Makati News

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

List of the 17 Regions in the Philippines
National - Capital Region ● I - Ilocos ● II - Cagayan ● III - C. Luzon ● IV-A - Calabarzon ● IV-B - Mimaropa ● V - Bicol ● VI - W. Visayas ● VII - C. Visayas ● VIII - E. Visayas ● IX - Zamboanga ● X - N. Mindanao ● XI - Davao ● XII - Soccsksargen ● XIII - Caraga ● XIV - CAR ● XV - BARMM

Within these 17 regions in the Philippines, there are 42,027 barangays, 1486 municipalities, 148 cities, 82 provinces. It has a democratic form of government and the freedom of speech is upheld by law. English is the "lingua franca" and is the mode of instruction in all high schools, colleges and universities. Laws and contracts are written in English.

Shop Maletsky Mart: Apparel | Bags & Shoes | Health and Beauty | Automotive | Electronics | Herbal | Home | Jewelry | Pets | Children & Toys

🎉All Products with FREE SHIPPING.
Search for Product in Google Search below.

Barangays of Makati City in the 4th district within the Metro Manila Area (NCR) of the Philippines
Bangkal | Bel-Air | Carmona | Cembo | Comembo | Dasmariñas | East Rembo | Forbes Park | Guadalupe Nuevo | Guadalupe Viejo | Kasilawan | La Paz | Magallanes | Olympia | Palanan | Pembo | Pinagkaisahan | Pio del Pilar | Pitogo | Poblacion | Post Proper Northside | Post Proper Southside | Rizal | San Antonio | San Isidro | San Lorenzo | Santa Cruz | Singkamas | South Cembo | Tejeros | Upgrade SHS Katipunan | Upgrade SHS Novaliches | Urdaneta | Valenzuela | West Rembo

The Philippines has been a "decentralized" form of government since 1991, contrary to what most Filipinos think. Ever since the creation of Republic Act 7160, each LGU is responsible for its own domain. Even the smallest LGU the barangay creates its own Budget. It is not dependent on handouts from the city, municipality or province. "IMPERIAL MANILA IS A MYTH!", it does not exist anymore. The Philippine budget formulation system is not centralized. "Budgetary planning has been DECENTRALIZED since 1991". It is the responsibility of each LGU to submit their budgetary needs for review. Failure to submit is the problem.

Makati City Photo Gallery
Makati City Realty
Philippine News Headlines
Makati City - Archived News

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Accor picks Makati for Pullman, Novotel apartments

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia

MULTINATIONAL hospitality group Accor SA is developing the world’s first Pullman Living and Novotel Living standalone apartments in Makati City.

In a statement, Accor said it has teamed up with privately held PTC Holdings for the two apartment complexes, which will rise near Ayala Avenue and Greenbelt shopping mall. The exact location was not disclosed.

Pullman Living Manila will have 200 rooms, while the Novotel Living Manila will have 300 rooms. Both serviced apartments will cater to guests looking for long-term and short-term stays.

Accor unveiled the Pullman Living and Novotel Living brands earlier this year. Both will feature many of the services and design elements of the Pullman and Novotel hotel brands.

“Pullman Living provides a stylish and intelligent private sanctuary with re-imagined hospitality experiences including unique dining concepts, the Pullman Porter, seamless and intuitive technology and a bold, vibrant art-led design. Novotel Living brings a co-living experience to the serviced apartment category. Novotel Living is all about making everyday moments matter in a warm, relaxed and friendly environment,” Patrick Basset, Accor chief operating officer for Upper Southeast and Northeast Asia and the Maldives, said in a statement.

Guests at Novotel Living will have exclusive access to a Clubhouse, which will have a shared kitchen, library, and play area. It will also have retail outlets, an all-day dining restaurant and bar, a spa, fitness center, meeting rooms, business centers and a ballroom.

“We are very excited to introduce Pullman Living and Novotel Living to Asia… A highly innovative dining experience sets the Pullman Living brand apart, including pop-up restaurants and food trucks, while Novotel Living focuses on welcoming and relaxing social spaces where residents can meet, work, play and dine,” Jeff Tisdall, senior vice-president of development, residential and extended stays at Accor, said.

Pullman Living Manila and Novotel Living Manila are scheduled to open its doors in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Gerardo A. Borromeo, chief executive officer of PTC, said the company is excited to partner with Accor for the projects.

“Novotel Living Manila and Pullman Living Manila will offer distinct character, incorporating the local culture, heritage and architecture, while staying true to each brand’s personality,” Mr. Borromeo was quoted as saying.

PTC Holdings is described as a privately-held investment company with roots in the maritime industry. Aside from shipping, it has businesses in real estate development, energy and infrastructure, aviation, health and international professional placement.

Accor is the largest operator of extended stay and serviced apartment properties outside of the United States. It has around 300 extended stay properties, such as serviced apartments and apart-hotels under brands including Mondrian Living, Swissotel Living, Movenpick Living, Mercure Living, Hyde Living and more.

Accor currently operates eight hotels in the Philippines under the Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Movenpick, Novotel and Mercure brands. It has a pipeline of 12 hotels and serviced apartments scheduled to open over the next five years.


Makati’s most wanted man arrested

By Consuelo Marquez (Reporter, INQUIRER.net /atm)

MANILA, Philippines — A tattoo artist, who is the most wanted person in Makati who is facing a case of rape with frustrated homicide, was arrested by Makati police officers in Quezon City on Saturday afternoon.

Officers nabbed the suspect, 28-year-old Eugene Aquino, on San Miguel Street in Barangay Commonwealth at around 5:20 p.m.

The had an arrest warrant issued by Hon. Judge Ethel Mercado-Gutay of Regional Trial Court Branch 137 in Makati.

According to police, Aquino sexually harassed and stabbed one of his clients several times.

7 Coffee Shops in Makati Perfect for Chilling

By Aaron Brennt Eusebio

Heads up, coffee lovers! If you're in Makati and looking for a place to sit down, chill, and have a cup of your favorite brew, here are seven coffee shops you can try.

Commune

Location: 36 Polaris Street, Poblacion

If you want to support Philippine Coffee, Commune is the right place for you. Commune buys coffee beans directly from farmers in various coffee-rich areas in the country like Benguet, Sagada, South Cotabato, and Bukidnon.

Try Commune's best-sellers: Iconic Cappuccino Art and Iced Mocha. They also offer food such as Arroz a la Cubana, Pollo al Ajillo, and Pork Adobo.

Commune is open from 8 a.m. to 12 mn every Mondays to Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every Sunday.

Poison Coffee and Doughnuts

Location: The Alley at Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Pasong Tamo Extension, Magallanes

Are you one of those people who like to chill in a dark place? If yes, Poison Coffee and Doughnuts is perfect for you.

Relax with your choice of black or white coffee, or mocha, paired with donuts in Blueberry Glaze, Salted Dark Chocolate, or Boston Creme

Poison Coffee and Doughnuts is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Neighborhood Café

Location: 105 C. Palanca, Legazpi Village

The Neighborhood Café's specialties are Flat White, Cappuccino, and their signature drink, Love, Rosie.

If you need food to go with your coffee, Vengo, a Mexican restaurant just beside it, offers Crunchy Tacos and Shiitake Mushroom Tostada.

Vengo Neighborhood Café is open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Mondays to Saturdays and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

West Town's Coffee

Location: The Milano Residences Piazza, Valdez Street, Century City

West Town's Coffee is in history books for bringing in the country the first coffee-profiling machine that can be used to extract 100 flavors in just one type of bean.

They offer both highlands coffee from Kenya, Ethiopia, Brazil, and local products like beans from Atok in Benguet, Sagada, Mt. Matutum, and Mt. Apo.

Their specialties are Cortado, which is a mix of coffee blends, and Ethiopian Cold Brew.

West Town's Coffee is open daily from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.

The Curator Coffee and Cocktails

Location: Unit 2, Legaspi Park View Condominium, C. Palanca Street cor. Legaspi St., Legaspi Village

If you want a world-class coffee shop and cocktail bar, The Curator, which is part of Asia's 50 Best Bars in 2019, is the perfect choice for you.

What's unique about this coffee shop is that they have Brew of the Day (BOD), a special brew that you don't often see on the menu.

The Curator is open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. every Mondays to Saturdays and from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Sundays.

ABKD

Location: Ground Floor, Z Suites Apartment, 5663 Alfonso Street, Poblacion

Another treasure of Poblacion is ABKD, the brainchild of Master Chef Asia's alum Lica Ibarra.

Choose from the store's signature drinks like the ABKD 18H Cold Brew or the Signature Single-Origin Chocolate.

ABKD also offers a wide variety of food from pasta to burgers like Carbonara, Eenie Meanie Bucatini, and the Chori Burger with Shrimp.

ABKD is open from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Tuesdays to Fridays; 3 p.m. 4 a.m. on Saturdays, and 3 p.m. to 12 mn on Mondays.

Single Origin

Locations: Level 1, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Greenbelt; Ground Floor & Edades Tower & Garden Villas, Amorsolo Corner Rockwell Drive

With two locations situated in different business districts of Makati, Single Origin offers a wide variety of coffee, wine, food, and cocktails that are perfect for every occasion.

If you went there in the morning, a must-try is the Salted Caramel Choco A La Mode French Toast or the Choco Bacon Waffle.

But if you want some caffeine in your system, you should try the Syphon or the 18-hour Cold Process Iced Coffee.

Single Origin in Greenbelt is open from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m every Sunday to Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m every Friday and Saturday.

Single Origin in Rockwell is open from 7 a.m. to 12 mn every Sunday to Tuesday; 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Wednesday; 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. every Thursday; and 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday and Saturday.

'5-minute challenge': Faster Cubao-Makati travel attainable by yearend, says official

By Arianne Merez (ABS-CBN News)

MANILA - The government remained optimistic that it could complete enough infrastructure projects to attain the 5-minute travel time from Cubao in Quezon City to Makati City by December, a public works official said Wednesday.

Several infrastructure projects in Metro Manila are set to be completed this year which are expected to decongest EDSA, making the 5-minute travel time “doable,” said ‘Build, Build, Build’ inter-agency committee chair Anna Lamentillo.

“We are working towards the 5-minute challenge… This is doable,” she told reporters.

‘Build, Build, Build’ interagency committee chair Anna Lamentillo says 5-minute travel time from Makati-Cubao still ‘doable’ by December 2019 @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/mkXBiblNBq — Arianne Merez (@arianne_merez) August 7, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that travel between Cubao to Makati could be reduced to 5 minutes, from the current travel time of at least an hour, by yearend.

The government planned to decongest EDSA this year through opening a portion of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, and a section of the NLEX Harbor Link.

The recent opening of a portion of the C5 South Link which connects the cities of Taguig and Pasay also aids traffic management in the main thoroughfare, Lamentillo said.

“We are not just effectively decongesting traffic today, we want to effectively create a transportation network in Manila that will aid us in the future,” she said.

With the new roads, Lamentillo said vehicle volume in EDSA is expected to go down at the end of the year.

Renowned Korean pianist performs in Manila

By Ben Cal (PNA)

MANILA -- Noted Korean pianist Kim Kyung-ah on Friday held a special concert at the residence of Korean Ambassador Han Dong-man in Makati as part of the 2019 Manila International Piano Masterclasses Festival.

Miss Kim, one of South Korea’s accomplished international pianists, played classical music for almost one hour non-stop.

She was given a standing ovation for her excellent performance.

She played flawlessly the Chorale Preludes of Hohann Bach (1685-1750 and Preludes, Op. 28 of Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) without reading the musical notes.

The young Korean pianist was “praised for her being a part of the wave of new pianists with an ability to act the part of a star.”

Miss Kim has her own style of playing the piano with passion that the crowd was swayed by it.

As an accomplished pianist, Miss Kim has won numerous competitions award, not only in her native country, but also in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Among the awards she won were the USA Beethoven, the Leos Janacek International Competition, Sorantin International Competition, St. Charles International Competition, to name a few.

She had performed with well-known conductors and orchestra such as John Williams, James Orent, Petre Atrichter, and has been a soloist, such as the Boston Pops Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, NEC Philharmonic Orchestra, BU Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Seoul Symphony Orchestra, Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, and Kyunggi Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.

Despite being busy performing concerts in various parts of the world, Miss Kim still finds time teaching at Seoul National University in South Korea.

Makati issues over 4,500 lifetime Yellow Cards to elderly, retired city employees

By Jel Santos

Over 4,500 Makati City residents were recently given lifetime Yellow Card membership, the local government unit (LGU) of Makati City said Friday.

Mayor Abigail “Abby” Binay said the city government, through its Makati Health Plus Program (MHP), granted lifetime Yellow Card memberships to 4,559 of the 83,119 cardholders from January 2017 to June 2019.

She said that lifetime Yellow Card members include senior citizens who own real property in Makati and have updated tax declarations, residents aged 80 and above who have been Yellow Card members for at least six years, and retired city government employees of Makati.

“By replacing the annual renewal of Yellow Cards with four types of validity period, including lifetime membership, we have provided great relief and convenience to our constituents. Qualified members no longer have to go to City Hall every time their cards expire on their birthday,” she said in a statement.

“In Makati, we focus on improving the health and social services given to Makati residents to ensure a healthy citizenry. Residents are assured that medical experts will help them prevent and manage diseases,” Binay added.

The MHP Office’s said 458 Yellow Cardholders were given lifetime membership for this year as of June 30, in addition to 2,687 approved in 2018 and 1,414 in 2017.

In 2016, the Makati Health Development Council chaired by the mayor approved the revised program guidelines modifying the validity period of the Yellow Card, taking into consideration the age, status of residency, and length of membership of the cardholder.

The Yellow Card at present is also being issued in three types of validity period: one year, two years, and three years.

According to the Makati LGU, there were 6,573 new applications approved and 14,428 renewals from January to June 2019. It further reported the breakdown of Yellow Cards for the first half of this year issued by type, as follows: 6,602 family cards (with dependents); 9,164 solo cards; 3,594 senior citizens; and 1,183 city government employees.

The Yellow Card provides government-subsidized health care to cardholders and registered dependents, city government workers and other qualified beneficiaries at the city-run Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), the city’s 26 barangay health centers, satellite laboratories, and three birthing facilities.

Cardholders can also be referred to partner-facilities like the Makati Medical Center to avail themselves of specialized medical and diagnostic services that may not be available at OsMak using their Yellow Card.

Patients with Yellow Cards at Osmak with total hospital bills amounting to P5,000 or less are free of charge, while those whose hospital bill exceeds P5,000 will be charged a uniform rate of P500 only, even if the amount reaches six or seven digits, the Makati LGU said.

Ayala Land to launch P111-B projects in H2

By Leslie Gatpolintan (PNA)

MANILA -- Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is in the process of launching PHP111 billion worth of projects in this year's second half, after delivering a 12-percent increase in net income in the first six months.

