3 Start-Ups Provide Innovative Solutions On Energy

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Closing Ceremony of the Impact Hub Fellowship on Sustainable Energy Solutions in Partnership with WWF and PEF, and supported by ADB.

After over a year, the second Fellowship incubation program of Impact Hub Manila, in partnership with Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and supported by Asian Development Bank (ADB), has come to an end with a closing ceremony last April 18. The Impact Hub Fellowship program focused on addressing the need for sustainable energy solutions by looking for promising entrepreneurs who deliver innovative products or services related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, access to energy, energy systems and energy consumption reduction.

Above photo shows Impact Hub Manila co-founder Mathias Jaeggi opens the ceremony with an inspiring speech.

Out of more than 50 applicants, only three winners were selected namely, HiGi Energy, CleverHeat and Solar Solutions, and went through an intensive 2-month cohort or accelerator program called KICK, where they received training and mentorship. Moreover, they received seed funding of Php500,000.00 each, as well as access to the coworking space and community of Impact Hub Manila. 

The three start-ups shared their journeys and accomplishments in the past year:

HiGi Energy

HiGi converts water hyacinths -- commonly known as pest plants -- and agricultural wastes into cooking energy such as briquettes. Their mission is to give access to affordable, sustainable and clean energy for low-income communities. Leon Kee and Hazel Pajotagana share, “We see ourselves redefining the charcoal industry, and to date we've sold 10,000 pieces in rural areas. We launched visibility in Manila, joined by Reuters, Impact Hub Manila, and International Speakers. We were recognized for the TAYO award, as well as given the Smart Innovation award. We even attracted the attention of ABS-CBN's Atom Araullo for Atom day.” 

Solar Solutions

Solar Solutions provides solar energy facilities focused on empowering local communities by providing them lighting, water purification, mobile charging and refrigeration systems. Raffy Concepcion and Rey Guerrero share, “We were able to partner with the NGO Kasagana Ka - they'll be including the solar sari-sari store in their line of products. .... We were able to meet key partners and referrals because of Impact Hub Manila, ADB, PEF, and WWF. “

CleverHeat

CleverHeat gives access to affordable and sustainable heat-driven refrigeration for farmers, fishermen, and small businesses, significantly cutting down electric consumption and reducing costs. Brian Tan Seng shares, “In Benguet, we saw five truck loads of organic wastes produced every day. It was a chance for us to plug in our solutions such as waste management and post-harvest food waste. Since they didn't want to make use of appliances, such as refrigerators, due to the high cost of electricity, we can provide them with a solution, our solution [in collaboration with Kitchen Energy.]”

The three start-up winners with the Impact Hub Manila co-founders and WWF and PEF representatives.

Represented by WWF and PEF during the ceremony were Attorney Gia Ibay and Ding Fuellos, respectively. Both speakers thanked Impact Hub Manila and the winners for the partnership and opportunity to work on renewable energy.

“We've been looking forward to this for so long. Despite the fact that we're a country filled with conservation, a fruitful collaboration for renewable energy would not have happened without this partnership. Hopefully, the Philippines will prosper even more in this department as well as be a more weather-resilient country in the future,” says Attorney Ibay of WWF.

Impact Hub Manila will be holding its third fellowship program soon this year focused on sustainable energy solutions in partnership with WWF, PEF, ADB and HSBC. Stay tuned for updates on the application period by following Impact Hub Manila on Facebook or subscribing to the newsletter. For more info, visit impacthub.ph.

Impact Hub Manila offers coworking spaces, incubation programs, corporate innovation workshops, and a vibrant learning community. Locally rooted and globally connected, Impact Hub continues to dominate the coworking industry as the largest global network of entrepreneurs with 15,000+ members in 101 Impact Hubs around the world. In partnership with KMC Solutions, Impact Hub Manila offers 6 key locations in Metro Manila for coworking or office space. This allows flexibility and convenience to entrepreneurs and startups who are passionate in collaborating to create an impact. Members can choose their preferred homebase (location) and move around other Impact Hub coworking spaces with no additional costs.

DOTr's Statement of Clarification on New Policy for Clark Airport

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Statement of Clarification
11 May 2017


The Department of Transportation (DOTr) wishes to clarify an erroneous news report stating that the building of a new terminal at Clark International Airport will proceed without public bidding.

What transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said was that they will no longer entertain unsolicited proposals for the project first, and just bid out the operations and maintenance of the airport in the future.

Secretary Tugade also mentioned that he prefers that the government first develops Clark Airport, rather than risk delays in the event a bidding involving private sector players would lead to litigation that would eventually place the project on hold.

