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SGV Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) served as a panelist at the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) workshop organized by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham Philippines) on 16 September 2022 at the AmCham office in Makati City. The workshop aimed to answer the question: What does it mean to comply and how can obliged companies do so? From L-R: Atty. Mimi Malvar of P&G, Benjamin Villacorte of SGV CCaSS, Crispian Lao representing PARMS and the National Solid Waste Management Commission, Ebb Hinchliffe - Executive Director of AmCham, Nanette Medved-Po of HOPE and Plastic Credit Exchange, Jon Alan Cuyno of Geocycle Holcim Philippines, and Atty. Joseph Fabul of Mondelez Philippines The discussion focused on the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility Act (RA 11898). which lapsed into law in July 2022. To provide a better understanding of the audit requirements of the Act in particular, Benjamin discussed how companies’ EPR reporting can be audited. He provided insights based on SGV and EY practices as well as insights gained from engagements related to the circular economy.  Benjamin (far left) with the other panelists During the open forum, the audience further inquired about how several brand owners have voluntarily done EPR programs in the past, even prior to the release of the legislation. The attendees also expressed interest in  the possible guidelines to expect ahead of the release of the Act’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) expected by November this year.

SGV Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) and CCaSS Director Diana A. Sadili-Chu participated in a private sector consultation meeting organized by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) entitled “Private Sector Engagement towards Sustainable Climate Investment and Finance” on 16 September 2022 at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center, Makati City. The consultation meeting aimed to further strengthen partnerships and foster an enabling environment for climate action. Benjamin and Diana with CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne Sibugan Herrera (far left) and CCC Policy Research and Development Division (PRDD) Chief Jerome E. Ilagan (second from right) Benjamin shared relevant sustainability and climate change initiatives of the Firm, such as its Sustainable Actions for Value Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council, during the open forum. In closing, Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera encouraged business and company representatives to support the country’s initiatives toward sustainable climate investment and finance. Benjamin with CCC Commissioner Albert P. Dela Cruz

SGV Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) and CCaSS Director Diana A. Sadili-Chu participated in a two-day workshop entitled “Sustainability Reporting with a Gender Lens” from 13 to 14 September 2022. The workshop provided participants an opportunity to learn more about sustainability reporting, especially its relevance in gender equality and women empowerment in today’s business setting.  Workshop group photo for Day 1  Workshop group photo for Day 2 The workshop was organized by the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN), the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE), and the UN Women Asia and the Pacific's WeEmpowerAsia Programme.

SGV Consulting team members participated in the iGnite: GCash Innovation Summit 2022. The summit was a month-long event with weekly virtual activities and a one-day on-ground culminating event held on 2 September 2022. Activities included immersive talks and webinars, peer-to-peer roundtable discussions, and hands-on labs/workshops. The SGV Consulting team during the summit SGV Consulting Partner Philip B. Casanova (PBC) and Consulting Senior Director Alvin G. Manuel were among the speakers during the culminating event. In their session on Cyber Resilience, Philip and Alvin talked about how organizations can prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyber breaches.  Senior Director Alvin talks about cyber resilience The event aimed to provide a venue for insightful learning and sharing of best practices to encourage creativity and innovation for employees of GCash and its partner organizations. 

SGV Consulting Director John Panes was a speaker in the Asia Pacific Youth Internet Governance Forum (yIGF): Meetup with Industry Experts on 10 September 2022. The session focused on Internet Governance ABCs: Algorithm Bias - Big Data - Cyber Crime. John at the yIGF: Meetup with industry experts John talked about cybercrime awareness for the youth and the secure use of the internet. During the roundtable discussion, he also provided insights on the importance of cybercrime awareness, the impact of algorithmic bias in everyday life, and the cultivation of digital literacy and digital citizenship. Part of John’s presentation Initiated by the NetMission Ambassadors, the annual yIGF aims to raise awareness of internet governance discourse and encourage the young generation to be more actively engaged in policy discussion and the decision-making process. Youth participants are given the opportunity to explore hot topics, such as sustainability through trust and digital inclusion. John with the participants For the annual “Meetup with Industry Experts” session, participants were given the opportunity to meet with industry experts from different stakeholder groups, including government, civil society, technical community, academia, etc. This session aims to help participants get a better idea of what and how different stakeholders deal with a particular issue during the policy-making process.

SGV Business Tax Services Senior Director Atty. Gecel G. Codera-Ong represented SGV in the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) industry briefing entitled “Enabling Industry & Investments: Policy Discussion with PEZA” on 15 September 2022. Atty. Gecel G. Codera-Ong with the participants in the roundtable discussion, IBPAP Officers and PEZA-OIC Tereso O. Panga Atty. Gecel attended the briefing and roundtable discussion with the guest speaker, Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Tereso O. Panga. The briefing was kicked off by IBPAP President & CEO Jack Madrid who welcomed the participants on-site and online reiterating the commitment of the Association to help its members and IT locators prosper in the country.  During the roundtable discussion, Atty. Gecel shared her insights on the possible response of the PEZA Registered Business Enterprises (PEZA RBEs) on the issuance of Letters of Authority/Mission Orders (LOAs/MOs) by the BIR and advised PEZA locators that while the PEZA will assist them in conducting meetings and discussions with the BIR to address the matter, once an LOA is received, the PEZA RBEs must ensure that such LOAs/MOs are handled with due care and in compliance with the strict technical rules and procedures governing BIR audits.  PEZA officers in attendance were Enterprise Assistance Group Manager Vivian S. Santos, Enterprise Regulations & Support Services Group Manager Atty. Ross Vincent S. Sy, and Legal Affairs Group Manager Atty. Jenny June G. Romero. Other attendees included Concentrix APAC Regional General Counsel, Atty. Michael Montero and Assoc. Gen. Counsel, and Alorica Atty. Maureen Abayan Ong who served as the moderator. IBPAP members and IT locators also participated virtually. The industry briefing concluded with a message from IBPAP’s Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer Celeste Ilagan, who expressed gratitude to all the guest speakers and reassured all members of the IBPAP’s commitment to support them and IT locators.

