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Business
Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net
HITACHI LAUNCHES HOSPITAL MACHINES
By Ryan Carlos Gamilla
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FILIPINOS TAP GPS TO CHANGE RAIL SYSTEM
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Filipino team has developed a GPSpowered, cloud-based information system that allows passengers to see the trains’ status, location, arrival and departure schedule. Soon, the team plans to use the same technology to overhaul the train signaling system currently used across the world.
The Passenger Assist Rail Display System or Pards, designed by Filipino tech company TrackMate Business Solutions Inc., drew admiration from passengers of Light Rail Transit Line 2 where about 400 screens are already installed onboard to inform them about the status and locations of trains. Pards uses the global positioning system, a satellite-based navigation, to track the trains and put the information on highdefinition screen. A team of European rail executives will visit the Philippines this month to check the system and study how it can be replicated around the world. “It is a GPS and graphic interface. Basically, we can give information on speed, location and other important information that you can find using GPS. The premise for the whole thing is that commuters are complaining a lot on social media about the trains and we realize that the bottomline is that they do not know what is happening. We aim to solve that by creating a communication line between the train operator and the passengers. Hence, we created the project Pards,” TrackMate marketing manager Cielo Remorin says in an interview. “It is like a TV network and signaling system combined together. We have 10 screens per coach, or 40 screens per train, or a total of 400 in LRT Line 2,” says Lemuel dela Cruz, the 44-year-old chief executive of TrackMate. TrackMate installed Pards along LRT 2 at no cost to the government, says Remorin. Its business model is based on sponsorships by companies that want to promote products or services through commercials or ads on the system. Dan Palami, chief executive of railway engineering company Autre Porte Global Inc., says Pards has the potential to become a full-blown train signaling system that can bring down the cost of railway operation. “When they presented it to me, on the commercial side, I told them it offers a much bigger potential in signaling system,” Palami says. “The ballpark figure for a train signaling system is probably $70 million. With this, we are looking at maybe a maximum of $20 million for the system.” Several companies are now reportedly looking at GPS-powered solutions as the next stage of train signaling system, in place of traditional axle counter sensors which are costly and which take a lot of time to install. TrackMate has already submitted an application for a utility model intellectual property right for Pards to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. Remorin says as a passenger information system, it
TrackMate Business Solutions Inc. chief executive Lemuel dela Cruz (right) and marketing manager Cielo Remorin can flash information on the screen such as the expected time of arrival, expected time of departure and actual location of the train. “If the train operators have a quick announcement that they want to do in real-time, we can do that,” she says. TrackMate is an information technology company based in Madrigal Business Park in Alabang, Muntinlupa City which employs 40 professionals to provide GPS solutions to transport and logistics companies. “We really are engaged in creating software to manage trucks, buses that are powered by GPS. That system is now applied to trains. What you see on the screen is real-time. It has a location component. Passengers would be able to know where the train is in real time,” Remorin says. She says the first phase of the project—the installation of a dynamic, onboard passenger information display system across all train sets was completed in June, while the second phase involves the release of mobile application for passengers and Light Rail Transit Authority to monitor train schedule and passenger flow. The project also includes installation of a command center that allows LRTA to monitor train performance, passenger flow, with actual images, in real time. “The fun part is the command center [for operators]. Anywhere they are, the officials can check the snapshots from CCTV and actual status of the train on their smartphones. We also have a map that summarizes the line. We can set parameters on what need their attention,” Remorin says. Remorin says that aside from LRT Line 2, TrackMate also presented the project to Light Rail Manila Corp., the operator of LRT Line 1, and the response was positive. A passenger satisfaction survey of the three rail lines—MRT 3, LRT Line 1 and LRT Line 2—show that commuters using LRT Line 2 are the most satisfied. “LRT Line 2 topped the survey. And Pards is one of the
components mentioned by satisfied passengers,” says Palami. Palami says a new signaling system based on Pards can easily replace the old system used along MRT 3. The new trains from China cannot be deployed on the line, because their designs are not compatible with the current signaling system which is used to guide the original Czechmade trains. “We can solve the problem of compatibility. Even if new trains arrive, we can integrate them in our new signaling system. It is at present an information system, but it can migrate to a signaling system because it is GPS based,” says Palami. “When I saw the technology, we studied it and we have been able to come up with a better version that it could actually allow the system to become a signaling system.” “Signaling system is a safety feature to manage the traffic of trains so that they will not collide with one another. The signaling system, through the control center, will show the distance between the trains and where all the trains are. When the trains are nearing the other trains, there is a red light warning the driver that he is not supposed to go. The driver has to follow that and stop. If the driver does not follow, the automatic train protection will kick in that will force the emergency brake,” says Palami. Palami says Pards can fulfill all those functions. Under its proposal, TrackMate will equip all trains with GPS devices and will build its own communication network for better coverage. “We will know where all the trains are,” he says. Dela Cruz says it is TrackMate that first harnessed the potential of GPS for the use of train operators and passengers. “Two years ago, we presented the idea to Singapore. They saw its potential for signaling system, but it took them two years. Now, they are also doing a pilot project,” he says. At the moment, Remorin says passengers will benefit a lot from Pards as an information system. “We can inform passengers once a train breaks down. We can also show the flow of passengers. Awareness is what we are trying to achieve. Services become better if passengers are well informed,” she says. Roderick T. dela Cruz
