: Lafarge Philippines

Lafarge offers logistical support for donations to Sendong victims

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:48:07 GMT

Lafarge and its associated companies continue to offer free logistical support to government agencies, non-government organizations and other businesses in Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Iloilo Cities that need help in transporting their collected donations and relief supplies for the victims of Typhoon Sendong to Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

Iligan Cement Corporation (ICC), a Lafarge associated company that is one of the largest industrial operations in Iligan, is providing three to five trucks that depart daily from Cagayan de Oro and Davao to transport the relief goods straight to Iligan. Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc. President Don Lee said the group also offers free shipping of collected donations in Iloilo and Davao through its chartered vessels.

Lafarge has already extended its free trucking and shipping services to the Philippine Red Cross, the Department

of Social Welfare and evelopment and the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association through its Pusong Minero program.

According to Lee, apart from the logistical support, ICC has donated P1M worth of essential non-food items to Sendong victims through the help of PRC. The Group, he added, has also mobilized its emergency response team to clear roads and assist in providing potable drinking water to the more than 10,000 affected families in the city.

Moreover, the company is distributing other non-food items such as mosquito nets, sleeping mats and blankets to victims currently nestled across 16 evacuation centers in the city and to other affected families who opted to remain in their houses.

Lafarge is fully committed to provide continued support and assistance in rebuilding the typhoon-wrecked Iligan community.

The devastation caused by Typhoon Sendong in Iligan has compelled everyone in Lafarge to triple our efforts in helping rebuild their community, said Lee. We intend to continuously support the people of Iligan by working hand in hand with them in any possible way we deem appropriate.

Lafarge and Republic Cement join Integrity Initiative

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:41:06 GMT

Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc. and Republic Cement Corporation, a Lafarge-associated company, have recently signed on to become part of the Integrity Initiative, a private sector-led effort that aims to promote corporate transparency and ethics as a way of eradicating corruption in the country.

By signing the Integrity Pledge, Lafarge and Republic Cement formally expressed their continuing commitment to abide by ethical business practices and good corporate governance. As part of their pledge, Lafarge and Republic Cement promise to maintain a code of conduct for the pursuit of proper business practices, promote professional integrity among employees through training programs, renounce bribery, and implement internal systems to prevent unethical behavior. Further, they vow to maintain appropriate financial reporting mechanisms, enter into integrity pacts with other business and government agencies for procurement needs and refrain from engaging in business with unethical parties.

"Lafarge and Republic Cement are proud to join the Integrity Initiative and participate in this movement against corruption in the Philippines," remarked Don Lee, president of Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc. "Transparency and adherence to professional ethics are central to our own Code of Business Conduct. We are pleased to join other companies and organizations to uphold these fundamental values that are critical to building a strong nation."

Spearheaded by the Makati Business Club (MBC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) in 2009, the Integrity Initiative is a multi-sectoral campaign that seeks to institutionalize integrity standards among various sectors of society - business, government, judiciary, academe, youth, civil society, church and media. The initiative aims to help in the quest to curtail, if not fully end, the cycle of corruption in the Philippines. Ultimately, it hopes to build trust in government, alleviate poverty and develop an ethical and progressive business environment.

Presently, the Integrity Initiative is focused on the development of integrity standards in the business community through the SHINE project. A four-year anti-corruption plan, SHINE is focused on establishing concrete control measures to deter corruption within companies in the private business sector.

UN recognizes Clean Development Mechanism at Republic Teresa Cement Plant

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:15:48 GMT

The project to recover heat and turn this into electricity, set up by Republic Cement Corporation (Teresa Plant), a Lafarge associated company in the Philippines, has now been officially registered as a "Clean Development Mechanism" (CDM) by the CDM executive board in Bonn, Germany.

The CDM is one of the flexibility mechanisms introduced by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the context of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The process is designed to provide a financial incentive for projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.

The project set up at the Teresa cement plant supplies 30% of the cement plant's electricity needs. By using less energy produced from fossil fuels, the heat recovery project makes a lasting contribution to the fight against climate change by allowing the Teresa plant to cut its indirect CO2emissions by 12,000 tons per year.

