Philippines' Pasig River vies for 2018 Asia Riverprize Award

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The Philippines' Pasig River now competes with China's Yangtze River in the 2018 Asia Riverprize of the International River Foundation (IRF), which will be held this October in Sydney, Australia.

Known as the cradle of early Manila civilization, Pasig River  has been selected as a finalist in the first ever Asia Riverprize by the prestigious International River Foundation (IRF) which recognizes and rewards organizations who are making a difference through effective river basin restoration and management programs.

It is a back-to-back nomination for the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) who just came from a successful campaign in the 2017 Thiess International Riverprize competition where the Pasig River was hailed as runner-up to the winner, San Antonio River of Texas, USA.

“The consecutive entries of the Pasig River as a finalist in the 2017 and 2018 Thiess International and Asia Riverprize, respectively, is a testament that the world recognizes the efforts of the Philippine government to restore the Pasig River and its environs since PRRC was established in 1999,” said PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia.

Initially, the competition was called the Asia-Pacific Riverprize Awards which was opened to entrants from New Zealand, Australia, and 45 other countries. However, according to the IRF, due the to the high number and quality of entries received, they have made the decision to split the promoted Asia-Pacific Riverprize into two: Asia Riverprize and another category for the Australasia Riverprize.

After a series of tedious deliberations, the IRF has announced and congratulates the organizations chosen as Asia Riverprize finalists with the highest honors in river restoration and protection namely: the Pasig River (Philippines) and the Yangtze River (China).

Goitia adds “last year, the Philippines is the only third world and developing country that made it into the international finals and bravely competed with the US and the United Kingdom. In this year’s Asia Riverprize, we will be facing another super power – the red dragon, China. However, with an indomitable spirit, we remain steadfast and optimistic that we will stand triumphant in the end.”

In behalf of the IRF’s board of river basin experts, IRF Director Professor Bill Dennison says that “these different river stories are united by a common theme: excellence in river management.”

The Riverprize is not a competition of which river is more beautiful or cleaner. This is the reason why the IRF, comprised of river management experts and professionals from around the world, has given importance and consideration to the rehabilitation efforts of the PRRC to bring back the Pasig River system to life. It has acknowledged PRRC’s commitment in delivering quality projects, programs, and activities in easement recovery, housing and resettlement, riverbanks development, waste and water quality management, and public awareness.

Compared to the 1990s when it was declared "biologically dead," the Pasig River's condition now has significantly improved. Although the Pasig River development is a work in progress, many areas along the historic river have already shown signs of aquatic life and it has already become conducive for transport, recreation, and tourism.

PRRC’s Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia, together with Public Information, Advocacy and Tourism Division Head George Oliver G. De La Rama, will be presenting and defending the Philippines’ Pasig River entry to a panel of esteemed judges in the upcoming 21st International Riversymposium on October 14 to 18, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Members of PRRC’s Management Committee will also form part of the Philippine delegation.

The winner of the 2018 Asia Riverprize will receive widespread global recognition which can build new partnerships, provide opportunities for exchange of knowledge and best practices, and open doors for international support. Furthermore, the winner will automatically qualify for Stage Two of the Thiess International Riverprize in 2019.

As one nation, the PRRC seeks everyone’s support to its Pasig River entry in the 2018 Asia Riverprize. The Pasig River's victory is the victory of the Philippines and every Filipino who works hard and shares the same vision of saving our waterways and the environment. It will be the triumph of all who believe that the dream of a clean and alive Pasig River is within reach!

MoneyGram Strengthens Partnership with GCash in the Philippines

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After the successful launch of direct receive service, MoneyGram and GCash announced recently that customers worldwide can now also send money to over 10 million GCash mobile wallets in the Philippines, 24/7. 

This partnership supports further growth of MoneyGram’s digital channels in the world’s third largest remittances receive market. 

“With the growing number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) looking for a reliable way to send money back home, the collaboration with GCash aligns with our strategy to provide user-friendly, rapid-response and low-cost channels to send money across borders,” said Alex Holmes, MoneyGram’s chairman and chief executive officer. 

“The expansion of digital channels combined with a strong network of agent locations, enables MoneyGram to offer a differentiated customer experience that allows consumers to transact with us their way,” added Holmes. 

