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SMEC tapped for viability of CLLEX’s 2nd phase

AUSTRALIA-based professional services engineering company SMEC said it will be working with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to establish the viability of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Phase II, which will link Cabanatuan City to San Jose City in Nueva Ecija.

“SMEC has been appointed by the Philippines’ [DPWH] to carry out transaction advisory services for the CLLEX Phase II,” the global engineering, management and development consulting company said in a statement.

The current administration has identified CLLEX Phase II as one of its priority public-private partnership projects for implementation.

SMEC said the main objective of its services for CLLEX Phase II is to help the DPWH establish the technical, economic, traffic, environmental, social, and financial viability of the expressway project, including the preparation of preliminary engineering designs and project reports.

“This will include a review of the impact of recent developments (on) road construction activities and recommend the most viable PPP scheme for CLLEX, taking into account the potential for future extensions of the project,” it added.

According to the DPWH, the estimated construction cost for the project is P9.19 billion, while the cost to acquire the right of way is P49.32 million.

“A kick-off meeting was conducted on July 13 together with the representatives from the consultant,” the department said on its website.

The project is a four-lane 35.7-kilometer extension of the existing CLLEX Phase I (Tarlac to Cabanatuan City).

“The project will pass through the municipalities of Talavera and Llanera in Nueva Ecija and will provide a free-flowing alternative route decongesting traffic along the Pan Philippine Highway between said cities of Nueva Ecija and Tarlac Province,” the DPWH said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Artefino bazaar is a celebration of the local

Las Flores De Filipinas Fan by Casa Mercedes x Reena Gabriel — TESOROS.PH

ARTEFINO, the celebration of all things Filipino and artisanal, returns to Rockwell after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a weekly rotating schedule that lasts until Sept. 26, small Filipino businesses will show their rare finds at the first level of the Power Plant Mall in Makati. We found a few shops that piqued our interest during our visit last week.

CASA MERCEDES
Touted on their Instagram as the “oldest fan maker in the Philippines,” Casa Mercedes is operated by executive Monchet Diokno Olives. Their claim to fame is making fans to match the outfits of first ladies, as well as making a fan for Queen Sofia of Spain. During BusinessWorld’s visit, Mr. Olives showed us his new line, a collaboration with artist Reena Gabriel, showing a toile de Jouy-patterned fans, as well as a wooden fan edged with a print of waling-waling (Vanda sanderiana) orchids. His own line presents fans shaped like petals showing fruits, and a fishtail fan with a black and white print showcasing the patterns in artful pastillas wrappers. To view more fans, visit @casamercedesph on Instagram or the Tesoro’s website at tesoros.ph.

DAILY BAR
The Daily Bar provides summer essentials you couldn’t have thought of before. There’s the Aloe Vera After Sun Spray and a moisturizing Coconut Pili Body Oil. Insect bites and such can be covered by the fragrant Rescue Balm. To wrap it all up, one should get the waffle-weave towels, or the surprisingly city-appropriate beach ponchos, all made with 100% cotton by a handweaving community in Negros Occidental. Follow @daily.bar on Instagram to order.

SUSTAINABLYMADE BY MARSSE
We’ve fantasized about owning furniture made with wood struck by lightning. Haven’t you? The wood farm from Pangasinan makes a compromise by “electrocuting” the wood with the Lichtenberg method. The results are bowls, stump pedestals (in mahogany), and serving boards (in teak) with interesting charred snowflake patterns on the wood, unique on each piece due to the flow of electricity passing differently through each piece of wood. Check them out at sustainably-made.com.

FARAH ABU
When we think about the iridescent beauty at the back of mussel shells, it’s almost crazy how we just throw it away after a meal. Not as crazy as the idea by accessories designer Farah Abu, who saw how beautiful the shells were after making baked tahong for dinner. Inspired by her mother’s Tausug jewelry, she had the shells polished, dyed, laminated, and polished again. The result is a line of earrings with the shells dangling below. Other interesting products include translucent shell earrings carved to look like santan flowers, formed into similar clumps and mounted on springs, to make them seem as if they were moving. Visit @farah_abu to see more.

