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SGV Financial Services Organization (FSO) Partner Veronica Mae Arce Balisi (VAB) was a resource speaker at the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Quezon Province Chapter Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorist and Proliferation Financing (CTPF) technical training held on 10 March 2023 via Zoom. FSO Associate Director Juan Paolo Gaco together with Associates Rubin Hollero II and Coleen Mae Panuela acted as facilitator and presenters at the training.  Event poster Veronica (top left) with the training participants Veronica gave an overview of money laundering and terrorist and proliferation financing. She also discussed recent regulatory updates on AML/CTPF, sample typologies and actual cases relevant to the industry, and preventive measures of covered persons/institutions for accountants and accounting firms. VAB wrapped up the training session with a message on accountants playing a vital role in combating money laundering. 

SGV Partners led by Chairman and Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) were resource speakers, organizers, and participants in the Filipino-Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (FCGCCI) tax briefing on 14 March 2023 at the Centennial Hall, Manila Hotel. More than 500 persons attended the tax briefing, which aimed to give updates on the latest developments in the Philippine tax landscape and their potential impact on businesses. SGV Partners with FCGCCI members Wilson and FCGCCI President Ramon Chuaying delivered the opening remarks. For the technical sessions, SGV Partners Maricris U. See (MUS), Michael A. Madlangbayan (MAM), Jonathan T. Bino (JTB), Cheryl Edeline C. Ong (CCO), and Arlyn A. Sarmiento-Sy (AAS) identified trends and gave updates and reminders on annual income tax filing and other reportorial requirements, other tax filings/updates on tax issuances, SEC issuances and circulars, Philippine incentives and trends in BIR audits, the Electronic Invoicing/Reporting System (EIS), and customs audits and importer accreditation, respectively. Tax Leader Fabian K. delos Santos (FKS) talked about pending legislation related to tax and its potential impact on businesses. Vice Chairman and Deputy Managing Partner Maria Vivian C. Ruiz (VCR), Assurance Leader Martin C. Guantes (MCG), Market Group 3 Leader Henry M. Tan (HMT), Assurance Partner Albert R. Bon (ARB), Tax Partner Karen Kaye M. Sta. Maria-Constantino (KMC), and Alumni Partner Luis Jose P. Ferrer (LPF) also attended the tax briefing. Henry and Michael organized the event while FCGCCI Member Roger Lim and Luis helped them coordinate with the Chamber. Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Manager Jed Marten R. Agbuya moderated the open forum.

SGV Partners were resource speakers in the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Eastern Visayas Region Geographical Area Office (EVR-GAO) conference held from 17 to 18 February 2023. The two-day conference with the theme “Play It Forward: Securing a Sustainable Future” was held at the Henann Resort in Panglao, Bohol. John and Maricris receive tokens of appreciation SGV Assurance Partner John T. Villa (JTV) was the speaker for the first technical session entitled “Exposure Draft: IFRS for SMEs (Third Edition) while SGV Tax Partner Maricris U. See (MUS) was the speaker for “Tax Updates for Effective Compliance.” The conference also covered other topics such as regulatory updates, business community management, and environmental, social and governance.

SGV signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Makati Business Club (MBC) on 7 March 2023 to be part of the "State of Philippine Sustainability Reporting Implementation" project. The MOU was signed by SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) and Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) with MBC Programs and Projects Senior Director Maria Roxanne Lu. The project's goal is to comprehend and evaluate how Publicly Listed Companies (PLCs) in the Philippines are now handling their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting. Wilson (left) and Benjamin (bottom right) with MBC Programs and Projects Senior Director Maria Roxanne Lu during the MOU signing Wilson opened the event by outlining the government and industry sustainability activities pushed by climate change. He said that ESG has become more important to business strategy because of growing regulation, investor pressure, and shifting consumer behavior. He also underlined the necessity of locally adopting the original set of Sustainability Disclosure Standards of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to facilitate better transparency and comparability in ESG disclosures. MBC Project Lead Jesi Blantucas presenting a project overview MBC's Project Lead for the Philippines Sustainability Action Project Jesi Blantucas presented a project overview and timeline on how companies implement sustainability reporting and the context of Beyond the Bottom Line results. She said that MBC and SGV should be able to uncover insights, highlight challenges and opportunities, and provide recommendations as a result of the Project. MBC Chairman Edgar O. Chua and SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) hold up the signed MOU MBC Chairman Edgar O. Chua thanked SGV for its work in reviewing the sustainability reports of PLCs in the Philippines. He also thanked the Philippine Sustainability Action Project's founding organization, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). CIPE Philippines Country Director Ryan Evangelista commended MBC and SGV for working together to promote corporate ethics and sustainability reporting in the private sector. Representatives from SGV, MBC, and CIPE Benjamin delivered the closing remarks. He described the planned activities under the MOU as a great opportunity for collaboration and shared visions to strengthen corporate leaders' grasp of sustainability. He also expressed his appreciation to the affiliate organizations and his unwavering support for the partnership.

SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Senior Associate Jouelle Hannah Nerveza was the resource speaker in a seminar on sustainability with the theme “Refining Business Practices Through Sustainable Marketing.” The seminar was organized by the BSBA major in Marketing Management faculty of the College of Business Administration and Accountancy, Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila on 16 February 2023. Jouelle receives Certificate of Appreciation Jouelle introduced SGV, CCaSS, and SGV’s journey toward sustainability. She discussed the four pillars of sustainability - economic, environment, social and governance - and its drivers - regulators and government, investors, NGOs and communities, employees, customers, and private entities. She also shared the significant sustainability developments in the standards and guidance around sustainability reports.  Jouelle talked about examples of greenwashing, which is the practice of deceptive marketing to make an organization or product appear environmentally friendly, to help consumers identify products that make misleading environmental claims. She highlighted the importance of marketing professionals in the promotion and implementation of sustainable practices within the company or organization. She also emphasized the significance and principles of sustainable marketing and how it differs from traditional marketing. Jouelle wrapped up her presentation by sharing how marketing professionals can lead in the sustainability space. She also encouraged participants to begin their journey towards sustainability. 

The Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team hosted a Sustainabits session on “Office Ergonomics: The Role of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) in Office Settings,” which aimed to orient and inform the SGV community on the importance of good working conditions. The virtual session was attended by 534 SGVeans. CCaSS Manager Brenda Estonanto, CCaSS Partner Conrad Allan M. Alviz (CMA), and CCaSS Associate Eloisa Malaluan welcome the participants to the Sustainabits session Business Consulting and CCaSS Partner Conrad Allan M. Alviz (CMA) welcomed everyone to the session and shared his personal experience on following basic Occupational Health and Safety policies. CCaSS Manager Brenda Estonanto supported by her team, CCaSS Senior Associate Francis Jemaiya Arce and CCaSS Associates Eloisa Jean Malaluan and Emmanuel Regondola, spearheaded the discussion.  CCaSS Associate Eloisa Malaluan discusses the basic definition of office ergonomics The session covered four main topics, namely, the basis for office safety, office hazards and preventive measures, office ergonomics, and the introduction of the CCaSS EHS solution cluster. The discussion began with a video clip showing how complacency is the breeding ground for accidents, then proceeded to some insights on the legislation and department orders focusing on ensuring a safe working environment. The second part focused on the types of hazards encountered in the office or at home, and how these hazards affect individuals, while the third part focused on ways to prevent injuries and how to eliminate these hazards.  The team also presented the potential risks of EHS-related concerns to businesses. The team discussed how the CCaSS EHS solution cluster could help businesses avoid these risks and damages by offering services that will help companies to manage EHS-related liabilities such as EHS Risk Assessment and Management, EHS Due Diligence, and EHS Management Consulting Services. To conclude the session, SGVeans were encouraged to show their commitment in promoting a safe working environment and make SGV a better working space for everyone.  For those who were not able to attend the session, the session recording can still be accessed through this link.  The Sustainable Actions for Value Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council’s Sustainabits initiative is a half-hour webcast that covers ideas, movements, principles, and industry best practices around sustainability, social equity, and climate change.

The SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team, along with guest speakers from ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions (ACEN RES), hosted the third episode of the Sustainable Actions for Value-Creation and Enablement (SAVE) Council's WebCCaSS for FY23 on 3 March 2023. The session, titled "Flip the Switch: Moving towards the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP)," informed SGVeans on the Firm’s transition to renewable energy, the benefits of switching to renewable energy through GEOP, and ways to responsibly manage individual electricity consumption.  Clairma delivers her opening remarks SGV Chief Sustainability Officer Clairma T. Mangangey (CTM) delivered her opening remarks and talked about the relevance and timeliness of renewable energy as a solution for climate change. The presenters during the session were CCaSS Manager Judd Tablazon, CCaSS Senior Associate Goldianne Madriaga, and CCaSS Associates Emmanuel Regondola and Annabel Coronel who covered topics on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the greenhouse effect, global warming, and computing GHG emissions.   ACEN RES Assistant Vice President for Commercial Operations and Head of Account Management Ela Mina and ACEN RES Account Manager Jaime Dayrit talk about GEOP The event was also graced by ACEN RES Assistant Vice President for Commercial Operations and Head of Account Management Ela Mina, and ACEN RES Account Manager Jaime Dayrit who shared details about GEOP. They shared how the program will help reduce SGV’s emissions through the switch to renewable energy. The session concluded with a Declaration of Commitment called “A Plan Towards a Responsible Action” encouraging SGVeans to take a step toward responsible electricity consumption.

SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Senior Engr. Keith S. Celebre was the technical resource speaker on “Sustainable Skylines: Low-carbon future of buildings and construction” at the World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development webinar on 4 March 2023 via Zoom. The event was organized by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. – Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia (PICE-EPSA) International Charter I-01 in collaboration with PICE-South Korea Chapter. Keith receives Certificate of Appreciation Keith during the Q&A portion Keith talked about the climate-related risks facing the buildings and construction sector, and how the sector can contribute to global decarbonization goals by incorporating sustainability in the design process. He also talked about how net zero carbon buildings integrate sustainability by designing for energy efficiency and decreasing reliance on non-renewable energy sources during their operation. He highlighted how whole-life net zero carbon can also be achieved by taking into account the emissions from the entire life cycle of the buildings — from the manufacture of construction materials up to the treatment processes after their end-of-life. After his presentation, Keith participated in the question-and-answer portion to clarify some of his discussion points. There was also an open forum where the participants asked about recent technologies, green building certifications, and business feasibility of sustainable engineering practices.

SGV Partners and IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) officers paid a courtesy call on Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera to discuss collaborative activities in Clark. They also met with key officers of 29 top Clark-based Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) registered enterprises for a roundtable meeting and luncheon on 17 March 2023 at the SGV Clark office. SGV Partners with IBPAP President and CEO Jack Madrid, IBPAP Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer Celeste Ilagan, and CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera Roundtable panelists Roundtable meeting attendees SGV Clark Partner-In-Charge and Head Margaux A. Advincula (MAA), Market Group 7 Leader Jose Pepito E. Zabat III (JEZ), Tax Leader Atty. Fabian K. delos Santos (FKS), Assurance Partner Manolito R. Elle (MRE), Tax Partner Auresana B. Ines (ABI), IBPAP President and CEO Jack Madrid, and IBPAP Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer Celeste Ilagan joined the courtesy call with CDC President and CEO Atty. Devanadera. They also joined more than 50 guests from IT-BPM-registered companies and other guests invited by the CDC for a roundtable discussion on plans for upcoming activities to be held in Clark. CDC representative Asst. Manager for Investments Promotion Division Mr. Erwin Pattaui and Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) President Dr. Frankie Villanueva joined the panel during the roundtable discussion. 

The SGV Clark Tax team hosted an in-person tax updates seminar with the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) at the SGV Clark Office on 10 March 2023, with more than 150 attendees. The seminar focused on customs compliance, transfer pricing rules, and the electronic invoicing system for various Clark locators. Event poster Leo, Auresana, Margaux, Assistant Commissioner Janette Cruz, CILA President Dr. Frankie Villanueva, Ana, and Victor CILA President Dr. Frankie Villanueva kicked off the event by welcoming various Clark locators and delivering his opening remarks. SGV Tax Partners Atty. Victor C. De Dios (VCD) and Atty. Ana Katrina C. de Jesus (ACJ), and BIR Assistant Commissioner for Client Support Service Janette Cruz were the speakers for the seminar. They discussed updates on their respective topics while SGV Clark Partner-In-Charge and Head Atty. Margaux A. Advincula (MAA) moderated the Q&A session.  Margaux (right) during the Q&A session SGV Tax Partners with BIR RDO 21C Chief Juvy Dela Peña, BIRAssistant Commissioner Janette Cruz, and CILA President Dr. Frankie Villanueva SGV Global Compliance Reporting (GCR) Partner Hentje Leo L. Leaño (LLL), Tax Partner Auresana B. Ines (ABI), Market Group 7 Leader Jose E. Pepito Zabat (JEZ), and Tax Senior Associate Atty. Fatima Kate Garo also attended the event. BIR RDO 21C Deputy Chief Juvy Dela Peña was one of the guests.