SWU PHINMA Business School hosted one of the country’s top IT Executives
To give significant insights in today’s pandemic-challenged businesses, Southwestern University PHINMA’s B-School once again held Business Next Forum on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. The event gathered business leaders, entrepreneurs, industry practitioners and mentors including those from the academe, students taking up business and those aspiring to build their own business.
SWU PHINMA through its Business School launched Business Next Forum in October 2019 with Accenture Philippines Country Managing Director, Lito Tayag as guest speaker on “Digital Transformation: The “Wise Pivot”.
In this year’s forum, seasoned IT professional Aileen Judan – Jiao, President and Country General Manager of tech giant IBM Philippines, an Information Technology organization that serves domestic and international clients, talked about “Big Data and Analytics for Value Creation and Business Insights”.
In her talk, Jiao emphasized the relevance and impact of Big Data and Analytics on business and people. According to Jiao, “data is the new currency and every company must be a data company”, to remain relevant and competitive under any circumstance.
The ideas presented stimulated the business sector of Cebu, led by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to use and exploit data analytics in making data driven decisions for sound business outcomes. In response to IBM’s presentation, Felix Taguiam, President of CCCI, said that the benefits of Big Data & Analytics include strategic Marketing approach, new revenue opportunities, customer personification and improved operational efficacy that will provide competitive advantages to businesses.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the only Chamber of Commerce outside Metro Manila with an ISO Certification, is one of SWU PHINMA B-School’s industry partners in transforming business students into competent future business leaders and professionals.
Dr. Chito Salazar, the President of Southwestern University PHINMA reiterated in his closing remarks that Business Next is another platform of the university to bridge the gap between the academe & industry. Salazar said that SWU structured business program to maximize partnerships with the industry like the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and IBM Philippines in exposing students to people who are practitioners in business. This is part of SWU PHINMA B-School’s thrust in guiding students to become the best so they can land in the best possible job and rise to the peak of their profession.
With the timely Business Next topics, Aileen Judan – Jiao commended SWU PHINMA for having the foresight in bringing significant discussions which present real scenarios in the business world including the necessary shifts in the way business is done.
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For program offering related inquiries, contact SWU PHINMA through 0917 835 2881 or 0942 082 0539. Or follow the university’s official Facebook page Southwestern University PHINMA for updates and important announcement. Visit http://swu.phinma.edu.ph for more information about SWU PHINMA and its programs.
LGU Tacloban ranked 10th among cities in PH on 2019 local revenue generation
TACLOBAN CITY- This city has added another feather to its cap as it was recognized by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) for making it to the top 10 among all the cities in the country based on 2019 year-on-year growth in locally sourced revenues.
With pride and gratitude, Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez together with the staff of the Tacloban City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) received the certificate from BLGF Regional Director Gerardo Avorque on Thursday morning, October 28.
Due to the recognition received by the LGU, CTO thru the headship of Zosima Cordaño, was challenged to aim higher.
From the P384,959,808.69 in 2018, the city recorded P445,307,785.57 in 2019, thus garnering a 15.7% growth rate
“This would not have been possible without the continued support and trust of our valued taxpayers in the leadership of Mayor Alfred. Thanks to the close coordination and support of other revenue generating offices of the city, most of all to the hard work, sacrifices, and dedication of team CTO,” Cordaño said as she commended the efforts done to attain the award—proving the city government is doing its job in terms of efficiently collecting local revenues.
The said award was supposed to be given last February, however, due to quarantine restrictions and prohibition of gatherings, BLGF opted to hand over it this time. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
Borongan mayor appeals to RIATF to allow fully vaxxed to enter cemeteries
All cemeteries in PH closed during the ‘Undas’
TACLOBAN CITY-The mayor of Borongan City, Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, is appealing to the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) to allow his constituents to visit the cemeteries during the All Saints and Souls Days.
Agda, however, in his request, emphasized that only fully vaccinated persons should be allowed to enter the cemeteries.
