By Nate C. Barretto

A global solutions company focused on education and research recently launched in the Philippines a new software called Turnitin Originality that will aid the local education system in driving up academic integrity.

Forced to online education by the coronavirus pandemic, schools are now facing a variety of challenges among which are the big load of submitted written works and bringing out the better side of their students in producing original work.

In a Zoom meeting with educators last August 5, Turnitin Originality was presented as “the most comprehensive technology to help deter unoriginal work.”

“In the Philippines, where remote education is now strongly encouraged, the release of Turnitin Originality will give educators a better solution for upholding the culture of academic integrity,” said Jack Brazel, Head of Business Partnerships, Southeast Asia for Turnitin.

Tried and tested abroad for 20 years, Turnitin enters the Philippine education system with a holistic approach to academic integrity with new features that help instructors address trends such as contract cheating and teaches students the value of original thinking skills.

Beyond examining whether a submitted work is similar to other known text, or if it bears indications that it was not authored by the student, the software supports students in learning how to properly attribute ideas and concepts to others.

“This data facilitates conversations between instructors and students about how to discover and express their authentic voice,” Brazel explained.

Ateneo de Davao, for one, is already equipped with this technology and has helped ramp up the quality of its graduate and academic research programs, as cited by a participant in the Zoom meeting.

This experience, according to Brazel, is shared by over 15,000 academic institutions, publishers, and corporations that use the company’s products such as Feedback Studio, Gradescope, iThenticate, Turnitin Originality, Turnitin Similarity in the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, and Korea, among others.

In a statement, Valerie Schreiner, CPO and CMO of Turnitin, said educators can use Turnitin Originality as a teaching tool, showing their students how to identify unoriginal content before turning in their papers.

“Supporting academic integrity is a multi-layered process of setting expectations, providing tools to students so they can self check and correct, and then helping faculty to identify potential misconduct so that they can intervene,” she said.

In doing so, every institution can set new standards for academic integrity and give its students and instructors a unified solution to support those standards.

“Our technology helps educators train students to develop original thinking. As they do so, we are contributing to shaping citizens of integrity in the society,” said Brazel.

Asked by ThePhilBizNews if it is an effective tool in tracing the origin of a written text, Brazel explained that what Turnitin Originality technology can do is site several sources of a specific text as had been previously published. It is the user’s responsibility to cite the most credible source based on his/her own research and knowledge on the subject matter.

Turnitin, which is headquartered in Oakland, California, hopes it finds more partners in Philippine educational institutions in sharing its dedication to promoting honesty, consistency, and fairness in the academe.

A coalition of job placement agency organizations brought before Congress this week, its legislative proposals highlighted by its lobbying for the creation of a quasi-judicial tripartite body that would handle labor cases of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) abroad.

The Alliance of Bonafide Recruiters for OFWs’ Advancement and Development or ABROAD pushed for the establishment of such a body as part of the bills creating the new Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW).

ABROAD Secretary General Ivan Lilles told THEPHILBIZNEWS on Friday, October 4, that the congressional hearing at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City last Wednesday, October 2, welcomed their group’s proposals.

Lilles said ABROAD co-convenor and Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) President Raquel Bracero, together with ABROAD co-convenors Nora Braganza and Noel Litan, were made an active part of the discussions of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the proposed DOFW.

At the meeting, Bracero underscored the need for an overseas counterpart of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) that will hear cases of employment contract violations against OFWs.

She told lawmakers that the NLRC organizational structure may be used as a model for the quasi-judicial tripartite body which will be integrated in the DOWF. However, its arbitral function will take into consideration the laws of the host country in order to gain a better position in handling labor cases of OFWs abroad, she said.

 “The creation of this arm is aimed at halting the vicious cycle of abuses against OFWs, especially vulnerable home service workers, or HSWs,” said Bracero.

Albay 2^nd District Rep. Jose Maria Clemente “Joey” Salceda, who chairs the TWG, welcomed ABROAD’s various proposals and said that such recommendations would make life easier for legislators working on the measure.

Salceda noted that such moves would have a tremendous impact on the lives of Filipino migrant workers and their families.

For his part, 1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Enrico “Eric” Pineda who is Salceda’s co-chair suggested that the PRAs look into establishing its own insurance fund, much like the OWWA Fund, for the payment of OFWs’ claims against agencies.

Pineda enjoined ABROAD to participate actively in future committee meetings as members of the House “like to talk to people who make sense.”

