THERE may be a slump in manufacturing investments in the country but foreign investors are looking at the Philippines as their research and development hub. This is on top of the business process outsourcing and IT-related projects which are flocking into the country.
Artemio A. Del Rosario, chairman of the SEIPI (Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc.) committee on human resources, said that multinational corporations try to shy away from the high cost of maintaining R&D facilities in highly developed countries.
Del Rosario, who is human resource manager of automotive systems firm Temic Automotive (Philippines) Inc., a local unit of Continental AG of Germany, said the company has expanded in the past year to increase its production capacity.
This time around, Del Rosario said, the company is improving its R&D capability in the country.
Continental has two plants located in Taguig and Calamba, Laguna, all producing automotive electronics products.
Its R&D facility, which is located at its Taguig plant, is already undertaking body electronics, comfort body and security electronics. The improvement in its R&D facility in Taguig is intended to build its capability to handle more sophisticated product development.
“Companies are relocating their R&D into the country because of the high cost of doing this activity in highly developed economies,” Del Rosario said.
Dr. Martin Wadewitz, general manager of Temic Automotive (Philippines) Inc., has confirmed a restructuring move of the German automotive electronics manufacturer.
Wadewitz said that with the global crisis, the company had to rationalize its local operations with the goal of lowering its cost base even as it jacked up its capacity with additional investments over the past year.
“Because of the crisis, we have rationalized our operations and lowered our cost base, making us more competitive for export to Europe and the United States,” said Wadewitz.
Wadewitz said the group has been rationalizing its global operations, relocating its production from high-cost countries to low-cost countries for manufacturing over the long term.
IT investments pouring into RP
Intel program spotlights dubious online claims
INTEL has launched software that sniffs out questionable claims at websites.
A “Dispute Finder” crafted by Intel researchers in Berkeley, California, for Firefox web browsers alerts Internet surfers to contentions that are contradicted by information elsewhere online.
“The reason this is important is that very often you’ll read a website and not realize this is only one side of the story,” Intel research scientist Robert Ennals said in an online video.
Dispute Finder automatically highlights text containing contested claims and then links to boxes summarizing points and counter-points. The data base is designed to grow and evolve with user input.
Votes regarding the reliability of information are used to filter dubious data.
Researchers reportedly envision a version of the software that will scan caption information in television programs for specious claims and a mobile device capable of “listening” for questionable comments in conversations.
The mini-program, which works with Firefox web browsers, became available Thursday online at disputefinder.cs.berkeley.edu.
Agri-tech to boost small farmers production
AGRICULTURAL technology is pivotal to boost production and improve incomes of small farmers in Mindanao, hence the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) convened here recently the Research, Development and Extension Network (RDEN) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to forge a commitment to intensify technological transfer to benefit small farmers in Mindanao’s countryside.
MRDP is a poverty alleviation program implemented by the DA through agricultural infrastructure and agri-based livelihoods.
“There is a need to intensify technology transfer to benefit small farmers to help them in their production as well us increasing their income,” says MRDP program director Roger C. Chio.
He said utilization of technology that promotes value adding is what small farmers needs if the program is to bat for economic resiliency in the rural communities.
“Our livelihood projects and environmental budget are ready and most of it has already been released, but we need the help of extension works of RDEN for the farmers to properly use each technology applied in their respective areas” governance component head Yolanda Urbiztondo said.
She hoped that such partnership with other stakeholders would create awareness among people to establish their stake for the development of Mindanao.
The program includes four major components as a package of investment to fight poverty. These include rural infrastructure, community fund for agricultural development, natural resources management and governance reform. [Sherwin B. Manual/MRDP]
Gov’t buys more local yellow corn
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has increased the buying price of local yellow corn to P13 per kilo as it embarks on a massive corn buying program this main season to encourage farmers to plant more of this crop, which is a main component of livestock feeds.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap on Thursday said the National Food Authority (NFA) has set aside some P3.9-billion to bankroll this massive corn buying program.
