Pages

Monday, September 27, 2010

International News 2010: Ben & Jerry's to drop 'All Natural' from labels

Ben & Jerry's!Image by Noeluap via Flickr
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's is dropping the phrase "all natural" from all labels after a request from a health advocacy group.

The CSPI told the company last month it should not use "all natural" if products contain alkalized cocoa, corn syrup, hydrogenated oil or other ingredients that are not natural.

Ben & Jerry's, a unit of consumer products giant Unilever, said it's not changing any recipes. It's just removing the label from all products, whether they are among the majority that contain at least one of the ingredients CSPI listed or not.

The Food & Drug Administration has no formal definition for "natural." But it won't object to term as long as products do not contain added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances.

The ingredients will be the same ones Ben & Jerry's has always used, but the company no longer wants to battle over the definition of "all natural," which has different meanings to different people, Greenwood said.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: SM Prime allots P24 billion for 4 new malls in China

SM City Cagayan de OroImage via Wikipedia
XiamenSM Prime Holdings Corp. is ratcheting up its expansion across China with around RMB 3.58 billion (roughly P24 billion) allotted for the construction of four new malls slated for opening between 2010 and 2013.

Diane R. Dionisio, vice-president for finance of SM Prime’s China projects, said the group is stepping up its presence in the world’s second largest economy with plans to build its biggest shopping mall ever in Tianjin, the sixth largest city of the People’s Republic of China.

Dionisio said the SM Tianjin will rise on a 43-hectare property that would have approximately 530,000 square meters of gross floor area, about 30 percent bigger than its Mall of Asia on Roxas Boulevard. Targeted for opening in 2013, SM Tianjin will be built at a cost of RMB 2 billion (P13.4 billion), the highest investment ever to be made by the group.

The 70,000 square meter SM Suzhou with a development cost of RMB 450 million, is scheduled to open in December this year to be followed by SM Chongqing in the fourth quarter of 2011, SM Tianjin and SM Zibo in central Shandong province, both in 2013.

SM Prime has earmarked RMB 500 million for the construction of the Chongqing outlet which will have a gross floor area of 150,000. Around RMB 630 million has been set aside for SM Zibo with an estimated gross floor area of 170,000 square meters.

When completed, these malls would bring SM Prime’s total store network in China to eight. SM Prime entered China in 2007 after buying billionaire Henry Sy’s malls in Xiamen, Jinjiang and Chengdu for $252 million.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, September 24, 2010

Stock News 2010: PAL to save P141M on cabin crew cutback

Philippine Airlines flight attendant Puerto Pr...Image by antefixus21 via Flickr
MANILA, Philippines—The flight stewards union of the Philippine Airlines on Friday said the flag carrier would reap more than P141 million in savings for cutting down the number of cabin crew members per aircraft, an amount bigger than the financial package it was offering to flight attendants.

In a statement, the Flight Attendants and Stewards' Association of the Philippines claimed that the reduction program was being implemented "at the expense" of flight attendants now working double-time due to the small number of crew members serving per aircraft.

"The reductions scheme takes away food on the flight attendants' table, making them work more for less pay," said Fasap president Bob Anduiza in a statement Friday.

The program was enforced starting July despite strong objections from FASAP, he noted.

Citing documents detailing PAL's plans to reduce Cabin Crew Complement per aircraft type, FASAP on Friday said such scheme would result to a "whopping" P141,306,729.17 savings yearly for the national carrier.

"[This figure] is certainly several times bigger than the financial amount PAL is offering to the 1,542 flight attendants to cover for a three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement," said Anduiza.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Stock News 2010: Sun claims No. 1 spot in postpaid subscription

Sun CellularImage via Wikipedia
GOKONGWEI-LED Digitel Telecommunications Philippines Inc., operator of mobile brand Sun Cellular, now has over a million postpaid subscribers, giving it the lead in this market segment.

In a statement, Sun Cellular said it now has 15 million subscribers, with a million being on postpaid accounts.

Globe Telecom’s postpaid subscribers hit 909,000 at the end of the first half of the year, while industry leader Smart Communications had only 439,844 in the same period, according to these firms’ second quarter financial reports.

