Author: Peps Pepz

Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs. With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country. Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System). Holcim Philippines is a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, the world leader in the building materials industry present in 80 countries with over 80,000 employees. ******

To better support the construction boom in the country, leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc. has launched a new special blended cement product formulated to perform better and have a lower impact on the environment than Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). Ram Maganti, Senior Vice President for Marketing and Innovation of Holcim Philippines, said the new product called Solido has clear advantages over OPC that makes it a better choice in building infrastructures in the country. In terms of performance, Solido-made concrete is more durable as it is less prone to water and chemical seepage that causes deterioration from within. This is due to Solido’s mineral additives that make concrete less permeable and lower heat that causes thermal cracks in the structure, Maganti said. Solido also exceeds the construction industry’s compressive strength standards for the 28-day mark and continues to grow stronger beyond that compared with OPC. Furthermore, Solido concrete is easier to mix and place that can help complete work faster, he added. Part of the offering to Solido users are technical trainings and tests, and field support to provide packaging format options that are suitable to their projects. Beyond product performance, Solido is more environment friendly than OPC due to its lower clinker content, the intermediate product responsible for a significant amount of carbon dioxide emissions during cement production. “These are the seven-star advantages of Solido that makes it the best in class in blended cement. This new product is further proof of Holcim Philippines’ determination to be a partner for progress of the country anchored on our strengths in innovation and sustainability. As the construction boom in the country continues, Solido will help our customers in building high quality and sustainable structures,” he said. Holcim Philippines formally launched Solido to key customers in Davao on March 1, with road shows scheduled nationwide for other important business partners in the first half. **********

Contact: Cara Ramirez Vice President of Communications 09175219397 annclaire.ramirez@lafargeholcim.com Don Gil Carreon Communications Manager 09178142589 dongil.carreon@lafargeholcim.com Alvin Marayan Media Relations Director, PRC, Inc. 09989613729 alvin.marayan@teamprcinc.com.ph

Experts will provide adynamic offering of thought-provoking and engaging sessions onhow to overcome present and future security challenges this PROTECT 2019, the country’s leading security and safety conference and exhibition. The event begins Wednesday, 27March, and runs through Thursday, 28 March, at the New World Hotel in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Into its 14^th year, since organized in cooperation with the Anti- Terrorism Council, the Conference offers a platform for robust discussion and debate on the country’s most pressing challenges. Government officials and security experts in the country are emphasizing that technological, environmental, economic, societal and geopolitical disturbances around the world are creating risks and instabilities that impact on security, making international and regional cooperation, as well as private and public-sector collaboration, highly essential.

Themed “Operationalizing Business Resiliency; The Next Evolutionary Phase of Business Continuity”, PROTECT 2019 will feature eight sessions covering a range of salient topics, curated to engage attendees. This year’s sessions are (1) The Evolving Security Landscape, (2)Some Recent IT Attacks With Impact on Business, (3) Preparing for Future Instability Challenges That Impact on Business,(4) Meeting the Security Authorities, (5) Sectoral Break-out Sessions, (6)Summary Presentations from break-out sessions, (7) State of Our National Security and (8)Presentations of Some Most Recent Technologies.

Experts from the Chartered International Institute of Security and Crisis Management (CIISCM), Microsoft, Oracle, FireEye, IPOPHIL, Dimension Data, Philippine National Police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and National Privacy Commission (NPC) will be among the presenters in the conference.

Other speakers include: Ms. Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler Philippines, TIME Person of the Year in 2019, Author of “Seeds of Terror: An Eyewitness Account of Al-Qaeda’s Newest Center of Operations in Southeast Asia” and former CNN Manila and Jakarta Bureau Chief; Mr. DondiMapa, former Deputy Commissioner at the National Privacy Commission and Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, Head, International Centre for Political Violence & Terrorism Research and Professor of Security Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore.

The Conference’s Session 4: Meeting the Security Authorities will offer the attendees the chance to get to know and have one-on-one conversations with representatives from each of the government agencies concerned with security and safety. Session 5: Sectoral Break-out Sessions will offer an intimate setting toanalyze each sector’s vulnerability, address the challenges and threats they face, and share best practices among attendees from the same industry classification.

