Upskilling Training for Filipino Journalists on Biodiversity Reporting Opens Call for Applications

One of the 18 most species-rich countries, The Philippines is home to two-thirds of the world's biodiversity and numerous endemic species. However, human activities, including habitat destruction, wildlife trafficking, and climate change, are pushing many of these populations to the brink of collapse. That’s why it is crucial to train more Filipino journalists to cover biodiversity stories and investigate threats to the environment.

The Association of Young Environmental Journalists (AYEJ), an ecological literacy non-profit organization, is inviting journalists to join the Green Beat Plus, a free upskilling training program designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of Filipino journalists in reporting on biodiversity and natural resources management.

The Green Beat Plus is offered by RTI International and USAID’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes (SIBOL) Activity in partnership with AYEJ. It will run from June to September 2023.

Biodiversity plays a critical role in the lives of Filipinos. From the food on our tables to the sources of our livelihood, Filipinos are deeply linked to the riches that nature provides. This interdependence means that more Filipinos journalists should be equipped to accurately report on biodiversity stories, investigate threats and environmental violence, and explore community responses and solutions.

The Green Beat Plus features a virtual training program for 20 selected journalists from June to July 2023, where participants will learn from biodiversity and journalism experts. Selected journalists from this pool will receive reporting support and mentorship, and a chance to join an in-person advanced workshop in Palawan.

It is open to professional media practitioners, either staff or freelancers, working in any journalistic medium such as print, online, radio, podcast, television, and multimedia. They must be currently residing and working in the Philippines to join the program. 

Applicants do not need to have prior experience with biodiversity reporting, but they should be able to demonstrate strong interest and commitment in the topic.

The participating journalists will undergo a 4-week online training to learn about key biodiversity concepts and techniques and tools in reporting biodiversity stories. At the end of the training, journalists will pitch their stories on biodiversity and natural resources management. The 10 best story pitches will receive funding support and mentorship to pursue their reporting and publication.

The 10 journalists with the best story pitches will receive an all-expenses-paid opportunity to gather in an in-person advanced workshop in Palawan, which is one of the main areas of implementation of the USAID SIBOL project. The selected journalists will have the chance to present their progress in their reporting and the workshop will serve as a space to critique, polish and strengthen their stories, before their expected publication by mid-September 2023.

Interested journalists should send their CV or resume, at least two sample works, and a biodiversity story idea/pitch in the Green Beat Plus application form: https://bit.ly/apply-biojourntraining

Applications close at May 10, 2023 at 11:59 PM. Participating journalists will be informed of their selection by mid-May.

SIKA Successfully Closes MBCC Acquisition and Strengthens Position as Sustainability Champion in the Global Construction Industry

• Sika acquires MBCC business generating CHF 2.1 billion net sales in 2022
• Annual synergies expected in the range of CHF 160 – 180 million by 2026
• Integration process well prepared and to start as of today
• The combined innovation power of Sika and MBCC will accelerate the sustainable transformation of the whole construction industry
• Sika is set to reach sales in excess of CHF 12 billion in 2023

Sika has completed the acquisition of MBCC Group after having received all necessary regulatory approvals. With this highly complementary transaction, Sika strengthens its footprint across all regions, reinforces its range of products and services across the entire construction life cycle and drives the sustainable transformation of the construction industry further and faster.

MBCC Group, headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, and formerly owned by an affiliate of Lone Star Funds, is active in the field of construction systems and admixture systems. To close the transaction and to comply with regulatory requirements, Sika sold MBCC Group’s chemical admixtures assets in the UK, the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand to the international private equity firm Cinven. The business now acquired by Sika generated sales of CHF 2.1 billion in 2022, employs 6,200 people and operates in over 60 countries and 95 production facilities.

Thomas Hasler, CEO: “Today is a historic day for Sika. We are delighted to welcome the MBCC employees to the Sika family. We embark on our exciting journey and will continue to drive Sika’s growth story. Thanks to our extensive experience in integrating companies, we will successfully bring Sika and MBCC together and combine our strengths to create a new reference in the construction chemicals industry. Together we will deliver world-class performance for our customers and develop innovative, sustainable solutions."

After the successful closing, Sika’s sustainable product portfolio will be further enhanced with MBCC’s innovative technologies. Sika will offer a wide and comprehensive range of solutions to enable the sustainable transformation of the construction industry and help customers reduce their carbon footprint.

