PHILI PPINE
VOL. 1. No. 3 November-December 2012
THE MAGAZINE FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS
All systems go for SLExDaang Hari
Project to use 46,500 cement bags per km
The Bormaheco Story
Building a business from the ruins of war Sales bridge retrofitted with grade 60 steel and more cement Planning and monitoring are key factors to a successful project
Wireless communication offers protection November-December 2012
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from the editor
People who make a difference
F
or our third issue, we focus on the people behind the construction industry and the institutions they represent. I believe that the construction industry would not have prospered nor created significant milestones without the people that make a difference: the engineers, the contractors, the entrepreneurs. We tell the story of Engineer Danilo Idos, a career public servant at the Department of Public Works and Highways. His dedication to his work and simple lifestyle could serve as a model for all those in government service to emulate. The story of Bormaheco, a company that provides equipment for rent can be an inspiration to those who dream big despite the odds. The feature on ACEL, the Association of Carriers and Equipment Lessors, likewise shows the importance of such organizations that promote the welfare of the construction industry. What matters most are the little contributions of each of those involved in the construction industry. Together, they create a synergy of activities that spur economic growth in the country. Together, they give us stories worth sharing in our e-magazine -- stories that we hope will also inspire you; stories that will keep you informed; stories that you can relate to. We also bring to you our regular features: news in the local and international construction scene; interesting products and technologies; and management tools that give you information. We hope you make it a habit to read Philippine Construction & Design. Enjoy!
contents CONSTRUCTION NEWS
02 Calendar of Events
08 International Report
Construction activity in Singapore seen to grow
04 News Roundup
$ 250-M mineral refinery plant to boost Phl Mining Industry
FEATURES
12 Cover Story
22 Project Report -Private
14 Industry Report
24 Special Report
18 Marketing Management
26 Project Management
20 Project Report -Public
28 Personality Profile
Building a business from the ruins of war
Redesigning the Metro Landscape
All systems go for SLEX-Daang Hari Acel sets the standards
Keeping track of project construction
Construction companies need to sell too Sales bridge retrofitted with grade 60 steel and more cement
DPWH’s Mr. Finisher means business
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
30 Risk Management
Wireless communication offers protection
35 Price Movements
3rdQ construction prices posted mixed movements
32 Products & Technology Rodolfo de Guzman Editor in Chief
DeWalt Circular Saw Blades Quiet Qurl MT
ON THE COVER Executive Publisher: Editor-in-Chief: Graphic Artist: Contributing Writer: Advertising Sales Executive:
Bormaheco, a pioneer in the construction equipment rental business, has been in the forefront of providing quality products and services to contractors for more than half a century. On the cover is Bormaheco GM Hernane Losanes shown with one of the lifting equipment in the company’s fleet.
Josette Adiong Rodolfo de Guzman Anabelle Flores Ed Velasco | Rachel Rañosa | Nez Aguilar Kristian C. Atilano
The Philippine Construction & Design is an e-magazine published monthly by Saiber Media Inc., with business address at Unit 1524 City & Land Mega Plaza, ADB Ave. cor. Garnet Rd., Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Official website is www. philippineconstructionanddesign.com., e-mail address: saibermediainc@yahoo. com.ph. Publisher is William L. Ogan. For your editorial, online subscription and advertising placement, please contact (632) 945.8510 | 687-1030. Please send your comments and suggestion’s to saibercraft@yahoo.com. Copyright ©2012 All rights reserved. November-December 2012
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calendar of events November 2012-December 2013 23rd Philconstruct Exhibit Manila November 7 – 10, 2012 This trade fair and exhibit showcases the latest in building technology and construction materials from local manufacturers and foreign suppliers. Venue: SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, Metromanila, Philippines Bauma China 2012 November 27 – 30, 2012 A trade fair of international character that offers exhibitors access to their target market for construction in China and Asia. Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai, China 37th Annual National Construction and Expo 2012 November 14 – 17, 2012 This annual event is sponsored by the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Phil. Inc. that will highlight electrical, electronics and energy exposition. Venue: SMX Convention Center, Pasay City Ceramics Asia December 13 –15, 2012 Ceramics Asia is one of the most attended exhibition on the ceremics industry in India. There will be trade seminars and a showcase of a wide selection of ceremics raw materials, decoration equipment, additives, fitting tools and machines. This is organized at the Gujarat University Exhibition Center. There will also be promotional and business networking sessions. Venue: Gujarat University Exhibition Hall, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Taipei International Building, Construction & Decoration Exhibit December 13-16, 2012 Taipei International Building, Construction and Decoration Exhibition that started in 1987, is a well-attended international construction and building materials show in Taiwan. It is an important venue for purchasing basic and large-scale construction items. Venue: Taipe World Trade Center, Taipei, Taiwan Seattle, Washington Remodeling Expo January 4-6, 2013 Seattle Remodeling Expo will showcase a wide range of products and services for remodelling the interior and exterior portions of the house. This expo will also have home decors and the latest accessories for interior and exterior designs. Other features include landscape design, home accessories, home entertainment, furnishing, security systems, tech smart homes, baths, kitchens, and video surveillance. Venue: Washington State Convention Centre, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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BC India 2012 February 5 – 8, 2013 This international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines and construction vehicles in India provides the international construction industry with a platform for networking, investment and exchange of ideas and information. Venue: Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, India BaumesseNRW March 22-24, 2013 This trade fair and exhibition features eco building technologies, real estate and vacation properties. Venue: Dortmund, Germany Bauma 2013 April 15 – 21, 2013 One of the leading trade fairs in Germany, the 30th International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines, Construction Vehicles and Construction Equipment shows leading edge technology in the construction industry. Venue: New Munich Trade Fair Centre, Munich, Germany Roof India 2013 May 24-26, 2013 This exposition will bring together all manufacturers, dealers and suppliers of different kinds of roofing materials under one event. Venue: Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, India ELEXPO June 6-9, 2013 This annual event showcases the latest product innovations and technology in elevators and accessories. Venue: Suzhou, China Building & Construction Indonesia September 11 – 14, 2013 This biennial trade show showcases the latest in building and construction equipment and materials. Venue: Jakarta, Indonesia Geo Tunnel October 15-17, 2013 This annual event showcases technologies and equipment for the construction of tunnels and utility lines. Venue: Moscow, Russia BATIMAFrance November 4-8, 2013 This annual event features the latest products and technologies catering to construction professionals. Venue: Paris, France CON-BUILD Vietnam December 2013 This annual trade show and exposition features construction machinery, vehicles, equipments, construction materials, technology and services. Venue: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
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news roundup
www.gulfnews.com
CDO-DOLE to monitor safety measures in construction sites
www.123rf.com
The increase in construction projects in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) prompted the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to strictly monitor the safety measures being implemented by construction companies and property owners. DOLE aims to avert the increase in construction-related accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) of DOLE said in a report that they will ensure strict compliance to Department Order 13. This directive pertains to the proper institution of safety measures and procedures in the workplace that also provides the issuance of personal protective equipment or PPE to all construction workers at the expense of the company. Being monitored are the private construction projects in CDO as well as government projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon. OSHC-DOLEwill intensify its safety campaign through the Zero Accident Program through implementation of safety training modules for construction workers.
P2B Davao steel mill expected to lessen import dependence The proposed steel processing plant to be constructed in Barangay Bunawan in Davao is expected to produce reinforcing steel bars that are widely used in the construction of concrete roads and bridges. It is projected to augment the supply of steel bars for local consumption at much cheaper prices and lessen dependence on imported ones coming from Russia, China and India. The P 2 billion steel processing plant will be called Davao Rolling Mill that will be operated by New Carcar Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Steel Asia Manufacturing.
Steel Asia is a joint venture between the Yao and Go families and the Natsteel Holdings Limited of Singapore. The rolling mill will be erected on a 128,489 sqm lot. Construction of the plant will provide employment for the people in the area that the company projected to reach around 400. Once operational, the steel plant is expected to supply the requirement for rebars in the Visayas and Mindanao regions in support of the low-cost housing projects. It is also expected to export its produce to Indonesia.
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www.elds-news.blogspot.com
LED lighting system gives Boni tunnel new shine The 280-meter Boni Avenue tunnel in Mandaluyong City is now sporting a new lighting system that markedly improved illumination and generates savings in electricity costs. With the backing of the Department of Energy (DOE) and support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and a private company considered a world leader in lighting technology, Royal Philips Electronics, the project to replace existing tubular fluorescent lights and high pressure sodium lamps saw the day of light when they were replaced with solar-powered light emitting diodes (LED). The lighting system, considered the first in the country to have integrated LED lighting technology with solar power generation, consisted of 94 22-watt LED tubes. It has a useful life of 30,000 burning hours and 70% lumen maintenance. Supporting the system are solar panels installed on an area on top of one of the tunnel entrances measuring 59 square meters. It is estimated that savings on electric consumption by the city will be as much as 51 % and this system can now be replicated in other government infrastructures such as roads and buildings.
$250-M mineral refinery plant to boost Phl mining industry The IPVG Corporation, through its affiliate the New Wave Resources, is pushing through with its plan to put up a mineral refinery plant in the Philippines. The construction of the $250 million refinery plant is a joint venture of IPVG Corporation and the Canadian firm REC. Initially, there will be two refinery sites to be constructed. Under the memorandum of understanding signed by the respective companies, REC will be the one to build the refinery and also handle the marketing of most of the products. It is projected that when the plant becomes operational, it will generate 3,000 metric tons of refined minerals by the year 2015. IPVG was given the exclusive rights by the Philippine government to mine metal ores and process the minerals. The company, in turn, will export to Korea, Japan, Europe and the United States.
www.phys.org
www.123rf.com
www.cemap.org.ph
SMC expresses interest in Cavite rail
Holcim mulls reopening of Batangas plant Holcim Philippines, the market leader in the cement manufacturing industry, is mulling to reopen its Batangas facility located in the town of Mabini in anticipation of future demands. The company is expected to spend roughly P400 million to rehabilitate the facility to make it fully operational by 2013. Holcim acquired the Mabini plant in 2003 but decided to hold operations when the demand for cement the following year declined.The Mabini plant will utilize the reactivated Calaca terminal to serve as transhipment point. When finished, production capacity of Holcim will increase by up to 22.5 million bags per year. The company is also turning to alternative fuels and implementing production measures to improve efficiencies and save on energy costs of production.
One of the Philippines’ oldest and largest firms San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has since diversified its operation to include non-food related businesses. With the upsurge in infrastructure activities SMC has expressed interest in bidding for the design and construction of the P60 billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1) Cavite Extension project. This project will involve the construction of 11.7 kilometers of elevated railway from the existing end station in Baclaran to Bacoor in Cavite province in the south. Furthermore, LRT 1 extension will initially have eight passenger stations and two more standby stations when needed. Also, a satellite depot will be constructed for possible repair bay area for maintenance work. This project will augment the need for more modes of transportation in the metropolis going to suburban areas. The design will allow LRT 1 Cavite Extension to connect to existing LRT 1 from Caloocan to Baclaran and to MRT Line 3. November-December 2012
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news roundup
More GoHotels on the go up to 2017
China Railway takes LRT 1 Extension bid seriously
The China Railway Construction Corporation or CRCC is seriously considering bidding for the construction of the P60 billion LRT 1 Cavite Extension project when it’s offered on the block this year. CCRC is partnering with local business tycoon Reghis Romero II’s Ecorail Transport Services Inc. The partnership promises to introduce affordable train technology similar to what CCRC has done in the railway industry in China. According to news reports, the government through the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) plans to apportion the project into two components: P30 billion will be sourced from private funds for the civil works portion while the remaining P30 billion will be handled by the government by acquiring new trains and installing the electromagnetic system. However, the CCRC-Ecorail partnership is willing to undertake the entire project on their own because CCRC has vast experience in railway construction with 34,000 kilometers to its name. Likewise, CCRC has the necessary funds to finance it, being one of the biggest construction companies in the world with total assets of more than $1 trillion.
