NEWS
SCG promotes green homes with sustainable products
12:36 p.m. April 24, 2024
Siam Cement Group (SCG), a pioneer in the construction material industry and the number one brand in Thailand, showcased during the 2024 Construction Exhibit (CONEX) some of its ground-breaking product innovation, sustainability, and durability, bringing a new perspective to convention attendants and industry peers.
As a prominent player in the construction industry and a home solutions provider, SCG has demonstrated its adaptability to recent market trends, considering consumer demands, longevity, and environmental preservation, making the brand inclusive and holistic.
SCG ensures that its products follow the necessary standards, like the Green Choice Award, which is given to products and services certified to be less environmentally harmful.
“In SCG, we are currently pushing for eco-friendly products. This is something that we really want to emphasize and we are really passionate about improving,” said SCGM President Bancha Chaiprom who also highlighted how the Philippine market is a strong venue because of their affluence to climate concerns and because of their constant exposure to its adverse effects, like intense heat or extreme rainfall.
Showcase green innovations and design trends
In recent years, SCG has placed a strong emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and durability in its product development efforts. Additionally, SCG is the first in Thailand to self-certify the environmental friendliness of its products and services using an eco-label ‘SCG Green Choice’, giving buyers an assurance that these products are truly friendly to the environment and safe to their well-being by providing clear information, product knowledge, and attributes of the labelled products.
Now, at Conex, we are thrilled to showcase some of our ground-breaking products that exemplify these principles. SCG Conex is an annual event that serves as a premier platform for unveiling the latest advancements in construction materials, technologies, and design trends.
As SCG positions itself as a home solutions provider, homeowners can find eco-label products for decorative products with SmartWood and the newest C-Channel product, roofing with SCG concrete roof and Shinkolite, ceiling and walls with SCG SmartBoard, AAC with SmartBlock and insulation with SCG Stay Cool. Each product is carefully produced to meet green standards by omitting harmful ingredients or designed to promote sustainability within homes.
The SmartWood is a unique product from SCG that combines green, durable, and innovative aspects, and satisfies all ceiling, wall, and floor applications. It’s asbestos-free to maintain a healthy space and lessen environmental pollution while promoting durability to serve as an alternative for natural resources like wood.
Moreover, SCG also designed the SmartBoard ULTRA, a revolutionary fiber cement board that combines the best of both worlds: strength and flexibility. This product solves the common fiber cement issue, like edge cracking. It can also withstand extreme conditions, moisture, and impact.
Another green insulation solution from SCG to keep homes cool is the SCG Staycool, which is designed for ceilings, and reduces heat using HydroProtec technology to repel water and moisture to help prolong insulation performance. The natural insulation within their spaces will also enable homeowners to cut energy consumption and costs.
One product that also stands out is the SCG C-Channel Plus. This innovative solution mimics the functionality of steel beams but with numerous advantages. Constructed from fiber cement, the C-Channel Plus is lightweight, weighing five to six times less than real steel. This characteristic not only facilitates easier handling but also potentially lowers installation costs, making it a compelling choice for various construction projects.
Another notable product is Shinkolite, a renowned brand of transparent acrylic roofing sheets manufactured by SCG Chemicals, a subsidiary of the Siam Cement Group in Thailand. Shinkolite has emerged as a preferred option for contemporary construction endeavors, thanks to its exceptional blend of aesthetics, functionality, and longevity. Its transparent nature allows for ample natural light, enhancing the ambience of indoor spaces while maintaining durability and weather resistance. Shinkolite stands as a testament to SCG’s commitment to delivering high-quality solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern construction projects.
Besides the C-Channel Plus and Shinkolite, consumers can also find a lightweight and innovative building material called SCG SmartBlock. The primary advantage of SCG SmartBlock lies in its cellular structure. It consists of lightweight, air-filled bubbles that significantly reduce weight compared to standard concrete. Despite its lightness, SCG SmartBlock boasts impressive strength and durability. Moreover, the air bubbles trapped within the material create excellent insulation, keeping homes cooler in summer and warmer during the cold season, all while contributing to energy savings, allowing for a greener, more comfortable home.
