Disaster preparedness a must
In observance of National Disaster Consciousness Month this July, SM Supermalls reminds communities and citizens to remain alert when it comes to calamities and emergencies, highlighting the importance of disaster preparedness especially amid the ongoing fight against COVID-19.
“As we remain embattled by the COVID-19 pandemic, let us not forget that we also need to be prepared for natural disasters given how often our country experiences them,” said Liza Silerio, SM vice president for Corporate Compliance and head of ARISE Philippines.
“Whether these are typhoons, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions, disasters can strike at any moment, and being unprepared during these challenging times can make our current situation even worse.” Silerio added.
ARISE Philippines, a UNDRR-led program, is the country’s network of private sector organizations that are united in the cause of promoting disaster resilience. SM Prime Holdings is the country’s secretariat.
SM has been at the forefront of disaster preparedness in the private sector, for many years now, continuously introducing initiatives that help promote readiness during emergencies. Among these is the annual Emergency Preparedness Forum for Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens led by SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility program of SM Supermalls. The annual forum focuses on the resilience of the elderly and persons with disabilities, two of society’s most vulnerable sectors during emergencies, by giving them proper information and training on preparedness.
SM’s other initiatives on resilience include its rain water collection facilities in several of its malls that help prevent flooding in the community, a data storage and recovery facility for its mall tenants, regular training for its employees, service providers and business partners on disaster resilience and business continuity, and active participation in the government’s regular shake drill activities. SM Prime Holdings allocates 10 percent of its capital expenditure for the disaster resilience features of its malls.
Eastern Communications wins Stevies Awards
Eastern Communications, one of the country’s premier telecommunications companies, bagged five Silver and Bronze Stevie Awards in the recent seventh annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards in Singapore.
Presenting its latest innovations, Eastern Communications won two Silver Stevie Awards for Innovation in Business-to-Business Products (New Product) Category for their Eastern Cloud solutions, and Innovation in Technology Development Category for their Via Eastern expansion campaign.
The telco also took home three Bronze Stevie Awards for Innovation in Business-to-Business Events Category for their Link VIP Club Anniversary Event; Innovation in Customer Service Management, Planning & Practice Category for industry-based forums Link 101, Cutting Edge, and Huddle; and for Innovation in Community Relations or Public Service Communications Category for their CSR initiatives with Humanility, Alay Tanim, and Lingkod Dunong.
The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all 29 nations of the Asia-Pacific region.
AMA Education System shifts to 100% online classes
Schools under the AMA Education System (AMAES) have temporarily shifted from the physical classroom to a 100 percent online setup, allowing students to study from home.
“The shift for schools in our network is not drastic as our systems have long incorporated e-learning and online tools,” said Dr. Amable R. Aguiluz V, founder and chairman of AMAES and considered as the Father of IT Education in the Philippines.
Aguiluz reiterated the readiness of AMAES for educational continuity, highlighting the expertise and experience of its faculty with digital learning systems. Aside from pioneering IT education in the country, AMAES started using e-learning tools in its campuses as early as the mid-1990s. In 2004, it introduced Blended Learning, where along with physical classes, students were able to learn from lectures conducted from a central location in Metro Manila beamed via satellite to over 200 campuses worldwide.
With the improvement of digital technology in recent years, AMAES’ Blended Learning has since evolved to where students spend three days attending classes in its schools and the other days studying through online-based lectures and modules—helping students have more control of their time.
“Our goal as an institution has always been to bring education closer to more Filipinos. With our expertise in IT and using digital tools to deliver quality education, we assure both parents and students that schools under our network are here to serve you, a hundred percent, through our online platform,” said Aguiluz.
J&J PH marks surgical infection prevention day
Johnson and Johnson Philippines Inc. (J&J) joined several medical associations last July 11 to commemorate Surgical Infection Prevention Awareness (SIPA) Day, with the goal of advancing prevention and management of surgical site infections (SSIs) in the country.
J&J, along with their partners from the Philippine College of Surgeons, the Philippine Surgical Infection Society (PSIS), and several other medical organizations, came together in a virtual dialogue to raise awareness among local healthcare practitioners of ways the local healthcare industry can address the growing risks of contracting SSIs in hospitals.
