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CHED and IBM to Develop a Comprehensive Analytics Education Master Plan for the Philippines

    QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES â€" December 6, 2012: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and IBM today signed an agreement to collaborate on developing a comprehensive analytics education master plan for Philippine higher education institutions in order to prepare the country’s workforce for the emerging trend towards analytics.

    Created as part of a broad agenda of reforms on the country’s education system, CHED is responsible for formulating plans, policies and strategies relating to higher education. The Commission on Higher Education will cooperate with IBM to review the existing academic curriculum, and recommend courses to develop the necessary skills in the areas of analytics; identify job opportunities which will be created in key industries as a result of the application of analytics; and form a Smarter Education Consortium with membership from academe, government and industry to act as an advisory council and consultative body on next-generation education policies and reforms.

    “Stronger links with industry and technological innovations are essential for national development and progress. The government, several industries and companies, and key higher education institutions are collaborating in developing programs to train the future workforce in analytics.” said Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan, CHED. “IBM has the global experience and expertise in promoting analytics education programs, thought leadership, teacher professional development, curriculum development, as well as knowledge and expertise in the field of analytics,” said Mariels Almeda Winhoffer. “Analytics is a huge market opportunity globally and IBM has recognized the potential for the Philippines to be the Global Center for Analytics due to its world-class human capital resource, growing technical skill and proven success and experience in business process outsourcing.” “We share the same sentiments with IBM on how analytics can be the new game changer. It allows organizations to make more informed and accurate decisions that will enable organizations to accurately anticipate and predict outcomes. This cooperation will enable us to leverage IBM’s best practice in this area to prepare our students to participate in the emerging global market opportunity for analytics, estimated to be about US$160 billion by 2015,” said Licuanan. Recently, an international team of IBM volunteers worked with CHED under the auspices of the IBM Corporate Service Corp (CSC) program. At the end of the month- long assignment in October, the team provided initial recommendations to CHED, identifying ways to position the Philippines as an analytics education and technology hub for the region. The IBM CSC program, often called the corporate version of the “Peace Corps”, was developed to help IBM employees become effective 21st century global leaders and citizens while helping solve complex problems in developing countries like the Philippines.

Congress applauds increase in SUCs budget, CHED belies Palatino's allegations

            14 August, 2012 - Quezon City â€" Members of Congress deliberated on the 2013 budgets of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). Present were CHED Officials headed by Chairperson Patricia B. Licuanan, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) president Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, University of the Philippines president Prof. Alfredo E. Pascual, Mindanao State University president Dr. Macapado A. Muslim, all 17 regional PASUC officers and presidents of other SUCs. The SUCs’ presidents expressed their appreciation to the Aquino administration and to Congress for the 44% marked increase in their 2013 budget.

              Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino belittled this welcome development in a press release pointing out alleged “cover ups” and “deceptions” in the P37.1-billion SUCs budget as proposed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Rep. Palatino decried that parts of the budget will not go directly to the SUCs as P2.2-billion will go to Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) and P2.1-billion for Retirement and Life Insurance Premiums (RLIP). He also cited three (3) SUCs that will get Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) cuts due to CHED’s normative funding formula and expressed concern that increases in SUCs tuition fees is inevitable. In response, Chairperson Licuanan denied these allegations saying, “While it is true that the RLIP cannot be used directly by the SUCs since it is disbursed by GSIS, its employees will benefit. Moreover, the MPBF can be accessed by SUCs to hire new personnel and fill up vacant positions. Bottom line is, the entire 37.1-billion will eventually redound to the SUCs, for their operations, facilities and employees.”

             In addition, Chairperson Licuanan clarified the issue of SUCs with cuts in MOOE saying “not three but only one SUC will receive a cut.” The three institutions are shown below with their corrected MOOE figures. Congressman Palatino cited incorrect 2012 MOOE figures for ASCOT and CTU that were actually from their 2012 Personnel Services (PS) allocation. “The truth is, ASCOT’s 2013 MOOE rose by more than 90%, while CTU’s MOOE increased by 150%,” Licuanan stated. “For AMPSC, the reduction of P1.6-million in their MOOE budget was due to the decrease in their enrollment. Despite AMPSC’s reduction, the increase in allotments for Personnel Services and Capital Outlays (CO) will offset the decrease in MOOE. AMPSC will still get an increase in its total budget in 2013,” Licuanan added. CHED also refutes the statement that SUCs are getting capital outlay only in 2013, and that only the University of the Philippines received CO for 2012.

            Under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) about P3-billion was released for CO (released in Dec 2011 and utilizable in 2012) for all SUCs. The P3.4-billion for 2013 is the second installment of the administration’s commitment for the implementation of the 6-year Roadmap for Public Higher Education Reform to be used to upgrade SUCs facilities, fund research development and extension, training and scholarships. In response to CHED’s appeals, the SUCs have consistently held back increasing their tuition fees for the past two years to address student financial pleas. CHED continues to give top priority to the funding requirements of SUCs. Other budget sources include: the P768-million Higher Education Development Fund for SUCs; the P500-million for Growth Areas to fund the BPO, Tourism, Agri-fisheries, Emerging Industries, and Innovation sectors; the P771-million fund for Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs); and the SUCs’ income-generating projects (IGPs). In addition, CHED has identified together with the DSWD 4,041 poorest of the poor beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCTP) that will avail of the P500-million out of the DAP. Chairperson Licuanan concedes that, “The 2013 SUCs budget may not be enough. But it is a substantial increase and is good for now.”

Supreme Court upholds CHED and The Office of the President on the final closure order of the bachelor's, master's and doctoral course offerings of the International Academy of Management and Economics

On July 4, 2012, the Supreme Court issued Resolution dated July 4, 2012 in G.R. No. 202073 entitled “IAME and Emmanuel T. Santos, petitioner vs. Commission on Higher Education, CHED Chairman Patricia B. Licuanan, Executive Director Julito D. Vitriolo, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., and Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Michael Aguinaldo, respondents”. The Supreme Court ruled that:

1. The Court did not find any grave abuse of discretion on the part of the OP in declining to assume jurisdiction over petitioner’s appeal from the Final Closure Order dated October 28, 2011 issued by CHED. 2. The Higher Education Act of 1994 (RA 7722) expressly declares the CHED to be independent from the Department of Education and attached to the OP for administrative purposes only. 3. Administrative supervision does not extend to the power to review, reverse, revise or modify the decision of regulatory agencies in the exercise of their regulatory or quasi- judicial functions. In CHED’s first Notice to the Public on February 3, 2012, all sectors were advised that:
“NOTICE is hereby given to the general public that upon full consideration and deliberation by the Commission en Banc (CEB) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) during its 373rd Regular Meeting on June 13, 2011, the CEB approved Resolution No. 140-2011, which denied with finality, the Appeal of the International Academy of Management and Economics (IAME) relative tot he Phase-out Order issued to the said institution through its President on February 28, 2011. The Commission directed that a FINAL CLOSURE ORDER be issued, the same to be made effective AY 2011- 2012 concerning the following academic course offerings of IAME, in view of the gross and serious violations and continuous defiance, and non-compliance by the institution of CHED Policies, Standards and Guidelines (PSG), as narrated specifically in said ORDER:

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)
Master in Business Administration (MBA)
Doctor of Philosophy in Management (Ph.D. In Mgt.)
Thus, the Commission has ordered that IAME can no longer admit any new students effective AY 2011-2012. However, IAME shall effect the transfer of all its existing students to other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with recognized programs by the end of AY 2011-2012, but meanwhile allow them to complete their enrolled courses this AY in consonance with Section 69 of BP 232. Those students in good standing who shall satisfactorily complete all the academic requirements of their respective courses by the end of AY 2011- 2012, may still be conferred their graduate and undergraduate degrees by the IAME upon completion of all pertinent requirements for graduation, as certified to be the IAME Registrar based on valid and duly reconciled scholastic records.

Finally, since it does not possess the required qualifications under CHED Policies and Guidelines, the IAME is hereby PROHIBITED FROM OFFERING ANY EXTENSION CLASSES with any HEI through any mode of delivery of educational services whatsoever, and shall cause the cessation of any and all such extension classes, if any, existing and being operated by the institution, or by any of its agents, or person(s) or entity for and in its behalf.

The Commission on Higher Education hereby issues this NOTICE for the information and guidance of all concerned, to forewarn the general public about the status of Business courses of the IAME in order to safeguard the welfare of enrolling students and their parents, and to announce that IAME is prohibited from holding Extension Classes or similar activities in any part of the country, for which higher education Business degrees are being granted. Any further violations of this prohibition by any public or private higher education institution shall be dealt with and sanctioned accordingly. The public is encouraged to report such violations to the CHED Regional Office concerned.

The CHED Regional Office National Capital Region (CHEDRO NCR) has been ordered to facilitate the efficient transfer of all students affected by the FINAL CLOSURE ORDER to duly recognized HEIs that agree to admit said students, provided that the IAME facilitates the processing of their transfer credentials upon receipt of the CHED ORDER, in accordance with Section 61 of the Manual of Regulation for Private Higher Education. Likewise, CHED NCR is directed to process the applications for Special Orders to graduate for IAME students whom its College Registrar shall certify to as having satisfactorily completed all requirements for graduation, based on valid and duly reconciled scholastic records required under pertinent CHED policies and guidelines.

Issued this 3rd day of February 2012 at the Higher Education Development Center Building, for the information guidance and strict compliance of all concerned.”

The assistance of the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs has been sought by CHED regarding the widest dissemination to all foreign embassies for their appropriate action, with respect to their foreign nationals seeking to enroll in IAME. CHED has also informed the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation that it will no longer endorse extension of foreign students enrolled/enrolling in the abovecited IAME course offerings.

Issued this 2nd day of August 2012 at the Higher Education Development Center Building, U.P. Campus, Diliman, Quezon City.

CHED condemns recent death by hazing of another law student

        The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) condemns in the strongest terms the recent death of San Beda College of Law student Marc Andrei Marcos who died last Monday evening in Cavite due to hazing. Early this year, shortly after the death of Bedan Marvin Reglos, CHED issued an urgent directive to all private and public higher education institutions (HEIs) reiterating their strict compliance to the provisions of RA No. 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law and the immediate submission of a certified list of fraternities and sororities existing in their institutions. San Beda College responded to CHED’s Memorandum in writing saying it “does not recognize fraternities, sororities or similar organizations... hazing incidents are serious administrative offenses, explicitly classified as major offenses.” The school added, “...considering that they are not recognized, the school could not therefore submit, as of this time, a certified list of officers and members.” Other schools have been submitting the required lists.

        The Commission is alarmed by this second casualty from San Beda College and has directed the school to explain what sanctions it has imposed on those students charged in the Reglos case. With this second incident involving student Marcos, the College was reminded of its heavy responsibilities and duties under RA 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law. Such acts of violence and injury run counter to the basic values and fundamental principles for which HEIs are established. The Commission once again calls upon the officials of the College, the officers and members of the fraternity to undertake with utmost urgency all proper and necessary measures to ferret out the truth, investigate with expediency the circumstances leading to the senseless loss of a young life so that the perpetrators of this latest dastardly acts would be brought to justice.

        Issued this 31st of July 2012 at the Higher Education Center building, CP Garcia Avenue, UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City.

