PinoyBusiness.ORG - Home » service

New reimbursement payment scheme to be adopted by Philhealth

Roy — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:27:19 +0000

A new payment system that will replace the present “fee for service” scheme in reimbursing hospitals will be adopted by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) and hopes to implement it next month.

The Philhealth plans to adopt a new system called the “case payment” system which will have fixed rates for medical services and surgical procedures to reimburse hospitals for treatment of Philhealth members.

Senior manager of benefits and development and research department of Philhealth Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas said the case payment system will cover both medical and surgical procedures. He said the board discussion on the new scheme is almost over.

Pargas presented a draft during the recent annual convention of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), of the proposed amounts that can be reimbursed by hospitals on specified surgical and medical cases.

Among the fixed rates for service and procedures are: hemodialysis, P4,000; radiotherapy, P3,000; caesarian section, P15,000; Medical Care Plan (MCP), P8,000; appendectomy, P26,000; hysterectomy, P30,000; cholecystectomy, P31,000; dilation and curettage, P11,000; mastectomy, P22,000; herniorrhaphy, P21,000; and thyroidectomy, P31,000. For other diseases, reimbursement for essential hypertension case will be P9,000 and typhoid fever is P14,000.

Pargas said, “The new case rates shall be the new reimbursement for all the specified cases. It will apply to all claims by eligible Philhealth members and dependents admitted in accredited facilities.” He noted that the new scheme will moderate the financial risk to Philhealth and will provide high financial protection to beneficiaries and members and would mean less administrative cost for hospitals and Philhealth because it will not need any itemization.

According to Pargas, under the current reimbursement scheme which is the fee-for-service method, there is a high risk to payors, Philhealth and members and is also incentive for fraud. The present system also results in high administrative cost for hospitals.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Philippine seeks investment-grade rating

Roy — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 04:51:12 +0000

The Philippine government believes that the country deserves a better credit rating, that is why it is wooing the three major credit rating agencies for an upgrade in its credit scores, amid the improving fiscal situation and external liquidity.

The three credit rating agencies – Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings, and Standard & Poor’s (S&P), were met separately by finance secretary Cesar Purisima when he went to New York and Washington D.C. recently.

Purisima presented fiscal and monetary data on the Philippines that he believes would encourage them to review and increase the country’s credit scores. Philippines is rated three notches below investment grade by Moody’s and two notches below by Fitch and S&P.

He also said the country has a credit score lower than Indonesia yet the fiscal situations of the two countries are just the same. Purisima also cited the country’s declining debt-to GDP [gross domestic product] ratio and deficit-to-GDP ratio. “Our debt rations and deficit are declining and our financial sector is well managed, and so we deserve better ratings,” he said.

During the meeting with the credit rating firms, Purisima said the three did not give a hint if they would change the country’s credit ratings soon, but he express optimism that the Philippines would finally get an investment-grade credit rating before the end of Aquino’s term.

The finance chief said the country has been able to borrow from the international markets at interest rates comparable to those applied to financing initiatives by investment-grade rated countries. Still, he stressed that getting a credit rating upgrade would be important in getting more foreign investments for the Philippines. “Much more funds will come in to the Philippines if we get investment grade,” Purisima said. He noted that some big-ticket business ventures have been using credit ratings in their decision-making.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Globe to invest $500 M to improve mobile network

Roy — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 06:57:15 +0000

Mobile service provider Globe Telecom is investing $500 million to improve the quality and capacity of its mobile network infrastructure throughout the country. Company officials said the network quality will be top priority of Globe this year.

As part of the company’s network transformation program, Globe is making one of its biggest network investments in quality and capacity to date, where the significant amount will be used for capacity buildup, network modernization and optimization. These upgrades would provide subscribers better experiences in call, text and data services in 2G, 3G and 4G.

Globe earlier announced a major expansion of its current 4G footprint with the country’s first commercial rollout of 4G mobile technology. At its initial phase, Globe utilized the global standard HSPA+ Globe allots or Evolved High-Speed Packet Access for its 4G mobile network.