Lafarge has already registered three other CDMs around the world:

in Morocco, the Tetouan cement plant's wind farm supplies 60% of the plant's electricity needs
in Malaysia, in the Rawang and Kanthan cement plants, palm kernel shells are used as alternative fuel for a proportion of the coal required
in India, in the State of Chhattisgarh, fly ash from coal-fired power plants replaces more than 30% of the clinker used to manufacture cement

These four CDMs registered by Lafarge and its associated companies enable a total reduction of more than 170,000 tons of CO2 per year, representing a benefit to the planet equivalent to 10.6 million trees being planted each year.

These mechanisms are part of the initiatives undertaken by Lafarge to cut its overall CO2 emissions. The Group is fighting climate change at various levels:

Continuous improvement in the energy performance of its factories.
Use of alternative fuels including biomass and industrial residues to partially replace non-renewable fossil fuels.
The use of cement additives which are C02 neutral, such as slag, fly ash and pozzolan, making it possible to develop cement products with lower carbon intensity.

Lafarge has publicly and proactively committed itself since 2001 to reducing its net CO2 emissions per ton of cement by 20% between 1990 and 2010. This target was reached in 2009 and exceeded in 2010, with a reduction of 21.7%. New ambitions to tackle climate change will soon be announced.

Lafarge signs MOU with UP College of Engineering

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:26:29 GMT

Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc. (LCSPI) and the UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UP-ERDFI) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to undertake two major projects.

As part of their agreement, the parties will support a research study that will serve as the thesis of a team of UP Engineering students. Further, they will also sponsor a competition on sustainable low-cost housing solutions. Lafarge has also agreed to extend educational visits to Lafarge-associated plants, sponsor lectures by experienced Lafarge cement professionals and provide possible internships to UP-CoE students.

Nazareno + Guerrero wins Aquino Museum Redesign Competition

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:47:34 GMT

Nazareno+Guerrero Design Consultancy, led by Architects Antonio Nazareno and Christian Guerrero, has been named as the winner of the Aquino Museum Redesign Competition. Organized by Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc. for the benefit of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF), the AMRC was established to find the best design solution for the Aquino Museum that will capture the full impact of Ninoy and Cory on Philippine history.

The other two finalists were MANA Architecture + Interior Design, helmed by Architect Jose Carlo S. Mateo and Palafox Associates, guided by Architect Felino Palafox, Jr.

The project is part of the continuing partnership between Lafarge and the NCAF that started way back in 2008. "Lafarge is proud to support landmarks of Filipino identity such as the Aquino Museum," remarked Don Lee, president of Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc. "We are also pleased to find and nourish, through the AMRC, local talents to help preserve the memory of two Filipino icons of democracy."

The three finalists were chosen from a long list of 15 other entries to go through the second phase of the competition. From the brief narratives and preliminary sketches of proposed designs they initially submitted, the finalists went on to develop full schematic proposals which they presented to the AMRC's panel of judges.

The winning entry was chosen based on its adherence to the competition's judging criteria, which includes creativity of solution, content and the ability to meet the objectives of the NCAF. Cost-efficiency, in terms of both design implementation and long-term operations, was also taken into account - as were thematic fidelity and relevance, effectiveness and clarity of message delivery in the design execution. In addition, the judges assessed the entries in terms of environmental sustainability, technical design and their manner of incorporating sponsors' products in the design solution.

"It was extremely difficult to choose among the finalists as each displayed immense creativity in their designs," shared Architect Dan Lichauco, chairperson of the AMRC panel of jurors. "However, the judges agree that Nazareno + Guerrero provided a unique and incisive approach that best captured the legacy of Ninoy and Cory."

The other members of the board of judges were: Maria Elena ("Ballsy") Aquino-Cruz, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Emily Abrera, Kenneth Esguerra, Guillermo Luz, Ino Manalo, Manolo Quezon, and Renato Sunico.

