Globe raises ₱51.9B on landmark tower sale, leaseback deal

Globe said it has achieved the fourth closing of 113 towers sold to Frontier Tower Associates Philippines Inc. (Frontier Towers) with a total cash consideration of ~₱1.4 billion. This amount reflects the value of the tower assets which are composed of 77% ground-based towers and 23% rooftop towers located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Globe already received around~₱26.6 billion from Frontier Towers to date, as they gained ownership and management rights to 2,094 towers out of the 3,529 acquired towers. 

Globe also announced the closing of another 100 towers for ~₱1.2 billion or reaching to around ~₱13.4 billion received from MIESCOR Infrastructure Development Corporation (MIDC) to date. These tower assets are composed of 64% ground-based towers and 36% rooftop towers. With this recent closing, MIDC already has control of 1,120 towers out of the 2,180 towers covered by the ₱26.0 billion sale and leaseback deal signed on August 11 of last year.

In total, Globe already closed 54% of the tower deal transferring ownership of 4,039 out of 7,506 towers for ₱51.9 billion. Subsequent closings will happen as and when closing conditions are met. Globe will make relevant announcements in accordance with the rules of The Philippines Stock Exchange as and when appropriate.  

 

SMC, TESDA partner to start training Filipino workers for jobs at NMIA

SMC President Ramon S. Ang and TESDA Secretary and Director General Suharto T. Mangudadatu signs a memorandum of agreement to pave the way for the launch of a skills training program.

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are launching a skills training program that will enable a greater number of Filipinos to participate in opportunities at its New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project as well as its various strategic initiatives across the country.

SMC President Ramon S. Ang and TESDA Secretary and Director General Suharto T. Mangudadatu, signed a memorandum of agreement that expands their existing partnership to more provinces to maximize job and livelihood creation and ensure that the benefits of growth resulting from its projects are widespread and shared by many.

 

“This is a great opportunity for many of our countrymen. The airport project and all our other projects, will not just generate jobs; more significantly, they will provide knowledge, skills, and technology transfer in construction, engineering, the operation of equipment and technologies, ground handling, aircraft maintenance, and many other fields,” said Ang.

 

“This gives our people a chance to learn valuable and highly-specialized skills right here in our country, while earning a decent living, and helping our country’s growth and development. Later on, they can bring these skills with them for better opportunities abroad, or to continue working for us to operate and maintain our facilities,” he added.

 

Ang cited that at the moment, the company is already working with over a hundred foreign experts in various fields at the airport project, currently in the first phase of construction--land redevelopment, or the process of turning what was once land converted into fishponds, back into land form again.

 

Filipinos working at the site are already learning from these foreign experts, and may then be tapped to teach and pass on skills and knowledge to the next batches of workers to be trained by TESDA, and hired by SMC.

 

The SMC-TESDA partnership, which started in 2020, is now expanded to include Pangasinan, Laguna, and Palawan. Initially, the partnership covered residents of Bulacan, Bataan, Batangas, Quezon Province, General Santos City, South Cotabato, and Davao del Sur.

 

In most of the pilot areas, graduates of the SMC-TESDA program also benefited from housing assistance, that allowed families to build or buy new homes, or in the case of Sariaya, Quezon, resettle in an SMC-built free housing community.

 

The program, which began in Bulacan and extended to different provinces, initially offered courses in heavy equipment operations, shielded metal arc welding, entrepreneurship training, electrical installation and maintenance, dressmaking, baking, and cookery.

 

Ang said: “As we are expanding our businesses around the country, a fully-capable workforce is an essential ingredient to our success. We thank TESDA for their sincere support and tireless efforts in helping us equip more Filipinos to improve their lives and help the country in the process.”

 

The SMC-TESDA program is also geared towards benefitting displaced workers, returning Overseas Filipino Workers, Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities, and other qualified clients.

 

PH to cultivate 'Bamboo Villages' to tap growing world demand

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Baguio was named after a famous bamboo grove in Kyoto. It is part of the Mirador Heritage and Eco Park at Mirador Hill, Baguio City.(Photo by juriscarillo)

The Philippines has set its sights on capturing a small piece of the world’s billion-dollar bamboo market while simultaneously harnessing its bamboo resources to mitigate climate change.