The inaugural commemoration was attended by almost fifty participants representing the different professional societies across the country, in line with the signing of Presidential Proclamation #971, which declared the second week of July as the National Infection and Prevention and Control Week, last June 23, 2020.
SSIs are a leading cause of nosocomial infection worldwide and is the third most costly type of healthcare-acquired infection (HAI). According to a report by the World Journal of Emergency Surgery, SSIs are estimated to cost $20,785 per patient case.
In the Philippines, there is limited data available to give a clear indication of SSI’s impact, as awareness of the condition is still very low.
As a key industry partner, J&J has continuously worked towards the prevention and management of SSIs in the country. Since 2017, the global healthcare company has provided hundreds of medical practitioners and experts with a platform to explore healthcare policies and implementation procedures, as well as develop the first SSI prevention guideline in the Philippines.
`Teach’, the 4th T in T3 strategy
Ayala Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala Zobel has highlighted the importance of the fourth T in the government’s T3 ( test, trace, treat) strategy in fighting the spread of the new coronavirus disease 2019: Teach.
At a discussion on “A Private Sector Perspective in Build Back Better After COVID-19,” Zobel said beyond establishing sanitation protocols in workplaces, private companies should also roll out educational campaigns that would guide the public in adjusting to the “new normal.”
“There is a strong need to highlight the significant positive impact that adhering to stringent minimum health standards can generate and complement this with strong measures to protect our vulnerable population segments,” Zobel said.
Zobel also stressed the need to provide safe, affordable, and convenient mass transportation for the workforce, citing as an example the strict health and safety protocols being implemented in LRT-1 for a safe re-opening of the train line.
Meanwhile, with the rising demand for digital platforms for the delivery of basic goods and services, Ayala entered the telemedicine space through HealthNow, an all-in-one digital platform providing patients access to primary healthcare in the safety of their homes.
Zobel also noted the significant increase in consumer engagement on digital financial apps, such as Globe’s GCash and BPI’s mobile banking app during the quarantine.
He also acknowledged the synergy between the business community, Caritas Manila, and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, where over 270 private entities united to raise funds for Project Ugnayan.
Furthermore, Zobel highlighted the challenges faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises that have been badly hit by the pandemic.
“We recognize the many initiatives of the Department of Trade and Industry to help our entrepreneurs withstand this crisis through financial support. Private sector groups, such as Go Negosyo, have also been critical partners in this effort, providing mentorship and online training to businesses.”
The discussion was organized by the House Committee on Economic Affairs.
LIXIL introduces novel handwashing station
LIXIL Group Corp., maker of pioneering water and housing products, announced the introduction of a new off-grid handwashing solution through its SATO brand.
Called the SATO Tap, the new product is developed to be affordable and attractive for low-income households and designed to allow use anywhere in the home, even without access to a supply of running water.
LIXIL will commit to a total of one million dollars to support immediate and sustained hand-hygiene practices through this innovation. It also plans to match the commitments of development partners and others, which could impact up to five million people with improved handwashing.
The SATO Tap consists of a plastic base with a nozzle that can be fitted with widely available plastic bottles. The design is based on unique insights from consumers and stakeholders and analysis of existing solutions for the emerging markets. It is compact and can be used both within the home and as a handwashing station at public facilities. The unique tap design ensures low contact, thereby reducing the spread of disease, while the trickle action minimizes water use, meaning fewer refills, but maintaining solid flow.
In addition to providing an affordable handwashing facility to disadvantaged households through the SATO Tap, LIXIL’s existing partnership with UNICEF will also expand activities in handwashing and sanitation in response to COVID-19. These activities range from collection of commercial and behavioral insights to strengthen behavior change, joint advocacy to promote hygiene programming and maximizing existing public and private sector networks and supply chains to expand access to handwashing.
The first SATO Taps will be manufactured in India, and will be available for partners in September 2020, with ramp up of production and retail availability through early 2021. LIXIL is also working to establish other licensing partners to expand to other markets including Africa.