Iglesia ni Cristo builds largest indoor arena
www.iglecianicristo100years.weekly.com
www.skycapercity.com
Mandaluyong City that opened in 2012 and the ones in Puerto Princesa in Palawan and Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. On the other hand, RLC continues to build more shopping malls where their GoHotels are also strategically located to complement its total development plan. In the pipeline are the Magnolia project in Quezon City and Puerto Princesa, Palawan that will bring 32 the total number of malls by end of 2012.
www.eleganthomesph.com
The success of the GoHotels of Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) prompted it to go full blast in the construction of new Go Hotels all over the country. According to its president and chief operating officer, Frederick D. Go, Robinsons Land Corporation will slowly implement its grand plan to open and operate some 30 GoHotels within the next five years. Remaining bullish in the prospects of tourist arrivals in the country, RLC opened its fourth GoHotels in Tacloban City, Leyte and in Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, both in the Visayas region. With these two hotels, the total number of rooms has reached 639, 98 of which are in the Tacloban hotel. Under construction are other branches in Ortigas Center, Pasig; in Butuan City in Agusan del Norte province with 100 rooms and Iloilo City. Existing GoHotels are in its pioneer branch in Cybergate Plaza in
Trump Tower lords over the Makati skyline
The very influential religious organization, the Iglesia ni Cristo, will soon put the Philippines in the world map for having the largest indoor arena with a seating capacity of as much as 50,000. It will be constructed inside a sprawling compound called Iglesia ni Cristo Ciudad de Victoria in Bulacan province. The groundbreaking ceremonies were held late last year and construction is ongoing. It will cost around $ 175 million where the entire complex will also have a university, a medical facility, a convention center, a chapel and housing units. Primarily it will be used for the regular religious gatherings and religious celebrations. Target completion date is 2014 in time for the congregation’s centenary. The design of the arena was done by the Kansas City-based architectural firm Populous while the construction contract was awarded to South Korea’s Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corporation. When finished, the Philippine Arena will be more than twice the size of Madison Square Garden with only 20,000 seating capacity and the Staples Center in Los Angeles with only 21,000 seating capacity.
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www.archdaily.com
The ambitious project of Century Properties, a leading property developer in the country with more than 60 projects in its portfolio, dubbed the Trump Tower Manila is expected to give the Makati landscape a new brand of luxury. It will be located inside the Century City in Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City. The 250-meter tower will have 56 storeys with each floor exclusively limited to only six units with a floor area measuring 57 square meters to elegantly spacious penthouse unit of 435 square meters. The entire Trump Tower will only have a total of 220 exclusive units. This imposing structure will be made of steel and glass signifying strength, style and luxury that the Trump brand is famous for. The façade of the building will allow maximum view of the entire cityscape and there will be light shelves and shading systems that complement the position of the sun in different times of the year. It will also include the most luxurious amenities like a fine dining restaurant at the ground floor, a business center, a lounge, a library, and a video room at the third floor. Likewise, there will be a lap pool and sun deck, juice bar, a fitness center and a spa.
The use of solar panels on rooftops is being pushed by a local company called Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) as a viable alternative to fossil fuel as source of electricity. The company, through one of its founders Theresa Cruz-Capellan, stated in an interview with the Inquirer that the company sees a big market in the Philippines for solar panels given the estimate of around half a million new residential projects annually. It was projected that with only 10% or around 50,000 new houses using 2 kilowatt capacity, the potential market can reach $450 million or P19 billion yearly. Investment cost per household is around $4,500 for components and installation works that can be recovered in seven years. The solar panels can last up to 25 years. In Germany, rooftop installation accounts for about 80% of total installed solar capacity of 30 gigawatts. The company is now working closely with Philippine property developers like Ayala Land Inc. to introduce the use of solar panels in their projects.
www.subicbaynewsblogspot.com
www.myfreeenergyblog.com
Solar rooftops can boost Phl energy conservation drive
Hanjin Heavy Industries mulls putting up own power plant The Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Ltd. Philippines Inc. (Hanjin) is planning to put up its own power plant in the Subic Freeport Zone. According to Department of Energy (DoE) Undersecretary Josefina Patricia Asirit the firm is bent on pushing through with its plan to ensure steady supply of electricity for its use. Hanjin, established in 2006 in the Philippines, constructed its Subic Shipyard in May of 2006 and by the following year started shipbuilding activities to serve the contract for eight 12,800 twenty-foot equivalent unit container carriers. Last year, Hanjin delivered 20 ships and it remains optimistic since it has booked orders up to 2013. With its growth potentials, Hanjin anticipates increased demand for electricity and sees the construction of its own power plant to be advantageous to its overall operations. In case there is surplus electricity, Hanjin is amenable to sell to the grid, thereby augmenting the supply of the Subic Freeport Zone.
www.article.wn.com
First Balfour accorded with 1st BERDE Design Award
DPWH to build 3 flyovers in Davao City The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is scheduled to construct the Ulas Junction flyover by January 2014 in Davao City with two more within two years. These projects are part of the Presidential Bridge Program of President Aquino aimed at decongesting traffic in the city’s national highways. According to Davao City Planning and Development Office Chief Roberto Alabado III, the other two flyovers will be located in Matina crossing and PanacanDiversion Road junction. These flyovers will have two lanes and are expected to be finished in just six months using the modular steel bridge system. Budget for the construction of the flyovers will be included in the city government’s Annual Investment Plan (AIP) that has to be approved by the City Council. Each flyover is allocated a budget of P250 million.
The Lopez-owned construction firm First Balfour achieved another milestone by garnering the first BERDE Design Recognition Certificate from the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC) and TUV Rheinland Philippines Inc., the accredited certification body of PhilGBC. BERDE stands for Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence and has been the standard for the green building rating system. The First Balfour corporate office in KM 19 West Service Road in Paranaque City was given the 1-Star Design Recognition for new construction V.1.0.0. Under the BERDE rating system that can go as high as 5-star, there are 11 areas considered as follows: Land Use and Ecology, Management, Indoor Environment Quality, Materials, Waste, Emissions, Innovation, Water, Energy, Transportation and Heritage Conservation. First Balfour’s president and chief operating officer Anthony Fernandez received the award.
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The Singapore construction industry is expected to grow even though projections were slightly lower compared to 2011. According to Channel News Asia, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore still expects strong demand for construction estimated to run between S$21 billion to S$27 billion for the year 2012. In the same report, this scenario occurred due to the number of contracts awarded in the last two years as well as projects in the Downtown Line. The BCA reported that it expects the total worth of projects to reach between S$19 billion to S$27 billion for 2013 and 2014. According to Channel News Asia, the Ministry of State for National Development remains optimistic that on-site construction activities will increase and for the next three years, there will be more opportunities and higher productivity in the construction industry.
www.biscorner.com
All is set for the Navi Mumbai airport
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment Ministry in India has recently approved the construction of the Navi Mumbai international Airport and other offsite infrastructure facilities. It has also issued the necessary environmental clearances for the airport’s master plan, thereby paving the way for smooth operation. Project contractor Cidco has already seek approval for the road construction that will connect the airport to the national highway. Likewise, Cidco also submitted its plan for approval of the road link network to connect the airport to the Khandeshwar station and two cloverleaf intersections at the eastern and western sides of the proposed airport. Incidentally, Cidco has appointed the Florida-based company Lewis Environmental Services to undertake the replanting of 370 hectares of mangrove areas near the airport to maintain an environment friendly development. On the other hand, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) issued a permit to construct on stilts over the mangroves to preserve its natural state. 8 | Philippine Construction&Design November-December 2012
Bahrain’s Four Seasons Hotel in full swing
www.hotchiermiddleeast.com
Construction activity in Singapore seen to grow
www.ipequrp.com
international report
The construction of the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay is in full swing and in fact the contractor reported that the pace of work enabled them to be ahead of schedule with five floors of the tower already finished by the second quarter of 2012. The project developer, Bayside Development, with its general manager Bob Vincent was quoted in the Gulf Daily News to have said that the construction of the Four Seasons is an indication that Bahrain is on the way to recovery from the global financial crisis. The appointed contractor, Six Construct, has established working partnership with other local contractors to speed up work schedule to meet the 2014 deadline. The project has so far involved 700 jobs, mostly provided by Bahraini nationals, and more than 500,000 accident-free work hours.
Kuala Lumpur’s MRT Corporation awards RM3.22 B SBK-MRT Line
www.themalaysianinsider.com
The Sungai Buloh Depot portion of the project was won by Trans Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd. The project will benefit the commuters when the project is completed. It will have 31 stations and is expected to ferry some 1.2 million passengers daily from Kuala Lumpur and suburban areas. Likewise, the construction will be a big boost to employment generation and the economy of Malaysia. Possible reduction of oil consumption is expected with decrease in the use of motor vehicles.
Malaysian tandem cornered London’s Battersea Power www.dailymail.co.uk
Station project
A team of Malaysian property developers composed of SP Setia and Sime Darby Property had won the bidding for the development of London’s Battersea Power Station site. According to news reports, the Malaysian tandem plans to convert the site into a multi-use real estate hub that will spur economic activity in the southwest central London area. The project worth 400 million pounds will include the construction of a new underground station to be part of the proposed extension of the Northern Line to connect London Underground’s Tube network. Dubbed as a regeneration project, the Malaysian tandem also plans to preserve the façade of the historical power plant characterized by its two massive chimney stacks. The losing bidder, Chelsea Football Club showed disappointment on the result of the bidding but took it in stride as it refocused its sites to other relocation options.
www.manufacturersinturkey.com
To complement the existing LRT Monorail and KTM Komuter, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Corporation of Malaysia awarded four tenders worth RM3.22 billion to construct the 51-kilometer Sungai BulohKajang MRT line. The project includes construction of viaduct guideways and the depot package involves the construction of the Sungai Buloh Depot and other buildings in the area. The Viaduct 1 project will connect Sungai Buloh to Kota Damansara station and the contract was awarded to SyarikitMuhibbah Perniaggaan&PembinaanSdn Bhd. The Viaduct 4 project was awarded to Sunway Construction SdnBhd that will involve construction from Section 17 in Petaling Jaya to Semantan Portal. The Viaduct 7 will connect Taman Mesra to Bandar Tun Hussein Onn. The project was awarded to MTD Construction Sdn Bhd.
Polimeks builds cement plant in Turkmenistan The Turkish company Polimeks has just built a cement plant in Turkmenistan that employed around 2,000 specialists. The work involved installation of equipment for the cement clinker storage, the crushing unit and bunkers. A railway line is directly connected to the plant to make delivery of raw materials more convenient. Some of the raw materials that will be carried using the railway system are sand, limestone, gypsum and clay. The plant is expected to produce some 3,000 tons of quality Portland cement at the rate of one million tons per year. Furthermore, the cement plant will also produce sulphate resistant cement ideal for hydraulic structures and backfill cement with great demand from the oil and gas companies.
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international report
The example of great engineering and architectural design is the Tokyo Sky Tree, standing tall at 2,080 feet located in Tokyo, Japan. It is considered the world’s tallest freestanding tower next to Dubai’s BurjKhalifa. It prides itself with a restaurant located at an altitude of 1,150 feet and two observation decks at 1,475 feet. Since its opening in May 2012, the tower has attracted a great number of tourists estimated to reach hundreds of thousands. The entrance fee to the tower is $37.50 and visitors get to dine and shop at the Sky Tree Shop with over 600 souvenir items for sale. According to its engineers, the $800 million tower was constructed with steel tubes that surround a central concrete column built to withstand major earthquakes since the tower is situated on the intersection of four tectonic plates. Furthermore, the building is equipped with high speed elevators that will only take 50 seconds to reach the lower observation deck.
http://www.constructarabia.com
www.kdjapan.worldpress.com
Tokyo Sky Tree is an engineering marvel
www.fotozon.com
Taiwan pushes for 45% eco-building materials The Taiwan government is bent on promoting green building technologies for the protection of the environment. In so doing, the Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of the Interior approved a stricter regulation effective July 2012 by mandating building owners to construct using 45% eco-friendly materials on the inside and 10% on the outside. Likewise, the new regulation directs building sites bigger that 299.47 square meters to construct aquifers for planting requirements. The agency also expanded the coverage for installing recycling sewage and rainwater storage facilities for buildings with a minimum floor area of 9,982 square meters. This new initiative by the government will encourage big construction materials providers like Hocheng Corp., Taiwan Glass and Champion Group to innovate products that are environment friendly. 10 | Philippine Construction&Design November-December 2012
Saudi Arabia tops in the MENA region on construction The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) recently stole the number one slot in the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in terms of the value of construction projects. According to Citigroup, KSA reported to have in the pipeline some $750 billion worth of new construction projects. The aggressive posture of KSA resulted in capturing 31% of the entire region’s market. On the other hand, the third position went to Iraq with new projects worth a little under $315 billion. However, the renewed economic prospects in the country will pump prime the local construction industry. Also noteworthy is the construction activity in Kuwait that has grown by 10% to around $200 billion since the beginning of 2012. However, the foreseen tension brought about by political instability may dampen the rate of construction in the country according to the Citigroup report.