Toyota is 2nd among top Batangas Port revenue contributors

The Toyota Motor Philippines Batangas Vehicle Center — PHOTO FROM TOYOTA MOTOR PHILIPPINES

TOYOTA MOTOR Philippines Corporation (TMP) was recently recognized as the second top importer by the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Batangas (POB) from the period of January to July 2022.

The country’s largest automotive and mobility company remitted to the government a total of P16.46 billion in the form of duties and taxes. The amount is the second highest collected by the POB, contributing to the port’s higher revenue performance versus the same period last year.

TMP works with the POB for the importation of automotive products including various Toyota and Lexus vehicle models, multi-sourced parts for production, and service parts from the Asia Pacific region.

Moreover, the POB serves as a major gateway for TMP’s distribution of automotive products to Toyota dealerships in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

At the 32-hectare TMP Batangas Vehicle Center (BVC), TMP processes completely built-up units (CBUs) arriving from the nearby POB at a higher capacity and level of efficiency. 

TMP First Vice-president for Vehicle Logistics Aimee Josephine Lopez said the BOC has always been crucial in supporting the local automotive industry and TMP in its commitment to deliver quality products and services to Toyota customers. “Process automation initiatives as well as the highly reliable port personnel continue to support Toyota’s operations through efficient customs processing and timely release of shipments.”

The BOC-POB celebrated its 65th founding year last August through an anniversary event where top locators and exporters were recognized for their support to the Port’s programs and activities.

RLC listing signals debt market’s recovery — PDEx

PHILIPPINE Dealing & Exchange Corp. (PDEx) said that the return of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) to the securities market signals recovering confidence in debt issuances.

“It can only be good when an old conglomerate, a veteran in crisis, comes to the debt market. As it again signals the continuing march forward to recovery despite challenging circumstances,” PDEx President and Chief Executive Officer Antonino A. Nakpil said during the listing ceremony of RLC last week.

RLC reported that its P15-billion fixed-rate peso-denominated series E and series F bond listing gathered P120 billion in total bids, 12 times of the listing’s base amount.

“As of today, the primary market activity for just eight months into the year has already pushed new listings to P371 billion. That’s a stone’s throw away from the record of P387 billion back in 2020,” Mr. Nakpil said.

PDEx reported during the event that RLC’s listing brought the year-to-date total new listings to P371.12 billion. The total level of tradable corporate debt instruments is now at P1.34 trillion issued by 54 companies.

“Indeed, that is a vote of confidence by [RLC’s] fundholders that any issuer would want to hear and is a continuing evidence of the funding power of domestic investors,” Mr. Nakpil added.

On Friday, RLC successfully listed the initial tranche of its maiden P30-billion debt securities program under the shelf-registration process of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“The overwhelming market reception fronted us to fully exercise our authorized subscription allotment of P5 billion and despite a high inflationary environment, the robust investor demand allowed us to price at the lowest end of the marketing range,” said RLC President and Chief Executive Officer Frederick D. Go.

Mr. Go said that 65% of the proceeds will be used for the expansion of RLC’s various businesses while the remaining 35% will be used to pay maturing debts.

The three-year bonds will carry a coupon of 5.3789% per annum while the 50-year bonds will carry 5.9362% per annum.

RLC engaged BDO Capital & Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., and SB Capital Investment Corp. as joint issue managers, lead underwriters, and book-runners for the transaction.

The company’s selling agents are East West Banking Corp., PNB Capital And Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp., and Robinsons Bank Corp.

On the stock market on Friday, RLC shares declined by 0.10% or P0.02 to P19.20 each. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

The Pen’s wedding fair returns

AFTER a gap brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, The Peninsula Manila is bringing back its wedding fair on the first weekend of September. The 2022 edition will bring together participants who offer a varied array of services and merchandise while introducing elements that signal the event’s emergence into a new normal.

