by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 17, 2018 | Advocacy
Local and foreign design rock stars, change makers and industry leaders are participating in the International Design Conference (IDC) 2018 on September 21 at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura.
The theme of the conference is Dangerous Ideas: Unleashing Design Leadership. Organized by the Design Center of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the one-day event will seek to outline the different ways to make ideas that are nothing short of dangerous the norm in a world of hyper-change.
Design conference keynote speakers
Keynote speakers include Quotient Design Research founder Michael Barry and Aidea, Inc. president and chief executive officer Abelardo “Jojo” M. Tolentino, Jr.
Quotient Design Research founder Michael Barry
Barry, an engineer and product designer, will contextualize craftsmanship in the wake of Industrialization 4.0 that makes more digitization and mechanized fabrication more and more sophisticated. With his artistry rooted firmly in Philippine culture, Tolentino will discuss his journey as a homegrown talent.
Abelardo “Jojo” M. Tolentino, Jr., Aidea Inc. President and CEO
He will also share the secret that enabled Aidea to become the first and only Philippine architectural firm included in Building Design’s World Architecture100, a ranking of the top firms in the world. Aidea is ranked 47th.
Launched in 2017, the International Design Conference embodies the ethos of Design Center – to nurture a strong community of creative and act as a catalyst for the design community to thrive.
For more information, visit https://designcenter.ph/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DTI.DesignCenterPH/.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 6, 2018 | Advocacy
The happiness in giving – the Discovery Shores Boracay team are all smiles as they help the Ati community in Aklan to have access to clean water through their project #TogetherForWater.
The Discovery Leisure Company Inc.’s (TDLCI) group of hotels and resorts — among them Club Paradise Palawan, Discovery Shores Boracay, Discovery Primea Makati, Discovery Suites Ortigas, and Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay — has raised Php 200,000 each for their respective neighboring indigenous communities.
Clean water donations
Today, this life-changing partnership with international NGO Waves For Water has seen the donation of:
- 60 water filters in Sitio Camanga, Coron, Palawan;
- 60 water filters in Sitio Carla, Malay, Aklan;
- 30 water filters and two 1,000-liter tanks as a rainwater harvesting system in Sitio Suha, Norzagaray, Bulacan; and
- 60 water filters in Sitio Yangka, Capas, Tarlac.
TDLCI’s chief operating officer Jun Parreño said, “Once we’ve covered all our beneficiaries’ basic water requirements, we’ve made a commitment to consistently visit them to address their other needs. We’re here to stay for them. That is what Discovery’s ‘Service That’s All Heart’ is all about.”
For more information on TDLCI’s #TogetherForWater project, and to take part of this laudable initiative, please visit https://bit.ly/discoveryadvocacy.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 4, 2018 | Advocacy
The PRRC, in collaboration with UP PLANADES, designed the Pasig River Integrated and Strategic Master Plan (PRISM) with a vision that by 2032, the Pasig River and its surrounding basins are resilient life-sustaining ecosystems that are able to support diverse human needs and biodiversity towards inclusive, harmonized, and balanced development co-managed by competent and adaptive institutions with responsible and empowered communities.
This new restoration strategy covers the following:
- water quality management,
- streamflow management,
- catchment management, and
- riparian management
In this manner, the Pasig River will once again enshrine socio-economic, aesthetic, environmental, recreational, and cultural values amidst changing risks and natural perturbations.
The illustrations below will provide a brief summary of the integrated wastewater treatment systems, one of the 19 priority projects proposed in the PRISM to help improve the water quality of the Pasig River, and for concerned agencies to comply with concession agreement, and other environmental laws.
North and south Pasig sewage treatment plan
The direct discharge of wastewater into the river system, like the Pasig River, causes serious impact on the quality of the environment and on the health of the people.
This project aims to:
- capture the domestic wastewater in the areas of Pasig and part of Quezon City, Cainta, and Mandaluyong City and to be treated by STP,
- help improve the water quality of the Pasig River
- comply with the concession agreement and other environmental fees.
Program Description
- Site location: Pinagbuhatan, Pasig
- Location of program benefits: Pasig River (treating 100 MLD used water)
- Components: 100 MLD STP 65km interceptor network
- Structural component:
- construction of STP
- laying of interceptor pipes
- Non-structural component
- Manila Water’s Toka-Toka (stake), garbage segregation, sewer connection, and dislodging every 5 years
- educational tours or “Lakbayan” to understand the water and wastewater processes
- public information like flyers, posters, magazines, brochures, etc.
- Beneficiaries:
- 2017: 300,000 population
- 2037: 658,392 population
- Area coverage: approx. 3,500 hectares
- Benefits:
- treatment of used water generated within the catchment
- compliance with regulatory and environmental standards
- Project completion:
- STP: EO 2018
- Sewer network: EO 2022
The filtration system for tributaries of the Pasig River
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)
By 2037, the aim is to have a substantial reduction of sewerage and septage pollutants in the Pasig River System.
It is desired that the physico-chemical, biological, microbial, and heavy metal parameters measured at the Pasig River Unified Monitoring Systems (PRUMS) will not exceed the Philippine Standards for class C for freshwater category, especially for identified pollutants such as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphorus (TF), and Fecal Coliform Bacteria, among others.
