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AboitizPower’s TVI logs 77% completion in 10-year carbon sink goal
Aboitiz Power Corporation subsidiary Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI) marked the seventh year of its Carbon Sink Management Program with 770,000 trees planted en route to achieving a 10-year one million trees target through 2027......»»
Energy sector workers run out
Amid the energy transition frenzy, listed Aboitiz Power Corp., or AboitizPower, recognized a growing scarcity of skilled power industry workers. It is thus necessary to develop a workforce that can adapt and implement energy security, affordability, and sustainability. “There has to be a workforce now and in the future that will keep our energy system functioning and serve the needs of our country,” AboitizPower chief people officer MaLu Inofre said. “Among our most difficult challenges is building a skilled talent pipeline that can effectively adjust and work with the fast-paced transformation within the industry’s energy mix, digital systems and regulations,” she said. Power forum held “It has become exceedingly vital to ensure that workforce skills align with the changes of the times,” she further explained. “In the same way, attracting talent in a competitive global market is crucial to a sustainable, efficient, and innovative Philippine power sector that meets our country’s growing energy demands and sustainability objectives.” Inofre made her remarks during the first Philippine Power Industry HR Forum at Shangri-La The Fort, Taguig City. The event was presented by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc., or AmCham, in partnership with AboitizPower. In the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment said that an estimated 1 million skilled workers in engineering, architecture, and construction are lacking. They cited “Power Plant Maintenance Engineer” and “Maintenance/Powerplant Engineers” as among the most challenging occupations to fill up. This can be due to a lack of qualified applicants or brain drain (or when better opportunities abroad are taken advantage of by skilled locals). “Between 2016 and 2021, the employment in the power industry declined by 15,444 individuals,” said DoLE Bureau of Local Employment Director Patrick Patriwirawan Jr. during the same event. “The Philippines saw an increase in the employment in the renewable energy industry last year but could have employed more if not for the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on various project developments in the sector.” Inofre added that a major factor influencing the labor shortage is the shift in the type of skills sought by employers, especially as the sector tries to balance the entry of renewable energy whilst maintaining traditional energy systems. “Knowing this, upskilling will be key to facilitating a just transition for those who will be affected by the transition to a greener economy, as well as the new generation of workers. It is imperative that we successfully cultivate both thermal and renewable energy, so that we can ensure reliable and affordable energy supply for the country,” she said. Meralco Power Academy program management director Engr. Marc Lester Malibiran explained that, on top of upskilling the workforce, the industry should also help develop interest for the sector, especially in the youth. “The Philippines boasts a young and vibrant population, brimming with innovative potential. By investing in talent development, we tap into this dynamic workforce, harnessing their fresh ideas and energy,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are seeing a decline in both take-up and completion of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), averaging only a 21 percent completion [rate].” Intimidating STEM “Young Filipinos avoid STEM as it is seen to be an intimidating course of study. This is important to know as this signals us to develop programs that remove this preconceived notion,” he added. Young academic and professional achievers were recruited and trained by AboitizPower to operate, monitor, and control the company’s National Operations Control Center, which oversees over 20 renewable energy facilities spread across the country all from one central location. The forum served as an avenue for human resources professionals in the Philippine power industry to connect, collaborate, and communicate ideas, knowledge and best practices. Sentiments from the breakout sessions revealed that skills and competency gaps or mismatch, a limited external talent pool, and difficulty in retaining talent due to global and local competition are the most cited challenges in the human resources field of the energy sector. The post Energy sector workers run out appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A skilled workforce — a critical component of Phl energy transition
