MOVE IT free rides to teachers, BPI BAYANIHAN Center in Batangas, PECIA on vape bill, URC eyes sparkling spirits, YOSHINOYA in Glorietta, IPC-J&T partnership, KODEGO bootcamp, GLOBE Business summit, PHOENIX Quill awards, SGV tax symposium

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Free rides

 Move It is offering free motorcycle taxi rides for public school teachers and personnel in Makati, Taguig, Pateros, and Pasay until September 30, during school days.

Move It plans to offer Department of Education teachers and personnel with Move It promo codes, which they can use to avail of the free rides through the Move It app. Move It will also offer assistance to school teachers and personnel with their booking needs via Move It booths set up in Makati, Taguig, Pateros, and Pasay.

Batangas’ 1st BPI Bayanihan Center

Batangas Gov. Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas (middle, in blue shirt) leads the ribbon cutting at the first BPI Bayanihan Center in the province.

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The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and its social responsibility arm, BPI Foundation, recently turned over the very first BPI Bayanihan Center to the province of Batangas, located in Barangay Malainin in the municipality of Ibaan.

In partnership with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF)’s Project Safe Shelters, the BPI Bayanihan Center is a disaster-resilient structure for the residents of Batangas.

The 528- square meter two-storey building is open for use to all citizens of Batangas. The facility can accommodate 300 evacuees and is fully accessible to persons with disabilities (PWDs) with wheelchair ramps. It is equipped with a breastfeeding station and a kitchen.  The BPI Bayanihan Center was initially intended to provide a safe harbor to those affected by the Taal volcano eruption, but with its modified design it can also function as a healthcare facility, a livelihood center, and a multi-purpose hall for the community’s worthwhile activities.

The construction of the facility started in January 2022, after BPI and its Foundation launched the #TaaLove project, which aimed to provide lasting and sustainable support to the communities badly affected by the Taal Volcano eruption early in 2020.  The P12.77-million fund used to build the BPI BAYANIHAN Center came from BPI clients, employees, and BPI Foundation.

Group lauds passing of vape bill

The Philippine E-cigarette Industry Association (PECIA) has lauded the passing the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, also known as the Vape Regulation Bill, which lapsed into law last July 24.

Through the Vape Regulation Law, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is tasked with working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish technical standards for the security, reliability, and quality of vape products.

The DTI, on its own, now has the power to enforce the regulation of nicotine and non-nicotine vape products and may scrutinize the specifications of vaping devices, vape juice contents (nicotine concentration, the presence of other chemicals, etc.), and their product packaging. Primarily, the scrutiny of packaging is to ensure that they do not appeal to a younger market.

The Department of Health (DOH), meanwhile, is required by the new law to set standards for the execution of information campaigns that raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and vaping. The campaigns, as with actual tobacco products, should inform consumers that those who can buy, sell, and use vape products should be at least 18 years old.

PECIA president Joey Dulay, in an advisory to its members, said “PECIA advises all its members and the industry to strictly comply with the provisions of RA no. 11900 and tax regulations to avoid any unnecessary disruption to your business operations, payment of fines, and imposition of penalties including imprisonment,” he concluded.

URC eyes alcoholic beverage market

Universal Robina Corp. (URC) is venturing into the sparkling spirits business, offering a new product in a segment that is worth P252 billion.

Mian David, URC chief marketing officer, said the company’s new Chill Spiked Spirit will offer a “refreshing, laid back drinking experience, with just the right kick, minus the heavy feeling.”

Chill Spiked Spirit contains 5 percent double distilled alcohol, real fruit extract and soda water.  It has no artificial sweetener and with zero trans fats, eliminating that heavy feeling in the gut that beer drinkers feel.

Yoshinoya opens in Glorietta

Jollibee Foods Corp. has opened a Yoshinoya branch in Glorietta 1, the is the first branch to be opened under the partnership of Japan’s Yoshinoya and Jollibee.

Yoshinoya is Jollibee Group’s first Japanese food chain.

The Jollibee Group recently formed a joint venture with Yoshinoya International Philippines Inc. to establish the Yoshinoya Jollibee Foods,Inc., which will operate the Yoshinoya stores in the country, with plans to expand to 50 stores in the long term.

Yoshinoya will join the company’s current portfolio of foreign franchised brands in the country, including Burger King, PHO24, and Panda Express.

Partnership reinforced

(From left) IPC president  Noboru Murakami; J&T Express CEO — Dean Ding; Gencars CEO Edgard Cabangon at the contract signing.

Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC), J&T Express Inc. and Gencars, Inc. (Isuzu Makati) reinforced their partnership and national fleet program through contract signing ceremony last August 12. On top of more than 400 units of Isuzu trucks, J&T Express has purchased hundreds of NQR & FVR trucks from Isuzu Makati, one of IPC’s most established authorized dealers, as new additions to their growing fleet of vehicles.

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J&T Express continuously expands its t logistics services nationwide and choosing Isuzu products which can traverse various road conditions and terrains in the Philippines complements the company’s goal to reach and serve even the most remote areas in the country.

With durable vehicles paired with all-inclusive aftersales program, IPC continues to contribute the progress and development by offering efficient logistics solutions.

IT career after KodeGo bootcamp

KodeGo,  the online tech bootcamp of Globe’s 917Ventures, has given 20-year-old John Michael Baldonado a career-altering shift.

Because of his excellent performance, Baldonado received multiple job offers with the help of KodeGo’s team even before he graduated. And at his current job, he got promoted as development lead in just six months.

KodeGo offers short-term courses with no upfront payment, allowing students to pay with a percentage of their income after graduation.

Vince Yamat, 917Ventures managing director, said KodeGo is determined to raise the caliber of Filipino software engineers and address employment gaps in the country.

As part of the Globe Group, this is aligned with KodeGo’s support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which fosters innovation and infrastructure as economic drivers under SDG No. 9, and highlights partnerships towards achieving the SDGs under SDG No. 17.

Globe Business mounts Innovation Summit

The Innovation Summit 2022 by Globe Business digital conference will kick-off on August 25 and 26 via Airmeet digital platform. Through this event, Globe Business aims to open opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to learn more how they can leverage the right digital tools available to them so they can continue to experience success as they grow their business.

During the virtual summit, MSMEs will meet innovators, tech experts, and advisers who will help them adopt new technologies, improve engagement with their audiences and drive customer experience in back-to-back plenary sessions and workshops.

On the first day, discussions will focus on increasing the customer base with the following topics: Using Digital Solutions to Get Customers; Engage Your Customers to Build Your Brand Better; Building Apps on AWS, and Monitoring Strategies to Win More Customers.

The second day of sessions will revolve around the theme of customer satisfaction. Topics will include MSME Digital Transformation Roadmap, Keeping Customer Information Safe by Equipping Employees with Data Privacy Knowledge, and Engaging Customers Better by Providing Real Time Feedback.

Participants will also learn how to identify the right digital business strategy and how e-

commerce tools and next generation platforms like SquadZip, ChatGenie, M360 and Amazon Web Services, can set the groundwork for their digital future.

Phoenix takes home 5  Quill awards 

Phoenix Petroleum bagged five citations at the recently concluded 19th Philippine Quill Awards held on August 18. Phoenix’s five entries earned two Awards of Excellence and three Awards of Merit.

Phoenix earned an Award of Excellence, as well as a nomination for the Top Award under the Communication Skills category for its entry ‘Winnovation: Partner, kayang kaya basta’t sama-sama – Phoenix National Convention’, which features its groundbreaking virtual event. ‘Transforming the business: Phoenix’s Journey to Digitalization’ also earned an Award of Excellence having detailed the company’s pivotal digital shift. Meanwhile, Awards of Merit were each granted to Phoenix’s other entries ‘Born to Thrive, Built to Survive – Phoenix Petroleum 2020 Annual Report’, which highlighted the company’s creative and adaptive storytelling; ‘Para sa Customer, Only Da Best – Serving Delight Customer Experience’, which features FamilyMart’s customer experience innovations; and ‘Rising Amidst the Pandemic: Kayang Kaya Bastat’ Sama-sama’, which tells the story of the company as it grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

SGV holds tax symposium

Professional services firm SGV & Co. held its first-ever tax symposium, at  Fairmont Hotel on  August 19.

“The Future of Tax” was part of SGV’s Tax Vision campaign

Government representatives National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rosemarie  Edillon, Trade Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Lilia Guillermo and Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means  gave attendees a rundown of upcoming  tax legislation. Joining in the “Conversation with C-Suites” were Rafael  Consing Jr. of International Container Terminal Services Inc., John Nai Peng. Ong of SM Prime Holdings Inc., and Dennis Anthony  Uy of Converge ICT Solutions, Inc.

Virtual breakout sessions were held for SGV and EY partners  were held in the afternoon session.

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