Committed to SDGs
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. is reinforcing its commitment to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of addressing hunger (SDG 2) and in promoting sanitation (SDG 6) in the country.
BingoPlus Foundation, the social development arm of the listed gaming firm, has distributed 1,000 groceries of food essentials and sanitation supplies to evacuees in the wake of the Mt. Kanlaon volcanic eruption in Negros Occidental.
The initiative was done in partnership with the Municipality of La Castellana led by its mayor, Alme Rhummyla Nicor-Mangilimutan and the Nikki Cares Foundation Inc., represented by founder Dominique Lopez-Benitez.
In support of the “LAB For All” medical program spearheaded by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos in Bacolod City, BingoPlus Foundation provided volunteers and logistics support the program’s medical mission, benefitting nearly 8,000 patients in the city.
BingoPlus Foundation further broadened its impact in General Santos, providing flu vaccination to 500 residents in Purok Mapailubon and initiating the construction of sanitation facilities in barangays. The Foundation further launched a dressmaking training center with Barangay San Isidro, TESDA and DOLE, as part of its KabuhayanPLUS livelihood program.
Andy Tsui, DigiPlus president and BingoPlus Foundation chairman, said these initiatives form part of the Foundation’s Barangay Bigayan program, which aims to address the most urgent and pressing needs of urban communities in terms of resilience, health and capacity-building education and infrastructure.
“Our Barangay Bigayan initiatives are grounded in our commitment to holistic community support. While healthcare is directly addressed through medical missions and improved sanitation facilities, our resilience efforts go beyond post-disaster presence. We focus on capacity-building programs for emergency preparedness and economic stability, ensuring that our communities are equipped to face any challenge,” he said.
BingoPlus Foundation earlier said it has allocated P100 million for its corporate social responsibility projects.
Newport World Resorts promotes sustainable practices
Through the property-wide I LOVE Earth (ILE) sustainability initiative, the country’s pioneering integrated resort champions Reform, Reduce, Recycle, Repurpose programs to minimize the environmental impact of its operations as a premier hospitality and tourism development.
By reforming its business operations to promote a circular economy, the property has taken steps to reduce waste. These include switching to bulk amenities and glass water bottles in hotel rooms, shifting to biodegradable packaging, cutting down on food waste, and forging meaningful partnerships to redirect waste from going to landfills. These projects combined has resulted in eliminating over 270,000 plastic bottles from operations; recycling of 98,000 kgs of used oil, 127 metric tons of electronic waste, and 14 metric tons of old batteries; and developing inhouse projects including on-site composting and a centralized ORCA aerobic food waste digester.
Through ILE, the entire property has earned a Silver Certification under EarthCheck after a rigorous process of measuring and recording key sustainability indicators by its various programs. Newport World Resorts is the first and currently the only integrated resort in the country bestowed with the coveted certification.
GAC Motor Bacolod opens
GAC Motor Philippines, under global mobility leader Astara, launched GAC Motor Bacolod through a partnership with Ponce Automobile Corp.
Located on Araneta street in Barangay Singcang, Bacolod City, GAC Motor Bacolod is furnished to meet GAC’s international showroom standards, ensuring a world-class, premium experience for everyone.
It is a fully equipped 3S facility (sales, spare parts, and service) ready to provide an exceptional experience for all its customers.
The newly-inaugurated facility features a spacious showroom that can accommodate six cars with ample space for sales and marketing staff to welcome and entertain customers.
Placing customers’ needs at the center of its mission, GAC Bacolod is now open and prepared to meet all after-sales needs. The facility features four dedicated service bays and a well-stocked inventory of genuine parts, enabling it to handle everything from routine maintenance to complex repairs.
British Council celebrates 2023 achievements
The British Council held its highly anticipated Annual Exams Partners Gathering on August 2.
Activities included IELTS (International English Language Test System) Marketing and Promotion Workshop which provided insightful strategies and innovative marketing techniques for promoting IELTS; Partners Got Talent”, where partners showcased their singing, dancing, and performing skills and recognition of partners for their exceptional achievements over the past year.
With 20 IELTS on computer and 22 IELTS on paper test locations across the Philippines, the British Council continues to make IELTS more accessible to Filipinos, with plans to open more test centres this year.
Named 2024 National Partner of the Year is 9.0 Niner IELTS Review and Tutorial Center.
Security Bank opens 328th branch in Binangonan
Security Bank expanded its network with a new branch in Binangonan, Rizal. Situated on Manila East road, this branch benefits from small businesses including micro-enterprises engaged in food processing, handicraft production, and other cottage industries. Operating hours for the Binangonan branch are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Security Bank’s new branch in Binangonan branch features the bank’s revamped branch design, featuring a digital corner for online transactions, a re-designed space for face-to-face interactions, and a self-service area to address client needs.
Financial education videos empower MSMEs
Committed to upskill and reskill local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the BDO Foundation, launched a series of educational videos aimed at empowering Filipino micro-entrepreneurs through financial education.
To further support Filipinos in scaling and growing their ventures, these organizations recognize the key role of financial education and the entrepreneurial interventions of DTI Negosyo Centers that benefit MSMEs nationwide.
The DTI, the BSP, and the BDO Foundation released three informative videos that highlight different business-related challenges such as starting a business, securing the right permits and requirements, and getting the right resources for business ventures with the help of DTI Negosyo Centers and financial institutions.
The financial education program for MSMEs is expected to benefit more than 900,000 MSMEs nationwide. The videos will be used as part of a trainer’s kit that will also include a trainer’s manual and discussion guides.
The videos will also be made available on DTI platforms to maximize accessibility of the learning materials.
Mylo Speech Buddy at Collision Tech
Mylo Speech Buddy, an app designed to support individuals with speech delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), was selected to represent the Philippines at the Collision Tech Conference in Toronto, Canada.
The event featured 500 startups from over 30 countries, providing a global platform for Mylo Speech Buddy to present its health-tech innovation as it prepares for international expansion.
Supported by StartUp Village Philippine President Carlo Calimon and its accelerator program called ‘SOAR,’ DMZ Toronto, and in partnership with the Government of Canada Trade Commission Service, Mylo Speech Buddy was one of four startups representing the Philippines, alongside REVAstaff, Remotify, and uHoo. At the conference, Mylo Speech Buddy pitched its business venture to Canadian partners and investors, aiming to establish strategic partnerships and explore new markets.
Vincent Rocha, CEO and president of Mylo Speech Buddy, highlighted the broader implications of the conference for growth in the tech and healthcare sectors.
Mylo Speech Buddy is focused on global expansion and language localization. “We are working on localizing our content for international markets to make Mylo Speech Buddy accessible worldwide,”Rocha said.
Mylo Speech Buddy won first place and secured a pitch prize of $2,500 at the ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program Cohort 3.
