2019 TFAW honors Filipino resiliency and preparedness

This June 17, 2019, the annual Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week (TFAW) opens with the theme. " Resiliency Bridging Science, Filipino Ingenuity, and Preparedness." This year, the TFAW aims to highlight the importance of Science and Technology (S&T) when it comes to preparedness and mitigation towards a more resilient Filipino community.

To kick off a week filled with activities, DOST-PAGASA will be launching the Storm Surge Warning System, as well as the Resilience and Innovation Cluster's (RIC) activities and technologies for the upcoming National Science and Technology Week 2019 in July.  One of these activities in particular is the presentation of DOST-TAPI's National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) winners.

(The RIC is composed of DOST-PAGASA, DOST-Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (DOST-PHILVOLCS), DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI), DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institite (DOST-FNRI), DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI), and DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI).

There will be a press conference on the newly completed J-Freedom Project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on June 18, at 11:00 am in the Sulo Riviera Hotel in Diliman, Quezon City.

And from June 17 to 23, several activities have been lined-up, including the STEM Tagisan ng Talino quiz bee; as well as an essay writing competition, and an information, Education and Communication  (IEC) campaign on hydro-meteorological hazards and the Early Warning System for non-technical PAGASA employees hosted by the Philippine  Meteorological Society.

A Typhoon and Flood Exhibition showcasing hydro-meteorological hazards will also be held in the DOST-PAGASA Main Lobby from June 17 to 21, 2019. The agency's facilities and services on these days will also be open to the public for free, including lectures at the Planatarium, and use of the Synoptic Observation and Instrumentation Units in the Science Garden.

Capping off the end of the week, from June 21 to 23, is the annual Media Seminar Worshop in NCR on DOST-PAGASA Products and Services, which will be held in the White Woods Convention and Leisure Hotel in Silang, Cavite.

TFAW is observed every third week of June by virtue of Proclamation no. 1535 signed in 2008.

GreatBrands Sale June 21 to 23

Shoe Makers Shop Inc., in cooperation with Metro Creative Themes Inc. will feature the best brands in a back-to-school sale that will welcome the rainy season. Mark your calendars for the biggest sale this June 21 to 23. A weekend 3-day GREATBRANDS SALE welcomes smart shoppers at the Megatrade Hall 2 of SM Megamall Building B.

Brands like HUSH PUPPIES, SEBAGO, PETITE JOLIE, CUSHE, ADIDAS, G. H. BASS are up for grabs with up to 70% off!

And there’s more! SKECHERS, KEDS, POLO RALPH LAUREN, MERRELL, S&H, ITALIANOS, IPANEMA, GRENDHA, ELLE and ECHOLAC are just some of the participating brands that will offer marked down prices on their items. Fashion accessories, personal items, apparels and other great finds are also on sale to complete your shopping list.

ADMISSION is FREE and shoppers are welcome from 10 AM to 10 PM during the 3-day GREAT BRANDS Sale.

The third leg of its mall series, the GreatBrands Sale event is organized by Shoe Makers Shop Inc., and managed by Metro Creative Themes Inc. For more information and inquiries, please contact Jonathan Roxas or Vilma Baculot through 0917-5365473 and 09171633597 respectively.  You can also email MCT Inc.  at mctevents@gmail.com for details.

For updates please like and follow MCT Events on Facebook

GreatBrands Sale

June 21 to 23 opens daily from 10AM until 10PM

Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall Building B

#GreatBrandsSale

#MegamallSale

#MidyearSale

Santos Knight Frank unveils next growth areas for Philippine Real Estate

  The Philippines’ real estate industry continues to be a key driver of economic growth. As the office and residential sectors remain robust, Santos

Knight Frank predicts that the next wave of expansion will come from sectors such as logistics, hospitality, retail and REITs.

REITs to unlock new capital for future developments

Since the passing of Republic Act No. 9856 in 2009, the real estate market has been anticipating the realization of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). A REIT is a publicly listed stock corporation that owns income-generating real estate assets, such as malls, offices and hotels. Envisioned to promote the development of the capital market, REITs are instruments to generate capital. REIT companies are also mandated by law to distribute 90%
of their retained earnings as dividends, which benefit investors.

