Cecilio K. Pedro, president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. and founder of personal care and hygiene products manufacturer Lamoiyan Corp., has turned over the reins of the company that he started in 1988 with just 20 employees to his son, Joel Conrad.
The 40-year-old was put through his paces, before he was named COO and now CEO of a company that has grown to a leading exporter of over a dozen brands across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa with an employee count of nearly 200.
He brings with him experience, a solid business sense and a reliable support system that gives him the freedom to explore his other interests and indulge in his passions, such as cars and the great outdoors.
“Everybody needs passion here and there,” says Pedro, who is also CEO of Overland Kings, which distributes gear and accessories to enjoy camping, driving and nature.
“My Overland Kings business is an outlet for me to be able to creatively give input on what else I do,” says Pedro, who intends to continue with the mission laid down by his father to give Filipinos products that are of high quality but at prices within reach of most Filipinos. —Tina Arceo-Dumlao
READ: Lamoiyan earmarks P 150M to expand to makeup, skincare
Steel-ing the spotlight for a greener industry
One of the Philippines’ leading steel manufacturers, SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. (SteelAsia), isn’t just producing steel now—it is also trying to reshape the future of sustainable manufacturing.
Recognized as one of the greenest steel mills in the world, the facility has been spotlighted in an independent report by DNV (Det Norske Veritas), a leading global certification body.
Its inclusion highlights the mill’s remarkable carbon footprint reduction, showing emissions nearly 90 percent lower than conventional steelmaking.
The plant generates only 0.28 tons of CO2 per ton of steel, a significant improvement compared to the industry average of 2.32 tons per ton of steel produced.
Operating since 2008, the Calaca facility touts cutting-edge recycling technologies and renewable energy, setting a benchmark for sustainable steel production.
SteelAsia chair and chief executive officer Benjamin Yao envisions the plant as a model for the industry’s future, highlighting its role in reducing the country’s dependence on imported steel.
“Apart from rebar, the Philippines imports 90 percent of its steel, often from high carbon dioxide (CO2) sources such as China. We aim to replace these imports with locally produced green steel products,” Yao said.
READ: SteelAsia invests P30B in Quezon plant
Looking ahead, SteelAsia plans to produce 3.5 million tons of green steel annually by 2028, a move that could prevent seven million tons of CO2 emissions per year—equivalent to the carbon capture of 200 million trees.
The company’s green steel initiative aligns with the Philippines’ commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement, a global initiative under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which aims to limit global temperature increases to below 2 degrees Celsius by 2050.
SteelAsia operates multiple mills across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with ongoing expansions to produce additional steel products that are currently imported. The company’s push for sustainable, locally produced steel marks a major step toward a greener, self-sufficient future for the Philippine steel industry. —Alden M. Monzon
PPP for cybersecurity
As the Philippines continues to deal with more hackers, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky called on the government to strengthen collaboration with the private sector to beef up the firewalls.
READ: Kaspersky reminds public to practice ‘digital hygiene’
Adrian Hia, managing director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, said the public-private partnership (PPP) could focus on threat intelligence sharing in order to craft better responses against the hackers.
“Cybercriminals are constantly adapting, making cybersecurity a continuous effort,” Hia said.
According to Kaspersky, about 17.7 million threat incidents were traced in the Philippines last year, affecting 36.8 percent of its users.
A successful cyberattack can disrupt the operations of an enterprise, which can translate to potential financial losses.
“Businesses, government agencies, and individuals must remain proactive in strengthening their defenses,” Hia said. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad