Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines Hosts Special 3-Day Virtual Summit Focusing on EVs As The New Normal

On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP), the voice of the electric vehicle industry is hosting a special three (3)-day Philippine Electric Vehicle Virtual Summit (PEVVS) with the theme: “MOVING FORWARD TO AN ELECTRIFIED MOBILITY IN THE NEW NORMAL”.

The PEVVS will run from today, September 24 until September 26, 2020 focusing on electric vehicle adoption and the challenges and opportunities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic on both the supply and demand side of the EV market. eVAP has partnered with Olern, a leading training and consulting company specializing in eLearning platforms, in staging the event.

“This event is made possible through the support of our key partners Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation and Nissan Philippines Inc. as well as PMFTC Unsmoke, Department of Transportation, United Nations Development Programme, Department of Energy, and eSakay. eVAP is also celebrating a decade of partnership with Manila Electric Company (Meralco) since the staging of the first Philippine EV Summit inside the Meralco compound in 2010,” eVAP president Edmund Araga said.

“This year is very special because we have the most number of government leaders joining our event. No less than Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade will address our participants. Energy Committee Chairperson Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian will be delivering the Keynote Message. Leaders of EV Associations from Europe and United States will be joining their Asian counterparts from China, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in the conversation on promoting electric vehicles in the new normal,” Mr. Araga emphasized.

Mr. Araga unveiled this year’s line-up of highly relevant virtual sessions.

• 2020 Long-Term Electric Vehicle Outlook

• Developing Public Charging Infrastructure in Response to the New Normal

• Challenges to EV Charging in Southeast Asia

• Recovery, Reopening and Role of EVs under the New Normal

• Policy Measures to See More EVs on the Ground Post Pandemic

• Promotion of Low Carbon Urban Transport in the Philippines

• Policy Dialogue with LTO: Revisiting EV Guidelines

The PEVVS brings together stakeholders across the EV value chain as well as policymakers, regulators, academe, consultants, transport companies, utilities and end users to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of electric vehicles and supporting infrastructure. It also provides an online platform to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the area of electrified mobility.

“As we recover safely from Covid-19 and gradually reopen our businesses along the way, the pandemic is shedding light on questions and concerns about road infrastructure, urban transport, and mobility in general. Our collective over-dependence on fossil fuels has been a major challenge to carving out more public policy space for transportation options and ultimately to improving and cleaning up our urban air. But now, as we have all been forced to change our behaviors so radically, we have a distinctive opportunity to adopt new behaviors as we slowly get back to what will hopefully be a better normal”, Meralco Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond Ravelo said.

“Instead of writing off this year and postponing the summit due to the pandemic, we decided to push forward and continue the conversation on electrified mobility with industry stakeholders, policy makers, regulators, the academe, and consumers so we can collectively shape our better normal,” Mr. Ravelo added.

DepEd, partners launch RADaR app to ensure learning continuity after disasters

The Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with Save the Children Philippines and Prudence Foundation, launched the Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADaR) mobile and web applications nationwide last September 22 and 24 to ensure immediate response interventions and learning continuity in the event of disasters and other emergencies.

Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, DepEd had been working on enhancing the safety for all learners and DepEd personnel through the development of the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Information System (DRRMIS).

“The RADaR mobile and web applications will support our regional, division, and school-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Coordinators in reporting and rapidly assessing the impacts of disasters,” said Undersecretary for Administration Alain del B. Pascua.

Usec. Pascua also noted that the reports from the RADaR app will provide estimates of the damages caused by disasters and will serve as the basis for response interventions to these schools.

Save the Children Philippines Chief Executive Officer Atty. Alberto Muyot emphasized that the mobile and web application will be vital in ensuring the safety of learners and personnel once the safe resumption of face-to-face classes will be allowed.

“Children will bear the greatest impact if a disaster takes place in a school environment, and we must guarantee their safety during emergencies while they are away from their parents and guardians,” said Atty. Muyot.