On Sept. 3 to 4, the hotel will hold “Weddings at The Peninsula and More,” which also marks the 46th year since the hotel hosted its first wedding reception.

The hotel is partnering with industry leaders Rita Neri Event Planners (RNEP) and Manila Fashion Festival (MFF), in addition to other leaders from the Philippine wedding and events industry, for an event that will give attendees the chance to peruse a range of wedding and celebratory essentials — from bridal finery to tabletop decorations, cakes and bouquets to honeymoon and holiday destinations, and many more.

“Weddings at The Peninsula and More” will take place on the first Saturday and Sunday of September, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A highlight of the wedding fair will be a series of fashion shows, Manila Fashion Festival Bridal Collection, on Sept. 3.

The Lobby will be garlanded with masses of flowers, created by floral artist Zenas Pineda. The Upper Lobby will be transformed into a pop-up space offering a showcase of jewelry from Mel Diamonds; bespoke shoes from Jimmy Choo and Shoepatos; lifestyle selections from West Elm; makeup artists from Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, and Jo Malone; holiday and honeymoon destinations from the Peninsula Hotels in Asia, the US, and Europe to those in Punta Fuego, Tagaytay, and El Nido; tablescapes by Beng Villanueva and Teddy Manuel; and the bridal collections by the designers of the Manila Fashion Festival.

The Conservatory will feature a selected gathering of some of the country’s most exclusive wedding and party suppliers and stylists, like Jo Claravall, Jason Magbanua, Dave Sandoval, RJ Ledesma, Cake Concept, and dozens more.

The highlight of the wedding fair will be the first-ever Manila Fashion Festival Bridal Collection at The Lobby, a series of fashion parades of bridal wear by Filipino designers Banggo Niu, Steph Tan, Jun Escario, and Vin Orias.  The collections of Banggo Niu and Vin Orias will be shown at 2 p.m., those of Steph Tan and Vin Orias at 4 p.m., and those of Jun Escario and Vin Orias at 6 p.m.

“‘The Weddings at The Peninsula and More’ brand is known to be one of the most beautiful bridal fairs in the Philippines” said Masahisa Oba, General Manager of The Peninsula Manila, in a statement.

For inquiries regarding Weddings at The Peninsula 2022, call +63 (2) 887 2888, extension 6579 and 6573 (Wedding Sales), e-mail jonnayeh@peninsula.com or marizsison@peninsula.com or visit peninsula.com.

Honda Civic, HR-V net 24kpl, 29kpl in fuel eco run

IMAGE FROM HONDA CARS PHILIPPINES

HONDA CARS Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) has just released the official fuel mileage figures of the all-new Civic and the all-new HR-V – realized in a fuel economy run conducted in partnership with the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP).

The Civic RS Turbo CVT Honda Sensing registered a fuel mileage of 21.43 kilometers per liter (kpl). Meanwhile, the HR-V V Turbo CVT Honda Sensing did 24.34kpl, and the S CVT Honda Sensing recorded the highest fuel efficiency rating of 29.66kpl. These numbers were gleaned after 129 kilometers of highway driving with speeds of 60 to 80kph at 1,500-2,000 rpm. Air-conditioning was set to 24°C, and the lowest fan speed.

The Civic and HR-V V Turbo are powered by 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC Turbo engines that provide a balance of performance and fuel efficiency. In the Civic, this engine produces 178ps and 240Nm of torque; in the HR-V V Turbo it delivers 177ps and 240Nm. The non-turbo HR-V S variant produces 121ps and 145Nm. All models are equipped with a continuous variable transmission (CVT) that helps maximize fuel efficiency for a refined driving experience.

Said HCPI President Masahiko Nakamura, “With fluctuating fuel prices, we understand how important fuel efficiency is to vehicle owners. Through this eco run, we are not only demonstrating that Honda vehicles are fuel efficient in local conditions, we also want to encourage customers that they too can have excellent fuel mileage. It does help to have safe driving habits and to observe the periodic maintenance service, especially combined with advanced technology features like the Honda Sensing.”

