BDO reaffirms commitment to sustainable energy transition
At the recently held Unlocking Capital for Sustainability (UCFS) 2023 Forum, Atty. Federico Tancongco, senior vice president and chief compliance officer of BDO Unibank said that BDO will support its customers’ transition to reduced carbon emissions by providing access to capital so they may invest in innovative technologies or adapt their business to renewable energy alternatives. BDO will also provide access to capital to communities negatively affected by the transition to low carbon.
The Bank continues to expand its Sustainable Finance initiatives towards funding new and/or existing renewable energy projects. Since 2010, BDO has financed a mix of 55 renewable energy projects for wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass energy sources accounting for 2,230 megawatts of total installed renewable energy capacity nationwide. BDO also finances energy efficiency projects and green buildings.
BDO’s announcement of its Energy Transition Finance Statement last year reinforced the Bank’s commitment to financing the transition to a low-carbon, environmentally responsible and socially inclusive economy. This was in support of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the Philippines’ nationally determined contribution that aims to reduce 75% of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.
As a pioneer in sustainable finance in the country, BDO is fully committed to reduce carbon footprint and support the country’s transition by providing access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and clean energy.
Lazada launches PiliPino campaign to boost and celebrate the best of local e-Commerce
Leading e-commerce platform in the Philippines, Lazada, introduces PiliPino by Lazada, a holistic program that aims to drive inclusive growth by boosting and celebrating the best of Philippine e-Commerce — people, places, and products. The program will champion micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and aspiring entrepreneurs through mentorship and sustained support, from onboarding to the launch and growth of their businesses on the platform.
Lazada invited women entrepreneurs who have endured the ropes of building their businesses while balancing work, family, and personal lives. With the She Talks Conversations led by Try Local PH Founder Cat Juan Ledesma, the women entrepreneurs were given the chance to share, listen, learn, and relate to one another’s stories. These women entrepreneurs include Apple Caballes-Suntay of Storage Solutions, Evan Maderazo of Sundals, Lorina Tan of Tiny Buds and Blooms, and Michelle So of Blithe.
The women shared their journeys as entrepreneurs, from hardships to triumphs experienced, as well as their own personal mentors who helped pave the way to their success. Like many businesses, they too dealt with the hardships brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, which enabled them to learn the ropes of e-commerce and build their businesses on Lazada.
Lazada’s mentorship program for MSMEs will be piloted in key priority areas across the Philippines, as well as the microsite for Filipino-made products.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport exec brings home award
Ricia Vinelli Montejo, head of International Terminal Operations and Customer Experience of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, bagged the 2023 Airport Leader of the Future Award at the recent Airport Honour Awards conferred during the International Airport Summit 2023 in London, United Kingdom. The summit aims to promote operational excellence, diversify business models, and drive sustainability.
A consistent outstanding performer, Ricia joined GMR Megawide Cebu International Corporation (GMCAC) as procurement manager in March 2016. She also has extensive work experience in supply chain management. When Terminal 2 (International Terminal) of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) was completed in 2018, Ricia became the head of International Terminal Operations. In this capacity, she has maintained the good quality of the airport and has ensured that the best customer experience was provided for the passengers.
In 2023, Ricia was appointed as concurrent Head of Customer Experience. She successfully led the accreditation process of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport with the Airports Council International (ACI). In July 2023, MCIA became the first airport in the Philippines to receive the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation for Airport Service Quality from the Airports Council International.
Montejo leads a passionate team who ensures that both passenger experience and operational excellence are continuously integrated to achieve a transformational travel experience. Her leadership in both International Terminal Operations and Customer Experience greatly contributes to MCIA’s vision of becoming a world-class airport.
The two-day International Airport Summit 2023 was organized by the International Airport Review.
Acer Unveils “Conscious Technology” vision
Acer Inc. recently unveiled , at a press conference in Dubai, its “Conscious Technology” vision for technology designed and made with consideration for the future. It also shared its ongoing climate efforts, while a showcase of two new energy storage solutions and a climate exhibition featuring technology and product concepts were made open to the public.
Acer has joined the RE100 initiative and committed to sourcing 100% renewable electricity by 2035. It has also pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. As one of the world’s top ICT companies, Acer seeks to amplify positive impacts on the environment through united actions; 60% of its critical suppliers have committed to RE100 or set science-based carbon reduction targets (SBT). Acer has set a goal to use 20-30% post-consumer recycled plastic in its computer and monitors by 2025, for which 17% use was achieved in 2022.