Amid the Philippine energy transition, Aboitiz Power Corporation recognized the growing scarcity of skilled power industry workers and, hence, the necessity of developing a workforce that can adapt and willingly carry the important task of ensuring energy security, affordability, and sustainability for today’s and tomorrow’s Filipinos. “There has to be a workforce now and in the future that will keep our energy system functioning and serve the needs of our country,” said AboitizPower chief people officer MaLu Inofre. “However, among our most difficult challenges is building a skilled talent pipeline that can effectively adjust and work with the fast-paced transformation within the industry's energy mix, digital systems and regulations.” “It has become exceedingly vital to ensure that workforce skills align with the changes of the times,” she further explained. “In the same way, attracting talent in a competitive global market is crucial to a sustainable, efficient, and innovative Philippine power sector that meets our country’s growing energy demands and sustainability objectives.” Inofre made her remarks during the first Philippine Power Industry HR Forum at Shangri-La The Fort, Taguig City. The event was presented by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. in partnership with AboitizPower. Young academic and professional achievers were recruited and trained by AboitizPower to operate, monitor, and control the company’s National Operations Control Center, which oversees over 20 renewable energy facilities spread across the country all from one central location. In the Philippines, the Department of Labor and Employment said that an estimated one million skilled workers in engineering, architecture and construction are lacking. They cited “Power Plant Maintenance Engineer” and “Maintenance/Powerplant Engineers” as among the hard-to-fill occupations in the country. This can be due to a lack of qualified applicants or brain drain (or when better opportunities abroad are taken advantage of by skilled locals). “Between 2016 and 2021, the employment in the power industry declined by 15,444 individuals,” said DOLE Bureau of Local Employment Director Patrick P. Patriwirawan Jr. during the same event. “The Philippines saw an increase in the employment in the renewable energy industry last year but could have employed more if not for the delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on various project developments in the sector.” Inofre added that a major factor influencing the labor shortage is the shift in the type of skills sought by employers, especially as the sector tries to balance the entry of renewable energy whilst maintaining traditional energy systems. “Knowing this, upskilling will be key to facilitating a just transition for those who will be affected by the transition to a greener economy, as well as the new generation of workers. It is imperative that we successfully cultivate both thermal and renewable energy, so that we can ensure reliable and affordable energy supply for the country,” she said. Meralco Power Academy Program management director Engineer Marc Lester Malibiran explained that, on top of upskilling the workforce, the industry should also help develop interest for the sector, especially in the youth. In a panel discussion, AboitizPower Chief People Officer MaLu Inofre (2nd from right) said that the energy industry must come together to craft and implement programs that strengthen the talent pipeline for the Philippine power industry. “The Philippines boasts a young and vibrant population brimming with innovative potential. By investing in talent development, we tap into this dynamic workforce, harnessing their fresh ideas and energy,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are seeing a decline in both take-up and completion of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), averaging only a 21 percent completion [rate].” “Young Filipinos avoid STEM as it is seen to be an intimidating course of study. This is important to know as this signals us to develop programs that remove this preconceived notion,” he added. The Philippine Power Industry HR Forum served as an avenue for human resources professionals in the Philippine power industry to connect, collaborate and communicate ideas, knowledge and best practices. Sentiments from the breakout sessions revealed that skills and competency gaps or mismatch, a limited external talent pool and difficulty in retaining talent due to global and local competition are the most cited challenges in the human resources field of the Philippine energy sector. A panel discussion moderated by Atty. Jose Layug Jr. of Divina Law saw Michael Page regional director and country head Albert Perez, Meralco chief HR officer Edgardo “Egay” Carasig, Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Inc. president Atty. Anne Estorco Montelibano and ACEN chief HR officer John Philip Orbeta discuss the need to calibrate existing government programs to be more in sync with the needs of the energy industry. This includes building competencies within communities to turn locals into more competitive applicants. Meanwhile, another panel discussion moderated by AmCham Human Capital & Resources Committee co-chair Ernie Cecilia had Global Business Power Corporation VP-Human Resources Maria Luz Blanco-Uriarte, One Renewable Energy Enterprise, Inc. founder and president Erel Narida and AboitizPower’s Inofre talk about how retaining workers involves investing on their skills, ensuring talent mobility opportunities and giving them a sense of purpose. “The energy industry must create an acceptable, progressive plan to resolve the talent crisis. AboitizPower, for one, makes an effort to resolve the shortage of estimated skilled workers in our industry by maintaining academic-industry linkages with universities in the country, providing long-term scholarships [and] establishing programs with TESDA that help promote electrical engineering skills at the grassroots level, among other initiatives,” Inofre said. “Through similar initiatives, I believe we can successfully empower a community of like-minded individuals who work towards implementing human resource programs that strengthen the talent pipeline for the Philippine power industry,” she concluded. The post A skilled workforce — a critical component of Phl energy transition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz Group bags triple Golden Arrow Awards
