Page 8 - LM Confidential Issue February 2015

Philippines
NEWS
United Airlines seeks to grow Philippine business
Almost half a decade after the United Airlines merger with Continental Air- lines, which created the world’s largest airline, United is re-introducing itself to the Philippines.
United has been operating in the country for over 30 years, with a 4 percent share of the Manila to the USA. flights.
But is quandary is being a high-fare carrier in a low-yield market. United’s market growth depends on the availabil- ity of seats in the country, where the bulk of passengers fly economy class.
Philippines
NEWS
Chile wants Trade
MANILA - A Chilean delegation is set to arrive in March and may initiate talks for a bilateral free trade agreement with the Philippines, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said.
“They’re [Chile] one of the most pro- lific when it comes to FTAs [free trade agreements],” Domingo said.
He said Chile was the first to initiate talks to start sectoral and comprehensive trade with the Philippines.
The Chilean trade mission is among the three foreign trade delegations that will visit the Philippines in the first quarter. The two others are the Japanese delegation of small and medium enter- prises and a US trade mission.
The Philippines, apart from having Chile as a model country for sustainable mining practices, is also a big consumer of Chilean wines.
“We need higher fares and more seats. We allocate inventory on the basis of fares. Our growth is demand-based, not price-based.”
Still, “The Philippines is very important to us, it’s a great feeder,” noted Maria Perdon, Country Sales Manager.
While the Manila to the US route is a high volume market, high price seats constitute only a small
portion of the demand. “In order to be profitable, we need a good mix between business class and economy class seats,” she explained.
But inasmuch as the first and the busi- ness class seats will not sell as fast as the economy seats, “The way to sell higher fares is to prove we have more value for that price,” Cefolia stressed.
This year, United is making Wi-Fi available on more than 370 of its aircraft, with more planes being outfitted at the
Change Tax table
MANILA - The Tax Management Association of the Philippines submitted to Congress the proposed amendments on the Tax Code, including a new income tax table. TMAP president Rina Manuel said the group’s proposal presented a simplified yet progressive income tax table. “We proposed an adjusted tax base to address the bracket creep phenomenon,” she said. The bracket creep phenomenon was defined by investors as a situation where inflation pushes income into higher tax brackets resulting in increase in taxes without an actual increase in real purchasing power. It calls for a unified tax exemption to P300,000, fixed taxes based on income levels and value added tax simplified.
TMAP proposed an increase in taxes on investments, particularly in capital gains with tax rates of 10 percent for the first P1 million and 15 percent in excess of P1 million.
rate of one per day.
It has also invested millions of dol-
lars in domestic premium-cabin food and beverage service as well as personal device entertainment which will en- able passengers to stream content from a library of music, TV and movies into their own gadgets.
So far, United is the only American airline to offer premium-cabin flat-bed seats on every long-haul international flight to and from the continental USA.
This year, the airline is investing more in service, technology and reliability.
Overall, United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,055 flights daily to 373 airports in 60 coun- tries across six continents. Last year, they operated nearly 2 million flights carrying 138 million customers.
In 2014, United netted $1.97-billion earnings, posting 89 percent increase year on year.
Rice stocks go up
MANILA – The country’s rice stocks improved in December, but the government still plans to import more rice this year.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the country’s rice stock inventory as of end December was enough for 89 days. Rice stocks increased 21.6 percent to 3.03 million metric tons in December from 2.49 million MT a year ago.
NFA earlier said it might import 600,000 metric tons of rice this year to boost the country’s buffer stocks. NFA Administrator Renan Dalisay said the inter-agency council of the NFA recommended the import volume.
“This is the volume advised by the inter-agency council. We have a standby authority to import.. but the NFA Council will have the final say if we will have to import,” Dalisay said.
DANIEL WARMLY RE- CEIVED BY NETIZENS IN “TWO WIVES”
There’s another reason to watch “Two Wives,” and that is Daniel Matsunaga’s character Kenjie, a popular soccer superstar who will be smitten with Janine (Erich Gonzales).
The Brazilian hunk instantly became a top trending topic on social networking site Twitter last Friday (Jan 16) when his character was introduced in the episode of the top-rating primetime series.
Netizens warmly received Kenjie and said that Daniel and Erich exude a great chemistry. What will be Kenjie’s role in Janine’s life? After introducing Janine to a fan as his girlfriend, will Kenjie pursue the single mom?
Even before Daniel and Erich were paired in “Two Wives,” the two have already enjoyed a following. Their fans, who call themselves DanRich, first saw the two’s on-screen spark when they guested on “Kris TV” and bonded in Palawan.
With this, Daniel admits that he is very much comfortable being around Erich.
“I don’t feel so pressured with the oth- ers because I’ve already worked with Erich. She’s helping me a lot. She’s throw- ing lines with me. She’s really nice. Thank God because I’m comfortable with the people I’m working with on my first show,” said Daniel.
Erich, meanwhile, is very supportive of Daniel in his first ever Kapamilya teles- erye.
“It’s our first time acting together and I can say he is a natural. Even our direc- tor commends him. They will surely see a different Daniel here,” said
Don’t miss “Two Wives,” weeknights after “Forevermore” on ABS-CBN’s Prime- time Bida. For more updates, follow the program’s official social media accounts at www.facebook.com/2wivesabscbn, www.instagram.com/2wivesabscbn, at www.Twitter.com/2wivesabscbn or visit its official website at www.twowives.abs-cbn. com.
Talakayan with Congen
LEFT, Talakayan Radyo broadcasters during the interview hour with Philippine ConGen Junifer Mahilum-West on January 10, 2015. L- R: Karen Tan. ConGen J.M. West and May Cabrias. Standing: Tony A. San Juan and Rachel Cruz.
CENTER, Toronto’s Talakayan Radyo broadcasters pose on January 10, 2015 with Philippine Consul General Junifer Mahilum-West at Fairchild 1430 A.M. Network Station. L-R: Nelson Galvez, Tony A. San Juan, Rachel Cruz, Karen Tan, ConGen J.M. West, May Cabrias, Bobby Achacon and producer Jess Cabrias.
RIGHT, Philippine Consul General Junifer Mahilum-West with Toronto educator Tony A. San Juan at Talakayan Radyo on January 10, 2015.
8 L. M. Confidential FEBRUARY 2015
LMC