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ARQ Builders grab eight straight wins in MPBA Season 2
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The ARQ Builders are one win away from sweeping the south conference elimination round after manhandling the Quadernos, 91-60, in the Mandaue’s Pride Basketball Association (MPBA) Season 2: Cebuano Cup on Sunday, January 14, at the CPA gymnasium. The ARQ Builders’ immaculate record is kept intact at 8-0 (win-loss) after beating.....»»
CREBA hands out awards in golden year celebration
The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Association Inc. the country’s oldest and largest property advocacy group, handed out awards to the best developers of the decade and trailblazers in the industry during its golden founding anniversary celebration recently......»»
MPBA Season 2: ARQ Builders face Quadernos, eye to stretch unbeaten streak
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The ARQ Builders eye to stretch their impressive unbeaten run in the Mandaue’s Pride Basketball Association (MPBA) Season 2: Cebuano Cup. This as, the ARQ Builders face Quadernos in one of the four MPBA games featured on Sunday at the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) gymnasium. ARQ Builders currently leads the south.....»»
The Clash Champion Jeremiah Tiangco pinasaya Intele Christmas Party
MATABILni John Fontanilla ISANG beach party ang naging tema ng Intele Builders and Development Corporation sa La Jolla Luxury Beach Resort noong December 16, 2023 sa pangunguna ng mag-asawang Don Pedro Bravo(president) at Ma. Cecilia Tria Bravo (vice president) na nagsilbing host sina Russel Lim at Barangay LSFM 97.1 DJ Mama Emma. Present din sa Christmas Party ang kanilang mga anak na sina Anthony, ….....»»
ARQ Builders rout Outlaws, stretch unbeaten record to 7-0
CEBU CITY, Philippines — ARQ Builders kept its record perfect in the Mandaue’s Pride Basketball Association (MPBA) Season 2: Cebuano Cup after obliterating the Outlaws, 134-96, on Sunday evening, December 10, 2023, at the CPA Gym. The ARQ Builders maintained its immaculate 7-0 (win-loss) record to stay on top of the southern conference. READ: ARQ.....»»
COMELEC Chairman Garcia, BIR Commissioner Lumagui, Shawarma Shack Group among winners at 6th Asia Leaders Awards
The Asia Leaders Awards, dedicated to recognizing outstanding business leaders navigating challenges with unwavering determination, and who are true nation builders, highlighted Walther Buenavista's strategic leadership that has propelled Shawarma Shack Group to the top of the franchising sector......»»
ARQ and Artera Builders still unbeaten in MPBA Season 2
CEBU CITY, Philippines— The ARQ Builders and Artera Builders kept their unbeaten runs in the ongoing Mandaue’s Pride Basketball Association (MPBA) Season 2: Cebuano Cup at the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) gym over the weekend. This was after both teams respectively clinched their sixth win. ARQ Builders manhandled Home Sourced, 121-78, behind Ron Tampus’ 20-point.....»»
Raps eyed vs German firm over P3 billion LTMS project
The internal dispute among the contractors of the Land Transportation Office’s P3.14-billion Land Transportation Management System project persists as the Filipino construction company, Verzontal Builders Inc., is considering filing another civil complaint against German information technology firm Dermalog due to payment issues......»»
ANFLO Group of Companies wins Nation Builders’ Award at 49th Philippine Business Conference and Expo
ANFLO Group of Companies wins Nation Builders’ Award at 49th Philippine Business Conference and Expo.....»»
Milestones
I was recently invited to speak at the National Convention and Housing Expo of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations, Inc., more popularly known as CREBA, on its Golden Anniversary......»»
Blazing Builders triumph
St. Gerrard Construction-Benilde’s two-week wait to showcase its wares resulted in a 25-15, 25-16, 25-20 victory over Philippine Coast Guard as the Blazing Builders flexed their muscles early then held sway to down the Lifesavers in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena yesterday......»»
