Toyota Recall for 2010 Broadens (Includes Tundra and Lexus Models)

Toyota is in a massive recall for faulty accelerator pedals which affected millions of vehicles. The latest recall includes the 2009 and 2010 RAV4; the 2009 and 2010 Corolla; the 2009 and 2010 Matrix; the 2005 to 2010 Avalon; the 2007 to 2010 Camry; the 2010 Highlander; the 2007 to 2010 Tundra; and the 2008 to 2010 Sequoia.

The probe concluded that grooves in the floor mat could trap the accelerator if the mat was not secured with retaining hooks.

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Calamity loans for victims of "Ondoy", easy grant?

Many are glad on the great news about Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Pag-Ibig Funds announcement that they will provide emergency-calamity loan to the victims of tropical storm "Ondoy" (international name: Ketsana) but suddenly I realized that how can you get a loan if your supporting papers are wash up by the flood or under the mud.

Reality check, services like in GSIS showing quick result is just a media publicity. The reality is many are doubting if the state-run insurance agency can easily grant the victims without their usual specific requirements.

I hope the two agencies have setup a easy processing procedure so that the victims of storm "Ondoy" can avail the needed loan and start their lives again.

Actually before the storm, GSIS is still having problem with the pensioner's pension plus granting loans due to their reason: computer upgrading. Hmmm.......

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SEC released the list of pre-need companies with dealer license

With some of the pre-need firms in the Philippines are now in a limbo, current planholders are now doubting the stability of their pre-need companies. That's why the Securities and Exchange Commission recently released the list of 22 firms who have passed the trust fund requirement.

The 22 firms which has dealer license may still sell new educational, pension, and memorial plans.

The SEC released a circular that pre-need companies with trust fund deficiency of below 15% have 30 days to address the deficit while those with more than 15% will be given 15 days to cover half of it.

Pre-need firms that are not in the list are prohibited to sell new plans, but their obligations to their existing clients with maturing plans remains.


Companies that can still sell new plans are:

1. AMA Plans, Inc.
2. Ayala Plans, Inc.
3. Caritas Financial Plans, Inc.
4. City Plans, Inc.
5. Cocoplans, Inc.
6. Danvil Plans, Inc.
7. Destiny Financial Plans, Inc.
8. Eternal Plans, Inc.
9. First Country Plans, Inc.
10. First Union Plans, Inc.
11. Grayline Plans, Inc.
12. Himlayang Pilipino Plans, Inc.
13. Loyola Plans Consolidated, Inc.
14. Manulife Financial Plans, Inc.
15. Mercantile Careplans, Inc.
16. Paz Memorial Services, Inc.
17. Philam Plans, Inc.
18. Provident Plans International Corp.
19. St. Peter Life Plan, Inc.
20. Sun Life Financial Plans, Inc.
21. Transnational Plans, Inc
22. Trusteeship Plans, Inc.

It is still advisable to contact the SEC to verify the stability of your pre-need company.

[list via SEC]
[photo courtesy by jikearts]

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Goodyear Las Pinas plant set to close on Sept. 30; 600 jobs cut

Surely, President Gloria Arroyo will parade her economic achievement in this coming state of the nation address (SONA-July 27) but before that 600 Filipino workers will be out of work. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is set to close its manufacturing facility in Las Piñas City, Philippines on Sept. 30, 2009.

It is not all goodbye for US tiremaker, there sales and marketing operations will remain. Tire production will be transfer in lower-cost plants in the company's Asia-Pacific Region.

By the way, Goodyear Las Pinas plant opened in 1956.

Adding to growing statistics..

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Pasakit sa dagdag presyo ng MERALCO

Nagtatanong na naman si Juan Dela Cruz kung ano ba talaga ang nangyayari? Ang presyo ng langis ay bumubulusok pababa pero kabaligtaran naman ito sa preyo ng kuryente (MERALCO) lalo pang siyan tumataas.

Talaga namang kaduda-duda di ba? Ang dapat na nagbabantay at umaalalay sa atin na gaya ng Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) na ang trabaho ay tingnan kung nagoovercharge ang mga poducer at distributor ng power industry ay siya pa ang nag approved ng dagdag presyo ng MERALCO.

Parang moro-moro ang labanan. Nag utos ang ERC ng mag refund and Meralco ng P3.9 billion mula sa pondo ng meter deposit pero papayagan naman silang magtaas. Parang black mail na pabor sa Meralco. Bakit ka nyo? Tumubo at nagamit na ng Meralco yung pondo ng meter deposit kaya yung isosoli nila ay pera din ng bayan.

Di naman kaya nag papapogi si ERC head Albano, sa dahilan malapit na siyang magretiro. Baka naghihintay siya ng going away gift mula sa MERALCO.

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