PHL may see more EVs — industry group

January 17, 2018 | 12:05 am

THE Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) said in a statement it is optimistic over the EV industry’s prospects in 2018, especially after the group hosted the ASEAN EV Summit on June 29-30, 2017.

Rommel T. Juan, EVAP president, said the summit “attracted various international players and organizations in the region,” as well as drew “mainstream car companies to showcase and promote their EVs and hybrids.”

This year Mr. Juan said the PUV Modernization Program of the Department of Transportation, which mandates that jeepneys must have either a Euro4-compliant diesel engine or an electric motor, and the exemption from new excise taxes of EVs — as well as the 50% reduction on duties for hybrid vehicles — will lead car makers to introduce their EV platforms in the Philippines.

“One such car maker is Mitsubishi Motors, with its i-MiEV and Outlander PHEV [models],” he said, adding that EVAP is also “looking forward” to a possible local introduction of the Nissan Leaf EV. Mr. Juan noted the new taxation scheme for vehicles “might be the needed push for Toyota to sell more Prius hybrids.”

A decade on, Jr. NBA PHL still building on the momentum

January 17, 2018 | 12:05 am

UP in the country for more than a decade now, Jr. NBA Philippines, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) global youth basketball participation program, has made significant strides in teaching the fundamental skills and core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to enhance the youth basketball experience for players, parents and coaches.

And proponents of it in the country said the momentum of the drive has hardly waned all this time and that they are bent on building on it further to continue what they have set out to do with the program.

In ceremonies held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati last weekend, officials of the NBA, presenting partner Alaska Milk and Don Bosco formally opened the 11^th edition of Jr. NBA Philippines.

Just like the previous years, the 2018 program, the officials said, remains free and open to boys and girls ages 10-14 throughout its four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip.

They were happy to share that since its first year in 2007, the Jr. NBA clinics have been implemented in 110 cities and municipalities across the country and the 2018 program will return to key provinces including Agusan del Norte, Batangas, Benguet, Cavite, Misamis Oriental, and Negros Occidental.

“The passion [for the program] is sky high. And even after 11 years, I hear kids — every year they’re looking forward to it. And so, I think we’re at a really good stage where there’s huge momentum going our way with Jr. NBA. It’s well received. Our camps are filled to capacity almost,” said Carlo Singson, NBA Philippines Managing Director, when asked by BusinessWorld for his thoughts on how things have been for the program in the Philippine setting.

“So we continue to see that demand for it. We’re working very closely with our league office and with Alaska to try to see how else we can continue to grow the program. But definitely, the excitement, even after 11 years, continues to grow for Jr. NBA,” he added.

The NBA official went on to say that programs like Jr. NBA, based on their experience, is advisable for countries like the Philippines, thanks to its affinity for the sport.

“Not a lot [of challenges as far as staging the program here]. I mean, there’s a lot of interest obviously in working with us, in partnering with the NBA. Challenges, I guess, I mean just logistically getting to the different parts of the Philippines is tough. As you guys know, we wanna try to bring Jr. NBA everywhere. Just logistically, it’s not possible,” he said.

Adding, “So, one of the things we’re doing is how can we build our digital and mobile assets so that if you were a kid in an island or kid in a province where there’s no Jr. NBA. You can still benefit from the program. So we’re building our assets digitally and our Web site — there’s a lot more content. So, you can practice. You can create play sets. Coaches can download training materials for their kids. So that’s how we’re going to reach many Filipinos. More than their physical camps ’cause those have a limit. It’s on the digital, social and mobile side. We’re gonna try to reach as many Filipinos as possible.”

Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camps will be held in Bacolod (Feb. 10-11), Butuan (Feb. 24-25), Baguio (March 17-18) and Metro Manila (April 7-8), with the top 37 boys and 37 girls advancing for the National Training Camp in Manila in May, which will feature an NBA and WNBA player or legend.

The program will culminate with the selection of 16 Jr. NBA All-Stars, comprised of eight boys and eight girls, who will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia.

Prior editions of the Jr. NBA Philippines program have featured notable alumni including Aljon Mariano, Kobe Paras, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ricci Rivero, and Kai Sotto as well as champion collegiate coach Aldin Ayo.

Meanwhile, to reaffirm their commitment as Jr. NBA Philippines partner and add further dimension to the program, Alaska is revving up its participation as it uses it to help ease the country’s malnutrition problem.