“The economy continues to be quite supportive of the property industry. The GDP (gross domestic product) continues to be quite healthy… As we move forward, we are gearing to continue to expand our footprint nationally, (and) also to introduce more products in the market,” ALI President and Chief Executive Officer Bernard Vincent Dy said in a press briefing Monday.

ALI Chief Finance Officer Augusto Cesar Bengzon said they targeted to launch PHP130 billion worth of new inventory in the property market this year.

The property firm already launched 13 projects worth PHP19.5 billion in the first half of the year.

ALI recorded a 12-percent increase in net income to PHP15.2 billion in the first six months of 2019 from PHP13.54 billion during the same period last year.

Its revenues also rose by 4 percent to PHP83.2 billion from PHP80.4 billion, driven by the sustained growth of property development business led by office sales, complemented by the strong topline growth of its commercial leasing businesses.

The company’s extensive portfolio has allowed it to maximize the demand for residential, office and commercial properties, generating real estate revenues of PHP81.9 billion.

Property development revenues amounted to PHP58.9 billion as supported by the office for sale segment which grew more than two-fold to PHP10.1 billion and commercial and industrial lot sales which increased by 11 percent to PHP4.3 billion.

The company looks forward to finishing the year with a full range of projects, including new estates in Tarlac and Batangas, the Alviera Country Club in Porac, and the recently launched Ayala North Exchange in Makati City.

The Ayala North Exchange is one of the latest additions to the portfolio of Ayala Land Offices, which is currently the country’s leader in the office real estate sector with over 1.1 million square meters of leasable space in key cities nationwide.

“We continue to build our nationwide footprint as we gear up to launch estates in Batangas and Tarlac. Our best in class landbank of over 11,000 hectares is strategically positioned in the most progressive areas in the country and will support our long-term growth objectives,” Dy said.

Bengzon said 80 percent of the company’s landbank is strategically concentrated in Central Luzon, Mega Manila, and CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), which collectively account for about two-thirds of the country’s GDP.

Makati OKs P10,000 yearly cash gift for seniors aged 90 and above

By Dexter Cabalza (Reporter, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — After being thumbed down last year, the ordinance granting a P10,000 annual cash gift for Makati City’s senior citizens aged 90 and up has finally been approved by the city council.

Under City Ordinance No. 2019-A-023, which took effect last week, the additional incentive will be distributed in two parts. The first will be given in July, followed by the second one in December.

Residents who are 90 to 99 years old will receive P10,000 per year. They previously received only P5,000 under a 2016 ordinance.

On their 100th birthday, they will get P100,000 in cash. They will continue to receive the P10,000 cash gift upon reaching their 101st birthday, and every year for the rest of their lives.

To qualify, however, they should be Blu Card (special benefit cards for senior citizens issued by the city government) holders for at least five years. Otherwise, they would be entitled only to the P5,000 annual cash gift.

Acknowledgment

“I am pleased to report that our newly elected councilors have passed my proposal to give our senior citizens an incentive they truly deserve. We want inclusive progress for our Makatizens, and this is an acknowledgment of their contributions to our city,” Mayor Abby Binay said in a statement.

The ordinance, which amended City Ordinance No. 2016-A-043, was passed on third and final reading during a special session on July 19.

The majority of the 18-member council signed the ordinance, save for four members.

As of June, there were 2,096 Blu Card members aged 90 to 99, out of the city’s over 84,000 cardholders.

2 Japanese men nabbed for smoking marijuana in Makati

By Consuelo Marquez (Reporter, INQUIRER.net /muf)

MANILA, Philippines — Two Japanese men were arrested after they were caught smoking marijuana at a parking lot in Makati City on Monday.

Makati police arrested Maka Yohey Yamaguchi, 31, and Takuya Oyagi, 41, both billeted in a hotel in Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati City.

Hector Ponsalan, security guard in the hotel, called the police after he saw the two smoking marijuana at the hotel’s parking lot.

Police officers caught the suspects in the act of smoking the marijuana. They were later brought to the Makati Police station for detention as complaints are being readied against them.

According to the Makati police, the two Japanese men yielded dried marijuana leaves, 66 unidentified tablets, a bottle containing an unknown liquid and a bottle containing suspected illegal drugs.

Week into clearing ops in Metro, passable roads greet public

By Christine Cudis (PNA)

MANILA -- A week into the 60-day countdown for local chief executives of the 16 cities in Metro Manila, changes were already seen in most parts of it. With mayors leading the clearing-up operations, then narrow alleys now are passable roads, adding ease to the current traffic flow.

During their meeting with Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on July 29 in Quezon City, the mayors said they are 100 percent supportive of the agency’s order to clear road obstructions in public properties.

Quezon City

Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, the biggest among the cities in Metro Manila in terms of land area, has asked to extend the deadline from 45 days to 60.

She also lamented the media’s criticism of her governance being too silent and not engaging, saying hers is a different style. “I am no iron fist, but I get the job done too,” Belmonte said an earlier interview.

LOOK: Situation in Edsa Balintawak Market: Cleared of illegally parked motor vehicles and sidewalk vendors. https://files.pna.gov.ph/source/2019/08/06/0-quezon-.jpeg (No illegally parked vehicles and sidewalk vendors along EDSA Balintawak Market. Quezon City Information Office (Source: Quezon City Information Twitter account)

Manila

Right after the announcement of his win, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso went to action and started putting down illegal stalls blocking the capital city’s public roads.

The "before and after" photos of Manila streets went viral in social media, spiking the mayor’s popularity. In fact, he may have actually inspired the expansion of the clearing operation.

“If I have to go to every street, every corner, every road, every highway, every building in Manila just to reassure the people that the city will be clean, safe, orderly then so be it,” the young mayor said in one of his public engagements.

LOOK: The upper photo shows the situation along Carriedo Street in July 2018, while the lower photo shows the situation along the same street today. https://files.pna.gov.ph/source/2019/08/06/0-manila.jpeg (Source: Manila Information Office Twitter account)

Other local executives also took to social media their efforts in the metro-wide clearing operations.

Muntinlupa

Though small in land area, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi vows their dedication will be no different than the others.

LOOK: Muntinlupa Task Force Discipline's clearing operation in Bayanan and Alabang https://files.pna.gov.ph/source/2019/08/06/0-muntinlupa.jpeg (Source: Muntinlupa Information Office)

Valenzuela

Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group (SCOG)

https://files.pna.gov.ph/source/2019/08/06/0-valenzuela.jpeg (Source: Valenzuela Information Office)

Pasig

https://files.pna.gov.ph/source/2019/08/06/0-pasig.jpeg MMDA and LGU officials clear city-built outposts at the Pasig-Pateros border. (Photo from Mayor Vico Sotto)

Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Taguig, and San Juan are also gearing up their operations as the clock ticks toward their judgment day.

As announced during the meeting with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and other monitoring agencies, there will be a corresponding sanction against mayors who fail to do the task or any local officials who will hamper the success of the operations.

"A two-month suspension will be imposed while investigations are ongoing. It can either lead up to one month, one year, or two years at most," Año warned.

The DILG order to clear obstructions in public roads came after President Rodrigo Duterte in his Fourth State of the Nation Address took notice of Metro Manila’s bad traffic situation.

While the national government has done its part in treating the metro’s heavily congested roads through making a new transportation system and even trickling down population density through building a new smart city in Clark, Pampanga-- these huge projects would take years before the public can see and feel its effect.

There are also several road widening projects by MMDA but still not enough to lessen traffic woes, prompting the 60-day clearing operations, which offer a quick solution to ease congestions.

MMDA general manager Jose Arturo "Jojo" Garcia also provided a heads up in a prior media interview of the general outcome if the clearing operations be successful.

“It will improve the traffic situation by 30 percent, that is a big thing,” he said.

DTI launches KMME program in South

By Jimmyley E. Guzman (DTI-NCR)

MAKATI CITY, August 5 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry – National Capital Region (DTI-NCR) recently launched the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) program in the South of Metro Manila.

Some 24 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Taguig, Makati, Pasay and the Pateros enrolled to become mentees in the KMME program held last August 1, 2019.

DTI Assistant Secretary Blesila Lantayona of the Regional Operations Group encouraged the participants to join in programs organized by the DTI so that entrepreneurs can stay competitive with its regional peers. She was joined by Regional Director Marcelina Alcantara during the event.

The KMME program aims to help MSMEs scale up their business thru weekly coaching and mentoring. The program is in partnership with the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE).

The program gathers a pool of experts and successful businessmen who will then act as brother mentors to the budding entrepreneurs. In return, the mentees have to commit to attend all the mentoring sessions spread over the 10-week course duration.

Dry run of provincial bus ban set on August 7 - MMDA

By Jimmyley E. Guzman (PIA InfoComm/MMDA)

MAKATI CITY (PIA) – Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has set the dry run of the provincial bus ban next week.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said that public transport operators have agreed to participate in the dry run of the provincial bus ban that will start at 4am on Wednesday, August 7, 2019.

“I am so happy to say that all of them (provincial bus operators) will participate. They understand that we have yet to see should there be loopholes here,” said Garcia

According to MMDA, during the dry run, provincial buses will be banned from traversing along the stretch of EDSA from 4am to 10pm. But MMDA clarified that no penalties will be imposed against violators and that no actual closure of the existing provincial bus terminals along EDSA will happen.

Meanwhile, provincial buses coming from the north may use the Valenzuela Gateway Complex Terminal to load and unload their passengers. Provincial buses coming from the south may use the Sta. Rosa Integrated Terminal in Laguna while those with terminals in Pasay City may use the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

MMDA will also implement “window hours” from 10pm to 4am for affected provincial buses. During the window hour period, provincial buses are allowed to traverse EDSA to get to common terminals such as Araneta Center Bus Port in Cubao, Quezon City and BFCT East Terminal in Marikina City and PITX. Likewise, the number coding for city operating buses will be lifted.

“This means additional 20-percent of city-operating buses’ fleet will be allowed to operate to ensure there are enough number of city buses that will pick up passengers at the interim terminals,” Garcia explained.

DLSU student bags top prize in Make It Makati, To be You contest

By Joy Rojas (CONTRIBUTED, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Student videographers from De La Salle University, Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati and San Beda University bagged the top prizes in a video-making contest held by Make It Makati and To be You.

“Real Stories of Makati” challenged Generation Z to present in video format the uniqueness of Makati City through its people, places and events.

Make It Makati is Ayala Land’s campaign which is meant to define “districts with their own distinct, vibrant personas to help bring people, places, and events together for the best Makati experience possible,” according to makeitmakati.com.

First-place honors went to Lyshiel Aranal, a communication arts major at DLSU and audiovisual production pool head of its Green Media Group. Aranal’s 47-second entry showed a trio of girls exploring the city, from its many streets to the Ayala Triangle Gardens. “This city is in constant motion and I’ve grown to love wherever it takes me,” said the female narrator of the video.

Don Bosco’s Casey Villasin won first runner-up for portraying Makati as the perfect place to “live life to the fullest because we’re only young once.” With Paulo Santos, who provided direction and dialogue, Villasin used his camera and editing skills to showcase the city as a fun destination with its video arcades, green open spaces, shopping centers, and snack joints.

Snippets of the central business district by day and night made up the visuals of second runner-up Emmanuel Joseph “EJ” Bonagua and his fast-paced 30-second entry, “Millennials of Makati.” Bonagua is head videographer of San Beda Red Lens. He’s also a visual artist and contributing photographer of To be You.

Winners received gift certificates. The contest was open to all high school and college students nationwide.

Makati gov’t gives free raincoats, rain boots to over 6k preschoolers

By Consuelo Marquez (/je, INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Makati City has distributed free raincoats and rain boots to 6,745 preschoolers in three schools in the city.

Makati Mayor Binay on Thursday led the distribution of the raingear to preschoolers in Comembo Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School and Rizal Elementary School, a statement released on Friday said.

The donation was under the expanded Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education) of the Makati government.

Makati schools division superintendent Rita Riddle said all 6,745 preschoolers enrolled in the 25 public elementary schools would be given a raincoat and rain boots.

Binay said the Makati government will also focus on ensuring the safety of students who are prone to diseases during the rainy season.

“We are providing free raincoats and rain boots to pre-schoolers this school year since they are more vulnerable to water-borne diseases during the rainy season. Our students in Grades 1 to 6 already received theirs last year,” Binay said.

P189-B subway project in Makati gets going

By Dexter Cabalza, Doris Dumlao-Abadilla (Reports from Joanna Rose Aglibot, Yolanda Sotelo and Tonette Orejas, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — It’s all systems go for the $3.7-billion (P189-billion) Makati City subway, the first and most ambitious underground railway project in the country.

“This is not a sketch or a promise. The Philippines’ first subway will be a reality,” Makati Mayor Abby Binay said on Tuesday.

Binay led city officials in signing a joint venture agreement for the project with Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc., chaired by Ren Jinhua, at City Hall after the company posted a $350-million performance bond under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

Also referred to as a contract bond, a performance bond is issued to one party of a contract as a guarantee against the failure of the other party to meet obligations specified in the agreement.

Faster travel

The 10-kilometer subway aims to provide commuters faster travel by connecting key points in the city, including the central business district. It can ferry up to 700,000 passengers per day with its six-car trains.

The Inquirer earlier reported that plans for eight of the 10 air-conditioned underground subway stations were already finalized.

These are at Makati fire station (which would be relocated), Circuit Makati, City Hall, Century City-Rockwell Center, Makati Bliss Housing, University of Makati, Cembo and Ospital ng Makati in Pembo.

The first two stations envisioned on Ayala Avenue could not yet be started as landowners were reportedly “not responsive.”

Binay said city residents would be given priority in the more than 10,000 jobs up for grabs once the subway line starts operating.

Under the deal approved by city officials on July 19 through Ordinance No. 2019-A-020, the local government would not spend a single centavo for the project and would instead allow the land it owns to be used for the subway system.

City revenue share

In a text message, businessman Antonio Tiu, majority owner of Infradev, estimated the city government’s revenue share of close to 25 percent from the project, commensurate with the valuation of land to be contributed to the venture.

The board of Infradev, formerly IRC Properties Inc., approved the resolution to proceed with the joint venture following payment of the bond based on the company’s disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

The project is targeted to be finished by 2024 or 2025. It will complement other mass transport systems, such as the Metro Rail Transit 3 on Edsa, the Pasig River Ferry System and the proposed Metro Manila Mega Subway.

Infradev said it planned to extend the subway out of Makati, possibly to the neighboring cities of Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, Mandaluyong or Manila.

Apart from the revenue share, the subway system is seen to improve the flood system of the participating city, given that good pumping and drainage system will be installed underground.

Discover top talent and prepare for the jobs of the future at CareerCon 2019

(Rappler.com)

It's happening on July 19 at Dusit Thani, Makati

MANILA, Philippines – On July 20, job seekers and employers will gather at Dusit Thani, Makati, for CareerCon 2019 – a job fair that will showcase specialized jobs and talents in today’s digital economy.

