AFFI Reveals Roadmap for Next 5 Years

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With the Philippine economy expected to expand even more this 2016, the Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI) has laid out plans to further empower entrepreneurs and the role of entrepreneurship in nation-building.

In its first general membership meeting for the year, AFFI shared its “Thrive Towards 2020” strategy to CEOs and leaders of member-corporations and partners, while commemorating the milestones it set in previous years.

In his keynote address, AFFI President Jerry Ilao of Ink-All-You-Can discussed how the association introduced in 2015 a number of innovative programs geared towards its vow of empowering entrepreneurs in the country.

He pointed out AFFI’s most successful activities last year including the first ENTREPRUN; the Business Unusual where experts shared their knowledge on intellectual property and labor law; and the AFFI Open House which provided a glimpse of how some of AFFI’s biggest member-corporations started, how they operate, and how they continue innovation inside their companies.

AFFI is also known for its unique mentoring programs from seasoned entrepreneurs who have made it their advocacy to help new businesses grow. At the 14th Franchise & Business Expo last October 2015, the association introduced the Business Journey where participants were taught and guided every step of the way in looking for and securing a business or franchise. The program included one-on-one mentoring sessions with owners and CEOs of successful AFFI enterprises.

Mr. Ilao describes being part of the Business Journey as “one of those moments that you feel blessed to be an entrepreneur, knowing that somehow, you were able to give inspiration to another person and make a difference in their lives.” 

BIR and GCash Relaunch 1st E-Tax Filing and Payment System in PH

Wazzup Pilipinas!
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in partnership with GCash mobile money service, is set to re-launch the first electronic filing and payment system in the country on Apr 12, 2016. Together with the USAID Facilitating Public Investment Project and the USAID E-PESO Activity, these computerization and digitization reform measures aim to improve tax collection and administration, curb corruption, and strengthen business climate in the country.

“Sa patuloy na pagbayad ng tamang buwis, patuloy ang pag angat ng Pilipinas” [the continuous payment of right taxes will continue and sustain the growth of the Philippines], said BIR Commissioner, Kim Henares. The bureau aims to increase funding contribution for the country’s growing needs for basic infrastructure and social programs necessary to reduce poverty, thus, the government continues to push for the growth of the country’s fiscal space.

Globe Telecom complements government tax collection efforts by creating financial technology highways through its new wholly-owned subsidiary, Mynt. It designs revolutionary ways on how products and services are provided as it leverages on its telecommunications infrastructure, mobile money platform, and micro financing expertise.

Mynt is the holding company of G-Xchange, Inc. which operates GCash. “We are thankful for the confidence given to us by the BIR. Through GCash we aim to provide easy access to government services using financial technology solutions over mobile phones and simple person-to-person transfers that are reliable, more convenient and affordable,” said John Rubio, CEO of Mynt.

Marquez Takes His First Michelin Victory After A Dramatic Race-Day In Argentina

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Michelin’s MotoGP debut at the demanding Termas de Rio Hondo circuit was marked with an impressive win by Honda’s Marc Marquez after an eventful day at the Argentinian track.

Following yesterday’s incident with Scott Redding’s rear tyre and the subsequent decision to withdraw both rear tyres from this weekend’s proceedings, heavy overnight rain meant the riders couldn’t test the extra tyre so a further decision between Michelin, Dorna and IRTA was taken to make the race a two stage event on safety grounds. The riders were allowed to use the tyres that they had tested all weekend, but a mandatory rule was made that they had to pit after nine, ten or eleven laps and change to another bike with the same spec tyres. The distance was also reduced to 20-laps to accommodate the extra safety measures.

The race started under heavy cloud, but the track had dried out sufficiently to allow for some competitive and exciting racing. Pole-setter Marquez got a good start, before Jorge Lorenzo hit the front on his Yamaha. He was then passed on the first-lap by Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, a position he held until lap-three when Marquez took over at the front. As the first part of the race progressed Marquez and the Yamaha-mounted Valentino Rossi got involved in an interesting battle that saw the pair regularly change places. At the end of lap-10 Marquez and Rossi came into the pits to change their bikes, with the Spaniard taking the upper-hand with a quick change, enabling him to get out in front of Rossi and create a gap.

As the race continued Marquez stretched his lead, while Rossi got involved in a four rider battle with Dovizioso and his Ducati team-mate Andrea Iannone, along with Suzuki’s Maverick Viñales. With all four vying for positions it looked to be going right to the last lap, before Viñales crashed out on a damp-patch on lap-18, leaving three Italians to battle for the remaining podium places. This looked like being the case, right up until the final corner when Iannone tried a last-minute manoeuvre on his team-mate and the pair crashed, leaving Rossi to come home in second, with Honda’s Dani Pedrosa profiting from the crash to take third. Eugene Laverty on a satellite Ducati took fourth and the honour of First Independent Team Rider, with another Ducati, this time belonging to Hector Barbera in fifth. Pol Espargaro on a Yamaha was sixth, Stefan Bradl seventh on an Aprilia and Bradley Smith riding a Yamaha in eighth. Tito Rabat on a Honda took ninth, whilst the second Aprilia, ridden this time by Alvaro Bautista rounded out the top-ten. The result leaves Marquez at the top of the World Championship Classification, with Rossi in second and Pedrosa third.

Michelin now heads immediately to North America where round three of the MotoGP World Championship will take place at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas on Sunday 10th April.