Embraer inks MoUs for cooperation with aerospace industry in South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea—Embraer inked several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the aerospace companies ASTG (Aerospace Technology of Global), EMK (EM Korea Co.) and Kencoa Aerospace, from South Korea on October 27 to strengthen collaboration with Korean defense industry partners for the future supply of parts for the C-390 Millennium aircraft.

“Embraer is very confident on the mutual benefits to be gained from this collaboration, thus creating a sustainable and growing relationship between Embraer and the partners in South Korea,” Jackson Schneider, President & CEO, Embraer Defense & Security said.

By offering more than 50 years of experience in aviation, technology and innovation, Embraer is looking to establish meaningful partnerships in South Korea to create new businesses and solutions, Schneider said.

The C-390 Millennium aircraft is competing in the Large Transport Aircraft (LTA) II Program being run by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), according to Embraer.

The C-390 Millennium and its aerial refueling configuration, the KC-390, are the new generation of multi-mission military transport delivering unrivaled mobility and cargo capacity, rapid re-configuration, high availability, enhanced comfort, as well as optimal management of reduced operational costs throughout its lifecycle, all on a single platform.

The potential supply of South Korean manufactured parts will contribute to the offset requirements of the LTA II Program. The MoUs intend to create long-term business relationships between the parties which will endure for the LTA II Program and beyond.

Local industry capabilities can also be part of future developments within Embraer’s existing platforms such as the C-390 Millennium as well as new aircraft, vehicles, and systems.

 Since the first delivery to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), the KC-390 Millennium has proven its capability, reliability, and performance. FAB's current fleet of KC-390 stands at five units. The fleet has already exceeded 7,000 flight hours in operation, with a 99 percent mission completion rate, demonstrating excellent availability and productivity in its category.

In June 2022, the Netherlands Ministry of Defense announced the selection of the C-390 Millennium to replace the current fleet of C-130 Hercules. The Portuguese Armed Forces and the Hungarian Defense Forces will begin operations with the KC-390 in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The three European countries' fleets will be capable of performing aerial refueling and be fully NATO compatible.

Embraer is a global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing after-sales service and support to customers. (Photos: Embraer/Google Images)

 

 

PSAC strengthens ties with US-ASEAN Business Council

MANILA -- The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) led by convenor and Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz met with the US-ASEAN Business Council at the 2022 Philippine Business Mission meeting at The Grand Hyatt Manila, Taguig City on October 25 - 28, 2022 to boost ties and cooperation.

Aboitiz said that the Marcos administration has taken all the necessary steps to make it as easy as possible for American companies and investors to do business here. The President and his team truly listen to the business community and treat them as real partners.

American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe described the President’s economic team as the best team to navigate the Philippines’ economic recovery following lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hinchliffe also said that President Marcos’ economic team which includes Finance Secretary Ben Diokno, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Bangko Sentral Governor Felipe Medalla, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Energy Secretary Popo Lotilla, are “the best people on their list and sends a strong message of confidence to foreign investors.”

“A lot of American companies are coming to this country. This new administration, with these secretaries I just named, and of course Mr. Aboitiz here in his position, that says so much to the American investors. So, from the Amcham’s standpoint, as I said there is no better time to invest in the Philippines,” Hinchliffe said.

Retired Ambassador Michael Michalak, US-ASEAN Business Council Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director, echoed AmCham’s optimism on the potential of the Philippines and lauded President Marcos Jr.'s move to regularly consult the private sector, which is a key part in leading the country’s economic recovery and development.

Michalak also pointed out that the recent US visit of President Marcos Jr. was responsible for their renewed interest in the Philippines, especially with the recent laws passed to attract more foreign firms to invest here.

The PSAC, composed of business leaders and experts, was formed to help speed up economic development and transformation. Its sectoral groups regularly report to President Marcos Jr. to provide feedback on what is happening on the ground and will make recommendations on modern policy development.

