Biz Buzz
Owners of local shipping vessels are in some sort of a panic after the industry’s regulator—the Maritime Industry Authority or Marina—announced a new policy of conducting inspections on domestic ships.
Marina’s stated goal, of course, is “to determine compliance with rules and regulations, and to ensure the safety of passengers, crew members, and cargo onboard.”
Many of these local shipping industry bigwigs have been so used to regulators bowing to their whims that they haven’t been worried about passing inspections in a while, assuming that regular inspections are even conducted in the first place. But Marina administrator Marcial Amaro III seem serious, especially since about half of passenger and roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels plying Philippine sea routes now have an average age of 35 years.
Above the noise being made by worried ship operators—who fear of flunking the inspections—Marina pointed out that the surprise inspection of vessels (known as “port state control”) is common practice in other maritime jurisdictions.
Biz Buzz learned that a an inspection team from Marina boarded some vessels docked at the Manila North Harbor recently and “detained” four vessels due to various deficiencies in documentation and safety equipment. These safety concerns included issues over life jackets and life vests, among others.
Other ports that will soon be subjected to this new Marina policy will be the big ports of Cebu and Batangas.
It goes without saying that this new policy is important, given the Philippines’ ugly track record in this industry, including the worst peacetime maritime disasters: M/V Dona Paz in 1987, with 4,386 fatalities; M/V Dona Marilyn in 1988, with 389 fatalities; M/V Don Juan in 1980, with 176 fatalities; M/V Princess of the Orient in 1998, with 150 fatalities; and M/V Cebu City in 1994, with 140 fatalities.
One shipping firm that won’t be worried is Starlite Ferries, which has a growing fleet of brand new Ro-Ro vessels made in Japan. The company was, until recently, owned by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who has, since his appointment to the Cabinet, relinquished ownership to his friend, shipping industry veteran Arben Santos.
As for the new Marina policy, it’s about time. Daxim L. Lucas
Unfazed
WHILE former Philippine Stock Exchange capital market development head Leonardo Quinitio pursues charges of illegal dismissal against the PSE, the bourse leadership is standing its ground on the matter.
Commenting on Quinitio’s appeal to the National Labor Relations Commission, PSE president Hans Sicat said the dismissal earlier handed out by the labor arbiter on the case filed by Quinitio against the PSE “affirms the position and process undertaken by the exchange on his dismissal in light of the settled facts.”
“We will address the arguments of the dismissed employee accordingly as the facts and the legal basis for the dismissal are clear,” Sicat said.
A 23-page decision by NRLC arbiter Elias Salinas earlier said that Quinitio—who had been dismissed for alleged falsification of records, misappropriation of company funds and entering into unauthorized deals—had been given “reasonable opportunity to be heard and to explain his side.” The labor arbiter had also dismissed his complaint for illegal dismissal with monetary claims. Doris Dumlao-Abadilla
Divina Law’s decade
THE FIRM headed by University of Santo Tomas law dean Nilo Divina celebrated its first decade in business earlier this week with a big party meant to honor its first and biggest corporate clients, while simultaneously charting a way forward in the highly competitive business.
From only a handful of lawyers 10 years ago, Divina Law as it is called now has 52 on its roster, aided by 38 staffers. And from a 200-square-meter office in the Pacific Star building in Makati City, the firm is set to take possession of the entire 8th floor of the building—all 2,000 sqm of it—once the lease of the last remaining tenant on the floor ends next month.
Among the corporate clients Divina Law honored at its big party on Monday evening were Equicom Savings Bank of banker Antonio Go (Divina’s first boss when he was corporate secretary at the institution then known as Equitable PCI Bank); BDO Universal Bank (which later gobbled up Equitable PCI); SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp.; Premium Securities; Jose Antonio’s Century Properties Group (which owns the building where the law firm has its office); UST; Maxicare; Altus Partners; CB Andrews Philippines, and Figaro.
Apart from its big corporate clients, it has grown its network of affiliates to 14 law firms nationwide (including the obligatory presence in Davao City, of course), as well as a strategic partnership with an audit and business advisory firm that is growing at the same rapid pace—Reyes Tacandong and Co.
More importantly, Divina Law is also set to launch an office in Singapore and Hong Kong to better allow it to do business regionally.
But there was less talk of business at the law firm’s party, which was attended by a few hundred guests. Entertainment came courtesy of some members of the ‘Rak of Aegis’ crew (who set the firm’s history into a musical) as well as US-based standup comic Rex Navarrete.
After the lavish party, however, the firm’s lawyers have now gone back to work to grow its business. Daxim L. Lucas
Opening, finally
It took a while, but it appears the initial phase of the Naia Expressway public private partnership (PPP) project initiated under President Aquino is all set for opening on Thursday.
Working round the clock, concessionaire San Miguel Corp., with the aid of the Department of Public Works and Highways, which is implementing the project, would inaugurate the project, which aims to cut heavy congestion around the Naia complex.
A final inspection was scheduled Tuesday afternoon, attended by Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Undersecretaries Rafael Yabut, Maria Cabral and Ariel Angeles, who heads the DPWH’s PPP Services. Also at the inspection were Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and SMC officials.
The Naia Expressway is a 7.75-kilometer project. Opening this Sept. 22 is a section linking Macapagal Boulevard near Entertainment City to Naia Terminal 1 and
Terminal 2.
The second segment extending the tollroad to Naia Terminal 3 and further to the Metro Manila Skyway, also controlled by SMC, will open by December this year.
At an opening toll fee of P35, which will be free for the first month of operations, it looks like Christmas is coming early this year for motorists. Miguel R. Camus
Hospital donation
THIS IS the birthing facility that gaming built.
Business magnate Enrique Razon has turned over a P358-million state-of-the-start birthing facility to the storied Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC)—a 100-year-old state-owned hospital damaged by storm surge during the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
The four-storey Mother and Child Hospital facility was donated to the Department of Health by Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of Razon-led Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which owns and operates Solaire Resort and Casino along Manila Bay.
EVRMC is along Magsaysay Boulevard in Tacloban City, strategically located midway between Samar and Leyte. Aside from being the only teaching and training hospital in Eastern Visayas, it is also the end-referral hospital of all government hospitals in Region VIII. Doris Dumlao-Abadilla
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