There will be also onsite select exhibits that willfeature cutting-edge technologies, solutions and services to meet security challenges. One of the exhibitors, Bohemia Interactive Solutions will showcase their state of the artgame-based technology of high-fidelity, cost-effective training and simulation software products and components for defense applications. Exhibitors will also be offered a chance to present their products in the conference’s Session 8: Technology Presentations. Interested parties may contact 8186828 or 8101389 or E-mail:  leverage@leverageinternational.com.

Shaw Contract, a design leader in commercial flooring solutions and surfaces, is pleased to collaborate with our local distribution partner SMJ Furnishing, to organise an exclusive roadshow for Manila’s architect and interior designer community.

Held at the charming WhiteSpacegallery, the event introduces the latest flooring design trends with award-winning collections by Shaw Contract, including Inside Shapes, a US-made product, and Haven, an Asia-made product (refer to the separate releases on each product for more information).

“As an industry leader in innovation, design and performance, Shaw Contract constantly experiments with new ideas and creates market trends to help improve the environments in which we all live, work, learn and play.” explains Mr Ace Le, Asia Pacific Marketing Manager, Shaw Contract, “Year after year, Shaw Contract receives numerous accolades celebrating excellence in product design. We are delighted to announce that our Haven collection was recognised with the prestigious 2018 Best of NeoCon Award – Gold, Modular Flooring, while Inside Shapes was selected as Interior Design Magazine’s 2018 Best of the Year Award in Carpet category.”

The event also celebrates a decade-long partnership between the two companies. Shaw Contract is a commercial brand under Shaw Industries, a Berkshire Hathway company, and the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and carpet fibre producer. SMJ Furnishing is one of Philippines’ leading interior fitting suppliers with a strong reputation among the design community.

“With our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Nantong, China, Shaw Contract has been expanding our product offerings to better service to Asia-based clients, and Philippines is one of our key markets,” shares Mr Jeffrey Loh, Regional Sales Manager, South East Asia, Shaw Contract, “We are confident that SMJ’s strong local network and expertise will continue to help bring service excellence to our clients.”

“It is inspiring to have been a part of the Shaw Contract global family, and a change agent to introduce better, greener design solutions to the Philippines market, and help set the standards for local and regional design and sustainability practices,” says Ms BebetSison, Managing Director, SMJ Furnishing.

For more information on Shaw Contract, visit www.shawcontract.com.

At Shaw Contract, we believe that the ground beneath your feet should have a positive impact on how you live, learn, work, heal and play. We strive for design excellence in everything we do – from conception to production to installation, it’s what sets us apart. We make flooring that delivers a purposeful blend of design elements, materiality, sustainability and performance. Every day we take on creative challenges to research, design and innovate flooring solutions that transform spaces across the globe.

Press Contact:

Ace Le | APAC Marketing Manager, Shaw Contract | ace.le@shawinc.com

Photo Gallery: For more photography, visit www.shawcontract.com/haven

Last November 22, 2018 from 5:30PM to 9PM at Max’s Scout Tuazon, Diliman, Quezon City, The Madrigal Foundation headed by Ms. Therese Madrigal with its partners had a successful launched  of “Para Kay Manong Toda,” an Advocacy campaign to help our marginalise tricycle drives to help them alleviate their lives by being heard through forums, seminars and press conference by inviting government officials and private sectors as panelist’s and speakers. That way, the Foundation is hoping that at least some of their needs will be heard by means of these awareness programs.

Ms. Therese Madrigal is overwhelmed with the outcome. Attendees came even from other countries just to attend the event and more from the local government units.  She mentioned that the event is just the start and will be touring nationwide to support the trike drivers and operators.

The event was moderated by PTV  Anchor Emelie Katigbak and Manila Times Business Writer Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas.

The “Para Kay Manong Toda” that aids the well being of the marginalised tricycle drivers. Most of the tricycle drivers are head of the family and works 7 times a week to support their loved ones without health insurance and most doesn’t received benefits from the government. These modern day heroes are exposed to pollution and some environmental hazards everyday.

One of the program under this project is to seek help to focus on their working and medical conditions. In this way, these heroes can continue helping their families and the society as well giving good transportations to those in need. The foundation believes that information dissemination is one way to be heard.

For more information: 09778978877/022193503