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Converge ICT partners with HPE Zerto to launch Disaster Recovery Service

In photo are (L-R) Converge Vice-President and Brand & Marketing Head Orange Ramirez, Converge Senior Executive Vice-President and Chief Operations Officer Jesus C. Romero, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Asia-Pacific Service Leader & Philippines Managing Director Chew Weng Keng, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Channels, Partner Ecosystem & Commercial Sales Country Manager Jessica Powell-Bragas. — Photo by Manuel Sagun Jr.

By Bjorn Biel Beltran

Seeking to democratize business continuity solutions in the Philippines, Converge ICT has introduced its Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), in collaboration with Zerto, a subsidiary of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE).

The strategic partnership aims to bolster the Philippines’ efforts towards data security, protecting businesses from disruptions borne from natural disasters and human error, and providing a robust shield against potential cyberattacks.

“Today when you talk of disaster, it comes in many forms. Physical, virtual, it could be something local or even something global,” Jesus C. Romero, Senior Executive Vice-President & Chief Operations Officer of Converge ICT Solutions, Inc., said in a presentation. “You’ve heard of many companies getting their data compromised. Sometimes, the data is actually taken away from them. That’s something that we are very conscious of, because it doesn’t matter if you have a disaster recovery site when all of your data has been taken away.”

Unlike traditional backup solutions that only focus on data recovery, DRaaS uses Zerto’s cutting-edge Continuous Data Protection (CDP) technology to offer a holistic approach to safeguard businesses against a variety of disruptions, including natural disasters, power outages, and cyber-attacks.

Key features of Converge ICT DRaaS include always-on replication, near-synchronous replication ensuring thousands of recovery points, delivering the lowest Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs). There are also journal-based recovery logs that records every change into a journal with second-level granularity, allowing swift recovery to just before an incident.

Meanwhile, application-centric recovery protects multi-VM applications as a single unit for consistent and straightforward recovery.

“With an effective disaster recovery or DR plan and solution in place, your organization becomes resilient and able to easily resume operations with minimal downtime and data loss,” Jessica Powell-Bragas, Channels, Partner Ecosystem & Commercial Sales country leader, HPE, said.

“With Converge ICT and HPE Disaster Recovery as a Service or DRaaS, an organization can back up its data and infrastructure to a third-party cloud computing environment that restores access and functionality after a disaster. You simultaneously gain the power of simplicity. And the freedom of flexibility, all while dramatically limiting your risk of data loss and downtime.”

As more businesses expand their operations online, the more critical data security becomes. For instance, the Philippines has seen a dramatic surge in ransomware attacks, with incidents doubling in 2023. A single disruption from cyberattacks can have a direct impact to many businesses, from loss of revenues, productivity, and compliance issues, as well as indirect consequences like brand damage, customer loss, and reputational harm.

Jesus C. Romero, Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. Senior Executive Vice-President & Chief Operations Officer — Photo by Manuel Sagun Jr.

Most large corporations have the necessary contingencies to prevent such incidents, but Mr. Romero noted that many medium-sized enterprises don’t have the ability for various reasons. DRaaS seeks to solve this.

“I think money is always a reason. Remember, you have to set it up. You have to buy servers, storage, software, the application, or subscribe to a service. But today the available services are mainly outside of the country, so there is additional cost,” he said.

“Instead of doing that, if you can subscribe on a monthly basis only for what you need, then there’s no upfront cost. There are no maintenance costs, just one monthly bill. And then you don’t even need to have the expertise. The expertise is provided by our ecosystem.”

Converge ICT’s DRaaS offers three service models to cater to varying levels of customer involvement: Self-Service DRaaS, where customers manage the setup and ongoing maintenance, while Converge ICT provides the infrastructure and tools; Assisted or Partially Managed DRaaS, where management responsibilities are shared between the customer and Converge ICT; and Fully Managed DRaaS, where Converge ICT handles the entire disaster recovery solution, offering complete peace of mind.

The ‘pay-as-you-grow’ model, Converge ICT noted, ensures that the solutions are scalable for businesses of any size and can evolve with your business needs. The service maintains data privacy and sovereignty, ensuring that data remains within the country, complying with local regulations. There is no need for hardware or software maintenance, eliminating the management of physical infrastructure, and there are no egress charges, avoiding costly international private lines and unexpected expenses.

In addition to DRaaS, Converge ICT offers a private infrastructure service known as Converge Lake. This includes Compute Lake, providing enterprise-grade compute resources with a flexible subscription model, offering secure, private, and reliable virtual instances or physical machines. Storage Lake offers secure, private storage infrastructure supporting object, block, and file storages, tailored to enterprise workloads with flexible subscription options.

With the launch of DRaaS, Converge ICT and HPE Zerto aims to bring a world-class business continuity solutions to the Philippines, removing much of the complexity that is needed for them to secure their data.

“Before, you cannot even think of doing this. It’s too expensive. It’s too complex and you don’t have the right people. So you have to live with a situation where, any day now, you can be attacked and can lose your data. You’ll be down for one day, two days, three days, a month. Who knows?” Mr. Romero said, adding that they hope to educate more businesses about the value of data security solutions like DRaaS, particularly those that have not had the opportunity to avail of such services due to its prior cost.

“There’s a lot of them. They’re the ones who are getting left behind,” he said.

 

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Accelerating the transition: Key trends in clean energy deployment

Photo from Freepik

More than fifteen years ago now, Republic Act No. 9513 — otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 — paved the way towards a vision of a Philippines with an equitable and inclusive prosperity powered by its abundant sustainable energy resources. Shortly before that landmark piece of legislation was passed, in a different part of the world, Apple unveiled the first ever iPhone, changing the world and the way we interact with it forever.

Since that time, smartphones and digital technology has accelerated to what seemingly is lightspeed. Today, the newest phones are as powerful as a mid-range desktop computer and are even equipped with capabilities like artificial intelligence.

Similarly, clean energy technology has grown by leaps and bounds in that timespan. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2023 global clean energy deployment reached new heights, with annual additions of solar PV (photovoltaic) and wind growing 85% and 60% respectively, and capacity additions for these two technologies reaching almost 540 gigawatts (GW).