LTO innovates responses to backlogs
The Land Transportation Office, or LTO, now under the leadership of Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, has committed to implementing innovative solutions to immediately address the piles of problems “inherited” from the previous leaderships. Mendoza, whom Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista tasked to help the agency improve its current state, expressed confidence that he could turn the LTO around and make it more efficient and effective. He said this aligns with the Marcos administration’s marching orders to digitalize and bring government services closer to the people seamlessly. Mendoza has already begun to execute some changes, such as streamlining the driver’s license application process, implementing a new online vehicle registration system, and reducing the number of fixers at LTO offices, among others. Speaking in a recent interview on DAILY TRIBUNE’s Straight Talk, Mendoza disclosed that his agency is studying cost-effective ways to produce license plates. Presently, the LTO has a manufacturing plant with eight machines working to produce license plates, but as recently directed by Bautista, the agency is looking at outsourcing them instead of producing them. “We make the plates ourselves, although we are studying if maybe it is high time to review whether the LTO should produce or outsource the plates. I told Secretary Bautista that in terms of efficiency, it might be less costly and faster if we outsource it,” Mendoza said. “We are thoroughly studying those options to weigh which will be less costly to the government. Thus, finally, we could resolve all the backlogs,” he added. Million plates a month Mendoza added that the agency’s plate-making plant could produce a million monthly plates to replace all the backlogs — from the old green plates to the new white ones. He said before the end of November, the license plate backlog will hopefully be fully addressed. With production in full swing, a motorist with a newly acquired four-wheel vehicle can claim his license plates within 10 days. In the meantime, new motorcycle owners can now get their plates immediately. This significantly improved from the previous year when motorists took years to get their plates. To recall, in March, ex-LTO chief Jay Art Tugade issued a memo suspending the production of license plates due to a shortage of materials. Online portal needs full utilization Mendoza said the LTO is also working on finally utilizing the Land Transportation Management System, or LTMS, a P3.14-billion portal created to address Filipinos’ motoring concerns. He lamented that the underutilization of the online portal, which he described as just one of the many inherited problems of the agency, was a misuse of government funds. “The system design is incomplete, and you know that as much as possible, we want to be fully digital as instructed by the President. We want motorists to be able to apply for a license and register their vehicles through that platform,” Mendoza said. “We supposedly have all the facilities. There will be no need to go to LTO offices as it will also address the issues of fixers. However, we cannot do all these until we fully resolve the website’s functionalities,” he said, adding that the LTO would need the developers to provide them with some missing source and application codes. The LTMS was jointly developed by German technology firm Dermalog and its local partners, Holy Family Printing Corp., Microgenesis, and Verzontal Builders Inc. The project went through competitive bidding in May 2018. The LTO’s online portal is a one-stop shop that will integrate all LTO services in a single contactless database system and digital platform. “We are waiting for their reply. I have been open since my first day in office, and I’ve been very open to them. There is a problem, let us talk about it. However, they have not replied to my letters on the source code and application code issue. We have to protect the government’s interest, and the government’s interest is to get the source and application codes so we can do the enhancements ourselves,” Mendoza said. According to the new LTO chief, hiring another third-party team to resolve the LTMS issues might cost the government at least another billion pesos. Mendoza asked why the government does not just find another software developer, saying: “We already paid for the contract.” “If we do it, maybe they will spend another billion just to complete everything, so the government will save a lot if we do it ourselves. We have DICT with us, and LTO is also hiring technical people for us to be able to do it ourselves. So, we can do it, we don’t need foreigners to teach us.” The post LTO innovates responses to backlogs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SC lets Maybankown foreclosed lots
The Supreme Court in a recent ruling said foreign banks may not own land but they may possess mortgaged properties subject to conditions. After the effectivity of Republic Act 10641 that allowed full entry of foreign banks in the Philippines, foreign banks may now foreclose and acquire mortgaged properties, subject to limitations. In a decision penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, the SC Second Division, denied the consolidated petitions for review on certiorari filed by 4E Steel Builders Corporation, or 4E Steel, and Spouses Filomeno and Virginia Ecraela and Maybank Philippines, Inc. The petitions assailed the issuances of the Court of Appeals, or CA, which had annulled the foreclosure sale and canceled the registration of parcels of land in favor of Maybank and ordered spouses Ecraela to pay Maybank their total loan obligation. On appeal, the CA ruled that Maybank is disqualified from taking part in the extrajudicial foreclosure sale of the properties under the law then in effect, RA 133, as amended by RA 4882, since majority of Maybank’s capital stock is owned and controlled by foreign nationals. Credit agreement Maybank, a foreign banking corporation operating in the Philippines, in 1999 executed a credit agreement in favor of 4E Steel, represented by Filomeno Ecraela as president and Virginia Ecraela as corporate secretary. To secure payment of drawdowns on the credit line, spouses Ecraela mortgaged five parcels of land. The post SC lets Maybankown foreclosed lots appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nasipit repulses Bacoor in MPVA volleyball tiff opener
The Nasipit Lady Spikers thwarted the Bacoor City Strikers-Metro Land Builders Corp., 25-19, 25-21, 23-25 and 25-16, for a rousing debut in the inaugural season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball League......»»
