Some Good News...

[oldblue]

[QUOTE=greenlyt]

1st: "When a door closes, another one opens"

let me add something: "when a door closes we looked at the closed door for so long that we didnt noticed another door opens.

hehehe very true. just look at Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Subic
& those other lahar affected areas. Sa News noon hanggang ngayon,
dead land daw ang mga areas na baon ng lahar. no opportunities etc ...

pero, what did it bring? Yun lahar ang binibili nating buhangin ngayon
to construct our roads, our houses, our flyovers & MRT concrete pavements. And mas matigas at mas malamig pa daw ito pag ginamit
pambahay. No wonder, ambilis ginawa yun NLEX.

Kung noon nag-suffer sila ng husto sa Pinatubo tragedy, may kapalit
naman pala, ito yun quarrying operations. just look at those provinces now, very progressive.

[Blackraven]

Just found this thread a while ago, hehe.

Hmm..... this one might interest some of you guys:

Chemrez Inc. plans to build Asia's first Coco-biodiesel plant in the Philippines.

Coco farmers to gain from biodiesel plant

by Wenna A. Berondo
June 13, 2005

Some 500,000 coconut farmers and farm workers in Central Visayas, mostly from Bohol and Cebu, are seen to benefit from the proposed P2.2-billion biodiesel plant to be built in the country soon.
Department of Energy regional director Antonio Labios said that a Filipino-owned company will build the first biodiesel manufacturing plant in Asia that would make the country’s coconut industry a lucrative business.

Filipino-owned company Chemrez Inc. will invest for the project, which is in line with the DOE’s thrust to ensure enough energy and fuel for the country.

Labios said biodiesel is now a growing industry worldwide adding that while other countries use soya beans, sunflower seeds or palm oil to manufacture biodiesel depending on the abundance of their local resources.

DOE said about five million coconut farmers nationwide and their families will surely benefit from the project.

With the bill filed by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago mandating the use of biodiesel by transport sector to help solve energy crisis in the country, Labios said Chemrez’s plan to put up the biodiesel plant is very timely.

http://www.thefreeman.com/local/stor...613-31577.html

Yes, this is good news indeed.

According to Chemrez Inc., this will be a two-phase project with Phase 1 to be constructed inside Eastwood City, Libis and completion of this phase will be in March 2006. As for the second phase, which will be completed in 2008-2009, they haven't found a probable location yet but Chemrez Inc. is studying prospects to build its second phase near a port so they can easily produce their products for IMMEDIATE export on a larger and wider scale.

Think about it, first Coco-Biodiesel plant in the country and the first ever in the whole of Asia.

[mrpink]

Shares close 1.56 percent higher despite political turmoil



hopefully this means business as usual regardless of what happens politically

[ILuvDetailing]

pero, what did it bring? Yun lahar ang binibili nating buhangin ngayon
to construct our roads, our houses, our flyovers & MRT concrete pavements. And mas matigas at mas malamig pa daw ito pag ginamit
pambahay. No wonder, ambilis ginawa yun NLEX.

A cement factory in our own backyard. Hopefully this will decrease our dependency on imported cement.

[BuDiK]

