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Damosa Diamond Tower topped off

DAMOSA LAND INC. (DLI) topped off a new office building located within the Damosa IT Park in Davao City.

The Damosa Diamond Tower, which is expected to be completed in April, will cater to the strong demand for office space in the city.

“As Davao continues to experience a stream in investments, we see Damosa Diamond Tower as a welcome addition to its interesting skyline. As one of our biggest projects, this is truly a milestone for the company,” Ricardo “Cary” Floirendo-Lagdameo, head of DLI, was quoted as saying in a statement.

The 17-storey Damosa Diamond Tower offers 20,000 square meters of leasable space.

The building’s facade echoes the wavy lines of banana fibers — Davao’s top export. It also promotes the use of renewable energy, with custom-made exterior fins to divert heat, LED lighting and eco-friendly insulation.

“We owe it to the community to not only provide an area where they can thrive as they live, work and play, but to also create an iconic space that captures our region’s pride which is our agricultural resources and the ingenuity of Davaoeños,” Mr. Lagdameo said.

City of Dreams switches on 1.2-MW solar power system

City of Dreams Manila

CITY of Dreams Manila launched on Monday a 1.2-megawatt (MW) solar energy system at the topmost level of the luxury integrated casino-resort’s parking building, and plans to add a similar-sized installation within its property this year.

Kevin Benning, City of Dreams Manila senior vice-president and chief operating officer, described the installation as having three phases, including more solar panels on top of the Hyatt Regency tower and the pool deck.

“That was the first start, the 3,200 [solar] panels,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the facility’s formal launch.

He said the investment for the first stage was at P76 million, for a guaranteed generation capacity of almost 2,000 MW a year.

In a press release issued during the event, City of Dreams Manila placed the generation capacity to be equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of more than 7,000 typical households.

It said the renewable energy generated would reduce the carbon emissions of the resort by more than 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, which it said to be equal to more than 270 passenger cars, “or the amount of CO2 emissions sequestered from 1,500 acres (600 hectares) of trees each year.”

The project is in line with the overall sustainability plan of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd., developer and owner of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities in Asia and Europe, including City of Dreams Manila through its subsidiary Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp.

“The next phase that we’re looking at is the rest of the hotel towers as well as different open spaces that we’ve identified that get a heavy amount of sunlight throughout the day,” Mr. Benning said.

City of Dreams Manila features three luxury hotel brands: Nüwa Manila, Nobu and Hyatt Regency. It houses more than 20 restaurants and bars, and entertainment venues, including: the family entertainment center DreamPlay, the world’s first DreamWorks-themed interactive play space and The Garage, which also has food park.

Paul L. Whatnell, director of building engineering and sustainability at GHD Group Pty Ltd., said in an interview he was doing six different projects with City of Dreams Manila, “all sustainability-based here in this building.”

“We have stage two solar. We’ve just done a feasibility study for stage two, which is almost as big as this [first stage],” he said. “1.1 MW is the next stage. We cover every available space.”

He described GHD’s role as “the original consultant” to do the feasibility study for the solar rooftop system.

“We wrote the specifications for the project, organized the tender, we wrote the contract, and then worked with City of Dreams to engage Spectrum (MSpectrum Inc.) via Meralco (Manila Electric Co.),” he said.

Mr. Benning said the expansion, which will bring the total capacity to 2.3 MW, was awaiting approval.

“We’re still reviewing all of the capital investment and the numbers,” he said. “Timeline-wise, considering this took six to eight months, if we sign off on it (stage two solar) this year, it will be done this year.”

Victor S. Genuino, Spectrum president and chief executive officer, said the energy that can be produced by the first installation “is equivalent to 923,820 kilograms of carbon footprint reduction.”

He said the Meralco subsidiary was created even if it means reducing the consumption registered by the distribution utility because “customers demanded it.”

“Our customers are evolving. They are becoming more conscious of their impact to diminishing resources — and they want to do something about it,” said Mr. Genuino, who is also Meralco first vice-president and head of customer retail services and corporate communications. — Victor V. Saulon

New York surges ahead of London as world’s top financial center — survey

LONDON — New York remains the world’s top financial center, pushing London further into second place as Brexit uncertainty undermines the UK capital and Asian centers catch up, a survey from consultants Duff & Phelps said on Monday.