Cebu to supply vessels for Coast Guard, Navy
The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy may avail sea vessels made in Balamban, Cebu as announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. “The new vessel that we are seeing there, the 40-foot vessel that’s made in Cebu, that will be included,” Marcos said. “We will eventually have 40 of them that would give us an increased capability. This is ongoing.” Cebu has long been recognized as the country’s shipbuilding capital with the shipbuilding industry propelling the local economy of Balamban in Midwestern Cebu on the brink of cityhood status and the newly-built ship building facilities in Danao City. The plan was confirmed by Teodoro, who recently went to Capitol and met with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. “Cebu builds ships, Cebu builds equipment that we need, and therefore the synergy that we see today will continue but in a different dimension not only as a locator in the Province of Cebu but as a resource purchaser and resource user of the services, goods and other capabilities that your province can produce,” Teodoro said. He added that he is just waiting for amendments to the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization law to locally source military assets. “We encourage our legislators here today that we are waiting for these amendments by the end of the year so that by next year we can start to leverage the talents and abilities of the people of Cebu,” Teodoro said. Balamban has its locators include Japan-based Tsuneshi Heavy Industries and Australia’s Austal Corporation, local builders Advance Catamaran Composites and Cebu Maritime Industry. “You have an important role to play here not only in maintaining peace and security in Central Philippines,” Teodoro said. The post Cebu to supply vessels for Coast Guard, Navy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PEZA chief lures potential Rotarian investors with ecozone perks
Members — particularly those in such business enterprises as manufacturing — of the Rotary Club of Manila, Asia’s oldest and biggest Rotary organization, were personally enticed by Philippine Economic Zone Authority director-general Tereso Panga of the benefits, particularly tax perks if they expand operations in the country or poured in investments in the ecozone. Panga, who served as guest speaker at RC Manila’s 14th General Membership Meeting at the Manila Polo Club, Makati City, on 5 October 2023, relayed to the prospective ecozone investors the various fiscal and non-fiscal Incentives offered by PEZA. He said the investment promotion agency offers income tax holidays or ITH of four to seven years depending on the industry tier and location, once onboard PEZA-run ecozones. For the National Capital Region, locators are entitled to four years of ITH for those that are in Tier 1; five years of ITH for Tier 2, and six years for those belonging to Tier 3. For locators in Metropolitan areas or areas contiguous and adjacent to NCR, a five-year ITH is given to Tier 1; six years for Tier 2, and seven years for Tier 3. “A five percent Special Corporate Income Tax holiday is also provided for 10 years for export-oriented projects, while enhanced deductions for five years are given to locators involved in domestic-oriented project activities,” Panga said. Other notable benefits awaiting interested PEZA locators include Customs duty exemption on importation of capital equipment, raw materials, spare parts, or accessories directly and exclusively used in the registered project/activity for a maximum period of 17 years unless otherwise extended under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan of the Philippine government; domestic sales allowance of up to 30 percent of total sales for export-oriented companies; value-added tax exemption on importation and VAT-zero rating on local purchases of goods and services directly and exclusively used in the registered project or activity for a maximum period of 17 years, unless otherwise extended under the SIPP; and exemption from payment of national and local government taxes and fees for the period of availment of the 5 percent special corporate income tax incentive Also, PEZA locators are entitled to employ foreign nationals; can enjoy long-term land leases of up to 75 years, and are entitled to the PEZA 2-year special non-immigrant visa issued to expatriates and their dependents as well as foreign workers. [caption id="attachment_194752" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Tereso O. Panga[/caption] PEZA performance Panga earlier reported that the investment promotion agency had reaped an overwhelming 114 percent increase in investments in the second quarter of the year, following the approval of 61 new and expansion projects for the period of April to June 2022. PEZA records showed that total investments are expected to bring in a total of P14.347 billion, 114.93 percent higher than the P6.675 billion approved investments for the second quarter of 2022. Of the 61 approved new and expansion projects, 16 are for the Information Technology industry, 15 for export/manufacturing, 13 for facilities, 13 for ecozone development, and two for IT Facilities and Logistics. Meanwhile, expected jobs to be created by those projects total 11,186, which is 29.06 percent higher compared to the 8,667 projected jobs in the 2nd quarter of 2022. For the January to June period of 2023, a total of 90 new and expansion projects have been approved and