Electric car sales grew around 35% in 2023, reaching 14 million vehicles or one-in-five sales globally. Majority of these sales were led again by China, wherein one-in-three cars sold was electric. In the European Union, this figure was one-in-four.

And yet, as proliferous as smartphones are today as compared to 2008, clean energy technologies unfortunately remain concentrated in advanced economies and China, with the rest of the world continuing to lag well behind.

“In 2023, China and advanced economies accounted for 90% of capacity additions for wind and solar PV, and more than 95% of global sales of electric cars,” the IEA wrote in its Clean Energy Market Monitor for March 2024.

The IEA considers the deployment of five clean energy technologies — solar PV, wind power, nuclear power, electric cars, and heat pumps — to be the key towards avoiding annual fossil fuel energy demand. From 2019 to 2023, these technologies helped countries around the world avoid around 25 exajoules (EJ) of fossil fuel energy.

“This is equivalent to 5% of total global fossil fuel demand in all sectors in 2023, or almost the combined total energy demand of Japan and Korea from all sources last year,” the IEA noted.

Not all of the technologies are receiving attention, however. Heat pump sales have declined globally from the record levels of 2022, “as squeezed consumers avoided spending on big ticket items and concerns around high gas prices eased somewhat. The slowdown of heat pump sales highlights the importance of supportive policies to help cash-strapped consumers and reduce the gap between electricity and gas prices.”

Meanwhile, nuclear capacity additions dropped to 5.5 GW in 2023, though this is less meaningful due to the technology’s long project development and execution timelines. Just five new nuclear reactor projects began construction in 2023. The IEA noted that world’s reactor construction count was at 58 units, with a combined capacity of more over 60 GW, as of the beginning of 2024.

Interest in hydrogen electrolysers — which are essential for producing low-emission hydrogen and can play a key role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry and transportation — is growing, as demand for them grew by 360% in 2023 from a very low base.

“This increase was due largely to China, as the European Union ceded its leading position. The United States also increased the speed of deployment, but annual additions remained modest in absolute terms,” the IEA wrote.

“Energy efficiency is lagging behind, however. Our latest assessment shows an energy intensity improvement of around 1% in 2023, four times lower than the COP28 pledge to double the long-run rate of energy intensity improvement by 2030,” the agency further explained.

IEA’s report further noted that the deployment of the five key technologies: solar PV, wind power, nuclear power, electric cars, and heat pumps from 2019 to 2023 avoids around 2.2 billion tonnes (Gt) of emissions annually. “Without them, the increase in CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions globally over the same period would have been more than three times larger,” it added.

Globally, the deployment of solar PV over the past five years has cut around 1.1 Gt of emissions annually, which is roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of Japan’s entire energy sector. In markets like Australia and New Zealand, the impact is even more pronounced, with solar PV reducing CO2 emissions by nearly 10% of the region’s total energy-related emissions in 2023.

Wind power has avoided about 830 metric tons (Mt) of CO2 emissions annually, while nuclear energy has prevented 160 Mt of CO2. Electric cars and heat pumps have avoided 60 Mt and 50 Mt of CO2 emissions respectively. Though the reductions from electric cars and heat pumps are currently smaller compared to other technologies, they are expected to grow as the stock of these technologies expands, increasing their share in new sales and the overall equipment in use.

Overall, the trend is positive. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a separate report that, “For every dollar going to fossil fuels today, almost two dollars are invested in clean energy.”

“The rise in clean energy spending is underpinned by strong economics, continued cost reductions and by considerations of energy security,” he added.

The IEA found that global investment in the manufacturing of the five key clean energy technologies rose to USD 200 billion in 2023, an increase of more than 70% from 2022 that accounted for around 4% of global GDP growth. And it is expected to rise even further.

The organization expects global investment in clean energy technology and infrastructure to reach $2 trillion this year. This is twice the amount that is going into fossil fuels, with total energy investments expected to exceed $3 trillion for the first time in 2024.

Around $2 trillion is earmarked for clean technologies — including renewables, electric vehicles, nuclear power, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency improvements and heat pumps — with the rest directed towards gas, oil and coal. The total investment in renewables overtook the amount spent on fossil fuels for the first time in 2023.

“Clean energy investment is setting new records even in challenging economic conditions, highlighting the momentum behind the new global energy economy,” Mr. Birol said. “But there is a strong element of industrial policy, too, as major economies compete for advantage in new clean energy supply chains.”

“More must be done to ensure that investment reaches the places where it is needed most, in particular the developing economies where access to affordable, sustainable and secure energy is severely lacking today.” — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran

Netflix uses Squid Game playbook for untapped Southeast Asia

NETFLIX, INC. is ramping up local production in Southeast Asia, aiming to boost its subscriber base in the populous region even as US rivals are pulling back.

The world’s largest streaming TV service is increasing the number of titles available and the number of shows it produces in the region in an effort to reach more viewers, Minyoung Kim, vice-president of content for Asia excluding India, said at a company event in Jakarta.

“It is on us to make sure that these stories find audiences not only within their home country but also beyond domestic markets, enabling audiences around the world to discover the stories that they will love,” Ms. Kim said.

Asia Pacific is currently the smallest market for Netflix, accounting for about 11% of revenue in 2023. But a large, young demographic also presents a significant opportunity for growth.

Following the success of original shows from South Korea, such as Squid Game, and Japan’s pirate series One Piece, Netflix is adopting the playbook in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. In Thailand, the company plans to release 10 original titles this year, up from six in 2023. That’s the most of any country in the region. Indonesia will also see an increase in original titles and a bigger production budget.

Localized content is especially crucial in Asia, since about 80% of premium video engagement is powered by such titles, according to Media Partners Asia.

Netflix’s push in Southeast Asia contrasts with major rivals that are pulling back amid shareholder pressure to stop chasing subscriber growth at the expense of profitability. Walt Disney Co. has paused original content creation and increased subscription prices in the market. Amazon.com, Inc.’s Prime Video has also retrenched.