This “hybrid” mode of implementation means that the government will not entertain multi-billion peso offers to develop Clark airport and develop it on its own before bidding out the Operation and Maintenance component. This will enable government to fast-track projects without the risk of delay brought about by possible lawsuits filed by losing bidders.

Further, Tugade said Megawide-GMR and JG Summit-Filinvest will be informed of the new policy.

The development of the Clark International Airport now falls under the jurisdiction and responsibility of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), and remains to be one of the priority infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration. The BCDA targets to open the new terminal by 2019.

3 Selected Teams Get A Chance to Fly to Switzerland for Kickstart: The Swiss Accelerator

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Being recognized internationally for a groundbreaking business idea is every entrepreneur’s dream. And this dream may come true for three startups from the Philippines and India: Ascendant Technologies Inc. (Philippines), HDC Agri (Philippines), and Fat Cat Robotics (India), as they have an advantage to be shortlisted and fly halfway across the world to Switzerland to participate in Kickstart: The Swiss Accelerator, an 11-week program that will help scale their promising business ideas related to one of the program’s pillars: Food, FinTech, Healthcare, Robotics and Intelligent Systems and Smart Cities.

Photo above shows the start-ups, Ascendant Technologies Inc. and MachiBox Inc., get mentored by John Lagdameo (Director, JGSOM Business Resource Center, ADMU).

Impact Hub Manila, an incubator and co-working space provider, is the outreach partner for Asia of the Kickstart: The Swiss Accelerator, one of Europe’s largest multi-corporate, zero-equity technology accelerators. As part of this regional campaign, Impact Hub Manila hosted a Roadshow event where 12 teams were pre-selected to get training from three mentors and to showcase their innovative solutions to a jury panel.

“Being part of the largest global network of entrepreneurship and innovation centers, we partner with international organizations and Impact Hubs across the world to give opportunities for Philippine startups and entrepreneurs to showcase their talents,” shares LizAn Kuster, Co-Founder of Impact Hub Manila.

We believe Filipinos have the skills and knowledge to be part of the growing startup scene in a global scale and so Impact Hub creates the platform for them through collaboration,” adds Ces Rondario, Co-founder of Impact Hub Manila.

The Roadshow Event is in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines, in celebration of the 60th year of Diplomatic Relations between Switzerland and the Philippines. This collaboration is born out of the commitment of the Swiss Embassy to harness creativity, and support enterprising solutions. Deputy Head of Mission Raoul Imbach represented the Embassy of Switzerland in the event as one of the judges. He is a big supporter of the entrepreneurship landscape in the country.

I Can Sing in Japanese! Spring 2017’ and ‘Your Home is My Business! Returns

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This May, Sony GEM brings back all the drama that unfolds with the return of two popular shows - the Finals of the Spring 2017 edition of Nippon Television Network Corporation’s (Nippon TV) singing competition I Can Sing in Japanese!, and the sequel to the highly acclaimed drama Your Home is My Business! Returns.

Filipino singing sensation Krissha Viaje, who won the Asian search of I Can Sing In Japanese! in February, will make her debut in the international stage as she showcases her singing prowess in her own rendition of a hit Japanese song, together with 11 other finalists representing the U. S. A., Belgium, Norway, Argentina, Chile, and from other parts of the world.

This season’s panel of judges consists of R&B and pop singer May J, singer-songwriter Tatsuya Ishii, and famed musician Tetsuya Komuro, who is widely regarded as one of the most successful producers in the Japanese music industry.

Now on its seventh year, the latest edition of the prestigious competition will be hosted by multi-talented artiste, Nakai Masahiro and TV announcer Yukari Nishio. 

DOTr - PPA Moves Toward the Use of Renewable Energy in its Ports Nationwide

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), is pursuing the use of renewable energy in all its controlled ports nationwide in a bid to reduce the carbon footprints from ports and to to be at par with international maritime stakeholders.

The “Green Port” project is in accordance with the 25-year port development roadmap adopted by Philippine port stakeholders in a summit held in April this year.

This is also a commitment of the PPA to the Ambisyon Natin 2040 program adopted by the current administration.

“Our international shipping counterparts have already agreed to reduce carbon emissions by a certain percentage in the next decade or so and it is only fitting to do the same in our ports,” says PPA Assistant General Manager for Operations Hector E. Miole.

“The initial outlay might be overwhelming, but its long-term effect to the financial aspect and environmental conservation outweighs all of that,” he added.

For a start, the PPA will replace all its existing fluorescent, incandescent lamps, and bulbs with LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lights in its Corporate Office Building by the middle of this month.

PPA is likewise making an inventory of all streetlights from the South Harbor Expanded Port Zone, the access roads going to its VTMS control tower, as well as the PPA offices at the South Harbor and the North Harbor.