With the recent move by the Government to amend rules on REITs, developers have been increasingly looking at listing their income-generating assets as REIT companies.

Rick Santos, Chairman & CEO of Santos Knight Frank says: “REITs have the power to democratize the Philippine property market, allowing the individual investor on the street to invest in high-value real estate assets along with the big players.”

Santos adds: “We believe REITs will substantially boost the Philippines’ capital market. New capital for developers will enable expansion of the real estate sector not only in Metro Manila but also in the provinces.”

Generally, REITs have outperformed their non-REIT and overall domestic market over the past one to five years in major Asia Pacific markets, according to Knight Frank’s analysis of

REITs in Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia from Thomson Reuters Datastream.

Santos Knight Frank estimates the prime and Grade A office market in Metro Manila’s four major central business districts (Bay Area, Makati, BGC and Ortigas) at PHP 1.02 trillion.

REITs are not only limited to office assets. With 4.3 million sqm (gross leasable area) in Manila’s retail, Santos Knight Frank expects developers to convert mall assets into REIT
companies. Assets such as energy, infrastructure, transportation, hospitals, schools and tourism have also been converted into REITs in other countries.

WTIA SECURES VIRTUAL CURRENCY EXCHANGE LICENSE FROM CEZA

With the help of the regulatory and business framework in CEZA, the World Token Issuing Alliance (WTIA) will help companies and countries from around the world adopt emerging blockchain technology and embrace a new tokenized economy.

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority has granted an Offshore Virtual Currency Exchange (OVCE) Provisional Regular License to WTIA, paving the way for WTIA to launch its exchange service on the WTIA Platform.

WTIA works with some of the world's largest blockchain and asset tokenization projects and is responsible for bringing together such projects as Monopoly Hotels & Resorts
(MHR); Smart City Company (SCC); and many more.

" WTIA is all about supporting Real Projects that have a positive impact on the community and country. Projects that deliver economic growth, create high value jobs, and can benefit from blockchain technology"s transparency, trust and security," says Keunyoung Kim, the chairman of WTIA.

This is a major step forward for WTIA as they prepare to launch their fully regulated security token exchange platform to increase liquidity for their projects. WTIA's new license will allow WTIA to offer security, utility and virtual currency tokens, covering the board spectrum of token offerings required as the portfolio of projects under WTIA expands.

With the increasing popularity of blockchain and its growing ecosystem of tokens, liquidity ensures fair pricing for projects through market dynamics and allows users to invest in the success of projects that they support.

" We are very excited to received this important license from CEZA. WTIA will be able to help our projects develop tokenization models based on asset digitalization,
solving many of the problems and bottlenecks in the current marketplace. Through WTIA and blockchain technology, we can bring real projects to fruition, creating economic prosperity and jobs for all." said Kaycee Kim, CEO of WTIA.

The ability to tokenize assets is creating a quiet revolution in the financial world. The digital tokenization of assets such as real estate, corporate assets and even IP allows assets to change hands conveniently, quickly and cheaply, without the need for complicated processes and middlemen. Information is stored on an immutable ledger, secured via a decentralized network, and linked through cryptology, creating a trusted system for the transfer and verification of ownership. Many mainstream financial institutions and asset management companies are very interested in the prospects from this technology and are considering the issuance of tokens backed by real world assets.

WTIA is the advisory and capital market solution of some of the biggest real-world blockchain projects in the world. Projects include sovereign-level tokenization programs, utility-token driven business models for listed companies, tokenized infrastructure securities, high technology applications and much more. Governments and large corporations seeking a new paradigm in management, asset utilization, business development and stakeholder engagement have joined the WTIA. By licensing WTIA in the Philippines, we are confident that Philippines efforts to develop its virtual currency and blockchain industry will lead the region in the years to come.

