11/2021
Malang
Vicente Manansala
Juvenal Sanso Phyllis Zaballero
Romulo Olazo
J Elizalde Navarro
Fernando Amorsolo
www.firstpacific.com
A YEAR OF SPECIAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
2 PayMaya secures Maya Bank license | 7 PacificLight’s pioneering project 10 CCLEX milestone | 14 40th Anniversary dedicated to communities
THE VIEW – NOVEMBER 2021
V IS IT THE V IEW ONL IN E
First Pacific Group companies have been engaged in a dual mission this year: to deliver steady growth and to mark our 40th Anniversary year by giving back to the communities we serve. In this issue of The View, we cover several milestones. Voyager’s PayMaya secures a digital banking license for Maya Bank; MPIC completed the last section of its engineering masterpiece, Cebu’s CCLEX bridge; PacificLight Power ventures into solar power importing. At grassroots, the Group has touched the lives of so many with vaccine aid, livelihood projects, food and sustainable gardening, environmental protection and much more. These activities continue to reflect our vision to create long-term value in Asia.
First Pacific Company Limited 24/F, Two Exchange Square 8 Connaught Place Central, Hong Kong SAR Telephone: +852 2842 4388 www.firstpacific.com
PUBLISHER Manuel V Pangilinan EDITOR-IN-CHIEF John Ryan EXECUTIVE EDITORIAL ADVISOR Sara Cheung EDITORIAL AND DESIGN TEAM Editor Julia Brown Production Director Katy Li Creative Director Jan Adams
Welcome to the November edition of The View and visit our online version at www.firstpacific.com/ press/theview. It highlights stories from around the group with videos to bring our news, innovations and events to life. The digital version can be enjoyed at your desk or on your mobile phones wherever you are. Please click in and let us know your feedback. CONTENTS 1 A word from the Chief 2 PLDT accelerates digital transformation with Maya Bank 3 PayMaya and Smart power the GigaLife 4 PLDT, Meralco hypercollaborate PLDT lauds ‘unbreakable spirit’ of enterprises amid challenging times 5 R-EVOLUTION at PLDT Digicon 2021 6 Taking flavor and crispness to the next level 7 PacificLight pioneers solar import to Singapore 8 MPIC rolls out one-stop healthcare 9 A day of free wellness for all CSMC entering a new medical arena 10 An epic milestone – CCLEX nears completion 11 #WeGotYourVac Immunization Program 12 Service is in our DNA 14 First Pacific 40th anniversary – Dedicated to our communities 17 Indofood’s solidarity for humanity vaccinations Indofood provides homes with love 18 Building a better world – PLDT and Smart’s UNGC report 19 PLDT, Smart tackle e-waste 20 MPIC Group protecting lakelands for future generations 21 MPTC’s green highways Maynilad taps green energy 22 NLEX reduces its carbon footprint 23 Through the lens of abundance – Banyan Tanim! anniversary 24 PLDT named Asiamoney’s most outstanding Telco ePLDT wins Cisco’s regional partner award 25 MVP: the Man and His Art wins gold 26 Smart is recognized as Philippines’ Most Reliable 5G Operator by Ookla Smart named Global Leader in 5G Video Experience by Opensignal PayMaya wins global Juniper Research gold 27 MPIC ranks 1st in Sustainalytics ESG Risk Ratings 28 Keeping Christmas and hope alive
First Pacific is a Hong Kong-based investment management and holding company with operations located in Asia-Pacific. Our principal businesses relate to consumer food products, telecommunications, infrastructure and natural resources. Within these sectors, our mission is to unlock value in our operatiing companies by: Delivering dividend/distribution returns to shareholders; Delivering share price/value appreciation of First Pacific and its operating companies; and Making further investments in value-enhancing businesses, taking into consideration all relevant criteria, including Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) factors to better manage risk and generate sustainable long-term returns.
A WORD FROM THE CHIEF
A word from the Chief Fellow members of the First Pacific Community,
As the year 2021 winds down to a close, signalling an end to our 40th year, we have much to reflect on, but much to be proud of. After 40 years, we might expect to see that the Group is running along smoothly with steady income from businesses built up over the decades. All this is true: Indofood has been producing instant noodles and other popular food products for decades, and PLDT remains the largest telco in the Philippines, just as it was about a century ago. Both Companies continue to deliver strong and steady earnings and growth. Metro Pacific is the flagship infrastructure company of First Pacific. What sets us apart is our ability to innovate over the years. Indofood has entered the global food stage with the acquisition of Pinehill, a business operating halfway around the world. It continues to expand into new product ranges, building out its domestic snacks business into a full spectrum offering. PLDT is leading the way into 5G services and in the expansion of its Fiber network to homes and enterprises. It is as well branching out into providing data services to hyperscalers in cooperation with Meralco, and building its digital financial services business with Maya Bank, which has obtained a digital banking license in the Philippines.
Among our new initiatives, PacificLight Power has joined a consortium to build a 100MW-equivalent solar farm in Indonesia which will export its electricity to increasingly green energyhungry Singapore. Not to be outdone, PacificLight Power’s biggest shareholder — Meralco — is fast building out its own renewable power plants in the Philippines, with a five year goal of 1,500MW of renewable energy. Nearly all of our Group companies have continued to deliver earnings growth during 2021. First Pacific itself had its second-highest ever first-half earnings and is on course to set a new full-year record profit in the next few years on current trends. As you review the varied interesting stories in this edition of The View, join me in taking pride in our achievements over the past four decades, and the successes we are building with new initiatives today. I am deeply appreciative of all that you have done, and continue to do, to build the terrific businesses we have under the First Pacific banner. Finally, in keeping with the festive season, may I wish all of you the best of Christmas 2021. MVP
THE VIEW 1
PLDT accelerates digital transformation with Maya Bank Voyager’s PayMaya secures digital bank license from BSP
P
LDT group has taken a great step forward in its digital banking development.
PLDT’s Voyager Innovations, Inc. (“Voyager”) is the leading technology company in the Philippines, focused on emerging market platforms for digital and financial inclusion. Its financial technology arm, PayMaya Philippines (“PayMaya”) is firmly established as the country’s trusted e-wallet and payment processing system. On 20 September 2021 Voyager, through PayMaya, announced that it had obtained the approval of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (“BSP”) to establish a digital bank.
To be named Maya Bank, it will leverage PayMaya’s successful track record of being at the forefront of accelerating financial inclusion in the country. Maya Bank’s primary focus will be the largely unbanked and underserved population of consumers and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (“MSMEs”). ACCELERATING DIGITAL ADOPTION Chairman of PLDT, Voyager and PayMaya Manuel V Pangilinan said: “The digital transformation of our country is at the top of the PLDT group’s agenda, and this development is a big step forward for Voyager and PayMaya. Maya Bank will be a key vehicle in hastening digital adoption among Filipinos through inclusive financial services.”
