Investors Keen on Drilling for Oil and Gas - DOE

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi yesterday said that the “keen interest which many investors expressed in exploring oil and gas in the Philippines” augurs well for the country’s development and energy security.

Sec. Cusi made the comment after the launch of the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCECP) last 22 November 2018 at the Shangri-la at the Fort Hotel in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

“We are pleased with the recent turnout of investors who graced the event and expressed their interest with the PCECP,” Sec. Cusi said.

The PCECP is a program that offers 14 pre-determined areas, and the option for investors to propose their own exploration area, making oil and gas exploration a dynamic investment prospect for players in the energy sector. 

“There is so much untapped potential for energy exploration in the Philippines that is ripe for the picking as our energy needs grow every year. With the savings that we can generate from the utilization of our own energy resources, our economy and our people can reap huge benefits,” Sec. Cusi added.

Presently, there are only 23 active Petroleum Service Contracts (PSC) in the country, with the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project as the most successful PSC stemming from the previous Philippine Energy Contracting Round. 

Under the PCECP, the DOE revised the investment mechanism. It provides a more investor-friendly environment which is consistent with the directions set by President Rodrigo Duterte. 

The application process under the PCECP has also been streamlined to provide potential investors with a quicker turnaround time for administrative and documentary requirements to prevent unnecessary delays. 

“With the success of our ASEAN neighbors in their energy exploration activities, we deem it our priority for local exploration to flourish as we are driven to make sure that the demand for energy is met. We see that the program will offer positive contributions to our economy as a direct result of exploration-related investment.”

Prior to the launch of the PCECP, the DoE conducted several roadshows throughout the country and in Singapore to attract local and foreign investors. 

In October, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the first service contract for petroleum exploration under his administration. Service Contract No. 76, covering Area 4 of Eastern Palawan, was awarded to Israeli firm Ratio Petroleum Ltd. signaling the push to revive the country’s upstream petroleum industry.

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SM, McDonald's Celebrate Family Bonding Moments Via #NationalThankYouWeek

Wazzup Pilipinas!

SM Supermalls and McDonald's level up the Thanksgiving tradition among Filipino families with the online and on-ground celebration of "National Thank You Week" last November 19 to 25.

“On the second year of our partnership with McDonald's, we continue to underscore the uniqueness of the emotional bond of Filipinos, especially when our customers make memories and redefine thanksgiving celebrations in our malls,” shares Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing.




On digital, SM and McDonald's encouraged families to share their ‘thank you moments’ for a chance to win P5,000 SM shopping money by simply taking a photo using the #NationalThankYouWeek Photo App that can be accessed via smsupermalls.com until November 25. McDonald’s also gave its customers a special treat, as a simple way of saying ‘thank you’, as all McDonald’s stores located in 47 SM malls nationwide gave a free Vanilla Sundae Cone for every purchase of a Happy Meal from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. from Thanksgiving Day itself (November 22) until November 25, Sunday.





A grand culminating activity was also mounted for families on the last day of the week-long celebration on November 25 at SM Mall of Asia, Central Atrium. For only Php180, kids and kids-at-heart experienced SM Supermalls and McDonald's Thank You Town where everyone enjoyed an array of fun activities and fun technology games.

At the Thank You Town, SM shoppers were able to sign-up for McDonald’s Stripes Run, avail of the new McCelebrations Birthday Party themes, and experience fun games and activities.

SM Supermalls is the sole Philippine finalist in this year’s World Retail Awards, held last April 19 in Madrid, Spain. SM's "National Thank You Day," an integrated live brand experience campaign in partnership with McDonald's Philippines, made it as a finalist in the ‘Best Customer Experience Initiative – Mall Owners’ category.

For more information, check out www.smsupermalls.com, and its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @smsupermalls.

PLDT and Smart Unveil Flagship Store in Makati CBD

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Left to Right: PLDT-Smart Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Eric R. Alberto, PLDT Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan, and PLDT-Smart SVP and Head for Consumer Business – Customer Development Alex O. Caeg

PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have unveiled their converged store in the Makati Central Business District.

The PLDT-Smart Store is a one-stop digital hub and store that showcases the synergy among PLDT, Smart, and Cignal products. The store will also be a venue where PLDT and Smart can exhibit innovations and services of the future, such as 5G applications, Internet of Things, among others.

“This one-stop digital hub is a manifestation of our business transformation and aspiration to be the country’s leading and most trusted enabler of technology for all our customers. We want to deliver services and solutions that provide simply amazing experiences, which actually should improve lives -- to make lives safer, more productive, and more enjoyable,” said Eric R. Alberto, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at PLDT and Smart.

Synergy and convergence

Located at the ground floor of the Smart Tower along Ayala Avenue, the PLDT-Smart Store offers a modern hub for the digital-savvy Filipinos who live and work in Makati City. Experience Officers are on-hand and ready to address customers’ concerns and needs.

“Our flagship stores have actually morphed into something more experiential for the customers. It is PLDT’s 90th anniversary and we’re pushing the envelope to becoming this country’s leading purveyor of digital experiences for customers. I think this store, the look and feel of this store and the attitude with which we serve our customers reflect that,” added Alberto.


Level up customer experience

The store also has digital self-service counters which allow subscribers to view and print their bills, check account details, request for repairs and other services.

Customers can also check data usage for their online needs via the broadband visualizers. These can be helpful for subscribers who are still deciding which broadband plan to get for their home or business. The store also features interactive booths that allow guests to browse the internet, play games, watch videos or listen to music inside the store.

“As the PLDT Group enters a new age of convergence, the PLDT-Smart Store will showcase the industry-leading seamless services that PLDT, Smart, and Cignal have to offer the Filipino customer whether they are home or away from home,” said Alex Caeg, SVP and Head for Consumer Business – Customer Development at PLDT and Smart.

The PLDT-Smart Store at Smart Tower is also offering exclusive deals for postpaid plans. Customers can also sign up for MVP Rewards and get instant credit, which they can use to buy items from partner stores. Subscribers can see other details when they visit www.smart.com.ph.

“Whether they reside in the exclusive villages or condominiums, or work in the buildings nearby, we want to give them the best customer experience right here in Makati CBD,” added Caeg.

From left to right: PLDT-Smart Chief Customer Experience and Data Analytics Advisor Ralph Brunner; PLDT-Smart Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Eric R. Alberto; Smart Chief Financial Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla; PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan; PLDT-Smart Chief Technology and Information Advisor Joachim Horn; PLDT-Smart SVP and Headfor Consumer Business – Customer Development Alex O. Caeg; and PLDT-Smart FVP and Head for Consumer Marketing Andrew L. Santos