Supreme Court upholds CHED, Executive Secretary on final closure of all IAME course offerings
source: CHED website

    In a resolution dated July 4, 2012, the Supreme Court in G.R. No. 202073 junked the bid of Emmanuel Santos to nullify the Final Closure Order issued to the International Academy of Management and Economics (IAME) by CHED on October 28, 2011 on its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA); Master in Business Administration (MBA); and Doctor of Philosophy in Management (Ph.D. Management) program offerings due to “gross and serious violations, continuous defiance and failure to comply with existing laws, rules and regulations of the Commission with records dating as early as 2001” and for operating Extension Classes without the required permits. The Court likewise upheld the action of the Office of the President when it refused to review or modify CHED’s Closure Order. The Supreme Court ruled that:

    1. The Court did not find any grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Office of the President (OP) in declining to assume jurisdiction over petitioner’s appeal from the Final Closure Order dated October 28, 2011 issued by CHED.
     2. The Higher Education Act of 1994 (RA 7722) expressly declares the CHED to be independent from the Department of Education and attached to the OP for administrative purposes only.

     3. Administrative supervision does not extend to the power to review, reverse, revise or modify the decision of regulatory agencies in the exercise of their regulatory or quasi-judicial functions.

    On February 2, 2012, a composite team composed of CHED officials led by Legal Services Director Carmelita Y. Sison served the Closure Order at the IAME main building assisted by the Solicitor General’s Office and the barangay office of San Antonio Village, Makati City. Executive Secretary informed IAME President Santos on March 26, 2012 that the OP has no jurisdiction to review the CHED closure order. However, in its website posting on March 30, 2012, IAME issued a news release claiming that President Benigno S. Aquino III had allegedly reversed CHED utilizing his “reserve powers” under the Constitution. Upon verifying with the OP, the CHED found that this was a false claim. CHED therefore posted its full clarification on the Final Closure Order on IAME, warning the general public that all IAME course offerings should cease including all tie-ups, linkages and any other formal or informal academic arrangements still being operated. CHED Executive Director Julito D. Vitriolo advised the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) that it will no longer endorse for visa extensions, foreign students enrolled in IAME courses. The BOI was informed that as far as CHED is concerned, there is an existing Final Closure Order on all IAME course offerings, hence no favorable action could be taken on the foreign students’ request, unless they transfer to and are admitted in other recognized schools.

    CHED has also written to the Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary seeking its assistance in notifying all embassies abroad about the status of IAME to protect the welfare of foreign nationals who plan to enroll in said school.

    Issued this 25th day of July 2012, Higher Education Development Center building, U.P. Campus, Diliman, Quezon City

BIT International College-Jagna
List of CHED-Recognized Programs:

Program Name   Program Major
Bachelor in Elementary Education   English
Bachelor in Secondary Education   English
Bachelor of Arts   English
Bachelor of Science in Commerce   Management

source: http://ched.gov.ph/central/page/bit-international-college-jagna

BIT International College- Talibon
List of CHED-Recognized Programs:

Program Name   Program Major
Bachelor of Arts   English
Bachelor of Elementary Education   English
Bachelor of Secondary Education   English
Math
Social Science

BIT International College- Siquijor
List of CHED-Recognized Programs:

Program Name   Program Major
Bachelor of Arts   English
Bachelor in Elementary Education   
Bachelor of Science in Commerce   Accounting
Bachelor of Secondary Education   
Diploma in Midwifery

BIT International College â€" Tagbilaran
List of CHED-Recognized Programs:

Program Name   Program Major
Bachelor of Arts   English
Library Science
Political Science
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication   
Bachelor of Elementary Education   
Bachelor of Laws   
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy   
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering   
Bachelor of Science in Commerce   Banking and Finance
Management
Management Accounting
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering   
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science   
Bachelor of Science in Criminology   
Bachelor of Science in Customs Administration   
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering   
Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering   
Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management   
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology   Automotive Technology
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology   Electrical Technology
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology   Electronics Technology
Bachelor of Science in Information Management   
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology   
Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation   
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering   
Bachelor of Science in Nursing   
Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy   
Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology   
Bachelor of Secondary Education   Computer
English
Filipino
General Science
Industrial Arts
Mathematics
Social Studies

BIT International College â€" Carmen
List of CHED-Recognized Programs:

Program Name   Program Major
Bachelor of Agricultural Technology   
Bachelor of Arts   English Language
Bachelor of Elementary Education   English

Updating school curriculum can combat automation

To prepare the workforce for the scaling up of the BPO industry with artificial intelligence and automation, the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) and the government are planning to update the higher institutions’ academic curriculum on software and information technology (IT) education. PSIA and Department of Information and Communication Technology underscored the significance of mainstreaming IT and software skills in confronting the challenges of technology. Information and Communication Technology Undersecretary Monchito B. Ibrahim said they are working with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to have a specialization focusing on the fundamentals of AI to be approved. Ibrahim said the challenge is allowing schools to be more adaptable to changes in the real world.
06 November 2017

Omega Healthcare eyes UAE expansion

Healthcare outsourcing services provider Omega Healthcare Inc has announced plans to seek opportunities to expand in the UAE market soon. The company's co-founder and CEO, Gopi Natarajan, said they are looking at exploring the Middle East market, which is at a very nascent stage, targeting hospitals and key healthcare industry players. The company currently serves over 100 US healthcare companies from its offices in India and the Philippines, where it operates contact centers in the capital Manila and Cebu City. Omega Healthcare has over 12,500 employees. It recently acquired healthcare analytics firm Whitespace Health.
06 November 2017

Infosys opening innovation hub in Indiana

Software major Infosys is opening an innovation hub in Indiana and will hire 2,000 workers, with plans to set up many more such hubs in the US, Infosys non-executive chairman Nandan Nilekani said. Nilekani said Infosys was using its infrastructure in capacity building for the future. The Bengaluru-based IT major will replicate its Indian model of hiring thousands of fresh graduates from campuses and then training and deploying them on projects for customers, in the US. Nilekani, who returned at the helm of India’s second-largest IT services company in August, said the company would look to create more innovation hubs beginning with Indiana and use its deep capabilities in training to educate local people in new technologies.
07 November 2017

AI-human integration can raise profits - Accenture

The successful integration of human skills and artificial intelligence capabilities in the business process outsourcing sector could result in more profitability, according to an industry study conducted by Accenture The report said automation in information and communication, manufacturing and financial services may result in a 38% rise in profitability by 2035 and result in USD14tr in additional gross value added. Given these findings, Accenture said businesses need to act now by optimising processes with intelligent automation.
07 November 2017

IT-BPM sector must reskill to combat AI - Everest

With new technology replacing jobs at a rapid pace, many information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) companies are giving priority to reskilling employees. Instead of firing those affected by automation and then hiring new people for complex work, many companies in the IT-BPM sector are reskilling their employees to remain relevant. Everest Group managing partner of research Eric Simonson said there will be job losses in the repetitive, rules-based work, leaving the complex work with higher-order skills requirement. Contact Center Association of the Philippines Joselito Uligan said contact-center workers should be first in line for retooling skill sets as their work will be the ones vulnerable to automation.
07 November 2017

IT-BPM industry ready to invest on AI

Whenever clients would demand for artificial intelligence to increase productivity and improve efficiency, companies belonging to the IT-BPM industry in the Philippines said they are ready to invest on AI to seize the opportunity. Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) President Jojo Uligan said IT-BPM players can provide AI when the customers want it. He, however, warned that investing heavily in AI will initially slowdown companies' profitability because they will be investing on new technology and on people. He added that some companies are offering AI to their clients as upgraded services since it could improve customer experience, faster response time, and increase productivity.
08 November 2017

Outsourcing leaders revisit BPO roadmap

With the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation in the outsourcing industry, key industry players are now revisiting the roadmap to determine if there needs to be tweaked. The Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) is set to release the study on the call center in relation to AI and automation at the end of the year. Other groups in the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) are also conducting their own studies. CCAP Jojo Uligan said they will do an inventory of the services to determine how many workers and how much of the services will be affected. The magnitude of the impact of AI is expected to easily affect the contact center sector, which accounts for 70% of the 1.2 million total workforce of the IT-BPM industry.
08 November 2017

TCS opens 30,000-seat facility in Mumbai

IT and outsourcing giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) opened a sprawling facility in Thane, Mumbai that will seat 30,000 employees, an ambitious exercise aimed at consolidating its operations across the Mumbai region under one roof. The new facility named Olympus Centre was inaugurated by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Since TCS functions from several offices in the city, some of them being rented properties, it was decided to bring a chunk of the operations under one roof, said officials. TCS Olympus Centre will be developed in two phases and can accommodate 30,000 employees once fully operational. The state-of the art facility includes a training block, club house and gymnasium thus providing a contemporary and holistic work culture.
08 November 2017

TeleTech acquires niche BPO firm Motif

TeleTech Holdings, a US-based customer engagement solutions firm, has acquired niche business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Motif for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition, according to TeleTech, adds dynamic digital brands to its client portfolio and deepens the company's digital and analytics capabilities. It also expands the company's footprint in India, where Motif is headquartered, said TeleTech chairman and CEO Ken Tuchman. Motif, which operates out of Ahmedabad in India and Manila in the Philippines, specialises in providing omnichannel contact centers for e-commerce companies, travel, and financial services firms. Motif CEO Kaushal Mehta said TeleTech is a natural fit for Motif because of its focus on building engaging and safe customer relationships across channels.
09 November 2017

Negros ICT head to speak in Guatemala BPO convention

Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, executive director of Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation of ICT (BNEFIT) will be among the speakers during the Guatemala BPO Convention 2017 to be held at Hotel Intercontinental Los Robles on 23 November. Batapa-Sigue will speak on how to develop intermediate cities like Bacolod, and the reasons for the Philippines' success and its best practices. She is expected to highlight how Bacolod City and other Tier II cities in the Philippines took advantage of the Next Wave Cities program of the government to eventually become hubs of ICT jobs and investments. Additionally, she will also share about the rationale and objective of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines as the umbrella organization of ICT councils in the Philippines.
09 November 2017

Megaworld mulls high-tech BPO building in Davao

Major property developer Megaworld has unveiled a number of projects, comprising office buildings and commercial complexes, each year through 2020. Among the planned projects is a high-tech building for business process outsourcing (BPO) service providers in Davao City. According to reports, Megaworld is planning to build more than 10 office buildings and commercial complexes through 2020, increasing the company's total rental space to 2.11 million square meters in three years. Megaworld remains unfazed, even as IT-related foreign investment in Q2 dropped 34% year-on-year, since it is betting on the long-term growth of the country's property market.
09 November 2017

South Korea's USD1.7bn loan offer to cover ICT

South Korea has offered a USD1.7bn credit facility and another USD7m in the form of non-lending programs to the Philippines to help implement the Duterte administration’s priority programs in the transport, information and communications technology (ICT), and energy sectors. In a statement, the Department of Finance (DOF) said the financial instruments would be available through the Export-Import Bank of Korea, which controls an economic development cooperation fund that facilitates official development assistance. The KEXIM credit line can also be tapped via a tied loan facility with South Korean companies entering into joint ventures with Philippine local firms, the DOF added.
09 November 2017

English skills alone won’t protect local BPO from AI - Sutherland

The Philippine workers' command of spoken English will not protect the industry from the effects of artificial intelligence and automation in the next five years. This was the forecast of Rajneesh Tiwary, chief delivery officer at Sutherland Global Services. The Philippines needs to prove to the world it has more to offer than just a pool of English-speaking talent. BPO executives said the country has to take on high-value outsourcing jobs in research and analytics and turn the headwinds from Artificial Intelligence into an opportunity. By 2022, the Philippines' share of the global outsourcing pie is estimated to reach about USD250bn. The key would be to ensure workers are trained in areas like data analytics and data mining, among others.
10 November 2017

