New Airline
A NEW Cebu-based airline is expanding its operations and adding new routes to connect Cebu-Bohol-Davao and Cebu-Bohol-Cagayan de Oro. Mid-Sea Express will have its delivery of a new British Aerospace Jetstream 32 before the end of this year.
This wide-body, solely business class aircraft will complement its existing routes from Cebu to Bantayan, Bohol, Siquijor and Camiguin. Also, to open soon will be the highly anticipated route of Cebu to Caticlan, with affordable fares both to and from Boracay.
Aquaculture
THERE has been a noticeable decline in aquaculture production in the second quarter of this year compared to the first quarter, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR),
From 5,366 metric tons of aquaculture produced in the first quarter of this year, it went down to 3,796 metric tons in the second quarter. The BFAR is looking into different parameters causing the decrease in aquaculture production and this includes the increase in fuel rates and climate change.
Online payment
FILIPINOS will soon have a convenient, efficient and more secure option to purchase goods and services from their favorite online merchants. AsiaPay, the leading provider of secure electronic payment solutions in Asia, has partnered with Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) to enable Smart Money account holders to pay for their online purchases through merchants of PesoPay-AsiaPay’s online payment service in the Philippines.
Smart Money, which is the mobile commerce offering of Smart issued by BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) in the Philippines, is the world’s first reloadable cash payment card linked to a mobile phone.
Container vans
THE BUREAU of Customs opened 43 “hot” container vans at the Davao Port after the consignees were found to have misdeclared their contents. The total estimated value of apprehended goods is more than P45 million. It’s the second time that deputy commissioner for intelligence Danilo Lim supervised the opening of the seized containers since he was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to his current position.
Last week Lim was in Davao City to personally oversee the seizure of P21-M worth of smuggled rice and other goods. He received reports that certain individuals are involved in shady deals. On Sept. 21, 17 abandoned container vans yielded 8,900 sacks of smuggled rice at the Sasa Wharf after customs officials ordered them opened.
Thriving
DAVAO City has the most number of cooperative members in the region for two consecutive years now.
According to the City Cooperative and Development Office at least 204,130 members were registered last year, an increase from the 156,000 two years ago. At present, there are 505 registered cooperatives in the city.
Davao City is followed by Davao del Norte with 94,698 members, Davao del Sur with 89,772 members and Compostela Valley with 65,741. The area with the least members is Davao Oriental with 6,441, according to data released by the Cooperative Development Authority.