According to the Department’s partner organizations, the accurate and timely data provided by the RADaR app will be vital in ensuring a strategic flow of information for response and life-saving decisions and actions by schools, communities, local governments, and concerned national organizations.

“Working hand in hand with the Philippine government, we are improving national systems for risk assessment, guidance, planning and reporting to support schools to build safe facilities, put appropriate emergency procedures in place, and to recover quickly when disasters take place,” said Marc Fancy, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of PruLife UK’s parent company Prudential.

Due to its vulnerability to typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and droughts, the Philippines ranks ninth among the most disaster-prone countries worldwide according to the 2019 World Risk Index.

The RADaR app is one part of the DRRMIS, being established within the DepEd through the Education Safe from Disasters Project, which aims to improve the knowledge and capacity of education personnel and learners on safety from disasters. It will include other applications and tools, such as the Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) Monitoring Application and the School Watching App (SWApp), that will be pilot tested in selected schools across 20 divisions of Region III the upcoming school year. The expansion of the project may transform disaster risk reduction systems in the Philippines and beyond, helping many more children stay safe in emergencies.

Embassy of Singapore, Korea and Malaysia for Asia Leaders Awards 2020

Asia Leaders Awards 2020 according to the organisers must be bigger and bolder since in these trying times, we still need to acknowledge the leaders who are shining more brightly to be emulated and to inspire others. 

The ambassadors from Singapore, Korea and Malaysia are part of the awards committees and  already selected their awardees. Ambassador Dong Man Han of Korea are always in full support as he was with Asia Leaders Awards 2019 also. 

Ambassador Gerard Ho of Singapore and Ambassador Norman Muhamad of Malaysia joins the credible awards commitee for the first time though the former Malaysian Ambassador Rizany Irwan was part of the committee last year. 

This years award ceremony will be in two venues;  November 20, 2020 at Makati Shangrila and November 23, 2020 at Embassy of Singapore in the Philippines and streamed live on the Asia Leaders Awards Facebook page and in 30 more accounts of the partner organisations.

Asia Leaders Awards main objective is to promote the Philippines as a premier business hub and destination in Asia, is one of the largest and respected award event in the Philippines with awardees from Asia Pacific. Mission is to acknowledge those leaders who inspire others to do better and be the best in their industry.

Awards committee members come from different embassies, organisations and repected industry leaders. To know more about Asia Leaders Awards, please visit our Facebook page and website 

www.asialeadersawards.asia.

DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña Opisyal na Pahayag ukol sa Vaccine Clinical Trials

Magandang araw po sa ating lahat. Ito ay may kaugnayan sa mga katanungang patungkol sa COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. Bago po ang lahat, muli po naming nililinaw sa publiko na ang pangunahing layunin ng DOST, sa gitna ng pagsisikap na magbigay ng solusyon sa COVID-19 gamit ang siyensya, ay protektahan ang kaligtasan ng mga Pilipino laban sa sakit na ito.

Patungkol sa usaping bakuna at clinical trials, nais ko pong bigyang diin na bago pa man maaprubahan ang anumang clinical trial sa Pilipinas, ito ay dadaan sa mabusising pag-aaral upang siguruhin na ang bakunang gagamitin sa trials ay nakapagpakita na ng ebidensya na ito ay ligtas at mabisa sa mga naunang bahagi ng human clinical trials, o ating tinatawag na Phase I at Phase II clinical trials.

Sino ang pangunahing tututok sa Vaccine Clinical Trials na gaganapin sa Pilipinas? 

Matatandaang noong ika-22 ng Mayo 2020, binuo ang Sub-Technical Working Group (Sub-TWG) on COVID-19 Vaccine Development sa pamamagitan ng IATF Resolution No. 39. Ang Sub-TWG on COVID-19 Vaccine Development ay pinangungunahan ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST) kasama ang mga sumusunod na ahensiya: Department of Health (DOH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at National Development Company (NDC).