Organized by Future Proof PH and Kalibrr, CareerCon aims to reinvigorate the concept of the traditional job fair. “Most of the job fairs today have a very transactional nature, where employers and job seekers simply exchange CVs,” said Trish Elamparo Esteban, General Manager of Future Proof PH. “We want CareerCon to be a platform for discovery for top talent, which is why we are saying that more than job seekers, this is for growth seekers who want to see what else lies ahead in their chosen career path.”

Apart from the Exhibition Floor for employers, another highlight is the Conference, which will feature professionals with inspiring career journeys: entrepreneurs who left top positions at multinational companies to pursue their own ventures, a successful start-up founder and CEO under 25, a philanthropist, data scientists, and a young CIO turned author. Speakers include Cecile Dominguez-Yujuico, CEO of Evident Communications and Co-Founder of All Good, a storytelling platform for social good, Kenn Costales, Founder and CEO of Monolith Growth Consulting, Albet Buddahim, CEO and Founder of Katapult Digital, Shahab Shabibi, Founder and CEO of Machine Ventures, Denise Haak, Founder and Chief Experience Officer of Quiddity Usability Labs, Rina Guzman,CX Asia Pacific Program Manager and In-Country Transformation Advisory Leader at Cisco, and more.

There will also be a Career Mixer, which is a speed networking activity for employers and talent. Compared to job interviews, the Career Mixer encourages more casual and exploratory conversations between the two sides.

Current Sponsors who will also showcase their jobs at CareerCon include JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, Tier One Entertainment, AXA, Republic, Heineken, The Bloc PH, Marmo Pizzara Inc., Sprout Solutions Inc., Synery88, Startek, Alveo, AstraZeneca, Food Panda, Samsung, and Purpose Driven Career Management Inc.

CareerCon 2019 is still accepting registrations for exhibitors and job seekers. Apart from the booth, exhibitors will also get a free subscription to Kalibrr.

To register as an employer-exhibitor or as a participant, visit https://careercon.com.ph.

NCRPO, Ayala Foundation ink MOA for 'Pulis Magiting' program

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan (PNA)

MANILA -- The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Ayala Foundation Group of Companies on Friday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the implementation of #PulisMagiting program that will recognize police officers' noteworthy deeds and accomplishments beyond their mandated tasks.

NCRPO Director, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said the program is a testament to the goodness of police personnel not only as a professional servant but more importantly as a human being.

"'Pulis Magiting' is a program that will constantly monitor, search and award policemen who do outstanding and touching acts by way of serving the people. These awards and rewards will be given to deserving policemen by the Ayala Foundation on a regular basis,” Eleazar told reporters after the MOA signing at the Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

Eleazar signed the MOA on behalf of the NCRPO while Ayala Foundation was represented by its president Raul Maranan.

Eleazar said his management policy as NCRPO chief comes from Philippine National Police chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde to "reward the good, but punish the bad."

“Contrary to the public perception that most of the police officers now are all scalawags and contrary to your perception that my job is just to get mad at these bad eggs in the police force, I think there's something wrong with these perceptions," he said.

“I have awarded and given recognition in the form of medals, certificates of citation and plaques to more than 250,000 of our deserving personnel, all in line with our policy of rewarding the good. I am very proud to report this,” he noted.

He also thanked Ayala Foundation for initiating the program that recognizes police officers.

Meanwhile, Maranan said they will continue to support the program as the PNP provides safety and security to the public.

He said they believe that everybody should cooperate and be part to be part of the solution to the problems confronting society.

The first recipient of the Pulis Magiting award was Police Cpl. Claro Fornis of the Makati Police Community Precinct (PCP) 1, who acted as guardian to Angela Perez, a student of General Pio Del Pilar National High School for her to enroll in school.

Both of her parents are in jail for a drug case.

Makati City gives free admission kits for Yellow Card holders

By Jimmyley E. Guzman (PIA InfoComm)

MAKATI CITY (PIA) -- Good news to Yellow Card holders of Makati! The city government has started distributing free admission kit for patients admitted at the Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) who are holders of the Yellow Card.

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay led the distribution of free admission kits to Yellow Card holders admitted at OsMak. The admission kit is an additional benefit under the Makati Health Plus program.

Mayor Binay said that the distribution of the admission kit aims to help Yellow Card holders save some money that can be spent for other urgent needs.

According to OsMak medical director Dr. Vergel Binay, the city government has provided around 11,893 pieces of admission kits. Each kit contains a digital thermometer, face towel, calibrated plastic cup, medicine cup, kidney basin, bathroom soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, spoon and fork, one roll of tissue paper, and a bottle of isopropyl alcohol.

Patients from OsMak can also use their Yellow Card at the Makati Medical Center for free diagnostic services and consultation with medical specialists, under the agreement signed between the city government and Makati Medical Center.

Mayor Binay also made an agreement with a private company to provide free dialysis for Yellow Card members who have renal disease.

Other benefits of the Yellow Card include free medicines for hypertension, diabetes, and other maintenance medicines distributed through eight pharmacy outlets in the city.

Meanwhile, the primary health care needs of residents are also being provided by the city’s 26 barangay health centers which is supported by six satellite laboratories lined to OsMak.

First 4 official entries to 45th MMFF, named

(PIA InfoComm)

MAKATI CITY (PIA) -- The first four (4) official entries to the 45th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has been named.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, esteemed members of the Selection Committee headed by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, chose the top 4 from the 26 scripts from 22 production companies based on the following criteria: Artistic Excellence 40 percent (40%); Commercial Appeal at 40 percent (40%); Filipino Cultural Sensibility at 10 percent (10%); and Global Appeal also at 10 percent (10%).

The first four films that will form part of the official eight entries to the MMFF 2018 are: (K) AMPON of Quantum Films starring Derek Ramsay and Kris Aquino; MIRACLE IN CELL #7 of Viva Communications, Inc. starring Aga Muhlach and Nadine Lustre; MISSION UNSTAPABOL: THE DON IDENTITY of APT ENTERTAINMENT, INC. /M- ZET PRODUCTION starring Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza; and MOMALLAND OF ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. & Viva Films starring Vice Ganda and Anne Curtis.

The next four will be selected from among the finished films whose deadline will be on September 20, 2019.

Meanwhile, the MMDA reminds that the scripts for the Short Film Category are due for submission on August 15, 2019.

The Metro Manila Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Metro Manila. The festival, which runs from December 25 through New Years Day and into first weekend of January in the following year, focuses on Filipino films with Pinoy value.

Southeast Asia forestry officials to gather in Makati for 22nd ASOF meeting

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz

To strengthen the region’s forestry cooperation, top environment officials in Southeast Asia will gather in the Philippines for the 22nd ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) Meeting slated this month.

The meeting, to be held in Makati City on July 15-20, is organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Forestry Management Bureau (FMB). It will bring together forestry leaders from the 10 ASEAN member-states to discuss measures toward sustainable forest management and address transboundary forest threats.

It also marks the start of the country’s year-long chairmanship of the biggest forestry conference and initiative in the region.

On July 15 and 16, the ASEAN Working Group on Forest Products will hold its 22nd meeting with focus on enhancing regional cooperation on forest products development and ensuring member-countries are aligned with global standards that address the environmental, social and economic integrity of regional forests and forest resources.

The meeting also supports the development of medicinal and aromatic plant industries, including their conservation and sustainable use.

The six-day ASOF event will end with an international seminar on current issues affecting forestry and forest products, which carries the theme “Forestry Beyond Forests.”

The topics include Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), ecotourism as a viable mechanism in sustaining biodiversity, and the benefits gained by forest communities from PES.

PES is an instrument designed to change practices of people that damage the environment so that they can provide valuable services to others and help improve environmental conditions.

In forestry, PES may involve entering into an arrangement with people or groups where they will be paid a certain amount to plant trees instead of cutting them down. This gives them a source of income while they help increase forest cover.

Forests contribute to the achievement of multiple sustainable development goals set by the United Nations.

As of 2010, the Philippines’ total forest cover was estimated at 6.840 million hectares.

To increase the country’s forest cover, the government—by virtue of Executive Order 26—implemented the National Greening Program (NGP) which aimed to cover 1.5 million hectares of land with 1.5 billion trees from 2011 to 2016.

In 2015, EO 193 was issued extending the NGP until 2028 in a bid to rehabilitate the remaining unproductive, denuded and degraded forestlands estimated at 7.1 million hectares.

As of 2018, the DENR—together with other government agencies, private sector and other stakeholders—has rehabilitated 1.9 million hectares of denuded forestlands, employed over 600,00 people in upland communities and increased the country’s forest cover by as much as 28 percent through the NGP.

DOT welcomes Dimples Romana’s support for tourism efforts

By Azer Parrocha (PNA)

MANILA -- Efforts to promote tourist destinations in the Philippines are always welcome, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Wednesday.

DOT Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III made this remark after his agency announced that actress Dimples Romana, known for her role as Daniela in an afternoon soap opera “Kadenang Ginto”, will be joining tourism promotion efforts.

Romana’s alter ego, “Daniela the explorer” has turned into viral memes where she is seen traveling different tourist destinations as well as unlikely places such as farms, markets and even flooded areas.

“It’s very exciting to see that even TV personalities or showbiz personalities are also showing their support to the programs of the Department of Tourism,” Alabado said in an economic briefing in Malacañang.

Alabado said their heightened support shows that more Filipinos believe in the agency’s “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” brand and slogan.

He said aside from celebrities, other sectors have expressed interest to co-brand with the agency.

“I think the Department of Tourism right now is getting a groundswell of support from all sectors. We have a lot of companies and co-branding with us. We have a lot of support from the airlines, to the malls, to the telecoms, to food products, fast food, everything,” Alabado said.

“Mahal nila ang Pilipinas at nakikita nila na (They really love the Philippines and they can see that) when we talked to them, they were seeing the best of the Philippines by going around. So, we want to share it to the whole world,” he added.

It’s More Fun in the Philippines was launched in 2012 under the term of President Benigno Aquino III but Alabado said he does not see it being replaced anytime soon.

“It would be very difficult if we would change our branding and our slogan from time to time because if we’re going to look at our neighbors, they have been using their own logos and taglines for the past decades and it has improved the recall of that brands,” Alabado said.

“Even our stakeholders, our private stakeholders from hotel business to the tour operators, they love the logo and it’s easy for them to just inject the natural fun that Filipinos can always put in their tours,” he added.

On Monday, the DOT posted photos showing Romana meeting DOT Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat at the DOT headquarters in Makati City.

According to the caption, Romana, describes herself as “an art-enthusiast and self-confessed museum-lover” who will be collaborating with the agency to promote lesser-known tourist destinations, museums, heritage sites, and advocate for sustainable tourism.

Makati Football Club makes 37th stint in Gothia World Youth Cup

(Manila Standard Sports)

Makati FC is currently in Europe to compete for two major youth competitions.

The club will make its 37th consecutive stint in the Gothia World Youth Cup scheduled on July 14 to 20 in Gothenburg, Sweden right after its debut in the Paris World Games.

With its good performance in the past few years, Makati FC has been getting a lot of invitations from several countries to compete in their tournaments.

And for the first time this year, the club is invited to the Paris World Games, which will serve as a buildup to the Gothia Cup. The club, which brought over 70 players from five teams: (boys born 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and girls born 2005) left the country last Saturday.

Tomas Lozano, the Makati FC Founder, who just turned 70 last week, has been bringing teams to compete in Gothia Cup since 1983. He received the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame award last 2007 in Sweden for 25 years of continuous participation and received another in 2012 for 30 years participation.

“The Gothia Cup is the world’s largest youth football tournament. Each year, around 1,700 teams from 80 countries take part and they play 4,500 games on 110 fields,” said SeLu Lozano, son of Tomas Lozano and CEO of Makati FC’s.

“It’s the teams, and participants from around the world that make the tournament unique. And having to be part of something as big as Gothia Cup, bringing 5 teams from the Philippines this year is something that the Club is very proud of. What our players get to experience is nothing short of spectacular not just in terms of exposure for football but as growing individuals who has the potential to be future leaders of our country. Empowering our youth through football is what Makati FC is all about.” he added.

The players are looking forward to participating in the tournament. One of them is Lance Locsin, a Makati FC Boys 14 standout, who was discovered from Bacolod and is now a scholar of Makati FC studying in De La Salle Zobel.

“We will do our best to win in Gothia Cup and Paris. Football has given me everything in my life. The better I do in my football career around the world, the more opportunities will open up for me. My family back home is also helped by the club because of football,” said Locsin. “My dream is to play professional football abroad through Makati FC, I have a realistic chance.”

Locsin went to the club’s Japan training camp last May 31 to June 3 in preparation for the Paris World Games and Gothia Cup in Sweden.

His teammate Alfonso Gonzalez, who is now on his fourth stint in the Gothia Cup, is looking forward for the bigger picture.

Makati FC has played a very important role in developing young football athletes in Philippines since 1976, as Tomas Lozano, a former Real Madrid FC player, pioneered youth football in the country.

Chinese kidnap victim rescued, 2 nabbed in Makati

By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan (PNA)

MANILA -- Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) rescued a Chinese national and arrested two suspects in an anti-kidnapping operation in Makati City on Thursday.

Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay, head of the CIDG-National Capital Region, said Jiang Fan Li, 22, was rescued from his alleged kidnappers, Lee Arvin Apostol and Brian Requintina, during a police operation at Emilia Building on Batangas St. corner Uruguay St., Barangay San Isidro, Makati.

Ibay said the rescue operation stemmed from information from a concerned citizen, who appeared at the CIDG office at about 4 p.m. on the same day, and reported that a Chinese national was being held captive.

A picture of the victim was also shown purportedly being maltreated while handcuffed.

Police officers, along with officials of Barangay San Isidro, proceeded to the area and found the victim cuffed to a bed. The victim could hardly understand English or Tagalog. The alleged kidnappers were then arrested.

A case for violation of Article 267 (Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention) of the Revised Penal Code against the suspects was being readied while further investigation was being conducted on the incident, including the affiliations of the arrested persons to any criminal group.

The suspects are being held at the CIDG-NCR in Camp Crame.

Skyway Stage 3 partially opens this July: Villar

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz (With reports from Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)

MANILA -- Motorists will be able to access a portion of the multi-billion Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 (SS3), with the scheduled opening of the Plaza Dilao ramp in Manila this month, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Friday.

On the sidelines of the inspection on the road project, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the construction of the 18.68-km. SS3 is in full blast after all right-of-way issues have been settled and only 25 out of 494 substructure works remain under construction.

“Around 5 percent remains. So in terms of completion, our target is by the end of the year, the Skyway will be substantially complete,” Villar said.

Once completed, the SS3 will connect the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Buendia, Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Balintawak, Quezon City, reducing a two-hour drive to about 20 minutes.

With this, he reported that two sections of the project are now more than 80 percent completed.