SPi CRM opens new US site to support DISH Network subscribers

Global call center firm SPi CRM has opened its 12th global facility at Silver Lake Mall in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to provide support to subscribers of DISH Network. It is SPi CRM's second location in North America, representing an initial investment worth over USD3m. The site initially has 150 agents supporting DISH. This will be expanded by an additional 300 seats, to be filled in by next year, reaching a total headcount of over 550 in 2018. SPi CRM President and CEO Maulik Parekh said they chose Coeur d' Alene because of its favorable business climate and the availability of qualified talent. The company has nearly 11,000 employees across the US, Australia, Nicaragua, and the Philippines.
10 November 2017

Local growth rate seen as high as 8% in five years

The country's growth rate could hit as high as 8% in five years, according to Dr. Bernardo Villegas, research director at the University of Asia and the Pacific. The current growth rate is at least 6%. The expected 8% growth rate will be mainly driven by the USD30bn annual remittances of 10 million overseas Filipino workers and the USD25bn revenue generated by the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, Villegas said. Except for extraordinary circumstances, such as a nuclear conflict between North Korea and the US, Villegas said the high growth rate will prevail.
10 November

More BPO firms expected to come to Davao in 2018

According to local office space provider Skynora, Davao City will be attracting more BPO from Manila and from abroad in 2018, especially with the launch of Skynora Premium Office Solutions, which offers about 5,000 square meters of office spaces ideal for BPO firms. Skynora Premium Office Solutions, according vice president Julie Go, has a 982 seating capacity for each of the two floors of the Robinson's Cybergate Delta building it occupies.
11 November 2017

Oracle NetSuite names new Philippines head

Oracle NetSuite, a provider of cloud-based financials / ERP, HR, Professional Services Automation (PSA) and omnichannel commerce software suites, has announced the appointment of Hazel del Rosario-Lee as the new managing director of its Philippine office headquartered in Makati City. She joined the company in 2007 when the NetSuite office first opened. She has held roles in both the Operations and Technical Support departments, and is currently serving as the Senior Director for Technical Support. Lee has previous experience at Microsoft Business Solutions and Sykes Asia.
10 November 2017

Convergys posts 7% decline in revenue in Q3

Global outsourcing giant Convergys reported a 7% decline in revenue for the third quarter of 2017 to USD688m from USD741m in the same period last year. Third-quarter revenue also includes USD13m, a 2 percent inorganic contribution for the month of July from the buw acquisition which closed in August 2016. The company said its bottom line declined to USD41.9m, or USD0.42 per share. This was down from USD47.8m, or USD0.46 per share, in last year's third quarter. Analysts had expected the company to earn USD0.44 per share, according figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company expects a slight improvement in fourth-quarter results compared to its third-quarter results.
07 November 2017

Firstsource cuts headcount in onshore, offshore centers

Outsourcing firm Firstsource Solutions has trimmed the number of its employees across its onshore and offshore centers in the US, UK, the Philippines, and India. In India alone, the Sanjiv Goenka-owned outsourcing firm has seen more than 40% cut in its number of employees, partly due to the closure of its businesses in the country. In July, it sold its Indian domestic business to Vertex Customer Management India. In a statement, the company said sale of domestic business would now lead to improvement in margins going forward. Across its onshore and offshore centres, which include the Philippines, headcount is down by 5,819 people to 19,194.
06 November 2017

Slowdown in BPO may cause office glut - Colliers

The country's office property market will be turning less favorable for landlords from 2019 onward, according to property consulting firm Colliers Philippines. Colliers cited the slowdown in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector and the unpredictability of the offshore gaming industry that has boomed almost overnight in the metropolis. Dinbo Macaranas, senior research manager at Colliers Philippines, noted that office supply had reached a record high at a time when demand from BPOs was slowing and the sustainability of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) was yet to be proven, resulting in rising vacancy rates and flattening rental rates in Metro Manila.
10 November 2017

American and Filipino Service Members Honored at 2017 Veterans Day Commemoration

Left: U.S. and Philippine service members march with the flags of both countries.  Right: Ambassador Sung Kim and Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina conduct a ceremonial wreath-laying to honor American and Filipino Veterans.

Manila, November 13, 2017 â€" On November 11, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim led the 2017 Veterans Day commemoration at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City, Metro Manila.

Veterans Day is an American holiday that originates with the formal end of hostilities of World War I with the signing of the Armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.  It has since become a day to honor all veterans who served the United States.

Veterans of both the United States and Philippine militaries attended the event, along with representatives from the U.S. Embassy, the Government of the Philippines, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other invited guests.  The commemoration included a ceremonial color guard, a wreath-laying, a 21-gun salute, taps, as well as remarks from Ambassador Kim and Undersecretary Ernesto G. Carolina, Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.

Speaking to the assembled audience, Ambassador Kim emphasized the immense debt of gratitude owed to both U.S. and Filipino service members for their sacrifices made in defense of freedom.

U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) Manila was a co-sponsor of the ceremony.  For 95 years, the VA has had a presence in Manila.  As the only VA office located outside of the United States, VA Manila is a testament to the close historical ties between the two countries.  As an integral part of the U.S. Mission to the Philippines, VA Manila partners with its Philippine counterparts and veterans service organizations to ensure the delivery of medical care and benefits in recognition of the contributions of veterans in defense of both countries.

U.S.-Philippine Cooperation Leads to Arrest of Colombian National for Possession of Drugs at NAIA

Manila, November 14, 2017 â€" The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines commends the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA IADITG), the Philippine Bureau of Customs, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on the seizure of 1 kg of drugs, suspected to be cocaine, and the arrest of the traveler in possession of the drugs.

On November 12, 2017, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Manila shared information on a high-risk traveler aboard an incoming international flight with the Philippine Bureau of Customs and the PDEA at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.  This information resulted in the arrest of a Colombian national for possession of drugs.  This operation was successful thanks to close coordination between HSI, the Bureau of Customs, the PDEA, and the NAIA IADITG.

During an interview with the Philippine Bureau of Customs, the traveler admitted to swallowing approximately 1 kg of cocaine in order to smuggle the drugs into the country.  He was taken into custody by Philippine authorities and transported to a local Manila hospital, where x-rays verified the existence of foreign, circular items within his body.  Authorities recovered 79 condom-wrapped pellets from the subject.

The subject was arrested by Philippine law enforcement authorities for violating Section 5 of Republic Act 9165, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. 

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STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE
BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list
Chair, Committee on Public Information

MRT 3 MUST GIVE BEST PROSTHETIC DEVICE TO VICTIM

MRT 3 must shoulder all medical, hospitalization, and related post-hospitalization expenses of the woman whose hand or arm was severed earlier today at the MRT 3 where she fell on the rail tracks and a train ran over her limb.

MRT 3 must get the victim the best prosthetic device at no cost to her.

MRT 3 must also indemnify the victim for her income loss.

She already bought her ticket and that completed transaction meant her safety and security was the responsibility of MRT 3.

Our light rail and railway service should have an insurance system that will cover unfortunate incidents such as this.

I also take this opportunity to call for much better security and crowd management measures at our light rail and railway facilities. Obviously, the measures they have are not enough. (END)

Reference:

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/633128/mrt-train-s-coupler-cuts-off-woman-s-right-hand-at-ayala-station/story/

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STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE NEIL J. ABAYON
AANGAT TAYO Party-list
Assistant Minority Leader

MILLENNIAL SOLON: INSURANCE COVERAGE NEEDED AT OUR LIGHT RAILS, PNR

Our sympathies go to the woman whose arm or hand was severed when she fell on the rails of the MRT 3 today, November 14. MRT 3 must shoulder all her hospitalization, recovery, and rehabilitation expenses.

These incidents resulting to injuries and deaths along our country’s light rails and railways highlight the need for the provision of insurance coverage meant to make sure all victims are properly compensated and the government is also protected as to liability costs.

There are different ways to go about this. One way is via microinsurance on a per passenger per trip basis. Another way is for the different rail firms to get insurance covering their entire networks. Yet another approach is for the rail firms to require their maintenance and operations service providers to get the insurance coverage.

Other options can also be put forth by other sectors.

Bottom line is the cost to the riding public and the government must be reasonably minimal or hardly felt. Higher fare rates must not be the result of the insurance coverage for these incidents. (END)

Reference:http://thestandard.com.ph/news/metro/251651/woman-reportedly-loses-an-arm-in-mrt-mishap.html

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Bohol Sunday Post, Jan. 7, 2007
Hold-uppers struck again last Friday, robbing a group from the First Consolidated Bank (FCB) Foundation and carting away with more than P300,000 in cash. Hours later, a cooperative worker was held up and divested of more than P4,000 in what has been viewed as an open challenge to Mayor Dan Lim's leadership. The twin hold-ups came on the heels of the more celebrated P500,000 heist pulled off days earlier on a cashier from the Unitop Marketing that resulted in the death of security guard.

Initial investigation revealed that four employees of the FCB Foundation went to the bank's main branch on CPG Ave. , near the corner of Belderol St. The victims were identified as Fernando Inguito, 34, married, a native of Sta. Cruz, Baclayon who works as a supervisor of the FCB Foundation located along Mendoza St., Gilbert Mumar, 25, married, of Poblacion, San Miguel, account officer, Vince Cosare, 24, married, of Bonbon, Clarin, account officer, and Rey Tejano, 25, single, account officer, a native of Biliran province. The four had just withdrawn the amount of P336,000 from the FCB main branch and were on their way to deliver the money to Barangay Mariveles, Dauis town. When they were outside the bank, three men suddenly approached them and aimed their guns at the victims.

The suspects quickly snatched the bag containing the cash and immediately fled on a blue Honda XRM motorcycle towards Belderol St. According to Tejano, one of the suspects was armed with either an Uzi or an Ingram while the second was armed with a .45 caliber revolver. He was not sure about the gun of the third suspect. At 8 that night, another hold-up was reported in Dao district. The victim was identified as one Elvira Tapay, 39, a native of Canangkaan, Corella town.

The victim had just emerged from her work at a community hospital and was on her way home. When she passed by a bakeshop in Dao, she decided to drop by to buy bread. One of the suspects pretended to buy bread while the other aimed his gun at her and declared a hold-up. The suspect then grabbed the bag of the victim containing more or less P4,000. The victim tried to recover her bag but one of the three suspects fired his gun at her. Fortunately, the bullet did not hit her. The suspects then fled aboard a red motorcycle. As this developed, Lim issued a warning to the suspects that he will not take the series of hold-ups sitting down. Lim virtually made a threat to the suspects to “surrender or die”.

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Sunday Post, Jan 7, 2007 - The peace and quite of the week that was in this city was shattered by a brutal accusation from a crusading individual that all Bohol congressmen were crooks. Lawyer Victor de la Serna went to town through the city's radio stations hosting public affairs program and accused the three solonsâ€"Edgar Chatto, Roberto Cajes and Eladio Jala of dipping their fingers in the public tills.

“I have the evidence to prove that they are crooks” thundered de la Serna during the Cuentas Claras radio program over Station DYTR. He repeated the same accusation in another radio program over Station DYRD.

Just what was de la Serna up to in making the serious accusations remained a mystery up to press time but observers believed that it was all part of the election season where politicians are considered fair game of the slings and arrows of a concerned public. If elections push through, a mid-term polls is scheduled this coming May. Known for his flamboyant flair to call a spade a spade, de la Serna is being touted to run for Congress in the first district but he denied this vehemently saying that he has no money to pursue any serious electoral plan.