> THE BETTER SIDE OF THE PHILIPPINES
>
> Subject: Go Philippines!!!
>
> The following was written by INTEL General
> Manager Robin Martin about the Philippines:
>
> Filipinos (including the press, business people
> and myself) tend to dwell too much on the negative
> side, and this affects the perception of foreigners,
>
> even the ones who have lived here for a while. The
> negative perception of the Philippines is way
> disproportionate to reality when compared to
> countries
> like Columbia, Egypt, Middle East, Africa, etc.
>
> Let us all help our country by balancing the
> negative
> with the positive especially when we talk to
> foreigners,
> whether based here or abroad.
>
> Looking back and comparing the Philippines today and
>
> 1995 (the year I came back), I was struck by how
> much
> our country has progressed physically.
>
> Consider the following:
>
> 1. The great telecom infrastructure that we have now
>
> did not exist in 1995. 1995 was the year the
> telecom industry was deregulated. Since then
> billions of dollars have been invested in both
> fixed
> line and cellular networks producing a system
> with
> over 5,000 kms of fiber optic backbone at a world
> competitive cost. From a fixed line capacity of
> about 900,000 in 1995 we now have over 7 million.
> Cellular phones practically did not exist in
> 1995;
> now we have over 11 million line capacity.
>
> 2. The MRT, many of the EDSA flyovers (including the
> Ayala Avenue flyover), the SKYWAY, Rockwell and
> Glorietta 4, the Fort, NAIA terminal 2 and most
> of
> the new skyscrapers were not yet built in 1995.
>
> 3. If you drive to the provinces, you will notice
> that
> national roads are now of good quality
> (international
> quality asphalt roads). I just went to Iba,
> Zambales
> last week and I was impressed that even a not so
> frequently travelled road was of very good
> quality.
>
> 4. Philippine exports have increased by 600% over
> the
> past eight years. There are many, many more
> examples
> of progress over the last eight years.
> Philippine
> mangoes are now exported to the US and Europe.
>
> Additional tidbits to make our people prouder:
>
> 1. INTEL has been in the Philippines for 28 years.
> The Philippines plant is where Intel's most
> advanced
> products are launched, including the Pentium IV.
> By the end of 2002, Philippine operations are
> expected to be Intel's biggest assembly and
> testing
> operations worldwide.
>
> 2. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS has been operating in Baguio
> for
> over 20 years. The Baguio plant is the largest
> producer of DSP chips in the world. DSP chips
> are
> the brains behind cellphones. TI's Baguio plant
> produces the chip that powers 100% of all NOKIA
> cellphones and 80% of Erickson cellphones in the
> world.
>
> 3. TOSHIBA laptops are produced in Santa Rosa,
> Laguna.
>
> 4. If you drive a BENZ, BMW, or a VOLVO, there is a
> good chance that the ABS system in your car was
> made
> in the Philippines.
>
> 5. TREND-MICRO, makers of one of the top anti virus
> software PC-Cillin (I may have mispelled this)
> develops its "cures" for viruses right here in
> Eastwood Libis, Quezon City. When a virus
> breaks
> in any computer system in the world, they try to
>
> find a solution within 45 minutes of finding the
> virus.
>
> 6. By the end of this year, it is expected that a
> majority of the top ten U.S. Call Center firms
> in
> the U.S. will have set up operations in the
> Philippines. This is one area in which I
> believe
> we are the best in the world in terms of value
> for
> money.
>
> 7. America Online (AOL) has 1,000 people in Clark
> answering 90% of AOL's global e-mail inquiries.
>
> 8. PROCTOR & GAMBLE has over 400 people right here
> in Makati (average age 23 years) doing back-up
> office work to their Asian operations including
> finance, accounting, Human Resources and
> payments
> processing.
>
> 9. Among many other things it does for its regional
> operations network in the Asia-Pacific region
> here
> in Manila, CITIBANK also does its global ATM
> programming locally.
>
> 10. This is the first year ever that the Philippines
> will be exporting cars in quantity courtesy of
> FORD Philippines.
>
> 11. The government is shedding off graft and
> corruption
> slowly but surely. This is the first time in
> our
> history that a former president is in jail and
> facing charges of plunder. Despite all odds, we
> are
> still pursuing the ill-gotten wealth of Marcos
> now
> enjoyed by his unrepentant heirs.
>
> Next time you travel abroad and meet business
> associates
> tell them the good news. A big part of our problem
> is
> perception and one of the biggest battles can be won
>
> simply by believing and by making others believe.
>
> This message is shared by good citizens of the
> Philippines who persevere to hope and work for our
> country.

[Blackraven]

Wow, good find.

Maybe there is indeed hope for our country and it doesn't stop there.

Siya nga pala, I would like to announce again.

Next year will be the inaguration of Phase-1 of the Chemerez Inc's Coco-Biodiesel plant, which is a first. Grand launching of the Phase-1 facility will be at Eastwood City, Libis sometime in March 2006.

Something too look forward too.

[mazdamazda]

Reviving this thread.

SBMA gets P68.4-B FDI pledges in Jan-Sept 2006
By Bebot Sison Jr.
The Philippine Star 01/08/2007

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) remains as the country’s top investment promotion agency with P68.4-billion worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) pledges in the first nine months of 2006.

According to a report submitted to President Arroyo by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the nine-month figure accounted for 44.9 percent of the total P152-billion FDI pledges.

"The Chairman (Feliciano G. Salonga) and I concluded our first year in the SBMA’s top posts with a bountiful year, and we are very elated that we were able to establish a good headstart not only for the Subic Bay Freeport, but for the entire country as well," SBMA administrator/chief executive officer Armand C. Arreza said.

Arreza assured that the SBMA management would carry on with the good start and continue its intensive drive of attracting foreign and local investors to set up shops in the Subic Freeport, which would also help the national government reduce unemployment in the country as the SBMA embarks on generating as much as 100,000 job opportunities for the next five or 10 years.