HSPA+ is a 4G wireless mobile, high speed broadband technology that allows for peak theoretical download of up to 21 Mbps with upgradeability for 84 Mbps which would complement the company’s existing 4G WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) network. Under the Globe HSPA+ network, subscribers are expected to enjoy browsing at a typical speed of 4-6 Mbps with even faster peak speeds.

Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu said, “Our customers are looking for better network quality, and this is what we are giving them. We are making a substantial investment in our network to improve the quality of our services to our subscribers. Certainly, the network on which our services are delivered play a pivotal role in achieving superior customer experience.”

By continuously enhancing their network facilities and operations, Cu explained, their subscribers will enjoy better quality and greater reliability for calls, text messaging and data services. “This year, we are making significant investments in upgrading and expanding our networks. One tangible result of which is the commercial rollout of 4G for mobile, making us the first Philippine operator with a 4G mobile network in the country,” he added.

The 4G HSPA+ rollout expands the foray of Globe into new and up-to-date network technologies to provide its subscribers with high-speed broadband access with the added convenience of full mobility.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

President wants oil firms to open books to public

Roy — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:23:46 +0000

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III yesterday said he wants oil companies to open their books to public scrutiny to prove that they were not taking advantage of the public in their series of oil price increases.

“That was my position ever since I have been in public service, isn’t it? If reasonable, why can’t they show it?” the President told reporters in an ambush interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Parañaque where he led an inspection of the facility.

The president also asked the Deparment of Energy (DOE) to find way of simplifying the computation of prices for the benefit of the public. “It will show, demonstrate if prices are right or wrong. And again, they repeatedly answer that all sectors are involved in the computation, face to face, nothing is hidden from them as to how pump prices are arrived at,” Aquino said.

He said the secretary would always tell him that every time that they have been demonstrating the formula on how to arrive at prices, they have been very transparent to include even the militant transport group.

DOE’s director for Oil Industry Management Bureau Zenaida Monsada said the recent price hikes were higher than what the energy department’s computation. The DOE sent letters to the oil firms asking them to explain why they have a higher price increase that what official computation should indicate.

Chevron, after receiving the letter from DOE, rolls back it prices of its oil products a day after increasing the same. Petron, for its part, promised to freeze its prices during the Holy Week. “We have no plans of increasing this week,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Unioil Petroleum Philippines Inc. is offering its gasoline products for P50 per liter for a minimum of P1,000 purchases. The company said the promo is in line with its commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Aside from the request to open their books, the government is also planning to issue an executive order that would ban further oil price increases.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Eastern Communications receives ISO 9001:2008 certification

Roy — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 21:33:34 +0000

The country’s telecommunications pioneer that provides landline, data, Internet and broadband services Eastern Communications, announced that it has received the International Organization for Standardization ISO 9001:2008 certification for its quality management system.

The ISO 9001:2008 is an international recognition of standards that defines quality. Receiving this certification is an indication that the organization conforms to a quality management system, which can consistently provide a product or service that meets customer and applicable regulatory requirements.

Eastern Communications is the first telecom company in the Philippines to receive the certification for its entire system of operations. Eastern directors for QA, regional sales and customer care Bernie Bernardino said that the certification means assurance that Eastern’s products and services conform only to the highest international standards in the industry.

“The achievement of the ISO 9001:2008 certification is indeed a major milestone for Eastern Communications, as it is the only major telecommunications company in the country today that has this recognition from the International Organization for Standardization in all its sales, network and support functions,” he said.

Bernardino said the certification was not received overnight. It took nearly a year to accomplish with Eastern’s certification partner, TÜV SÜD, an international service corporation focusing on consulting, testing, certification, and training, represented by its auditor, Lance Xavier Dy.