Funds can be sent via MoneyGram online or at any one of MoneyGram’s thousands of locations in 200 countries and territories around the world to reach a GCash mobile wallet in minutes. Money will be deposited into the mobile wallet in the Philippine Peso. The receiver will get an SMS notification of every incoming money transfer and will be able to use funds instantly for purchasing goods and services online or paying bills. 

“We are delighted to partner with MoneyGram once more to improve the way remittances are processed in the Philippines. GCash is committed to make the experience of sending money more convenient for both the sender and receiver. The OFWs and their families are a big segment of the remittance business as well as a key contributor to the country’s economy. We need to do more for them and we think this partnership with MoneyGram leads us to that direction,” said Anthony Thomas, President and CEO of Mynt, the operator of GCash. 

The launch of the new service was followed by a presentation of an OFW Family Card which allows customers to withdraw their money for free twice a month at any BancNet ATM in the Philippines. The OFW Family Card will be awarded to each registered and verified GCash user who receives a minimum of PHP 500 via MoneyGram between September 15 and December 30. 

For more information about the service, please visit moneygram.ph.

OPPO F9 leads MemoXpress weekly chart upon 1st week of availability

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Mobile smartphone establishment MemoXpress recently announced that OPPO F9 was its top-selling smartphone from September 3-9, 2018, exceeding the sales of other brands in the mid-range category on its first week of availability starting September 1. Successfully launched only one month ago, OPPO F9 features the highly beneficial VOOC flash charge which allows the user two hours of talk time in only five minutes of charging. Its fast charging capabilities help dynamic Filipinos save time and be able to do more with their smartphones. Priced at PHP 17,990.00, the F9 also brings together an innovative waterdrop screen, 6GB RAM, and dual rear cameras, providing high value for money for Filipinos in every way. 

For more details on OPPO’s products and activities, followwww.facebook.com/OPPOPH as well as @OPPOPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

Ten native tree species up for species upgrade

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Tall with beautiful and bold yellow flowers, the Bagoadlau (Xanthostemon philippinensis) is a sight to behold. Found in the forests of Aurora, Camarines Sur, Samar, and Surigao del Sur, it is the hardest and densest of ironwoods, best used for construction. It is also one of the many tree species endemic to the Philippines. 

Unfortunately, rampant logging activities have reduced the Philippines’ once lush forest cover, threatening the species of bagoadlau and other native tree species. As the country began to industrialize, forests were cleared out for timber and for space to develop. To refresh these areas, the government and many private organizations have initiated different greening and other environmental programs. 

However, many of these greening programs are done indiscriminately, planting popular and familiar tree species like Mahogany, Acacia, and Gmelina, which are all foreign and exotic. Unknown to many people, these exotic tree species do more harm to the environment than good. The exotic species invade the biodiversity of our forests and disrupt its balance. This struck uncertainty whether our future generations will still be able to see the beautiful yellow flowers of the Bagoadlau. 

Thankfully, there was still hope in saving our forests. In 2008, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the largest vertically-integrated geothermal producer of the country, launched its BINHI program, a species conservation program that focuses on native tree species. A total of 96 threatened native tree species have been prioritized for this search and rescue program as their numbers have been dwindling, with some even believed to be extinct, making the program a pioneer in corporate-led reforestation programs in the country. Many of these identified species can only be found in the Philippines like Malinoag, Philippine teak, Batikuling, Yakal-yamban and the five endemic iron wood species – the Mangkono, Mapilig, Bagoadlau, Sierra Madre Mangkono, and Palawan Mangkono. 

The EDC BINHI team’s arduous search throughout most of the Philippines came into fruition as the 96 identified threatened species were all successfully found in our country’s forests. 

Going beyond rescue 

The BINHI team did not stop there. Just rescuing these tree species was not enough; the next challenge they faced was to multiply and propagate these species. 

To achieve this, EDC has continuously forested the watersheds within its geothermal reservations. Moreover, the BINHI team now has over 150 different partners from different academic and non-governmental organizations, all of which dedicate a specific area for planting of these tree species. 

The BINHI team, then, provides technical support and expertise related to the care of these trees, allowing for their healthy growth. These strategies ensure that more native tree species will be planted in many other areas beyond watersheds within EDC geothermal site. 