Furthermore, SCG also offers the SCG Facade, which isn’t a single product but an umbrella term for SCG’s range of facade solutions made available by their subsidiaries, SCG D’COR and DECAAR by SCG. These solutions combine aesthetics with functionality to enhance the exterior of a building.
Coinciding with the company’s bid for easy-installation products, they have a technical team that consumers can consult with from the design phase and before installation to get the best results possible.
“We also recently launched the Smart Academy to teach contractors how to properly install our products, is available nationwide through dealers and online,” said President Bancha.
The products’ durability reduces the need for frequent replacements or repairs, minimizing the environmental impact associated with construction activities over a building’s lifespan. President Bancha also emphasizes how SCG uses recycled plastic materials in its products to reduce environmental waste.
As Thailand’s number one home solutions provider, SCG continues to produce innovative, eco-friendly, and durable products to cater to their market’s preferences and stay updated with the latest trends in construction.
NEWS
DITO delivers superior network performance, turning digital aspirations into possibilities
8:11 p.m. August 28, 2025
DITO Telecommunity showcased how superior connectivity transforms Filipino digital aspirations into achievable realities during the successful media launch of the telco’s latest campaign, Kaya DITO, held at Manila House, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
Built on True 5G standalone technology and as validated by a global leader in mobile analytics and insights, Opensignal, as the Philippines’ Fastest Mobile Network, DITO’s ecosystem proves that the Filipino telecommunity’s demand for seamless network connectivity, value-driven services and unified digital experience aren’t distant possibilities, but today’s basic expectations—this challenges what the telco industry has long normalized.
“For too long, outages, dropped calls, and overpriced data have been treated as normal. Let us say it bluntly: It is not normal. Every Filipino has limitless potential when equipped with the right tools, and the game is now changing since DITO has joined the fray and taken up the cause to disrupt the status quo—to deliver inclusive, next-gen technology to the Filipino people. “Kaya DITO!” is our battle cry to symbolically break that cycle, because we truly believe that Filipinos deserve better,” shared by DITO Telecommunity President Eric Alberto in the event.
The Telco that Truly Takes Care of its Users
DITO’s prepaid solutions eliminate the frustration of wasted data through Level-Up Packs with ViLTE technology, making DITO the primary telco offering unlimited DITO-to-DITO HD video calls and unli mobile calls. Combined with Viber and Prime Video inclusions and flexible data packages with longer validity periods, users can now maximize their every peso without worrying about abruptly expiring data allocations.
The Telco that Offers Value-Packed Postpaid Plans
DITOFlexPlan 888 redefines what postpaid should offer—comprehensive inclusions and generous data at prices that make sense for Filipino budgets. Whether you choose SIM-only or device bundles, these plans prove that premium network performance doesn’t have to break the bank, empowering users to pursue their goals without connectivity compromises.
The Telco that Brings True 5G Home Internet Convenience
DITO WoWFi Pro 365 makes home connectivity effortless with a year-long unlimited connection that works when you need it. Families enjoy the convenience of reliable internet for work, study, and entertainment without the inconvenience of data top-ups and complicated installations; just network performance that simplifies your digital life at home. Just ask any of your relatives and friends who have already ditched ordinary WiFi and jumped onto WoWFi— they will tell you what you’ve been missing out on.
The Telco that Built Everything You Need in One App
The DITO App represents one of the industry’s most comprehensive digital platforms, built from the ground up to handle the entire customer journey. From SIM and load purchase to account management and a wide range of OTT apps, users enjoy complete digital control with custom special offers, DITO Rewards points, and 24/7 customer support—managing everything while earning exclusive benefits.
NEWS
Pay with GCash and turn daily payments into big wins
11:39 a.m. August 27, 2025
GCash, the country’s leading finance super app, is making everyday payments more rewarding with “Pay It, Win It”, where every ₱50 spent on GCash builds your chances to win over ₱20 million worth of exciting rewards.
With “Pay It, Win It”, everyday payments turn into extraordinary wins with prizes designed to match the passion and lifestyle of all GCash users. Every two weeks, new and bigger rewards drop, bringing you closer to the life upgrade you’ve been dreaming of.
