SM group boosts livelihood of local farmers
WalterMart, the food retail affiliate and community shopping mall chain under SM, has been supporting farmers through its Palengke Fresh program by giving them solid market access that enables them to bring healthy farm-fresh produce to the customers efficiently.
Rather than bringing them in through concessionaires, they integrate them across 38 stores by providing a venue for them to sell daily.
“Making a difference in people’s lives has been an advocacy of the group borne from the simple dream of SM founder Henry Sy, Sr. to uplift the livelihood of local farming communities,” said SM Investments president and CEO Frederic DyBuncio. “By harnessing our resources, particularly our retail properties, we aim to empower local farmers, strengthen rural economies and contribute to food security and povertyalleviation in the country.”
The Palengke Fresh program along with SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabahuyan program are concrete examples of how the SM group is working closely with the agriculture sector to help elevate farming communities in the Philippines.
“Our partnership with local producers through thePalengke Fresh program bridges the gap between farm and table and cultivates a sustainable agricultural culture between farmers and customers with each direct sale. For us to make an impact on the livelihood of our farmers, we make it to a point that they are involved in our supply chain process,” said Jennilyn Uy, president of WalterMart.
The Palengke Fresh program started in February 2022 with a couple of stores in Central Luzon. Since its launch, the program has empowered several farmer cooperatives, selling over 2,000 metric tons of produce, significantly bolstering their income and fostering sustainable livelihoods.
CLFI, Itogon join forces
Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc. (CLFI), the social responsibility arm of Cebuana Lhuillier, has embarked on a transformative journey of community building in partnership with the Municipality of Itogon, Benguet.
Through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony held on March 22, CLFI and Itogon municipality reaffirmed their shared commitment to fostering sustainable growth and prosperity within the community.
At the heart of this collaborative effort lies a collective vision for a future where every individual has access to financial inclusion and empowerment. By focusing on community development initiatives centered around financial literacy and inclusion, CLFI and Itogon municipality aim to equip residents with the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate their financial futures successfully.
Jean Henri Lhuillier, president, and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, emphasized the significance of collaborating with the local municipality to ensure targeted and impactful assistance to the community.
“Our partnership with Itogon Municipality marks a significant step towards building resilient communities where every individual thrives. By prioritizing community development, we pave the way for inclusive growth, with financial inclusion as the cornerstone of our shared vision for a brighter future.”
CLFI enhanced educational opportunities by providing ICT equipment and free ProtectMax Insurance to ALS learners, generously donated by Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Brokers (CLIB).
UnionDigital Bank leads the pack in digital banking
UnionDigital Bank, the digital bank subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines, emerged as a leader in digital banking as it secured the distinguished title of the ‘Best Digital Bank in The Philippines’. Honored by the esteemed Global Excellence in Retail Finance Awards 2024, an award-giving body in the industry led by TAB Global, this achievement underscores UnionDigital Bank’s relentless pursuit of innovation and its dedication to providing cutting-edge digital banking solutions.
In 2023, UnionDigital Bank witnessed a remarkable surge in its balance sheet, observing an increase in both deposits and loans, more than doubling its previous performance. As of December 2023, the bank had attained a substantial 65 percent market share in loan portfolio size, while in deposit, it ranked second among digital banks with a commendable 25 percent share. Within the period, the bank’s loan-to-deposit ratio surged from 58 percent at the end of 2022 to a noteworthy 69 percent, surpassing that of its digital banking counterparts in the country.
This period marked a significant milestone as UnionDigital Bank achieved profitability in 2023, showcasing extraordinary growth with revenue soaring by 13 times, totaling over P5 billion. The bank’s latest accolade as the ‘Best Digital Bank in The Philippines’ is a testament to its exceptional growth trajectory and enhanced profitability.
“Being acknowledged as the ‘Best Digital Bank in The Philippines’ confirms UnionDigital Bank’s dedication to pioneering innovation and delivering exceptional value to our customers. This honor mirrors the hard work and dedication of our team in setting new benchmarks for digital banking and continuously striving to lead the industry into the future,” said Henry Aguda, CEO of UnionDigital Bank.
Ookla bears witness to exceptional Converge network
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. took the platform to showcase its superior and multi-awarded network on the occasion of a visit by the global CEO of network intelligence and connectivity insight firm, Ookla, to its headquarters.
On April 4, Ookla president and CEO Stephen Bye was warmly received by the top executive team of Converge; foremost among them are co-founders Dennis and Grace Uy, who seized the chance to demonstrate that the successive wins of Converge in Ookla’s latest Speedtest Awards are well-deserved.
Bye’s official visit was for a ceremonial awarding and thanksgiving event at the VU’s Sky Bar and Lounge at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.
“It’s an honor to host Ookla at this momentous time of our conquering the major Speedtest Awards. We’re eager to show them how a relatively young and innovative player in the ICT industry swept the awards for *Fastest Internet Service Provider in the Philippines, *Best Internet Gaming Experience, *Best Internet Video Experience, and Top-Rated Internet in the Philippines,” said Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy.
