ePLDT

How ePLDT is raising the bar on procurement in the Philippines

DIGITAL REPORT 2024

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

HOW ePLDT IS RAISING THE BAR ON PROCUREMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

How

ePLDT – the ICT subsidiary of Philippines telco PLDT –is helping

the local economy with its ambitious IT projects

EPLDT is the ICT subsidiary of PLDT, which at almost 100 years old is the largest and oldest telco in the Philippines. The man who leads its procurement function was almost literally born to the role.

Rai De Jesus, the Chief Procurement Officer of ePLDT, has a familial heritage deeply intertwined with the principles of logistics, entrepreneurship, and fiscal responsibility. His father, a logistics manager for the Philippines’ largest brewery, instilled in him the importance of supply chain management from an early age. Not only did his father impart knowledge and skills in this domain, but he also took his expertise a step further by establishing his own thirdparty logistics company upon retirement, which significantly aided De Jesus through his college years.

De Jesus also credits his mother for shaping his approach to financial management and budgeting which he says “fits the profile of a procurement professional”. He adds: “She taught us to live within our means, and I carried that over into my adult life.”

This laid a solid foundation of his professional life, particularly in his role overseeing procurement for ePLDT. These values have influenced De Jesus’s perspective on strategic sourcing, vendor management, and cost optimisation within the organisation.

“I was born into supply chain. My father was a logistics manager for the largest brewery in the Philippines, and my mother taught me budget management at an early age – like a procurement professional”

RAI ANTONIO DE JESUS CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER, ePLDT

ePLDT in Nation Building

As part of the PLDT Group’s vision to be a contributor to nation building through its products and services, ePLDT plays a pivotal role in delivering outcome-based tech solutions and services.

According to De Jesus, ePLDT operates in two primary domains: outcome-based secure multi-cloud and data centre solutions. In its data centre business, its subsidiary, VITRO, provides secure, reliable, and compliant data centre solutions to empower the mission-critical operations of its enterprise and hyperscale clients.

On the Cloud front, ePLDT provides custom-fit multi-cloud solutions and professional cloud tech services to meet the unique needs of its clientele. Being a subsidiary of PLDT, ePLDT works with global and local suppliers, mainly due to the nature of the clients that it serves, and also the quality of its solutions.

ePLDT building Philippines’ first hyperscale data centre

In building the country’s first hyperscale data centre ePLDT’s has brought employment opportunities to nearly 1,000 people,

De Jesus is joined by VITRO Inc. Senior executives: ePLDT Victor S. Genuino, President and CEO (Center), Gary F. Ignacio, Chief Product and Business Development Officer (2nd from left), and Angelene Garcia-Amistoso, Chief Financial Officer (4th from left)

RAI ANTONIO DE JESUS

TITLE: CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER

INDUSTRY: PROCUREMENT

Rai is responsible for driving procurement excellence in ePLDT with over 20 years of procurement supply chain experience.

He is concurrently the Head of Procurement for PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. Prior to his role in PLDT Group, Rai held senior roles in Citibank, Accenture, and Toyota.

Rai has a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Mapua Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from De La Salle University. He also has an international Diploma in Supply Chain from International Trade Centre in Switzerland and is a Certified Professional in Supply Management from the Institute of Supply Management in United States.

Your Critical Power Specialist

Industry

An independent group whose mission is to secure the performance of installations wherever it is critical

Challenge

Securing the power supply and ensuring continuous availability of clean power to prevent disruption to services

Solutions

Socomec has a comprehensive solution for Power Switching, Power Monitoring and Power Conversion. For the Sta. Rosa Hyperscale Data Center, ePLDT has chosen Socomec to provide UPS solutions, ensuring reliable power distribution and backup capabilities.

Outcomes

� Fully redundant architecture for maximum availability, minimum MTTR and risk-free maintenance

� Best in class and certified performance to optimize usage and Total Cost of Ownership

From time to time, they’ve checked on how they can improve as a partner. So far, everything they’ve committed to in the bid has been to the standard we expect.”

– Rai A. De Jesus, Vice President & Head of Procurement

A collaborative journey to GROWTH

In today’s digital age, consistent and uninterrupted power is paramount for several reasons.