“We achieved this milestone only seven years from start up and with our rivals enjoying a 10-year headstart. We are getting seven out of every 10 new postpaid subscribers,” Sun Cellular business unit CEO Charles Lim said in a statement.

He attributed this achievement to Sun’s “unmatched” unlimited service and rates, which were made possible by the latest technology the telco was using.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Stock News 2010: Russian miner buys stake in Mindoro project

Copper mining and sulfuric acid plant, Copperh...Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr
RUSSIAN STEELMAKER OAO Severstal has acquired a 21.7-percent stake in Norwegian miner Intex Resources ASA, a company whose main project is a nickel mine in Mindoro.

The deal, valued at $12.5 million and made through Severstal’s unit Lybica Holding BV, is part of the Russian company’s “diversification strategy into new commodities,” said Boris Granovsky, head of Severstal’s Strategy and Business Development, in a statement posted on the company’s website.

Severstal and Intex said in separate statements that the Russian miner also intended to make a voluntary offer to acquire the remaining Intex shares it did not own.

However, Intex said its board observed that Severstal’s standing offer did not match the value of the Norwegian miner’s mineral assets.

Based on 91.7 million Intex shares outstanding, the company said the proposal valued its equity at approximately $58.3 million.

Intex CEO Erlend Grimstead said earlier that the deposit has a total resource of 2.6 million tons of contained nickel, which lends itself well to processing and is very cost-efficient. Annual production at Mindoro is expected to start in three to four years and is estimated that it will be at 63,000 tons a year.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: Eton to put up another BPO building in QC

Timmy Tan with father Lucio Tan and Deng Pufan...Image via Wikipedia
MANILA, Philippines - Eton Properties Philippines Inc. will start the construction of another office building in Quezon City in October to cater to strong market demand.

Danilo Ignacio, president and chief operating officer of the Lucio Tan-led property developer, said the 12-storey project within Eton Centris will have 18,000 square meters of leasable space. It will be completed by the fourth quarter of 2011.

"We have a very strong BPO (business process outsourcing) market this year," said Ignacio.

"Our existing tenants have expressed interest to expand in the new building," he added.

Eton currently has two office buildings, one in Eton Centris and another in Eton Cyberpod Corinthian in Ortigas, which are already leased out.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Stock News 2010: SMDC Ups Rights Offer Price to P6.38/Share

SM WideImage by thelouie via Flickr
MANILA, Philippines – As its market price continued to rise amid a bull run, SM Development Corporation has decided to set its stock rights offer price at P6.38 per share, well above its earlier price range, for a higher total offering size of P11.69 billion.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, SMDC said the offer price still represents a discount of 18.19 percent to the 15-day volume-weighted average price of SMDC shares from the trading days covering August 26 to September 17, 2010.

SMDC is offering 1.83 billion shares stockholders at the rate of one rights share for every three common shares held. The offer price range was earlier set between P5.45 and P5.73 per share. Closing price was P9.00 per share yesterday.

The residential property development arm of SM Investments Corporation, SMDC plans to launch its stock rights offering on October 18 to October 22, 2010 for stockholders as of October 6. The shares will be listed at the bourse on November 3, 2010.

Stockholders subscribing to the issue will have to pay for only half of the shares upon subscription while the balance of 50 percent will be paid in full on the sixth month from the listing date although they may opt to pay in full on the third month after listing.

SMDC president Henry Sy Jr. said proceeds from the offer will be used by the company for its land banking and project development expenses.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: Nido Petroleum finds major oil and gas find in Palawan

A pumpjack in TexasImage via Wikipedia
MANILA, Philippines -  Australian oil and gas exploration company Nido Petroleum Ltd. said it has discovered a potentially big oil and gas reservoir in northwest Palawan.

In a disclosure to the Australian Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Nido said it estimated that structures at its Service Contract 58 or the West Calamian block in Palawan, could contain "over 5 billion barrels of unrisked oil in place."

The Calamian block, straddling 13,440 square kilometers, is adjacent to the Malampaya natural gas field.

