DOTC Plans Key MRT 3 Projects

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is about to conduct bid evaluation and post-qualification exercises for two key projects for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 System, namely: the PHP712 million MRT-3 System Temporary Maintenance Provider Project & Delivery of MRT-3 Magnetic Ticket Project. 

After opening the eligibility documents of three groups which vied for the one-year Maintenance project on 3 June 2013, the DOTC’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) found only one proponent, Autre Porte Technique (or “APT”) Global, Inc., to have qualified for the next stages of the bidding process. 

“APT Global submitted a bid in the amount of around PHP685 million. Financial proposals of the two other interested groups were no longer opened after they were found to be ineligible,” said DOTC spokesperson Migs Sagcal. 

The disqualified groups were Asiaphil Manufacturing Industries, Inc. in Joint Venture with Korea Railroad, which did not comply with sealing and marking requirements of Republic Act No. 9184 (the Procurement Law); and Commbuilders & Technology Philippines Corporation, which failed to submit a certificate of satisfactory performance. 

“Unfortunately, it once more came down to two groups’ failure to comply with the bid requirements. Time and again, we have said that the DOTC-BAC can do nothing but to follow the Procurement Law, which prohibits it from exercising discretion” Sagcal added. 

As for the magnetic ticket supply project, only the current MRT-3 contractor submitted a proposal during the bid opening conducted on Thursday last week, 30 May 2013. The Transport agency disclosed that Banner Plasticard, Inc. offered to supply and deliver 4,252,000 magnetic tickets to the DOTC-MRT3 in the amount of PHP25 million. 

The financial proposals of the eligible bidders for both projects will now undergo detailed evaluation, after which their bids will be subjected to post-qualification exercises. 

The relatively short duration of these projects – one year for the maintenance contract and thirty days for the ticket supply contract – is partly due to the eventual buyout of the owner of the MRT-3 facilities pursuant to Executive Order No. 126 issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III last March, as well as the transition to an Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), now being bid out by the DOTC as a Public-Private Partnership Project, by the first quarter of 2015.

"What's the World You Want By 2015?"-UN

The United Nations has put up an interactive project called The World We Want. This advocacy serves as an avenue for the organization to prioritize the things the world needs in a span of two years, and all they need is your say.

As of now, more than 500,000 people in 194 countries already let their voices be heard. If you haven't spoken it out, make it heard across the globe. Vote at www.myworld2015.org/. Also like its Facebook page: http://facebook.com/worldwewantph.

Cheers to Good Times

Have you ever been in this situation? Everyone's worried and anxious--waiting for the result of your presentation. You haven't slept properly for days working on that pitch. Then your phone rings. You're nervous but you answer. Yeba! You win the client! You deserve to party. Go out and celebrate this good time.

For Emperador Distillers Managing Director Von De Torres, "Partying is our way of saying 'yahoo'." But in order to have a good time, be sure to get only the real and fine wine that doesn't only fit the occasion but also suits your taste. Good thing there's the new Carlo Rossi Sweet Red Wine. Crafted from Californian grapes, it has layers of vanilla, bright cherry, and wild raspberry flavor that create a different kind of sweetness.

"Rossi Sweet Red is specifically created to be sweet and be consumed cold, as in with rice," added De Torres. In fact, she also added that Rossi Sweet Red is best enjoyed on-the-rocks, a trend in wine drinking in the United States. And even if the ice melts, the taste stays perfect so everyone can savor all the sweetness and real wine flavor.

So celebrate sweet victories,big or small, with a wine that is just as sweet and a bit more refreshing. There's a reason to be happy and celebrate everyday. You can always cheers to good times with Carlo Rossi Sweet Red.

Aussies Lauded Anew for Good Education

Australia is once again hailed by Filipinos as the top educating country.
The Australian

Australia was highlighted once again among the world’s best destinations for quality education on the latest education fair organized by IDP Education Philippines last month at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City, the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati, and at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Institute of Statistics had reported that Australia ranked among the top five destinations for tertiary education among the world’s mobile students. In 2010, it received 17% of the total number of students hosted in the East Asia and Pacific countries, which was second only to the United States. 

From July 2011 to June 2012, there were 2,633 Filipino students who had gone to Australia to study. This made it the number one study destination for Filipinos.

Students preferred to go to Australia for diploma, certificate, training, and further education (TAFE) because the country offered many benefits, foremost of which were internationally recognized qualifications, part-time work opportunities and higher post-graduation employability potential.

Changes were made in March to the Temporary Graduate visa which allowed fresh graduates the opportunity to spend more time in Australia (to gain practical experience) following completion of their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees.

As this continued to host students from different cultures, Australia was also able to offer an increasingly diversified cultural environment. Graduates then had the advantage of being exposed to a variety of cultures and built an international network of contacts which they can tap into once they enter the workplace.

IDP Education Pty. Ltd. was the world authority in Australian education being 50% owned by 38 Australian universities. It was the world’s largest student placement and English language testing services provider. 

IDP Philippines opened in 1996 and had since provided free admissions and visa counseling to place thousands of students in colleges and universities in Australia, the US, UK, New Zealand, and Canada. 

