Aboitiz infrastructure forms JV for common towers
Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. has formed a joint venture with global private markets firm, Partners Group, for the establishment of a telecommunications infrastructure platform called Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc......»»
Phl’s EV manufacturing, digital push seen to create 2M jobs
In response to the nation's expanding electric vehicle market, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has requested the Private Sector Advisory Council to provide a list of recommendations to address the need for green energy. During the fourth meeting of the PSAC Job Sector Groups in Malacañang earlier this week, Marcos stated that the nation is joining the global EV chain because of its potential for the local industry. However, the President pointed out that the nation's efforts to develop an EV industry may run into difficulties due to consumers' desire for power to come from renewable sources. In reply, the PSAC-JSG promised to look into the concept more thoroughly and to keep collaborating with their consultants in order to present the President with an improved strategy. Additionally, the PSAC-JSG has endorsed the administration's goal for the manufacture of vehicles, which includes EVs and internal combustion engines, and has suggested that data-driven case studies be conducted to identify the best prospects in the EV value chain. Supporting the government's push for EV manufacturing, the council's latest proposals include looking into 17 downstream and upstream industrial growth prospects, including mining within the EV value chain. By 2026, it is anticipated that EV sales will surpass non-EV sales globally, drastically altering a century-old sector. Many car parts will last as EV adoption increases, but some of the most expensive ones will need to be replaced. One of every four locally built components specifically for internal combustion engines is among 17 common automotive components now being produced in the Philippines. The Philippines has the fourth-highest copper reserves in the world, and by 2027, three factories will have 10 times more copper produced. The country enjoys a regional edge in the production of batteries, parts and raw materials due to its convenient access to natural resources like copper and nickel, as well as its capacity for in-house processing and production. Job creation During the same meeting, Marcos and the PSAC-Job Sector Group discussed several projects that will create over two million direct employment by 2028. PSAC-JSG made recommendations and activities that they believed would help in increase the number of job possibilities available to Filipinos. The group also informed Marcos about the IT and Business Process Association Philippines and PSAC's suggested roadmap to make the Philippines "a global leader in the digital domain." According to a news release from the PSAC, the focused strategy outlined in the proposed roadmap is expected to create one million new IT-BPM jobs by 2028, for a total of 2.5 million employment opportunities. “These positions will, in turn, stimulate the generation of at least 550,000 new IT-BPM jobs in the countryside and 6.3 million indirect job opportunities across various industries, such as food, logistics, real estate, retail, and transportation. The ripple effect of this initiative is expected to contribute to the nation's economic development significantly,” PSAC said. Sabin Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer of Aboitiz Group and principal convenor of the PSAC, stated that the proposed roadmap is expected to provide P169 billion in annual personal income tax and inject 8.9 percent growth into the Philippines' gross domestic product, citing data from the IBPAP. "This transformative undertaking exemplifies a commitment to harnessing the potential of the Filipino workforce and leveraging technology for the nation's progress,” Aboitiz said. The post Phl’s EV manufacturing, digital push seen to create 2M jobs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz Group furthers ‘Great Transformation’ into 2023
The Aboitiz Group has seen exceptional performance in the first half of 2023, showcasing its "Great Transformation" into the Philippines’ first techglomerate. Leveraging innovation as well as synergies across its diverse business portfolio, the group has solidified its position as a trailblazer of industry. With a strong foundation in place, the Aboitiz Group eagerly sets its sights on forthcoming projects that promise further success and innovation. AboitizPower. The Aboitiz Group’s holdings in power generation and distribution, AboitizPower, continues to support the country’s energy transition and socioeconomic development with its diverse portfolio of thermal and renewable energy power plants, as well as internationally certified asset management capabilities from its distribution utilities. With close to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of ongoing and disclosed energy projects, it is en route to accomplishing its 10-year growth strategy of having at least 9,200 MW in its generation portfolio equally split between RE and thermal sources of energy by the next decade. This journey includes the development of the 17 MW Tiwi Binary Geothermal Power Plant, the 94 MW Cayanga-Bugallon solar facility, and the 167 MW Laoag solar facility. AboitizPower is also