Aboitiz Group President and CEO and Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) lead convenor Sabin Aboitiz was joined by PSAC members RFM Corporation President and CEO Joey Concepion, Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Paolo Borromeo, and Ayala Corporation Independent Director Riza Mantaring in the 2022 Philippine Business Mission meeting organized by the US-ASEAN Business Council at The Grand Hyatt Manila, Taguig City on October 25 - 28, 2022.

The Private Sector Advisory Council

The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) has been established strategically by President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr to create and strengthen innovative new synergies between the private and public sectors. PSAC is composed of business leaders and experts across six main sectoral groups — Agriculture, Digital Infrastructure, Jobs, Healthcare, Build-Build-Build, and Tourism.

The Council will help the government deliver on its commitment to transform the Philippine economy by implementing robust infrastructure programs, creating more jobs and attracting more investors, digitizing processes, improving agricultural productivity through the recalibration of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), jumpstart Philippine Tourism and ensuring an equitable, sustainable, and inclusive business landscape for Filipinos.

PSAC will continuously recommend modern policy development to the government and report regularly to the President to provide feedback and adjust recommendations as necessary based on what is happening on the ground. Follow PSAC on Twitter to get the latest news as it breaks, https://twitter.com/PSAC_PH. (PR/Photos: PSAC/ GINGGAY HONTIVEROS – MALVAR)

 

Cebu boat operators launch CTBA, forum on ship modernization program

 MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Boat operators in Cebu formally launched the Cebu Tourist Boat Association (CTBA) and open forum to prepare for the impending “Ship Modernization Program” as contained in the Memorandum Circular 2016-02 issued by the MARINA on the Revised Rules on the Phase Out of Wooden-hulled Marine Vessel Carrying Passengers in Domestic Shipping.

In a CTBA media launch and boat modernization program open forum on Saturday, October 29, MARINA chief officer of the Franchising and Shipping Division, Atty. Jose Cabatingan III explained that boat modernization is particular about the phasing out of all wooden-hulled boats and bancas that are carrying passengers.

Cabatingan mentioned that this forum is part of a series of discussions with different stakeholders in the local tourism maritime sector to bring awareness and call to support the government’s long overdue plan to modernize the domestic shipping industry especially those involved in the local tourism maritime sector.

According to CTBA chairman, Chief Engr. Optaciano Sy Boo Jr. that boat operators in Cebu have manifested their support to the program saying this is the right time to modernize the local tourist boats here.

“Cebu is a trailblazer and with the Cebu Tourist Boat Association leading the way it is for certain that soon enough the program will be realized because CBTA is committed to become a trusted and leading provider of tourist boat modernization for each stakeholder, member and partners,” Boo said.

He added that CTBA is now gathering boat operators to become members of the association and are now ready to form into a cooperative to help implement the goals of the government’s modernization of tourist boats in Central Visayas.

Boo said that CTBA envisions to be the leading provider of the state-of-the-art tourist boats to benefit all stakeholders and each member through recreation and modernization with enterprise and reasonable value.

According to Atty. Gary Maningo, CTBA Cooperative Consultant that any modernization program is a threat to the small boat operators in the tourism maritime industry.  He bared that there are more than 3,000 regular boat owners/operators in Central Visayas and 60 percent of these are in Cebu.

“The best way to approach this is for CTBA to become a cooperative and we will enjoin all small boat/banca operators to become members of the cooperative for them to get modernized and at the same time benefit from the government’s technical assistance and subsidies,” Maningo bared.

Maningo added, this program will also help bring back the livelihood and strengthen the local maritime tourism industry sector in Cebu and the region after the devastation caused by typhoon Odette and the circumstances brought about by the pandemic.

According to Maningo, the CTBA recognizes and is in support on the Ship Modernization Program and has consulted and is backed up with the technical expertise and support of a Cebu local boat builder with international standards that shall pave the way in the future and modernization of the bancas in the Philippines.

The CTBA initiated this open forum event and consultation to address the current situation and need of the maritime tourism industry sector in the region, specifically in Cebu to lead the modernization program.

The speakers and panelists during the forum included the Chairman of Cebu Tourist Boat Association, Chief Engr. Optaciano Sy Boo Jr.; Marina Enforcement Service OIC Director Engr. Ronaldo Bandalaria; Chief Officer of the Franchising and Shipping Division of Marina, Atty. Jose Cabatingan III and CTBA Cooperative Consultant Atty. Gary Maningo.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) also graced the event with the Undersecretary for Legal & Special Concerns and Chief of Staff, Atty. Mae Elaine Bathan accompanied by the Head Executive Assistant of DOT, Alven Talisic on behalf of DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. (Photos: MBCNewman)

 

 

Empowering communities in Siquijor thru S&T with over P6.0M worth of aid

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

SIQUIJOR ISLAND—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) in Siquijor has given more than P6.092M worth of financial and technical assistance to about 10 farmer, fisherfolk and women associations or communities in Siquijor Island for almost seven years now through DOST’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) program.

“More than seven years empowering the communities like fisherfolks, farmers association, women’s organizations, they must be organized groups to become beneficiaries of these assistance,” DOST-PSTC Siquijor Provincial Director Engr. Mario de la Peña said.

De la Pena explained that CEST aims to build progressive, empowered, and resilient rural communities specifically, to empower the poorest and most depressed communities in the country through Science and Technology interventions.

 The CEST program priority sector being focused are health and nutrition, water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, livelihood/economic enterprise development, and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

“We have assisted seven communities availing such program like beef tapa production, dairy milk production, chicken meat processing while the three other communities are focusing on peanut production,” De la Pena added.

In September this year, more than 100 farmers from the Liloan-Saguing Farmers and Fishers Association (LISAFFA) in Maria and Triple M Farmers Association in Lazi gathered, bore the heat of the sun with dirtied feet, took the initial steps to plough and prepare an area of 8.5208 hectares of land from 18 separate parcels for the planting of peanuts, De la Pena revealed.

According to de la Pena, DOST-PSTC Siquijor and Siquijor State College (SSC) continue to converge their efforts in the CEST implementation after they saw the success stories with the Bitaug Small Coconut Farmers Association (BISMACOFA) in Bitaug, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor between 2020 and 2021.

De la Pena and SSC Extension Director Dr. Philna Palongpalong maintain a strategic plan to make peanuts the commodity to be sustainably abundant in the province of Siquijor in line with DOST 7’s vision of focusing on a single product for the development of a value chain.

“Peanuts because we have a lot of peanut processors in Siquijor and they are importing peanuts from other provinces.  We want to support the local processors by providing them locally produced peanuts in the province and we are promoting the PN5 and PN10 varieties which are edible for processing,” De la Pena shared.

Value chain comes in as famers produce peanuts and processors process the peanuts into different peanut products.  DOST also assists in the packaging and labelling and with laboratory analysis for the processed goods to conform with FDA requirements, he said.

De la Pena bared that just last two weeks ago in October 2022, both members of LISAFFA and Triple M completed planting peanuts in their respective areas and until around 110 days, the peanuts are ready for harvest.

So far, DOST have given these communities the necessary impetus to own their livelihood, increase income to improve their lives here, De la Pena shared that DOST has disbursed more than P900K to BISMACOFA; over P1.0M each for Maria farmers and Lazi Farmers; more than P672K for Kapanig, P550K for Wonder, and P700K for Catulayan; P570K for Cantugbas Women’s Association and in the pipeline over P700k for fisherfolks in Siquijor. (Photos: DOST-PSTC Siquijor)

 

 

 

 

DOST-PAGASA turns over flood early warning system to 2 LGUs in Cebu

CEBU CITY-- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-PAGASA turned over Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) to Toledo City and Dumanjug, Cebu on October 24 to enable the recipient-communities to respond to warning messages appropriately ans in a timely manner and to avoid flood-related damage and losses.

DOST-7 regional director Engr. Jesus Zamora, Jr said, DOST7 is one with PAGASA in bringing new technologies and innovations to Central Visayas for disaster management and risk reduction and there is a need to prepare for more extreme weather conditions in the region.

Zamora bared that DOST-PAGASA with the Government of South Korea through the National Disaster Management and Research Institute (NDMI), implemented the USD$1-Million project called “Strengthening the Capability of the Republic of the Philippines on Disaster Risk Reduction” that is funded under South Korea’s Global Projects on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR).

This is the first-ever project in the Province of Cebu with implementation dates from June to November this year.  The project aims to provide as much prior warning as possible of an impending flood to the authorities and the general public and to improve the disaster risk reduction capabilities of Toledo City and Dumanjug town.

Zamora thanked the South Korean government for its active support for the welfare and economic growth of developing nations through undertakings such as these.

 The ceremonial turnover held at Radisson Blu, Cebu City was attended by Dr. Vicente Malano, Administrator of DOST-PAGASA and Alfredo Quiblat Jr., Chief of Visayas PAGASA; Dr. Kim Jin Young, Senior Research Officer at the National Disaster Management & Research Institute (NDMI) of South Korea and Jeon Jeibok, Director of Water Resources & Environment Department of Dongbu Engineering in South Korea.

Also present during the event were Mayor Marjorie Perales of Toledo City, Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica of Dumanjug, Marlou Salazar, Regional Director of Office of the Civil Defense (OCD-7) and Engr. Socrates Paat Jr., Project Leader of Hydrometeorology Division of PAGASA. (Photos: DOST-7/Tristan Abando)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sen. Marcos urges Congress to support nursing reforms

MANILA -- With final budget deliberations to begin in November, Senator Imee Marcos has urged fellow lawmakers to support proposed reforms for the nursing profession, in anticipation of inseparable public health and economic challenges in the months to come.

 A global nursing shortage, which the International Council of Nurses put at 17 percent has created higher-income opportunities abroad for Filipino nurses but whose departure weakens the country’s ability to cope with public health emergencies during pandemics and natural calamities, Marcos said.

According to the September 30 data of the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippines is short by about 106,000 nurses, while the Hamburg-based survey and statistics firm Statista reported that the country only had 8.03 nurses for every 10,000 Filipinos – only 29 percent of the ideal nurse-to-patient ratio of 27.5:10,000 as stated in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

“Our own shortage of nurses and the fear of an unforeseen pandemic or widespread natural calamity like an earthquake call for their presence here. On the other hand, they are breadwinners helping their families cope with the ever-rising cost of living,” Marcos explained.

With the peso forecast to weaken further against the dollar in coming months, Marcos acknowledged that nurses’ remittances will help shore up the country’s foreign currency reserves.

The government is still calibrating its policy on nurse deployment abroad, amid conflicting recommendations from the Health and Labor Departments regarding the annual deployment cap of 7,000 nurses.                                                     

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) told Marcos that as of the second week of October, the average monthly deployment of about 500 nurses left some 2,000 slots open for the rest of the year.

Beyond the stop gap measure of resetting deployment limits, Marcos recommended coupling scholarship programs for nurses with pledge-of-service agreements to which the Philippine Nurses Association agrees.

“This long-term solution will give nursing students the educational security they need, while the country can expect a steady workforce of new nurses each year. Until such incentives can be legislated, the government should not curtail a nurse’s choice to leave for work overseas,” Marcos explained.

Another legislative measure which Marcos said can convince Filipino nurses to stay in the country is for Congress to raise their salary grade in private hospitals to Level 15 – a minimum of Php35,097, as of 2022 – which up to now has only been applied in government healthcare institutions.

 Marcos also called on the Department of Budget and Management to rethink its policy of excluding contractual nurses from the salary upgrade, and for the DOH to prioritize them for regular employment.

