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Velarde’s Now Telecom plans to offer 5G services

NOW TELECOM Co., Inc. said Monday it is planning to offer fifth-generation (5G) services in the country, in order to keep up with telecommunications giants PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc.

The subsidiary of Velarde-led Now Corp. said in a statement its board had recently approved the adoption of 5G technology for enterprises and homes, which will render speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second (Gbps).

“The Decentralized Gigabit Era is upon us now. 5G will allow high wireless bandwidth in low latency scenarios, allowing for further complex technologies to exist. 5G is necessary for the Internet of Things to thrive. With cloud computing, you can now decentralize the business of telecommunications,” Now Telecom President Rodolfo P. Pantoja was quoted as saying.

The company noted the recent appointment of Mr. Pantoja is part of its strategy to improve its footing as a telecommunications firm in the country. Mr. Pantoja was the chief executive officer of Indonesia’s PT Smartfren Telecom Tbk, which is known for its fourth-generation (4G) long-term evolution (LTE) advanced network.

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. have fired up its first two 5G cell sites in late 2018, while Globe is scheduled to launch its 5G network for the home this month.

Aside from its 5G plans, Now Telecom also said its board of directors approved an 11% share swap with its parent Now Corp., which will increase the company’s share in Now Telecom to 30%.

“This will satisfy the congressional franchise requirement for Now Telecom to have the public own at least 30% of the company,” it said, referring to its franchise that was renewed in February last year. — Denise A. Valdez

Chernobyl ends today

THE last episode of the five-part HBO Original Miniseries Chernobyl — about the events surrounding the Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor in the Ukraine which suffered a massive explosion that released radioactive material across Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, and as far as Scandinavia and western Europe — airs today at 9 a.m. on HBO GO and HBO, with a same day encore at 10 p.m.

An encore marathon of all five episodes will air on HBO Signature on June 15 at 10 a.m. Past episodes of Chernobyl are also available on HBO GO.

It stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson.

SMEC Philippines to design railway projects

SMEC Philippines Inc. has been tapped to design the Manila Clark Railway Project (MCRP) North Line and the North South Railway Project (NSRP) South Line.

In a statement, the firm said it will assist the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Design Team in the preparation of all necessary documents for the detailed design of the civil, structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical works.

“We’re proud to continue our successful partnership with Oriental Consultants Global Co. Ltd on another major commuter rail project that will support economic growth and improve everyday life for people in the Philippines,” Ric Yuzon, country manager of SMEC Philippines, was quoted in the statement as saying.

The MCRP North Line will be a 50.5-kilometer commuter rail stretching from Malolos to Clark City and around 70 km up to New Clark City. It will pass through the town of Calumpit in the province of Bulacan, the town of Apalit and cities of San Fernando and Angeles until reaching the Clark International Airport (CIA) Complex, all in the province of Pampanga.

Meanwhile, the NSRP South Line will span around 56.5 km, starting from Caloocan City to Calamba Station, plus an additional 13 km up to the proposed depot site at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna.

Both lines will utilize the existing Philippine National Railway (PNR) right-of-way over their lengths.

It aims to please

Lapis x Labyrinth
PlayStation 4/Nintendo Switch

EVERY ONCE in a while, gamers are struck by the stunning simplicity of a new release. With myriad titles vying for their attention and seeking to rise above the din by striving to outshout the competition, they find themselves appreciating the modulated approach of an astutely positioned title. Such has been the reception generated by Lapis x Labyrinth, which hit store shelves in Japan (as Lapis Re Abyss) late last year and which just made its way to the West. Even official Nintendo sites for United States and United Kingdom constituencies yield little by way of information. “Help a struggling town recover from bankruptcy in an age of dwindling adventuring,” they intone. “Plunge into the mysterious Labyrinth while collecting more loot than you can ever imagine.”

As far as the counter-programmed marketing goes, Lapis x Labyrinth is nothing if not consistent with its identity. Straightforward is certainly how its story can be termed. A small town located in the far reaches of a certain dominion is in danger of extinction. Once a go-to destination for daredevil explorers bent on discovering the Golden Tree within its enchanted forest, it has fallen on hard times and is thus forced to bank on the very premise and promise of riches. In an effort to escape subsistence, it taps a group of heroes for hire to go treasure hunting in its dungeons. In typical action role-playing-game fashion, gamers get to choose the composition of the group of four from eight playable characters of classes that feature distinct sets of strengths and weaknesses manifested in skills and traits, as well as in combat techniques and equipment.

