MikeLigalig.com

Cayetano hits back at Trillanes over allegations vs Duterte
"He is the Kuryente King"

“The Kuryente King.”

This was how Senator Alan Peter Cayetano described Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as he rebuked his colleague for once again throwing "false accusations" against President Rodrigo Duterte.

Trillanes on Thursday (Feb. 16) held a press conference at the Senate, wherein he revived his previous allegations regarding the President’s so-called hidden bank accounts.

Cayetano in response deemed the accusation as another desperate attempt by the senator to stop the reforms that are happening under the Duterte administration.

“Marami siguro sa ilang padrino niya o nasa likod niya ay tinatamaan sa mga reforms na nagaganap ngayon,” Cayetano retorted.

“We know from the start na palaging ‘Kuryente King’ si Senator Trillanes pagdating kay President Duterte... Kung mayroong power shortage at gagamitin natin si Senator Trillanes, wala tayong problema sa kuryente dahil lagi siyang nakukuryente,” he added.

The senator defended the President against the claims and reminded how, during the campaign, they were the only tandem who signed a bank secrecy waiver to make public all their bank accounts.

He further questioned why Trillanes is all of a sudden trying to revive an issue that had long been settled. He said there was nothing new with his colleague’s tirades, stressing how Trillanes is known for his constant attacks and baseless charges against the administration.

“Bakit week after week, scheme after scheme, tina-try ni Senator Trillanes i-destabilize ang gobyerno?” Cayetano said.

“From the start, walang ginawa kundi manira. Nakita niyo naman sa [appointment] hearing ni [Justice] Secretary Aguirre yesterday, it was all opinion. Self-righteousness niya na sa tingin niya, tama na ‘yun. But you need facts. You need evidence. You need concrete evidence kung mag-a-accuse ka,” he added.

The senator then turned the tables on Trillanes and challenged him instead to explain where he got the funds he used for his anti-Duterte commercials that were aired in major television networks during last year’s campaign.

“Hanggang ngayon, hindi niya maipaliwanag kung saan niya nakuha ang P20 million na ibinayad niya sa [major television networks] para sa mga commercial na last-minute ay ginagamit para manira kay President Duterte,” Cayetano said.

“He cannot explain where he got the money. Sino itong mga backer niya during the campaign na willing to pay tens of millions of pesos’ worth of negative ads? Hanggang ngayon, hindi niya dinedeklara kung sino itong mga ‘to.”

Forgive to Be Forgiven

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:12

Few things are more precious to receive than forgiveness. After carrying the burden of our sin, it is wonderfully freeing to know that the one we have wronged has completely forgiven us. Jesus told His disciples to ask God for forgiveness every time they prayed. Jesus knew that we would daily incur debts against God, as we inevitably fall short of God’s standard. A day does not go by that we do not need to ask God to remove our debt against Him.

Jesus warned that we should expect forgiveness from God as we forgive those who sin against us, for God will forgive us in the same way we forgive others (Matt. 6:15). God’s nature is forgiveness (Exod. 34:6-7). If we are to be His disciples, we must follow His example. If God will forgive our most relentless enemy, we can do nothing less. Jesus did not say that certain offenses are unworthy of our forgiveness. We have no biblical excuse for allowing unforgiveness in our hearts.

If you choose to withhold forgiveness from someone, your worship and prayers are futile (Matt. 5:23-24). Ask God to make you aware of those dark corners in your life where you are harboring resentment. A keen awareness of your own need for forgiveness will put the offenses of others in their proper light. Ask God to make you like Christ so that, even when you are being persecuted, you can pray “Father, forgive them.”     Henry and Richard Blackaby

Business groups push for lifting foreign equity restrictions

Business groups in the Philippines, including the IT and Business Association of the Philippines, have chosen constitutional amendments to ease foreign equity restrictions as its top priority. Easing of foreign equity restrictions was one of the 12 reforms that the business groups want to be prioritized by the Duterte administration. Aside from constitutional amendments, the 12 reforms include, comprehensive tax reform package, apprenticeship program reform, build-operate-transfer law amendments, freedom of information, corporation code amendments, Public Service Act amendments, telecommunication sector reforms, water sector reform, bank secrecy law amendments, emergency powers to address traffic and transportation crises, and retail trade law amendments.

IAOP announces new inductees into Leadership Hall of Fame

The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) has inducted Colliers International Global President and COO Dylan Taylor and Ernst & Young Cyber Security Managed Services Leader Ben Trowbridge into its prestigious Leadership Hall of Fame. Both inductees are IAOP Certified Outsourcing Professional (COP). IAOP CEO Debi Hamill said the inductees have inspired members of the industry to higher achievements. The unique honor recognizes individuals for their outsourcing achievements as well as their contributions to community-based economic development and socially-directed investments, career development, education and training through outsourcing.

HGS expands Avaya partnership

Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS), a business process outsourcing (BPO) provider, has expanded its partnership with Avaya to enhance its contact center platform for international customers. HGS has been using Avaya technology since 1999 and the enhancement of its partnership is expected to bring further cost savings and service improvement for 10,000 voice based contact center seats. The contact center at HGS deploys the full suite of Avaya’s services including Avaya Aura Communication Manager, Avaya Aura® Conferencing, Avaya Aura Messaging, and Avaya Scopia Video Conferencing Infrastructure. HGS is now exploring how to bring further innovation into the contact center.

Teleperformance Bacolod recognizes top performers

Teleperformance Bacolod recently recognized 36 top performing employees for the months of November and December in a ceremony that also welcomed the year of the fire rooster. The awardees comprised supervisors and agents who topped their programs' metrics during the previous quarter. Site Director Jun de la Cruz, together with Account Manager Kristin Atesora, Assistant Manager of Leadership and Development Shella Pabon, and Recruitment Assistant Manager Kei Dusaban handed the certificates of recognition. The awarding ceremony was capped off by a dragon dance to usher in the good fortune.

Philippines to be greatly affected if US tightens outsourcing rules - Moody's

The business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors of the Philippines and India stand to be greatly disadvantaged if the United States tightens its labor outsourcing rules. In its report, credit agency Moody's Investors Service said the new policies of US President Donald Trump could pose downside risks to the US’ major trade and investment partners. India and the Philippines, Moody's added, will be the most vulnerable if the US tightens rules on service outsourcing. Moody's issued the report "Asia Credit - 2017 Outlook Challenging Global Environment to Test Asia's Robust Credit Fundamentals" on 8 February.

Sciformix Corporation recognized for best practices

Sciformix Corporation, a scientific knowledge-based organization with operations in the UK, India and the Philippines, has been recognized for best practices in Customer Service Leaders in the pharmaceutical scientific process outsourcing industry. The recognition, which was given by Frost & Sullivan, highlights Sciformix Corporation's flexible, tailored solutions to improve quality, performance and efficiency along the entire drug development cycle. For this recognition, Frost & Sullivan identifies companies that maintain consistently high standards for customer service quality that result in trusted and strategic relationships. The award benchmarks against strict criteria for customer service and impact, which saw Sciformix outperforming its competitors.

Accenture to acquire Endgame Inc’s federal business

Global IT consulting and outsourcing giant Accenture is further expanding its portfolio in the US with the acquisition of the US federal government services business of Endgame Inc. David Moskovitz, Accenture Federal Services chief executive, said adding Endgame's federal services team enabled Accenture to better equip its clients to identify and eradicate malicious attacks faster and more effectively. Endgame Inc is a privately held endpoint detection and response cybersecurity software company based in Virginia. The US federal government services business of Endgame specializes in proactive cyber defense, hunt-as-a-service capabilities, red teaming and cyber operations.

DICT names 21 semi-finalists in startup challenge

Twenty-one teams have made it to the semi-final round of this year's Software Track of the annual Philippine Startup Challenge (PSC). The PSC is organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA). It is a competition for college students that aims to inspire youth to create digital solutions and socially relevant startups that could provide solutions to the country's pressing issues. The 21 teams were picked from the 146 entries the competition received. The three winners in the national finals will receive funding and mentorship opportunities with industry partners.

Cognizant's share buyback program, dividends to reach USD3.4bn

Global IT outsourcing firm Cognizant is paying investors back with a USD3.4bn share buyback and dividend, the company said. The move is Cognizant's response to the demands by hedge fund Elliott Management, one of its investors. As part of this plan, Cognizant said it would commence a USD1.5bn accelerated share repurchase program (ASR) in Q1 2017, initiate a regular quarterly cash dividend of USD0.15 per share commencing in Q2 of 2017, and repurchase shares of USD1.2bn in the open market during 2017 and 2018. The company said it would return 75% of its free cash flow to shareholders by 2019. Analysts said Cognizant's move could trigger calls for similar action from other outsourcing firms.

Convergys seeks to hire 100 new employees in Baguio

Convergys is aiming to add over 100 new employees in one month to bring its total Baguio City workforce to 3,000-strong this quarter. The new employees will be for its customer service and technical support positions. In a press statement, Convergys said its continuing growth in the city signifies its commitment as a partner in building the Baguio community. To achieve its goal of hiring more employees in the city, Convergys is opening the doors of its Baguio Recruitment Center, located in Camp John Hay, to walk-in applicants.

Aon sells employee benefits outsourcing unit to Blackstone

Insurance broker Aon Plc has reportedly agreed to sell its employee benefits outsourcing business to private equity firm Blackstone Group for around USD4.8bn. People familiar with the matter said Blackstone outbid buyout firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice LLC for the benefits administration and human resources business process outsourcing platform of Aon. The said business processes work benefits for 15% of the US population. For Aon, the deal allows it to exit a mature, capital-intensive outsourcing business and focus in growth areas beyond its core insurance brokerage operations, including cyber security and health insurance. It was in 2010 when Aon took on the benefits outsourcing unit as part of its acquisition in 2010 of Hewitt Associates for USD4.9bn.

Golden Gate BPO names new marketing chief

Global business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions provider Golden Gate BPO Solutions has announced the appointment of Jaime Weinsier as Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer. Weinsier, who has over 20 years of marketing experience, will help Golden Gate BPO Solutions push its mission of redefining outsourcing, said CEO & Managing Partner Stephen Ferber. Weinsier graduated from the University of Florida's school of Business Administration where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. She has worked with several global brands before joining Golden Gate BPO Solutions. The company is ranked No. 975 on Inc. magazine’s 35th annual Inc. 5,000, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the US.

Genpact gets 4-year GE deal extension

Global business process management services provider Genpact said its Master Services Agreement (MSA) with GE has been extended for another four years. The MSA calls for Genpact to provide professional services across all GE businesses. The extension is the second MSA extension from the original 10-year agreement. Genpact will continue to provide extensive services in technology, analytics, business process management, and professional services for GE business units across the globe. GE Chief Financial Officer Jeff Bornstein said Genpact is helping drive better performance for GE and its customers.

