PCSO handing out P19.6M in Mandatory Contributions
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Vice Chairperson and General Manager Royina Marzan Garma, together with Assistant General Manager for Charity Sector Ms. Juliet F. Aseo turns over 19.6M as part of its Mandatory Contributions to partner institutions. The turn-over ceremony was held at the 4th Floor, Executive Board Room, Sun Plaza Building, Mandaluyong City.
Among the recipients are the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) with P74,549.46, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with P18,481,431.00, Girls Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) with P278,420.00 and the Philippine Red Cross with P767,110.68
Along with this, PCSO will also be handing out P15.79M STL/Lotto Shares to NBI and PNP. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the months of January 2021 worth P3,059,821.84 and February 2021 will receive P3,255, 594.54 while the Philippine National Police (PNP) also for the months of January 2021 worth P7,622,576.11 and February 2021 will receive P8,165,973.59.
GM Garma said, “this is the proof that PCSO does not only help individuals in need of medical assistance but also government institutions. PCSO can only sustain its financial commitments to various institutions, such as this Mandatory Contributions Program, if we continue to generate revenues’.
TeaM Energy lights up 20 public school computer labs with solar energy
The computer labs in all 20 public elementary and high schools in the municipality of Sual in Pangasinan are now powered by solar energy after the installation of on-grid solar energy systems was completed through a program funded by TeaM Energy and TeaM Energy Foundation Inc. (TEFI), in partnership with the Sual local government and the Department of Education (DepEd).
TeaM Energy made possible the installation of 22 units of 4.6 kilowatts peak (kWp) grid-tied photovoltaic systems in each of Sual’s public schools. Each unit is capable of energizing 8 computer units, reducing dependence on electricity from the grid.
Sual, a first-class municipality which hosts TeaM Energy’s 1,200 MW Sual Power Station has a total of 20 public schools, 17 of them elementary schools, 2 integrated schools, and 1 high school.
TeaM Energy operates two coal-fired power plants: the 1,200 MW Sual Power Station in Pangasinan and the 735 MW Pagbilao Power Station in Quezon Province. It also has a 50% stake in the 420 MW Pagbilao Unit 3 Power Project in Quezon, and a 20% stake in the Ilijan natural gas project in Batangas.
Vista Residences tops off 5th project in University Belt
Vista Residences has unveiled Vista Recto its fifth project in the University Belt. Located along Recto Avenue, Vista Recto provides the perfect mix of accessibility, convenience, and location for its future residents, making it absolutely perfect for young professionals and students.
Transport-oriented Vista Recto is a prime location for its proximity to premier institutions like Far Eastern University, University of the East, San Sebastian College, University of Santo Tomas, and Mendiola Consortium schools. The LRT-2 Recto Station is only a five-minute walk.
The 36-storyVista Recto has 27 studio units per floor, each complete with a living and dining area, kitchen, and bath. It will provide its residents 24-hour security and amenities to lead a healthy and balanced life like the Fitness and Wellness Gym and the pool.
Residents can take advantage of the Function Room for events, while students have the Study Hall open to those needing a zone conducive for learning.
BPI gets four FinanceAsia awards
FinanceAsia, one of the region’s leading finance publications, has named Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) as Best Sustainable Bank in the country, and its investment banking arm, BPI Capital Corporation, as the Best Investment Bank, Best Equity Capital Market House, and Best Debt Capital Market House.
The four awards made BPI the most awarded Philippine bank in the recently-held 2021 FinanceAsia Country Awards.
In 2020, the bank established the Board-approved BPI Sustainability Agenda to guide the bank on the integration of sustainability principles in its corporate governance and risk management frameworks, as well as in its strategic objectives and operations, based on the provisions of BSP Circular No. 1085 on Sustainable Finance Framework.
In the Equity Capital Markets, BPI Capital was ranked in March 2021 as number one among both local and international investment houses on the Philippines Bloomberg League Table. From April 2020 to March 2021, the Company successfully participated in two Preferred Share Offerings, one Stock Rights Offering, and led two Initial Public Offerings, including the listing of AREIT, the first Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) in the Philippines.