looking to begin the construction of its Calatrava Solar project and Olongapo Solar project within the year. These RE investments are complemented by other developments in Battery Energy Storage Systems, like the SN Aboitiz Power 24 MW Magat Battery in Isabela, which — much like the commercially operational 49 MW Maco Battery in Davao de Oro — will help provide regulating and contingency reserve power to the country’s grids. Subsidiaries. Meanwhile, subsidiaries Davao Light and Power Company, Visayan Electric Company, Cotabato Light and Power Company and Subic EnerZone Corporation were the first power DUs in the Philippines to be certified with an ISO 55001:2014 certification for Asset Management, an international standard that attests to the efficiency of how they manage the lifecycle of their assets, i.e., power lines, transformers and substations. This validates the reliability of their services and strengthens the uninterrupted provision of electricity in their respective service areas. Efficient asset management is essential for DUs to successfully manage their infrastructure and optimize maintenance and costs, thereby ensuring regulatory compliance and a reliable bridge between transmission lines and businesses, communities and homes. UnionBank. Union Bank of the Philippines continues on its trajectory of becoming a Great Retail Bank as it has consistently been recognized as one of Asia’s leading companies. Among the many recognitions for the 1st half of 2023 that UnionBank has reaped are: Best Retail Bank in Southeast Asia (Cfi.co), 4-time Best Retail Bank in the PH (The Asian Banker) and 6-time Digital Bank of the Year PH (The Asset). In line with its nation-building “Tech-UP Pilipinas” advocacy, UnionBank’s strategic partnerships have been focused on digitization as an essential element for client success. UnionBank’s determination to be an enabler of the Philippines’ bid to be a G20 country by 2050 is apparent as it continues to nurture and grow its diverse client portfolio that includes corporate, MSME, high net worth as well as local and national government entities. As a recognized trailblazer that embraces technological innovations that empower its customers, UnionBank together with its digital banking arm UnionDigital Bank (UnionDigital), fintech arm UBX and thrift arm City Savings Bank (CitySavings) showcased its expertise in artificial intelligence at the first AI Summit PH 2023 last May. The first half of the year also saw UnionBank’s commitment to offering clients amazing and exclusive experiences through partnerships with Live Nation (for world-tour concerts) and GMG productions (for the Hamilton musical). “The investments we made last year have exceeded our expectations. UnionDigital is already profitable after less than a year in operation. There is strong momentum in the acquired credit cards business from Citi. New-to-bank card customers are at a record level. We are geared up to grow our retail banking business. Our infrastructure is ready for scale. We have sufficient capital coming from the recent stock rights offering to further grow our earning asset capital base,” said UnionBank president and CEO Edwin R. Bautista. Aboitiz InfraCapital. Aboitiz InfraCapital remains on track with its purpose of enabling businesses and uplifting communities. AIC Economic Estates maintains its position as the leader in industrial-anchored mixed-use development nationwide, with the largest footprint of developed industrial estates as well as the single largest privately owned industrial estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas– LIMA Estate. 2023 marked LIMA Estate’s 25th anniversary, as well as the 30th year of West Cebu Estate in Cebu. These estates are undergoing industrial and commercial expansion to accommodate more locators and create approximately 90,000 employment opportunities. Water business. For AIC’s water business units, Apo Agua can now produce safe and reliable water for the Davao City Water District’s water reservoirs. Apo Agua’s laboratory has also obtained accreditation for drinking water analysis from the Department of Health. AIC's LIMA Water, on the other hand, continues to operationally benefit from its SMART Water Network, leading to reduced fuel consumption and high facility uptime. Digital infrastructure. In the digital infrastructure landscape, Unity Digital Infrastructure completed the first closing of a total of 250 sites from its acquisition of over 1,000 telecom towers from Smart-PLDT and Globe Telecom. Additionally, Unity marked a major milestone by successfully co-locating three Mobile Network Operator tenants (Globe, Smart and DITO) in one of its towers in Cebu. The three-tenant tower is the first in the Philippines and showcases the effectiveness of the shared tower model in support of the government's drive to improve digital connectivity through the common tower initiative. Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Mactan-Cebu International Airport surpassed expectations with significant growth in passenger traffic, peaking at around 5 million passengers in the first half of this year, more than double the previous year. The resumption of major international routes, such as Shanghai and Taipei, and improved aircraft availability are expected to further boost traffic in the second half of the year. MCIA's excellence in promoting the airport and in ensuring customer experience was also recognized, as it received the Routes Asia 2023 Marketing Award in the 5 million category and became the first airport in the Philippines to be accredited by the Airports Council International for its Airport Customer Experience. The post Aboitiz Group furthers ‘Great Transformation’ into 2023 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz unit deal raises P1.4B for Globe