"The majority of core data indicates widespread micro-seepage of liquid hydrocarbons across SC 58 based on preliminary gas chromatography results," the company said.

The oil and gas exploration company previously reported it planned to start drilling the Calamian prospect by 2012.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, September 17, 2010

Stock News 2010: Banks’ NPL ratio rises in July

Original BSP Seal (1949-1993)Image via Wikipedia
Universal and commercial banks’ soured loans in relation to total loans rose in July, the central bank said on Friday.

In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of these banks stood at 3.37% in July, higher by 0.12% from the previous month’s 3.27%, but lower than the 3.49% in the same period last year.

July, the BSP noted, was the 22nd month the NPL ratio fell below 4%.

NPLs are loans whose principal or interest were unpaid 30 days or more after the due date.

The BSP said the month-on-month change took place because banks’ total loans declined faster than their disposal of soured loans.

NPLs fell to P85.73 billion in July from the previous month’s P87.67 billion, while their total loans dropped to P2.544 trillion from P2,681 trillion.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: Businessmen present wish list to Aquino

Facade of Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino Inter...Image via Wikipedia
BUSINESSMEN ON Friday outlined their concerns on the economy and governance at a meeting in MalacaƱang with President Benigno C. Aquino III.

A wish list for the next six years was presented by Makati Business Club (MBC) chairman Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr. in behalf of his group, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Management Association of the Philippines and the Joint Foreign Chambers.

Mr. del Rosario, while noting recent gains such as a stock market surge, the strong peso and an oversubscribed global bond issue, said much more needed to be done.

Businessmen are also concerned over vacancies in key government positions, which if left unfilled for long would send the impression that the Aquino administration was lacking a sense of urgency.

The government, Mr. del Rosario added, should also articulate clear and stable policies with respect to major economic sectors.

The businessmen’s proposals include:

  1. wage setting reforms and the upgrading of the Labor Code as "significant provisions have become much archaic and irrelevant to the globalized environment";
  2. early implementation of an open skies policy and full use of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 3 (NAIA 3) terminal to improve access to tourist spots;
  3. a review of the common carriers tax which was described as discriminating against foreign firms; and
  4. the pursuit of a disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness program.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: Public-private partnership projects to cost nearly P740 billion

Picture of DMIA taken last Oct 19, 2001Image via Wikipedia
THE AQUINO administration on Friday unveiled the broad outlines of its plan to mount infrastructure projects through so-called private-public partnerships (PPPs), estimating an initial tally of around 80 projects that will cost nearly P740 billion.

Mr. Paderanga bared a "short list" of 10 projects that will be ready for rollout or tender next year, with an estimated investment requirement of P127.8 billion:

  1. extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 to Bacoor, Cavite (P70 billion);
  2. extension of the LRT Line 2 to Masinag Junction in Antipolo (P11.299 billion);
  3. a new airport in Bohol (P7.543 billion);
  4. a "city terminal" for the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Pampanga (cost to be determined);
  5. privatization of the operation and maintenance contract of the Laguindingan airport in Misamis Oriental (cost to be determined);
  6. a new airport in Puerto Princesa (P4.362 billion);
  7. an expressway connecting the North and South Luzon tollways (P21 billion);
  8. the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (P10.5 billion);
  9. supply of treated bulk water for Metro Manila (cost to be determined); and
  10. a new airport in Daraga, Albay.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Stock News 2010: PSE sees Cebu Air listing next month, cites bull market

Cebu Pacific ATRImage by georgeparrilla via Flickr
The Philippine Stock Exchange expects Cebu Air Inc. to push through with its P32.2-billion initial public offering next month given the stellar performance of the local and overseas markets.

“There are no other issues why they should not go with it this time,” PSE chairman Hans Sicat told reporters Wednesday.

Cebu Air, which operates Cebu Pacific, will offer 214.632 million shares, consisting of 30.66 million in primary shares, 155.97 million in secondary stocks and up to 27.99 million in optional securities to cover overallotment. It will sell the shares at a maximum price of P150 apiece.