The NSCB report also indicated that the Board of Investments (BOI) posted at total of P36.8-billion FDI pledges during the same nine-month period; Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) with P39 billion; and Clark Development Corp. with P7.8 billion.

Meanwhile, the SBMA came in second in terms of combined pledges from foreign and local investors. From January to September, the SBMA accumulated a total investment pledges of P69.9 billion, a dramatic increase from 2005’s P1.032 million.

SBMA Chairman Feliciano G. Salonga said that in the same period, the Board of Directors approved 89 projects, 21 of which were approved during the third quarter alone.

"These new projects will open about 13,334 job opportunities to residents throughout the region," Salonga said.

Both SBMA executives expressed optimism that with the completion of the government’s two flagship projects, namely, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway project and Subic Port Modernization project, together with the implementation of the Subic-Clark-Kaohsiung Economic Corridor, more businesses will pour in the Subic Freeport, more employment will be generated for the residents.

[Zeus]

After 5 months: Anti-terror troops to be granted leave



By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 12:03pm (Mla time) 01/09/2007


JOLO, Sulu -- After five months of operations against Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) extremists, troops deployed here will finally be allowed to go on leave, in time for an early Valentine’s Day date with their families.
Upon learning that soldiers here did not get the chance to visit their families for Christmas and New Year's Day, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked Armed Forces chief of staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to authorize leaves for the troops.
"So, General [Eugenio] Cedo is now authorized by the President to authorize rotation passes so [the troops] can now enjoy Valentine’s…All the boys, they can look forward to a Valentines pass," Esperon told reporters.
Cedo is the commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), which has jurisdiction over the Sulu area.
"This is the reward for our men who neutralized this very notorious Abu Sayyaf," Esperon said, referring to the neutralization of five Abu Sayyaf members and an Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militant by Navy and Marine troops off Tawi-Tawi province over the weekend.
Arroyo was at Camp Teodulfo Bautista here last Monday, where she congratulated troops for their "stunning victory" in Tawi-Tawi as she declared that the Islamic extremists in the south are "doomed to annihilation."
But Esperon said that, pursuant to military regulations, only five percent of the entire strength of a military unit are allowed to go on leave at any time.
Since August 1, some 7,500 troops, including elite Scout Rangers and Special Forces, have been scouring the jungles of Sulu for Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and JI bomb experts Dulmatin and Umar Patek, the latter two allegedly responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people.
The Philippine Navy has also set up a sea blockade to prevent the terror suspects from escaping. The six militants killed in Tawi-Tawi had come from Jolo and were reportedly preparing for their leaders' escape to the nearby province.
Last December 27, troops recovered remains alleged to be Janjalani’s in Patikul town, where a fierce firefight between the bandits and Marines took place last September 4.
Tissue samples from the corpse have been submitted for DNA analysis to confirm if the remains belong to the Abu Sayyaf chieftain.

[Zeus]

Shell, Eastern Petroleum cut pump prices

[SIZE=2]Pilipinas Shell and Eastern Petroleum on Friday announced a P0.50 per liter cut in the prices of their petroleum products.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Eastern Petroleum implemented the pump price cut at noon (Jan.12,2007) Friday while Shell's price cut takes effect at 2 p.m.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Shell spokesman Bobby Kanapi said the company will cut P0.50 [/SIZE][SIZE=2]per liter [/SIZE][SIZE=2]off the prices of their gasoline, diesel and kerosene products. He said decreasing world crude prices led to the price adjustment. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]Crude oil prices were firmer but still below $53 a barrel in Asian trade Friday, levels not seen since June 2005 as the market continued to focus on warm winter weather.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]source ABS CBN NEWS.com[/SIZE]

[Zeus]

UPDATE) Philippine oil firms reduce pump prices by P0.50/liter

[SIZE=2]
BY ALVIN ELCHICO
Philippine oil firms on Thursday(Jan.18, 2007) cut the pump prices of their gasoline and diesel products by P0.50 per liter, the second reduction this year amid easing global crude prices.
These oil companies were Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell , Chevron, Seaoil, Total and Flying V.
Caltex and Seaoil's price cut took effect at 2 p.m. Petron, Shell and Flying V will lower their prices beginning 6 p.m. Total will start its price rollback at 8 p.m.
The oil companies cited lower international crude prices and stronger peso for the price adjustment.

source: ABS CBNNEWS.COM
[/SIZE]

[maverickjazzy]

