Food, connectivity tools for Bahay Aruga
PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) donated food, connectivity tools, and other essential items to Bahay Aruga, a halfway house for pediatric cancer patients.
Driven by malasakit, the core value of the PLDT Group, the donation was led by PSF chairman Manuel V Pangilinan and PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio themselves. The donations included Smart LTE-advanced Pocket WiFi units and load cards, milk for babies, alcohol, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, and other hygiene items, fruits, vegetables, fish, and chicken, a refrigerator with juice drinks, vitamins for parents or caregivers, and blankets and pillow cases, among other necessities.
Connectivity tools, such as the Smart LTE-advanced Pocket WiFi, form part of the most essential items for Bahay Aruga.
PSF started to support Bahay Aruga in November 2018 when Pangilinan provided noche buena packs for the residents.
#GoLearn pushed
Globe’s most recent initiative, GoLearn, promotes continuous learning by further bridging the digital gaps in the education landscape in the country.
GoLearn has a wide array of connectivity solutions, learning platforms, and other digital tools that learners and teachers can easily access and afford. Schools can also receive assistance with their digital transformation to enhance teachers’ capabilities and support the learning competencies of students.
Yoly Crisanto, Globe chief sustainability officer and SVP for Corporate Communications introduced the program in her presentation at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Alumni Academe, Industry and Government National Summit (AAIG2021). The webinar talked about “Higher Education in the Industry 4.0 Era (What is to be done by each sector to catalyze the transformation of the Philippine educational landscape towards Education 4.0?).”
“For us in Globe, there is no reason for learning to stop even during a pandemic. As part of our commitment to the education sector, we endeavor to help enhance opportunities for our schools, educators, students, and parents. This is why we recently launched GoLearn, our unified initiative that brings together our various products, programs, and services to empower the whole learning ecosystem,” said Crisanto.
e-OVR app powered by PayMaya
Mandaluyong City tapped digital financial services leader PayMaya to enable its Electronic Ordinance Violation Receipt (e-OVR) app, the first electronic traffic management app with integrated digital payments invoicing in the country.
The e-OVR app, developed by Lexys Technologies, is equipped with PayMaya Digital Invoice linked to PayMaya’s online payment gateway.
Traffic enforcers in Mandaluyong City will be enabled with a smartphone with the e-OVR app, allowing the City’s Traffic and Parking Management Office to monitor and record traffic violations efficiently. Data is transmitted to the city’s centralized portal, which can also alert traffic enforcers and motorists if there are unsettled penalties.
Citizens will now have a more convenient way to settle traffic fines when they receive notifications from Mandaluyong City.
Shop conveniently
GCash is now available as a payment option at SM Markets, mother brand of SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and Savemore Market.
With 48 million active users, the largest financial app in the country will provide greater convenience for millions of SM Markets customers in the greater Manila area and nearby provinces.
“The new normal brought about a lot of new and unique challenges Filipinos were only able to solve through digital payments, and we are happy that leading institutions in the Philippines, like the SM Group, were very quick to adapt to the needs of the country. We are thrilled to partner with and enable digital payments for SM Markets”, said Martha Sazon, president and CEO of GCash.
The GCash payment facility of SM Markets was designed and built by Paynamics Technologies, a leading payment solutions provider.
Sodexo+ digital upgrade
Sodexo gift certificates (GCs) have undergone a digital upgrade in time for the holidays.
This will provide over 2 million consumers easier access to rewards and benefits from over 12,000 established Sodexo merchants in the Philippines.
Through the Shop feature of the Sodexo+ app, users can now convert their digital GCs into e-vouchers of leading e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, ZALORA, Grab and FlowerStore.ph.
The “Share GC” feature on the app lets users send any amount of GC to anyone.
The SM Gift Pass, Sodexo’s co-branded paper GC, is now digital and is available through the Sodexo+ for contactless transactions at SM Department stores, SM Supermarkets and SM retail affiliates.
Sodexo’s “Joy of Gifting” campaign offers corporate clients deals: Early Bird Promo for up to 2 percent rebate and as much as 80% off on portal fees; Ham and Christmas Baskets; and End-of-Season Sale for up to P2,000 Sodexo+ rebate.