The new rate adjustment will be the second in seven months as the government already increased the per-kilo support price of yellow corn from P10 to P11.50 in November last year.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved last month an increase in the NFA’s buying price to P13 per kilo of yellow corn — from the previous rate of P11.50 — to help farmers cope with spiraling production costs and close the demand-supply gap for the grain.
“The government is priming itself to buy 300,000 metric tons (MT) of yellow corn in the coming main harvest. This plan was already approved by the President and the Cabinet,” said Yap.
He noted that the new support price of P13 per kilo for yellow corn nationwide, which pegs it at the same rate as white corn, will provide farmers the flexibility to sell their corn in different parts of the country through the NFA’s electronic trading system.
Under the system, Yap said a corn farmer in Bukidnon can command a price of P13 a kilo using the new support price of the NFA for yellow corn, to sell his produce to a feed miller in Bulacan.
The Bukidnon farmer can deposit his corn at the NFA warehouse in the province and the feed miller in Bulacan can pick up the stocks he bought from him at the NFA warehouse in Bulacan.
He said this could be the precursor of a futures exchange system, which will help ensure quality and stabilize prices of grains in the country.
Corn farmers have welcomed the increase in the crop’s support price, saying the move will encourage them to increase production and allow the sector to attain its production target this year, following a two percent growth decline in the first quarter of the year. [PNA]
Bukidnon tribes receive free NESCAFÉ training
SEVEN tribes from the province of Bukidnon recently received a gift that would help them ensure the continued sustainable production of good quality coffee in their farming communities.
NESCAFÉ, the country’s leading coffee brand, awarded the tribes of Higaonon, Manobo, Matisalug, Talaandig, Tigwahonon, and Umayamnon with free training and assistance and superior coffee planting materials as part of its effort of empowering local coffee farming communities to become self-sufficient.
“We are very happy that the tribes of Bukidnon have given us the chance to fulfill the promise that we have made to them during the Kaamulan Festival,” said Art Baria, head of the Agricultural Services Department of Nestle Philippines, Inc., the manufacturers of NESCAFÉ.
Bukidnon tribes own large hectares of land that are very suitable for coffee farming.
“And through this free training and assistance, we hope that we could encourage more of them to take up coffee farming. This would be a big help to the country’s overall coffee production,” Baria said.
A gift of knowledge
The Coffee Production Technology Training was held at the Nestle Experimental and Demonstration Farm (NEDF) in Tagum, Davao. There the farmer-representatives of the Bukidnon tribes learned the latest methods with which they could improve their coffee farming techniques.
Representatives from the National Commission for Indigenous People, the Department of Agriculture-Bukidnon, and members of the non-government organization (NGO) Greenminds, Inc. joined them during the three-day training.
The first day of the training saw Nestle Agronomists lecturing on effective coffee propagation and the proper care and maintenance of coffee nurseries. The participants were then given a tour of the NEDF to see for themselves how these methods are applied after which they were given the chance to apply what they have learned from the day’s lectures.
On the second day, they learned about coffee plantations and their care and maintenance. Farmers were likewise informed of the latest coffee harvesting and processing methods.
The third day of the training, meanwhile, saw the participants gaining knowledge about coffee rejuvenation. They were likewise asked to come up with action plans.
A graduation ceremony was then held after the participants completed the training program. Here, they were given not just certificates for their participation, but 140 kgs of coffee seeds and 90,000 polybags as well so they can start applying what they have learned in their own communities.
Improving the quality
of lives
“Empowering farmers and local farming communities is part of our bigger goal of helping improve the quality of their lives. By being more knowledgeable about the latest farming techniques and having access to superior coffee planting materials, they likewise increase their productivity and their earnings,” Baria said.
This also means that consumers will be getting a sustainable supply of good quality coffee.
“Quality is something that we always emphasize in our trainings. And by imparting the knowledge on how to achieve this to our farmers, we likewise help improve the overall quality of coffee in the country. Our consumers can be assured that they will only get good quality coffee from NESCAFÈ,” Baria concluded.
For inquiries on coffee technology farming, please contact the Nestle Experimental and Demonstration Farm at (084) 400-1804 or 0920-9546806.
