Speaking of which, irregularities at the DOTC are blackening the
Philippines before European governments and businessmen. Envoys and
industrialists are complaining about anomalies in recent biddings. These
include procurements like:
• P3.8 billion for new trams and refurbishing of old ones of the Metro Rail Transport (MRT-3) along EDSA, Metro Manila;
• P60 billion to extend the Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) into Cavite from Manila, with new coaches;
• P1.24 billion for modern fire trucks in international airports;
• P8.2 billion for computerized registration of new and old cars;
• P3.85 billion for land vehicle license platemaking.
In all those, European firms had submitted original proposals or
sealed bids, but mysteriously were eased out. European execs also
grumble about poor transport facilities that make travel around the
country difficult.
Czech ambassador Josef Rychtar has exposed a $30-million extortion
attempt on a Czech firm by MRT managers. As new owner of the original
1999 maker of 73 trams, the firm Inekon Corp. was offering 52 new ones,
to refurbish the old, and maintain the entire lot. When Inekon execs
rebuffed the illegal exaction, the MRT kicked them out of the deal and
began negotiating with two Croatian competitors.
DOTC Sec. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya announced an internal probe
only in July, three months after first being told about it. And that was
only because it had hit the headlines.
MRT general manager Al Vitangcol, named as chief extorter, has since
returned from month-long leave. Abaya has yet to bare the inquiry
result. Same with the Dept. of Justice’s parallel criminal
investigation.
The MRT has since broken up the two contracts: a Chinese firm to
supply and refurbish the coaches, and a firm controlled by the managers
to handle maintenance.
In the LRT-1, two Filipino companies, with Chinese and European
partners, offered build-operate-transfer deals. One proposed to extend
the railway 16 kilometers for P56 billion, the other 17 kilometers for
P58 billion, with variances in equipment and coach configurations.
Instead of holding a Swiss Challenge, the DOTC plagiarized the first
offer, then split the contract for awarding to two smaller firms. The
first was for rail construction, P30 billion; the second for coach and
equipment supply, another P30 billion. The resulting higher total of P60
billion was only for a 12-kilometer extension, with the state having to
borrow the funding.
Two Spanish firms have sued DOTC officials for disqualifying them
despite turning in the lowest bid for 37 aircraft-rescue fire trucks.
Backed by the Spanish embassy, Iturri S.A. and Protec Fire S.A. last
June had bid P984.2 million, way below the DOTC budget of P1.24 billion.
But the officials gave the contract to a US firm that offered P1.16
billion.
Allegedly the Spaniards failed the specs, like “specialized chassis,”
which was undefined until they raised a howl. Supposedly too their
truck tires were thinner and so prone to tipping over, despite European
certifications of proven performance. Abaya’s main excuse was awkward:
that the Spaniards had erred in complaining to the Ombudsman, instead of
to the Bids and Awards Committee.
The vehicle registration and platemaking projects have been put on
hold indefinitely. This was after the discovery that the DOTC did not
have the requisite Multi-Year Obligational Authority to bid them out.
Under the law, a procuring agency must first secure the MYOA from the
budget department before proceeding with the bidding. Lack of an MYOA
meant there was no funding for the projects to begin with, so the
biddings were void.
European firms had partnered with Filipinos in both biddings last
May. In the platemaking, one was Polish, two German, one Spanish, and
one Dutch. They paid tens of thousands of pesos to enter the DOTC
bidding, and tens of thousands of dollars more for feasibility studies;
executive time, travel, and accommodations; and legal consultancies.
Only the Spanish and the Dutch were declared qualified, and the last the
winner. Most are seeking multimillion-peso refunds of expenses because
the bidding was null from the start.
Meanwhile, Swiss ambassador Ivo Sieber has told Filipino businessmen
that his compatriots watching the way government is dealing with
corruption and poor transportation. Swiss execs were finding it hard to
travel to their field operations, mostly in mining, cement, and
telecoms. Airport authorities severely limit the schedule of private jet
takeoffs and landings at the Manila airport. Ships are perilous to ride
two-thirds of the year. Railway ties reportedly are so substandard that
trains are likely to derail and bridges to collapse in Laguna and
Quezon.
source: (The Philippine Star)
Friday, November 15, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Socially responsible investment pension funds
I CHANCED upon this ILO (International
Labor Organization) publication on Global Extension of Social Security
(GESS) that featured the issue on Socially Responsible Investment (SRI).
