seeking employment in Japan pass the required licensure examination there because of the difficulty in understanding medical terms written in Japanese. To address this problem, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Japan recommended an intensified Japanese language skills program for the Filipino nurses.

Maria Luz Talento, POLO-Tokyo Officer-in-Charge and Welfare Officer Maria Luz Talento, said the program would focus on communication skills more than simply language skills. “Even though candidate nurses and caregivers are able to speak Japanese, which clearly benefits their hospitals and/or welfare institutions, it cannot make up for an inability to communicate verbally and in writing with their co-workers and immediate superiors in their place of work,” she explained.

Talento added that Japanese culture has a specific set of regulations and principles about the proper way or manner of communicating, especially within and across workplaces. She noted that variation in communication method can lead to difficult interpersonal relationships with the place of work, which in most instances, results in unavoidable cross-cultural misunderstandings.

This, she said, necessitates the language and communication skills training program, to redress conflict and prevent miscommunications, but also to obtain jobs and retain them as well. Talento denied the reports that 18 Filipino nurses and caregivers went home after becoming discouraged by their slim chances of passing the national examinations for their professions. She confirmed that many returned home, but mainly because of personal and health reasons.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/09/04/dole-intensifies-language-training-program-to-help-filipino-nurses-find-jobs-in-japan/feed/ 0 Philip Morris opens warehouse facility in Subic http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/08/21/philip-morris-opens-warehouse-facility-in-subic/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/08/21/philip-morris-opens-warehouse-facility-in-subic/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:45:33 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=3652 A P600-million regional tobacco leaf warehouse was inaugurated recently by Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMI) at the Subic Techno Park inside the Subic Freeport Zone. The said facility cements the place of the Philippines as tobacco leaf warehouse hub of Philip Morris in the Asia Pacific region.

Armand C. Arreza, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator, said the P600-million facility is phase two of a three-phase investment of Philip Morris. The third phase will be a $15-million facility, although it is not yet known as to when this will be started.

The new warehouse will store tobacco leaf for shipment and processing in different PMI cigarette factories in the Asia Pacific region including the Philippines. Chris Nelson, managing director of Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPI), said, “This development establishes the Philippines, particularly the Subic Freeport zone as a major center for regional tobacco leaf trading and distribution.”

The warehouse at the Subic Techno Park has a capacity for storing 14,000 metric tons of tobacco leaf. This can be further expanded to accommodate an additional 10,000 metric tons, according to Nelson. He said, the facility has a state-of-the-art humidity control, fire suppression equipment and air conditioning system in able to handle and carefully preserve the tobacco leaf which will be imported from China, Indonesia, Thailand and other countries.

“As with the other investments of Philip Morris in the Philippines, this leaf warehouse further cements our commitment to the economic development of the country,” said Nelson in his speech during the inauguration.

“We are especially proud that PMI has chosen the Subic Freeport Zone, from among several locations in Southeast Asia. It is a very ideal location that provides advantages in cost and efficiency over other countries where PMI’s tobacco leaves were previously kept,” he added.

The tobacco leaf stored in techno park facility will be used by PMI manufacturing facilities in the region, including the cigarette factory in Tanuan, Batangas.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/08/21/philip-morris-opens-warehouse-facility-in-subic/feed/ 0 San Miguel to put the country’s first underwater hotel http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/08/06/san-miguel-to-put-the-countrys-first-underwater-hotel/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/08/06/san-miguel-to-put-the-countrys-first-underwater-hotel/#comments Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:11:05 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=3631 The real estate subsidiary of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SM) is planning to launch soon, the country’s first “underwater hotel.” The said project is part of the four new developments of San Miguel Properties Inc. (SMP) which will start next year, as the company’s foray into the tourism segment begins.

Alan Cruz, head of the SMP real estate development, said the four projects are, a “spiritual” hub in a 125-hectare property in Alfonso, Cavite; a midrise condominium cluster in a 2.8-hectare property along Outlook Drive in Baguio City; a 25-hectare mixed-use beachfront development on Boracay Island; and an ambitious underwater hotel off Busuanga Island near Coron Island in Northern Palawan.

Cruz said that all the project would happen next year as far as their implementation is concern, while the planning stages will all happen this year.”We are going to entertain the experts in the industry, in terms of operating a hotel or maybe a country club. That is applicable for Boracay and, to a certain extent, in the Cavite project,” he added.

In the recently concluded Philippine Real Estate Fair, SMP “rebranded and relaunched” itself in its bid to become a major property developer in the next five years. The company plans to launch its Cavite project first, from which a 33-hectare parcel of land was donated to the healing ministry of Companion of the Cross priest Fernando Suarez. The said property may house venues for weddings, baptisms, retreat houses, as well as a 100-meter tall statue of the Virgin Mary. In order to sustain the spiritual component of the project, SMP is planning to build residential and commercial projects in the area.