De la Serna is one guy who believes that money is all what it takes to win an election in Bohol . This explained why he dismissed any insinuation of his political motives in calling the lawmakers crooks as part of his election game plan. Asked what will happen if the target of his tirade will feel offended, de La Serna challenged his adversaries to go ahead and file a case in court. He said “ those who felt offended can hale him to court and prove their innocence while he is also ready to prove their guilt.” He justified that what he was saying was a statement of fact and he is ready to show proofs.

3 SOLONS REACT

Despite the gravity of the accusations, the three Bohol solons remained cool and composed in their answer to de la Serna's bombast. For Chatto who appeared to be the one hardly hit (de la Serna also accused him of his role in the sale of PPUD to the Salcon Group, but that is another story) , he considered de la Serna's rantings as part of the hazards of the profession. The full text of Chatto's answer reads as follow: “ A large number of our people know our dedication to public service. Those who know me as a student, as a co-worker, as a friend can speak well about the kind of person I am and the Christian values I strongly adhered to. I considered attacks being hurled against me as part of the professional hazards in the political arena.”

In a separate interview, Chatto also conceded that as elections draw near, mudslinging is common fare in the political arena and that in his long years in public service no one can accuse him of retaliating with the same ferocity as his accuser was doing He said it was never his style in politics to fight mud with mud. For his part, Cong. Cajes, in an interview with Cuentas Claras, said he was not offended by the tirades of his friend de la Serna. Saying he has great respect for the lawyer-topnotcher, Cajes said it was within the rights of de la Serna to make the denunciation.

Instead, he urged his constituent in the second district not believe every word de la Serna said because his lifestyle and performance all speak for themselves. Like Chatto, Jala's best defense against de la Serna's brickbats was that it was all part of the game. Quoting Voltaire, Jala said he may not entirely agree with what de la Serna was saying but he will fight to his death of his right to say it. At this time where libel laws are more or less liberalized, Jala said as a public official he doesn't feel offended to the accusation because there was no iota of truth to it. He made another quotation in the landmark decision in US vs Bustos on thin-skinned public officials.

In US vs Bustos, Jala quoted Justice Malcolm as saying that the “interest of society and the maintenance of good government demand a full discussion of public affairs. Complete liberty to comment on the conduct of public men is a scalpel in the case of free speech. The sharp incision of its probe relieves the abscesses of officialdom. Men in public life may suffer under a hostile and unjust accusation; the wound may be assuaged by the balm of clear conscience. A public official must not be too thin-skinned with reference to comments upon his official acts”.

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Bohol: Sekwate ug Puto Maya

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Parking Fee Outside Dampas, Tagbilaran Cemetery

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In Maribojoc, Bohol: Yes to Sports

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New rights are given explicit recognition
such as, the prohibition against detention by
reason of political beliefs and aspirations.
The waiver of Miranda rights is now
required to be made in writing with the
assistance of counsel. The use of solitary,
incommunicado and secret detention places
is prohibited, while the existence of
substandard and inadequate penal facilities
is made the concern of legislation.

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At Dalareich House of Chocolates at Booy, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

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Cacao Fruit

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Aerial View of Dumaluan Beach Resort in Panglao, Bohol

STATEMENT BY
THE HONORABLE NEIL J. ABAYON
AANGAT TAYO Party-list
Assistant Minority Leader

STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF SUSPECTED KILLER OF GRAB DRIVER MAQUIDATO

I congratulate the Philippine National Police on the arrest of a suspect in the murder of Grab driver Gerardo Maquidato, Jr. https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines/videos/2069126743327214/
Narc Tulod Delemios, as it turns out, is a repeat offender with another arrest warrant for different murder case pending in a court in Paranaque.

My challenge now to the PNP is to do thorough, by-the-book police work to make sure the Maquidato murder charge sticks and leads to conviction during a speedy trial.

Now is yet another time for the PNP to prove to the Filipino people it can really do proper police work and rehabilitate its image sullied by the war against illegal drugs.

DOST-TAPI conducts inventors contest and exhibits

Staging the theme, “Inventions and innovations for the People”, the Department of Science and Technology- Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI), through the DOST Regional Office 1, will conduct the 2017 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (RICE) on November 14 to 16, 2017 at the Robinsons Place Ilocos in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.

To recognize Filipino inventor’s creativity, hardworks and efforts in showing their inventive capabilities, a total of 234 entries from the secondary schools, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and private individuals and institutions in Region 1 will be exhibited and judged during the event. The total entry is composed of 6 Utility Models, 13 Creative Research, and Sibol Awards which is composed of 201 and 14 entries from secondary schools and SUCs, respectively.

The competing teams or individuals will be garnering the following awards namely, Tuklas Award, Outstanding Utility Model Award, Outstanding Industrial Design, Likha Award, and Sibol Award for high school and college students.

The entries will be judged according to the originality of the technology, creativity/methodology, the market potential and usefulness, and presentation and demonstration of the participants.

Three regional winners will be selected per category and will be announced and awarded during the closing ceremonies on November 16, 2017.

An inventors’ summit will also be conducted to discuss concerns among the inventors as well as the laws governing inventions, and their rights and privileges.

Losing Your Life

(For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.) - Matthew 16:25

Christians are commanded to lose their lives. This means they ought to deliberately release their lives to God and His kingdom. One of the greatest hindrances to you being on mission with God will be your view of what constitutes your “legitimate rights”; that is, those things that you feel you have a right to experience and enjoy. It’s not difficult to turn over to Christ those things that are not a sacrifice or that you would prefer to do without anyway. Rather, it is the things that are good and that are dear to you that may stand between you and God’s will.

It’s good to be near your grown children and grandchildren, for example, but God may want you to go to another city or continent on mission with Him. It’s good to get adequate rest, but you may receive a call of distress in the middle of the night. You may assume that you have a right to certain material things, yet God may ask you to release all of your possessions to Him and His purposes (Matt. 19:21).

Jesus modeled perfectly this attitude toward life. He had a legitimate right to enjoy the comforts of heaven. Yet, He did not look at it as a right He should hold on to, nor did He see leaving all that was His as a sacrifice too costly to make (Phil. 2:5-11). As a result, God highly exalted Him and brought salvation to a broken world.

Has the world convinced you that there are certain rights that you must protect? Are you trying to save your life? Have you noticed that in so doing, you are actually losing the life God wants you to have? - Henry and Richard Blackaby

STATEMENT BY THE

HONORABLE HENRY C. ONG
2nd District of Leyte
Vice Chair, Committee on Banks & Financial Intermediaries
Member, Committees on Transportation, Visayas Development,
Economic Affairs, and 8 other committees

SOLON CALLS ON DTI, BUSINESS TO BE READY FOR GIFT CHECK NON-EXPIRY ACT THIS CHRISTMAS

The proposed Gift Check Non-Expiry Act, of which I am one of the principal authors, would most likely become law before Christmas.

Both the House and the Senate recently agreed on the bicameral conference committee report. The bill will soon be transmitted to the Office of the President for signature of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

To speed up the implementation of the Gift Check Non-Expiry Act, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) needs only to update its Department Administrative Order No. 10-04, series of 2010.

DTI should be updating DAO No. 10-04, series of 2010, and all related issuances by now.

In the updating process, I strongly suggest to the DTI that they find ways to allow the general public to immediately reap the benefits of the new law, so that gift checks that are already in circulation and soon to be released will be covered.

Issuers of gift checks should, by now, accept the fact that this measure will certainly become law and should already have protocols for the redemption or availment of the gift checks during the coming December holidays. They have no excuse on this because they have long been aware of this bill and its progress. (END)

REFERENCES:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ilL7KAK3i5eGJVYVlXdTAwenM/view
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/08/09/1726937/no-more-expiry-date-gift-certificates
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE INFORMATION
DATE REQUESTED TO FORM A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: 2017-09-18
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REQUESTED BY: HOUSE
DATE AGREED TO FORM A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: 2017-09-20

REMARKS:
CONCOM MEMBERS(HOUSE): Biron, Romualdo, Vergara, Zubiri, Castelo, Sy-Alvarado, Tambunting, Belmonte (J.C.), Ortega (V.N.), Arcillas
CONCOM MEMBERS(SENATE): Zubiri, Gatchalian, Villar, Angara, Aquino
DATE HOUSE AGREED ON CONCOM REPORT: 2017-10-10
DATE SENATE AGREED ON CONCOM REPORT: 2017-10-11

THE HONORABLE HENRY C. ONG
2nd District of Leyte
Vice Chair, Committee on Banks & Financial Intermediaries
Member, Committees on Transportation, Visayas Development,
Economic Affairs, and 8 other committees

IRR NG GIFT CHECK NON-EXPIRY ACT, PINAHAHANDA NA SA DTI PARA UMABOT SA PASKO

Yamang halos tiyak nang maisasabatas ang Gift Check Non-Expiry bill bago sumapit ang pasko, inudyukan ni Leyte 2nd District Congressman Henry Ong ang Department of Trade and Industry na asikasuhin na agad pag-draft ng Implementing Rules and Regulations nito para maramdaman na agad ng publiko ang bisa nito.
                                                     
Si Ong ang isa sa mga may akda ng bersyon ng Gift Check Non-Expiry bill sa House of Representatives.

Payo ni Ong, “Ang kailangan lang gawin ng DTI ay i-update ang Department Order No. 10-04, series of 2010, at ang iba pang kaugnay na kautusan ng DTI hinggil sa gift check at iyon na mismo yung pwede nilang i-adapt bilang IRR.”

“Kadalasan kasi, matapos maging epektibo ang isang batas, binibigyan pa ng 90 days ang isang departamento para gumawa ng IRR, pero sa kaso nitong Gift Check Non-Expiry Act, I don’t think the DTI needs three extra months to accomplish that. I-uupdate lang nila yung Department Orders nila. Dapat ding abisuhan na agad ang mga issuer ng GCs hinggil sa bill na malapit nang maging batas para bawas aberya. Kailangang madaliin na ito ng DTI para umabot sa pasko at mapakinabangan na agad ng publiko,” giit ni Ong.

Pag naging batas na ang panukala ni Ong, ipagbabawal na ang pag-issue ng mga gift checks, gift certificates, o gift cards na may expiration date. Nais tiyakin ng panukala na ang mga consumer ay di napagkakaitan ng halaga ng kanilang salapi hanggang sa huling sentimo gaya ng nakasaad na halaga sa gift check.

Ang discount para sa mga senior citizen at may kapansanan ay dapat pa ring i-aplay kahit na gift check ang ipambabayad, ayon sa panukala.

Nagkasundo na ang Kamara at ang Senado sa bicameral conference committee report at ipadadala na ito sa Malacanang para mapirmahan na ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Sa November 20, muling magbabalik sesyon ang Kongreso matapos ang ASEAN holiday. (WAKAS)

REFERENCES:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ilL7KAK3i5eGJVYVlXdTAwenM/view
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/08/09/1726937/no-more-expiry-date-gift-certificates

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE INFORMATION
DATE REQUESTED TO FORM A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: 2017-09-18
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REQUESTED BY: HOUSE
DATE AGREED TO FORM A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: 2017-09-20

REMARKS:

CONCOM MEMBERS(HOUSE): Biron, Romualdo, Vergara, Zubiri, Castelo, Sy-Alvarado, Tambunting, Belmonte (J.C.), Ortega (V.N.), Arcillas
CONCOM MEMBERS(SENATE): Zubiri, Gatchalian, Villar, Angara, Aquino
DATE HOUSE AGREED ON CONCOM REPORT: 2017-10-10
DATE SENATE AGREED ON CONCOM REPORT: 2017-10-11

STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Party-list, Assistant Majority Leader

PRESIDENT DUTERTE IMPRESSES APEC CEOs IN VIETNAM
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, a lawyer by profession, proved to the international business community via the APEC CEO Summit in Vietnam that he has a deep understanding of globalization and international economics and their implications on national life.