JAPANESE company Hitachi Ltd. and local partner Himex Corp. have launched three state-ofthe-art hospital machines in the Philippines. H itachi M edical Systems, the healthcare unit of Hitachi, introduced the superconductive magnetic resonance imaging Echelon Smart, three -dimensional breast ultrasound system Sofia and ultrasound scanner Aloca Arrieta 850. Himex Corp. or High Integrated Medical Engineering Exponent makes it possible for local hospitals and medical practitioners to get their hands on the new equipment. “All of our experiences being in the industry for the past 27 years and the partnership with H itachi M edical Cor p. have strengthened our position to continue to deliver quality and highly technical equipment with strong emphasis on our role as healthcare provider,” says Rema Ohno, the president and chief executive of Himex. The first product is Hitachi’s 1.5T superconductive MRI Echelon Smart which combines the benefits of low operating cost and optimal image performance available in highend superconductive systems. “The Hitachi Echelon Smart, a 1.5t superconductive MRI system providing high quality imaging together with a patient-friendly examination environment, it is a smart system, which is very balance in terms of performance and cost,” says Dinesh Mehra, modality manager of Hitachi Medical Systems. Meanwhile, breast ultrasound Sofia is an automated 3D breast ultrasound system that solves all the economic and logistic c h a l l e n g e s a s s o c i ate d w i t h whole -breast ultrasound by using a full-field radial scanning method. “Sofia is all about automated process making it extremely reliable, consistent and reproducible,” says Dawn Koo, clinical applications manager of Hitachi. Aloka-Arrieta 850, a premium ultrasound scanner, features superior image quality, seamless wo r k f l ow, a n d a d va n ce d applications. I t has a single crystal transducers with high quality imaging adapted for a variety of examinations. “So what does single crystal d o e s fo r y o u c o m p a r e d t o conventional transducer is that it can give you the best image quality, best penetration and good color,” says William Kok, general manager of H itachi Medical Systems Singapore. Hitachi Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society’s challenges. It is a global leader in the social innovation business, and it has 335,000 employees worldwide.
DISTRIBUTION UTILITIES EXPLAIN ‘SYSTEM LOSS’ DISTRIBUTION utilities such as Manila Electric Co. said electricity consumers have the right to know the different charges included in the electricity bill, including what is referred to as ‘system loss’. According to Meralco’s data, the system loss charge accounted for around 3 percent of the electricity bill of a household using 200 kilowatthours a month. While relatively small, the consumer still deserves to know what exactly the system loss is, how it is calculated and if it could be brought down. Two types of system loss There are two types of system loss, the
first being technical loss arising from the characteristics of electrical equipment and materials in the physical delivery of electric energy, including conductor loss and transformer core loss. In the energy industry, when electricity is transported or transmitted through high power lines from a power generation company 100 kilometers away to a private distribution utility or electric cooperative, there is transmission system loss. Thus, a 1,000-MW output from a generator may become only 980 MW once it finally reaches the DU or EC. When electricity received by the DU or EC is converted for distribution to houses, factories and offices, there is also distribution system
loss. System loss is inherent in the delivery of electric service—it is not possible to provide electric service without the distribution system incurring some form of energy loss. A proportion of the energy being delivered will always be dissipated as heat and noise. As the distribution system stands ready to deliver power at the moment needed, the distribution system incurs losses even when no electric energy is actually being drawn by a customer. The only way to zero-out system loss in the power system is to turn the power off. Such losses cannot be eliminated and there are technical and economic limits
to the level to which it can be reduced. Solutions for technical loss reduction include using bigger wires in bringing electricity to households. However, projects like these are capital intensive so DUs have to seek the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission first before implementation. The second type of system loss is referred to as non-technical loss caused by actions external to the power system and consists primarily of electricity theft or pilferage. These losses are highly dependent on the country’s socioeconomic situation, and thus, not entirely within the utility’s control. DUs and ECs continue to fight electricity
theft and pilferage because of its negative effects. Illegal connections, especially in depressed areas, can oftentimes lead to electrical accidents and fires. Overloaded power lines and transformers due to unregistered consumption could also lead to accidents and brownouts that affect everybody in the community. DUs and ECs have taken to elevating electric meters on high installations just to keep them away from power pilferers. However, this has reportedly been not enough to prevent a determined power pilferer. Even the threat of imprisonment for violation of Republic Act No. 7832 (AntiElectricity Pilferage Act of 1994) has not Turn to C2
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2017 business@manilastandard.net
BULGOGI FAVORITE KOREAN RESTAURANT BULGOGI Brothers was once again c h o s e n a s t h e “ Favo r i te K o re a n Restaurant” and will now be elevated to the Philippines People’s Choice Awards’ Hall of Fame for being an undisputed favorite in the category for three consecutive years. Accepting the award during the World Food Expo at SMX Mall of Asia recently were Bulgogi Brothers Newport general manager Dan Adriano and The Bistro Group Shared Services Inc. marketing manager Chanky Tiangco, representing Bulgogi Brothers and The Bistro Group. “We are deeply honored and grateful for this award. Thank you to the organizers for this recognition, and to all guests who have voted and affirmed our leadership in the Korean casual dining segment,” Tiangco said. The Philippine People’s Choice Awards is a result of the popular vote or the “people’s favorite” in an online voting conducted over a three-week period via a popular food and travel blog. A franchise from South Korea, Bulgogi Brothers was brought to the Philippines in 2011 by The Bistro Group, the same company that manages and operates TGIFridays, Italianni’s, Dennys, Texas Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Village Tavern and Fish & Co.
