Briefs: Phoenix converts taxi fleet to auto LPG

Phoenix LPG Philippines Inc., a subsidiary company of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc, engaged in the selling and distribution of LPG products and services, converts over 200 registered fuel-powered vehicles operating in Iloilo City and nearby provinces to auto gas-powered cars under a conversion deal with GDR Taxi which has one of the biggest taxi fleets in the region.

Aiming to provide a cleaner and affordable alternative to fuel, Phoenix LPG partnered with Clean Vehicle Solutions Limited (CLEVA) — a Hong Kong-based company that specializes in fuel delivery, installation, and maintenance of LPG equipment—to use its Prins Technology for the auto LPG conversion project with GDR Taxi.

Phoenix has, so far, converted 48 out of the 215 GDR taxi units into auto LPG-powered vehicles and is expected to complete the project by the first quarter of 2020. These taxis are the pilot batch of the auto LPG conversion project of Phoenix LPG using the new technology.

The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan recently held a concert at The Tuloy Foundation, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Around 600 students of the Foundation were treated to an afternoon of traditional and modern music, as JICC invited the popular Idol group MNL48 and well-known Shamisen player, Keisho Ohno. The students cheered and danced during the artists’ performances.

MNL48 sang and danced to their hits “Aitakatta, Gustong Makita” and “High Tension”. These popular songs, originally in Japanese, were translated into Filipino. MNL 48 is the sister group of AKB 48, a popular Idol group in Japan, which has branched out to various Asian countries, including the Philippines.

Keisho Ohno played the traditional Tsugaru Shamisen pieces and modern pieces like “Zankokuna Tenshi no Thesis (A Cruel Angel’s Thesis).”

Ohno started playing when he was eight and became an accredited master at the early age of twelve. At fourteen years old, he became the authorized successor of authentic Chikuzan-bushi shamisen player. To his credit, he has released six albums and has extensively toured Europe and the North and South American Region. He has recently focused on sharing his performances in the Asia, especially in the South East Asian Region.

By holding these events, the Embassy hopes to encourage Filipino students to discover more about Japanese culture and at the same time have fun. In its commitment to build friendship and promote stronger mutual understanding, the JICC will continue to bring various cultural activities for the Filipino people.

Mindanao quakes: Glimpse of “The Big One” Metro Manila

The dreaded “Big One” in Metro Manila is a question of when, not if, it happens — and Sunday’s magnitude 6.9 quake in Davao del Sur, as well as those in North Cotabato and nearby areas last October and November, give us a glimpse of what could happen if a major earthquake strikes the Metro.

It’s hard to imagine just how bad things can get if the Big One does happen to Metro Manila. However, there are lessons to be learned from the current situation in Davao Del Sur and North Cotabato: it’s time to take disaster resilience and preparedness seriously.

While no one can stop an earthquake from happening, we can take steps to minimize the damage and casualties in the aftermath of an earthquake.

At least seven have been confirmed dead due to Sunday’s tremor, based on media reports citing various local and national officials. This is on top of the over 53,000 families (more than 260,000 people) already displaced by the previous magnitude 6 Mindanao earthquakes, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

More than 35,000 houses were totally or partially damaged, all in all, more than 37,000 structures including homes, schools, hospitals, places of worship, commercial establishments, roads and bridges were damaged in Regions 9, 10, 11, 12 and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Signify carbon neutral operations corner five more markets

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has achieved carbon neutrality in five more markets — specifically ASEAN, Far East, India, Indonesia and Pacific — boosting its number of markets with carbon-neutral operations to 15 of a total 19. This brings Signify a step closer towards achieving 100 percent carbon-neutral operations in 2020, one of the goals of its “Brighter Lives, Better World” sustainability program.

Signify in the Philippines joins its counterparts in stepping up on energy efficiency, renewable energy consumption and office space optimization.

As a result, it contributed to the overall reduction in carbon emissions by 19 percent in 2019. This includes a reduction of 33 percent from non-industrial sites, 17 percent from industrial sites, 32 percent from business travel and 18 percent from logistics.

For instance, instead of air transport, the Signify team in the Philippines actively deploys team collaboration technologies for cross-border projects with colleagues from multiple time zones.

While keeping an eye on delivery commitments, this team also consistently reviews with its distribution channels on how frequency and routes can be optimized made to further lower carbon footprint in the supply chain.

Signify offsets its remaining emissions through contributions to projects that have a positive environmental and social impact, including small- to medium-sized wind farms in India and a hydro plant in Vietnam that operates without using a dam.

“I’m extremely proud of the relentless commitment of all our employees that resulted in this great milestone, showing that carbon neutrality is possible and that it is possible today,” said Signify Philippines country manager Jagan Srinivasan. “We hope that our achievements inspire other companies around us and we call upon them to join initiatives that will result in global carbo.

Stylish rides launching TVS Motor, one of the leading motorcycle manufacturers in Asia, unveils new street stunner units, Dazz Prime and XL100 Premium, in a recent workshop and launch in Batangas Racing Circuit. Guests take the new units for test drives, giving them first-hand experience on the sleek and stylish rides. Aside from excellent customer service, the company also boasts of innovative designs, easy-to-handle and environment-friendly products.