BIZ BUZZ: Globe’s Delgado gets on world stage

MANILA, Philippines — Globe Telecom Inc. chief commercial officer Darius Delgado is taking on a bigger role, one that can influence global strategies for broadband internet development and rollout.

The telco giant proudly announced that Delgado is the first Filipino to be appointed to the board of the Geneva-headquartered World Broadband Association (WBBA).

The young organization, which was only established in July 2021, champions equitable internet access for everyone, which is deemed necessary in today’s increasingly digital landscape.

READ: Globe sees recovery signs, puts capital expenditures into broadband business

“We look forward to contributing insights and innovations that will enhance connectivity and expand access, especially in emerging markets such as the Philippines,” Delgado said.

“It’s a great opportunity for them (Globe) to join the growing family of WBBA members, to come together and discuss the challenges and opportunities of broadband in a fast-changing world,” WBBA director general Martin Creaner said.

Globe joined the WBBA in April last year. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

ACEN not diving into nuclear (yet)

While its peers scout partnerships abroad, Ayala Group’s ACEN Corp. seems unlikely to jump into the looming nuclear energy race.

Eric Francia, president and chief executive officer of ACEN—a firm committed to pursuing clean energy sources – said the nuclear dream faces several challenges, including legal hoops and public buy-in.

“I think, yes, it’s clean, but one needs to address the safety concerns, the social acceptance, regulatory, all the laws and regulations—it takes time,” the executive told Biz Buzz.

READ: ACEN to bolster portfolio with 1.2 GW new capacity by end-2025

The government completed the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in 1986, but this was never fired up due to allegations of corruption and issues with safety.

Capability building for a new technology, he added, is a long process.

Francia also said that while modular reactors—the type of nuclear technology tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan planned to tap—had offered promises before, they have yet to reach the stage where they can be commercialized.

“The economics are not that solid or stable yet. So, there’s still a lot of questions,” he said.

But the ACEN official lauded the Department of Energy’s (DOE) efforts to achieve President Marcos’ goal of having nuclear energy plants by 2032.

“At least the good thing about the DOE is they’re planting the seeds already this early,” he said. —Lisbet K. Esmael