Netflix only recently started to pump out original series and films in the region, after launching in some Southeast Asian countries in 2016. Its Thai thriller Hunger and Indonesian series Cigarette Girl, both released last year, were global hits and rare successes for Southeast Asian programming created by one of the global streaming services. The company wants to make that a more regular occurrence.

In Indonesia, Netflix is betting on big-budget shows that would be distinctly different from local streaming service Vidio, which is focused on sports and shorter dramas. Supernatural sci-fi series Nightmares and Daydreams, which debuted this month, and upcoming action film The Shadow Strays, starring a 17-year-old female assassin, are two recent examples. Netflix is also producing Indonesia’s first large scale zombie horror series, Abadi Nan Jaya (working title), which is set to be unveiled in 2025.

While horror and crime thrillers play well in Indonesia, Thailand is open to programming on a wider variety of topics — ranging from comedy to sexual genres, reflecting the cultural background of a nation that’s set to become the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage.

Thai creators working for foreign platforms have more freedom than those in neighboring countries because they submit their projects for approval to tourism officials, rather than the culture ministry, which has stricter guidelines, said Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, director of Doctor Climax, a Netflix original drama about a skin doctor who turns into a sex columnist.

“Indonesia still tends to have more conservative themes as it’s a Muslim country,” said Dhivya T, lead analyst at Media Partners Asia. “Thai content is more accessible and travels bit more in the Southeast Asia region with its universal story lines as well as production values.” — Bloomberg

Meralco: A Key Ally in Meeting Energy Demands for a Sustainable Future

POWERING A BRIGHTER FUTURE. Meralco linecrews are hard at work to continuously enhance the electricity service it delivers to 7.8 million customers.

By Mhicole A. Moral

In the first quarter of 2024, the Philippines saw a significant increase in its gross domestic product (GDP) by 5.7%, with a yearly growth rate between 5 and 6%. This was mainly driven by public infrastructure developments and increased investments from the private sector. The escalating demand for energy has sparked power supply concerns due to the depleting natural gas reserves.

To power a sustainable energy future, the Philippines aims to further diversify its energy mix by increasing renewable energy share to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2050.

Aligned with this goal are the efforts of Meralco, which services around 7.8 million customers—making it the largest power distributor in the country. The Manuel V. Pangilinan-led utility is relentless in securing cleaner and greener power supply to continuously meet the growing demand.

In the first quarter of the year, Meralco concluded a Competitive Selection Process for 15-year Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) covering 3,000 megawatts (MW) of baseload requirements in line with its approved Power Supply Procurement Plan.

Meralco has also entered into a 400-MW baseload interim power supply agreement, which will be effective until February 2025. The interim agreement serves as a temporary measure to ensure uninterrupted power supply while the long-term contracts are being finalized and approved.

Following this process, notices of award have been issued to the successful bidders. The resulting contracts are currently undergoing review and approval by the regulator before implementation. These developments ensure that the agreements meet the necessary standards and are in the best interest of its customers.

Meralco has also been investing heavily in the expansion and upgrading of its distribution network facilities. This includes the development of new substations as well as the upgrading of existing infrastructure to ensure that it can handle the increasing demand for electricity.

In line with their ongoing efforts to provide reliable and efficient service to its customers, as well as contribute to the development of the communities it serves, Meralco has successfully completed several projects in the first quarter of 2024.

One of the key projects successfully concluded by Meralco is the replacement of a 100 MVA Power Transformer in Taguig City. This initiative ensures a more stable electricity supply to support the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors in Taguig.

In Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Meralco installed a new 83 MVA power transformer at the Abubot Substation. This project is part of Meralco’s ongoing efforts to expand its capacity to meet the increasing power demand in rapidly growing urban areas. The new transformer will enhance the substation’s ability to deliver reliable power, thereby supporting the local economy and improving the quality of life for residents.

Another significant project was the uprating of the Pamplona-San Pedro 115 kV (kilovolt) line, which runs from Las Piñas City to San Pedro City in Laguna, accommodating higher power loads, reducing transmission losses, and ensuring a consistent supply of electricity.

BETTER SERVICE. Meralco recently energized the newly converted Malinta Substation in Valenzuela City to enhance electricity service reliability in the area.

Meralco also recently enhanced the reliability of the Malinta 115 kV Substation in Valenzuela City to prevent outages and ensure a steady power supply.

In line with government infrastructure projects, Meralco relocated a total of 299 poles to facilitate road widening initiatives by the Department of Public Works and Highways and local government units.

Meralco has also relocated 64 poles as part of the government’s Build Better More infrastructure program. This program aims to enhance the country’s infrastructure network, and Meralco’s involvement ensures that the power infrastructure is aligned with national development goals.

Ronnie L. Aperocho, Meralco’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, shared insights into the company’s recent performance, noting a significant increase in power demand across all customer segments.

“The growth in our first quarter sales volume reflects the growing demand for power from across all customer segments with the improving economic prospects,” he said.

“We remain vigilant as we work with energy industry players in implementing demand-side management programs to help lessen the strain on the power grid and continuously deliver stable and reliable service to consumers. We also continue to proactively encourage more participants to join the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), which embodies bayanihan among private sector players, as this proves to be valuable during this critical season,” Mr. Aperocho added.

Growth prospects

Meralco has been helping meet the country’s growing energy needs through its power generation arm, Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), which has been strategically investing and developing key renewable energy projects.

Through MGen Renewable Energy, Inc. (MGreen), Meralco has made substantial investments in numerous renewable energy projects nationwide, such as solar farms in Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, and Rizal.

One of MGreen’s most notable projects is Terra Solar Philippines, Inc., which involves a 3.5-GWp solar power plant with a 4,500-MWhr battery energy storage system. The project is expected to be one of the world’s largest single-site solar farms in the Philippines.

To further grow its renewable energy portfolio, MGreen has started construction on two new solar plants: Greentech Solar Energy, Inc.’s 18.75 MWac solar plant in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija, and Greenergy for Global, Inc.’s 49 MWac solar farm in Cordon, Isabela. Both projects are scheduled to start commercial operations in the first quarter of 2025.

In addition to its renewable energy projects, Meralco is also investing in gas-fired power plants and liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and regasification terminal. The company has signed an agreement to acquire an attributable 40.2% interest in the country’s first and most expansive integrated LNG facility in Batangas. The facility includes two gas-fired power plants: the 1,278 MW Ilijan power plant and a new 1,320 MW combined cycle power facility, which is expected to start operations by the end of 2024. The transaction is subject to the customary review and approval of the Philippine Competition Commission.

In January, MGreen acquired additional shares in SPNEC, raising its stake to 53.7% from 50.5%. The company has invested a total of P18.4 billion in SPNEC. The issuance of the Notice-to-Proceed for the construction of the initial 2.5-GWp of the Terra Solar Philippines project is targeted before the end of 2024.

Mr. Pangilinan, Meralco’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said the company’s dedication to supporting the Philippines’ economic development while enhancing the quality of life for its citizens.

“Our growth prospects go beyond creating value for our shareholders. The opportunities we are pursuing are always anchored on the commitment to support economic development and contribute to uplifting the lives and welfare of more Filipinos,” Mr. Pangilinan stated.

“As we continue to deliver stable and reliable service to our customers, we reiterate our pursuit to bring in projects of scale that will boost available generation capacity which we direly need to ensure not just the immediate, but the long-term energy security of the country,” he concluded.

 

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CAB slashes fuel surcharge for July flights

NEWSROOM.AIRASIA.COM

By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter

THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has announced it will lower the airline fuel surcharge for July, reducing airfare costs for domestic and international flights.

In an advisory on Thursday, the Civil Aeronautics Board said that it will reduce the fuel surcharge, which is added to the base fare, to Level 5 for July 1-31, down from Level 6 in June. This marks the first reduction since March.

At Level 5, the domestic passenger surcharge ranges from P151 to P542, while for international flights, the surcharge varies between P498.03 and P3,703.11.

A fuel surcharge may be collected by airlines based on movements in jet fuel prices, using a benchmark known as MOPS (Mean of Platts Singapore).

At the current Level 6, the domestic passenger surcharge ranges from P185 to P665, while the international surcharge ranges from P610.37 to P4,538.40.

“Airlines wishing to impose or collect fuel surcharges for the same period must file their applications with this office on or before the effectivity period, with fuel surcharge rates not to exceed the above-stated level,” the CAB said in the advisory.

For July, the CAB said the applicable conversion rate is P58.07 to a dollar. 

“Over the past five months, fuel surcharge remained at a high of Level 6. The reduction to Level 5 next month means that guests can now anticipate lower fees,” Steve F. Dailisan, head for communications and public affairs at AirAsia Philippines, said in a Viber message on Thursday.

AirAsia Philippines said it will continue to cushion the impact of the fuel volatility by offering its lowest fares every month with its seat sales.

GREEN FUEL USE
Further, local airlines said that despite the anticipated increase in the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), its utilization in the country will remain low.

According to a report issued by International Air Transport Association (IATA) this month, the production of SAF is expected to triple in 2024 to 1.9 billion liters.

Still, even with the projected increase in supply, the overall supply of SAF is expected to account for only 0.53% of aviation’s fuel needs,  IATA said.

“SAF will provide about 65% of the mitigation needed for airlines to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. So the expected tripling of SAF production in 2024 from 2023 is encouraging. We still have a long way to go, but the direction of exponential increases is starting to come into focus,” IATA Director-General William M. Walsh said in an IATA report dated June 2. 

IATA said that increasing the production of renewable fuel, which is shared by many industries, will help accelerate the production of SAF.

It said that about 140 renewable fuel projects with the capability to produce SAF are already in the pipeline for production by the end of the decade.

If realized, the total renewable fuel production capacity could reach 51 million tons by 2030, which can be distributed across almost all regions, IATA said.

In the Philippines, the Department of Energy (DoE) announced it created a committee on SAF in March, comprised of representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, and other relevant government agencies to help accelerate the utilization of green fuel in the Philippines.

A representative from the DoE’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau told BusinessWorld in a Viber message that the committee is scheduled to have its first meeting next month.

“The committee’s deliverable is the crafting of a SAF roadmap, which will serve as a guide to align  activities of relevant stakeholders towards the country’s short-, medium-, and long-term targets and objectives,” it said.

The DoE said the National Biofuel Board is set to create recommendations to the Energy department for the issuance of guidelines and policies to fast-track the SAF developments in the country.

In March, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said that the Philippines secured a commitment from Airbus, an aerospace company, to collaborate with the Transportation department on sourcing energy from landfills for biofuels and its eventual use in the aviation sector.

SAF can help reduce emissions from air transportation, being made from nonpetroleum feedstock like agricultural waste and used vegetable oil.

The International Air Transport Association has estimated that SAF will contribute around 65% of the reduction in carbon emissions needed by the aviation sector to reach net zero by 2050.

“We think the SAF industry is still in its infancy and needs to scale up to meet aviation demand for lower-carbon fuels. What we also are looking forward to is the availability of the SAF supply in the airports where we fly to. Availability is one driver for us to be able to utilize SAF,” budget carrier Cebu Pacific said in a Viber message. 

Even with the tripling of the green fuel output production, the supply is very limited, Cebu Pacific said, adding that the projected SAF supply is still less than 1% of the aviation industry’s total fuel requirement.

“We naturally anticipate that economics will work — increases in supply lead to a reduction in costs. However, aviation industry experts do not anticipate that SAF price will match jet fuel price anytime soon,” it said.

Further, for flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), it said it had already lined up potential SAF and Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) certified suppliers. 

CORSIA permits airlines to utilize SAF made from biomass or waste to lessen their carbon offsetting obligations.

“We look forward to the availability of these products to enable us to make firm orders and we need the SAF to be CORSIA Certified in order to qualify in reducing our carbon footprint,” PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Stanley K. Ng said in a Viber message. 

For now, PAL’s sustainability plans remain, which is to operate SAF-powered flights to Singapore by 2026, Mr. Ng said.