Honda globally targets the 100% electrification of its automobiles by 2040 and carbon neutrality for products and corporate activities by 2050. In the area of safety, Honda aims for zero collision fatalities from the use of all its products by 2050.  For more information, visit www.hondaphil.com or any of the 37 authorized Honda Cars dealerships nationwide.

SMPC studies solar, LNG as energy sources

SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) is studying solar and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as possible energy sources, its top official said last week.

SMPC President and Chief Operating Officer Maria Cristina C. Gotianun told BusinessWorld through email on Wednesday that the company is at the preliminary stage of studying LNG and solar.

On Aug. 16, Isidro A. Consunji, chairman and chief executive officer of SMPC, said in a virtual press briefing that the company is planning to diversify into renewable energy (RE) sources.

Ms. Gotianun said that initially, SMPC was looking at a number of RE sources such as run-of-river hydroelectricity, biomass, and wind.

“[U]nfortunately, after careful review, none of these met our technical and investment criteria,” she said.

Ms. Gotianun cited issues related to peace and order, fuel sufficiency, resource reliability, land availability, and grid connectivity as the reasons for looking at LNG and solar, instead of the company’s first proposals.

Data from the natural gas division of the Department of Energy (DoE) showed that there are six proposed LNG terminal projects in the Philippines.

These projects include the separate floating storage regasification units of Excelerate Energy L.P., Shell Energy Philippines, Inc., Vires Energy Corp. and First Gen Corp. Atlantic Gulf & Pacific International Holdings Pte. Ltd. proposed a floating storage unit and onshore regasification.

Further, Marissa P. Cerezo, director of DoE’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau said in a virtual press briefing led by the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development on Saturday that the department is also looking to address the intermittency problems of variable REs.

“Intermittency is given especially for solar, and wind. Those technologies cannot generate power 24/7,” she said.

Ms. Cerezo suggested that the daytime fluctuation of solar and wind energy sources could be addressed by enhancing the weather forecasting system.

SMPC said in its disclosure on Aug. 22 that its previous plan of transferring or consolidating DMCI Mining Corp. into SMCP is on hold pending confirmation of the mineable reserves of DMCI Mining. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols’ ashes headed for solar orbit

Nichelle Nichols in Star Trek (1966) — IMDB.COM

LOS ANGELES —  The late actress Nichelle Nichols, best known as Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek, will become the latest member of the 1960s television series to be memorialized by having some of her earthly remains flown into space.

Ms. Nichols, who died on July 30 at age 89, is credited with helping shatter racial stereotypes and redefining Hollywood roles for Black actors at the height of the US Civil Rights movement, as one of the first Black women to portray an empowered character on network television.

Now she has been added to the posthumous passenger manifest of a real-life rocketship due to carry a collection of vials containing cremated ashes and DNA samples from dozens of departed space enthusiasts on a final, and eternal voyage around the sun, according to organizers of the tribute.

A date for the launch has not yet been set.

Other Star Trek cast members and executives who have had remains launched into space include James Doohan, who played the show’s chief engineer Scotty, and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberrry.

Also joining the launch will be the remains of Roddenberry’s wife, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who played nurse Christine Chapel on the series, and the renowned sci-fi visual effects artist Douglas Trumbull, whose work was featured in such films as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

The launch is organized by Celestis, Inc., a Texas-based company that has created a unique niche in the burgeoning commercial space sector by offering a measure of cosmic immortality to customers that can afford a dramatic send-off, which contracts with private rocket ventures. Celestis has not divulged the fees for this flight but lists the pricing for its memorial spaceflights on its website.

The upcoming memorial flight will be aboard a Vulcan Centaur rocket, still under development by the Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA).

Plans call for the 200-plus capsules carrying human remains and DNA for what Celestis is calling its “Enterprise Flight” to go inside the upper rocket stage that will fly on into deep space, beyond the gravitational pull of the Earth and moon and eventually enter a perpetual solar orbit, said Charles Chafer, co-founder and chief executive officer of Celestis.

“It’s a wonderful memorial for her, an eternal one,” Ms. Nichols’ son Kyle Johnson, told Reuters.

