OFW & SME Business Christmas Expo set on December at SM Cebu and Megatrade Hall

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Small and Medium Enterprises compose a large part of the economy – home-based and community livelihood enterprises are also part of this segment. From delicious food items to beautiful and elegant decorations, it is a no-brainer that these business thrive through the support of the consumers whom its products are reaching out to. The thing is, most of them are not that easily noticed by the mainstream market.

On its 15th year anniversary, Ex-Link Events is reaching out to home-based and community livelihood enterprises to gather and showcase their best products and services at the OFW & SME Business Christmas Expo this December.

Aside from the exhibits, the OFW & SME Christmas Business Expo is poised to be the grandest Christmas gathering for OFWs, Balik-bayans, SMEs and Community Livelihood Enterprises, partnering with various government and private organizations such as the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration, the Rotary Community Corps, Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc., the Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Junior Achievement of the Philippines, Inc. and the Rotary Club of Mutya ng Pasig to kick off the yuletide season with a bang with a mix of activities that everyone will enjoy!

The OFW & SME Business Christmas Expo will be held at the Cebu Trade Hall of SM City Cebu on December 2 to 3 (Friday to Sunday) and at the Megatrade Hall 2 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on December 21 to 23 (Wednesday to Friday).

For inquiries, reservations and partnerships, contact (02) 633-0153, 643-3887, SMS 0920-924-2532 or email info@exlinkevents.com.

22nd ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting Ends Today

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The weeklong meetings among transport ministers and officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila today, with several transport initiatives and policies considered and adopted.

The 22nd ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting (ATM) chaired by Department of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade was preceded by the 42nd Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) and related discussions with dialogue partners, Japan, China and Korea.

The ministers commended the strong start in the implementation of the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP) 2016-2025 and reaffirmed commitments to intensify cooperation to realize the AEC 2025 vision, which calls for a deeply integrated region that would contribute towards a highly cohesive ASEAN economy.

The Ministers also adopted and launched the ASEAN Road Safety Booklet as a tool for dissemination of key highlights from ASEAN Regional Road Safety Strategy in enhancing public awareness on the importance of the road safety in the region.

“The collective aspiration is to cut down accident rate to almost zero. We have to adopt to solutions such as road engineering,” Minister Khaw Boon Wan of Singapore said in a press conference.

Further, the ATM welcomed the adoption of ASEAN-United States Aviation Cooperation Terms of Reference, which would include areas of aviation safety, efficiency, harmonization, security, as well as economic regulation.

The ministers also applauded the efforts of the Philippines to “Build, Build, Build,” which is consistent with the ASEAN objective of seamless connectivity.

“We aim to enhance trade, attract investments, facilitate movement of goods and people, and boost tourism. With aggressive transportation infrastructure and sustainable transport policies, we hope to ultimately provide a better and higher quality of life to our people,” said DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Felipe Judan, who represented ATM Chairman Sec. Arthur Tugade.



The 23rd ATM Meeting will take place in Singapore in 2017.

Paper Documentation Still on the Rise — ePDS

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Despite the prevalence of digitization today, consumers still prefer holding physical copies of their documents, specifically account statements, as compared to having a digital copy, according to ePDS, Inc., a local leader in Document Management Services (DMS) and Customer Communication Management Solutions.

“The demand for data printing continues to be strong despite the growing presence of digital media,” said Minetta Tangco, EVP and General Manager of ePDS. “This is particularly true for financial institutions, banks, and credit companies, as well as utility companies handling telecommunications, power, and water where majority of their clients expect to receive statements of their accounts via physical documents. Additionally, when it comes to bills, consumers value physical mail as a record-keeping tool, thereby serving as payment reminders,” said Tangco.

“Nevertheless, more and more companies are switching to the digital dimension driven by the increasing trends of big data, cloud technology, end user focus, social sharing information, and security. More and more companies are now targeting and working on achieving a workspace that depends less on paper,” added Tangco.

In today’s digitally connected world, the expectation that information will be available on demand and accessible on any device is likely to be the norm for companies to boost their efficiency. A digital Document Management System addresses the issues of traditional filing systems head on, helping to create more efficient and secure solutions to improve document workflows.