GROWTH BY THE NUMBERS
Over 300,000 customer touchpoints nationwide
Smart Padala by PayMaya agent network
over 55,000
over 2.5X
92%
40 million
touchpoints, present in
of all cities and municipalities
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PayMaya’s total registered users grew by
since the start of 2020 to
as of end-August 2021
50%
Filipino adults have used the PayMaya wallet or transacted through Smart Padala touchpoints
NEWS
The BSP had earlier announced that it would limit the digital bank licenses to seven, with six now granted, including Maya Bank’s. PayMaya and Maya Bank will spearhead Voyager’s support of the BSP’s goals of digitizing 50% of the total volume of retail payments and expanding the financially included to 70% of Filipino adults by 2023. Voyager and PayMaya CEO-Founder Orlando B Vea said: “The Philippines is at the cusp of digital transformation, and over the recent years, PayMaya has led the charge in accelerating financial inclusion across consumers and enterprises. Our digital bank license underpins the unique value of our end-to-end financial services ecosystem as it unlocks opportunities beyond payments. We are truly honored by the trust placed on us by the BSP for our digital banking endeavor.” Maya Bank will provide mobile-first digital banking services and maximize PayMaya’s extensive Smart Padala agent network and leading merchant payments processing business. A highly inclusive approach has propelled tremendous growth for the company as Filipinos turn to digital and cashless technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. <<
FUNDING FOR MAYA BANK In June 2021, Voyager raised an additional US$167 million to accelerate the growth of PayMaya’s digital payments business and expand to new products, such as credit, insurance, savings, and investments, through Maya Bank. Voyager’s shareholders include PLDT Inc., KKR, Tencent, and World Bank’s IFC Asset Management Company through its IFC Emerging Asia Fund and IFC Financial Growth Fund.
PayMaya and Smart power the GigaLife Many Filipino professionals have turned to their smartphones to continue working remotely, as the country implements community quarantines to curb COVID-19.
T
hey also rely on their phones for study and entertainment. GigaLife is the answer, offering customized services and experiences based on customers’ ‘passion points’ of Video, Stories, Games, Study, Work or Music. It is enabled by Smart’s fastest LTE and 5G networks, as cited by third-party analytics firm Ookla. In July 2021, PayMaya teamed up with Smart to launch GigaPay, a feature that enables Smart customers to link their PayMaya e-wallet as the payment source for GigaLife transactions. GigaLife Smart customers marked the first anniversary of ‘GigaLife’ with GigaFest this September in a month of exclusive treats and world-class entertainment. Since the launch of the GigaLife App, Smart has given away over 919 million worth of data freebies and exclusive rewards to its over five million users. <<
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NEWS
PLDT, MERALCO HYPERCOLLABORATE
T
Powering the Philippines’ bid for global hyperscalers
he Philippines is gearing up to attract the global hyperscaler market: cloud and content giants who are seeking data center infrastructure in Asia Pacific. PLDT and Meralco are leveraging their partnership and their leadership positions in a hypercollaboration to further power the country’s digital and power infrastructure. They recently joined the Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) and the Board of Investments (“BOI”) in the government’s push to invite leading global technology service providers to expand their operations in the Philippines.
centers that includes fortifying its data center design and facilities, diversifying its network infrastructure, and bringing sustainability at the core of its operations.”
ROADMAP FOR GROWTH WITH SUSTAINABILITY ePLDT President and CEO and SVP and Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise and International Business Groups, Jovy I Hernandez said, “PLDT continues to work with Meralco for the power grid design and renewable energy requirements of our data centers. These enhancements allow us to anticipate the specifications fit for hyperscaler, such as multiple grid terminations for redundancy and sustainable design. ePLDT has set out a clear roadmap for its VITRO data
Meralco Group Chief Sustainability Officer and CEO of eSakay Raymond B Ravelo said Meralco recognizes its role to spur and support the growth of hyperscalers by delivering reliable, high-quality and “earth-friendly” power. “We in Meralco are committed to working shoulder-toshoulder with our government, our colleagues in the MVP group of companies, and fellow stakeholders in the Philippine energy sector and business community, as we all do our part in transforming our country into a regional hyperscaler powerhouse,” Ravelo said. <<
PLDT lauds ‘unbreakable spirit’ of enterprises amid challenging times
View the Unbreakable Commitment video
PLDT Enterprise recently unveiled its Unbreakable Commitment campaign to honor the resilience of its enterprise partners. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented immense challenges to business owners in the Philippines. Despite that, ePLDT President and CEO and SVP and Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise and International Business Groups, Jovy Hernandez said that resilience is one of the core values that helped businesses conquer the challenges of the pandemic. This ‘unbreakable spirit’ of enterprises allowed them to face uncertainties and take the necessary measures to continue their operations.
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Watch at www.firstpacific.com/press/theview.php
“We express our sincerest gratitude to all of our partners for their continued trust in us. And we at PLDT Enterprise underscore our unbreakable commitment in providing more innovative digital solutions suitable to the changing times that will further support the recovery and growth of businesses”, he affirmed. <<
NEWS
R-EVOLUTION at PLDT Digicon 2021
P
In its seventh year, Digicon has never been more relevant LDT Enterprise hosted the Philippines’ most prestigious digital thought leadership event, the Philippine Digital Convention 2021 (“PH Digicon 2021”) from 6 – 8 October. Global industry thought leaders and pioneers in technology gathered to drive technological empowerment among enterprises across the country. With the theme “R-EVOLUTION,” the convention encouraged delegates to explore the possibilities of the new world of business and embrace the revolutionary change needed to stay ahead in the ever-changing business landscape. This year’s distinguished guests, speakers and sponsors were a luminary line-up. They included: Academy Award-Winning Actress, Film/TV Producer and UN Messenger of Peace, Charlize Theron; Chairman, PLDT Group Manuel V Pangilinan; Nokia SVP and Head of Asia Pacific and Japan, John Harrington; President, Huawei Asia Pacific Enterprise
Business Group, Nicholas Ma and Cisco President APAC, Japan and Greater China, Dave West. Leaders of the Philippines’ business and technology sectors also participated. INNOVATION FOR A BETTER WORLD PLDT Group executives hosting the event included PLDT and Smart Communications President and CEO Alfredo S Panlilio, ePLDT President and CEO and SVP and Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise and International Business Groups, Jovy Hernandez, FVP and Head of PLDT
Enterprise Core Business Solutions Jojo Gendrano, PLDT Enterprise VP and Head of ICT Business Nico Alcoseba, among others, with PLDT Group’s FVP and Head of Corporate Communications Cathy Yap-Yang as the digital convention’s official host. Panlilio set a visionary tone for the conference. “The goal of innovation is to create a better world for all, where technology is simple, accessible, empowering, and sustainable. I am proud to enjoin everyone for the PH Digicon 2021’s digital revolution as we reinforce our commitment to keeping working towards realizing our goals and never being afraid to take the next step in the evolution of technology.” <<
R-EVOLUTION: PH DIGICON 2021
10,000+ international delegates
5,000+
participating multi-national companies
5,000+ networking opportunities
120+
global thought leaders and industry experts
200+
tech and business insights
70+
virtual activities
30+
hours of livestream sessions
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NEWS
TAKING FLAVOR AND CRISPNESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL Indofood introduces new snack brands to the market
The newly-launched brands are:
I
ndofood has recently launched three new major snack brands in Indonesia.