Britain will leave the European Union (EU) on Friday with future access to its biggest financial services customer uncertain after a business-as-usual transition period ends in December.

The Global Regulatory Outlook survey of 245 senior officials from asset management, banking and other financial firms from across the world found that New York has extended its lead over London.

It said 56% of respondents regard the US financial capital as the world’s most important money hub, up 33 percentage points over the past two years. Only 33% currently see London as the foremost global  financial  hub, down more than 20 percentage points over the last two years.

“It is difficult to avoid the suspicion that three years of uncertainty since the Brexit vote has contributed to London’s fall,” said Monique Melis, managing director at Duff & Phelps.

Both New York and London are set to lose ground over the next five years, with emerging centers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai expected to see the biggest growth, the survey showed.

Just 22% predict London would still be the major financial center in five years’ time, the survey showed. Few respondents see Paris, Frankfurt or any other European city coming close to replacing New York or London.

Respondents favored London over New York in terms of the most favorable regulatory regime for financial services in the world.

“If the Government can position the UK as having a more favorable regulatory environment and separate it from the red tape of European regulation, then we may see the UK win back its crown and attract new talent to the sector,” Melis said.

London has shown resilience since Britain voted in 2016 to leave the EU by leapfrogging New York to become the top center for trading interest rate swaps and remaining leader in currency trading. — Reuters

A great game to play

The Allliance Alive HD Remastered
PC via Stream

JAPANESE role playing games have come so far from their once-humble beginnings. The early releases struggled to gain a foothold in the West, but subsequent offerings from such franchises as Final Fantasy 7, Fire Emblem, and Dragon Quest managed to find homes in the hearts of gamers. Intellectual properties like these have reinvented the genre, however slowly, and their success underscores the core tenets of timeless examples: proper emphasis on deep stories, interesting gameplay mechanics, and immensely likable characters.

The Alliance Alive is one such example. First making its mark in 2017 as a Japan-only release on the Nintendo 3DS, Atlus USA saw fit to bring it to other regions the year after. Stripped to basics, it aimed to evoke feelings of nostalgia in gamers, with simple graphics paying homage to the finest RPGs of yore. Compared to the more complex battle systems of contemporary competitors, it focused less on flair and doubled down on the lure and allure of its interface, allowing everyone from veterans to newcomers of the genre alike to enjoy its open-world setting, its smooth combat sections, and its overarching narrative of wonder and fantasy, of struggle, loss, and heroism.

Considering The Alliance Alive’s strengths, NIS America’s decision to port over a remastered version to the Nintendo Switch, the Sony PlayStation 4, and the personal computer comes as no surprise. With an intended goal of presenting an experience that hews as closely to the original as possible, the remaster introduces the title to gamers on latest-generation platforms. They are presented with varying perspectives: from the vantage points of diverse characters, they must piece together the story of the world around them, of the daemons who rule the world, and of the humans who bear the yoke of servitude. By exploring the vast overworld and traveling from town to town, they are compelled to hone their skills in battle and prepare for the inevitable confrontation against the real enemy that hides in the shadows.

Even at a glance, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered presents itself as more than just another run-of-the-mill JRPG title. It begins with the invasion of daemons fearful of the Chaos energy in the human realm. The occupation triggers the Dark Current, which effectively separates the world’s four regions. Barely surviving the cataclysm, mankind finds itself divided and subsisting under the reign of daemonic overlords. The gameplay picks up a millennium hence, focusing on nine otherwise-disparate members of the Night Crows, a rebel force out to gain freedom for the human race. And “disparate” may be too conservative a word to describe the nine given their origins and ideologies; joining Galil, Azura, Renzo, Tiggy, Gene, and Rachel in looking after their own are daemons Vivian and Ignace and beastfolk Barbarosa.

In terms of look and feel, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered is much improved over those of the 3DS version; it sports vibrant colors, richer textures, and a much higher resolution that allow the “solid” watercolor art style of old hand Masayo Asano — who boasts of efforts in SaGa and The Legend of Zelda titles — to shine through. Certainly, it casts the narrative penned by Suikoden series creator Yoshitaka Murayama in superior light, a development that, under Masataka Matsuura’s steady direction, cannot be overemphasized.

