EVAP to host Dialogues to fast-track switch to
electro-mobility in PH
The biggest annual conference promoting electric vehicles in the country is set to stage its second virtual summit in the new normal next month.
The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), together with the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) and in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE), among others, will host the 9th Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit (PEVS) on August 26-27 via the online platform Zoom.
With the theme ‘Accelerating the Switch to Electro-Mobility in the Philippines,’ the two-day event will focus on fast-tracking electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the local transport sector in line with the government’s medium-term goal of attaining a low-carbon economy.
EVAP continues to work closely with government and industry stakeholders. Both chambers of Congress are also working to pass the Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act to boost consumer demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and make EVs more affordable in the long run.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has also launched a public utility vehicle modernization program. The Land Transportation Office has also released the regulations on electric vehicle use in the country.
The 9th PEVS is co-presented by the DOE and Nissan Philippines, and also supported by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Power Equipment and Supply Inc (PESIN), Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI) and Delta Electronics International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
Aboitiz Foundation partnership for Taal relief
Aboitiz Foundation partnered with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) to provide immediate relief for the families in the Municipality of Agoncillo in Batangas, affected by the continued unrest of Taal Volcano.
LCF together with its members, Aboitiz Foundation, Manila Water Foundation, PHAPCares Foundation and Rebisco Foundation were able to mobilize and provide food, water, medical masks and face shields. The donation is expected to benefit 500 families.
Insular Life offers VUL Health Packages for dread disease,
hospital coverage
To ensure that there are funds to help shoulder health-related expenses and augment lost income due to hospitalization as the country battles the pandemic, Insular Life (InLife) has come up with Variable Unit-Linked (VUL) Health Packages.
InLife’s VUL Health Packages are life insurance products with an investment component that should provide funds in case of sickness and hospitalization.
InLife’s VUL health packages are composed of two plans: Wealth Secure Health with premiums that start at P30,000 per year, and Wealth Assure Health with premiums that start at P80,000 per year. Both plans are life insurance products with investment component and have the dread disease, and hospitalization riders as supplementary contracts. The dread disease rider provides lump sum cash of up to a maximum of P10 million upon the diagnosis of any of the 59 covered illnesses. Meanwhile, the hospitalization rider gives daily allowance up to a maximum of P2,500 per day to replace lost income during the insured’s hospital stay.
InLife’s VUL health packages cover the insured until age 99, and give death benefits equal to the sum insured plus the fund value. They may be availed of by Filipinos aged 20 to 60 years old. As these are life insurance plans with investment component, funds may be invested on the following: money market, fixed income, balanced, and equity-laced funds.
Globe for disaster resilience
Globe commits to providing continued connectivity support to affected communities and residents during disasters.
This was the assurance made by Globe senior vice president Emmanuel Estrada during the Liveable Cities Labs: Rainy Season Readiness webinar. The discussion tackled flood preparedness, risk mitigation, and resilient infrastructure.
Estrada said preparedness and business continuity are at the core of Globe’s network’s life cycle – from site preparation and construction, operation and maintenance, all the way to upgrades and expansion.
Globe uses Geohazard mapping for its sites so it can anticipate natural hazards and disasters. The company is redesigning and retrofitting towers along the typhoon path, fortifying essential sites with “last to be disrupted, first to recover” capabilities, and deploying higher capacity gensets to address prolonged power outages.
At the heart of the company’s business continuity plans is the Globe Service Command Center which proactively monitors 24/7 conditions that can rapidly escalate into emergencies or disasters.
Shopee payment gateway
ShopeePay now users a convenient way to pay loans on DragonLoans, HomeCredit, SkyPay and Cashalo.
Shopee aims to provide more convenient and rewarding payment options to its customers as more people are digital-savvy and can rely already on online payment platforms.
Shopee recently launched our Scan & Donate initiative to support various charities.
Its partnership with DragonLoans, Home Credit, SkyPay, and Cashalo will enable users to pay for their loans in the comfort of their own homes.