“Some of the health problems of children here are malnutrition and obesity. We will continue to do projects that promote an active and healthy lifestyle. Let the children get out and play sports in the sun,” said newly designated Alaska Managing Director Marco Bertacca during the opening.

For more information about Jr. NBA presented by Alaska 2018, visit http://jrnba.asia/philippines/. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Senator seeks update on jeepney modernization program

January 17, 2018 | 12:05 am

By Camille A. Aguinaldo

SENATOR Grace L. Poe in a statement on Tuesday called on the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to submit a report on the latest developments of the jeepney modernization program.

“We want to know what has happened to the modernization program. Has the DoTr come up with clear guidelines on how to implement this? There are still many things to be ironed out,” Ms Poe said in her statement.

Ms. Poe also said DoTr should update the public to avoid confusion and misinformation regarding the modernization program.

“All the details should be laid on the table because as far as ordinary jeepney drivers are concerned, it is their livelihood that is at stake here,” she said.

Ms. Poe also appealed to jeepney operators planning to hold protests after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) began implementation of the “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” program.

Transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) has been outspoken against DOTr’s plan for a gradual phaseout of old jeepneys within three years under the jeepney modernization program. The transport group is planning another protest action in front of the LTFRB office on Jan. 24.

In a Senate hearing last December, Ms. Poe has recommended a pilot test of the modernization program amid the absence of clear guidelines and lack of consultation with transport groups.

“The government should step in to ensure the public a convenient and safe way to commute, with the opportunity for the drivers and operators to upgrade their vehicles. However, it should not be too burdensome for them,” she said.

The DOTr had placed the cost of a new jeepney between P1.5 million and P1.8 million, with the government subsidizing P80,000.

PSALM to push for decision on Malaya sale, Agus-Pulangi rehab

January 17, 2018 | 12:04 am

STATE-RUN Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has laid down its privatization plans for this year, which includes the sale of its most expensive assets as well as the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi hydroelectric complex in Mindanao.

In a statement on Tuesday, PSALM said it would seek its board’s “definitive policy” on the privatization of Malaya thermal power plant and a coal-fired power plant in Mindanao.

It said the move was meant “to cut on operational costs and to augment funds for paying-off its assumed obligations that will significantly benefit the government and the electricity end-users.”

“The sale of Malaya plant was previously deferred because of the plan of the Department of Energy (DoE) to convert it into a liquefied natural gas plant. PSALM has yet to receive final word from the DoE on the natural gas policy which will be included in the plant’s sale terms of reference,” it added.

For the Mindanao coal power plant, PSALM said it might wait for “appropriate time” to offer the facility on the sale block. The sale was deferred in 2015.

“Reprieved from power outages in recent years, Mindanao, this time, is currently experiencing oversupply of electricity following the entry of new power plants. Under this circumstance, PSALM deems that the plant may not attract maximum investment,” it said.

PSALM was created under Republic Act No. 9136, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, the law that restructured the Philippine power sector. It took over the ownership of all existing government-owned power generation assets. Its principal purpose is to manage the orderly sale and privatization of these assets.

In its statement, PSALM said it will continue to manage, trade and sell the energy output of the unified Leyte geothermal power plant, including the 40-megawatt (MW) “strip of energy” under Phinma Energy Corp.’s administration, the agreement of which was mutually terminated recently.

“PSALM may no longer subject the plant to public bidding,” PSALM said, citing the expiring independent power producer contract in 2021-2022.

The agency said it was keen to start the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi hydroelectric power plants to extend their service life by 30 more years and to increase their reliability and availability.

“As the owner, PSALM must have laid down by 2019 the feasibility, terms of reference including funding options and overall groundwork for the project. As the operator, the National Power Corp. will implement the project,” it said.

The company will also prioritize this year the sale of 231 lots as part of its real estate asset privatization program. It said based on its inventory and profiling, the properties are composed of 6,160 lots with an aggregate area of about 10,000 hectares.

Lined up for public bidding this month are eight lots covering 20,975 square meters of the Manila thermal power plant and 92 lots around the Bauang diesel power plant.

“Interested bidders will have until 22 January 2018 to conduct due diligence for said properties while submission of bids is set on 24 January 2018,” PSALM said.

It said the bidding — on an “as is, where is” basis — is open to individuals and sole proprietorships, partnerships or corporations duly registered and organized under the laws of the Philippines, the company said.