INSULAR LIFE HEAD AMONG OUTSTANDING UP ALUMNI INSULAR Life president and chief operating officer Mona Lisa de la Cruz received this year’s University of the Philippines Alumni Association’s distinguished alumni award in financial management excellence. De la Cruz was given the award during UPAA’s general alumni homecoming on Aug. 19. She was recognized for her leadership, achievements and contributions in the financial services industry, particularly in life insurance. She is the first woman to rise to the position of president in Insular Life’s over 100-year history. Her rise from technical assistant to head of the mass marketing division to president has been the result of over 35 years of hard work, diligence, commitment, continuous professional and personal improvement and immersion in various areas of insurance operations. Over the years, she has directed many enhancements in areas like product pricing, risk management, systems and procedures, technology infrastructure, customer service and people development. As she assumed higher positions, she focused on operational excellence across the organization. She created a culture of continuous improvement in process and technology, skills and capabilities, performance management, mindset and behavior. The UPAA Distinguished Alumni Awards are conferred on alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary achievements and excellent contributions in their chosen fields that bring about substantial benefits to society and distinct honor to the nation’s top university.
DISTRIBUTION... From B1 deterred those pilferers. Electricity pilferage has become an attractive business venture for professional pilferers who have managed to transform themselves into big syndicates offering illegal services to big businessmen who want to steal electricity and save on costs at the expense of honest and paying consumers. Despite the enactment of Republic Act No. 7832, pilferage of electricity has not stopped, albeit, has become more sophisticated, and the combined efforts of law enforcement agencies and utilities are certainly not enough to curb it, leaving consumers practically helpless. In a recent Senate committee on energy hearing on system losses of DUs, committee chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said: “After two hearings and all the briefings, it became apparent that the non-technical losses cannot be zero. It can be reduced but looking forward maybe 10 years or even 20 years down the road, it’s impossible to make it zero.” “I think that’s because of culture and also economics,” the senator said. Since losses are inherent in the delivery of electric energy, it is common practice for electricity-regulating agencies around the world to allow utilities to include
Monolith Growth Ventures Pte. Ltd. founder and managing director Kenn Francis Costales
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FILIPINO MILLENNIAL WINS GLOBAL CLIENTS
27-year-old Filipino entrepreneur, who used to work for Procter & Gamble’s regional headquarters in Singapore where he helped relaunch the Safeguard brand, is now making a mark in the field of digital marketing, with Australian, US and European companies as his first clients.
In its first year of operation, Monolith Growth Ventures Pte. Ltd., a company established by Kenn Francis Costales and incorporated in Singapore, realized P6 million in revenues and employed seven full-time staff in the Philippines earning in Singapore dollars. “Monolith is a digital marketing agency. What we do is in the digital space. One part of it is ad buying. We also do copy writing and design,” Costales says in an interview at a coffee shop in Mandaluyong City. “One of the reasons why we first served US clients was because they are already prepared for digital marketing. They are asking for it. And the sales cycle—or the process from contacting a lead to closing them—is very short at five to eight weeks. In the Philippines, it is different. You have to talk to the vice president, and you have to educate them on the benefits of digital marketing. It will take five to eight months,” he says. “Our clients are mostly based in the United States and Australia. But we are now starting to look at the Philippines,” says Costales, who grew up in Davao City. He studied in Ateneo de Manila University where he obtained Bachelor of Arts in Economics, a degree loaded with Math and statistics, he says. That enabled him to land a job in P&G, one of the world’s largest consumer good companies. P&G hired him as a fresh graduate of Ateneo in 2011 for his analytical skills and after passing a sevenstep interview process. He became a foreign direct hire in Singapore where he would stay and work for the next four and a half years. At P&G, Costales led the global brand refresh of Safeguard in China, the Philippines, Pakistan and Mexico which generated $25 million in additional revenue for the business in its first year. He also led the business turnaround for Gillette Bangladesh which grew 50 percent in seven months and was responsible for revamping the pricing and distribution strategy for Olay Philippines. Costales says his stint at P&G armed him with knowledge on finance and legal services. “Brand
management at P&G is not just marketing, but about everything. You learn about finance, legal and R&D. A brand manager is a business manager also,” he says. Once he had enough savings, he left his prestigious job to pursue his original dream of establishing his own business. “Ever since I was 14 or 15, I wanted to go to business. I want to have the flexibility that other entrepreneurs enjoy. I realize that businessmen could be flexible with their time. So I decided that once I’m old enough and once I have enough experience, I am going to run my own business,” says Costales, who finished grade school and high school at Ateneo de Davao. To prepare for his own business, Costales learned programming and coding. Armed with new skills, he tried several ventures, including a ride services application in Cebu, but they did not take off as fast as he hoped. “My long-term goal is to play into software, because digital and software are the future,” he says. “There are other side projects that also failed. I partnered with a few people before, but our projects did not work out. Good thing I had my savings which I projected would last for two years. I invested in mutual funds and forex,” he says. Costales also started a blog on growth hacking, which is about digital marketing. “It came to a point that some people were asking my advice and help for marketing. I started getting requests through my blog, asking if I were offering services? I said okay, why not? That’s how Monolith started,” he says. “For some reason, people from the US and Australia were the ones who asked for my services,” says Costales. Monolith was incorporated in Singapore. “Compared to the Philippines, the process of incorporation is much faster in Singapore.. There is an agency in Singapore that incorporates companies and provides accounting services. I engaged them and they informed me about the process for foreigners. Their only requirements were a virtual office address and a resident director who is based in Singapore,” says Costales. Costales describes Monolith as a digital marketing agency that helps clients increase their exposure in the digital space. The technology-enabled startup uses internal proprietary software to algorithmically optimize the marketing campaigns of clients for higher return on investments. It buys, develops and optimizes digital ads such as banner displays on Google, Facebook, Amazon and Bing for clients. In its first year of operations, Monolith helped more than 20 clients grow their online presence and exceed their revenue and ROI targets. Monolith generates about P600,000 to P700,000 in revenues a month, growing 30 percent to 40 percent every quarter. “For next year, we set a target like P50 million. But I really have to make it full blast,” says Costales.