TCS named among top 10 employers in UK

Software services and outsourcing provider TCS has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 10 employers by Top Employers Institute. The recognition is based on research into nine core human resources (HR) criteria set by the Top Employers Institute, a global certification company recognising excellence in the conditions that employers create for their workforce. Tata Consultancy Services was ranked in the top ten of just 78 employers to achieve accreditation as a UK Top Employer. The key criteria includes talent strategy, workforce planning, on-boarding, learning and development, performance management, leadership development, career and succession management, compensation and benefits and company culture.

Voxpro reports higher profits

Cork-headquartered BPO player Voxpro announced that its underlying profits went up by 168% in 2015 to over EUR3m (USD3.2m). The company had targeted a doubling of revenue in 2016, which will be reported in the next few weeks. Turnover at the group, owned by husband-and-wife team Dan and Linda Kiely, jumped from EUR19m to EUR33m according to newly filed accounts. The company has grown significantly since then and is to create 400 new jobs after opening its new office in Dublin's docklands late last year. Last April, the company said it would expand into the US where it aims to create 500 jobs. It has also signalled that it may look to expansion in Asia, including the Philippines, in the future.

ePLDT recognized for helping Cisco win BPO deals

Global IT firm Cisco has recognized ePLDT of the Philippines for helping the American firm expand its business to new geographies by winning key BPO deals. ePLDT was awarded as the 2-Tier Partner of the Year by Cisco Philippines, an award given to firms that set the standards in revenue growth performance and commitment to innovation. ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer Nerisse Ramos said ePLDT's strategic imperative to drive managed service growth brought big wins from enterprise verticals primarily in BPO, hospitality and manufacturing. ePLDT won the same award in 2014 for meeting requirements in personnel support and specialisation.

Global recruitment process outsourcing forecast to grow 18%

From 2017 to 2021, the global recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) market is forecast to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 18%, according to a market report released by Technavio. The report said blended RPO solutions will continue to account for the bigger chunk of the market after taking up 58% of the total in 2016. The growth will be buoyed by increased usage of neo-sourcing, emergence of nearshore outsourcing destinations, and moving up HR value chain and compliance. Many companies are trying to integrate business with technology solutions to reduce costs and improve productivity and innovation. The report also noted the integration of IT outsourcing and BPO, termed as neo-sourcing, is an evolution of BPO models offered by outsourcing companies.

Hinduja Global Solutions posts strong profit growth in Q4

Business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Hinduja Global Solutions posted a two-fold rise in consolidated net profit for the December quarter to Rs472.1m (USD7.1m). Hinduja Global Solutions has a total headcount of 43,750, of which 18% are based in the Philippines. The December figure was up from a net profit of Rs199.7m in the year-ago period. Partha DeSarkar, CEO, Hinduja Global Solutions, said the robust numbers were led by significant volume growth from the company's top 10 clients and new clients in healthcare and consumer products, among others. Hinduja Global Solutions is the BPO arm of the diversified Hinduja Group.

Union blasts AT&T for outsourcing to the Philippines, Mexico

About 21,000 workers of AT&T in the United States have taken the next step toward a strike due to the company's outsourcing of jobs. AT&T workers belonging to the Communication Workers of America (CWA) voted 93% in favor of a strike against the telecommunications company. The union blasted the company's record of sending call-center jobs to other countries, such as the Philippines and Mexico. Aside from outsourcing, AT&T also cut more than 8,000 call-center jobs, CWA said. The contract between AT&T and CWA expires 11 February. It affects approximately 21,000 employees.

Department of Finance admits US policies will hurt BPOs

The Department of Finance (DOF) has admitted that US President Donald J. Trump's protectionist policies will weaken the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. The DOF's statement comes after a number of organizations and think-tanks said the country's BPO sector will continue to thrive even with the new US policies. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the BPO sector will weaken if Trump pushes through with his plans to implement trade reforms. He said the protectionist policies will dampen trade and have an adverse impact on call centers. Dominguez, however, said the Philippines is poised to attract more private investments, especially with an inflation rate that has remained benign and an investment-grade credit rating that has kept the cost of money low.

PINEAPPLE SECTOR TO CREATE ADDITIONAL 4,000 POTENTIAL JOBS. Dole Philippines President and COO David DeLorenzo (center left) recently (8 February) discussed the company’s growth and investment plan in the country’s pineapple sector to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez. Dole Philippines forecasted growth production of 1 million tons of pineapples, creating 4,000 additional jobs in this sector in Mindanao by 2019. Such forecast challenges DTI to further initiatives to help local growers attain greater efficiency to expand market opportunities, including the move to reduce tariff rates in Japan and Korea under the Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement and the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement. DTI also highlighted that the Philippines is in the process of strengthening trade relations with Russia and the European Union as potential importers of tropical fruits. Joining the meeting were DTI Undersecretaries Rowel Barba (3rd from L) and Ceferino Rodolfo (3rd from R), DTI Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba (leftmost) and Agnes Perpetua Legaspi (2nd from L), Dole-Stanfilco General Manager Oscar Garcia (2nd from R) and its Corporate Affairs Director Atty. Melquiades Hernandez III (rightmost). END

PH, ROK TRADE MINISTERS DISCUSS WAYS TO ADVANCE TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION. Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez (R) and Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) Hyunghwan Joo (L) discussed ways to strengthen PH-ROK trade and economic cooperation in a meeting on 13 February in Makati. Sec. Lopez imparted to the ROK side DTI’s priorities as chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting, including the desire to conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will link ASEAN, an economic powerhouse with a market of 600 million people, to its six Dialogue Partners, creating a bigger market of 3.5 billion people. For its part, ROK sought help from the Philippines, as current chair of ASEAN 2017, to fast-track completion of ASEAN-ROK Free Trade Area, a strong platform to boost bilateral trade relations, by increasing frequency of holding negotiations. ROK also sought ways to facilitate bilateral investments through matchmaking events between both sides to boost investment attraction, focusing on the countries’ priority sectors. (END)

Love Assumes the Best

Love...bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

Love has no limits. Love never says, “You’ve gone too far. I can’t love you now.”� “All things” means everything is included. Christlike love leaves no doubt in the mind of another that you will continue to love steadfastly. Do those close to you know that they can fail and do foolish things, yet you will not falter in your love for them? Are others assured that, even when they hurt you, you still love them, holding nothing against them? Love assumes the best about others. If someone inadvertently offends you, you choose to believe the offense was unintentional. If someone seeks to harm you, you “bear all things,” forgiving unconditionally. If a positive light can be shed on a difficult encounter, you grasp it. If someone continually provokes you, you “endure all things.” You never lose hope in the ones you love. You practice the same unconditional love toward others that Christ gives to you. Paul said that he was nothing if he had the faith to move mountains, the tongue of an angel, and the gift of prophecy to understand all mysteries, yet did not have God’s love. It is unacceptable to say, “Well, I just can’t love people that way!”� When God loves people through you, this is the only kind of love He has! Read 1 Corinthians 13 with gratitude that God has already expressed this complete and selfless love to you. Pray and ask Him to express it through you now, to others.   Henry and Richard Blackaby

Forests cover 22 percent of the area of Belgium, and wooded areas are used primarily for recreational purposes. In recent years, stands of conifers have been planted, and forestry activity has increased; however, timber is still imported for the country’s paper industry.

The main fishing port of Belgium is Oostende. The fishing fleet exploits the North Atlantic Ocean fisheries from the North Sea to Iceland. The total annual catch in 2005 amounted to 25,767 metric tons; most of it consisted of plaice, sole, and cod.

Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Tokhang Program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the Duterte Administration

SEC okays San Miguel’s Php60-B bond issuance
By Leslie D. Venzon

MANILA, Feb. 10 (PNA) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the Php60-billion fixed rate bond issue of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC).

Based on SEC document, the listed conglomerate will initially issue bonds worth Php15 billion with an oversubscription of up to Php5 billion.

SMC will use the net proceeds of Php14.84 billion to refinance its existing United States-dollar denominated obligations and fund expenses related to its operations and activities.

The shelf registration program allows the SMC to issue the remaining Php40 billion worth of bonds.

SMC plans to issue the offer shares to institutional and retail investors in the Philippines through a public offering to be conducted through the joint lead underwriters and bookrunners. The offer does not include an international offering.

BDO Capital & Investment Corp., BPl Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., ING Bank, N.V., Manila Branch, RCBC Capital Corp., SB Capital Investment Corp. and Standard Chartered Bank will serve as the joint lead underwriters and bookrunners.

The bonds will be listed and traded on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange (PDEx). (PNA)

Plunder remains in list of crimes punishable by death -- House leaders

MANILA, Feb. 10 (PNA) -- House leaders on Friday clarified that plunder remains in the list of crimes punishable by death under a proposed law reinstating capital punishment.

House Majority Floor Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas said the deletion of plunder in House Bill (HB) No. 4727, as embodied in committee report No. 47, came out during the leader's caucus of the supermajority last Wednesday as part of the consensus building to push for the approval of the measure.

Fariñas explained that he, along with Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and other lawmakers, voted for the inclusion of plunder in the bill during the leader's caucus.

However, he said they were outvoted by their colleagues who wanted to delete plunder among crimes punishable by death citing a special law which provides that plunder is punishable by life imprisonment.

"The Speaker and I, among others, voted to keep plunder in the bill, but a greater majority voted to delete it," Fariñas said.

"But, nothing is final, yet, and the bill as it stands now still includes plunder. There has been no amendment to it, as we are still in the process of building a consensus," the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) stalwart said.

Alvarez shared Fariñas' position and stressed that he wants plunder to be retained among the crimes punishable by death in the proposed law that he submitted as principal sponsor.

"Halimbawa sasabihin ng mga minority, 'sige isama natin ‘yan (plunder), wala tayong problema doon," the House Speaker said.

The Davao City lawmaker likewise maintained that the proposed law will make capital punishment not mandatory on heinous crimes.

"This means that the proposal will be reclusion perpetua to death, depending on the ‘attendant circumstances’ and the appreciation of the judge handling the case whether to impose death as punishment," Alvarez said.

Alvarez has earlier warned to replace his deputy speakers and other House leaders from their juicy committee posts should they vote to reject the passage of the measure, explaining that no less than President Rodrigo Duterte has been advocating the approval of the bill to arrest crimes and ensure better peace and order in the country.

Under the substitute bill, the crimes that will be slapped with death are treason, piracy in general and mutiny on the high seas or in Philippine water, qualified piracy, qualified bribery, parricide, murder, infanticide, rape, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, destructive, arson and plunder.

Also included are the importation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals; sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursor and essential chemicals; maintenance of a den, dive or resort where any dangerous drug is used or sold in any form; manufacture of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemical; possession of dangerous drugs; cultivation or culture of plants classified as dangerous drugs or are sources thereof; unlawful prescription of dangerous drugs; criminal liability of a public officer or employee for misappropriation, misapplication or failure to account for the confiscated, seized and/or surrendered dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, instruments/ paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment including the proceeds or properties obtained from the unlawful act committed; criminal liability for planting evidence and carnapping.