Camella Northpoint’s unparalleled new concept of urban living hailed
AMID the rise of condominium projects in the city, one development shines above the rest with its new concept of urban living not found in any other condo project in the city.
Camella Northpoint is a condominium community that is clearly a cut above the rest with its seamless blend of modern urban living and the refreshing bounty of nature.
Touted as the first Pine Estate in Davao, Camella Northpoint is situated in an already lush location with age-old acacia trees and other verdant plant life. The developer, Camella Communities, brings the notch even higher by planting imported Caribbean pine trees that are now seen growing robustly around the property.
“While other condominiums are merely stand-alone concrete structures, Camella Northpoint is ensconced within a refreshing natural environment teeming with plant life, fresh air, and an oasis-like ambiance,” said Marlon Escalicas, general manager of Camella Communities Davao.
Camella Northpoint will rise right at the heart of the economic hub in north Davao, where the major city locators are found, such as the international airport, seaport, large manufacturing companies, and business centers such as IT parks and modern office buildings catering to the BPO industry.
It is also a stone’s throw away from urban commercial areas and high-end retail and shopping centers such as Abreeza which is currently under construction, the reported development of another big mall in Lanang, the new Robinson’s Cybergate and supermarket, along with other popular commercial, dining, entertainment, and shopping centers such as Damosa Gateway, Damosa Business Center, Victoria Plaza and Gaisano Mall.
“Camella Northpoint is in a very prime location which is very convenient for urban living. The condo is also a good investment,” remarked businessman Erwin Tan of Kasuotan.
“Most other condo projects in the city boast of locating somewhere within the business district, but Camella Northpoint is situated at the most vantage location,” said Escalicas, adding that its prime location and verdant natural surroundings is a proposition unmatched by any other condo development in the city.
Camella Communities welcomes inquiries about Camella Northpoint at their office at Karpentrade Building, or at telephone numbers 298-0387 and 298-0300.
Boosting Davao as a destination
THE development of Camella Northpoint, the condominium community being developed by
Camella Communities, boosts Davao’s position as one of the most viable cities for business and tourism, by providing an ideal and unique residential location in the heart of the city’s business and shopping district.
“The development of Camella Northpoint is an affirmation that Davao City is, indeed, the most competitive city to do business in the Philippines. The fact that it is the first condominium development undertaken by Camella Communities outside of Metro Manila says a lot about the company’s faith in Davao and Mindanao,” remarked Patricia Melliza B. Ruivivar, Chief of Staff of the City Mayor’s Office and OIC Director of the Museo Dabawenyo, upon seeing the ongoing development at the project site.
Davao as a growth area has been unprecedented, with the flow of more investments into the region and the consequent rise of modern business locations for growing industries. With the influx of more economic players and shakers into the city also comes the demand for modern and convenient residential locations. Camella Communities has stepped up to the plate by developing its modern condominium community, Camella Northpoint, at the junction of J.P. Laurel Avenue and Buhangin Road. Camella Northpoint’s development has created an exciting buzz in the real estate market because of its unique proposition as a modern condominium community that fits right in the city’s growth area, but unmatched by any other condo project with its unique blend of modern urban living and the refreshing charm of nature.
City Tourism Officer Bong Aportadera noted that Camella Northpoint’s location and new concept of urban living is a boost to Davao’s reputation as a tourism and business destination.
“Camella Northpoint has an interesting character not only as the first pine estate in the city, but also because of its historic past. The white mansion they have preserved as a key feature in their development is an iconic structure in Davao and has stood sentinel to the city’s development over the decades,” he said. He added that Camella would do well to play up this historic factor and incorporate Davao’s distinct charm and identity into their development.
“This is a pioneering project for the north side of the city, making Camella Communities a trailblazer. We look forward to a long and meaningful partnership with Camella in providing shelter for Dabawenyos and in building our diverse communities, ensuring that Davao remains one of the top most livable cities in Asia,” added Ms. Ruivivar.