They should at least be 60% Filipino-owned, joint ventures or consortia, and can be government corporate entities and local government units authorized by law to acquire, own, hold or develop real properties in the Philippines.

“The sale of non-power assets will augment PSALM’s funding sources,” the company said.

PSALM said in December 2017, it had issued an “offer to sell” for its two-unit Puerto Azul Ocean Villas Condominium in Cavite to members of the Puerto Azul Golf and Country Club. The offer is valid for six months.

“If the units remain unsold after the expiration of the prescribed period, PSALM will open the sale of the property through public bidding,” it said. — Victor V. Saulon

Bumps and potholes on China’s Modern Silk Road

January 17, 2018 | 12:04 am

In 2013, President Xi Jin Ping proposed for the establishment of a comprehensive economic project that would cover large parts of the globe stretching from China all the way to Africa and Europe. This has since then become known as the One Belt One Road Initiative or OBOR for short. The undertaking not only sees the construction of massive infrastructure projects in identified areas to facilitate commerce and economic growth for many countries, but also purportedly the creation of supporting business ventures that would provide employment to people who live in developing countries.

In October 2015, this was further refined by the announcement of an action plan that outlined what has been called the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road. The Silk Road Economic Belt is envisioned as three routes connecting China to Europe (via Central Asia), the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean (through West Asia), and the Indian Ocean (via South Asia). The 21^st Century Maritime Silk Road is planned to create connections among regional waterways. The use of the term Silk Road is a takeaway from the silk trade route that carried much of Imperial China’s trade with the rest of the known world during ancient times.

During the recently concluded 19^th National Party Congress, Xi again stated the importance of OBOR with regards to providing economic growth in nations that would benefit from this initiative.

At the same time, the expansion of OBOR to cover places like Africa and even Latin America is being seriously studied. The successes of these planned and ongoing projects would catapult China into a preeminent presence in the international community.

However, for that to be effectively realized by Beijing, there needs to be a number of things that should be taken into consideration:

• A large number of nations identified in the OBOR initiatives are in the developing category and thus have problems peculiar to such types of countries. These may range from perennial political instability, unchecked corruption, widespread rebellion, large-scale terrorism and even susceptibility to natural disasters. Some of these nations might become black holes for financial assistance or already are as seen by the continued lack of development and having large foreign debt payments. This is especially relevant given the position by China that OBOR initiatives should be a bilateral and multilateral collaborative process with counterpart countries and not a unilateral Beijing initiative which reveals Beijing’s financial limitations.

• China is relatively new in the field of providing international financial assistance and incentives as compared to Japan, the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). Japan, the EU, and the US have managed to institutionalize their foreign assistance and have numerous safeguards that ensure assistance provided should be used properly. If there are no safeguards, then these countries will not provide assistance.

Beijing’s “China Solution” as an alternative to the Western manner of assistance may look appealing but oversimplifies everything especially in the matter of human rights. The reason why Western governments insist on human rights as a precondition to financial assistance is also linked to accountability in matters of the recipient government’s capacity to use funds properly. An autocratic government tends to be very corrupt and assistance provided becomes sucked into a bottomless pit of corruption with no tangible returns except for the continuation of political, economic, and social instability. An unstable country will not prosper and in fact become a dependent client state to the financial detriment of donor countries.

• As an example, the defunct Soviet Union had undertaken an overly ambitious program to assist its allies not just economically but also militarily as well. That was also coupled with a massive military program to make the USSR match the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The outcome was that Moscow could not sustain the effort and it eventually collapsed under the weight of excessively dependent client states and a moribund economy. Even today, The Russian Federation has not totally recovered from the misadventure of the USSR as seen by its many economic problems and internal issues. This should serve as a valuable lesson for China as it plots the direction of OBOR.

China 2

There are a myriad of features and peculiarities in regions that are covered by OBOR initiatives. Strategies that may be relevant for one nation may be useless in another due to the nature of problems affecting the recipient nation. The question remains if China has the ability to adapt to developments that may result not just from political issues but also by forces of nature. This is because in many developing nations, natural disasters may cause further political instability and spark unforeseen changes in the security environment.

Furthermore, as Beijing engages governments around the world with high levels of corruption, it runs the risk that close association with them may spillover directly into China and instigate corrupt practices within the Chinese government and private sector to unacceptable levels. China’s spectacular growth that has surpassed Japan as an economic powerhouse, must not blind Beijing as it challenges the current global preeminence of the United States. China must try to avoid becoming a victim of its own hubris.