The Philippine standard for class C is hoped to be achieved with no exceedances or even better water quality such as class B.
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) blueprint
- entrance
- secondary clarification
- biological treatment
- biosolids dewatering
- wind turbines
- green roofs
- material and storage center
- solar panels
- administrative center
- parking
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 3, 2018 | Advocacy, Awards and Competitions
The Pasig River, the cradle of early Manila civilization, is a finalist in the first ever Asia Riverprize by the prestigious International River Foundation (IRF) which recognizes and rewards organizations that make a difference through effective river basin restoration and management programs.
The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) just came from a successful campaign in the 2017 Thiess International Riverprize competition where they placed second to the San Antonio River of Texas, USA.
PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia
PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia says that “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.”
In the beginning the competition was called the Asia-Pacific Riverprize Awards which allowed entrants from 45 countries, including New Zealand and Australia. With so many entries and because of the high quality of the said entries it as later decided to split the event into two: Asia Riverprize and Australasia Riverprize.
After much deliberation the committee decided on its finalists for Asia Riverprize, namely the Pasig River (Philippines) and the Yangtze River (China).
Asia Riverprize 2018 finalist
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.”
Criteria for judging
IRF Director Professor Bill Dennison
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.
The Pasig River – past, present, and future
There has been significant improvement to the condition of the Parig River where it was once declared in the 90’s as “biologically dead”. While still a work in progress many areas along the historic river have already shown signs of acquatic life. In addition, it has now become conducive to transport, recreation, and tourism.
The Pasig River prepares to win the coveted award
Mr. Jose Antonio E. Goitia, PRRC’s Executive Director, together with Mr. George Oliver G. dela Rama, Division Head of the Public Information Advocay and Tourism join forces to present and defend the Philippines’ Pasig River entry an esteemed panel of judges in the upcoming 21st International Riversymposium on October 14 to 18, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Other PRRC Management Committee members are also part of the Philippine delegation.
The winner of this prestigious event will receive widespread global recognition, which will, additionally:
- build new partnerships
- provide opportunities for exchange of knowledge and best practices
- open doors for international support
Also, 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!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 31, 2018 | Advocacy
Nearly 450 AXA Philippines employees recently gathered to donate their time and skills as volunteers in the company’s annual Corporate Responsibility Week, an event observed by AXA entities all over the world.
Themed “CR Week in Action,” the week-long celebration touched 2,250 lives by partnering with several non-government organizations and foundations with advocacies that focus on health, education, and the environment.
NGOs involved in CR Week in Action
Among the roster of NGOs were:
- Metrobank Foundation,
- Hands on Manila,
- Rise Against Hunger,
- Simply Share in Cebu,
- National Bookstore Foundation,
- Adarna House, Inc.,
- Manila Doctors Hospital,
- Philippine Red Cross – Rizal and Cebu Chapters,
- Make-A-Wish Foundation, and
- The University of San Carlos in Cebu City.
About Corporate Responsibility Week
“AXA’s annual Corporate Responsibility Week is part of our continuing commitment to empower communities to live better lives,” said AXA Philippines president and CEO Rahul Hora. “We thank our employees for giving their time and sharing their expertise to help our various advocacies.”
AXA Philippines President and CEO Rahul Hora together with AXA employees packed meals for the indigenous people community in Pampanga
AXA Philippines volunteers packed meals for Aeta mothers and their families in Porac, Pampanga to last six months; packed food for students of Napo Elementary School in Cebu to last three months; and 150 candles and mosquito traps for the mothers of Trece Martires, Cavite.
AXA Philippines employees gathered together as volunteers in the company’s annual Corporate Responsibility Week
- A blood drive was also held with Philippine Red Cross and Manila Doctors Hospital.
- A training session on first aid and financial literacy was conducted for mothers and children in Cebu.
- Volunteers are also set to run at the Philippine Red Cross run for a cause.
- Books are set to be delivered to the library of Napo Elementary School.
- Project Aral Kits from National Book Store will go to underprivileged students.
- Volunteers also made the wishes of kids with life-threatening illnesses come true.
To know more about AXA Philippines and the Corporate Responsibility Week, visit https://www.facebook.com/AXA.Philippines and https://www.axa.com.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 7, 2018 | Advocacy
Uratex, the country’s leading sleep specialist, partners with philanthropists and society personalities Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Kaye Tinga for the company’s ongoing CSR campaign, Project 50, which aims to provide a total of 2,500 mattresses to 50 public hospitals and nursing homes nationwide.
As brand ambassadors, Prieto-Valdes and Tinga chose four hospitals where 200 mattresses were donated under their names. One of their beneficiaries was the Ospital ng Makati. Other recipients of Uratex include:
As the leading manufacturer of quality foams and mattresses in the country, Uratex is committed to education and health advocacy, rehabilitation programs, community service, and volunteerism. Robert G. Cheng/Uratex Foundation serves as the CSR arm of the RCG group of companies.
In photo shows Uratex executive vice-president Eddie Gallor; Kaye Tinga; Tessa Prieto-Valdes; Uratex CEO and president Natty Cheng; and Ospital ng Makati division for medical services director Robert So.
For more information, visit https://www.uratex.com.ph.
By 2037, the aim is to have a substantial reduction of sewerage and septage pollutants in the Pasig River System.
entrance
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