"Even contractual nurses were tried and tested during the Covid-19 pandemic. Buwis-buhay din sila gaya ng mga regular (They also risked their lives like regular nurses),” she emphasized.

 Congress can also give permanence to healthcare workers’ special risk allowances, which will expire when the state of public health emergency ends on December 31, the senator added. (Photos: Google Images)

LTO-7 verbally warns 14 PUBs for 'road unworthy' compliance

CEBU CITY – The Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) issued verbal warnings to 14 public utility buses (PUBs) for failure to ensure roadworthiness and compliance with safety standards, a day before the expected influx of passengers for the long weekend in observance of All Saints, All Souls Day.

"We have recorded 14 buses that failed our roadworthiness test and asked them to return to their garage and fix the issues before they operate again," Caindec said as the agency started its random inspection of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in major terminals in the region to prevent accidents from happening during long holidays such as “Kalag-Kalag” or Undas.

 Caindec revealed that common defects include the reverse lamp, brake system issues, worn out tire, broken windshield, defective seatbelt, colored light, and no tail and brake light, among others. The objective of the terminal inspections is to ensure that public transportation is inspected for road safety compliance.

In an inspection operation on October 27, LTO-7 with the personnel of the Land Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) and Highway Patrol Group (HPG-7) inspected 11 buses at the South Bus Terminal where five failed the inspection.  Nine buses also failed the roadworthiness inspection at the North Bus Terminal from the 13 buses that were inspected.

The said operations are in line with the DOTr-LTO OPLAN Biyaheng Ayos!: Undas 2022 which  covers from October 27 to November 4, 2022.

"We are not issuing them anything yet but rather giving the operators and drivers the chance to correct the defects during the inspection. We want to secure the safety of our riding public especially since more are expected to travel to and from our tourist destinations with our long weekend," Caindec added. (Photos: LTO-7)

 

 

CPA expects 300K travelers during Undas, activates Oplan Biyaheng Ayos

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY -- The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) activates Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas 2022 as it expects around 300,000 passengers and travelers at ports and sub-ports in Central Visayas from October 28 to November 4 in observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, given the loosened restrictions and the long weekend.

All ports in Cebu will be on heightened alert during those dates and around 730 security and port personnel are deployed to all ports in Cebu to ensure the safety, security and comfort of passengers and travelers going to their respective provinces and cities in the region.

"To further intensity our efforts to ensure safe and peaceful observance of Undas 2022 here in Cebu, more security personnel will be deployed in all ports to handle security, safety and passenger concerns," CPA Acting Deputy General Manager Glenn Castillo said.

Castillo reminds the public not to avail and report any illegal ticket scalping by unauthorized persons and to book their tickets in advance to avoid heavy queuing outside the port area where most ticketing outlets are located.

CPA said only passengers with boat tickets and valid ldentification Cards (lDs) shall be allowed entry into the port at least two hours from the scheduled departure time. CPA strictly imposes the "No ticket, No lD, No Entry Policy".

Castillo also urged the public to follow health protocols including wearing of face masks while inside passenger terminal buildings.  Malasakit Help Desks (MHDs) and first-aid stations will also be activated in passenger terminals to attend to various passenger concerns.

All port management offices were directed to ensure that all booths / counters / centers serving passengers are properly manned during operating hours.

Direct boarding of passengers to the vessel shall be allowed as may be deemed necessary to to avoid crowding, inconvenience, or delay of the vessel's departure provided that security, safety, and health protocols shall be observed.

Partners from Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will also conduct random inspection and K9 sweeping as part of the intensified campaign to interdict drug couriers. "Rest assured that we are doing our best to ensure that we will have a safe and peaceful Undas 2022 in the ports of Cebu," Castillo added.

Passengers can lodge their concerns, complaints and reports to CPA Police Operations Center at 0917 82204711 (032) 316-6281 or via CPA Official Facebook Page @cebuportauthorityofficial (Photos: CPA FB)