JAPANESE EXPERTS HERE FOR ENERCON PROJECT
TIPS ON THERMAL ENERGY
Official Publication of the PMAI Series XXXVI, Number 1 January 2008

STEAM PIPING:

• A 100mm well lagged pipe of 30m length carrying steam at 7kg/cm2 pressure can condense nearly 10kg of water in the pipe in one hour, unless it is removed from the pipe traps.

• The pipes should run with a fall (slope) of not less than 12.5mm in 3 meters in the direction of flow.

• Drain pockets should be provided at every 30-50m and at any low point in the pipe network.

Mr. Takeuchi of JETRO met with Nap Tanganco, Chairman of the Technical Committee involved in the ENERCON Project of PMAI and discussed the developments and progress of Enercon Promotion among the PMAI member-companies.

Mr. Takeuchi informed that the Asian Foundry Congress will be held on May 2008. He mentioned that the incoming President of the Congress is interested to know more about the activities of the PMAI. Later, Nap provided him with the MIRDC Industry Reports over the past two decades.

Mr. Takeuchi gave guidelines as to what data would be required to properly assess and analyze energy consumption. He further advised those present - the PMAI Enercon Team, participating member companies, DOST-ITDI, MIRDC and PCIERD technicians - to try to standardize the units of energy used in all reports. Forms were distributed for accomplishment of the participating member-companies which will be the bases of the interpretations and analyses of the experts when they return.

QC RANKS AMONG TOP 10 ASIAN CITIES, NO. 1 IN RP
Thursday, January 17, 2008

Quezon City has joined the ranks of Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei as one of the Top 10 Asian Cities of the Future.

Quezon City was ranked No. 7 among more than 200 Asian cities, based on a survey commissioned by the London Financial Times through AsiaBiz Strategy, an investment and trade promotion consultancy based in Singapore.

Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei were the top three.

Consistently figuring in the top 10, and practically outranking other Philippine cities except in one category, Quezon City was assessed No. 5 in the category "Best Economic Potential." It was third best in Asia in terms of "Cost Effectiveness," sixth best in terms of "Best Human Resources," and 10th best in terms of "Quality of Life."

Analyzing the reasons for Quezon City's splendid showing, the think tank Advocacy for Empowered Local Governments (AELG) cited the city government's ability to parlay the most cumbersome challenges into assets for development. Studying the city's growth over the past two decades, AELG noted the rapid rise in investor interest over the past five years.

Among the reasons consistently cited by business owners is the credibility of the local government whose governance initiatives have made it a favorite case study of international institutions like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Add to that the huge resources being invested by the city government for infrastructure improvement, which has prompted a taxpayer to remark, "At least in Quezon City, we can see where our taxes go."

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte's forward-looking management style has been able to make the most of the city's strategic assets - its large and generally young, 2.4 million population, its central location at the heart of Metro Manila, as well as its location of choice for media operations, schools and training centers and medical facilities.

While other cities and municipalities would view a huge population as a burden and a drain on public services, Mayor Belmonte views the city's young population both as a large, trainable human resource pool as well as a big consumer market. While previous administrations regarded the city's 16- hectare expanse as a problem of uncontrolled blight, Belmonte has transformed it into an investment attraction.

The results have been policies and programs that have attracted a continuous inflow of education and training institutions (counting just colleges and universities, the city now has 65), shopping malls in practically every community cluster, and information technology companies that find real estate values in Quezon City very competitive.

IBM and eTelecare, which decided to locate their largest Philippine facilities in Quezon City, cite the city's large population, wide choice of available locations and real estate prices, as their main reasons for expanding in the city.

Ayala Land, which has invested P3.5 billion in the TriNoma Shopping Mall along North Avenue, and the UP North Science and Technology Park, reportedly capitalized at P1.2 billion, believes that Quezon City is the strategic door of development for northern Metro Manila.

TriNoma marks the start of development of the City's 250-hectare Central Business District (CBD) set to rise over the North and East Triangles and Veterans Memorial area of Quezon City.

Belmonte saw the waste of government assets just across City Hall where the national government owns about 95 percent of the properties. He envisioned a modern, mixed-use community to rise in these 250 hectares that would make the most of its broad EDSA frontage and its multiple transportation access points.

This attracted the World Bank to commission a framework plan for development. President Arroyo gave the national imprimatur by creating a management team called the Urban Triangle Development (TriDev) Commission, co-chaired by the mayor, to direct the development of this CBD.

(Note: The foregoing article is a reprint of that published in the Philippine Star. We think it is worthwhile disseminating to PMAI members for encouragement.)

NEW WAY TO RECOGNIZE A STROKE

STROKE IDENTIFICATION

Note the following anecdote.

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) .....but she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 PM Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die.... they end in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, S-T-R . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (e.g., It is sunny out today.)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 117 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

I just thought that this might come in handy and useful sometime. This might even save someone's life in the future. I suggest learning everything here by heart and probably teach or disseminate the information to as many friends as possible.

This information was supplied by Tony Abastillas, who is in town, former Vice-President of the old PFS in the early '70s. His eldest daughter is a nurse in the USA.