CAVITE INAUGURATES ETRIKE CHARGING STATIONS

The City of Bacoor in Cavite goes green with the inauguration of its second charging station for electric tricycles (Etrikes) last Friday, August 29, 2014 at the V Central Mall. The ceremonial ribbon cutting was graced by Mayor Stike Revilla and Cong. Lani Mercado-Revilla. This second charging station will be commercially operated by KEA Industrial Corporation, a local assembler of ETrikes with a manufacturing plant in Barangay Mambog IV, Bacoor City.

Edgardo Araga President of KEA Industies Inc. plugs in the KEA Electric Tricycle in Bacoor Cavite , during the launch of the very first commercial charging station in the Philippines. Looking on are (from L to R - Edmund Araga, KEA VP for Operations, Asst. Director Jesus  Anunciacion of DOE, EVAP President Rommel Juan, PHUV President Ferdi Raquelsantos and Arnold Sarmiento from Motolite

The very first ETrike charging station situated at McDonald’s St. Dominic was completed by KEA last May 2014, inaugurated last June 2014 and donated to the Bacoor City LGU. Under a memorandum of agreement with the City of Bacoor initiated by Mayor Strike Revilla, KEA has committed to build a network of seven strategically-located ETrike charging stations in Bacoor City, three of which will be donated to the city. The two other charging stations donated will soon be constructed, one at the old City Hall and another at the new City Hall.

Edgardo Araga, KEA President, said that on top of the ETrike charging station at the V Central Mall that it operates, KEA will also erect and operate three other charging stations at Jolibee Zapote-Kalinisan, SM City Bacoor and Mabolo 1. “These will all be completed within the next twelve months to provide the needed charging infrastructure to support the initial eight ETrikes that Bacoor City purchased from us. These ETrikes are now running around after it was delivered to Mayor Revilla last March 2014 in a ceremony witnessed by Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla and the City Council members”.

Araga also explains that the entire domestic electric vehicle industry is elated with the inclusion of EV parts and components and charging stations in the 2014 Investments Priority Program of the Board of Investments. This will give program participants some fiscal and non-fiscal incentives if they invest in these sectors.

                     

KEA manufactures and sells two versions of the ETrike: the “Bailey” passenger model and the “Rhine” pickup type model for business application. “We started commercial production only exactly a year ago and now, we are proud to say that our ETrikes have been subjected to and have passed stringent endurance, performance and durability tests on actual commercial runs for over nine months. We are now in phase 2 of our drive to sell more ETrikes by putting up in advance the necessary infrastructure such as charging stations for the convenience of the ETrike operators. We hope that with the charging stations in place, more tricycle operators will soon shift to the environment-friendly, more economical ETrikes”, Araga concludes.

 

Edmund Araga, KEA VP for Operations, Mayor Strike Revilla and Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla

AFFI SET FOR 2014 FRANCHISE EXPO

The Association of Filipino Franchisers Incorporated (AFFI) is all set to hold their annual Filipino Franchise Show.

This year, AFFI has invited franchisers from all over the ASEAN region to participate in the show as part of efforts to prepare for the ASEAN integration slated for 2015.  Ricardo Cuna owner of the Fiorgelato ice cream franchise and head of this year’s show committee says “This year we are inviting franchisers from all over ASEAN to showcase their homegrown concepts to explore the possible synergies between local and regional franchise brands.” Franchising is one of the industries set to be opened up as part of the integration and is expected to lead to an influx of foreign franchise brands in the country.

He adds that the franchising industry is expected to continue posting double digit growth and is expected to see the entry of more new players. “We are seeing more and more emerging concepts and startup businesses joining the show which shows that the industry is still and will likely continue to grow” says Cuna. AFFI is one of the largest industry bodies in the Philippine franchise industry and counts among its members local brands such as Aquabest, Binalot, Figaro, Lots' A Pizza, Sweet Corner, among others.

The show is considered one of the biggest events in the Philippine franchise industry and attracts thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs who come and see hundreds of the country's top franchise brands.  Apart from an impressive roster of participating franchise brands the show also features companies from allied industries and suppliers.  Among the major sponsors for this year’s show are BPI Family Ka Negosyo , Seaoil Philippines, St. Francis Generic Drug, and The Generics Pharmacy.

AFFI is also set to recognize the outstanding franchise companies and franchisees with their annual AFFI Enabler Awards and Galing ng Pinoy Franchise Excellence Awards. The show would also feature seminars and workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs and franchisers from AFFI members as well as BPI Family Ka Negosyo and the Intellectual Property Office.