With a distinguished legacy spanning five generations, the Aboitiz Group remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering positive change in shaping the future as it adheres to the standards and requirements outlined in the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. This year, following the 2022 compliance period of the ACGS, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. received a 4-arrow recognition after scoring 111.68 points, AEV’s highest ACGS score since the Institute of Corporate Directors inaugurated the Golden Arrow Awards in 2018. Aboitiz Power Corporation and Union Bank of the Philippines both received a 3-arrow recognition for scoring between 100 and 109 points. Consistent top performers It’s also important to note that AEV and AboitizPower have consistently been recognized as top performers in corporate governance, both here in the country and in the ASEAN region since 2013-2017 at the PSE Bell Awards. “This distinction is the result of the Aboitiz Group’s work to transform a legacy business into a hyper-innovative, diversified conglomerate that puts corporate governance and citizenship at the core of its operations. We have always believed that transparency and accountability are essential in building trust amongst our stakeholders and forging strong partnerships in order to drive change,” said Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Aboitiz Group’s chief reputation and sustainability officer. AEV, the portfolio management company of the Aboitiz Group, leads investments in diverse sectors including power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, land, and cutting-edge fields such as data science and artificial intelligence. The Group is presently undergoing a profound transformation to establish itself as the Philippines' first "techglomerate." This innovative growth strategy, fueled by technology and a renewed entrepreneurial mindset, empowers Aboitiz to drive transformative change, shaping the future of its businesses, host communities, and the nation. The Golden Arrow Recognition serves as a testament to Aboitiz Group's unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance. Aboitiz has excelled in several key areas such as compliance, sustainability, and innovation — positioning it as a frontrunner in the realm of corporate governance. This honor reflects the Group's ongoing commitment to creating value for its shareholders, stakeholders, and the broader Filipino community. Robust policies Aboitiz Group’s robust policies and procedures across every level of the organization form the bedrock of its commitment to excellence in corporate governance. Furthermore, the company's board of directors is characterized by its independence and diversity, playing a pivotal role in providing oversight and making strategic decisions aligned with the best interests of shareholders and stakeholders. Aboitiz places great emphasis on transparency, providing clear and comprehensive information regarding its financial performance, operations, and decision-making processes to ensure that shareholders and the public remain well-informed. In terms of regulatory compliance, Aboitiz is dedicated to adhering to all relevant laws, regulations, and standards related to corporate governance. The company continuously updates its policies to ensure alignment with evolving requirements. When it comes to ethical business practices, the Group's commitment to ethical conduct and integrity remains unwavering. “This award reaffirms the team’s adherence to the shared responsibility of sustainably managing the organization. This further motivates us to champion the highest corporate governance and ethical standards as we continue to grow the business,” said AboitizPower president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Rubio. “Likewise, we also exert as much effort and diligence in upholding environmental preservation and the societal good within the areas we have the privilege to serve,” he said. Corporate governance For his part, UnionBank lead independent director Roberto Manabat said, “We humbly accept this recognition as a reinforcement of the principles that guide the Bank. Our corporate governance practices reinforce the requirements of a constantly evolving business landscape. We ensure that they comply with new regulations and are ready to adopt best practices.” Aboitiz is deeply committed to sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives. The post Aboitiz Group bags triple Golden Arrow Awards appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz Group bags triple Golden Arrow Awards