Republic Act (RA) No. 7659 or the Death Penalty Law was abolished in 1986 during the term of the late former President Corazon Aquino.

It was restored by former President Fidel V. Ramos in 1993, and was suspended again in 2006 by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, now a Deputy Speaker and on her third and last term as Pampanga lawmaker. (PNA)

Duterte grants benefits for job orders and government contractuals

MANILA, Feb. 10 (PNA) -- The President signed Administrative Order No 2 authorizing the grant of gratuity pay to job order and contract service workers in government.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved a Php 2,000 bonus for job order and contract of service workers in government during the Dec. 5, 2016 Cabinet meeting in Malacanang.

“Granting a gratuity pay,” states the Administrative Order No 2, “is a well-deserved recognition of their hard work.”

Unlike regular employees, job order and contract of service workers do not enjoy government benefits such as the midyear and yearend bonuses, performance bonus and personnel economic relief allowance (PERA).

Administrative Order No 2 states that “all workers whose services are engaged through job order and contract of services and who have tendered a total or an aggregate of at least four (4) months of satisfactory service as of December 15, 2016 and whose contracts are still effective as of the same date, may be granted a one-time gratuity pay not exceeding Php 2,000 each.”

“Those who have rendered less than four (4) months of satisfactory service as of December 15, 2016 and with effective contracts as of the same date may also be granted the one-time gratuity pay but not exceeding Php 1,000 each,” the Administrative Order No 2 adds.

Funds needed to implement the President’s order will be sourced from the agencies’ respective maintenance and other operating expenses.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) recognizes the government practice of engaging the services of job order and contract of service workers. (PNA)

Love Brings Obedience

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. John 14:21

Obedience to God’s commands comes from your heart. When you begin struggling to obey God, that is a clear indication that your heart has shifted away from Him. Some claim: “I love God, but I’m having difficulty obeying Him in certain areas of my life.”  That is a spiritual impossibility. If I were to ask you, “Do you love God?” you might easily respond, “Yes!” However, if I were to ask you, “Are you obeying God?” would you answer yes as quickly? Yet I would be asking you the same question! Genuine love for God leads to wholehearted obedience. If you told your spouse that you loved her at certain times but that you struggled to love her at others, your relationship would be in jeopardy. Yet we assume that God is satisfied with occasional love or partial obedience. He is not.

Obedience without love is legalism. Obedience for its own sake can be nothing more than perfectionism, which leads to pride. Many conscientious Christians seek to cultivate discipline in their lives to be more obedient to Christ. As helpful as spiritual disciplines can be, they never can replace your love for God. Love is the discipline. God looks beyond your godly habits, beyond your moral lifestyle, and beyond your church involvement and focuses His penetrating gaze upon your heart.

Has your worship become empty and routine? Have you lost your motivation to read God’s Word? Are you experiencing spiritual lethargy? Is your prayer life reduced to a ritual? These are symptoms of a heart that has shifted away from God. Return to your first love. Love is the greatest motivation for a relationship with God and for serving Him.  Henry and Richard Blackaby

Meralco to increase power rates by 92 c/kWh
By Juzel L. Danganan

MANILA, Feb. 10 (PNA) -- The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said Friday it will hike power bills by PHP0.92 per kilowatthour (kWh) this month, mainly due to a higher generation charge.

According to a statement from the power firm, the increase from the generation charge brings the overall new rate to PHP9 per kWh.

The distribution utility said the normalization of capacity fees, which were low in January, was offset this month due to the return to normal levels of the Pagbilao and Ilijan power plants. This pushed the generation charge by PHP0.62 per kWh to PHP4.32 per kWh.

Moreover, the generation charge hiked due to the lower dispatch of power suppliers and independent power producers caused by scheduled and forced outages, despite the lower demand last January.

Meralco also attributed the increase in the generation charge to higher fuel prices from the quarterly repricing of the Malampaya natural gas and the slight depreciation of the peso against the US dollar.

Last month, the distribution utility sourced 38.6 percent of its electricity from power supply agreements, 38.1 percent from independent power producers, and 23.2 percent from the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM). The WESM charges fell by PhP0.25 per kWh last month, which mitigated the hike.

The transmission charge, which is paid to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, also increased by PHP0.15 per kWh due to the hike in power delivery service charges triggered by the implementation of higher interim maximum allowable revenue and the higher ancillary service charges.

For other billing components, the taxes and other charges also went up by PHP0.15 per kWh.

Meralco stressed its distribution, supply and metering charges remain unchanged since July 2015, adding it does not earn from pass-through charges. (PNA)

Aftershocks still possible from magnitude 6.7 Surigao quake
By Catherine J. Teves

MANILA, Feb. 11 (PNA) -- More aftershocks can occur in the aftermath of the magnitude 6.7 earthquake near Surigao del Norte province's Surigao City.

"Such aftershocks are still possible due to the magnitude and depth of the earthquake that struck late Friday night below waters bordering Surigao City," said science research assistant, Paulo Sawi, of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

He said Phivolcs already recorded, as of 5 a.m. Saturday, 89 aftershocks from the earthquake of tectonic origin.

Those aftershocks' magnitudes ranged from 2.0 to 3.9, he noted.

Sawi said Phivolcs expects forthcoming aftershocks to be of lesser magnitude and not destructive.

"Some of those aftershocks may be felt but not at strongintensities," he added.

He however urged communities concerned to continue to be alert for such possible occurrences.

Latest Phivolcs data show the 10:03 p.m. earthquake struck 14 km. north, 78 degrees west of Surigao City at a depth of 11 km.

Phivolcs said the earthquake was felt at intensity 6 in Surigao City and Pintuyan, Southern Leyte; intensity 5 in Mandaue City, San Ricardo, Limasawa and San Francisco, Southern Leyte; intensity 4 in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte and Butuan City; intensity 3 in Hibok-Hibok, Camiguin, Tolosa and Tacloban, Leyte, Bislig City, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, and intensity 2 in Cagayan de Oro City, Talocogon City, Agusan del Sur, Dumaguete City and Cebu City.

"The earthquake struck at a shallow depth only, so this tremblor was felt even in communities already far from its epicenter," said Sawi.

Intensity 6 means people felt the quake as "strong", noted Phivolcs.

Phivolcs added that intensity 2 indicates people just "slightly felt" the earthquake. (PNA)

Assorted damage reported in Surigao City due to 6.7-magnitude quake
By Priam F. Nepomuceno

MANILA, Feb. 11 (PNA) -- Assorted damage has been reported in Surigao City due to the 6.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the locality at 10:03 p.m. Friday.

Minor damages were reported in Mainit town in the province.

Portions of the Surigao Trade School also reported damage, along with several houses in Surigao City.

Damage has been also found on the runway of the Surigao City Domestic Airport, forcing the cancellation of all flights.

Initial reports indicated that the quake also collapsed the Ana-aon Bridge in San Francisco town, with some roads reported partly damaged.

Collapsed houses and walls were also reported in Barangays Baya-ag and Biabid in Sison town. (PNA)

LTFRB: Taxi flagdown rate set at PHP40 nationwide
By Aerol B. Pateña

MANILA, Feb. 11 (PNA) -- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has set the taxi flagdown rate for the first 500 meters at PHP40 nationwide, except the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The fare will take effect on Monday, February 13.

The provisional authorized flagdown fare for taxi services in the Cordillera region has been set at PHP35 for the first 400 meters.

There will be no increase in rates for the succeeding meters or for waiting time.

The transport group, Philippine National Taxi Operators Association (PNTOA), has earlier filed a petition to increase the flagdown rate for taxis to PHP40 from PHP30 following the series of oil price hikes.

Meanwhile, the LTFRB has also announced that the jeepney fare is at PHP8, up PHP1 from the previous rate of PHP7 in the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon and the Calabarzon region.

A rate of PHP6.40 will be charged to students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

There will be no increase for the succeeding kilometers. (PNA)

OCD: No damage in Leyte provinces due to Surigao quake
By Sarwell Q. Meniano

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 11 (PNA) -- The 6.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Surigao City has not affected nearby Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) reported Saturday.

OCD regional director, Edgar Posadas, said the same intensity was felt in Panaon Island and some parts of Southern Leyte, but the region has so far had no casualty and no damage to properties when it struck at 10:03 p.m. on Friday.

“We monitored the situation in Panaon Island because it’s just a one-hour boat ride from Surigao, but according to reports of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, there are no reports of damages in the four towns,” Posadas said.

Panaon Island, which lies south of Leyte, is composed of the towns of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, and San Ricardo.

The tremor, which was tectonic in origin, hit at a depth of 4 km. at about 10:03 p.m., according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In Eastern Visayas, the quake's reported magnitude was Intensity 6 in Pintuyan, Southern Leyte; Intensity 5 in San Ricardo, Limasawa, and San Francisco, Southern Leyte; Intensity 4 in Hinunangan and San Juan in Southern Leyte, Abuyog and Mayorga in Leyte; Intensity 3 in Ormoc City, Palo, Pastrana, Tolosa, and Tacloban City in Leyte; and Intensity 2 in Capoocan, Leyte. (PNA)
CVL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

CAAP issues notice on closure of Surigao Airport due to earthquake
By Ma. Cristina C. Arayata

MANILA, Feb. 11 (PNA) -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued Saturday morning a notice to airmen (NOTAM) regarding the closure of the Surigao Airport until March 10.

CAAP Area Center Xll manager Evangeline Daba said a 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit Surigao City at about 10:03 p.m. Friday, causing damage to the 1,700-meter runway 18/36 of Surigao Airport that needs immediate repair and rehabilitation.

Daba added that the airport terminal, except for some broken windows and cracked tiles, had minimal damages.

She cited that PAL Express and Cebu Pacific operate daily flights to Surigao Airport from Manila.

"The nearest alternative route for passengers to reach Surigao City is to take flights to and from Butuan Airport, which is a two-hour drive by land," CAAP said.

Meanwhile, CAAP director general Jim Sydiongco immediately instructed Daba and the CAAP engineering team to expedite the repair and rehabilitation of the damaged portions of runway 18/36.

CAAP assured the public that it is doing its best to accelerate the repair and to put Surigao Airport back to its normal operations very soon. (PNA)

Secretary Taguiwalo attends DSWD anniversary celebration in Region 7

Social Welfare Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo attended the recent celebration of the field office for the 66th anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII, which was also her first official visit here.

Taguiwalo graced the blessing of the new DSWD-7 Regional Learning Resource Center and the new regional warehouse in Labangon in the morning of February 9, 2017.

In the afternoon, she proceeded to the awarding ceremony at the SM Seaside, Cebu City.

Taguiwalo witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) between Dilaab Foundation for the aftercare, integration and transformation of recovering drug dependents and with Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for the implementation of the Lingap sa Masa, a program of the Duterte administration that provides free medicine to indigents and the needy government workers. She also witnessed the signing of the Terms of Reference between the Department of Science and Technology-7 for the storage of product test samples of ready-to-eat (RTE) smoked fish rice meal in pouch for disaster response.