Based on research data from CB Richard Ellis or CBRE, a leading international real estate firm, Turkey is experiencing an upswing in retail investments that resulted in increase in construction activities. In 2011, about 20 percent of new retail developments in Europe was attributed to Turkey. The largest property development so far is the Marmara Forum in the Bakirkoy District in Istanbul with 160,000 square meters of retail space. This year, around 1.5 million square meters of shopping center spaces are under construction. Because of the robust economy, pump primed by increased consumer spending and fast-growing middle class, demand for commercial and retail establishments also rose. Traditional investors from the UK, Germany and France are now looking at the Turkish market.
300MW Erongo coal-fired power station gets the green light NamPower, the Namibian power utility has given the green light for the prequalification of around 13 contractors that will undertake the construction of the proposed 150-300 MW Erongo coal-fired power plant. Around 47 companies participated in submitting Tender Package A bids for the project estimated to reach R7 billion. Included in the package is the provision for turbines, boilers, generator island and balance of plant related to the island. Some of the construction firms being considered are Mitsui & Company, Marubeni Corporation, Doosan Power Systems, Shanghai Electric Group, China National Electric Engineering Company and Harbin Electric International Company, among others. The project is located around 10 kilometers east of Arandis, midway between Swakopmund and Usakos. Commercial operation of the plant is expected by 2016.
www.breacorder.com
1st Green Campus in Sarawak to open in 2013
www.theborneopost.com.
www.pro-ge.com
Turkish real estate market booming with shopping centers
http://www.constructarabia.com
Warehouse builds $60M Silverdale shopping centre The Warehouse, a property developer in New Zealand recently completed a massive $60 million shopping centre complex at Silverdale with 35 retail shops on a 7.2 hectare lot. The construction site was located between Hibiscus Coast Highway, Wainui Road and Silverdale Street. The growing suburb north of Auckland had recently attracted property developers due to the increasing population in the area. About 48,000 residents live there and about 3,500 houses are planned to be built near the shopping centre soon. The project consists of 24,000 square meters of leasable space with 980 parking spaces. About 1,000 square meters will have food outlets like KFC, Hollywood Bakery, MozaikCafĂŠ , and Pita Pit among others. The main building contract was awarded to Naylor Love who employed around 150 construction workers for the past two years.
The construction of the University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) is now in full swing after the groundbreaking ceremony last September 16, 2012 as witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The campus is located in a 96.98 acre-lot at the Old Airport Road. It will be composed of nine blocks of buildings. Each building will stand three to four storeys high. The building design is environment friendly and expected to be given a rating under the Green Building Index for its use of integrated photovoltaic panels that could generate 70 kilowatt per day of electricity. The complex will also have its own technology park and a 500-meter long covered leeway. Experts from Germany and France will serve as consultants for the technology park. The construction contract was awarded to Hock Peng Organization that will deploy some 200 workers for a 7am to 9am daily shift. When completed, the university will have 3,000 students enrolled in about 17 courses in engineering, construction and industrial technology to support the needs of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). November-December 2012
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Cover Story
The Bormaheco Story
Building a business from the ruins of war By Rodolfo de Guzman
B
uilding a business is no ordinary feat. It takes a lot of resources as well as personal dedication to what you are doing. But what is more impressive is a business built from meager resources and a lot of guts and instinct. Bormaheco, a company built from the raves of war has an inspiring story to tell. Bormaheco is not only a story of success but more a story of giving life to a business. Amidst the harrowing site of conflict rose an idea from a man with vision who saw in it an opportunity. An enterprising young man by the name of Modesto Cervantes, a plant engineer (now called mechanical engineer), saw the opportunity to make a business out of the equipment and machineries left by United States Armed Forces after the war. He saw a glimmer of hope beyond the pile of scrap and junk. “Modesto Cervantes, a mechanical engineer, started this company by his own initiative, hard work and perseverance. He is a visionary, taking stock of his position and maximizing the opportunities as they present themselves,” narrated Hernane Losanes, General Manager of Bormaheco. Bormaheco was born February 23, 1951 when it was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is a company involved in the leasing and marketing of heavy equipment and machineries used for construction, industry and agriculture. From then on Cervantes worked day and night to build his business and he never looked back. Piece by piece Cervantes breathed new life to the equipment and machineries he tediously worked on. Later, he established his own company as Border Machineries & Heavy Equipment Company Incorporated. Few years after, Cervantes renamed his company as Bormaheco, an acronym of the original name. “Our founding chairman worked on discarded Caterpillar equipment and International Harvester tractors after the
Americans found no more use for them. He salvaged these equipment with the belief that he can still repair and refurbish them and make them useful again,” stated Losanes. In the 1960’s, the company started to look for other sources of equipment and machineries other than the United States. Fortunately, Japan who also came from a devastating war, Hernane Losanes, General Manager of Bormaheco started to rebuild and Japanese brands of heavy equipment were soon introduced in the market like Komatsu. The company also ventured into an allied business by putting up a subsidiary called Philippine Manufacturing Parts Inc. Bormaheco believes in the 1970’s. It operated as a factory for fabricating heavy equipment spare parts that there are a lot particularly the undercarriage section, That of opportunities included the fabrication, repair and remanufacturing of track rollers, sprockets, now with the onidlers, etc. for machineries in sugar mills. going construction However, in the mid-80’s the sister company folded up due to increase in raw boom. We are taking materials prices and the downtrend in advantage of this by demand for local sugar in the world market.
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Operations Bormaheco, from its birth up to this day, has remained a family corporation where the children of the founder are now at the helm of its operation. One of his children, Francisco Cervantes is the current President and Chief Operating Officer. The old Cervantes is still present in the company as its Chairman. The other siblings occupy different positions in the company.
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keeping a reasonable fleet inventory that will serve the market in the construction and mining industries and the agricultural sector, states Losanes.
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The company operation is subdivided in two groups; the Maintenance Group and the Operators Group. The former is composed of heavy equipment mechanics, service maintenance crew, welders, and lathe machine operators. The operators group is made up of truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, lifting equipment operators and helpers. These two groups combined is made up of about 60 personnel that work on shifts for a 24/7 operation. The company, as part of its corporate social responsibility, has welcomed trainees from Don Bosco and other Tesda-accredited (Technical Education School Development Authority) schools for years. Some trainees are now employed by the company. Fleet Bormaheco is practically alive 24/7 with its promise to clients that the company is ready to serve their needs at any given time, where and when they need it. “This is part of the company’s full customer service program that has been implemented ever since the company was formed. We want our clients to be served anytime of the day and anywhere they are because we know that breakdowns happen and their time is valuable,” said Losanes. Bormaheco’s major line of business that is equipment leasing serves the four business sectors, namely: construction, logging, mining and agriculture. About 70% of the business goes to serving the needs of building contractors. The company maintains a sizeable fleet of heavy equipment and machineries. “We do not carry large inventories of heavy equipment because as you know they cost a lot and if we buy more than what the market needs, then our cost of money will be very high,” revealed Losanes. Losanes further revealed that about 99.9% of their fleet inventory is reconditioned equipment sourced from various suppliers and dealers all over the world. Likewise, the company also actively participates in equipment auctions conducted by Asia International United Auctioneers in Subic and the Malinta Auction in Bulacan. Other acquisitions are from dealers and manufacturers from Japan (for Kato, Kobelco, Komatsu, Mitsubishi, Ishikawa Trading); Europe (ITM Passini Group and Berco from Italy); and the U.S. (for Caterpillar, Bucyrus Blades and Donaldson Filters). “Although the equipment are second hand,
with some that are about 10 years old, they are still dependable and good to go even for as long as 30 years if properly maintained and spare parts are still available,” disclosed Losanes.
Facade of the Bormaheco office
ACEL membership and rates Bormaheco is one of the founding member companies of the Association of Carriers and Equipment Lessors or ACEL. ACEL is an organization of companies that lease heavy equipment, motor vehicles and machineries for construction, industrial and commercial firms. This ACEL Guidebook serves as a guide for the members to price its rental rates appropriately so as to avoid unfair competition brought about by price cutting or under-pricing,” stated Losanes. According to Losanes, pricing of rates still depends on many factors like oil price fluctuation, labor and wage laws, shipping costs, weather conditions, market demand, site location of projects, and many more. Rates are very flexible in the sense that it can be computed on an hourly, monthly or yearly basis. Furthermore, there are two systems used for rental; the dry bare and the operated system. Under the former, it is the lessee contractor or company that takes care of the cost of fuel, oil and operator. On the other hand, the latter refers to the system where all of the consequent costs are shouldered by the lessor or Bormaheco for that matter. “In the case of Bormaheco, we are also very flexible. We negotiate with our clients
the most acceptable arrangement. However, in general, we prefer a mixed system where we provide the equipment and the operator with the option for the client to carry the cost of oil and fuel. We then reconfigure our computation if it is on hourly, monthly or yearly basis,” said Losanes. Projections Bormaheco is optimistic that the business will continue to thrive as indicated by the increase in economic activity for the past years. In fact, the company has maintained regional offices in Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and Davao City to address the needs of the market in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. “Bormaheco believes that there are a lot of opportunities now with the on-going construction boom. We are taking advantage of this by keeping a reasonable fleet inventory that will serve the market in the construction and mining industries and the agricultural sector,” stated Losanes. Taking stock of its property assets in strategic locations and growth potential in allied businesses, the company has embarked on warehousing and storage facility leasing. Its warehouses are located along the South Luzon Expressway and the Export Processing Zone (EPZA) in Cavite. For the last few decades, Bormaheco has evolved into a sophisticated company, able to provide its clients world class service. Although it is still a family corporation, Bormaheco has truly transformed from a humble machine shop in the 50’s into a full service company with a vision of being on top of the game at all times.
GM Losanes with one of the equipment.
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When we say “green” what comes to your mind?
UAP takes up the challenge The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), an internationally recognized organization of Filipino architects, agreed that all of us have a stake in the protection of our environment. As a group in the forefront of building residential houses, commercial and office buildings and other infrastructure developments all over the country, UAP saw the need to address the issue of providing environment friendly and ecologically sound buildings for sustainable development. UAP took up the challenge to pioneer in practicing “green architecture” in the
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here are lots of meaning to the word “green”. For those in the scientific community, particularly those in the biological sciences, they will correlate it to vegetation and nature. For a group of painters and artists it would definitely be one of the many colors they can play with in their canvas. For agriculturists and farmers it would refer to the color of their produce like lettuce, cucumber and the bitter melon. But for the architect, “green” will mean a kind of architecture where the approach and treatment of building projects are geared towards the use of environment friendly designs, materials and methods. The first decade of the 21st century saw more initiatives being done towards the protection of the environment and conservation of energy that to some extent is non-renewable. More and more individuals and professional groups are slowly embracing the concept of environment protection and realizing the urgent need to alter lifestyles and how man interacts with nature and his environment. This realization probably was prompted by advocacies shared by visionaries and socially responsible people from here and abroad. Or perhaps they were touched by the awakening realities of changing times in the documentary entitled“The Inconvenient Truth” that was produced by no less than the former United States Vice President Al Gore. This serious concern for the environment gained worldwide momentum when it was espoused by Hollywood celebrities like Leonardo di Carpio who also produced a documentary about “climate change”, Sean Penn and Angelina Jolie. Yet the question remains, what are we doing now?