His extemporaneous response to the question from the floor about what countries can do to address globalization was on point, bull’s eye.

With the migration of the best human resource talents to where the job opportunities are, President Duterte stressed that “people left behind” must be able to catch up. He drew first from the experience of the US with the migration of businesses to China, before he spoke of the Philippine migration of highly skilled labor to the Middle East. Impressive!

I believe President Duterte and US President Donald Trump will like each other quite well given this latest display of statesmanship and deep understanding of international business concerns by President Duterte.

Even in the international arena, President Duterte displays political maturity and savviness, drawing from his reservoir of experiences from decades of public service. He has, in fact, already restored fishing access of Filipino fisherfolks to the South China Sea.

Although there are reported incidents taking place in the small islands in the South China Sea, President Duterte, who has access to top secret intelligence and an array of advisers, should be given the widest latitude in pursuing the best strategy for the national interest.

President Duterte himself has said that he has not cast aside the ruling of the International Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague and he said he will raise that matter at a more appropriate time.

The entire Filipino nation needs to fully support President Duterte who knows how to play geopolitical chess. (END)

STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE
BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list
Chair, Committee on Public Information
HOUSE PUBLIC INFO CHAIR CHALLENGES PNP CHIEF TO BUILD TRUST, EARN RESPECT

I concur with the current pragmatic disposition of PNP Chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. There are many crimes out there for the PNP to solve and thousands of criminals for the police to arrest.

With PNP’s successful arrest of the suspected killer of the good Samaritan Grab driver, Director General dela Rosa now needs to prove the police he leads is a law enforcement force that knows how to properly enforce the law, arrest criminals, prove their guilt with overwhelming, untainted, admissible evidence, and exorcise rogue cops from its ranks.

The PNP is in a crisis of trust and competence. PNP Chief “Bato” must build the credibility of the police and earn the respect and admiration of the Filipino people.

No more shedding of tears during congressional hearings because the people have had enough of that.

What the people need to see are criminals arrested and convicted.

DOE Sec Cusi: DOE to Contain Mindoro Oil Spill

(Taguig City)â€"The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving fast to contain the oil spill that occurred on November 6 within the vicinity of the DMCI Power Plant in Brgy. Sta. Isabel, Calapan City.

According to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the DOE is closely coordinating with concerned government agencies, such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), to contain the damage brought about by the oil spill in the area.

"The DOE is primarily concerned with the safety of the people in the vicinity,” Cusi said as he directed the DOE to coordinate with concerned industry players for regular updates on the containment activities, and information on the cause of the oil spill.             

The DOE is also working on how to secure the oil and power supply requirements to protect the welfare of consumers in the area following the disruption caused by the oil spill, he added.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, specifically its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), will look into possible violations of environmental standards.

The DOE will conduct with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and National Power Corp. (NPC), in coordination with local officials, a comprehensive performance assessment and audit of the entire power sector system and facilities in Mindoro this week to address the issue.

The DOE emphasized that during incidents like this, protocols to be followed should be in accordance with Department Circular No. ‎‎98-02-003 directing all operations of oil rigs or platforms, power plants, oil tankers and barges carrying, producing and/or utilizing crude oil-based products to report all oil spills or environmental incidents to the Department of Energy within 8 hours for verbal/preliminary report and 48 hours for written report.

U.S. Embassy Closed on Friday November 10

Manila, November 9, 2017 â€" The United States Embassy in the Philippines and affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans Day, an American holiday.

The Embassy and affiliated offices will resume regular services on Monday, November 13.

Veterans Day is celebrated every year in the United States on November 11, which is the day that major hostilities of World War I formally ended with the signing of the Armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) â€" Virginia voters turned out in rainy weather Tuesday to pick a new governor after months of divisive campaigning led to an ugly slugfest overshadowed by racial overtones and attack ads.

New Jersey, a reliably Democratic state, was the only other state holding a gubernatorial election. The contests were seen as an early referendum on Donald Trump’s first year in office.

Both parties are seeking momentum ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

In Virginia â€" the only Southern state Trump lost last year â€" Republican Ed Gillespie is in a tight race with Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam.

While local politics and issues weighed heavy on voters’ minds, some also were driven by lingering resentment from Hillary Clinton’s loss or still excited by Trump’s win.

Vickie Williams, a stay-at-home mom, voted for Gillespie “because I’m a Republican. I voted for Donald Trump. I like the policies, that’s the only reason,” she said. “I want to feel like America is safe. I want to feel like we have more control, less government. I feel like the other way is big government.”

In New Jersey, Democrat Phil Murphy faces Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who was at the side of Gov. Chris Christie for the past eight years.

Virginia voters hit the polls Nov. 7 for a high stakes governor’s race, one of only two in the country and the first competitive statewide contest since Donald Trump took office. He hasn’t campaigned in the race, but Trump is a dominating factor. (Nov. 6)

“If I could get rid of Trump I would be even happier. I’ve never seen our state so miserable and I’ve never seen our country so miserable,” said John Holpp, 88, who said he voted for Murphy because he’s “hoping to get rid of” Christie, who is term-limited.

Guadagno, who wants to lower property taxes and end so-called sanctuary cities, has tried to distance herself from Trump and Christie, but it’s been challenging since she served as his top deputy.

In rural Virginia, Edward McKellar, 36, said the improving economy drove him to vote a straight Republican ticket.

“I like the direction our country is going right now,” said McKellar, an operations manager for an industrial company. “The economy is good. It’s as strong as it’s ever been. The work is out there. Savings and investments are good.”

Gillespie and Northam differ on taxes, guns, abortion and other issues. Gillespie supports a cut in the state’s income tax rate, less gun control and more restrictions on abortions. Northam said he wants a tax overhaul that targets low-income Virginians, supports greater gun restrictions and abortion rights.

Polling places reported higher turnout than the previous gubernatorial contest, and early voter numbers were up as well. The 180,000 absentee ballots returned as of Sunday were 60,000 more than all absentee votes cast in the 2013 gubernatorial election.

Generally speaking, Democrats tend to do better in Virginia with a greater turnout.

Nationally, Democrats haven’t won any special elections for Congress this year and the next Virginia governor will have a major say in the state’s next round of redistricting, when Congressional lines are drawn. Republicans are looking for a boost as their party is beset by intraparty turmoil between Trump and key Republicans in Congress.

Trump recorded calls to help boost Gillespie in the final stretch. In one call, Trump said Gillespie shared his views on immigration and crime and would help “Make America Great Again.” Trump also said Northam would be a “total disaster” for Virginia.

Gillespie has largely kept the president at a distance throughout the contest and did not campaign with Trump.

Political observers say the Virginia contest has been more racially charged than in recent memory. Outside groups on both sides have spent millions to influence the outcome and called on high-profile surrogates, including former President Barack Obama and Vice President Mike Pence.

Emogene and Jimmy Babb, both 74, voted straight Republican at a polling station in Windsor, Virginia. There wasn’t any one particular issue that drove them to the polls but said they shared Gillespie’s positions on gun rights and not removing Confederate statues.

“Statues should stay where they are,” said Emogene Babb, a retired office service specialist at a local health department. “They are part of our history. We need to accept life as it was. Our forefathers fought for them.”

WASHINGTON (AP) â€" The House’s top Democrat investigating Russia’s election meddling on Tuesday declared that in many ways President Donald Trump is “far more grave a threat” to American democracy than the Kremlin.

Rep. Adam Schiff cited a litany of actions by Trump, from appointing Cabinet officers with “direct conflicts of interest” and goals of dismantling their agencies to limiting Muslim immigration and discrediting federal judges.

As for the president’s own possible jeopardy, Schiff said Trump is trying to disparage the credibility of special counsel Robert Mueller and the congressional panels that are investigating possible coordination between his campaign and Russia in the election that put him in the White House.

“So no matter what is produced, he can say it’s a fake,” the California congressman said in an interview with The Associated Press.

“I do feel our democracy is under threat,” Schiff said. Trump’s approach to governing, he said, “is a serious problem and in many respects far more grave a threat than anything coming from outside the country.”

The interview came as Trump jetted across the global stage on his first official trip to Asia. But back in Washington, FBI and congressional probes continued to churn. Trump has insisted that the FBI investigation, including the federal indictments of former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the guilty plea of former adviser George Papadopoulos, have nothing to do with him.

The top Democrat on the House intelligence committee says the United States is “marginally better prepared” to prevent Russian interference in U.S. elections. But, Rep. Adam Schiff cautions that “the Russians are a very capable cyber-adversary.” (Nov. 7)

“It’s disappointing, though hardly surprising, that Adam Schiff would make hysterical and demonstrably false comments about the president, and then claim to be objective in his oversight duties,” said Raj Shah, White House principal deputy press secretary.

Schiff also had sharp words for Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet â€" Google’s parent company â€" who he said were stonewalling investigators about sharing data that could possibly link the Trump campaign to Russian interference.

Among the questions Schiff said the social media companies could help resolve is whether Americans were surreptitiously targeted by the Russians in ways that were “sufficiently specific and overlapping” that they would have required input directly from the Trump campaign.

When the companies were asked for such information, Schiff said: “They were noncommittal, but we will continue to press them.”

Excerpt from The Associated Press - The Pentagon has known for at least two decades about failures to give military criminal history information to the FBI, including the type of information the Air Force didn’t report about the Texas church gunman who had assaulted his wife and stepson while an airman.

The Air Force lapse in the Devin P. Kelley case, which is now under review by the Pentagon’s inspector general, made it possible for him to buy guns before his attack Sunday at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Twenty-six people were killed, including multiple members of some families. About 20 other people were wounded.

New details emerged, meanwhile, about his troubled Air Force career. In 2012, several months before his conviction in the domestic violence case, Kelley escaped from a civilian mental health center where he had been placed by the Air Force for treatment, according to Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek. She confirmed a Houston TV station report that was based on an El Paso, Texas, police report. Stefanek said privacy laws prohibited her from saying what Kelley was being treated for.

KPRC-TV also reported that the police officers who detained Kelley at an El Paso bus terminal after his escape were told he previously had been caught sneaking firearms onto Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, where he was stationed, and that he planned to carry out death threats against his military superiors. Stefanek said she could not confirm those details.

Rep. Mac Thornberry, the Texas Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he was appalled at the Air Force mistake and unsatisfied by its plans to investigate the matter.

“I don’t believe the Air Force should be left to self-police after such tragic consequences,” he said, adding that he fears the failure to report domestic violence convictions may be more widespread.

John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said he is working on legislation that would require swift reporting of military criminal history data. The requirement currently is based on an internal Pentagon rule that does not have the force of law.

An FBI database known as the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which contains information for use in background checks on prospective gun buyers, had only one Pentagon entry for domestic violence convictions as of Dec. 31, 2016. Most federal agencies had zero entries in that category.

STATEMENT BY THE
HONORABLE RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Party-list
Assistant Majority Leader ROQUE, A FALLING STAR

Harry Roque was so enthusiastic with his new post as Presidential Spokesperson such that even before he officially took his oath, he was already issuing official statements and conducting press briefings.

Consumed by ambition and greed, Roque moved heaven and earth to get the appointment. And he was so proud of himself that he uttered to his imagined detractors: mamatay kayo sa inggit!

Yet, his fame appears to be too short. On his very first day, various groups and personalities have already been calling for his resignation. He was called various epithets, and was accused of namamangka sa dalawang ilog.