Filipino-made Java training program spreads worldwide
Source: INQUIRER.net

NO, it is not about training people to become Star Wars characters but to become Java programming experts.
The Filipino-developed Java Education Development Initiative (JEDI), a collaborative project of Sun Microsystems Philippines, Sun USA and the University of the Philippines, is now being used extensively in Brazil as part of a nationwide Java training program.
JEDI modules are also being translated into French and several other countries such as Indonesia, India and Vietnam are also looking to adopt JEDI curriculums for their own Java training.
JEDI Project Leader John Paul Petines said in an interview that they were quite surprised when the program was received well by a group of Brazilian Java development group called DFJUG (www.dfjug.org).
He said that currently, several modules are being used in several training facilities where DFJUG members volunteer to train.
It was officially introduced in Brazil in October 2006. Petines said that DFJUG has about 9,600 members.
He said that Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy himself introduced the JEDI program during the JavaOne conference in the US in June 2005, which was when JEDI became known among international organizations of Java developers.
"There's still a strong demand for Java programmers locally and abroad and all we need to do is to produce enough to fill the demand. Before, the Philippines was just among the ‘others’ that produced Java developers, now we're in the top ten countries," Petines said.
The JEDI project started in the Philippines in 2005 as a means to produce Java experts in the Philippines while filling in the programming requirements among local companies.
The JEDI curriculum is composed of three phases, each having three modules for a total of nine modules. The modules were developed based on the requirements of the industry and the standards set by Sun Microsystems USA.
Petines said that so far, there are at least 160 partner schools of JEDI, at least 28,000 students and 1,400 teachers.

[maverickjazzy]

S&P sees better growth RP to top Asia-Pacific average

Global debt watcher Standard & Poor’s (S&P) expects Philippine economic growth to pick up this year and stay ahead of a forecast average for the Asia-Pacific region.

In a report titled "The Best and the Rest: The Asia-Pacific Sovereign League," S&P said it expects the Philippines to grow by 5.8% in 2007, higher than the regional outlook of 5.3%.

The growth forecast put the country at 10th place in the list, two notches better from last year.

The ratings firm said China will lead Asia-Pacific countries in terms of economic growth this year, followed closely by Kazakhstan and India.

Japan remains the largest economy in the region, but could be overtaken within a decade by China, S&P credit analyst Yee Farn Phua pointed out.

While the region could be hurt by a global slowdown led by the US, S&P said it believes Asia-Pacific economies will remain steady.

"It is expected that growth dynamics in Asia Pacific will remain robust, with a regional unweighted average growth rate of 5.3% compared to 5.6% in 2006," S&P said.

This is short of a 2000 record of 6.1%, although that year "was an exceptional year in which many Asian economies recovered from the lows of the Asian financial crisis."

The region’s average domestic credit, a key factor of growth, is expected to rise, with Japan on the lead, to 88.5% this year from 86.7% in 2006. The Philippines in this area was ranked 18th, with domestic credit likely to slow down to 32.2% from last year’s 33.4%.

On the fiscal front, Singapore, with its fiscal prudence, topped the rankings with a fiscal surplus of 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) expected in 2007. The Philippines was in 11th place, with a fiscal deficit of 1.2% of GDP, better than 2006’s 14th-ranked 2.0% of GDP.

The country, however, topped the rankings in terms of public debt burden, as measured by interest expenditure as a share of government revenues (29.7% this year from the 35.4% last year when the Philippines was also on top of the list).

S&P said interest expenses will account for almost a third of Philippine government revenue for the year, but said the debt burden will dwindle "with fiscal improvements and the availability of refinancing at lower interest rates."

The Philippines is tailed by Sri Lanka and India in terms of public debt burdens.

In terms of potential contingent liabilities arising from the financial sector, the Philippines was among those with the lowest risk at 19th place. China and Vietnam, socialist countries with financial sectors dominated by state-owned banks, had the greatest contingent financial risks.

The Philippines is also expected to post a steady current account surplus this year, besting 11 other Asia-Pacific economies. — M. E. I. Calderon

[maverickjazzy]

P/$ rate closes at P48.79 to $ 1 The peso rate closed higher at P48.79 to the US dollar yesterday at the Philippine Dealing System of the Bankers Association of the Philippines from P48.85 the previous day. The weighted average rate depreciated to P48.846. Total volume amounted to $ 360.12 million.