Green Architecture:
Redesigning the
Metro Landscape By Rodolfo de Guzman Philippines as its primary contribution to protecting mother earth. Through the Green Architecture Movement, UAP and its 24,000 strong members are bent on promoting the construction of “green buildings”. Though they are aware of the limitations existing in countries like ours and the high cost of construction for new materials and advanced technologies, the UAP continues to provide workable solutions that adhere to international standards for “green buildings” at the same
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time giving private developers positive bottom lines and people that will use the “green buildings” a more convenient and healthier working environment. For a building to be certified as a “green building” it has to meet specific criteria and standards. The building must comply with the LEED Green Building Rating System initiated in the United States by the US Green Building Council in 2000. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Under
of creativity,and a pound of common sense to create green buildings that are self-reliant, self-sustaining, economically maintained, and environment friendly. Zuellig Building: A LEED certified workplace Zuellig Group, a leading international company, prides itself for owning the first
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Green buildings offer efficient lighting system because they use more natural light and there are designs that do not allow penetration of ultraviolet rays through the use of reflectors, opines Architect Ernesto C. Jaurigue Jr., a UAP chapter member.
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high rise commercial building given the seal of approval by the US Green Building Council with a LEED Gold Pre-certification in the Philippines in 2009. The P7 billion,33storey Zuellig Building, located at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue in the heart of the Makati Central Business District,
is an all glass façade structure made of large floor-to-ceiling double glazed glass panels that allow maximum penetration of natural light but at the same time minimizing heat intrusion, thereby reducing electrical consumption for air conditioning and illuminating. The firm W.V. Coscolluela & Associates, a well-renowned local architectural firm, led a design team composed of the New York-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as the design consultants, Leighton Asia as the contractor and Meinhardt Engineering. The building that stands on an 8,285-square meter lot boasts of a 2,500 square meter landscaped garden and driveway that greets its occupants and guests with the cool and fresh ambiance making them feel like walking through a verdant park amidst the concrete jungle of the metropolis. On the 32nd floor is the Sky Garden that can be easily reached through the 16 high-speed elevators. Because of the all glass exterior and its bamboo-inspired design, a 360-degree view of the Metromanila skyline is an added aesthetic bonus. For its functionality and economical benefits, the Zuellig Building is equipped with energy efficient lighting systems. It incorporates a daylight dimming system that calibrates the
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this stringent qualification system, a building must pass through various tests that measure the design and building process. There are five key areas considered under this rating system, namely: sustainable site development, energy efficiency, water savings, indoor environmental quality and materials selection. In an article written by Andrea Ignacio for The Philippine Star dated October 9, 2011, she stated that Architect Willy Coscolluela defined “a green building as a structure that uses environmentally responsible and resource-efficient processes throughout the building’s life cycle.” With the reality of climate change, there is no denying that the destructive nature of tropical storms like typhoons Ondoy and Sendong, leaving the entire Metro Manila and vast areas of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro under flood waters reaching 10 feet and higher, will more likely be repeated unless drastic measures are put up to mitigate it. Ignacio, on the same article, quoted Coscolluela to have said,“Building have an enormous impact, whether directly or indirectly, on the environment, such as consuming a lot of fresh water supply, emitting a large percentage of greenhouse gases, adding to waste problems and consuming a lot of electricity to name a few.” It is very important for the architects to come up with designs for buildings and for homes that will adapt to the change in weather patterns that today have become more extreme and unpredictable. Considerations must be inputted when designing buildings that will utilize less electrical energy and harness natural light. “Green buildings offer efficient lighting system because they use more natural light and there are designs that do not allow penetration of ultraviolet rays through the use of reflectors,” opines Architect Ernesto C. Jaurigue Jr., a UAP chapter member and part owner of Anver Construction Corporation. New systems must be devised to enable rain and condensate water to be collected and reused for toilets and watering plants. “In one of my projects, I created a design that will save water by placing all condensers of the air-conditioning system near exhaust areas to allow natural air to flow freely in the work area, thereby saving on electricity,”adds Architect Jaurigue Jr. The use of solar panels as storage medium to harness electrical energy lessens dependence on oil and other fossil fuels. Use of roof top gardens and vegetation helps cool down temperature and so air conditioning can be used sparingly during cool weather months. It takes only a dose of innovation, a pinch
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For some green building projects, new design of heating system involves installation of solar powered heaters that uses less fossil fuel and therefore saves on electricity, discloses Arch. Jaurigue Jr.
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output of electrical lighting based on the intensity of daylight coming into the building. This was designed to allow about 90 percent of the interior spaces to be lighted naturally. To further cut down on electrical consumption, the building utilizes the power of the sun through installed solar panels. It is expected that energy savings can run up to 15% or approximately 4.3 million kilowatt-hours annually. The Zuellig Building was also designed to make use of free water such as rain water. An innovatively designed drainage and irrigation system allows the building to collect rain and condensate water for reuse in toilets and watering plants. This novel design is expected to save about 29 million liters of potable water every year or a conservation rate of 71%. Furthermore, the “chilled water pumps” installed in the building run on variable speed drives that reduce energy consumption during nonpeak hours. Air quality inside the building was also a prime consideration for its builders. Therefore, building design was made in such a way that “carbon dioxide sensors” can work to modulate outside airflow depending on the number of occupants thereby providing superior indoor air quality. Lastly, a waste recycling facility will be installed within the building to allow its occupants to dispose of their garbage in a more eco-friendly manner.
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Think green and everyone follows The Zuellig initiative has become one of the models and standard for other new building constructions. More and more architects, engineers and property owners are now convinced of the feasibility and viability of a green building. Although initial construction costs may be higher than traditional ways and materials, the long term benefits in terms of savings in electrical and water consumption, maintenance and improved quality of life prove to be the wise alternative. The Net Lima Tower, one of the three towers of the Net Metropolis 5th Avenue cluster of buildings in the Fort Bonifacio Central Business District in Taguig City, was recently certified as the first “green mega structure” in the Philippines. Owned by the top developer, the Net Group, the project was commissioned to Chad Oppenheim, a wellrenowned Miami-based green architect. The design of this building incorporates passive external shading devices, roof-mounted vertical access wind turbines, and graywater re-use system for irrigation of on-site landscaping. The
entire building is covered with “diagonal aluminum solar screen overlays” that rejects heats, thereby reducing excessive use of air conditioning. Net Lima Tower uses fiberglass fuel storage tanks for generators used during power outages instead of the old-fashioned steel tanks. This has built-in leak detection devices allowing for longer use and easy repair and service. Likewise, the tower has two recreational parks that allow its tenants to experience a more invigorating and relaxing environment. The Ayala Land Inc., a large property developer in the country, has already secured a LEED certification for its 4-storey office building called One Evotech in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. In an article written by Neil Jerome C. Morales for Businessworld Online on May 25, 2011, he quoted Antonino T. Aquino, Ayala Land Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer, saying, “I think it will be good for the environment and top of that, it reduces the operating costs also.” Estimated energy consumption was placed at 74 kilowatt-hour per square meter that was said to be below the average for Southeast Asia. Tenants of One Evotech can save as much as 14% on their energy costs. For its part, Arthaland Corporation has applied for its first LEED-certified residential project, the Arya Residences in Taguig City. This two-tower residential project is poised to cost P4.5 billion and the company is ready to spend another 3-7% additional cost to be certified as a green project. Arya Residences will feature specially designed ledges to provide shade from the sun, funnel wind and natural ventilation. It is projected that once the project is completed by the first quarter of 2014, its residents will enjoy approximately 14% savings on energy consumption due to more efficient lighting and ventilation system. Moreover, an estimate of 40% savings on water consumption can be recorded since the design incorporates a “double piping system” that makes use of recycled water for toilets. Running on a more constant pace, the trend to create more green buildings and commercial establishments is on the upward swing. Sun Life Financial Philippines recently inaugurated its 14-storey green building offices at the Bonifacio Global City. Likewise in the same area, the famous coffee shop Starbucks has an eco-friendly store using 7-watt light emitting diodes (LED) lighting solutions instead of halogen lamps that consume 50 watts. This concept for the store was made possible through partnership with Philips Electronics. These lighting materials are proven to be environment-friendly since they contain no mercury and do not emit infrared and ultraviolet radiation. In 2009, Pueblo de Oro Development
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For some green building projects, new design of heating system involves installation of solar powered heaters that uses less fossil fuel and therefore saves on electricity. - Arch. Jaurigue Jr.
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Corporation and Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corporation signed an agreement to build the first green building in Pueblo de Oro Township in Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao dubbed Twin Eco Towers. The 12,000 square-meter mixed residential and commercial development project promises to abide by international standards for green buildings by generating its own energy requirements, maximizing natural ventilation and minimizing power usage. Embracing the green revolution Now that the ball started rolling and the bandwagon mustered enough momentum to make the “green revolution” succeed, the only thing left is to keep on pursuing more green initiatives with focus on a sustainable future. In fact, there are lots of possibilities and innovative methods, systems and materials now available that have been proven to be environment-friendly. “For some green building projects, new design of heating system involves installation of solar powered heaters that uses less fossil fuel and therefore saves on electricity,” discloses Arch. Jaurigue Jr. Likewise, for water resources to be conserved there are ways to reuse waste water or non-traditional water coming from the tap which is rain water, a free resource. “There are also designs intended to make use of rain water whereby these are collected in catch basins to be used for flushing toilets, therefore reducing demand for clean water,” adds Arch. Jaurigue Jr. In the United States, where green advocates have long pursued the road to green architecture, architects and engineers continue to adopt green initiatives and have applied new design concepts to building more “green schools” and at the same time upgrade existing schools to conform with LEED building standards. The U.S. Government Accountability Office reported that at least 25,000 schools all over America need extensive repair and around 10,000 of them were found to have poor air quality, thereby putting at risk thousands of American school children. According to the Center for Green Schools, it is imperative to implement strictly environmental laws and in its absence, lawmakers must enact laws that will provide for more green schools.
Arch. Ernesto Jaurigue Jr. of Anver Construction
Similarly in the Philippines, the Green Architecture Movement spearheaded by the UAP must be supported by all stakeholders like fellow architects; engineers and their associations; interior designers, the Philippine Legislature; government agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), the Department of Health, Department of Education; non-profit organizations like Eco Waste Coalition and the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC); and the citizenry. If the green building initiative is to succeed, all must work together with one objective, i.e. to create environment friendly buildings and structures for a sustainable development that will result in healthier communities. Green architecture is the wave of the future and all sectors of society must ride this wave. Conscious neglect of the signs of the times, climate change and global warming, will be too costly a price to pay. Let us all set the mandate. Build more green buildings. Practice green architecture. Think green!
Sources: Andrea Ignacio, The Philippine Star, October 9, 2011 | Neil Jerome C. Morales, Businessworld Online, May 25, 2011 | Karen Boncocan, Inquirer.net, February 2, 2011 | Rachel Gutter, Director of the Center for Green Schools, December 12, 2011 | Chino S. Leyco, Mb.com.ph/ articles/325113/sun-life-inaugurates-green-building | GarimaGoel, February 22, 2011 | www.ecofriend.com/entry/the-net-lima-tower-the-philippinesfirst-certified-green-building | www.sunlife.com.ph | www.italpinas.com/ press 090512.html | Press release of Mike Banos, May 17, 2009 | www. itaproject.eu | www.wikimapia.org | www.worldarchitecturenews.com | www.skyscrapercity.com | themindanaocurrent.blogspot.com/2009/04/firstgreen-building-condo-in-mindanao.html | blog.premiumpropertiesinmakati. com, July 20, 2011 | Architect Ernesto Jaurigue Jr.
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Construction companies need to sell too Creating effective marketing strategies Competition is the harsh reality of business. To stay on top of the game, any business for that matter must create a strategy or plan that will put into action the company’s activities geared at selling its products or services. 18 | Philippine Construction&Design  November-December 2012
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marketing management
Niche marketing It is crucial in devising a marketing plan and implementing marketing strategies to identify the target market. By qualifying the target market as to its size, demands, capacity, geographical location and demographic characteristics, the construction company can specifically define its target customer and focus its marketing strategies towards achieving its marketing goals. Since the company has its limitations, it is prudent to focus or prioritize the customer or client that the company can serve. It will be beyond the company’s capability to seek work for a 20-storey condominium if you are just a Category C contracting company with limited resources and expertise. In other words, if the construction company is small or medium in size, it must identify its niche in the marketplace and then concentrate on them. Rather than spending a lot on marketing your services through radio or television advertisements, it will be more cost efficient to perhaps advertise in community newspapers or print leaflets to be distributed in neighbourhood subdivisions and middle-class housing developments. Being on the web As customers become more sophisticated, so do marketing strategies. The extensive use of computers and the world wide web by potential clients has prompted construction companies to exploit this medium to their advantage. Creating a website for the construction company will allow thousands, if not millions, to view your site with just a click
of the mouse and know more about your company and your services. Aside from creating a company website, the construction firm can also utilize the power of social networking sites like Facebook, Multiply and Twitter. And to stretch your reach further, the Rambod Nasrin, President of Upside Development by Bert Archer. company can also create “blogs” that can maximize exposure to potential others and avail of the benefits it offers like discounts on trade shows and construction customers. materials, referrals, and seminars. By joining associations, the company also Referrals count The construction company should also gains a certain degree of good reputation make use of its goodwill earned from jobs and prestige. With these credentials, the completed with client satisfaction. The construction company gets the trust of construction company must see to it that all prospective clients and therefore more services promised were fulfilled and the job business can be expected. was done according to plan and within the Trade exhibits and expositions agreed budget. Another vehicle to market the services of Word-of-mouth is the most potent form of advertising since it is based on client the construction company is to join trade testimonies that are most often than not exhibitions and expositions. By being a passed on to others. So it is important for member of an organization, the company the construction company to maintain good can avail of certain discounts and choice relations with clients as word-of-mouth can location in the trade exhibit venue. During these events, the construction also ruin the business if it short changed the company must be prepared with its marketing client. tools like brochures, business cards, or even video clips of the projects completed so that Specialty work The construction company can set itself trade visitors will be attracted to their booth. apart from others if it rendered work that others were not able to do. This refers Networking The construction company can also to specialty work that the construction company must provide. In other words, this maximize its potential by establishing a could become its competitive advantage network composed of prospective clients as well as suppliers. The network can be over other construction companies. If your company offers extended hours of prepared through data gathering from leads work with no extra cost to the client, then it in trade exhibits, former clients and referrals, could be your marketing edge. The company supplier referrals and institutional clients. The company can tap the roster of land need to stress this in every way possible like creating a tagline out of it and putting it in its developers and property owners through letterhead, business cards, service vehicles, company presentations and direct marketing. flyers and other forms of advertising media. On the other hand, it can also secure leads from former clients and material suppliers who are the best sales persons to promote Professional organizations The construction company could also the company. It is therefore important to devote time to join professional associations maintain good relations with the company or organizations within the industry to network by delivering quality service to widen its network of contacts. By doing clients and settling payments to suppliers so, the company will be able to learn from promptly.
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ince there is a free market environment, it is almost a given that competition will always be part of any business. Companies producing consumer items like personal care products or food have to implement marketing plans and strategies to improve sales. Others devise ways of marketing their services by using advertisements or even celebrity endorsers to attract more clients. Construction companies are no different from other businesses in the sense that they need to also implement marketing plans and strategies to beat the competition. How do you market a construction company? The answer is simple. It is the same way as one sells a bar soap or entices a customer to have her hair done in your salon. There are a number of strategies a construction company can adopt and use effectively.
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project report- public
Repairs extend its life for 50 more years
Sales bridge retrofitted with grade 60 steel and more cement By Ed Velasco
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he reason why Sales Bridge, the main artery from the Naia 3 to Global City, has undergone major retrofitting is precisely because of its age. It was built in April 1982 and after 30 years of operation the need for rehabilitation work has became an imperative to monitor its structural stability. DPWH officials said the presence of strong vibration every time heavy vehicles pass through it is a clear indication that the bridge is already worn out. In fact, in December 2011, there was a 1-square meter slab that fell off the northbound portion of South Osmena Highway, the road below it. Again it was a sign of wear and tear. Engineer Danilo Idos, the new project director of DPWH Urban Road Projects Office-Project Management Office (UrpoPmo), said the retrofitting is divided into two major sections. First, the reinforcing of the foundations, columns and capping through steel cladding and second, the pouring of more cement to upgrade it from the original work. 4-Phase project “What has been done on the bridge was the standard practice in rehabilitating a major structure. This bridge is the main route from Paranaque and Pasay going to Makati and
Taguig, particularly to Global City. The volume of traffic has tripled for the past four years,” Idos told Philippine Construction and Design. The methods and technologies applied on the bridge retrofitting is the same for other rehab projects since there are no new technology yet even in advance countries, according to Idos. Working with DPWH on the bridge repair is JD Legaspi Construction, a local contractor. Since it is only a retrofitting work, there is no need for a foreign consultant nor was there a need for foreign inspectors. Projects that use foreign consultants and inspectors are those constructed via foreign assisted funds like the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (Sctex) or Tarlac-PangasinanLa Union Expressway (Tplex). Idos said the primary materials used in the bridge were 25-mm steel clad, 22-cm slabs and asphalt for overlaying. Original
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schedule was for 210 days beginning January 10, 2012. The four-phase project was divided as follows: 1) retrofitting/rehabilitation of Sales Bridge that was also extended to 77 meters long with increased height of from 4.8 meters to 5.2 meters; 2) relocation/repair of the weighbridge; 3) construction of Loop 2 for the expressway going to NAIA 3; and 4) excavation and dredging of Mullano creek. “From a budget of P70 million it was reduced to P60.3 million, thereby giving the government savings of around P10 million. Even with cuts in costs the scope of the project was not reduced and the high quality was maintained,” Idos, a member of Road Engineering Association of the Philippines and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, explained. Upgrade to 60 Engineer Idos assured that despite the cost cutting measures, the quality of the project was not sacrificed. “The smaller budget prompted us not to seek a commercial supplier of steel. We ordered it from a big steel firm because there is no commercially available grade 60 steel in the Philippines,” added the engineer. For cement, steel and asphalt, DPWH
Engr. Chris Gonzales, Contructor on site work at Sales Bridge.
spent about P1 million each. “We had more than a hundred laborers. Our men had become busier because there was a standing order that the bridge must have a soft opening by a certain date,” Idos explained. “All the steel were made to order because there was no shop that supplies grade 60. It’s a special commodity,” Idos reiterated. To assure that the bridge could surpass another 25-year lifespan, its compressive design strength of column was 35 MPA or 5,000 pounds per square inch (PSI) while the deck slab was 28 MPA (3,000 PSI). “It had been totally rehabilitated and all the weaknesses like potholes, vibration, small steel and minimal cement had been eliminated,” the Urpo-Pmo project director said. The bridge now has more than six lanes.“It is wide for three lanes each but not anymore suitable for four lanes on each side,” said Engr. Agrifino Perez, Project Manager 1 and Idos’ main assistant for the project. From 24 to 36 tonner The bridge could carry 36-ton trucks compared to the 24-ton capacity prior to the rehab. The bridge is now capable of carrying bigger trucks like the STD Truck HS20-44 as per AASHTO code. The weight of this 3-axle
truck is 36 tons. Both engineers said the sudden increase in volume of vehicles passing through Sales was one of the considerations why it had become unstable as evidenced by the strong vibration on it. Although unconfirmed, Idos put the volume increase of vehicles at 40 percent. Based on old statistics of DPWH, there were 30,000-40,000 vehicles daily that pass through it in 2006. The agency projected that vehicular traffic could increase by 4050 percent with the increased activities in Global City. Idos even predicted that volume of vehicles passing the bridge will continue to rise in the coming years. Built to last The strength of column and deck slab was enhanced by increasing the original ratio of from nine bags of cement per cubic meter to 13 bags. By increasing the PSI of cement, the bridge work met the global standard set by the Road Engineering Association of Asia and Australasia (Reaaa). The organization’s lone Filipino member, Isaac David, said the concrete strength for roads is only 3,500 PSI while in bridges it ranges from 4,500 to 10,000 PSI depending on the design of the engineer.
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We had more than a hundred laborers. Our men had become busier because there was a standing order that the bridge must have a soft opening by Idos explained. a certain date,
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To assure that overloading will not occur a weighbridge was constructed about 100 meters away from Sales Bridge. All trucks that pass by Sales are subjected to weighing including all trucks coming to and fro the South Luzon Expressway. To prevent early deterioration of the bridge, a study is being conducted to impose certain penalties for overloading. On the other hand, all trucks passing the weighbridge will automatically pay P200 for every weigh in. “There will be a CCTVdevice installed beside the weighbridge to monitor if trucks exceed the 36-ton limit. Before, the trucker can simply deny because there is no record available but now that alibi will be a thing of the past because a CCTV doesn’t lie,” Perez explained. With the strengthened bridge plus the strict implementation of the tonnage limit, Idos is confident that Sales Bridge can last for more than 50 years.
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PROJECT REPORT-private
All systems go for SLEx-Daang Hari Project to use 46,500 cement bags per km By Ed Velasco
“The travel time from Makati to Cavite may only be 15 minutes. The only route now is through Alabang that’s why there is always heavy traffic in the area. With Daang Hari as an alternative route, naturally travel will be much faster.”
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T
he South Luzon Expressway (SLEx)-Daang Hari project is expected to be completed by August 2013. It was the first project approved by the Public-Private Partnership Program or PPP of the government. Ayala Corporation bagged the contract late last year.The term of the contract is for 20 years to manage and operate the road network. Ayala edged San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and South Luzon Tollway Corp. (Sltc) to win the project after it bid P902 million to construct the road. With the agreement between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Ayala already inked, designing of the project started last February and construction started this July to meet the target date of delivery in August 2013. Total project cost of the SLEx-Daang Hari is P1.6 billion. It is a 4-kilometer, 4-lane road that is included in the 200-kilometer Metro Manila Urban Expressway Network Master Plan
formulated by the DPWH. Isaac David, former president of Sltc and currently a consultant for DPWH, said that just like the five existing expressways, SLEx-Daang Hari will follow accepted global standards in road construction. “We will follow the standard set by the Road Engineering Association of Asia and AustralAsia for national road construction in terms of the volume per kilometer,” David said. The road is composed of four lanes at 3.65 meters (plus 1 meter median) per lane while the road’s thickness is 12 centimeters. When asked what will be the biggest benefit of the project, David said: “The travel time from Makati to Cavite may only be 15 minutes. The only route now is through Alabang that’s why there is always heavy traffic in the area. With Daang Hari as an alternative route, naturally travel will be much faster.” 46,500 cement bags/1 km Ayala will be using an estimate of 46,500 bags of cement for every kilometer of the 4-kilometer long SLEx-Daang Hari. For every one kilometer of road, it will need a combination of 4,650 cubic meters of mixed cement, gravel, sand and water. The rundown for the mixture is 0.65 cubic meter of gravel for every cubic meter of concrete and 0.5 cubic meter of sand for every cubic meter of concrete. “This is the formula we are using. If the proponent doesn’t follow that, the road will not last for 20 years,”David explained. Like the five existing expressways, only the center of the road will have a steel support. The longitudinal joint will be 2-feet long each, placed two feet apart. 1,667 steel supports For every kilometer, SLEx-Daang Hari will have 1,667 longitudinal joints. Each longitudinal joint is ¾-inch thick, according to the engineer. David said it should be noted that the road will have a two-meter shoulder that will be made of asphalt. “The shoulder is very necessary because it is an expressway. All those that will encounter emergency need to use the shoulder,” David said. The construction will be expedited when Ayala Corp. and its Spanish partner, Getinsa Ingenieria, are to use concrete pavers. According to David, if they use pavers, the man hours required
per kilometer can be reduced by more than 50 percent. But monetary considerations must be made since each concrete paver can cost as much as P30 million. “They have to choose whether they want it built fast at higher cost or follow the man hours needed if done manually at cheaper cost,” David added. Incidentally, the concrete paver was used extensively when the Gapan-Olongapo road was constructed. Ayala is optimistic that they can meet the target date of completion since two kilometres in the original SLEx-Daang Hari road project plan has already been done by the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC), the original operator of SLEx, six months before the project was awarded to them. Toll operations “We have a stake in almost all expressways, particularly in SLEx and skyway,” said Atty. Rosendo Capco, PNCC director, a former mayor and lawyer of ex-president Gloria Arroyo. Reached for comment, Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. consultant Ana Gamboa said Ayala may or may not ask the service of Citra to operate and manage the SLEx-Daang Hari. “If they choose that another entity will operate it for them, probably they will ask Mates (Manila Toll Expressway Systems), which operates SLEx,” Gamboa explained. Mates currently operates SLEx. The government gets none of the toll fee Ayala will charge, which will start at P17 for class A vehicles. SLEx-Daang Hari will pass by the reservation portion of New Bilibid Prisons at the back of Ayala Alabang village. After this project, Ayala Corp. will study whether to bid for two other toll road projects in the government’s PPP pipeline— the NAIA Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway connector projects, according to Ayala Corp. Managing Director Eric Francia. Through property unit Ayala Land Inc., the conglomerate is also interested in the privatization of the operation and maintenance of the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro, Francia added. “Part of our strategy is venturing into new business areas and we’ve identified power, transport and infrastructure in line with the government’s (plan) to develop infrastructure and push PPP. This is really our first step, our foray in transport infrastructure. It’s modest in size but it’s a good entry platform,” Francia was quoted as saying.