In the 1970s, Ms. Nichols was hired by NASA to help recruit more marginalized groups and women to the space agency, where she was influential in attracting such talent as the first woman US astronaut, Sally Ride, the first Black woman astronaut, Mae Jemison, and the first Black NASA chief, Charlie Bolden. — Reuters

Nescafé Mindanao project raises coffee yields by 64%

REUTERS

A PROJECT by Nestlé SA coffee brand Nescafé supporting small coffee farmers in Sultan Kudarat and Bukidnon has increased average yields by 64% and income by 45% in 2021, the company said.

“The significant increases in their yields and incomes are attributed to their adoption of an agri-enterprise approach to farm operations, which includes applying learned skills in better farm planning and budgeting, seeking financial services, money management, farm diversification through intercropping or multi-cropping, and raising livestock,” Nescafé Philippines said.

“Other factors driving their progress are improvements in coffee tree maintenance, entrepreneurial farm management techniques and regenerative agriculture practices,” it added.

The project is a long-term program that aims to increase the supply of Robusta coffee. The Robusta variant accounts for 66% of Philippine coffee production and is mostly grown in Mindanao.

The program is carried out in cooperation with German development agency Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. Since 2019, it has trained 1,500 participating farmers on developing an “agri-entrepreneurial mindset.”

The farmers’ adoption of regenerative farming practices such as agroforestry, or the use of crop cover and other vegetation, the application of organic matter and rejuvenation of coffee trees resulted in higher yields, according to a study.

“Regenerative practices are indispensable to enhancing productivity and empowering communities,” Nestlé Philippines Chairman and Chief Executive Kais Marzouki said in a statement.

“Through the (program), we are working to secure a reliable supply of quality green coffee beans, helping improve the livelihood of farmers, and contributing to the protection and revitalization of food systems for generations to come,” he added.

Regenerative agriculture enhances resource use. It is based on farming principles that rehabilitate and enhance the entire farm ecosystem by protecting and maintaining the health of the soil, espousing biodiversity, and a host of other practices that promote resiliency and the delicate balance of the environment, according to Nestlé Philippines.

“Along with the efforts of our partners and other stakeholders, the plan aims to increase the capacity of farmers for regeneration and build a future in which all our green coffee beans are sourced from farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices,” Mr. Marzouki said. 

“As we move forward in our transition to regenerative food systems, we want to encourage consumers to be more mindful of how raw materials are grown and how products are made as they make purchase decisions,” he added. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Nissan Assist opens digital avenue for customer service and more

IMAGE FROM NISSAN PHILIPPINES
IMAGE FROM NISSAN PHILIPPINES

NISSAN PHILIPPINES, INC. (NPI) has unveiled the Nissan Assist, a customer service mobile app expected to provide a “fully digital, end-to-end customer service experience for Nissan’s customers nationwide.”

Said to be part of its “digital transformation roadmap,” Nissan Assist is meant to integrate NPI, its partner dealers, and customers in an online ecosystem. The app gives customers access to everything from pre-purchase to after-sales services.

Nissan owners can make a service appointment, and even access their vehicle maintenance history. “This reduces the time spent waiting for services or appointments, and makes it easier to personally monitor work order status. Roadside Assistance is also available in case of emergencies,” said the firm in a release. “Other features also include news on model launches, sales and after-sales campaigns, dealership locators, and promo updates, making the Nissan Assist app as complete as possible.”

Even non-owners can benefit from ready information about Nissan vehicles. They can book a test drive or request a quote, and even track their order.

Explained NPI President Juan Manuel Hoyos, “With Filipinos being no stranger to digital services, we know how important it is to adapt to their fast-paced and always-online lifestyles. Nissan Assist furthers our commitment of improving the customer experience by bringing our services closer to them in just one click.”

  Nissan Assist also offers loyalty programs and exclusive deals for app owners. Users can earn and track points, and that they can use to redeem Nissan merchandise, services, and exclusive offers.

