Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Holcim Philippines deploys employees for community work




More companies have been encouraging employees to participate in volunteer programs during their off days, but last May 24, cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines’ almost 1,700 employees got to do this on company time.

To celebrate the Holcim Group’s 100th birthday, Holcim Philippines deployed its workforce on a work day to go to its communities in La Union, Bulacan, Taguig, Misamis Oriental, and Davao to participate in various community service activities.

Holcim Philippines employees went to public schools near their facilities to clean and paint classrooms and tend gardens to help prepare these for opening of classes. Employees also held story telling sessions and road safety demonstrations for children there. The company also brought along dentists, doctors and barbers, who provided free service to the children

These form part of the Holcim Group’s Together for Communities initiative, which seeks to mobilize this year its 80,000 people in over 70 countries to render public service in various communities.

“These activities are Holcim’s way to give back to its communities which give our company the license to operate,” said Holcim Philippines COO Roland van Wijnen. “Moreover, activities as these deeply drive a sense of sharing among our employees.”

Van Wijnen said that aside from the Community Service Day, the company has lined up other activities throughout the year that would allow employees spend their time volunteering in communities instead of reporting for duty at the office.

The La Union Plant will lead a coastal clean-up, medical mission, and a book drive. Its Bulacan Plant had already deployed people to participate in the clean-up Bocaue River and the Pinagrealan Cave and has invited them to join a blood letting drive, visit a youth correctional and serve as teachers for a day. In Misamis Oriental, the plant will hold a highway clean-up and a beautification of a Gawad Kalinga village in the province. Davao employees, meanwhile, have a chance to join a tree and mangrove planting activity or spend time with the elderly.

Another Centennial celebration activity is the roll out of its Project Fostering a Child’s Education (FACE) in all its sites, a program wherein employees volunteer to shoulder some of the schooling expenses of underprivileged but deserving students and regularly interact with them to provide guidance. Holcim Philippines tested the program in its Bulacan Plant for 24 student beneficiaries. It was inspired by a similar initiative by its former COO Ian Thackwray who personally supports the education of 160 students until they finish high school.

All these activities are in line with Holcim Philippines’s Sagot Ko ang Bukas online campaign (http://sagotko.holcim.ph) which seeks to encourage its employees and partners to pledge on how they can contribute to a better future. The Sagot Ko ang Bukas campaign is Holcim Philippines’ effort to make people better understand the concept of sustainability and bring it down to a personal level.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

CDC to remit dividends to BCDA



CLARK FREEPORT – The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) is set to remit more than P300 million worth of dividends to its mother company, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), state-owned officials said.

CDC Chair and officer-in-charge Eduardo Oban, Jr. said the state-run corporation is now capable of paying its 2009 to 2011 remittances to the BCDA after the CDC management decided to forego construction work of the proposed CDC Corporate building, which aims to consolidate all CDC offices and Moral and Welfare Recreational (MWR) facilities.

“In fact, we have requested the BCDA to extend the deadline for our remittances since we are expecting more capital expenditures in the future. But since we will forego construction work of the proposed CDC corporate headquarters, we can now use the funds to pay our obligations to our mother company,” Oban said.

CDC Public Relations Department Manager Angelo C. Lopez, Jr. said that in February 2012, the CDC has turned-over dividends amounting to P100 million to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) of the Department of Finance.

The remittance of dividends is in compliance with Republic Act 7656, which requires government-owned or controlled corporation to declare dividends under certain conditions to the national government and for other purposes.

The law requires state-owned firms to declare and remit at least 50 percent of their annual net income to the national treasury. In January 27, 2012, the CDC Board approved the remittance of 50 percent of the expected P200-million profit made in 2011.

“One of the ways the CDC strives to help the administration of President Benigno C. Aquino III is by complying with its financial obligations to the government and by making substantial contributions to Philippine coffers,” Lopez said.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

500 Bulakenyo families receive P5,000 cash grant each



CITY OF MALOLOS- Five hundred families from the first district of Bulacan received P5,000 cash grants from the Livelihood Assistance for Neighborhood in Need through Cash Grant held at Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in this city yesterday.