That said, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered distinguishes itself in its gameplay. Unlike other contemporary offerings in the genre, it puts a greater emphasis on tactics and skills, with the biggest influences on combat being how comfortable characters are with their equipment. While a character may use any weapon of their choosing, the skills and attacks they use depend on their mastery over it. Anyone can use a spear, or a sword, or a staff, but the abilities they have, from devastating Area-of-Effect slashes to more precise stabs, are contingent on their familiarity and proficiency with their combat gear.

Parenthetically, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered brings much-needed depth to the battle system, requiring gamers to strategize properly and distribute their equipment judiciously according to the characters’ distinct preferences. It’s less about stat points, and more about honing skills. Alongside combat formations, this particular facet eventually shapes much of the game, with characters slowly training to become better in certain weapon types, and then unlocking more and better skills over time. It provides a unique sense of progression, and when coupled with the story’s semi-brisk pace, makes it enjoyable to run through.

For the most part, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered boasts of intuitive mechanics. At the same time, it presents challenges that tend to be easy. It likewise lacks keyboard support on the PC, forcing users to play with a controller; it’s not a huge issue per se, particularly since there is no delay in feedback, but it does limit options. Moreover, framerate issues seem to randomly pop up every now and then. Nothing earth-shaking, really, and nothing an update patch here and there can’t fix so that it runs as well as it should.

On the whole, Alliance Alive HD Remastered is a great game to play, but the relative lack of difficulty and absence of controller support can be a huge turn-off for people looking for a challenging, if fair, JRPG. Nonetheless, it earns major props for its earnest gameplay and interesting storylines. It might not be the polished AAA JRPG offering gamers invariably look for, but it’s a nice look back to the genre’s golden years, and its unique take ensures some 40-odd hours worth of enjoyment.

THE GOOD:

• Interesting story

• Unique combat mechanics

• Diverse set of characters

THE BAD

• Lack of keyboard support

• Framerate issues

• Lack of a true difficulty curve

RATING: 8.5/10

POSTSCRIPT: Little Busters!, an extremely popular visual novel originally developed by Osaka-based Key for the personal computer, is slated to make an appearance on the Nintendo Switch in April. The port will contain the original Japanese text, as well as the English translation that originally came with the Steam release in 2017. The latest iteration figures to include all the updated gameplay elements found in the PlayStation Portable and Vita releases, the additional content from the Complete Edition rerelease for the PC, and a “Busterpedia” guide to help gamers understand the Japanese cultural context of key concepts and situations.

THE LAST WORD: Speculation has Nintendo launching the Switch Pro later this year. While initially touted to run using the new NVidia Tegra X1+ chip, it is now said to employ a graphical processing unit based on custom Volta architecture. The latest rumor effectively quashes any plans for the hardware’s release in the near term. In any case, gamers shouldn’t hold their breath for significant performance improvements over currently available Switch units.

Robinsons provides relief goods to Taal evacuees

ROBINSONS Land Corp. and Robinsons Malls recently embarked on relief operations for families affected and displaced by the Taal Volcano eruption.

Through RLC’s RLove and Robinsons Malls’ The Gift of Change programs, company employees provided relief packs containing hygiene kits, canned goods, water and other basic necessities to evacuation centers in Lipa City and Tagaytay City.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Sunday lowered the Taal Volcano’s alert status to level 3 from 4, ending a two-week crisis that displaced at least a million people.

JUUL Labs to stop making flavored vaping products

JUUL Labs Inc. will stop producing and selling flavored vaping products after a recently signed law banned their production while imposing higher taxes on alcohol and electronic cigarettes.

On Wednesday last week, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11467, which increases excise taxes on alcoholic products and e-cigarettes, including vapor products, while limiting their sale to those at least 21 years old.

The measure also prohibits the manufacturing, importation, sale, distribution and advertising of flavorings in the vapor products.

“In accordance with RA 11467, JUUL Labs Philippines will no longer make Mango, Creme and Mint JUULpods available for purchase at any JUUL Labs-owned kiosks nor JUUL.ph website and will stop fulfilling retail orders for these flavors from any of its retail partners. JUUL Labs and its partners will continue selling the Virginia Tobacco flavor to those verified as over the age of 21,” the company said in a statement.