Alcantaras launches 7,500-ha carbon sink
– Project set in tandem with 200-megawatt coal-fired project
A company owned by the Alcantara family launched Saturday what may be considered as Mindanao’s biggest carbon sink – a 7,500-hectare agro-forestry project in connection with the firm’s establishment of a modern coal-fired power plant in the province of Sarangani.
Sarangani governor Miguel Dominguez and Maasim town mayor Aniceto Lopez Jr. led in the formal launching of the agro-forestry project with the inauguration of a tree nursery at barangay Kamanga, Maasim.
Conal Holdings Corporation put up the project to serve as a carbon sink for the 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant which is seen as a ready and cheap alternative to address a foreseen shortfall in power supply in the next five years.
Dominguez told residents who attended the project launching that the power plant will not only make electricity affordable but will also open more opportunities for investments that will be beneficial to the province and its residents.
The carbon sink agro-forestry project is in compliance with environmental regulations, particularly the environmental clearance certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Gregorio Gonzales Jr., Conal project manager, said the project will effectively offset any emission of the 200-megawatt power plant to a level way below the allowable limit.
Speaking before local residents during the formal launching of the project, Lopez said the Maasim municipal government has committed into a balanced approach in economic development, “We will take care of our people but we will also make sure that we will not degrade our resources.”
Aside from serving as a carbon sink, the agro-forestry project is seen to benefit upland farmers along the areas covered by the project.
The project will involve the planting of commercial agro-forestry crops like coffee, rubber, mango and other suitable crops that will help sustain better income to upland farmers.
Gonzales said the project will help improve biodiversity, trigger upstream and downstream economic activity, provide additional revenue to the local government and serve as watershed.
He explained that since the carbon sink project will utilize public lands, it will be implemented in accordance to the 2004 Maasim Forest Land Use Plan (MFLUP) which prescribes the tenure issuance and management of forest land in Maasim.
MFLUP was formulated and adopted by the local government of Maasim, DENR and the Department of Interior and Local Governments.
Earlier, Joseph C. Nocos, vice president for business development of Alto Power Management Corporation, a member of the Alcantara Group, earlier told Davao-based media practitioners the firm is talking to two groups interested to buy carbon credits.
“One is a Nordic company – Nordic Environment Finance Corporation based in the Scandinavian countries. This company acts like the buying agent of the countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark for carbon credits. Since the Nordic countries are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol, they are obligated to reduce their carbon emissions every year. Those who cannot meet the required carbon reduction rates can do it by buying carbon credits from countries like the Philippines who have not yet exceeded the carbon emission limit, Nocos explained.
The other group interested to buy carbon credits from Conals’ carbon sink project is Invesa Carbono, a Spaniosh company, Nocos bared.
He said there is a big market for the Philippines’ carbon credits, among them the United States,which contributes 20 to 25 percent of the world’s carbon emission.
“What we are really trying to develop in Sarangani in tandem with our coal-fired power project is a carbon sink program, which if successful, can very well serve as the model for other types of carbon credit initiatives,” Nocos said.
Minda trade show revived
by Lovely Carillo
THE war-stricken areas of Mindanao may be a long way from the air conditioned rooms of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, but the Mindanao Trade Expo has bounced back to continue its mission of encouraging peace in the island region by making sure Mindanao’s tri-people are using fibers, instead of guns, to create works of art.
“Mas mabuti na materyales ang hawak nila kesa baril that’s why we are reaching out to Mindanao’s tri-people, especially the indigenous tribes to give them livelihood projects,” Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation, Inc. (MTE) founder and president Ann T. Pamintuan said.
MTE has been known for bringing to the fore the various indigenous products made in Mindanao, including Pamintuan’s gold-clad wires and other materials from Gilded Expression, the exotic fibers produced by Katakus or the innovative hand-woven products of Crystal Seas.
However, there is more to MTE than what meets the eye of the demanding buyer and the connoisseur. Foremost is the Foundation’s vision of making known to the world the best of Mindanao’s products.
