Posts in category: SCA Sunset Corporate

THE shortage of school facilities has been a perennial problem of our public schools all over the country. Every year, as student enrolments grow, so does the need for more school furniture, particularly school chairs.

Twelve years ago, then-mayor Rey Uy of Tagum City found a solution to help address this problem during his term from 2004 to 2013. In February 2011, then-president Benigno Aquino 3rd declared a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of forest timber. This resulted in the massive confiscation of illegally cut trees across the country, particularly in Mindanao.

With the considerable number of confiscated logs in its storage yards, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 11 decided to donate them to the local government unit of Tagum City to put them to good use. Uy then ordered the fabrication of school chairs from these logs.

Since then, the Fabrication Section of the Construction and Maintenance Division of the city’s Engineering Department became the center of production. It facilitated the processing of illegal logs to be used for producing school chairs. This led to the formation of the Care for School Chairs Program of Tagum City.

Through the efforts of the entire working force of the Tagum City government and of several volunteers, the program was able to produce 91,197 pieces of furniture in 22 months, from August 2011 until Uy’s full term ended in May 2013.

These pieces of furniture were not solely for Tagum City schools to use, but were also donated to schools in other parts of Mindanao, as well as the Visayas and Luzon.

Uy’s return as mayor in 2022 paved the way for the program’s resurgence. Like before, volunteers from different groups, like civil society organizations, government line agencies, private companies, civic clubs and professional associations, came to offer their time and effort to help in producing school chairs.

On Feb. 25, 2023, members of the North Davao Chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), headed by chapter president Oliver Abatol, reported to the Tagum City Motorpool to do their part for the bayanihan effort.

About 20 member-architects of the chapter rolled up their sleeves to perform the task assigned to them by Allan Canonigo, the Fabrication Section head, which was sanding the newly assembled chairs.

Each architect was assigned one chair to sand, and spent several hours making sure it was totally smooth and ready to be painted. As they experienced the pain in their hands as a result of the activity, the architects realized that the modest school chair used by students inside the classroom is not just a mere piece of furniture after all. The job of producing such a chair is, indeed, very arduous.

North Davao-based architects sand school chairs at the Tagum City Motorpool. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“The experience was humbling and fulfilling at the same time — getting to know the pains and effort poured out to make each and every school chair. The architects of UAP North Davao are happy to be given the opportunity to help the Local Government of Tagum City in the fabrication of school chairs provided to the public schools,” Abatol said of his chapter’s recent endeavor.

The undertaking was in line with the UAP’s Renato Heray – Bayanihang Arkitektura program for the fiscal year 2022–2023, with the theme “NGITI Para sa Eskwelahang Munti.” It encourages every chapter, as part of its annual corporate social responsibility projects, to perform noble deeds that would benefit students in support of the organization’s nation-building effort.

Ar. Ericson P. Europa, FUAP, PIEP, Nampap, is the editor in chief of The UAP Post, the official news publication of the United Architects of the Philippines. He finished his BS Architecture degree at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He is currently the university architect and director of the Physical Development Division of the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City.

Studying abroad is becoming an increasingly popular option for students around the world. According to the Institute of International Education, over one million students from the United States alone study abroad each year, with China, India, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia also among the top countries sending students overseas. The number of students studying abroad continues to grow each year, with the benefits of studying abroad being a major draw for many students. The benefits of studying abroad are numerous, with perhaps the most significant being the opportunity to experience a new culture and way of life. Living in a foreign country can broaden your perspective and help you to gain a better understanding of the world around you. It can also help you to develop valuable cross-cultural communication skills, which are increasingly important in today’s globalized economy.

Studying abroad can also be a great way to improve your language skills. Immersing yourself in a foreign language and culture can help you to develop your language skills much faster than studying in a classroom environment. Many students find that they are able to become fluent in a language in just a few months of living and studying abroad.

In addition to these personal benefits, studying abroad can also be a great way to boost your career prospects. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates with international experience, and studying abroad can demonstrate that you are adaptable, independent, and able to thrive in new and challenging environments. Many students also find that studying abroad helps them to develop important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, which can be useful in a wide range of careers.

Smapse Education – who they are and how they helped more than 30,000 students around the world

If you are considering studying abroad, it can be a daunting process to navigate. We took some time to interview Nick Vorotny, CEO at one of the leading companies in foreign education industry – Smapse Education. Smapse are among top 25 consultant agencies in Europe according to Fortune Education. 

“We have a diverse team of experts who specialize in helping students overcome the bigger and the more subtle problems when trying to study abroad. Having a specialist can help to find the best place to study, as well as providing support with visas and other logistics to make the whole process seamless and stress free.”

One of the key benefits of working with a support partner like Smapse is their extensive network of contacts and partnerships with schools and universities around the world. They can help you to find the perfect school or program to suit your needs and interests, whether you are looking for a language course, a degree program, or something in between.

“Applying for a visa can be a complex and time-consuming process, but we have a wealth of experience in this area and can guide our clients through the process step by step. Similarly, the logistics such as accommodation, travel, and insurance, are all covered to help make the studying abroad experience as stress-free as possible.”

