Agriculture Bits
SULU SEA: R.P.’S NEXT TUNA CAPITAL?
The Sulu Sea could be developed into the country’s next tuna capital, according to Rafael Ramiscal, chief scientist of the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (DA-BFAR). He said that the Sulu Sea has the potential to be a fishing ground for commercial fisheries similar to General Santos City, which is considered the tuna capital of the Philippines.
From October 6-18, the DA-BFAR and the Southeast Asia Fishery Development Center (SEAFDC) conducted research studies and training activities in the Sulu Sea. They determined that the tuna industry in the Sulu Sea, which was once a good source of tuna in the mid-80s, could be revived with proper fisheries management policies.
The Sulu Sea, part of which is the Tubbataha reef, is spawning ground for tuna and other marine life.
Business Bits
NEW SKAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTED
SKAL INTERNATIONAL recently elected its new Executive Committee during the 67th Skål World
Congress held in Pattaya, Thailand last October 15- 20. The line-up is as follows:
President – Skål International – Litsa Papathanassi of Greece; Senior Vice President – Hulya Aslantas of Turkey; Junior Vice President – Philip Sims of New Zealand; Directors – Nik Racic of Croatia; Tony Boyle of Australia; Enrique Quesada Y Barrios of Mexico; John D. Britton of Canada;
President of the International Council Lone Ricks of Denmark; and Secretary General – Jim Power.
The Auditors are Senior Auditor – Yaacov Hartman of Israel; while the Deputy Auditors are Nora Cronin of Ireland and Renate Blindheim of Norway.
David Colin Selley from Bermuda was awarded the distinction of Membre d’Honneur of Skål International.
HOTEL CHAIN DEVELOPMENT IN CEBU
In order to better address the nationwide room shortage, an international hotel chain has expressed great interest in setting up more branches in Cebu and Davao within a year’s time.
According to Patrick Gregorio, chief marketing officer of Microtel Inns and Suites, the hotel chain is aggressively seeking expansion plans in the provinces with prospective partners.“ We are considering a 100- 150-room hotel in Cebu and in Mactan Island by late 2007.
We will already open our latest branch in Boracay in a few weeks,” he told reporters.
Gregorio added that the hotel chain is looking for franchise holders or joint ventures in its ultimate
aim to set up a Microtel establishment in every province.“The hotel offers competitive room rates
with comfortable accommodations. We estimate that each hotel can create around 50 job opportunities for the locals,” he said.
When asked about Hotelink, his tourism consultancy company, he replied that the company has since merged with the Microtel chain for added force in the industry.
Microtel has existing branches in Cavite, Batangas, Baguio, and Tarlac. The company has around 290 branches worldwide.
Cultural Bits
KING OF ALL BAZAARS
The International Bazaar Foundation will be holding its yearly charity fair at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on November 19, Sunday. Touted as the “king of all bazaars” for the sheer variety of its wares, the bazaar will feature representatives of different embassies and consulates as well as nongovernmental organizations selling almost everything—
from Russian dolls and Vietnamese ao dais to Indian spices and European crystals. For more information and ticket purchases, call the Department of Foreign Affairs at (02) 833-1320 or (02) 834-3036.
News Bits
METRO TO HAVE 6,000 COPS ON NOV. 1-2
As Metro Manila residents prepare to commemorate All Saints Day and All Souls Day on November
1 and 2, respectively, some 6,000 policemen will be deployed to ensure public safety, according to
Police Director Reynaldo Varilla, National Capital Region Police Chief.
The policemen would be stationed in 63 cemeteries, shopping malls, bus stations, airports and
along public streets. Police Assistance centers will also be set up near cemeteries. A re-routing plan will be in effect to help ease the heavy traffic flow.
Tourism Bits
CEBU PACIFIC REDUCES‘GO’ FARES TO HONG KONG BY 20%
Cebu Pacific (CEB) recently reduced its lowest ‘Go’ fares to Hong Kong by 20 percent from Php2499 to Php1999 one-way. The Cebu-Hong Kong route operates four times weekly: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Candice Iyog, CEB marketing director, said that the reduction of ‘Go’ fares to Hong Kong is aimed to further grow the travel market for this route. “We believe that the reduction of our lowest ‘Go’ fare rate will further encourage the Cebuanos to fly to Hong Kong and at the same time, entice the Filipino and International community in Hong Kong to visit Cebu. With this effort we hope to further grow the tourism industry even before the Christmas holidays,” Iyog said.
The airline started operating its Cebu-Hong Kong service on October 2 and more recently, added Cebu-Singapore flights last October 23. Now in its 11th year, CEB serves 20 domestic and six regional destinations.
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