In an interview Monday, newly appointed Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano said the incumbent administration, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), is establishing a local version of the “Bamboo Villages” business model, which has been proven successful in other Asian countries.

He explained that this model entails the mobilization of land, labor and capital in rural towns, and then focusing them on the cultivation and subsequent processing of bamboo.

“The President (Marcos) is very excited about this. He can relate to the potential benefits of bamboo, having been a governor (of a province heavily dependent on agriculture) himself,” the DA official said.

Savellano noted that by 2030, annual revenues from processed bamboo are estimated to reach $90 billion.

The “Bamboo Villages” program can help generate additional livelihood for poor farmers and Indigenous Peoples in ancestral lands while generating foreign exchange for the country, he added.

In a recent report by the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC), it was revealed that Indonesia currently has about 1,000 bamboo villages while Vietnam has about 100.

The PBIDC, an attached agency to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), also noted that Thailand is investing some $10 billion to cultivate its domestic bamboo industry, so it too can compete for a share in the global bamboo market.

Currently, China dominates the international market, generating the biggest bamboo revenue at $35 billion yearly.

“Even if we can just capture the equivalent of 10 percent of China’s revenues, that is still $3.5 billion annually for the Philippines,” Savellano said.

The DA undersecretary also explained that aside from its untapped economic potentials, the aggressive planting of bamboo can also serve to fast-track the reforestation of denuded lands under the National Greening Program.

As a climate-friendly grass, bamboo absorbs 11 to 15 times the carbon dioxide compared to a hardwood tree, while also controlling soil erosion, he added.

During a Senate hearing on Aug. 9, Savellano asserted that an institutionalized bamboo program will be needed to consolidate different government programs on bamboo that are now scattered across agencies.

“We need to harmonize our programs that are now uncoordinated. We need to obtain the cooperation of each individual and harness all economic resources to attract private sector investment in bamboo,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PBDIC reported that the primary export destinations of Philippines bamboo products include the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany and France.

As of 2022, investments in the local bamboo industry amounted to P89.2 million and domestic sales were placed at P143 million.

The sector generated 10,898 jobs, 5,012 micro, small and medium industries, and 92 community-based enterprises, according to the Council. (PNA)

Globe, Acad Arena empower young talents in PH gaming industry, unveil 2023 Scholarship Awardee

Bhea Louisse Rico, ia Mechanical Technology student at the Technological University of the Philippines - Taguig, is the first scholarship awardee under the partnership between Globe and Acad Arena. 

 

Globe, a leading digital solutions platform, and Acad Arena’s CONQuest, the country’s largest gaming, music, and pop culture convention, have unveiled their 2023 Scholarship awardee, in a revolutionary step aimed at nurturing young talent in the gaming industry.

The first ever scholar under the program, Bhea Louisse Rico, is a Mechanical Technology student at the Technological University of the Philippines - Taguig who excels both on and off campus.  Through the scholarship, she received a PHP100,000 grant, a Conquest All-Access Pass for an unforgettable meet-and-greet experience with popular streamers, and a Globe content feature to chronicle her journey at CONQuest 2023.

 

The scholarship is part of Globe and CONQuest’s commitment to empowering student gamers by acknowledging their academic achievements and encouraging their passion for gaming and the many useful life skills it can foster.

 

The grant also paved the way for Bhea’s mom to accept her love for gaming– something she had kept a secret as her mother thought it was “distracting rather than an inspiration for me.”

 

“I told my mom ’Ma, I got a scholarship,’ and she cried. That made me emotional. Tanggap niya na ‘yung ginagawa ko. Kung saan ako masaya, masaya na rin siya para sa akin. Mas lalo ako na-inspire na ipakita ‘yung skills ko with the scholarship I got,” said Bhea.

 

Bhea is a dedicated gamer who draws inspiration from popular streamer Valkyrae, known for her thrilling VALORANT games.

