Technohubs

After its highly successful joint venture with the University of the Philippines for the development of a technohub in Quezon City, Ayala Land is now eyeing similar campus-type developments for the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector instead of big high-rise office spaces.

 This of course makes a lot of sense. Because of the economic slowdown, we might find ourselves experiencing soon a new office space glut as a big number of developers went into mixed-use residential-office projects. Unfortunately, with the economic slowdown, many expect the number of office spaces available to outpace demand, resulting in a projected drop in prices.

Companies, like Ayala Land, are now focusing on build-to-suit type of office developments. This means that they build for a particular client, in this case BPO companies. Therefore, there is no risk of investing in a project that may have limited takers.

Ayala Land is spending as much as P20 billion this year for capital expenditure. The company has yet to disclose how much it plans to spend next year although industry experts foresee that the number in 2009 will not be much different.

Back to business

Another company that seems to be looking at the current economic crisis more of a challenge than a threat is Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).

After water and tollways, the group is now looking at the development of the country’s biggest domestic port, the Manila North Harbor.

After suing the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for the latter’s failure to award the project to them, the consortium of MPIC and Reghis Romero-owned Harbour Center Port Terminals is now ready to withdraw the case, a move that will pave the way for the much-delayed privatization of Manila North Harbor.

Last Nov. 20, officials of PPA, MPIC and Harbour Center signed a compromise agreement to finally put an end to the court battle. According to MPIC, this was only a partial signing since the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel as counsel to the PPA and the respective counsels of MPIC and HCPTI have yet to sign the agreement. The signing of the lawyers, scheduled last Monday afternoon, is of course necessary since the agreement will have to be submitted to the court.

MPIC explains that the contending parties, namely PPA on one side and the MPIC-HCPTI joint venture on the other hand, will have to file a motion for judgment based on the compromise agreement with the court. The approval of the court is necessary to put an end to the case.

Aside from owning 35 percent of the joint venture, MPIC plans to invest in other aspects of the Manila North Harbor project. For those who have been using the Manila North Harbor its privatization will surely be a welcome development.

Not so hidden agenda

Mensa Philippines – the officially recognized chapter of the international high IQ society Mensa International – will be holding its qualifying test for individuals aged 14 and above who are seeking membership in Mensa.

The testing, dubbed “The Mensa IQ Challenge”, will be held on Nov. 30, Sunday, at Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street, Taguig. Tests will be given every hour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The only criterion for Mensa membership is to score within the top two percent (98th percentile and up) of the test.

The test is culture-fair and does not test for math or language skills.

Limited slots are available to those interested in taking the Mensa test. To avail of these slots, interested parties can pre-register at the online facility available at www.mensaphilippines.blogspot.com. The deadline for pre-registration is before 12 midnight of Nov. 28.

During the test, exam takers will need to bring a valid ID and a testing fee of P500. Undergraduate students with valid student IDs are entitled to a discounted fee of P300. Note that payments will only be received at the testing venue itself.  

Mensa has over 100,000 members in over 80 countries worldwide. Actress/Olympian archer Geena Davis, comedian John Cleese and science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov are some of the more prominent Mensa members.

Mensa’s aims are to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity; to encourage research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence; and to promote stimulating and social opportunities for its members.

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