Jose Antonio Custodio is a Non-Resident Security Fellow, Stratbase ADR Institute.

Foreign governments, candidates, others spent at Trump properties

January 17, 2018 | 12:04 am

WASHINGTON — Sixty-four trade groups, foreign governments, Republican candidates and others stayed at or held events at properties linked to US President Donald J. Trump during Mr. Trump’s first year in office, a political watchdog group said in a report released on Tuesday.

The arrangements represented “unprecedented conflicts of interest” because Mr. Trump oversees the federal government and has not divested from properties he owns or that carry his name, Public Citizen, a nonpartisan group, said in the report.

Shortly before taking office last year, Mr. Trump said he would hand off control of his global business empire to his sons Donald, Jr. and Eric, and move his assets into a trust to help ensure that he would not consciously take actions as president that would benefit him personally.

Many government and private ethics watchdogs said the president should have gone farther, divesting assets that could cause a conflict of interest.

The White House declined comment on the Public Citizen report, which is based on filings to the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) and news stories. It referred the issue to the Trump Organization. A spokesperson there did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Representatives of four foreign governments — Kuwait, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — held events at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, the report said. That hotel, just blocks from the White House, was the most popular Trump property, accounting for more than half the 64 events.

Public Citizen has joined 17 Democratic lawmakers in suing the US General Services Administration for documents regarding the Trump Organization’s 2013 lease of the property from the US government.

FEC records, which require disclosing campaign expenditures over $100, show that 24 groups backing candidates for Congress held events, most of them fundraisers, at Trump properties. All, like the US president, were Republicans.

Also holding events at Trump properties were oil and mining interests, representatives of the vaping industry and a college football team, the report said. It did not cite a figure for the combined spending of the 64 groups at Trump properties. — Reuters

The art in photography

January 17, 2018 | 12:04 am

PHOTOGRAPHY has always been snubbed. Some say it is not an art, while the others who argue that it is, classify it as a low art. And with the rapid proliferation of smart phones with high quality cameras that can do tricks with one click, photography is put yet again in the hot seat. Is it really art or not? How is photography an art form if everybody can do it?

“If something comes out from the heart, for me that is art. Cumulatively, we shot with heart and intent,” said photographer Angela Panlilio in defense of the photography exhibition in which she is participating.

Called Seeing Beyond, the exhibit highlights the works of five photographers. It is on view at Solaire casino’s The Shoppes Artway until Jan. 25.

Aside from Ms. Panlilio, the participating photographers are Bern Wong, Jeff Dytuco, Michael Olivares, Fred Tiongson, and Tony Rivera.

The works are on sale for between P21,000 and P39,000, with proceeds benefitting the students of ERDA Tech, a technical vocational school for the less fortunate. Officially renamed as Fr. Pierre Tritz in 2014, the school has evolved from a five-year technical high school focused on auto mechanics, dress making, and food service, to become a two-year technical vocational residential Senior High School focused on emerging technologies. The school started in 1994 by the French Jesuit priest.

The works in Seeing Beyond are mostly in black and white, with only a few on muted colors. They range from still lifes, to portraits, to landscape photographs, but they all want their audience to see beyond the surface. Each photograph encourages contemplation. Moreover, the exhibition wants to be a testament to the expanding role of a photographer, from a documenter of moments to also an artist who can show new ways of seeing things in different perspectives.

“Anyone can see a pretty picture of a beautiful woman, scene, or artefact. But if you fail to go deeper, your photograph runs the risk of being a daily basis — seen, liked, and then forgotten. If you’re lucky, maybe it comes back to your timeline as a memory on Facebook,” said Mr. Rivera. His work in the show features a series of portraits of two people facing each other, each showing emotions that do not need words to understand.

For Mr. Olivares, still photography allows him to “have complete control over lighting, subject, and background.”

Mr. Tiongson thinks that “black and white is the most simplest but the most difficult genre because it does not have color, which devoids the audience of emotion.” But he believes that monochrome is as powerful, if not more so, that colors.

“If it makes people think, if it makes people say ‘What is this person saying?’ Then whether it is painted or photographed or printed, it is art. If it reaches out to you or touches you, it is art,” said Ms. Panlilio. “My goal is to move someone by my images, and when that happens, to me that is art. Art is not limited to the form, it simply is about how art touches people.”