With this transaction, Sika strengthens its growth platform by broadening its product and solution offerings in four of five core technologies and seven of eight Sika Target Markets. Customers will benefit from an enhanced and more efficient distribution network across all construction markets. Sika expects to generate annual synergies in the range of CHF 160 – 180 million by 2026. The combined Group is set to reach sales in excess of CHF 12 billion in 2023.

SIKA CORPORATE PROFILE

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and

protecting in the building sector and motor vehicle industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 101 countries around the world and manufactures in over 300 factories. Its more than 27,500

employees generated annual sales of CHF 10.49 billion in 2022.

The First Disc Golf Course in Metro Manila hosted by Nayong Pilipino

The Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF), in partnertship with the Disc Golf Association of the Philippines (DGAP), will officially launch the Nayong Pilipino Disc Golf Course on April 29, 2023 with an inaugural Tournament which will be participated by at least 40 professional disc golf players from different parts of the Philippines.

Disc golf, is also known as Frisbee golf, is a professional, highly-competitive sport with one of the fast-growing, most dedicated fan and player communities in the world. It is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, player use a flying disc or Frisbee. The trees, shrubs, and terrain changes located in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer.

NPF Executive Director Gerlie Duran-Batocabe said the agency hopes that the opening of the new sports attraction will spark new interest in emerging sports.

She also disclosed the agency aims to host an international disc golf tournament within the year, with NPF in partnership with the Professional Disc Golf Association.

"This furthers our goal of promoting sports tourism in support of our mother agency, the Department of Tourism as many foreign and domestic visitors will be flying in to participate and/or watch the tournaments" said Duran-Batocade.

Disc Golf is a sport for everyone as it can be played from school age to golden age.  It is also a healthy, inexpensive, recreational activity that provides upper and lower conditioning, aerobic exercise and mental stimulation

Opportunity Awaits All at Go! iVolunteer Expo, Free Admission!

iVolunteer, SM Cares, SM Supermalls and Cravewell are bringing back the two-day volunteer exposition on May 6 to 7 at SM Megamall. On its third run, they are also expanding the event to SM City Davao Annex Event Center from May 27 to 28 so that many more can discover new ways to support their chosen causes.

Coming from 28 non-governmental organization (NGO) partners before the pandemic, Go! Volunteer expo aims to increase this number this year. Not to mention, organizers expect to host the “most diverse slate of partner organizations” at these SM malls, as the locations have become an avenue for the youth to make more opportunities. The expo also stands to reignite everyone’s volunteering passion as it again gathers NGOs and volunteers to measure up their interests and needs.

“For us, Go! Volunteer 2023 is significant in a way that it ushers in the start of bringing back physical volunteering,” explains Tan. “We’ve continued our volunteer activities online during the pandemic when we were locked in our homes; but now, we’re saying we can volunteer in person again.”

“SM Cares is dedicated to supporting communities by empowering the next generation of leaders and actively involving them as champions of our various advocacies,” shares Royston A. Cabunag, Assistant Vice President for SM Supermalls and SM Cares Program Director for Children & Youth. “As the ‘Mall for All’, we are thrilled to be an avenue for iVolunteer to welcome and gather organizations and volunteers, creating more meaningful opportunities for the youth to create a brighter, more sustainable future for all,” adds Cabunag.

Event attendees also have the chance to get volunteering insights as different speakers will take the expo stage. Apart from that, games, activities, treats and much more await attendees.

So if you advocate for women’s empowerment, community development, education, children, the environment and a lot more, #DiscoverNew head to Go! Volunteer 2023 expo.

Admission is free so see you there

Redefining the Future with AI @t Aboitiz Innovation AI Summit 2023

Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI), the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) arm of the Aboitiz Group, reveals more details of its inaugural AI Summit Philippines (AI Summit PH 2023), happening at the Marriott Grand Ballroom from May 10 to 11, 2023. The two-day summit promises to provide insights from industry leaders and trailblazers as they share actionable use cases of how AI can and has revolutionized the financial services industry while addressing new fraud challenges in this increasingly digital world.

Featuring talks, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the AI Summit PH 2023 cuts across three streams: Data Science and Transformation in Financial Services, Powering Smart Cities through Data, and Operationalizing Data Science and AI.

For the first stream, embracing and learning about DSAI technology is key for sustainable growth in the financial services sector to foster economic stability, promote financial inclusion of underserved populations, drive innovation, and redefine value in the industry.