 

“I take inspiration from Valkyrae. Kaya niyang balansehin ‘yung pagiging entrepreneur and being co-founder of 100 Games. At the same time, she’s very passionate about what she wants to do and how gaming affects her life,” Bhea said.

 

Taking her cue from her Valkyrae, Bhea currently shuffles her passion for learning and gaming. Her impressive accomplishments include serving as the Internal Vice President of her school organization, being the current VALORANT Event Manager of Grayhawks Esports, and serving in leadership positions in her school's student government.

 

Grateful for her scholarship, Bhea said: “With this scholarship, I can further pursue my academic and gaming dreams.”

 

Through the scholarship program, Globe aims to spotlight the potential benefits gaming can offer, challenge stereotypes surrounding it, and provide a platform for gamers to shine.

 

Ralph Aligada, Head of Globe Games, Esports and Innovation, said, "We are thrilled to support Bhea in her journey. As one of Globe’s scholars from our gaming and esports programs, she embodies the essence of what Globe Gaming stands for–  a balance of academic achievements and a passion for gaming. We believe in empowering the youth, and our gaming scholarship is just one way we are turning this belief into action."

 

Globe's commitment to fostering a thriving gaming community is evident through its partnerships with renowned leagues such as the Philippine Pro Gaming League and organizations such as AcadArena and Blacklist International. It also offers popular games such as “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang,” “PUBG Mobile,” “Call of Duty Mobile,” “League of Legends Wild Rift,” “VALORANT,” and “Legends of Runeterra,” bringing together gamers of all skills and experience levels.

 

As Globe continues its endeavors, it looks forward to welcoming more scholars in the future and further nurturing and empowering young gaming talents across the Philippines.

RUSH Technologies boosts small business’ growth with Spark Lite

At a time when small business owners are eager to transition online but find it complex and costly, RUSH Technologies offers a lifeline. Recognizing challenges faced by entrepreneurs, RUSH introduces Spark Lite, an all-in-one eCommerce solution designed to speed up business growth without breaking the bank.

Spark Lite empowers entrepreneurs to launch and manage their own eCommerce website for only PHP500 per month. Starting with one branch, businesses can add more as they grow, and accept and manage an unlimited number of orders for maximum profits.

 

Subscribers to Spark Lite will also get free access to the Fast Track business acceleration program, a large-scale Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) empowerment initiative by RUSH. This program offers a holistic experience, starting with free participation in the Learning Tracks from August to October, and attendance to the culminating Pop-up Bazaar event in November, among many other benefits.

 

In the Learning Tracks, entrepreneurs will learn how to launch their RUSH eStore platforms, reach their target market, and stay in the lead. The training will be held physically, with business experts as trainers.

 

Participants in the training program will get the chance to win a spot in the Pop-up Bazaar, where they will have a dedicated selling space, access to large foot traffic, win awards and freebies, and get to offer a RUSH-powered seamless shopping experience.

 

The Fast Track program also supports the Hapag Movement, a Globe-led initiative aimed at addressing the problem of involuntary hunger and unemployment. Its support for small business owners is aligned with RUSH and The Hapag Movement’s thrust toward making sustainable livelihood accessible and achievable through technology. RUSH will provide Hapag Movement beneficiaries with training under the Learning Tracks program.

 

"RUSH is committed to handholding entrepreneurs through the process of starting their online platforms with the right tools, and using the platforms effectively with the right program," said Jeferson Cruz, Chief Commercial Officer of RUSH Technologies.

 

"With Spark Lite and the Fast Track program, we're taking small business owners from being stuck to being fast-tracked towards success. It's all about enabling them with our solutions to give them a comprehensive experience."

 

Take the first step towards a thriving online business by subscribing to Spark Lite now. Book a free Spark Lite demo here and get more information about the whole Fast Track program here.

Kidapawan residents feast on tons of durian, marang, mangosteen

Kidapawan City’s Timpupo Festival 2023 was a hit among fruit lovers who flocked to the City Plaza stalls selling “fruit per tray” priced at P150 to P200. The fruit per tray promo was made available from 8am-10pm on August 19, 2023. (Photo courtesy of the CIO/Kidapawan City Government)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato – Thousands of residents feasted on 12 tons of free-to-eat fruits lined along the national highway here for the Timpupo Festival that marked the culmination of the city’s 76th foundation anniversary Friday.

