MVP Group strengthens COVID Warriors
Tulong Kapatid, the corporate social responsibility alliance of foundations and companies under the MVP Group of Companies, mobilized a daily distribution of meals for COVID frontliners amid the alarming increase of COVID-19 cases.
Fully aware of how Metro Pacific Hospitals Group’s frontliners have been at the forefront of defense, exposing them to a higher risk of infection with each upsurge, the group activated the Salamat mga MVPs initiative.
Spearheaded by chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and the MVP Group CSR Council, Tulong Kapatid organized an immediate response to the depleting supplies of personal protective equipment (PPEs) in hospitals, augmenting the discrepancy by purchasing as much resources as possible. This “second wave,” hospitals called for hot meals to provide nourishment for their medical and utility personnel, a request that the group was more than willing to address.
On Easter Sunday, the group, comprised of Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc., Maynilad, Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, One Meralco Foundation and PLDT-Smart Foundation, distributed over 7,800 meals to nine hospitals under MPHHI – Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital, Marikina Valley Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, De los Santos Medical Center, Dr. Jesus C. Delgado Memorial Hospital, Manila Doctors Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, and Sacred Heart Hospital of Malolos – as well as government hospitals in Quezon City. Public hospital beneficiaries included the East Avenue Medical Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the Philippines, the Philippine General Hospital, PNP General Hospital, Victoriano Luna General Hospital, and Rizal Medical Center.
PAGCOR released over P400-M for multi-purpose evacuation center
SINCE it launched the Multi-Purpose Evacuation Centers (MPECs) project in November 2020, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has already released a total of P413,950,000 out of its P2 billion budget for the construction of typhoon-resilient evacuation centers around the country.
The released amount represents the first tranche of funding for identified project beneficiaries, most of which are localities that are in the direct path of typhoons.
The latest to receive MPEC funding from PAGCOR were the municipalities of Catarman in Northern Samar and San Andres in Quezon Province. Catarman received an initial P25 million to commence the construction of an MPEC in the town.
Meanwhile, San Andres initially received P13,950,000 to commence the construction of its third PAGCOR-funded MPEC in Barangay Poblacion, amounting to P27.9 million.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo and President and COO Alfredo Lim officially turned over the grants to Catarman Municipal Mayor Francisco Rosales, Jr. and San Andres Municipal Administrator Ferdinand Lacbayo at the agency’s Executive Office in Manila last March 16.
Apart from Catarman and San Andres, PAGCOR has also released the first tranche of funding for the MPECs in Tapaz, Capiz; Romblon; Zamboanga del Sur; Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; Tadian, Mountain Province; Legazpi City and Ligao in Albay; Ocampo, Tigaon, San Jose and Sagnay in Camarines Sur; and San Fernando and Floridablanca in Pampanga.
New parents in the PH feel high pressure, have low financial resilience
The Parenting Index Report, a first-of-its-kind study into”¯parenting experiences in 16 countries including the Philippines, has identified universal factors that impact on ease of parenting across the world.
Commissioned by Nestlé headquartered in Switzerland, the Index is a component of the Nestlé Parenting Initiative as a part of the company’s commitment to support new parents in raising their children. The study was conducted by Kantar, an evidence-based insight and consulting global company.
The eight universal factors are absence of pressure (internal and external), financial resilience, support for working life, an easy baby, health and well-being resources, a supportive environment, shared parenting, and parenting confidence.
The survey found that parents in the Philippines (ranked 14th) feel pessimistic in three key factors, including experiencing high levels of pressure and low financial resilience. They also report feeling less satisfied across all the other factors.
According to the Index, despite financial and economic difficulties, Filipino parents surveyed feel comfortable and confident about their parenting decisions, much of which could be attributed to the upholding of traditional family values of respect and trust in the advise of older family members.
According to Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouk, the Parenting Index Report is a resource not only for the company but also for other stakeholders in the public and the private sectors. Nestlé Philippines, he said, implements a parental support policy which recognizes that each family is unique and supports all forms of family set-ups: biological or adoptive parents, including same-sex partners, single parents, and legal guardians.
The Makati Administrative Office of the company is certified as a Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace promoting breastfeeding and early child development through the establishment of a lactation facility, and the provision of paid lactation breaks and the maintenance of day care services.
PLDT, PBSP empower women in Payatas
PLDT and the Philippine Business for Social Progress support the women communities in Payatas through various livelihood programs and donations.
Amid the pandemic, they provided livelihood opportunities for the Solidarity for Orphans and Widows (SOW) women seamstresses in Payatas. The SOW provided handmade washable facemasks and customized PLDT pouches for the company. The facemasks are part of the hygiene kits distributed by PLDT in various schools and communities across the country.
PLDT turned over grocery items to the 12 women seamstresses of SOW and two women leaders that have been helping the SOW group in Payatas. The grocery items were packed inside colorful pandan bags that were weaved by the women artisans from Toboso, Negros Occidental.
SeekCap offers business loans
SeekCap has partnered with Alliance Software, to offer the latter’s micro, small and medium enterprise-clients business loans.
Alliance WebPOS customers can now apply for a business loan via SeekCap to help them expand or upgrade their businesses as the economy is starting to open up again. The Alliance and SeekCap partnership will provide a timely, in some cases immediate response to help small business owners with their short-term capital needs.
SeekCap, UBX’s online lending platform, has been a supporting pillar to MSMEs during these unprecedented times. Since launch, over 38,000 MSMEs have registered on the SeekCap platform and over P1.5 billion worth of business loans have been processed.
Sentro supercharging Facebook Shops
Facebook has introduced Facebook Shops with the goal of making it easier for businesses to set up an online store that is accessible on both Facebook and Instagram. On their Facebook Shops, customers can browse, save and order the products.
From March 12, these shops can now be easily linked and connected to Sentro, UBX’s free online shop platform with pre-integrated payment and logistics capabilities.
Since it launched in April 2019, Sentro has been providing end-to-end e-commerce experience to over 30,000 Filipino SMEs. Its built-in payment gateway that enables merchants to accept payments via over-the-counter, online banking, E-wallets, and debit and credit cards, as well as its integrated delivery services powered by Mr. Speedy, Sentro has been exceptionally successful in aiding businesses in the midst of this pandemic.
Efficient, safe commute
Singapore-based transport solution, SWAT Mobility, said efficient and safe commute can help curb the spread of COVID-19 without sacrificing business operations and economic gains.
SWAT Mobility works with fleet operators that provide safety checks such as temperature checking and hand sanitizers on board, not to mention enforcing safe distancing during trips.
It has a full suite of integrated systems designed to handle the complexities of an on-demand transport service. SWAT Mobility dynamically routes shared rides in real-time through its technology, which includes the front-end use of a rider app, a driver app, and a fleet management dashboard.
The solution is also able to have full data capture for contact tracing and record keeping.
Last year, SWAT joined hands with Toyota Mobility Foundation to provide an efficient and reliable transport solution to the frontliners serving at the Philippine General Hospital.
Mondelez PH appoints new marketing head
Mondelez Philippines has welcomed a new marketing head, Toby Gatchalian who will lead a team of more than 15 individuals across all the company’s product categories – biscuits, chocolate, gum, candy, powdered beverages and cheese.
Gatchalian will report to Southeast Asia senior director for marketing Nikhil Rao.
Gatchalian comes with 21 years of marketing and sales background in fast-moving consumer goods and banking.
A graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University, Gatchalian has vast experience working in different countries, having held roles in Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam and the US.