Dy said that there are around 700 companies from the public and private sectors and abroad comprising international and multinational business have received ISO 9001:2008 certification. “I hope Easter Communications continues to improve and engage in ISO 9001 as a culture rather than mere compliance to the international standard,” he added. “The certification should help the company strive for greater heights.”

Bernardino said, “The certification introduces the new world-class brand of Eastern Communication today as one of our competitive advantages. It demonstrates further our continued commitment to the highest level of quality management and design to ensure the delivery of quality telecommunications solutions and services.” He added that the certification also means Eastern is committed to innovating on the way it serves its customers and greater efficiency in all its vital operating areas.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

DOE cancelled 70 renewable energy contracts

Roy — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 06:10:34 +0000

About 70 renewable energy service contracts were cancelled by the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of its effort to weed-out “non-performing contracts” and offer them to more serious investors. Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug Jr. also said that licenses covering four prospective petroleum blocks were likewise cancelled.

The energy undersecretary said that the 70 companies to whom services contracts were awarded have failed to comply with the work program commitments as specified under their contracts. However, Layug noted that the companies were given a 60-day period to fix or submit the necessary documents and appeal to the DOE why their licenses should not be cancelled.

After the 60-day period, if no actions were taken or the companies were not able to justify themselves, the contracts will be offered to “more serious” investors who can deliver the necessary investments.

Layug explained, “Of the 227 renewable energy service contracts, we have 70 service contracts in renewable energy that we have sent show-cause letters to for non-performance. Every contractor has a period of work commitment. If you don’t comply, we cancel it.”

He added that, “The others were even silent despite our show-cause letters but there were those that eventually and immediately volunteered, about 10 of them, and we appreciate it.” He further noted that most those that were cancelled concerned hydropower projects.

Since Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras took the top seat of the energy department last year, the DOE has started a stringent review of all the contracts that have been awarded by the agency to ensure that there were no irregularities involved in their granting.

The 227 renewable energy service contracts were earlier estimated to generate at least 4,500 megawatts (MW) in additional capacity for the country’s three main grids. Initial investments for the service contracts were seen to reach around P90 billion.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

SMC prepares for its foray in the telco industry

Roy — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 01:35:54 +0000

The corporate food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is seriously mulling entry into the highly competitive field of telecommunication. The company plans to create a holding company for all its telecommunications interest as the conglomerate prepares for its grand entry in this field, according to a top official of the company. SMC president and COO Ramon S. Ang confirms “That is the intention, to create a holding company for our telco business.”

The company have already invested P9 billion so far in the local telecommunications business and plans to put in even more in order to build what it describes as a “next generation” network that will provide the best service and cheapest rate in the country. Ang emphasized that their business model for telecommunications guarantees one that will be better than what the other companies are giving.

SMC, at present, owns 41.5 percent of Liberty Telecom, 100 percent of Bell Telecom and 40 percent of Easter Telecom. Ang assured that they will not be wasting money, time and effort to establish a complete network that will just copy what is being offered in the market right now. “It will be a next generation, long-term evolution, mobile broadband, which is still being planned by others in the industry,” he said.

What is important right now, Ang noted, is to have a level-playing field in the telco industry. “But what I can assure you is that our service will be the best, no dropped calls, and very affordable rates. We will not waste resources if we will not do it right,” he said.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

IT company might shut down its services to LTO

Roy — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:11:55 +0000

Stradcom Corp., the exclusive IT service provider for the Land Transportation Office (LTO) warns of a possible shutdown of the database and computer system it operates for the agency if the LTO continues to refuse remitting payments to the private firm. Stradcom provide and maintains LTO’s information technology facilities, including its database and licensing functions.

The IT company has demanded P1.171 billion from LTO for unpaid services rendered since September last year. Company spokesperson Margaux M. Salcedo said, “Since September, payment has been withheld. As of today, it has amounted to P1.171 billion in payables.” Salcedo said the amount represents services that have been delivered.

