Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said inflation rate will likely average near the low-end of forecast of 9-11 percent because of moderating prices. He foresees inflation to peak earlier than expected or September to October this year, compared to previous outlook of November and December. "What we have observed is that the pace of inflation has moderated," he told reporters yesterday, at the sidelines of the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the BSP’s Security Plant Complex in Quezon City. Tetangco said the rate of increased had slowed down. For the month of August, the National Statistical Office yesterday reported that headline inflation climbed to 12.5 percent year-on-year from 12.3 percent (revised) in July, bringing the year-to-date average to 8.8 percent. Tetangco said the August inflation is the highest level since December 1991, but still within the 11.8-12.6 percent forecast range of the BSP for the same month. Except for food, beverages, and tobacco, all major commodity groups posted higher inflation rates relative to their levels in the previous month. The increase in the prices of the food, beverages, and tobacco group slowed down for the first time since November 2007, the BSP said. For 2009, the BSP chief also expect inflation to hit the low end of forecast of 6-8 percent. (LCC)

The Australian Government has provided about P18 million (A$ 453,000) to eight Australian organizations for short term training programs of 27 Filipino leaders under the Australian Leadership Awards- Fellowship. The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is providing the training grants under the third selection round for 2008 of the Australian Leadership Awards-Fellowships. The 27 Filipino Fellows, set to leave for Australia between June 2008 and July 2009, will undertake short term, research and professional attachment programs with Australian Universities, non-government organizations, and research and planning bodies. The Australian Leadership Awards, comprised of Scholarship and Fellowship, is a regional program that aims to develop leadership and build partnerships and linkages with the Asia-Pacific. The awards are intended for current leaders or those who have the potential to assume leadership roles that can influence social and economic policy reform and development outcomes, both in their own countries and in the Asia-Pacific region. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith said: "The Australian Leadership Awards will help strengthen the cadre of leaders and professionals in the Philippines that are advancing regional reform, development and governance. It will also increase our people to people links and build common perspectives and understandings between the Philippines and Australia.

The CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) Philippines Asset Services Group recently obtained the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Certification 9001:2000. The Certification International Philippines, Inc. audited CBRE services to all its property end users to confirm the firm’s compliance with ISO standards. The ISO standardization covered procedures, documentation, policies, communications, personnel and infrastructure to ensure efficient and orderly execution of business processes. The company underwent the intense ISO certification process to demonstrate its commitment to delivering superior real estate services to clients and ensure a high level of customer satisfaction, according to CBRE Chairman Rick M. Santos. "Achieving this industry benchmark validates our global mission to deliver superior results by always putting clients first," he pointed out. "It reinforces our core values of Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence." The standardization of business processes likewise helped CBRE’s teams in Property Management, Facilities Management, Technical Services, Asset Management and Project Management, reducing costs by eliminating redundancy and errors, says Quality Management Systems Manager James Escano. Now, CBRE’s Asset Services Group aims to obtain the ISO certification for Occupational Safety and Health Standards Certification 18001:1999. The group expects to undergo a third-party audit in the second quarter of 2009. (EVA)