Alsons Power: Energizing Mindanao's Path to Growth and Development

  

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – “Alsons Power is helping unlock the vast potential of Mindanao, fueling communities, and driving sustainable economic growth while prioritizing environmental stewardship,” said Antonio Miguel “Anton” Alcantara, CEO of Alsons Power, at the 33rd Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon). The event, held at the KCC Convention Center in General Santos City, brought together key leaders to discuss the future of the region’s economy.

As the power business unit of the Alcantara Group—a Mindanao-focused enterprise with significant investments in energy, agriculture, and real estate—Alsons Power plays a crucial role in supporting the region’s rapid development.

Alcantara shared that the Department of Budget and Management is targeting an economic growth rate of 6.5% to 7.5% by 2025, which is expected to drive an even greater demand for energy.

Data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) and the Department of Energy show that the Philippines reached a peak energy demand of 17,331 megawatts in 2023, which surged to over 19,000 megawatts by the April 2024. Mindanao mirrored this trend, reaching a peak demand of 2,642 megawatts in April this year, an increase from the 2,323 megawatts recorded in the previous year. These rising figures highlight the nation's growing power consumption, driven by heightened economic activity and rising temperatures.

"Our population is rapidly growing, and every household increases power consumption, upgrading the use of electricity. That's about 100–125 megawatts in Mindanao every year," said Assistant Secretary Romeo M. Montenegro, Deputy Executive Director of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), addressing delegates at the Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen) Power Summit last August.

"After 4-5 years, a shortage will happen again, which is why proper timing, coordination in terms of policy and investments, and attracting power investment sectors are a must in Mindanao to avoid the rotating brownouts that happened in the past," Montenegro added.

To help meet this surging power demand, Alcantara outlined Alsons Power’s strategy to expand and diversify its energy portfolio. “We’re committed to developing new power plants with a strong focus on renewable energy while optimizing our existing conventional power assets,” he said.

Currently, Alsons Power has a capacity of over 460 megawatts, serving more than eight million people across Mindanao.

“Alsons Power is focused on building our renewable energy portfolio with various hydro and solar projects at different stages of development and implementation. These projects aim to contribute to the country’s goal of reaching a 35% renewable energy share by 2030 and 50% by 2040,” Alcantara said.

Recently, Alsons Power completed its first foray into the renewable energy landscape with the 14.5-megawatt run-of-river Siguil Hydro Power Plant in Maasim, Sarangani Province. This plant has an estimated annual output of around 95,000 MWh, capable of powering over 40,000 households. Siguil Hydro is the fifth renewable energy project to enter Mindanao's Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

Alsons Power is also advancing other renewable projects, including the Sindangan Zambo-River Power Plant with a potential capacity of 8.8 megawatts for the run-of-river hydropower plant and 29 megawatts for the solar power plant.

More than three decades after helping address the Mindanao power crisis and the region's growing energy demands, Alsons Power remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable energy to the Southern Philippines and beyond. Recently, the Alcantara-led power business unit secured its first retail electricity supply agreement with Holcim Philippines, under which it will supply 80% of the energy needs for Holcim’s facilities in Davao and Lugait, Misamis Oriental.

“Reliable and affordable electricity is a key driver in attracting investments to a region. Our power facilities in Maasim, Sarangani, play a critical role in providing the stable energy needed to support and attract investments, not just within the province but across Mindanao,” emphasized Alcantara.

Alcantara also highlighted the company’s role in attracting large-scale industrial projects, including the multi-billion-dollar Panhua Integrated Steel Plant, a flagship venture by China’s Panhua Group, slated for completion by 2026 in the Kamanga Agro-Industrial Ecozone (KAIEZ) in Maasim, Sarangani.

“As we diversify our power sources, we remain committed to driving Mindanao’s growth, fostering economic progress, and safeguarding our natural resources,” Alcantara concluded.