He made history as he is being booted from his post even before he has warmed his seat. There was no honeymoon stage, so to speak. His enemies multiply faster than he can utter a word.

Like a falling star, Roque fades as fast as he falls. It will be good if even a little trace of him will be found when he lands. He cannot even be called a shooting star as this connotes emission of brightness before it falls to the ground.

Perhaps he sensed his immediate downfall is inevitable such that he was already applying to become a Presidential Adviser even before he officially assumed his post as Presidential Spokesperson.

Now he tries to cling like a leech to his vacated congressional seat through his dummy, Romel Bagares.

Therefore, let him who thinks is strong take heed lest he fall (I Cor. 10: 12). And God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4: 6-7).

City Mall Branches in PH

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STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE NEIL J. ABAYON
AANGAT TAYO Party-list
Assistant Minority Leader
MILLENNIAL NURSE-SOLON ASKS: WHERE IS RH EDUCATION CAMPAIGN?

A new study on the Philippine HIV-AIDS epidemic points to the worrying statistic that from 2007 to 2016 “fully 49 percent  of all HIV positive cases were men who habitually engaged in homosexual sex with either men or transgender women.” (https://goo.gl/y1a5Fi )

That study said those HIV cases involved men who were not yet born between 1984 and 2007.

Clearly, we need a reproductive health education campaign to make children and teens aware of how to safeguard their reproductive health. This program must be rolled out in barangays and schools.

We are not referring to any law. What we are looking for is a reproductive health campaign that the DOH-DILG-DepEd must implement (or should be implementing by now) by virtue of whatever statute or regulation.

A new law is not needed to make this program happen. A Department Order will do.

STATEMENT BY THE HONORABLE RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Party-list, Assistant Majority Leader

TRANSFER OF HOUSE SEAT TO CALALANG, THE NEXT KABAYAN NOMINEE, IS AUTOMATIC UNDER RA 7941 (PARTY-LIST LAW)

By accepting and performing the duties and functions of Presidential Spokesperson, Harry Roque has foreited his seat in the House of Representatives.

It is now the mere ministerial duty of the leadership of the House to, by operation of law, let Atty. Ciriaco Calalang serve the unexpired term as third nominee of the KABAYAn Party-list in the 2016 elections and assume the now vacant seat of Roque, which the Presidential Spokesperson acquired when he was still with the KABAYAN Party-list.

The transfer of the seat from Roque to Calalang is "automatic" acording to the Party-list Law or RA 7941.

KABAYAN Party-list shall abide by the Constitution and RA 7941. (END)

REFERENCES:

http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/

ARTICLE VI

SECTION 13. No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may hold any other office or employment in the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries, during his term without forfeiting his seat. Neither shall he be appointed to any office which may have been created or the emoluments thereof increased during the term for which he was elected.

SECTION 9. In case of vacancy in the Senate or in the House of Representatives, a special election may be called to fill such vacancy in the manner prescribed by law, but the Senator or Member of the House of Representatives thus elected shall serve only for the unexpired term.

RA 7941 â€" PARTY-LIST LAW

https://www.comelec.gov.ph/?r=References/RelatedLaws/ElectionLaws/RA7941

Section 16. Vacancy. - In case of vacancy in seats reserved for party-list representatives, the vacancy shall be automatically filled by the next representative from the list of nominees in the order submitted to the COMELEC by the same party, organization, or coalition, who shall serve for the unexpired term. If the list is exhausted, the party, organization, or coalition concerned shall submit additional nominees.

STATEMENT BY THE
HONORABLE RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Party-list
Assistant Majority Leader
09178917755 Twitter: @Kabayan_Ron

ROQUE = BULLY, FAKE, EXPELLED MEMBER OF KABAYAN

We stood our ground against Harry Roque’s bullying, both against me and against KABAYAN Party-list. And we shall stand to repulse him because the ground we stand on is the Constitution and the law - the 1987 Philippine Constitution and the Party-list Law (RA 7941).

Roque himself said on ANC, in a live phone interview with broadcast journalist Karen Davila, Tuesday morning November 7, that he has ceased to be a congressman. https://goo.gl/L2oJnG 

That was when he took his oath of office as Presidential Spokesperson on Monday, November 6, 2017.

The moment he assumed that office that is incompatible with the post of congressman, the House seat became automatically vacant. The 1987 Constitution is clear on this.

Roque therefore cannot perform any function akin and inherent to his former post as congressman. The case involving him before the HRET, as well as the case he filed with COMELEC to prevent his expulsion from the House of Representatives, is now moot and academic.

Roque was expelled from KABAYAN Party-list in January 2017 and has lost the right and authority to speak for KABAYAN. He has no legal ground to stand on.

Hindi na siya maaaring mamangka sa dalawang ilog.

His continuing machinations, lies, manipulation, and bullying won’t do him any good. They will all come back to haunt him. KABAYAN Party-list will exert all legal efforts to keep Roque in his place and repel all of his illegal actions and statements against the party.

Roque only served his own interests when he served as congressman in utter disregard of the KABAYAN Party-list agenda. He was expelled for that.

Certainly, it will be good for the country and himself if he focuses his attention on his work as Presidential Spokesperson, particularly now that calls for his resignation are already mounting despite just having assumed the post, instead of wasting his time in ensuring that his dummy gets to sit as KABAYAN Party-list representative. (END)

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi urged the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) on Monday to work for a more stable and affordable power supply as the government moves for the total electrification of the country, specially the far-flung communities.

Cusi made the exhortation through Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella who represented the DOE chief on the occasion of NAPOCOR’s 81st anniversary celebration held at the NPC building in Quezon City.

Cusi stressed that the Duterte administration wants to provide power to all of the remote, underserved or unserved areas in the Philippines.

“In serving the country’s peripheries, the NPC must double its efforts to lower electricity prices, achieve stable power supply and enhance the resilience of electric power infrastructures to ensure continued growth,” Fuentebella said.

During the NAPOCOR anniversary program, the Missionary Electrification Development Plan (MEDP) was highlighted as the DOE’s vision and ‎‎2016-2020 roadmap for off-grid power development projects.

With the National Electrification Administration (NEA), NAPOCOR will move to provide resilient, reliable and high-quality electricity services to off-grid provinces in the country.

“All these require the re-thinking of our current electric power infrastructure,” said Fuentebella, who batted for the introduction of innovative and emerging technologies.

During the celebration, NAPOCOR President Pio J. Benavidez turned over to the DOE a copy of ‎‎‎‎2018-2022 National Power Corporation Missionary Electrification Plan (MEP ‎‎‎2018-2022) which forms a major part of the MEDP.

The rationalization of the Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification (UC-ME) should make the power industry in off-grid areas more self-reliant and less dependent on subsidies in the long run, said the DOE official.

“I understand that there is so much to be done. But looking ahead, all this would mean that the country’s rural communities would be in a far better position than they are today,” Fuentebella said.
           
The DOE underscored the role NAPOCOR plays in the energy sector’s total electrification goal as mandated under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001.

Due to the influx of new economic activities and eco-tourism in off-grid provinces, additional power supply is needed to be consistent with the government’s objective of bringing economic development in these areas, the DOE concluded. - PR

LOS ANGELES, CA, October 13, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- One of the darkest chapters in Los Angeles' history is the story of its water supply; who brought water to the desert in the first place, and by what means. Since the Owens Valley water heist of 1913 was immortalized in the seminal film "Chinatown," immense controversy continues to loom over California's ever expanding water problems. To the powers that be, the question of whether to continue desalination efforts is so controversial, the agencies that control California's water usage cannot reach a unified decision. That is not the case with everyone.

Portland based Engineer, Brian Nissen, remains undaunted in his efforts to garner support for his renewable energy invention that he believes will help spur the Golden State's water reserves. Brian and his wife, Bella, have spent more than a decade on pro-bono problem solving, and poured nearly $100,000 of their own money working toward a viable water solution. They live in Oregon, a state known for its environmental entrepreneurship.

Nissen was granted a patent for his renewable energy system that will allow California to reduce prohibitive costs of water purification. Since California's farming and agricultural industries largely feed the nation and literally depend on water, this is no small feat. "Southern California is the best place for my technology because that's where conveyance requires the most energy," Nissen said. "Desalination itself is not a new idea. What's new is that I am using hydropower to energize a desalination plant that will generate 188 million gallons of water per day before any electricity is used. Solving the California water crisis while being environmentally responsible is my goal."

Since California's coastline sits atop the biggest source of water in the world, the Pacific Ocean, there are already half a dozen desalination plants in California, and around 300 in the U.S. But the technology has been held back by cost and by environmental concerns. Aware of the major carbon footprint that desalination can have, Nissen said, "the solution to the California water issue is not a small problem, the size of the problem requires a big cure."

Right now, Nissen's major concern is getting an audience to listen to the merits of his invention, "You can't have an honest conversation. You can't even get to the conversation that you need to have. You can't get through the door," he said. "The whole point," he added, "is that we need to put the heat on politicians through the public voice. It seems that is how change always happens."

To contact Brian Nissen please email him at brian@bellamachines.com.

The management company of numerous Polish open-ended funds Pioneer Pekao Investment Management SA notified the management board of AS Silvano Fashion Group (hereinafter SFG) of increase of its shareholding in SFG up to 5.215%. The different funds managed by Pioneer Pekao Investment Management SA hold altogether 2,085,893 shares of SFG, representing 5.215% of the entire issued share capital of SFG and votes entitled to vote at the general meeting of shareholders. 5.208% of the shareholding referred to above, i.e. altogether 2,083,003 shares are held by the funds managed by Pioneer Pekao Investment Management SA Pioneer Balanced Open-end Investment Fund (Polish name Pioneer
Zrównoważony Funusz Inwestycyjny Otwarty), Pioneer Polish Equity Open-end Investment Fund (Polish name Pioneer Akcji Polskich Fundusz Inwestycyjny Otwarty), Pioneer Stable Growth Open-end Investment Fund (Polish name Pioneer Stabilnego Wzrostu Fundusz Inwestycyjny Otwarty), Pioneer Small and Medium
Companies of the Polish Market Open-end Investment Fund (Polish name Pioneer MaÅ,ych i Åšrednich SpóÅ,ek Rynku Polskiego Fundusz Inwestycyjny Otwarty), Pioneer Medium Companies of the Polish Market Open-end Investment Fund (Polish name Pioneer Åšrednich SpóÅ,ek Rynku Polskiego Fundusz Inwestycyjny Otwarty) and Polish Telecommunication Dedicated Specialized Open-end Investment Fund (Polish
name Specjalistyczny Fundusz Inwestycyjny Otwarty Telekomunikacji Polskiej).

The shareholding of Pioneer Pekao Investment Management SA in SFG was increased
over 5% of the entire issued share capital of SFG and votes entitled to vote at
the general meeting of shareholders as a result of a transaction closed on 7
December 2007, whereas additional 100,000 shares of SFG were acquired. Pioneer
Pekao Investment Management SA become aware of the increase of its shareholding
over 5% on 17 December 2007. Before the above referred transaction was closed
the shareholding of the funds managed by Pioneer Pekao Investment Management SA
in SFG was altogether 4,965%, i.e. the funds managed by Pioneer Pekao
Investment Management SA held altogether 1,985,893 shares of SFG.