Finding a course is just the first step, there are many that follow in order to complete it. “We would prefer our students to thrive rather than just get through the experience, and this needs ongoing support and assistance beyond the first day. From pre-departure briefings to on-the-ground support, we are there to help every step of the way”. This kind of support can be particularly valuable if you are studying in a country where you are not familiar with the language or culture, as it can give you peace of mind knowing that you have someone to turn to if you encounter any problems or challenges.

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience that can help you to develop valuable skills, broaden your horizons, and boost your career prospects. If you are considering studying abroad, working with Smapse can be an excellent way to find the best place to study, navigate the visa application process, and ensure that your study abroad journey is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura & Co is seeking to cut executive pay by 32 percent as part of an overhaul aimed at restoring investor trust.

The Sao Paulo-based company’s board proposed setting the total remuneration of its senior managers at about 78 million reais ($15 million) for the 12 months starting in May, down from the 115 million reais initially proposed for the same period a year earlier, according to a regulatory filing Monday. The proposal will be voted in a general shareholder meeting April 26.

Shares of Natura were up 1 percent in Sao Paulo on Monday at 12:30 p.m. local time. They’re still down 77 percent since peaking in 2021, for a market value of around 19 billion reais.

The plan to reduce the compensation comes amid a corporate reorganization unveiled last year as Natura’s ambitions to expand globally faced a harsh reality check. The company brought on Fabio Barbosa as its chief executive officer at a time when it was grappling with sticky inflation and supply-chain disruptions. The challenges have taken a toll on profitability, with Natura posting a wider-than-expected net loss of 890 million reais for the fourth quarter.

The company is assessing options including selling part of or its full stake in its high-end brand Aesop, which lured suitors including L’Oreal SA and Permira, Bloomberg reported this month.

Natura is also proposing to shrink its board, with Barbosa and four other members resigning from their seats. Management recommended that equity-fund manager Dynamo Administracao de Recursos Ltda’s founding partner Bruno Rocha be elected to one of the vacant positions. Dynamo is Natura’s largest minority shareholder.

The company had drawn criticism for allowing the previous CEO, Roberto Marques to hold the chairman position, and the changes “are consistent with Natura’s goal of improving corporate governance,” Joao Pedro Soares, a Citigroup Inc. analyst, wrote in a note. He called the proposed cut in compensation “significant.”

By Vinícius Andrade

Learn more:

Natura Mulls US IPO, Spin-off of Luxury Aesop Brand

Brazilian cosmetics company Natura & Co on Monday said it has begun studying a possible IPO in the United States or spin-off of its Aesop brand, as it looks to fund its expansion.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the authorities concerned to form a project support team for execution of the Reko Diq copper-cum-gold project.

The Reko Diq project is owned 50 per cent by Barrick Gold Corporation of Canada, 25pc by three federal state-owned enterprises and 25pc by Balochistan.

During a meeting with a delegation of Barrick Gold Corporation, led by its president and CEO Dennis Mark Bristow, the prime minister directed the officials of relevant departments to fulfil their responsibility for implementation of the project.

Mr Sharif said that immense opportunities existed for investment in Pakistan’s mining, information technology, energy, communication and infrastructure sectors and the government was taking measures to provide all possible facilities to investors.

Mr Bristow informed the prime minister about the progress on the Reko Diq project.

The prime minister said that several areas of Pakistan, including Balochistan, were rich in mineral resources and the government was working on a priority basis to fully exploit and utilise these natural resources for the benefit of the masses.

Mr Sharif said the recent agreement on Reko Diq project would be beneficial for both sides and the project would be a game changer for the people of Balochistan and bring about a new era of progress in the province.

The prime minister was informed that 70pc of the people working on the project belonged to Balochistan.

He was further informed that Barrick Gold Corporation had established a school in the area with the cooperation of a community development committee of the area. Besides, the prime minister was briefed that steps would be taken for imparting professional and higher level education to the youth of the area so that they could get jobs in the project.

The meeting was briefed that work was continuing to provide facilities of clean drinking water and health in the area and alternative energy was being used in the mining project.

The prime minister appreciated the mining corporation for its welfare projects in the area to fulfil its corporate social responsibility. He invited the corporation to work with the government for establishing Danish schools in Balochistan.

Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the PM on Establishment Ahad Cheema, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadiq Malik, Special Assistant to the PM Jehanzeb Khan and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stated that the Reko Diq project will be a game changer for Balochistan and the beginning of a new era of development.

A delegation of Barrick Reko Diq Mining Company headed by Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday.

The prime minister while speaking to the delegation stated Reko Diq project will be beneficial for both parties.

Mark Bristow informed the prime minister about the progress of the project so far. While briefing on the project, the prime minister was told that 70 percent of the people working on the project belong to Balochistan.

Barrick Gold plans to start productions at Reko Diq mine in 2028

The prime minister was further informed that a school has been set up by the company in cooperation with the Community Development Committee of the area besides steps will be taken to provide professional and higher education to the youth of the area so that they can get employment.

In the briefing, it was further informed that work is in progress regarding the provision of clean drinking water and health facilities in the area. It was further informed in the briefing that alternative energy is being used in the project.

The Prime Minister appreciated the ongoing work of Barrick Reko Diq Mining Company regarding corporate social responsibility and also encouraged the company to work together with the government in establishing Danish Schools in Balochistan. All concerned departments should fulfil their responsibility.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023