Stradcom says if the LOT continues the withholding of payments, it could be used as a “force majeure” or a situation beyond its control that Stradcom could invoke to shut down its operations. When that happens, Salcedo said, “LTO employees will be unable to process manually the combined average of 300,000 daily transactions that computerization allows.”

“The process of registering vehicles and drivers licenses will once again take weeks to months instead of being achieved in one hour, as has been made possible by computerization. Criminals will be emboldened. Expect the proliferation of ‘fixers’ as well as ‘carnappers,’” she added.

Earlier, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) said payments to Stradcom have been withheld due to an ongoing intra-corporate dispute between the company’s current chairman Cezar Quiambao and a group led by Bonifacio Sumbilla and Alderito Yujuico. The LTO has filed an interpleader case with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 95 to determine the authorized group in Stradcom.

Meanwhile, Salcedo presented three memoranda from the DOTC that directed LTO to pay Stradcom. The first one dated February 22 and was signed by Secretary Jose P. de Jesus ordering LTO to pay Stradcom P751.79 million.

The memorandum read, “To ensure that LTO will not be in default of its contractual obligations under the Build-Own-Operate Agreement dated March 26, 1998, as amended, payment of all amounts due Stradcom should be effected immediately in accordance with the proper procedure agreed upon by the Department, LTO and Stradcom under said agreement.”
The succeeding memoranda, dated March 10 and March 16, were a reiteration of the February 22 issuance.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Globe continues providing low-cost rates for families of OFWs

Roy — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:00:06 +0000

In its effort to alleviate the plight of Filipino families who have love ones working abroad, Globe Telecom announced that it will continue to provide more affordable rates for international services.

Head of Overseas Filipino Communities and Alliances, Consumer Marketing of Globe Telecom Richie Sison said “In these times of uncertainties in other parts of the world, we recognize the need to stay in constant touch with friends and relatives who are overseas, with more options available, making IDD calls from the Philippines to the world has become even more affordable.” He added, “The mobile phone is still the most immediate way of contacting loved-ones abroad and we are making our international services available to ease the worries of our kababayan both here and abroad.”

The Globe IDD Sakto Calls promo will be maintained until April 30 to allow families of OFWs more flexible talk time with their loved-ones abroad. The IDD Sakto Calls give callers one of the lowest IDD rates in the country. For just 15 centavos (P0.15) per second, families here can call their loved-ones in United States, Hawaii, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, Kuwait, Equatorial Guinea, United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia. These are mostly places with great numbers of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). In other countries, the rate is 30 centavos (P0.30) per IDD second. These rates are about half the price of regular IDD calls.

Globe IDD Sakto Calls requires no registration. Subscribers only need to dial 12800 + country code + area code + phone number to call an international landline. For international mobile phone numbers, just dial 12800 + cellphone number. Without the 12800 prefix though, they will be charged with the regular IDD rate of US$0.40 per minute. This service is best for quick hi’s and hello’s and in giving updates and other short messages because of its exact, pay-per-use per second charging.

Other low-cost Globe products are tipIDD card for those who want the best per-minute rates, available in denominations of P25, P100, and P200. It offers rates as low as P2.5 per minute to US, Canada and Hong Kong.

For those who want to keep in-touch via text messaging, there’s ITXT50 which gives subscribers 100 international texts good for 10 days to 190 destinations worldwide for just P50. To register for the service, just text ITXT50 to 8888.

Globe Telecom is relentless in growing partnerships to provide the world-widest coverage and the most affordable offers to its subscribers. Globe currently has more than 25 international call and text products and offers in 17 countries that give lower rates for calls to the Philippines, and over 600 roaming partners from all over the world.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

SkyCable earmarked P1.5B for its 2011 capex

Roy — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:04:57 +0000

SkyCable allotted P1.5 billion funds for its capital expenditure for 2011 for its Cable Television (CATV) business. Half of the said amount will be used for the roll-out of its digital TV service nationwide and the other half for boosting its broadband subscriber growth, according to company marketing head Rodrigo Montinola.

