ABERDI was among the recipients of the Regional Sandugo Award from the Department of Health (DOH) regional office X during its 2016 Regional Sandugo Recognition and Awarding Ceremony held at Pryce Plaza Hotel this December.
The Sandugo Award is the highest recognition given by the Department of Health to various supporters of the voluntary blood donation program. The Award was received by ABCI HR Manager Vivien Lawansa and ABERDI ComRel Manager Ruffy Magbanua.
The DOH Sandugo Award was given to ABERDI for its active involvement in the government’s blood donation program for the year 2016.
ABCI Executive Chairman Robertino E.Pizarro took the oath of office as the new president of Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (Oro Chamber) for 2017 in a simple yet meaningful ceremony last December 2, 2016 held at Ketkai Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
Dr. Walter W. Brown, ABCI Chairman Emeritus, graced the occasion as special guest of honor and speaker.
Pizarro won the votes of the chamber trustees during the election of officers on November 12, 2016, replacing outgoing president Jeffrey Ang.
During his acceptance speech, Pizzaro presented his platform and plans for the chamber which include the promotion of good business climate for Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao, as well as strengthening government and business partnerships across the region.
He vowed to bring in more tourists in the city, increase the number of business meetings and conventions and promote a conducive business atmosphere.
Pizzaro said he would take advantage of the Duterte administration’s thrusts in terms of developing the countryside and ramping up economic activities in rural areas that would help spur development in the city. He also expressed support for the upcoming Mindanao Business Conference 2017 on September 9, 2017 where Cagayan de Oro will be the host city.
Pizzaro led a new set of board including Anna Marie Medes of the Southland Events, Inc., who was voted Vice President for the Services Sector, and Irene Floro of the Skills Mastery Institute, who was voted Vice President for Business Support Organization.
Arthur Quiblat of Del Monte Philippines was voted Vice President for the Agri-Business Sector, Efren Cababat of the Pilipinas Kao Inc. became Vice President for Manufacturing and Industry and Jan Michael Uy of the YSU Marketing Corporation was voted Vice President for Trade and Commerce. Jessie Co of the New CCH Hardware was elected Treasurer while Cosme Pacana of the M&A Resource Training and Publishing Inc. was voted as the new Corporate Secretary.
A Brown is a publicly listed company with a strategic interests in real estate, power, water, among others. Its sister company A Brown Energy and Resources Development, Inc. (ABERDI) specializes in agribusiness, particularly palm oil plantations and milling, and has been an active member of the Oro Chamber for more than a decade.
The chamber was organized on December 1982 by a convener group of only 25 firms and elected as charter president Virgilio Neri.
At present, Oro Chamber has about 400 members.
Dr. Walter Brown, ABCI Chairman Emeritus, was Keynote Speaker
Dr Brown receives token from Oro Chamber Heads
Newly inducted Oro Chamber officers led by President Robert Pizarro
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the inauguration of the 135-megawatt (MW) Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion (CFBC) power plant of Palm Concepcion Power Corporation on Monday, November 28, in Rizal Hall, Malacañang Palace Manila.
The power plant which is located in Concepcion, Iloilo is a baseload power plant which was commercially operated last August 2016 and has contributed significantly in the reliability of power supply in the Visayas.
President Duterte, who was the Keynote Speaker in the event, also led the ceremonial switch-on of the power plant, together with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, PCPC Chairman Dr. Walter Brown, PCPC President and CEO Roel Castro and Advisor to the Board Jacinto Ng, Jr.
Castro in his welcome message, highlighted that the new plant is a combination of technology from Europe and the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor from China.
“We are among the few to have used this technology with reheat and as a consequence, we are one of the most fuel efficient plants operating and at the same time compliant with the environmental criteria set by both national and international agencies,“ Castro said.
“As a result of using the latest and most efficient technologies, we have one of the lowest tariffs in this same class of plants that the consumers are able to enjoy,” he added.
The power project generated a total investment of about $280 million, one of the biggest investments in Iloilo province. The construction and commissioning of the power plant including the transmission facilities were all completed within 37 months.
One of the highlights of the event is the donation of PCPC to support President Duterte’s program against drugs, which was announced by PCPC Chairman Walter Brown.
Dr. Brown also stressed in his message that the power plant project would not be possible without the full cooperation of its shareholders and partners as well as local and national government officials who on the whole were supportive of the project.
Aside from the plant’s contribution in increasing the available power generation capacity in the Visayas, the community and local government unit hosting the power plant likewise benefitted in the various CSR projects that PCPC poured in for the development of the people and communities and in protecting the environment. The company invested more than PhP150 million, even before the company sold its first kilowatt, for projects like concrete roads, scholarships, livelihood projects, capability building of the local leaders and residents, disaster preparedness, and more importantly massive reforestation and mangrove development. On top of this, they are also beneficiaries of different projects under the Department of Energy’s ER 1-94, particularly electrification projects, development and livelihood projects and reforestation, watershed management and environment enhancement, as part of the benefits to host communities.
Secretary Cusi of DOE believes that this power plant will help speed up economic activities in this side of the country.
“The inauguration of this 135-MW Concepcion power plant is a crucial energy infrastructure project to help sustain the economic growth in the Visayas and we expect to have a livelier business environment in the region,” he said.
While the power plant is fueled by imported coal, the company uses circulating fluidized-bed combustion which is the latest in clean coal technology. It is also equipped with an electrostatic precipitator (ESP), a filtration device that removes over 99% of ash particles.
At present, the power plant is delivering power generation supply to its customers in Panay, Negros and the rest of Visayas.
PCPC is a joint venture between Palm Thermal Consolidated Holdings Corporation (PTCHC), a subsidiary of A Brown Co. Inc. (ABCI), and Jin Navitas Resource Inc. (JNRI).
The Brown Group continues to uphold the mission of “incessantly providing means for its workers to develop their potentials to the fullest and living the company’s shared values of integrity, passion for excellence and family spirit in everything we do” by addressing the different professional development needs of employees in terms of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitude, also known as competencies.
Throughout the year, Human Resources, in coordination with the different department heads, organizes and develops activities, programs, learning sessions, seminars, and trainings with competent and high-caliber speakers in their specialized fields to help employees improve their performance, address their weaknesses, and provide satisfaction in their work.
The programs developed and implemented for 2016 were as follows: Professional Development: Knowledge & Skills, Employee Care & Recognition, Safety Health & Wellness, Workplace Spirituality, and Corporate Social Responsibility.
The continuous professional development programs of the company aim to keep employees on the cutting edge of industry developments. The company believes that employees who are competent and on top of ever-evolving industry standards, will help the company maintain its position as a leader and strong competitor within the industry.