“We initially wanted to provide a venue where we could showcase our products, and then it evolved into something more profound than that,” Pamintuan said. Today, it makes a difference in the lives of Mindanaoans, not only in terms of helping entrepreneurs market their products, but in keeping people busy creating things rather than destroying the island through war.
“It is an ambitious dream,” Pamintuan said, “but it may be possible in the long run.” True enough, the so-called strife in Mindanao is not merely a result of a clash of political ideologies, but rather of empty stomachs. It follows that empowering people with skills and livelihood projects to make dreams come true for themselves may be a way to mitigate the problem of hatred.
But even this idealistic dream is in danger of vanishing, no thanks to the global recession that has made the work more challenging for the Foundation. The MTE started in 1996 with nothing but a vision. Barely twelve years later, the annual trade show was able to come up with P630 million in total sales, including a P51.780 million cash and retail sale during the actual exhibit days.
The increasing competitiveness in the market as well as their individual businesses prevented the Foundation officials from staging the MTE last year. Pamintuan said she was willing to just let go and concentrate on my own business, until we were approached by exporters who said “matapos niyo kaming i-encourage na mag export iiwan nyo kami sa ere (after encouraging us to go into exporting you will leave us hanging in the air)?”
“And now we are bouncing back and ready to once again provide a venue for Mindanao’s micro, small and medium enterprises,” Pamintuan said. And, since 2009 is International Year of the Fiber, it will be the theme of the MTE 2009.
Expect an explosion of Philippine fiber products the moment you walk inside the BSP lobby for the MTE 2009 on August 13 to 16. Even the pavilions inside the main exhibit area will be decorated in bamboo and natural fibers. The pavilions, which will have 20 booths each, will vie for the Best Pavilion Award.
The expo will showcase gifts, toys and housewares, furniture and furnishings, home textile, fashion accessories, fine jewelry, processed food, fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers and ornamentals and allied services. Pamintuan said they are targeting a minimum of 100 exhibitors from all over Mindanao, but they can make room for more.
The expo is expected to attract more exhibitors this year after the organizers lowered the exhibit fee to only P8,000 for members for a 2×2 sqm booth and P9,000 for non-members for a booth of the same size.
“What goes with MTE is not just market promotion but product development and business linkaging as well, “ Department of Trade and Industry 11 director Marizon Loreto said.
MTE 2009 chairperson Domingo Ang said aside from the exhibit the MTE will also showcase an Exporters Forum where the stakeholders can sit down and discuss strategy to combat the worldwide economic downturn. “Without the exporters we cannot market our products to the world, so this is an important component of the expo,” he said.
An Exporters Expo which will feature export overruns will also be held back-to-back with MTE 2009. Exporters will showcase and sell product overruns at very affordable prices.
The rebirth, rather, the relaunch of MTE 2009 has managed to stir not only Mindanao’s business sector but the residents as well into believing that despite the world economic crisis there is hope for local manufacturers and locals who can benefit from the livelihood projects and other opportunities that will come as a result of the expo.
Given its track record of accomplishing what seems to be impossible, and that includes bringing in 1,590 exhibitors, 577 buyers from the country and from other countries and generating P630.68 million sales from 1996 to 2007, the MTE is indeed on the right track. But most of all, one should look forward to adding more to the already 162 thousand lives touched by MTE during that span of time.
