DT_20190709

JOLLIBEE RIDES
PANDA EXPRESS
B11
IRAN
ADMITS
CAP
BREACH
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MERALCO LOWERS
POWER RATES AGAIN
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WB FINANCING BATAAN
FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD
Jun Vallecera, Editor
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Daily Tribune
B11
BUSINESS
B9
Travel between Phl, Israel
needs further boosting
ISRAEL Ambassador to the
Philippines Rafael Harpaz.
By Joshua Lao
ICC: Fake info & training on Incoterms
CHAMBER LANE
Jess Varela
COMMENTARY
Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz said that to have
a more booming tourism industry in Israel and in the Philippines,
direct flights from both countries should materialize
By Elmer N. Manuel
Fascinated by the tourism boom in
the Philippines, Israel Ambassador to
the Philippines Rafael Harpaz is keen on
AL PADILLA
“ It may be
worthwhile to note
that transactions
should be agreed
upon in writing
before goods are
shipped and never be
automatically filled
by invoicing software.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has
issued a warning on fake info and training sessions on
Incoterms 2020 being offered by groups not affiliated
with ICC. Since its inception 80 years ago, ICC has been
the sole trademark owner, producer and publisher of
Incoterms rules which are amended and/or updated
every 10 years. Incoterms 2010 continues to be the most
current version of Incoterms rules and websites or other
platforms created to inform the public of updates on
Incoterms 2011, 2012, 2013 all the way to 2019 do not exist.
What are Incoterms?
A series of pre-determined international commercial
terms published by the ICC, Incoterms are a set of rules
under sales contracts which define respective obligations,
costs and risks involved in the delivery of goods from
seller to buyer. Currently, the 11 terms better known
with their acronyms are: CIF-cost insurance freight;
CFR-cost & freight; CIP-carriage &insurance paid to; CPTcarriage
paid to; DAP-delivered at place; DAT-delivered
“copying” the programs and the projects of
the Philippine government regarding tourism.
In an online interview with “Straight Talk
with Daily Tribune,” Harpaz pointed out that
while he knows that majority of Filipinos visit
Israel to go to the Holy Land, he stressed that
Filipinos do not need visas to enter Israel,
noting the bilateral relations between the
Philippines and Israel.
He also said that aside from tourism,
investments and joint ventures are also in
store for the relations of the two countries
and even noted that “Filipino is a brand name
for hospitality and great service in Israel.”
“Tourism is a major component and it goes
both directions,” Harpaz said. “Filipinos are
telling me it’s in the bucket list of every Filipino
to visit the Holy Land, I had the honor to be the
official escort of President Duterte in his really
historic visit to Israel last September… and you
don’t need visa… this is really, really unique… I
know that Filipinos need visas to European
countries — Australia I
think, to the US…
no visa for
Filipinos.”
P5B revenues from fuel marking eyed
With its implementation to begin
in the second half, the fuel marking
program is expected to generate at
least P5 billion in revenues for the
national coffers for this year, Finance
Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said
on Monday.
“The implementation of the
fuel marking program is expected
to boost government revenue by
at least P5 billion in 2019. The
issuance of the circular is a product
of extensive preparations that started
in November 2018,” Dominguez said.
“With the issuance of the circular
and under the terms of reference with
the French consortium that won the
bid, at least 95 percent of all marking
sites will be operational by the end
of the year,” he added.
According to him, the consortium
will deliver the necessary equipment
over the next few weeks as marking
operations are expected to start
within this quarter.
Moreover, the Finance chief noted
that the joint circular was crafted
through consultations with various
stakeholders and partner agencies
such as the Departments of Energy
and of Environment and Natural
Resources.
To recall, the government
estimated a massive P20 to P40 billion
in additional revenues from the
program but with its implementation
to start by this quarter, it was
reduced to at least P5 billion.
According to the circular,
only petroleum products for
local consumption with proof of
payment of taxes will be subject
for marking.
at terminal; DDP-delivered duty paid; ExW-ex works;
FAS-free alongside ship; FCA-free carrier and FOB-free
on board.
These terms are recognized by governments, legal
authorities and practitioners the world over. It is
important for traders to master these terms as they
will indicate the Tasks, Costs and Risks associated with
the transportation and delivery of goods and likewise
determine responsibilities in all points of transit.
Knowing and understanding your Incoterms reduces,
if not eliminate, disputes and misunderstandings
during the transportation of goods. Users are given
a better perspective in the execution of transactions
and interfacing with logistics, finance and insurance.