Sergei Kusonski
AS Silvano Fashion Group
member of management board
Tel +372 6 710 700

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Philippine Journalists Covering Police Operations

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NEW YORK, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The ongoing bull market obscures huge challenges for many companies. At any point, about a third of large US companies endure a severe, two-year decline in their ability to create shareholder value. And of those companies, about a third fail to recover within the following five years, according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).                                             
To stay ahead of the curve, companies must fundamentally transform themselves in ways that dramatically and sustainably improve performance. And they must do this over and over, according to a new report from BCG, The Transformations That Workâ€"and Why. In this era of always-on transformation, most companies need to undergo transformation at least once during any five-year window, the report says.

On the basis of its experience with more than 750 transformations across industries and regional markets, and by applying statistical analysis, BCG has identified several indicators of transformation success. A company whose transformation effort includes three crucial featuresâ€"strategic investments in R&D; a well-communicated, formal transformation plan; and the appointment of action-oriented leaders who have a disruptive mindsetâ€"can increase long-term shareholder returns by almost 14 percentage points, according to the report.

“Many companies aren’t doing enough to get ready for the future. For example, while profit margins are up 21% since 2010, investment in R&D has been flat and capital expenditures almost even,” said Lars Fæste, a senior partner at BCG and coauthor of the report. “Bumper profits and low reinvestment harmonize badly with the level of disruption.”

The BCG report explains the indicators that lead to success in company transformationâ€"that is, success in increasing long-term company value:

Spending on R&D and Innovation with a Long-Term Focus on Revenue Creation. In the long term, revenue growth is the biggest factor in transformation success. But a company can’t cut and trim its way to top-quartile performance. Instead, it should aim to grow by spending on innovation that has a clear link to sales growth.

Taking a Formal Approach to Transformationâ€"and Communicating It. CEOs and leaders need to show compelling plans, take immediate action, and lay the groundwork for leading with a clear vision and solid objectives. This kind of bold action and clear communication can help establish credibility with investors and other stakeholders.

Appointing Action-Oriented Leaders Who Have a Disruptive Mindset. To transform a company, the CEO and senior leaders must be willing to change the business dramatically. Often, new CEOsâ€"particularly if they come from outside the companyâ€"increase the long-term odds of a successful transformation. On average, after five years, companies that hired new CEOs externally generated total shareholder returns (TSR) 12.9% higher than they achieved before the transformation. The corresponding TSR figure for companies with new CEOs hired internally was 8.4%, according to the report. The caveat is that returns from new external CEOs show greater variability, meaning that when they fail, they fail worse than insiders do. Incumbent and insider-selected CEOs must not underestimate the disruption necessary for transformation.

Taking Rapid Action Toward Transformation Goals. Instead of trying to reinvent the company all at once, leaders should work to immediately kick off rapid moves that are easy to implement in the first 100 days and can generate results in 3 to 12 months. Rapid action and an iterative and agile approach can establish the CEO’s credibility with investors and deliver the greatest possible short-term difference in performance.

Effective transformations often require leaders to meet the following challenges successfully, according to the report:

Applying Both Directive and Inclusive Leadership. Transformation takes more than traditional, directive leadership; it also calls for inclusive leadership, such as fostering collaboration, soliciting feedback, and empowering teams. “Inclusive leadership is always important, but during these times of constant change, people are often exhausted and in need of not only clear direction but also encouragement,” said Jim Hemerling, a senior partner at BCG and coauthor of the report. The CEO, in conjunction with human resources, needs to determine how the transformation will affect people throughout the company and what new kinds of talent and leadership the company will need to sustain the change into the future.

Building a Diverse Leadership Team. Company leadership should include people from both inside and outside the organization. It’s important to strike the right balance between external hires, with new ideas and capabilities, and internal talent, with deep knowledge of the business and organization.

CEOs face other transformation-related challenges as well. For example, CEOs must continually balance short- and long-term objectives, new CEOs must quickly reset investor expectations, and CEOs must develop a clear purpose for the change effort. The report describes four transformation imperatives for new CEOs: prepare the journey, fund the journey, reinvent for the future, and organize for sustained performance.

“This is evidence-based guidance for leadership teams,” said Martin Reeves, a BCG senior partner, director of the BCG Henderson Institute, and coauthor of the report. “Rather than going on instinct and hunches, CEOs can capitalize on this kind of statistical analysis and give themselves an edge in launching major transformation programs.”

In a related report, BCG screened the S&P Global 1200 Index for companies that had experienced a significant decline in revenue, profit margins, and/or market capitalization since 2010, followed by a clear rebound. It found 11 examples of companies that successfully transformed in the face of unprecedented challenges. The share price of those 11 companies jumped by 87% between January 2013 and August 2017, compared to an increase in share price of only a 41% for the overall S&P Global 1200 Index. That report, “The Comeback Kids,” will be published on November 13, 2017.

To read The Transformations That Workâ€"and Why, visit: http://on.bcg.com/2yryx4t.

To arrange an interview with one of the authors, please contact Eric Gregoire at +1 617 850 3783 or gregoire.eric@bcg.com.

About The Boston Consulting Group
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world’s leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with more than 90 offices in 50 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com.

About The BCG Henderson Institute
The BCG Henderson Institute is The Boston Consulting Group’s internal think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration from the Institute, please visit https://www.bcg.com/bcg-henderson-institute/thought-leadership-ideas.aspx

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BALTIMORE, Md., Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pixelligent Technologies the inventor of the market-leading PixClear® high-index nanocomposites for the OLED Display, HD Display, and Solid State Lighting markets, announced today it has named Alain Harrus, Ph.D. and Gene Banucci, Ph.D. to the Pixelligent Board of Directors. “Alain and Gene are joining the Pixelligent team at a critical time in our development as we are emerging from years of product development and application engineering, to widespread adoption of our nanocomposites across all of our target markets. The combined vast experience which Alain Harrus brings on the OLED and semiconductor equipment front, and that Gene Banucci brings from having built one of the most successful advanced materials companies, is an incredibly valuable addition to the Pixelligent team and we are honored to have them,” commented Craig Bandes, CEO of Pixelligent Technologies.

Alain Harrus is currently the CEO of Kateeva, a manufacturer of a deposition equipment platform utilizing ink jet printing, with its initial focus on mass production of OLED displays. Kateeva’s innovations are helping to accelerate the adoption of OLED and other advanced display technologies. Prior to Kateeva, Alain was a Partner at Crosslink Capital, a San Francisco-based venture capital company where he led the firm’s semiconductor and energy technology investment activities. Before Crosslink he was the CTO at Novellus Systemsâ€"now part of Lam Research. “I’m excited to be joining the Pixelligent Board as the Company is entering its inflection point and emerging as a leading provider of high-efficiency materials to the OLED and HD display markets,” said Alain Harrus. Pixelligent and Kateeva have been partnering to optimize advanced display process solutions for the OLED for the past 12 months.

Gene Banucci is the former founding CEO of ATMI.  Gene served as CEO of ATMI from 1986-2004 and remained on the Board until the company was sold for $1.1B in 2014. Under his leadership the company completed an IPO and he grew the company to $245 million in revenues when he retired.  Since retiring as CEO, he has served on over 10 Boards across numerous industries.  “I have known and worked with executives at Pixelligent and have been following the Company’s progress for the last few years.  I am impressed with the balanced approach that Pixelligent has executed on both the market-leading materials they have developed as well as their proprietary mass production manufacturing platform.  I look forward to working with the team to help firmly establish Pixelligent as a leading advanced materials supplier to the OLED and Solid State Lighting markets,” said Gene Banucci.

“These are exciting times for Pixelligent and we expect 2018 to be a record year in terms of revenues and commercial wins across all of our core OLED display, OLED lighting, HD Display, and LED lighting markets,” said Bandes.   

About Pixelligent Technologies

Pixelligent Technologies is the leading high-index advanced materials manufacturer that leverages nanomaterials to develop the world’s best dispersion technology for next generation products in OLED and HD display, OLED and LED lighting, and optical coatings and films applications. Pixelligent’s PixClear® zirconia dispersions deliver the highest possible light extraction, near perfect transmission, increased mechanical strength, and dramatic improvements in overall operating efficiencies. The PixClear® nanocomposites can also easily be incorporated into the solvents, polymers/monomers, and manufacturing processes most commonly used in electronics manufacturing. For more information on Pixelligent, please visit www.pixelligent.com or follow us on Twitter @Pixelligent.

CONTACT
Michael Weinstein
Mweinstein@pixelligent.com

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Today Norway Royal Salmon (NRS) reports an operational EBIT of MNOK 192 for the third quarter 2017 and EBIT per kg of NOK 19.29. Corresponding figures for the same quarter last year were MNOK 218 and NOK 30.35.

- NRS has today presented the second highest operating EBIT in a third quarter. The biomass in the sea has increased through the quarter and is 43% higher compared to the end of the same quarter last year, says CEO Charles Høstlund.

The result before tax and fair value adjustments for the third quarter was MNOK 276, after a gain from financial assets of MNOK 69 were recognized. Earnings per share before fair value adjustments was NOK 5.33 for the quarter.

After NRS increased its biomass by 3 000 tonnes in the quarter, operational cash flow became MNOK 107. During the quarter, the Group's net interest-bearing debt decreased by MNOK 55to MNOK 539. Equity by the end of the quarter is MNOK 1 978, which equates an equity ratio of 47.4 per cent. Return on capital employed for the last four quarters is 43.8 per cent.
Region North

Region North posted an operational EBIT of MNOK 155.3 in the quarter, compared with MNOK 220.3 in the corresponding quarter last year. Operational EBIT per kg gutted weight was NOK 18.85, compared with NOK 31.09 in the corresponding quarter last year.
Region South

Region South posted an operational EBIT of MNOK 46.3 in the quarter, compared with MNOK 8.5 in the corresponding quarter last year. Operational EBIT per kg gutted weight was NOK 20.91, compared with NOK 18.73 in the corresponding quarter last year.

NRS harvested its highest volume in a quarter of 10 454 tonnes gutted weight, which is 39 per cent higher than in the same quarter last year. 8 238 tonnes of the total volume were harvested in Region North and 2 216 tonnes in Region South. Estimated harvest volume is 32 500 tonnes for 2017 and 43 000 tonnes for 2018, an increase of 32 per cent from 2017. 11.5 million smolts are planned released in 2017. The sales business sold 22 296 tonnes salmon during the quarter, an increase of 26 per cent from the corresponding quarter last year. This is the highest sold volume for a quarter in the history of NRS.

- NRS has a strong focus on growth and utilization of our production capacity and expects as good as full utilisation of the Group's MAB in the fourth quarter, says Charles Høstlund.

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Sarasota, FL, Nov. 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled “Fitness Equipment Market by Equipment Type (Cardio-Respiratory Equipment, Muscular Equipment, Flexibility Equipment, Body Fatness Equipment and Others) for Hospital, Gym Centers/Health Clubs, Homecare and Others - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2015 â€" 2021’’.  According to the report, the global share of fitness equipment accounted for around USD 10.00 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach approximately USD 12.50 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 4.0% between 2016 and 2021.

Physical fitness activity is any bodily movement that is produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles and that substantially increases energy expenditure. Exercise is planned, structured, and repetitive bodily movement done to improve or maintain one or more components of physical fitness, such as endurance, flexibility, or strength. Physical fitness is the ability to perform regular moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity without excessive fatigue. Benefits of regular physical fitness activities are like improved cardio-respiratory fitness, reduced cancer risk, improved bone mass, improved weight control, prevention of diabetes, improved immunity, improved mental health and stress management and longer lifespan. There are many benefits of cardio-respiratory fitness. It can reduce the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and other diseases. Cardio-respiratory fitness helps improve lung and heart condition and increases feelings of well-being.