The agency is looking at forging a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine National Oil Company-Renewable Corporation (PNOC-RC) in enforcing this notable project.

Under the proposed MOA, PNOC-RC will provide technical expertise, review and design for the best kind of renewable energy sources, which will be used by the PPA in bidding out the said project. The result of the review is expected to be operational in 6 months upon signing of the MOA. The PPA, for its part, will determine the initial ports that will undergo the same ‘greening’ project.

Initially, the PNOC-RC is offering a guaranteed 100-kilowatt solar panel to be installed at the PPA Head Office, which is enough to cover at least a third of the agency’s lighting requirements. The facility, however, will still be connected to the current electric grid system to source out the remaining power requirement of the office.

Aside from the ‘Greening project’, the 25-year Development Roadmap also includes plans for cruise shipping, industrial ports/zoning management, long-term infrastructure development, inter-connectivity, and supply chain development.

Own the Racetrack: Suzuki GSX-R1000R Invitational Test Ride

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The King of Sportbikes is about to reach the Philippine shores and Wheeltek Motor Sales Corporation together with Suzuki Philippines Inc. are making sure that the preparation is set for the royal arrival by gathering two of the country’s most esteemed sportbike riders to put the most awesome GSX-R ever produced to test.

Fresh from testing with Team Suzuki Ecstar, the two GSX-R1000R units were flown from Australia for its debut appearance in the Philippines at the 11th IR Bike Fest and Trade Show. Following this, the country became the first ASEAN nation to test ride the unit. One of the two GSX-R1000Rs was ridden by Philippine Superbikes Champions Miguel Bichara and Anthony Roman at Clark International Speedway (CIS) wherein they would prove that this machine has got what it takes to own the racetrack.

Miguel Bichara is a renowned Superbikes Champion in the Philippines. In 2008, he won the Philippine Superbikes Championship title for Masters Class category with his GSX-R1000 (2006 model). Bichara is considered as an elite superbike rider who races in the country and abroad. He is also a certified motorcycle instructor.  Anthony Roman also known as the Roman Emperor, on the other hand is a well-known underbone racer in the country before shifting to Superbikes. He is a pioneer in the MotoIR category of the Inside Racing Grand Prix. In 2012, Roman won the Philippine Superbike Championships title for the Novice category. He was raced alongside the legend Maico Buncio.

The event ran on individual testing and had it in two parts for the riders – the calibrating lap and the race lap which were all supervised by Team Suzuki Philippines and Wheeltek’s Service Group. Bichara rode the bike first followed by Roman. Superbike riders in the Philippine media were also able to test the unit namely – Maynard Marcelo for C! magazine, Joey Rivero of Driven2Ride and Lifestyle on Wheels TV, John Defensor of Inside Racing and Torque magazines and Aris Ilagan of TopGear Philippines. A press interview was also hosted during lunch to discuss about the performance of the bike.

Energy Efficient ASEAN

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The Department of Energy (DOE) hosted the 21st Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation Sub-Sector Network (EEN&C-SSN) and Associated Meetings at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila on 2-5 May 2017. With Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (center) are (L-R) Ms. Rabiah Al Adawiyah T. Hussein (ASEAN Secretariat); Ms. Maria-Jose Poddey, ASEAN-German Energy Programme (GIZ); Mr. Amphilin Sengsoulin, Mr. Xaysavanh Latthachak (Lao PDR); Mr. Hamizan Bin Husain (Malaysia); Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas (DOE); Dr. Sanjayan Velautham, Executive Director (ACE); Mr. Sarat Prakobchat, EE&C-SSN Coordinator (Thailand); Ms. Aye Kay Khaing Soe (Myanmar); Director Patrick T. Aquino (DOE); Mr. Watcharin Boonyarit (Thailand); Dr. Francisca Indarsiani, Cowater International (Canada); Ms. Kathleen Lim Dematera, Clean Air Asia (GIZ). Not in picture: Ms. Emily McQualter (UNEP); Mr. Takashi Kanazawa and Mr. Yoshitaka Ushio (Energy Conservation Centre, Japan).

All-New Season of Space Adventure Series “Killjoys” Premieres on AXN this May

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Sci-fi drama returns Thursdays at 9:45pm

The hunt continues as AXN brings more of the space action and adventure in the new season of Killjoys which premieres this May.

The futuristic world of interplanetary bounty hunters Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen), Johnny (Aaron Ashmore), and D’avin (Luke Macfarlane) becomes complicated when they find themselves in the middle of a brewing conflict that threatens to destabilize the galaxy.