The annual Australian Education Exhibition brought representatives of Australian universities and TAFE colleges to the Philippines for direct consultations and admissions facilitation and was considered the best means for students to have considered available education options, providing information on courses and programs, admissions requirements, costs, and living arrangements.

Filipinos were on the brink of becoming a significant player in the international market. The deployment of the young abroad to achieve not only a better understanding of other people but also advanced systems can only enhance the advantages they now have. There was no block or hindrance to achieving international recognition except for the reluctance to try. Filipinos, forge ahead!

Pre-registration was required for the seminars. Like IDP Philippines on Facebook or call (+632)236-2758 for more information.

Microsoft, DOT, TPB Launch Windows 8 Tourism Apps

(L-R) TPB head Domingo Enerio III, Microsoft Philippines Managing Director
Karrie Ilagan, and Tourism Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz showed the new
More Fun tourism app series. Ross Del Rosario

Microsoft Philippines (Microsoft), the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) launched the More Fun tourism app series for Windows 8.

The More Fun Series is a group of apps which aims to highlight the country’s 25 key tourist destinations including their interesting overview, exciting activities, famous sites, and itinerary builder among other features. Furthermore, these free apps feature commercial information coming from the official website of DOT including but not limited to accredited restaurants, spas, and souvenir shops to complete the travel experience of every tourist.

“At Microsoft Philippines, we aim to constantly bring innovation and make technology accessible to more Filipinos to help them improve their lives and businesses,” underlined Karrie Ilagan, Managing Director of Microsoft Philippines. “We are honored that the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board partnered with us in empowering tourism in the country through Windows 8. The More Fun Series apps are designed to promote our country’s amazing travel destinations worldwide, which means more opportunities for our local entrepreneurs and businesses to reach an even wider audience.”

“As more and more people rely on quick information through smart phones and tablets, the demand for mobile apps is likely to rise in the next decades. This new mobile app, sporting the IMFITP look and feel, will surely bring our marketing messages closer to the consumers,” added Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.

Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III also said, “We are always very optimistic in all our campaign strategies and digital advertising obviously plays a huge part in this. Through the Windows 8 mobile App ‘More Fun’, our marketing campaign will be able to reach global tourists. The itinerary builder, one of the special features, allows potential visitors customize their tour plans. We are happy that Microsoft is a generous and avid partner in helping us in our goal to connect with intended markets as well as create new ones. More importantly, our ultimate goal is getting them all excited and making it easy for them to convert.”

Ten tourism apps are now made available for Windows 8 users, the More Fun Beach BORACAY Philippines, More Fun Destination BOHOL Philippines, More Fun Destination DAVAO Philippines, More Fun Destination CAGAYAN DE ORO Philippines, More Fun Destination PUERTO PRINCESA Philippines, More Fun Destination BAGUIO Philippines, More Fun Region BICOL Philippines, More Fun Diving CEBU Philippines, More Fun Region ILOCOS Philippines, and More Fun City MANILA Philippines.

SM Launches New Lifestyle Portal

With E-Plus, you can now check the latest events in no time.

An all new lifestyle portal is introduced today. The portal—ePLUS.ph---will serve as a local resource for SM Cinema movie tickets, Mall of Asia Arena events, nationwide deals, and lifestyle articles. The site will also be a ground-breaking resource for consumers to find high-value tickets to movies, concerts, sports, theater, arts, and live events, while serving as a timely and effective way for customers to get updated with lifestyle perks, deals and informative articles. The launch is planned in time for mid-year sale season.

With unprecedented access to a consolidated network of nationwide events from the Philippines’ ticketing leader, movies schedules from the county’s largest cinema chain, and unbeatable prices from the country’s largest mall network, ePLUS.ph will be the destination for exclusive SM Lifestyle deals. ePLUS.ph shall work with SM to further deliver its commitment to offer amazing local experiences to its members.

ePLUS.ph represents a new channel to drive value for e-PLUS card members, while helping a broader market stay informed with every interesting facet of the platform. From movie and event schedule, exclusive discounts to university bulletins, and community driven forums.

The ePLUS.ph portal is just the beginning of a platform that enables Filipinos to share, and enjoy an ePLUS lifestyle.

For more, check out the video below.

SM Cinema to Host the Philippine Premiere of Fast & Furious 6

SM Mall of Asia is ready to go fast and furious.

SM Cinema, the country’s home of premiere nights, will host the upcoming Fast and Furious 6 premiere which will be held at SM Mall of Asia on May 15, 2013. The film’s lead action star, Vin Diesel, along with fellow stars Michelle Rodriguez, Gina Carano, and Luke Evans, producer Neal H. Moritz, and director Justin Lin will be coming to the Philippines to be part of this exciting movie event.

Fast & Furious 6 continues in the tradition of thrilling fast‐paced car chases, action, and suspense that has made the movie franchise a worldwide sensation. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of all‐stars as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed races to its next continent. Reuniting for their most high‐stakes adventure yet, fan favorites Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Sung Kang, John Ortiz, Gal Gadot, and Elsa Pataky are joined by badass series newcomers Luke Evans and Gina Carano.

Fast & Furious 6 is a United International Pictures Release through Solar Entertainment Corporation. The film will be released in theatres across the Philippines on May 24, 2013.