Security Bank fund-raising
Security Bank Corp.’s corporate social responsibility arm, Security Bank Foundation Inc. (SBFI) held its third fund-raising event recently to support the education of its 120 scholars that are currently supported by the Foundation’s Regalo Mo, Kinabukasan Ko (RMKK) Scholarship Program.
The Foundation will be conducting Perfect Harmony concert in December. SBFI also receives direct contributions of employees and clients through programs such as conversion of Security Bank Mastercard’s rewards to donation points.
Pilmico-RAFI partnership
RAFI Micro-finance, Inc. (RAFI MFI) partnered with Pilmico & Gold Coin Group (Pilmico), to champion sustainable livelihood and backyard farming entrepreneurship opportunities which aim to boost the agribusiness industry.
The program will provide low-income Filipinos with alternative livelihood opportunities such as backyard farming, and in bakery and agri-posts businesses. This is expected to support the recovery and resiliency programs for the chosen communities.
The partnership program kicks off with the turn over of livelihood kits including a gift package, egg machines or bakery starter kits to beneficiaries through Pimico’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. The barangay agri-post reseller program intends to provide their clients with the opportunity to become resellers of Pilmico products as well as gain access to financial bridging services to enhance the sustainability of Pilmico’s CSR livelihood programs.
The Egg Machine Livelihood Kit will provide each beneficiary with ready-to-lay hens complete with cages, drinkers, weighing scale, and 1 month worth of feeds consumption.
The Bakery Livelihood Kit includes provision of baking equipment and initial Pilmico Flour requirement to start their bakery business.
Returning to work safely
International SOS, the world’s leading health, travel, and security solutions provider, said organizations should immediately prepare airtight return-to-work policies to ensure the safety of their employees and their businesses during the transition.
In a learning session with the American Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Candelet, general manager of International SOS Philippines, said that aside from being agile and responsive, companies need practical back-to-work plans that abide by local guidelines.
Candelet also said organizations should consistently engage, communicate, and address the concerns of their staff to ensure their physical well-being and productivity.
Thriving with PRIDE and the youth
Cargill Philippines empowers its employees by launching the Cargill Pride Network and Cargill Young Professionals Network.
This aims “to redouble our efforts in providing equal opportunity to all employees to grow in their line of work,” said Sonny Catacutan, Cargill Philippines country president.
To jumpstart the initiatives for the Pride Network, Cargill Philippines launches “Encantadia”, an inclusive venue to plan, mingle and discuss views about the LGBTQIA++
Cargill Philippines is the second country in the Cargill APAC to establish the Pride Network that aims to create a culture of inclusion for its LGBTQIA++ employees across the company, and focus on continuously fostering an equitable, safe and supportive business environment for all employees, allies and business associates.
Epson earns platinum rating
Seiko Epson Corp. has earned its second successive platinum rating for sustainability from France-based EcoVadis.
The platinum rating, which was established in 2020, indicates that Epson was ranked among the top 1 percent of companies in the industry. Epson had received a gold rating the previous three years.
The platinum rating was awarded in recognition of Epson’s global sustainability initiatives.
In the four themes assessed by EcoVadis, Epson received high scores for the environment, sustainable procurement, labor and human rights, and ethics, putting it in the top 1 percent of companies in the industry.
Best PR agency
Multi-awarded communications consulting firm, PAGEONE Group, made a clean sweep at the 3rd Asean PR Excellence Awards besting other agencies in Southeast Asia.
The six-year-old agency emerged as the most awarded PR agency after it received four awards in the just concluded virtual awarding ceremonies.
It won the most prestigious Best PR Agency Award besting established agencies in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other Philippine-based firms.
The chairman and CEO of PAGEONE Group, Ron Jabal, APR also won Best PR Practitioner for his exemplary body of work in public relations in the Philippines and abroad.
The agency’s campaign against youth depression through the use of social media and digital avatars won Best Communication Use of social media in the Asean PR Excellence Awards.
The agency and the Department of Transportation won the Best Government PR category for the Public Utility Modernization Program campaign.