Needless to say, the gameplay of Lapis x Labyrinth is equally uncomplicated.

As with countless other side-scrolling platformers, the party goes on quests that require it to clear floor after floor of enemies, avoiding traps and collecting loot en route to a protracted boss fight, within a specific time frame. Unlike countless other side-scrolling platformers, however, it makes use of a “dango” positioning, with the protagonists stacked on top of each other. The totem-pole formation has the bottom character taking the lead and the others providing support; gamers can change the order depending on preference and in response to specific situations.

Parenthetically, the variety of classes offers a bevy of combat options. The necromancer summons magic for midrange attacks. The maid and bishop use their article of choice (a pan and a spear, respectively) to hurt and help as needed. The shielder is great at blocking and countering. The hunter strikes quickly with dual daggers. The gunner and witch keep enemies at bay from afar. The destroyer, well, destroys with a greatsword. All told, 4,096 combinations are at gamers’ disposal, and part of the challenge is to find alliances that work well even as it becomes obvious early on which characters are better suited to lead.

In keeping with Lapis x Labyrinth’s straightforward design, controls are such a breeze to handle. After a fittingly short tutorial at the start, gamers should be good to go and ready to perform actions with single-button presses. Whether toggling between characters, chaining attacks, or initiating special moves, they won’t at any time feel as if they’re jumping through hoops just to see their plans pan out. And when they manage to string together a bevy of combos, Fever Mode is triggered and the screen becomes a veritable celebration of color as fireworks unleash gems for the taking.

Creditably, Lapis x Labyrinth boasts of audio-visual charms that underscore its anime-cum-chibi predilections. Backgrounds are superbly rendered and harmonize with the looks of the heroes and their enemies, while the music tracks help set the atmosphere. True, it’s far from perfect; on the Nintendo Switch (and, on occasion, even on the PlayStation 4 Pro), frame drops are evident during busy moments, with the slowdowns serving to dull the experience. That said, they wind up being minor inconveniences in the face of an unrelenting aim to please. Moreover, the danger of succumbing to the monotony of gameplay (typical of action RPGs) is overcome by the game’s daring to be different and earnest desire to please.

In Lapis x Labyrinth, combat hauls per run can number in the hundreds. Setting aside its materialistic leanings, it spares gamers of the need to grind. Upgrades come by way of battle yields, with the right choices of weapons, armor, and supplementary objects serving to strengthen characters in the group. To be sure, “right” becomes a relative term given the sheer volume of inventory at gamers’ disposal. Meanwhile, additional customization and stat padding come courtesy of new areas in the town that are unlocked with each successful quest.

On aggregate, Lapis x Labyrinth meets its objectives in style. As understated as it may seem to be at the outset, it winds up as a decidedly fresh take in a crowded genre. It aims to please at every turn, and while it fails to escape the repetitive nature of dungeon crawling, it offsets its intrinsic frailties with a determined resolve to delight. A feast for the senses, it likewise features an easy interface and a generous rewards system that eschews grinding in favor of natural progression. Whether on the couch or on the go, it figures to bring about some 20-odd hours of enjoyment to otherwise-jaded gamers. At $29.99, it’s a definite recommend.

THE GOOD:

• Astutely positioned as counter-programmed action RPG

• “Dango” formation of lead characters underscores uniqueness

• Grinding eschewed in favor of natural progression

• Fever Mode a feast for the senses

THE BAD:

• Fails to escape repetitive nature of dungeon crawling

• Frame drops evident on occasion

• Relatively short

RATING: 8.5/10

Capitol Commons named best mixed-use dev’t in PHL

CAPITOL Commons, a 10-hectare project of Ortigas & Company, was recently named Best Mixed-use Development in the Philippines by the Asia Pacific Property Awards.

Ortigas & Company received the award for Capitol Commons during a ceremony held at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Hotel in Thailand on May 15.

Located in Pasig City, Capitol Commons features three residential towers — The Royalton, The Imperium, and Maven; office facilities, an urban park and commercial areas.

Ortigas & Company is set to open the expansion of Estancia, the upscale mall in Capitol Commons. The expanded mall area will have state of the art cinemas, new restaurants, global lifestyle brands, and an SM Store.