The company also stated earlier that it is spending P6 billion to develop a high-rise residential project in Makati City and an American-inspired gated community in General Trias, Cavite. Existing projects of the firm include Maravilla, Bel Aldea in General Trias, The Legacy in Las Piñas City and Buenavista Homes in Cebu.

SMP finance and administration head Gil Somblingo said in an earlier interview that they are expecting to generate P1 billion in sales this year.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/08/06/san-miguel-to-put-the-countrys-first-underwater-hotel/feed/ 2 Cognizant announces expansion of operations in the Philippines http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/08/05/cognizant-announces-expansion-of-operations-in-the-philippines/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/08/05/cognizant-announces-expansion-of-operations-in-the-philippines/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:18:43 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/?p=3629 Cognizant, another world-leading company engaged in the technology, consulting and business process outsourcing (BPO) services is expanding its operations in the Philippines. From its present manpower of approximately 200 employees, the company said its planned expansion will accommodate as much as 600 more personnel.

R Chandrasekaran, president and managing director of Global Delivery, Cognizant said, “Within months of opening our Manila center in October 2009, we have steadily grown our presence and investment in the Philippine capital, and have moved into a larger facility.”

He also said that their Manila center will continue to strengthen their integrated global delivery capabilities. “We are committed to working closely with the academic community in the Philippines to develop talent across our full range of services,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), represented by its president and chief executive officer Oscar Sañez welcomed Cognizant’s expansion in the Philippines.

“We are pleased to see Cognizant expand its operations in the Philippines. As one of the world’s fastest growing consulting technology, and BPO/KPO companies, Cognizant’s deep insight into global best practices earned through its exposure to Global 2000 companies and footprint spanning five continents will help the IT and BPO/KPO industry in the Philippines increase its competitiveness and define newer benchmarks,” Sañez said.

He added, “We thank Cognizant for investing in the Philippines and providing an opportunity for experienced professionals as well as fresh graduates in the country to serve global customers.”

The Cognizant’s Manila office provides high-end operations and contact center business process services to its clients’ worldwide. It also runs on Cognizant 2.0, a Web 2.0-based platform that allows the company associates worldwide to collaborate and deliver important time-to-market, cost and transformational value to its clients.

Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino III also commended the company for providing employment opportunities for Filipino professional. He said Cognizant’s expansion affirms the growing demand for global BPO services currently dominating the business arena.

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]]> http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/08/05/cognizant-announces-expansion-of-operations-in-the-philippines/feed/ 0 Convergys, to hire 3,600 more employees this year http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/07/15/convergys-to-hire-3600-more-employees-this-year/ http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/07/15/convergys-to-hire-3600-more-employees-this-year/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:40:49 +0000 Roy http://pinoybusiness.org/2010/07/15/convergys-to-hire-3600-more-employees-this-year/ Convergys Corp., the largest private employer in the Philippines, is planning to hire additional 3,600 new employees as it expands its five existing sites in the country to bring their total number of workforce to 25,000 by the end of 2010. Marife Zamora, country manager of Convergys Philippines, said the expansion is meant to meet the robust demand of its clients, who belong to the top Fortune 50 list of global firms.

“Drawing upon the outstanding service and support Convergys employees in the Philippines provide to our clients around the globe, in addition to the continued demand from these clients to house their customer support in the Philippines, it was only logical that we expand our existing capacities,” Zamora said.

At present, Convergys has 12 sites in the Philippines. Seven are in Metro Manila, three in Cebu City, one in Bacolod City and one in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The five Convergys sites with expanded capacities are: UP TechnoHub in Diliman, Quezon City; Nuvali in Laguna; San Lazaro in Sta. Cruz, Manila; Cebu i3 in AsiaTown Cebu, and Bacolod. These sites would require 2,300 additional work stations for 3,600 workers.

The Philippines sites of the global contact center now serve 27 clients across a wide spectrum of industries including retail, telcos, cable, technology companies, healthcare, finance and automotive firms belonging to the top 27 of the top 50 Forbes list of companies. All of its clients are mostly US-based, except for one which is based in the United Kingdom.

According to Zamora, they – Convergys Philippines, has been a choice of companies because of their outstanding performance and also of the quality of the local talent pool.

For his part, Convergys director for business development Jose Mari P. Mercado said they are concentrating on building its brand. He said they have mounted a branding strategy to ensure they are on top of mind for the targeted manpower pool.

“Branding is a very critical element and our intention is to be on top of mind and top of heart among jobseekers. In an industry where there is a strong competition for talent, there is a need to establish your brand, he said

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