Their situation becomes even more aggravated when D’avin has been kidnapped by Dutch’s childhood mentor, Khlyen (Rob Stewart), and joins the ranks of their enemies out to challenge them in their sworn duty to protect the Quad, their planetary system.

As they continue to pursue deadly warrants, Dutch and Johnny embark on a new mission to rescue their brother-in-arms and unravel Khlyen’s mysterious agenda.

With their pasts coming back to haunt them, the battle-hardened space marshals will have to work hard to keep themselves, and their friends, alive.



Killjoys Season 2 airs every Thursday at 9:45pm.

AXN is available on SKYCable Channel 49, Destiny Cable Channel 61, Cignal Channel 121, Dream Satellite TV Channel 20, G Sat Channel 51, and Cablelink Channel 38. AXN HD is available on SKYCable Channel 247.

Volkswagen PH Introduces Jetta, Golf GTS

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Volkswagen Philippines will release by end of May two new versions of its passenger cars, the Jetta and the Golf GTS. This move is in line with its 2017 goal of doubling the record-breaking sales output in 2016, thus solidifying its leading position among European brands.

Later this month, Filipinos will get the chance to bring home the new version of Volkswagen Philippines’ number one-selling sedan in 2016, the Jetta

In six generations, the Jetta has sold over 14 million units worldwide, making it among the most successful sedans in the German marquee’s history. Each Jetta that rolls out of the assembly is “Made for Everyday Driving,” with its stylish looks, feature-packed amenities, and remarkable comfort features. In the Philippines, the Jetta will be available in four variants: The Business Edition+, Business Edition, Highline, and Comfortline.

Being the only diesel model in the segment, its advanced technology and safety features reinforce the Jetta’s value-for-money proposition.

The Business Edition+ and Business Edition are equipped with Bi-Xenon headlights, Adaptive Front Lighting System, and LED daytime running lights. The 17” Lancaster alloy wheels and front fog lights are also available in the Highline. Standard for all variants is the sunroof.

In the interior, the Business Edition+, Business Edition, and Highline feature the Fender 8-speaker sound system, dual zone Climatronic air-conditioning, rain sensor, and 6-way power driver seat plus lumbar adjust. Standard for all variants are leather seats, Keyless-Go with Push Start and the 5.8” Touchscreen Color Display Audio.

Safety highlights for the Business Edition+ include the Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Alert with Lane Assist, and Front Assist with Forward Collision Warning.

The Jetta is powered by a 2.0-liter Turbo-charged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine mated to a 6-speed DSG transmission system which generates 150Ps of power at 3,500-4,200 rpm and a class-leading 340Nm of torque at 1,750-3,000 rpm.

Available exterior colors for the Jetta are Black, Platinum Gray, Toffee Brown, Cardinal Red Metallic, Reflex Silver, Blue Silk, Pure White, and Moon Rock Silver. Black interior is offered for all while beige interior is also available for the Business Edition+, Business Edition and Highline.

For all these features, the Jetta is priced at P1.1 million for the Comfortline, P1.2 million for the Highline, P1.25 million for the Business Edition and P1.3 million for the Business Edition+.

Along with the Jetta, the new Golf GTS will be available later this month. In over seven generations of production, the Golf has sold over 30 million units, even overtaking the well-loved Beetle. In the Philippines, the Golf GTS comes in as the only diesel model in its segment.

Let’s #TestMNL This May!

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Leading advocacy group on HIV Testing and Treatment, LoveYourself, Inc., started on Labor Day in Boracay its series of activation and HIV testing activities this month of May through its TestMNL (testMNL.org) and Philippine Business Sector Response (PBSR) programs.

A TestMNL ambassador, together with LoveYourself volunteers in the booths, engages the youth passing by in the alleys of Boracay to provide HIV 101 education during the Labor Day weekend.

“We prepared a series of activities this May to instill in the consciousness of the key target populations the importance of taking care of one’s self, especially in terms of their sexual health,” said LoveYourself Executive Director Ronivin G. Pagtakhan.

Pagtakhan informed “Last March, there are 968 new cases of HIV infection according to the latest Department of Health data, which inspires us to stand firm on our advocacy to resolve this still evolving problem.”

On 28 April to 1 May, the TestMNL team, supported by BLISS, initially went to the majestic island of Boracay during the #LaBoracay2017 weekend to raise awareness on HIV and AIDS among the tourists who flocked in the island.

Creating a major buzz on its straight forward campaign tagline: Suck F*#k Test Repeat, Pagtakhan clarified “The tagline is blunt, because we want to emphasize to the people the importance of repeating the test and protecting themselves more than anything else. Many people are still stigmatized, so we needed an aggressive campaign to rally against this disease.”