“We are honored by this recognition from the Asia Pacific Property Awards. This achievement is a testament of our commitment to ‘build great places for life,’ as exemplified by Capitol Commons, an integrated, mixed-use development that provides its customers the opportunity to live, work, shop and recreate in a sustainable self-contained environment. The award affirms our position as one of the leaders in the industry, and inspires us to move forward with customer-centric products that are driven by our passion for excellence and innovation,” Ortigas & Company President and CEO Jaime E. Ysmael said in a statement.

Deutsche Bank, UniCredit start Brexit swaps move

DEUTSCHE BANK AG and UniCredit SpA moved some of their swaps trades from London to Frankfurt in May as banks used a lull in the ongoing Brexit drama to prepare for the worst.

About 10 banks took part in a switching run where lenders closed existing swaps positions in the UK and opened equivalent ones in Germany, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the trades are private. Some of the 10, including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Commerzbank AG, acted as market makers, treating the exercise as an opportunity to generate revenue by trading with the banks.

Continental European banks would be unable to keep their swaps — a widely used type of derivative — in London from April next year if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal. That could force the banks to move trillions of dollars of derivatives from LCH Ltd., a unit of London Stock Exchange Group Plc, to Frankfurt’s Eurex Clearing, part of Deutsche Boerse AG.

As well as helping Deutsche Boerse at the expense of LSE, such a move would erode London’s dominance as Europe’s financial center — and potentially roil the market for interest-rate swaps.

Deutsche Bank and UniCredit declined to comment, as did spokespeople for JPMorgan and Commerzbank. Bayerische Landesbank, which also shifted some swaps to Frankfurt, and the Bank of England, LCH’s primary regulator, also declined to comment.

Capitalab, a subsidiary of inter-dealer broker BGC Partners Inc., oversaw the switching exercise, which it intends to repeat once a month, said two of the people. The banks moved some of their longer-dated swaps, rather than just their short-term contracts, some of the people said.

A spokesman for BGC and a spokeswoman for LCH declined to comment. A spokeswoman for Eurex, which owns the only continental firm able to clear swap trades, also declined to comment.

LCH holds more than €100 billion ($112 billion) of cash and bonds on behalf of banks and fund managers seeking to protect their swap trades against the possibility that a major trading firm will default.

The European Commission saved LCH from having to kick out its EU-based clients at the end of last year when it extended the London-based clearinghouse’s right to provide services to continental firms until the end of March 2020. Banks can continue to buy and sell LCH-branded swaps even if the UK leaves the EU without a deal at the end of October — the current scheduled date for Brexit.

Unless the commission further extends LCH’s ability to serve EU banks, those firms will have to move their swaps positions somewhere else before April next year. — Bloomberg

SEC warns public against investing in Broilerpreneur, ADA Farm, Ever Arm

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) warned the public against several groups that have been luring investors in exchange for unrealistically high returns.

In an advisory, the country’s corporate regulator advised the public to be cautious against Broilerpreneur Corp. The company is engaged in the poultry business using the “farm to fork concept of broiler,” and promises to double investors’ capital within two months.

For instance, an investor will get P2,000 back after investing P1,000 into the firm for two months. This same capital will yield the investor P12,000 after 12 months.

Another group called ADA Farm Agri Ventures was also found to be enticing the public to invest by purchasing a minimum of 10 chicks for P500. Investors are guaranteed a profit of 80% in 60 days.

The SEC noted that while both Broilerpreneur and ADA Farm are duly registered as corporations, they lack the necessary permits to offer securities or investments to the public.

The Securities Regulation Code requires firms offering securities to secure a secondary license, as well as another license for the securities to be offered.

“The public is hereby advised to exercise caution in investing their money in these types of schemes which may turn out to be fraudulent investment schemes, involving the sale of unregistered securities,” the SEC said.

People who act as salesmen, brokers, or agents of Broilerpreneur and ADA Farm may be prosecuted and held criminally liable under the SRC, with a penalty of up to P5 million or imprisonment of up to 21 years.

At the same time, the SEC called out Ever Arm Any Marketing for supposedly encouraging the public to invest their money in high-earning products. The group was found to be offering investments in exchange for a 500% return of investment in less than a month.

The SEC said Ever Arm is not a registered corporation, and advised the public to be prudent before investing their money on Ever Arm.

