Vic Metal Fabrication and Environmental Services Inc. held the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) Training Center groundbreaking and Cebu Waste Management Facility inauguration last July 28 at its 8,647 sq. m. property in Brgy. Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.

The integrated waste management solution will help address the challenges in waste management that the province is facing.

Leading the activity were Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard ‘Ahong’ Chan, and Vic Metal President and CEO Victoriano Ocon. They were joined by representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Pollution Control Association of the Philippines Inc., MatLuster Corp., and PT. Indopower International. 

Vic Metal has already completed the first and second phases of the project which involves the construction of the Water Laboratory for Wastewater Analysis and Treatment as well as the MRF and Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facility for the recovery, segregation, treatment, and disposal of different wastes.

This is expected to reduce residual wastes disposed of in Cebu landfills to around 50 tons per month. The project will also diminish the mishandling of waste and other waste-related environmental issues, and the hazards posed by illegal dumpsites and mismanaged landfills in the province. 

The design implementation ensures proper segregation, recycling, and composting of solid waste and wastewater treatment through different technologies.

“The said facility will significantly reduce waste disposed in landfills which has become a major urban development issue in Cebu,” said DILG Secretary Atty. Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. in a video message dedicated to the event.

“I hope these kinds of initiatives, private and public sector partnership, will be enhanced and that similar environment related projects will also be emulated by other local government units in the future,” added Secretary Abalos. 

The last phase of the project involves the development of a training center, the first in the province to highlight education and training on proper solid and liquid waste management.  It also includes the building of a park for recreation and the promotion of environmental awareness.

While the project is a private sector initiative, Vic Metal Fabrication works with the public sector to ensure that municipal solid wastes will be collected, transported, treated, and disposed of properly. Its successful operation will positively impact the community, the economy, and the environment. 

“Vic Metal Fabrication and Environmental Services Incorporated commits to actively ensure the management of wastes from proper segregation, recycling and composting reduction of wastes disposed in landfills as well as treatment of wastewater, and manage other wastes generated by the different sectors of society,” says Victoriano Ocon, President & CEO of Vic Metal Fabrication and Environmental Services, Inc.

Cebu province has a population of over 5 million as of 2019. Its growing economy and population have led to increasing infrastructure development, contributing to more waste generated. 

The projected daily waste generation for the province by 2025 is 1.2M tons.  This will go directly to landfills if proper waste management is not implemented. 

Negative effects of the mismanagement of wastes can contribute to the loss of biodiversity; land, water, and air pollution; generation of greenhouse gasses; and the risk of several diseases and health problems.

The fully-airconditioned, brownout-free facility will have its own landscaped garden lawn with panoramic sea views

BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines, Megaworld subsidiary Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI) is opening its Boracay Newcoast Convention Center (BNCC) this month, right within its expansive 150-hectare Boracay Newcoast in the eastern part of Boracay Island. 

The 1,200-seater convention facility is a modern tensile structure that can be divided into three smaller rooms, each with a capacity of 400 persons for theatre-type set-up and 250 persons for banquet-type set-up. Surrounding the facility is an open garden lawn, which can be used as an extended amenity for events.

“A theatre-type setting will give us a capacity of around 1,200 persons, while a banquet set-up will allow up to 750 persons. With a view overlooking the Sibuyan Sea, the Boracay Newcoast Convention Center is perfect blend of a modern MICE facility and a tropical haven, right at the heart of our 150-hectare tourism township,” says Cleofe Albiso, managing director, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, the operator of the BNCC.

The BNCC will be fully-airconditioned and will be equipped with a 100% back-up power supply. The convention facility will also be equipped with WiFi internet access, fixed video screens and motorized projector screens with sound system. The facility will also have its own service kitchen, ensuring smooth banquet services for MICE events.

“We will also have a high ceiling of up to nine (9) meters, which event organizers prefer so they can be flexible with their designs and program performances. We carefully took into consideration the major requirements of events, not just for conventions and conferences, but also for weddings,” adds Albiso.

Savoy Hotel Boracay and Belmont Hotel Boracay, the two hotels already operating inside Boracay Newcoast, will handle the banquet requirements of the BNCC.

The new convention facility will also have a close proximity to the beach area of Boracay Newcoast. Currently, the beach area offers WiFi services and other lounging facilities perfect for ‘workcation,’ a term that caters to the trend among travelers who want to enjoy the beach while working.

20 qualified micro-entrepreneurs from Dumanjug & Pinamungahan received Livelihood Starter Kits from Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. Microfinance (RAFI-MFI) through their Clustering for Livelihood Program (CLP) during the Turnover Ceremony last June 21, 2022.

