MERALCO MOU with DILG, PNP and BFP
Powered by the common mission of ensuring public safety and the continuous conveyance of electricity, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by MERALCO’s Chief Legal Counsel Atty. William S. Pamintuan and Chief Commercial Officer Engr. Ferdinand O. Geluz, Secretary Eduardo M. Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), then Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Debold M. Sinas, and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Chief Jose S. Embang, Jr.
Under the MOU, the parties agree to support one another in implementing relevant laws and government issuances such as the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act, Ease of Doing Business Act, Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act, National Building Code, Philippine Electrical Code, Revised Fire Code, Revised Penal Code, and the DILG Memorandum Circulars (MC) on Road Clearing.
The MOU was officially signed on December 21, 2020 followed by a DILG MC dated January 25, 2021, directing all local government units (LGUs), PNP, and BFP to perform their respective roles under the MOU to achieve its objectives.
To officially form the Executive Committee (EXECOM) are members from DILG, PNP, BFP and MERALCO, co-chaired by DILG and MERALCO. With the guidance of DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año, BFP Chief Jose S. Embang, Jr., and the new PNP Chief Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar, the EXECOM will regularly meet to operationalize and converge efforts among MERALCO, DILG, BFP, PNP and LGUs for proper implementation of the MOU.
On March 1, 2021, the MERALCO Board of Directors passed a Resolution appointing Atty. Oscar P. Moreno, Jr. and Engr. Sante C. Buella as the representatives of MERALCO to the EXECOM as Co-Chairman and as Member, respectively, to lead and oversee the execution of the MOU.
DepEd Cebu, Globe ink landmark partnership to build new cell sites
Globe is embarking on a landmark partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Cebu Province with the construction of 26 new cell sites in 26 DepEd locations to support the government’s online learning initiatives.
Investing P338 million for the building of the new cell sites in 26 Cebu schools, Globe will provide internet connectivity to around 36,000 students and 1,550 teachers and neighboring communities.
Under the memorandum of agreement, DepEd Cebu will offer its premises free of rent for the said cell sites. Globe for its part will furnish DepEd schools in the province with free broadband and WiFi services.
Globe and DepEd have long been partners in integrating information and communication technologies in the Philippine education system. Last year, Globe and DepEd worked together in providing teachers and students with free access to DepEd Commons, which contains online review materials and Open Educational Resources (OER) authored by public school teachers. Globe also assisted DepEd in training educators for distance learning through a modified series of webinars under its Global Filipino Teachers (GFT) program.
Don Bosco to open in Cresendo
Don Bosco plans to open its new campus in Ayala Land‘s Cresendo Estate in Tarlac City as part of its mission to expand the reach of Salesian education with a special focus on quality Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Don Bosco Tarlac is the pioneer Don Bosco institution in the Philippines and is also the remaining presence without a TVET center.
Don Bosco Cresendo will also be offering senior high school education in the first few years, with a target start date of 2023. In 2025, it will be offering TVET, which aims to provide manpower to in-demand industries through technical and vocational courses such as computer education, electrical installation, machining, refrigeration and air conditioning, and mechatronics.
As a new educational hub situated in a conducive environment, Don Bosco Cresendo is positioned to become a breeding ground of future public servants and community leaders that will contribute to the rise of Central Luzon.
DTP expands reach
Through its community development partners, Globe was able to reach out to educate 5,635 teachers, parents, and students from 10 cities in Metro Manila and 23 provinces nationwide on the responsible use of technology since the start of the pandemic.
The initiative is part of Globe’s Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP) which seeks to heighten awareness on digital citizenship and cybersafety. It contains modules on Digital Insight, Digital Impact, Digital Ambition and Digital Discernment, and a Parent Module that Globe community ambassadors shared through a total of 155 DTP online sessions.
Globe continues to conduct training of community ambassadors with community development partners, to ensure that the education sector benefits from the online modules. Since it was integrated in the Department of Education’s K-12 curriculum in 2019, DTP has reached more areas nationwide reaching 4,101 schools and providing more than 1.9 million students access to the modules.
Binalot celebrates kindness of Filipinos
Binalot has mobilized its own effort since the start of the pandemic through its BAYANI which accepts food donations for medical frontliners.
The program has garnered support from individuals here and abroad as well as companies and industry associations.
Binalot is now targeting to send food to the vaccination center volunteers to help speed up the end of the pandemic.
GrabKitchen opens in Malate, Paranaque
Grab unveiled its latest and biggest GrabKitchen facility in Malate Manila bringing a wide selection of cuisines to the country’s capital city. Measuring 400 square meters, the new cloud kitchen facility houses 15 delivery-only branches of popular merchants namely Omakase, Frankie’s, Recovery Food, Paper Moon, Yogorino, Pepi Cubano, Dapo at Tisa, King Chef, La Tita, Selecta, So Mot, Blu Kouzina, Coco Fresh Tea and Juice, Merienda by Pan De Manila, and Go! Salads.
Grab also announced the opening of a delivery-only cloud kitchen in Paranaque. The facility introduces new flavor profiles from restaurant options namely 24 Chicken, Alishan at the Alley, Army Navy, Cara Mia, La Titas MNL, Pizza Telefono, Kyoto Sushi Bake, Bahn Mi Kitchen, El Nacho Libre, Sheikh’s Kebab, Breakfast for 2, and Black Kimchi.
Popular brands Selecta, Omakase and Dapo at Tisa, also expanded their branches to GrabKitchen Paranaque. The Paranaque site offers long-distance service to customers, delivering favorites to nearby cities such as Muntinlupa, Pasay, Las Pinas, and select parts of Cavite.
First launched in Indonesia in 2018, GrabKitchen first opened in Glorietta 2, Makati in February 2020 followed by the opening in Sampaloc in February 2021.
MVP gives back to Jesuit community
Ateneo alumnus and chairman of the PLDT group Manuel V Pangilinan helped build the Suscipe Fund, which aims to defray expenses relating to the care of senior and infirm Jesuits, more fondly known as the “Lolo Jesuits.”
The Fund was established by the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus in honor of Fr. Roque Ferriols SJ, Pangilinan’s Philosophy professor, who celebrates 80 years as a Jesuit this May.
The Suscipe Fund is named after the famous prayer, “Take and Receive, O Lord” of St. Ignatius of Loyola at the end of the Spiritual Exercises.
Pangilinan’s donation serves as the Suscipe Fund’s seed contribution.
Marawi rebuild progresses with Holcim help
Marawi masons trained by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority with support from Holcim Philippines are leading the reconstruction of their community.
Close to 500 houses for families displaced by the conflict in Marawi have been built as part of the partnership to support the city’s rehabilitation by leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc., the United Nations Human Settlement Program (UN-Habitat) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
By the end of April, 491 of the 1,057 housing units planned for the first phase of the project were either completed or under construction. Holcim Philippines has supplied close to 72,000 bags of general-purpose cement Holcim Excel to the project sites in Marawi through its plant in Lugait, Misamis Oriental. Additional 85,000 bags of Holcim Excel will be used for the rest of the houses.
The reconstruction is being led by Marawi residents, 116 of whom were trained and certified by TESDA under Holcim Philippines ‘galing Mason program. The masonry skills and certification from TESDA will enable beneficiaries to explore job opportunities in other areas after completing the construction projects in Marawi.
