Top taxpayer
JTI Philippines was recognized again as one of the top taxpayers by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) during a simple awarding ceremony held on February 15.
JTI Philippines was awarded Top 2 Taxpayer having paid a total of P323 million in import duties in 2022.
As a top taxpayer, JTI Philippines was also cited for “supporting the efforts of the Post Clearance Audit Group (PCAG) in promoting voluntary compliance among importers.”
BOC-PCAG assistant commissioner Vincent Maronilla commended JTI Philippines and nine other port stakeholders from various industries for being “an example to the industry where you belong” as well as “proving that post-clearance works and showing the value of volunteerism.”
JTI Philippines general manager John Freda for his part said: “This citation is another reaffirmation of our continued support of the country’s development goals specifically in the area of revenue generation. We note that the top taxpayer award was made possible even amid the increasing challenge of the illegal tobacco trade which serves to cheat everyone in Filipino society.”
This year’s award will be JTI’s third consecutive Top Taxpayer Award since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in 2020.
Sustainable investments via GFunds
GCash and ATR Asset Management (ATRAM) are offering sustainable investment products under the GFunds portfolio, to give the e-wallet’s users an opportunity to maximize the recovering market while investing in companies that promote “green” practices and industries.
“In line with GCash’s sustainability goals, we want to provide a platform to democratize access to funds that promote green practices. Thanks to our partnership with ATRAM, we’re also able to allow our users to benefit from the market that has been recovering from a slump caused by worries over inflation and high interest rates,” said GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon.
GCash and ATRAM have been solid partners in offering users several funds that can help them grow their hard-earned money. Through sustainable investment products under GFunds, customers can support companies that promote positive environmental or social change, invest in clean energy, transport, and infrastructure, as well as those who provide access to healthcare.
“We are fully committed to our partnership with GCash and are very excited to expand our global and local fund offerings in GFunds. This includes one of our flagship Philippine equity funds, the ATRAM Philippine Sustainable and Development and Growth Fund,” said Phillip Hagedorn, president of ATRAM Trust and CEO of Asset and Wealth Management.
Growsari new units, leaders
Growsari Enterprise has recently unveiled its new business units SariMart and SariPay.
New leadership appointments were also made to independently run these business units.
Maimai Madrid-Punzalan, currently Growsari Enterprise chief growth & marketing officer, will take the position of general manager for SariMart, which is the B2B Ecommerce business arm of platform.
SariMart will have the mandate to be the country’s largest B2B Ecommerce wholesaler for neighborhood micro, small and medium enterprises (e.g., sari-sari stores, Carinderias and bakeshops) and will operate independently from Growsari’s platform, including partnering with other offline and online players.
Sandeep Bhalla will elevate his role as the general manager of SariPay. SariPay is the independently run financial services company which aims to support the MSME network with working capital loans, cash management, remittances and similar products. They have been already working with multiple partners (retailers, wholesalers, distributors) outside the Growsari network to offer credit to their customers and support their cash management.
Affordable family insurance
AXA Philippines partnered with GCash for SMS Insure, an insurance product that provides financial protection in the event of hospitalization, accidents, or death.
For as low as P117 per month, SMS Insure, underwritten by AXA, can help you protect one and two other members of his family with its Bronze Family Plan. Each insured family member gets best-value comprehensive coverage, with a P25,000 Personal Accident Coverage and P25,000 Term Life Coverage, respectively. It also comes with a Daily Hospitalization Income of up to P750, which pays P250 per day up to a maximum confinement of three days.
Financial literacy education partnership
The Rizal Provincial Cooperative Development Council learns new knowledge on finance from the discussions with Sun Life.
PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. has renewed its collaboration with insurance and investment company Sun Life Philippines to further promote financial literacy among their partner cooperatives.
In 2022, several sessions of successful financial literacy training were conducted nationwide under this collaboration between Smart’s Communities Marketing Team and Sun Life. This initiative enabled almost 500 cooperative members to learn about the fundamentals of finance and its relevance to their industry.
As a result of this productive partnership last year, Smart and Sun Life will continue to roll out financial literacy trainings this 2023, targeting Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Metro manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao.
Since 2020, Smart has been empowering cooperatives across the nation as part of the Smart Coops program and their core advocacy is to help boost livelihood among their stakeholders through technology. Through this partnership with Sun Life, Smart aims to reach more cooperatives all over the country through this initiative.
Mega campaign
Shopee launches its first mega campaign of the year, the 3.3-3.15 Mega Shopping Sale with exciting deals and offers for shoppers, as they prepare for the year ahead.
For a limited time only from February 24 to March 15, users can enjoy daily free shipping vouchers at P0 minimum spend, 15% off vouchers, up to 50% off deals, and more.
To start off its first mega sale of the year with a bang, users will get to enjoy bigating deals and vouchers during the first two hours of March 3 at the Big Midnight Sale! Users can look forward to bigger deals and vouchers when they checkout from 12 to 2 a.m.
Every day starting February 24, Shoppers can enjoy discounts and vouchers on various categories to cater to everything they are looking for.
From March 1 to 15, shoppers are in for a treat with exciting fashion and beauty finds with discounts of up to 90 percent off and unbeatable P199 & Below deals. For the 3.3-3.15 Mega Shopping Sale, Shopee partners up with even more brands to make personalized skincare shopping more accessible for all through SkinCam.
From February 28 onwards, Shopee users can also look forward to special discounts when they use exclusive voucher codes from bank partners.
Kapuso Bigay Premyo Panalo
GMA Network ushers in a great start to 2023 with Kapuso Bigay Premyo Panalo Season 6 — where over P11 million worth of prizes including two brand new house and lot units are up for grabs.
With the Network’s nationwide reach and easy mechanics to follow, Kapuso Bigay Premyo Panalo (BPP) continues to provide hope and prizes to more Filipino families in the country. Almost 2,000 winners stand to win daily and weekly cash prizes.
BPP is giving away two brand-new house and lot units. A lucky mamimili will win a new unit courtesy of Bria Homes.
GMA Network will also be giving away a brand-new house and lot to a lucky sari-sari store owner in the grand draw.
To join, participants must simply buy any of the participating products – Great Taste White, Lady’s Choice, Knorr Broth Cubes, Crispy Dry Breading Mix and Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink – and submit their entries in designated drop boxes. Sending of entries will run from February 25 to May 5.
Excellence in health, safety
Holcim Philippines Inc.’s La Union plant was recently recognized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for excellence in health and safety.
Holcim’s plant in Bacnotan was recognized for its Safety Control Program by Region 1 office of the DOLE during the 12th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK) Best Practice Award in January. Holcim La Union received a plaque and P10,000 prize and qualified for the Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan Champions, which recognizes the “best of the best” in health and safety.
The plant received the award after a rigorous review from the DOLE. The process included a presentation of programs for occupational safety and health, environment, and communities validated by DOLE inspectors. Participating organizations must not have been issued a notice of violation, recorded a lost time injury or fatality, and submitted required documents to the DOLE on time over the past two years.
Holcim Philippines Head of Health, Safety, Security and Environment Head CJ Guinto: “Our company is thankful to the DOLE for recognizing the continuing efforts to strengthen our health and safety culture. Our commitment to keeping people safe has helped us maintain our Zero Harm goals in operations and overcome the challenges of the pandemic. This award will further motivate us to ensure everyone involved in our business is healthy and safe.”
The DOLE awards the GKK to encourage companies to implement their safety, health, and environment programs to improve the welfare of people in the workplace.
