2024

The SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team and the EY Center for Climate Policy organized a webcast on “Carbon Pricing: Myths and Facts on Putting a Price on Carbon.” The webcast explored the fundamentals and varying stakeholder perspectives on different carbon pricing mechanisms. More than 400 participants from the private sector, government, non-government organizations, and academe joined the virtual session.  SGV and EY speakers, government, and private sector representatives join the panel discussion SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan welcomed the participants and delivered his opening remarks. EY Center for Climate Policy Partner and Leader Kasia Klaczynska-Lewis provided an overview of the carbon pricing ecosystem. SGV CCaSS Principal Bonar A. Laureto, EY Center for Climate Policy Senior Anne-Laure Pilat, and EY Manager Malwina Burzec explored the different mechanisms in carbon pricing. EY Asean CCaSS Leader and EY Malaysia Partner Arina Kok discussed carbon pricing in the Asean region. Philippine Climate Change Commission Deputy Executive Director Asec. Romell Antonio Cuenca, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Climate Change Service Chief Albert Magalang, and Ayala Corporation Group Sustainability and Risk Management Unit Executive Director Ma. Victoria Tan shared their perspectives and reactions on the earlier discussions. Toward the end of the session, the speakers and public and private sector invitees engaged in a panel discussion to address questions from the audience. Bonar served as the moderator. SGV CCaSS Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte capped off the webcast by thanking the participants and providing key takeaways from the session. SGV CCaSS Partner Katrina F. Francisco hosted the webcast.  The webcast was put together by a CCaSS organizing and production team consisting of Associate Director Louie Adrianne Cediño; Senior Associates Russel James Andrade, Cybelle Angelie Bautista, Lorenso Luis Bueno, Maria Margarita Dela Cruz, and Donna Genella Diancin; and Associates John Christopher Evangelista, Zachary Jara, Robert Joseph Revilla, and Marianne Angelica Velasco, with assistance from CCaSS Managers Reynaldo Azarcon, Diana Sadili-Chu, Jamaica Pangasinan, and Judd Tablazon; CCaSS Senior Associate Zoe Aurora Romero; and EY Center for Climate Policy Senior Leonie Schiedek.

SGV Financial Services Organization (FSO) Partner Veronica Mae “Nica” Arce Balisi was a resource speaker at the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist and Proliferation Financing (AML/CTPF) training held via Zoom. This was Nica’s 10th time conducting this session for FINEX Academy.  Nica (upper left) and FINEX Director Ned Goseco (upper right) during the webinar FINEX Director Ronald Luis "Ned" Goseco delivered the welcome remarks and introduced Nica as the resource speaker. Nica gave an overview of money laundering (ML) and terrorist and proliferation financing (TPF). Nica also discussed different concepts of predicate crimes and unlawful activities, Philippine legislation and updates on the regulatory landscape, and the primary duties of covered persons or institutions in combatting ML/TPF. FSO Director Anne Mariel Lagao facilitated knowledge checks via poll questions given in between discussions to maintain interaction with the participants and to gauge their understanding of the topics. To wrap up the session, Nica emphasized that, “As covered persons, we have our own roles that can mitigate ML/TPF risks, if we’ll just use our power or authority for the right purposes then together, we can build a better working world.” 

SGV Partners and Principals together with Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan attended the Meet and Greet in SGV Clark event held on 18 December 2023 at the SGV Clark office.  SGV Partners and Principals with SGV Clark staff The event provided an opportunity for interaction between the leadership partners and SGV Clark personnel consisting of Assurance and Tax (Global Compliance and Reporting and Business Tax Services) professionals and a socialization activity where partners could provide advice, suggestions and support and the participants felt comfortable asking and answering questions.

The SGV Sustainable Actions for Value Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council held a WebCCaSS session on sustainable gift giving. The session, titled “Gift Love, Wrap it Up: Sleigh’n the Sustainable Gift Giving” was attended by over 400 SGVeans.  Alvin delivers his opening remarks SAVE Council Operations Pillar Partner Alvin M. Pinpin opened the session with a reminder that gift giving can be a good avenue for SGVeans to participate in, in line with the Firm’s initiative to build a better and more sustainable working world.  The session’s speakers presented alternative gift ideas like buying upcycled items, choosing sustainable brands, giving experiential gifts, and using gift wraps with less waste. The session concluded with a declaration on adapting more sustainable gift-giving practices for the holiday season.  The CCaSS team engages participants to think of sustainable gift-wrapping materials CCaSS Director Diana Sadili-Chu, Associate Director Jouelle Nerveza-Sumile, Senior Associates Joshua Ladia and Kerby Panaligan, and Associates Emmanuel Regondola and Isabella Naputo hosted the virtual event. The SAVE Council’s WebCCaSS initiative is a quarterly one-hour webcast that covers concepts, trends, regulations, and industry practices around sustainability and climate change.

The SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team hosted a Sustainabits session titled, “Welcoming 2024 with a B.A.N.G! Begin A New Green Journey: Creating Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions.” The session aimed to inspire SGVeans to incorporate greener and healthier habits in the new year.  CCaSS Director Reynaldo Azarcon formally opened the session and emphasized the importance of following through small sustainable actions that could greatly impact the community. Rey is part of the team leading the Firm’s Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) initiative. He is also a member of the Sustainable Actions for Value-Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council - Environment Pillar.  The SGV CCaSS team talks about making sustainable new year’s resolutions The presenters were Associate Director Jamaica Pangasinan, Senior Associate Ricca Ciana Macabuac, and Associate John Christoper Evangelista. The team discussed the various sustainable new year’s resolutions that anyone can start applying such as eating less meat to reduce one’s carbon footprint and saying “no” to single-use plastics. The team also talked about SGV’s Environmental Policy and waste management initiatives, highlighting the Firm’s progress on the TRUE program. They also talked about decluttering, encouraging the participants to donate used items. To conclude the session, the attendees were asked to participate in the Declaration of Commitment for a call-to-action that shows their commitment to partake in the implementation of these sustainable new year’s resolutions. The SAVE Council’s Sustainabits is a monthly thirty-minute session that covers concepts, trends, regulations, and industry practices around sustainability and climate change. 

SGV Consulting Partner and EY Asean Core Consulting Quality Leader Joseph Ian M. Canlas received the 2023 Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award (MOKA) Emerging Category for Finance. Ian was recognized for his exemplary achievements and contributions and for continuing to embody the ideals of a true Kapampangan. He received the award during the 452nd founding anniversary of the province of Pampanga on 11 December 2023. 2023 Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awardee for Finance Joseph Ian M. Canlas (center) “Beyond being a CPA, I strived and became the professional I am today — an external and internal auditor, consultant in risk/compliance management, internal controls, and corporate governance, among others, for both public and private sectors. It is my passion and I advocate for initiatives related to ESG or Sustainability. I hope to be an example that you can do more beyond your original profession,” Ian said. Ian (center) with Assurance Senior Manager Leo Niño R. Canlas (left) and SGV Clark Head and Partner-in-Charge Margaux A. Advincula Ian believes that companies should be mindful of people being the heart of organizations; their clear purpose, initiatives on environment, and social and governance should be given more of a spotlight through non-financial reports such as sustainability reports. Ian was honored alongside 12 other MOKA awardees. The MOKA is an annual search for Kapampangans who excel in their respective endeavors or professions. The MOKA Award is perceived as the pinnacle of all awards conferred by the Province of Pampanga to its outstanding sons and daughters. Congratulations, Ian!

The SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team and Philippine Sustainability Reporting Committee (PSRC) Secretariat organized and hosted International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) meetings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and a joint meeting with the Financial and Sustainability Reporting Standards Council (FSRSC) and the PSRC at the SGV Makati office.  SGV, ISSB, SEC, and PSE meeting participants The meetings aimed to engage the PSE, SEC, and local stakeholders regarding the ISSB Standards and the Philippines’ roadmap for adoption. Topics covered during the meetings were the perspectives on Philippines’ jurisdictional roadmap towards adoption of the ISSB Standards, the status and possible future development of SEC ESG Guidance for sustainability reporting, organizational perspectives on ISSB’s future agenda, and capacity building needs. Speakers and participants during the Joint FSRSC and PSRC Meeting with ISSB CCaSS Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte, CCaSS Directors Ricardo Maulion Jr. and Diana Sadili-Chu, and CCaSS Associate Director Jouelle Nerveza-Sumile formed part of the CCaSS team.  ISSB guests during the meeting were Vice Chair Jingdong Hua, Director of Regulatory Affairs Jonathan Bravo, Strategic Affairs and Capacity Building Manager Evie Robertson. PSE and SEC Officers, as well as FSRSC and PSRC members also attended the meetings.