In February 2021, PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk (“ICBP”) purchased 49% of shares of its operating subsidiary in the snack foods business from a company of PepsiCo, Inc. In August, ICBP completed the transition period to cease production and sales of its PepsiCo-licensed brands. The new brands and products have been available since then, with TV and crosschannel digital marketing activation following in October throughout Indonesia. Price promotions are also being rolled out to encourage mass trialing of the snacks.
CHITATO LITE Chitato Lite’s thinly-sliced chips are made from real potatoes and aimed at young adults, to inspire them to embrace life with a happy-golightly spirit. Chitato Lite’s thin and flat cut chips offer a crunchier sensation and light sensorial excitement. It comes in four flavors: Nori Seaweed, Beef Barbeque, Salmon Teriyaki and Sour Cream Onion.
CHIKI TWIST, PUFFS AND NET Chiki Twist, Puffs and Net deliver the distinctive flavor and aroma of roasted corn and a crunchy, sensorial appreciation. Developed for fun gatherings of family and friends, the Chiki snacks are designed for in-the-moment enjoyment. ICBP offers a range of delicious Chiki flavors: Roasted Corn and Grilled Chicken in Chiki Twist; Cheddar Cheese in Chiki Puff; and Potato Barbeque in Chiki Net.
MAXICORN Maxicorn is a tortilla chips range with uniquely bold flavors and full-on crunch, packed in a distinctive triangular chip. It comes in three tasty flavors: Roasted Corn, Beef Barbeque and Nacho Cheese. <<
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NEWS
PacificLight pioneers solar import to Singapore Project for a 100MW equivalent green energy to consumers
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ower generation and electricity retail company, PacificLight Power Pte. Ltd. (“PLP”) is developing Singapore’s pioneer solar import project. PLP, with its consortium partners Medco Power Indonesia, a leading Indonesian independent power producer, and Gallant Venture Ltd., a Salim Group company, has been granted in-principle approval by the Energy Market Authority for a 100-megawatt (“MW”) pilot solar import project from Indonesia to Singapore. A Joint Development Agreement was signed between the consortium on
25 October 2021, during Singapore’s International Energy Week and witnessed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia and Second Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore. The project is in line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to increase renewable generation, and reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels. MEETING THE RISING DEMAND FOR GREEN ENERGY The consortium is in advanced stages of developing a solar PV project on Bulan Island, 2.5 kms south-west of Batam Island, Indonesia, that will supply renewable electricity exclusively to Singapore. The project is expected to have an installed generation capacity of 670MWp in the initial phase, and will provide 100MW of electricity, supplied via a dedicated
plant-to-grid 230 kilovolt high voltage alternating current subsea connection to Singapore. Upon the completion of the development, the project is expected to offset over 357,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Scheduled for commissioning in 2024, the project will allow Singapore consumers to enjoy competitivelypriced renewable electricity and significantly increase the current solar capacity avaialble to Singapore of just 430MWp. <<
PLP’s 800MW Jurong Island Power Generation Facility is one of the most efficient combined cycle power plants operating in Singapore.
Front row (L-R): Mr Gianto Gunara, Executive Director of Gallant Venture Ltd; Mr Anthoni Salim, Chairman of Salim Group; Mr Hilmi Panigoro, President Director of Medco Energi Internasional; Mr Eka Satria, CEO of Medco Power Indonesia. Back row (L-R): Mr Yu Tat Ming, CEO of PacificLight; Mr Ngiam Shih Chun, Chief Executive of Energy Market Authority (EMA); H.E. Minister Arifin Tasrif, Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources; Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Industry and Trade; H.E. Suryo Pratomo, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Republic of Singapore; Mr Roberto Lorato, CEO of Medco Energi Internasional. THE VIEW 7
NEWS
MPIC rolls out one-stop healthcare The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the alarming inequalities in healthcare access for ordinary people worldwide.
M
etro Pacific Investments Corporation (“MPIC”) set out to make healthcare much more accessible in the Philippines with the country’s first fully-integrated one-stop health and lifestyle app. mWell was launched in July 2021 by Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation (“MPHTC”), a whollyowned subsidiary of MPIC that offers integrated tech-based healthcare solutions.
A SUSTAINABLE NETWORK OF EXPERTS AND SERVICES MPIC Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan said at mWell’s press launch, “Filipinos will now have better access to healthcare with mWell. mWell makes available online healthcare solutions through a wide and sustainable network of medical experts and services. With just a few taps, users can do a virtual checkup with doctors, select health and wellness programs, buy medicines, and do a lot more as we strengthen the mWell integrated digital healthcare ecosystem.” Through its wide range of partners, mWell delivers a seamless end-to-end customer experience, empowering Filipinos to take their health into their own hands and to gain access to professional healthcare anytime, anywhere.
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Central to this robust digital health ecosystem are general practitioners and specialty doctors who have been empowered to digitize their practices and reach more patients with one platform. Complementing the partnership, the high-performance app is backed by a powerhouse of top names in the healthcare, wellness, and tech industries. “We have heard your call for a better, more responsive and highly convenient healthcare platform. And this is our response: mWell,” said MPIC CFO and Chief Sustainability Officer June Cheryl A Cabal-Revilla. <<
NEWS
A DAY OF FREE WELLNESS FOR ALL MPHTC’s National MWellness Day reaches thousands
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he Philippines’ first nationwide online medical mission, National MWellness Day, took place on 4 and 5 September 2021. MPHTC provided free consultations with medical experts via the mWell app. Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. Melani Camarillo Espino volunteered her expertise for the excellent cause of granting free access to consultations nationwide, even in remote rural areas. She explained to the Manila Bulletin, “Using mWell is just like making a private house call with my patients from the comforts of their homes. The flow of my virtual consultations is smooth, plus I gained more patients through the app.”
care is heightened especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first ever virtual medical mission by MWell PH brings health and wellness closer to people.” Through its wide range of partners, mWell delivers a seamless end-to-end customer experience, empowering Filipinos to take their health into their own hands and to gain access to professional healthcare anytime, anywhere. <<
AT A TIME OF HEIGHTENED ANXIETY Kara David, founder of Project Malasakit, who hosted a segment of the online activities added, “As caretakers, guardians, or as a parent, the anxiety and challenges of getting quality medical
ENTERING A NEW MEDICAL ARENA Cardinal Santos Medical Center opens Sports Medicine Institute
The inauguration of The MVP Clinic was attended by (in photo: L-R) CSMC Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Zenaida Javier-Uy, CSMC President and CEO Raul C Pagdanganan, MPIC Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan, and MPIC President and CEO Jose Ma K Lim.
M
etro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (“MPHHI”) has made its first major move into the finely specialized arena of sports medicine. On 8 September 2021, Cardinal Santos Medical Center (“CSMC”) officially launched its Sports Medicine Institute. Named “The MVP Clinic,” it is dedicated to MPIC Chairman and sports patron Manuel V Pangilinan. The institute is designed to support Pangilinan’s vision to nurture top Filipino athletes in their global initiatives. The MVP Clinic is home to cutting-edge technologies that help both professional and recreational athletes reach their full potential. Led by board-certified sports medicine experts, the clinic specializes in the treatment and prevention of sportsrelated injuries, as well as scientific body conditioning and nutrition. <<
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NEWS
An epic milestone CCLEX nears completion as the 2-meter gap between bridge decks is closed
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he bridge decks of the two main towers of the iconic Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (“CCLEX”) were joined early October 2021. “We have finally reached the epic milestone of the CCLEX construction project, which truly lives up to the expressed view of builders and development leaders that CCLEX is truly an engineering marvel,” said Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (“MPTC”) President Rodrigo E Franco.
