Unilab Center for Health Policy to help bridge
healthcare system gaps
Unilab Foundation (ULF) launched the Unilab Center for Health Policy (UCHP), a venue for stakeholders to examine health policy issues.
“UCHP is intended to provide a platform for policy makers, the private sector, implementors and other concerned stakeholders–at the national and local levels–to discuss, distill and dissect health policy issues.,” Unilab Foundation president Clinton Campos Hess said.
UCHP’s Advisory Council, which will aid in crafting policy agendas and in ensuring the meticulous oversight of project implementation, is chaired by former Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Enrique . Ona and includes Philippine Medical Association President Dr. Maria Minerva P. Calimag, former University of the Philippines School of Economics Dean Dr. Orville Jose C. Solon, former DOH Undersecretary Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega, and Ateneo De Manila School of Medicine and Public Health Founding Associate Dean Dr. Maria Eufemia C. Yap.
UCHP’s four priority areas: analysis of the National Health Accounts from 1991 to 2022; study on the governance of provider payment mechanisms using examine global best practices to craft a governance framework tailored to the Philippines; develop a manual of operations in implementing the Philippine Health Insurance Corporations’s (PhilHealth) Outpatient Benefit Package called Konsulta and; create a framework for a referral system in the over 6,000 geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in the Philippines,
Initial reports on all four priorities are out by May.
UCHP was formally launched on March 20 at The Peninsula Manila witnessed by officials of the DOH, PhilHealth, non-government organizations
Hanabishi, GMA Kapuso Foundation renew partnership

Hanabishi Appliances and the GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement renewing their partnership which has stayed strong for over a decade.
The partnership has been rolling out targeted initiatives from providing essential comforts in schools to supporting needy beneficiaries and small businesses.
The integration of Hanabishi products like air fryers with steamers into these endeavors elevate the quality of life for beneficiaries, addressing practical challenges they face daily.
Bills payment partnership

TBG-Cash Management Services, in collaboration with our Institutional Banking Group, worked closely with Cebuana Lhuillier to enable them to accept bills payments for all BDO merchants, which include real estate, insurance, among others. This partnership extended our reach to serve more corporate and retail customers by making the bill payment experience easier, more convenient and accessible,” said Carol Garcia, head of BDO’s Cash Management Services Commercial Banking Segment.
With a collective network of over 5,000 strategically positioned outlets of Cebuana Lhuillier and BDO across the nation, clients may now benefit from the flexibility to choose and pay at their convenience, even beyond banking hours, including weekends and holidays.
This also benefits billers as they are given more channels to receive payments.
#KayaMoNa Campaign
SAFC reaffirms its commitment to growth, empowerment, and sustainability with its #KayaMoNa campaign that encourages Filipinos to embrace opportunities and fulfill their goals by being resilient and tenacious.

“We’re not just offering loans through our #KayaMoNa Campaign; we’re offering pathways to success and prosperity,” said SAFC chairman Ruben Lugtu II. “Our goal is to empower Filipinos to take charge of their futures, whether it’s through our innovative loan offerings or our commitment to sustainability and community development.”
SAFC is known for Car/Truck Refinancing, or Sangla ORCR, that offers financial loans to prospective business owners using the ORCR of their cars as collateral. It also has “Reduce, Reuse, and Redrive” campaign, endorsing the financing of used cars as a way to lessen environmental effects.
Through its Loan Consultant program, the company provides income opportunities to Filipinos through referrals alone.
Under its CSR umbrella program, SAFC Heroes, SAFC has rolled out its flagship initiatives: Love Hero, Life Hero, and Green Hero anchored on community development, health and wellness promotion, and environmental sustainability;
Discounts at airport stores
Duty Free Philippines (DFP) for the first time is offering a 10 percent discount on selected items at Ninoy International Airport Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3, for both arrival and departure, as well as at Cebu Mactan International Airport.
This special promotion run from March 21 to March 31, 2024. The exclusive discount program is designed to celebrate National Women’s Month.
“This is an exciting moment for DFP as we introduce these unprecedented discounts at our airport stores,” said Vicente Pelagio Angala, COO of DFP. “As an agency dedicated to supporting tourism and enhancing traveler experiences, we are thrilled to offer these savings to our customers, especially now that we are expecting higher tourist arrivals,” he added.
Jollibee among top taxpayers in Pasig
The Jollibee Group was named the top fifth business taxpayer in Pasig City for 2023, further reinforcing its commitment to contribute to nation-building.

The awarding ceremony, themed “One of the Pillars of Progress: Honoring our Tax Contributors,” was held at The Grove by Rockwell. Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Vice Mayor Robert Jaworski, Jr., and the Pasig City Council recognized the city’s top taxpayers who contributed to the city’s programs and services through fast and efficient payment of due taxes.
The Jollibee Group’s Philippine portfolio includes well-loved brands such as Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Mang Inasal, and Red Ribbon. As of December 2023, the company has over 3,300 stores in the country.
Isuzu Ph honored
Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) has been awarded as one of the most outstanding taxpayers by the provincial government of Laguna.
The prestigious accolade was presented during the 2024 Anilag Festival held in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, on March 15.

This marks the second consecutive year IPC has received this honor, reflecting its consistent adherence to tax obligations, ethical business practices, and substantial contributions to the local economy of Biñan City.
The award further solidifies IPC’s reputation as one of the leading automotive companies that not only excels in business but also takes its social and civic responsibilities seriously.
Etiqa PH at Digital Pilipinas Insurtech Festival
Etiqa Philippines, spearheaded by its president and CEO Rico Bautista, urged the attendees of the Philippine Insurtech Festival to leverage tech-driven solutions to enhance the insurance acquisition process to reach more Filipinos nationwide and serve customers better.