Let me share with you a portion of the document, which I find very
timely and relevant for our Social Security System (SSS, which recently
issued a policy of increasing our monthly premiums) and Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS) to benchmark on in investing our pension
funds.
SRI is becoming a prevalent practice globally. According to Mercer (2007), SRI is "an investment process that seeks to achieve social and environmental objectives alongside financial objectives." Moreover, the signatories of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) believe that "environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues can affect the performance of investment portfolios (to varying degrees across companies, sectors, regions, asset classes and through time)." The diversity in definitions of SRI reflects the variety of approaches in "socially responsible" investments, and its concept varies among investors in different countries.
Here are concrete examples of what a socially responsible pension fund can do based on the good practices of these five countries:
• Previ. This is the employees’ pension fund of the state-owned Banco do Brasil. It is the largest pension fund in Latin America. Previ views companies as potential change agents through which social and environmental issues can be addressed and contributions made for the development and sustainable growth of Brazil. It invests in companies that are both profitable and socially responsible and that benefit the communities in which they operate.
• The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global. This is a sovereign fund that invests proceeds from Norway’s petroleum industry. It is closely tied to the government. In 2001, the Norwegian government established, on a three-year trial, a dedicated "Environment Fund" for investing in companies in emerging economies that met environmental performance criteria. The Environment Fund was conceived as a mechanism to promote sustainable development. In 2002, the Graver Committee was appointed to develop an approach to ethical investment by the Fund and to propose ethical guidelines. The committee justified that the Fund should avoid complicity in violation of ethical norms linked to human rights and to the environment.
• The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). This is Africa’s largest pension fund. The GEPF implements ESG issues in its investment decisions using a positive screening strategy such as devoting a portion of its assets to investments that address socio-economic imbalances, especially financing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and HIV/AIDS initiatives.
• The Government Pension Fund. This is one of the largest institutional investors in Thailand. It is designed for officials of the Royal Thai Government and is autonomous from the Ministry of Finance. It does not invest in the alcoholic beverages sector because alcohol consumption is against the values of most Thai people and the GPF wants to avoid offending its beneficiaries. It has also extended its focus to environmental and social performance.
• CalPERS. This is the largest public pension plan in the US and the third largest in the world in terms of assets under management. It provides a variety of programs and services to California’s public employees, retirees, and their families. CalPERS is recognized as a leader in corporate governance. It prudently exercises ownership rights with the objective of increasing shareholder value while minimizing risk. It undertakes legal action and lobbying when necessary.
I wonder when our SSS and GSIS pension fund managers will refocus their strategies on socially responsible investments. The sooner they can do this, the better for us and the entire country.
(The author is a Full Professor at the Management and Organization Department of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. She teaches Human Behavior in Organizations, Strategic Human Resource Management, Labor Relations, and Research. She is also a management consultant to SMEs, schools, and NGOs. She may be reached at divina.edralin@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and administrators.)
source: Businessworld
SRI is becoming a prevalent practice globally. According to Mercer (2007), SRI is "an investment process that seeks to achieve social and environmental objectives alongside financial objectives." Moreover, the signatories of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) believe that "environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues can affect the performance of investment portfolios (to varying degrees across companies, sectors, regions, asset classes and through time)." The diversity in definitions of SRI reflects the variety of approaches in "socially responsible" investments, and its concept varies among investors in different countries.
Here are concrete examples of what a socially responsible pension fund can do based on the good practices of these five countries:
• Previ. This is the employees’ pension fund of the state-owned Banco do Brasil. It is the largest pension fund in Latin America. Previ views companies as potential change agents through which social and environmental issues can be addressed and contributions made for the development and sustainable growth of Brazil. It invests in companies that are both profitable and socially responsible and that benefit the communities in which they operate.
• The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global. This is a sovereign fund that invests proceeds from Norway’s petroleum industry. It is closely tied to the government. In 2001, the Norwegian government established, on a three-year trial, a dedicated "Environment Fund" for investing in companies in emerging economies that met environmental performance criteria. The Environment Fund was conceived as a mechanism to promote sustainable development. In 2002, the Graver Committee was appointed to develop an approach to ethical investment by the Fund and to propose ethical guidelines. The committee justified that the Fund should avoid complicity in violation of ethical norms linked to human rights and to the environment.