The only colored photos among the black and white works are by Ms. Wong, who said she likes to experiment with long exposures by dissolving and blurring them. Her colorful, abstract landscape pictures, she said, are “elemental yet speak directly to us on what it means to be alive.”

“We see ourselves as artists more than photographers, and photography is just our medium to express what we want. This is our advocacy: to let people know that photography is an art form,” she said.

Ms. Wong and Ms. Panlilio, who both agree that while photography is dominated by men, good photos do not ask who is the person behind the viewfinder.

A black and white series of random and timed photographs of children, streets, and churches, Ms. Panlilo’s series look edited and photoshopped, but she said none of her works are double-exposures, but are rather the products of right timing and angling in order to produce a compelling narrative.

“I am a street photographer by heart. I don’t stage anything, I make abang. I stay and I wait,” she said.

“Photography is storytelling. Photography is art to us.” — Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi to invest $1B in new technologies

January 17, 2018 | 12:04 am

THE Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, which adopted the name in September 2017, on Jan. 12 announced the formation of a new corporate venture capital fund meant to invest up to $1 billion over the next five years on “new mobility” concepts.

Called Venture Alliance, the fund will invest in start-ups and open innovation partnerships with technology companies focused on developing electric vehicles, autonomous systems, connectivity and artificial intelligence. It has allotted $200 million for investments this year.

The automotive group said Alliance Ventures is “set to become the largest corporate venture capital fund” in the car industry over its five-year run, ending in 2022.

Alliance Ventures’ first investment will be in Ionic Materials, a US-based company developing solid-state, cobalt-free battery materials, the auto group said. It noted Ionic’s solid polymer electrolyte content improves the performance and lowers the cost of high-energy batteries used in vehicles, as well as in multiple other applications.

Alliance Ventures is headed by François Dossa, who has served as chief executive of Nissan Brazil.

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi in 2017 sold more than 10 million vehicles through 10 separate brands. The group said its initiatives, like Alliance Ventures, are meant to double their annualized synergies to generate more than $12 billion by the end of 2022. Combined revenues of its member companies will reach $240 billion by then, with annual vehicle sales expected to exceed 14 million.

The group added it would have launched 12 purely electric vehicles by 2022.

Sereno lawyers say psychological test results release just a ‘publicity stunt’

January 17, 2018 | 12:04 am

LAWYERS OF Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno dismissed as “a mere publicity stunt” the plan to make public the results of the psychological exam conducted on her five years ago. In a statement, Ms. Sereno’s camp said the planned release of the results is just intended “to attract public attention and vilify the top magistrate to boost the baseless impeachment complaint.” Lawyer Josalee S. Deinla, one of Ms. Sereno’s spokespersons, said “the Chief Justice’s detractors are bent to demolish her to a point of including issues that are clearly not offenses that would warrant her removal from office.”

Brazilian football legend Zico to visit Manila

January 17, 2018 | 12:04 am

ONE of the best to ever play the Beautiful Game is coming to the Philippines. Zico, who electrified the footballing world in the ’70s and ’80s, is slated to visit Manila on the weekend of Jan. 27.

The Brazilian, whose real name is Arthur Antunes Coimbra, is considered one of the best footballers in the world during the late ’70s and early ’80s. Zico starred for the Brazilian national team, scoring 48 goals in 71 appearances for the Selecao. In 1999, the attacking midfielder came 8^th in the FIFA Player of the Century grand jury vote, and in 2004 was named in FIFA’s list of the world’s greatest living players.

Zico played for legendary Brazilian club Flamengo and also for the Italian Serie A team Udinese. He finished his playing career suiting up for Kashima Antlers in the J-League, the top tier of Japanese football, leading them to an unlikely runner-up finish.

The 64-year-old also had a successful managerial career, leading Turkey’s Fenerbahce, Greek team Olympiacos, and CSKA Moscow to titles. Zico was also in charge of the Japanese national team when they won the AFC Asian Cup in 2004. Because of that accomplishment, Zico is one of the most beloved football figures in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Seven Seas Properties, a company that promotes Philippine real estate and Philippine stocks in the Japanese market, is bringing the football icon here.

“We are delighted to welcome Zico to the Philippines. I’m sure he will give a big boost to the growing football scene here,” says Seven Seas Properties President Yukihiro Nishimura.

Zico will attend a CSR event with young footballers from underprivileged communities on Saturday, Jan. 27. The following day, Sunday Jan. 28, he will lead a football clinic for elite young players and coaches in the McKinley Hill stadium in Taguig. Football fans and media are welcome to watch this event, which kicks off at 2 p.m. Admission is free.