www.hondamakati.com.ph
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special report
ACEL
Professionalizing the equipment rental buisiness
A
contractor usually needs a reliable manpower pool, financial resources and equipment inventory to be able to address the needs of its clients. The availability of reliable heavy construction equipment is very important for the contractor to meet work schedules and complete the project on time. For small and medium contractors, it will be financially draining to invest its limited resources to acquire its own bulldozers, payloaders, excavators, and other heavy machineries. Adjoined to this consideration is the periodic cost of repair and maintenance that can drain the company cash flow. All these concerns have been foreseen by private contractors way back in the 1960’s. They realized early on that it will be more economical to lease or rent the heavy equipment rather than purchase their own. The question there was where do they go to lease the equipment? How much are they required to pay? ACEL equipment rental ACEL was the solution. It is an organization of visionaries in the construction industry who saw the urgency to create a single institution composed of construction practitioners who
will provide the services of equipment rental to contractors and construction companies. In May 1966, ACEL was born. ACEL or Association of Carriers and Equipment Lessors, Inc. (originally named Associated Construction and Equipment Lessors) was formed to primarily address the problems of procuring and utilizing construction equipment by making available equipment rental and leasing services with standardize rates as an alternative to equipment acquisition. The trailblazing founders include the following: H.R. Lopez Inc., Monark International Inc., Heights Construction Inc., Alas Construction Inc., Bormaheco Inc., Pacific Equipment Corporation, Dimson (Manila) Inc., and Heavy Equipment Service Co. Inc. ACEL released its first ACEL Equipment Rental Rates Guidebook in May 28, 1966. This document served as the member’s price guide, the first step to professionalizing the construction equipment rental industry. Immediately following the guidebook publication, ACEL came up with standardized Equipment Rental Requisition Forms that were used by all members.
24 | Philippine Construction&Design November-December 2012
ACEL equipment guidebook ACEL Equipment Guidebook, 24th Edition was released in 2009 with updated equipment listings and adjusted rental rates. The Equipment Guidebook is revised every two to three years so that obsolete equipments are deleted and new ones added. “The Equipment Guidebook 24th Edition is available to all members of ACEL and to those in the construction industry like engineers, architects and contractors for only P3,000,” discloses Olivia Manalo, Executive Officer of ACEL. Listed in the Equipment Guidebook, 24th Edition is a total of 18 categories of equipment. The guidebook is made in a tabulated form for concise and easy reading similar to a data sheet where equipment models, brands or manufacturers’ names and capacity and equipment specifications are all indicated. “ACEL further classified the rental rates into three modes, namely: operated dry referring to equipment rental exclusive of fuel per hour; operated hour that includes fuel and operator per hour; and the bare month pertaining to use of equipment on a per month basis,” explains Manalo. The 18 categories of equipment listed in
www.construction-heavy-equipment.com
The Equipment Guidebook 24th “Edition is available to all members
of ACEL and to those in the construction industry like engineers, architects and contractors for only P3,000, discloses Olivia Manalo, ACEL Executive Officer.
”
the Equipment Guidebook, 24th Edition are the following: 1) Earth Moving Equipment (e.g. tractors, crawler with dozer; tractors, wheel type (dozer); loaders, wheel type, graders, motorized, etc.); 2) Compaction Equipment (e.g. is the self propelled, static pneumatic tire roller); 3) Lifting Equipment (e.g. cranes, truck mounted; hoists & tower cranes; aerial lifts; fork lifts; etc.); 4) Excavating Equipment (e.g. backhoe, hydraulic, crawler mounted with brand names like Caterpillar, Daewoo, Hitachi, Hyundai, Kato Komatsu and Kobelco, etc.); 5) Foundation Equipment (e.g. drilling rig, hydraulic crawler type with brand name Llamada from Spain, etc.); 6) Asphalting Equipment (e.g. distributor, asphalt; repaver, asphalt; remixer asphalt; paver/finisher; cold milling machine; pavement profiler; soil stabilizer/
road reclaimer; and road recycler/stabilizer); 7) Concreting Equipment (e.g. paver/finisher concrete; mixers, concrete either tilting or non-tilting drum; mixers, transit; and pump, grout and concrete); 8) Hauling Equipment (e.g. dump truck, on/off highway type; dump truck, off highway quarry type; trailers, high & low bed with 15 tons minimum; etc.); 9) Air Equipment (e.g. compressor, air portable 93 flywheel horsepower; pneumatic breakers, hand held; drills, diamond from Chicago Pneumatic, Mindrill or Boyles Bros.; etc.); 10) Pumping Equipment – Water Pumps (e.g. diaphragm pumps; submersible pumps; mud pump; suction hose; etc.); 11) Power Generating Equipment (e.g. generator sets, etc.); 12) Shop Equipment (e.g. welding machines; shop machines; etc.); 13) Special Support Equipment (e.g. truck for water; truck, water wagon/pump; service vehicles & pick-ups like Toyota, Nissan, Mazda and Isuzu); 14) Miscellaneous Equipment (e.g. chain saw; metal muncher machine; paint stripping machine; hollow block making machine; concrete vibrator; rebar cutter; etc.); 15) Plants (e.g. asphaltic concrete plant; concrete batch plant; cement treated base plant; etc.); 16) Off Shore Equipment (e.g. dredger; crane barge; hopper barge; etc.); 17) C a b l e Stringing Equipment (e.g. cable puller and cable tensioner); and 18) Others (e.g. chip spreader; Komatsu mobile crusher; power broom and Ford truck tire). ACEL expanded services Whenever ACEL receives inquiries regarding rental rates, they are immediately referred to member companies. Administrative assistance is also given to members especially in the purchase and disposal of parts and materials, thereby ensuring that members get the best possible deal. ACEL has pegged a minimum operation of equipment rented on a bare rental basis of 200 hours per month. This provision aims to guarantee member companies a minimum loss and a minimum benefit vis-à-vis its operational costs. ACEL also sees to it, through constant monitoring, that the agreed upon courtesy discounts of up to 10% must be applied by all members. ACEL issues public certification of equipment to enable its members to participate in bids particularly involving private and government projects.
Education and manpower development Manpower development is central to ACEL’s many programs. In 1989, the association collaborated with the National Manpower Youth Council NMYC (now known as Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA) to develop six Trade Skills Standards; namely: wheel loader operator, motor grade operator, hydraulic excavator (backhoe) operator, tower crane operator, rough-terrain crane operator and truck-mounted crane operator. With the trade tests being given by ACEL, its members are assured of a high level of competency for operators, mechanics and technicians accompanied by TESDA certification. In 1990, three more Trade Skills Standards and Trade Test Standards were added, namely: hydraulic mechanic, heavy equipment electrician and crawl tractor (bulldozer) operator. Later on, other tests were instituted for the crawler crane operator, rigger, road roller operator, and heavy equipment operator. Further on, ACEL together with the Construction Manpower Development Foundation (CMDF) and NMYC created the Pilot Testing and Certification Program for Construction Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance. This provided testing and classification of operators and mechanics in government and private entities. By 1993, ACEL has finalized and implemented the Career Path Programs for Mechanics, Operators and Engineers, thus boosting the importance of upward mobility, occupational respectability and continuing improvement of the workforce. ACEL charts its own future ACEL continues to forge stronger alliances with other organizations like the Philippine Constructors Association, among other professional organizations to have a louder voice and clout in times when they need to address issues affecting the industry. When there is ACEL, there is work.When there is work, there is growth. When there is growth, there is ACCELeration! -(rpg)
Sources: www.acel.org.ph, www.machinerytrader.com, www.ritchiewiki. com, www.mascus.co.uk, www.machineryzone.eu, www. machineryzone.fr, www.classytrucks.org, www.whitebirch.com, www.seacoastdocks.com, www.catequipmentforsale.com, www. rockanddirt.com, www.washbaysolutions.com, www.soargroup. com, www.concretemixersforsale.org, www.bbapumps.com, www.entertainment.webshots.com
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www.ce.ufl.edu
project management
Keeping track of project construction Planning and monitoring are key factors to a successful project
P
roject construction is a rather complex activity that requires a lot of planning, monitoring, scheduling, proper coordination and communication. The main objective for any project manager is to ensure that the project is completed in the designated time at the prescribed budget. Again the task to oversee the entire process will be complicated and confusing unless a certain kind of work plan or strategy is implemented at the onset of the project. It will be very important to set work schedules, identify job descriptions, allocate resources, monitor expenses,
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and institute a simple but comprehensive communication system where all areas of the project construction are covered and flow of information and reports are properly done. Work schedule The project manager must bear in mind that work is determined by the unique nature of the tasks, the manpower skills needed to accomplish the task and the amount of man hours available and needed in order to achieve the objective. The project manager must be aware that the different tasks are interdependent of
Cost coding The financial side of project construction must be given utmost attention to prevent the project cost exceeding the budget. Planning is very important in designing the budget so as to avoid unnecessary expenses as the project progresses. The project manager can set up a tracking system where he and the contractor can jointly monitor expenses. Aside from spreadsheets, there are commercially available softwares that the project manager can use to track down expenses like the Timberline or Prolog. Once the system is in place, the project manager can now assign cost codes for the various categories on the job. By using the cost codes, the project manager can identify and anticipate where the critical points can go against the budget. The cost codes will serve as a tracking system to monitor expenses. By doing this, the project manager can easily compare actual invoices to the assigned budget. Contractors can check out the MasterFormat codes that have been developed by the Construction Specifications Institute before devising their coding system. In cases when there are changes in orders, the project manager can ask for detailed price breakdowns so as to identify individual material prices, equipment, tools, labor rates, etc. This practice will prevent contractors or subcontractors from padding the costs and at the same time allows more options for the project manager.
Systematic communications Clearly defined scope of work must be communicated correctly and effectively to all trade suppliers and other service providers. By specifying the exact scope of work, the project manager can avoid confusion when the deliveries arrive or the work has been done or not done; therefore preventing waste of time and money. At the start of the project, contractors and subcontractors must be briefed on the scope items that will detail each work and who are responsible for doing it. This must then be clearly specified in the contracts to pinpoint accountabilities. The scope items must be precise and exact on the nature of the work and what is included and asked for. Then it must also be clearly inscribed in the contract if installation is free of charge or included in the contract price. By doing so, the desired materials are used at the correct price. Proper communication between owners and contractors and subcontractors is critical to any construction project because misunderstanding can result in loss of time and therefore will run the risk of not completing the project on time. More so, confusion as to specific work designated and expected to be done may arise without
clear communication system. Again, when this happen work schedule and quality will be affected. Incorrect planning of project work schedules and cost estimates can spell the difference of success or failure. There is no harm if the project manager spends a little more time in devising a time table for each phase of work. Reviewing the bill of materials needed to complete the project and assigning a code system to track usage of materials will ensure proper procurement as well as price monitoring. If materials are coded and volume is determined during the planning stage, the project manager can order in bulk ahead of time to avail of certain discounts; thereby realizing savings and assuring ample supply. In the end, the project manager has all the tools and resources available to him in managing the project efficiently. There is no substitute for planning as this will serve as your map to navigate through the completion of the project in specified time and budget. Source: Project Management Techniques in Planning and Controlling Construction Projects By EmilyBeach, eHow
www.aplacetojourney.net
one another or interlocking. What is needed is to create a schedule of work even before the contract is awarded to contractors or subcontractors. There are a number of softwares that can be used to ensure that schedules are met. Two of the softwares are Suretrak and Project. The project manager must see to it that there is always a written notice for the changes in the time line of the work schedule. Lastly, with a specific work schedule agreed upon by contractors and the project manager, the latter can easily assign overtime work, monitor supply shipping schedules and the augmentation of workforce in instances that additional manpower is needed to complete the tasks in accordance to set schedule.