She served as the keynote speaker of the said celebration.

In her speech, the DSWD chief assured MOA workers that she will make sure they will get more benefits aside from the recent gratuity pay, which will be released within this month.

Taguiwalo who was Founding National President of All University of the Philippines Academic Employee Union and a founder of All-UP Workers' Alliance wished she could provide job security to cost of service employees of DSWD citing that there are MOA workers who have been with the agency for more than 10 years.

“But as you know, the power does not lie with me but with the DBM,” she said.
However, Taguiwalo assured the MOA workers that they will also benefit from second tranche of the Salary Standardization Law on top of the 10 percent premium, which elicited strong applause
from the crowd.

“We hope to do more with the consent of the President to ensure that our MOA workers will receive more benefits while regular workers are promoted base on their accomplishments,” she said.

Taguiwalo thanked everyone especially the partners who helped DSWD in delivering its various programs and services.

“I stand proud with all of you today as we look back to the successes of the past year,” she said.

Taguiwalo also reiterated Pres. Duterte’s instructions, “We are here not to Lord over the people but to serve them.”

Meanwhile, DSWD-7 awardees composed of civil society organizations, private institutions, people organizations and local government units (LGU), exemplary and loyal staff who have served the agency for more than ten years.

Surigao City still on blackout
By Juzel L. Danganan

MANILA, Feb. 11 (PNA) -- Surigao City still has no power on Saturday following the magnitude 6.7 earthquake that hit the area at 10:03 p.m. Friday.

Ramon Gotinga of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Surigao del Norte said in an advisory that the city remains on blackout.

Some 89 aftershocks in the area have been recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) since 5 a.m. on Saturday. (PNA)

Surigao City quake death toll now at 6, wounded at 126
By Priam F. Nepomuceno

MANILA, Feb. 11 (PNA) --- The death toll in the 6.7-magnitude quake that struck Surigao City Friday night has climbed to six, while wounded persons numbered 126.

This was disclosed by Surigao del Norte Provincial Disaster Risk Response Management Office head, Ramon Gotinga, in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Saturday.

"Death toll as of now is six, on the damages (sustained), assessment is still ongoing," he added.

"Number of wounded as of now is at 126," he added.

The 6.7-magnitude tremor that rocked Surigao City at about 10:03 p.m. Friday also damaged the city's airport and several buildings and structures.

Several other buildings and business establishments, among them the Gaisano Capital shopping mall, Parkway Hotel, and Absolute Essentials building, also suffered damage.

Partial damage was observed at the Surigao State College of Technology, Palma store, parts of the road in Barangay Rizal, and parts of the National Highway in Barangay Luna.

Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, 4th Infantry Division spokesman, said the earthquake also wrecked the bridge in Barangay Anao-aon in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte.

A power outage engulfed a large part of the city as soon as the temblor struck, then aftershocks were felt, he said.

Rescue operations by the 30th Infantry Battalion are still underway in Surigao City and other parts of Surigao del Norte as of Saturday, Martinez said. (PNA)

‘State of calamity’ declared in Surigao del Norte province, city
By Cris Diaz

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 11 (PNA) -- A state of calamity has been declared in the province of Surigao del Norte and the city of Surigao following a 6.7-magnitude earthquake Friday night, a provincial official said Saturday.

Provincial information officer, Mary Jul Espuerte, said that Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Matugas has also declared no classes in all levels, both in private and public schools, in Surigao City and Surigao del Norte.

She said all commercial buildings, which have shown cracks, were ordered closed as the local government initiated a rapid assessment of damages incurred in the temblor.

Espuerte said that the city and some parts of the province are without electricity and water supply.

She noted that the Lipata Terminal, which connects the “roll-on, roll-off” (RORO) for both private and public utility vehicles, has also been temporarily closed.

The “Lipata Port” was not damaged, but a bridge leading to the port terminal was closed due to damage from the quake, she added.

Espuerte said the provincial government is coordinating with various government line agencies in a bid to bring back normalcy to the city and the province as soon as possible.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck the eastern seacoast of Surigao City, 300 km. northeast of here, past 10:00 p.m. Friday. The quake was tectonic in origin, Philippine volcanologists have said.

A report reaching here said four people, most of them male, and an octogenarian died when they were rushed for treatment in various hospitals there.

About 80 people were initially treated as outpatients at the height of the earthquake that delivered more than 100 aftershocks since Friday evening, with magnitudes ranging from 2.0 to 3.7.

Cagayan de Oro City, which is 300 km. southwest of Surigao City, felt the temblor at Intensity 3. (PNA)

Cayetano to CPP-NDF: Together let's not waste best chance of peace, real change

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano appealed to the CPP-NDF leadership to join in the pursuit of a “peaceful revolution” and stand up against the war on drugs for the sake of the Filipino people.

“The Duterte administration is your best chance for meaningful change, reform, and peaceful revolution. The CPP-NDF group should understand and give more since the administration has met them more than halfway already,” Cayetano explained.

The Senator cited the administration's efforts to institute reforms to address the problems of inequality and poverty in the country, opening up cabinet positions and all lines of communication and dialogue with the left.

Cayetano remains hopeful that the peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels will resume even as President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the cancellation of their talks.

“The government’s peace talks with the communists or the left collapsed. But we are all hoping it is not permanent,” Cayetano said in a press briefing with the Philippine-American press in New York City on Thursday (PH time).

The President earlier announced the suspension of the peace negotiations, stressing that many soldiers had died despite the unilateral ceasefire between the government and the communist group.

Cayetano said he understands the need for the President to take a hard stand on the issue, but added that he is still hoping that the two sides will return to the table to negotiate peacefully.

"Quoting Former Israeli President Shimon Peres, in peace negotiations, if you give too much, you lose your base. If you give too little, you lose the other side. Thus, there has to be pressure from all of us Filipinos to get these two sides to give more and accept less,” he said.

The senator clarified that no other administration had dealt with the issue more thoroughly, sincerely, and considerately than the Duterte Administration has.

“From the communists’ side, they think we are giving too little. But on the side of the government, we feel we have already given them so much. But no other President has given this much this soon,” he said.

In fact, Cayetano noted, members of leftist groups who chose to voice out their concerns through peaceful means have always been welcomed in government. Known members of the leftist group had been appointed in some cabinet positions under the Duterte government.

“Those who have chosen a parliamentary rather than an armed struggle are always welcome and are part of a healthy dialogue with the government,” Cayetano stressed.

Farmers, fisherfolks receive Php1.6-B crop insurance payments in 2016
By Leslie D. Venzon

MANILA, Feb. 9 (PNA) -- Close to 235,000 farmers and fisherfolks received Php1.6 billion in crop insurance payments in 2016, initial reports from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) show.

The PCIC said the indemnity payment allowed them to restart their operations after farm damage caused by the El Niño phenomenon and several typhoons and flooding last year, and prevent significant disruption in the supply of food in the market.

Collectively, these insured farmers operated 919,814.81 hectares, an expansion of 7.52 percent from the total farm area of 855,504.53 hectares covered by PCIC’s services in 2016.

The PCIC insured a total of 1.075 million farmers and fisherfolks in 2016.

It was the second time that PCIC shelled out indemnity payment at the billion-peso level. The indemnity payment was 16 percent more than the Php1.38 billion paid in 2015.

In terms of premium income, the PCIC generated Php2.59 billion, while its total amount of insurance cover reached Php41 billion. (PNA)

Cayetano thanks US Secretary of State Tillerson for expressing support for Du30 gov't

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday thanked the new United States Secretary of State for his statement that the US will preserve its long-standing friendship with the Philippines, and that more facts would be needed on the ground before anyone could comment on the Philippine government's war on drugs.

During the US Senate's confirmation hearing, newly confirmed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the Philippines needs to “stay an ally," and that he needs to “act on fact” and “multiple sources” when it comes to the country’s anti-drug war.

Cayetano in a Facebook post thanked Tillerson for his assurance. He meanwhile expressed his dismay that while Filipinos support the war on drugs and view it as protecting law-abiding citizens from drug-related violence, certain groups from within the country continue to spread lies and paint a picture of massive human rights violations.

"It is unfortunate that like steel that is destroyed by rust, it is groups from inside who are affected by the anti-illegal drugs, anti-crime, and anti-corruption campaign who are leading the disinformation campaign,” he stressed.

“Unfortunately, some have judged, believed or condemned without understanding the real situation nor verified facts on the ground. Leading to much misunderstanding and affecting our image abroad,” he added.

The senator lamented how the public had been misled by the efforts of some detractors to discredit President Rodrigo Duterte and his centerpiece platform of government.

"There are many spreading lies about the situation in the Philippines, but there are many more who would see for themselves first before they judge," he said.

Finally, Cayetano reiterated his call for US congressional leaders and other international advocates and “partners” to visit the Philippines, go to the different communities, and see for themselves how the war on drugs is slowly making Filipinos feel much safer.

“We prayed with U.S Congressional leaders in the National Prayer Breakfast. Now I pray that these legislators (our brothers and sisters), as well as other international leaders, would visit the Philippines… hear from the people themselves how they are finally beginning to feel safe, that they can now rely on the law and on their government,” Cayetano said.

PROMOTING INCLUSIVE BUSINESS, BUILDING COMMUNITIES

Batangas coffee traders/farmers turned entrepreneurs (3rd,4th,5th from L) gladly accounted their thousands-worth of earnings from their farming businesses to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez (4th from R) and officials, during a recent (3 February) site visit at Nestle PH in Lipa. They benefited from Nestle PH’s sustainable and inclusive business program that aims to push for the industry’s growth and make coffee a more profitable livelihood by helping farmers improve their income through increased yield and improved quality, as well as by sharing best farming practices and sustainability standards. Nestle PH Chairman and CEO Jacques Reber (2nd from L) and CFO Mandeep Chhatwal (leftmost) said that the company provides plantlets to government-identified farmer recipients at cost. Nestle PH also extends technical assistance and training and serves as ready market through strategically-located satellite coffee buying stations across the PH. It also confirmed establishment of a Milo Malt Plant in Lipa to be in operation by September 2017. Sec. Lopez called on Nestle PH to find ways on how to include local workforce and producers in the malt production chain to replicate the success of these coffee farmers to other micro-entrepreneurs. He also called on Nestle PH, working with more than 4,000 MSME vendors, to partner with DTI’s Negosyo Centers to further its entrepreneurial project business on wheels that enables marginalized Filipinos to become entrepreneurs by providing them free business training. The company vowed to further strengthen its Creating Shared Value program with the communities by promoting rural development, advocating nutrition and safeguarding water and environment. (END)

Omega Healthcare receives Golden Peacock HR Excellence Award

Omega Healthcare, an offshore healthcare management services firm, received commendation for its efforts towards creating a world-class people-centric organization. Omega Healthcare, which has offices in Bengaluru, Chennai, Trichy & Bhimavaram, and Manila and Cebu in the Philippines, won the Special Commendation for Golden Peacock HR Excellence Award. The award, given annually, was instituted by the Institute of Directors in 1991 and is regarded as the benchmark of corporate excellence worldwide. Guruvayurappan, vice president and head of human resources at Omega Healthcare, said the award will further encourage the company to enhance its HR practices to attain the company's strategic goals.