Cebu Pacific travel advisory
Cebu Pacific has assured it will comply with health protocols set by the government, including negative RT-PCR test results for fully-vaccinated passengers, should it be required by the local government of our destination.
A passenger is considered fully-vaccinated at least 14 days after having received the second dose in a two-dose series, or at least 14 days after having received a single-dose vaccine.
Among its destinations, the provinces that are accepting vaccination card as a travel requirement are Cauayan City of Isabela province, Cotabato, Dumaguete, Negros Occidental province (except Bacolod City), and Virac.
Travelers are strongly urged to always check with the LGU of their destination for the latest updates.
Villarica’s highest appraisal
Villarica Pawnshop continues to offer the highest appraisal rates for pawned items at no service charge.
This means Filipinos get the full appraised value for the items and the cash when people need it most, no hassle, no hidden charges.
Villarica Pawnshop also provides the most liberal terms and conditions such as the highest appraisal on all their loans with lower interest rates than the rates charged by majority of pawnshops in any given area of competition.
Security Bank best retail bank
Alpha Southeast Asia recognized Security Bank Corporation as the Best Retail Bank in the Philippines for 2021 during its 15th Annual Best Financial Institution Awards.
Cited as the most comprehensive awards program in banking and finance focused on Southeast Asia, the Financial Institution Awards has bestowed the contested Best Retail Bank in the Philippines title to Security Bank for the third time over the last four years. Alpha Southeast Asia attributed this to Security Bank’s “unique commitment in helping develop retail banking in the Philippines.”
With a more customer-centric approach to service delivery, among Security Bank’s strong areas of focus is the transformation of its digital channels for Retail and Wholesale clients, and Contact Center, both voice and non-voice.
Malayan Insurance’s Vital Cover
Malayan Insurance Co. Inc. has rolled out Vital Cover, an insurance plan to help manage the ill effects of modern-day diseases like dengue, chikungunya, new coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as well as accidents.
Vital Cover is a 5-in-1 COVID-19 cash assistance product that provides loss of life and hospitalization cover to COVID-19. It also provides insurance protection against accidents, and hospitalization for dengue or chikungunya.
As an affordable alternative, Malayan Insurance also offers Dengue Cash, an insurance product that comes with a full-year personal accident cover and provides cash assistance of P10,000 should the policyholder be diagnosed with dengue.
The diagnosis of the dengue disease alone qualifies the policyholder for the dengue cash aid, with no confinement needed. Furthermore, Dengue Cash also includes coverage for death and disability due to accidents. The product protects minors and senior citizens up to 70 years old.
Knowledge Channel’s School at Home
Knowledge Channel Foundation’s (KCFI) “School at Home” campaign, which made possible distance learning during the pandemic using Knowledge Channel’s platforms on-air, online, and offline, was adjudged “Outstanding CSR Project in Education” in the recently concluded 2021 League of Corporate Foundations- Corporate Social Responsibility (LCF-CSR) Guild Awards.
The “School at Home Project” helped children forced to stay home during the pandemic to continue learning via shows on various school subjects like Math, Science, Filipino, English, Araling Panlipunan, Values, Arts, and Physical Education.
The videos are aligned with the Most Essential Learning Competencies or MELCs set by the Department of Education and complement the lessons in the self-learning modules and those that air on DepEd TV.
KCFI undertook the initiative in response to the difficulties brought to the education sector and the families in 2020, when learning modalities changed from face-to-face to distance learning.
QBO Innovation accelerator program for startups
QBO Innovation Hub recently partnered with Microsoft to launch a nationwide program designed to accelerate the growth of selected startups developing enterprise solutions.
AQELERATION: B2B Startups Disrupting Industries is a six-month program designed to grow and scale startups that are creating solutions in the B2B segment to digitize businesses in the Philippines. The three startups selected for the program will receive intensive training and mentorship, a financial grant from QBO and strategic support. This program aims to empower the B2B tech startups, which is currently the largest startup segment in the country, as part of QBO and Microsoft’s shared commitment to nurturing the greater Philippine startup community.
The application process for the program is ongoing, and the deadline for filing applications is on July 23.
