Modernizing Maritime Travel in Philippines

Philippines is an archipelago of 7,017 islands and the common means of travel from one island to another is by sea and one issue that needs to be stress is the safety and quality of maritime travel in the country. Philippines is known to the world as one of the worst country in maritime travel.  The governments of United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada issued an advice to its citizens not to take interisland ferries in the Philippines because it is overloaded, substandard and lack of necessary lifesaving equipment, are not adequately maintained and have incomplete passenger manifest.

In terms of significant loss of lives in the sea accidents- the Philippines holds the world record for the worst peacetime maritime disaster in history, With an estimated loss of 4000 lives, the 24 year old Dona Paz collided with the tanker Vector in Tablas Strait in 1987. The disaster became an imperative to modernize the Philippines Maritime travel, replacing the old, substandard vessels that are unsafe.

Due to lack of international classification, standard and age, the current aging fleet of interisland vessels are impossible to effectively insure and pose a threat to human life.

Two main circulars issued by MARINA (Maritime Industry Authority) will set the minimum age, quality and class standards for passenger and RO-RO passengers will not only improve the safety of life at sea for interisland travel but also open routes to market players who are better to meet the challenge of modernization.

There are two main interisland routes plying in maritime travel- the Passenger vessels and the Ro-Ro (Roll on, Roll Off) vessels. The Passenger are big vessels routing in open seas and usually transporting from and to major cities. The Ro-Ro vessels are smaller and transporting people and cargos across the countries neighboring islands and it has been a backbone of countries interisland trade and commerce.

Most Ro-Ro vessels in the Philippines are substandard, I’ll maintained and very old with an average of 30 years old. Most of them are imported used vessels from Japan. In Japan, once a Ro-Ro reaches 20 years, it is no longer allowed to be used on trading and travel. So, these retired Ro-Ro’s are usually sold to Philippines, Indonesia and some Asian countries, therefore, the majority of the Ro-Ro in the Philippines are above 20 years old. They are usually repaired and modified to add more passenger capacity making it unsafe due to overloading.

Because of these, Marina has issues 2 major circulars to ensure safety and modernization of maritime travel.

The first would require that no secondhand Ro-Ro vessel of 5,000 gross tonnage and below will be imported unless it is 15 years old or below, and that it be fully classified by an IACS member.

The second circular would require that within five years, or by Dec. 31, 2019, Ro-Ros of  5,000 gross tonnage and below, may be allowed to operate provided:

They are not more than 35 years old

Fully classed

With Protection and Indemnity (P and I) insurance, a third-party insurance to cover oil spill, collision of vessels, death and removal of wreckage.

During the period, no major alterations on any Ro-Ro vessel will be allowed unless: (a) it is  approved by and under the supervision of an IACS member; and (b) class-maintained throughout. Marina can continue to use its supervisory powers by conducting periodic inspections of the Ro-Ro vessels and their crew.

And MARINA ensures the compliance of these circulars, by increasing frequency and constantly doing survey. With these circulars in place and provided, it has remain strict in its implementation, now we can foresee that the old Ro-Ro will be scrapped and replaced as it will be uneconomical to use them. Shipbuilding is now already expected for the next five years. It is expected that the modernization will be completed in the next 6-7 years, and the general public can expect a comfortable and safe interisland travel.

4 types of people you could meet in the Philippines

Philippines has 7,107 islands, along the way of your travels, you’ll get to meet so many friendly people, Here are some few ones that you may encounter on your journey.

Tourism Experts
Everywhere you go in the Philippines, there are lots of friendly folks that are willing to help you out in your travel destination. You will get to bump amazing Filipinos who are passionate about their country, willing to sit you down, offer you foods and gives you list of places to see and where to stay. Most of these people are total strangers you will meet up in the road, if you’re lucky enough to make friends with somebody who is very passionate about their country, listen to them- they know the best spots.

Adventurers
These people are always in thirst of adventures, people that are crawling in every cave, climbing and hiking the highest peak, conquering every jungle in 7000 islands and diving and surfing every waves. With friendly face, clad with gears and gadgets for adventures. They’re always coming from a mile off with their back packs, with bottle of alcohol stashed away, sits down anywhere in a bonfire.