are expected to bring in P22.488 billion in investments, $747.093 million in exports, and 14,354 jobs. Japan remains PEZA’s top country investor in the first half with P8.007 billion in investments followed by Singapore with P2.169 billion. Also, Panga said that Japan topped the countries with the highest approved foreign investments at 27.34 percent, followed by Filipino companies at 23.19 percent, and American companies in the third spot at 14.82 percent. “PEZA accounted for 60.5 percent of the total foreign investment commitments in Q2 2023 with P35.75 billion,” he told the Rotary Club of Manila members. From 1995 to 2022, PEZA’s total dividends turned in to the National Treasury was a total of P26,889,567,738.07. Ecozones on the rise To date, Panga said PEZA hosts 422 ecozones and 4,352 locator companies/projects throughout the country. Of said number of ecozones, 299 are dedicated to IT Parks and Centers, 79 to manufacturing firms, 24 to agro-industrial parks, 17 are to tourism and three are to medical tourism ventures. Based on the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has projected that “the creation of ecozones will…maximize investments and promote industrial dispersion, especially outside metropolitan areas. Further, the ecozones will be integrated into the local economy by relaxing the requirements, facilitating the free flow of parts, components, and other inputs, and increasing open trade between zone locators and firms outside the zones.” In the coming years, various ecozones will be sprouting, while the ecozones that have already been officially proclaimed by the Office of the President include Robinsons Cyberpark Bacolod, Lima Technology Center (Expansion), Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park (Expansion), Philtai Central Luzon Industrial Park, Felcris Centrale IT Park, ECCO 4 Building, Lopue’s Mandalagan IT Center, Marina Town Dumaguete, Naga City Industrial Park and Kamanga Agro-Industrial Economic Zone (Expansion), altogether with investments totaling P3.418 billion. Ecozones pending approval are MetroCas Industrial Estates-Special Economic Zone, Suyo Economic Zone and the expansions of Kamanga Agro-Industrial Economic Zone and Lima Technology Center, with a total investment amount of P773.962 million. As of September 2023, the governing board of PEZA has approved big-ticket investments with a total committed investment of P193.200 billion, and these are the First Pangasinan Property Development Corp., Raedang International Builders and Development Corp., Green Energy with Torrefaction Technology Inc., Dyson Electronics PTE, Ltd. Philippine Branch, Sunpower Philippines Manufacturing Ltd., Isla Import Terminals Inc., MJ Landtrade Development Corp., YCO Cloud Malvar Inc., Savya Land Development Corporation, RLGB Land Corporation, Robinsons Land Corporation, TDK Philippines, P. Imes Corp., Best-one Ever Luck Realty Corp., Knowles Electronics (Phil) Corporation, WIPRO Phils. Inc., Glensworth Development Inc., ACI Inc., Megaworld Corporation and Kyungshin Pampanga Philippines Inc. Currently, Panga said PEZA is focused on seven priority sectors, that is, advanced manufacturing, extractives (green ores processing), agriculture and blue industries, IT services and frontier technologies, eco-industrial park development (renewable energy and alternative energy, clean water and wastewater treatment, circular economy, sustainable development goals, green buildings, smart systems integration), Science, Technology and Innovation and the integration of small and medium enterprises into the ecozone value chain. Cannot be done alone by PEZA Panga, in conclusion during his speech at the Rotary Club of Manila meeting remarked that attracting foreign direct investments cannot be done by PEZA alone or by any other investment promotion agency left to its own devices. He emphasized that what is needed to make things work is a whole government, industry and society approach to lessen the cost and improve ease of doing business in the country. “Through our collaborations and strategic alliances, PEZA, together with the Rotary Club of Manila, other ecozone industries, and stakeholders, will strive for success in attaining our country’s goals and objectives, and continue to push for eco-zoning the Philippines towards inclusive and sustainable development,” Panga said. The post PEZA chief lures potential Rotarian investors with ecozone perks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tacloban airport contract variations adverse, says council
TACLOBAN CITY — Members of the regional project monitoring committee of the Regional Development Council in Eastern Visayas has urged the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit to look into the contracts between the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the private contractor of the new terminal building of Daniel Z. Romualdez airport here. This comes as RDC private sector representative for multimedia communication Buenaventura Go-Soco disclosed that there were glaring red flags in the implementation of the project which should not be ignored as there are prescribed processes under the law on how this should be addressed. Go-Soco is referring to the variations made to the original contract to make the contractor appear compliant on schedule and the scope of work, adding that based on the CAAP report submitted to the RPMC, slippage of the project implementation was at 38.65 percent as of 27 July 2023. The contractor is the joint venture of MAC Builders and ML Builders. But in a press conference after the RDC meeting last 26 August, the National Economic and Development Authority regional office announced that the problem on the compliance of the contractor has already been fixed due to a variation order signed between CAAP and the contractor. “The negative slippage has been remarkably reduced to less than 1 percent. This is because of the approved catch-up plan approved by the CAAP central office, it being the implementing agency for this particular project,” said NEDA regional director Meylene Rosales. The post Tacloban airport contract variations adverse, says council appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘My dream house is finally taking shape’: Sofia Andres shares snaps of new house