Cognizant acquires Adaptra in Australia

Cognizant Technology Solutions has acquired Australian insurance consulting and business transformation firm Adaptra for a still undisclosed amount. The deal marks Cognizant's fifth major acquisition in the space of twelve months. The company hopes to further strengthen its position in the core platforms space, focused on improving core services and customer experience with the acquisition of Adaptra. Found in 1998, Adaptra offers consulting, programme management and implementation services related to the delivery of core platforms to insurance companies. It employs more than 100 professionals. Jayajyoti Sengupta, head of Asia Pacific at Cognizant, said the combined strengths of Cognizant and Adaptra will help insurers navigate the shift to digital economy.

ISS reports high revenue growth in Indonesia

PT ISS Indonesia, the local arm of Denmark-listed service outsourcing firm ISS, posted 14.8% revenue growth in Indonesia in 2016 despite the domestic economic slowdown. ISS Indonesia president director Elisa Lumbantoruan said 2016 was the best year for the outsourcing company even as they rejected some contracts to focus only on those who were willing to pay the rate set by the company. ISS Indonesia accounted for 4% of its parent company's revenue in 2015. ISS, which also operates ISS Facility Services Philippines in Makati City, employs 61,000 workers serving 3,500 clients.

IBEX Global hiring more in the US

IBEX Global Solutions said it will be immediately hiring more than 400 tech support positions at its Bend, Oregon facility. Ibex Global, which is present in the US, UK, Senegal, Pakistan and the Philippines, said the immediate hiring is due to client growth at the site. Stephanie Walsh, VP of Americas recruiting at IBEX Global, said the company is looking for people who enjoy helping customers by phone with their technical questions and are interested in being part of the IBEX family. The new hires will add to a current workforce of 345 at the Bend call center. IBEX delivers onshore, near shore, and offshore business process outsourcing solutions in seven countries across 22 sites.

Accenture acquires Germany's solid servision

In another move to boost the company’s ServiceNow capabilities, Accenture has acquired solid servision, one of the largest independent ServiceNow solution providers in Germany. The deal, which builds on Accenture's other recent acquisitions, boosts the company's ability to deliver ServiceNow’s cloud-based workflow and automation platform as a managed service throughout continental Europe. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed. solid servision is now part of Accenture’s global ServiceNow practice, adding approximately 100 professionals with more than 130 ServiceNow certifications to Accenture. It also creates a leading ServiceNow implementation team in Germany and extends Accenture’s cloud services leadership position in Europe and in the industry at large.

Investments for IT services worldwide to further rise â€" Wipro

Global software and IT outsourcing firm Wipro expects more investments for IT services worldwide this year. The forecast is based on the demand environment, which is interestingly poised, according to Wipro Chief Executive Abidali Z. Neemuchwala. IT services such as digital, AI platforms, and cloud applications have enabled Wipro to offer a differentiated value proposition to its global clients. This year, though, Wipro intends to hire locally and invest in delivery and innovation centres across the US due to the increasing protectionist measures by the new US administration.

Some BPOs put expansion plans on hold â€" PEZA 

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has revealed that a number of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the country have put their expansion plans on hold. PEZA director-general Charito B. Plaza said BPO firms are awaiting any US moves towards greater protectionism under the administration of President Donald Trump. Plaza said BPO firms are worried and are holding their investment plans because they would like to see what other pronouncements of Trump may come when it comes to outsourcing. While US investments in the Philippines are expected to drop, Plaza said the government expects more investments from alternative markets such as Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan. US locators are currently the third-largest investors in PEZA after Japan and the Philippines.

Trump's labor secretary a client of Philippine outsourcing sector 

In what is viewed as a contradiction to the new US administration's anti-outsourcing stance, President Donald Trump's pick for labor secretary, Andrew Puzder, is actually an outsourcing client of the Philippines. Puzder's company, CKE Restaurant Holdings, outsources its technology department to the Philippines, according to a filing with the Labor Department. A company spokesman also acknowledged that CKE continues to use the IT operation in the Philippines.  It was in 2010 when CKE started outsourcing its restaurant IT division to the Philippines. In a statement to The Associated Press, CKE said it was able to improve the quality of service levels to its restaurants by outsourcing the IT function to a firm that employs hundreds of Help Desk specialists.

IBM bags IT outsourcing contract from Aecom

Aecom, the world's largest engineering firm, has reportedly scrapped its entire global IT operations and will outsource the department to IBM. Both firms have not made a public announcement yet but sources said Aecom staff received letters in mid-January informing them of the decision. It is too early for anyone to know what ratio of people IBM will allow to work remotely or in existing Aecom offices, sources said. Aecom is an American multinational engineering firm that provides design, consulting, construction, and management services to a wide range of clients. Aecom has approximately 95,000 employees, and is number 156 on the 2016 Fortune 500 list.

Azpired Inc launches travel unit

To meet the travel demand of business process outsourcing (BPO) workers, local business process outsourcing (BPO) firm Azpired Inc has launched Azpire Travel. The 10-year-old BPO firm headquartered in Cebu IT Park has set up a travel agency to meet the demands of BPO employees. Almira Absin, the company's general manager, said Azpire Travel was started because of people's desire to travel a lot. Azpired's 1,500 employees are enthusiastic about travel, both to domestic and international destinations. Azpire Travel offers tour packages to Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Korea, US and other destinations, aside from ticketing and hotel reservations. Last year, it primarily served employees who can pay for trips through salary deductions.

Convergys chair Marife Zamora to head MAP

For the first time, someone from the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector will head the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). Marife Zamora, chairperson of Convergys Philippines, becomes MAP's 68th president and the first to come from the BPO sector since the organization was established in 1950. Zamora will be leading MAP towards the fulfillment of its programs and advocacies together with eight members of MAP’s board of governors, comprised of top executives from financial services, public utility, media, academe, and management consultancy firms. Zamora takes over from Perry Pe, Head of the Project Development and Finance Department of the Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles Law Office.

Duterte, Trump policies to disrupt ICT and BPO sectors

IDC Philippines said the pivot and policy changes from Presidents Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines and Donald Trump of the US will disrupt the country's ICT and business process outsourcing (BPO) industry by 2020. The forecast was among the 10 predictions of IDC Philippines for the Philippine ICT industry for this year and beyond. IDC said the policy changes of the Philippines and the US will disrupt the ICT and BPO sectors if the industry does not take critical steps safeguarding the country's inherent growth drivers. IDC also said 25% of the country's top 1,000 companies will see the majority of their business depending on their ability to create digitally enhanced products, services and experiences by 2020.

Linedata acquires Gravitas

Linedata, a global solutions provider dedicated to the investment management sector, has agreed to acquire Gravitas Technology Services, a provider of middle office and technology services to the asset management industry. Financial details of the acquisition were not immediately disclosed. Linedata founder and CEO Anvaraly Jiva said the acquisition will combine Gravitas' award-winning outsourcing services with Linedata's technology platform to accelerate the company's ambitious and innovative 2018 growth strategy. Linedata has close to 1,000 employees in 16 offices across the globe. Linedata is headquartered in France.

Five BPO firms sign up for first inter-BPO basketball tournament in Cebu

Teams from five business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu - Accenture, Tech Mahindra, SSI, Optum, and Sykes - are vying for the first-ever DH25 Inter-BPO Basketball Tournament. The tournament is spearheaded by Philippine professional basketball star Dondon Hontiveros. Under the tournament rules, four teams will advance to the semifinal round with the number one seed going up against the number four and the number three taking on the fourth-ranked squad. Semifinal winners will collide in the title round, which will be played in a best-of-three games.

Datamark names Nina Brown VP of Sales and Marketing

Datamark Inc, a business process outsourcing firm specializing in high-volume digital mailroom management, among others, has announced the appointment of Nina Brown as its new VP of Sales and Marketing. Brown will be responsible for the company's sales and marketing operations, bringing with her 17 years of experience. Brown started with the company in 2000 as a software developer. Datamark President Bill Randag said Brown's experience as a technical sales specialist and her deep understanding of the roles that people, process and technology play in business process management make her the ideal candidate for the position.

HSBC tells Philippines to diversify away from BPO

Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp (HSBC) said the Philippine economy will continue to be resilient in the next couple of years despite the threat of the protectionist policies of US President Donald Trump. However, HSBC said the Philippines needs to diversify away from business process outsourcing (BPO) to ensure more sustainable growth. Economic expansion would continue despite Trump's policies against the BPO sector, but the Philippines should not rely too much on the BPO industry to sustain growth, the British bank said. HSBC said the Philippine economic growth will remain robust over the next two years.

Asia Pacific to account for 31.2% of global healthcare CMO market

A new report released by Transparency Market Research showed that Asia Pacific will account for 31.2% of the global healthcare contract manufacturing outsourcing (CMO) market by the end of 2019. Asia Pacific will closely trail North America, which is projected to lead the global market with 32.9%. The global healthcare CMO market is anticipated to rise at a compounded annual growth rate of 14.30% between 2013 and 2019. The market is expected to reach a worth of USD246.5bn by the end of 2019 from a value of USD97.6bn in 2012. The report said CMO has become a major need for the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical devices as they strive to retain their position in the market.

Cebu City leads Lamudi's top 10 cities to watch this year

Cebu City's robust outsourcing industry has made it the top city to watch this year, according to the latest ranking released by property listing site Lamudi. Aside from its vibrant outsourcing industry, Cebu also ranked number one on Lamudi's list because of its proximity to several of the country's best tropical destinations and affordable secondary cities. Cebu City ranked seventh by strategic advisory firm Tholons among best outsourcing destinations in the world. Following Cebu on Lamudi's list are the cities of Las Piñas, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Davao. The cities of Dasmariñas and General Trias in Cavite also made it to the top 10.

BPO investors turned off by high cost of land in Davao

Davao's high land cost could limit investment in the city's economic zones, especially the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, the Chamber of Real Estate and Builder Associations (CREBA) said. CREBA national committee chairperson for economic zone development Malou Monteverde said the cost of land in Davao is very expensive even in agricultural areas. She said the cost of land means a lot for BPO firms in terms of competitiveness. She also urged the local government to set up economic zones focused on BPOs with at least a 25-hectare area. Davao City currently has four economic zones focused on manufacturing and logistics.

IT-BPM sector moves to attract other countries

In response to the anti-outsourcing stance of US President Donald J. Trump, members of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (ITBPAP) are now moving to attract business from other countries. Most BPO companies in the Philippines are now taking action to expand their clientele, booking more European and Australian clients, noted Michael Gerard Enriquez, chief investments officer of Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc. The country's BPO sector is considered as potentially one of the most directly affected sectors in Trump's protectionist policies. Enriquez and a number of analysts, however, expect revenues from the BPO still to overtake remittances from overseas Filipino workers over the next few years.

“Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

God's Promises Are Yes

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20

God keeps every promise He makes. When we walk in intimate fellowship with Christ, we have the assurance that every promise God has made in Scripture is available to us. This truth should motivate us to search the Scriptures for each promise in order to meditate upon its potential for our life. Jesus promised that when you ask for something in His will, He will give you what you ask (John 16:23b). This promise is available to every Christian. If you ask God if this promise applies to your life, His answer is yes. If you are not now experiencing this promise, it does not change the fact that God has said it. You may need to seek God’s answer for why His promise has not yet reached maturity in you. Paul claimed he had tested each of these promises in his own life and found them all to be abundantly true. That’s why he could speak of the “exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7b) and the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8b). Paul had found a wealth of God’s promises and enjoyed them all in abundance. Don’t become discouraged or impatient if you are not experiencing to the fullest all of God’s promises in your life. God may want to prepare you to receive some of the great truths He has made available to you. Walk closely with your Lord and, in time, you will see Him bring His promises to fruition in your life.  Henry and Richard Blackaby

Without Faith

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:23

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Whenever God reveals something, He expects us to believe Him and adjust our lives accordingly. What does this mean? It means we trust Him implicitly for all of our needs because He says He will provide (Phil. 4:19). It means we approach crises with the assurance that God will bring good from them (Rom. 8:28). It means we overcome anxiety during stressful situations because God instructs us to bring our requests to Him (Phil. 4:6). It means that we never worry that we are alone because God said He would never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6). It means that, despite what happens in our lives, we will never doubt God’s love because He has told us that He loves us with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3). At times we try to justify our lack of faith! We know what God has promised, but we doubt that He will make a practical difference in our life. We are filled with anxiety and excuse ourselves by saying: “I am just a worrier!” We become bitter during a crisis and reason that “God could not possibly bring anything good out of this pain!” We appeal for help from everyone around us when we have a need; then we explain: “I know God can provide for my needs, but I think I should do everything I can, just in case.” God calls this faithlessness. Faithlessness is sin. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).    Henry and Richard Blackaby

TCS named leader in insurance IT services

For the sixth consecutive year, global IT outsourcing services firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been recognized by Everest Group as leader in the IT Outsourcing Global Insurance Service Provider Landscape PEAK Matrix. Everest highlights TCS' established credibility for domain knowledge, agility across global client engagements and delivery scale. It also cites TCS' comprehensive portfolio comprising domain-focused integrated platforms and targeted accelerators as key strengths. Jimit Arora, Partner, Everest Group, said TCS' breadth and depth of portfolio of insurance-specific offerings and success with insurers across all major-lines-of-businesses helped the company strengthen its position as a leader on the 2016 Everest Group Insurance AO PEAK Matrix.

Wipro Ventures buys into BPO platform Tradeshift

Wipro's venture arm has invested an undisclosed amount in business process platform company Tradeshift. The IT firm said it will partner with the startup to offer cloud-based supply chain solutions. Wipro said the partnership would help customers boost automation in their procurement, finance and accounting functions. In a statement, Wipro's global head of business process services, Nagendra Bandaru, said joining forces with an innovative company such as Tradeshift will provide Wipro's customers access to a global, cloud-based supply chain platform. Tradeshift is a startup based out of San Francisco in the US.

Finding new US clients is becoming difficult - Azpired Inc

Azpired Inc general manager Almira Absin said finding new clients from the US has been difficult for the business process outsourcing (BPO) company. This started when President Rodrigo Duterte made verbal pronouncements of cutting ties with the US, Absin said. In a recent trip to the US, Absin, who founded the 10-year-old BPO company, said one of the potential investors asked why she should invest in the Philippines when the country's president wanted to cut ties with the US. Absin added that Azpired lost a few clients because of Duterte's comment. She, however, expressed confidence that exchanges of verbal support between US President Donald Trump and Duterte could improve the situation.

O'Boyle named new MiraMed president

MiraMed Global Services, a provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions to healthcare organizations, has announced the appointment of Michael P. O'Boyle as its new president. O'Boyle, who has experience as Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Operating Partner for top-tier companies, will oversee the strategic growth of the MiraMed family of companies in his new role. He was most recently an operating partner with Pamplona Capital Management. MiraMed Chairman and CEO Tony Mira said O'Boyle has the right experience and knowledge to help MiraMed better serve clients and acquire new ones.

Accenture acquires InvestTech

Global consultancy and outsourcing firm Accenture has acquired investment technology systems-integration and consulting service firm InvestTech Systems Consulting for an undisclosed amount. In a news release, Accenture said the acquisition will further expand its capabilities to help global investment managers, institutional investors and asset servicers strengthen their competitiveness. Headquartered in Los Angeles, InvestTech's services include systems integration and technology consulting support for the entire front to back-office investment process. The InvestTech acquisition will be Accenture’s second industry-focused asset-management acquisition in a little over a year.

US ambassador says outsourcing firms to stay in the Philippines

In a move that could appease the anxiety of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said he does not see US engagement slowing down or halting in the country soon. He also downplayed reports that US BPO companies are holding off expansion in the Philippines saying US companies' perception of the Philippines as an attractive positive advantage would not change. About 70% of revenues from BPO operations in the Philippines originate from American companies. Industry key players, however, are worried that the anti-outsourcing policies of US President Donald Trump could affect the country's booming BPO industry.

Synnex adds Ann Vezina to its Board of Directors

Business process services firm Synnex has announced the appointment of Ann Vezina to the company's Board of Directors. The entry of Vezina brings the total number of Synnex's independent directors to eight and the total board membership to 11. She has also been appointed to the company's Audit Committee. Duane Zitzner, Chairman of the SYNNEX Corporation Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, said Vezina's BPO expertise will be invaluable to the company's global business services in the coming years. Vezina most recently was the Corporate Vice President, Human Resources, of Xerox Business Services, a role she was promoted to in 2013.

SPi Technologies expands operations in Nicaragua

Global call center services provider SPi Technologies, a subsidiary of Philippine BPO provider SPi Global, has won approval to set up a delivery center in the Managua free zone in Nicaragua. With the approval, Nicaragua pledged to invest more than USD500,000 into the new facility and create as many as 50 direct jobs. SPi was one among the four IT/BPO firms that won approval from the Free Zone Management Council. The other IT/BPO firms permitted to operate in the free zone include OOQIA SA, a software development firm, and local call center operators DMF and Xperts. Nicaragua’s BPO industry is also growing steadily, employing more than 8,000 people.

Cognizant expands Hong Kong operations

US-listed IT outsourcing firm Cognizant has announced plans to expand its operations in Hong Kong as it seeks to grow its presence in the Greater China region. The Hong Kong expansion underscores Cognizant's confidence in the city's talent pool to help its client succeed, said Jayajyoti Sengupta, Asia Pacific Head at Cognizant. The company currently employs more than 300 professionals in Hong Kong. Cognizant runs an active graduate program on the island to develop entry-level technical and management talent. As part of its expansion, Cognizant opened its new office in Hong Kong, enabling global, regional and local clients to leverage the technical and business capabilities available in the region, the company said.

Concentrix enjoys steady growth in Davao

Global business process outsourcing (BPO) Concentrix continues to enjoy growth in Davao City as made evident in the expansion of its teams, accounts and clients that it handles. This was the pronouncement of Concentrix Davao Site Director Ellen Jane Ferenal-Garcia, who also revealed plans to build a 450 seating capacity facility in Lanang that will accommodate 900 agents. Garcia added that Concentrix is now actively communicating with at least three potential clients from the US. The decision of the clients could take place in the next month or so. Some of Concentrix's clients are ending their contracts in Costa Rica and India to transfer to Davao instead. Garcia expressed confidence that President Donald Trump's pronouncement to pull-out American investments in other countries, including the Philippines, is highly unlikely to happen.

Accenture joins blockchain startup

The Chamber of Digital Commerce, the block chain trade association, has accepted three new public companies to its membership to help educate, promote and accelerate the adoption of block chain-enabled technologies. Accenture, CME Group and TMX Group are among new Chamber members that have joined the roster of block chain participants over the past year. This list also includes a wide range of small and large participants committed to innovating with or investing in block chain-based technologies, the Chamber said. David Treat, managing director of Accenture's financial services industry block chain practice, said the prospects for block chain use in large-scale enterprise IT systems are becoming more and more vivid and Accenture is committed to supporting these efforts.

HCL recognized as leader in retail banking BPO

Everest Group has positioned HCL as leader in its recently published report Retail Banking BPO State of the Market PEAK Matrix Assessment 2016. The report said HCL has witnessed best-in-class revenue growth in retail banking BPO, supported by the company's strong capability in regulatory and risk management support services. A total of 19 retail banking BPO service providers were evaluated and classified into three categories - Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants. Leaders are those that demonstrated all round excellence, Everest said. Anoop Tiwari, Corporate Vice President and Global Head Business Services, HCL Technologies, said the recognition underscores HCL's strengths in automation based offerings, deep domain expertise, flexible management models and a unique portfolio of digital and technology led solutions.

BPO, remittances could get hit by Trump policy - Capital Economics

London-based research consultancy firm Capital Economics said the country's business process outsourcing (BPO) and Filipino workers' remittances, sectors that bring in significant revenues, could be hardly hit by US President Donald Trump's America first policy. Capital Economics said that while Trump's protectionist threats are focused on China and Mexico, the Philippines also stands out as vulnerable to any moves by the US toward isolationism. Despite all this, Capital Economics kept its GDP growth forecast of 6.5 percent for the Philippines for this year, but noted that the risks are firmly to the downside.

Infosys likely to stop annual forecasts

Global IT services and outsourcing firm Infosys Ltd is reportedly considering stopping its annual forecasts, a practice it has been doing since June 2001, due to the protectionist stance of US President Donald Trump. The company's board is reportedly debating if Infosys can still predict its own business amid uncertain client spending. No decision, however, has been reached for now. One of the company's executives said it will be misleading to give a guidance given the complete unpredictability of the market. Infosys, which ended with USD9.5bn in revenue last year, used to give both a quarterly and yearly guidance until April 2012. Last month, Infosys scaled back its growth forecast for the third straight time, expecting now at-best dollar revenue growth of 7.6% in the current year.

Australian investors remain attracted to the Philippines

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said the country will remain an attractive destination for Australian investments. PIDS visiting research fellow Peter K. Ross and entrepreneur Mike O'Hagan said Australia's small and medium enterprises can be a potential market for micro-offshoring services offered by Philippine-based business process outsourcing (BPO) firms. The expected continuous growth of the Australian SME sector should provide entrepreneurial opportunities for local Filipino SMEs looking to enter and tap the market, Ross and O'Hagan said. The PIDS report noted that that the Philippines' location also favors Australian firms because there is only a two-hour difference to the Australian Eastern Standard time.