“JUUL Labs is supportive of measures that ensure vaping products reach only the adult smokers for whom they are intended and are not used by non-nicotine users, especially those who are underage,” it added.

Under the law, vapor products with salt nicotine will be imposed an excise tax of P37 per milliliter this year, which will be gradually increased until it reaches P52 in 2023. Vapor products with conventional nicotine will be taxed P45 per 10 milliliter in 2020, and increased by P5 annually until it reaches P60 in 2023.— Beatrice M. Laforga

How PSEi member stocks performed — January 27, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Monday, January 27, 2020.

 

QBex construction launch expected this year

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the construction start date for the Quezon-Bicol Expressway (QBEx) will fall sometime this year.

“Tapos na yung FS, so we’re going start this year (The feasibility study is done, so we’re going to start [with construction] this year,” Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said in Malabon City Friday on the sidelines of the inspection of NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 C3-R10 Section, when asked for an update regarding the project.

He said that project cost was “not clear” yet, but it will be funded through the general appropriations act (GAA).

According to the official website of the DPWH, its Project Preparation Division (PPD) has endorsed the project to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for approval.

NEDA will then evaluate the proposal, determine the cost and give the go signal for the QBEx project. While awaiting NEDA approval, the DPWH may start acquiring right of way.

QBEx spans some 220 kilometers from Pagbilao, Quezon to the Maharlika Highway in San Fernando, Camarines Sur, near Naga City. The DPWH said the highway hopes to bypass current roads, which pass through town centers.

In its official website, the DPWH said one of the objectives of the project is to “provide a direct and fast route between Quezon and Bicol.”

The DPWH also expects the trade of goods between the two provinces to “prosper… because travel time for trucks will be reduced.”

The department is hoping as well that the project will “be classified as a ‘Project of National Significance’ due to its function to connect Quezon and Bicol provinces which are fast-developing provinces of Southern Luzon.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Urban farming bill being readied for Senate plenary

THE Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food on Monday approved in principle a measure that will promote integrated urban agriculture and vertical farming in metropolitan areas.

“We’ll go plenary,” Senator Cynthia A. Villar, who chairs the panel, said in a briefing Monday. “We’re writing the bill based on the hearing.”

The Committee tackled Senate Bill Nos. 257, 280, 587 and 1264, which all sought to institutionalize urban agriculture and vertical farming. Urban agriculture is the practice of food production and distribution within a town or city; while vertical farming concerns indoor agriculture in modern buildings.

The measure proposed to include both methods in the academic curriculum for the secondary and tertiary level of both public and private institutions.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) supported the measure, which it sees as consistent with its goal of food security “with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.”

The DA particularly favored provisions that required agencies to conduct comprehensive studies on urban farming practices and the increased participation of local government units (LGUs).

“The Department, through ATI (Agriculture Training Institute), will partner with LGUs and other related entities and agencies in promoting new trends and technology in urban agriculture,” Undersecretary Rodolfo V. Vicerra told the panel.

Mr. Vicerra also recommended that the panel adopt the appropriation provision in the bills written by Senators Francis N. Pangilinan and Manuel M. Lapid.

These bills “do not put specific percentages on urban agriculture and vertical farming funds,” Mr. Vicerra said.

“This gives a free hand to appropriate funds as necessary in close coordination with local government units.”

Another bill author, Sen. Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares, prescribes funding for implementation to be set at 2% of the budget of the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The DA also proposed to create an urban agriculture and vertical farming program and a new office under the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to serve as the body that will implement all projects and programs.

Ms. Villar, however, countered that the creation of a new office highlights the BPI’s failure to develop programs, despite having research funding.

“Never suggest na mag-create ako ng office sa National Government. Ang i-suggest niyo sa akin, mag-create ng program para sa mga tao (You must never propose that I create a new national government office. What you need to propose are programs),” Ms. Villar said.

“Ang daming research… wala namang application (Much research has been done… but with no application).”

Ms. Villar said she will also propose a provision that will require LGUs to allocate 10% of their budgets for the program. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Firms in Taal area urged to step up emergency, contingency planning

TRADE OFFICIALS urged industries at risk from Taal Volcano to firm up their contingency planning, with provisions for relocating operations and evacuating staff if necessary.