SGV is working with the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Material Sustainability (PARMS) to implement the pilot Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Waste Diversion Credit Scheme (WDCS) program. Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte represented SGV at the MOA signing with PARMS in August 2022. SGV is the first accredited Certification Body in the EPR WDCS program, which provides a market-based mechanism for obliged enterprises to ensure that their product-packaging-related waste does not end up in landfills or in nature. As a Certification Body, SGV shall help ensure that waste diverters in the scheme are declaring reasonable information. Waste diverters will undergo readiness assessments for audit and compliance of their diversion claims. Under this partnership, SGV will also provide findings and recommendations on the compliance of waste diverters with the WDCS standards as well as recommendations for improvements and streamlining of the standards’ applicability in the Philippines during the pilot implementation. SGV implements and supports several initiatives aligned with its Purpose-led commitment to embed sustainability in the Firm’s culture such as enhancing supply chain responsibility and promoting environmental management through its Sustainable Actions for Value-Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council. The partnership builds on the multiple efforts of SGV and PARMS to realize their shared sustainability goals.

EY Asia-Pacific Area Supply Chain Field of Play Leader Atul Chandna and Asean Supply Chain Competency Leader Ishita Dhamani conducted face-to-face Philippine client visits from 24 to 26 August 2022 as part of the Supply Chain Reinvention Series - Thriving for Excellence.  EY APAC Supply Chain leaders with the Client Supply Chain Team and the SGV Supply Chain Consulting Team composed of Partner Jan Ray Manlapaz and Senior Manager Mary Andrea Bacani  Discussions centered on the specific areas of interest or challenges within the clients’ supply chain and respective industries that EY could assist with. The Philippines is the third ASEAN country that Atul and Ishita visited after Vietnam and Thailand.

The SGV Cebu team led by Assurance Partner Margem A. Tagalog was the official tabulator for the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo (“Pride of Cebu”) 2022 Festival Queen and Festival of Festivals held at the Cebu City Sports Center on 26 and 28 August 2022, respectively. These were two of the major events during the 453rd Founding Anniversary of the Province of Cebu. The SGV Cebu team at the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2022 The SGV Cebu team led by Ms. Margem was composed of SGV Cebu office Assurance Managers Ian V. Jayme, Frecy M. Catadman, Shearilynn L. Go, Jayvee Anga and Adam M. Opada; Senior Associates Jeyson S. Tugonon, Philip P. Castro and Amabella M. Pacaldo; and Associates Maureen R. Friolo, Jonelene A. Masiado, Jamaica C. Ponce, May B. Velasco, Neca B. Abang and King T. Santiago. The team was also assisted by Senior Manager Richard G. Belda, Manager Haroun D. Cabugatan and Administrative Intermediate Aimee B. Raagas. Official tabulators in action In the spirit of thanksgiving, the office of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also invited SGV, represented by Market Group 4 Leader Veronica R. Pore, Assurance Partner Margem A. Tagalog, and Assurance Manager Frecy M. Catadman to the “Gabii sa Pasalamat” (Night of Thanksgiving) honoring various stakeholders from the public and private sectors who contributed to the success of Pasigarbo sa Sugbo 2022. Margem receiving token at the Gabii sa Pasalamat The Pasigarbo sa Sugbo events celebrate Cebu Province’s rich and vibrant culture and heritage through the products, customs, history, creativity, and talent of the towns and cities in the province.  A total of 50 contingents representing various provincial towns and cities participated in the Festival of Festivals and, 40 candidates vied for the title of Festival Queen. Token of Appreciation from the Cebu Provincial Government The events are part of the provincial government’s efforts to prime Cebu’s economy after the dent on Cebu’s tourism industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and typhoon Odette.

SGV Davao marked the opening of its new office at the Damosa Diamond Tower, Damosa IT Park in Lanang, Davao City with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and cocktails on 14 September 2022. Clients, City Government officials, and SGV leaders attended the event.  SGV Chairman and Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan and Deputy Managing Partner Vivian C. Ruiz with Anflo Group officers Ricky Floirendo (far right), Cary Lagdameo (second from left) and JM Lagdameo (far left) during the ribbon-cutting ceremony The Damosa Diamond Tower is the first structure in Davao to receive an Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification for its environment-friendly features. The move to the new office is in line with SGV’s carbon-negative agenda and the EY global organization’s goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2025.  EDGE is an international green building certification system created by the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, to provide a measurable and credible solution to prove the business case for building green and to unlock financial investment in such projects. The new SGV Davao office is equipped with a conference space, partners’ lounge, and managers’ and staff areas designed to improve the employee work experience and enhance workforce productivity In his message to guests, SGV Chairman and Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to reconnect with clients and friends following the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the transfer to the newer, larger office was also a necessity due to the tremendous growth in the Davao office’s headcount. SGV’s Davao team has quadrupled since 2011 to accommodate the increasing number of clients and engagement opportunities in the past decade. Special guest Hon. Bernard E. Al-ag, Chairperson of the Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Industry, represented Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte. Ricky Floirendo, Vice Chairman of the Anflo Group of Companies; Cary Lagdameo, President of the Real Estate and Construction Group; and JM Lagdameo, Assistant Vice President/GM of Kensington Ventures, Inc. joined the ribbon-cutting ceremony.