View the video here
CCLEX is a project of the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MPTC, in partnership with the City of Cebu and the Municipality of Cordova. It is planned to open in 2022 and will be using a full electronic toll system to enable faster traffic flow and seamless travel. In September, the bridge’s total of 56 powerful stay cables were successfully installed. Each tower has 14 cables on each side. << Watch at www.firstpacific.com/press/theview.php
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NEWS
#WEGOTYOURVAC Group mounts unprecedented vaccination drive for essential workers
F
irst Pacific Group companies in the Philippines led a massive operation in the second half of this year to vaccinate 60,000 essential-worker employees. The #WeGotYourVac Immunization Program followed the wave of vaccinations for the frontliners of MPIC’s hospital group Metro Pacific Hospitals Holdings Inc. (“MPHHI”) in the first quarter of the year. Led by the MVP Group Vaccine Task Force, the first tranche of company-procured Moderna doses were administered in the first week of July at Meralco Compound in Pasig, Manila, where the National Capital Region+ (“NCR+”) is considered a high-risk and higher priority area. Other NCR+ sites, manned mainly by frontliners from MPHHI, have a daily vaccination capacity of an average of 700 to 1,350 individuals. For areas outside NCR+, the Vaccine Task Force used a combination of MPHHI’s private healthcare network, other group companies’ facilities, and selected malls. THE KEY SOURCE OF STABILITY “Our vaccinees, through the essential services we offer groupwide - from hospitals, telecommunications and digital services, electricity, water, tollways and road infrastructure, media, and more - have been and will continue to be the key source of stability as the Philippines emerges from this global crisis,” Pangilinan has previously noted. The Group previously announced that they had ordered vaccines from Moderna and Astra Zeneca for more than 300,000 employees, dependents and household members, and the Group’s extended workforce. “Any talk about ending this pandemic Mega vaccination sites such as the Meralco Compound in Pasig can vaccinate an average of 700 and up to 1,350 individuals per day.
Present at the pilot vaccinations at Meralco Compound in Pasig City (L-R) PLDT and Smart Chief Procurement Officer and Vaccine Task Force Procurement Lead Mary Rose Dela Paz, Meralco President and CEO Atty. Ray Espinosa, Pasig City Administrator Atty. Jeron Manzanero, MPIC Chairman Manuel V Panglinan, MPHHI Chief Operating Officer and Vaccine Task Force co-chair Dr. Jeff Staples and PLDT and Smart Chief People Officer and Vaccine Task Force co-chair Gina Ordoñez.
begins with a fundamental imperative: the successful rollout of ethically-procured, safe, and effective vaccines to a significant majority of our people,” Pangilinan said in a group-wide Chairman’s Message. “Inoculating the population from the virus does not just reduce the number of infections and deaths - but minimizes the possibility of new mutations and variants, taking us a step closer towards the paramount goal of herd immunity,” he explained. To this end, the Group has been actively donating vaccines to augment the initiatives of several NCR and provincial local government units. Earlier this year, the Group also helped ramp up local government unit vaccinations by offering the expertise and available capacity of its largest NCR hospitals, where up to 98% of frontliners were vaccinated as early as March 2021. The Group also showed solidarity with the national government and other members of the private sector with the ceremonial start of the vaccination rollout in June 2021. This was in partnership with the National Task Force Against COVID-19, Taskforce T3 (Test, Trace and Treat) and the Department of Health. <<
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FIRST PACIFIC 40TH ANNIVERSARY
“Service is S in our DNA”
ervice is the driving force for countless advocacy efforts delivered by PSF and all the CSR arms of the First Pacific Group. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of families and individuals have received lifechanging assistance, education and poverty alleviation.
PLDT-Smart Foundation (“PSF”) President Esther Santos holds the service ethos of Manuel V Pangilinan – known as MVP to First Pacific Group companies in the Philippines - close to her heart.
BIKE FOR LIVELIHOOD One practical and timely initiative was the donation of 500 bikes earlier 2021 through the MVP Group’s “Bike for Livelihood” program via TV presenter and volleyball player Gretchen Ho’s “Donate A Bike, Save A Job” project. Esther Santos helped facilitate the donation and shared her experiences and insights with the Philippine Star. Santos explained that making a donation to Gretchen Ho’s fund drive was top of MVP mind because of the livelihood opportunities the project provides. “MVP always tells us that if we are able to give jobs or livelihood to people, then they could fend for their families and provide their children with quality education, healthcare and other needs.” Santos said. Cycling is a sustainable way to protect livelihoods and continue the vital transport of food, medicine and water during times of pandemics. The donation was supported by PSF, One Meralco Foundation, Metro Pacific Investments Foundation and First Pacific Company Limited.
The Bike for Livelihood Project first rolled out in Quezon City with 60 bikes and biking gear to residents. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte told the Philippine Star that the local government is committed to making Quezon City bike-friendly. “We now have built 93 kilometers of interconnected bike lanes in our city and we intend to put another 54 kilometers of additional bike lanes for Phase 2” noted Mayor Belmonte. 12 THE VIEW
FIRST PACIFIC 40TH ANNIVERSARY
A HANDS-ON LEADER Santos has witnessed Pangilinan’s sharp focus on service, despite the myriad demands on his attention and time. “MVP is a hands-on leader,” she said. “When it comes to responding to needs, especially natural disasters, he wants us to preposition and be there to help soonest.” “Highlighting our strengths - in connectivity, power, water, health, among others when needed most, we try to live up to MVP’s claim that ‘service and helping’ are in our DNA.” As a business leader, Pangilinan promotes impact through scale. “So even in helping, he seeks that impact. We cannot scale down his desire to help. He is magnanimous because he knows the needs, and he knows how to respond,” explains Santos.
the rapid construction of quarantine facilities for our medical frontliners and personnel.” With frontliners protected, hospital protocols were safeguarded - and new admissions could be increased. “MVP also quickly asked our sugar manufacturer, Roxas Holdings Inc., to produce alcohol when this was in short supply during the start of the pandemic in 2020,” adds Santos. According to Santos, Pangilinan is a truly empathetic man. “Empathy, as they say, is what makes the difference between a good and a great leader,” she says. “MVP is very observant and tries to connect with people as much as he can.” She has seen him sharing many heartfelt and caring moments with his fellow
people, especially the vulnerable. “Many of these moments were not captured on camera but they’re happily stored in my mind,” Santos noted. “A reminder that when times get hard, our magnanimous ‘big boss’ has our back.” <<
“
EMPATHY ... IS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD AND A GREAT LEADER.
”
PLDT Smart Foundation President Esther Santos.