• The Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). This is Africa’s largest pension fund. The GEPF implements ESG issues in its investment decisions using a positive screening strategy such as devoting a portion of its assets to investments that address socio-economic imbalances, especially financing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and HIV/AIDS initiatives.
• The Government Pension Fund. This is one of the largest institutional investors in Thailand. It is designed for officials of the Royal Thai Government and is autonomous from the Ministry of Finance. It does not invest in the alcoholic beverages sector because alcohol consumption is against the values of most Thai people and the GPF wants to avoid offending its beneficiaries. It has also extended its focus to environmental and social performance.
• CalPERS. This is the largest public pension plan in the US and the third largest in the world in terms of assets under management. It provides a variety of programs and services to California’s public employees, retirees, and their families. CalPERS is recognized as a leader in corporate governance. It prudently exercises ownership rights with the objective of increasing shareholder value while minimizing risk. It undertakes legal action and lobbying when necessary.
I wonder when our SSS and GSIS pension fund managers will refocus their strategies on socially responsible investments. The sooner they can do this, the better for us and the entire country.
(The author is a Full Professor at the Management and Organization Department of the Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business of De La Salle University. She teaches Human Behavior in Organizations, Strategic Human Resource Management, Labor Relations, and Research. She is also a management consultant to SMEs, schools, and NGOs. She may be reached at divina.edralin@dlsu.edu.ph. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University, its faculty, and administrators.)
source: Businessworld
Mactan-Cebu International Airport: PPP auction postponed
THE GOVERNMENT’S focus on typhoon relief
operations has forced a fresh postponement of an already-delayed
public-private partnership (PPP) project.
"The bid submission date for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) project originally scheduled this Friday has been postponed since the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) Board meeting did not push through under current circumstances," Transportation department spokesperson Michael Arthur C. Sagcal yesterday said.
The NEDA board, chaired by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III, needs to approve a revised concession agreement for the MCIA project. A meeting was scheduled for Monday but Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan on Sunday said it had been moved to Wednesday.
Yesterday, Mr. Balisacan texted: "The NEDA Board meeting has been postponed to give priority to urgent relief and rehab efforts in typhoon Yolanda-affected areas."
A new meeting date has not been set.
"We are still confirming the new schedule. Should the proposed revisions be approved by then, we will schedule the opening [of bids] five days after," Mr. Sagcal noted.
The MCIA project was originally set to be auctioned off last Aug. 28 but interested bidders balked at the offered contract. The Transportation department moved to accommodate their concerns, rescheduling the bidding to mid-October and then to Nov. 15.
The concession agreement’s terms have since been sweetened to include the following:
• lengthening the concession period to 25 years from 20 years;
• transferring the operation and maintenance of the airport apron to the concessionaire, including the right to derive revenue from these areas;
• allowing for flexibility in the implementation of capacity augmentation provisions;
• sharing of the real property tax liability; and
• further raising a prohibition on competing airports to 25 years from 20. In September this bar was increased to 20 from 10 years.
Seven groups have pre-qualified to bid for the project:
• the Metro Pacific Investment Corp.- JG Summit consortium;
• AAA Airport Partners of the Ayala and Aboitiz groups;
• Filinvest-CAI consortium;
• San Miguel Corp.-Incheon Airport consortium;
• First Philippine Airports led by First Philippine Holdings, Inc.;
• Premier Airport Group led by SM Investments Corp.; and
• the GMR Infrastructure and Megawide consortium.
The MCIA project includes the rehabilitation of the existing terminal and construction of a new building with an eight-million annual passenger capacity.
The airport -- the Philippines’ second largest and gateway to the Visayas -- is now being used as a staging point for relief operations to areas devastated by super typhoon Yolanda. Cebu was largely spared by the storm, known internationally as Haiyan, which ripped through the central Philippines last Friday.
Aside from the airport project, the NEDA Board was also set discuss two other PPP projects that were deferred due to the need to revise concession agreements: the P1.72-billion Automated Fare Collection System and the P60-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 extension. -- L. C. S. Marasigan
source: Businessworld
"The bid submission date for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) project originally scheduled this Friday has been postponed since the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) Board meeting did not push through under current circumstances," Transportation department spokesperson Michael Arthur C. Sagcal yesterday said.