Browse through 29 Tables & 28 Figures spread through 110 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Global Fitness Equipment Market, 2015-2021: Industry Type, Size, Share, Statistics, Analysis, Segment and Forecast Report”.

Request Free Sample copy of Global Fitness Equipment Market Size & Share Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/fitness-equipment-market

Rising geriatric population is accelerating the growth of fitness equipment market. Currently, more than 900 million people are aged 60 or above and it is projected to rise to around 1.40 billion by 2030. Among this population, approximately 65% of older people currently live in developing countries. Moreover, rising obese population is also continuously responsible for the growth of fitness equipment market. In 2014, more than 1.90 billion people were overweight and out of these around 600 million were obese. In addition, increasing health consciousness among children’s and adult people is a major driving factor for the growth of fitness equipment market. However, the high cost of equipment may hamper the growth of fitness equipment market. Nonetheless, untapped market and increasing health awareness programs may generate new opportunities in the forecast period.

Based on the equipment type, the market of fitness equipment has been classified into cardio-respiratory equipment, muscular equipment, flexibility equipment, body fatness equipment and others. Cardio-respiratory equipment segment dominated the market with increasing prevalence of cardio-respiratory diseases.  Regular fitness activities make cardio-respiratory systems more efficient by enlarging the heart muscle, enabling more blood to be pumped with each stroke, and increasing the number of small arteries in trained skeletal muscles, which supply more blood to working muscles. Muscular equipment and flexibility equipment segment is expected to generate new opportunities in forecast period with increasing health awareness.

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Headlines about Transenterix (NYSE:TRXC) have been trending somewhat positive on Monday, Accern Sentiment Analysis reports. The research group ranks the sentiment of press coverage by reviewing more than twenty million news and blog sources. Accern ranks coverage of public companies on a scale of -1 to 1, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. Transenterix earned a daily sentiment score of 0.15 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave media stories about the medical instruments supplier an impact score of 46.1121256233359 out of 100, meaning that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the company’s share price in the near term.

Here are some of the media stories that may have impacted Accern’s analysis:

Are Options Traders Betting on a Big Move in TransEnterix (TRXC) Stock? (zacks.com)

TransEnterix, Inc. (NYSE:TRXC) - P/E Ratio Analysis â€" Nasdaq Journal (press release) (nasdaqjournal.com)

Head-To-Head Analysis: K2M Group Holdings (KTWO) versus Transenterix (TRXC) (americanbankingnews.com)

Beta Factor Analysis - TransEnterix, Inc., (NYSE: TRXC) â€" Stock Watch (stocksnewstimes.com)

Study Finds Laparoscopic Surgical Robots Offer No Clinical Benefit. Will It Hurt TransEnterix Sales? â€" Seeking Alpha (seekingalpha.com)

Separately, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Transenterix from $3.75 to $4.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st.

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Jakarta. A conference on the ongoing crisis of deforestation and the degradation of peatland ecosystems in Indonesia was convened by the Riau Peatland Society Network, or JMGR, on Monday (06/11) to urge the government to support the organization. JMGR was established in 2010 to prevent deforestation and peatland degradation amid increasing developments by players in the palm oil, pulp and paper and mining industries in the province.

According to organization, there are at least 4.044 million hectares of peatlands in Riau. Isnadi Esman, secretary general of JMGR, said that the three-day conference is aimed at strengthening the commitment of communities who care about peatland protection, particularly in the province of Riau. "In addition to peatland protection, we urge the government to empower the peatland society to boost [the province's] economy," Isnadi said in a statement.

Isnadi said JMGR represents a collection of communities that partners with the government to protect peatlands in the province. The conference was opened by Indonesian Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) head Nazir Foead in Pekanbaru, Riau. Last week in Jakarta, a coalition of peatland protection institutions, along with researchers from several countries, issued the Jakarta Declaration aimed at encouraging the responsible management of tropical peatland ecosystems.

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A week of closures are to cause more disruption for motorists on an already congested route

A busy road connecting Huddersfield and the M62 is to close for more maintenance work.

Wakefield Road, between Cooper Bridge and Brighouse, will be subject to overnight closures next week.

Work crews will move in to carry out resurfacing of the road which runs between the Junction 25 roundabout and the entrance to the Old Mill public house and the Huddersfield North Premier Inn next door.

The road, which is often badly congested during busy periods, will be closed between 9pm and 5am on weekday nights while the work is carried out.

All the roadworks in and around Huddersfield at the moment

Roadworks begin on Tuesday, November 14 and finish the following Tuesday.

Access for emergency vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained although regular traffic will be diverted via a signposted diversionary route.

Calderdale Council's Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Clr Barry Collins, said: “This is a busy route and is well used by traffic using the motorway. Unfortunately the road surface has become worn and needs replacing.

“To ensure we can complete these essential repairs safely but with minimal disruption, we've scheduled the work to take place overnight and only during the week, when the road is usually quieter.”

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Bristol City really made a statement at the weekend as they beat Cardiff City to further boost their own chances of promotion.

The Robins have been flying this season under Lee Johnson and, though they’ll have last year’s slump in mind, there is no reason why they cannot keep things up as they are right now.

For sure, then, it is exciting times for the men from Ashton Gate and the January window could be vital for them, but not for the reason of signing players.

Of course, they’ll probably look to bolster their squad but it’s hard to see where they can realistically improve their first XI unless, of course, someone leaves.

Players like Aden Flint, Joe Bryan and Bobby Reid have all been top class this season and will surely be attracting the attention of other clubs in the Championship and beyond.

Indeed, it’ll be sides with serious financial clout that’ll be swirling, too, and so the Robins will do well to keep hold of them in the January window.

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UK hip-hop duo Subculture Sage have announced plans for a new one off London show.

The pairing are fresh from the success of their 'T A K E 3' EP, with politicised new single 'Aliens' set to land on November 17th.

A colourful, potent example of UK hip-hop's continuing vitality, Subculture Sage return to London tomorrow night (November 7th) for a show at Hackney's Oslo venue.

Support comes from Yizzy, a rapper who is already being tipped as one of 2018's breakout grime artists.

Tickets are on sale now.

Subculture Sage are set to play Oslo, Hackney on November 7th.

For tickets to the latest Subculture Sage shows click HERE.

Join us on Vero, as we get under the skin of global cultural happenings. Follow Clash Magazine as we skip merrily between clubs, concerts, interviews and photo shoots. Get backstage sneak peeks and a true view into our world as the fun and games unfold.

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African countries have largely failed to address a rising obesity epidemic that could soon become the greater public health crisis, experts said as new data was released.

African countries have largely failed to address a rising obesity epidemic that could soon become the greater public health crisis, experts said as new data was released.

According to the Global Nutrition Report published, a quarter of the world's 41 million overweight children under five live in Africa, a figure that has nearly doubled on the continent in the last two decades.

The report said there are still six times more children on the continent whose growth is stunted from malnutrition, and that number is also increasing.

The WHO said noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, most of which are obesity-related, are expected to become the biggest killer in Africa by 2030.

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Former Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Chair Baroness McIntosh writes in advance of her Parliamentary question today on "Discussions with farming organisations about the future of farm support post-Brexit".

Currently, Membership of the European Union provides a market of 505 million consumers as well as support for British farmers.

This support takes the form of direct farm payments and environmental stewardship schemes.

Brexit means changes on a scale we have not seen for over 40 years. There could arguably be put forward a scheme similar to that of deficency payments which existed before 1973.

Alternatively, the Government could look to loosen the link between support and food production and reward farmers for environmental schemes which benefit the local community such as planting trees or temporarily storing water on their land.

Pickering Slow the Flow Scheme could be the model for such schemes providing public good. Work is ongoing also to set a price on certain activities by recognising and putting a value on the natual capital of the countryside.

What is certain is that hill farmers and others farming in the uplands and less favoured areas will continue to need support or be encouraged to produce more food such as beef, diary and lambs to stimulate greater consumption at home.

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OLED displays have been around for several years, but they still suffer from a few minor issues. Google had a lot of customers hitting its official forums with complaints about the Pixel 2 XL's screen burn-in problems. Apple seems to have learned a thing or two from Google's experience. Moments after the iPhone X went on sale, Apple warned customers about the iPhone X burn-in issues. The company didn't want to give early buyers a chance to start complaining on the Internet.


Image Source: Apple.com (screenshot)

iPhone X burn-in is an 'expected behavior'

The iPhone X is Apple's first smartphone to feature an OLED display. It suffers from many of the same problems such as “burn-in” and other “visual changes” that affect other smartphones with OLED panels. Remember that OLED is far better than LCD when it comes to vibrant colors, brightness, and energy efficiency, but these shiny new screens have their own imperfections.

The Cupertino company has quietly updated the support page to explain that people shelling out $1,000 might experience the iPhone X burn-in problems in the future. Apple's support page says you might see “slight shifts in color and hue” when viewing off-angle. The iPhone X burn-in would likely appear after long-term use. When a high-contrast element such as an app icon appears on the screen for long periods of time, you might see remnants even after the element is removed.

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Candide.com - It wasn't more than a few minutes after the Miami Marlins released Ichiro Suzuki before some Seattle Mariners fans began pining for his return. The Seattle Mariners should take a hard pass on this preposterous notion.

Seattle fans LOVE their stars. The wrap them in bubble wrap, put them on a pedestal, and lash out at anybody with the audacity to question their play. So it is not surprising that when Ichiro Suzuki was released, some Mariners fans demanded he return to finish his career in Seattle. As such,I respectfully say to these people: you are absolutely insane.

Lets begin with the obvious and really only significant factor in breaking down this rumor. Ichiro is no longer a good Major League Baseball player. That is it. It really is as simple as that. Why can't people accept that?

We don't even need to talk about the fact that there is absolutely no fit for the 45-year-old outfielder on this roster. Or that spending $2 million on a 5th outfielder when you have a plethora of prospects who can be just as bad for $555,000 is sub-optimal. Or that every at bat that went to Ichiro instead of Mitch Haniger, Ben Gamel, or Guillermo Heredia is a failure of epic proportion on the part of Jerry Dipoto and Scott Servais.

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Media headlines about Calyxt (NASDAQ:CLXT) have been trending somewhat positive on Monday, according to Accern. Accern ranks the sentiment of press coverage by analyzing more than twenty million blog and news sources in real-time. Accern ranks coverage of publicly-traded companies on a scale of -1 to 1, with scores closest to one being the most favorable. Calyxt earned a daily sentiment score of 0.04 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave media stories about the company an impact score of 46.8870066072848 out of 100, indicating that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the company’s share price in the immediate future.

Here are some of the news articles that may have impacted Accern Sentiment Analysis’s analysis:

Calyxt, Inc. (CLXT) Expected to Earn Q3 2017 Earnings of ($0.20) Per Share (americanbankingnews.com)

Calyxt, Inc. (CLXT) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Buy” by Brokerages (americanbankingnews.com)

CLXT Crosses Above Average Analyst Target (thestreet.com)

Jefferies Group LLC Increases Calyxt, Inc. (CLXT) Price Target to $27.00 (americanbankingnews.com)

Why Calyxt Stock Is Compelling At Current Levels (msn.com)

Calyxt (NASDAQ:CLXT) opened at $22.20 on Monday. Calyxt has a 12-month low of $9.26 and a 12-month high of $31.89.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Zacks Investment Research cut Calyxt from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Monday, October 16th. Citigroup Inc. cut Calyxt from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 27th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Calyxt from $17.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, September 29th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on Calyxt in a research report on Monday, October 30th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $32.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Group LLC upped their price objective on Calyxt to $27.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $26.25.

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