One of the highlights of the stream is a C-Suite Roundtable that brings together the heads of half of the digital banks in the Philippines: UnionDigital Bank (UnionDigital) President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Henry Aguda, GoTyme Bank President and CEO Nathaniel Clarke, and Maya President Angelo Madrid. Digital banks are set to revolutionize the financial services industry by leveraging technology such as AI to increase efficiency and champion financial inclusion. The digital bank roundtable will be moderated by ADI CEO Dr. David R. Hardoon.

Under his leadership, ADI empowers the Aboitiz Group as it undergoes its Great Transformation to become the Philippines’ first Techglomerate by operationalizing DSAI to transform data into business and sustainability outcomes. The Group’s banking and financial services arm, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) and its thrift bank subsidiary City Savings Bank (CitySavings), are at the forefront of innovation in the local financial services industry with their successful integration of DSAI solutions.

Another C-Suite Roundtable in the Summit will underscore the importance of enabling a transformative culture as leaders drive enterprises toward becoming data-driven companies. The panelists include Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) Chief Transformation Officer Emilie Sydney-Smith and UnionBank President and CEO Edwin R. Bautista, who represents the award-winning and innovative bank. Along with other corporate leaders and trailblazers such as Maria Noemi Azura of Insular Health Care and Victor Paterno of Philippine Seven Corporation, the roundtable will provide valuable insights into how organizations can embrace data-driven strategies to drive innovation and achieve transformation. This roundtable will be moderated by UnionBank’s Chief Customer Experience Officer and Chief Digital Channel Officer Ana A. Delgado.

“We are thrilled to convene industry leaders and experts to explore the revolutionary impact of AI on the finance sector,” said ADI Chief Operating Officer for Financial Services Guy Sheppard. “This summit offers a unique opportunity for attendees to gain valuable insights into how AI can transform financial inclusion, redefine value creation, and address emerging challenges in data science and digital transformation. From automating routine tasks to enhancing risk management and fraud detection, AI has the potential to revolutionize the finance industry by enabling more efficient and personalized services, improving decision-making, and unlocking new opportunities for growth and innovation.”

Sheppard will be moderating “The Changing Face of Fraud,” a panel that delves into the flip side of modern technologies. New and dynamic threats necessitate new rules and approaches to mitigate risks. The panel features experts and professionals in the field of fraud prevention from leading financial services firms Bank of the Philippines (BPI), Maybank Philippines, UnionBank, and UnionDigital.

The summit also covers sustainability in a panel discussion on creating inclusive financial systems through technology. The panelists include CitySavings Vice Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Ocampo, UBX President and CEO John Januszcak, PayMongo CEO Jojo Malolos, and Robin Newnham of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion.

This is just a small glimpse into what lies in store for those who attend the highly anticipated event. ADI invites those interested in hearing from and networking with industry leaders and like-minded individuals and organizations, exchanging ideas on how to use AI to transform the financial services industry for inclusive growth and sustainability.

Register your attendance at www.aiphsummit.ph/registration/ to get a complimentary pass to the event.

About Aboitiz Data Innovation

Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI) is the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) arm of the Aboitiz Group. ADI consolidates DSAI operating models across the Group and promotes a data-driven culture across the organization. Its chief responsibility is to transform data into business outcomes, use information to make better decisions, reinvent business models, and develop high-value solutions to create new processes, products, and services. By operationalizing DSAI across the Aboitiz Group’s business units, ADI is advancing an over-a-century-old company’s Great Transformation journey into becoming the Philippines’ first techglomerate. For more information, visit aboitizdatainnovation.com.

About Aboitiz Equity Ventures

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) is the public holding company of the Aboitiz Group with major investments in power, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure, land, and data science and artificial intelligence. Today, AEV is recognized as one of the best-managed companies in the Philippines and the region, consistently cited for its commitment to good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. With five generations of Aboitiz Group business success behind it, AEV continues to drive change for a better world by advancing business and communities.

The Aboitiz Group is a member of the Global Compact Network Philippines Board of Trustees and helps champion the Philippines’ sustainability initiatives on an international level through policies, advocacies, and initiatives that align with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). The company has also launched its #OneAboitizSustainability Framework which aims to transform its life-essential businesses into having improved sustainable practices and a positive impact on the environment and society.

To know more about the #OneAboitizSustainability programs, please visit https://sustainability.aboitiz.com/.

BIG-BROTHER AGRI COMPANIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES MEET WITH PRESIDENT MARCOS ABOUT KAPATID ANGAT LAHAT AGRI PROGRAM (KALAP)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion at the Malacañang Palace, as Concepcion led the group of big-brother agriculture companies and relevant government agencies last April 25 to deliver an update on KALAP, or Kapatid Angat Lahat Agri Program. This is the second KALAP meeting with the President after the program’s ceremonial signing with government agencies last March 6.