A joint project of the Provincial Government of Bulacan headed by Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado and Philippine Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of Senator Allan Peter Cayetano, the said grant aims to rehabilitate the businesses of the victims of typhoons Pedring and Quiel in the first district.

“Ang livelihood assistance cash grant na ito ay hindi dapat pabayaan sapagkat ito ay biyaya na kinakailangang pagyamanin at palaguin,” Alvarado said.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office Department Head Rowena Joson-Tiongson added, “after two-three months, kukumustahin ang nabigyan ng nasabing grant at kapag lumago ang kanilang business ay makakatanggap sila ng additional incentives.”

Aside from the awarding of cash donation, Provincial Cooperative and Economic Development Office head Jovito Saguinsin and Provincial Youth, Sports, Employment, Arts, Culture and Tourism Office head Elizabeth Alonzo also conducted an orientation on Simple Accounting and Basic Management.

The said orientation aims to educate the beneficiaries of the livelihood assistance in responsible management of their businesses.
Saguinsin added that the orientation was focused on small scale businesses.

Aside from Dr. Willie Buenaventura, Sen. Cayetano’s representative, also present on the said event were Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Director Adelina Apostol, Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando, First District Board Members Felix Ople, Michael Fermin, and Therese Cheryll Ople.

Angat River Water Park project sisimulan


Pinangunahan ni Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid kasama sina Gob. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado, Bise Gob. Daniel Fernando, Bustos Mayor Arnel Mendoza, San Rafael Mayor Lorna Silverio at Angat Mayor Gilberto Santos ang ground breaking ceremony ng Water Park sa Sitio Pugpog, Sta. Cruz, Angat kamakailan. Sakop ng proyektong ito ang mga bayan ng Angat, San Rafael, Norzagaray at Bustos, at inaasahang magpapalago sa industriya ng turismo sa Bulacan.

LUNGSOD NG MALOLOS- Ipinahayag ni Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid ang suporta sa pagsasakatuparan ng Angat Water Park Eco-tourism Project at hinimok ang mga lokal na pamahalaan na tapusin ang proyekto sa lalong madaling panahon.

“TIEZA is willing to invest funds to realize this project. Naisagawa na po ang plano para dito, pero iminumungkahi ko na ang bawat bayan na sakop nito ay mag-isip din ng natatanging turismo o attractions na makikita lamang sa kanilang bayan upang maiwasan ang kompetisyon at sa gayon ay mabigyan din ng iba’t ibang activities ang mga nais pumasyal dito,” ani Lapid.

 Kasabay nito ang groundbreaking ceremony na isinagawa sa Sitio Pugpog, Sta. Cruz, Angat sa pangunguna ni Gob. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado.

Idinagdag pa ni Alvarado na buo rin ang kanilang suporta sa pagtatayo ng tatlong ektaryang Environment Water Sports Facility sa ilog ng Angat na inaasahang maglalaan ng kumpletong adventure package para sa mga turista.

“Investors are very willing to invest in Bulacan, that’s why there is a huge potential for development and progress. But with development also comes our responsibility to our environment. We must properly monitor the execution of this project so as to continuously preserve the abundant gift of nature found in this place,” wika ni Alvarado.
Sinabi pa niya na sakop nito ang apat na bayan sa Bulacan na binubuo ng Angat, Norzagaray, Bustos at San Rafael.

Idinagdag pa ni Angat Mayor Gilberto Santos na ipinagawa na ang kalsada papunta dito, nakapagpagawa na rin ng mga kubo, at nagagamit na ang mga kagamitan tulad ng water bikes at kayaks.

“We are planning to put amenities such as water skiing, jet skiing, boating, kayaking, zipline, wakeboarding, floating restaurants, fishing and picnic areas. We are hoping that the entire facility will be finished next year,” ani Santos.