ABOUT WTIA

The Workd Token Issuing Alliance (WTIA) is the advisory and capital market solution of some of the biggest real-world blockchain projects in the world. Projects include sovereign-level tokenization programs, utility-token driven business models for listed companies, tokenized infrastructure securities, high technology applications and much more. Governments and large corporations seeking a new paradigm in management, asset utilization, business development and stakeholder engagement have joined the WTIA. The WTIA is a network of some of the world's top business, infrastructure development, blockchain advisors and discerning investors, bringing capital, technology and know-how to developing countries and large multi-national corporations.

WTIA has experts with in-depth experience in building traditional businesses, working with experts within the blockchain industry to bring together the best of both worlds. Focusing on asset-backed mineral resources and real estate, WTIA brings together an eco-system of investors, technology providers, developers and operators that will turn business ideas profitable, and deliver viable, usable solutions for government.

PLDT Enterprises, #GoNegosyo continue to propel MSMEs forward

Manila, Philippines: 10 June 2019
PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the country's leading ICT and digital services provider, recently fortified their decade-long partnership with Go Negosyo, the advocacy
group of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship-in an effort to sustain the latter's digital enablement programs.

The partnership, which began in 2008, has always advocated the empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by providing them with access to the latest information and technology.

Throughout the years, PLDT has supported the different programs of Go Negosyo via mentorship programs, technology enablement  workshops, and knowledge sharing-prepping next generation business owners to become digital entrepreneurs.

Today, Go Negosyo's headline project is the formation of its Angat Lahat sa Digital Alliance, which brings together 30 digital platform brands in an effort to create an ecosystem that will allow MSMEs to thrive.

Given such mission, the partnership between PLDT and Go Negosyo aims to build digital platforms in order for small businesses to connect their people , data, core applications,  and customers through products that are both accessible and secure.

"Go Negosyo is fortunate to have PLDT as one of our greatest supporters in the entrepreneurship advocacy. Ever since our early yeard, we have partnered with PLDT in providing our micro and small entrepreneurs mentorship, and now in digital age, PLDT equips our MSMEs with better connectivity and business solutions that will enable them to reach wider market. We encourage all MSMEs to maximize digitalization which democratizes the ecosystem for all products and services, making it more inclusive for everyone", Presidential Advisor for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion said.

Championing for the three M's of entrepreneurship, namely, mentorship, money and market, the advocacy group has given prominence to the tourism sector, youth groups and family enterprises-effectively empowering a greater number of budding entrepreneurs with tools for success.

" With over 900,000 registered MSMEs in the country, we believe that our economy can truly benefit from the steady growth and transformation brought by entrepreneurship," said FVP & Head of PLDT SME Mitch Locsin.

" This year, we at PLDT Enterprise have renewed our commitment to empower the MSME sector with all new products and plans fitted to their needs," said SVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups Jovy Hernandez.

" We are extremely honored to continue our relationship with Go Negosyo to reach even more Filipino entrepreneurs and provide them with the tools they need to compete with industry players," added Hernandez.

Ultimately, the said endeavor aims to uplift the local business landscape to strengthen the economic position of ASEAN-attracting new technologies and investors that will further propel the country's steady economic boom.

" The work that Go Negosyo is doing is good for our entrepreneurs, it's good gor business, it is good for the country. In fact, the contributiond of Go Negosyo are even more valuable today than when this movement started a decade ago," Chairman and CEO Manuel  V. Pangilinan said at the recent contract signing ceremony between the two parties.

Among fruits of the said partnership is the year- long digital mentorship program, Mentor Me Online, as well as ASEAN-centric events and forums.

About PLDT

PLDT is the leading telecommunications and digital services provider in the Philippines. Through its principal business groups-fixed line, wireless and others-PLDT offers a wide range of telecommunications and digital services across the Philippines' most extensive fiber optic backbone, and fixed line and cellular networks.

PLDT is listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE:TEL) and its American Depository Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:PHI). PLDT has one of the largest market capitalization among Philippine listed companies.