Cebu Air tapped Citigroup Global Markets Ltd., Deutsche Bank AG (Hong Kong Branch) and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. as joint global coordinators and international lead managers and ATR Kim Eng Capital Partners Inc. as the local underwriter for the offering.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Stock News: Rustans Expanding to Middle and Working Class Markets

MRT Train in between the EDSA-Quezon Avenue Fl...Image via Wikipedia
The Rustan’s group of the Tantoco family is reaching out to a bigger market by expanding its middle-market Shopwise store network outside Metro Manila by with the planned opening of at least four stores at a cost of over P1 billion.

Shopwise president Bienvenido Tantoco III said the firm wants to devote its internal cash to the development of new stores. He said each store will cost P250 million to P350 million to build.

"This year, we got two and then we've signed deals for two that we will develop next year but we'd like to do more. Aside from Shopwise, we feel there is opportunity for Rustan’s Fresh and also Rustan’s Express,” Tantoco said.

He explained that “now we are multi-format. Shopwise is for middle class Rustans Fresh is for upper middle to affluent. And Rustan’s Express is for working class. We want to expand towards those three types of customers using the three formats"


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: ERC Dismisses Customer’s Petition Seeking New P39-B Meralco Refund

Household electric meter, USAImage via Wikipedia
The Energy Regulatory Commission has denied for lack of merit a consumer’s petition for Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to refund P39 billion in alleged overcharges from 2004 to 2007.

The petition was filed by Genaro Lualhati seeking a refund for residential customers of Meralco and the replacement of the current rates to P0.9077 per kilowatthour.

Lualhati claimed that Meralco overpriced its residential customers because the approved distribution price for 2006 is only P1.083 per kWh compared to the P2.063 per kWh uniform price charged by Meralco.

He said Meralco is making small residential consumers subsidize the power rates of big industrial and commercial users and added that Meralco charged its non-residential customers a rate of only P0.3929 per kWh.

Lualhati alleged that the P0.9077 per kWh should be the highest rate to be charged to any customer class and the current price of P2.0683 per kWh is both "overpriced and discriminatory.”


Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Stock News 2010: US Firm Eyes Big Investment in Mining

After the ore is weighed in the "Hewlett&...Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr
Nexsun Corp., a Los Angeles-based green energy project management firm, which is diversifying into mineral exploration and development worldwide, said it is encouraged by the determination of the new Philippine government to enhance the investment climate in the country.

Nexsun recently invested in four local mining companies, namely Peniel Resources Mining, J&M Resources Mining, Bogo Resources Mining and T&T Resources and Mining. Nexsun recently appointed James Kim as president of these four mining companies.

"We intend to invest substantial capital in Philippine mining, as a showcase of our trust and confidence in the new administration of President Benigno Aquino III," said James Kim.

Kim said the company is looking at various mining potentials in the country such as iron ore, titanium and gold and are now in the exploratory stage.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: Vista Land to Roll Out P7.5-B New Condo Dev’t Projects

Luxury condominiums at 1224 Dearborn Street, C...Image via Wikipedia
Vista Land and Lifescapes is planning to roll out P7.5 billion worth of new vertical development projects in the next coming months to raise the total value to P12.5 billion by 2011.

According to Vista Land president Benjamarie N. Serrano, this is to capitalize on its successful offering of 17 low-rise and mid-rise buildings to different market segments valued at P5.03 billion this year.

Serrano said the company aims to corner a bigger share of the vertical home segment next year by adding new low-rise and mid-rise with residential condominiums and attract the growing number of buyers who prefer the features of this distinctive type of property development.

“We have opened a total of 17 low-rise and mid-rise buildings spread across different projects. We are tapping into our existing master-planned communities where we will incorporate more of these types of developments,” Serrano said.

She noted that “we have done these in our various projects in other areas and the demand has been encouraging.”

Serrano explained that building for the low-rise and mid-rise residential niche is a logical step for Vista Land, with the demand driven by end-users in the metropolis who want to enjoy the advantages of a low-rise or mid-rise development.

She disclosed that Vista Land will initially tap its existing properties, the biggest of which is Vista Lakefront, a sprawling, 60-hectare master-planned community in Sucat, Muntinlupa City.