HELP IN THE HARDEST OF TIMES PSF and the Group CSR organizations have been at the forefront of assistance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they funded and provided relief and vital services to communities and continue to help wherever it is in their power. Santos recalled, “When there was a shortage of rooms in our hospitals during the second surge of COVID last March to April 2021, MVP ordered THE VIEW 13
FIRST PACIFIC 40TH ANNIVERSARY
An Anniversary year dedicated to our communities First Pacific Group serves with compassion throughout the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19
F
irst Pacific is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year by getting back to grass roots. We have been honored to be able to support the needy in communities in Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines, with an approximate total of HK$3 million special donations. The recipients were vulnerable groups who were particularly impacted by COVID-19. The Group’s over 121,000 employees redoubled their efforts this year to provide vital services and products in Southeast Asia, such as food, telecommunications, water, electricity, healthcare and support to our communities through good times and bad. Our people’s tireless dedication and caring have nurtured the Group for the past four decades. With support from our stakeholders, we are changing lives - and the communities we operate in - for the better, and for a sustainable future.
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HONG KONG First Pacific’s special donations contributed to: Save the Children Hong Kong A 3-year project named “Bright Start, Philippines”. The project supports over 3,500 marginalised children from new-born to 3 years old and their parents or caregivers in the Calabarzon region of the Philippines. Hong Kong Bayanihan Trust Support for overseas Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong, and a venue
for educational, social and cultural activities. The Bayanihan Centre’s facilities benefit approximately 4,000 users per month. Gingko House In response to COVID-19, its LOVE Project distributed hot meal boxes to elderly, homeless, disabled people, unemployed workers and underprivileged families. First Pacific’s donation provided 5,800 meals. Hong Kong Children’s Charity Foundation The Foundation focuses on providing equal opportunities for grassroots children with learning difficulties, special needs and health problems. Over 70 beneficiaries aged from 3 to 17 years were benefited from First Pacific’s donation. Healthy Hong Kong Healthy Hong Kong provides free Chinese medicine and medical services to low-income groups and the needy elderly. Our donation enabled 191 patients aged from 10
FIRST PACIFIC 40TH ANNIVERSARY
to 93 receive 592 consultations and medical services at Healthy Hong Kong’s clinic. Hong Kong Association of the Deaf The largest and longest history of non-profit social service organization in Hong Kong, providing comprehensive social, medical and educational services to the deaf, people with hearing impaired problem and their families, and others with disabilities. First Pacific’s donation enabled the association to offer 223 times of hearing-related and 300 times of sign language translation services. Senior Citizen Home Safety Association We sponsored 36 eligible senior citizens to access the Association’s Care-on-Call Personal Emergency Link services for a year. Care-on-Call is a comprehensive 24/7 support service consisting of emergency aid, integrated care, around-theclock vigilance service, health management, and day-to-day living assistance.
INDONESIA With the assistance of Indofood and donations from First Pacific, three charitable entities in Indonesia - Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, WeCare.id, and Human Initiatives - rolled out much-needed COVID-19 relief to local communities. Indonesian Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Since March 2020, the Foundation has actively participated in a COVID-19 related initiative “Pengusaha Peduli NKRI”. First Pacific’s donation contributed to this vital program. To date, the initiative has raised substantial funds and donated 8,315,000 kgs of rice to 1,663,000 families and 1,199 oxygen concentrators to 22 institutions and 25 hospitals in Metro Jakarta and 11 provinces. The Foundation, whose name means “To help with love” was founded by Master Cheng Yen in 1966. Its mission is to serve with compassion in the areas of charity, medicine, education, culture and environmental protection. WeCare.id With the donation from First Pacific, WeCare.id collaborated with the
Berbagi Sarapan community to distribute ready-to-eat meals for the needy, aged from 50 to 70 years. To date, WeCare.id has provided 5,775 ready-to-eat-meals, over 1,000 food packages, 200 PPEs for health workers, and 30 oxygen cylinders to those self-isolating at home. Relief distribution continues in Bandung, Jakarta, Jogja and Jambi. WeCare.id believes that every Indonesian deserves good health services. It raises funds for patients who have limited financial capabilities, live in hard-to-reach areas, and suffer from the lack of National Health Insurance. Human Initiatives Human Initiatives’ major services are related to the economy, health, education and emergency response. First Pacific’s donation was allocated to providing 250 food packages to gravediggers and other frontline workers, developing 15 sustainable community nutrition gardens for the 19-35 age group, and supporting an ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program in Bandung. Human Initiatives is registered with the United Nations as an NGO with Special Consultative Status with the Economic Social Council.
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FIRST PACIFIC 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Smart retailer phone kits, with connections to markets through online apps and platforms, were distributed to rural communities. Retailer phone kits and Smart LTE Pocket WiFi were also included in the donation of bikes to city governments. Sewing and edging machines were provided to beneficiaries of Women’s Associations and the unemployed in parishes in selected islands and provinces.
THE PHILIPPINES #FirstPacificAt40 United as one through Tulong Kapatid (“Brotherly Help”), the consortium of corporate foundations and operating companies of First Pacific Group in the Philippines supported communities through a wide range of projects. Approximately 13,000 individuals, families, and frontline workers have benefited from these efforts. Support included pocket WiFi and load cards for deserving students and young entrepreneurs to food packs and sewing machines for senior citizens, indigent residents and women’s associations. Participating foundations and Group companies PLDT-Smart Foundation PLDT Smart Communications Metro Pacific Investments Foundation One Meralco Foundation Maynilad Water Alagang Kapatid Foundation Makati Medical Center Foundation Asian Hospital Charities Cardinal Santos Medical Center Foundation
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Donations 100 bikes for the Bike for Livelihood Project 2,633 food packs for the VisayasMindanao areas 2,596 food packs for the Luzon area 500 units of Smart LTE Pocket WiFi with 1,000 worth of load card each 3,333 hot meals 3,500 care bags for hospital frontliners 100 Smart retailer phone kits 30 sewing machines for livelihood Livelihood opportunities for everyone To enable Filipinos find work or business opportunities, the Bike for Livelihood Project was launched in partnership with Woman In Action Gretchen Ho. A total of 500 bikes, with First Pacific contributing 100, were distributed to city government units and communities. Tulong Kapatid also supported Junior Chamber International (“JCI”) Manila by donating 500 Smart LTE Pocket WiFi with load cards to provide connectivity to various livelihood projects of JCI as well as schools and charities, in partnership with PLDTSmart Foundation.
Food packs for indigent communities and frontliners 2,596 food bags were provided to beneficiaries from Luzon, including the disabled, fishermen and the unemployed. 2,633 more food bags were provided for communities, frontliners and flood victims in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Care bags and hot meals for hospital frontliners To honor the hospital frontliners of the Philippines, 3,333 hot meals and 3,500 care bags were provided to hospitals and healthcare facilities in the National Capital Region and its environs. <<
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
INDOFOOD’S SOLIDARITY FOR HUMANITY VACCINATIONS Indonesia, like so many countries, has been badly affected by COVID-19
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s reported by WHO, Indonesia has seen 4,220,206 confirmed cases, with 142,261 deaths, from 3 January 2020 to 4 October 2021. Indonesian government is fully committed to its vaccination program and has set a herd immunity target where 80% of its 208-million population will be fully vaccinated by the end of 2021. To achieve this, the government has set a new target of 2.5 million COVID-19 shots per day nationwide. This is a very challenging task considering the disparity of infrastructure and facilities across the country, not to mention the number of vaccinators and vaccines available. As of 4 October this year, only 53.3 million people - or 25.6 % of
associations of leading universities, and Indonesia’s obstetrics and gynecology association, Indofood targets to vaccinate pregnant mothers who are at high risk, including the grass roots and rural communities. the total targeted - had been fully vaccinated.