German investors eye BPO sector

German businessmen are interested and ready to invest in business process outsourcing (BPO) and manufacturing in the Philippines. German Ambassador Gordon Kricke said Germany plans to explore areas of investment partnerships with the Philippines, including providing technology for infrastructure and transportation projects. The German diplomat also said Germany’s development banks were eyeing more investments in the Philippines. Kricke urged President Rodrigo Duterte to fulfill his vow to cut bureaucratic red tape and improve business conditions in the country. Germany is the Philippines’ largest trading partner in the European Union.

Global data analytics outsourcing market to hit USD6bn by 2024

The global data analytics outsourcing market is forecast to expand at a compounded annual growth rate of over 30% in the 2016-2024 period and to exceed USD6bn by 2024. According to Hexa Research, the growth of the industry will be propelled by demand from businesses that realize the importance of effective data analysis. The report added that the scarcity of resources, experience, and knowledge is driving a number of companies to opt for data analytics outsourcing. Hexa Research, however, identified factors that negatively impact the demand for data analytics outsourcing. These include data security issues, scarcity of trained professionals for data analysis, and insufficient awareness on the benefits of data analytics.

Singapore's Foretec expanding services in the Philippines

SEO services firm Foretec Pte Ltd, one of Singapore's biggest, is expanding its services to the Philippines to address the SEO needs of local businesses. Foretec Philippines has SEO professionals, web designers, internet markets, developers, copywriters and others with many years in the SEO industry. In addition to helping local Philippine business owners, it also accepts outsourcing works from other countries. Foretec Philippines uses both off site optimization and on site optimization strategies that contribute greatly to its clients’ rankings. 

Three major BPO locators in Cebu plan further expansion

Three big anchor locators in Cebu are planning to further expand their operations, following the lead of Accenture, which is hiring 1,000 additional workers in Cebu this year. Wilfredo “Jun” Sa-a, Jr., executive director of Cebu Educational Development for Information Technology (CEDF-IT), however, did not reveal the names of the three big companies because they have not made their public announcements yet. Accenture earlier announced its expansion plans in Cebu, which involve hiring employees that are US-registered nurses, those who are fluent in Japanese, and network engineers, among others. Sa-a also dispelled fears related to US President Donald Trump's protectionist policies, saying there was no need to worry as long as BPOs meet targets within the industry roadmap. The Philippine IT-BPM industry roadmap 2022 targets to directly employ 1.8 million workers, 73% of which hold mid- to high-value jobs.

2022 projections for IT-BPM sector on track â€" IBPAP

Despite concerns on the anti-outsourcing stance of US President Donald Trump, the domestic IT-business process management industry is expected to sustain growth, the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said. IBPAP president and CEO Ike Amigo said the projections of the Accelerate PH Roadmap 2022 are on track and the industry is geared to solve the challenges. Once these challenges are addressed, global interest in the Philippine IT-BPM services will increase, he added. Amigo added that there is no slowing down in the interest of foreign businesses to invest in the country's IT-BPM sector. Some of the investors include those from the US, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

UP TO 30,000 MICRO-ENTREPS TO BENEFIT FROM THE “ANGAT KITA PROGRAM” IN NEGOSYO CENTERS BY DTI, P&G. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez (seated; center right) recently (2 February) led the ceremonial signing of the “P&G Angat Kita” Micro-entrepreneurship Development Program with Procter and Gamble (P&G), through its President for Asia Pacific Selling and Market Operations Magesvaran Suranjan (seated; center left). A program for micro-entrepreneurs, which is also one of the key priorities in the current trade agenda, the “P&G Angat Kita Program” is designed to help sari-sari storeowners, gain knowledge, develop business skills, and gain access to start-up capital. Over 1,000 initial participants will receive a Php 2,500 worth of P&G start-up package after successfully finishing a basic merchandising seminar in DTI’s Negosyo Centers. DTI and P&G target to cover 20,000 to 30,000 micro entrepreneurs nationwide, after the initial launching in Metro Manila, including the cities of Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Marikina and Quezon City. Joining the trade chief are DTI Undersecretary of Regional Operations Group (ROG) Zenaida Maglaya (seated; rightmost) and P&G Vice President & Philippine Country Head Shankar Viswanathan (seated; leftmost). END

DOJ chief orders suspension of NBI to conduct probe on illegal drugs cases
By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan

MANILA, Feb. 3 (PNA) -- Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Friday issued a memorandum ordering the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to suspend conducting probe on illegal drugs cases.

The NBI is one of the attached agencies of the DOJ.

"In compliance with the earlier pronouncement of President (Rodrigo) Duterte, I have signed Memorandum Circular No. 005, placing Department Order No. 554, dated August 25, 2016, in a state of indefinite suspension. Consequently, the authority of the NBI to investigate and to conduct case build up of cases falling under Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise know as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 is held in abeyance until further notice,” Aguirre said in a one-page memorandum.

He said the memorandum circular shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force until revoked.

"The DOJ and the NBI will now focus its energy and resources in waging war against corruption and in waging war against criminality,” Aguirre said.

On Thursday, President Duterte included NBI in his order to bar from drug-related cases.

The move came after some PNP officials and NBI personnel were reportedly involved in into the kidnap-slay of a South Korean businessman.

NBI Director Dante Gierran earlier ordered the immediate relief and reshuffle of four NBI officials from their posts in connection to the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.

Gierran said the move is due to the allegations and statement of former PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group - Pampanga (AIDG) head Superintendent Rafael Dumlao stating the involvement of some NBI personnel in Jee’s abduction.

The NBI officials who were ordered relieved from their posts were NBI National Capital Region Director Ricardo Diaz; NBI Deputy Director for Investigation for Investigation Service Jose Yap; NBI Task Force Against Illegal Drugs chief Ruel Bolivar; and Head Agent Darwin Lising.

Gierran said that Diaz was ordered to return to his mother unit in Regional Operations Services, while Assistant Regional Director Rommel Vallejo will replace him as the officer-in-charge of the NBI-NCR.

Yap was relieved as Deputy Director for Investigative Services and was reassigned as officer-in-charge of the Information and Communications Technology Division (ICTD)

Atty. Vicente De Guzman will replace Yap as Deputy Director for Investigative Services, while Bolivar was assigned to the Office of the Director.

Meanwhile, Atty. Sixto Burgos will be the Deputy Director for Intelligence, while Atty. Jonathan Galicia will be designated as head of the task force against illegal drugs.

Lising, on the other hand, will be assigned to Bicol.

Diaz expressed confidence his name would be cleared on the kidnap-slay of a South Korean businessman controversy.

"We were temporarily relieved from our positions to give way to the investigation of the NBI-PNP joint team. We welcome the move. We know we will be vindicated and truth will prevail over the lies of Supt. Raphael Dumlao. Aside from being hearsay, it has no factual basis whatsoever. This is just a part of working as public servant," Diaz said. (PNA)
LGI/CLTC

US Embassy in Manila: Visa issuance for Filipinos continues
By Sammy F. Martin

MANILA, Feb. 4 (PNA) -- The United States Embassy in Manila has assured that they have not implemented stricter measures in issuing visas for Filipinos who wish to enter the US.

Molly Koschina, US Embassy Press Attaché, said Filipinos are not among those mentioned in the Executive Order signed by US President Donald Trump.

“The US Embassy in the Philippines has not changed visa processing or visa requirements. Filipinos are still very much welcome to the United States,” Koscina said in a chance interview.

She said that under the Executive Order on Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals, signed by President Trump last Jan. 27, visa issuance to nationals of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen has been suspended.

“This Executive Order does not restrict the travel of dual nationals, so long as they hold the passport of an unrestricted country and possess a valid US visa,” she pointed out. (PNA)

POEA shuts down illegal recruitment agency in Las Piñas City

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) shut down an illegal recruitment agency in Las Piñas City following weeks of surveillance and complaints from victims.

The POEA identified the agency as the Lapcon Human Resources Services which was investigated by the Anti-Illegal Recruitment branch of the POEA on complaints of several victims.

The POEA team and the Las Piñas City Police padlocked Lapcon after it was found operating without the required license or authority to recruit and deploy overseas Filipino workers.

The POEA served a closure order to Analili Delfino, the owner of Lapcon Human Resources Services located at Atis Street, Verdant Subdivision, Las Piñas City.

Lapcon Human Resources Services allegedly assures applicants fast deployment as farm and supermarket workers in Ireland and United Kingdom, and factory workers in Korea using tourist visas.

The agency collects Php150,000.00 from each applicant supposedly for processing and documentation fees.

Labor & Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that he has ordered the POEA to fast-track the filing of charges of illegal recruitment against Delfino. He added that Delfino and the officers of the said recruitment agency will be included in the "List of Persons and Establishments with Derogatory Record."

This will disqualify them from participation in the overseas recruitment program of the government.

Under Republic Act No. 8042, amended by Republic Act No. 10022, any act of hiring Filipino workers, undertaken without license or authority from the POEA, is considered illegal recruitment. (DOLE/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

Sec. Teo: Miss Universe success is Philippines’ win

MANILA, Jan. 30 (PNA) -- The ‘most beautiful day in the Universe’ has finally arrived today in the Philippines, with Miss France Iris Mittenaere crowned Miss Universe 2016.

Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier placed second (first runner up), while Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar clinched the third spot (second runner up).

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo, who was present at the competition, was quick to congratulate Mittenaere for winning the most prestigious tilt, claiming that her victory is also a triumph for the Philippines.

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate Miss France for bagging the Miss Universe crown from 85 other candidates from around the world. Her win is our success as the host nation,” the tourism chief said.

“We join the millions of people watching from more than 190 countries worldwide in celebration over Miss Mittenaere’s success. And we are very proud and grateful that the Philippines became an important part in her journey to the Miss Universe crown,” Teo added.

She is confident all the hard work that went into the staging of the 65th Miss Universe competition in the Philippines will boost the country’s bid to attract more tourists to visit the many different destinations featured at the competition.

“The Philippines is the runaway winner in this prestigious international event. Our islands, food, and the biggest smiles of our people are all over the news and social media these past few weeks. The world now knows how beautiful our islands are, how delectable our cuisines are, and how friendly and warm Filipinos are â€" just ask the Miss Universe candidates themselves,” Teo expounded, recalling the diverse travel itinerary of this year’s candidates had, from Boracay’s party island to the cool highlands of Baguio, to the historical town of Vigan, the colorful tapestry of Mindanao in Davao City, and to the exciting multifaceted Manila.

“What you saw during your brief stay â€" some of top destinations, festivals, our “balut”, our Bohol Chocolate Hills â€" these are just a glimpse of what our 7,107 islands can offer. So today, I invite the world, come to the Philippines so you can affirm that when you are with Filipinos, you are with family,” the tourism chief remarked.

With the support of President Rodrigo Duterte, the DOT tapped the support and assistance of other government agencies, along with the pageant organizers and private partners, to deliver what ought to be the “most memorable and beautiful Miss Universe edition ever.”