BPI Capital is the lead arranger and underwriter for ASEAN ESG bonds in the Philippines, participating in three of the five ASEAN ESG Bond issuances from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. In 2020, it also acted as Global Coordinator for AC Energy’s perpetual fixed-for-life ASEAN green bond and tender offer.
From April 2020 to March 2021, BPI Capital has arranged, underwritten and participated in three corporate notes issuances in addition to twelve PHP denominated and six US$ denominated bond issuances.
DMCI Group employee vaccinations hit 4K
More than 4,100 DMCI Group employees and workers have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with various local government units (LGUs), ICTSI Foundation and Reliance United. Meanwhile, fully vaccinated employees now total 540.
Most of the jabs were administered through the LGUs while over 230 employees were inoculated through the DMCI Group Employee Vaccination Program.
Of the 30,000 doses of Moderna vaccines ordered by the DMCI Group, 420 arrived in late June. Around 7,600 doses will arrive in the third quarter while the rest will become available in the fourth quarter of this year.
Approximately 12,100 employees and workers from the different DMCI Holdings subsidiaries have registered with the LGUs and are awaiting vaccination schedules.
The company intends to vaccinate its employees and workers in Batangas, Bulacan, Masbate, Palawan, Semirara Island, among others.
WiKonek in QC
Eastern Communications and the Quezon City government unveiled the city’s first “WiKonek,” a Freemium Community WiFi in Payatas, Quezon City, providing free internet for its residents.
Powered by Eastern Communications’ Internet Direct Service (IDS), WiKonek is a collaborative project led by the CWA consortium and the Quezon City LGU that offers free daily data allocation up to 50MB, sufficient for browsing, messaging, e-mailing, watching videos or online studying.
After using up the free allocation, users may opt to avail additional data for as low as P1 through the coin slot.
The city government is planning to install a minimum of 1,000 WiKonek within Quezon City, prioritizing unserved, underserved, high-density, and high-foot traffic areas.
Shangri-La hosts Tahi Lahi
Shangri-La Plaza hosts the Tahi Lahi Philippine Fashion Fair from July 8 to 18 at the Grand Atrium, Level 2 of the mall’s Main Wing.
The fair features a selection of unique clothing pieces, fine jewelry, and stylish accessories that show how fashion is intrinsically linked to culture.
Inspired by and initiated to continue the #DamaKoLahiKo movement, Tahi Lahi by the Philippine Fashion Coalition in partnership with Fashion Accessories Makers of the Philippines, curates some of the well-known names in local design and craftsmanship including ACMS, Alchemista, Ann Casas, Barba, Basil, Beatriz, Cora Manimbo, Earl Gariando, HENECE Jewelry, Jhaz Footwear, Mjorian, Noel Crisostomo, and ORIAS Essentials.
PMCP-Corteva award empowers women farmers
Genoveva Estrella Antonio, a woman farmer from Pila, Laguna, was recently named winner of the PMCP-Corteva Agriscience Empowering Women in Agriculture Award.
Antonio is recognized for her commitment to good agriculture practices and actively sharing her knowledge with fellow farmers to improve their yields. She accepted her award in a virtual ceremony at the PCMP Annual Conference attended by Dr. William Dar, Secretary of Agriculture.
Formerly employed at the International Rice Research Institute, she left her career as a researcher to become a farmer and demonstrated that rice farming can be a profitable occupation.
The PMCP-Corteva Agriscience Empowering Women in Agriculture Award was established in 2019. Nominees must be women farmers in the Philippines whose primary source of livelihood is through crop farming.
Airbnb: Hosts earn P24M
Airbnb’s 2021 Release showed that travelers are booking unique abodes including cabins, tiny homes, and treehouses to break up the monotony of the past year spent in lockdown.
In the Philippines, hosts have earned over P24 million welcoming guests into their unique homes since the start of the pandemic.
“Many of our unique stays in the Philippines are tucked away in the outskirts of large cities, within driving distance from the metro,” said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb general manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
One of Airbnb’s most popular unique stays is the Domescape glamping dome house in Nasugbu, Batangas.
