Pasig clean-up on target; new Toyota chief
We should all be glad to learn that san Miguel Corp. (SMC) will cross the one-million, metricton threshold in the removal of silt and solid wastes at Pasig River this month.
I can imagine the wide smile on the face of Ramon s. Ang (RSA) as his P2-billion Pasig clean-up is progressing on smoothly since the grand plan began only several months back.
RSA, the amiable SMC President and Ceo, has been thoroughly apprised of his dredging teams’ working almost round-the-clock to ensure that both ends of Metro Manila’s main waterways—the Manila Bay and Laguna Lake— become blocks-free when the rainy season sets in this year.
Ang was elated to learn that from just two to three meters deep at the start of the project, completed sections now have depths of from five to six meters.
He is optimistic that in less than two years, the targeted wastes-clearing will be achieved since the initiative was launched in July 2021, with the support of the department of environment and natural Resources (denr) and local government units.
earlier, smc’s Tullahan River cleanup has removed some 1.12 million metric tons of silt and wastes from sections traversing navotas, Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela, in 27 months. since the projects started, flooding has been significantly minimized and the navigability and safety for ferries and other vessels have also immensely improved.
“We are happy to note that the easing of restrictions are now allowing us to achieve our cleanup targets much faster,” RSA said. “Hopefully, by the time the rainy season sets in, our cities will feel the benefits of the Pasig River’s larger carrying capacity, along with government’s other flood mitigation and control programs.”
Continued Ang: “Compared to our earlier Tullahan River cleanup, the positive impacts of our Pasig River effort will be felt in even more areas. It will benefit not just people from Metro Manila, but also many from Rizal, all the way to Laguna de Bay.” smc’s historic Pasig River cleanup is said to be the largest such initiative to date by a single private enterprise. May Rsa’s tribe increase…
Toyota new chief
TOYOTA Motor international has a new chief to replace Akio Toyoda as President and Ceo.
According to nikkei Asia, Koji sato, the Lexus International president in 2020, will be tapped to “fully remodel” the world no. 1 automaker as a mobility company.
Toyoda, 66, will leave sato, 53, the herculean job of dealing with the rise of electric vehicles (ev) and other mobility technologies.
Toyoda told a news conference the need for the company to have a new management team of younger leaders to navigate the challenges ahead.
“sato is a man who has worked hard to master Toyota’s philosophy, techniques and manners in the field of car manufacturing,” Toyoda said. “He loves cars.”
He took note of sato’s young age (53), saying: “In order to promote change in an age when the right answers are not known, it is necessary for the top management to continue to be on the frontlines themselves. To do so, physical strength, energy and passion are essential. I think being young is a big attraction in itself.”
Toyoda is giving way after 14 years at the helm, his leadership marked by Toyota’s steady rise to the top of the world coupled with a sustained stamina to marshal the automaker’s grip of the reins of mobility power.
As always, good leaders know when it’s time to go.
only recently, Jacinda Ardern, who rose to fame after becoming the world’s youngest prime minister at age 37 just a while back, resigned as new Zealand’s charismatic leader after humbly admitting, “I do not have enough left in the tank.” she’s only 42.
The saying, “grandmasters know when to resign,” rings true again.
PEE STOP
Happy birthday to my Innova-driving bilas, dante T. Fernandez, of Roxas City, and sol Juvida’s grandkid, dada R. Mendoza. Both dante and dada are celebrating on February 20. Cheers!...ubix’s Bert Bravo, my ever-durable, ageless, kumpadre, also celebrates on February 24. Kanpai!*