With a distinguished legacy spanning five generations, the Aboitiz Group remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering positive change in shaping the future as it adheres to the standards and requirements outlined in the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. This year, following the 2022 compliance period of the ACGS, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. received a 4-arrow recognition after scoring 111.68 points, AEV’s highest ACGS score since the Institute of Corporate Directors inaugurated the Golden Arrow Awards in 2018. Aboitiz Power Corporation and Union Bank of the Philippines both received a 3-arrow recognition for scoring between 100 and 109 points. AEV and AboitizPower have consistently been recognized as top performers in corporate governance, both here in the country and in the ASEAN region since 2013-2017 at the PSE Bell Awards. “This distinction is the result of the Aboitiz Group’s work to transform a legacy business into a hyper-innovative, diversified conglomerate that puts corporate governance and citizenship at the core of its operations. We have always believed that transparency and accountability are essential in building trust amongst our stakeholders and forging strong partnerships in order to drive change,” said Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Aboitiz Group’s chief reputation and sustainability officer. AEV, the portfolio management company of the Aboitiz Group, leads investments in diverse sectors including power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, land and cutting-edge fields such as data science and artificial intelligence. The Group is presently undergoing a profound transformation to establish itself as the Philippines' first "techglomerate." This innovative growth strategy, fueled by technology and a renewed entrepreneurial mindset, empowers Aboitiz to drive transformative change, shaping the future of its businesses, host communities and the nation. The Golden Arrow Recognition serves as a testament to Aboitiz Group's unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance. Aboitiz has excelled in several key areas such as compliance, sustainability, and innovation – positioning it as a frontrunner in the realm of corporate governance. This honor reflects the Group's ongoing commitment to creating value for its shareholders, stakeholders, and the broader Filipino community. Aboitiz Group’s robust policies and procedures across every level of the organization form the bedrock of its commitment to excellence in corporate governance. Furthermore, the company's board of directors is characterized by its independence and diversity, playing a pivotal role in providing oversight and making strategic decisions aligned with the best interests of shareholders and stakeholders. Aboitiz places great emphasis on transparency, providing clear and comprehensive information regarding its financial performance, operations, and decision-making processes to ensure that shareholders and the public remain well-informed. In terms of regulatory compliance, Aboitiz is dedicated to adhering to all relevant laws, regulations, and standards related to corporate governance. The company continuously updates its policies to ensure alignment with evolving requirements. When it comes to ethical business practices, the Group's commitment to ethical conduct and integrity remains unwavering. The company adheres to a stringent code of conduct that guides the behavior of its employees, fostering an environment of trust and integrity. “This award reaffirms the team’s adherence to the shared responsibility of sustainably managing the organization. This further motivates us to champion the highest corporate governance and ethical standards as we continue to grow the business,” said AboitizPower president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Rubio. “Likewise, we also exert as much effort and diligence in upholding environmental preservation and the societal good within the areas we have the privilege to serve.” “We humbly accept this recognition as a reinforcement of the principles that guide the Bank. Our corporate governance practices reinforce the requirements of a constantly evolving business landscape. We ensure that they comply with new regulations and are ready to adopt best practices,” said UnionBank lead independent director Roberto Manabat. Aboitiz is deeply committed to sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives. The company actively pursues environmental and social responsibility, demonstrating its dedication to creating a positive impact on society and the environment. The post Aboitiz Group bags triple Golden Arrow Awards appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz unit spends P250M for Davao line
DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur — Davao Light and Power Company, a unit of AboitizPower Corp., earmarked around P200 million to P250 million this year to bankroll the underground cabling system that it currently undertakes as strictly mandated by the local government. In a recent interview, Davao Light president and COO Rodger Velasco disclosed that the company made sure to secure enough funding from the company’s capital outlay of about P2.4 billion this year to sustain its project implementation. “We usually spend around P1.5 to P1.6 billion pre-pandemic but last year, we spent P2 billion because we are ramping up, we are on full blast. There are challenges in capacity so we are also upgrading,” Velasco told reporters. “This 2024, our capital expenditure will remain elevated, still about P2.4 billion, same as this year,” he added. Despite facing headwinds such as right-of-way issues and water line and drainage obstructions, among others, Velasco said that Davao Light’s underground cabling is making significant headway. At the current 25 percent completion rate, the company targets to company the project by the end of the decade or by 2030. The project abides by the City Ordinance No. 0152-17 Series of 2017, or “An Ordinance Requiring All Telecommunication Companies, Davao Light and Power Company, and all other Persons to Comply with the Underground Cabling Plan of the City of Davao.” The areas include C.M. Recto; San Pedro; R. Magsaysay Avenue; C. Bangoy Sr., Bonifacio, and Pelayo; and E. Quirino Streets — also known as the Kadayawan Route. Underground line facilities usually involve transformers installed on the ground through pad-mounting. In C.M. Recto, a platform-type transformer was installed. Meaning, the pad-mounted transformers were elevated and installed on alley-type structures, also known as platform-type transformer installation. Cabling innovation A different approach was implemented in San Pedro Street. This time, the transformers are installed on poles along adjacent streets that are not part of underground cabling areas. Currently, the first part of the underground cabling project in Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, which focuses on electrical works, is ongoing. While the project is industry-leading, Velasco noted that Davao Light has yet to commit to pursuing underground cabling across its entire franchise area as it would require high capital that may imminently prompt higher rates for customers. The post Aboitiz unit spends P250M for Davao line appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Confidential and intelligence funds increase P120M in 2024, UP budget cut P2.93B
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Thursday confirmed that there will be a P120-million increase in confidential and intelligence funds for the fiscal year 2024. In a Malacañang press briefing, Pangandaman said the increase is due to additional confidential funds allocated to three government agencies. These agencies include the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Presidential Security Group (PSG). A 2015 joint circular released by five government agencies defines confidential expenses as those of surveillance activities in civilian government agencies. According to the same 2015 joint circular, intelligence funds are those related to intel information-gathering activities of uniformed and military personnel that directly impact national security. Pangandaman justified the increase in the CIF, saying it is necessary to support the government's efforts to protect national security and ensure the safety of the President and other government officials. "The additional funds were allocated for specific purposes. For example, in the case of DICT, the increase is for cybersecurity, which is essential as we push for digitalization," Pangandaman said. "Cybersecurity investment is parallel to our digitalization efforts. Why does it need to be confidential? It's because of the procurement process. You cannot disclose the technical specifications of your cybersecurity projects in the Terms of Reference (TOR) because hackers might see it. If they have access to the specs, our cybersecurity projects and programs won't be effective," she added. Pangandaman said the administration is confident that the proposed allocations for intelligence funds are well-justified. "The additional funds were allocated for specific purposes. We can assure the public that these intelligence and confidential funds will be beneficial to the country," Pangandaman said. In a separate statement, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said there also an increase in the CIF in the Armed Forces of the Philippines; National Security Council; Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, and; the Office of the Ombudsman. Meanwhile, there has been a decrease in the CIF allocated for the Philippine Competition Commission, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Department of Justice. On the other hand, the confidential funds of the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President remain at the same level as the 2023 General Appropriations Act. DBM likewise emphasized the declining percentage contribution of CIF in the national budget in recent years, decreasing from 0.215 percent in 2018, 0.192 percent in 2019, 0.235 percent in 2020, 0.212 percent in 2021, 0.183 percent in 2022, 0.190 percent in 2023, to 0.176 percent in 2024. "With these, the public can remain confident that the disbursement and utilization of the CIF will be done by government agencies with utmost transparency and accountability, in strict adherence to existing