Jollibee Group gearing up for sustainable growth
The Jollibee Group is optimistic to see a growth trajectory in the next five years, as it continues to penetrate “big markets,” according to its chief financial and risk officer Richard Chong Woo Shin.
During the recently held Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF) in Manila–co-hosted by the governments of the United States and the Philippines–Shin said, “We look at five years forward and we do see significant opportunities of course coupled with challenges, like inflation and interest rates. But if you take a step back and you look at this part of the world, we have some of the fastest growing economies on relative terms if you want to use GDP (Gross Domestic Product) as a measure.”
The Jollibee Group, the only Philippine-based company that was invited in the panel, has set a five-year strategic plan that includes expanding its flagship brand Jollibee internationally, growing its coffee and tea segment, winning in the Chinese QSR category in China, and sustaining its market leadership in the Philippines.
“There’s a lot of optimism about our ability to be able to compete because on a consumer level basis, we are seeing some significant trends happening,” Shin said. “This includes a young population and a world no longer as large as it used to be because of technology.”
“You cannot be in the food and beverage service industry without understanding the role of digital and technology. This ties back to convenience, but also beyond that,” he added.
Shin also emphasized the company’s sustainability commitment: “We’re finding more and more the importance of consumers wanting to know their source of food: Where is it coming from? How’s it being treated? What types of vendors are corporates working with?
So that’s an important part of the trend that we’re seeing.”
SAFC marks 20 years
SAFC marked a significant milestone at its 2024 Joint Annual Stockholders’ Meeting with its subsidiary company Wisefund Finance Corp. (WFC), held at The Westin Manila in June
The occasion also honored the late Ruben Lugtu Sr., whose early support was pivotal to SAFC’s achievements.
Aligned with its 20th anniversary, SAFC’s 2024 Annual and Sustainability Report adopted the theme “20 Years of Making Filipino Lives and Our Earth Better!”
SAFC said refinancing initiatives contributed significantly to a 14.5% increase in total disbursements, totaling P3.55 billion compared to the previous year.
Over a five-year period, net income climbed by 73.64 percent to P346.3 million, while operating income increased by 10.9 percent to P1.55 billion. Total assets increased to P5.2 billion, representing a 36.28 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
The percentage of non-performing loans stayed low at 1.47 percent, while the tolerance for bad debts experienced a notable decline.
The company improved its current ratio and debt-to-equity ratio, while expanding its relationships to 19 banking partners.
PNB Holdings taps delaware PH as SAP ERP implementation partner
PNB Holdings Corp. (PHC) has partnered with delaware Philippines for a strategic collaboration aimed to transform
PHC’s business processes through the implementation of SAP S/4HANA GROW.
PHC sought to implement an automated computerized accounting system (CAS) by year-end, in compliance with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) requirement for large taxpayers. SAP S/4HANA GROW Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution will improve and automate the company’s financial, procurement, and inventory processes.
According to Karlu Say, PHC President, collaborating with delaware Philippines made it easy for the company to embark on a journey to modernize its back-end and front-end real estate operations and embrace digital transformation.
“The adoption of SAP S/4HANA is poised to yield significant benefits for PHC. With automated processes that would minimize the likelihood of human error, the new system will enhance operational efficiency and facilitate better decision-making. Moreover, we
will have a “future-ready” ERP system capable of adapting to evolving business requirements, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth,” Say said.
Redefining insurance
Oona Insurance announced the launch of its pioneering Critical Illness insurance in the Philippines, marking its entry into the local retail health segment.
The Critical Illness Insurance is designed to provide affordable coverage for three major health threats: cancer, heart attack and stroke, which have been significant causes of illness and death in the country. Oona’s Critical Illness insurance products can be easily purchased online or through Oona’s agents and partner banks.
Customers can easily access myoona.ph to purchase insurance. They only need to select the critical illness protection they want and answer 4 simple questions about themselves, adjust the preferred coverage amount ranging from P100,000 to P500,000 and check the price.
Oona’s Critical Illness insurance products pay out upon diagnosis of covered critical illnesses (as opposed to reimbursement), allowing policyholders to use the funds for treatment, daily expenses or any other needs. The Critical Illness insurance offers bundling coverage for all three critical illnesses starting from as little as P145 per year, as well as a stand-alone package for each illness starting from P51 yearly only. Customers as young as 18 years until a maximum of 65 years old can apply for the insurance, with an extension until they reach 70 years old.
Eastern Communications expands to Bohol
Eastern Communications expands in Bohol, bringing advanced connectivity and ICT solutions to Tagbilaran City.
The telco officially announced its services through its “Via Eastern” launch event on July 23, 2024, at the MetroCentre Hotel.
The expansion will provide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as large enterprises in the area with access to Eastern’s fast and reliable connectivity services, such as Eastern Fiber 1 and Internet Direct Service (IDS).
Eastern Fiber 1 offers a shared, high-speed fiber service that ensures optimal performance during peak office hours while IDS provides dedicated bandwidth speeds of up to 10Gbps.
Eastern Communications’ ICT solutions include Network Solutions, Cybersecurity Solutions, Cloud and Data Center Solutions, and Business Applications. These digital tools are essential for local enterprises to confidently expand and lead their businesses to success.