“Section 1 from Buendia Ave. in Makati City to Quirino Ave. in Nagtahan, Manila is now 83 percent completed, while Section 3 from Ramon Magsaysay Ave. to Balintawak is 81 percent completed,” Villar added.

“We’re projecting (that) as much as 100,000 cars a day will use the skyway (instead of Edsa). So, it will be a big relief,” he said.

The Plaza Dilao exit of the SS3 will be toll-free until such time the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) decides on its toll, he said.

He said that other sections are also being fast-tracked to ensure the Skyway’s mainline from Buendia to Balintawak meets the target completion date by the first quarter of 2020.

The soon-to-open stretch of the SS3 will only be open to light vehicles, with no plans yet of opening the skyway to cargo trucks and other heavy vehicles.

The public works chief also said the project was seismic rated, built to resist earthquakes.

“Our projection was it could withstand (a quake of) up to (magnitude) 8,” Villar said.

The Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 project spans three cities, Makati, Manila, and Quezon City. It is an 18.68-km. elevated expressway stretched over Metro Manila from Buendia, Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City.

Interchanges are also strategically located in E. Rodriguez Ave. (Quezon City), Quezon Ave. (Quezon City), Sgt. Rivera St. (Quezon City), and NLEX.

Eight ramps in crucial areas of Metro Manila will connect the project to the rest of the city. These ramps are distributed among the eight sections of the project: Buendia/Makati to Quirino to Nagtahan (3.76 km.); Nagtahan to Aurora Blvd./Ramon Magsaysay Ave. (6.19 km.); Nagtahan to Tomas Claudio (0.96 km.); Tomas Claudio to PUP Sta. Mesa (1.30 km.); Tomas Claudio to Ramon Magsaysay Ave. (3.93 km.); Ramon Magsaysay Ave. to Quezon Ave. (2.71 km.); Quezon Ave. to Balintawak (4.46 km.); and Balintawak to NLEX (1.56 km.).

Last year, the DPWH opened the three-lane, northbound direction of Skyway Stage 3 from Buendia Ave. up to near Java St. in Makati City.

It allows motorists to exit a kilometer further along South Super Highway instead of using Buendia as an off-ramp.

Villar said the project will help realize President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s challenge of a five-minute travel time from Makati to Cubao by December.

“This is from Makati to Quezon City area, which is around the area of Cubao. The first exit is Manila, the next exit is already Aurora. From Makati to Aurora is less than five minutes,” he said.

Villar said the SS3 will be a big part of the decongestion plans in Metro Manila but is only one of the “Build, Build, Build” projects in the capital.

“This is not the only project lined up for decongestion. There’s the NLEX-SLEX connector, the C6, the C5 Southlink, then there are the bridges across Pasig River. So we still have a lot of plans for easing traffic. The vision of the President decongesting Manila is at hand,” Villar said.

Contact centers eye 4% revenue growth in 2019

By Othel V. Campos

The local contact center industry expects 4-percent revenue growth in 2019 following a 5.1-percent expansion in 2018.

Contact Center Association of the Philippines president Jojo Uligan said the industry continued to show signs of recovery. “We’re working on the figures. That’s the normal thing we do. We’re still verifying the information we got from members,” he said in a news briefing Friday in Makati City.

CCAP chairman Benedict Hernandez said the recovery was evidenced by an uptick in BPO real estate take-up in the first four months of 2019.

“In the first four months, we took up 126,000 sqm of space. And when you look at this figure, it’s back to more historical deals we had before. Usually, we consume 400,000 to 450,000 sqm a year,” he said.

Many BPO companies usually take up four to seven floors of a Peza-registered BPO building at any given time.

“And so it’s a good lead indicator. If our members and investors are buying real estate, that means they want to create more jobs. We’re trying to work on this initial information while the contact association survey and result are still ongoing,” Hernandez said.

The business process outsourcing sector reported a 5.1 percent growth in 2018, below the 8-percent annual growth target under Roadmap 2022.

The Philippines BPO sector, however, continued to grow faster than the average global market growth of 3 percent to 4 percent in 2018.

The BPO industry ended 2018 with 1.23 million employees in the Philippines.

Texas-based Everest Group said the Philippines continued to account for 16 percent to 18 percent of the estimated IT-BPM market of $83 billion.

Uligan said the contact center group remained committed to help the government develop provincial locations for IT-BPM centers.

He said CCAP would continue to support the “hub and spoke” model for investors as locators need Metro Manila as their first landing destination in the country before they start expanding to the provinces.

CCAP will stage Contact Islands 2019 Conference in Mactan, Cebu on July 24 to 25, 2019.

Free hospital kits in Makati

By Joel E. Zurbano

The city government of Makati has started distributing free admission kits to patients covered by the Yellow Card who are confined at the city-run Ospital ng Makati.

The latest addition to the benefits enjoyed by members of the Makati Health Plus program, better known as Yellow Card, contains essential items for the use of patients during confinement.

Mayor Abigail Binay said the kit is aimed to provide immediate relief to Yellow Card patients so that they need not spend on basic items upon admission.

“We want to spare them the trouble of spending for basic needs. The amount they will save can instead be used for other urgent needs,” she said.

According to OsMak medical director Dr. Vergel Binay, the city has allocated some 11,893 admission kits for distribution to the intended beneficiaries, ideally upon admission as a patient.

Each kit comes in a transparent plastic bag and contains a digital thermometer, face towel, calibrated plastic cup, medicine cup, kidney basin, bathroom soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, spoon and fork, a roll of tissue paper, and a bottle of isopropyl alcohol.

Yellow Card holders and registered dependents are entitled to free outpatient consultation and subsidized hospitalization and diagnostic tests at OsMak, which recently earned its ISO 9001:2015 certification.

Residents can also be referred to partner-facilities like the Makati Medical Center to avail themselves of specialized medical and diagnostic services that may not be not available at OsMak, using their Yellow Card.

The card also gives them access to free medicines, including maintenance medicines for hypertension, diabetes and other lifestyle diseases, distributed through eight pharmacy outlets in strategic locations throughout the city.

Through an agreement signed by the mayor with a private company last year, Yellow Card beneficiaries with kidney diseases have been able to receive fully subsidized dialysis treatments in private freestanding dialysis centers in Makati and other nearby locations.

Meanwhile, the primary health care needs of residents are being provided by 26 barangay health centers, supported by six satellite laboratories linked to OsMak.

Makati Hope alumna graduates summa cum laude

(The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines — Makati Hope Christian School (MHCS) alumna Jayne Lois San Juan (Class 2013) graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Industrial Management Engineering minor in Service Management, a ladderized/honors program of the De La Salle University.

San Juan also garnered awards in two separate international competitions – Merit Award for Junior Researchers Best Presentation in the 21st Conference on Process Integration, Modeling and Optimization for Energy Pollution Reduction held in Czech Republic in August and first place in the graduate student paper competition in the 9th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management held in Thailand in March. Other awards she received locally include a gold medal for Outstanding Master’s Thesis, Eduardo Cojuangco Junior Award for Leadership and Engineering Innovation, and Outstanding Student of Industrial Engineering Award.

Over the years, MHCS has successfully produced top graduates from leading Philippine universities. The institution is located at 2312 Don Chino Roces Avenue Extn, Magallanes, Makati City. For inquiries, call 817-1111 or visit www.makatihope.edu.ph.

PH’s Blackbird among 50 best restaurants in the world

(ABS-CBN News)

MANILA – Blackbird, located at the Nielson Tower in Makati, has been dubbed as one of the best restaurants in the world.

London-based publication and tastemaker Monocle has included Blackbird in its list of 50 best restaurants, ranking 49th.

On Instagram, Blackbird chef Kerwin Go shared photos of the letter, award, and magazine they received from Monocle.

“Five years ago today, we were getting ready to open Blackbird. It was going to be the biggest project we have done, and personally I was nervous as I was given a bigger role with this concept,” he said.

“Fast forward to today, we got listed in Monocle’s 50 best restaurants in the world,” Go continued. “I would like to thank every single chef, waiter, runner, bartender, and manager who make it happen every single day. Congratulations to us.”

Monocle has yet to release its full list of 50 best restaurants online, although it has revealed which establishments reached the Top 5.

Leading the pack is 1477 Reichhalter in Lana, Italy; followed by The River Café in London; Villa D’Este in Como; Bauernschänke in Zurich; and Appia in Bangkok.

Makati gets top COA marks

By Joel E. Zurbano

The Makati City government under the administration of Mayor Abigail Binay obtained for the second straight year the highest rating from the Commission on Audit in its Annual Audit Report on the city’s 2018 financial statements.

COA Director Adelina Concepcion Ancajas stated in her letter dated June 25 that the Auditor “rendered an unmodified opinion on the fairness of presentation of the financial statements of the city.”

An “unmodified opinion”, also called “unqualified opinion”, is the highest audit rating that can be rendered by an auditor after concluding that the financial statements of the audited entity are presented fairly and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

Mayor Binay expressed her elation over the positive audit rating gained by the city for 2018 and thanked COA for its fair evaluation.

“I am deeply heartened by this good news from the Commission on Audit. This second unmodified opinion shows that we have remained on course in espousing the principles of good governance, including transparency and accountability,” she said.

The city chief executive also thanked the various agencies of the city government for their support and cooperation in ensuring full compliance with laws on the disbursement of government funds and implementation of programs and projects.

“Getting an unmodified opinion for two years in a row is a rare achievement, and I am proud to share the honors with my fellow city officials and public servants of the City of Makati,” said Binay.

For the past three years, the city government has implemented reforms aimed to enhance transparency and efficiency in the systems and operations at City Hall. These include a Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) established at the ground floor of Makati City Hall Building II, which has served as a common site to process applications and payments and issue licenses, clearances and permits.

The city is also pursuing a ‘no-contact’ policy being pushed by the mayor to eliminate fixers and curtail corruption and abusive practices, particularly in the processing of permits. Currently being developed is an enhanced business permit and licensing system or e-BPLS, a computerized system that will provide easy access to business permits through different platforms.

The first term of Mayor Binay had been marked with other notable achievements, including posting a two-digit increase in revenue collections in 2017 for the first time after 12 years of one-digit gains. The city has also consistently surpassed its revenue targets for the past three years.

After several years, Makati reclaimed its title as the country’s richest local government unit after its assets reached P196.57 billion and was confirmed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government as the first LGU to breach the P100-billion mark.

The city Accounting Department was named one of the Most Outstanding Accounting Offices by the Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines.

Top Chinese official checks out Makati subway project

[Inquirer Business, Mike U. Frialde (Editor)]

MANILA, Philippines — A delegation of Chinese officials got a closer look at the proposed Makati subway project.

Businessman Antonio Tiu, president of Makati subway developer Philippine Infradev Holdings (formerly IRC), showed a scale model of the proposed underground rail system to the delegation led by Wan Gang, vice chairman of the People’s Political Consultative Conference and chairman of Zigong Party, China’s second biggest political party.

The US$3.6-billion subway project is a public-private partnership between Makati City and a private Chinese consortium led by IRC.

The irresistible lure of Yakal

By Marielle Medina and Minerva Generalao (Inquirer Research, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Yakal Street in Barangay San Antonio, Makati City is one thriving prime address in country’s central business district, evident in the growing number of business establishments in the area.

One of the standout features of the busy street is its proximity to the Makati central business district (CBD), the South Luzon Expressway, and certain portions of Manila. Its strategic location further makes it an attractive location for both residents and business owners.

Along the street is a multitude of residential condominiums, banks, and private offices. The street is likewise near several universities like Centro Escolar University and Far Eastern University Makati, and hospitals, like Makati Medical Center.

Government offices like the Makati City Hall, Makati Central Post Office, Makati Fire Station, Makati Central First Station, and Manila South Cemetery are also accessible to Yakal Street.

Property values in Yakal Street have appreciated by at least 300 percent in the last 10 years. According to the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s table of zonal values in its fifth revision effective June 11, 2017, a commercial lot along Yakal Street is valued anywhere from P150,000 to P250,000 per sqm, up from P35,000 to P60,000 per sqm as of January 13, 1998.

Residential condominiums along Yakal Street are also priced higher than in other places. As in the case of Avida Towers Asten, the zonal value was estimated at about P120,000 per sqm as of June 2017, according to data from the BIR.

The Makati government also seems to bank on the location’s prime offering, with many public infrastructure projects and improvements well underway. Once the NLEx-South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) connector road project and the $3.6-billion Makati subway project are completed, the values of land along Yakal Street and nearby streets are expected to further escalate.

Yakal Street is also an emerging food hub with several restaurants, offering a wide range of cuisines, have made it their home. You can find here a fine dining steakhouse that offers premium wine and a famous Cebu-based lechon franchise, among many others.

Barangay San Antonio, where Yakal Street is located, exudes a great balance of residential and commercial areas, providing conducive and cozy living experience without giving up accessibility to necessary daily comforts and business opportunities. The barangay has a total land area of 0.896 square kilometers. As of the latest 2015 census, Barangay San Antonio has a population of 16,840.

Metro Pacific Hospital makes tender offer for shares in Makati Medical owner

By Janina C. Lim

METRO Pacific Hospital Holdings Inc. (MPHHI) has made an offer to buy P2.261 billion worth of shares from Medical Doctors Inc. (MDI) to boost its stake in the latter to 49.9%.

“MPHHI has offered to acquire up to 563,000 outstanding common shares of MDI which represent approximately 16.6% of the total outstanding shares of MDI which will bring the Offerror’s ownership to no more than 49.9%,” MDI said in a notice to shareholders published Friday in a newspaper.

MPHHI is offering to buy the shares at P4,016.00 each.

Prior to the offer, MPHHI held 1,128,715 outstanding common shares of Medical Doctors Inc., owner and operator of Makati Medical Center, which represent approximately 33.3% of the outstanding MDI shares.

The tender offer for shareholders who wish to offer all or a portion of their MDI shares runs from June 28 to July 26, but can be extended whenever a public holiday within the period is announced.

The tender offer is subject to the Philippine Competition Commission’s approval.

MPHHI will initally pay 75% of the total purchase price for the MDI shares on the settlement date, which is 10 business days aftrer the termination of the tender offer or after obtaining approval from the PCC, whichever comes later.

The balance will be paid within five calendar days from the delivery to the offeror of the original and valid certificates authorizing registration from the relevant revenue district office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue authorizing the transfer of shares.

MPHHI is a subsidiary of listed Metro Pacific Investments Corp. whose shares on Friday fell 0.21% to P4.80.

MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

SMDC, FLI team up for Makati residential project

By Leslie Gatpolintan (PNA)

MANILA -- The real estate development arms of two of the country’s top conglomerates, SM Investments Corporation and GT Capital Holdings Inc., have joined forces to develop a luxury residential project in Makati Central Business District, touted as the most expensive one to date.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC) and Federal Land Inc. (FLI) have started building the 54-floor The Estate Makati and have tapped award-winning architectural firm Foster + Partners for the design.