As part of its net-zero commitment, Acer is expanding its presence in the energy storage industry, offering solutions across the supply chain, from household to industrial use, manufacturing to application, and front-of-the meter to behind-the-meter solutions to contribute to the energy transition. With its investment in battery cell technologies, the company unveiled new energy storage solutions that extends its portfolio.
The exhibition, themed “Conscious Technology for a Brighter Tomorrow,” speaks of Acer’s ongoing climate efforts and the technology designed and made with consideration for the future.
PalawanPay’s Peragalo Promo
Whether people find themselves constantly on the go, immersed in a hectic schedule, or physically distant from their loved ones this Christmas, they don’t need to worry about finding the perfect gifts for everyone on their list–PalawanPay’s “SEND GIFTS” option has made sending presents easier than ever, eliminating the stress on your schedule and budget.
PalawanPay’s “Send Gifts” feature enables users to seamlessly transmit their “peragalo” (cash gifts) to another PalawanPay e-wallet or any of the over 10,000 Palawan Express Pera Padala outlets nationwide. The feature also includes a “send-to-many” option, allowing users to send their “peragalo” to up to 10 people simultaneously in each transaction. Users can add a sweet, simple, and personalized greeting using Palawan’s e-cards, making it perfect for events such as birthdays, weddings, Christmas, and other special occasions. Apart from this, the “Send Gifts” feature also has an option to send to Palawan Express Pera Padala branches with the same maximum number of 10 receivers which they can claim in any of the 10,000 Palawan Express outlets nationwide. The Palawan Group of Companies aims to make people’s Christmas happier and merrier with this new feature.
Thanks to PalawanPay’s user-friendly e-wallet, everyone can now send gifts and connect with their loved ones, anytime, anywhere this Christmas season. But the holiday spirit doesn’t end there – PalawanPay’s Peragalo Pamaskong Promo promises exciting prizes for every transaction, making it a truly merry Christmas for everybody.
BPI nurtures next generation of data science, AI talents
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) drew over 200 students from campuses nationwide to its recent Data, Analytics, Transformation, and AI (D.A.T.A.) Wave Summit Hackathon, part of its efforts to enhance the skills of Filipinos in the fields of data science and AI.
The event marked the culmination of the Philippine Junior Data Science Challenge (PJDSC), which was organized by the University of the Philippines’ Data Science Society in partnership with BPI. The PJDSC attracted more than 150 team registrations spanning 43 colleges from all over the country. The top 10 finalists received cash prizes and an opportunity to work as interns at the BPI data science team.
Centered around the theme of financial inclusion, participating teams in the BPI D.A.T.A. Wave Summit Hackathon delved into data analysis using diverse synthetic datasets and designed a prototype product fitting for the requirement.
Additionally, the top three teams–Mapua University, Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao, and Ateneo de Manila University–showcased their projects in the summit, earning recognition for their outstanding performance in both challenges and ideation.
Inspiro, Microsoft continue to elevate the Philippine BPO industry through cloud technology
Inspiro and Microsoft are joining forces to create innovative solutions using Microsoft technology. Inspired by a shared vision to enhance customer experiences, boost employee productivity, and unlock new business opportunities, both organizations celebrate significant milestones and eagerly look toward the future.
Inspiro has been a leading force in the Philippines for over two decades, employing over 12,000 experts and providing top-notch customer experience solutions to global brands. Their diverse services, including customer experience strategy and consulting, customer experience management, and digital customer experience, cater to clients across industries like telecommunications, finance, retail, and healthcare.
Since the partnership was announced in 2022, Inspiro has harnessed Microsoft’s revolutionary tools, including Azure cloud services, Power BI, Windows Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Teams. These cutting-edge solutions have propelled Inspiro to the forefront of the industry, elevating its services and establishing its Philippine operations as a center of excellence.
Inspiro has already migrated 40% of its targeted applications to the Microsoft Azure cloud, with plans to migrate more by the first quarter of 2024.
Going forward, Inspiro and Microsoft will focus on four key areas: improving handling time and speed to market, strengthening competitive positioning, boosting revenue, and enhancing employee productivity and engagement. Additionally, the partnership aims to leverage Microsoft’s technology stack for further innovations such as robotic process automation, data warehouse modernization, app modernization, security, and Generative AI.