SGV’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team hosted a webinar titled “Navigating the new frontier of sustainability standards: SGV Insight Session on the ISSB Standards.” The session aimed to impart key insights about the recently published International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Disclosure Standards or International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Standards. ISSB Member Bing Leng and SGV CCaSS Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte during the fireside chat Speakers and panelists shared their insights on the ISSB Standards, sustainability disclosures, and their impact on the sustainability reporting landscape from the viewpoint of a regulator, corporate reporter, a standard-setting body, and a professional services firm. ISSB Member Bing Leng discusses the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards The session’s keynote speaker was ISSB Member Bing Leng. He talked about the development journey of the ISSB Standards and reliefs to support adoption. He also participated in a fireside chat moderated by SGV CCaSS Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte on ISSB key consultation results and support to jurisdictional adoption of ISSB Standards. (First row L–R) GRI Country Manager – Philippines Katreen Pillejera, AEV First Vice President – Chief Reputation and Sustainability Officer Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, and SGV Consulting Partner Joseph Ian M. Canlas; (Second row L–R) Gokongwei Group Sustainability Head Yvonne Purisima, FSO Leader Christian G. Lauron, and PH SEC Atty. Rachel Remalante The panelists for the forum were Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Philippines Country Manager Ma. Katreena Pillejera, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Corporate Governance and Finance Department Director Atty. Rachel Esther J. Gumtang-Remalante, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) First Vice President - Chief Reputation and Sustainability Officer Ana Margarita “Ginggay” Hontiveros-Malvar, Gokongwei Group Head of Sustainability Yvonne Flores, and SGV Financial Services Organization (FSO) Leader Christian G. Lauron. SGV Consulting Partner Joseph Ian M. Canlas moderated the fireside chat. CCaSS Manager Jouelle M. Nerveza led the organizing team composed of Manager Ricardo S. Maulion, Senior Associates Marsha P. Batusbatusan and Goldianne M. Madriaga, and Associates Emmanuel D. Regondola and Caryll Joy C. Franco. CCaSS Senior Manager Crystal Aleli R. Cornell served as the session’s host and was also part of the organizing team.

SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner and Philippine Sustainability Reporting Committee (PSRC) Chair Benjamin “Benjie” N. Villacorte participated in the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) Global Roundtable on the Exposure Draft of the Proposed International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000. The roundtable was held at the Securities Commission office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Benjie at the IAASB Global Roundtable As the PSRC Chair and Philippine representative, Benjie provided insights on the topics covered by the roundtable, such as the Proposed ISSA 5000 as the overarching standard for sustainability assurance, fundamental premises in the Exposure Draft of ISSA 5000, sustainability information reported, and communication and reporting. IAASB Global Roundtable Benjie was joined by sustainability reporting standard-setters, users of sustainability information, policy makers and regulators for reporting, and preparers of sustainability information. The roundtable aimed to gain insights from users of sustainability information reported externally by entities, preparers of such sustainability information, those charged with governance of entities, public officials, and other interested parties, along with their representative bodies and advisors on the proposed International Standard on Sustainability Assurance ISSA 5000 General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements.

SGV Partners Jose Pepito E. Zabat, Eleanore A. Layug, Hentje Leo L. Leaño, and Peter John R. Ventura, and Market Group (MG) 7 Assurance and Tax Managers participated in the 69th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) at the CAP–John Hay Trade and Cultural Center in Baguio City.  SGV Partners Jose Pepito E. Zabat, Eleanore A. Layug, and Peter John R. Ventura, and MG7 Senior Managers with PMSEA President and ASEAN Eng. Luis R. Sarmiento The conference featured mining exhibits, a youth congress, mine safety field demonstrations and competitions, and mining, metallurgical, geological, and environmental symposia. The Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award for the best mining practices in the Philippines was also conferred during the event. SGV Partners Jose Pepito E. Zabat, Eleanore A. Layug, and Hentje Leo L. Leaño, and MG7 Assurance and Tax Managers The Philippine Mine and Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) in cooperation with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) organized the conference, which was attended by representatives from mining companies, regulators and local government units, and other industry stakeholders. PMSEA is a volunteer organization that promotes best practices in the areas of occupational health and safety, sound environmental management, and social development among mining companies operating in the Philippines.