DUSD Asia Tour Philippines 2019

DUSD aim to foster a new financial future in the digital world. One that is more resilient to central points of fraud, failure, and greed. One that empowers people with new levels of access to capital, investments, and financial opportunities. One that democratizes digital financial world and unlock capital through the trusted trade of assets worldwide.

Organized by DUSD
Co-hosts ➡️ Asia Token Fund, BlockAce and Block Tides

ABOUT DUSD
With the endeavor to upkeep monetary responsibility and to guarantee stability in redemption value, we envision a digital coin DUSD, which will be based on the ERC -20 protocol and will undergo regular audits for its Proof of Reserves, to demonstrate that issued tokens are completely supported by the US dollar
Media Partners ➡️ BitPinas, CFN, Token News, Pilipinas Online, Today PH, On the Spotlight, The Philippines Event, Diyaryong Tagalog, DZMJ Online & Pinoy Kami Online

Website ➡️ https://bit.ly/31bMvls
Reserve your slots now!
Visit here:  dusd.com

#DOSTPH Highlights its marine biodiversity efforts as World celebrates Environment Day

As the world prepares to celebrate the World Environment Day on June 5, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) focuses its own celebration with the success of its Councils' efforts on marine biodiversity.

A fitting focus as the Philippine archipelago is part of the " Coral Triangle," an area in the Indo-West Pacific region that contains the world's highest marine biodiversity (coral and reef fish diversity ), with the Philippines known as the center of marine biodiversity with the highest concentration of species per unit area (Carpenter and Springer, 2005 as cited in State Coasts 2012).

Through the Department's Technology Media Conference , a regular promotional activity that introduces the latest DOST technologies, programs, and projeclts, DOST draws attention to the importance of the R&D efforts it has made on the country's very rich, unique, and productive marine biodiversity. This ecosystem encompasses important coastal and marine habitats, which support numerous marine flora and fauna including globally threatened species.

DOST and its two R&D Councils have funded projects on marine biodiversity that cover genetic, species and ecosystem diversity of the different life forms  (e.g. marine plants, animals and microorganisms as well as the genes that they contain and the ecosystem that they form) found in the marine environment for conservation and management, resource and ecosystems assessment and monitoring; and for sustainable utilization of the marine resources.

Some of the initiatives funded under DOST and the Philippine Council gor Agriculture; Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) include the following:

* The Philippine (formerly Benham) Rise Program, which aims to develop a Deep Sea Resources Research Center that will coordinate and implement researches in the Philippine Rise, and subsequently in other deep sea areas of the Philippines. Primary data gathering for basic and applied research has been initiated.

* R&D program on Corals, which conducted the first documentation of the mesophotic resources in Abra de Ilog and Apo Reef Natural Park in Occidental Mindoro. The deep or mesophotic coral ecosystems studies are challenging and the ecosystem itself is poorly documented as they occur at depths of 30-150 meters.

* Studies on the biology and exploitation of commercially-valuable mollusc resources in Western Visayas is an inventory of commercially-important mollusc species in the island of Panay.

* Research on giant clam: Giant clams are essential players in coral reef ecosystems because they serve as food and shelter to many marine organisms. Restocking marine ecosystems with these giant clams enhances local diversity and abundance of organisms on the reef.

* DNA barcoding of selected marine fishes in Davao and Sulu Archipelago; a project which aims to initiate a DNA barcode library of economically and ecologically important fish species in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Davao Provinces.

DOST and the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) also has the Integrated Assessment and Modelling of Blue Carbon Ecosystem for Conservation and Adaptive Management (IAMBlueCECAM) Program. This is the country's counterpart project to Japan's Comprehensive Assessment and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems and their Services in the Coral Triangle (BlueCARES) Project.

It was conceptualized based on the aims of and considering the need to further advance BlueCARES on the utilization if space technology and geo-simulation.

The numerous R&D efforts and initiatives of DOST and its Councils underscore the valuable role of marine biodiversity in the country's economic and environmental integrity and sustainability.

With the celebration of the World Environmental Day, DOST, as well as PCAARRD and PCIEERD, further commits to the conservation and sustainable management of the country's marine resources and biodiversity through S&T. (DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services)