A subsidiary of network giant ABS-CBN Corp., SkyCable has approximately half a million subscribers as of last year, most of which are from Metro Manila. Almost 85 percent of cable users in Metro Manila are already using digibox, which is essential in viewing digital television programs. The CATV firms hopes to increase that number to 95 percent by the end of the year.

SkyCable is also intensifying its marketing effort to increase the number of its broadband subscribers. “We had flat growth from 2006 to 2009. We started growing again only last year, where we had 35,000 subscribers,” Montinola said. “Our target is to grow our broadband subscribers significantly by about 70,000 by the end of this year,” he added.

Montinola also announced the availability of the DigiBox iRecord, a personal video recorder (PVR) set, a top box capable of simultaneously recording two TV programs while the subscriber watches a third. The box has a 320-GB drive that can store up to 145 hours of standard definition video or 85 hours of high-definition (HD) video. This is equivalent to over 70 movie titles, over 100 episodes of one-hour TV shows, or over 80 documentaries of National Geographic HD. The device also allows for slow-motion and frame-by-frame playback of recorded shows.

The company is optimistic that the new service would lure in at least 3,000 users in the first year of rollout. They are eyeing medium to heavy TV users, as well as busy working people who can’t always catch up on the schedules of free or cable TV. Existing subscribers in Metro Manila can get the DigiBox iRecord for a refundable deposit of P4,999 plus P399 service fee of using the Digibox iRecord on top of their monthly CATV fee.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Joint Foreign Chamber lauds open skies policy

Roy — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:16:04 +0000

A group of foreign businessmen is expressed their support for the implement of an open-skies regime by the Aquino administration via Executive Order (EO) 29. The Joint Foreign Chambers says this would better allow market forces to come into play and ultimately boost tourist arrivals in the country. The group said that the policy was in line with Aquino’s promise that “the Philippines is open for business under new management.”

EO 29 eases restrictions on foreign airlines in international airports outside Metro Manila. It gives the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) authority to grant additional frequencies or capacities to foreign carriers, but still prohibits cabotage, which refers to a foreign airline’s transport of people or good between two or more points within the country.

Local carriers, however, are opposing the implementation of the said executive order. The Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air said it would give foreign carriers undue advantage, while the foreign chambers said its benefits to the Philippines were far-reaching.

The foreign chambers said that with the increasing tourist arrivals, the result would be more and jobs and revenues for people who are directly and indirectly involved in the tourism service industry. The group also noted that for every foreign tourist who comes to the Philippines, an average of $1,000 is spent and one direct or indirect job is created, of which majority are in rural areas and less developed provinces.

“We wish to extend full support for President Aquino’s visionary leadership on civil aviation embodied in EO 29. The policy allows market forces to determine supply and demand for seats to secondary gateways throughout the country. With this new policy, the administration has taken a giant step toward its goal of doubling annual tourist arrivals to more than six million by 2016,” the Joint Foreign Chambers said.

The foreign chamber is also seeking the removal of the common carriers’ tax and the gross Philippine billings tax to unleash the creativity and dynamism of the private sector. “Continuation of these taxes risks losing some of the present international air services into the country, as well as deterring new ones, and departs from standard international practices,” the group said.

It added, “With these proactive reforms of the Aquino administration, we can look forward to continued rapid expansion of the aviation market in the Philippines, more competitive pricing and better service, and new routes to drive tourism, investment and employment.”

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Aquino signs executive order allowing “open skies” policy

Roy — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 22:55:57 +0000

Executive Order 29 (EO 29) or the “open skies” policy was signed by President Benigno Aquino III on March 14, authorizing the Philippine air panels to offer third, fourth and fifth freedom rights to the country’s airport other than the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) without restrictions as to frequency, capacity, type of aircraft and other arrangements that will serve the national interest as may be determined by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

EO 29 authorizes the CAB to impose a period or other conditions on the availment or use by foreign carriers of such additional frequencies. It also prevents CAB from granting foreign air carriers cabotage rights or the right to transport passengers and goods from two points in the Philippines.