Boozers
If you’re looking for a good time, get wasted or just to chill at night, You can always fine good companies with this people in Bars, clubs and even small stores. Beers and other alcohols are available anywhere. In the Philippines, These people are often found with a glass of beer on their hand, abstract smile and invites friends, acquaintance, or just a passerby in the table to take some shots of booze, join the group and tell some good stories.

Selfie Pals
These people are always armed  with a smarthphone, often with selfie sticks or a camera in their neck ready to take pictures and document the moments.

Philippines Cost of Living

When expats ask about the cost of living in the Philippines, generally that question is quite not easy to answer. Compared to other major South East Asian Countries, Manila is ranked as the 117^th most expensive cities out of 214 cities surveyed. Manila- the capital city has a cost of living lower than Jakarta, Singapore or Bangkok.

Within the country, the cost of living varies depending of where one is living, whether it’s a city life or province life. Overall, the most expensive is Manila and Cebu ranked closely behind.

You don’t need to be millionaire or have a trust fund to live a comfortable life in Philippines. Some expats or even locals don’t consider Philippines a third world country, although poverty is obvious, there are still lot of wealth and is still way too far compare to places like Pakistan.

Right now, the exchange rate is $1 – 52 pesos, For an American or European salary, Philippines cost of living is very doable. If you’re making at least $1200 a month, you can live pretty easily here, it’s not a hand-to-mouth living that I’m talking about, It would be decent and comfortable life.

Anyone who decides to move to Philippines for few months or years will most like to rent a condo, apartment or even a house. The cost of the rent is considerably depending on which type of accommodation and on which part of the country you choose. To give you an idea, In Meto Manila - A large 3 bedroom condo will cost you P39,000 to P80,000 in city center while on other parts of the metro such as Quezon city, will cost you P15,000 to P25,000 a month, complete with gym facility, swimming pool and some appliances and a security guard, But if you don’t want to spend that amount for a shelter, forgo the swimming pool and gym, there are lots of cheaper options and still perfectly safe. There is a lodging option that is unique here in the Philippines, something like a combination of apartment and hotel called Apartelle. You can get some amenities of the hotel but you can stay a long time and it’s not expensive.

Food, depends on your taste, In big cities like Metro Manila or Cebu, meat is much cheaper than seafood, and in some provincial places, seafood is very cheap. There are also restaurants that offer cheap, decent servings depending on the luxury you want. Cow’s milk and some dairy products are quite expensive here, Soda and coffee is pretty cheap, Beer is really cheap here, the two stable beer brands here are San Miguel and Red horse and will cost only 35 – 40 Pesos a can.

Transportation in big cities you usually do is through taxis. Taxis in the Philippines are quite cheap also, with a base fare of P40. If you’re down where the action is, you won’t be paying maybe a buck or two for taxi. There are also other transportation options, Jeepneys- sort of a miniature bus are everywhere in the cities. They ride on routes on major roads of the city in just 8 pesos for the first kilometer. City buses are also everywhere in just 12 pesos on first kilometer. IF you want to cross over to another island, Local flights are very cheap if you book earlier from a promo price of P400, P2000- P6000 for regular flights, Boats and ship are cheap depends on destination, Manila to Cebu can cost P1200 to P2000.

One thing I would recommend before going to Philippines is that you will need a location independent source of income, or a pile of savings. If possible you have both because Philippines does not have lots of job opportunities for foreigners. Unlike Thailand or Cambodia where a lot of job opportunities when it comes to English teaching. Everyone in the Philippines already speaks English.

Business Process Outsourcing in the Philippines

Philippines, considered as one of the fastest growing economy in South East Asia, One of the most robust industry right now is the business process outsourcing sector also dubbed as the “sunshine industry of the country”.

But what exactly is Business Process Outsourcing or BPO for short?