“The delivery of this will be in December 2023. Construction and excavation already began so (the project will be completed) roughly 4 to 4.5 years,” FLI Senior Vice President John Frederick Cabato told reporters on Thursday.

Cabato bared that already 40 percent of a total 188 residential units were sold even before the project launch targeted by September.

“I think it’s a very good sign for the property,” he said. “There is a lot of interests within the domestic market.”

Cabato said they expect to sell out the residential units within the next two to three years.

The Estate Makati will offer two-bedroom units with a floor area of 151 square meters (sqm) and priced at PHP90 million to PHP95.5 million each. It will have a total of 144 three-bedroom units ranging from 178 to 224 sqm and priced at PHP112 million to PHP153 million.

Cabato noted project price already nears PHP600,000 per square meter.

Makati tax take at P12.1 billion

By Joel E. Zurbano

The Makati City government under the administration of Mayor Abigail Binay has tallied a total of P12.1 billion in revenue as of May, a collection equivalent to 71 percent of the P17.12-billion revenue target for the entire year.

Binay is optimistic the city will again surpass its revenue target for the year, as it had done in the past three years.

“At the rate we are going, we expect to surpass our full-year revenue target before this December. With our stable financial standing, we will be able to implement new initiatives and enhance current programs and services for Makatizens,” she said.

Major projects the city chief executive vowed to pursue as she starts her second term this July include the upgrading of public school facilities for the digital age, continuing modernization of the Ospital ng Makati in Pembo, the completion of the new state-of-the-art hospital in Malugay, and the establishment of a public columbarium offering free cremation and inurnment services to city residents.

In a report to the Office of the Mayor, City Treasurer Jesusa Cuneta stated that as of May 31, 2019, the city collected P12,155,881,631.06, and has attained 66 percent of its target collections from Business Tax and 95 percent of its target for Real Property Tax.

From January to May, collections from Business Tax reached P6.4 billion out of the P9.8-billion target, while Real Property Tax payments generated P4.5 billion of the almost P4.8-billion goal.

According to the Business Permits Office, the city has registered 2,477 new businesses as of last June 21, with combined capital investment amounting to P23.3 billion.

In the same period, a total of 34,542 businesses have renewed their permits, reporting a combined sales of P1.4 trillion.

The city has also derived income from other sources, including Fees and Charges, P531.1 million; Economic Enterprises P76.8 million; Interest Income, P106.5 million; and Internal Revenue Allotment, P494.1 million.

Meanwhile, Binay has announced that 31 satellite realty tax payment centers will be opened by the Office of the City Treasurer on scheduled dates in various barangays starting July 2 (Tuesday) for real property owners with taxes due this third quarter.

“Real property owners in the city are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity, as it would help them save time, energy and transportation expenses,” she said.

Binay said through the Realty Tax Division under the Finance Department, the city government ensures the efficiency of services at the satellite payment centers, where each transaction usually takes a maximum of five minutes. Taxpayers only need to present their previous receipt and pay the taxes due to receive an electronic receipt.

The payment centers will be open from 9 am to 4 pm to accept payments.

On July 2, the payment centers will be opened in Barangays Bel-Air and Urdaneta, followed by Magallanes and San Lorenzo on July 3.

The schedule for the rest of the week is as follows: July 4, Brgys. Dasmariñas and Forbes Park; and July 5, Brgys. Bangkal, Pio del Pilar, San Isidro, Palanan, and San Antonio.

The following week, the payment centers will be open to serve taxpayers, as follows: July 9 (Tuesday), Brgys. La Paz, Sta. Cruz, Singkamas, Tejeros, and Kasilawan; July 10 (Wednesday), Carmona, Olympia, Valenzuela, Poblacion and Guadalupe Viejo; July 11 (Thursday), Guadalupe Nuevo, Pinagkaisahan, Pitogo, Cembo and South Cembo; and July 12 (Friday), West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo and Rizal.

Based on the city’s Revenue Code, Makati offers a five percent discount for quarterly payments made during the first 20 days of the quarter (July 20 for the third quarter). On the other hand, late quarterly payments will incur a penalty of two percent per month.

The Realty Tax Division at the 2nd floor of Makati City Hall Building I will also be open to serve taxpayers on Saturdays from 8am to 4pm on July 6, 13 and 20. On weekdays from July 1 to 19, it will be open to serve clients from 8am to 7:30pm.

Moreover, the Business Tax Division at the ground floor, City Hall Buildig II, will be open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 7:30 pm starting July 1 up to July 19, and on Saturdays from 8 am to 4 pm on July 6, 13 and 20.

5 minutes from Cubao to Makati doable through ‘truly fast’ lane

By Jeannette I. Andrade (Reporter, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — How do you get from Cubao, Quezon City, to Makati City through Edsa in five minutes? Create a “truly fast” lane.

Brig. Gen. Roberto Fajardo, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) director, said on Monday that different government agencies were meeting regularly to make the President’s promise a reality.

Among the proposals to decongest Edsa traffic was to move the motorcycle lane beside the two bus lanes. Ironically, Fajardo revealed the plan during a motorcycle safety event in which the PNP-HPG and Angkas Philippines signed a deed of donation for 50 motorcycle helmets.

“If you notice, the motorcycle lane is on the fast lane. We will move that into the third lane. It would be beside the two bus lanes,” he said.

Moving the motorcycle lane would make the “fast lane… truly fast. The motorcycles would not need to take away space and constantly dodge fast-moving cars,” Fajardo added.

He maintained that the five-minute travel time was doable if traffic laws were strictly enforced, adding: “We will do our best [to comply with Mr. Duterte’s directive] .”

“If the President says it, we will do it. It’s that simple. How we’ll do it? [That’s a] secret,” he said.

Why The Landmark has never been toppled

By Margaux Salcedo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

First Class

Running a supermarket and department store is a Herculean task but for Teddy Keng, founder of The Landmark Makati, no mountain is too high with hard work. He has kept the business thriving since it opened in 1988 and through his diligent supervision, the supermarket has been “No. 1 in sales for a single supermarket” in the entire country for 31 years.

In 2007, they opened their second branch in Trinoma, which is almost twice the size of the original. Makati is 4,500 square meters (sq m), while the supermarket in Trinoma is already over 7,000 sq m.

In 2017, they opened their third branch in Alabang, with the supermarket opening in July, followed by the department store in October.

Ansons

Keng was not always in the supermarket business. His was originally with Anson Emporium, the appliance store founded by his father Keng Giok, in Binondo in 1966, on Salazar Street in downtown Manila.

In the 1970s, Anson Emporium expanded to Makati on a lot where Raffles Makati now stands.

After a decade of selling appliances, Keng came up with the idea of putting up a department store. So he spoke to the Ayala developers, who offered the space where the Maranaw building with the bowling alley Coronado Lanes used to be.

In May of 1988, Landmark Makati was born: An entire nine-story building with five floors of merchandise and the ground floor devoted to a supermarket.

Best supermarket

What does it take to consistently be ranked the No. 1 supermarket for three decades?

“Guts, luck and hard work,” says the very humble guy.

Keng takes the “hard work” advice seriously. When I asked him if he is in the office every day, he says, “Almost 24/7!”

His wife Linda admits that is true. “He is always in the office. The only time he is not there is when we travel.”

His hands-on management is also a big factor why Landmark Supermarket has received several international awards as “Best Supermarket.” Keng directly supervises pricing reports, even if he can easily delegate this task.

He also attributes the supermarket’s success to their good selection of merchandise, good location and best prices.

They also have good relationships with their suppliers, who in turn always pay on time.

His son Kenneth, who is now chief operating officer for the Alabang branch, shares, “We cultivate good relationships with our suppliers. I find that it is also easier to have customized dealings and our flexibility is in how we counter the usual economies of scale of larger supermarket chains that might require them to have standardized contracts.”

Warehouse

It is also important to always have stocks available.

To ensure the availability of stocks, Landmark builds warehouses in the same building as the supermarket.

Kenneth adds, “Our situation is unique because we only have a few branches but with very high foot traffic. So we designed our supermarkets to have the warehouses adjacent to it. As traffic has worsened in Metro Manila, given our foot traffic and that there are days when you need to restock twice or more, we’ve found this system to be very effective.”

Supermarket design

Keng also ensured the design of the supermarket is appealing. He contracted multiawarded architect Hugh A. Boyd to design all of Landmark’s supermarkets.

For the Trinoma branch design, the architectural firm won the 2018 Best of Year Winner for Large Retail Project of magazine Interior Design.

Recognizing the potential of presenting grocery shopping as an all-day affair, Boyd incorporated entertainment aspects to the stores, such as exhibition-style cooking areas that Interior Design magazine said “brings to life the theater of preparing fresh food.”

The supermarket design is so good that even trade missions of embassies do their product launches in the store.

Keng shares that just two weeks ago, Indonesia’s leading bread brand, Sari Roti, launched their product in Landmark Makati.

Secret of success

Another secret to the success of The Landmark is its team. Landmark employs almost 15,000 workers.

Mimi Abueg, Keng’s executive secretary for over 31 years now, shares the staff at Landmark are very grateful to Keng for being a very understanding boss.

Keng’s advice to aspiring businessmen: plan well, be conservative and pray. He takes the prayer part quite seriously, too, building a chapel in Landmark Makati with a seating capacity of 1,300, and another one in Landmark Trinoma, with a seating capacity of 2,200, even if he is not even Catholic.

The two chapels, both called Mary Mother of Hope Chapel, were named by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

Let’s pray The Landmark remains successful for another 30 years and beyond, and for them to open more branches nationwide.

AGI to break ground for Makati-Fort Bonifacio monorail Skytrain in January 2020

By TED CORDERO (/VDS,GMA News)

Alliance Global Group Inc.’s (AGI) infrastructure arm Infracorp Development Inc. is eyeing to break ground for its two-kilometer Skytrain monorail project by January next year as the company is confident it can best potential rivals in a Swiss Challenge.

“We hope to ground-break by January [2020],” Infracorp president and AGI CEO Kevin Tan told reporters on the sidelines of property arm Megaworld’s annual stockholders’ meeting in Quezon City on Friday.

Tan said the company already did the “groundwork” in preparation for potential challengers during the Swiss challenge, “so we will be awarded by September or October.”

“We are also trying to sort out right-of-way concerns,” he said.

The company’s original proposal is still with the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC), waiting for the go signal for a Swiss challenge.

In a Swiss challenge, other companies are given the chance to match or best an original proponent’s proposal.

In May 2018, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) granted AGI’s Infracorp the original proponent status for the P3.3-billion project.

Infracorp submitted the unsolicited proposal to the government on Oct. 26, 2017.

The Skytrain project will use the automated cable-propelled monorail technology. It is envisioned to reduce the travel time from Fort Bonifacio to MRT Guadalupe Makati to only five minutes.

Infracorp will make provisions for interconnecting with other transport hubs operating along the monorail route. The company envisions the monorail to benefit 60,000 to 100,000 passengers daily who commute to and from the bustling business districts of Makati and Taguig.

St Giles Makati Hotel GM Derrick Tan named as one of the PH Best General Managers

(INQUIRER.net BrandRoom)

Mr. Derrick Tan, General Manager of St Giles Makati Hotel, has been named as one of the Philippines’ Best General Managers last June 7 at Dusit Thani Manila.

Endorsed by CMO Asia and the World Federation of Hospitality Professionals, the Philippines Best General Managers award is an independent brand recognition which seeks to identify and celebrate the outstanding brand building and marketing professionals in the Philippines.

The award was initiated to acknowledge individuals who have achieved extraordinary success from innovative and effective people management and customer satisfaction practices in the Philippines.

Alongside the best general managers award, the institution also gave recognition to best employers and brands in various categories.

Mr. Tan is very honored and happy to receive the recognition and he is sharing this award with all the hardworking staff of St Giles Makati who are always dedicated in delivering their brand promise of creating a totally fulfilling experience for all their guests at all times. This recognition also symbolizes the support that the hotel receives from their corporate office in Malaysia and other sister hotels.

Currently at the helm of the 512-room St Giles Makati Hotel, Mr. Tan has been the hotel’s general manager since the foray of international hospitality group St Giles Hotels into the Philippines in July 2010.

Before coming to Manila, he served as the general manager of Bayview Georgetown Hotel in Penang, Malaysia for 16 years. He has also worked at Mandarin Hotel in Orchard Road and Marina Mandarin in Singapore for 15 years and had other overseas assignments in China and Langkawi. He was sent to study hospitality and management in Hawaii and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

He is a true-blue hotelier with almost 50 years of solid experience in the hospitality industry. Mr. Tan is a master trainer and motivator who has reaped numerous commendations and has earned the admiration of his colleagues through these years.

Makati road closures and rerouting schemes you need to know this weekend

By Jason Tulio

For the city’s 349th Foundation Day

This weekend, Makati City marks its 349th anniversary. As part of Foundation Day 2019, several roads will be closed to public access. See the Makati City government’s post below:

Starting today until 12pm on Sunday, June 23, the whole stretch of Lawton Street will be closed to give way for the Grand Parade and Grand Salu-Salo. The parade will start on Saturday at 3pm from Makati City Hall toward Lawton Street. Normal traffic will resume on Sunday at 12:01pm. To manage the flow traffic, enforcers will be deployed along Kalayaan Avenue and J.P. Rizal Extension.

During this time, motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes:

Vehicles going to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) via Lawton Street (from East Rembo or West Rembo):

• Along J.P. Rizal Street, turn left to Sgt. Fabian Yabut Street in Guadalupe Nuevo and head toward Kalayaan Avenue. From Kalayaan Avenue, make a U-turn at the corner of Edsa-Kalayaan Avenue, then turn right to 32nd Street to destination.

Private and public utility vehicles going to Pasig or Pateros via Kalayaan Avenue:

• From EDSA, turn right to Kalayaan Avenue. Heavy traffic is expected before Lawton or Kalayaan intersection, so a stop-and-go scheme will be implemented in the area.

Private and public utility vehicles going to BGC via Lawton Avenue:

• Along J.P. Rizal Avenue, turn right to West Cloverleaf, and turn right to EDSA-southbound. From EDSA, turn left to McKinley-Ayala Avenue intersection and head toward BGC or C5 to destination.

Private vehicles coming from Mandaluyong City along EDSA going to BGC via West Cloverleaf, J.P. Rizal, and Lawton Avenue:

• Head straight to EDSA/Ayala Avenue/McKinley intersection. Turn left to McKinley Street and head toward BGC area or C5 Road to destination.

Makati awards honor students cash incentives

By Dhel Nazario

More than 2,000 honor graduates of Makati City’s public elementary and senior high schools were awarded cash incentives ranging from P6,000 to P10,000 by the city government for school year 2018-2019.

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay led the Gawad Parangal ceremony held June 18 and 19, where she handed each awardee a voucher for claiming the cash incentive at the Cash Division at City Hall. She also raffled off 60 brand new laptops among them.