The NEDA board, chaired by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III, needs to approve a revised concession agreement for the MCIA project. A meeting was scheduled for Monday but Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan on Sunday said it had been moved to Wednesday.
Yesterday, Mr. Balisacan texted: "The NEDA Board meeting has been postponed to give priority to urgent relief and rehab efforts in typhoon Yolanda-affected areas."
A new meeting date has not been set.
"We are still confirming the new schedule. Should the proposed revisions be approved by then, we will schedule the opening [of bids] five days after," Mr. Sagcal noted.
The MCIA project was originally set to be auctioned off last Aug. 28 but interested bidders balked at the offered contract. The Transportation department moved to accommodate their concerns, rescheduling the bidding to mid-October and then to Nov. 15.
The concession agreement’s terms have since been sweetened to include the following:
• lengthening the concession period to 25 years from 20 years;
• transferring the operation and maintenance of the airport apron to the concessionaire, including the right to derive revenue from these areas;
• allowing for flexibility in the implementation of capacity augmentation provisions;
• sharing of the real property tax liability; and
• further raising a prohibition on competing airports to 25 years from 20. In September this bar was increased to 20 from 10 years.
Seven groups have pre-qualified to bid for the project:
• the Metro Pacific Investment Corp.- JG Summit consortium;
• AAA Airport Partners of the Ayala and Aboitiz groups;
• Filinvest-CAI consortium;
• San Miguel Corp.-Incheon Airport consortium;
• First Philippine Airports led by First Philippine Holdings, Inc.;
• Premier Airport Group led by SM Investments Corp.; and
• the GMR Infrastructure and Megawide consortium.
The MCIA project includes the rehabilitation of the existing terminal and construction of a new building with an eight-million annual passenger capacity.
The airport -- the Philippines’ second largest and gateway to the Visayas -- is now being used as a staging point for relief operations to areas devastated by super typhoon Yolanda. Cebu was largely spared by the storm, known internationally as Haiyan, which ripped through the central Philippines last Friday.
Aside from the airport project, the NEDA Board was also set discuss two other PPP projects that were deferred due to the need to revise concession agreements: the P1.72-billion Automated Fare Collection System and the P60-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 extension. -- L. C. S. Marasigan
source: Businessworld
JICA unveils urban transport plan
THE JAPAN International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) yesterday presented to a group of businessmen a 16-year plan to
develop the transport infrastructure in Metro Manila and surrounding
provinces.
During a general membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines yesterday, JICA Project Manager Shizuo Iwata laid out a specific P2.293-billion infrastructure plan for the government to solve traffic problems in the National Capital Region until 2030, when costs arising from traffic congestion could amount to P6 billion a day.
The plan includes:
• completing missing links such as flyovers, interchanges, and bridges in Metro Manila;
• rehabilitating main urban roads, including EDSA;
• completing the North Luzon Expressway - South Luzon Expressway connections, including port access;
• implementing the Cavite-Laguna expressway, C6 extension - Lakeshore dike road, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway;
• expanding Light Rail Transit Lines 1, 2, and 3;
• improving connectivity among urban rail lines;
• developing bus rapid transit lines ahead of urban rail lines in major thoroughfares such as Quezon Avenue, C5, and Commonwealth Avenue;
• introducing systematic road safety interventions;
• capping expansion of Manila ports and facilitating diversion to Batangas and Subic ports through incentives; and
• conducting a study for development for a new airport and redevelopment of the port area in Manila.
"By 2030, if nothing is done, government will have to spend P6 billion a day for costs arising from traffic congestion in Metro Manila," said Mr. Iwata.
Should the plan be carried out, the government may earn additional revenues of up to P397 million a day from toll fees, and a commuter would spend just P18 per day for public transport from the current P24-42.
Travel time from Metro Manila to surrounding provinces such as Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal -- and vice versa -- will also be reduced to 49 minutes.
Mr. Iwata said the transport infrastructure plan will be presented at a Cabinet meeting today. -- D.E.D. Saclag
source: Businessworld
During a general membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines yesterday, JICA Project Manager Shizuo Iwata laid out a specific P2.293-billion infrastructure plan for the government to solve traffic problems in the National Capital Region until 2030, when costs arising from traffic congestion could amount to P6 billion a day.
