MPIC features global ESG experts in first Group Sustainability Summit
Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) assembled an impressive line-up of global environmental, social and governance experts in their first-ever Group Sustainability Summit held virtually last August 6.
Attended by over 300 participants composed of MPIC’s and MVP Group Companies’ Board of Directors and Senior Management as well as sustainability champions across all of MPIC’s businesses, the summit was designed to bring key issues such as climate change, sustainability reporting standards, investor expectations and emerging global trends, among others, at the forefront of senior management’s agenda.
Aligning with global best practices in sustainability begins with ensuring that decision-makers are kept abreast with recent developments and trends. To achieve this goal, MPIC purposely partnered with established institutions who graciously shared their insights during the summit.
Speakers included Neil Stewart, director of Corporate Outreach at the Value Reporting Foundation; EY Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services and Oceania Chief Sustainability Officer Mathew Nelson; Brendan Baker, vice president and ESG climate specialist at MSCI; BSR Vice President for Asia-Pacific Jeremy Prepscius with co-panelists Melissa Brown, Partner at Daobridge Capital; S&P Global’s Sustainable1, Michael Salvatico, head of Asia Pacific ESG Business Development and Bertrand Jabouley, head of Sustainable Finance, Asia-Pacific.
MPIC Investors M&G Investments were represented by Ben Constable-Maxwell, head of Impact Investing and Michael Bourke, head of Global Emerging Markets and Fund Manager.
Yayu Javier, United Nations Global Compact Network Philippines (UNGCP) chairperson, and SGV & Co Business Consulting Partner Joseph Ian Canlas, together with Business for Sustainable Development’s Executive Director Bonar Laureto also presented.
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Ayala Land receives Best Practices Award
Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) was recently conferred the 2021 Philippines Property Development Competitive Strategy Leadership Award by Frost & Sullivan in its Best Practices Awards. The program recognizes and honors best-in-class companies that have demonstrated excellence in their respective industries.
“Ayala Land was recognized for the organization’s strong overall performance in the past year, and the collaborative effort of its employees, customers and investors that contribute meaningfully to its future,” the Frost & Sullivan group announced.
Frost & Sullivan analysts identify award recipients from in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research. To distinguish best practices, they typically study companies’ revenues, market shares, capabilities, and overall contribution to the industry.
Ayala Land also celebrated its milestone 30th year as a listed company at the Philippine Stock Exchange this July.
The company maintains a total land bank of 12,483 hectares nationwide.
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Tunnel boring machine completes work
The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that was used to construct the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 (NBAQ4) has completed its work as it emerges at the La Mesa Reservoir this month.
Launched at the Balara Treatment Plant 2 on January, the TBM “Dalisay” laid a 7.3-kilometer long, 3.1-meter diameter pipe underneath Commonwealth Avenue without inconvenience to traffic.
This project is the first to use this technology in Metro Manila.
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) used a similar machine for constructing Tunnel 4 of the Angat Water Tunnel Improvement Project (AWTIP) in Norzagaray, Bulacan.
In a ceremony held to celebrate this milestone, guests onsite and those that attended through Zoom witnessed the exposure of Dalisay’s cutter head from the soft concrete at the exit shaft at the La Mesa Reservoir.
Present onsite were the NovaBala JV project team led by Project Manager Rod Scott and joining through Zoom were MWSS Board of Trustees Chairman and OIC-Administrator Gen. Reynaldo Velasco (Ret.), MWSS-Deputy Administrator, Engineering and Technical Operations Group Jose Dorado, MWSS Field Operations Management Department Manager Jun Escoto, Manila Water Company Chief Administrative Officer Roberto R. Locsin, Manila Water Corporate Project Management Group Director Robert N. Baffrey, Manila Water East Zone Chief Operating Officer Abelardo Basilio, Manila Water Non-East Zone and International Business Chief Operating Officer Melvin John Tan, and the rest of the Manila Water project team.
Once completed in June 2022, the NBAQ4 will help ensure continuous water supply for more than 7 million population served in the East Zone concession area of the MWSS.
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Lazada x Collabs
Lazada once again joins hands with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in putting thespotlight on local sellers at the 8.8 Love Local Sale to provide Filipinos an opportunity to discover and support local brands and products.