Currently, PAL has no SAF-powered flights yet but the company is targeting to have at least 1% SAF blend for its Singapore flights by 2026.

This is in line with the Singapore government’s requirement that flights departing from its airport must  use at least 1% SAF by 2026

“We believe incentives combined with mandates will accelerate the take up of SAF, there is interest now,” Mr. Ng said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia-based airline group Capital A Berhad, operating as AirAsia said part of its net zero target is to use SAF across the whole group which includes its operations in the Philippines starting next year.

“All AirAsia Philippines aircraft are certified to use SAF blended up to 50% with jet fuel. However,  it currently does not operate SAF powered flights due to high cost and supply availability limitations,” AirAsia Philippines’ Mr. Dailisan said in an e-mail.

The airline’s target for SAF utilization is to achieve a blend of at least 2% or 40.62 tons by 2025, increasing to a maximum of 70% or 1.9 million tons by 2050.

Screenwriter, director Armando ‘Bing’ Lao, 75

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SCREENWRITER, director, and film lecturer Armando “Bing” Lao died on Tuesday, June 18 at the age of 75. The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) confirmed his passing via social media.

“Today, we mourn the passing of the award-winning screenwriter and director, Armando ‘Bing’ Lao,” CCP’s Film, Broadcast and New Media Division said in a post. Though no details were given, his passing at the Philippine Heart Center was described as “peaceful.”

“He pioneered the Found Story school of filmmaking, a scriptwriting approach that he believed best captures the essence of Filipino reality by drawing inspiration from real-life objects and phenomena,” the CCP continued.

Mr. Lao mentored over 40 workshop batches in his Found Story school, guiding storytellers to create films that resonate with audiences. Many of his own screenplays garnered awards, like Itanong Mo sa Buwan, directed by Chito Roño, which won the Gawad Urian Best Screenplay award in 1989, and Tuhog, directed by Jeffrey Jeturian, which took the Gawad Urian Best Screenplay award in 2001, among others.

He also received international attention, writing the screenplays of Brillante Mendoza’s films Serbis (2008) and Kinatay (2009), which made waves at the Cannes Film Festival.

Filipino movies where he served as creative consultant include Masahista (2005), Thy Womb (2012),  Taklub (2015), Pamilya Ordinaryo (2016), Ma’Rosa (2016), and John Denver Trending (2019).

Mr. Lao also directed his own films: Biyaheng Lupa (2009), Ad Ignorantiam (2012), and Dukit (2013). The CCP said that “his depiction of Filipino culture and experiences has helped promote the nation’s heritage through film, serving as a cultural archive for future generations.”

In honor of his legacy, the Film Development Council of the Philippines conferred on him a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Parangal ng Sining. Despite being partially paralyzed from a stroke in 2022, he accepted the award in person.

Actor Coco Martin, who starred in many of Brillante Mendoza’s films, credited Mr. Lao’s guidance in shaping his career.

“Hinding hindi ko makakalimutan ang lahat ng aral at gabay na ibinahagi mo sa akin. Isa pong malaking karangalan na makilala ka at maging bahagi ng iyong mga dekalibreng obra (I will never forget all the lessons and teachings you shared with me. It is a great honor to have been a part of your masterful works),” Mr. Martin said in a Facebook post.

The University of the Philippines Film Institute, where Mr. Lao had taught as a lecturer, posted their own tribute.

“His contributions to Philippine cinema, especially as one of the pillars of the Philippine New Wave, are immeasurable. Bing’s dedication to nurturing young talent and pushing creative boundaries has left an indelible mark on our institution and the wider film industry,” the school said.

Mr. Lao’s wake is ongoing at the Arlington Memorial Chapels, Araneta Ave., Quezon City. Cremation will take place on June 22 at 8 a.m. — Brontë H. Lacsamana

Blueleaf Energy says $1.5-B investment planned for Laguna solar projects

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Pixabay from Pexels

RENEWABLE ENERGY company Blueleaf Energy Philippines said around $1.5 billion (P88.27 billion) will be allocated for the development of its 1,550-megawatt (MW) floating solar portfolio in Laguna by 2026.

“I think we’re looking at an overall investment for these projects of around $1.5 billion,” Blueleaf Energy Philippines Investment Director and Country Head Christopher Rainier O. Chua told reporters on Thursday.

The energy company is working with solar energy company SunAsia Energy, Inc. to develop a 1,300-MW floating solar facility in Laguna Lake.

“[It is] the first large-scale floating solar. We’re putting on our collective hats and efforts to try to optimize the cost. That’s part of our objective. We want to demonstrate the best LCoE (levelized cost of electricity) for this technology,” Mr. Chua said.

Last year, Laguna Lake Development Authority and the companies signed a renewable energy contract area utilization agreement for the 10 blocks of hundred hectares each in Laguna Lake.

The floating solar project is scheduled for construction and operations by 2025 and 2026, respectively. It will span the towns of Cabuyao, Sta. Rosa, Calamba, Victoria, and Bay.

It has been awarded a “green lane” status by the Board of Investments in July 2023. The green lane aims to expedite, streamline, and automate government processes for this kind of investments.

Blueleaf is also building a 250-MW floating solar project in Caliraya and Lumot Lakes in Laguna with NKS Energy Utilities, Inc.

The project is targeted for construction by the fourth quarter and scheduled to come online by the first quarter of 2026.

The floating solar project with NKS is also among the projects awarded green lane.

“Like in any other power project, we’re looking into project financing. So it’s going to be like long-term loans from banks and equity portion of it is something that basically we, as the investor, will be covering,” Mr. Chua said.

Unlike ground-mounted solar, floating solar technologies require less land preparation, and increase photovoltaic efficiency due to the cooling effect of water, the company said.

“With the adoption of floating solar, more land can be allocated for other productive uses. For NKS Solar One, we are utilizing current reservoir such as Caliraya and Lumot man-made lakes which are purposely created for power generation,” Blueleaf Philippines Head of Projects Rafael B. Macabiog said.