About Alsons Power

Alsons Power is the power business unit of the Alcantara Group, a Mindanao-focused enterprise with significant investments in energy, agriculture, and real estate.

This Press Release has also been published on VRITIMES

APAC Video Streaming Market to Reach $112.89 Billion by 2030, Agora Targets Real-Time Communication Expansion

Agora, Inc. (NASDAQ: API), a pioneer in real-time engagement APIs, has swiftly established itself as a leader in the APAC region by capturing the largest market share in the Real-Time Communication (RTC) industry.

Singapore, 3 October 2024 – The Asia-Pacific (APAC) video streaming market is projected to experience explosive growth, with market size reaching $112.89 billion by 2030, driven by a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.5% from 2023. This expansion is fueled by surging demand for mobile-first streaming services, particularly in key markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia, where mobile content consumption via smartphones dominates, with 69% and 86% of users respectively streaming on these devices. Amid this boom, Agora, Inc. (NASDAQ: API), a global leader in Real-Time Communication (RTC) technology, is positioning itself to capitalize on these trends, bringing innovative communication solutions to meet the evolving needs of this rapidly expanding market.

The APAC region's video streaming landscape is increasingly defined by a mobile-first approach, necessitating high-performance, low-latency communication solutions to ensure seamless and real-time user experiences. Agora’s cutting-edge real-time engagement technology empowers developers to integrate voice, video, and interactive features effortlessly, making it possible for businesses to deliver the high-quality, instantaneous interactions that users now expect. As the demand for real-time communication (RTC) continues to rise, Agora is uniquely positioned to support businesses looking to engage more deeply with their audiences.

“We are seeing unparalleled growth in the video streaming market, and Agora’s technology is at the forefront of this revolution,” said Tony Wang, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Agora. “Our commitment to innovation ensures we meet current demands while anticipating future trends like AI integration, multimodal communication, and immersive AR and VR experiences. The key is enabling businesses to deliver real-time, interactive experiences that keep users engaged, no matter where they are.”

Agora's Real-Time Engagement Platform currently supports more than 60 billion minutes of live voice and video each month, serving over 1,700 clients in more than 200 countries. This represents a 14% year-on-year increase, underscoring the platform's growing significance in powering critical communication services across various industries. Agora’s technology has become integral to the success of 60% of the top 1v1 video apps by revenue, 45% of leading dating apps in Southeast Asia, and 65% of the top 20 voice chat rooms in the region. Furthermore, Agora holds a dominant 40% share among leading live-streaming apps, the highest among third-party RTC providers.

Shaping the future with AI and multimodal communication

Agora’s vision goes beyond traditional RTC technology. The company aims to revolutionize the AI landscape with multimodal solutions combining voice, video, and chat to enable real-time, AI-powered experiences with ultra-low latency, even under varying network conditions.

Multimodal AI is set to transform business operations by fostering human-AI collaboration. For instance, in telehealth, Agora’s AI solutions could streamline diagnoses and make healthcare more accessible. Similarly, sectors like education, entertainment, and customer service are expected to benefit from these AI-driven systems, which offer real-time insights, generate creative content, and provide user-based recommendations.

Innovations like AI-based noise suppression and real-time transcription (RTT) are already integrated into Agora’s platform, enabling superior communication experiences in noisy or low-bandwidth environments. These technologies ensure businesses remain competitive, where user experience and reliability are paramount.

"Agora is actively responding to the rapid shifts in the APAC video streaming landscape," added Effie Fang, Director of Agora’s APAC Sales Team. "Our technology not only supports but also drives innovation in how businesses interact with their audiences. Leveraging our advanced real-time communication solutions, companies can enhance user engagement and capitalize on the market’s explosive growth."

In Indonesia, Everywhere.id has used Agora’s real-time communication technology to drive a 71% boost in user interactions, achieving 13 million minutes of peak monthly engagement. Similarly, Fastwork, a prominent freelancing platform, doubled its chat-to-payment conversions after integrating Agora’s real-time calling API, demonstrating the transformative impact of seamless communication on business performance.