Lazada x Collabs provides shoppers quick access to the most up-to-date discounts, vouchers, and promotions from select partner brands. Among them are homegrown chocolate maker Chocoloco and sake brand Jzaki – two of many local sellers that have diversified business and gone digital through Lazada since the pandemic hit.
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Cebu Pacific transports over 7M vaccine doses
Cebu Pacific surpassed another milestone as it carried over seven million vaccine doses across the Philippines.To date, it has safely flown vaccines to 23 provinces in the country.
CEB was the first airline to transport vaccine doses to Jolo and Basilan via Zamboanga on July 23, 2021. On August 6, the carrier again flew vaccine shipments to both municipalities — 39,000 Janssen doses to Jolo, and 5,000 Sinovac doses to Basilan.
The transported vaccines were subject to the most stringent standards to guarantee product potency and efficacy until they arrive at their designated stations.
Apart from Zamboanga, CEB has also carried vaccines to 22 other destinations since March 2021, specifically: Bacolod, Bohol, Butuan, Caticlan, Cauayan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legazpi, Masbate, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Tacloban, Tawi-tawi, Tuguegarao, and Virac.
The airline has also transported over 16.5 million vaccine doses from China to Manila since April 2021.
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Kapuso Bigay Premyo grand winner
Kapuso Bigay Premyo Panalo, this year’s installment of the GMA’s network promo for the first half of the year, recently concluded its 10-week run with P8million worth of prizes given away to 1,600 winners and sari-sari store affiliates through its partner sponsors Aji-No-Moto Umami Seasoning, Nescafe Original, Milo and Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink.
The promo is giving away prizes to daily and weekly winners, including 40 winners of P100,000 cash and one winner of a house and lot unit from Lumina Homes.
Thirty-four-year old Grace Jean Buringgit from Cainta, Rizal gets the grand prize as her entry was the lucky one drawn among thousands to win an inner townhouse unit in one of Lumina’s neighborhoods.
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SMC to expand its Sariaya marketplace
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is looking to expand its newly-opened marketplace for fisherfolk and farmers in Sariaya, Quezon, and turn it into a major wholesale market or “bagsakan center” of fresh goods from Southern Luzon–and eventually providing food supplies to nearby provinces and Metro Manila.
Dubbed the “San Miguel Market”, the new marketplace was soft-opened recently with 56 vendors, many of them coming from the 350 families that SMC has helped relocate from high-risk coastal areas.
The marketplace is the latest addition to SMC’s sustainable community project in Sariaya, which includes the 5.4-hectare San Miguel-Christian Gayeta village–that features disaster-resilient houses–and a 3.5-hectare fishermen’s dock with fishermen’s hall, that can secure up to 100 boats and store 70 boat engines and other fishing equipment.
“Our goal is to expand this to up to 10,000 square meters or one hectare, from its present 3,000 square meters total area. With that size, it can become a major wholesale market or ‘bagsakan’ of fresh goods from all over Sariaya and the rest of Quezon province. It can be a source of fresh produce for neighboring provinces and even Metro Manila–so many farmers and fishermen from all over South Luzon can benefit,” said SMC president Ramon S. Ang.
Currently, products sold at the market include fresh fruits, vegetables, rice, seafoods and meats. It also has a health and wellness stall, cellphone repair shop, pharmacy, bakery, shoe store, and a San Miguel Foods store.
The San Miguel Market offers fresh fruits, vegetables, rice, seafoods, and meats, among others.
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Toyota Corolla 50M milestone
Toyota Corolla is celebrating a global sales milestone of 50 million cars since it made its debut in November 1966 in Japan as a 1-litre compact 5-seater sedan,
Now in its 12th generation, it is Toyota’s most recognized model, and one of the world’s top-selling cars.
Available in more than 150 countries around the world, the Corolla is regarded as a ‘well-loved member of the family’. It continues to serve faithfully and dependably for different purposes — from reliable family car to covering long commute distances and as a fun, sporty choice customised to changing customer lifestyles.
Among Toyota models, the Corolla offers hybrid electric options that provide all the torque and acceleration needed on everyday driving and highways. It is drawing from the leadership of Toyota in electrification technology since the launch of the Prius Hybrid 21 years ago.
Looking ahead, Toyota may consider hydrogen-powered vehicles as a viable alternative to our current electrified options.
Toyota has introduced an SUV to the Corolla lineup, the Corolla Cross. Since its launch, demand has been strong for both the gasoline and hybrid electric engine models.