“Clinching major awards of a network intelligence provider such as Ookla is a multi-faceted effort. It’s not just the network technology but also the back-end work, such as customer service and network operations. These all worked together, and in sync, to merit such recognition,” added Converge president and co-founder Grace Uy.
Teleperformance among PH Best Workplaces
Teleperformance (TP) in the Philippines once again achieved the remarkable feat of being named one of the Philippines Best Workplaces.
Ranking fifth on the prestigious list, the organization recently received the award at the Grand Hyatt Manila.
“Being named one of the Philippines Best Workplacesâ„¢ is a huge honor for our entire team at Teleperformance Philippines. Our leadership team is committed to making our mantra a reality for our team members across the Philippines. I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again: our people are our greatest asset,” said Rahul Jolly, CEO.
In 2023, TP made it into the top five of the Philippines Best Workplaces in IT-BPM. The organization also celebrated a significant milestone by receiving its sixth Great Place to Work recertification in the same year, the only organization in the Philippines to achieve this accomplishment.
BSU developers win 3rd iTHINK Hackathon
Four student developers from Bulacan State University (BSU) have emerged as the winners of the third iTHINK Hackathon organized by the ISLA Camp (ICP HUB Philippines).
Held as part of the International Conference on Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (IRCITE) 2024, the iTHINK Hackathon concentrates on projects that utilize the Internet Computer Protocol, a game-changing blockchain technology offering significant advantages over traditional blockchains in terms of scalability, security, and performance.
The competition brought together six teams of talented Web3 developer participants from different universities showcasing groundbreaking solutions to contemporary challenges across various domains.
Team Open Soars, composed of Ryka Gene M. Austria, Mary Queen O. Casaclang, Richard James C. Bagay, and Janniel Andrei D. De Jesus, under the guidance of their coach, Gabriel M. Galang, showcased their Web3 innovation “Communitask,” a digital platform bridging the job market gap by connecting individuals with micro-opportunities.
Participants who excel in iTHINK hackathons will have the opportunity to access additional funding provided by the DFINITY Foundation. As a key contributor to the ICP blockchain, this non-profit research and development organization has a $20 million grant to support the growth of Web3 and AI initiatives in Asia. ISLA Camp (ICP HUB Philippines) then identifies and incubates promising talent discovered through these programs.
EAMC bags Silver Trailblazer Award
The East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) bagged the Silver Trailblazer Award and was conferred the Proficient Status under the Institute for Solidarity in Asia’s (ISA) good governance framework, Performance Governance System (PGS).
EAMC was the first presenting public institution in 2024 for the public revalida on March 25. The public revalida is a democratic exercise that validates the public institutions’ completion of the four stages of the PGS.
With an ambitious vision to offer the highest levels of multi-specialty services, EAMC is positioning itself as a 1,000-bed (authorized) Apex Hospital. It will house national specialty centers in Ophthalmology, Burn Care, and Toxicology, as well as a network of regional specialty centers nationwide by 2024.
EAMC set foot on the first stage of the PGS in 2020, where they garnered a Gold Trailblazer Award. Shortly after its Initiation, the medical center has consistently committed and performed toward accomplishing its strategy map and was conferred the PGS Compliant Status, once again receiving the Gold Trailblazer Award.
Airbnb signs an MoU with SPARK!
Airbnb and SPARK!, a women’s entrepreneurship-focused NGO, recently announced a partnership to promote women’s entrepreneurship in tourism and further enhance the dynamic hospitality landscape of the country.
This collaboration underscores a joint commitment to foster women entrepreneurship in the tourism industry through year-long capacity-building initiatives, tailored to the specificities of local government units across the nation. By strengthening the skills and competencies of women tourism entrepreneurs, this initiative aspires to propel the tourism ecosystem forward while creating avenues for individual prosperity.
SPARK!, a catalyst for women’s empowerment, will implement the training programs that are integral to this partnership. Additionally, SPARK! will also focus on job-matching and providing access to gainful employment opportunities within the tourism sector. Their expertise will bridge the gap between professional training and actual industry needs, ensuring women are not just trained but are also seamlessly integrated into tourism-related roles.
CICP fast tracks top trends for job seekers
The Creator and Influencer Council of the Philippines (CICP), in partnership with Enderun Coworking, recently held the “Creators Fair” in Estancia Mall, Pasig City, to 150 young attendees.
Creators Fair 2024 provides a comprehensive platform for learning, networking, and ingenuity.
“CICP recognizes how many influencers and creators have become sources of information and inspiration. As an association, we are witnessing the rapid growth of content creation, the tech behind it, the platforms that support it, and the people that allow it to grow. CICP sees where it can help, and we aim to do our part by bringing industry know-how to the people and making it accessible. With the right support, people can be innovative, even ingenious. We aim to realize that people can generate income from content creation and being an influencer. And that is how events like Creators Fair will help.” said Jako de Leon, president of CICP.
“While the Philippines is predominantly still on Web2, which is the use of social media, content marketing, etc, the entrance of Web3 is unstoppable. It is already here. Most of us are Web2.5, but if you want to level up your field, I urge everyone to study and find your space in Web3,” said Donald Lim, co-founder of CICP, COO of DITO CME, and chief innovation officer of Udenna Corp.