By definition, BPO is all about contracting a specific business tasks or services to a third-party provider. BPO that is contracted far outside the business country is called Offshore Outsourcing, and contracting to nearby or neighboring country business is called Nearby Outsourcing. It is divided into two categories: Back Office which includes internal business functions such as human resources, finance and accounting and Front Office which includes customer-related services such as Contact Center, customer supports and call centers. Often the business processes are Information Technology-Based often called (Information Technology Enabled Services) ITES-BPO, Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) and Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO).

The Philippines Business Process Outsourcing sector is fast growing with an annual growth of 46% since 2006, It has surpassed India as the Call Center capital of the world and ranked 3^rd in the world as the global outsourcing destinations. Industry experts estimated the industry revenue to reach $25 billion by 2016. The demand of low cost labor, highly skilled workers, educated work force and high proficiency in English catapulted the country the top of this industry.

Call Center Industry
Philippines- the world's call center capital, this sector of the country comprises 80% of the total BPO industry, began as providers of business email response and managing services. Growth of the Call Center industry is due to the lower costs of labor and operation and high proficiency in spoken American and British English and idioms, stream of college level and graduate applicants, and highly skilled motivated workforce.

Information Technology
The Philippines ITES-BPO sector has been growing on an average of 46% per annum, due to its high-end outsourcing services such as Web Development and design, software development and programming. 

It is also doing well on the global market of gaming and animation, which is growing due to increasing popularity as an entertainment. Major animation studios have offices in the country like Marvel, Disney and Warner Bros. Some popular animations such as Pixar’s Finding Nemo, Barnyad and Anastasia has a touch of Filipinos animation skills.

Legal And Medical Transcription
Many companies mostly do medical reports, therapy notes, rehabilitation reports, hospital and clinical reports. With its large number of nurses and medical professionals, Philippines has been providing quality services in this sector.

Finance and Accounting
As a leading BPO services provider, Philippines is becoming a global hub for shared services center corporate back office operations, especially financial services such as bookkeeping, accounting, account maintenance, payroll processing, financial analysis, financial analysis and auditing, inventory control and purchasing.

As one of the world’s top BPO services provider, Philippines is poised to become a global location of choice and its BPO sector is committed to give the world it high-end services.

Philippine Travel Tips

Philippines - a country of 7,107 islands archipelago boasting some of the world’s best tourist destinations. Located in South East Asia, it remains one of the frontier travel havens in the world. With its diverse culture and tropical weather, surely makes it one of your travel destinations.

Travelling in the Philippines is not tricky due to its modernized communication system and public infrastructures. Language is not also a problem as English is widely spoken.  Here are some tips that can be helpful while travelling in the country.

Preparation
Proper planning should be considered before visiting Philippines, Do some research for affordable Resorts, Hotels and vacation packages all-year round on your targeted destinations. List the spots you want to visit, foods to try and activities. With proper careful planning, your trip will surely memorable.

Weather
Philippines is known for its hot tropical weather and it’s the perfect time to enjoy the its beaches, But it is also known for its typhoon and floods during rainy season. Before planning a trip, make sure to check the weather first.

Travel Light
Travelling light is the best way specially for Backpackers. Just bring what you need on the road, for basic necessities and always make sure to bring water during the sunny season as the heat is really unforgiving. Food is not a big problem as there are lots of stores around called Sari-Sari Stores.

Valuables and Security
Never leave you valuables unattended and avoid wearing large jewelries. Always keep them in a secure place- better yet, always put your valuable in a secure location of you backpack or in a small handbag. Never entrust your things to people that are not familiar and make sure to store or memorize important phone numbers for help such as Police Hotline.

Enjoy
When in Philippines, forget the reality of stress life and leave your worries behind. Enjoy its nature, weather, beaches, its unique culture and foods with Hispanic and European influences, tangible in everthing from names of town like Barrios, celebrations like fiestas and foods like the paella, noodles and seafoods. Its mountain ranges in Northern Luzon- The Coldillera and take time to visit and get tattooed by the oldest tattoo artist in Philippines, The Last Of Mambabatok-Wang Od using the century old traditional tapping. The Beaches in Visayas region like Boracay, Palawan and Cebu. 

Lastly, do not forget to bring home trinkets or souvenirs from local shops and shopping centers located across the nation.