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SGV Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) was a speaker at the 2nd Philippine Renewable Energy Virtual Conference held in the third quarter of 2022. The conference focused on the development, integration, and implementation of renewable energy in commercial and residential properties, as well as in manufacturing and industrial facilities. Benjamin during his talk Benjamin talked about “Decarbonizing the Philippines through Renewable Energy Sources.” His discussion focused on the journey towards decarbonization and a brief background on greenhouse gas accounting, primarily Scope 2 emissions or indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. He also highlighted EY/SGV’s decarbonization goals and achievements. Other topics he covered during the conference were impacts and policy developments concerning climate change, the role of renewable energy in decarbonization, and ways on how to tap companies/organizations to support renewable-energy initiatives. BNV emphasized that to lower Scope 2 emissions, there needs to be a shift to renewable energy sources in the Philippines. 

SGV, through the SGV Sustainable Actions for Value Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council and in cooperation with the Waves for Water Organization, Inc. (W4W), a non-profit organization that works to provide clean water solutions to communities in need around the world, launched the SAVE4Water Project, which provided access to clean and safe water to selected beneficiaries, in Barangay San Ramon, Floridablanca, Pampanga on 1 October 2022. SGV volunteers with the Waves for Water team  SGV volunteers with the beneficiaries  Thirty-eight SGV volunteers participated in the distribution of water filtration systems to farmers and laborers who sourced drinking water from deep wells and pumps. Demonstrations, orientations, and distribution of donated items were facilitated by W4W representatives, other donors, and barangay officials. SGV volunteers assisted the residents in assembling the water filtration systems. The residents were also given 150 packs of nutribuns from Universal Robina Corporation. W4W representatives demonstrate how to use the water filtration system This project is part of the SAVE Council’s GIVE2SAVE program, a fund-raising activity aimed to promote the spirit of generosity to create a positive impact on society. It also supports sustainable development goal (SDG) 3, Good Health and Well-being and SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation, which are two of the Council’s advocacies.

SGV Davao hosted client cocktails and a golf tournament on 14 and 15 September 2022, respectively, to celebrate the move to the new SGV Davao office at the Damosa Diamond Tower, Damosa IT Park in Lanang, Davao City. A toast to SGV Davao and the Davao business community SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) delivered the opening remarks, while SGV Vice Chair and Deputy Managing Partner Vivian C. Ruiz (VCR), Assurance Leader Martin C. Guantes (MCG), and Market Group 4 Leader Veronica R. Pore (VRP) delivered their respective messages before the toast by SGV Davao Partner-in-charge Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa (JJB), to the deep friendship and professional relationship between SGV and the Davao business community. Clients were also given a brief guided tour of the new office. Group photo with SGV partners, managers, and clients Other partners who were present during the cocktails were Noel P. Rabaja (NPR), Jhoanna Feliza C. Go (JCG), Michael C. Sabado (MCS), Jun Torres (NTT), Aris C. Malantic (ACM), Leovina Mae P. Villa-Chu (LVC), Genghis O. Grospe (GOG), Margem A. Tagalog (MAT), Saha A. Bulagsak (SAB), Thyrza F. Marbas (TFM), Marie Stephanie C. Tan-Hamed (MTH), Roel E. Lucas (REL), and Clairma T. Mangangey (CTM). SGV Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Associate Anne Eiko Gizelle C. Lumbayon was the emcee for the event.  Alberto Bacani, Wilson, and Alfred E. Samson geared up to play golf SGV FunGolf Tournament winners The SGV FunGolf Tournament was held the next day at the South Pacific Davao Golf Club where SGV clients and partners Wilson, Martin, Jun, Michael, Aris, and Alvin M. Pinpin (AMP) played friendly golf matches. Raoul and Thyrza hosted the event. 

SGV Davao held its first in-person recruitment event in over two years since the pandemic began. The event was held at SGV Davao’s new office on 16 September 2022. Over 90 graduate and undergraduate students from various universities in the Davao region attended the event.  Wilson delivers his welcome remarks SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) and SGV Davao Partner-in-charge Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa (JJB) welcomed the students. Wilson gave the opening remarks and SGV Vice Chair and Deputy Managing Partner Vivian C. Ruiz (VCR) provided a brief introduction to the Firm. The students were given an overview of the services being offered by the Firm. Assurance Leader Martin C. Guantes (MCG), Strategy and Transactions (SaT) Partner Marie Stephanie C. Tan-Hamed, and Global Compliance & Reporting (GCR) Partner Saha A. Bulagsak (SAB) explained the functions of each service line. Market Group 4 Leader Veronica R. Pore (VRP) and Assurance Partner Roel E. Lucas (REL) gave testimonials. Wilson meets with the students The students participated in a series of meet and greet/networking sessions with the SGV leaders and other SGV partners who also attended the event, namely Leovina Mae P. Villa-Chu (LVC), Jhoanna C. Go (JCG), Josenilo G. Mendoza (JGM), Ma. Genalin Q. Arevalo (MQA), Genghis O. Grospe (GOG), Thyrza F. Marbas (TFM) and Clairma T. Mangangey (CTM). There were also trivia games where special prizes were awarded to the winners.  Students listen to Wilson The recruitment event concluded with a closing message from Talent Leader Julie Christine C. Ong-Mateo (JOM). SGV Cebu Partner-in-charge Margem A. Tagalog (MAT) was the emcee for the event. 