Indofood works particularly in the logistics coordination with government authorities, the VACCINATIONS FOR AT-RISK arrangement of medical teams and PREGNANT MOTHERS AND GRASS vaccinators as well as the support ROOT COMMUNITIES for venues and other facilities. By Indofood, together with other the end of 2021, it is expected that companies under the Salim Group in this program will help to vaccinate Indonesia, has stepped up to respond hundreds of thousand people – in to the government’s call for private Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, and East companies to support the vaccination Nusa Tenggara, both in big and initiative. Since August 2021 it has smaller cities, where vaccination is cooperated with the medical faculty a lifesaving pandemic protection for of several universities, alumnae the communities. <<
INDOFOOD PROVIDES HOMES WITH LOVE
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ndonesia is, unfortunately, hit occasionally by natural disasters and Indofood participates in programs to provide relief to those who are badly affected. In September 2021, Indofood in cooperation with other relevant parties was pleased to complete the handover of 2,000 permanent houses to disaster-stricken communities in Palu, Central Sulawesi Province, as well as 300 other houses to communities in Sentani, Jayapura, Papua Province. Indofood is the main contributor of the Rumah Cinta Kasih (“Love House”) program, together with a social foundation and another private company in Indonesia, as well as the Indonesian National Armed Forces and local governments. The program was developed to provide relief in the aftermath of catastrophes.
liquefaction in some areas. A total of approximately 90,000 residents were affected, with 115 thousand houses and public facilities destroyed. On 16 March 2019, flash flooding hit Sentani, causing major damage that affected around 9,000 residents and hundreds of housing and public facilities. The Rumah Cinta Kasih housing recipients - who have suffered greatly - may now look forward to rebuilding their future with a secure new home. <<
RELIEF AFTER NATURAL DEVASTATION The news of a 7.8 Richter-scale earthquake near Palu on 28 September 2018, was devastating. The disaster was followed by a huge tsunami that destroyed coastal communities around Palu, followed by landslides and
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ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD PLDT and Smart’s UNGC report underscore progress on ESG commitments
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ustainability is one of our key business fulcrums. Thus, we reaffirm our support of the UNGC’s Ten Principles. We believe that a principles-based approach to sustainability is fundamental in taking a shared responsibility for building a better world,” said PLDT and Smart President and CEO, Alfredo S Panlilio. PLDT and Smart substantiated the Group’s commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (“UNGC”) in its first Communication on Progress (“CoP”) report this year. The UNGC developed the Principles to help guide companies in transforming the world we live in. They serve as a blueprint in shaping a global culture which aims to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND GOOD GOVERNANCE The report described PLDT and Smart’s actions to continually improve the integration of the UNGC and its Principles into their business strategy, culture and daily operations. The areas covered included human rights, labor relations, environmental protection and fighting corruption. The report outlined the various COVID-19 response efforts undertaken, as well as the Group’s Child Safeguarding Policy, aimed at protecting Filipino children online. The policy is a result of the Group’s continuing partnership with UNICEF.
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The Group also reported that Sustainability Guidelines have been incorporated in the Vendor Conforme Sheet, addressing fundamental supply chain requirements of competitive quality, cost, service, and delivery. The CoP also mentioned the Group’s participation in the UNGC’s Statement from Business Leaders for Renewed Global Cooperation, an expression of its commitment to ethical leadership and good governance. MAPPING THE TARGETS PLDT and Smart made their initial commitment to the UNGC in 2020 and are the only Philippine telco with Participant status under the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative. They join over 9,500 companies in over 160 countries that are committed to support sustainable business practices in line with the Ten Principles of the UNGC which reflect universal sustainability values, human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. “We are in the process of undertaking a mapping of our sustainability targets and actions vis-a-vis the Ten Principles. We are proud of the accomplishments we documented in our first CoP and look forward to reporting continued progress in subsequent reports, underscoring our commitment to the UNGC,” said Head of PLDT’s Corporate Sustainability Office, Melissa Vergel De Dios. <<
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
The #SmartPlanet phone recycling bin uses electronic sensors to send out Smart e-load in exchange for used phones, chargers, and tablets.
PLDT, Smart tackle e-waste DENR backs Group’s e-waste disposal programs
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LDT and Smart have longstanding commitments to protecting health and the environment. One key initiative is their #SmartPlanet e-Waste Program, which uses technology to encourage an innovative way of recycling discarded electronic devices. Taking the commitment to a new level, PLDT and Smart signed a tripartite partnership this year with the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (“DENR”) for the collection, disposal and recycling of electronic and hazardous waste from cellsites and offices. WIDER COVERAGE, RAMPING UP AWARENESS The e-waste includes discarded phones, tablets, computers, chargers and device accessories, while hazardous waste includes used lead acid batteries and fiber optic cables. With the partnership,
PLDT also commits to ramping up environmental awareness and proper disposal of e-waste among its staff, employees, partners and stakeholders. The DENR partnership also supports PLDT’s and Smart’s long-running partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress for its battery recycling program. Recycling proceeds are used to support various community projects, primarily for building classrooms in remote areas. From the start of the program in 2006, the initiative has funded the construction of 44 classrooms nationwide.
(L-R) PLDT First Vice President and Head for Corporate Sustainability and Investor Relations Melissa V Vergel De Dios, DENR Environmental Management Bureau Region 3 Director Wilson L Trajeco, PLDT Vice President and Logistics Head Minerva M Agas and JMR President and CEO Maricel Zamora.
PLDT and Smart’s e-waste disposal programs are aligned with the group’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG #12: Responsible Consumption and Production. << THE VIEW 19
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
MPIC GROUP PROTECTING LAKELANDS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS Metro Manila’s Laguna de Bay region is a vital natural resource that is used for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, transportation, recreation, livelihood and domestic water supply.
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afeguarding its environmental ecosystem is crucial to the region’s sustainability. Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (“MPIC”) and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (“Maynilad’), together with other MPIC Group companies in the Philippines, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (“LLDA”) on 23 August 2021 to jointly protect the Laguna Lake and its surrounding provinces. LLDA’s mandate is to “transform Laguna Lake into a vibrant economic zone showcasing ecotourism by addressing the negative impact of watershed destruction, land conversion and pollution”. This cooperation is initiated via the Laguna de Bay Welfare Awareness or LAWA program spearheaded by MPIC under its Gabay Kalikasan advocacy for the critical role that Laguna Lake plays in the region’s social and economic development.
STEPPING UP FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR “Protection of the environment is not just the government’s responsibility, it’s also the private sector’s responsibility to do their part to help,” said MPIC Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan. “Through this LAWA Initiative, we wish to reiterate the group’s support, particularly Metro Pacific, to LLDA and their efforts in protecting Laguna Lake from the many factors that could cause its demise.” The Laguna de Bay Region covers 77 tributaries and is endowed with rich natural resources. Laguna Lake is home to a variety of organisms that comprise its biodiversity pool, including 31 species of fish as well as mollusks, crustaceans and birds. Department of the Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Rodolfo C Garcia highlighted in his message that “The DENR welcomes this MOC that ensures the usefulness of this lake and its watershed for future generations. I thank and congratulate LLDA, MPIC and the rest of the MVP Group for this partnership. We hope that this will inspire others in the private sector
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to partner more productively with us and our attached agencies.” Other MPIC Group Companies supporting this initiative include MetroPac Water Investments Corporation, Meralco PowerGen Corporation and Global Business Power Corporation. <<
The commitment to protect and rehabilitate Laguna de Bay through its LAWA initiative is aligned with MPIC’s efforts to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly: SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 15 Life on Land. It is also in support of the United Nations’ Decade of Ecosystem Restoration which aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean.