Supporting AFFI in its advocacy to showcase the very best of Filipino franchise concepts are its sponsors and partners St. Francis Generic Drug, Globe My Business,  Farmacia ni Dok, Geepas Philippines, 2Go Express, Revelnet, My Basic Graphics, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Business World, Business Mirror, Entrepreneur Philippines, United Daily News, Carl Balita Radyo Negosyo, United Neon, Meralco, Go Negosyo, IPO, DTI BSMED, and TESDA.

              

The 2014 Filipino Franchise Show will be held from October 3 to 5 at the World Trade Center. For inquiries please contact the AFFI Secretariat at (+632) 654 0345, 09228149881 to 82 or email affifranchiseshow2014@gmail.com or one can contact PETCO at (632) 832-9303 to 05 or email secretariat@petcogroup.com.

PHILCAMSAT Receives Belgian Maritime Recognition

The Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training, Inc. (PHILCAMSAT) has received the distinction of being the first maritime training center in all of Asia to be recognized by the Belgian Maritime Inspectorate as its courses receive certification from the Directorate-General for Maritime Transport under the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport agency of the Kingdom of Belgium.

Also granted certification was the Mapua-PTC College of Maritime Training and Education (CMET), an industry academic-linkage between leading crew management company Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC) and the Malayan Colleges Laguna of the Mapua Institute of Technology.

Issued in Antwerp, Belgium by Naval Architect-Director Bart Heylbroeck, the certification verifies that the content, method of instruction and the evaluation employed by PHILCAMSAT and CMET in their training courses are in accordance with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) code. With this development, PHILCAMSAT trainees and graduates of CMET are assured that their training is compliant with international standards and is duly recognized by European-flagged ships, thereby helping secure their employment on board these vessels.

This achievement is another testament to PHILCAMSAT’s strength in and commitment to providing seafarers with world-class competency training through its simulator-based center in First Maritime Place, Makati and its basic safety training campus in Maragondon called The MAST, as well as, through its collaboration with CMET for basic education. Instrumental in PHILCAMSAT’s attainment of this distinction is Exmar Shipmanagement, represented by Capt. Marc Robert, LPG Unit Director, who shares PHILCAMSAT’s belief in the capability and skill of the Filipino seafarer enhanced through opportunities for continuing professional development.

A total of 10 training courses passed the certification audit and these include: Advanced Firefighting Training (A-VI/3), Basic Safety Training (A-VI/1), Medical First Aid Training (A-VI/4-1), Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats Other than Fast Rescue Boats Training (A-VI/2-1), Trainings for Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch on ships of 500 Gross Tonnage or More (A-II/4), Trainings for Masters and Chief Mates on Ships of 500 Gross Tonnage or More (A-II/2), Training for Officers in Charge of a Navigational Watch on Ships of 500 Gross Tonnage or More (A-II/1), Training for Chief Engineer Officers and Second Engineer Officers on Ships Powered by Mail Propulsion Machinery of 300kW or More (A-III/2), Training for Officers In Charge of an Engineering Watch in Manned Engine Room or as Designated in a Periodically Unmanned Engine Room (A-III/1), and Training for Ratings Forming Part of a Watch in a Manned Engine Room or as Designated to Perform Duties in a Periodically Unmanned Engine Room (A-III/4). 

Photo shows (from L-R) Marc Robert, LPG Unit Director of Exmar; Bart Heylbroeck, Naval Architect Director of the Belgian Maritime Inspectorate-Flagstate; Katherine Avelino, PHILCAMSAT General Manager and Executive Director for Education and Professional Development; and Claude Maerten LNG Director of Exmar.

PTC CEO Re-elected as Vice-Chairman of ICS

PTC Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gerardo A. Borromeo was re-elected as Vice-Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) during its Annual General Membership Meeting held last June 11, 2014 at Limassol, Cyprus.

With his re-election, Mr. Borromeo will continue his term until 2015 supporting re-elected ICS Chairman Masamichi Morooka, along with three other Vice Chairmen namely John C. Lyras of Greece, Karin Orsel of Netherlands and Esben Poulsson of Singapore.

The meeting which was hosted by the Cyprus Shipping Chamber on its 25^th anniversary year had ICS representatives from national shipowners’ associations from the Americas, Asia and Europe who carefully reviewed the many significant regulatory developments affecting shipping with respect to safety, environmental protection and employment affairs, as well as various legal, insurance and trade policy developments.

The International Chamber of Shipping is the principal international trade association for shipowners, with member national associations from 36 countries representing all sectors and trades of over 80% of the world merchant fleet.

Thomas Kazakos, CSC Director General; Peter Hinchliffe, ICS Secretary General; Karin Orsel,   ICS Vice Chairman; Eugen Adami, CSC President; Masamichi Morooka, ICS Chairman; Dirk Fry, CSC Board member; John C. Lyras, ICS Vice Chairman; and Gerardo Borromeo, ICS Vice Chairman.