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personality PROFILE
DPWH’s Mr. Finisher means business A look at the life of Engineer Danilo Idos
Finishing work on the Sales Bridge Interchage
By Ed Velasco
I
Engineer Danilo Idos on the jobsite.
think of how I can finish “the Ijobonlyassigned to me. I think
of what is right and I never let myself be affected by the negative publicity about DPWH. -Engr. Danilo Idos
”
t’s normal for anybody to dream of becoming somebody someday. But for Engineer Danilo Idos, Project Director of the Urban Road Projects Office-Project Management Office (Urpo-Pmo) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), it was far from his mind that he will be revered as one of the most respected engineers in government service. Engineer Idos is the only Urpo chief that was selected unanimously by his peers and predecessor— Engineer Mariano Alquiza— because of his identity as “Mr. Finisher.” He earned this moniker because he has never missed a deadline in his 37 years of service at the DPWH. Born on December 24, 1950 from an average family in Bayambang, Pangasinan, Idos was more inclined in the arts. His first love was sketching and drawing, skills that could have made him a successful architect. In fact, his artistic flair served him well when he continued their family’s portrait business in their hometown. When he was in his late teens to early 20s he took photography seriously and saw himself plying his trade in Baclaran, Paranaque that
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became his second home. “For every photo I take as a photographer I earn P1. That’s enough to augment my allowance then,” Idos told Philippine Construction and Design. Rush ID pioneer Engineer Idos pioneered in the 7-minute rush ID business in Baclaran near the Sta. Rita Church in the mid-70s. “I was amazed when I saw so many rush ID businesses all the way up to Quiapo,” he said in jest. He was so busy in sketching and photography when one day one of their relatives came back from the US and encouraged him to pursue a civil engineering degree in any of the top schools in Manila. He accepted the offer and saw it as an opportunity to uplift himself. He spent two years at the Mapua Institute of Technology and five years at University of the East. “When I graduated I already have three kids,” he said. The official candidly said that he didn’t dream of becoming an engineer but his current profession brought him a different kind of fulfillment. Since day one of his stint at DPWH as a civil engineering aide 2, the official did his
forget the handshake extended “meI bycannot former First Lady Imelda Marcos. It was
so fulfilling that a wife of the President would congratulate you for a job well done.” -Engr. Danilo Idos
These are the Dr. A. Santos Ave. (formerly Sucat Road) widening project in 1992; the Alabang-Zapote flyover project in 1997; and the C5-Ortigas flyover in1999. “It was also a blessing in disguise that I was always assigned in Metro Manila since I want to have plenty of time with my family,” he said. He revealed that his position was very sensitive since projects within Metro Manila are the focus of strict scrutiny. However, the demands of his work taught him to be a professional, results-oriented, and punctual at all times. Furthermore, he takes to heart the Civil Service rule that anyone working for government must be efficient enough to earn public trust.
job to the best of his ability, a quality that later served as his passport to handling more sensitive projects even dating back to the time of the late President Marcos. Unforgettable handshake with Imelda “I cannot forget the handshake extended me by former First Lady Imelda Marcos. It was so fulfilling that a wife of the President would congratulate you for a job well done,” he said. He considered every project given to him as a challenge. Through hard work and dedication, Idos was able to finish all projects given to him on time by implementing a “hands on” management style and close supervision of all projects. “Since I joined government service my average length of sleep at night is only three hours. I see to it that I inspect all my projects. I cannot afford to stay in bed a minute longer,” the official explained. So far, he considers three major projects as his “shining moments” because he nearly missed the deadlines. With a lot at stake since these projects were over P500 million, he exerted extra effort to complete them on time.
Urpo chief hot seat Engineer Idos’ kind of work ethic and dedication are essential to being an Urpo chief because the sub-agency’s mantra is to decongest Metro Manila. According to him, Urpo-Pmo is a “hot seat” and if the leader is not results-oriented or punctual he will surely earn the flak from the DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson. What is admirable of this 61-year-old official is that he is not even Civil Serviceeligible. However, that did not deter him from giving his 100% service to the government. His lack of credential is compensated by about 54 seminars he has attended here and abroad. He was almost always at seminars of known engineering associations like the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Road Engineering Association of the Philippines and Association of Government Civil Engineers. When asked if there is any engineer he looks up to with very high regard, the official has only this as an answer: “Singson(Rogelio, the DPWH Secretary) is my idol because he is incorruptible. He is worth emulating.” Idos said Singson’s untarnished record as a public servant is infectious. He further stated that a lot of project managers, assistant secretaries and undersecretaries are now like him. He gave as example the original budget
for Sales Bridge retrofitting, his current assignment, where Singson’s qualities were tested. “For example the budget for the Sales Bridge retrofitting was originally P70 million but it was lessened by P10 million and at the same maintained quality output,” he said. With full confidence, Idos said he was never charged in any court nor accused of accepting bribes from any contractor or supplier because he lived a simple life. “I don’t have an expensive house or a luxury vehicle; I don’t play golf so why would I need more money?” Think of what is right “I only think of how I can finish the job assigned to me. I think of what is right and I never let myself be affected by the negative publicity about DPWH.” According to him, this way of thinking has proven effective for anyone who seeks higher positions. His unique ability to avoid temptation became Engineer Idos’ passport to climb the government service hierarchy ladder. “What I have been doing since I became a civil engineering aide 2 is still the same to this day. I personally visit project sites, maintain constant contact with project managers and I stay very late at work and wakes up very early to start my day,” he assured. After Sales Bridge retrofitting project, Idos will be concentrating on the P2-billion Tramo-Roxas Boulevard flyover project planned to start second quarter of 2013. When asked about his opinion on publicprivate partnership (PPP) projects he said that the construction of the 5-kilometer Naia Expressway is set to start anytime once a winning bidder is chosen. The expressway might also be assigned to Idos and he is more than ready to take up the challenge once more. With a little over three years left before he leaves his illustrious career, Idos sees himself vacationing in the US to visit his son when he retires in 2015. “By that time I can afford to sleep more than three hours,” he chided.
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risk management
www.123rf.com
N
oise is a form of interference that can pose risk to one’s health and jeopardize safety in the construction workplace. Too much noise is not only irritating but can have an adverse long effect on one’s hearing that may result in total hearing loss. A noisy workplace is also risky in the sense that communication among people working particularly in a construction project is hampered.
Wireless
communication offers protection Silencing a noisy construction site
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Without clear communication, misunderstanding may occur or instructions are not met and therefore could result in work not being done or done incorrectly. Worse, accidents can occur due to miscommunication or lack of it. It is therefore imperative to maintain a high degree of communication level at the construction site. The safety of workers will also be on the line if no proper communication is established in the construction worksite. Thus, the safety manager is tasked with implementing a noise maintenance program to be able to control and manage the noise levels in the construction site.
Outmoded methods There are methods of curtailing the harsh effect of too much noise in the work place. The most common method used, especially in smaller construction projects where safety is often taken for granted, is the traditional protection tools like earmuffs and earplugs. These simple devices can prevent hearing loss but it also affect communication among workers. On the other hand, two-way radios and walkie-talkies enable workers in different sections of the construction site to communicate with each other. There must be more advanced methods that need to be used in order to maintain safety and provide protection from noise. Wireless technology With the advance in research on telecommunication equipment, the wireless communications system is the answer to the noisy construction site. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States, it is required that workers wear ear protection devices when the timeweighted average noise exposure exceeds 85 decibels (dB) over an eight-hour period. To illustrate the hazards in a noisy construction site, the OSHA cited that the normal conversation registers only about 60 to 70 dB while a bulldozer emits sounds of up to 97 dB, far exceeding the norm. A dump truck unloading its haul can emit up to 90 dB while a jackhammer can record a noise level of 110 dB. Then a riveter emits a sound level of 115 dB and the average human threshold of pain is only around 110 dB. Noise level reading of over 150 dB will be extremely dangerous without ear protection as it may cause the eardrum to rupture. The use of wireless communication system will both serve as protective device and communication tool. At the same time, these devices require minimal use of the hands. And since they function without wires, the incidence of wire tripping is nil. The devices are made of wireless headsets with built-in protection from loud noises. The system has a base station where communication traffic is directed and managed. It is also equipped with an optional radio-transmit interface that
allows workers to talk and listen on a mobile radio to reach other workers in different work areas. Lastly, the protective capacity of these devices can reduce noise exposure by 20 to 30 dB. Make the right choice There could be a number of choices available in the market today. However, the safety manager must ascertain that the wireless system he chooses is the right one for their need. So in shopping around for the right system, there are several factors to consider. It must be determined if the system uses Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) or Bluetooth. There are limitations to Bluetooth system with regard to range. DECT offers about 30 times more coverage than Bluetooth. Moreover, DECT has less interference from electronic devices than Bluetooth. As to the effective range, a minimum 1,500-foot-line-of-sight transmission capability must be met. Otherwise, if the range is lesser, quality of communication may suffer. The safety manager must also ensure that there is optimum flow of communication between users. There is the half-duplex and the full-duplex system. With the former, communication flow is one directional similar to a walkie-talkie. The latter is more appropriate since it allows communications in both directions simultaneously. It is also important to determine if the wireless system is compatible with mobile radios. If there is an interface with mobile radios, users are always connected even in remote areas. Since the safety manager is looking for the need to address noise reduction as protection from hearing impairment or loss, he must consider the Noise Reduction Rating or NRR of the system. The ideal system must reduce the noise level by at least 24 dB. Also, it is vital to know the Ingress Protection or IP Rating of the system. This rating measures the degree of protection from intrusion of liquids and solids into the electrical unit. The minimum rating that the safety manager must consider is IP65 to ensure that the system will work effectively.
The safety manager must also ensure that there is optimum flow of communication between users. There is the halfduplex and the full-duplex system. With the former, communication flow is one directional similar to a walkie-talkie.
www.123rf.com
Lastly, the safety manager must bear in mind the after-sale guarantee of the vendor. Availability of parts replacement and repair services must also determine what company to buy from or what system to use. Source: The Dangers of Noisy Construction Jobsites , Reed Stager, February 2, 2012
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products & technology
www.daviespaints.com
www.popsci.com
Davies Paints Stay Clean
DeWalt Circular Saw Blades
The Flex Power cordless screwdrivers are built for torque control and durability powered by high capacity lithium-ion battery with 3.0 A.h. This powerful but handy precision tool has various models that range from 17.7265.5 lbf.in and ideal to use where air or electric power is not accessible. The Flex Power screwdrivers with models FLEXC-16RX, FLEXC-30R and FLEXC8RX has an auto shut-off clutch and runs down around 1200-1400 fasteners before recharge. It also has audible and visual alarm operator for torque completion, low battery warning beep and LED lamps to illuminate work area. Lastly, the tools with right angle models carry high performance brushless motor design for durability.
BarBandit-EnCap
www.inspectabridge.com
Flex Power Right Angle Cordless Torque Screwdriver
www.successfuldealer.com
The DeWalt circular saw blades were made to cut through compressed particle boards that are now commonly used in construction. It was designed with extra teeth to achieve maximum cutting strength and it has eight resin-filled slots that cushion the vibration on the cutting saw. Likewise, the saw blades have Teflon-like coating to make it easier to glide. When subjected to rigorous tests, the DeWalt blades cut through 2.5 inch thick stack of plywood and two layers of asphalt shingles placed in between 2-inch thick pressure-treated boards interlaced with gauge 15 nails. It also recorded longer staying power that can cut through 54 feet of sandwiched shingle before getting stuck.