The government through the IATF and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has barred entry to the cemeteries, memorial parks and even columbaria beginning Friday (Oct.29) until Nov.2 as part of measures against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“(I am appealing to the RIATF) to allow my constituents who are fully vaccinated to enter the cemeteries as a respite for the long limited movement of our people and to be able to pay respect to our deceased loved ones,” the city mayor said.
Agda said that he hopes that the RIATF will heed on his appeal. Otherwise he will follow the order of the DILG and IATF on this matter.
The city mayor said that more than 33,000 of his residents are considered to be fully vaccinated having received their second dose.
Agda also said that they will be needing around 7,000 people for them to achieve herd immunity.
Borongan has only eight active COVID-19 cases out of its 955 total cases.
The RIATF, as of press time, has yet to issue any response to the request of the Borongan city mayor.
Meanwhile, in Ormoc City, Leyte, the wearing of face shields inside business establishments like shopping malls and banks have been lifted by its city government effective Oct.26.
The move, a first in Eastern Visayas and perhaps in the country, was part of the measures of the city under Mayor Richard Gomez easing some protocols as its COVID-19 cases is declining for the past weeks now.
Still the wearing of face masks and observance of social distancing remain mandatory in the city.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Tacloban council approves P2.026 billion 2022 budget
Mayor Romualdez called for the special session
TACLOBAN CITY- The members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod here has approved the P2.026 billion budget for the city for next fiscal year during a special session on Friday (Oct. 29) as requested by Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
The special session, presided by Councilor and majority floor leader Evangeline Esperas, passed the P2,026,234,767.00 2022 budget without much deliberations.
The 2022 annual budget is relatively higher compared to the current budget of P1.418 billion.
Mayor Romualdez, in his October 28,2021 letter to the members of the council headed by Vice Mayor Jerry ‘Sambo’ Yaokasin, sought for the councilors to hold a special session to approve and pass the ‘people’s budget.’
In his letter, Romualdez said that there is a pressing need for the immediate approval of the 2022 city budget as it continues to address the health pandemic caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“The need for the immediate passage of the People’s Budget will be of big help to enact formally the prioritized recovery programs. Likewise, this will not only provide positive results for the Tacloban populace but as well better economic opportunities since programs that will attract investors are included in the 2022 people’s budget,” the city mayor said.
Based on the newly-approved city budget for next fiscal year, the city government continue to rely more of its income from its national share of taxes in the amount of P1,284,084,757.
For next year, Tacloban received a higher share of national tax collection, previously known as internal revenue allotment amounting to P33.476 million due to the Mandanas ruling giving local government units a higher share of taxes.
The city will source its expenditure from local sources of revenue amounting to P635,150,000.
Its other sources include the P5 million from the Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office share and ‘other sources’ amounting to P102 million.
Out of the P2.026 billion 2022 budget, P559,366, 129.19 is for personnel services; P757,516,776.20 for maintenance and other operating expenditures; calamity fund of P96,231,737.85; aid to barangays, P138,000; capital outlay, P203,188,468.30; citywide development project, P325,682,731.19; domestic loan, P25,928,028.12 and principal, P 58,202,885.15.
Meantime, Vice Mayor Yaokasin said that Mayor Romualdez did not include attachments on the local revenue and expenditure program as mandated under the country’s local government code.
But this claim of Yaokasin was refuted by the members of the committees on finance and appropriations and rules saying that the needed documents were submitted by the office of Romualdez and the deliberations of the 2022 budget followed the process.
Aside from Esperas, present during the special session were Councilors Elvira Casal, Aimee Grafil, Leo Bahin, Dalisay Erpe, Brian Granados, and Thomas John Diaz, city federation president of the Sangguniang Kabataan.
Among the no-show during the special session were Councilors Jose Mario Bagulaya, Nikki Chua, Edmund Edward Chua, Rachelle Pineda and Eden Pineda, president of the Association of Barangay Chairman.