Tungkulin ng ating Sub-TWG na:

Pag-aralan ang mga rekomendasyon ng Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) na binuo ng DOST para suriin ang clinical trials ng iba’t ibang COVID-19 vaccine candidates na maaaring isagawa sa bansa, at tukuyin ang mga rekomendasyon na maaaring isakatuparan o italaga ng IATF for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Siguraduhing makabubuti para sa Pilipinas ang mga papasukin nitong pakikipag-ugnayan at tiyakin na magpapahintulot ng lokal na pagmamanufacture ng bakuna para sa COVID-19 sa pamamagitan ng pagtatakda ng mga pamantayan. 

Pag-aralan at siguraduhin ang maayos at mabilis na pagproseso ng mga requirements para sa pagsasagawa ng clinical trials ng iba’t ibang COVID-19 vaccine candidates sa bansa. 

Pangasiwaan ang pakikipagtulungan sa ibang bansa, at ang lahat ng clinical trials na maaaprubahang isagawa sa bansa.

Ano ang plano ng Sub-TWG para sa nalalapit na pagsasagawa ng vaccine clinical trial sa bansa?

Isa sa hakbangin gagawin sa paghanap ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19 ay ang paglahok sa WHO Solidarity Vaccine Trials. Ito po ay pangungunahan ng Philippine General Hospital. Sa kasalukuyan, nakapili ng labindalawang ospital sa NCR, Cavite, Cebu City, at Davao City para maging trial sites. Upang siguraduhin ang kaligtasan ng lahat ng bakuna na gagamitin sa isasagawang WHO ST, ang DOST ay bubuo ng Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC).

Bukod sa WHO Solidarity Vaccine Trials, patuloy rin ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng Sub-TWG sa mga bilateral partners na interesadong magsagawa ng clinical trials sa bansa. Sa kasalukuyan, mayroon ng anim na pharmaceutical companies ang pumirma ng Confidentiality Data Agreement (CDA) na pahihintulutan ang ating VEP na mapag-aralan ang resulta ng kanilang Phase I at II clinical trials. Tatlo rito ay mula sa China: (Sinovac, Sinopharm, and Anhui Zhifei); isa ang mula sa Russia (Gamaleya); isa mula sa Australia (University of Queensland, CSL, and Seqirus); at isa rin mula sa Chinese Taipei (Adimmune Corporation).

Gayunpaman, kinakailangan pa ring magsumite ng kumpletong requirements ang mga kumpanyang ito sa Sub-TWG upang mapag-aralan at masigurado ang kaligtasan ng mga taong maaaring lumahok sa clinical trials.  

Noong ika-3 ng Setyembre, inaprubahan rin ng IATF ang resolution No. 68 o ang Zoning Guidelines para sa COVID-19 Vaccine clinical trials. Upang masiguro na ang implementasyon ng clinical trials ay ayon sa pamantayang ito, magkakaroon ng kasunduan o Memorandum of Agreement  sa pagitan ng DOST at ng DILG. Layunin ng MOA na ito na siguruhin ang partisipasyon ng local government units (LGUs) sa implementasyon ng maayos at sistematikong clinical trials sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa, partikular na sa Metro Manila. 

Totoo ba na magkakaiba ang pahayag ng DOST, DOH, at FDA ukol sa vaccine clinical trials?

Upang maiwasan ang pagkalito ng publiko, ang mga ahensyang nabanggit, ang DOST, DOH at FDA, bilang miyembro ng Sub-TWG on Vaccine Development, ay may kani-kaniyang tungkulin at mandato para masiguro na ligtas at sumusunod sa pamantayan ang pagsasagawa ng clinical trials sa bansa. 

Ang DOST, DOH, at FDA, bagama’t may kanya-kanyang adhikaing makahanap ng bakuna laban sa COVID19, ay aktibong nagpupulong-pulong upang pag-usapan at ayusin ang plano hinggil sa vaccine trials.

