Visayas BPOs lock down at height of 'Yolanda' wrath

MANILA - A number of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the Visayas temporarily stopped operations amid the onslaught of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’.

Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president Jose Mari P. Mercado told InterAksyon.com that firms had to prioritize the safety of employees, who would have difficulty going to work amid the harsh weather.

"Some [companies] shut down, some went on lean operations. Our priority stays--safety and security of employees," Mercado said.

Some of the BPO industry's hubs in the Visayas such as Cebu and Iloilo were along the path of Yolanda--said to be the world's strongest typhoon this year.

Mercado said IBPAP has yet to assess the impact of Yolanda, but the sector was "definitely affected" by the typhoon.

Tampa, Florida-based Sykes Enterprises Inc said in a statement that the impact of Yolanda on its Philippine operations “has been immaterial, given the company’s disaster recovery planning and built-in redundant support infrastructure.”

“The company has been operating in the Philippines since 1997, and the number of typhoons and storms the archipelago experiences on average is roughly 20 on an annual basis,” Sykes noted.

Sykes has facilities in Metro Manila and Cebu.

source: interaksyon.com

Banks shutter branches along path of 'Yolanda'

MANILA – Banks in areas along the path of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ have suspended operations.

In an advisory, United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) announced that the following branches in the Bicol region, Visayas and Mindanao will be closed today:







Daet
Legaspi
Masbate
Naga
San Jose
Sorsogon
Banilad
Calbayog
Carbon
Dumaguete
F. Ramos
Iznart
Jaro
Jones Avenue
Kalibo
Lacson Galo
Libertad
Mabini
Mabolo
Mandaue
Mango Avenue
North Drive
Roxas
San Juan
SM City Cebu
Tacloban
Tagbilaran
Butuan
Surigao

“We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are exerting our efforts to ensure the safety of all UCPB customers and employees,” the bank said.

In a separate notice, Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) said it also closed the following branches in Bicol region, Visayas and Mindnao today because of the typhoon:

Tacloban
Catarman
Legazpi City (Albay)
Tagbilaran
San Jose (Mindoro Occidental)
Dumaguete
Cebu
Mandaue
Roxas City (Capiz)
Naga
Butuan
Iloilo
Bacolod
Cagayan de Oro
Kalibo

“We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are exerting our efforts to ensure the safety of all PVB customers and employees. We wish for the safety of our kababayans in areas now being affected by this massive storm,” PVB said.

Separately, Philippine Savings Bank said the following branches in the Visayas didn’t open today because of the typhoon:

Bacolod
Bacolod Libertad
Bacolod North Drive
Butuan
Cebu Ayala Business Park
Cebu Banilad
Cebu Capitol
Cabu Carbon
Cebu Colon
Cebu Jones
Cebu Lapu-Lapu
Cebu Mandaue AC Cortex
Cebu Mandaue National Highway
Cebu Mango
Cebu Subangdaku
Cebu Taboan

source: interaksyon.com

As 'Yolanda' nears, Tigerair cancels flights tomorrow

MANILA - Tigerair Philippines has cancelled flights tomorrow ahead of Typhoon Yolanda's landfall.

In an advisory, Tigerair vice president for commercial operations Joey Laurente said flights scheduled for November 8 have been cancelled to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

But flights bound for Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok and departing Clark International Airport would push through.

He said affected passengers may rebook without penalties for travel within 30 days from original flight. Customers are advised to call the airline's hotline 7984488 for further information.

source: interaksyon.com

Calamity areas still without electricity a day before 'Yolanda' makes landfall

MANILA - As the country braces for a super typhoon, the Department of Energy (DOE) said electricity has yet to be restored in all areas affected by a string of calamities that struck last month.

In a report, the DOE said power has been restored in all towns belonging to the Ilocos Sur Electric Cooperative franchise area, and in 23 municipalities served by Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative, except for remote barangays.

In Cagayan province, 18 out of its 29 towns have been energized, according to a report by the National Electrification Administration (NEA). The three provinces were in the path of Typhoon Vinta, which left the Philippine area of responsibility early this week.

In the Cagayan II Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO II) franchise area, power has been restored in all 12 municipalities it serves. For Cagayan I Electric Cooperative's franchise area, however, the municipalities of Abulug, Ballesteros, Buguey, Calayan, Claveria, Gattaran, Pamplona, Sanchez Mira, Sta. Ana, Sta. Praxedes, and Sta. Teresita, and parts of Appari and Gonzaga remain without power.

Moreover, the towns of Flora, Luna, Pudtol and Santa Marcela in Apayao province, which CAGELCO II also serves, still have no electricity.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines reported that it has completed the repair of the Magapit-Sta. Teresita-Sta. Ana 69-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line segment as of 6:00 p.m. yesterday. It also restored the Tuguegarao-Magapit-Camalaniugan 69-kV line segment as early as the evening of November 4.

"Total power restoration of municipalities and barangays affected by the recent Typhoon Vinta is expected in two to three weeks’ time," the DOE said.

Of the areas affected by Typhoon Santi, on the other hand, a total of 20 barangays in Nueva Ecija still don't enjoy electricity 24/7 because of "accessibility concerns."

"Power restoration on household level of barangays under Nueva Ecija I Electric Cooperative franchise area is targeted for completion on November 19, while [Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative - Area 2] by tomorrow," the DOE said.

As to the quake-hit Bohol, 94 percent of households has been energized.

"[The] remaining unenergized households still have to undergo further inspections for damages before receiving power," the department said.

The country is bracing for Typhoon Yolanda, which the weather bureau said is far stronger than those that entered the Philippine area of responsibility in the past two months.

source: interaksyon.com