Zico in Manila is also made possible by Otsuka — Solar Philippines, Inter Sports Partners, AgriNurture, and Primex.

How Hoppler is connecting brokers and property buyers

January 17, 2018 | 12:03 am

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter

WHILE MOST BUSINESSES would use the Internet to minimize person-to-person interaction, online real estate services firm Hoppler aims to do the exact opposite, wanting to increase personal connections between brokers and buyers of property in order to build trust.

“What we try to say is this, there should be a face-to-face meetup. There’s not enough of it in the key cycle. People are too busy doing administrative work. That’s the part we want to cut down. What we want to do is give you more time with what you do best,” Hoppler Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ballesca, Jr. said in a recent interview.

With administrative work completed online, Mr. Ballesca said closing deals can be done twice as fast.

“We push all the processes you do on paper, online — try to close a deal with Hoppler, find clients online where we basically share all of our listings. Once they do, they can use our app, see the viewing list, create offer letters, create contracts,” he explained.

Established in 2014, Mr. Ballesca said Hoppler aims to provide people with as many tools in order to make the purchase of property easier.

With property firm Elizalde Roxas Corp. and online classified business investor and operator Frontier Digital Ventures as investors, Hoppler managed to raise $1.3 million or P66 million to support its operations in Metro Manila.

Hoppler now has a total of 28 people under its team, most of whom are sales directors who manage the company’s partnership with around 650 brokers. This is what Hoppler calls its partner-broker program, where it taps brokers to make use of its online applications and services.

“We invite brokers to use our platform, give them our software, let them use our processes. We’re trying to bring them to the forefront online,” Mr. Ballesca said.

The company targets to hire 10 more people in 2018, in order to manage more partner brokers and eventually expand into other locations.

Hoppler’s property listings are currently concentrated in Makati and Bonifacio Global City. Around 80% of the listings at Hoppler are residential properties, while the remaining 20% are commercial spaces. The firm’s customers range from end-users to investors aged between 38 to 50 years old.

In a bid to increase its services online, Hoppler is also looking at bringing in United States-based firm DocuSign that would allow customers to sign documents through their smartphones or tablets.

The company further aims to partner with banks to enable Filipinos to have easier payment schemes for their property purchases. Mr. Ballesca noted it has been difficult for Filipinos to acquire real estate because of the lack of information on accessible bank loans.

“For Hoppler, it’s a duty to open up the markets. In the next five years, we will partner with banks, there are a lot of companies, lending companies, mortgage brokers that have a really good relationship,” he said.

In terms of geographical reach, Mr. Ballesca said they are now looking at the Daang Hari stretch, which connects Metro Manila to Las Piñas and Cavite.

“I see Hoppler across the Philippines, Cebu and Davao, five to 10 years from now. Even if we go to these cities, we’re going to help complementary industries. In design, market brokerage, and then share on the fees,” Mr. Ballesca said.

Cash offered for Great Barrier Reef rescue ideas

January 17, 2018 | 12:03 am

SYDNEY — Australia is calling on the world’s top scientific minds to help save the Great Barrier Reef, offering hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund research into protecting the world’s largest living structure. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed reef is reeling from significant coral bleaching due to warming sea temperatures linked to climate change. The 2,300-kilometer (1,400-mile) site is also under pressure from farming runoff, development and predatory crown-of-thorns starfish, with experts warning it could be suffering irreparable damage. On Tuesday, the Australian government announced a Aus$2.0 million (US$1.6 million) funding pot available to people with bright ideas on how to save the reef. “The scale of the problem is big and big thinking is needed, but it’s important to remember that solutions can come from anywhere,” said Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg. He said the money would be available to the world’s “greatest scientific minds, industry and business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.” “Solutions could focus on anything from reducing the exposure of corals to physical stressors, to boosting coral regeneration rates by cultivating reef-building coral larvae that attract other important marine species,” Mr. Frydenberg added. Up to Aus$250,000 is available for an initial feasibility stage, where researchers can test the technical and commercial viability of their proposals for up to six months. More than one proposal is expected to be accepted at this stage, the government said. A further Aus$1 million will then be made available to the best solutions at the proof of concept stage, where applicants develop and test their prototypes for up to 12 months. Those that are successful will retain intellectual property rights and will be able to try to commercialize their innovation. — AFP

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