Addressing industry trends and challenges

As the RTC industry evolves, Agora is tackling key trends and challenges, including the rise of 5G, the integration of AI, IoT, and machine learning, and the growing importance of AR/VR and metaverse applications. Agora is not only keeping pace but actively driving these developments. By optimizing its solutions for 5G networks, Agora ensures that its platform delivers top-tier audio and video quality, regardless of location.

Security and privacy are critical concerns in the RTC space. Agora has introduced industry-leading safeguards to protect its users, with a strong focus on compliance and data security, positioning the company as a leader in a market that prioritizes trust and safety.

Looking ahead: Agora’s strategic roadmap

As the APAC video streaming market continues to grow, Agora is focused on staying ahead by pushing the boundaries of AI and multimodal communication. These advancements set the bar for real-time, AI-powered solutions in broadcasting, customer service, and healthcare.

Regional expertise is a key part of Agora’s strategy. By investing in localized training, the company ensures its teams can deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each market. This ability to customize offerings for different industries and regions gives Agora a strong competitive edge.

Agora is also expanding into high-growth markets like South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand, particularly in sectors such as media, entertainment, and live commerce. These areas are rapidly growing, making Agora's technology indispensable in meeting the demands of these industries.

Through focused marketing initiatives, Agora is enhancing its brand visibility and reinforcing its leadership position in real-time communication technology. With innovation, customer success, and market leadership at its core, Agora is shaping the future of communication across APAC.

About Agora

About Agora.io

Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Agora is a pioneer and global leader in Real-Time Engagement Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), providing developers with simple, flexible, and powerful application programming interfaces, or APIs, to embed real-time voice, video, interactive live-streaming, chat, whiteboard, and artificial intelligence capabilities into their applications.

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES

Häfele Philippines Strengthens Hospitality Industry Presence at the Hotel Supplier Show

 

Häfele Philippines Inc. successfully showcased its cutting-edge solutions at the Hotel & Food Service Suppliers Show 2024, held from September 19-21 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. The event attracted a significant number of industry professionals, including clients, Hotel Owners and suppliers from the hospitality sector, all eager to experience Häfele’s wide range of innovative products firsthand.

Häfele’s booth featured a comprehensive display of their latest offerings, including sanitary fittings, complete door hardware solutions, digital locking systems for door and cabinets, sliding door solutions, furniture fittings (Hawa Sliding), home appliances, lighting solutions (Loox5), and a variety of handles and hinges. Attendees explored these products through guided tours and consultations with Häfele’s sales team. Exclusive discounts and complimentary coffee enhanced the experience, allowing visitors to engage more deeply with the brand.

A key highlight of the event was the presentation conducted by Mr. Emil Yague, Project Sales Manager of Häfele Philippines, which focused on the company’s innovative solutions and relevance application within the hospitality industry. His presentation offered valuable insights into how Häfele’s products address the growing demands of hotels, restaurants, and service providers.

Leading the Häfele team throughout the exhibition was Managing Director Mr. Roland Poehlmann, who underscored the company’s commitment to fostering strong partnerships with key players in the industry. Häfele’s participation in the show further solidified its reputation as a trusted provider of high-quality, functional, and aesthetically pleasing solutions tailored to the needs of the hospitality sector.

The event was a resounding success, reinforcing Häfele’s position as a leader in innovative solutions for the hospitality and food service industries.

We hope to see you at our upcoming exhibits!

If you want to learn more about Häfele’s products, visit our website or follow us on social media for the latest updates and offerings.

Häfele Philippines

Facebook: www.facebook.com/hafelephilippines

Instagram : www.instagram.com/hafelephilippines

Website: hafelehome.com.ph

About Häfele Philippines Inc.

Häfele is an international company providing architectural hardware, furniture fittings, storage solutions, home appliances, and electronic access control systems. Around the world, customers from the furniture industry, dealers, joiners and cabinet makers, as well as architects, planners and builders all rely on Häfele's expertise and performance.

