All set for 12th ASEAN ICT Ministers Meet Nov 15-16
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, Nov 14 (PIA) -- All is set for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Telecommunications Ministers Meeting (Telmin 12) on November 15 to 16 at the Shangri-la Resort Hotel in Mactan, Lapulapu City. The event will be attended by the Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers from the 10-ASEAN member nations.
Under the theme “ICT: Connected ASEAN, Enabling Aspirations,” the meeting is expected to draw around 250 foreign and local delegates from the ICT sector, including the six dialogue partners from China, Japan, Korea, India, the European Union and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The event will discuss the region’s progress in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and its progress in the ASEAN ICT Masterplan. Likewise, the event aims to map out the general directions for the ICT growth in the region in the coming year.
Vice President Jejomar Binay will be the key guest of honor while the country is represented by Secretary Mario G. Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in this important meeting.
With the ASEAN objective of becoming a single community by 2015, much is being done to prepare for this eventuality and integrate the people, cultures and individual economies. Many sectors within the ASEAN nations have already embarked on practical approaches in order to prepare for 2015 which is three years away.
ICT on the other hand, has a key role to play in the integration of ASEAN at all levels while ASEAN is committed to ensure that all challenges in the region will be addressed in a comprehensive and cohesive manner.
Globally, ICT has been acknowledged as a key driver in economic and social transformation as the ASEAN seeks to harness the potential of ICT towards achieving ASEAN One Vision, One Identity and One Community.
The Philippines is the incoming ASEAN Telmin Chair after Myanmar. (PIA 7/DOST)
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DTI alerts OFWs against blacklisted forwarders
By Juju Manubag-Empuerto
CEBU CITY, Nov. 14 (PIA) -- The public, particularly the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are alerted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) against unscrupulous, blacklisted or unaccredited freight forwarders.
DTI issued a list of over 40 unaccredited freight forwarders and consolidators and advised the public, especially the OFWs and their consignees not to transact with the said forwarders due to reported complaints of undelivered Balikbayan boxes.
DTI listed the following local freight forwarders/Philippine agents with no accreditation from the DTI-Philippine Shippers Bureau and are now subject of complaints for undelivered packages:
1. Aerosend (Case No. 2011-04-163)
2. Alas Cargo Phil. (Case No. 2012-05-57)
3. Associated Consolidation Express (ACE) (Case No. 2010-05-44)
4. Dausan International Forwarder (Case No. 2012-09-132)
5. FACF Parcel Delivery (Case No. 2012-09-142)
6. FRS Philippine Freight Services Inc. (Case No. 2011-08-238)
7. International Cargo Forwarder (Case No. 2012-08-125)
8. J.J. Transglobal Brokerage (Case No. 2012-09-143)
9. JAR Cargo Forwarders (Case No. 2012-09-126)
10. Mail Plus Cargo Carriers (Case No. 2012-02-25)
11. Manila Broker (Case No. 2012-09-144)
12. Maru Cargo Logistics Phil. (Case No. 2012-10-164)
13. R&M Cargo Services (Case No. 2012-10-155)
14. Rodah Cargo Manila (Case Nos. 2012-01-15 and 2012-09-140)
15. South Atlantic Cargo Inc. (Case No. 2012-10-154)
16. Trico International Forwarding (Phils.) Inc. (Case No. 2012-09-141)
17. Vanwill Cargo Forwarder, Inc. (Case No. 2012-10-174)
18. VCG Customs Brokerage (Case No. 2012-03-38)
Aside from the above local freight forwarders, the Philippine Shippers Bureau (PSB) issued the names of blacklisted forwarders with foreign principals and consolidators abroad due to reports of undelivered packages and other PSB violations:
United Arab Emirates Al Rodah Marine Cargo, Cityline Cargo, Dagupan Cargo Packaging Services, Express Link Cargo Services & Smooth Express
United States AAA Cargo Express Inc., ABSCBN Star Kargo, Aerosend, Alas Cargo, Associated Consolidations Express - Ace Cargo, FRS Phil. Freight Services Inc., Shipping Express, South Atlantic Cargo
Saudi Arabia Cargo Net Worldwide Services-formerly FAL World Express Cargo, Fil Asia Cargo Forwarders Phil, Global Cargo, RJM Freight Cargo Forwarders, WRJ Freight Forwarders, North and South Express Cargo
Singapore Hagibis Express Pte. Ltd39., Maru Cargo Logistics (s) LLP
Ireland Maharlika Enterprise Cargo Services, SCRL Cargo
Malaysia Bayanihan Express
Australia Dausan International Forwarder
Hongkong Ford Cargo International
Cyprus Trico International
Likewise, PSB advised OFWs to refrain from transacting with the following blacklisted accredited freight forwarding companies which were issued Show Cause Orders by DTI and are subject of complaints regarding undelivered balikbayan boxes:
● D’Winner Logistics Phil. Inc (Case No. 2012-09-139- Petition for revocation of Accreditation)
● LCSN Express Movers Inc (Case Nos. 2012-09-135, 2012-10-158, 2012-10-161)
● Transtech Global Phil Inc. (Case No. 2012-09-138)
● Wide Wide World Express Corp. (Case No. 2012-09-148)
DTI said that these companies are in danger of revocation of their accreditation with PSB.
For those consignees in the Philippines who have not received their packages from freight forwarders, you may contact DTI-Cebu at (032) 2532631/2557082. (FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu w/ DTI PR)
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Cebu-based NGO to inaugurate country's 1st adventure education center
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU , November 14 (PIA) -- A non-government organization is set to inaugurate the country’s first fully dedicated adventure education center by next year.
Roberto Aboitiz, president of the Cebu-based Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), said the Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) will be located in Balamban.
"It is a big responsibility we assume. There are other institutions in the Philippines involved in team building and adventure. Many also just for entertainment and leisure. Kool Adventure Camp is a serious attempt to build leadership attributes in the Filipino youth,” Aboitiz said.
The RAFI wants to come up with measures to transform the lives of the youth and professionals for effective leadership and team development through expeditions, kayaking, ropes courses, service learning, adventure camps, and backpacking challenges.
KAC has been offering these adventure education programs for leadership and team development for youth and professionals for the last decade.
November this year, the buildings and facilities in the center situated in Balamban, Cebu are now close to being complete.
The center also features 28 kinds of Challenge Ropes Course (CRC) High Elements an experiential adventure activity that offers groups and individuals the opportunity to participate in a series of activities involving mental, physical, and emotional risk taking.
These are activities that give individuals the opportunity to develop and increase their communication skills while creating techniques to become effective at group problem solving, Aboitiz noted.
Aside from the technical equipment, training structures and facilities that have been built, the high level of quality and safety that has been designed into its curriculum, program and systems are what distinguishes the KAC centre, Edvan Loh, KAC camp director declared.
“Our team of passionate and professional instructors are highly trained and competent in both outdoor leadership skills and facilitating learning through the outdoors,” added Loh.
For more information on KAC and its services, please contact 418-7234 local 407 and look for Althea Santillan, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph or e-mail at info.kac@rafi.org.ph. (mbcn/AYS/PIA-CEBU with reports from RAFI)