GCash takes it further by listening to what its users truly value and showing up where they are. Whether it’s in the daily grind, their fandoms, or their passions, rewards don’t just excite, but they resonate in everyday life.
Upgrade Your Everyday
Every peso spent gives users a chance to win must-have prizes that can upgrade their everyday lives– from driving home a brand-new BYD Seal 5 DM-i Dynamic or zipping through the city on a Yamaha NMAX, to bringing homea Samsung Smart TV.
A Trip to the K-Land
For all dedicated and passionate K-pop fans, you can turn your bills and shopping receipts into plane tickets, taking you a step closer to your bias. Win a trip for two to Seoul or Busan and make your ultimate K-dream a reality.
Level Up Your Play
For PC and console gamers, leveling up has never been this thrilling. Win the latest gaming console (PlayStation™ 5), a high-performance gaming laptop (ASUS ROG Strix G16), and the ultimate gaming phone (ASUS ROG Phone 9 Pro), because every gamer knows that better gear leads to better performance.
Joining is simple; just head over to the “Pay It, Win It” page by clicking the “Tap for Promos” banner on your GCash app and choosing a prize to register. Every ₱50 spent instantly counts as a raffle entry.
Pay any way you like, whether it’s scanning or generating a QR code, paying with your GCash Card, paying online, buying load or paying bills inside the GCash app, paying with GCash Tap to Pay, or generating a QR with your Huawei Watch. No extra forms, no fuss, just keep using GCash everyday.
Winners are drawn weekly and announced every Friday through the official social media channels of GCash and in-app promo page. All winners will be notified via email, and in-app alerts.
With “Pay It, Win It,” GCash proves that every payment isn’t just a flow of funds from users’ wallets; it’s a step toward progress, a connection to your passion, and a chance to unlock rewards that truly matter. For more information about GCash, visit www.new.gcash.com.
NEWS
‘Gender dimension’ will make urban spaces more inclusive, useful — expert
11:12 a.m. August 26, 2025
Urban planners must consider the “gender dimension” to make public spaces more inclusive and allow better use of infrastructures designed to make users move comfortably, according to a US-based expert supporting movements for greater public mobility.
Benjie de la Peña, CEO of the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) and chair of the Global Network for Popular Transportation, said buildings, walkways or sidewalks, and transport terminals should not be mere infrastructures as they must be public spaces where people should be able to move comfortably.
Engineers tend to think of efficiency and movement alone and they don’t think about the waiting part, right? … It’s always about the moving and not about the waiting. But in a good system, you think about how it is to wait and dwell,” De la Peña told participants of the Philippine Mobility Series 2025’s “Mobility Chat” recently.
For instance, De la Peña said, women and caregivers have different trip patterns from men and regular office workers, hence, the significance to create mobility hubs for women, as well as caregivers.
In their analysis, De la Peña noted that in most cities, available public transport services go to the employment areas and serves particular times, but that’s not how women and caregivers move.
“They sometimes have to stop over at school to drop off the kids, or on the way home, stop over and pick up a grocery, or if they’re caring for someone older, they have to take them to the doctor or to the pharmacy. And so, none of the public transportation systems are particularly friendly to that,” said the Filipino urban transport expert.
“This is precisely why Grab in the Philippines is supporting the Philippine Mobility Series 2025. We need to hear more civilian voices. We need a platform to allow exchanges of ideas to flow in order to improve mobility in the country,” according to Booey Bonifacio of Grab.
After interviewing 100 women aged 11 to 95 on their transportation needs and challenges, De la Peña noted how the framework they designed had radically changed when gender dimension was added.
If we design for the people with the most challenges, it works better for everyone else,” De la Peña told the “Mobility Chat” organized by AltMobility PH and co-presented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and in partnership with Grab and the Move As One Coalition.
Rest easy with the Index Sleep Monitor smart sleep band from Garmin
DITO delivers superior network performance, turning digital aspirations into possibilities
Pay with GCash and turn daily payments into big wins