“Most digital marketing agencies only focus on generating traffic and awareness for their clients through campaigns. We focus on our clients’ revenue and ROI by building the full marketing funnel that goes beyond mere advertising and involves landing page optimization and CRM [customer relationship management] development. We’ve also built internal ad optimization software to enable us to get more revenue, faster,” he says. Among his clients is The WOD Life AU, Australia’s leading fitness e-commerce brand which generated $1 million in additional revenue through Facebook ads in eight months with a 10-to-1 return on ad spend. “With our client in Australia, we did so well that they were able to hire their own marketing person. We helped them become so successful that they could hire their own marketing team. At least we had a good relationship with them. At the end of the day, the goal is to empower businesses to grow,” says Costales. In the US, Monolith helped Arthur Murray USA, the world’s largest chain of dance studios, generate three times more monthly qualified leads, which helped them further expand the chain in the Midwest. Now, Costales hopes to establish his name in his home country and give back to society by mentoring companies for their digital marketing efforts. He says it is easier to approach foreign clients because digital marketing is not yet fully developed in the Philippines. “If you are new, and you are still building your name, you have to give a lot. Once you get that first few clients, that would snowball. Reputation is getting built and you start to get referrals from clients. Only then can you charge higher. So we conduct workshops and speakerships in conferences. It is about building your reputation at first, and business will come afterwards eventually,” he says. “Local marketing in the Philippines is still more about likes, engagements, shares. So I think I can position myself with better offerings. While others offer likes or shares, we guarantee certain revenue numbers. I expect this positioning to help in better buying,” says Costales. Monolith uses a formula in computing the return on investment. “It is traffic times conversion rate. Conversion rate is the percentage of people who buy in their sites. It is different by industry and by price. The goal is the ROI,” he says. “Hopefully with that I can get more local leads. For the long term, I want local clients. It is more sustainable,” says Costales. Costales says he hopes to establish a local office in Fort Bonifacio within the year and set up a main office in Singapore where his girlfriend lives. “Eventually, I do plan to come back to Singapore. But my employees are here. In a way, it is my way of giving back to the country,” says Costales. Roderick T. dela Cruz
compensation for system losses as part of their regulated charges. Setting caps on system loss There have been several attempts over the years to limit or cap the distribution system loss that is passed on to consumers. In the 1990s, Congress enacted the AntiElectricity Pilferage Act of 1994, which set an initial cap on losses that was gradually reduced over time. In 2008, the ERC issued a resolution further reducing the cap to its present level of 8.5 percent for DUs and 13 percent for ECs. Now, there are proposed legislation in both Houses of Congress that want to bring down the cap still further. In fact, in the bills of Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Reps. Tiangco and Rodriguez, the proposal is to set the cap at zero percent for DUs and five percent for ECs. These measures are currently being deliberated upon by the energy committees of each House. The ERC also engaged the services of PowerSolv, an engineering consultancy consisting of University of the Philippines professors and experts in the field of electrical engineering, to develop a plan to bring down system loss for all DUs and ECs. According to PowerSolv, “the conversion or transport of energy cannot achieve 100-percent efficiency”. Hence, system loss cannot be totally eliminated. PowerSolv recommended to ERC a gradual reduction in caps from 2018 to
2021, after which a review will be made to determine the appropriate caps going forward. The recommendations are now undergoing public consultations nationwide. Bringing down system loss In order to meet more stringent system loss caps, DUs and ECs need to go on an intensive loss reduction program that would require massive capital and operational expenses. DUs and ECs will be forced to implement absurd projects just to meet an arbitrary lower cap, like the replacement of distribution lines and equipment with bigger facilities even
though these are still working perfectly. Based on documents submitted to the Senate, Angeles Electric Corp., the utility serving Angeles City, will need to spend P892 million if it is required to lower its system loss to just 5 percent. For Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company (serving Cagayan de Oro City), the cost would be P1.84 billion, and for Meralco, the cost would be a whopping P65.53 billion. These additional costs will more than offset any reduction in the system loss charge and, in fact, lead to power rate increases to customers. A t t h e s a m e t i m e, a d d i t i o n a l government resources will be needed
as more law enforcement agencies are called upon to conduct anti-electricity pilferage operations and clearing of illegal connections. Prof. Rowaldo Del Mundo of the University of the Philippines College of Engineering, during a Senate technical working group meeting on system losses, said that: “DUs will have to prepare a special capex plan specifically targeting how to [bring down losses]. And then they will go to the ERC for the approval of this capex plan and [it] will take a little bit of time for ERC to approve them all. And then after that, maybe all of them may be implemented in one year. But the impact cannot be immediately felt.” The 2016 “Power Statistics” of the Department of Energy show that the Philippines has gone a long way in lowering its transmission and distribution system losses. From as high as 12.9 percent in 2004, it went down to 9.1 percent in 2016. Further reductions will require a balance between the benefits of a lower system loss charge and the additional costs to be incurred in actually bring down the losses. The issue is complex, surrounded by numerous technical, economic, and social considerations. Experts in this field are expected to find the right balance “to ensure the quality, reliability, security and affordability of electric power” that consumers deserve.
