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PH emphasizes role of MSMEs for economic growth
The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), emphasized the role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as providers of employment and drivers of the country’s economic growth. “The significance of micro small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as major economic drivers is beyond question. Their sheer number is overwhelming, as they account for 98% or more of all enterprises in most countries. Recent empirical studies show that MSMEs contribute to over 55% of GDP and over 65% of total employment in high-income countries,” DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said before World Trade Organization (WTO) members called “Friends of MSMEs” at “The Case of MSMEs in Inclusive Trade For Sustainable Development in Geneva, Switzerland. Maglaya explained that MSMEs are underrepresented in international trade in a globalised world. But as a silverlining, there is a growing number of MSMEs who supply the export market either directly or indirectly by being involved in the production of parts and components for regional and global value chains serving large producers locally or abroad. Maglaya added that when MSMEs do export, they contribute considerably to their country’s total GDP. The DTI official also stressed the need to address the hurdles being faced by MSMEs in the international level. As a solution, the Philippines have pointed out several keys to help MSMEs hurdle these problems. Maglaya pointed out the following steps being done by the Philippines such as providing access to innovation and technology, access to finance, access to skilled workers, and access to markets, particularly to export markets. PH hosting of ASEAN With Philippine chairmanship... read morePTTC holds consultations on Halal Assurance System
The Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) led by its Executive Director Nestor P. Palabyab, met with the Islamic D”wa Council of the Philippines (IDCP), one of the internationally recognized Islamic organizations in the country as well as the academic community, represented by UP Institute of Islamic Studies Dean Macrina Morados, to exchange views on providing support to the capability building interventions towards the development of the Halal industry in the Philippines. With a shared need for awareness on Halal and cultivating cultural sensitivity among Filipinos towards Islamic sensibilities, the PTTC and the UP Institute of Islamic Studies agreed to collaborate, with the participation of IDCP representatives Shajid Linzag and Genie Romarate, on a Certification Program Training on Halal Assurance System (HAS) with emphasis on prioritizing Halal Integrity among the country’s MSMEs. A Halal Training Plan was likewise shared by ED Palabyab which covered the complete value chain from Islamic Finance, Investments, to Halal Eco zones, Logistics, Production, to Processing, Services, Marketing and Promotion to... read moreBohol Islands get 24/7 power
Two of Bohol’s tourism gems, Balicasag and Pamilacan Islands, now have power 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Gov. Edgar Chatto and Panglao Mayor Nila Montero led switch on ceremony for 24/7 power in Balicasag Island on Monday. They were joined by NAPOCOR Department Manager Engr. Pete Llorente, BOHECO 1 General Manager Engr. Dino Roxas, Cong. Rene Relampagos represented here by Archie Lungay, 302nd IB Commander General Arnulfo Matanguihan, and Philippine Navy Col. Jorge Ibarra. On Tuesday, Chatto and Pamilacan Brgy. Capt. Crispo Valeroso led switch-on ceremony for 24/7 power operations in Pamilacan Island. They were joined by Baclayon Kagawad. Derwin Cuajao who represented Mayor Benny Uy, NAPOCOR department manager Engr. Pete Llorente, BOHECO 1 Engr. Mejorada Glenn Mejorada, Archie Lungay representing Cong. Rene Relampagos, and barangay officials of Pamilacan. This kicks off 24/7 energization of Bohol Islands under the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) of NAPOCOR, a commitment of the Department of Energy under Sec. Al Cusi and NAPOCOR president Pio Benavidez. Chatto lobbied for the round the clock power supply for the islands during the 34-country Asian Cooperation Dialogue on sustainable and reliable power in Bohol in August, where Cusi himself visited both islands. After which, Benavidez directed Llorente to implement 24-hour electrical service to the two islands. When he was congressman of the first district, Chatto placed Cuaming and Hambongan in Inabanga; Mantata-o in Calape; Cabilao in Loon; Balicasag, Panglao; Pamilacan, Baclayon; and Bag-ong Banwa, Batasan, Bilanglangan, Mocaboc, Pangapasan, and Ubay in Tubigon under NAPOCOR-SPUG, the switch on for which was during his birthday, February 21, 2008 in Cabilao. The incorporation of the twelve...Registration for Startup Weekend Bohol includes Food, Shirts, and more!