guidelines set forth by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the appropriate allocation and use of these funds," DBM said. Budget Cuts Meanwhile, DBM said the budget cut for the University of the Philippines (UP) under the proposed 2024 expenditure plan will not affect student admissions. In the Palace briefing, Pangandaman said the P2.93 billion reduction in the UP budget for 2024 resulted from the removal of budgetary requirements for several infrastructure projects scheduled for completion this year. “So if it's for completion in 2023, we don’t need the funding for 2024,” Pangandaman said. Asked if the budget cut will translate to a reduction in the number of students admitted to UP, Pangandaman said none. The DBM added it also took into account how much of UP's budget was used the year previously when determining the proposed NEP's budget allocation. “Hence, in our review and evaluation of UP’s budget proposals, we considered its absorptive capacity, which is 69.48% as of end-2022,” it said. The post Confidential and intelligence funds increase P120M in 2024, UP budget cut P2.93B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Property developer invests P64 billion to build Grand Westside Hotel
Megaworld Corporation has allocated P64 billion to build the Grand Westside Hotel in Paranaque’s Westside City. Envisioned as the country’s biggest hotel, the first tower of the 19-story buildings is scheduled for completion this year and the second by 2024. Construction is expected to conclude before 2023 ends. The 1,500-room property will offer various room types, including queen suites (up to 48 square meters), twin suites (up to 48 square meters) and executive suites (up to 48 square meters) and twin and queen suites (up to 35 and 37 square meters) designed for specially-abled guests. It will also feature four function rooms that, when combined, can accommodate up to 300 people. Additionally, it will house four dining outlets, including an all-day dining restaurant with a capacity of nearly 250 guests. [caption id="attachment_163850" align="aligncenter" width="1386"] ROOM at Grand Westside Hotel.[/caption] The hotel’s amenities include an expansive pool area, a children’s pool, a gazebo, a fitness gym, massage rooms and outdoor seating. It will also have a two-level retail and commercial space covering 1,995 square meters. Grand Westside Hotel is Megaworld’s 19th hotel property and the second homegrown hotel brand within Westside City. It is the fourth resort complex within Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s Entertainment City project, following Solaire Manila, City of Dreams and Okada Manila. Megaworld is the only Philippine real estate development company to earn a “Hall of Fame” distinction as “Best Developer” after winning the Outstanding Developer Award at the Property and Real Estate Excellence Award by FIABCI Philippines for three straight years (2015, 2016 and 2017). The company was also named the “Best Developer” at the prestigious Philippines Property Awards by PropertyGuru for three consecutive years (2016, 2017 and 2018). The post Property developer invests P64 billion to build Grand Westside Hotel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG eyes NTF-ELCAC projects completion
The Department of the Interior and Local Government vowed on Friday to complete all identified, approved and funded projects under the Barangay Development Program as it urged all stakeholders — especially local government units to intensify efforts through the whole-of-nation approach to end the New People’s Army’s reign of terror in far-flung communities. DILG Office of Project Development assistant director Rene Valera said that they will make sure that all the projects will be implemented based on the national standards and timelines. Aside from farm-to-market roads, other basic social services pushed by the task force are water and sanitation, health stations, school buildings, rural electrification, infrastructures and livelihood. Even with the decreasing funds, Valera said the task force was rapidly gaining ground since its creation through Executive Order 70 in 2018 with the decimation of dozens of terror fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines. With all these gains, Valera said the decreasing budget from 2021 to present did not frustrate the resolve of the NTF-ELCAC to sustain the fight at the grassroot level to put an end to the senseless war being waged by the obsolete Maoist-inspired NPA. The post DILG eyes NTF-ELCAC projects completion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Building climate-resilient communities