Blueleaf is a portfolio company of Australia-based Macquarie Capital “operating on a stand-alone basis.” It specializes on onshore renewable energy business that develops and operates utility-scale solar projects. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Bridging the power gap in PHL’s unserved and underserved markets

Photo from Wirestock on Freepik

As a consequence of the rise of technology and present-day infrastructure, power has become necessary in modern society. Reliable electricity supports the backbone of society as we know it, powering schools, hospitals, and communication systems while allowing businesses and industries to operate efficiently. Lighting, heating, and cooling are just some of the basic ways access to power enhances people’s lives. With the advent of innovations, the utility is crucial for education, information access, and overall well-being as well.

Access to electricity is essential for societies to grow and improve the quality of life for their people because, without a stable power supply, communities face significant barriers to development and resilience.

Figures from the Department of Energy (DoE) show only 91.1% or 25.3 million out of 27.727 million Filipino households have access to electricity. This means that almost 3.677 million households in the country still live off-grid despite having an urbanization rate of 50%. The DoE also noted that 1.285 million of 3.677 million households that need electricity are in the off-grid areas, which include “those residing in the main grid but are very difficult to reach through regular connection and require alternative solutions.”

Looking at the country’s electrification rates by region emphasizes that only two out of the 17 regions, the National Capital Region (NCR) and Caraga Administrative Region, have achieved full electrification, where every household has access to electricity. While most of Luzon and Visayas have high electrification rates of more than 90%, four out of six Mindanao regions are still lagging with more than 10% of their households still living off-grid.

Perhaps the most alarming among these regions is the Bangsamoro Administrative Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where fewer than 45% of their households have access to power. Data from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) shows that only 282,330 households out of 703,499 potential connections in Mindanao have been electrified, highlighting the substantial gap that remains in achieving universal access to electricity on the island.

“It’s a big challenge for us in NEA. It’s a big challenge for the 121 electric cooperatives (ECs). But I always tell my colleagues in NEA and the electric cooperatives that: the challenge is accepted. We will do this and one of the areas of concern, really, is in the island of Mindanao,” NEA Administrator Antonio M. Almeda said in a statement.

Several factors can be attributed to the inaccessibility of electricity in the Philippines, but the country’s insufficient infrastructure and geography remain significant impediments to electrification, particularly in remote and isolated areas.

Ensuring sufficient and affordable access to electricity, especially in far-flung areas, is consistently one of the flagship programs of the government. Last year, the DoE launched the National Total Electrification Roadmap (NTER) which aims to achieve 100% electrification in the country by 2028.

Under Republic Act  No. 11646 otherwise known as “The Act of Promoting the Use of Microgrid Systems to Accelerate the Total Electrification of Unserved and Underserved Areas Nationwide” or the “Microgrid Systems Act,” the DoE is set to address the Philippines’ energy crisis in far-flung areas through four strategies namely: household electrification — regular connection, distribution line extension, stand-alone home system (SAHS), and microgrid system.

Microgrids are self-sufficient energy systems utilized within a localized group of users such as schools, hospitals, malls, and even in rural communities. These systems produce their power usually through sustainable means like solar panels, wind turbines, and combined heat and power generators with some having energy storage capacities from batteries.

Recently, the government awarded a contract to the Maharlika Consortium, consisting of Manila-based Maharlika Clean Power Holding, joint venture firm CleanGrid Partners, and Singapore-based renewable energy company WEnergy Global PTE Ltd., to provide electricity services in eight unserved areas in Cebu, Quezon, and Palawan.

The consortium plans to utilize a hybrid microgrid system composed of solar photovoltaic, energy storage systems, and diesel gensets in the province to provide 24/7 electricity services in no later than 18 months.

Meanwhile, the Integration of Productive Uses of Renewable Energy (I-PURE) program implemented by the NEA, DoE, and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and funded by the European Union (EU) through its Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (ASEP) can provide a solution to the inaccessibility of power in Mindanao and grant additional access to sustainable electrification in the country.

The three-year project began in the second half of 2021 with primary components focusing on livelihood opportunities, sustainable energization of households, and capacity building toward the effective management of renewable energy sources.

I-PURE’s first component covered the agriculture and fishing industries in Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Tawi-Tawi, where implementing agencies and electric corporations provided solar-powered corn processing facilities, solar-powered rice millers, solar-powered coffee processing facilities, and two solar-powered water systems.

Moreover, the second component of the project energized more than 3,000 homes in Cotabato and nearly 2,200 households in Tawi-Tawi. Additionally, “component three” of the I-PURE project aimed to give capacity-building programs for people in the beneficiary communities.

The DoE’s alternative solution aimed to address the lack of power supply is by inviting firms to invest and provide electricity services to remote, unserved, and underserved areas in the country.

Through the agency’s Qualified Third Party program, private firms and local government units with the capability and willingness to comply with relevant technical, financial, and other requirements through a Competitive Bidding process can become an alternative electric service provider in certain QTP areas.

“The DoE is determined to fast-track its total electrification program for the country. We will make electricity available to all unserved and underserved households in the country, and the QTP program will help us realize our goal,” Former DoE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said in a statement.

Addressing the power crisis in the unserved and underserved markets of the Philippines is a herculean task that seeks to overcome the many challenges posed by the country’s geography and infrastructure. Initiatives such as the Microgrid Systems Act and programs like the I-PURE project showcase that by integrating sustainable energy solutions and enhancing infrastructure, the Philippines can pave the way for inclusive and sustainable electrification nationwide. — Jomarc Angelo M. Corpuz

This Weekend: Live music, creative talks, Pride events and more

WITH the midpoint of 2024 fast approaching and many cities in the Philippines drenched in either heat or rain, various forms of entertainment continue to provide citizens a sense of relief and a means of expression.

The music industry is booming, the arts scene is thriving, and Pride Month is reaching its peak. Here are some activities this weekend that the curious and the bored can try out.