The mayor congratulated the honor graduates and commended their parents for their children’s achievements.

“Congratulations to our public school students who graduated with honors in the past school year! We also thank and honor their parents and guardians for having raised them well. They have helped us cultivate excellence and good character which are essential to their development as great leaders of the future,” Mayor Binay said.

City schools division superintendent Rita Riddle said P6,000 was given to each honor graduate; P8,000 to those with high honors; and P10,000 to those with the highest honors.

In 2018, the city awarded cash incentives to some 1,799 honor graduates from its public elementary and high schools.

Global Makati notches 1st PFL win; Kaya Iloilo stays perfect

By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno (PNA)

BIÑAN CITY — Global Makati got its first win in the Philippines Football League season after beating Air Force, 3-1, at the Biñan Football Stadium on Wednesday.

Global Makati made up for a 32nd minute own goal from James Dorego with a late second half comeback to steal the win.

Kennedy Uzoka launched a rocket goal in the 73rd minute to tie the match, while Marvin Bricenio scored the go-ahead goal in the 86th minute.

Man of the Match Matthew Custodio then delivered the dagger in the 90th minute.

The win moved Global Makati to fifth place in the league with the full three points, while Air Force stays tied at the bottom with Mendiola, a 3-6 loser over Kaya Iloilo at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila later Wednesday.

Despite finally conceding goals, Kaya Iloilo remained perfect in four matches with the rout of Mendiola in the high-scoring clash.

Aaron Altiche momentarily stunned Kaya Iloilo with a third minute goal to put Mendiola on the board first.

But Jordan Mintah equalized in the 11th minute, and Shirmar Felongco put Kaya Iloilo up front for good in the 22nd minute.

Eric Giganto added another goal for Kaya Iloilo in the 47th minute as the club opened the second half at 3-1.

He then canceled Ash Flores' 57th minute goal for Mendiola with a 60th minute goal to keep Kaya Iloilo's lead at two, 4-2.

Mintah then scored in the 85th minute to spark Kaya Iloilo's breakaway, and he completed a hat trick with an 89th minute goal, right after Alen Angeles struck one more time for Mendiola.

Makati celebrates 349th anniversary

By NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

Makati Mayor Mar-len Abigail Binay has called on the public to take part in the city’s 349th founding anniversary celebration, which will showcase “the talents of city residents in culture and the arts.”

“This year’s theme highlights the city’s cultural identity and the valuable contributions of residents and stakeholders to the economic development of the city. This is our way of giving back to city residents and city employees,” Binay said.

The Makati Human Resource Development Office kicked off the week-long celebration with the traditional “Almusalan,” where all City Hall employees ate breakfast together at 8:30 a.m. after the flag-raising ceremony.

On June 18, the elderly in the city would be honored in the annual social event “Seniors’ Night” at the Bel-Air Covered Court.

Around 400 senior citizens from various barangay (villages) are expected to attend the event.

On June 19, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will hold a “Glam Ball” at 6 p.m. at the Bel-Air Covered Court, which will also give recognition to LGBT barangay officials.

On June 20 to 21, the city’s artists and craftsmen will be invited to sell their arts and crafts starting 5 p.m. at the “Creative Fair” at the Museo ng Makati in Barangay Poblacion.

There will also be an inter-barangay on-the-spot painting contest for Makatizen artists called “Makati Art Kombat.” Artists’ supplies such as acrylic paint, paint brushes, palette and canvas will be provided for the contestants.

On June 21, the city’s Museum and Cultural Affairs Office will hold the “Miss Makati Coronation Night” at 5 p.m. at the Makati Coliseum, with a press conference for the candidates on June 19.

A grand parade will wrap up the celebration on June 22.

Binay encouraged young residents to participate in these events for them to be exposed to the city’s culture and tradition.

San Pedro de Makati was founded in 1670 as a “visita” of Sta. Ana de Sapa under the Franciscans. In 1901, it was included in the province of Rizal as “Makati” and became part of Metro Manila in 1975. On Jan. 2, 1995, Makati became a city by virtue of Republic Act 7854.

Makati-BGC monorail project picks up speed

By Miguel R. Camus

The monorail project of tycoon Andrew Tan’s Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) is seeing just a few more stops ahead before it can begin formal construction early next year.

AGI CEO Kevin Tan said in a chance interview last week that project proponent Infracorp Development Inc. had finalized negotiations for the concession agreement of its P3-billion monorail that would link Fort Bonifacio and the outskirts of the Makati Central Business District in Metro Manila.

The unsolicited project of Infracorp Development, a unit of AGI, will now be evaluated by the National Economic and Development Authority ahead of a Swiss Challenge. This is a type of bidding that allows rivals to challenge Infracorp, which holds the right to then match the best alternative offer.

“We want to start [construction] by January next year,” Tan said, adding the project would take two and a half years to finish.

Progress on the monorail, which will span almost two kilometers from Fort Bonifacio in Taguig to MRT-3 Guadalupe station Makati, marks an important step for AGI.

The conglomerate’s core businesses are mainly in the property, consumer and gaming sectors. But in recent years, AGI has been selectively pursuing transport infrastructure opportunities, often with large partners.

In 2018, AGI joined six other conglomerates in what became known as the Naia Consortium, which offered to upgrade and operate Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport via a 15-year concession. The offer will also be evaluated by Neda.

AGI’s monorail project is expected to benefit 60,000 to 100,000 commuters per day. It will help passengers bypass traffic-strangled roads to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Tan explained they have to manage the pace of construction since the monorail’s alignment would cross busy areas.

“We’re passing through public roads so we don’t want to disturb it too much,” he said.

If successful, the monorail can serve as a template for similar projects in the future, AGI had previously announced. This includes a possible monorail that will link Megaworld’s Eastwood City in Libis to Santolan Road.

Green building added to Makati skyline

By Rizal Raoul Reyes

Another green building has been added to Makati skyline when the Nova group recently inaugurated the NEX Tower on Ayala Avenue.

Architect Ricardo Cuerva, managing director of the Nova group, said the design of the building combines the features of home and office as clients demand a more casual and more relaxing atmosphere to make the staff settled in doing their tasks. “The integration of home and office designs is the current trend in the new corporate setup,” Cuerva said.

With the daily traffic jams becoming a normal burden to workers, Cuerva said more and more people prefer to stay in the office beyond their working hours to lessen their stress on daily commuting. Moreover, he said the company made it sure people would like to have something to admire from every angles both inside and outside the building.

“People spend about one-third of their lives at work. Being in a well-designed and healthy work environment helps motivate employees to do their best work. Much like how homes define one’s identity, the workspaces you occupy are also seen as places that define you, the company you are working for, and the values it upholds, he added.

Cuerva said the Nova group developed the NEX Tower not only to be an architectural landmark but to be a standard for wellness and sustainability.

Moreover, the Nova group commissioned the prominent Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the Chicago-based architectural firm that designed Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and the iconic One World Trade Center in New York City.

He said the Nova group wants to position NEX Tower as a game changer in terms of introducing innovative and sustainable architecture practices in the streetscape of Makati.

Cuerva said NEX Tower has been designed to be appreciated from the external and internal. From a distance, he said people would marvel at the futuristic design that promotes wellness for its occupants and promote sustainability of the environment.

Upon entering NEX Tower’s lobby, a massive 11-meter living green wall proudly greets one. The green wall provides fresh air, natural elements and grand scale to a city that has become detached from nature.

He said NEX Tower practices energy efficiency by using the highest efficiency air-conditioning equipment available in the market, and a low-emissivity, double-pane curtain wall throughout the building.

He said NEX Tower is targeting to save at least 50 percent in water consumption through rainwater collection and low-flow water fixtures. The building is pre certified at Gold level LEED certification by the US Green Building Council.

Beyond LEED certification, the building offers multiple landscaped areas for occupants to commune with nature. In addition to the living green wall, there are three other landscaped outdoor spaces within the tower, where building tenants can be around plants, including the top floor roof garden.

NEX Tower will cater to multinational corporations, financial institutions and leading local firms to serve its occupants, their businesses and the community around it.

Makati to hire more seniors for Subway

By Jerome Carlo R. Paunan (PIA InfoComm)

MAKATI CITY, May 31 (PIA) -- The city government here will give priority to senior citizens in the hiring of employees for the Makati Subway project.

According to Makati Mayor Abby Binay, around 10,000 jobs will be made available to Makati residents in the construction and operation of the subway.

The mayor said the partner-companies of the city have agreed to allocate jobs for Makati senior citizens who are still fit to work once the subway becomes operational in about five years.

“Our private sector partners in the Makati Subway project are amenable to hiring able-bodied senior citizens to fill up various posts that will be available once the subway starts its operations about five years from now,” Binay said.

“Just as what Japan has done, we want to keep our elderly residents productive while providing them with a steady source of income for their essential needs,” she added.

The mayor reiterated that Makati residents will be given priority in the hiring of workers from the construction phase up to full-blast operations of the intra-city subway system.

She pointed out that the private sector had more leeway in hiring senior citizens than government units and agencies, which are constrained by the age limits set by Civil Service laws.

Possible posts for the elderly at the subway include customer service representatives, ushers/porters, platform attendants, administrative assistants, utility workers, liaison officers, and surveillance/security aides, among others.

Last December, the local chief executive led the ceremonial drilling for the project at the City Hall grounds, and the unveiling of a scale model of the subway at the City Hall lobby. Other participants included former Vice President Jejomar Binay, representatives of the private consortium, and other city officials.

Referring to it as a “very valuable legacy to the people of Makati”, the mayor expressed confidence that the Makati Subway will substantially improve the quality of life in the city for present and future generations, and fuel sustainable economic growth and inclusive progress.

The Makati Subway, the first of its kind in the country, will be a joint venture between Makati City and a consortium of local and foreign investors, with no cash out on the part of the city. The 30-year concession with the consortium also includes maintenance and repair of the coaches and the control hub.

The subway system will have two tracks, up to 10 underground stations, and air-conditioned coaches which can accommodate 200 persons per car. The entire system spans 10 kilometers with a train yard, maintenance depot, and central command center at ground level.

The stations will have at least 30 station entrances linked to destinations across Makati, which will spur the growth of small and medium businesses. It will also be linked to ferry transport, interchanges to the existing MRT 3 line, as well as potential links to the future Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded Metro Manila subway, and to future parking structures and transport feeders outside the existing business districts.

Once completed, the Makati Subway will be able to serve up to 27,000 passengers per hour per direction. The system also promises an interval of three to six minutes between trains on the first year, with 12 operational trains.

In the succeeding years, Makati City is eyeing to have 18 trains with a two to four minute interval. The City is also prepared to accommodate as many as 40,500 passengers per hour during peak hours. The train system will run on an 18-hour operational cycle.

A reliable, comfortable, and highly-efficient mass transport system will result in less traffic congestion and parking woes in the country’s premier financial district. Feasibility studies project 270,000 fewer cars in the streets of Makati by 2048. This makes the Makati Subway a more eco-friendly and sustainable solution as well, with a projected reduction of 2.3 million tons of CO2 annually in greenhouse gas emission by 2048.

The subway will not only decongest major thoroughfares, it is also expected to increase work productivity by cutting down the daily commute or travel time of workers. According to JICA’s congestion valuations, the Philippines will gain at least US$ 600 million annually in GDP just for enhanced productivity.

Interestingly, the project will allow for an additional 320,000 residents in Makati City. Besides enjoying a walkable city with considerably less pollution, residents will also enjoy 20 percent higher land values because of the new transport system. The figure was based from the experience of other Asian cities like Bangkok and Hong Kong.

Bangkok’s subway system was launched in 2004 and now serves 100 million riders per year across 35 stations. Like the Bangkok line, Makati Subway will be operational even during floods.

Hong Kong’s Metro Transit Railway (MTR) system which was introduced in 1979 helped usher in a period of unprecedented urban mobility and economic growth. Now, 90 percent of Hong Kong residents and workers commute without a car, translating into more hours a day for business and family. The MTR also makes US$7 billion and serves 1.7 billion riders. The system is so successful that they advise and manage rail systems in countries around the world.

Other cities like Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, and Jakarta are now experiencing less congestion in their financial centers after a mass transport system has been introduced.

100 women keep Filipino heritage alive

By Diana Noche

As part of the observance of the National Heritage Month in May, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Filipino Heritage Festival, Inc. staged 100 Women: 100 Ways of Life exhibition.

The 100 Women: 100 Ways of Life was a three-day restrengthening of something we already know but not fully think much of: That our women have been steadfast cultural agitators the moment they realized their inwrought value and their fixity of purpose.

It featured a collage of 100 photographs of Filipino women displayed at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City. The 37 photographers showcased the many practices by which the women have, through the ages and in varied circumstances, done to sustain and extend the conceptions of “heritage” and the appreciation for it.

The women in the photographs are little women, unheralded, leading ordinary lives, toiling with their hands under customary workaday situations—woodcarver, fisherwoman, weaver, farmer, lambanog maker, tricycle driver, potter, jeweler—and women who have become estimable and are celebrated in their fields of expertise—choreographer, ballerina, pediatrician, surgeon, dentist, teacher, athlete, artist, veterinarian.

There are also the women who are in activities usually reserved for men of sterner stuff: pilot, firefighter, surfer, traffic enforcer, and soldier—notably the “Hijab Troopers,” Maranao and Muslim women in Marawi, Lanao del Sur who were deployed by the Philippine Army to assist in the peace, education, and social welfare of those displaced in Marawi.

The Filipino Heritage Festival is a month-long calendar of cultural activities whose purpose is to bring the many-sided aspects of our heritage to a wider audience. The events include performances, visual arts, exhibits (such as the 100 Women: 100 Ways of Life), regional culinary lectures/demonstrations, and other projects intentionally shown at public malls and heritage sites, all easily accessible, for a broader range of viewers.

Praxis Gameplay: teaching finance in a fun, unique way

By Gladys Pino (PNA)

MAKATI CITY -- Picture yourself immersed in an old familiar board game where the elements are basically everything that can happen to your financial life, but at the end of the one to two-hour session, you are left with some financial realization and yearning to take action.

This unique, safe, low risk, immersive and experiential Gameplay is how Praxis helps anyone to effectively learn and apply personal finance concepts like savings, insurance, and investments in real life.

Praxis is described as a company that teaches financial management in a most unorthodox but effective manner -- through Gameplay.

Developed in Singapore almost 20 years ago by a team of financial services professionals and Gameplay design experts drawn by their common passion for financial literacy, “the business is focused entirely on financial literacy,” Praxis Group CEO Greg Martin told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

PNA was recently invited to witness how a session of Gameplay plays out at Praxis Philippines local office at Classica Condominium along H.V. Dela Costa Street in Makati City.

The gameplay concept as an effective means to teach financial literacy is meant to address the usual perspective that the subject of financial literacy is intimidating, boring, insensitive, and unapproachable.

