8 Startup Teams Awarded for Cohort Phase of Impact Hub Fellowship on Sustainable Energy Solutions with WWF and PEF

Wazzup Pilipinas!

About 16 million people in the Philippines, according to published report, still do not have access to electricity, forming part of the 130 million in Southeast Asia who still live in the dark.

Indeed when we talk about poverty, most are focused solely on financial poverty but staggering numbers show that it is also in the barest necessity like electricity that people continue to be deprived of. Having identified such an issue, the pressing question lies in how are we solving it?

With a growing interest in battling climate change, it has been imperative for many impact-minded organizations to stand together to do its share in promoting energy entrepreneurship.

Eradicating Energy Poverty

With the aligned vision to educate, encourage and empower energy entrepreneurship in the country, Impact Hub Manila, World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines) and Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) have collaborated to search for ideas on sustainable energy solutions through the the Impact Hub Fellowship Program on Sustainable Energy Solutions.

After an application period of 5 weeks, 16 teams were pre-selected by the experts from Impact Hub Manila, PEF and WWF through a gruelling deliberation on July 28, 2016. The chosen entreprenuers were then given the opportunity to pitch before a jury panel. These judges awarded the 6 to 8 teams and gave them the opportunity to be part of the Cohort Phase.

Free Wi-Fi Services in LRT Stations

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Globe Telecom is the country’s first telecommunications company to provide free Wi-Fi services in all 20 LRT stations as part of its commitment to address growing customer demand for constant connectivity. The agreement is expected to benefit around 400,000 passengers daily.

Under an agreement signed by Globe and the Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), the concessionaire of the Light Rail Transit System-Line 1 (LRT1), the telecommunications provider agreed to provide Wi-Fi services that will be accessible to LRT1 passengers and employees, said Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Governance, Network Technical Group.

According to Agustin, Globe will also provide fiber optic cable system that will extend the length of the entire LRT 1 and cover all LRT stations and LRMC’s depot in Pasay City. In addition, the telco provider will also enhance its wireless infrastructure by deploying cell sites in each of the LRT stations. “Globe will also deploy the new LTE700/1800/2600 MHz spectrum to provide adequate capacity to handle the massive mobile traffic volume at these stations,” he said. Globe recently gained access to the 700 MHz band and acquired additional allocation in the 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz frequencies following its recent joint buyout of San Miguel’s telco assets.

“As the purveyor of the Filipino digital lifestyle, we, at Globe, recognize customer demand for constant connectivity even as they are on the go. We are confident that the deployment of free Wi-Fi services in all LRT stations will bring better communication or even improve work productivity for our customers,” Agustin stressed.

He explained that deployment of fiber optic cables and enhancement of the company’s wireless infrastructure along LRT 1 would improve mobile coverage and enhance network capacities. Once completed, this is expected to improve customer experience not only of customers riding LRT 1 but also those plying the Taft Ave. and Rizal Ave route.

In early June, Globe also signed a similar agreement to provide free Wi-Fi connectivity in all 13 MRT stations along EDSA. Globe has set aside for 2016 a capital expenditure of $750 million, bulk of which will be used to boost data capacity and expand network reach. In line with its vision of ushering in a digital nation, the network build will also increase the capacity of its network for both mobile and wire lines using different technologies including 3G, LTE and Wi-Fi.

*Photo caption: From left are Globe Senior Vice President for Program Governance, Network Technical Group Joel Agustin; PHAR Managing Director-Asia Prem Bhatia; Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu; LRMC & President Jesus Francisco; and LRMC Business Development Head Janet Bautista. 

Pacquaio Favors Return of Death Penalty and Claims It Is Approved by God

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"In his first privilege speech, Manny Pacquiao, a born-again Christian, mentioned no less than the bible as his basis for saying that death penaltyis justifiable."

The abolition of the death penalty back in 2006 was mainly due to the mounting pressure from religious groups. Yet first-term Senator Manny Pacquiao is saying that God permits death penalty? After filing three bills on restoring the death penalty, the boxer cum politician took center stage to explain that the ''Death penalty is a lawful, moral, and a sanctioned governmental action.''

"Are we greater than God because God is allowing death penalty in every nation and country?" - Manny Pacquiao

"I am convinced that God is not just a God of mercy, but also a God of justice." - Manny Pacquiao

“When the government punishes, it’s not an individual act. That’s approved by God” - Manny Pacquiao

We all know Pacquiao is not deserving of any government position. He won merely by popularity. He is just a clown or mascot at the Senate. Therefore, what he says pertaining to law or anything related can be considered as nothing more but garbage. He is not even qualified to speak in behalf of God, or religion. He does not know what he is talking about.

Pacquiao even jokes about hanging as the preferred method of death "Sisispain lang po yung upuan"

"Para po sa akin, ang nananaig ngayon ay yung hanging or firing squad," Pacquiao said.
"Dahil mura?" Sotto, who started to laugh.
"Sisipain lang ang upuan," Pacquiao said, laughing, in describing how hanging is done.

That was an example of an opportunity to intellectually explain his recommendation lost because he preferred to fool around with another silly Senator who is also not deserving of a seat in the Senate.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said that while the death penalty strikes many as “inhuman”, it is the fitting punishment for crimes just as “inhuman” like rape and the murder of infants. His statement is not surprising since the former Mayor of Davao has been accused of extrajudicial killings so he prefers death to suspected criminals without giving them a chance for due process.

Now, the entire country has been plagued by similar extrajudicial killings openly brought about by the police whose usual defense is that the suspects retaliated. However, most of the incidents were severely contradicted since it is highly unthinkable for the suspects to fight back when they are obviously outnumbered by the police.

I'm worried about those who believe that the death penalty should return. You should avoid these kind of people for they are mentally unstable and could cause chaos anytime soon. These are the type of people who would readily kill when given a chance. They will be among the very first to hurt you when no one is looking. They have given up on humanity that they want every accused or suspected criminals to be dead instead of being rehabilitated.

We all know that our justice system is weak therefore there will be a great chance that the innocent will be sentenced to death. The law never favors the poor because it is too expensive for the ordinary citizen. Thus, the affluent and influential can easily get away with crimes.

We've seen how our government officials have deceived us with their lies and deception. Yet, many of them continue to get re-elected.

Additionally, man has no right to end any life. The death penalty has been proven to be a cruel and unusual form of punishment. It has no place in our world.

The commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill' has absolute value, and concerns both the innocent and the guilty," says Pope Francis

When we talk about criminal justice reform, I believe it is time for our country to join almost every other country on Earth in saying no to the death penalty. At a time of rampant violence and murder, we should not be part of that process.