AYALA LAND, Inc. has opened its electric vehicle (EVs) charging stations across seven cities, investing around P6 million in the project as part of its commitment to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is a milestone for us in Ayala Land. We are launching over 20 electric vehicle fast charging stations across seven cities in Luzon. This is the largest roll-out yet of EV charging stations in the country,” Ayala Land President and Chief Executive Officer Bernard Vincent O. Dy said during the launch on Thursday.

Ayala Land committed to net zero by 2050 or reducing greenhouse gas emissions possibly close to zero.

“More importantly, this initiative reinforces our commitment towards sustainable and responsible property development. This is in keeping with the company’s thrust and long-term commitment towards carbon neutrality and alignment with the global directive to shift to more EVs,” Mr. Dy said.

The charging stations will be available in Ayala Land estates including One Ayala, which will have a 60-kilowatt (KW) direct current (DC) hub, Nuvali Laguna with 22-KW DC, and Vertis North with 22-KW DC.

All of the hubs located in the company’s estates will be operating from seven in the morning to nine in the evening from Monday to Saturday.

The hubs are also available in Ayala Land offices including Tower 2 in Ayala Triangle with a 22-KW alternating current (AC) hub, Solaris One with 22-KW AC, and Baguio Technohub with 22-KW AC.

Tower 2 hub will operate daily from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m, Solaris One will operate 24 hours on weekdays and from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekends, and Baguio Technohub will operate daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Ayala Land’s Seda Hotel in Bonifacio Global City will also have a charging hub with a 22-KW AC station open 24/7.

The charging hubs are also up and running in the parking lots of its malls – Greenbelt Makati, Glorietta Makati, Alabang Town Center and Trinoma – which will be open during mall hours.

According to Marc V. Magbitang, technical manager of Ayala Corp. wholly owned subsidiary Ayala Property Management Corp., the investment of the company to the first phase of the installation is around P6 million.

Meanwhile, the company is set to finish the first phase of its EV charging hub installations through the completion of the ones in Vermosa Cavite, Circuit Makati and Laguna Technopark before the year ends.

“As of now it’s free, since what we want is to promote the EV ecosystem our top management wants to give it for free,” Mr. Magbitang said, talking about the charging rates of the hubs.

The charging equipment was manufactured by Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI), the electronics subsidiary of Ayala Corp. It was designed by IMI’s foreign partner. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

RFM Corp. registered an attributable net income of P256 million in the third quarter, up by 1.6% from P252 million last year, after booking higher revenues.

The company’s topline reached P4.94 billion in the quarter, climbing 15.4% from the P4.28 billion recorded revenues a year ago.

“All segments contributed to the growth with the improvement in selling prices and some in combination with higher volume,” the company said in its quarterly financial report on Thursday.

During the quarter, the company’s gross profit amounted to P1.59 billion from P1.57 billion last year.

RFM’s direct costs and expenses were higher by 23.9% at P3.36 billion in the three months that ended September, from P2.71 billion in the previous year.

The company’s selling and marketing expenses climbed by 3.1% to P993 million, while its general expenses added 20.4% to P235 million.

In the nine months through September, the company’s attributable net income totaled P944 million, a 0.4% jump from P940 million a year ago.

Its topline grew to P13.41 billion during the three quarters, a 16.5% climb from P11.51 billion in the previous year. It also pushed higher RFM’s year-to-date net income.

“[The revenue] is equivalent to a 17% growth over its revenues posted in the same period last year,” the company said.

Year-to-date direct costs and expenses were recorded higher at P8.92 billion, a 23.5% climb from P7.22 billion last year.

RFM is a manufacturer of wheat, flour and flour products, pasta, milk, juices, and margarine, among others.

On the stock market on Thursday, shares in RFM climbed by four centavos or 1.06% to P3.80 apiece. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

CENTURY Properties Group, Inc. has launched its Century NULIV brand with a low-density townhouse project behind its Acqua Private Residences in Mandaluyong City.

The townvillas at Acqua will be the maiden project under Century NULIV and will feature 22 multi-storey houses and lots.

“The last two years gave Century an opportunity to rediscover the real estate market, which revealed changing preferences for home buyers. Specifically, clients have clamored for more space – both indoors and outdoors,” the company said in a disclosure.

“As the company is focused on growing, but at the same time aware of the macro-economic backdrop, it will develop lower building height developments, which carries less risk on a per project basis,” it added.

Marco R. Antonio, Century Properties’ president and chief executive officer, said the historical roots of the company focused on high-rise condominiums and new product offerings will be faster to develop.

The Century NULIV villas at Acqua features two types of homes: the 227-square-meter (sq.m.) Rhine and the 312-sq.m. Seine.

The development will offer six units of the three-floor high Rhine and 16 units of the four-storey Seine. The units’ prices will range from P40 million to P60 million.

“Each unit will be delivered standard bare and completed with premium finishes to make it easier for homeowners to turn it into the home they’ve always wanted,” the company said.

It added that as soon as Century Properties completes its regulatory requirements, the project will be available for sale.

The company plans to bring the new brand outside the metro through the project development launch in Azure North in San Fernando, Pampanga. — Justine Irish D. Tabile