Ang DOST at DOH ay patuloy na nagbibigay ng mga pahayag ukol sa mga nakatakdang clinical trials na gaganapin sa bansa, at palagi pa ring nagpapaalala na papayagan lamang isagawa ang mga clinical trials sa bansa kapag aprubado na ito ng FDA. Kaya’t mapapansin ninyo na hanggang sa ngayon ay wala pang kahit anong clinical trial na sinisimulang gawin sa bansa sapagkat ang FDA, ay wala pang anumang aplikasyon na inaapbrubahan sa kadahilanang patuloy pa rin sinusuri ang mga aplikasyon na isinumite.

Muli ay ipinaalam sa publiko na lahat ng hakbang na ginagawa ng DOST patungkol sa vaccine clinical trials ay alinsunod sa FDA guidelines. Patuloy pa rin ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng DOST sa FDA, ukol sa requirements at mga hakbang na kinakailangang sundin ng international partners bago makapagsagawa ng vaccine trials sa bansa. 

Ano ang malinaw na responsibilidad ng bawat ahensya sa nalalapit na clinical trials?

Bagamat marami na ang multilateral at bilateral partners na nakakausap ng DOST, lahat ng COVID-19 vaccine clinical application ay susunod sa proseso na inaprubahan ng Sub-TWG for Vaccine Development, kung saan kinakailangan ipasa sa Sub-TWG ang intensiyon para magsagawa ng clinical trial at ang kaukulang requirements, matapos nito ay irereview ng Vaccine Expert Panel at Ethics Review Comittees   at sa  panghuli  ng FDA na sya ding gagawad ng desisyon kung papayagang isagawa ang clinical trial: 

DOST - Ang DOST ang tumatayong Chair ng Sub-TWG for Vaccine Development. Dahil nasa mandato din ng ahensya ang mga mga usapin ukol sa research, DOST din ang pangunahing ahensya, katuwang ang DFA, na nakikipag-ugnayan ukol sa bilateral partnerships na may kinalaman sa clinical trials. Nakikipag-usap din ang DOST sa mga lokal na pharmaceutical companies upang hikayatin silang mag-manufacture ng Covid-19 vaccines sa pamamagitan ng partnership sa mga foreign vaccine developers.

DOH - Ang DOH ay vice-chair ng Sub-TWG for Vaccine Development. Sa kabuaang aspeto ng health research, mag co-member ang DOH at DOST sa tinatawag na Philippine National Health Research System na itinalaga sa pamamagitan ng RA 10532 na may oversight sa direksyon ng health research sa bansa. Dahil dito, magkatuwang ang DOH at DOST sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa clinical trials. Nasa ilalim din ng pangangasiwa ng DOH ang ilang mga ospital na maaring pagganapan ng trials at mga opisina na maaring may papel sa tinatawag na operational at logistics management ng clinical trials.  

FDA - Ang Philippine FDA ay ang ahensya na nangunguna sa pagsusuri at pagaapruba ng aplikasyon ng pagsasagawa ng mga Clinical Trials sa bansa. Bilang isang regulatory agency, ang FDA rin ang pangunahing susubaybay o magmomonitor sa pagsasagawa ng mga clinical trial na kanilang bibigyan ng approval. May clinical trial man o wala na gagawin sa Pilipinas, ang FDA pa rin ang mangangasiwa sa mga aplikasyon ng mga kumpanya na nais magrehistro ng bakuna sa ating bansa para maibenta. 

Ano ang pahayag ng DOST  sa mga nauulat na COVID-19 vaccines sa black market? 