The commission also listed down 22 alleged investment companies that have been using social media channels to attract investors. The list includes:

• Mga Business Enterprises

• Coophub Multimedia Services

• Jogle Innovative Marketing

• Global Dream Zion

• Grappler

• Sherpan

• BCT Marketing

• RTM/ RTM Pharmacy and General Merchandise

• Diamond Marketing

• Fusion Marketing

• FMarket

• Cirfund

• Vibearn

• Onepro

• BCC/BCC Cosmetics Trading

• Unlishop Compensation Plan Marketing

• VUCC

• Bitrain

• TCoin

• Crowd Royals

• ADA Farm

• Nermie Marketing/ Nermie Health and Beauty Products Trading

The SEC said that these groups have been offering investment contracts through Facebook or other social media platforms, with unrealistic returns of 10% to 400% per month. It noted that such investments “ordinarily collapse as fast as they are created while leaving its investors behind and unable to recoup their investments.” — Arra B. Francia

How PSEi member stocks performed — June 3, 2019

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Monday, June 3, 2019.

 

Back-to-school’ inflation 2019: How much does a basket of school supplies cost?

Back-to-school’ inflation 2019: How much does a basket of school supplies cost?

Tree crops development in ASEAN

Permanent crops are mainly trees (e.g., coffee, cacao, rubber) but they also include palms (e.g., coconut, oil palm) and vines (e.g., pepper) (www.fao.org). They are planted and possess long economic life. By contrast, temporary or annual crops are sown and harvested during the same agricultural year. Examples are rice, corn, sweet potato, peanuts and vegetables.

How important are tree-crops in the ASEAN?

They mainly comprise rubber, oil palm, coffee, cacao and coconut. In this article, other permanent crops like pepper and cashew are also considered.

In the Philippines, tree-crops occupy more land than rice. Yet, they have been heavily neglected for decades or at the very least, suffered benign neglect. Yields are low. The annual crops focus has diverted urgent actions away from tree-crops.

Coconut alone occupies some 3.5 million hectares. They are mostly monocrop with low productivity. Adding coffee, rubber, cacao and oil palm will total at least four million hectares.

COCONUT
Over 30 years, Indonesia had the largest increase in area, followed by the Philippines. The other three ASEAN countries — Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam — posted notable declines as they shifted to other crops.

COFFEE
While Indonesia almost doubled its large area, Vietnam posted an enormous increase (26 times). The Philippines and Malaysia recorded declines.

CACAO
Indonesia posted rapid increases (28 times) over the 30-year period. By contrast, Malaysia shifted from cacao to oil palm due to the high cost of labor.

RUBBER
Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam recorded large-area expansions while Malaysia posted decline following its oil palm strategy. ASEAN is the global supplier of natural rubber. Overexpansion pulled down world prices.

The Philippines increased its area almost three times over 30 years, but paled in comparison with neighbors.

Oil palm transformed the agriculture landscape of the ASEAN in the past 30 years.

Total areas expanded from some 1.8 million hectares to 15.2 million hectares. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand posted massive expansions. The Philippines had mediocre performance.

During the period, Indonesia opened new lands (mainly forests and peatlands) for oil palm. Malaysia shifted crops from rubber, cacao, coconut and opened secondary forest lands to oil palm. Meanwhile, Thailand covered unproductive rice, corn, other crops, and peatlands. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand now account for some 90 percent of world production and export.

CASHEW
Indonesia and Vietnam expanded significantly their areas.

What are the results that the ASEAN tree-crops push? The rural poverty impact is tremendous. The poverty incidences of the three countries — Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam — hover at 10 percent versus 30 percent for the Philippines.

• Coconut: While the Philippines has large areas, it suffered in three areas: low yield, low replanting and limited intercropping. Low output versus potential. Intercropping is being promoted.

• Coffee: Vietnam is the largest Robusta producer/exporter with Indonesia, second. Meanwhile, the Philippines imports about two thirds of its supply.

• Cacao: Indonesia is a world player while the Philippines imports cacao paste.

• Rubber: ASEAN is a world player led by Thailand and Indonesia. Vietnam posted the highest percentage expansion. The Philippines is a tail-ender.

• Oil palm: The neighborhood states are world players. The Philippines is a large importer.

In addition, Vietnam leads the world in pepper and cashew exports.

tree

SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
The Philippines has no strategy and structure for promoting tree-crops development. It failed to make important choices. Rural poverty could have gone down dramatically if focus has been made in this area.

It is high time to consider establishing a Tree-Crops Authority. Currently, coconut and oil palm fall under the Philippine Coconut Authority while the others (e.g., coffee, cacao, rubber) are handled by the DA High Value Crops Development Program. But not much has been achieved.