The plan includes:
• completing missing links such as flyovers, interchanges, and bridges in Metro Manila;
• rehabilitating main urban roads, including EDSA;
• completing the North Luzon Expressway - South Luzon Expressway connections, including port access;
• implementing the Cavite-Laguna expressway, C6 extension - Lakeshore dike road, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway;
• expanding Light Rail Transit Lines 1, 2, and 3;
• improving connectivity among urban rail lines;
• developing bus rapid transit lines ahead of urban rail lines in major thoroughfares such as Quezon Avenue, C5, and Commonwealth Avenue;
• introducing systematic road safety interventions;
• capping expansion of Manila ports and facilitating diversion to Batangas and Subic ports through incentives; and
• conducting a study for development for a new airport and redevelopment of the port area in Manila.
"By 2030, if nothing is done, government will have to spend P6 billion a day for costs arising from traffic congestion in Metro Manila," said Mr. Iwata.
Should the plan be carried out, the government may earn additional revenues of up to P397 million a day from toll fees, and a commuter would spend just P18 per day for public transport from the current P24-42.
Travel time from Metro Manila to surrounding provinces such as Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal -- and vice versa -- will also be reduced to 49 minutes.
Mr. Iwata said the transport infrastructure plan will be presented at a Cabinet meeting today. -- D.E.D. Saclag
source: Businessworld
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
’Hold your horses’ PRA asserts power over Pasay reclamation
The Philippine Reclamation Authority has
raised its concern over the decision of the Pasay City government to go
ahead with engaging the private sector in the planned 300 hectare
reclamation project in Manila Bay as the former has yet to secure the
go-ahead signal from the agency.
In a statement sent to MST, PRA said that the latest move of the
Pasay City government subjecting the unsolicited proposal for the 300
hectares reclamation project in Manila Bay submitted to it by the SM
Group to a “Swiss Challenge” is yet to be sanctioned by the govenment
agency in-charge for the country’s land reclamation activities”.
Lawyer Joselito D. Gonzales, PRA Asssistant General Manager for Reclamation & Regulation emphasized that under existing laws, the agency has the mandate to integrate, coordinate and approve all reclamation projects nationwide.
“The 300-hectare Pasay City reclamation project has not even reached the first stage as no formal submission has been received by PRA to date. In fact, under current approval protocols being adhered to by the agency, reclamation projects would need to be endorsed by PRA to the NEDA Board for approval, the statement said.
The PRA also stated that last August 22, 2013, it formally wrote Pasay Mayor Calixto to inform the City about the proposed ‘Government Center Project’ to be situated within the area where the 300-hectare reclamation project is to be built.
The City did not respond to the PRA letter and on October 2, 2013, media reports came out regarding the unsolicited proposal by the SM Group to Pasay City and the subsequent conduct of a Swiss Challenge by the City to solicit competitive proposals to the SM offer.
Reclamation projects undergo a rigorous 5-stage approval process according to PRA. These include securing an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC), submission of flooding and drainage studies, public consultations by the proponents, detailed engineering designs, geo-hazard assessment as well as financial feasibility studies.
Henry Sy-led SM Land Inc. earlier submitted an unsolicited proposal worth P54.5 billion to the Pasay City government for the reclamation of a 300-hectare “foreshore and onshore” Manila Bay areas within the Pasay City’s jurisdiction.
Financing of the project will be shouldered by SM Land in full under a joint venture (JV) with the Pasay government, according to the proposal.
The Pasay reclamation project is separate from, but adjacent to, similar reclamation projects being considered by the local governments of Las Piñas, Parañaque and Manila.
SM Land projected a seven year completion and offered to give the city government a share of 51 percent of the reclaimed land, or about 153 hectares.
Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) has also expressed its interest to bid for the project, directly competing against the SM group.
The plot thickens
As this develop,the Pasay City government rejected the petition of ALI to extend the deadline for the submission of a counter bid to the P54.5-billion unsolicited offer of SM Land.
Ayala Land chief operating officer Bobby Dy said they would review all its options, including going to court to stop the bidding process, not participating in the bidding, or seeking for a reconsideration.
He said ALI was surprised and disappointed with the Pasay City government’s decision to push through with the Nov. 4, 2013 deadline for submission of bids for the reclamation project.