LGUs 20,000 FAMILIES FED ON EID'L ADHA SOME 20,000 underprivileged families throughout the country today received beef supplies as two Filipino-Turkish non-government organizations mark the celebration of one of Islam’s most sacred feast days. San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez led the kick-off ceremonies with officials of the Integrated Center for Alternative Development and the Pacific Dialogue Foundation, Filipino-Turkish NGOs that foster secular education and inter-faith dialogue. In partnership with government agencies and socio-civic groups, the two NGOs have held the annual beef-sharing since 1997 to help indigent families. Since then, both NGOs have held this on Eid’l Adha for tens of thousands of families in different parts of the country like Baguio City, Zamboanga City, Cebu, Davao, and Metro Manila. On Eid’l Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice,” millions of Muslims around the world including the Philippines commemorated Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice his son to God who, moved by his devotion, provides a lamb to Abraham to be sacrificed instead. The account of Abraham’s devotion can be found in both the Holy Quran in the Muslim faith, and in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible in the Christian faith. Devout Muslims mark Eid‘l Adha by performing acts of charity and kindness for those in need and the less privileged. Both ICAD and PDF are non-stock and nonprofit foundations organized by Filipinos and Turkish nationals with the objective of closer ties between the Philippines and Turkey and the fostering of religious tolerance and multi-cultural exchange. The ICAD runs secular schools in Metro Manila and Zamboanga City that emphasize science and mathematics. They also participate in socio-civic projects and encourage inter-faith and multi-cultural dialogue to foster understanding and peace.
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SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT CORALS
ARINE biologists and experts recently put forward sciencebased solutions that address issues in coral protection in the country. In the recent forum on National Coral R&D Program, Wilfredo Roehl Y. Licuanan presented and discussed in his presentation—with the topic “Current Status of PH Coral Reefs and Prospects for the Near Future,” as he recommended to “fix the reef first before transplant.” Licuanan highlighted the current status of the Philippine coral reefs,” the importance of research for the conservation of corals, the exploration of our scientists and researchers of the Philippine Rise and its overall impact to the economy of the Philippines. “Reefs do not form overnight. They take thousands of years to develop,” he said adding that the coral reef crisis cannot be resolved by coral gardening as it is expensive and is not practical. Coral gardening is the cultivation of corals for commercial purposes or coral reef restoration. According to Licuanan, the method is also risky as instead of actually repairing the damaged coral reef, it might harm the reef even more. Organized by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources, particularly the Marine Resources Research Division headed by Mari-Ann M. Acedera, the forum was part of the recent 2017 National Science and Technology Week celebration. Another sad reality is that, he said, 80 percent of the coral mortality is actually caused by various human activities and not natural calamities. Take for example the case of the minesweeper ship USS Guardian that on Jan. 17, 2013 ran aground on the south atoll of the Tubbataha Reefs, a delicate
ecosystem in the Sulu Sea treasured for its rich marine biodiversity. The grounding damaged 2,345 square meters of coral on the reefs, considered a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. “The better thing to do is to take care of the remaining reefs,” he said. Patrick C. Cabaitan, also a speaker, discussed the topic ‘Sexual Production of Corals and Why Sex is not Enough?’ He said that studying coral reefs is essential to the economy of the Philippines as they also provide for the ecotourism of the country. He emphasized that scientific intervention is an important tool in coral production. “Corals reproduce through asexual and sexual means but sex is not enough for the corals,” he said. He suggested that researchers or anyone interested in studying corals pursue basic science to understand reefs; consider other ecological processes in conducting reef restoration efforts, and integrate restoration with management efforts. Meanwhile, Cesar L. Villanoy, in his talk entitled ‘Updates on the Oceanography of the Benham Rise’, discussed his past researches and the importance of understanding the movement of the waters around Philippines. His researches addressed pressing concerns of the country particularly in fisheries, harmful algal blooms, storm surges and other complex dynamics of archipelagic oceanography. He said that it’s vital to understand the movement of the waters and its temperature to be able to formulate policies with regards to management of the country’s marine resources. He also reminds everyone to always consider the processes that determine our physical environment in order to explain the ecology of organisms and the observed trends.
Hildie Maria E. Nacorda, in her talk entitled ‘On the Benham Bank Biodiversity: Taking Learning to the Next Step’, discussed the expeditions the Philippines has done to determine the economic potential of Benham Rise, now called the Philippine Rise. Though the two expeditions done in 2014 and 2016 have discovered the existence of marine species in the Philippine Rise, Nacorda said that further studies are needed to fully understand the potential of the rise. Initial findings of the nationwide assessment of Philippine coral reefs In relation to this call to the public of the marine experts to help in the preservation of the remaining coral reefs, DoST and Department of Environment and Natural Resources are working on a coral reef assessment throughout the country to create a National Coral Reef Status next year. This is because despite of the Philippine archipelago being well-known for its species-rich coral reefs, there is a lack of updated information on the present status of its coral reefs. The initial findings of the Nationwide Assessment of Philippine Coral Reefs by Licuanan, et al were published in the Philippine Journal of Science last June 2017. Reefs sampled were randomly selected from around the country, with the number of assessment stations for each of six biogeographic regions stratified by the total area of reefs in each of these regions. For two years, 166 reefs have been sampled. Based on live coral cover, more than 90 percent of the sampled reefs are in the poor and fair categories. So far, the mean hard coral cover of the country at 22 percent is comparable with that of the Indo-Pacific region, but much lower than previous estimates for the Philippines. These values indicate a marked decline in the condition of local reefs over the last four decades, thereby revealing the urgent need for the revision and update of conservation and management policies.
