Economics Research Associate wins best presenter award in Jakarta
Ateneo Center for Research and Development (ACERD) Research Associate Justin Valle won best presenter in an event hosted by IPMI International Business School entitled “Microeconomics of Competitiveness (MoC): Comparative Cluster Initiatives in Asia.” Written by Valle with his co-authors Irwin Cruz and Jessalaine Bacani, their paper on the Cebu furniture cluster received the third best paper award in the competition. International participants presented papers on topics such as education, renewable energy, infrastructure, tourism, the food industry, the creative industry, the digital revolution, culture, and sustainable development goals. The conference was held from July 9-10 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Thyla A. Segovia
Bangsamoro advocates emphasize challenges on BBL passage
The Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan and the Sanggunian organized a forum on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) called “Maps and Mindsets,” which was held at the Natividad Galang Fajardo room at the Horacio Dela Costa Hall on July 12. The forum tackled the specifics of the BBL’s implementation, such as adding Sharia courts to address smaller crimes and tribal justice courts to solve clan feuds. The speakers also shed light on the impracticality of the shallow waters given by the government to the Bangsamoro territories, leading to many repercussions on people’s livelihoods. Present in the forum were speakers Sittie Janine Balt of the United Nations Women Speakers’ Bureau, Shalom Allian from Insider Mediators, and Anwar Saluwang from the proposed Bangsamoro region. The forum emphasized the struggles of the Bangsamoro advocates in finding support as they push for acknowledgement and ratification of the BBL. Thyla A. Segovia
Ateneo Innovation Center designs solar-powered clean water system
The Ateneo Innovation Center installed its very own solar-powered clean water system in a multi-purpose hall in Barangay Coloong, Valenzuela City, due to the scarcity of clean water in the area. The system makes use of three filters; removing unwanted odor, sediment, and color from accumulated rain water. The system also uses ultraviolet light charged by a 50-watt solar panel that cleans the water, allowing for safe drinking. When properly maintained, the solar-paneled clean water system is able to produce clean water per minute. Because of the newly installed system, local residents have easier access to clean water. Thyla A. Segovia
Ateneo alumna lands on the Forbes Global Women Sustainability list
Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Director for Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Janice Lao (BS ES ‘03) landed a place on the Forbes 46 Sustainability Leaders list. She was commended for her efforts in advancing sustainability in “multinational blue-chip companies and world-renowned think tank companies” in Asia, particularly during her stay with Mass Transit Railway Corporation. She also spearheaded the launching of the company’s first Green Bond to raise funding for projects beneficial to the environment. After receiving her bachelor’s degree at Ateneo de Manila, she obtained her masters degree in Environmental Change and Management at the University of Oxford, finishing as the first Filipino scholar of the course. Thyla A. Segovia