The 65th Miss Universe was made possible with the collective effort of the DOT, the Miss Universe Organization, LCS Group headed by Gov. Chavit Singson & Architect Richelle Singson Michelle, in partnership with Okada Manila, SM Group of Companies, and Solar Entertainment Corporation, its broadcast partner. (PNA)

3 retiring Army generals given testimonial honors

MANILA, Jan. 28 (PNA) -- For their long and faithful service to the country, three retiring Philippine Army (PA) generals were given a traditional testimonial review in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Friday.

The three -- Maj. Gen. Rolando Picar, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Resource Management Office; Brig. Gen. Allan Martin, commander of the General Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command of the AFP; and Brig. Gen. Nelia Valmonte, chief nurse of the AFP -- will retire from service in February after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Picar, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sandigan” class of 1982, rendered 38 years and nine months in the military service.

Prior to his current position, he held vital posts in the Philippine Army, such as battalion commander of the 66th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division in 2002; assistant chief of staff for operations, G3 of the 6th Infantry Division in 2004; and later as commanding officer of the Finance Center of the Philippine Army.

During Picar’s stint as commander of the 66th Infantry Battalion, he strengthened the unit’s community partnerships and led successful Internal Security operations in Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Sultan Kudarat.

Likewise, Martin is a member of the PMA “Matikas” class of 1983.

He rendered 37 years and nine months in military service and took up key roles in the field while he was in the Army.

He served as battalion commander of the 39th Infantry Battalion, 6th Infantry Division in 2000 and as commander of the 302nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division in 2014.

As commander of the 302nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Martin successfully led the “Bayanihan” team activities, bringing the army closer to the community. Such efforts greatly helped address the insurgency in the provinces of Siquijor, Bohol, and Cebu.

On the other hand, Valmonte is one of the few female star officers of the AFP.

She has a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master’s degree both in nursing and hospital administration.

Prior to Valmonte’s current position, she served as the Army's Chief Nurse.

During her stint, she was named as one of the Outstanding Professionals of 2015 by the Professional Regulations Commission. She worked to improve the Army’s nursing care services and ensured that the Army nurses are capable of providing the best medical and health care services to soldiers. (PNA)

Senator Cayetano reiterates call for abolition of policies that burden OFWs

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated his call anew for the abolition of policies that unnecessarily burden the country’s Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

He specifically cited the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) and the collection of terminal fees, the same policies that some 200 OFWs in Hong Kong raised when they picketed outside the office of the Philippine Consulate General over the weekend.

The protesters echoed the same sentiment that Cayetano shared in a live Facebook video after attending the first Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting last Monday.

The protest staged by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK) complained that the procedure introduced by the Department of Labor and Employment for securing the OEC in order to earn a refund of the terminal fee led to a “chaotic system that caused missed flights, long queues, fixers, and unnecessary expenses.”

Cayetano said the continued inclusion of the terminal fee in airline tickets purchased by OFWs violates the spirit of the law that exempts the latter from its coverage, and the exemption process only compounded the situation for the OFWs.

"By law, migrant workers are exempted from paying the terminal fee. But since it is included in the ticket prices, they still have to line up to get refunds, which at times even causes missed flights,” Cayetano lamented.

“Let’s spare our modern-day heroes from these inconveniences. We need to ease their burdens by abolishing these unwarranted government policies and replacing them with seamless, convenient, and hassle-free systems. Let's make our OFWs feel like VIPs,” Cayetano stressed.

DTI LAUNCHES P3, NEW FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES IN MINDORO. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez officially launched the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) program on January 27 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Secretary Lopez emphasized the thrust of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration to make more accessible microfinancing at lower cost, to replace the usurious 5-6 system. The program is part of the strategic efforts of the DTI to boost the development of the MSMEs, specifically market vendors, agri-businessmen and members of cooperatives who do not have easy access to these services. The launching of the P3 program brought together 15 Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) and 57 market vendor beneficiaries. Five of these MFIs, namely: Radiowealth Finance company, Inc., Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Inc., Tulay sa Pag-Unlad, Inc., Cebuana Lhuillier Finance Corporation, and Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc., have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for a nationwide partnership with the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp), the financing arm of DTI. (END)

born March 15, 1894, Budapest, Hung.

died Sept. 29, 1941, Budapest

painter and printmaker who was one of the most original and controversial talents in modern Hungarian painting.

From 1912 to 1914, Aba Novák studied at the College of Fine Arts in Budapest. He then worked at the artists' colonies in Szolnok and in Nagybánya (now Baia Mare, Rom.). From 1928 to 1930 he was a fellow at the Hungarian Academy of Rome, and from 1939 he taught at the College of Fine Arts in Budapest.

His style combined elements of Expressionism with those of the Italian Novecento. His dynamic compositions and use of strong colour conveyed a sense of the fantastic; the worlds of the village fair and the circus were favourite themes. Aba Novák received numerous commissions for frescoes from the Hungarian government and from churches throughout Hungary (notably the frescoes in the Roman Catholic church in Jászszentandrás, on the Heroes' Gate in Szeged, and in St. Stephen's Mausoleum in Székesfehérvár). He won the jury's Grand Prize at the Paris World Exhibition in 1937 and that of the Venice Biennale in 1940. His paintings are held in the Hungarian National Gallery and in other public collections, as well as in several private collections.

Indonesia bares line-up in Davis Cup tie against Philippines

David Agung Susanto will banner Indonesia which will face host Philippines in the first round of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group II tie next week, the International Tennis Federation announced on Wednesday.

The other Indonesians seeing action in the tournament scheduled February 3 to 5 at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) indoor clay courts in Paco, Manila are Aditya Hari Sasongko, Anthony Susanto and Sunu-Wahyu Trijati.

Except for Anthony Susanto, all three players were part of the team which scored a 5-0 victory over Sri Lanka in the Group II relegation play-off tie last year. Anthony Susanto has replaced Christopher Rungkat. Team captain is Andrian Raturandang.

The 25-year-old David Agung Susanto is currently No. 739 in the world. He is a clay court specialist who owns four doubles titles and has played in four Davis Cup ties.

Indonesia has beaten the Philippines six times in four meetings, the last was in 2012 (3-2) in their home turf.

The Philippines, on the other hand, last won over Indonesia in 1999 in Jakarta. In 1997, Indonesia defeated the Philippines, 3-2, also at the PCA courts.

Veteran collegiate coach Karl Santamaria, who steered University of Santo Tomas and National University to several titles in the UAAP, was appointed anew as captain of the team comprising US-born Filipinos Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales, Francis Casey Alcantara and top junior Albert "AJ" Lim Jr., who is No. 35 in the world juniors rankings.

"It will be a tough tie especially since Indonesia has beaten us in the Southeast Asian Games team events in 2011 and 2015," said the 37-year-old Santamaria, who has been supervising the training of Alcantara for the past two weeks while waiting for the arrival of Huey, Gonzales and Lim.

Huey, the world's No. 22 doubles player, is competing in the Australian Open while Lim ended his campaign in the juniors event after losing in the second round on Tuesday. Gonzales is playing in Challengers in the US.

Last year, the team of Huey, Gonzales, Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon bowed to Chinese Taipei, 1-3, in the semifinal round to stay in Group II.

The winner of the tie will be promoted to Group I in 2018, while the loser will stay in Group II. (PNA)

PDEA files charges vs drug den maintainer, 8 others in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 9 has filed charges against eight people, including an alleged drug den maintainer, who were arrested in an anti-drug operation in this city.

PDEA Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio on Wednesday said the charges filed against the suspects were for violations of several provisions of the Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The provisions the suspects have violated were as follows: Section 5 (Selling of Illegal Drugs) in relation to Section 26 (Conspiracy); Section 6 (Maintenance of Den); Section 7 (Visitor of Den); Section 11 (Possession of Illegal Drugs); Section 13 (Possession of Illegal Drugs During Gatherings); Section 14 (Possession of Paraphernalia During Gatherings); and Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs).

Aspacio named those charged as: Nearesa Cervantes, 50, alleged drug maintainer; Judy Tan, 51, alleged cohort of Cervantes; and Cervantes’ visitors namely Sol Estino Solaiman, 32; Marichu Nishimoto, 37; Jason Modanza, 22; Erickson Climaco, 35; Reynaldo Garcia, 39; Marlon Macatangay, 38; and, Reneboy Gasoh, 45.

Aspacio said the suspects were arrested after Cervantes sold a sachet of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) in exchange for PHP500 in a buy-bust operation at the suspected drug den in Boholano Drive, Barangay Camino Nuevo, this city.

He said confiscated from the drug den were 15 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing shabu, prohibited drug paraphernalia and the PHP500 marked money.

He said the confiscated shabu weighed 20.5 grams with PHP150,000 estimated market value.

He said they gathered information that the drug den has an estimated income of PHP10,000 to PHP15,000 daily and receives around 40 to 50 clients a day. (PNA)
LGI/NYP/TPGJR/ELY E. DUMABOC

Philippines and Russia to bolster trade and investment ties

DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo sits with Vice Minister for Economic Development Alexander Tsybulskiy as they prepare to sign the Joint Statement during the Co-Chairs’ Meeting of the Philippines-Russia Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Philippine private sector and government representatives meet with Russian counterparts during the Co-Chairs’ Meeting of the Philippines-Russia JCTEC.

The Philippines and Russia held discussions to forge closer economic cooperation and strengthen two-way bilateral trade and investment relations. Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Mr. Alexander V. Tsybulskiy met with Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Manila during the Co-Chairs’ Meeting of the Philippinesâ€"Russia Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation (JCTEC) on Thursday, 26 January 2017. The Co-Chairs’ meeting discussed various areas of cooperationâ€"including trade and investments, agriculture, industry, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, transport, tourism, science and nuclear technology, labor and higher educationâ€"that will be tabled during the inaugural session of the recently created JCTEC. The inaugural session is scheduled to convene in the first half of 2017 in Manila in preparation for the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Russia.

The JCTEC is the primary bilateral mechanism for both sides to discuss ways to enhance trade, investments and economic cooperation. It was established in 18 November 2015 under the Agreement signed during bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Manila. The Co-Chairs’ Meeting was held following the executive ratification of the Agreement by President Rodrigo Duterte and mutual high level policy pronouncements on deepening bilateral engagement.

Undersecretary Rodolfo said that “the JCTEC complements the administration’s policy to engage other countries in the Asia Pacific region. The engagement has generated strong private sector interest and we see great prospects for collaboration in many areas.” Representatives from business organizations such as the Federation of Automotive Industries of the Philippines, Philippines-Russia Business Assembly, Philippines-Russia Business Council and Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association were also present during the meeting.

In 2015, Russia was the Philippines’ 31st trading partner (out of 223), 44th export market (out of 211), and 27th import supplier (out of 203). The top Philippine export product to Russia is carrageenan, seaweeds and other algae; while the top import of the Philippine from Russia is petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals. To improve current bilateral trade relations, the Philippines is set to maximize opportunities in the Russian market as it becomes more globally integrated. The convening of the 1st Philippine-Russia JCTEC will be an ideal opportunity to initiate deepening of bilateral economic ties.