Subsidiaries of the Aboitiz Group have consolidated its efforts with the Climate Change Commission, the local government of Toledo City in Cebu, Department of Science and Technology-PAGASA, and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development to help create resilient, disaster-ready and climate-smart communities. A five-day training workshop to craft an enhanced and science-based Local Climate Change Action Plan was recently held in Bato, Toledo City, the host community of Aboitiz Power-TVI. Toledo City Mayor Joie Perales: “This will upgrade the skills of our local responders and improve our readiness for disasters. I know that our people will truly benefit from this.” The participants were equipped with knowledge based on methods and strategies to produce targeted and responsive climate-action plans. They were also upskilled in developing risk-mitigating LCCAPs anchored on science and evidence-based analysis, which includes biodiversity and ecosystem-based adaptation interventions. “We recognize that our communities and local governments are at the forefront of the climate crisis,” said Climate Change Commission Deputy executive director Romell Antonio Cuenca. “It is imperative for local government units to be prepared for the challenges of the changing climate. LGUs should invest more in crafting and planning appropriate measures to adapt to climate impacts. That is why CCC and Aboitiz came all the way here to Toledo to increase the technical capacity of our LGUs, so that they can develop their local climate change action plans, which will serve as their pathway to resiliency,” he added. AboitizPower Thermal Group (VisMin) president and COO Ronaldo Ramos believes this could spark that transformation in Toledo City, and that the project can be replicated in all the other communities where AboitizPower thermal assets operate: “We believe that by bolstering Toledo City’s climate resilience and adaptation, we can ensure the continuity of our mission to energize Cebu and the Visayas, and, more importantly, secure a sustainable future for Toledo. We’re optimistic about the completion of their LCCAP this year.” At a national level, the LCCAP training workshop is in line with some tenets of the Philippine Development Plan on establishing livable communities, strengthening social protection (chapter 3.2), and accelerating climate action and strengthening disaster resilience. Through this project, Aboitiz also supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on reducing inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Climate Action (SDG 13), at a global level. The post Building climate-resilient communities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AboitizPower breaks ground on new Maco de Oro science lab
Aboitiz Power Corporation Thermal Group, in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation and the local government of Maco, Davao de Oro, is set to build a one-story, two-classroom science laboratory within Maco de Oro College. Expected to be completed within the year, the building will assist scientific learning and support the academic curriculum of students. “This is a welcome addition to our educational facilities,” said Maco de Oro College president Dr. Anthony Pol P. Fulache. “It is great to see in action the cooperation among our government and private partners to support our students to maximize their learning.” The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by leaders from AboitizPower Thermal Group, the Aboitiz Foundation and the local government of Maco led by Mayor Arthur Voltaire Rimando and Vice Mayor Dr. Alvera Veronica Rimando. Maco de Oro College administrators and the Philippine Army 1001st Infantry PAG-ASA Brigade, led by Commander Col. Felix Ronnie Babac, also supported the event. “We in AboitizPower are thrilled to make this dream possible for Maco de Oro College,” said AboitizPower Thermal Group VisMin president and COO Ronaldo Ramos. “This is a legacy-defining project, together with our partners, Mayor and Vice Mayor Rimando. What we will do here, the science laboratory, will not just be a one-time benefit, but will benefit a whole generation of people in Maco,” he added. Aboitiz Foundation president and COO Maribeth Marasigan emphasized how collaboration between businesses and communities is critical to the growth of both. “At the heart of this occasion is the belief that education is the key to transformation. As we continue to evolve in an increasingly technological world, the demand for a workforce with strong STEM skills is greater than ever,” she said. “We are proud to be partnering with AboitizPower, Maco de Oro College and the municipality of Maco to provide support and resources that will enhance the quality of STEM education for the students here.” Last year, the Aboitiz Group also collaborated with Maco de Oro College in its marine protection activities and in the implementation of coastal livelihood projects for families in the area. Mayor Rimando expressed his continued support for the programs extended to their municipality. “As the father of this town, wala na akong ibang masasabi kundi masayang masaya talaga tayo! (As the father of this town, I have nothing else to say except that we are very happy!) We are so lucky, so fortunate, and we will always be proud of this engagement because I consider this as a lifetime achievement. Isa itong legacy, hindi na ito mawawala (This is a legacy, this will not be gone),” Rimando said. “You (AboitizPower) have that unparalleled and unbounded courage to take a risk, because you have to invest a big amount in this very unique school... We cannot overemphasize our profound gratitude,” he added. Upon completion of the science laboratory, around 350 students will benefit from the resources and infrastructure of the donated science lab. The post AboitizPower breaks ground on new Maco de Oro science lab appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