The program was initiated to assist the RAFI-MFI clients and their families that were deeply affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette. The back-to-back crisis was hard enough for families of the greater population - all the more dire for the communities in the small rural areas of Dumanjug and Pinamungajan. Over 50 families were left with damaged homes in their area. To this day, families are still struggling to recover from the losses, especially of their small businesses, due to these disasters.

Seeing this immediate need to assist the families in the said areas, the RAFI-MFI team set out to create a program to equip them with the means to rise back up again. Thus, the Clustering for Livelihood Program (CLP) was born in 2021.

“CLP is an effective approach to help the clients especially to the business owners who were affected by the pandemic and odette so we will be able to provide another additional skills, knowledge and competency to livelihood training, give them marketing support and linkages and provide startup kits to help start their businesses…” stated Jonar B. Dorado, RAFI MFI Chief Operations Officer.

They coordinated closely with Hon. Elly Luague, Counselor of Dumanjug, and the local government units (LGUs) of each venue to make the turnover ceremony possible.

“Wala jud mahitabo kung wala’y kaalam, kahanas, ug kinaiya—mao ni sila ang mga pamaagi para sa kalambuan sa inyong kinabuhi. Maong paningkamot ug fight gyud para sa kalambuan,” Hon. Luage emphasized as she gave her closing statements.

Through the coordinated effort of the LGUs and RAFI-MFI, the Chorizo livelihood kits were successfully awarded to the identified cluster beneficiaries who are in food businesses during the small ceremony held at the program sites.

Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. Microfinance (RAFI-MFI) 

RAFI Partners and Stakeholders

“I hope that this program brings hope and a strong foundation for a productive livelihood journey and economic recovery because of the pandemic,” adds Mr. Dorado.

“Dako kaayo among pag-pasalamat sa RAFI na naay programa na sama niiini na gihatag namo na mga nanay gitagaan mi’g chance para mo elevate sad among mga panginabuhi labi na gayod na agian tag mga sakuna. Wako nag expect ing ani ang RAFI abi nko trainings ra siya pero gitagaan jud mi og kits na makatabang sa among panginabuhi (We have the deepest gratitude for RAFI’s programsprgrams that give mothers like us, a chance to elevate our lives, especially now that we’re still recovering from major crisis. I thought they were only giving trainings, but they went beyond and gave us livelihood kits too),” shared nanay Nelia Gines from Pinamungajan.

With the livelihood kits, the RAFI MFI hopes that the beneficiaries will have enough marketing support and linkages to grow their business, and in effect elevate their lives and that of their families & communities. The kits are only but tools to equip them to sustain & grow their businesses; but at the end of the day, it is up to these microentrepreneurs to take action.

The RAFI MFI organizers capped off the event by bringing home their message of hope & support as “Kaagapays” to the hardworking business-minded people.

The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) launched last July 19, 2022 the annual Mandaue Business Month (MBM), happening this August, with the theme “Ushering the Great Reset: Riding the Tailwinds of Change”.

MCCI aims to encourage Mandaue businesses to look forward and find ways to jumpstart economic recovery.

“Someone said, we find ourselves at a historic crossroads managing short term pressures against medium and long term uncertainties,” MCCI President Kelie Ko said during the media briefing on the upcoming Mandaue Business Month 2022.

“Today we are given a window of opportunity to shape the recovery of our society making it better, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. It is time to usher the great reset,” Ko added.

The chamber, he said, hopes that their small efforts and advocacies, the planned activities will create awareness on how to make things better. “These efforts may just be a drop in the bucket but we need to start somewhere,” Ko said.

MBM 2022 chair Mark Ynoc called on the business sector to join the MBM 2022 activities and become part of the MBM 2022. The series of events will showcase Mandaue’s business potential, world-class businesses and industries that continues to contribute to the city’s economic development.

“We invite you to join our various events and let’s all together push that reset button in here Mandaue and ride the tailwinds of change and opportunities,” Ynoc said.

The various activities included the Mandaue Expo 2022, which will be held on August 5, 6 and 7 at the Mandaue Sports Complex; Trees Brew for Life on August 6 at the Umapad Green Park; Executive Forum – Situational Approach to Leadership Makes the Difference on August 12 at the City Sports Club; Duwa: Cebu Children’s Festival on August 13 and 14, and August 20 and 21 at the Oakridge Business Park; MCCI Business Summit on August 18 at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel; Mandani Bay Dragon Boat Regatta 2022 on August 20 at the Mandani Bay; and Mandaue Investment Forum at Mahogany, Executive Lounge, Oakridge.