Muli’t muli pong pinaaalalahanan ang publiko na wala pang aprubadong bakuna laban sa COVID-19. Bagamat ang DOST ay nakikipag-ugnayan sa iba’t-ibang bilateral partners sa pamamagitan ng pakikipagkasundo na makita ang datos ng pag-aaral sa kanilang dinidevelop na bakuna, ang paglagda sa Confidentiality Data Agreement o CDA, ay hindi  nangangahulugan ng pagpayag o pagbibigay ng pahintulot na bumili sa anumang bakunang ilalabas o ipagbibili sa publiko ng hindi ito matagumpay na dumaan sa Phase III clinical trial sa Pilipinas at naaprubahan na ng FDA.

Ang DOST, kasama ang Sub-TWG on Vaccine Development, ay patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan sa DOH at FDA upang makatulong sa paghahanap ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19. Sa tulong ng Sub-TWG, sinisigurado ng DOST na lahat nang clinical trials na isasagawa sa bansa ay daraan sa tamang proseso at masusing pag-aaral upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng lahat ng lalahok rito. 

Pinaaalala sa publiko, para sa kaligtasan ng lahat, na ipaalam sa mga kinauukulan gaya ng Philippine FDA, Philippine National Police o National Bureau of Investigation kung may mapag-alamang impormasyon ukol sa mga napapabalitang kontrabandong bakuna na ipinagbibili. 

Para sa tunay at tamang balita, pinapayuhan po ang lahat na sumangguni lamang sa mga mapagkakatiwalaang mapagkukuhanan ng impormasyon. Lahat ng kaalaman tungkol sa COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials ay maaaring mabasa sa website ng DOST-PCHRD, DOH at sa https://covid19.gov.ph/. Maaari din po kayong mag-email sa covid19vaccinetrialsph@gmail.com.

Bounty Agro Captain: Ang Manok Ng Bayan at Asia Leaders Awards

Chooks2Go and Bounty Fresh might be the brand that’s very popular these days. Imagine Lea Salonga as brand ambassador and those stars in the hard court as endorsers not to mention Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso smiling in the camera with the roasted chicken on hand, side by side with the brains of this successful company. 

Everything  started by this man who accepted to be the President and General Manager many years ago, Ronald Daniel Mascariñas establishes now the leading poultry company and distribution in the Philippines, Bounty Agro Venture Incorporated (BAVI), the holding company of the brands; Bounty Fresh, Chooks2Go, Uling Roasters, Reyal and Adobo Connection. 

Last year, he accepted the Mentor of the year award at Makati Shangrila Hotel under Asia Leaders Awards 2019 and for this year, he is one of the finalists under Man of the Year together with 4 leading Mayors who are making a difference right now with the Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, Kevin Tan of Alliance Global Group which is the holding company of Megaworld and 3M Philippines General Manager Reggie Pulumbarit.   

Man of the Year is an award given to an individual by any type of organization. He is making a difference especially during this Pandemic helping out not just the organisation he belongs to but also helping out the indigents and Frontliners via the company he is with. The company or organisation he belongs to is making a significant impact in the lives of those who are in need. 

This years award ceremony will be on November 20, 2020 at Makati Shangrila. And streamed live on the Asia Leaders Awards Facebook page and in 30 more accounts of partner organisations.

Asia Leaders Awards main objective is to promote the Philippines as a premier business hub and destination in Asia, is one of the largest and respected award event in the Philippines with awardees from Asia Pacific. Mission is to acknowledge those leaders who inspire others to do better and be the best in their industry.

Awards committee members come from different embassies, organisations and repected industry leaders. To know more about Asia Leaders Awards, please visit our Facebook page and website 

www.asialeadersawards.asia.

MOBILE NETWORK OPERATORS TO HIRE AND RESKILL 1,000 PROFESSIONALS IN 5G

Singapore, 29 September 2020 – The Infocomm Media Development Authority ("IMDA") has partnered with Singapore's Mobile Network Operators ("MNOs") to hire and reskill 1,000 professionals to support Singapore's 5G rollout. Of these, 30% are new roles, while the remaining are telecom professionals who will be upskilled in the areas of 5G network, cyber security and solution engineering to futureproof their jobs. The demand for 5G professionals is expected to grow as Singapore's 5G rollout gathers momentum and more enterprises participate in the ecosystem.