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES

Latest Solana and XRP Price Analysis, #Uptober Impacted by Iran's Attack on Israel?

 

Iran's attack on Israel dampened the #Uptober tradition in the crypto ecosystem. Most crypto prices have dropped, including Solana and XRP. How are the two crypto tokens doing now?

Uptober, a joyful tradition in the crypto ecosystem every October, seems to be faltering due to conflicts between countries. The reason is, that since Iran attacked Israel the crypto market has turned red, and so have Solana price and XRP.

Let's take a closer look at SOL and XRP. The discussion will also include Solana pricing and XRP price now so you can find out what the condition of both of them is in real-time.

Why is October Special in the Crypto Ecosystem?

The Uptober tradition in crypto is not a traditional tradition which reflects the increase in crypto token prices. Apart from the volatile nature of crypto, various other factors can also make October a sad month for crypto token holders.

However, here are some reasons why October has been special in recent years for the crypto ecosystem.

1. Market Strengthening After Summer

June to September were indeed slow months for the crypto ecosystem. Starting from the price of Bitcoin, Solana, XRP, Ethereum, and various other crypto tokens experiencing price declines.

After the summer, conditions improved. One reason is that institutional investors return to the office after their holidays and interest in trading and investment has strengthened again.

2. October Becomes Encouragement

The end of October becomes a bridge to Q4 where investors begin to tighten their belts to welcome strong final results. Market activity also increased with crypto holders starting to strategize fully so that purchasing power becomes greater.

3. Movement of Various New Projects

Often various projects are presented in the final quarter of each year, ranging from large industries to new regulations welcoming the new year. This is why crypto prices often strengthen in October because there is new hope for the future.

Uptober Contaminated by Iran and Israel Conflict

Iran's attack on Israel in early October shook the investment world, including the crypto ecosystem. When news of the conflict between the two countries heated up, the majority of crypto prices immediately went red, including Solana and XRP.

Uptober is widely doubted by crypto players. Coinglass data shows that more than $351 million was withdrawn from the market in the last 24 hours at the time of the reported Iran attack.

Current Solana and XRP Price Chart

Let's analyze the current prices of XRP and Solana. These two tokens are known to be strengthening, especially XRP which is currently raising its ETF project. However, it can be seen that the price of XRP to USDT is still red.

XRP still seems to respond negatively to existing conflicts. The current price of the token is $0.5300 with a decline of -0.6%. The RSI indicator is in free fall at 36, which means that if it falls again then there is overselling and XRP bearishness will certainly occur.

However, XRP's MACD line is struggling to rise through the boundary line. If XRP can prove its strength, the line can rise and the bearish trend will be broken, replaced by a bullish trend.

SOL to USDT was also the same as XRP, decreasing by a similar percentage, namely -0.5%. Currently, Solana is trading at $143.63, having previously reached its highest price of $144.58 in the last 24 hours.

However, Solana still shows a stable situation. The RSI indicator is still at 46, which means that even though the selling trend is more dominant than the buying trend, there is no excessive selling.

The MACD indicator is below the limit line, but looks like it is trying to return above. Solana still has a possible bullish trend.

Conclusion

That is information about Solana and XRP regarding the Iran and Israel conflict. You have to be more careful in deciding to invest in the crypto ecosystem at times like now. Research must be further deepened.

Bitrue will help you to do detailed research. Real-time price checking is available to you for free and you can even convert prices from USD to XRP, SOL, BTC, ETH, and prices of every other crypto token. That way, you can understand better how to buy SOL, XRP, and other crypto tokens.

Tentang Bitrue

Bitrue is a leading cryptocurrency exchange, offering a wide range of digital assets, innovative features, and user-focused services. Founded with the mission to empower the world’s crypto enthusiasts, Bitrue continues to expand its platform with new products, events, and opportunities for users worldwide.

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES