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Finalists of the Asian Hospital Management Awards 2017 announced
418 entries from 102 hospitals in 17 countries Manila, Philippines, 9 August 2017 – Hospital Management Asia (HMA) announced the finalists of the 16thAsian Hospital Management Awards (AHMA). Hosted by leading health technology company, Philips, the awards received 418 entries from 102 hospitals in 17 countries in Asia Pacific and the winners will be awarded on Thursday, 24th August 2017 at Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila, Philippines. For sixteen years now, AHMA has been recognizing hospitals in Asia that have implemented outstanding programs and best practices that served patients, hospital employees, and the community. Thirteen awards categories were vied for. The AHMA 2017 finalists will be displaying posters of their respective programs during the two-day Hospital Management Asia conference on August 23 and 24 at Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila, Philippines. The poster display will offer a venue for the finalists to share the benefits of their winning programs with the HMA community. The awarding ceremony of AHMA 2017 is hosted by Philips and will take place during the Awards Gala Dinner at Shangri-La at the Fort in Manila, Philippines on the evening of August 24, Thursday. For the list of AHMA 207 finalists, please visit: http://www.asianhospitalmanagementawards.com/finalists Learn more about AHMA award categories and criteria at: http://www.asianhospitalmanagementawards.com/Categories-and-Criteria About HMA HMA was awarded the MARK OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE BEST OPERATIONS TEAM in the Global Conference Awards 2015 and BEST MANAGED EVENT in the Asian Conference Awards 2013, organized by the London-based Global Conference Network. This year, HMA is a finalist in BEST AWARDS EVENT CATEGORY in the Global Conference Awards 2017. HMA, now in its 16th year, is the largest educational event for healthcare managers in Asia, organized by Clarion Events. HMA 2017 is co-hosted... read moreAris pushes for eco-zone, mitigate climate change
By JUNE S. BLANCO BETTER job opportunities for his constituents, and a cleaner, greener and fresher earth. These are the ends-in-view Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) is pursuing so that he filed twin bills last week. House Bill (HB) 5951 proposes to establish a special economic zone in Bohol. On the other hand, HB 5549 which he co-authored, aims to improve air quality and mitigate the effects of climate change. To manage and administer the special economic zone, the bill also proposes the creation of the Northern Bohol Special Economic Zone Authority (NBSEZA) with the corresponding appropriation. But, Aumentado said, businesses and industries that locate in the NBSEZA must only be light, and environment-friendly. These must complement, not compete, with agriculture and tourism which are Bohol’s prime economic drivers, he emphasized. Heavy industries, he noted, tend to be detrimental to the environment. The bill is now being studied by the House committees on Economic Affairs and on Trade and Industry. Meanwhile, Aumentado said, HB 5549 aims to require parents to plant one tree for every child born to them. The bill is now being studied by the committees on Natural and Resources, on Ecology and the Special Committee on Climate Change. Among others, the committees will finalize the mechanics of the requirement, including the types of trees recommended and the planting area for families who do not own land. The solon said when passed, this law will be the country’s contribution to the mitigation of the effects of climate change. He said the Philippines cannot compare to Bhutan wherein 70% of its land area... read moreAirAsia is Geeks on a Beach official airline partner
AirAsia Philippines is the official airline partner of this year’s Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) international tech and startup confab. This year’s edition of GOAB, renowned for its unconventional work and play by the beach format, will be held in Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa Hotel in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on August 24-25. AirAsia, which has been supporting GOAB since 2015, is servicing several flights to Puerto Princesa, Palawan from Manila and has recently introduced flights from Davao and Cebu to Palawan last April. “For the third straight year, AirAsia is supporting GOAB as part of our efforts to support promising startups and grow the tech scene in the Philippines,” said Captain Dexter Comendador CEO of AirAsia Philippines. The airline, known as Asia’s leading and largest low-cost carrier, is also renowned for transforming air travel into a more convenient experience with tech innovations like web, mobile app, e-boarding pass and kiosk services. “By giving startups, creatives, and tech entrepreneurs a global stage for new learnings and opportunities for meeting potential partners, GOAB has more than made a difference and we are thrilled to partner with AirAsia, a truly Asean airline and a global brand,” said Tina Amper, TechTalks Founder and GOAB Lead Organizer. Some of the brightest minds in the industry from the USA, Singapore and other countries will be present at this year’s GOAB. Invited to speak are Yobie Benjamin of Token.io and ClickSWITCH.com, Chris McCann of Greylock Partners, Kay-Mok Ku of Gobi Ventures, Manny Ayala of Endeavor, Aldo Carrascoso of GylcoProX Biosciences, Prasad Vanga of Anthill Ventures, Robertson Chiang of Dragonpay Corporation Miguel Perez...Local News/ Bohol Balita
Rep. Aris wants “ro-ro” ramps for 3 Bohol ports
By JUNE S. BLANCO IMPROVED ports may serve best the population today but these may be insufficient in the coming years. Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) made this observation after noting that development is dynamic. Seafaring vessels are becoming bigger, bringing in and out of ports bigger batches of passengers and cargoes each time, he noted. Aumentado said while expansion and extension of the ports of Clarin, Buenavista and Getafe towns are in place with the P60 million savings in the 2015 budget of the then Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), improvement must not stop there. The three ports had gotten P20 million each. This early, he said, studies must already be made for the further development of these ports, specifically the establishment of roll on-roll off ramps and sturdy mooring facilities. These facilities will enable bigger vessels to seek harbor or shelter should they be near these ports during storms or typhoons. And while they are at it, the solon said the studies must include mooring facilities to accommodate power barges as well. Aumentado is pushing for the development of local power sources. But, he pointed out, it will still be to Bohol’s advantage to be ready for power barges. The gestation period for the more serious development of locally-generated power will be long, he admitted, hence the mooring facilities will be an advantage. The Clarin, Getafe and Buenavista ports are also gateways to and from Bohol. The improvement expands the previously limited berthing areas that used to accommodate just one passenger banca at a time – leaving no more space for pump boats to...More challenges under Duterte’s 2nd year; farmers ready for SONA protests
Peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said they are preparing for the worst under the second year of Duterte’s presidency. “We have seen a preview of the worst things to come. We know what to do – we fight and defend our rights, now and always.” “Things are taking a turn for the worst under Duterte. His first year is marked with unfulfilled promises, promotion of neoliberal policies and militarism. His declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao is enough reason for people to mobilize and protest his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24,” said Danilo Ramos, the newly-elected chairperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). “We will make President Duterte accountable for his unfulfilled promises. We will continue to assert genuine land reform, free land distribution and the lifting of Martial Law. We will continue to defend our democratic rights in the face of Duterte’s all-out war,” the KMP leader said. “Instead of seriously addressing the People’s Agenda that was presented to his administration last year, Duterte allowed his economic managers to come up with ‘Dutertenomics’ that essentially perpetuates pro-foreign and pro-business neoliberal policies. The people’s clamor for genuine land reform and national industrialization fell on deaf ears. The peace negotiations that are supposed to come up with a Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) were stalled and not gaining any headway due to the GRP’s dogged determination to force a ceasefire and lack of sincerity in the peace process,” Ramos said. Ramos added, “President Duterte can either choose to genuinely side with the people or face wider mass protests and resistance against...Pool small resources to generate own power-Aris
By JUNE S. BLANCO POOLED outputs of small power plants in Bohol can add up to more locally generated electricity. Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) said the province’s size and sources of energy that can be developed into power plants limit production to only around 10 megawatts each – just little more than the production of existing mini hydroelectric plants in Ewon in Sevilla, Hanopol in Balilihan and Tontonan, Loboc. But he still welcomes developers planning to invest in power plants in Bohol using renewable sources as these do not adversely affect the prime economic drivers of the province – agriculture and tourism. Aumentado if Bohol’s leaders can convince and bring in interested parties to establish power plants here, be they another hydroelectric, biomass, waste-to-power, solar or nuclear, adding all their outputs can up the locally generated power to boost the power reserve. “Only in power production is redundancy allowed – even required,” the solon stressed. To allay people’s fears of a repeat of the Chernobyl, Russia and Fukushima, Japan nuclear plant accidents and disasters, however, Aumentado, together with Zamboanga del Norte 1st District Rep. Seth Frederick Jalosjos, filed House Bill 3651 seeking to create a nuclear energy regulatory body. The solon is currently in Vienna, Austria, on a scientific visit to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Vienna International Center. The attendees will attend briefings and participate in discussions on key aspects of comprehensive nuclear laws. These include the establishment of an independent regulatory body, nuclear safety and security requirements, safety of nuclear installations, radioactive waste and spent fuel management, safe guard and civil...PH cites benefits of WTO Information Technology Agreement
The Philippines, through Department of Trade and Industry’s Board of Investments (BOI) Governor Lucita Reyes, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines (SEIPI) President Danilo Lachica and Ionics Vice-President for Operations Mr. Jay Chavez, recently participated at the celebration of World Trade Organization’s 20th Information Technology Agreement (ITA) Symposium held on 27-28 June in Geneva, Switzerland. According to Magnolia Uy, DTI Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Geneva (PTIC-Geneva), the event allowed for the member countries to highlight ITA’s role of providing households and domestic businesses access to more affordable and higher-quality Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) through tariffs elimination on hundreds of ICT products. The Philippines, as one of the 82 signatories of ITA, has benefited from the initial ITA signed in 1996 and its expansion of list in 2015. According to the Philippines’ chief ITA negotiator and Board of Investment Governor Lucita Reyes, the country’s ITA membership helped lower prices for key ICT hardware inputs that the BPO industry depends upon. At present, the country’s ICT services exports account for roughly 70% of total services exports while the ICT goods exports account for more than 35% of total exported goods. In terms of ICT goods exports, Lachica added that the Philippine semiconductor and electronics industry continues to grow at a steady rate, ranking as the 17th largest exporter of ICT products in the world valued at approximately USD 24 billion (out of USD 29 billion total electronics exports). However, according to Ionics Vice-President for Operations Jay Chavez, to sustain the demand of ICT services enterprises for ICT products, it is imperative for the Philippines to move...Tagbilaran celebrates cityhood courtesy of Erico Aumentado
By JUNE S. BLANCO TAGBILARAN celebrated its 51st foundation anniversary as a city yesterday, Saturday, July 1. The small budding town attained cityhood on July 1, 1966, chartered by virtue of Republic Act No. 4660. Since then, the city steadily grew as can be gleaned from, among others, its budget. It started with a mere P600,000 in 1966, to P262,092,983 in 1994. This prompted Rep. Erico Boyles Aumentado of Bohol’s 2nd District to push for its cityhood during the first regular session of the tenth Congress. In his explanatory note in House Bill 2435, Aumentado said from the date of its conversion, the city “began to chart its own destiny and undertook measures to carve its own identity.” The date has long been remembered by the people as a day of heroism, valor and dignity because its founding was achieved with the sacrifices and aspirations of its people to attain cityhood, he continued. “The date marks also the awareness of the people of their rich historical and cultural heritage, customs and traditions which they have developed all through these years from dawn of history, to the present, Aumentado observed. He added that the day has been enshrined in their hearts and celebrated with honor and dignity, the recollection of the historic blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the first international treaty of friendship entered into by a local chieftain with a foreign power. All this considered, the solon said, it is fitting and proper that the people of Tagbilaran City be allowed to commemorate its founding, charter and attainment of...National News
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