The Mandaue Expo 2022 is a weekend market that will showcase various products of Mandaue City. The event chair is Girlie Garces, Communication Officer of San Miguel Brewery. Her co-chairs are Amado Go, president of Cenapro Chemical Corp. and Michelle Co-Lin, CTBC Bank Vismin-Business Center Head.

The Trees Brew for Life is a tree-planting activity in partnership with San Miguel Brewery Inc. and is also chaired by Ms. Garces.

The Executive Forum is in partnership with Blanchard Philippine Partner, CMC Business Solutions, Inc. will conduct a 4-hours brief introduction to SLII for interested MCCI Board and members. The maximum capacity for this program is 50 participants. The chair is Marvey Alcantara, general manager of Uratex while the co-chair is Margo Frasco, creative director of MDF Productions Inc.

The DUWA Cebu Children's Festival, which is organized for children, will provide various experiences for children to encourage their innate curiosity and creativity. The activities include Bakunawa Bridge, Kareton Race, Filipino Games Tourney, The Sorting Cube, workshops and performances. Ko, general manager of KGK Management Inc. will chair this event while the co-chair is Sam Lao, president and chief executive officer of Realty Options marketing and Consultancy Inc.

The MCCI Business Summit 2022 will feature top caliber speakers to share their expertise and knowledge. They will include Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president and chief executive officer of Ayala Corp.; Asian Development Bank senior economist Mateo Lanzafame; Unionbank executive vice president and chief digital channel officer Ana Maria Aboitiz-Delgado; and Cherry Pua-Africa, a transformational coach. The event chair and co-chair are Adrian Lee, proprietor of Ngohiong Express, and Walter Ong, chief finance officer of Worldwide Steel Group Inc., respectively.

The Mandani Bay Dragon Boat Regatta 2022 is a first in Mandaue City and in support of the Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. (PADS). Ynoc, vice president of Prime Movers Total Logistics Inc., is the event chair while Calvin Gothong, president and chief operating officer of Carlos A. Gothong Lines. Inc. is the co-chair.

The Mandaue Investment Forum is chaired by Beverly Dayanan, president and chief executive officer of Contempo Property Holdings Inc., and co-chaired by Bambi Gothong, president and chief executive officer of A.D. Gothong manufacturing Corp.

Organized in  partnership with the Cebu provincial government and Mandaue City, the MBM aims to promote sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneurship and position Mandaue City and Cebu Province to be an attractive destination for business and investment.

MBM 2022 forms part of the 53rd Charter Day Celebration of Mandaue City this coming August.

MPT DriveHub app presents itself as the ultimate driving partner for planning, managing, and ultimately, learning to enjoy the journey again—because we forget how incredible it is that we can get around the way that we do - especially when done along an engineering marvel like that of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX). Your new driving partner, MPT DriveHub, hits the reset button on the driving experience and is set to put the joy back in joyride. With this innovation from MPT Mobility, you can tap and track your CCLEX RFID account for real-time reloading and balance checking.

“While we anticipate some hesitation from the public to make the technological switch, we believe that this new system will greatly improve not just drives, but lives,” says Rodrigo E. Franco, President of MPT Mobility and CEO of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC). “The current features are just some of many mobility solutions we’re excited to offer Cebuanos. We’re a mobile culture overall; it is only right to do as much as we can to improve and enhance the Pinoy travelling experience.”

On July 13 at Radisson Blu, representatives from both MPT DriveHub and the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) invited members of the Cebu media to join them for a four-course meal, during which they introduced the app and the ways in which it will change the way Cebuanos manage their trips, whatever the duration. Guests were guided through the event by seasoned host and proud Cebuano, OJ Cimafranca.

“This partnership is important because mobility is important,” says Allan G. Alfon, President and General Manager of Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC). “The CCLEX itself is not just a way to get from one place to another, but also a testament to how much Cebu has grown; it’s a mark of our progress. In a similar way, MPT DriveHub is a mark of how driving and our needs around it have changed, but we look forward to seeing it upgrade the ride and customer experience.”

Thanks to easier radio-frequency identification (RFID) reloading and account management via the app, drivers and motorists can be assured of stress-free rides. On top of this more convenient customer experience, MPT DriveHub has also taken into consideration the major hurdle that those on the road face with the RFID system: The inability to check how much is left, and whether you need to reload. With MPT DriveHub, you not only load and reload faster and in real-time, but you can also track your balance and spending history with just a few taps—it just could not be easier. 

So rev your engines for your next drive—with MPT DriveHub, you can really #DriveYourWay. To know more about MPT DriveHub, visit their website. Don't miss all their exciting updates by following them on Facebook and Instagram.  For queries and concerns about the MPT DriveHub app, call their 24/7 hotline (1-35000).