The government has been able to create two new departments to address important issues: Transportation and ICT. There are discussions to create a Department of Housing, and another for Water. And still another on Disaster Resiliency. So, why not for Tree-crops which have high poverty alleviation impact?

This article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines or the MAP.

 

Rolando T. Dy is the Co-Vice Chair of the MAP AgriBusiness Committee, and the Executive Director of the Center for Food and AgriBusiness of the University of Asia & the Pacific.

map@map.org.ph

rdyster@gmail.com

http://map.org.ph

Moving in the right direction

I’ve noted three positive directions being taken by President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration that points to legacy and a lighter load for the next administration.

First, is the continued improvement of the economy. And there are many signs and milestones to note. The notion that we will fall into a sneaky debt trap allegedly foisted by China is incorrect. Our financial management of the economy has been outstanding so far. It’s unthinkable that we would, at this stage, drop due diligence, fiscal prudence and the national interest for another country’s alleged shady interests. The opposition should perish the thought and shift their sights elsewhere like the real-life day-to-day problems of the poor.

Most of our development money and investments, so far, have been from Japan. Japan has been in the forefront, providing grants and long-term official development assistance at almost negligible interest rates. They’ve targeted Mindanao’s development, the country’s ambitious infrastructure development and law enforcement at sea. The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the USA and Republic of Korea are the other major providers of development loans and grants. The United Nations system, China and the EU are our other fund providers.

ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada said the Philippine economy is standing strong on a low unemployment rate, sustained rise in remittances, and slowing inflation. Increased public investments in social services and infrastructure will also greatly contribute to economic growth. However, I see the Philippines facing several headwinds this year, stemming from natural, political and geopolitical causes: El Niño, the delayed approval of the 2019 budget, the US-China trade war, Brexit, and rising tensions in the Persian Gulf and South China Sea.

OFW remittances in 2018 tallied USD32.21 billion, up 3% from 2017’s USD31.29 billion. BPO revenues are expected to reach USD55-Billion by 2020 surpassing OFW remittances. Average GDP growth covering 2016-2019 (est.) is around 6.5%. GDP per capita and PPP (2019 est) will likely be USD3,730 and USD9,000, respectively. Inflation in April fell below 3%. Foreign reserves are around USD84-Billion. S&P recently raised our long-term sovereign credit rating to “BBB+” while Fitch and Moody’s affirmed their “BBB” and “Baa2” stable outlook ratings.

The government increased its debt to 56.2% of GDP in 1Q2019 from YAGO in anticipation of higher US interest rates. Net debt-GDP ratio (which nets out the NG cash balance from the debt level) dropped from 40.1% to 39.6%.” The “excellent design and timing of borrowings enabled the government to tap cheaper rates and longer maturities with higher volumes and optimize savings for the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program and social expenditures.” It expects net debt-to-GDP ratio to drop to 38.9% by 2022.

Second, is the buildup of our defenses at sea, in the air and on the ground. Our investments in credible deterrence are in consonance with our national security policy and strategy, and independent foreign policy grounded on our national interest. It’s an unforgiving world out there, fraught with risk and threats, natural and man-made. We must work for the best possible outcomes by being friends to all but preparing as well for worst case scenarios. Idealism tempered by realism is the best mix to conduct our international relations.

I’m enthused by the government’s desire to begin acquiring locally-built capital assets. Not only would it develop our technological capacities, it would greatly contribute to economic growth, poverty reduction and national security. For example, the government, in partnership with other governments, could develop industrial parks to produce military and dual-use sea-air-land systems and equipment such as: Special Support Vessels, Offshore Patrol Vessels, Fast Missile Craft, tugboats, Air-Sea-Land transports and cargo delivery systems.

As our economy grows; defense capability improves for homeland security and external defense; political will remains steadfast in redeeming our national dignity; and as our society matures into a united patriotic nation that won’t tolerate being pushed around any longer, the world will take us seriously. We’re gradually gaining recognition, either as a worthy friend or foe, no longer like the doormat we’ve been in the past. Thanks to our independent foreign policy, the international community is now seeing and feeling its effects.

I’m keenly observing the President’s subtle moves that indicate a shift in his tone toward China regarding the West Philippine Sea. There’s a growing dichotomy in his pronouncements where his comments pertaining to its behavior at sea are becoming more critical, while continuing to offer his hand in friendship to cultivate relations in conflict-free arenas — economic, social, cultural. I anticipate the day when the President will invoke the Arbitral ruling if China continues to return his good faith with insincerity.