Security Bank Foundation, Ateneo, and international partners kick-off second training program for school principals
The second batch of Security Bank Foundation, Inc.’s (SBFI) school principal training program kicked off with an in-person training session with 24 principals from around the country on July 9 to 12 at the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu.
Called the Certificate in Educational Studies in Leadership (CESL), the program is conducted in partnership with the Ateneo Center for Educational Development, The HEAD Foundation Singapore, and the University of Bristol United Kingdom.
CESL is a four-month international certification program on educational leadership. The program consists of in-person training sessions, industry visits, online learning sessions, and an online mentoring session. CESL is part of SBFI’s three-year Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building program aimed at developing school principals as masters and mentors of school problem-solving, instructional leadership, and stakeholder engagement.
Each of the 24 participants were asked to develop a Transformational Action Plan (TAP) to address a pressing issue in their school, implement the TAP, then present the results.
Bossjob joins NVIDIA Inception Program
Bossjob, the chat-first career platform revolutionizing professional hiring in Southeast Asia (SEA), is set to bolster its Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities to further revolutionize online recruitment following its admission to the prestigious NVIDIA Inception Program.
NVIDIA Inception is designed to accelerate the growth of startups by providing them with technical tools, latest resources, and opportunities to connect with venture capitalists and investors. The program boasts a network of over 19,000 technology startups worldwide.
Under the program, Bossjob is advancing its plans by developing an in-house recommendation model using various Machine Learning (ML) tools with the help of NVIDIA’s advanced technologies. With NVIDIA’s cutting-edge GPUs, Bossjob will achieve faster, more robust, and cost-effective scaling across additional job markets.
Bossjob co-founder and COO Quak Kiat How sees admission to the program as a recognition of the company’s innovative approach and commitment to leveraging AI-driven recruitment solutions.
“Bossjob’s participation in the NVIDIA Inception Program reflects our commitment to revolutionizing the job-matching process through AI innovation. In the era of Machine Learning and Large Language Models, Bossjob is privileged to build its own model on the shoulders of NVIDIA, constructing a new-generation talent matching engine. The H100 provides substantial support, and after two beta version tests, it will soon be deployed in Bossjob’s production environment,” Quak said.
Beko Ph supports Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan
Beko Philippines partnered Green Media Events’s Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan’s second element series, Water Run, last July 14.
Some of the proceeds from the event were provided to Pawicare, an independent group helping in marine turtle protection and conservation. Beko also traveled to Pawicare in San Narciso, Zambales to personally learn about the importance of saving baby marine turtles and donated Beko appliances that will provide practical convenience to the volunteers.
Beko employees also united for the project by joining the run and organizing fun activities for over 6,500 runners, which enhanced the overall experience and added more excitement to the event. Participants visited the Beko booth, where they were treated with pre-and post-run caffeine fixes. They experienced how to make freshly made coffee first hand using the Beko coffee machine to customize the free drink to their liking. Participants also snapped photos in the booth for a chance to win free Beko appliances.
“We believe that behind Beko’s success is its commitment and focus on sustainability. We consistently look for better materials, manufacturing processes, and technologies to create reliable and powerful home appliances that give you comfort, so when you use Beko appliances, you know that you are also contributing to taking care of the planet,” shared Arel Atakol, APAC Managing Director, Beko.
Santé Barley Takes the Lead in Boosting Running and Wellness in the Philippines
One of a kind running series in the Philippines partners with Santé Barley to promote running as a way to live more, do more
Santé Barley, the barley authority in the Philippines, proudly announces its role as a co-presenter and the Official Nutrition Partner of HOKA Trilogy Run Asia 2024.
Since its inception in 2010, HOKA Trilogy Run Asia formerly known as RUNRIO Trilogy, has fueled the nation’s passion for running, cultivating an active lifestyle, and nurturing a vibrant community of athletes and enthusiasts alike. Now that more Filipinos are embracing the sport and the running scene has matured, Santé Barley recognizes the significance of this partnership, marking a pivotal moment for the brand as it expands its reach and advocates for an active and healthy lifestyle.
The increase in the number of participants was evident during the opening race on April 8, with 8,000 runners taking part. Subsequently, more people have been registering, and organizers anticipate a turnout of at least 64,000 participants for this year’s HOKA Trilogy Run Asia.
The partnership aligns perfectly with HOKA Trilogy Run Asia’s mission of promoting inclusivity and encouraging Filipinos to confidently adopt a healthier lifestyle. With a growing number of participants in their races, HOKA Trilogy Run Asia is expanding its reach to locations across the Philippines. Santé Barley’s support will further fuel this enthusiasm, fostering a positive, health-conscious community through running.
The races will take place across six cities in the country, including Baguio, Cebu, Iloilo/Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, with a National Finals in Pasay, featuring a total of 19 races nationwide. Several races have already been completed but interested runners can check out the dates below to participate in the upcoming legs.
Upcoming races: Bacolod, July 28; Pasay, Manila, August 4; Cebu, August 18; Cagayan De Oro, September 15 and October 27; Baguio, September 29; Iloilo, October 13; Davao, October 20 and; National Finals in Pasay, December 8.