InLife receives its 18th LOMA Excellence in Education Award
Insular Life has received its 18th Life Office Management Excellence in Education Award for strongly promoting industry knowledge among its employees. The country’s largest Filipino life insurance company recently topped the 2023 recipients of this award for talent development through LOMA's professional designation programs. “InLife provides optimal learning and development opportunities to our employees so they can acquire and reinforce industry knowledge and skills, and in turn deliver competent service to our customers and stakeholders. InLife also supports industry-related professional education to help strengthen the industry,” InLife President and CEO Raoul Antonio E. Littaua said. With 18 LOMA Excellence in Education Awards, InLife has received the most number of this industry recognition than any other life insurance company worldwide. From the roster of awardees since 2018, only two other companies based in the US and India followed InLife with their 14th and 11th recognition, respectively. InLife’s latest LOMA Excellence in Education Award also positions the company among only 8% of the more than 800 LOMA member companies worldwide that qualified for the award this year. To qualify for the award, LOMA member companies must achieve a high percentage of successful completion on all designation program courses in 2022, and at least a 5% increase in course completion compared to 2021. InLife has been receiving this recognition since 1992. Last year, 148 InLife employees passed their program courses. InLife currently has 38 Fellows from the Life Management Institute program, a 10-course program that features management-oriented courses. The company also has three Fellows from the Secure Retirement Institute and 170 certificate holders from various management courses. LOMA is an international trade association that offers learning and development to member companies to improve the management and operations of the insurance and financial services industry. To know more, about Insular Life, visit www.insularlife.com.ph. The post InLife receives its 18th LOMA Excellence in Education Award appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BCDA marks new milestone
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority recently clinched two Gold Awards from the 2023 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards as the agency continues to intensify efforts on uniting people. The BCDA won the award for its innovative storytelling and creative design in the highly prestigious award. The “One Nation, One Legacy” BCDA annual report series from 2019 to 2021 was awarded the Gold Stevie Award for Innovation in Annual Reports. Meanwhile, the annual report of “We Build As One” garnered the Gold Stevie Award for Innovation in Government Publications. According to BCDA president and chief executive officer Aileen R. Zosa, these awards signify additional feathers to BCDA’s cap, three years after winning two bronze medals in the 2020 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards for the 2018 Annual Report, “Clark. It Works. Like A Dream,” and the BCDA external newsletter, “Collective.” She added that the annual report is an important tool to connect the BCDA and its stakeholders as the agency continues to look for ways to make their content more accessible and engaging. “With these publications, we ask our readers to look beyond the data and see how BCDA’s accomplishments are also the accomplishments of the Filipino people. All these, while not forgetting to exercise transparency and accuracy in reporting our financial performance, as is our duty as a government institution,” Zosa said. “We are happy and very honored that the vastly prominent Stevie Awards has recognized our efforts. This inspires us to carry on with our task of ensuring effective communication with our stakeholders, including the military, our investors, and the public,” she added. Adopting elements of a lifestyle magazine both in terms of content and design, BCDA’s One Nation, One Legacy annual report series tells the story of BCDA and how its projects have impacted Filipinos before, during, and after the Covid-19 pandemic. The reports include human-interest stories anchored on corporate governance, business development, project management, and corporate social responsibility initiatives to communicate BCDA’s role as a catalyst of national growth and provider of economic opportunities for Filipinos. “We Win As One” (2019) featured New Clark City’s world-class sports complex completed in record time for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. “We Heal As One” (2020) focused on BCDA’s role in the whole-of-nation approach in dealing with the pandemic and lastly, “We Build As One” (2021) highlighted how BCDA exercised political will amid a crippling health crisis to push for the completion of big-ticket infrastructure projects, such as the Clark International Airport terminal. The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all 29 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. The post BCDA marks new milestone appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
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