He said the city’s move was “very unlike” other public-private-participation projects wherein the government, in order to encourage a lot of companies to participate in the bidding, agreed several times to extend deadline for submission of financial and technical bids.
source: Manila Standard
 |
| Bay Area Development. Seen to become the country’s premier tourism and enter-tainment hub. |
Lawyer Joselito D. Gonzales, PRA Asssistant General Manager for Reclamation & Regulation emphasized that under existing laws, the agency has the mandate to integrate, coordinate and approve all reclamation projects nationwide.
“The 300-hectare Pasay City reclamation project has not even reached the first stage as no formal submission has been received by PRA to date. In fact, under current approval protocols being adhered to by the agency, reclamation projects would need to be endorsed by PRA to the NEDA Board for approval, the statement said.
The PRA also stated that last August 22, 2013, it formally wrote Pasay Mayor Calixto to inform the City about the proposed ‘Government Center Project’ to be situated within the area where the 300-hectare reclamation project is to be built.
The City did not respond to the PRA letter and on October 2, 2013, media reports came out regarding the unsolicited proposal by the SM Group to Pasay City and the subsequent conduct of a Swiss Challenge by the City to solicit competitive proposals to the SM offer.
Reclamation projects undergo a rigorous 5-stage approval process according to PRA. These include securing an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC), submission of flooding and drainage studies, public consultations by the proponents, detailed engineering designs, geo-hazard assessment as well as financial feasibility studies.
Henry Sy-led SM Land Inc. earlier submitted an unsolicited proposal worth P54.5 billion to the Pasay City government for the reclamation of a 300-hectare “foreshore and onshore” Manila Bay areas within the Pasay City’s jurisdiction.
Financing of the project will be shouldered by SM Land in full under a joint venture (JV) with the Pasay government, according to the proposal.
The Pasay reclamation project is separate from, but adjacent to, similar reclamation projects being considered by the local governments of Las Piñas, Parañaque and Manila.
SM Land projected a seven year completion and offered to give the city government a share of 51 percent of the reclaimed land, or about 153 hectares.
Property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) has also expressed its interest to bid for the project, directly competing against the SM group.
The plot thickens
As this develop,the Pasay City government rejected the petition of ALI to extend the deadline for the submission of a counter bid to the P54.5-billion unsolicited offer of SM Land.
Ayala Land chief operating officer Bobby Dy said they would review all its options, including going to court to stop the bidding process, not participating in the bidding, or seeking for a reconsideration.
He said ALI was surprised and disappointed with the Pasay City government’s decision to push through with the Nov. 4, 2013 deadline for submission of bids for the reclamation project.
He said the city’s move was “very unlike” other public-private-participation projects wherein the government, in order to encourage a lot of companies to participate in the bidding, agreed several times to extend deadline for submission of financial and technical bids.
source: Manila Standard
Saturday, November 2, 2013
IBM extends smarter cities challenge program to 2014
IBM said it is extending the Smarter Cities Challenge competitive grants
program, which funds the deployment of IBM’s top talent to perform pro
bono problem solving in municipalities worldwide.
Program recipients receive three-week engagements from IBM experts, each valued at USD $400,000, where they can obtain assistance in addressing challenges pertaining to water, energy and environment; health and social services; transportation; and public safety.
In the Philippines, Makati City received a similar grant to be implemented next year. The grant will provide analysis and recommendations from IBM experts on some of the city’s traffic management issues.
For the 2014 cycle, the Smarter Cities Challenge is open to local, regional and general purpose governing bodies including cities, counties, prefectures, boroughs and districts.
Applications may be submitted through November 8, 2013 by visiting www.smartercitieschallenge.org.
source: Manila Standard
Program recipients receive three-week engagements from IBM experts, each valued at USD $400,000, where they can obtain assistance in addressing challenges pertaining to water, energy and environment; health and social services; transportation; and public safety.
In the Philippines, Makati City received a similar grant to be implemented next year. The grant will provide analysis and recommendations from IBM experts on some of the city’s traffic management issues.
For the 2014 cycle, the Smarter Cities Challenge is open to local, regional and general purpose governing bodies including cities, counties, prefectures, boroughs and districts.
Applications may be submitted through November 8, 2013 by visiting www.smartercitieschallenge.org.
source: Manila Standard
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