“Among the other points stressed by ABROAD at the TWG meeting was the necessity of hiring lawyers from the host country to ensure that OFWs with legitimate complaints have a greater chance at obtaining justice while working abroad,” Lilles said in a statement sent to THEPHILBIZNEWS.

He said their group is pushing for the expansion of OFW mandatory insurance coverage to include a “Foreign Employment Practice Liability Insurance” that would cover the money claims of OFWs.

Another proposal being lobbied for by ABROAD is a recommendation to professionalize Overseas Labor Officers/Attaches by requiring them to take competitive pre-admission tests and to undergo rigorous training before they can assume posts to ensure they are ready and capable to assist OFWs in foreign lands.

Bracero lamented that under the present system, many violators and erring employers go unpunished, which leads to the vicious cycle of abuses committed by foreign employers. The situation is made even worse owing to the Joint and Solidary Liability (JSL) built into the POEA-standard employment contracts and recruiting agreements between Philippine overseas employment providers and foreign employers.

“In many cases, victims of employment contract violations and abuses are repatriated and the local PRAs are left to answer the legal complaints and money claims of OFWs, while the real culprits go scot free. Of course, we are always willing and ready to honor our obligations, but until the root causes of abuse are not addressed and there are no effective deterrents against abuses, our OFWs will always be vulnerable,” explained Bracero.

Co-convenor Litan also pointed out that PRAs must expressly be given due recognition for their role and contribution to national development in the crafting of the law creating the DOFW.

Rep. Salceda acknowledged the contribution of the overseas employment sector, which currently registers a net foreign exchange inflow of US$32 billion US dollars. Salceda said he would propose that PRAs be given some degree of regulatory authority via a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) status. The Albay lawmaker added that in the DOFW measure he would propose that certain governmental processes be left to the PRAs to allow them to regulate their own ranks, in a fashion similar to the manner in which the stock market is allowed self-regulating latitude by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Bracero said that ABROAD was amenable to such a proposal, saying that “in fact, our proposed draft bill has a provision that implements the SRO status of PRA organizations.”

Lilles expressed hope their well-meaning proposals get to be part of the bills that make up the creation and function of the DOFW for it to be more responsive to the needs of OFWs. He added that the progress of their group’s proposals before Congress is closely monitored by millions of OFWs around the world that follow ABROAD online.

A coalition of job placement agency organizations brought before Congress this week, a proposal to create of a quasi-judicial tripartite body that would handle labor cases of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) abroad.

The Alliance of Bonafide Recruiters for OFWs’ Advancement and Development or ABROAD pushed for the establishment of such a body as part of the bill creating the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW).

ABROAD Secretary General Ivan Lilles told THEPHILBIZNEWS on Friday, October 4, that the congressional hearing at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City last Wednesday, October 2, welcomed their group’s proposals.

Lilles said ABROAD co-convenor and Philippine Association of Service Exporters, Inc. (PASEI) President Raquel Bracero, together with ABROAD co-convenors Nora Braganza and Noel Litan, were made an active part of the discussions of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the proposed DOFW.

At the meeting, Bracero underscored the need for an overseas counterpart of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) that will hear cases of employment contract violations against OFWs.

She told lawmakers that the NLRC organizational structure may be used as a model for the quasi-judicial tripartite body which will be integrated in the DOWF. However, its arbitral function will take into consideration the laws of the host country in order to gain a better position in handling labor cases of OFWs abroad, she said.

 “The creation of this arm is aimed at halting the vicious cycle of abuses against OFWs, especially vulnerable home service workers, or HSWs,” said Bracero.

Albay 2^nd District Rep. Jose Maria Clemente “Joey” Salceda, who chairs the TWG, welcomed ABROAD’s various proposals and said that such recommendations would make life easier for legislators working on the measure.

Salceda noted that such moves would have a tremendous impact on the lives of Filipino migrant workers and their families.

For his part, 1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Enrico “Eric” Pineda who is Salceda’s co-chair suggested that the PRAs look into establishing its own insurance fund, much like the OWWA Fund, for the payment of OFWs’ claims against agencies.

Pineda enjoined ABROAD to participate actively in future committee meetings as members of the House “like to talk to people who make sense.”

“Among the other points stressed by ABROAD at the TWG meeting was the necessity of hiring lawyers from the host country to ensure that OFWs with legitimate complaints have a greater chance at obtaining justice while working abroad,” Lilles said in a statement sent to THEPHILBIZNEWS.