Confessions of a Partyphile – Partyphile’s open letter
by Zhaun Ortega
TO ALL YOUNG PARTYPHILES, I know you have just started partying a couple of months back, and you are kind of enjoying the scene right now (although nothing truly exciting is really happening); and you probably even crave for more partying in the days to come, however I have noticed that you and your crowd still need to learn some tips when it comes to partying in DC, so here are some pointers every new partyphile needs to remember if they want to succeed in the partyphile world: Hooking Up is Sooo Last Season First of all, newbie partyphile, tell your friends that a bar is never a good place to look for relationships and hook-ups. Trust me, there are a lot of crazy drunks out there, and you do not want to get involved with those types of people. Secondly, it is not very fashionable to be seen hooking-up with some random person in some random bar. You do not want to look like a love-beggar, do you? If you just answered “yes”, please stop partying; you are a total disgrace to us partyphiles. I for one am trying to clean up the partyphile’s image. W have been looked down upon by elders and non-partyphiles in the past. It is good that you started partying at such a great time, New Partyphile, since it is all the fad now, and everyone from your generation seems to be doing it; however, I don’t think that the stigma that Partyphilia brings has been erased. People still think that is all we do—party, get drunk, go wild, and hook-up. Obviously that is not always true for everyone, but that is how society sees us; so please, if you could help it, do not make those stereotypes true. Do not hook-up in some lame bar. Dress Up 2B Down Always dress to impress (OMG I just used a cliché. Puke). Parties are supposed to be special events, dress up, present yourself properly, not because you want people ogling at you, but because we partyphiles want to up the fashion ante in the Davao party scene. It just makes the party scene cooler, and it differentiates you from all the other Partyphile Wannabees. When Inside a Bar When inside a bar, remember never to puke, because even THAT has gone out of fashion. It is also a good idea to dance while in a club because, well, if you didn’t want to dance, you shouldn’t have entered one in the first place. Plus it makes you look like a stiff, unapproachable person. If you don’t know how to dance, sway from left to right, hop up and down, or just do whatever motion you feel comfortable doing. Maybe you could just keep walking so people wouldn’t realize you weren’t dancing? However, if you dance too much, that could also be a crime. It is simple, really, just remember that those choreographed dance moves you see in RnB music videos (where the crooner or the divette (B-List diva) dance together with their whole entourage in the middle of the club), aren’t real. They ARE NOT supposed to be seen in a club. Do not copy their dance moves and practice it at home, so you could perform some routine in some club. My new partyphile friend, just go with the flow, choreographed dance moves are gross… unless of course you go to this little bar (which also happens to be a Ballroom Dancer’s haven) along F. Torres Street, then you may be excused. Dance groups have battles there and as long as they don’t start doing that in my favorite bars, well then, they’re excused. If you insist on choreographed dancing, visit that bar instead. Money Matters My novice partyphile, spending your whole week’s allowance on one gimmick night is never a good idea. Instead, plan your Saturnight-outs in advance and save up for that; or grab all the free drinks you can. Act like you own the room, and you deserve to be treated like royalty, and drinks will suddenly be magnetized towards you. Make sure you have enough charm and ask for a drink from someone. Extra tip: a gorgeous, sincere, smile is always irresistible (read: more people would want to send you drinks). Do floss. Feeling Special New partyphile, I am devastated to be blowing your bubble, but the VIP area, is really only reserved for important people. If they say you can’t come inside, don’t try to bribe the bouncer or drop names, just say “thank you” and understand that your time will come. Once you have mastered the art of partying and creating connections, you will be invited to the VIP area, even without having to ask. Partyphile Nose I have said this again and again and again, no self-respecting partyphile would want to smell like a person. You NEED to smell like a hip, new bottle of perfume, not body sweat, even when you are sweating. And if you are in your early 20 to late 30s and still use Cool Water, Fahrenheit, or CK One, please spare our noses, and let the 1990s rest. Buy something new. Drunky Little Do Finally, don’t make a fool out of yourself and don’t act drunk. Act normally even when your innards want to explode, you breath reeks of alcohol, and your world has been spinning for the last 30 minutes. Or, just learn to manage your drinks better. Hello-Goodbye And if you still don’t know when to arrive or leave a party, always arrive when the party has already kicked off, and always leave at the peak of the party. That way, people will be looking for you before you arrive and when you leave. Dramatic entrance; even more dramatic exit. Follow these little tips and you are sure to rock Partylandia, and make your Partyphile mentors. With love (laced with Brandy), Your Partyphile, Zhaun. Catch Confessions Of A Partyphile (the radio show) on 105.9 Mix FM every Wednesdays, 6 to 9 PM. If you do not have access to a radio, log on to www.mixfm1059.com on the same time and day. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile log on to http://party.i.ph or http://confessionsofapartyphile.blogspot.com