Another executive order, EO 28, which was also signed on the same day, reorganizes the Philippine air negotiating panel and the Philippine air consultation panel.

The Philippine air negotiating panel would be responsible for the initial negotiations that should lead to the conclusion of air service agreements. It will be chaired by the secretary of trade or a duly authorized representative and its members would come from the Department of Transportation and Communication and Tourism, and the executive director of CAB.

While the Philippine air consultation panel will be tasked with undertaking the succeeding negotiations of the air service agreements or similar agreements. It will be chaired by the secretary of transportation and the CAB executive director will be its vice chair. Completing the members of the panels are representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment and Tourism.

Third freedom rights refer to the freedom of an airline to carry traffic from a home country to another country for the purpose of commercial services, while fourth freedom right is the privilege to pick up traffic from another country to a home country for commercial services. Fifth freedom right is given to a carrier to carry traffic between two foreign countries on a flight that either originated in or is destined for the carrier’s home country.

Communication secretary Ramon Carandan said, “With this we look forward to an increase in traffic coming in to the Philippines that we hope will bring in more tourists, more investments and spur competition in the Philippine aviation industry and allow it to be more competitive internationally.”

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific has urged the Philippine government to that ensure that whatever rights granted to foreign airlines under the new “open skies” policy should also be given to local carriers when flying abroad.

“EO 29 would afford foreign airlines benefits so critical that if they are not reciprocated by foreign governments, the growth and even the survival of Philippine carriers are at risk,” Cebu Pacific said.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Socializing in Illinois

Roy — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:03:48 +0000

An entrepreneur friend got an invitation for a business conference from his partner in Northbrook, Illinois. He was hesitant at first because he do not know much about the place, but his partner assured him that he will be providing him Limo Service in Northbrook IL so he does not have to worry a thing once he is around town.

My friend never doubted of his partner’s capability. He knew him to be a big time, and yet a down-to-earth entrepreneur in Illinois, but he was really surprise that he took him as a partner in his business. More than just a partner, he even served as my friend’s mentor.

But to be providing him a Northbrook Limo as a service is just too much for my friend. But being his partner-mentor, my friend could not just say no to him and flew to Illinois. And rightly so, he was picked up at the airport by the promised limousine which took him to his partner’s place.

There he found out that there wasn’t really any business conference, his partner just want to invite to his place and show him around town. One of his partner’s business there is providing limousine service, which explained why he can afford to provide such to my friend. The business name? It’s Limousine Service Northbrook. And my friend indeed had a great time in his stay in Illinois.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Short of funds this holiday?

Roy — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:12:35 +0000

The holiday season almost, always brings out the shopaholics in us, and that’s just because we love to buy gifts for our love ones. Unfortunately, this thoughtfulness often depletes our finances. Good thing there are payday loans available for us to stretch our budget so we can buy the presents we think our love ones deserve to receive.

Because while we should be practical and prudent, even in a occasion like this, we still could not let the holiday pass without showing the people we love how we feel for them. It is also a good way to express our gratitude to them for being there in the year that just passed.

So if you still need to buy more gifts and yet you are already short on cash, try to look around for payday loans, and try to scout for more than one. That way, you can compare their rates, their conditions – penalties, service charges and the like. You do not want to find yourself in a fix sooner or later, right?

If you do decide to avail of those payday loans, make it your last resort. And be sure to plan your finances so you can immediately pay if off. Remember, it’s money with a cost. If you can find alternate gifts which are cheaper and yet express the same thought, that would be better. Happy holidays!

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Some marketing tips for your small business

arbe — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 22:26:48 +0000

If you are a small business here are some marketing tips for you to find customers and generate sales higher.

One of this tips is don’t spend much in advertising you are not a big business so you can’t always afford to pay for that. You can always offer your advertising a little catchy and easy for prospective customers to respond to it.