He said their group is pushing for the expansion of OFW mandatory insurance coverage to include a “Foreign Employment Practice Liability Insurance” that would cover the money claims of OFWs.

Another proposal being lobbied for by ABROAD is a recommendation to professionalize Overseas Labor Officers/Attaches by requiring them to take competitive pre-admission tests and to undergo rigorous training before they can assume posts to ensure they are ready and capable to assist OFWs in foreign lands.

Bracero lamented that under the present system, many violators and erring employers go unpunished, which leads to the vicious cycle of abuses committed by foreign employers. The situation is made even worse owing to the Joint and Solidary Liability (JSL) built into the POEA-standard employment contracts and recruiting agreements between Philippine overseas employment providers and foreign employers.

“In many cases, victims of employment contract violations and abuses are repatriated and the local PRAs are left to answer the legal complaints and money claims of OFWs, while the real culprits go scot free. Of course, we are always willing and ready to honor our obligations, but until the root causes of abuse are not addressed and there are no effective deterrents against abuses, our OFWs will always be vulnerable,” explained Bracero.

Co-convenor Litan also pointed out that PRAs must expressly be given due recognition for their role and contribution to national development in the crafting of the law creating the DOFW.

Rep. Salceda acknowledged the contribution of the overseas employment sector, which currently registers a net foreign exchange inflow of US$32 billion US dollars. Salceda said he would propose that PRAs be given some degree of regulatory authority via a Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) status. The Albay lawmaker added that in the DOFW measure he would propose that certain governmental processes be left to the PRAs to allow them to regulate their own ranks, in a fashion similar to the manner in which the stock market is allowed self-regulating latitude by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Bracero said that ABROAD was amenable to such a proposal, saying that “in fact, our proposed draft bill has a provision that implements the SRO status of PRA organizations.”

Lilles expressed hope their well-meaning proposals get to be part of the bills that make up the creation and function of the DOFW for it to be more responsive to the needs of OFWs.

He added that the progress of their group’s proposals before Congress is closely monitored by millions of OFWs around the world that follow ABROAD online.

Filipino food exporters are off to Moscow, Russia, participating in a 12-day Outbound Business Matching Mission (OBMM) that started last Friday, September 20.

“We are now looking at Russia as an emerging market for Philippine exports as we take advantage of the improving trade relations of both countries,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman, in-charge of DTI’s Trade Promotions Group-Export Marketing Bureau (TPG-EMB).

Macatoman said the trade mission is composed of representatives of 14 Philippine food companies organized the TPG-EMB in its bid to help expand food exports.

The DTI believes that this OBMM comes at an opportune time as the participating food exporters’ will get to promote their products at the WorldFood Moscow 2019 exhibition on September 24-27 at the Crocus Expo International Exhibition Center, Moscow.

In a statement sent to THEPHILBIZNEWS by Ms. Kristina Noelle Andaya, the TPG-EMB said the OBMM which will run until October 1 is in collaboration with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Moscow and Department of Agriculture (DA).

Among the top Filipino food exports to be featured at WoldFood Russia are tropical fruits and juices, artisanal chocolates, banana chips, crackers and biscuits, virgin coconut oils and other coconut products, noodles, condiments, and fishery products.

Russia is known to import food products from the Philippine, with desiccated coconuts, other fruits, nuts, and bananas, including plantains, fresh or dried being on top the list.

Apart from these products, the OBMM hopes to provide opportunities for exporters of fishery products which were recently accredited by Russia to promote their products.

WorldFood Moscow is a recognized international food and drink exhibition in Russia which could be an entry point for international manufacturers who aim to penetrate the Russian market. The event connects thousands of businesses from around the world with Russia’s key food and drink buyers, including retail representatives from Russia’s leading supermarket chains, wholesalers, hotel-restaurant-café sector, and food manufacturers.

According to DTI figures, Russia was the Philippines’ 21^st trading partner in 2018 with a total bilateral trade valued at US$1.36 billion or 0.74 percent of total Philippine trade with the world valued at US$182.15 billion.

Russia is also the 33^rd export market of the Philippines with outbound valued at US$86.07 million or 0.12-percent share of the total Philippine exports to the world valued at US$69.31 billion. It is also the 19^th import source accounting for US$1.27 billion or 1.13 percent share of the total Philippine imports from the world valued at US$112.84 billion, the DTI said.