“We need technology so that we can distribute our products better, serve our customers, and can continue to grow our business. In our own company, we ensure that everyone is open to change, especially as far as technology is concerned,” Bautista said,
With over 60 years of experience, Etiqa Philippines is increasingly harnessing digital solutions to address challenges related to the accessibility, perception, and affordability of insurance solutions. The company is committed to empowering Filipinos from every segment of society to achieve financial security through technology and innovation.
The Philippine Insurtech Festival brought together members of PLIA and the Philippine Insurers and Re-insurers Associations, Inc. (PIRA), insurance professionals, and innovators to explore technological developments shaping the country’s insurance industry. Held during the Digital Pilipinas Festival 2 x Festival of Festivals, it included a panel discussion led by thought leaders and industry experts on how to future-proof the insurance industry through tech and innovation collaborations, as well as a fireside chat focused on enabling insurtech in the country through education.
Etiqa Philippines awarded 50 Personal Accident insurance policies to esports players and creative economy gigsters during the Esports and Creative Industries festival as part of the Digital Pilipinas Festival 2 x Festival of Festivals.
EastWest Ageas bags awards
EastWest Ageas scored global recognition from two prestigious award-giving organizations for best practices of technology usage in areas critical to success for insurance.
The company has been recognized by Celent as a winner of a 2024 ModelInsurer award for the Legacy and Ecosystem Transformation category. And it also received recognition from the World’s Digital Insurance Awards as a finalist in the Insurer Transformation category.
The Celent annual award program recognizes insurance carriers as ‘model insurers’ for their outstanding technology initiatives. To win, the initiatives must demonstrate clear business benefits, innovation, and technology or implementation excellence.
The World’s Digital Insurance Awards celebrates the most innovative insurance projects and the most innovative InsurTechs worldwide.
EastWest Ageas was recognized by these reputable international organizations because of their excellent customer experience, digitization efforts, and increased operational excellence.
The company aims to grow even further in the industry by leveraging its strong corporate culture and a range of customer-centric business transformations.
1,100 nurses get US certification via EXL
EXL, a leading data analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital operations solutions, said over 1,00 Filipino nurses have successfully attained their US registered nurse certifications.
EXL has an established Healthcare Academy that is dedicated to learning and development programs for clinical and non-clinical employees.
Launched in 2014, the program is designed to support and enhance the learning for employees, improving their responsiveness to the needs of both internal and external customers. This program offers comprehensive education, coursework, and guidance tailored to prepare individuals for the National Council Licensure Examination, administered by the US National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
EXL facilitates a pathway to US licensure for registered nurses in the Philippines through its Health Scholars Program.
Jaideep Pradhan, EXL senior vice-president and Philippines country head., said as of the fourth quarter of 2023, the institute’s passing rate is at 80.82 percent compared with the global passing rate of 69.33 percent t.
EXL anticipates an increase in graduates from its Healthcare Academy in the coming years. This year, the target has been set at approximately 360 new hires.
Samsung holds 1st business expo in PH
Samsung strengthened its commitment to empowering digital transformation for public and private institutions in the Philippines through the company’s first Business Expo, held last March 21 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

Samsung’s Business Expo, “Innovations That Power Solutions,” showcased the company’s technology that not only transforms homes into multifunctional spaces, but also offers seamless integrations built for different sectors such as education, government, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail.
Samsung Electronics Philippines Corp. (SEPCO) president Min Su Chu, said the company’s ecosystem of products designed to help enterprises do more, and make the lives of their customers easier and better, bringing the country closer to an era of connected experiences.
During the Innovations Showcase, Samsung’s regional leaders revealed breakthroughs in mobile technology, AV, digital appliances, air conditioners and displays.
The expo also featured a “Samsung Digital City” featuring the latest innovations from each business unit such as mobile technology, AV, digital appliances, air conditioners and displays.
For condominiums, Samsung provides a new way to provide comfort through connected living, made possible by SmartThings.
A Samsung-powered command center boasts advanced surveillance with a portfolio of cutting-edge government technology solutions for endpoint security, workforce productivity and tactical operations. Samsung also showed how they create classrooms that deliver engaging hybrid digital learning experiences.
Shift to QR code
GS1 Philippines, the leading organization on local barcode standards, has announced the start of the adoption of the 2D barcode in the Philippines aimed to further enhance operational efficiency in the supply chain industry and bridge better product engagement between businesses and consumers in the advent of digital labeling.
GS1 Philippines is eyeing to prepare industries for the shift to the 2D barcode by 2027. By then, all retail POS scanners globally are capable of reading and processing 2D barcodes powered by GS1 and there is broad, global brand owner implementation of the same.
Currently serving more than 5,000 retailers, GS1 Philippines targets to reach 30,000 businesses nationwide by the end of 2024.
The 2D barcode, most popularly known as “QR code,” leverages web technologies and the current barcode system to store extensive product information in just one scan. Through the QR codes, brand owners and retailers can easily interact with consumers and shoppers by providing in-depth information on their physical products. By scanning the QR code with a smartphone, buyers can instantly see ingredients, allergens, recipes, rewards, and promotions, as well as brand-authorized details about where the item was manufactured, facts about sustainable sourcing, guidance on recycling, easy ways to re-order and other kinds of information.
The QR code also allows retailers and supermarkets to ensure product safety, guarantee product freshness, and reduce food waste. Additionally, it enables regulators to check a product’s sustainable characteristics.