PDIC, DICJ forge cooperation

The deposit insurance corporations of Japan and the Philippines recently entered into a cooperative arrangement seeking to strengthen bilateral relations between the two organizations. Letters of cooperation covering the agreement were signed by Deposit Insurance Corporation of Japan (DICJ) Governor Shunichi Nagata and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) Acting President Michael A. Osmeña at the PDIC Head Office during the Japanese official’s visit to the Philippines. The letters state each institution’s commitment to deepening the relationship between the two organizations through intensified knowledge sharing. The pact is seen to help maintain financial stability in both countries and the Asia Pacific region. "As fellow members of the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI), DICJ and PDIC support the association’s goal of contributing to financial stability by sharing deposit insurance expertise with the world. To achieve this, we must gear up for future challenges even during times of relative financial stability, by developing increased operational efficiencies as well as technical expertise," Osmeña said in his letter of cooperation addressed to DICJ. Nagata’s letter, on the other hand, underscored the mission of deposit insurers to conserve a "gene of financial crisis management" through the sharing of knowledge and experience.

More gas price rollbacks set

The country’s independent oil companies have hinted of another P1.00 per liter rollback to be implemented in two batches at P0.50 each per liter in the next two weeks. "Another rollback is possible," said Seaoil president Glen Yu, estimating that the total price rollback for the month could hit P1.50 per liter. The first price cut of P0.50 per liter was already set at the pumps last week. This guesstimate was also supported by other players within the league of the Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA), such as Flying V, Eastern Petroleum and Unioil. This group of four players recently forged consolidation for P50 million investments to set up a biodiesel plant in Davao that will cater to their requirements; and the balance of production will be allotted for exports. Meanwnile, Yu explained that the anticipated price cuts are still attributed to the global price slides combined with the appreciation of the peso vis-à-vis the US dollar. Of the total amount of estimated rollback, he noted that P1.40 accounts for the decline in world oil prices while P0.10 could come from improved forex gains. The major oil companies, on the other hand, said they are closely monitoring market movements but stressed that competitive pressures will always be a factor to consider. As of January 16, the price of benchmark Dubai crude hit a low of $ 50.22 per barrel bringing January average to $ 52.48 per barrel as against .68 in December 2006. (MMV

[mazdamazda]

Some investment news that I've read over the weekend.

A Canadian firm is to invest $3B in a nickel mine & refinery plant.

A local seaweed firm to open a P100M refinery plant.

Hanjin Industries starts to build the 1st RP-made container ship in Subic. Total investment is around $1B for this ship building facility and will generate around 30,000 direct & indirect jobs.

[empy]

P/$ rate closes at P48.79 to $ 1 The peso rate closed higher at P48.79 to the US dollar yesterday at the Philippine Dealing System of the Bankers Association of the Philippines from P48.85 the previous day. The weighted average rate depreciated to P48.846. Total volume amounted to $ 360.12 million.

the dollar is super weak these days. just last week it hit $2 to 1 GBP. this monday i'm going to short the dollar and put my money in gold

[mazdamazda]

First quarter exports grew by 13%... :2thumbsup:

[VtEC]

First quarter exports grew by 13%... :2thumbsup:

That's really a good news but in what sense????Prices are still up.

[mazdamazda]

That's really a good news but in what sense????Prices are still up.

An increase in exports means a more balanced trading with other countries in simple terms.

As for your concerns regarding prices, that's a separate issue and you have to quantify which "prices are still up". AFAIK - basic commodities are holding their prices. But that's out of the topic already.

[maverickjazzy]

That's really a good news but in what sense????Prices are still up.

in reference to what? generally prices of goods stays once it goes up, it rarely goes down. this is the effect of inflation but the good thing is our inflation rate is very low about 3 to 4 percent.

a double digit increase of exports is very good since it would offset our imports. imports are generally paid in dollars, if we are importing more than exporting then we have a trade deficit which in turn results to more hard currencies esp. dollar flowing out of the country. a better exports also means more companies are producing more goods which in turn provide more jobs to our people.

[VtEC]

in reference to what? generally prices of goods stays once it goes up, it rarely goes down. this is the effect of inflation but the good thing is our inflation rate is very low about 3 to 4 percent.

a double digit increase of exports is very good since it would offset our imports. imports are generally paid in dollars, if we are importing more than exporting then we have a trade deficit which in turn results to more hard currencies esp. dollar flowing out of the country. a better exports also means more companies are producing more goods which in turn provide more jobs to our people.

I would not rather comment more on this for this is not the proper forum. nwei, my point is just like this, how can you explain that to people when they dont feel the difference between a 2 digit export to a low export.for sure the business world will enjoy that scenario.Thanks for the input.