“This is the way to do it, you read a book, you’d probably fall asleep, (same as) when you watch someone do a presentation,” Martin explained.

The traditional game style, where one is fully involved, immersed and get the senses curious feels real, adds Martin.

What’s in the game? Martin shared “basically everything that can happen in a person’s financial life, it’s what we call gameplay,” which contains elements like jobs, savings, property, retirement, insurance, stock market.

It also contains fun stuff (i.e. you go on vacation, get employee bonus), the standards and a couple of interesting things like the business cycle -- the engine of the gameplay -- boom, recession, slump, and recovery and how these changes can affect your financial ability, like getting a bonus, or worse losing a job.

The game also features “breaking news” where slides are played for a particular experience “that our clients want to have like how the riot in Jakarta affects the stock market, etc., we build those realism into the game.”

The Praxis effect? “People who experienced Praxis end up wanting to do something in their financial life,” adds Martin.

Praxis Philippines, which opened in 2015 has been working with schools, financial services industry and companies “and we want to keep growing the business,” said Martin.

Other than the Philippines, Praxis also maintains operations in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

MMDA to inspect schools for cigarettes, tobacco products

By Aerol John Pateña (PNA)

MANILA -- The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will inspect the selling and promoting of cigarettes and other tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, within the 100-meter perimeter of public and private schools.

Violators will receive verbal warnings if they were found to be smoking within the said distance from the schools, according to the agency.

The initiative, which is part of the MMDA’s preparations for the opening of the school year next month, aims to raise awareness on tobacco control and promoting a safer and healthier environment.

“Health and sanitation, urban protection and pollution control are among the seven mandates of the MMDA. We are tasked to promote and safeguard the health and sanitation of Metropolitan Manila especially the youth who will become our future leaders," MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said in a statement on Tuesday.

The agency will be distributing leaflets to store owners, students, teachers, and public utility vehicle drivers containing the provisions of the law on access restriction and effects of smoking and cigarette smoke and conduct orientation on the dangers of smoking to high school students in public secondary schools.

“Our health environmental officers will be posting signage in public facilities to supplement these efforts,” Lim said.

The MMDA will likewise enhance pedestrian lanes near the school to protect children crossing and to increase visibility to drivers.

KMV Asia Development Corp. inaugurates Makati branch

(THE MANILA TIMES)

VIVE project, a mixed-use commercial residential condominium, located in the thriving community within proximity to the newest commercial developments in Makati, caters to junior executives and small families working and living within striking distance to the Makati Central Business District.

KMVAsia’s pocket developments are worth looking forward to as they are designed according to principles of sustainability and functionality. They are intended to create solutions maximizing efficiency and effectiveness of space to make lives easier for students, young executives, professionals, and small families. One of the advanced facilities is the key card access per floor, complemented by possible development perks and discounts within the buildings’ commercial and common areas such as restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, lounges, and libraries.

Drug testing in work places conducted in Makati

By Chito Chavez

In compliance with the government’s policy on a drug-free workplace, the People’s Volunteer against Illegal Drugs (PVAID), a non-government organization recognized and accredited by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted a surprise drug testing to executives and employees of a Filipino-owned financial firm in Makati City.

Executives and employees of the First Tree Ventures, Moneybees Forex Corporation, and Paylance, Inc. at Icon Plaza Buillding, Bonifacio Global City, Makati City, voluntarily submitted themselves to drug testing, a move to deter the potential infiltration of illegal drugs into the workplace.

Retired Col. Rodrigo Bonifacio, Chairman of the Board and CEO of PVAID said the drug testing process was done in two approaches, the surprise procedure to all employees of First Tree led under its Chairman of the Board Marieta Cruz and Moneybees and Paylance President Jay Ricky Villarante down to the lowest staff of the company and anti-drug awareness program.

Bonifacio emphasized that “the program is part of their commitment to the government in promoting the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy and its three pronged approaches particularly the drug demand reduction through preventive education and values formation.”

“The NGO will continue to promote the National Anti-Drug Campaign to encourage the private sectors cooperation and support for more vigorous and concerted effort in saving the lives of every Filipino family away from the drug menace,” Bonifacio said.

The drug testing in private workplaces is being conducted in accordance with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Order NO. 53-03, “Drug Free Work Place” mandating employers to require their officials and employees to undergo random drug testing in accordance with the company’s work rules and regulations for purposes of reducing risk in the workplace.

According to the DOLE, employers shall be responsible for increasing awareness and education of their officers and employees on the adverse effects of dangerous drugs as well as monitoring of employees susceptible to drug abuse. Bonifacio hopes that all private firms will be able to toe the line in consonance with President Duterte’s campaign to eradicate the drug menace in the country.

The three-year relentless anti-drug operations of the police and other law enforcement agencies has so far netted thousands of either drug pushers and users, including government personnel and employees in the private sector.

Philippine National Police records showed that 3,897 drug personalities who resisted arrest during the series of police operation from July 1, 2016 to January 17, 2018.

So far, a total of 2,577 kilos of shabu with a street value of P13.24 billion have been seized.

Grab celebrates 7th year with P7-M promos, rewards

By Aika Rey (Rappler.com)

Grab Philippines will also launch carpooling services within Makati and Ortigas zones in June, and between those zones in July

MANILA, Philippines – Southeast Asia ride-hailing giant Grab is celebrating its 7th year anniversary in business giving away P7 million worth of promos, discounts, and rewards on its platform.

Grab will be raffling off 1 million GrabRewards points to 7 users each and will be giving away 50,000 points to 7 users as consolation prize.

To join the raffle, Grab users will have to register with their name, mobile number, and complete home address and use any Grab service from May 24 to June 4.

Eligible transactions include the following services:

• Transport: Minimum fare of P150
• Food: Minimum delivery of P300
• Deliveries
• Non-ride rewards redemption

Users who have completed at least one transaction will be entitled to one electronic raffle entry. Additional transactions made with Grab merit additional entries.

Winners will be picked randomly via an electronic raffle on June 5 and will be awarded during the Grab anniversary gala night on June 6.

Promos, discounts

The two week-celebration, from May 24 to June 6, will be marked with treats for Grab users on its different services:

• May 25 - P77 off GrabCar, minimum fare of P150
• May 26 - P77 cashback from GrabPay
• May 27 - P5,000 Metro Gaisano gift certificates raffle from GrabExpress
• May 28 - P150 off GrabFood, minimum purchase of P700
• May 29 - Free Cebu Pacific sale promo code by converting points to GetGo
• May 30 - Free McDonald's cheeseburger when ordering via GrabFood
• May 31 - P700 worth of bundle from SM for only P7 on GrabPay
• June 1 - Free Jollibee 1-piece Chicken Joy ala carte when ordering via GrabFood, minimum purchase of P350
• June 2 - 20% off Lazada for 77 GrabReward points
• June 3 - Promo code "CLIQQ711" for P50 credits on GrabCar when paying via GrabPay
• June 4 - Max's group sale on GrabFood
• June 5 - Max's group sale on GrabFood
• June 6 - Hourly deals on the Grab app
New GrabShare services

Apart from the promos and freebies, Grab will also be launching "intrazone and interzone" trips on their carpooling service GrabShare.

Intrazone trips will be P99 while interzone trips will be charged P149.

Starting June 10, users may enjoy GrabShare trips within "Makati Zone" for P99 only. It includes areas in Makati, Fort Bonifacio, and Vito Cruz in Manila.

Meanwhile, intrazone promotion in the "Ortigas Zone" will start on June 24, including Mandaluyong City, Ortigas, and West Pasig.

Interzone services between Makati and Ortigas Zone will start on July 8.

Bringing architecture to the ‘Nex’ level

(Manila Standard)

The landscape of Ayala Avenue is beginning to look different—and better—since the 28-storey NEX Tower was opened last week by a property developer, the Nova Group.

The gleaming skyscraper, built on one of the last two vacant lots along Ayala Avenue in Makati City, has been quietly hosting construction activities over the past two years along the street that hosts the country’s most expensive business addresses.

The Nex Tower sits on what used to be a vacant lot between Rufino Tower and the 6788 building, which houses the Philippine office of Standard Chartered Bank.

Incidentally, the last vacant lot along Ayala is situated just a few meters away, on the other side of 6788, and right next to the unfinished Jaka Tower which was acquired by Ayala Land Inc. ALI’s structure, when completed, marks the first time that properties will be fully occupied on either side of the pricey road, that is still considered the center of Philippine business.

Tenants moving in

One may pooh-pooh the Nex Tower’s seemingly relative low height but take note: this building will be taller than 6788 on its left, but slightly shorter than Rufino Tower on its right.

Already, tenants are moving in, most of the multinational companies, financial institutions and a smattering of local firms. “We are already “about 65% leased out,” Ricardo Cuerva, managing director of Nova Group told the Manila Standard.

“There’s a lot of interest ever since we finished the building. And we’re confident that more will be leased out very soon,” Cuerva said. A typical floor area is 1,400 square meters, and the floor-to-ceiling height is three meters or nearly 10 feet. The rent can go for P1,600 per square meter.

Nova collaborated with the international architectural and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) on NEX Tower. SOM famously designed Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest building, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the One World Trade Center in New York City.

“SOM is really well known for office towers,” Cuerva pointed out. “We just thought that if we’re building a premium corporate office building, SOM is certainly one of the best companies to work with.”

NEX Tower has a “crystalline” exterior and a “unique slice” that affords wide views of the cityscape. It features common areas landscaped with greenery, multi-level parking for hundreds of vehicles and a vast lobby with a 16-meter floor-to-ceiling height.

Designed to be energy- and resource-efficient, the tower uses highly efficient air conditioners on the market, low-flow fixtures and double-pane curtain wall with low emissivity. It is pre-certified for a gold-level LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Green and closer to nature

When one enters NEX Tower’s lobby, a massive 11 meter living green wall greets you. The wall provides fresh air, natural elements, and grand scale to a city that has become ostensibly detached from nature.

The building carefully manages natural resources, achieving the highest sustainability criteria by using the highest efficiency air conditioning equipment available on the market, and low emissivity, double pane curtain wall throughout the building. NEX Tower is targeting to save at least 50% in water consumption through rainwater collection and low-flow water fixtures. The building is pre-certified at Gold level LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Beyond LEED certification, the building offers multiple landscaped areas for occupants to commune with nature. In addition to the living green wall, there are three other landscaped outdoor spaces within the tower where building tenants can be around plants, including the top floor roof garden.

A better workplace

The Nova Group is confident that the NEX Tower offers the best workplace in the market to serve its occupants, its businesses, and the community around it.

Nova Group advocates “an attitude of engagement with the city and its citizens,” described Cuerva. Indeed, a soaring quasi-public lobby was created inside the tower to connect Ayala Avenue and de la Rosa Street. Distinguished Filipino artists were commissioned to create site-specific artwork, which seeks to enhance the architectural experience and foster a strong sense of place.

“We believe that good place-making is an important responsibility for a developer. Buildings need to integrate with and enhance the community that they are sited within,” Cuerva explained.

Makati Southpoint draws young professionals

(The Manila Times)

Ayala Land Corp. has remained on top of other midrange developers because for one of the many reasons, it is keeping a close eye and ear to the needs of a changing market. Its recent projects are designed specifically in response to the demands of a market that is younger, more mobile and more value-conscious.

Avida Towers (AT) Makati Southpoint, its fifth residential high-rise in Makati, is one of them. For young professionals seeking a more compact living area but with enough breathable spaces, this three-tower development may be the best choice. Makati Southpoint is located on Don Chino Roces Ave. in Barangay Bangkal, Makati, less than 2 kilometers from the Makati central business district (CBD).

According to property research firm Colliers Philippines, office supply in the outskirts of the Makati CBD will be surging as much as 68 percent over the next few years. Housing demand is expected to rise further in the area. Professional workers regularly taking a beating from traffic, safety and security issues and bad weather have preferred to find smaller homes closer to their workplaces.

Makati Southpoint will offer this market right-sized residences, or units ranging from 23.30 square meters to 38.20 sqm for the first tower. These are studio units, junior 1bedroom (BR) and 1BR units.

“The market is a mix of Filipino millennials, single professionals and early nesters. This is a group seeking the adult experience of owning, living and investing in their own homes,” explained Jojo Fabricante, Avida Land head of Innovation and Design Group.

“The units were created around the idea of people who have a round-the-clock lifestyle, who are always on the go but want a restful home to sleep and unwind. Makati Southpoint has included a multifunction area and usable, open spaces to function as an extension of their living spaces,” he added.

The collab space can let residents work on their own devices, meet up or read or do hobbies in a comfortable indoor space. The lounge areas on the amenity deck allow them to meet guests or just enjoy the outdoors. A retail area will occupy the ground floor, where a grand central lobby will also be located.

Makati Southpoint will eventually have three towers, but the first at 32-stories high has been moving fast in the market. About 40 percent of its launched inventory have sold out in the first month alone. Residences have a choice of the skylines of Makati and Bonifacio Global City on one side, or the refreshingly open amenity deck on the other.

Makati Southpoint units range from P4.4 million to P8.5 million. The first tower will be completed by 2024.

Premiere co-working space operator opens 3rd hub at 8 Rockwell

By Gladys Pino (PNA)

MAKATI CITY – Malaysia-based workspace operator Common Ground has further galvanized its Philippine presence with the opening of its new facility in 8 Rockwell, touted as one of the most premier locations in the metropolis.

Officially launched to media and public on Friday, May 17, this 3rd hub in the posh neighborhood in Rockwell, Makati City, it brings a superior and flexible value proposition to benefit freelancers, start-ups and other businesses from various industries, the company's executives said.

Common Ground offers various plans for membership for its premiere co-working space, from Hot Desk (change where you sit every day, ideal for remote workers, freelancers who value flexibility and social networking opportunities), Fixed Desk (a dedicated desk in the shared workspaces), and Private Office (fully furnished office space for rent, designed for small or medium sized companies and satellite teams who want a working space of their own).

But, more than just a place to work, what makes Common Ground unique is that it seeks to build a community of like-minded individuals that promote partnerships, business opportunities and work-life balance, according to Lucia Gutierrez - Common Ground’s Expansion Manager.

As a member, you’ll become part of a wider network of businesses from a diverse range of industries and can collaborate with our partners and community,” adds Gutierrez.

Members can use the portal called “Ambition Engine” that enables them to network, reserve slots, attend parties, programs and enjoy exclusive perks from top lifestyle, travel and wellness brands.

The Rockwell hub, a 3rd addition to its first 2 locations in Arthaland Tower (in Bonifacio Global City) and IBP Tower (Ortigas), features stylish interiors and versatile amenities.

The company also provides administrative support for core services (from legal to insurance) to help members focus on meeting their business targets.

This Rockwell hub is Common Ground’s latest offering as it seeks to widen its footprint in the Philippines.

The company now seeks partners from various industries, landlords and property owners for workspace needs, service improvement and to beef up its footprint in the Philippines.