Globe Telecom Inc. has initially raised P1.4 billion from the first tranche of its tower sale-and-leaseback deal with the Aboitiz-led Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc. In a report to the stock exchange on Tuesday, Globe clarified that the transaction only covered 115 out of 447 towers being sold. Likewise, it was pointed out that the first closing was reached after only two months since the parties signed the pact. Tower assets The tower assets involved in the agreement are composed of 94 percent ground-based towers and 6 percent rooftop towers in Luzon. According to Globe chief finance officer Rizza Maniego-Eala, the development will help strengthen the company’s financial muscle, especially as it aims to further expand its reach and improve its services. “Our deal with Unity and corresponding first closing of tower sale today is aligned with our efforts to enhance customer experience and to develop operational agility and efficient calibration of resources,” Eala said. Aboitiz to accelerate digital inclusion Meanwhile, for Aboitiz InfraCapital president and CEO Cosette V. Canilao, the transaction will complement the entire Aboitiz Group’s bid to accelerate digital inclusion. “Aboitiz InfraCapital is committed to our role of nation-building through infrastructure. As we forge ahead in the local common tower market. we look forward to building a more connected future for all Filipinos,” Canilao said. Unity Digital Infrastructure is a joint venture telecom infra platform by Aboitiz InfraCapital of the Aboitiz Group and leading global private markets firm, Partners Group, acting on behalf of its clients. Amid an ongoing town assets monetization, Globe has already raised P49.3 billion — reaching about 51 percent of the tower deal by officially turning over the ownership of 3,826 out of 7,506 towers sold. The post Aboitiz unit deal raises P1.4B for Globe appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Knowledge Channel, AboitizPower lead support for more mobile libraries
The Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. recently partnered with Aboitiz Power Corp. and Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s business-to-business clientele in providing Knowledge Channel Portable Media Libraries to partner schools. These schools were given a KC Portable Media Library — consisting of an external hard drive containing more than 1,500 Department of Education-aligned, curriculum-based video lessons and digital materials — and a 43-inch smart TV with a built-in Knowledge Channel app. Along with the tools, in-person and virtual technical training were conducted to help equip teachers in maximizing the learning resources they received. AboitizPower customer-corporations who contributed to the project were NEO, JTekt Philippines Corporation, Cargill Bulacan, Cargill Pulilan, Pascual Laboratories Inc., Philippine Resins Industries Inc. Mabuhay Interflour Mills Inc. and Embarcadero Land Ventures Inc. Meanwhile, partner schools include Gat Andres Bonifacio Elementary School, Santiago National High School, Baliuag Central School, Rufino A. Cruz Memorial Elementary School, Gat Francisco Balagtas High School, Josephine Khonghun SPED Center, Mariveles National High School Batangas II and Barangay 17 Child Development Center Day. “I’m very proud that at this moment our partners are at our side to help our youth… To have these digital learning modalities go into our schools is a very rare opportunity,” Baliuag South Central School Principal III Rosalie S. Santos said in the vernacular. “Because of the Knowledge Channel, visuals and thereby learning are also made more appealing to kids.” “Thanks to AboitizPower, this project was able to reach us. The words ‘thank you’ are inadequate for our overflowing gratitude for your support in helping improve education,” she added. By establishing these initiatives, KCFI continues to be at the forefront of helping improve education by developing educational video resource libraries, as well as enhancing partnerships and programs for teachers and other child development stakeholders. These educators are also able to save time as they are spared the task of scanning books, editing videos and creating presentations. “Accessibility to learning is a common challenge across public schools in the country. We thank our partners from various industries and KCFI for helping us leverage multimedia resources and innovative tools to help improve the quality and accessibility of education,” said AboitizPower first vice president-head of Retail James Byron Yu. AboitizPower and its partners continue to support public schools across the Philippines by helping improve the quality of education and welfare of students through greater access to media and technology. The Knowledge Channel accepts donations through BPI Acct. No. 0201-0409-14. More information about the organization can be learned through their website knowledgechannel.org. The post Knowledge Channel, AboitizPower lead support for more mobile libraries appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Inaugural AI summit sets stage for Phl future redefined by AI