Among the issues brought up during the meeting was the need for interventions in ensuring that farmers get access to credit – an issue that was the result of earlier consultations with banks and financial institutions on agriculture lending. 

During the meeting, Concepcion emphasized the importance of achieving scale. “KALAP needs scale. The five hectares that the small farmers have now is not competitive. At the same time, banks can’t lend to them because the lands cannot be collateralized per agrarian reform law. While right now, there are workarounds by the big-brother companies as they work with groups of small farmers, we need to think about longer term solutions,” he said later in an interview.

The President, for his part, assured the group during the meeting that he will look into each industry concern in detail separately, adding that Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines are expanding their credit program coverages to agriculture. He further said he will look into the use of digitalization in farm management as started by Universal Leaf Philippines (ULPI) in the tobacco industry. ULPI’s Winston Uy shared during the meeting the technology they use in tobacco farming, and his intention to share it with other big-brother companies as one of the tools they can use under KALAP.

Other big-brother companies also presented to the President their models that can be used for KALAP. In addition to Uy, there was James Amparo, who shared Yovel East’s model for rice farming, Christian Moeller for coconut, Simon Bakker for cacao, Kais Marzouki for coffee, and Nando Cojuangco for sugar 

Since its signing last March, KALAP has enticed more big agriculture companies to join the program. Banks and financial institutions similarly expressed support for KALAP’s push for easier access to credit for small farmers. The Go Negosyo program aims to transform Philippine agriculture and create jobs by focusing on major agricultural commodities, adopting inclusive business models, and creating an enabling business environment.

“There has been a lot of interest, especially among the big companies on how they can participate in KALAP. There is still plenty of room for solutions and we are open to seeing how we can work with more big-brother companies,” said Concepcion.

KALAP aims to give farmers access to money, markets and mentorship, the three M’s that make for successful enterprises. “With KALAP, we aim to see transformed agricultural commodities, food security, job opportunities, and an industry that is able to meet the requirements of the market, both in quality and quantity,” said Concepcion.

The private meeting at the Palace included the heads of the agri companies who, under the KALAP model, will share their inclusive business models that integrate small farmers into the value chain of large corporations. Key government agencies, meanwhile, will help facilitate the environment to create a productive, profitable, sustainable and competitive agriculture industry

Nissan and PDRF join Forces in Disaster Response

April 28, 2023, PAMPANGA—Nissan Philippines Inc. recently signed a partnership agreement with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) that will allow the Foundation to use Nissan's full electric vehicle (EV), the LEAF, for its disaster response and recovery activities.

In a ceremonial signing held at the PDRF Emergency Operations Center in Clark, Pampanga, Nissan Philippines partnered with PDRF as part of their Blue Switch initiative that aims to build an ecosystem with various organizations to use EV technologies in addressing social concerns such as disaster response, climate change, responsible travel, and energy management.

Present at the ceremonial signing were Nissan Philippines Inc. President Juan Manuel Hoyos and General Manager for Communications Dax Avenido, PDRF President Rene Meily, PDRF Chief Resilience Officer Guillermo Luz, and PDRF Executive Director Veronica Gabaldon.

“PDRF is grateful to Nissan for this innovative partnership. Their LEAF electric vehicle will be an important asset when we confront challenges going forward,” said PDRF President Rene Meily.

Through this partnership, Nissan Philippines will lend LEAF EVs to PDRF to be used as emergency response vehicles. The Nissan LEAF has vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology which allows bi-directional charging and use the EV's battery to transfer power to other sources. Its reliable power source can supply electricity to affected communities and emergency responses during disasters.

Nissan representatives also demonstrated the capabilities of the LEAF and allowed the PDRF executives to test drive the vehicle.

“Nissan is proud to be part of the roster of private companies which partnered with PDRF. We are very excited to see how the Nissan LEAF can assist PDRF in providing innovative and sustainable solutions to minimize the impacts and recover from disasters. This partnership is the next step in our strategy towards a more sustainable and resilient future for the country,” Juan Hoyos, Nissan Philippines President said.

The partnership will also enable the two organizations to explore efficient and sustainable ways to respond to disasters and mitigate the impact of climate change. The partnership is aligned with PDRF’s commitment to more green and sustainable approaches to disaster response