Trade undersecretary and Board of Investments (BoI) managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said in a statement Monday that the private sector must have a minimum set of plans and communicate with their local governments.

“It should, at the least, cover communication protocols from the management to staff including legitimate sources of information, efficient movement of people in the plant to safer areas, standard procedures on utilities dependent on the risk involved and access to roads and ports (air and sea) for movement of raw materials and final goods,” he said.

“Notwithstanding any lowering of alert level on Taal Volcano, we encourage the private sector and other relevant agencies to continue the dialogue and agree on a contingency plan for any eventuality.”

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Jan. 26 lowered the alert level to 3 from 4 — indicating a reduced risk for hazardous eruption. The volcano is still deemed a risk for hazardous eruptions, earthquakes, gas emissions, and ashfall.

Trade officials met with industry representatives from the power, infrastructure, logistics, and manufacturing industries to discuss contingency planning. Also present were representatives from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

Delivering presentations were Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Texas Instruments Phils., Inc. and the EMS Group, which shared their business continuity plans.

Mr. Rodolfo said that most companies in the region affected by Taal had resumed operations two days after the initial phreatic eruption on Jan. 12.

“Industrial parks in affected areas encountered power interruptions except for those using underground transmission cables where power supply remained stable. The affected companies operated using their generation sets that powered at least 70% of their equipment,” he said.

“They have fuel reserves equivalent to two days of operation. The companies had to spend a day cleaning the ash in the factory premises and another day to test the equipment and ensure its sound operation. On the third day, almost 90% of businesses resumed operations.” — Jenina P. Ibañez

South Cotabato bridge, road projects due for completion

DPWH logo

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) hopes to finish this year three infrastructure projects in South Cotabato, including the P100-million road-widening project from Koronadal City to General Santos City which is set for completion in April.

“To decongest roads, specifically in this area, a P100-million road widening from the present four lanes to six of the Marbel-Makar Road traversing Koronadal City to General Santos City is ongoing with target completion of April 2020,” DPWH Regional Office XII Director Basir M. Ibrahim was quoted as saying in a statement Monday.

The DPWH added that two bridge projects are being implemented in South Cotabato.

Scheduled for completion this month is the P19.4-million Bulok Bridge near Koronadal City’s Roundball monument.

The other is the P80-million Palian Twin Bridge in Barangay Palian, which will be completed in March.

The DPWH said it completed in December the P10-million Saravia Bridge in Barangay Saravia.

“Wider roads and bridges will not only provide more convenience to the travelling public but also faster delivery of local goods in the area,” Mr. Ibrahim was quoted as saying.

On Jan. 17, the DPWH reported that it completed a P122-million flood control structure in Isabela, a P34-million river wall in Leyte, and a P6-million farm-to-market road in Zamboanga del Norte.

The DPWH also hopes to finish within the first half of the year its P279.3-million slope protection project along the Taguig River. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Bohol delegation undertakes Japan investment mission

THE Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Tokyo organized a business mission to attract Japanese investment in sustainable tourism in Bohol, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement Friday, the trade department said Bohol Governor Arthur C. Yap and other provincial officials visited Japan on Jan. 21-23. They met with 40 Japanese companies in the construction, waste management and treatment, hotel and tourism, and light industry sectors.

Mr. Yap said that tourism is the driver of the Bohol economy.

“The province is world-renowned for its beautiful beaches, unique wildlife, and natural geologic features that set it apart from other islands in the Philippines. The Danajon Bank which is one of only six double-barrier reefs in the world, the Chocolate Hills, and the Tarsier which is one of the smallest primates are the main attractions found in Bohol,” he said.

Mr. Yap worked with PTIC Tokyo to attract Japanese investment in wastewater treatment and sewage and septage treatment, bulk water supply, and power generation.

The province is also looking for investors in retirement and medical facilities, cold storage, tourism and convention facilities, light industry, agriculture and fisheries, and roads and public transportation.

Mr. Yap said that he is negotiating for direct flights between Bohol and Japan, as well as more projects from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the province.

Previous JICA projects in Bohol include the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Bohol Circumferential Road, Bohol Irrigation Project, and the Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project. — Jenina P. Ibañez

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