Sofia Andres’ “dream house,” a Scandinavian-Japandi-style house currently under construction, is finally taking shape, as seen from the Instagram photos she uploaded. “[S]leek simplicity meets harmonious fusion, the scandinavian-japandi-style haven,” Andres said in the caption of one of her post. Andres’ Lipa, Batangas house is built by Studio MV & Builders Inc. The post ‘My dream house is finally taking shape’: Sofia Andres shares snaps of new house appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Private sector hit by DZR airport construction delays
TACLOBAN CITY — The continued delay in the construction of the new passenger terminal at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport is hurting the private sector the most, with losses amounting to at least P10 million a day in tourist receipts alone. According to former National Economic and Development Authority in Eastern Visayas regional director Atty. Buenaventura Go-Soco, the delay is not only detrimental to the whole economic development of the region but is also incurring additional losses to the government due to variation orders to the awarded contract. “We have no big industries in the and agriculture is not producing much. We can only rely on tourism and information technology are the strategies that can uplift the region’s economic growth,” Go-Soco said. To recall, the plan to upgrade the DRZ Airport from a domestic to international started in 1997 with a study by Japan International Cooperation Agency indicating the need to upgrade it. A joint venture of MAC Builders and ML Builders won the bid in 2020 for the construction of a new terminal building amounting to over P699 million with a contract duration of 540 days with estimated completion date last 29 May 2022. The construction work started on 5 December 2020. But almost three years after the construction started, only the posts and some beams are the only visible structures on the site today — far from a terminal building that should now be standing if the construction was on schedule. The post Private sector hit by DZR airport construction delays appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
R-II Builders marks 35 years of excellence
It was a night of memories, music, laughter, and optimism when Quadruple A and Platinum-accredited construction conglomerate R-II Builders, Inc. marked its 35th anniversary at the Obispado de Cubao in Quezon City on 8 September. Chairman of the Board Reghis M. Romero II led the celebration, looking back to the day he serendipitously founded the company on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a commitment to excellence. [caption id="attachment_182218" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Engr./Retired MGen Gerardo P Catindoy outlined the big-ticket projects of RII Builders Inc. that ushers in its 35th year and beyond.[/caption] “To be part of this organization, we have to exceed our expectations,” he said in his speech, affirming the company’s commitment to build better lives for the nation. [caption id="attachment_182220" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Dr. Reghis M. Romero II offered the toast for more productive years ahead for RII BUILDERS Inc.[/caption] “Ang Pilipino ay isang dakilang lahi. Kayo ang Pilipino, kayo ang dakilang lahi (Filipinos are a great race. You are the Filipinos, you are the great race).” [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="182210,182211"] R-II Builders president, retired Major General and now Engineer Gerardo P. Catindoy, announced that the company would soon implement “mega infrastructure projects” worth P218 billion. “That’s ten times more than what we have implemented in 35 years,” he said. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="182214,182219"] These undertakings include a project with the Metro Rail Transit, the Canlubang-Bay bypass road and development project, and the Cebu agro-industrial and reclamation project. Romero was also recognized as among the company’s four pillars. Engineer Edmond Q. Sese, Engineer Victor S. Songco and Reghis “Red” Romero III were the three others. [caption id="attachment_182216" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Mark Roy Boado, RII Builders Vice President for Business Development and Community Relations welcomed the guests, officials’ and guests of RII Builders Inc.[/caption] Sese served as president during the company’s birth-pain years, from 1990 to 1999, while Romero III took the leadership reins from 2005 to 2006. “Let us toast to signify our commitment to build better lives. Cheers to everybody!” Romero said. The post R-II Builders marks 35 years of excellence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»