With its involvement in the competition, Lafarge affirms its support for icons of Filipino identity - those historical monuments that celebrate the country's destiny - such as the Aquino Museum. With the museum redesign, Lafarge, along with the NCAF, hopes to provide a more comprehensive coverage of the life and legacy of the late President Corazon C. Aquino that will complement the institution's extensive permanent exhibit on Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

The project also intends to repackage the museum to appeal to local and foreign visitors - both young and old - with an interest in contemporary Philippine history.

Reawakening Democracy: Lafarge Launches the Aquino Museum Redesign Contest

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:06:34 GMT

Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc. with the endorsement of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF), is calling on all architects, designers, conservators, and curators as they launch the Aquino Museum Redesign Competition, a contest that aims to find the best design solution that will capture the impact of Ninoy and Cory on Philippine history.

Organized by Lafarge for the benefit of NCAF, the contest invites participants to each submit a creative and cost-efficient design scheme for the Museum Section of the Aquino Center in Tarlac. The scope of the design, which should deliver a coherent and compelling museum-going experience, will include all aspects of exhibition design, including content selection, installation scheme, atmospherics and path narrative.

"For the past many years, Republic Cement Corporation and Iligan Cement Corporation, both Lafarge-Associated Companies, have made it a commitment to support landmarks of our Filipino identity," remarks Cirilo M. Pestaño II, VP-Communications of Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines), Inc. "As we launch the redevelopment of the Aquino Museum, we embark on another journey as we continue our support for the preservation of the memories of two Filipino icons of democracy who shaped Philippine history. We are extremely proud and deeply honored to take the lead in this project and keep their legacy alive for future generations."

The Museum redesign competition was spurred by the need for a more comprehensive coverage of the life and legacy of the late President Corazon C. Aquino. At present, much of the Museum space is dedicated to the exhibition on Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., whose assassination in August 1983 led to the emergence of people power in February 1986. The competition will be an opportunity to re-package the entire Museum exhibition to appeal to - and resonate among - visitors from present and future generations.

"With this endeavor of Lafarge, we are happy and thankful that we will have the opportunity to better preserve the memory and promote the legacy of Ninoy and Cory Aquino," said Dan Lichauco, a Trustee of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation.

From the initial entries, three finalists will be chosen and given funding to further develop their designs. Out of the three, one will be awarded a design contract for the implementation of their proposal. The competition's board of judges is comprised of Maria Elena Cruz-Aquino, Dan Lichauco, Rene Sunico, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Emily Abrera, Ino Manalo, Ricky Abad, Manolo Quezon, and Guillermo Luz.

For more details and inquiries, interested parties may contact Ms. Myle Macalam of Lafarge at (917) 807-7365.

Lafarge and WWF partner for sustainable construction

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:01:17 GMT

Lafarge Cement Services (Philippines) Inc. (LCSPI) and its conservation partner, WWF Philippines, have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to renew their partnership and expand their initiatives for sustainable development. For this year, Lafarge and WWF Philippines will undertake two major projects: the expansion of Lafarge's Pinakamagandang Bahay sa Balat ng Lupa (PMBBL) Program and a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Blended Cement.

The PMBBL Program, a contest launched in 2009 with the UP College of Architecture, awards sustainable Bahay Kubo-inspired houses designed by architecture professionals and students. This year, WWF will help share the experience obtained during the selection of the winners and construction process through the conduct of road shows, symposia, and talks.

On the other hand, the LCA is a research activity that will analyze the impact of Blended Cement. Compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which is the current industry standard, Blended Cement has lesser embodied carbon thus considered more environment-friendly. With hard data on hand, WWF and Lafarge hope to slowly drive a shift from OPC to Blended Cement.

Signing for Lafarge were LCSPI President Mr. Samir Cairae and VP-Communications Mr. Cirilo Pestaño II. WWF Philippines was represented by its President, Mr. Lory Tan and VP-Marketing and Corporate Relations, Ms. Reggie Olalia.