The group has six of seven planned low-rise and mid-rise developments already completed in the vertical, resort themed Presidio enclave of Vista Lakefront.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, September 9, 2010

International News 2010: KFC tries to revive founder Colonel Sanders' prestige

Colonel SandersImage via Wikipedia
Our cultural connection to Colonel Sanders seems to have been lost in the deep-fryer of time.

Colonel Harland Sanders, the goateed founder of KFC known for his white suits, string ties and "finger-lickin' good" punch line, would have turned 120 years old today.

But young adults don't know him from beans. More than six in 10 Americans ages 18 to 25 — the chain's key demographic — couldn't identify him in the KFC logo, according to a survey last week by the chain.

Worse, five in 10 believe he's a made-up icon and three in 10 haven't a clue who he was.

That's why KFC is taking action. Today, the world's largest chicken chain, with 15,000 outlets in 109 countries, unleashes an online PR blitz aimed at bringing the Facebook generation eye-to-eye with the venerable colonel.

"As time has gone by, the younger generation didn't get to see and experience him like other generations did" in ads and personal appearances, says spokeswoman Laurie Schalow. "We plan to celebrate the fact that our founder was a real person."

KFC will be using its Facebook presence, Twitter, MySpace, the KFC website and other digital outreach to introduce them to Sanders and prod them to create and upload a piece of art that could become a painting to hang (temporarily) next to the famous Norman Rockwell painting of Sanders at the company's headquarters in Louisville.

The image confusion is in part KFC's own doing.

In the past few decades, it ping-ponged back-and-forth from fried-chicken-maker to grilled chicken specialist. In the logo, it put the colonel in a red apron instead of his iconic white suit. And it turned its Kentucky Fried Chicken name into KFC.

On a vaguely similar but much larger scale, Domino's late last year tossed out its pizza formula and mocked itself in ads that conceded the old pizza tasted like cardboard. Sales zoomed.

For KFC, it's been a rough year domestically. KFC's same-store sales fell 7% in the U.S. in the second quarter, facing a difficult comparison with the same quarter in 2009 when a new grilled chicken product was launched.

KFC has basically stopped growing in the U.S., and almost all growth is pegged to come internationally in 2010.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: 4 Pagcor contracts illegal - lawmaker

Author: zerwell Source: Personal URL: no URL T...Image via Wikipedia
MANILA, Philippines - The previous leadership of the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp.(Pagcor) has awarded contracts to four groups of companies to develop the $5-billion Pagcor City in Paranaque without the benefit of public bidding, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said Tuesday.

He said the new chairman of Pagcor, Cristino Naguiat Jr., admitted in a hearing of the House committee on games and amusement that Pagcor awarded the contracts without public bidding.

He said Naguiat himself identified the locators as Travellers International Hotel Group, Tiger Resorts, Leisure and Entertainment Group, Inc., and Bloombury Investments.

“If there was no public bidding, then it means that the previous Pagcor leadership violated the Procurement Law in awarding the contracts. That necessarily means that these contracts are illegal,” he stressed.

He pointed out that based on Naguiat’s answers, not even the so-called Swiss challenge was employed.

“A Swiss challenge is an internationally-accepted scheme where a project proposal is opened to counter proposals to enable the government to secure the most favorable terms,” Evardone said.

“Why do away with public bidding when such contracts demand no less because of the huge amounts involved? I think the public deserves to know,” the former journalist said.

Naguiat told the game and amusement committee chaired by Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing that he would review the Pagcor City contracts.

He promised to inform the committee of the results of his review and to submit the contracts, the terms of reference and other pertinent documents.

“The new Pagcor leadership owes it to the people to explain what it has discovered and what steps it is taking to protect the interest of the government,” Evardone said.

He revealed that he received information that the locators were given huge tax breaks and other privileges.

He said Naguiat should take it upon himself to rectify the error committed by the previous Pagcor leadership to protect not only the interest of the government but that of its locators as well.

If the error is not corrected this early, the contractors will eventually be at the losing end when the issue is brought to the courts, he said.

The Pagcor City, also known as Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City, sits on a 155-hectare land reclaimed by the Paranaque City government out of the Manila Bay. It is envisioned to be a Las Vegas-style gaming and entertainment complex comparable to the best in the world.