This new pile encapsulation system is economical to use and easy to install. It can be installed by one or two workers with hand tools. The system was developed to serve the production-oriented marine piling encapsulation for infrastructure rehabilitation. The BarBandit part of the system can reduce rebar installation labor by 2 man hours on 10’ x 18” pile with layout of 16 #6 vertical bars and #4 stirrups 1.0’ on center. The banding is made of non-metallic polyester 040 x 5/8” that can withstand 1500 psi.
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This is a water-based premium paint that is stain-resistant ideal for interior surfaces. The main feature of this Davies paint product is its hydrophilic stain repellancy and hydrophobic stain removal capabilities. The paint is formulated to resist penetration by household stains like wine, tea, coffee, juice and ink. The product allows stain to transform from liquid into beads on the paint film and rolls down the wall for easy cleaning.
Viper-Lok
The Viper-Lok made by Polylok, Inc. is a very practical product that enables contractors to connect different size pieces of rebar either in the vertical or horizontal position. This is ideal to use when setting up reinforcement on foundations, footings, columns and other common concrete products. The Viper-Lok can be used as a standoff from the inner core or from the floor. It can connect #3 to #7 rebar in any combination. As a result the Viper-Lok speeds up construction work and is very ideal for connecting epoxy coated rebar where scratches and tears are not likely to occur thereby minimizing the possibility of corrosion.
www.popsci.com
www.millerwelds.com
Spectrum 375 X-treme with XT30 Torch
Stanley’s Hurriquake Nails
The company Stanley Bostitch has created a specialized nail system ideal for pre-fab housing components. This product works two ways: first, it can be used to secure pre-fab components of modular homes when transported to prevent it from being damage during shipping and second, they can be used for fastening modular building components that can withstand hurricanes and earthquakes. The system makes the constructed pre-fab components 50% tougher against earthquakes.
www.concreteconstruction.net
This portable plasma cutting system from Miller Weld is portable and weighs only 19 lbs. Its power is 30 Amps for 3/8 inch mild steel capacity. The cutting rate is 15 inches per minute. It has the Auto-Line circuitry that automatically connects to 120-140 VAC, single-phase power at 50/60 Hz. It has an automatic air regulation and automatically controls the pilot arc when cutting multiple pieces of metal. Lastly it is equipped with wind tunnel technology that protects it from dirt, dust and debris and has the fan-on-demand cooling system.
www.shotcrete-gunite.com
Quiet Qurl MT
This product from Keene Building Products is designed to eliminate noise on floor surfaces by creating a cushion effect that absorbs noise. The Quiet Qurl MT is made of a core matrix of tangled polypropylene monofilaments. It is heat-welded and sandwiched in a spring-mass building design to absorb noise. The moisture-resistant fabric is laminated to the surface creating a floating floor effect.
Hilti PD 40 Laser Range Meter
The Dayu DY-RX30 mortar, cement and plastering machine has a total power of 8.5 kW. It is a dry ready mix spray type with screw pump. The air compressor works at 250L/minute.
www.hilti.com
Dayu Mortar, Cement, Plastering Machine
This laser measuring device manufactured by Hilti, one of the most reliable companies in the field of construction tools manufacturing, is lightweight, compact, handy and is ergonomically designed. The design was created to make it easy to use and operate. It measures distances in less than a second with precision laser technology in three key presses. It also has measuring extension feature to easily and safely measure distances in hardly accessible areas.
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www.evangelchina.en.made-in-china.com
products & technology
www.cmec-hb.com
XCMG Asphalt Concrete Paver
XL250 Soil Stabilizer
XZ Series Soil Stabilizers are used for highways, road, squares, ports, parking lot to mix stabilized soil with base and sub-base layer, and low-grade road construction. They can mix I/ II with a comfortable operation.
RP756 Multi Function Asphalt Concrete Paver RP756 Multi-function paver is a construction machine mainly used for the paving of road base and surface for highway of various kinds. This type of machine has the most advanced technology, such as fully-hydraulic-driving and computer-controlling system, ultra sonic sensor, electric auto-leveling system, dual-tamper, etc., which makes the work stable at faster, uniform material flow, high pre-compaction, easy and convenient operation. All the key parts are purchased from international manufacturers to ensure the same quality and reliability as that of imported machines. Therefore, RP756 is the ideal equipment for paving job on stabilized soil for road base and asphalt concrete for road surface.
www.cmec-hb.com
www.sydneytools.com.au
This paver has DEUTZ BF6M1013EC turbo-charged diesel engine(165kw), Caterpillar type, full hydraulic power transmission, two side independent drive, micro computer constant speed auto control, machine PHE, double tamper, eccentric vibration, Electric heating DTV iron slab(Paving width 3-12.5m), strong power water-cooling system, ultrasonic non-contact balance oar, imported ultrasonic material level controller, transfer case, reducer, hydraulic element, electric appliance element, centralized lubricating system, and Wearable steel plate.
XR series of rotary drilling rig
Over 20 years ICS produces the latest Chain Saws preferred for cutting concrete, stone, and masonry. The 695GC and the 695F4 models create deep, straight cuts and square corners with ease of use. If cutting concrete, stone, masonry or ductile iron pipe is your game – the ICS 695GC and 695F4 are your GAME CHANGER.
xzzhongxu.en.made-in-chine.com.
695GC Utility Chain Saw GAME CHANGER.
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The XR series of rotary drilling rig is produced by Xugong Group through years of research and development, with wide reference to advanced overseas technologies, depending on the powerful strength of construction machinery manufacturing. Technical Features: Telescopic crawler chassis, box type frame, suitable rigidity, good stability. Automatic slewing positioning function, Load sensing hydraulic system. Color LCD, automatic measuring of the boring depth and vertical rake, and automatic alarming system in case of failures. GPS global positioning system, remote data analysis, remote real time monitoring, and remote troubleshooting.
www.freeimageslives.co.uk
PRICE MOVEMENTs
3rdQ construction prices posted mixed movements The prices of construction materials in the National Capital Region (NCR) at the middle of the third quarter moved erratically both from the wholesale and retail price indices. This price movement may be attributed to the fluctuating fuel prices as well as the demand and supply of construction materials towards the end of the year.
T
he continued upsurge in construction activities is manifested in the launching of many high-rise condominium projects in the NCR and key cities in the country like Cebu and Davao by big property developers. In the NCR, big players like Ayala Land, Robinsons Land, Vista Land, Arthaland, Megaworld, Empire East, and Suntrust remain bullish and continue to provide the market with different alternatives in property ownership. With the increasing demand for construction materials, the rate of change in selected items has also risen in varying degrees. For the wholesale price index of construction materials in the NCR, the overall annual growth rate increased from 2.2% in July 2012 and 2.4% in June 2012 to 2.9% in August 2012. For the retail price index sector, on the other hand, percentage change remained levelled for July and August 2012 at 5.0% growth on a year-on-year basis. However, this figure represented substantial increase compared to only 3.6% in January 2012 and 2.9% in February 2012.
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Retail price index-NCR For the retail price indices, movements were also mixed and variable characterized by minor changes both ways. In fact, the overall average remained flat at 5.0% as the changes had minor effects to skew the rate of increase or decrease in prices. Electrical materials increased from 7.8% in July 2012 to 7.9% in August 2012. However, substantial increase was noted compared to August 2011 when the percentage change was only 4.8%. Masonry materials moved up by a notch from 13.9% in July to 14.0% in August 2012. Again a great contrast from last year was reported as prices in August 2011 actually dipped by -1.1%. Plumbing materials slightly increased from 1.9% to 2.1% from July to August 2012. Noteworthy though is that it signified an improvement compared to the same period last year where prices increased by 4.5%. Other items marked a downward trend in prices like carpentry materials decreased from 1.4% to 1.2% from July to August
Silicone Insulated Electric Wire
www.rockyardknoxville.net
Wholesale price index-NCR Figures for the wholesale price index of construction materials in the NCR remained mixed. Notable change was observed for the cement prices that rose from 0.9% in July 2012 to 3.5% in August 2012. Lumber products also increased from 3.9% annual growth to 4.3% for the same period stated. Steel products also jumped slightly with the reinforcing steel prices moving up from 3.3% in July 2012 to 3.9% in August 2012. Structural steel prices changed from 4.2% in July 2012 to 4.6% in August 2012. Other items recorded slowdown like gravel and sand posted percentage change of 7.1% in August 2012 from 7.6% in July. Plywood also decreased from 3.4% to 2.9% from July to August 2012. Electrical works were slashed down further to 4.9% in August from 5.1% from July. Likewise, painting works plummeted to 3.8% from 4.8% from July to August 2012. PVC pipes prices also bowed down to 2.1% in August from 2.4% in July 2012. Lastly, tileworks declined from 3.8% to 3.0%. Prices for G.I. sheet; glass and glass products; and doors, jambs and steel casements moved up slightly. However, prices remained steady for concrete products, hardware, plumbing fixtures, asphalt, and machineries and equipment rental.
www.nizingwire.en.made-in-china.com
pRICE MOVEMENTs
Concrete Sand & Gravel
2012. This also showed a big slide from a high of 7.1% in August 2011. Prices of painting materials and related compounds improved a bit from 1.8% in July to 1.7% in August 2012. Again, the increment for this year is substantially lower from August 2011 figure of 5.2%. For miscellaneous construction materials, price changes slightly improved
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from 13.8% in July 2012 to 13.3% in August 2012. However, this year’s performance registered bigger impact on prices compared to August of 2011 with only 1.9% change.
Publishers: Philippine Construction & Design
General
Readership, Distribution and Circulation
Philippine Construction & Design is published to •serve the construction industry and all its stakeholders
The publication is published in the web and is made •available for free to all interested. The web has potentially
particularly architects, engineers, contractors and suppliers, providing them news summaries and information on latest developments, management technologies, new products and equipment, cost movements of construction materials, profiles of leading personalities in the industry, construction projects, etc. The magazine will also discuss issues and topics that are important to the construction trade. It hopes to serve as a voice for the industry as a whole as well as provide information that construction professionals will find useful to their business and profession.
millions of readers all over the world though the magazine’s primary target readers are the professionals and decision makers involved in Philippine construction, which is estimated to be over 100,000 stakeholders in the industry. Readers include major decision makers and top executives that make buying decisions, leading government officials, and other professionals involved in planning, investing, design, and construction.
Publisher Publishers are Filipinos based in Thailand with 40 •years of experience in publishing since 1972. They
pioneered in the publication of construction, business and tourist publications in Thailand, publishing Siam Construction, a monthly trade journal for the construction industry, What’s On This Week, What’s On Pattaya, What’s On Phuket, What’s On Chiangmai and What’s On Samui, all tourist publications located in major travel destinations in Thailand. They also publish a newspaper Samui Express in the island of Samui. Over 20 years ago in the Philippines, they also published Philippine Civil Engineer, a professional publication published for Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE);Philippine Construction Management, a professional journal for construction executives;and various directories for professional buyers like the Philippine Construction Directory, Philippine Export Directory, and Philippine Professional Buyers Guide. However, they closed their Philippine operations around 10 years ago after almost 20 years in the country due to political problems at that time and the ensuing financial turmoil. The Publishers plan to reestablish their operations initially with this construction publication, Philippine Construction & Design, to be followed with other magazines involving trade and logistics, medical hospitals and clinics, travel and hotel management within the next 24 months after the launch of Philippine Construction & Design.
Philippine Construction & Design is an e-magazine published monthly by Saiber Media Inc. with business address at 1524, City & Land Megaplaza, ADB Ave. cor. Garnet Rd. Ortigas Center, Pasig City, e-mail add: phil.constructionanddesign@yahoo.com.ph|saibercraft@yahoo.com, for free online subscription: www.philippineconstructionanddesign.com and www.issuu.com/philippine construction and design. Send email for your comments and suggestion to saibercraft@yahoo.com or contact Tel. No.: 02 945.8510 | 02 687.1430.
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