The SGV Davao office held a town hall meeting with SGV leaders on 15 September 2022. The leaders met with the staff to discuss the Firm’s plans in terms of work flexibility, in-person training, benefits expansion, and the SGV anniversary celebration, among others. The meeting was attended by 150 staff. SGV partners with SGV Davao staff SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT), Vice Chair and Deputy Managing Partner Vivian C. Ruiz (VCR), Assurance Leader Martin C. Guantes (MCG), Talent Leader Julie Christine C. Ong-Mateo (JOM), Market Group 4 Leader Veronica R. Pore (VRP), SGV Cebu Partner-in-charge Margem A. Tagalog (MAT), Assurance Partners Leovina Mae P. Villa-Chu (LVC), Jhoanna C. Go (JCG), Genghis O. Grospe (GOG), and SGV Tax Partners Thyrza F. Marbas (TFM) and Saha A. Bulagsak (SAB) were present during the event. The town hall meeting was hosted by SGV Davao Partner-in-charge Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa (JJB).

SGV Consulting Senior Associate Cathrina Eloisa “Cathy” Tan was a speaker on the topic of “Daunting Technologies: Cyberwarfare” at the 10th De La Salle University (DLSU) Technology Summit 2022 on 1 October. Cathy talked about the various types of cyber-attacks and how they work, the struggle of upholding human rights in the digital world, and how cybercrimes continue to affect society. Cathy talks about cyber warfare The event was organized by the La Salle Computer Society, a professional organization under the DLSU College of Computer Studies. The Summit dove deep into the cutting-edge technologies that revolutionized the world over the past decade and will continue to do so in the future. About 1000 participants attended the event.

SGV Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Partner Josenilo “Nilo” G. Mendoza (JGM) and Senior Manager Zorayda Panumpang were speakers in the hybrid Tax Seminar for Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas Foundation, Inc. (KKPFI), also known as WWF Philippines, on 23 September 2022. Zorayda with the in-person attendees at the WWF tax seminar Nilo discussed the basic concepts and rules for Expanded Withholding Tax (EWT) and Final Withholding Tax (FWT). Zorayda discussed the basic concepts and rules for Withholding Tax on Wages (WTW) and Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT). They covered the taxes’ nature and basic principles, withholding agents, exemptions from withholding, timing of withholding, common income payments subject to the taxes, computation, effects of failure to withhold, and administrative requirements. Their discussions also covered Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law and Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law updates. Nilo discussing EWT Questions from the WWF participants were addressed after each session. WWF-Philippines is an environmental non-government organization working on improving Filipino lives by crafting solutions to climate change, providing sustainable livelihood programs, and conserving the country's richest marine and land habitats. Zorayda discussing WTW

CCaSS Director Erika N. Courteille, in her capacity as an accredited Climate Fresk facilitator, serves as the Learning Head of the Learn2Lead Sustainability Program organized by SustainablePH and the Society of Sustainability Practitioners.  Erika talks about renewable energy Erika conducted a series of workshops on business strategy tools, financial ratio analysis and climate change. The program is a practical six-week hybrid and cohort-based program for sustainability practitioners centered on the theory and practice of sustainability management. Group photo with Learn2Lead mentors, attendees, and organizers The first cohort of the program was composed of different representatives from the government, academe, non-government organizations (NGOs), micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and private large enterprises. The program was conducted in partnership with the RATP Foundation and ACTED Philippines with its 3Zero Global Alliance and the support of AXA Climate, Circulo, Move as One Coalition, and Verne Energy Solutions.

CCaSS Director Erika N. Courteille moderated a session on mitigating the impacts of climate change in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region and the Philippines during the 3Zero Southeast Asia Forum: Fostering a sustainable and inclusive agriculture system - together towards a Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, Zero Poverty Southeast Asia held from 29 September to 1 October 2022. About 300 participants and committed actors in the sector attended the hybrid event. Event poster Erika moderated the “Building resilience to climate change: how to support agriculture to mitigate risks?” session, which covered the following topics: high-impact risks across agriculture due to climate change, anticipatory action on typhoon response, key leverage points and resolutions to mitigate risks, methods to balance sustainability and risk mitigation, and policy interventions to support resilience-building in vulnerable sectors across agriculture. Erika with the panelists The forum was organized by the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), Convergence and its partners, supported by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Asia’s Strategic Collaborative Fund to promote a sustainable and inclusive agriculture system in Southeast Asia.  The forum can be viewed here.[JDT1]  [JDT1]If this can’t be hyperlinked through FB/LinkedIn/the SGV website kindly insert the link instead:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjGYq_I9er0&t=2596s

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