Third, the President has finally expressed his distrust of Smartmatic and everything it represents with respect to electoral cheating and the trampling of democracy. But I wouldn’t single it out. Anyone who has participated in past electoral exercises knows that systematic cheating is syndicated. It can’t be done without enablers and special operators doing the bidding of a cabal that sustains the status quo. It seems to me that if we want to push the reset button, we’ll have to tackle the whole enchilada, not just a portion.

After having observed and participated in elections for the first time in 1969 all the way until this year, my two cents worth is this. For as long as the cheaters who manipulate the system — any system for that matter, be it manual, electronic or hybrid — are not taken out of the equation, nothing will change. It’s not the system because it’s inert. It’s the people manipulating the system that are the problem, from the deep state to their cohorts to their special operators who provide deniability. Change them first before shifting to a better system.

It really all boils down to corruption, the evil that makes all other evils possible. We need a clear strategy to wrestle it down to manageable levels to keep us moving faster and farther in the right direction.

 

Rafael M. Alunan III served in the cabinet of President Corazon C. Aquino as Secretary of Tourism, and in the cabinet of President Fidel V. Ramos as Secretary of Interior and Local Government.

rmalunan@gmail.com

map@map.org.ph

http://map.org.ph

Smart cities with little congestion and regulations

Metro Manila is composed of 17 cities and has a population of 13.1 million in 2016, the 18th largest city in the world. This 13 million would swell to around 15 million at daytime when people from neighboring provinces come to the big city to study, work, do business and so on. This is big, but not so big compared to other cities around the world like Tokyo, Delhi and Shanghai. Other Asian cities will soon have 10+ million people like Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh (see table).

Developing “smart cities” for those huge and densely-populated metropolis is among the important challenges for these micro areas and local governments.

At the recent Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2019 last May 29-31, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) sponsored a panel, “Smart Cities and Startups — Opportunities for Business Innovation” with three speakers.

The head of FNF Korea office in Seoul, Christian Taaks, said in his opening remarks that “Smart Cities offer many new opportunities and requires adaptation from individuals. Smart cities need smart citizens and technology is used to empower citizens.”

Moderator-speaker Waltraut Ritter, Founder of the Knowledge Dialogues in Hong Kong, said that Smart cities are about citizens and technology as a platform to empower citizen to become “citypreneurs.” Citizens and local governments interact, unlike before where the mayor seems to “know everything” and has a control of everything in a city. Seoul is a good example with a citizen dashboard project to get feedback from citizens what went wrong in the city.

Marc Bovenschulte, Director of Institute for Innovation and Technology in Germany, said that smart cities are about citizens, an inclusive concept. In theory, ‘Smart Cities’ is an umbrella term for holistic development concepts aiming cities to be more efficient, greener and more socially inclusive. In reality, smart cities have become a playground for big companies to implement new technologies serving traffic control, energy efficiency and camera surveillance security.

Marc added that local governments should create publicly-owned space for business creation and development. He cited the case of Berlin — after reunification, East and West Berlin were both underdeveloped. The East offered affordable stylish culture that attracted young international talents in the arts, culture and lately digital bohemian. Part of this wave created startups. The city government of Berlin initially had no plan to attract and promote startups, then it offered cheap spaces which allowed the growth of a creative mix of arts, culture, entrepreneurs and international exchange.

Hwang Jie-Eun, Chair of Department of Architecture, University of Seoul, said that smart cities and startups provide opportunity for business innovation by using non-optimized urban space for SME technology and products innovation. In particular, the Sewoon Campus project, a 1.2 km megastructure in the heart of Seoul designed in 1967 and now consists of seven shopping centres and urban manufacturing. Traditional SME factories are kept, local knowledge and skills are preserved and this serves as connecting points to enable ecosystem for startups. It is a bottom-up approach.

She added that to manage big data, teams developed several levels of data inquiries. While many cities have policies in place, in practice data is treated as assets, data owners tend to monetize.

When SME manufacturing can be done in the city, when citizens and the local governments regularly communicate to solve problems, when public space is optimized for business innovation and start ups, then mobility of people and goods are made shorter and faster.

City governments in Metro Manila and nearby provinces can devise ways to optimize market and private enterprise innovation, not optimize regulations, restrictions and taxation. The former can empower citizens to a prosperous future, the latter can do the reverse.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Minimal Government Thinkers.

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

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