But aside from its workspace sharing concept, Common Ground is also suitable for corporate events, photo shoots and different functions.

MMDA deploys 400 personnel for Brigada Eskwela

By Aerol John Pateña (PNA)

MANILA -- A total of 400 personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) were deployed to 20 public schools in Metro Manila for the start of the Brigada Eskwela on Monday, in preparation for the opening of classes in June.

In a statement, MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said the 400 personnel were from the agency’s Metro Parkways Clearing Group (MPCG).

“The spirit of bayanihan is very much alive in this activity. Our personnel are more than ready to extend assistance to public schools that requested our assistance for a safe, clean and conducive learning environment for the incoming students,” Lim said.

For his part, MPCG Chief Francis Martinez said a minimum of 15 personnel are assigned to each requesting public school.

They will be involved in cleaning up school grounds; doing carpentry works; repairing and repainting of walls, ceilings, corridors, and other fixtures; trimming of trees; providing plants; removing dried leaves from clogged drains; and repainting of pedestrian lane markings, depending on the request of the school authorities.

Dust pans made from recycled oil tins will also be donated to several public schools in the metropolis.

Some of the schools that will be cleaned up by the MMDA are Palanan Elementary School and Bangkal High School in Makati City; Panghulo National High School and Concepcion Technical Vocational School in Malabon City; Timoteo Paez Elementary School and Pasay City National High School in Pasay City; Juan Luna Elementary School and Antonio Maceda Integrated School in Manila City; Sto. Cristo Elementary School and Holy Spirit National High School Annex in Quezon City.

The Brigada Eskwela is a week-long annual schools maintenance program of the Department of Education that aims to bring together teachers, parents, community members and stakeholders for clean-up and maintenance works in public elementary and secondary schools.

Building a nation of readers in an age of constant distraction

By Ana Roa (Inquirer Research, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — TV host Kim Atienza is a witness to the power of reading in honing children’s abilities.

A father of three, Atienza said his and his wife’s reading storybooks to their children when they were young made them avid readers.

“Reading is not only about the story of the book. It’s also mental practice that you can apply to other aspects of your personality. It makes you more creative, more patient and more focused, he said.

New ambassadors

Also a triathlete, Atienza was part of the latest batch of Inquirer Read-Along ambassadors, along with Inquirer president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez and TV host Cathy Untalan-Vital.

They were joined by celebrities Patricia Tumulak, Mon Confiado and Angelica Ulip, who were the newest addition to the roster of reading ambassadors.

Led by Inquirer executive editor Joseph Voltaire Contreras, they took the “Ambassadors’ Oath” during the ceremony on Saturday at the Inquirer office in Makati City, an event celebrating the 12th anniversary of Inquirer Read-Along.

Romualdez was represented by Juliet Labog-Javellana, Inquirer associate publisher.

The ambassadors “pledged to unselfishly offer their time to promote love for reading and be good role models for the youth.”

Recovery from stroke

Atienza and Untalan, who were among the first batch of “reading ambassadors,” renewed the oath they first took in 2013 when the read-along ambassadors program was launched.

Atienza, who has read in read-along sessions from 2009 to 2015, recalled how reading helped him fully recover months after he suffered a stroke in 2010.

With the block hitting the left frontal lobe of his brain—the part in charge of language, cognition, memory—he couldn’t talk and express himself.

His doctor advised him to read as much as he could to help him recover his faculties.

“We train our bodies with weights. We train our mind with books,” Atienza said.

For Vital, read-along’s guest reader since 2008, the best way to get kids to read is for them to see their parents, their primary role models, reading.

“Before, I used to just teach students and the kids of read-along. But now that I have firsthand experience in teaching my own kids to read, I realize that it’s really not that easy. With the advent of technology, the challenge becomes harder,” she said.

“What I do really is to expose my kids to books and before bedtime I make time to read books to them,” she added.

Teaching village kids

Tumulak, a TV host and actress, has launched “Push to Read Project,” where she visited children in different barangays all over Metro Manila to teach them how to read.

The project was born out of her desire to be a teacher someday and put up her own preschool.

She has a bachelor of science degree in child development and education.

“Apart from cognitive, phonetic and vocabulary skills, reading can also be a social skill. You can share your book [with] your classmate. You learn a lot. Aside from the story and the lesson itself, the interaction with other people becomes tighter,” Tumulak said.

Confiado, who portrayed President Emilio Aguinaldo in the historical epics “Heneral Luna” and “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral,” was one of the storytellers during last year’s Inquirer Read-Along three-day festival, which had the theme #MagingMagiting. The experience inspired him to actively promote reading among children.

“What is important to me is not only the reading but also the interaction and connection built with the kids,” Confiado said.

Youngest ambassador

Young actress Ulip is read-along’s youngest ambassador. As a Grade 4 student, she plans to encourage her classmates to read more so they can learn more and have more fun.

Also present in the ceremonies were Inquirer Read-Along program coordinator and Inquirer research department head Minerva Generalao, Inquirer Lifestyle writing editor Ruth Navarra-Mayo and other members of the read-along team.

Previously inducted read-along ambassadors were actresses Nikki Gil, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Alexa Ilacad and Bianca Umali; GMA 7 actors Kyle Vergara and Miggy Jimenez; actors Mark Neumann and Nash Aguas; and Miss Universe-Philippines 2007 Anna Theresa Licaros.

Launched in 2007, Inquirer Read-Along is a corporate social responsibility program of the Philippine Daily Inquirer that aims to combat declining readership by promoting love for reading among children.

Saturday’s event was held in cooperation with Yamato of the UCC Group and Eggshell Worldwide Comm. Inc.

Fitz Ocampo’s personal and intimate exhibit

(The Manila Times)

For Filipina visual artist Fitz Ocampo, an exhibit is more than a showcase of artistry. In her 7th solo exhibition at ArtistSpace, she get very personal and intimate.

Titled “Time of Flight,” Ocampo’s inspiration came the concept of time and is explored by showing time through changes in season. It is also explored through childhood objects and themes representing time as both temporary or fleeting yet eternal and unchanging.

Ocampo’s motivation as an artist is to express her life experiences — both beautiful and painful which she celebrates in her artworks as part of her identity, self-discovery and personal healing. The exhibition becomes a mirror of her life.

In her painting “In Time Spring Will Come,” the artist represented her years of struggle of not having a baby. In time, her dream of being a mother was fulfilled. Her painting “Our Time Together is as Colorful as Autumn Leaves,” represents the colorful journey with her daughter.

Another painting “Directing My Steps to Find My Wings in This Winter Time” represents the artist’s struggle with depression. It took years of counseling and expressing her emotions through painting that helped in her healing.

Meanwhile, her painting of her daughter in “Praying for Summer All the Time” represents her time of healing. Each of these four major paintings shows the artist’s belief that difficulties in life are just seasons and time can really heal wounds.

Her other paintings are still life of clocks and other children’s toys. Like seasons, childhood is also like time that slips away so fast. Therefore, one should cherish and treasure it. Flight is presented through images of fairies and fairy wings. It is a symbolism for hopes, dreams and her inner most wishes that are destined to be achieved in time.

In this exhibition, time is represented as both valuable and precious. It focuses on how time can help a person reach their dreams — the concept of flight. At the given perfect time, goals and dreams can be achieved. In the process, one should learn to value time and enjoy the journey.

Time of Flight will be on view at the ArtistSpace until May 29. ArtistSpace is located at the Ayala Museum Annex, Ground Level, Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City. It is open from Mondays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free. ‘Time of Flight’

Fitz Ocampo’s personal and intimate exhibit

For Filipina visual artist Fitz Ocampo, an exhibit is more than a showcase of artistry. In her 7th solo exhibition at ArtistSpace, she get very personal and intimate.

Titled “Time of Flight,” Ocampo’s inspiration came the concept of time and is explored by showing time through changes in season. It is also explored through childhood objects and themes representing time as both temporary or fleeting yet eternal and unchanging.

Ocampo’s motivation as an artist is to express her life experiences — both beautiful and painful which she celebrates in her artworks as part of her identity, self-discovery and personal healing. The exhibition becomes a mirror of her life.

In her painting “In Time Spring Will Come,” the artist represented her years of struggle of not having a baby. In time, her dream of being a mother was fulfilled. Her painting “Our Time Together is as Colorful as Autumn Leaves,” represents the colorful journey with her daughter.

Another painting “Directing My Steps to Find My Wings in This Winter Time” represents the artist’s struggle with depression. It took years of counseling and expressing her emotions through painting that helped in her healing.

Meanwhile, her painting of her daughter in “Praying for Summer All the Time” represents her time of healing. Each of these four major paintings shows the artist’s belief that difficulties in life are just seasons and time can really heal wounds.

Her other paintings are still life of clocks and other children’s toys. Like seasons, childhood is also like time that slips away so fast. Therefore, one should cherish and treasure it. Flight is presented through images of fairies and fairy wings. It is a symbolism for hopes, dreams and her inner most wishes that are destined to be achieved in time.

In this exhibition, time is represented as both valuable and precious. It focuses on how time can help a person reach their dreams — the concept of flight. At the given perfect time, goals and dreams can be achieved. In the process, one should learn to value time and enjoy the journey.

Time of Flight will be on view at the ArtistSpace until May 29. ArtistSpace is located at the Ayala Museum Annex, Ground Level, Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City. It is open from Mondays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

MMDA hauls over 168 tons of campaign trash

By Jimmyley E. Guzman (PIA InfoComm)

MAKATI CITY (PIA) – Over 168 tons of campaign trash were hauled by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a day after the May 13 midterm elections.

“We target to rid the major roads in the metro of campaign materials and spruce up public schools until this week in preparation for the opening of classes next month early,” said MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim.

According to MMDA's Metro Parkway Clearing Group (MPCG) report, the collected campaign materials of varying sizes is equivalent to 23.42 tons and filled up seven dump trucks.

MMDA’s cleaning operation teams also removedselection materials pasted on concrete walls and fences in major thoroughfares with the use of scraper and sprayer.

MPCG chief Francis Martinez, said they confiscated 134,700 pieces, equivalent to 145 tons, of election-related materials in various areas in Metro Manila under the “Oplan Baklas” operation before the elections.

“All in all, we have collected so far 168.84 tons of campaign trash this midterm elections,” said Martinez.

MMDA’s ‘Oplan Baklas’ campaign started last March 1 until the Election Day, May 13, wherein campaign materials placed outside the designated areas of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) were removed.

The MMDA said, the collected campaign materials will be sorted and recycled.

“Those who need tarpaulins to have them recycled into bags, place mats, school supplies and other useful items can coordinate with us,” said Martinez.

He added though that this year’s collection is lower compared to 2016 national elections where they collected 206 tons of campaign materials.

The MMDA said that Manila, Quezon City, Parañaque and Makati produced the most number of campaign materials.

Entrance is free at these local museums on International Museum Day!

By Joanna Belle Deala (Philippine Canadian Inquirer)

Looking for a place where you can both relieve your stress, spend time with friends or family, and at the same time, expand your horizons? Then take this day as an opportunity to visit local museums which are opening its door to everyone FOR FREE!

In line with the celebration of International Museum Day, some museums announced that they will be waiving their admissions fee so that visitors can fully enjoy their captivating galleries while learning — one of these is the Ayala Museum in Makati City.

In a Facebook post, it said registration will start at 12 noon on Sunday, May 19. Apart from visiting their galleries, the Ayala Museum also offers some activities where people can take part in. These include Story Telling for Kids which will be at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Art Buffet at 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Of course, food and drinks, as well as shops for educational products, will also be available at the museum.

The Ayala Museum will be open to the public until the end of May for its year-long closure to make way for renovations.

Another museum in Makati City is the Yuchengco Museum which houses the art collection of Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco.

Opening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, the museum will offer its “awe-inspiring exhibits” from National Artists to Contemporary Prodigies, “from black and white photography to history on our National Hero.”

Hold on tight and keep your feet firmly planted on the ground because there are more museums with free admissions are inside the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila.

In an Instagram post, the Intramuros Administration, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), announced that the entrance is free on Saturday at the Museo De Intramuros, Casa Manila Museum, Destileria Limtuaco Museum, Bahay Tsinoy, and Bagumbayan Light and Sounds Museum.

The free-of-door-charge privilege will still be valid at Casa Manila and Bagumbayan Light and Sounds Museum until Sunday.

A special edition Intramuros Beep card will also be given to the first 100 guests at each museum, the Intramuros Administration said.

Going outside Intramuros, you can go straight to the country’s National Museum (NM), where admission is ALWAYS free.

The NM, in its Facebook announcement, said it will hold on Saturday “free special guided tours, lectures, and fora in its central, regional, area, and site museums to actively reach out and bring the museum closer to the communities it serves.”

Meanwhile, the NM said curators in their flagship museums in Manila will also do a one-hour special guided tour where topics such as architectural arts, built heritage, fine arts, underwater archeology, and geology and paleontology will be discussed.

This year’s theme for International Museum Day will be “Museums as Cultural Hubs: The future of tradition.”

Airbnb-type car app wins Smart's SWEEP award

By By Gladys Pino (PNA)

MAKATI CITY – Carspace, an entry of college students from University of San Jose-Recollectos (USJ-R), was proclaimed grand winner at the recent Smart's Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) awards on May 10.

The USJ-R students,Kevin Cerdon, Jesury Thomas Gadiane, Noel Daniel Seldura, with their faculty adviser Eric Magto, earned the nod of the judges as the most #FutureReady 5G Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, spearheaded by Smart.

The parking app enables users using IOT hardware to locate vacant parking spaces easily and remotely monitor the vehicle in real time, Cerdon said as he presented the app’s features.

Funded by rental fees and operating features, Cerdon added that “there are no similar projects like ours”.

He said what differentiates their app from other parking apps is that it is like Airbnb, but for cars.

Cerdon and the rest of the team brought home the top prize of PHP300,000.

From over 160 entries, the judges chose only ten.

Aside from USJ-R, other winners include Asia Pacific College for its entry “LYNIA” – a queue management system that aims to ease commuter queuing experience in Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) terminals (2nd place, Fiber Home Award) and Technological University of the Philippines–Manila for its solution “Beenotified”, a cost-effective and full cycle beehive monitoring system (3rd place, Huawei Award for Excellence).

The schools would bring home cash prizes, amounting to PHP200,000 and PHP100,000, respectively.

Non-winners got PHP50,000 each as consolation prize.

Another award, the Ericson People’s Choice Awards, goes to the National Teachers College (NTC) for its entry "ARGOS" - a Behavior Detection System and brings home PHP20,000 for getting the most number of likes in the official Smart SWEEP15 Facebook page.

Now on its 15th year, SWEEP is an annual competition that encourages innovation and excellence in wireless applications development among students of tertiary schools.

Makati City Archived News

The older news reports are kept here.

Retrieved from "https://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Makati_News&oldid=1126634"