The “eat-all-you-can” fruit festival, together with a fruit-laden float parade, served as the highlight of the weeklong celebration of the city’s anniversary annually.

An estimated 11,000 kilos of different varieties of fruits were displayed on the 800-meter-long table mounted along the Davao-Cotabato National Highway during the day.

Kidapawan City Mayor Atty. Jose Paolo Evangelista officially opened the Timpupo Festival on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.(Photo courtesy of the CIO/Kidapawan City Government)

"All the fruits came from local farmers, which signifies our rich natural abundance," Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista said in an interview.

The official also led the symbolic civic military and fruit float parade participated by various government and private entities.

Sen. Bato Dela Rosa graced the occasion a guest speaker, lauding local farmers for continuing the improvement and expansion of local fruit varieties.

(Photo courtesy of the CIO/Kidapawan City Government)

Fruit float parade

In the float competition, the city's Districts 2 and 8 were declared champions, followed by the Saniel Cruz Annex High School and Barangay Linangkob as the third placer.

The winners received P100,000, P75,000, and P50,000, from the city government, respectively.

Other activities held during the weeklong celebration were the pyro-musical display, mountain bike challenge, traditional food preparation, gigs, sports events and display of affordable fruits.

The city is known for being a major producer of fruits such as durian, rambutan, lanzones, mangosteen and marang in the province. (PNA)

917Ventures launches MemoApp to accelerate business digitalization with automated documents, affordable e-signatures

Recent years have seen rapid changes in the way people work, with remote and hybrid work arrangements widely adopted around the world. This has also reshaped the way documents are handled, with many processes going digital.

As a high-performing and agile company, Globe was quick to innovate, adopting a tool called MemoApp at the height of the pandemic for paperless approvals within and across departments. The user-friendly online tool has made internal reviews and clearances more efficient, becoming part of Globe’s ways of working even as employees are now back in the office.

 

Now, Globe’s corporate venture builder 917Ventures is bringing this digital tool beyond the company in response to the growing business demand for efficient digital document handling.

 

"MemoApp is truly a game-changer in the industry. Through its affordable document management solution, we are able to help businesses create, track, and sign documents easily in a secure online platform. It's incredibly convenient, cost-efficient, and time-saving.  No more hassles in missing documents and having piles of paperwork. With MemoApp, users can track and approve with one click,” said Carla Bianca Yap-Sy Su, 917Ventures Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

 

MemoApp is a fully automated, all-in-one management tool designed for teams and businesses of all sizes. It streamlines workflow processes by providing an efficient platform for creating, approving, signing, and tracking memos.

 

MemoApp’s latest feature is an electronic signature that revolutionizes the way businesses take care of paperwork. This feature allows enterprises to digitally sign and collect documents, simplifying the approval process and making document tracking faster. With a user-friendly interface and enhanced security measures, it ensures that e-signatures are as effective as traditional pen-on-paper signatures.

 

The platform is also an affordable alternative to other e-signature solutions. Subscription starts at only P499, significantly more affordable and provides more value for its users than other document management tools.

 

MemoApp offers not just competitive pricing, but also a commitment to quality and user experience.

 

Not only does MemoApp allow users to access memos anytime, anywhere on any device, but it also secures every document with encryption, visible only to designated individuals in a workflow. It eliminates the need to switch between multiple applications, saving time and enhancing efficiency.

 

MemoApp’s launch signifies a significant step towards digital transformation, particularly for Filipino businesses. By simplifying the document process, and improving workflows, it is poised to empower more Filipino businesses to boost their productivity and save time and money.

 

Led by Yap-Sy Su and Venture Builder Myles Salud, MemoApp was already successfully tested and adopted by the Globe Group, including Globe, KonsultaMD, GCash, Rush Technologies, BRAVE CONNECTIVE, INQUIRO, m360, and KROMA Entertainment.

 

Individuals and businesses looking to try the MemoApp can sign up here to book a demo and avail of a free trial.