Moreover, to further achieve the goal of propagating these species, EDC entered a partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Biodiversity Management Bureau in 2016 under its Adopt a Wildlife Species Program, where selected threatened native trees under the BINHI program will have their ecological statuses updated, as a proof of their successful propagation. This is also in support of the government’s reforestation efforts. Under the partnership, 35 threatened species are targeted for upgrading within three years. 

Entering the partnership has allowed EDC to contribute to the national biodiversity conservation program, focusing on the updating of the Philippine red list of threatened tree species, the protection of the identified trees in surveyed areas, and the planting of these species to save them from extinction. 

Intensive inventory and geo-tagging were done on the first 10 species for status updating from 2016 and 2017. The results of these activities have shown that, through the propagation efforts made by the BINHI program, these 10 species now have enough numbers to have their ecological statuses upgraded with the DENR. These 10 species for status upgrading are the Mapilig, Bagoadlau, Sierra Madre Mangkono, Palawan Mangkono, Mangkono, Samar Gisok, Dalingdingan, Malabayabas, Yakal-malibato, and Yakal-kaliot, most of which are known for their strong and durable wood. 

Scientific breakthroughs 

Currently, the BINHI program is still the only corporate-led greening program that focuses on the rescue and propagation of threatened native trees, so the results of the inventory and geo-tagging are considered new and pioneering to the scientific community. 

Hence, the results will be submitted not just to the DENR for the updating of their ecological statuses, but also to different scientific journals, as contribution to the scientific community. 

With the success of updating the first ten species, 25 more species are still in the process of undergoing inventory and geo-tagging, with the next 10 species slated for upgrading this 2018, and the last 15 species in 2019. 

The BINHI (Filipino for seedling) program lived up to its name. It has planted and spread seedlings to grow for the future generation. This success means our future generations will still be able to see the striking and beautiful flowers of the Bagoadlau and other native tree species. 

Tall and adorned with bright yellow flowers, the bagoadlau is the hardest and densest of all Philippine ironwood trees. It is also one of the ten (10) threatened native tree species for updating of ecological status with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2017, after the successful inventory and geo-tagging of these species. These native tree species were propagated under the Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) BINHI project, which focuses on native tree species rescue, preservation, and propagation. 

The Bagoadlau distinguishes itself from other Philippine ironwood trees through its stunning flowers, which exhibit a vibrant yellow color and stamens that resemble the rays of the sun.

Holcim Pledges Steady Cement Supply, Innovations For Build, Build, Build

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Top officials of building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc. recently met with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez to share the company’s initiatives to better support the government in upgrading the country’s infrastructure through stable supply of quality cement nationwide.

Holcim Philippines Chairman Tomas Alcantara, President and CEO John Stull and Senior Vice President for Sales William Sumalinog personally expressed the company’s willingness to further build up its production capacities in light of the increased cement demand driven by the government’s massive infrastructure investments. They also assured the DTI compliance to product standards to ensure highest quality and performance.

Holcim Philippines officials assure Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) their commitment to stable cement supply for the country’s building boom during a courtesy visit to Secretary Ramon M. Lopez on 24 August 2018. From left are Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President for Sales William C. Sumalinog, Chairman Tomas I. Alcantara, DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and Holcim President and CEO John Stull.

“DTI has implemented new initiatives and policies to encourage investments to create more employment opportunities, and at the same time support the government’s plans for progress. I am happy to hear Holcim’s commitment to implement cement capacity expansion to ensure that our infrastructure and construction requirements will be well supported and generate additional employment,” Lopez said.

Holcim Philippines is currently implementing projects that will raise its cement capacity nationwide to 12 million metric tons by 2019 from the current 10 million metric tons. The Company is studying further investments on additional clinker lines with the construction sector expected to sustain its strong growth amid the healthy economy.

“The Company recognizes the strong potential of the Philippine market and is committed to continue being a partner in its progress as seen by our efforts to improve operations and competitiveness,” said Alcantara.

For his part, Stull noted that the Company has been rolling out new technologies and approaches that enable local builders to deliver projects within deadlines and budgets. A key focus is blended cements that are not as energy intensive to produce but deliver superior results for building.

“Our Company supports the DTI’s drive to maintain the high standards for cement which is critical especially at this time of high construction activity. We also want to reassure them that Holcim Philippines can be counted upon to provide the market not just with high-quality cement, but innovative construction solutions that help the country build better with certainty,” he said.