BATAAN, ZAMBALES MARKED AS POWER HUBS By Butch Gunio BALANGA CITY—The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is ready as Bataan and part of Zambales become power hub in the next five years, said a top officer of the transmission company. “We are ready and expediting the needed transmission lines here in Bataan and Zambales in anticipation that the area to become a power hub in the next five years,” said NGCP North Luzon District 5 head engineer Napoleon Viterbo told officers of Bataan Energy Press Corps during a recent media facility tour and orientation at BCCPP Substation in Limay, Bataan. “Aside from the existing ones that include GN Power Plant in Mariveles, there will be new power generators in the province, which we see operating in the next few years. In Subic, Zambales, there is to be built 600-magawatt RP Energy power plant,” he said. “The job of NGCP is to ensure that there will be available transmission facilities for these new power generators,” he explained. Earlier, NGCP Regional Corporate Communication officer Fely Francisco said NGCP will build Bataan 230-kV Reinforcement Project to accommodate the new power generation in the province. She also said the transmission company will be building 500-kV CastillejosHermosa transmission line and the 69-kV Floridablanca-Hermosa line project. She added they are finished with the documentation and ready to proceed with the building of the transmission projects.
IBALONG FESTIVAL. Local officials, led by Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, Vice Mayor Bobby Cristobal and Councilor Vince Baltazar, dressed as prehistoric mythical heroes Baltog, Bantong and Handyong, lead the street parade of Ibalong Festival, Bicol’s biggest non-religious festivity. Now in its 26th edition, it is a popular recreation of a mid-19th century fragments of 60-stanza epic poem penned by Franciscan friar Bernardino de Melendreras about the ancient civilization of Ibalong or present-day Bicol. The almost-forgotten epic was given a new lease in life as a modern festival in 1992 by then Legazpi Mayor Imelda Roces to represent the resilience of the people of Albay amidst natural disasters that often hit the City. The 16-day extravaganza, composed of cultural, sporting, musical and various special events, culminated with the street theater presentation depicting the chapters of the epic legend, participated in by contingents from all over the Bicol region.
AUSTRALIAN STUDY PROGRAM FAIR SET HERE’S great news for all Filipino students seeking global study opportunities in leading education institutions abroad. Official representatives from Australia’s top universities will answer Filipino students’ inquiries about exploring the range of alternative entry pathways, courses, course fees, entry requirements, scholarships, accom-
modations including possibilities for part-time work opportunities will be presented free of charge to interested Filipino students. Among the educational institutions that will participate in the scheduled AUG PH Overseas Education Fair will include Murdoch University, Macquarie University, Trinity College, Edith Cowan University, Curtin University and the
University of South Australia. The event “aims to jump-start the Filipino students’ vast potentials to help them achieve a secured future in years to come particularly in Australia and in other highly developed countries. The free admission, consultation, assessment and education service is scheduled Sept. 9, 2017 (Saturday, 11
a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the Boracay Ballrooms, Edsa Shangri-La Hotel. Free registration via https// auggostudyabroad.eventbrite.com. Others may log in their inquiries through manila@augstudy.com or call (0632) 6558800 and via FB in box: AUG Philippines. Like their Facebook page to get all the updates on all of their 2017 events: AUG PHILIPPINES.
‘MANILA MUST ENFORCE PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE’ THE EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watch group, bewailed the delay in the implementation of a key environmental measure that could have helped the City of Manila in reducing its garbage woes. “This year marks the fifth anniversary of Manila’s plastic bag ordinance, which regrettably remains unimplemented to this day,” said Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition. Manila City Ordinance No. 8282 was signed on Sept. 3, 2012 by then Mayor Alfredo Lim. The city government imposed a one-year moratorium on its implementation to enable businesses to make the needed adjustments. The ordinance prohibits the use of any form of plastic bags on dry goods and regulates their use on wet goods. It also bans the use of polystyrene and similar materials for food, produce and other products. “We call upon Mayor Joseph Estrada to give Ordinance 8282 the chance to help the city in cutting its plastic waste, in unclogging the esteros, and in reducing the money spent for cleanup and disposal,” appealed Alejandre. According to 2013 Commission on Audit yearend reports, Metro Manila spent P4.221 billion in
combined garbage hauling expenses, with Manila spending over P512 million. “The unrestrained sale, use and disposal of plastic bags in the city contributes to the destruction of Manila Bay, which the government is striving to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve as ordered by the Supreme Court in 2008,” he noted. “Enforcing the plastic bag ordinance will stir Manileños into shifting to reusable bags and containers, which will help in restoring Manila Bay and other polluted water bodies,” he added. Waste audits conducted at the Manila Bay in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2016 by the EcoWaste Coalition, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Greenpeace, Mother Earth Foundation and other groups revealed alarming quantities of plastic marine litter in the bay. The waste audit conducted in 2016, for example, collected 1,482 kilos of trash, 79 percent of which were assorted plastic materials, comprising of junk food wrappers and sachets (20 percent), plastic bags (17 percent), composite packaging (12 percent), food packaging (9 percent), polystyrene containers (7 percent), diaper liners (7 percent), hard plastics (4 percent), drinking straw (1 percent) and plastic twine (1 percent).