Mr Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive, IMDA, said, "Talent development is the next critical phase of our investment in 5G. This effort extends Singapore's momentum in 5G following our investment in building infrastructure capabilities. We have worked with the local MNOs to unlock the potential of 5G for these 1,000 professionals and will continue to do so to create good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans. At the same time, to ensure we have a strong pipeline of 5G talent who are skilled and ready, IMDA is leading efforts to appoint credible training partners to develop 5G skills across the ecosystem. The first wave of training will begin at the end of 2020 with the MNOs' 5G professionals."

Under the TechSkills Accelerator initiative, IMDA has set up 5G Workforce Transformation Committees ("WTCs") with the MNOs to oversee the planning and development of their 5G workforce capabilities. In addition, IMDA will be appointing a consortium comprising National University of Singapore ("NUS") and Singapore Polytechnic ("SP") as the 5G and Telecoms Programme Manager ("PM"). They will be a strategic partner to aggregate hiring and training requirements from the WTCs and the wider 5G ecosystem players, so as to co-develop quality training to meet demand, and enable Singaporeans to take on 5G jobs. The plan is to work with the industry and equip a total of 5,000 professionals over the next 3 years to develop a strong, 5G skilled workforce.

About Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) leads Singapore's digital transformation with infocomm media. This is in line with IMDA's sectoral transformation efforts to use technology to drive productivity and innovation, unlock new opportunities and fuel growth in the digital economy, both locally and internationally. To do this, IMDA will develop a dynamic digital economy and a cohesive digital society, driven by an exceptional infocomm media (ICM) ecosystem – by developing talent, strengthening business capabilities, and enhancing Singapore's ICM infrastructure. IMDA also regulates the telecommunications and media sectors to safeguard consumer interests while fostering a pro-business environment, and enhances Singapore's data protection regime through the Personal Data Protection Commission.

Visit here: https://www.imda.gov.sg/

A beautiful story: Beauche International for Asia Leaders Awards 2020

When we’re talking about the pioneer in beauty products manufacturing and distribution in the Philippines that targeted the mass population, you’ll think about Beauche International headed by its Founder, President and CEO, Conchita “Che”Toribio De Los Reyes. 

For 14 years, Beauche International already has footprints globally and counting more in the coming years. Neither a chemist nor a pharmacist, Che developed her formula based on a generic formulation, and then partnered with a toll manufacturer for the soap’s production. Her formula turned out to be so good and effective, and now, Beauche International offers not just soaps but a variety of beauty products. 

Hailed in Bohol but with residence in Cavite, Mommy Che or Madam Che to her distributors and resellers was also a former Mayor with an inspiring story in tow. From living in a squatter area to owning luxury cars, a sprawling estate plus about two dozen prime properties and an international business, Ms.Conchita Toribio, Che to family and friends, shares the secrets behind her success which started with a dream and a beauty soap.

Madam Che now is one of the finalists under Asia Leaders Awards. An inspiration to many, from grassroots selling, Beauché products are now sold in almost 200 company-owned and over 300 distributor-owned branches nationwide.

This years award ceremony will be on November 20, 2020 at Makati Shangrila. And streamed live on the Asia Leaders Awards Facebook page and in 30 more accounts of partner organisations.

Asia Leaders Awards main objective is to promote the Philippines as a premier business hub and destination in Asia, is one of the largest and respected award event in the Philippines with awardees from Asia Pacific. Mission is to acknowledge those leaders who inspire others to do better and be the best in their industry.

Awards committee members come from different embassies, organisations and repected industry leaders. To know more about Asia Leaders Awards, please visit our Facebook page and website 

www.asialeadersawards.asia.