Beyond the opportunities posed by WorldFood Russia, there will be business matching sessions and market scanning for the Philippine trade delegation, said Andaya.

“The delegates will also have a briefing with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EAEC) to inform them on the preferential tariffs provided to beneficiary countries including the Philippines,” she said. The EAEC is an economic union composed of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia with a consumer base of over 170 million.

For exporters interested in DTI’s trade missions, the TPG-EMB office is at 2/F DTI International Building #375 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City 1200 and can be reached via email – OUTIPG@dti.gov.ph, embinfo@dti.gov.ph, and KristinaNoelleAndaya@dti.gov.ph; and phone – 465.3300 local 224; 890.4898; and 890.4716.

#dtiMoscow #partnerPhilippines #iamDTIph #tradephilippines # investphilippines #едаялюблютебя #москва #фрукты #WorldFoodMoscow2019

As Dubai poises to open its gates to visitors from all over the world for the Expo 2020 in October this year, the community of Filipino migrant workers there are already involved in the grand preparations.

The Expo 2020 slated from Oct. 20, 2020, to Apr. 21, 2021 is already looking at a record-breaking participation from 192 countries, anticipating up to 25 million guests from around the globe.

Meanwhile, the Filipino community that has helped shape the United Arab Emirates through their involvement in a variety of industries that both power and build the nation are an integral part of this grand promotion of Dubai.

It was learned that many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are in the service sector, construction, health, education, and media and entertainment, and, as such, will be actively involved in the six-month-long World Expo celebration that aims to take participants into a melting pot of international cuisine, world-class architecture, innovative landscapes, and diverse art and culture.

With the theme “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future,” the Expo 2020 Dubai will be supported by three key subthemes – Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability – each represented by their own pavilions and districts.

These three Thematic Districts will also feature 192 Country Pavilions, a first in the 168-year history of World Expos; and one of them will be the Philippines Pavilion that will feature mainly the country’s products, food, and beverages.

“Bangkóta” will be the Philippines’ pavilion which, according to organizers, “is designed to resemble the natural and organic shape of the country’s famed coral reefs, drawing visitors into free-flowing, open spaces, which is said to reflect the nation’s embracement of openness, meaningful encounters, and connection to the world by travel, migration, and technology.”

As the Expo 2020 Dubai aims to promote future global prosperity through means of youth empowerment, innovation, friendship, and business opportunities, THEPHILBIZNEWS learned that three OFWs are helping mount one of the world’s greatest shows.

Dominique Villafuerte migrated to Dubai from the Philippines in 2010, finding a new life in the city along with her family. Two years prior to joining the Expo 2020 team, doctors had given her the unfortunate news that her 19-month-old daughter was severely deaf. The UAE Government is set to provide Villafuerte’s child with free medical treatment for the second time. She currently serves as Expo 2020’s Administration Officer for Marketing and is devoting herself to giving back to the country that has helped her, and her family.

Jon Jon Catapia, an Assistant Manager Business Support for Operations Back of House, was the eighth person to join the Expo 2020 team. 38-year-old Catapia has been promoted for an impressive third time, and now manages a team of eight people.

Jude Valderrama is a Senior Graphic Designer for The Narrative Lab, who has played a crucial part in designing and creating branding material for various projects under the event. He helped design the logos for the Expo 2020 Volunteers department and the Sustainability Pavilion. 

Earlier, an independent report stated that Expo 2020 Dubai and its legacy are expected to contribute AED122.6 billion (approximately P1.814 trillion) to the UAE’s economy from 2013–31. It is anticipated that Expo 2020 will also support up to 905,200 job-years during the same timeframe, and contribute approximately 1.5 percent of the UAE’s annual forecast GDP during the six months of the Expo.

To learn more about Expo 2020 Dubai, please visit https://www.expo2020dubai.com/en.

Read related story:

https://thephilbiznews.com/bangkota-coral-reef-will-be-philippines-theme-for-expo-2020-dubai/

By Nate C. Barretto

Women entrepreneurship studies in the country are aiming to create a comprehensive database of applied strategies for women in business and feedback from their customers in order to better adapt to the changing times.

This was the focus of the presentation of Pacita “Chit” Juan, trustee and former co-chair of the Philippine Coffee Board and owner of EchoStore, at the “Women’s Business and Leadership Summit 2019” held recently at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City.