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
MPTC’s Green Highways Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (“MPTC”), is integrating the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (“CALAX”) with resource-saving and emission-reduction technologies, showcasing the company’s role in decarbonizing the transport sector in the Philippines.
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PTC CFO and Senior Executive Sponsor for Sustainability, Christopher Lizo said, “This is in alignment with the company’s commitment to build with least disruption to the communities and the environment; and supporting Philippines’ first Nationally Determined Contribution (“NDC”) commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 75% by the year 2030.”
CALAX is a 45-kilometer high-speed road network connecting the two provinces of Cavite and Laguna, targeting to serve around 45,000 motorists upon its full completion by 2023. LOW-CARBON ENERGY All the toll plazas of the operational sections of CALAX are equipped with solar panels. The total power output of 116.58kWp since May 2021, has negated over 10,200 kgs of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to having planted 304 trees. All future toll plazas and offices along the road alignment will be equipped with solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations. LED lighting fixtures for plazas and roadways enhance the company’s energy efficiency measures. Ongoing and future projects will incorporate
energy-efficient lighting, airconditioning units and refrigerators. The company’s MPT South Hub headquarters is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) registered building with certification goal of LEED Gold. BUILDING IN BIODIVERSITY MPTC is also implementing carbon offsetting initiatives by planting trees or creating biodiverse areas along CALAX to offset the company’s and its customers’ emissions. While pushing for ecological balance, the toll road company is studying how to further transition its operational toll roads to more sustainable highways. At MPTC, good governance and sustainability is at the heart of business. <<
MAYNILAD TAPS GREEN ENERGY Solar energization for 100M power farm
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anila’s West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (“Maynilad”) is taking its first step in green energy with the energization in June 2021 of its 1-megawatt PV (photovoltaic) solar power farm inside La Mesa Compound in Quezon City. The solar farm is a major milestone in Maynilad’s continuous bid to enhance operational efficiency and promote environmental sustainability. The 100-million solar farm, which covers a land area of approximately 8,250 sq.m., was built to augment power supply for La Mesa’s Pumping Station, thus reducing Maynilad’s dependence
on the grid and on fossil fuels. Designed for optimal use for 40 years or more, the solar farm is projected to generate around 10% in annual cost savings on the electricity consumption of La Mesa Pumping Station, which operates 24/7. “We operate a lot of facilities to ensure non-stop delivery of water and wastewater services. This new solar farm provides a renewable energy source that will enable us to generate energy savings and also decrease our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S Fernandez. <<
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ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
NLEX REDUCES ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT “The things we do are guided by our commitment to the greater good.”
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LEX Corporation President and General Manager J Luigi L Bautista summarized the company’s ethos on environmental management. MPTC’s NLEX Corporation has measured the reduction in its carbon footprint through its solar photovoltaic power system installed in select toll plazas.
The total energy harvested for 2020 was 171 megawatt-hours, resulting in carbon emission savings of 134,232 kilograms, or equivalent to 4,006 trees planted. In the coming years, NLEX plans to install solar power panels in more toll plazas and incorporate sustainable energy throughout its operations.
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY “We are seizing the opportunity to do more for our motorists and environment by improving our operational efficiency and promoting sustainability. This is deeply ingrained as one of our core values,” said Bautista, highlighting that “ever since, we have been complying with our responsibilities for the environment as an ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System) certified company.” Since 2006, NLEX has encouraged green practices by spearheading tree planting initiatives and river clean-ups within the expressway areas. It has also implemented its “Greening the NLEX” program to mitigate the effects of global warming and environmental imbalance. Using renewable energy in the company’s operations is in line with the entire Metro Pacific group’s commitment to help the Philippines meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UNSDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and UNSDG 13 (Climate Action). <<
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ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
Through the lens of abundance Bayan Tanim! anniversary is captured with a photo contest
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etro Pacific Investments Foundation (“MPIF”) marked the first anniversary of Bayan Tanim! in September this year. The community gardening program has proven to be a success, largely due to its highly sustainable strategy and its steady partnership-building. Bayan Tanim! was born amid the alarming food scarcity during COVID-19. MPIF wanted to help disadvantaged families in the most tangible way possible, for now and well into the future. As MPIF President Melody del Rosario told Business Mirror, “MPIF intended to SINCE INCEPTION, BAYAN TANIM! HAS SUPPORTED:
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Metro Manila and surrounding provincial communities
3,100
disadvantaged families, with almost
3,000 planting kits
go beyond giving relief packs and focus on a more sustainable program for its beneficiaries. Through Bayan Tanim!, communities and individuals are provided with planting kits that contain the basic items needed to start their own backyard garden. The program was intended to not only promote food security during the pandemic, but also offer the recipients possible alternative livelihood opportunities by growing their own produce.” A FLOURISHING OUTCOME The program was launched by MPIF last year in partnership with First Pacific Group companies in the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture, Agrea Agricultural System International Inc., and Duran Farms. In celebration of the first anniversary and to consolidate the relationship that MPIF has built with gardening beneficiaries, a photo contest was launched to mark the milestone. The winners captured images of flourishing crops to encourage future backyard gardeners. As runner-up winner Lenilia Declaro enthused, “We are very grateful for the support we got from MPIF … Many of our parishioners are now into gardening in their respective pamayanan. We are now planning to share some seedlings to other leaders who want to adopt this project.” <<
1st Place: Siak Daytoy (Fr. Joel) Parish of the Immaculate Conception, Novaliches.
2nd Place: Lenilia Declaro Epiphany of the Lord Parish, Caloocan.
3rd Place: Dennis Dominguez Manila Police District, District Mobile Force Battalion. THE VIEW 23
AWARDS
ePLDT wins Cisco’s regional partner award On 23 September 2021, global company Cisco recognized ePLDT, the ICT arm of PLDT Enterprise, as its Small Business Partner for Best Cisco Designed Portfolio for program adoption. ePLDT had attained the highest revenues among its peers in the Asia Pacific, Japan, and China (“APJC”) region.
PLDT NAMED ASIAMONEY’S MOST OUTSTANDING TELCO PLDT won the Most Outstanding Company in the Philippines award in the Telecommunications Services Sector of Asiamoney’s 2021 Poll, announced in September.