Moreover, it becomes clearly critical in marine insurance
claims as they will define who has the insurable interest
at different points of transit.
It may be worthwhile to note that transactions should
be agreed upon in writing before goods are shipped and
never be automatically filled by invoicing software.
The past 80 years since the adoption of this rulesbased
international trade system in 1936, Incoterms rules
continue to remain relevant to business and governments,
making it the language of cross border trade.
To date, ICC has not released any material on the new
updates or amendments for Incoterms 2020. Its official
release is scheduled on September of this year where
the ICC national committee in the Philippines, the ICCP,
will launch an information drive through a series of fora
it will conduct starting October. The new amendments
for Incoterms 2020 will take effect on 1 January. Falling
for non-ICC affiliated training sessions or misuse of
Incoterms rules may get businesses and other users
run the risk of spending resources for false information.
This could be a costly mistake. The public is advised to
check on the official ICC website or get in touch with
ICC Philippines for the correct information.
Harpaz also stressed that to have a more
booming tourism industry in Israel and in the
Philippines, direct flights from both countries
should materialize.
“In order to have very successful tourism
relations, you need to have direct flights
— which we still don’t have — and a visa
waiver, which we have both with Israelis and
Filipinos,” Harpaz said.
One anecdote you know, when
somebody passes away in Israel
they put an obituary in the paper, I
remember this all my life… they put
his wife, his son and you see at the
end — a Filipino caregiver and his
name.
The envoy narrated that the number of
Filipino tourists in Israel during the first
quarter of 2019 went up to 35 percent and
even with that progress, Harpaz stressed that
they are still campaigning to attract more
Filipino tourists in Israel.
“We are doing here campaigns in the
Philippines to bring more Filipinos to
Israel… because Filipinos come to tell me,
‘Ambassador what about the paperwork?’ I
tell them “walang paperwork,” not necessary.
And we see them not only as for pilgrimage,
because the tourists usually, when they come
to Israel, the Filipinos, if they come in groups,
they go to Jerusalem, my hometown where
I was born, and they go to the Dead Sea, to
Masada, to the sea of Galilee to Nazareth,
but there’s much more to see,” Harpaz said.
The Ambassador also recounted that
Israelis are also flourishing in the Philippines,
noting that there are already two synagogues
in the country.
“We see Israelis coming here by the
thousands… here in Makati we have already two
synagogues… there’s one in El Nido… in El Nido,
because of the Israelis tourists,” Harpaz added.
“I see the numbers are growing dramatically.
When it comes to this tourist exchange and it
will be just more and more.”
Harpaz also pointed out that the
Philippines is more like a paradise and
stressed the similarities between the two
countries.
“What is so common between Israelis
and Filipinos… mainly two things and I think
that’s what gets so close to Pinoys… the heart
of Israeli society is the family and the heart of
the Filipino society is the family. The second
element is Israelis are very friendly and it
goes the same,” Harpaz said.
“There’s a tradition in this country with
Jews. We’re always accepted historically,
there’s no anti-Semitism, I see the growing
Jewish and Israeli population here, I
mentioned it, you have cultural restaurants
in Manila… you can eat anywhere.”
The envoy also reiterated that Israelis
have a lot to emulate from Filipinos and
extended his gratitude to the countless
Filipino workers who are taking care of their
elderly, stressing his love for the Filipinos and
that they are part of the Israel society.
“We love them, they are part of us, we treat
them well, they get paid well, they have their
churches. I mentioned earlier you can go to
Tel Aviv and have halo-halo and balut. There’s
a culture and Filipinos are part of our society.
I just want to say thank you,” Harpaz said.
“One anecdote you know, when somebody
passes away in Israel they put an obituary
in the paper, I remember this all my life…
they put his wife, his son and you see at the
end — a Filipino caregiver and his name. This
is a phenomenon,” he added.
Asked what can Israel learn from the
Philippines, Harpaz said that the Israelis are not
merely assisting the Philippines, but rather sharing
its technology and innovation with the country.
“We are not assisting you… we are sharing
our experience with you… that is how it
goes… and we have areas of strength, and
there are things that we can learn from
you… I mentioned caregivers, tourism and
others… and from our perspective, there
are the traditional things that we did all the
years, which is mainly agriculture and water
technologies,” Harpaz said.
“I think I see the young generation of
Filipinos — smart, motivated, highly educated.
Philippines can become, I believe, a cluster
of innovation, a cluster of startups. And I see
the Israeli companies are already arriving
here, especially after the President’s historic
visit,” he added.