“As mentioned, WomenBizPH has conducted research on women entrepreneurship in the Philippines. Our objective was to prepare a comprehensive inventory of studies on women entrepreneurship that policymakers, government agencies, non-government organizations, and other research institutions could tap as a source for their decision-making and the implementation of their activities,” said Juan.

The studies, based on online and print sources gathered from 1970 to April, 2015, showed that predominant thematic concerns for women entrepreneurs were competence and empowerment.

By these findings, it meant that women entrepreneurs who had achieved significant success must have the skill and ability to run a business enterprise and the opportunity to control the management process.

However, while competence and empowerment have been found to fuel the rise of women entrepreneurs in the course of the last five decades, researchers have little or no data on their innovation, succession, and sustainability.

“There’s a need for more empirical quantitative analyses about factors that can explain the outcome of women entrepreneurs’ competence and empowerment. There wasn’t as much studies that focused on innovation, succession, and sustainability,” Juan said of the findings.

She noted that most of the case studies on women entrepreneurs were based on those who made it big in Manila and other urban areas in the country. Filling this void in information, thus, requires more regional studies that would organize women entrepreneurs’ best practices in economic, political, and sociocultural engagements.

While this is only the first step to achieving more comprehensive data, Juan said the studies suggest that more work should be done, such as expanding the Women Entrepreneurs Network for mentoring and coaching; the conduct of the Women Entrepreneurship and Innovation Survey (WEIS); and the creation of a database for women entrepreneurs.

Having a Women Entrepreneurs Network to mentor and coach women entrepreneurs facilitates capacity building, research and development, market opportunities, and financing.

Likewise, conducting the WEIS would keep track of the status of women-led enterprises, with special attention on their innovative practices.

Last, but not least, is the need to create an actual database for women entrepreneurs. “Just like how we need a proper database to keep track of the status of women entrepreneurs and their enterprises, women innovators also need data to understand customer needs, wants, and expectations in whatever their business may need,” said Juan.

All these diligent steps to gain information are important as women entrepreneurs face the great challenge of a global market and keeping up with digital transformation.

In the presentation of Juan, these studies were relevant as women entrepreneurs tackled the customer experience-led digital transformation.

The Czech Embassy in Manila will conduct on September 11 its first information technology (IT) conference at Makati Diamond Residence, aiming to bridge the link between the Czech Republic and the Philippines’ IT sectors.

Dubbed as “Czech Connect 2019,” the event brings to fore five Czech companies introducing their unique technology in the 21st century that aligns with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a statement from the Czech Embassy said Monday, September 2. To be engaged in these discussions on digital transformation and global connectivity are Kentico Software, Y Soft, Avast by Kaizen Internetworking, Flowmon Networks, and Adastra Business Consulting (ABC).

Since the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution is characterized by increased trend towards automation and data exchange, representatives from these companies will show how important it is to respond to the growing demand of increased global connectivity amid new technologies and innovation.

In Europe, the Czech Republic is recognized as one of the top locations for ICT investments, owing to its strong IT sector supported by a well-developed infrastructure and advanced technologies.

Local Czech IT companies that are renowned globally include GoodDAta, Y Soft, STRV and Seznam.cz. Apart from these, its products like antivirus software from Avast and AVG Technologies are recognized internationally.

“The Czech Republic also puts premium on its ICT sector by allotting a significant amount of its GDP to ICT expenditure,” the Embassy statement said. “International investors such as Skype, DHL, Tieto, Red Hat, SolarWinds, Oracle, and IBM have found the country not only an attractive area for investment but also a fruitful one,” it added.

The conference seeks to bring an opportunity for deeper cooperation between the Czech Republic and the Philippines as the world enters greater demand for connectivity.

For this reason, the event will include representatives of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), and the Philippine IT sector to give updates on the current situation in the Philippines.

Radiation safety experts in the Philippines, citing various regulation and safety authorities in the United States, have debunked claims that cell sites cause cancer and other health risks in humans — a common misconception that has held up the building of telecommunications towers for the country’s dream of interconnectivity.

“So far, the science says, there is no evidence to say that cell phone use or a nearby cell tower causes cancer,” said Philippine Radiology Oncology Society (PROS) Vice-President Dr. Johanna Cañal, speaking at the recent radiation safety symposium for almost 400 medical professionals and oncology experts.