Building a state-of-the-art hyperscale data center in Sta. Rosa presented unique challenges, particularly regarding the area’s strained power grid.

Through close collaboration with Socomec’s master distributor – Computer Support Centre, Inc. (CSCI), ePLDT and Socomec secured sufficient and reliable energy for the datacenter’s operations.Socomec’s unwavering commitment to excellence shone through in their comprehensive solution.

The success of this project can be attributed to several factors.The ePLDT Sta. Rosa Hyperscale Data Center project stands

“We are committed to delivering unparalleled service support to ePLDT, ensuring uninterrupted power for their critical data centers while optimizingtheir total cost of ownership.”

– Danilo B. Abarquez, Vice President (master distributor of

Socomec UPS in the Philippines)

ePLDT chose to partner with Socomec for the following reasons:

� Leading UPS manufacturer worldwide

� Good local presence with professional pre-sales support to select the best solution within defined constraints

� Best-in-class after-sales support to ensure the UPS are well maintained and operate in tip-top performances

as a testament of what can be achieved through collaboration, technical expertise, and a sharedcommitment to excellence.

“ePLDT is part of a complex ecosystem that delivers the best value solution for our customers”

RAI ANTONIO DE JESUS CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER, ePLDT

positively impacting local families and the economy at large. By spearheading this initiative, ePLDT has also spurred the development of similar data centres in the Philippines, keeping crucial infrastructure projects within the country’s borders and further contributing to the country’s economic growth.

ePLDT has a 700-strong network of suppliers and partners. De Jesus says the company is looking to rationalise this, by categorising suppliers based on strategic importance, approval status, whether they are a one-time supplier, emphasising that the efficacy of a company’s supply chain relies heavily on the reliability and commitment of its external partners.

Artist’s rendition of VITRO Santa Rosa, the Philippines’ first hyperscale-grade and largest data center

De Jesus emphasises that ePLDT adopts a holistic approach to supplier selection, considering factors beyond cost, such as delivery timeliness, historical performance, contract terms, and aftersales service quality. He stresses the importance of choosing partners who demonstrate a proactive attitude towards feedback and continuous improvement. Among ePLDT’s essential partners is Socomec, specialising in low-voltage electrical network control and safety.

De Jesus commends Socomec’s role in their data centre infrastructure, highlighting the rigorous competitive bidding process that led to their selection. Moreover, he lauds Socomec’s efficient account management

style and commitment to project support, citing their proactive engagement and alignment between commitments made during the bidding process and subsequent delivery.

Elevating the Procurement Profession in the Philippines

The Procurement profession has evolved significantly in the country which is maturing to reach worldclass standards. The establishment of multinational regional offices in the Philippines, plays a crucial role in elevating the procurement profession through exposure to different practices outside the country. This fuels a culture

of excellence and innovation within the procurement domain.

Over the years, the perception of procurement has shifted from a backoffice support function to a pivotal business enabler integral to an organisation. He highlights the evolution towards strategic sourcing, robust category management, and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders as milestones in this progression. These advancements are instrumental in reshaping perceptions, positioning the profession as a respected peer and indispensable partner within organisations.

De Jesus emphasised the importance of data insights, skilled human capital and a strategic mindset ingrained in organisational culture for procurement to excel.

De Jesus blazing trail for procurement in Philippines

De Jesus emerges as a trailblazer in propelling the profession to new heights within the Philippines. Last year, he received the prestigious Excellence in Procurement Award from the Philippine Institute of Supply Management (PISM) – the oldest nonprofit organisation for supply management professionals in the Philippines.

He also bagged the W.Media’s Best Data Centre Procurement Team in Southeast Asia Award which recognises his contribution in ePLDT’s commitment to elevate digitalisation in the country.

Driven by passion and a profound sense of purpose, De Jesus finds fulfilment in the tangible impact of his work, recognising the important role that procurement plays in driving the success of organisations.

Sharing a milestone with his parents –his greatest source of inspiration

De Jesus shares his expertise on supply chain management with future supply chain specialists and leaders as a Part Time Professor at the University of Makati

Presenting at the general meeting of Foundation of the Society of Fellows in Supply Management (SOSFM)