Aboitiz Data Innovation, the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence arm of the Aboitiz Group, successfully held the inaugural AI Summit in the Philippines from 10 to 11 May 2023 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Pasay, Philippines. In partnership with Union Bank of the Philippines, Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Google Cloud, the groundbreaking event broke open the discussion and incited action on shaping the future of the country with AI. The summit brought together over 1,000 industry professionals from various sectors, marking a significant milestone in the country’s technological landscape. The Aboitiz Group is currently undergoing a "Great Transformation" to become the Philippines’ first "techglomerate" with ADI at its forefront, operationalizing DSAI to transform data into business and sustainability outcomes to better serve the needs of its customers and stakeholders. The "AI Summit PH 2023: Redefining the Future with AI" forum featured real-world use cases of data being turned into actionable insights and deep-dived into discussions on the challenges, opportunities and advancements within the AI and tech space. The AI Summit PH 2023 was opened with a captivating keynote speech titled “Reimagining a Sustainable and Equitable Philippines with AI” delivered by Third District of Negros Occidental Representative and Housing and Urban Development Chairperson Jose Francisco Benitez. In his address, Benitez highlighted the pivotal role of technological innovation in promoting national development, as heralded by the Philippine constitution. He emphasized the need for collective action in equipping the people with the necessary skills and fostering innovation to adapt, compete and flourish in a brave new world. “A digital future is our national destiny. Let us work together to harness its benefits for all,” Benitez said. [caption id="attachment_132920" align="aligncenter" width="1501"] Third District of Negros Occidental Representative and Housing and Urban Development chairperson Jose Francisco Benitez inspired the crowd at the AI Summit PH 2023 with his message on the power of AI and innovation in promoting national development. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ABOITIZ)[/caption] Through a series of engaging events, including talks, fireside chats, panel discussions, knowledge sessions and networking opportunities, the AI Summit PH 2023 provided a platform for industry leaders, tech innovators and game-changers to share valuable insights and actionable use cases of AI implementation. Attendees were exposed to a diverse range of topics, exploring the immense potential of AI in revolutionizing various sectors, driving sustainable urban development, transforming financial services, powering sustainable smart cities and operationalizing DSAI. Google Cloud Southeast Asia’s Regional Customer Solutions Manager Richard Coombes delivered a presentation on how Google is bringing AI to users, business and society. He also participated in a panel discussion on Generative AI with leaders from ADI and Amazon Web Services. Tiffany Adriana, Google Data Analytics - Southeast Asia Customer Solution Consultant joined experts from Connected Women and KPMG Philippines to discuss data-driven foundations with a focus on data literacy and inclusion. The AI Summit PH 2023 also served as an exceptional platform for networking and collaboration, fostering connections among industry professionals, entrepreneurs and visionaries. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with tech innovators and game-changers, expanding their professional networks and exploring potential partnerships. During the two-day summit, ADI and Connected Women launched its partnership on empowering the latter’s members to take on advanced services such as data handling, language annotation and image annotation for ADI’s Data Science and Artificial intelligence projects. ADI and Mila’s partnership on building responsible AI solutions for the power sector was also announced during the Summit through a ceremonial signing. Mila, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, focuses its mission on core research areas such as health, environment and climate change, and AI ethics. Mila extends its expertise and leadership in AI to deliver advances that will benefit all of society. On the financial services front, LBC Express, Inc., ADI and UnionBank signed a tripartite agreement to champion financial sustainability at the inaugural AI Summit. Through this initiative, LBC clients will have access to small business financing from UnionBank to help finance their expansion plans. The SeekCap Embedded Scoring Agreement was also signed by UBX and ADI during the event. “Let me congratulate Aboitiz Data Innovation on spearheading the first Artificial Intelligence Summit. We laud your efforts in forging our path to national advancement through technological research and innovation as you forge strong partnerships in the field of technology,” shared Vice President of the Philippines Sara Z. Duterte in an official statement. “This active pursuit to explore artificial intelligence and find ways to use it positively for progress facilitates a culture of futures-thinking and preparedness in society,” she added. On the second day of the