“In the past 20 years, have we found any causal effect? The answer is no. Texting while driving or walking will cause more harm than radiation from cell phone use or cell tower,” she said, citing studies from global radiation authorities like the Federal Communications Commission, the American Cancer Society, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For its part, Globe Telecom said it has long been confronted with challenges in building cell sites because of common health risk misconceptions that drive many homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to opposed their construction.

“We are urging everyone who are here to spread awareness that RF electromagnetic radiation coming from cell sites is not cancerous. Debunking this health myth will help us hasten the build of more cell sites in the Philippines, which in effect, will bring the country closer to first world internet connectivity,” said Engr. Gerhard Tan, director for Technology Strategy & Service Integration at Globe, when he addressed the same gathering.

The PROS reaffirmed that proximity to cell sites does not cause any known health risks, contrary to what many homeowners associations believe.

“So there have been many stories, but there has been no proven causality between cellphone use and cancer induction. What does the USA FDA say about this? In 2018, the current safety limit is set to include a 50-fold safety margin from observed effect on radiation. How about cell towers and base stations? The American Cancer Society says at ground level, near typical base stations, the amount of RF energy is thousands of times less than the limits for safe exposure,” Dr. Cañal said.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2011 placed radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation coming from cell sites BELOW the “ban” category, which is deemed safe. The WHO agency classified RF radiation from cell sites as “2B,” in which peanut butter, pickled vegetables, coffee, and aloe vera are also included.

Engr. Tan emphasized that the Philippines is in dire need of building new cell sites and common towers  to overcome signal problems and access to internet services in order to keep up with the developments around the world and within this region of Asia.

“To date, around 67 million active internet users in the Philippines are sharing 17,850 cell sites. Thus, the country is forced to serve an average of 3,753 people per cell site. This is a stark difference to some of its neighboring countries like China, where only 381 active internet users are sharing one cell site,” Globe said in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 21.

Purefoods-Hormel Company, Inc. is getting ready to conquer a new market abroad, particularly in the Middle East, after recently gaining international halal certification for its food manufacturing facility in the Philippines.

The company, popular for its brands Tender Juicy Chicken Franks and Purefoods Corned Beef, was awarded its halal certification by Prime Group, a leading quality and compliance solutions provider in Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Prime Group, which is based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), collaborated with Purefoods-Hormel to have its facility devoted to halal products certified in a bid to address the growing Muslim market not just here but abroad.

“Under its business entity, Prime Certification & Inspection, a series of assessments on a facility of Purefoods-Hormel Company, Inc. were done for the production of PUREFOODS® Corned Beef and TENDER JUICY® Chicken Franks. As a result, Prime Certification & Inspection found the company in compliance with the requirements needed to acquire halal certification,” a statement released by Prime Group on Monday, August 19, said.

There has been a surge in halal food revenues in recent years, prompting leading market players to secure halal certification and obtain access to a wider consumer base, Prime Group said.

It cited a study by Polaris Market Research which showed that the halal food market is expected to grow exponentially in the years to come, projecting a growth valued at $922.53 billion by 2026.

Thus, Prime Group’s provision of halal certification to a facility of Purefoods-Hormel is instrumental in driving growth for the international business of the Philippines’ leading F&B company.

The Polaris study revealed that this growth in patronage for halal food can be attributed to an increasing Muslim population worldwide and heightened demand even from non-Muslim consumers who are becoming more aware of the nutritional benefits of halal-certified products.

“Consumers today are now demonstrating a shift in eating and shopping habits. There is now increased consumer awareness about the nutritional benefits of halal certified food products,” Prime Group Chairman Salah Ameen said.

For her part, Prime Group CEO Mary Jane Alvero-Al Mahdi said: “Prime Group understands the growing demand for halal certified food and beverages. More people have expressed preference for these products as they are not only safe, clean, and highly nutritional, but are also produced, packed and sold according to a set of internationally recognized standards.”

This why the partnership between Prime Group and Purefoods-Hormel is seen to lead the way for the Philippine F&B industry to be at the forefront of the upcoming changes in the global market. “We welcome the alliance with Purefoods Hormel, demonstrating Prime Group’s commitment to support various international brands’ foray into the UAE, the Gulf region and beyond,” Alver-Al Mahdi said.

The Prime Group CEO explained that the certification awarded to the Philippine company will allow Purefoods’ halal-certified products to enter the UAE, the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and other international markets.

