Ginebra San Miguel products 2024 SIP Awards
Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) continues its flagship brand’s 190 years of excellence as it garnered multiple prestigious awards at the 2024 Spirit International Prestige (SIP) Awards.

Based in Los Angeles California, and running since 2009, the SIP Awards is the only annual International Spirits Competitionevaluated through a double-blind tasting process by a panel of consumer judges strategically chosen from all demographics without affiliation to the spirits industry, unaffected by industry bias.
In 2024, the SIP Awards bestowed GSM Blue Flavors Gin Pomelo and GSM Premium Gin the prestigious DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL and recognition as outstanding international spirits in the flavored/infused gin and gin categories, respectively.
Other GSM Blue variants–Margarita, Mojito, and Light Gin–were also awarded GOLD MEDALS in the category of flavored/infused gin.
The consumer judges also recognized the 1834 Premium Distilled Gin with the distinguished INNOVATION AWARD, highlighting its unique taste profile and design, further positioning the brand as innovative and groundbreaking.
Advancing sustainability, climate action
PLDT Inc. and its wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications Inc. underscore their continuing drive to advance sustainability and affirm support to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in managing climate change risks through its own operations and supply chain engagements.
These complement PLDT and Smart’s efforts to enable ADB’s digital transformation through various enterprise solutions, such as connectivity and data services.
During a recent roundtable organized by the ADB for its long-term and critical IT supplier partners, PLDT and Smart were kept abreast of the regional development bank’s intention to further solidify its position as Asia and the Pacific’s Climate Bank, as well as its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance roadmap and commitment to support the goals of the Paris Agreement. The telcos further joined ADB and its roster of global IT vendor partners in exchanging ideas on sustainability and sharing experiences on championing business practices that positively impact the planet and communities.
PLDT and Smart chief sustainability officer Melissa Vergel de Dios shared in the roundtable how PLDT and Smart identify sustainability as a key pillar of strategy and as part of the CEO scorecard and organizational key performance indicators.
Vergel de Dios also outlined key initiatives that align with ADB’s efforts to mitigate climate change and contribute to the PLDT Group’s decarbonization roadmap as well as the company’s focus on electronic waste management and circularity.
Maynilad cleans 272 kms of sewer lines
West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. has cleaned a total of 272 kilometers of sewer lines during the first half of 2024, achieving 54 percent of its full-year target of 500 kilometers.

The regular cleaning of sewer lines is essential to ensuring the efficient transport of wastewater from households to Maynilad’s sewage treatment plants, where the wastewater undergoes treatment to meet environmental standards before its discharge to the ecosystem. These efforts play a vital role in maintaining sanitary conditions, safeguarding both community health and the environment.
Maynilad provides this service in “sewered areas”, or those covered by sewerage systems, namely: parts of Manila, Quezon City, Muntinlupa, Makati, Pasay and Parañaque. For “unsewered areas”, the company provides desludging or septic tank cleaning services, which are offered at no additional cost to customers.
Makati Med marks 13 Years of JCI accreditation
Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) commemorates 13 years of continuous compliance with the globally renowned Joint Commission International (JCI) quality and safety standards, having first been accredited in 2011, followed by three more successful re-accreditations.

This achievement was celebrated during JCI’s 25th Anniversary, where institutions worldwide were honored for their sustained dedication to healthcare excellence. MakatiMed is recognized alongside other top hospitals from Europe and the Middle East for maintaining an exceptional record of 13 years of JCI accreditation.
The recognition was conferred during the 47th International Hospital Federation (IHF) World Hospital Congress, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Representing Makati Medical Center to receive the plaque were interim co-president & CEO and medical director, Saturnino Javier, MD and Pharmacy and Therapeutics Division head Hazel Faye Docuyanan. The award was presented by JCI officials, led by Jonathan Perlin, MD, president and CEO of The Joint Commission and Joint Commission International.
Holcim Ph earns Golden Arrow Award
Holcim Philippines Inc. earned its first Golden Arrow Award, which is given to companies for good practices based on the Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) and the Corporate Governance Scorecard.

Companies receive the Golden Arrow Award for observable conformance to the Philippine Code of Corporate Governance and internationally recommended corporate governance practices espoused by the ACGS. The Institute of Corporate Directors PH conducts the assessment using an 184-question scorecard based on publicly available disclosures on a company’s website.
Nicolas George, President and CEO of Holcim Philippines: “We are grateful for this recognition, which is another testament to our commitment to conducting business with integrity and creating value for stakeholders with sustainability. This encourages us to continue on our path of delivering performance with integrity for sustained success.”
Aboitiz InfraCapital partners with delaware Ph
Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC), the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, has announced the go-live of its Economic Estate SAP systems (EE SAP), implemented by delaware Philippines, a global
leader in delivering advanced ICT solutions and services. This milestone marks a significant achievement in AIC’s digital transformation initiative to drive operational excellence and innovation.
This digital transformation represents the most extensive and complex system implementation in AIC’s history. The go-live phase, which took place from May 31 to June 4, 2024, saw four parallel projects launched simultaneously. This strategic move underscores
AIC’s commitment to enhancing its real estate business processes and ensuring long-term sustainability and agility in its operations.
The transformation involved the implementation of several integrated EE SAP systems, including Economic Estate ERP Implementation and Real Estate Leasing Operations (RE-FX), Real Estate Development and Lifecycle Management (RE-DLM), SAP Ariba Business Commerce
Automation and Sourcing (Ariba 1.3), and the Core Asset Management System.
These systems will help AIC streamline operations, improve the efficiency of real estate portfolio management, optimize sales management, contract management, land development, and procurement, and automate business network commerce, supplier lifecycle, and
sourcing. This will lead to better performance and cost efficiency. Additionally, the systems are designed to enhance AIC’s capabilities in maintaining and managing its extensive infrastructure assets.
Emergent Halal ecosystem tackled at forum
The World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) is set to delve into the dynamic and expanding global Halal ecosystem at its latest ‘Business Broadcast’ networking forum to be held at the WTCMM exhibition center in Pasay City.
Titled “Innovating the Halal Ecosystem: Maximizing Opportunities and Adapting to Key Challenges in the Global Market,” the event will address the complexities the Halal ecosystem faces, including standardization, certification, supply chain integrity, and market access, while also providing support to the government in making the Philippines a Halal-friendly country.
Esteemed speakers include Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal, program head of the Philippine Halal Industry Development of the Department of Trade, and Industry; Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, undersecretary of the Department of Tourism; Ustadz Alexander Sultan, president and CEO, Halal International Chamber of Commerce and Industries in the Philippines and Marilou Ampuan Al Hajj, president of the Universal Islamic Center.
The forum will be held on Thursday, October 10 at the Luna Function Room of WTCMM.