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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.

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 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.

SGV Partners, Principals, and staff attended the 1st Central Luzon Year-end Briefing: Outlook for 2024 and Beyond held on 18 December 2023 at the SGV Clark Office. The event was organized by SGV Clark and was attended by C-suite locator-clients and potential Philippine investors, various Chambers of Commerce and Business Organizations within Central Luzon. BCDA Chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana at the 1st Central Luzon Year-end Briefing The featured guests from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) presented highlights on the 2023 developments in Central Luzon, particularly in Pampanga, Clark, Tarlac, and Subic, as well as the economic outlook for 2024, including expectations for economic growth, investment climate and any potential challenges or opportunities. BCDA also shared their most important projects and accomplishments for 2023 which included projects that locators and investors should look forward to in 2024. Present at the event were BCDA Chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana, BCDA Investment Promotion and Marketing Department Head Michelle De Vera, CDC President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, CIAC President and Chief Executive Officer Arrey A Perez, SBMA Business and Investment for Manufacturing and Maritime Department Manager Karen Magno, and NEDA Region III Assistant Regional Director Evelyn Nacario-Castro. 

SGV was one of the sponsors of the Global Compact Network Philippines (GCNP) 5th Sustainability Summit, an annual event that showcases the sustainability efforts and journey of its members. More than 150 participants attended the two-day summit which was held at the Makati Diamond Residences and the WSDC Training Rooms at the SGV I Building. (From left to right) GCNP Executive Director Octavio "Bobby" Peralta, SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan, Co-CEO of Bayo Manila, Inc. Anna Marie Lagon, UNGC Regional Head for Asia and Oceania Neha Das, Nickel Asia Corporation President and CEO Martin Antonio Zamora, and GCNP Chairperson Ma. Victoria "Vickie" Tan SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan attended the by-invitation-only CEO Forum where CEOs discussed their vision, plans, scale-up activities, and contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 10 Principles of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). In another segment, EY Singapore Principal Praveen Tekchandani talked about Sustainability Reporting.  EY Singapore Principal Praveen Tekchandani The second part of the program focused on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Reporting Standards. SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Katrina F. Francisco provided an overview of the IFRS S1 and S2 and a more a detailed discussion of the former. EY Singapore Principal Praveen Tekchandani provided a more in-depth discussion of the IFRS S2 and climate-related disclosures. KFF and Praveen also provided updates on the local adoption of these standards and their content requirements.  (From left to right) GCNP Chairperson Ma. Victoria "Vickie" Tan, CCaSS Partner Katrina Francisco, CCaSS Senior Manager Kevin Henson, CCaSS Senior Manager Fernando Salud, GCNP Vice-Chairperson Yayu Javier, and EY Singapore Principal Praveen Tekchandani Sustainability Summit participants CCaSS Senior Managers Kevin Henson and Fernando Jose Salud talked about climate risk assessment for physical and transitions risks in relation to climate-related disclosures. They also discussed climate hazards with relevant data and parameters and their potential impacts on businesses.

SGV Consulting Manager Jeffrey C. Yee is now a Certified Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Green Belt (GB) professional. Jeffrey received certification from the LSS external certification program sponsored by SGV for Business Consulting – Supply Chain and Operations in October 2023. SGV Consulting Manager and Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt professional Jeffrey C. Yee Jeffrey obtained the certification by attending a 56-hour LSS GB course, passing the written examination, and successfully completing and submitting an actual project study application. Lean Six Sigma is a recognized process improvement methodology thatis needed for foundational operational excellence skills for the Supply Chain team. This supplements the EY Supply Chain Internal Training and Industrial Engineering (IE) curriculum. This is also a preferred certification by EY clients. Congratulations, Jeffrey!

SGV Davao hosted the “Symposium for Business Owners: Bringing your Business to the Next Level” at the SGV Davao office. The symposium featured SGV Partners and was attended by family business owners. SGV Davao Partner-in-Charge Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa hosted the event.  SGV Davao symposium participants SGV Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) Partner Anna Maria Rubi B. Diaz talked about Finance Remediation while Philippine FAAS Leader Aris C. Malantic and MG4 Leader Veronica R. Pore (VRP) served as panelists for the event. SGV Business Tax Services (BTS) Partner Karen Kaye M. Sta. Maria-Constantino, Global Compliance & Reporting (GCR) Partner Saha A. Bulagsak, Business Consulting Partner Maria Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña and Assurance Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte talked about Corporate Restructuring, Tax Health Check, Process Improvement and Sustainability Reporting, respectively. The event included business consultations with the key speakers to address the participants’ business concerns.

SGV Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Partner Michael A. Madlangbayan was the resource speaker at the SGV TaxBaSe seminars on Year-end Reminders and Tax Compliance 101. The seminars were held at the SGV Clark, Makati, Cebu, and Davao offices. A total of 329 participants attended the sessions: 46 in Clark, 166 in Makati, 56 in Cebu, and 61 in Davao. The sessions registered the highest total number of participants in the series to date.   Michael at the SGV Cebu session Michael provided the participants with a better understanding of tax returns filing, remittance and administrative requirements, and year-end tax related reconciliation procedures and common issues.  Leo, Michael, Mica, and Lee during the Q&A session in Makati Michael was also joined by GCR Partners Hentje Leo L. Leaño and Lee Celso R. Vivas in the question-and-answer sessions at the Makati office and Saha Adlawan-Bulagsak at the Cebu and Davao offices.  Michael and Saha during the Q&A session in Cebu Year-end Reminders and TC 101 participants at SGV Davao GCR Director Abegaile Marie L. Lebiga hosted the Davao session while GCR Associate Directors Elgina A. Rito, Mica Alyana C. Rivera, and Stewart Herbie T. Po hosted the sessions in SGV Clark, Makati, and Cebu, respectively. GCR Associate Director Joseph Nikko F. Recentes conducted knowledge checks via polling questions in SGV Cebu.

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 Managers participated in the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AmCham) North Luzon Economic Briefing on Central Luzon's Regional Economic Situation and Development Outlook for 2024. Forty-five AmCham members attended the briefing held on 25 January 2024 at the SGV Clark office. Atty. Margaux introduces NEDA Region 3 Regional Director Nerrisa T. Esguerra SGV Clark Partner-in-Charge and Head Atty. Margaux A. Advincula delivered the opening remarks and introduced the resource speakers from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 3: Regional Director Nerrisa T. Esguerra, Supervising Economic Development Specialist Jesito Ponio Jr., and Assistant Regional Director Divina Hope Vallejo. The NEDA speakers talked about the government’s initiatives to facilitate economic and social transformation in Central Luzon. NEDA Region 3 Regional Director Nerrisa T. Esguerra talks about Central Luzon's Regional Economic Situation and Development Outlook for 2024 SGV Consulting Partner Joseph Ian M. Canlas moderated the question-and-answer session with the speakers. AmCham North Luzon President Denise H.R. Molintas delivered the closing remarks. MG7 Leader Jose Pepito E. Zabat, Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Partner Hentje Leo L. Leaño, Assurance Senior Director Leo Niño Canlas, GCR Director David Jonathan Manalili, and Business Tax Associate Director Atty. Ma. Jeanne Therese Marasigan were also present during the event.