“We see digitization and electrification as two important elements that must go hand in hand, putting the customers at the heart of our business while also working toward electrified mobility,” added Hoyos. Nissan Assist is available for download on the Google Play Store for Android users, and the App Store for iOS users. For more information, visit nissan.ph.

CTA affirms ruling denying First Gen Hydro’s tax refund

CTA.JUDICIARY.GOV.PH

THE Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has affirmed its decision that denied First Gen Hydro Power Corp.’s claim for a refund worth P15.95 million allegedly representing its excess value-added tax (VAT) traced to zero-rated sales for the year 2016.

In a 24-page decision on Aug. 18 and made public on Aug. 26, the CTA full court denied the firm’s motion to present additional evidence since it should have presented the same during the trial.

“Its failure to present said evidence is its own negligent act, which the court will not reward by remanding the case,” according to the ruling written by CTA Associate Justice Marian Ivy F. Reyes-Fajardo.

“Every litigation must come to an end and parties cannot be given unbridled license to prove its case anew when its failure to do so was a product of its own negligence.”

The petitioner is a subsidiary of First Gen Corp., a listed company engaged in the power generation business.

First Gen Hydro argued that the tax court made an error in ruling its sales were not zero-rated and sought to present Bureau of Internal Revenue records and other pieces of evidence to support its claim.

The tribunal argued that the subject sales could not be considered zero-rated since they were made before the issuance of certificates of compliance (CoCs) by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Under the country’s tax code, zero-rated sales are transactions made by VAT-registered taxpayers that do not result in any output tax.

Taxpayers must also comply with invoicing requirements such as submitting a CoC issued by the ERC mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

“Petitioner (First Gen Hydro) should have argued and proved before the court in division that the foregoing determination by the commissioner of internal revenue (CIR) does not stand,” said the court.

“Petitioner not only failed to offer proof to debunk respondent’s findings, it also failed to pinpoint which of respondent’s findings were not supported by factual or legal bases.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Britney Spears makes musical comeback with Elton John duet

PHOTO FROM BRITNEYSPEARS.COM

LONDON — US singer Britney Spears made her musical comeback on Friday, releasing a duet with Elton John, in her first new material in six years and following the end of her 13-year conservatorship last year.

The 40-year old “Toxic” and “Womanizer” hitmaker has been teasing “Hold Me Closer,” a club-dance remake of John’s 1971 song “Tiny Dancer,” posting its artwork in the run-up to the release.

“Okie dokie … my first song in six years. It’s pretty damn cool that I’m singing with one of the most classic men of our time,” Ms. Spears wrote in a tweet this week.

“I’m kinda overwhelmed … it’s a big deal to me !!!”

Fans welcomed the new song, with the hashtag #WelcomeBackBritney trending on Twitter. Hours after its release, the track topped the US and UK iTunes charts.

In November, Spears, who shot to fame as a teenager with her 1998 chart-topping debut “… Baby One More Time,” was freed from a legal conservatorship that had controlled her personal life and finances for 13 years.

Her father Jamie Spears, who had sought the court-imposed arrangement in 2008, was removed as conservator in September. He has said his only goal was to help his daughter rehabilitate her career after she suffered a mental health breakdown in 2007 and that he always acted in her best interest.

In December, Ms. Spears signaled she was not yet ready to return to making music. Her last studio album was 2016’s Glory.

A press release for “Hold Me Closer,” which also has elements of Elton John’s songs “The One” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” said the two singers first met in 2014. A year later, Ms. Spears tweeted her love for “Tiny Dancer,” igniting the idea of a collaboration.

“After hearing the first cut of the single earlier this summer, Elton John knew that Britney’s instantly recognizable vocals were the perfect touch to bring the song to life,” it said.

Earlier last week, Mr. John previewed the song at a restaurant in the south of France, singing along to the delight of diners.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have had the chance to work with Britney Spears,” he said.

“She truly is an icon, one of the all-time great pop stars and she sounds amazing on this record. I love her dearly and am delighted with what we’ve created together.” —  Reuters