You need also to offer a cheaper version because some of the customers want a lower price and never cared for the quality in that case you can avoid losing sales and can offer to the customer your smaller or lower version of your service or product.

If you offer a cheaper version you also had to offer a premium version because if there are customers that are wanting a lower and smaller price product there are also a customers that are ready to pay a higher price just to get a premium product or service.

Try something that other small businesses can’t do so that you may said to your self that “at least I try” and also try to trim your ads so that you can run more ads at the same cost.

You can also join with the other small businesses and have a joint promotions so that their customers can try your product and your customers can try their product.

These are some tips that can help you if you are managing a small business.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

All-in-one load bundle from Smart

Roy — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:49:10 +0000

With online social network getting more popular these days, leading mobile communication giant Smart Communications offered a new product that will allow prepaid subscribers to update their social network accounts like Friendster, Twitter and Facebook, in its new all-in-one load bundle.

The new service from, which is called Smart Buddy’s AllTxt Combo Plus, is a perfect bundle for people who loves to update and stay connected with their friends and relatives through these popular online network community, can do so for only as low as P25 per day, including the calling and sending of SMS and MMS.

Danilo Mojica, Smart wireless consumer division head, has this to say, “Mobile subscribers these days no longer just call or text to keep in touch with their friends and family or to share news – they also update their status, write on ‘walls’ and ‘tweet’ too. Most would wish that they could do this on-the-go, on their cellphone, just like texting without having to get on the Internet. Ideally, it could also work on any phone, even the older handsets, and that it wouldn’t cost too much on top of the staple call and text package. The Smart Buddy AllTxt Combo Plus makes all this possible.”

He added that the addition of ‘e-Txts’ or the service that allows subscribers to send updates to social networks via SMS, to the traditional call and text ‘bucket’ services “is a first of its kind in the world and creates for Smart the opportunity to make our subscribers’ Smart Buddy SIMs more relevant to them by offering more connectivity options.”

The new AllTxt Combo Plus gives their prepaid subscribers a cost-effective method of updating their social network accounts since it does not require connecting to the Internet, and it even works even on older, 2G handsets. It comes in six variants, each one tailored to a specific budget and a preferred social network.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Buying aged corporations

Roy — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:05:44 +0000

To be honest, it is the first time for me to hear that you can buy Aged Corporations which is an alternative from starting a corporation from scratch. But I have to admit that it does make sense. You know, getting a name that has been established and is already trusted, instead of building a name for one starting from ground zero up.

This is what I learned when I stumbled upon upon WhosaleShelfCorporations.com, a website which according to its tagline, sells “Top Quality Shelf Corporations at wholesale prices!” And it even offers freebies worth $3,964 of products/assistance to their buyers. The website is relatively new, in fact, visiting the site I have noticed that the site actually still “under construction” and as such, they are on their pre-launching promotion. You might want to take advantage of that.

But I am not sure if such service is available of applicable for entrepreneurs who are in the Philippines. I have not heard of an enterprise buying a Shelf Corporation here. However, in other countries, where WholesaleShelfCorporations.com’s ‘inventory’ of shelf corporations are, the service could be a great assistance for start-up companies. So, why not visit them to see is such service is applicable for you.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Digitel pegged 2010 capex at $350 million

Roy — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:24:32 +0000

Gokongwei-led Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc. (Digitel) plans to increase its budget for capital expenditure (Capex) for 2010 from $250 million to $350 million this year. This is in line with the company’s effort to aggressively expand its network to match rivals Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Globe Telecoms Inc.

James Go, Digitel president and chief executive officer said that they have initially planned a capex of $250 million this year, it could change depending on the growth issue. He said they actually spent $350 million last year, mainly to broaden and strengthen the network coverage of Sun Cellular, the company’s mobile service brand.

This year, Digitel plans to build 1,400 to 1,600 new cellular sites to increase them to almost 7,000 cell sites from the more than 5,000 cell sites installed last year. The company was said to have 6,000 cell sites spread nationwide as of May 2010.