Nakiisa rin sina San Rafael Mayor Lorna Silverio, Norzagaray Mayor Feliciano Legaspi at Bustos Mayor Arnel Mendoza, sa paglagda ng memorandum of agreement sa pagitan ng TIEZA at ng mga lokal na pamahalaan.

“With all the resources and plans put in place, very soon people will say, ‘Water sports are more fun in Bulacan,’” wika pa ni Lapid

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Nag-iisang low fat, low sugar ice cream gawa sa Bulacan

Rufina Agustin (right).


MALOLOS—Gusto mo bang kumain ng sorbets dahil sa init ng panahon, ngunit nangangamba ka dahil baka tumaas ang iyong blood sugar at kolesterol?

Huwag malungkot, sapagkat mayroon ng low fat at low sugar na sorbetes at ito ay isang natatanging produktong Bulakenyo.

Ang low fat, low sugar ice na sorbetes ay bunga ng pagsasaliksik ng Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) ng Department of Science and Technology, ngunit ang nag-iisang gumagawa nito sa bansa ay ang Dairyman Ice Cream na nakabase sa Plaridel, Bulacan.

Ang produktong ito ay ibinbenta sa mga exclusive outlets ng Dairyman sa Luzon at maging sa kalakhang Maynila.

Sa kanyang pahayag sa mga lumahok sa kaun-unahang Technology Investment Forum na isinagawa sa Club Royale Resort sa lungsod na ito noong Abril 26, sinabi ni Wenifrida Lainez, isang senior research specialist mula sa  FNRI, ang Dairyman Ice Cream ang nag-iisang kumpanya sa bansa na gumagawa ng nasabing produkto.

Ito ay matapos tumigil ang isa pang katulad na kumpanya sa Leyte matapos biksan ngv FNRI ang teknolohiya sa merkado.

Sinabi ni Lainez na mahigit lamang P1-Milyon ang puhunan sa pagsisimula ng low-fat, low sugar ice cream at kabilang dito ang mga kagamitan sa produksyon maging ang blast freezer para sa mga produkto.

Binigyang diin ni Lainez na ang produkto ng Dairyman Ice Cream ay mayroon lamang nilalamang .46 porsyentong fat kumpara sa regular na sorbetes na may nilalamang 10.9 porsyentong fat.

Ang asukal nito ay .1 porsyento lamang kumpara sa 23.3 porsyentong asukal ng regular na sorbetes.

Ipinaliwanag ni Lainez na “fat enhances flavor, while sugar enhances texture and palatability.”

Ipinaliwanag niya na hindi regular na asukal ang nagpapatamis sa produkto ng Dairyman, sa halip ay mga sugar substitute.

Kung mababa ang fat at sugar content ng produkto ng Dairyman, mataas naman ito sa protina.  Ayon kay Lainez, umaabot sa 4.3 porsyento ang protein content ng Dairyman, samantalang ang regular na sorbetes ay 4.0 porsyento lamang sa bawat 100 gramo.

Hinggil naman sa presyo, sinabi ni Rufina Agustin, may-ari ng Dairyman na umaabot lamang sa P130 bawat litro ang kanilang benta.  Ito ay mas mababa kumapara sa ibang ice cream.

Sa kasalukuyan, sinabi ni Agistin na vanilla flavot pa lamang ang kanilang ibinbenta, ngunit bago matapos ang buwan ay magdagdag sila ng ube, chocolate at buko pandan flavor.

“There is an increasing demand for low fat and low sugar ice cream,” aniya at sinabing gagawa na rin sila ng low fat low sugar ice cream sa mga maliit na cups.

Hinggil naman sa mga gamit sa produksyon, ipinagmalaki ni Agustin na primera klase ang kanilang gamit.

“Kung ano ang ginagamiot na equipment ng mga leading brand, iyon din ang ginagamit naming.   Pareho lang kami sa roseso,” aniya. (Dino Balabo)