summit, Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy presented an overview of the DSAI landscape in the Philippines and future prospects of these technologies within the country. Uy said, “Digital transformation is about constantly adapting and optimizing new solutions to the ever-changing needs of society, and it starts with deeper and more meaningful partnerships between the government and the private sector. And we all share a common goal of transforming the country and accelerating its progress through the use of all these emerging technologies.” Dr. David R. Hardoon, Chief Executive Officer of ADI, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming response to the first-ever AI Summit in the country and the active participation of industry and government leaders and diverse professionals. “We are thrilled with the success of the AI Summit, which surpassed our expectations in terms of attendance and engagement. This event truly showcases the potential of AI to revolutionize industries and drive sustainable development in the Philippines. We are proud to have provided a platform for meaningful discussions and collaborations that will shape the future of AI in the Philippines,” stated Hardoon. ADI plans to build on the success of the AI Summit PH 2023 and continue driving AI innovation to transform businesses and government and advance communities in the Philippines and beyond. They remain committed to advancing AI technologies, fostering industry partnerships and empowering businesses to harness the transformative power of AI for sustainable growth and development. ### The post Inaugural AI summit sets stage for Phl future redefined by AI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz infrastructure forms JV for common towers
Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. has formed a joint venture with global private markets firm, Partners Group, for the establishment of a telecommunications infrastructure platform called Unity Digital Infrastructure Inc......»»
Aboitiz to venture into small cell business
Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. is venturing into the small cell network business to supplement its common tower venture......»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»
PNVF forms coaching sataff for world meet
Seasoned coach Dante Alinsunurin will make a comeback as one of the deputies for the national men’s team as host Philippines pulls out all the stops to parade a competitive squad against the best of the best in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025......»»
Infrastructure projects get better loan terms from Japan
The Philippines has secured better financing terms for two big-ticket infrastructure projects funded by the Japanese government aimed at improving public transport and road connectivity......»»
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. to hold Annual Stockholders Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURES INC. (the "Company") will be held on April 22, 2024, Monday at 11:00 a.m. (the "2024 ASM”)......»»
Aboitiz Power Corporation to hold Annual Stockholders Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of ABOITIZ POWER CORPORATION (the "Company") will be held on April 22, 2024, Monday at 9:30 a.m. (the "2024 ASM")......»»
Globe closed on an additional P1.16-B in tower sales
Globe Telecom, the Zobel Family’s telecommunications company, disclosed that it closed on the sale of another 91 cell towers to Frontier Towers to raise approximately P1.16 billion in cash......»»
Miss Universe Philippines releases statement condemning cyberbullying of delegates
The Miss Universe Philippines organization released a statement condemning the act of cyberbullying in all its forms......»»
Globe gets P5 billion from sale of towers
Telco-to-tech provider Globe Telecom Inc. raised almost P5 billion from the sale of towers in the first quarter, providing it with some of the capital needed to upgrade services and pay debts......»»
Aboitiz Power Corporation: Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of ABOITIZ POWER CORPORATION (the "Company") will be held on April 22, 2024, Monday at 9:30 a.m. (the "2024 ASM")......»»
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.: Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of ABOITIZ EQUITY VENTURES INC. (the "Company") will be held on April 22, 2024, Monday at 11:00 a.m. (the "2024 ASM”)......»»
UnionDigital Bank revenue grows to over P5 billion
UnionDigital Bank, the digital banking arm of Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines, saw its revenue grow to over P5 billion in 2023 mainly driven by higher deposits and loans......»»
Acciona advocates water conservation
Acciona, a global sustainable infrastructure company, recently launched its water conservation campaign to raise awareness among young children and empower them to become stewards of the vital resource......»»
'There s today momentum in India which has to be experienced to be believed': Jaishankar in Singapore
Singapore, March 23 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said there's today momentum in India which has to be experienced to be believed and the country is going to be a much bigger economy in the coming years. Jaishankar, who reached Singapore earlier today as part of his three-nation visit, said apart from increase in ease of living and ease of doing business, India is ramping up its infrastructure.....»»