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ver 1,071 fund managers, analysts, bankers and ratings agencies took part in the voting. In total, over 5,787 votes were received for publicly listed companies across 13 markets in Asia. Over the years, PLDT has topped Asiamoney’s annual polls in multiple categories. The company was lauded for excelling in areas such as financial performance, management team excellence, IR activities, and CSR activities.<<
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PLDT President and CEO and SVP and Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups Jovy Hernandez said, “As a premier integrator partner of Cisco, ePLDT has been actively empowering businesses as they embrace digital transformation to pivot and thrive amid these uncertain times. We thank Cisco for this recognition, and we are more driven to steering our clients and this partnership forward.” Cisco Philippines Head of Public Sector, Small Business and Mid-Market teams and interim Managing Director Robin Llamas, lauded ePLDT for a fruitful partnership. “This is a well-deserved accolade in recognition of your relentless efforts in serving our clientele, and we hope that you reap more successes as we continue to nurture this partnership.” ePLDT and Cisco have been partners since 2002. It offers Cisco Enterprise Networking, Security, and Collaboration from the Cisco Designed Portfolio. <<
AWARDS
MVP: the Man and His Art wins gold The elegant book that the First Pacific Group companies in the Philippines published for Manuel V Pangilinan’s 75th birthday won a gold award at the Stevies in August 2021. It showcases the fine artworks collected by First Pacific, PLDT, Smart, Meralco, MPIC and MVP over the years.
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t was a well-deserved winner for the gold trophy in the Corporate Communications category. The book’s Executive Producer was Meralco CEO Ray C Espinosa, with Project Directors Tony Valdez, Debbie Tan and Daphne Doroja. It was written by Cid Reyes, edited by Debbie Tan, designed by Dopy Doplon and photographed by Richie Macapinlac.
The Stevies jury commented to the Philippine Star, “The Meralco team did an excellent job related to the beautiful production that provides a snapshot of the art of the Philippines, culture and essence of the region … Congratulations. It is a beautiful coffee-table book honoring the country’s reputable company. Art is the way to bring the profile of the company to the next level.” <<
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AWARDS
SMART IS RECOGNIZED AS PHILIPPINES’ MOST RELIABLE 5G OPERATOR BY OOKLA Smart Communications, Inc. (“Smart”) has been recognized as the Most Reliable 5G Mobile Operator in the Philippines for Q2 2021 by Ookla®, the global leader in internet testing and analysis.
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mart achieved the highest scores in 5G Consistency and 5G Availability to gain the top ranking.
As reported by Ookla® in September 2021, Smart is also the fastest 5G network for the period Q1-Q2 2021, and the Philippines’ fastest mobile network for the fourth year in a row, based on analysis by Ookla of tests taken with Speedtest® covering the first half of 2021. With over 4,000 sites and supported by PLDT’s fiber network, which is the country’s most extensive at more than 524,000 kilometers as of end-June 2021, Smart’s 5G network is the country’s fastest and widest. <<
Smart named Global Leader in 5G Video Experience by Opensignal The race for global leadership in 5G mobile is on, as technology evolves and market adoption grows rapidly.
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pensignal’s 2021 Report, 5G Global Mobile Network Experience Awards 2021 ranks Smart as a Global Leader for 5G Video Experience. It also recognizes Smart for 5G Global Impact across all four measurements (5G Video Experience, Games Experience, Download Speed and Upload Speed). Smart is the only Philippine operator in Opensignal’s roster of 5G Global Leaders. It was cited as a 5G Global Leader in Video Experience with a score of 81.6, ranked alongside other 5G Global Leaders, such as SK Telecom, KT and LG U+, AIS, and other operators from Hong Kong and Taiwan. This is the first time Opensignal has ranked 5G operators globally by assessing their real-world 5G mobile network experience. Opensignal’s 5G Video Experience uses a combination of real-world measurements of video streams from smartphone users over an operator’s 5G network - including picture quality, stall rate and loading time - to reflect users’ perceived video experience. <<
PAYMAYA WINS GLOBAL JUNIPER RESEARCH GOLD In September 2021, PayMaya was recognized as the Gold Winner of the Best QR Code Payment Offering category at this year’s Juniper Research Future Digital Awards for Fintech & Payments.
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hrough PayMaya QR, Filipinos can enjoy safe and contactless payments for everyday transactions. Amongst analyst panel’s evaluation criteria are product innovation, features and benefits, product partnerships, certification and compliance, and future business prospects. Since 2008, the Future Digital Awards have been awarded to global tech companies at the forefront
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of their respective fields: companies that deliver imaginative, innovative products or services that have the potential to disrupt their ecosystems and provide significant benefits to their target audience. <<
AWARDS
MPIC RANKS 1ST IN SUSTAINALYTICS ESG RISK RATINGS In September 2021 it was announced that MPIC was ranked first by Sustainalytics among multi-sector holdings companies in the Philippines.
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t also gained the global ranking as an “ESG Industry Top Rated” company after receiving an Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) Risk Rating score of 12.8 as of May 2021. This score positions MPIC in the top 4% of companies in Sustainalytics’ Diversified Financials Industry and represents that MPIC in the “Low Risk” category of experiencing material financial impacts from ESG factors. MPIC President and Chief Executive Officer Jose Ma K Lim said “Throughout our business, we adopt a precautionary approach by implementing cost-effective measures to manage and mitigate ESG risks in accordance with our long-term business objectives. We are grateful for institutions like Sustainalytics that enable us to effectively evaluate our risk management processes and benchmark against global best practices.” Sustainalytics is a global leader in ESG research covering over 13,500 companies globally. Its ESG Risk Ratings are designed to help investors
identify and understand financially material ESG risks and how they might affect the long-term performance for investments. FUTURE-PROOFING OUR OPERATIONS “At MPIC, we go beyond mere compliance with regulations and consciously aim to articulate and anticipate risks through strategies that futureproof our operations. We identify the impacts of our activities at an early stage to mitigate any adverse effects. From managing ESG risks and uncertainties, to creating opportunities and a future marked by human progress and inclusion, our work of making everyone’s lives better continues.” said MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer Chaye A Cabal-Revilla. MPIC Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan noted, “Given the essential nature of the services our companies provide, we have a clear responsibility to foster a culture of sustainability that can create enduring value for our shareholders and society. Our Board and senior management embrace their role in driving MPIC’s long-term direction towards sustainable growth.” <<
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ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
Keeping Christmas and hope alive The Christmas season is the perfect time to share gifts, offer help and keep hope shining brightly.
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ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL & GOVERNANCE
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irst Pacific Group companies in the Philippines - led by the PLDT-Smart Foundation promise to spread the spirit of Christmas joy anew this year. They have launched a bright campaign, building on last year’s achievements. Tuloy pa rin ang pasko at pag-asa (Keeping Christmas and Hope Alive) aims to influence individuals and organizations through heartwarming stories of giving and helping and to encourage everyone to share their time and blessings. The donation drive will provide educational tools/materials to underprivileged students, meals and gifts to medical frontliners, livelihood assistance to selected sectors, Noche Buena packs to vulnerable communities and gifts to charity institutions. A TV and social media campaign highlights joyful stories of past and potential beneficiaries. The stories series will run up until the MVP Group Christmas Night on 15 December. <<
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11/2021
Malang
Vicente Manansala
Juvenal Sanso Phyllis Zaballero
Romulo Olazo
J Elizalde Navarro
Fernando Amorsolo
www.firstpacific.com
A YEAR OF SPECIAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
2 PayMaya secures Maya Bank license | 7 PacificLight’s pioneering project 10 CCLEX milestone | 14 40th Anniversary dedicated to communities