WI-FI PACT. Undersecretary Dave M. Almarinez, president and CEO of the Philippine International Trading Corp., shakes the hand of Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, representing ICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima as they show the signed Memorandum of Agreement between the PITC and the Department of Information and Communications Technology for Free Wi-Fi nationwide during the PITC 44th Anniversary celebration at the PICC in Pasay City. Roy Tomandao
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
Local Gov’t Units
mslocalgov@gmail.com
‘FAST-TRACK HOUSING FOR YOLANDA VICTIMS’ By Mel R. Caspe
T
ACLOBAN CITY—Rep. Albee Benitez, chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, has urged the government to fast-track the construction and completion of permanent houses for the victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” during the committee’s public hearing in the municipality of Hernani and this city. The committee held a public hearing on House Resolution No. 599, which seeks to investigate the snail-paced implementation of housing relocation and resettlement project for those who were affected by the typhoon in 2012 in the Community Center in Tacloban. The resolution was filed by Rep. Ben Evardone of the Lone District of Eastern Samar. Benitez said the February 2017 report of the NHA that of the projected 205,128 homes needed, only 48, 950 units were constructed, and more bothersome is that only 13,997 of the units completed are occupied.
Under construction is 69,768 units, while the rest are either already bid out or yet to be issued a Notice to Proceed by the NHA. The solon said it is the mandate of Congress to oversee where the P7.5billion funding for the resettlement cluster went. “It is unfortunate that four years after the devastation of ‘Yolanda,’ we are still talking about the construction and completion of permanent housing instead of support programs on how to help the victims to move on with their lives,” Benitez stressed. “The inability of the government to provide permanent homes to the victims is a prolonging of trauma.” The public hearing is not to point fingers on the agency, Benitez said, but rather to find solution to provide decent permanent homes to the victims and come up with a policy to allow the government to respond better in the face of calamities. In another report, about P11.25 billion of government funds meant for rehabilitation projects for areas ravaged by the super typhoon remain untouched as of first half of 2017. The National Economic and Development Authority said the latest “Yolanda” progress report showed that only P20.94 billion of the P32.19 billion had been disbursed to implementing government agencies. Of the total funds released, the social services
cluster got the highest share of P8.71 billion, followed by resettlement (P6.09 billion), infrastructure (P4.28 billion), and livelihood (P1.86 billion). “More than three years after Yolanda struck the region, there are still issues and concerns that impede the smooth and fast implementation of programs and projects in Region 8,” Neda Eastern Visayas regional director Bonifacio Uy told PNA Thursday. The report also identified five major issues in carrying out post-disaster projects, all related to relocation efforts. These are: delay in the construction of permanent housing projects in this city and other typhoon-hit areas; substandard housing units; poor access to water and power in resettlement sites; livelihood assistance to newlytransferred families; and absence of permanent school building near housing sites. Citing the National Housing Authority, Neda revealed that only 15,422 houses out of the 56,140 target homes for Eastern Visayas have been built. Among the major setbacks are unavailable lots, land acquisition issues, procurement concerns, and lack of qualified contractors. Uy said the central government and regional officials have been working closely to complete all ongoing projects within three years. With PNA
Rep. Alfredo ‘Albee’ B. Benitez (fourth from left), chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, and Rep. Ben P. Evardone of the Lone District of Eastern Samar, lead the Public Hearing on House Resolution No. 599 on Friday at the Community Center in Tacloban City. Mel R. Caspe
ANTIPOLO CITY GRABS LGU TOP HONORS THE year 2016 proved to be fruitful for Antipolo as the National Competitiveness Council awarded the city as the country’s Overall Most Competitive in the Component City Category. Antipolo City bagged the top ranking in that category during the recent Regional Competitiveness Summit in Manila. NCC recognized the city for its competitiveness as it ranked first in Infrastructure Development, 6th in Economic Dynamism, Top 3 in Government Efficiency and 7th in Resiliency. The rankings saw the city move up from the 6th spot last year to the top of the list this year. Meanwhile, the Province of Rizal was
named Most Competitive province in the country for two consecutive years. Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares, who was joined by the city council and employees to receive the prestigious award, was overwhelmed with gratitude. “It’s just not cooperation but it’s the collaboration of various sectors that helped us topped the list of the Most Competitive Local Government Units in the country,” said Ynares. To reach the top of the list, Antipolo went the way of collaboration, the mayor said. The city invited the entire community, its partners, and stakeholders to share the journey and go out of their way to make it easier, faster, and more meaningful. “To achieve economic dynamism,
we asked for the collaboration of our entrepreneur sector, as well as that of the country’s top business conglomerates who have made Antipolo as home to their national and global enterprises,” he added. To achieve governance efficiency, Antipolo asked for the collaboration of our public service workforce, and the national agencies with frontline offices in the city. To build a topnotch infrastructure system, the city co-labored with the national government’s infrastructure agencies, and the private utility firms who provide the power and water requirements of the residents and business establishments. “To create a resilient city, we partnered with various government
agencies [both national and local], private sector companies, and nongovernment organizations and volunteer groups who share their knowledge, expertise, and other resources for disaster preparedness and response, especially among the most vulnerable members of the city,” Ynares added. On the local government’s part, it created an atmosphere conducive to the growth of the collaboration, the mayor said. To do this, it tapped the collaboration of security and safety agencies, the public health sector, the academe, and even the religious sector. “The credit for this feat goes to all those who co-labored, and who are part of the shared journey,” Ynares said.
