Prime Infra strengthens position in water market
Prime Infrastructure Holdings Corp. (Prime Infra) has announced a significant milestone in its water business strategy to establish its position as a leader in the Philippines’ water market.
On June 3, Prime Infra’s Trident Water closed the acquisition of a controlling stake in Manila Water Company, Inc. (PSE: MWC). This acquisition, together with the ongoing flagship Wawa bulk water supply project, builds up Prime Infra’s water market presence as the leading bulk water supplier and distribution utility operator in the Philippines.
MWC, in addition to being the largest publicly-listed water company in the Philippines, also has presence in four countries overseas, namely Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Prime Infra management team will work hand in hand with existing MWC shareholders to seek expansion opportunities both in the Philippines and abroad.
Prime Infra is businessman Enrique K. Razon Jr. ‘s infrastructure arm focused on providing reliable, resilient and sustainable infrastructure to build better lives and resilient economies.
“Prime Infra is part of a dynamic and fast-growing group of companies that have successfully brought the Filipino brand to the world. It is then only a logical move for us to take the leap into becoming a global Filipino water company by focusing on strategic and scalable water businesses, leveraging on our group’s vast network, experience and resources,” says Razon, chairman of Prime Infra.
Razon was elected, on June 3, as chairman, president and chief executive officer of MWC following the strategic investment made by Prime Infra.
Apart from water, Prime Infra’s infrastructure assets also include sustainable energy and construction, and will soon expand to other industries as part of its commitment to bring and improve services to communities around the world.
UST FMS celebrates 150 Years
The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (UST FMS) marked its sesquicentennial celebration last May 28 and 29. The inaugural ceremonies took place on the 28th at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion opening with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Very Reverend Fr. Richard Ang, OP, Rector Magnificus of the university.
Thomasian physicians from near and far attended the livestreamed event on the UST FMS page. Health Secretary Francisco Duque, a Thomasian physician, keynoted the event. He reminisced about his life as a UST medical student and called on more Thomasian physicians to enter government service.
The day’s high point was the unveiling of the marker to be placed at the entrance of the San Martin de Porres Building housing the FMS. It highlights the beginnings of FMS as the Facultad de Medicina y Cirugia, originally located in Intramuros, Manila beginning in 1871, and FMS’s adherence to its Christian mandate and principles.
Rector Magnificus Very Reverend Richard Ang, OP; the Regent of FMS Fr. Angel Aparicio, OP; Dean Lourdes Maglinao; and Secretary Duque graced the unveiling. Very Reverend Fr. Francisco Timoner III, OP, Master of the Order of Preachers based in the Vatican, also delivered a message at the ceremony.
On the 29th, a second marker at the Plaza Santo Tomas in Intramuros was officially unveiled. Present were Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, and Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo. Also present were Fr. Aparicio, Dean Maglinao, Assistant Dean Remedios Chan, and other Thomasian physicians.
Cebu Pacific transports another 1m COVID-19 vaccine doses
Cebu Pacific safely transported another batch of 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Beijing to Manila on June 10, 2021. The vaccines were airlifted via 5J 671.
This is the fifth shipment picked up by CEB from China, in coordination with the Department of Health.
Upon arrival, the vaccines were inspected by authorities, and were immediately transferred to refrigerated container vans and facilities.
The transported vaccines were subjected to strict handling guidelines which entailed storing them in temperature-specific refrigerated containers to maintain potency and efficacy up until arrival at their designated stations.
To date, CEB has flown over 4.5 million COVID-19 doses from China, on top of more than 1.1 million doses carried to 13 Philippine provinces, namely Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Masbate, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, Virac, and Zamboanga.
GrabPay is Mayani’s official payment partner at food fair
GrabPay, the in-app wallet of Grab, has been named the exclusive payment partner of farm-to-table e-commerce platform Mayani for the upcoming Hybrid National Food Fair.
The partnership will allow consumers to make cashless payments when they buy agricultural produce during the event, helping to support thousands of farmers and small and micro entrepreneurs (MSMEs) on the Mayani platform.
The National Food Fair will be open to consumers from June to September 2021. The event, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is part of the government’s efforts to revitalize the agriculture sector and help create opportunities for farmers and agriculture-based entrepreneurs nationwide.
Through this team-up with Mayani and GrabPay, DTI will also be able to bolster market enabling conditions for the upland agri-communities covered by Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project – Livelihood Enhancement Support 2 funded by the Asian Development Bank.
With over 12,000 smallholder farmers on board, Mayani is the country’s fastest growing e-commerce platform, particularly in the agri-tech space. It has already secured over 10,000 retail customers and solid commercial partners like Shell, WalterMart Supermarket, UCC Group, Healthy Options, Amici, and Cara Mia, among others.
Aboitiz pledges support for expanded vaccine rollout
The Aboitiz Group, together with a coalition of public-private sector partners under the Taskforce T3 (test, trace, treat), pledged support to the government’s efforts to initiate the vaccination of the A4 priority sector.
The commitment was formalized on June 7 through a hybrid event held simultaneously at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City and via virtual platform.
Among those who took part in the ‘Commitment Ceremony & Ceremonial Vaccination for A4’ were CEOs from the largest private companies and business organizations in the Philippines. The A4 category includes frontline personnel in essential sectors.
“This marks a turning point in our efforts to bring COVID-19 under control. Expanding vaccination coverage to include workers from across all industries is our single most crucial step towards reopening a more inclusive economy. The Aboitiz Group will continue to support our fellow Filipinos in taking full advantage of this long-awaited opportunity to restore their livelihood,” said Sabin M. Aboitiz, president and CEO of the Aboitiz Group.
Toyota cautions public on online scam
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has warned the public about an online scam circulating in social media platforms and communication apps inviting recipients to click on the link in exchange of free gifts.
“Recipients are strongly advised not to click on the link and to refrain from forwarding the message. The message leads to a deceptive website that will attempt to steal personal information and data,” TMP said.
In the event the recipient has engaged with the link, it is best to change the passwords of concerned accounts and activate a two-factor authentication to further improve security.
Sekaya celebrates anniversary with special Brand Week
Filipino plant-based brand Sekaya is holding its first-ever Brand Week on Lazada and its new Shopee store, as well as on its Facebook and Instagram from June 14 to 20 as it celebrates its first anniversary.
Throughout the Brand Week, Sekaya shoppers get to enjoy free shipping and more surprises from the brand. Aside from celebrating on Lazada, it’s also hosting LazLive sessions on the Synnovate Lasmall Flagship Store to give everyone a chance to learn more about its products and how these can help boost health, while easily fitting into daily routines.
Sekaya, under Synnovate Pharma Corp., the naturals company of Unilab, offers a range of plant-based solutions with ingredients sourced from USDA and EU certified organic farms and processed in pharmaceutical grade facilities: Sekaya Botanic Infusion, Sekaya Organic Moringa, Sekaya Raw Actives and Sekaya Skin Repair Gel under its Botanicare
Cashback at Mercury Drug with PayMaya
Mercury Drug has made transactions better with PayMaya QR via #ScanToPay in-store or via Digital QR for their delivery of orders made ob Viber service.
Mercury Drug purchases are more rewarding as PayMaya is giving up to P600 cashback until July 31.
First-time users of PayMaya QR at Mercury Drug can get a total cashback of up to P600. For a minimum spend of P1,000, one can enjoy a P200 reward on his first ever Mercury Drug transaction or P100 back each time for four Mercury Drug transactions with the same minimum spend.
Existing users can get up to P500 cashback when they #ScanToPay for their transactions. For a minimum spend of P1,000, one can get P100 cashback for his first five purchases within the promo period.