Pagcor is the third largest revenue contributor to the national government after the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs. It earned P30 billion in 2009.

The Aquino administration has plans to sell Pagcor. According to San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang, the gaming firm is worth at least $10 billion, and that he would organize a group of investors to make an offer if the government sells it.

Jess Diaz
September 9, 2010


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: SMDC eyes P5 billion from rights offer

Fort Bonifacio in Taguig CityImage via Wikipedia
MANILA, Philippines - SM Development Corp. (SMDC), the residential property arm of retail tycoon Henry Sy’s listed holding firm SM Investments Corp., will undertake a stock rights offering to shareholders to raise at least P5 billion.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, SMDC said its board approved the issuance of 1.83 billion new shares to beef up its landbank and fund its projects. 

Shareholders can avail of one right for every three shares held as of a record date yet to be set by the company.

SMDC stocks closed at P7.26 each yesterday, slightly lower from Tuesday’s close of P7.30.

SMDC is planning to acquire properties in Cebu and Davao to tap a wider clientele base, particularly overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Its affiliate, SM Land, has offered nearly P48 billion to develop a 33.1-hectare lot south of Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City into a mixed-use complex. Under the government’s joint venture rules for such Swiss challenges, SMLI will bag the contract if it can match the highest counter-offer.

The property is composed of lands presently occupied in part by the Army Support Command (ASCom) and Special Services Unit (SSU) and in part by the Bonifacio Naval Station and Philippine Marine Corps of the Philippine Navy.

Under the Bonifacio South master plan for the lot, the area would be developed into a medium- to high-density residential and mixed use complex with a strong institutional component, and has a maximum allowable gross floor area of 1.355 million square meters.

Last May, SMDC raised P10 billion from the issuance of corporate notes, which was more than three times oversubscribed by domestic institutional investors.

In the first half of the year, SMDC said its net earnings rose 24 percent to P1.3 billion on higher sales from its condominium projects. Revenues jumped 77 percent to P4.1 billion while net recurring income from real estate operations grew 47 percent to P1.1 billion.

SMDC raised P12.4 billion from pre-selling activities during the period, mainly coming from the Princeton, Light, Jazz, Sun and Wind projects under the SM Residences brand.

As of end-June this year, SMDC had 13 residential projects in the market. The company launched its affordable housing brand, My Place, with its pilot project in South Triangle on Panay Avenue in Quezon City.

The new project, My Place South Triangle, involves four condominium towers offering a total of 3,000 units with sizes ranging from 20 sqm to 40 sqm. Slated for completion in the first half of 2013, the project is estimated to cost around P2 billion.

Donnabelle L. Gatdula
September 9, 2010


Enhanced by Zemanta

Stock News 2010: Chemrez ties up with MWC

Department of Science and Technology (Philippines)Image via Wikipedia
MANILA, Philippines - Chemrez Technologies Inc., the country’s largest biodiesel manufacturer, expands its green advocacy by teaming up with Manila Water Co. and continue a program encouraging environment-friendly inventions with the Department of Science and Technology.

The biotechnology firm will sign a memorandum of agreement with Manila Water in which Chemrez commits, for the next five years, to support the water utility in its goal to plant more trees in the watershed of Ipo Dam in Bulacan.

Manila Water has tapped Bantay Kalikasan to manage their reforestation program, similar to what was forged for the successful tree-planting project at the La Mesa Dam.

A whole-day tree planting activity is scheduled on Sept. 9 at the Ipo Dam watershed where volunteers will plant bamboo which is proven to prevent soil erosion better than other plants because of its roots’ intricate network and ability to hold soil together solidly.

The bamboo trees are expected to prevent siltation of the Ipo Dam, avoiding unnecessary additional cost to clean and purify water supply for human consumption. This unwanted expense, if incurred, ultimately means higher price of water to consumers.

A single bamboo tree absorbs a ton of carbon dioxide in its lifetime, therefore, helping clean the atmosphere and mitigate global warming and climate change.

Donnabelle L. Gatdula
September 9, 2010


Enhanced by Zemanta