Startup Weekend is an environment that aims to provide all the necessities the participant needs so that he or she can focus purely on developing his or her idea. Registering to Startup Weekend Tourism Edition entitles a participant to three days of meals, an event shirt, a goodie bag, and the event experience; and the registration fee is just seven hundred fifty pesos (PHP750.00) per participant! Ain’t that a good deal? We also understand that there are students that would like to participate so we’ve set up a student discount of just five hundred pesos (PHP500.00), just please bring your student IDs when you make your purchase. The reason why the organizers have pulled in so much resources to pull this off at an affordable rate is so that local entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs that would like to join the event and try their hand at testing their new business idea can rest assured that everything will be provided for them as they prioritize developing their business idea. The event is in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Provincial Government of Bohol, and the Bohol Investment Promotion Center. It is sponsored by Uniform Solutions, PrintBit, Gwion, Sea Drake Island Cruises, and Just Sizzlin’ (we are still open for sponsorships!) . The participants at the event will also be mentored by Michael de Vincent Edwards, Aimee Lim, Nelson Buena, Ben Skelton, and Peter Watkins. With them are judges Mark Phillips, Vicky Wallace, and many more startup ecosystem supporters. Startup Weekend Bohol Tourism Edition will be in September 29-October 1, 2017 at the Bohol Bee Farm Panglao. If you’d like to...Local News/ Bohol Balita
Aris: Lick poverty with livelihood
By JUNE S. BLANCO REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) takes seriously the “teaching a man to fish” part of the saying rather than the “giving a man a fish” part. He says “teaching” gives a man independence through skills he learns from training – and empowers him to provide for his family. On the other hand, “giving” merely turns such a man into a mendicant, and in the process, robs him of dignity. His efforts at teaching skills have earned Aumentado the National Kabalikat Award from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). TESDA recently celebrated its 23rd anniversary during which it conferred awards to partners in attaining its goals. Aumentado had tapped the rich pool of TESDA trainors in different fields to train his constituents, hence the award given at the TESDA Auditorium, at the TESDA Complex, in Taguig City, Metro Manila. The solon said TESDA cited him as legislative partner in promoting manpower and skills development for his constituents, especially those who cannot afford to pay for higher education. Through these years, Aumentado’s office has been, and continuously is being a partner in the development of the Boholano workforce. TESDA Central Office statistics show that Aumentado’s office – always ready to be of service to the public – had benefitted 8,168 Boholanos who availed of the trainings and scholarship programs from 2014-2016. He has 5,173 assessed and 5,597 graduates employed. His office also invested P 25,473,141.41 for Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET). TVET is the education or training process that, in addition to general education, involves the study of technologies and related sciences and...Aris highpoints Bohol Polls ‘17
By JUNE S. BLANCO WHAT is it in election years that pulls down net satisfaction ratings (NSRs) of candidates? This was what happened to three of Bohol’s incumbent top leaders in 2016 – except for Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) whose NSR increased by six percentage points. The three top leaders managed to recover in 2017. Gov. Edgardo Chatto and Rep. Rene Ralampagos (Bohol, 1st District) moved up by four percentage points each – from +81 to +85 for the former and from +50 to +54 for the latter. Rep. Arthur Yap (3rd District) fared better: +74 this year from +63 in 2016 or up by 11 percentage points. But Aumentado topped his six-point increase of +63 in 2015 to +69 in 2016 with a 15-point jump to +84 this year. While Chatto’s, Relampagos’ and Yap’s yearly ratings from 2014 to 2017 would look like the pulses of the heart in an electrocardiogram. Aumentados’s ratings steadily climbed, with no dips at all. Aumentado thanks his supporters for the trust and confidence in him. While he rode on the good name, accomplishments and popularity of his father and relished the sympathy votes when he first entered politics as replacement candidate and won in 2013, he said the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Bohol Poll results already reflect what his constituents feel about how he has gone about his work. To note, his namesake father, immediate congressional predecessor and former Gov. Erico Boyles Aumentado, passed away on Christmas Day of 2012 – at the height of the campaign. The solon said the 2017 results inspire him to strive even...First Bohol Coastal-wide Dive Forum
The Province of Bohol through the Bohol Tourism Office conducted of Bohol’s first ever “Coastal-wide Dive Forum” on August 11, 2017 at Bohol Plaza Resort, Dayo Hill, Dauis, Bohol. The forum was in partnership with the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council (PTC), Inc. and the Panglao Association of Dive Operators (PADO) has taken new steps in its efforts for sustainable tourism development. LGU environment and tourism officers, representatives of Municipal and Provincial Tourism Councils, headed by Atty. Lucas M. Nunag, scientists, national agency representatives from the Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Tourist Police and employees of the provincial government attended the forum. Also present and facilitated the workshop, were private sector stakeholders many of whom are dive operators all over the province, hotel and resort owners, business groups and individuals advocates for Bohol’s sustainable environment and inclusivity of business practices. Jo Cabarrus, Head of the Bohol Tourism Office welcomed the participants and gave the forum’s statement of purpose. Atty. Mitchell John Boiser, Acting Provincial Administrator and the Provincial Legal Officer in behalf of the Governor speaks of the forum as timely, considering that the diving industry in our province is flourishing with the influx of tourists who come to Bohol to experience one of the best dive sites in the country. Aside from Balicasag being famous as a world-class dive spot, there are other sites like Cabilao, Anda, Jagna and many more that offer the same exhilarating experience. He emphasized that the diving industry and the community need to be conscientious in creating balance between tourism development and ecological preservation and...Aris 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...Panglao kids start Energy revolution
PANGLAO, Bohol, August 7 (PIA) –Clean energy revolution in small amperage light rolls off from here and it is a wolf in sheep’s cloak. An ordinary dirty energy kerosene lantern which otherwise would have given a warm flickering incandescent glow now gets a new light source: clean Light Emitting Diode (LED) powered by solar energy. “Thanks to Liter of Light and MyShelter Foundation who taught us how to do it,” confesses Jane Heberly Bompat, Grade VI pupil at Lourdes Elementary School (LES) in Panglao. Assembled by LES kids, the repackaged lantern would soon be among the innovations the Liter of Light and its 34 Bohol children ambassadors would be using to spread light into the country’s communities still darkened by energy poverty. “How could we help 20 million Filipinos without access to light? Do we give them light from patented sources which is expensive and hard to repair or do we think of innovations?” asked Liter of Light and MyShelter founder Ilac Diaz. Asked how his mission came about, Diaz was more willing to share. It all started with one bottle, one carpenter, one inspiration and an empty liter bottle of soda. Diaz said they had to come up with a solution in providing light to help communities wiped out by Haiyan, and Filipino bayanihan was a good concept to start with. Liter of Light filled the PET bottle with water and bleach and stuck it in house roofs to produce refracted illumination indoors. But for Haiyan victims, “buying was an option but shipping cost would eat up about 70% of our budget, we need to come up with...National News
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