Gokongwei said, “Every month, we are adding 100 cell sites. By the end of next year, the number of our cell sites will almost match that of the two other operators. We will have 8,500 to 9,000 cell sites by then. Going forward, our capex may not be as aggressive. Next year, our capex may not have to be as much as this year. At the start of 2012, the amount is likely to go down.”

To fund its $350-million capex budget this year, Digitel plans to tap internally generated funds and European lenders. “We have enough cash flow. Our earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortization is over $100 million as of 2009. This year, it’s going to be $130 million to $150 million. The rest will be sourced from export credit agencies.”

Digitel is a unit of conglomerate JG Summit Holding. It has more than 14 million cellular subscribers as of May 2010. For its broadband service, Digitel has 300,000 to 400,000 subscribers. The company will be going to spend half of the $350-million capex budget for its broadband businesses.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Energizer plans to put up its own BPO facility

Roy — Thu, 27 May 2010 05:41:47 +0000

One of the leading manufacturer of batteries in the Philippines is considering of putting up its own business process outsourcing facility in the Philippines. The Energizer Philippines Inc., maker of the Eveready and Energizer batteries, plans to put up a call center facilities because according to company president and managing direct Esteban Vorbeck, support for Energizer’s United States customer were currently being performed out of Manila through third-party service providers.

Vorbeck said, “We’re looking at the Philippine BPO sector. We’re thinking of possibly setting up our own facility. We have a number of roles here that are performed for the region. We’re looking at the Philippines as a support or back-office organization. We hope to align the growth of our business with something that’s already been proven.”

If plans push through, the call center facility could either be located in Metro Manila, because of the company’s local headquarters there, or in Cebu where it’s manufacturing facility is located. “The Philippines is a great learning center. You have ease of facility because of the language. It’s easy to communicate here,” Vorbeck said.

Next to its plan of putting up a BPO facility in the country, the company is also conducting research and development on new battery-powered devices that they could introduce in the market to push the sale of batteries in the country. Vorbeck admits that their industry has experienced decline in sales for the past years.

This was attributed to the higher levels of electrification, the onslaught of multi-function or converged devices, improved battery performance, and the introduction of energy-efficient gadgets. But Vorbeck said that they were the things that they need to adjust to. That is why they are taking a more proactive approach to it by introducing battery-powered devices. He did not disclose though as to what type of devices they would be introducing.

Possibly Related Topics to Read

Higher US visa application fees starting June 4

Roy — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:26:15 +0000

An additional $9 will be imposed on non-immigrant visa application fees by the United States Embassy starting on June 4. The US Embassy cited the “increasing cost of providing highest-quality service” as the cause for the said increase.

This means visa application fees starting next month would be $140, from a previous $130, for tourist and business visas (B1 and B2 categories), seafarer and crew (C1 and D), student (F), and exchange visitor. Fees for work visas (categories H, L, O, P, Q, and R) would be $150.

The trader or investor visas (E) would be $390. For spouse, fiancé, and fiancée (K), it would be $350. for other non-immigrant categories, the fee would be $140. the machine-readable visa (MRV) fees of the US would increase worldwide, and not just in the Philippines.

Visa applicants who were able to get an appointment dates before June 4 would still pay the current rate of $131, while those with scheduled appointments on June 4 and the succeeding dates must pay the new rates.

“The Embassy requests that visa applicants who have already paid the MRV fee of $131 for an appointment scheduled after June 4 pay for the difference in fees at the same bank branch where they made the initial $131 payment,” the Embassy said. “You will need to present both blue MRV fee receipts when you arrive at the Embassy… You will not be allowed to enter the Embassy for your interview unless the full MRV fee has been paid,” it added.

The embassy also advised that that conversion of visa applications to online form has nothing to do with the worldwide increase in visa application fees. Applicants for US non-immigration visas started applying online since last May 24, as part of the embassy’s thrust to promote green technologies.