DOST TRAINS KIDS ON DISASTER SURVIVAL
RIZAL’S ARTISTS. The Rizal Artists group join SM mall officials at the opening of the ‘My City, My SM, My Art’ exhibit at the event center of SM City San Mateo in Rizal on Friday. Seated (from left) are Edrick Daniel, Lucky Salayog, Kish Javier, Glenn Blanco, Rembrandt Vocalan, and Franz Marion Vocalan. Standing are (from left) SM senior vice president for Marketing Communications Group Millie Dizon, Daniel Aligaen, Joy Blanco, Peter Paul Blanco, Michael Blanco, Joey Ramos, SM City Taytay mall manager Maureen Fernandez, and SM senior assistant vice president Allan Brosas. Manny Palmero
“WALANG namamatay sa lindol [Nobody dies from earthquake],” says Jeffrey S. Perez, a geologist from Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. “Namamatay kapag nabagsakan ng mga gamit sa bahay. Kaya dapat, ngayon pa lang, i-check nyo na ang mga bahay nyo kung ano ang maaaring makaapekto sa inyo. [People die when they get hit by falling objects. That is why as early as now, check the things in your house that might affect you].” Perez was among the five presenters in the Disaster Summit for Grade School Children held at the recent 2017 National Science and Technology Week at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. He said that on the average, the Phivolcs records 20 temblors daily. In the last 400 years, the country experienced 90
destructive earthquakes, he also informed. On the concept of training school kids on disasters, Venus Valdemoro, public information head of the DoSTPhilippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, said, “Japan trains kids as young five years of age on how to save themselves during disasters.” Pagasa partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency in a three-year development cooperation to enhance the Philippines’ capacity on weather observation and forecasting called Jica-Pagasa on Weather Project or J-POW. The partnership includes conduct of awareness raising activities and seminars, dispatch of experts, and provision of equipment to boost the Philippines’ disaster awareness and resiliency.
Dr. Alberto Cruz Reyes (left) and the Manila Standard’s Orlan Mauricio
HOSPITAL OWNER REYES NAMED TOP BULAKENYO
By Orlan L. Mauricio
FILIPINO family names such as Domingo, Santos, Cruz and Reyes are easily the most common and often referred to as ‘lima singko’ or ‘mamera’, a pre-war idiomatic expression connoting that these surnames can be found almost everywhere. The name of this year’s Outstanding ‘Dangal ng Lipi ng Bulacan’ awardee is not an exception. In fact, if one types his complete name ‘Alberto Cruz Reyes’ on Facebook’s search box, it will instantly produce more than a hundred profiles complete with pictures! Reyes was born on Sept. 2, 1930 during the pre-war years when the daily wage income of a laborer is 50 centavos/day while a public-school teacher was earning only P19 a month. The 87-year-old true-blue Bulakenyo grew up like any ordinary kid in the rustic barrio of Tabang, Plaridel and walked four kilometers a day to school and back. His name may be common but it is not ‘cheap.’ Even if there are a thousand of Reyeses in Bulacan and all over the archipelago, Alberto C. Reyes will stand out from the rest by just sifting through his vitae. A product of public school, Reyes graduated First Honor at the Plaridel Elementary School, (1943) and Valedictorian at the Bulacan High School (former name of Marcelo H. del Pilar High School) in 1947. He went to college at the University of the Philippines and graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts, with Honors, in 1949. He pursued medicine through a grant (Bailon dela Rama scholarship) and graduated in 1954. He persevered through sheer hard work, determination and fervent prayers from people whose money were borrowed to bankroll his residency training in surgery at the Reading Hospital in West Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. And later in Allentown Hospital, Allentown, Penn., USA, where he met Juanita Gascon, a young, pretty and fresh graduate from the University of Santo Tomas (1955) who was also taking her post-graduate training in Internal Medicine. In the summer of 1958, he married Juanita at the Sacred Heart Church in Allentown. In the 1959 results of the medical board exams published in The Manila Times on April 25, 1960, Reyes, was No. 1 Topnotcher with a perfect grade of 100 percent in Bio-Chemistry, considered the toughest subject in the exams. In 1968, 10 years after their wedding, Reyes and Dra. Juanita Gascon-Reyes, an anesthesiologist, founded the Sacred Heart Hospital of Malolos (SHHM). “It was named after the church where we first heard Mass together as sweethearts and said our ’I do’s’ as husband and wife,” he said. In 2015, Metro Pacific, the business group of Manuel V. Pangilinan, bought a majority stake (51 percent worth P150 million) in the 49-yearold hospital. To date, it’s the most modern medical center in the province, equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus and often dubbed as “the St. Luke’s Hospital of Bulacan.” At 87, Dr. Alberto C. Reyes, M.D. does he deserve to be the outstanding 2017 ”Dangal ng Lipi ng Bulacan’’? The board of judges knows best. (Editor’s Note: The author nominated Reyes, who was adjudged as the ‘Outstanding awardee’ in this year’s search for Bulacan’s annual ‘Dangal ng Lipi’ awardees in various fields of profession. They will be feted on Sept. 15 at the culminating activities of the ‘Linggo ng Bulacan’ at the Hiyas Pavilion in Malolos City.)