LIVE MUSIC
Crowd-favorite original Pilipino music (OPM) artists like Ben&Ben, Kean Cipriano, and Leanne and Naara will take the stage at the Tic Tac Music Festival 2024 on June 21. Visitors can enter for free to enjoy the music and get a chance to win a trip for two to the Singapore F1 Concert by buying Tic Tac products. The festival takes place at the Bonifacio Global City Ampitheatre in Taguig from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Over at Greenbelt 3 Park in Makati, the Fête de la Musique Main Stage will see artists like Shanni, Jason Dhakal, Dwata, Autotelic, Any Name’s Okay, and more performing live. The music starts at 4 p.m. and goes on until midnight. The performances are completely free to the public. This is the main event for Fête de la Musique this year.

Those who prefer intimate gigs will have a lot to choose from this weekend. On June 22, Kashmir Live in Poblacion, Makati will feature artist Chela and the Iloilo bands Pulsing Chunky and The Queens, among others, starting at 7 p.m. On June 23, The Astbury in Makati will see indie musicians TONEEJAY, Hairgum, and I Belong to the Zoo performing from 5 p.m. onwards. Meanwhile, folk pop artists Munimuni and Johnoy Danao will be at Jess & Pat’s in Maginhawa St., Quezon City at 6 p.m. on both June 21 and 22 for a back-to-back gig.

CREATIVE TALKS
As part of the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Pelikulaya program, which screens queer-related films for Pride Month, the talk “Kaming Mga Talyada” will explore early queer representation in film through comedy. It will be held for free on June 21, 3:45 p.m., at the Cinematheque Centre Manila at T.M. Kalaw, Manila, along with a screening of the 1962 classic film of the same name.

On June 22 at 2:30 p.m., there will be a “Sonik Soiree,” a free mini conference about sustainability in the music industry, at The Astbury in Makati. Led by Sonik Philippines and supported by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Institute, it aims to bolster international export of Filipino creativity. Topics include digital practices and getting gigs abroad.

The Peninsula Manila in Makati will hold its first ever “Art in Resonance Talk” on June 23, featuring National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera in conversation with historian and author Ambeth Ocampo regarding the social and cultural context behind his works. Priced at P3,888, the talk starts at 3 p.m. at The Conservatory of the Pen and is followed by an afternoon tea buffet (included in the fee) at The Upper Lobby of the hotel at 4 p.m.

PRIDE EVENTS
Southies won’t miss out on the fun for Pride Month, with Silang, Cavite’s SSPACE Coffee holding “Kulayan Mo Ang Awra Ko,” a whole-day event on June 21 that features bands, DJs, food pop-ups, and a trivia quiz. It opens at 10 a.m. but will last well into the night. Entry costs P700, inclusive of one beer.

Presented by the Human Rights and People Empowerment Center, the Freedom Extravaganza Film Festival will have a free screening of the Vietnamese queer film Goodbye Mother on June 21 at 7 p.m., at Harong, Mother Ignacia St., Quezon City. The film will be followed by a queer Pinoy pop culture trivia night at 9 p.m.

Rampa Club in Quezon City will present the concert The Short N’ Sweet Rise and Fall of a Midwest Brat, a free-admission performance of the music of Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Charlixcx featuring Filipino musician Stef Aranas, on June 21.

Love Laban 2 Everyone: Pride PH Festival is the main Pride event this year, set for June 22 at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. It will feature big-name celebrities and artists like Vice Ganda, Ben&Ben, BINI, Cup of Joe, Gloc-9, Juan Karlos, and Marina Summers, among many others, celebrating gay pride through their performances. It is free to the public.

After-parties on June 22 include the Resbaklaan hang-out at Commune cafe in Poblacion, Makati starting at 7 p.m.; Sunny Club PH’s Pink Pony Club, a Chappell Roan night for queer women only, at The Odd Seoul in Quezon City starting at 8:30 p.m.; the official Love Laban After Party with the Divine Divas at Rampa Club in Quezon City starting at 9 p.m.; and the Life, Love, and Liberty after-party at Loft Cafe in Burgos Circle, Taguig, starting at 10 p.m.

Reality show The Final Pitch finds new home, reveals new judges

THE FINAL PITCH, a business reality show created by John S. Aguilar and Monica Hipolito-Aguilar, will air its 10th season on OneNews on Cignal TV. The forthcoming edition of the program will be launched as the maiden season, with The Final Pitch: Philippines as its new name.

It will also be aired on GMA Life TV, GMA International’s overseas subscription channel.

The show is accepting entries from Philippine-based startups or individuals with ideas for new ventures until June 21.

Mr. Aguilar — who describes The Final Pitch: Philippines as Shark Tank, The Apprentice, and The Voice combined — said the next season “is the first season of a rebrand in light of our expansion to more territories around the globe.”

When CNN Philippines, where the show aired previously, closed, he said during the June 19 media launch, “we thought that was a big blow for us, but then two network partners opened up… It’s really been a blessing.”

The 10th season’s panel of investor-judges includes Su Le, an angel investor based in the United Arab Emirates; Abdul Paravengal, managing director of venture builder Pulse 63 Healthcare Ventures; Glenda Dela Cruz, founder of the skincare brand Brilliant Skin; and guest judge Rosemarie Bosch Ong, chief operating officer and senior executive vice-president of Wilcon Depot.

Entrepreneurs can pitch via the build, co-build, and rebuild models, according to Mr. Paravengal.

“Build is when you can run a business but don’t have an idea how… so you [start] from scratch. Co-build is when you started off already but think you can do better with institutional support, [whereas] rebuild is when we help revive your business,” he said.

Pulse 63 Healthcare prefers founders who are receptive to feedback and can stay the course, he said, adding, “We don’t like people who give up quickly.”

“While I am open to exploring other sectors, my primary interest lies within my sector,” Ms. Ong said at the same event.

The home improvement sector is large, and Ms. Ong said the work-from-home and home-business trends that emerged from the pandemic only served to expand its growth.

“It’s everybody’s aspiration to improve their spaces,” she told the media launch’s attendees. “I also want to see entrepreneurs in the lens of sustainability — not just in terms of climate change but in longevity of business.”

The judges were selected mostly through referrals and were aggregated in a way that “allows us to have a wide scope and breadth of the industries we can support,” according to Mr. Aguilar.