“We are delighted to support Purefoods-Hormel by conducting the necessary inspections, assessments and halal certification to enable them to export their highly loved Philippine products to a wider audience in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its neighboring countries,” said Ameen.

In a statement sent through EON Group PR, Raul Nazareno, representing the management of Purefoods-Hormel, said: “We remain confident that this partnership with Prime Group will play a major part in our continuing efforts to expand into the UAE and the greater Middle East market. Carrying halal certification assures our long-  and first-time consumers that the products we offer are in compliance with strict regulatory standards. This helps us live up to our promise of products and services of uncompromising quality, great taste and value, which are easily within their reach. We would like to thank Prime Group for allowing us to take a step further in this endeavor.”

It was learned that under the Purefoods-Prime partnership, more products in the company’s diverse food portfolio are also expected to be available soon in the Middle Eastonce they are found to be in compliance with the certification requirements.

Pro-environment activist, philanthropist and former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, who sought to stop mining in the country, died on Monday, August 19, due to brain cancer. She was 65.

Her passing was confirmed in a statement released by ABS-CBN, in which she served as the long-time chairperson of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI).

The statement reads as follows:

“Gina was the pillar of strength that pushed AFI to achieve what seemed to be impossible. Her caring heart and selfless kind of love inspired people within and beyond the organization to help and serve others.

“While we mourn with Gina’s family and loved ones, we also pray that her legacy continues to live on in the heart of every Kapamilya she had touched in her lifetime.

“We will never forget her and will continue to honor her remarkable contributions not only to ABS-CBN, but the entire nation.

“Thank you Gina, for showing us how it is to live in the service of the Filipino.”

Lopez was the sister of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez, daughter of “Kapitan” Eugenio Lopez, Jr., and cousin of the current company chairman, Mark Lopez.

During her work in ABS-CBN Foundation, she founded the Bantay Bata 163, a helpline devoted to reports of cases of child abuse.

“She also established Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies (iLOVE) Foundation, which aims to lift communities out of poverty through the creation of environmentally conscious businesses at the grassroots level,” said ABS-CBN.

As secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Lopez sought to preserve the country’s watersheds and eco-tourism sites, crusading hard against all mining activities.

In lieu of flowers and Mass cards, the family requests that donations be made to the ABS-CBN Foundation.

In a statement sent to THEPHILBIZNEWS.COM, the British Council said the two Local Prize winners in the Philippines are Jestine Jennica Cabiles and Rey Mejias, who both demonstrated “a strong aspiration and commitment to serve society.”

“IELTS is the world’s most popular high-stakes English proficiency test, with over 3.5 million tests taken in 2018. Through the British Council IELTS Prize, we are pleased to subsidise high-calibre individuals who demonstrate the potential to contribute to society after their studies,” said Trish Thomson, regional marketing director for East Asia.

Ms. Pilar Aramayo-Prudencio, British Council in the Philippines country director, handed the winners their checks during the recent awarding.

The British Council IELTS Prize was launched in 2011 and has since supported more than 270 students in East Asia in pursuing their dreams of studying abroad.

“This year, the British Council interviewed over one hundred exceptional individuals who have excelled in their IELTS test and shown admirable aspiration in their plan to contribute to society, locally or abroad,” the statement said.

The British Council said that it was a tough decision for the judges to pick winners among those who demonstrated outstanding levels of academic commitment and excellent communication skills. This year, they picked 33 winners in the region, including Cabiles and Mejia, and they are now British Council IELTS Ambassadors.

The statement quoted Cabiles as saying: “I am beyond grateful to the British Council for this life-changing opportunity that brought me closer to my goal of gaining global education towards becoming an analyst for social impact. Winning the IELTS Prize is a solid affirmation of my communication skills; it is a reflection of my preparedness for international exposure at the Paris School of Business where I will specialize in innovation, strategy, and data analytics.”

For her part, Aramayo-Prudencio said: “We are grateful and proud to have been part of these outstanding individuals’ pursuit of overseas education. As their test centre of choice, we will continue to provide quality support and assistance through our premium test preparation offers and excellent customer service.”

The British Council provides a full range of services, including pre-test support, in-test arrangements and post-test services. This includes access to Road to IELTS, a collection of specially designed online preparation and practice materials for registered students, including practice tests. Test takers also benefit from easily accessible venues, flexibility when selecting test sessions to best suit their schedules, and the timely receipt of their Test Report Form. To learn more, please visit www.ieltsasia.org/ph.