While the show is aware of the Securities and Exchange Commission challenges of Joseph H. Calata and Mica F. Tan, who served as judges on the show’s 2017 launch, Mr. Aguilar said they could not comment on the legal issues of the former judges.

The show is transparent in its dealings with all parties, he added.

“All I can say is we remain steadfast and focused on our mission, which has always been to help support entrepreneurs,” he said.

Interested applicants for the show may apply at www.thefinalpitch.ph/application. — Patricia Mirasol

Suntrust Resort board OKs $17-M loan for hotel project

LISTED Suntrust Resort Holdings, Inc. is securing a $17-million (P999.26 million) loan from its parent company LET Group Holdings Ltd. for the development of its hotel and casino project in Parañaque City.

The loan was approved by Suntrust’s board of directors during a meeting on June 19 and will be used to fund project costs and construction of the Westside City integrated resort project, the listed company said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.

Under the loan agreement, the $17-million loan will be payable within ten years from the execution date. LET Group is a Hong Kong-based integrated resort operator.

Suntrust Resorts previously said that it aims to start the operations of the hotel and casino establishment in the first quarter of 2025.

“As at March 31, the construction of structural work and major façade systems up to roof level have been completed,” the company said.

“The major mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment have been delivered to construction site and are undergoing installation. Architectural builders and fit-out works, and external civil works are in progress,” it added.

The hotel and casino project will feature 475 rooms and suites. Its amenities include a pool deck, spa, wellness center, ballroom, theaters, grand opera house, performing arts theater, and a mall.

It will also initially have 281 gaming tables, 1,126 slot machines, and 134 electronic games for both mass and VIP markets.

Meanwhile, Suntrust Resort said its board also appointed Lo Kai Bong or his duly authorized representative as the company’s authorized signatory for the loan.

The company recorded a P256.1-million net loss in the first quarter, a turnaround from the P92.58-million net income last year. Foreign exchange gain — net during the period was nil compared with the P162.08 million last year.

Suntrust Resort stocks were last traded on June 19 at 99 centavos per share. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

In Brgy. Lumiad, cold drinks and lighted streets are now a constant reality

The Sitio Electrification Program, which aims for 100% electrification in the Philippines, is one of the government’s priority programs for economic development and poverty reduction. Through Davao Light, an AboitizPower subsidiary and the country’s third largest private electric distribution utility, the unlit sitio of Barangay Lumiad, Paquibato in Davao City was fully energized last April. (Photo by Scott A. Woodward, courtesy of Davao Light)

AboitizPower’s Davao Light helps illuminate lives through sitio electrification

Vergie Sombilon, 53, owns a sari-sari store in the far-flung town of Lumiad in the Paquibato District of Davao City. Since she began operations, she was unable to sell anything cold, much less frozen, as Lumiad had no access to electricity. That is until recently.

Due to the electrification of her barangay just last April, Vergie was able to expand the goods offered by her mom-and-pop store. She has added a chest-type freezer to sell cold drinks, ice, and frozen goods, as well as an electricity-powered Piso wifi vending machine to give her patrons access to the internet.

Electricity has transformed Vergie’s humble sari-sari store to one that has a chest-type freezer and a Piso wifi vending machine.

“Sometimes, we run out of ice and I’ve found myself packing more at night for the next day’s buyers,” she shared.

In the same town, grade 10 student Res-Ann Maravillas Baticura no longer has to study using a gas lamp, which has since been replaced by a light bulb she can turn on whenever she wants.

“There’s a huge difference between studying using a [gas] lamp and studying using a lightbulb. When you use lightbulbs, the entire room lights up, and it’s safer,” she observed.

Access to learning materials through mobile phones and other gadgets has also become easier as Res-Ann’s family can now charge at home — a far cry from when they had to ask help from their neighbors who were already connected to the electrical grid.

With the capacity to use televisions, computers and printers, education has become more conducive for Res-Ann (pictured) and the students of the recently electrified Lumiad National High School.

Moreover, with an electrified and illuminated Lumiad National High School, Res-Ann and her fellow students would no longer have face-to-face classes held in the dark. They also won’t have to go through learning in a hot and humid environment, which, at its most extreme during the El Niño, forced the school to send their students home.

“It was really hard to study in our school when we didn’t have electricity, and we couldn’t even turn on the electric fan. It was very hot,” she recalled.

Meanwhile, for Barangay Captain Celso Bughao, 64, darkness in the streets meant the local government had to exert more effort in maintaining security in Lumiad. Now, with well-lit streets, communal spaces, and homes, crime is at an all-time low.

Bughao and a team of barangay police ensure the safety of Lumiad neighborhoods with evening patrols.

Last year, the Lumiad Barangay Council created a resolution asking the City Council Committee on Energy to electrify the nine remaining sitios that’s been without electricity since the 90s. The committee is in charge of endorsing requests by communities eligible for the Sitio Electrification Program, a priority project by the Philippine national government to achieve 100% electrification in the country by connecting the remaining remote areas to the electrical grid. It is considered a tool for economic development and poverty alleviation.

The city government coordinated with Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light), an AboitizPower distribution utility, to finally connect Lumiad. Since then, Lumiad has furthered its transformation from a town once scarred by insurgencies into a productive and vibrant community.

“We’re very thankful to Davao Light and the city government. It’s different now, and we’re incredibly grateful for the peace,” Bughao said.

Among Davao Light’s efforts in sitio electrification in Barangay Lumiad is the installation of streetlights to help keep the community safe during the nighttime.

The local government accelerated the Sitio Electrification Program through PEACE 911, which improved road access so that Davao Light equipment and personnel can immediately work and, once the power was up, easily address concerns.

In terms of basic social services, the barangay also offers assistance to residents looking to secure home electrification permits through a barangay certification, as well as free rides to the City Engineer’s office where the permit is obtained.

As all stakeholders continue to work together to expand and sustain the town’s energy access, the citizens of Barangay Lumiad will have more sustainable small businesses, learning-conducive classrooms, comfortable homes, and safer roads and public spaces.

“This is our small effort to help bring peace, security, and a sense of community in Barangay Lumiad,” Davao Light said.

 

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