News

The Talent Team conducted the pilot run of the SGV Nurturing Leaders Internship Program (NLIP) from 16 August to 17 September 2021. The curated learning program is designed to help interns know more about SGV, our culture and purpose, and to be exposed to various learning sessions related to our service lines, soft skills training, and Talent-related modules. The pilot batch of interns consisted of 300 4th-Year Accountancy students nationwide.  SGV NLIP participants during their various online learning sessions   SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) and Deputy Managing Partner Maria Vivian C. Ruiz (VCR) kicked off the program by delivering messages focused on Purpose and how it was more relevant today as the interns began their personal purpose journey through the different sessions during their five weeks of internship. Topics covered in the program were facilitated by different Managers and Senior Associates from the four service lines. The topics included Audit Simulation, Sustainability Reporting, Basic Concepts of Income Tax and VAT, Accountants as Transformational Leaders, Introduction to Cybersecurity, Privacy and Resilience, Strategy and Transactions, General Philippine Economic Overview and Case Studies. Talent-related sessions were conducted on personal branding, mental health and using LinkedIn profiles.  The program concluded with a culminating activity hosted by the Recruitment team and the interns surprised the organizers with a compiled video message from the different interns expressing their appreciation and thanks for the program. The organizing team included Talent Manager Anne Rubia, Talent Supervisors Julia Deypalan and Michelle Ong, Talent Associates Mariane Riano, Angelou Remo and Kayla Resente. SGV Partners from Assurance, Tax, Consulting and Strategy and Transactions were also instrumental in the overall success of this initiative. 

SGV’s Financial Services Organization and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) teams held a webinar on Sustainable Finance last 15 September 2021. Over 650 participants from the banking and financial services industry were present at the event.  Sustainable Finance webinar speakers Assurance Partner and Banking Capital Markets Leader Janeth Nunez-Javier (JNJ) gave the opening remarks, where she discussed how financial institutions are focusing on climate change and sustainability not just because of regulatory requirements but due to the increasing demand from various stakeholders. She also noted that more awareness is still needed for organizations to integrate climate, environmental and social risks into their governance, capital assessment and risk management systems and practices.     Supervisory Policy and Research Development (SPRD) Financial Supervision Sector (FSS) Deputy Director Rhodora Brazil-de Vera of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) discussed updates and the initiatives of the BSP on sustainable finance. This was followed by a discussion on ASEAN developments, and the challenges and trends that will affect financial services in the region, from EY Singapore Financial Services Business Consulting Partner Wolfram Hedrich. SGV Assurance – CCaSS Senior Director Katrina Francisco discussed sustainable finance products and their impact. The Environmental and Social Risk Management System (ESRMS) roadmap for sustainable finance was also discussed during the session.  Financial Services Consulting Partner and Government & Public Sector Leader Christian G. Lauron delivered the closing remarks. CCaSS Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) moderated the event and Assurance–Financial Services Senior Director Glenda C. Anisco-Nino served as the host during the session and provided relevant materials for the webinar. The logistics team was led by FSO Senior Director Mary Catherine M. Biliran.

SGV’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) participated as a panelist in the Energy Development Corporation’s (EDC) event The Day We Go Zero held last 20 September 2021.  BNV joins the Day We Go Zero panel Energy Development Corporation believes that decarbonizing the country is one of the ways in which we can mitigate the effects the climate crisis has on the planet.In this event, EDC President and COO Richard Tantoco talked about how businesses are going beyond sustainability and how companies like Arthaland, SGV & Co., Silliman University, Knowles Electronics (Philippines) Corp., First Balfour, Drink and Unilever Philippines in the Net-Zero Carbon Alliance are already doing it by working to become carbon neutral as pioneer members of the Net Zero Carbon Alliance that the company has initiated. BNV highlighted that decarbonizing the business sector depends on companies’ different capabilities to do so. Net Zero Carbon is a journey, and other companies are still in stages of recovery. BNV added that even without incentives, businesses voluntarily report on sustainability initiatives and promote a circular economy, because doing so adds to companies’ long-term value. Afterwards the guest speakers gave their closing remarks and pledged to decarbonize the business sector through their companies, BNV encouraged organizations to take advantage of sustainable finance, such as issuing green bonds. Event moderator and host Danie Laurel closed the event with a challenge to the pioneer members of Drink, Arthaland, First Balfour Inc., Unilever, and Knowles Corp. to fulfil their Net Zero Carbon 2030 pledge. Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director, Emmanuel M. De Guzman, and politician and environmentalist Loren Legarda were also speakers at the event.

Consulting Partner Maria Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña (KSM) and People Advisory Services Executive Directory Lisa Marie Escaler were invited as resource speakers during SM Mindanao’s Innovation Day on 23 September 2021 via Zoom. The conference was attended by around 100 SM executives.  KSM and Lisa along with SM Mindanao executives In their presentation entitled, “Growth Mindset for Transformative Times”, they discussed how people are living in a disruptive era marked by dramatic change and disruption by introducing VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity). They stressed that individuals need vision, understanding, clarity, and agility to counter VUCA. They highlighted and compared the concepts of fixed and growth mindset. They also emphasized the importance of mindset in transformative leadership. Towards the end of their presentation, KSM and Lisa entertained questions from the audience.

SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT), MG2 Leader Marydith C. Miguel (MCM), Business Enablement Services Leader Jaime del Rosario (JFR), former Chairman and Managing Partner Cirilio P. Noel (CPN) and Alumni Partner Baltazar N. Endriga (BNE) were recognized as part of the University of the East’s Most Outstanding Alumni on 2 October 2021 as part of the University’s 75th Foundation Anniversary celebration.   The honorees represent various degree programs of the University and belong to various industries. They were chosen for their excellence in their careers and their invaluable contributions in their respective fields and in nation-building.  Former SGV Chairmen and Managing Partners Carlos R. Alindada and Rizalino S. Navarro, along with SGV Alumni Partners Rodolfo Jeturian, Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe and Guillermo N. Carague were also recognized as the University of the East’s Gems. Congratulations!

SGV Tax Partner Saha A. Bulagsak (SAB) was a speaker at a webinar hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce – Mindanao on 24 September 2021. She discussed the CREATE Law and recent issuances of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. JJB, SAB and TFM during the session The event was hosted by AmCham Mindanao with over 30 participants from across the country in attendance. Partner-in-Charge of SGV Davao and General Santos Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa (JJB) hosted and moderated the event. Tax Partner Atty. Thyrza F. Marbas (TFM) joined during the Q&A session.

SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) and General Santos City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on joint work by the Firm and the city government in producing the first Doing Business in General Santos City publication.  SGV and General Santos city MOA signing SGV will provide free technical assistance to the Gensan City Government in the conceptualization, design, coverage and publication of Doing Business in Gensan City in printed and digital versions. The local government will provide the Firm with all the key information needed, including its current social, political and economic profile, demographics and other relevant data.  WPT signed the MOA at the SGV office last 28 July 2021 and it was sent to Mayor Rivera at the General Santos City Hall, where he signed the MOA last 8 September 2021. Market Group 4 Leader Ma. Veronica R. Pore (VRP) served as the official witness of the signing. This endeavor is part of SGV’s underlying mission to build a better Philippines by supporting the development of local governments and businesses.

SGV Consulting Partner Conrad Allan M. Alviz (CMA) and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Manager Yna Altea D. Antipala discussed Sustainability Reporting and the Evolving Role of Accountants at a webinar hosted by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) - Camarines Sur Chapter last 25 September 2021. CMA and Yna during the PICPA CamSur session CMA gave an overview of Sustainability Reporting in the Philippines, while Yna provided an in-depth look at the materiality principle in Sustainability Reporting. She also covered Sustainability Reporting assurance and discussed the team’s Sustainability Reporting study titled Beyond the Bottom Line: Sustainability Reporting in the Philippines. CMA closed the session with a talk highlighting the role of accountants in the sustainability space. The webinar had over 40 participants in attendance. 

SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) was invited by the College of Business Administration of the University of the East (UE) – Caloocan to be the key resource person during the 4th CFO Lecture Series on 28 September 2021. The initiative is part of UE’s 75th Foundation Anniversary celebration. WPT presenting during the session WPT talked about the important roles of CPAs amidst the pandemic and how they can be instrumental in helping rebuild the nation. He also discussed the various technological advances that help enable auditors to perform their tasks.  UE Caloocan Chancellor Dr. Zosimo M. Battad, Dean Emeteria Dalisay, Student Affairs Office Director Mr. Clemente Diwas, CBA Associate Dean Abner Aquino and CAS Associate Dean Michelle Concepcion were in attendance. Most of the faculty of the College of Business Administration also joined the call. There were 260 attendees in the Zoom Meeting and 70 in the FB live stream.

SGV Tax Partner Cheryl Edeline C. Ong (CCO) was one of the panelists at the PEZA Industry Briefing: Updates on the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act on September 9, 2021. The virtual briefing, which was spearheaded by the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), in partnership with Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc., welcomed over 300 IBPAP member companies.   PEZA Industry briefing panel with the SGV team The keynote speaker in the virtual briefing was PEZA Director General Charito Plaza focusing on the latest updates/developments surrounding the CREATE Act and the salient provisions of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), particularly those which keenly interest BPOs and other firms, such as work-from-home policy and VAT zero-rating rules. In the ensuing panel discussion, CCO was one of the tax experts invited to share valuable insights. CCO shared her insights on VAT zero-rating rules affecting locator companies in the IT and BPO industries. She then discussed the concerns of most of the companies with the advent of the CREATE Act and its IRR, specifically the feasibility of optional VAT registration of entities enjoying five percent (5%) Gross Income Tax incentive, application of the cross-border doctrine for VAT purposes, and the improvement of the enhanced VAT refund system.  Participation in the virtual briefing was coordinated by Logistics Industry Leader and Tax Principal Stephanie V. Nava (SVN) and Technology Industry Leader and Assurance Partner Manolito R. Elle (MRE). The briefing’s coordination and organizing team included Tax Senior Director Alden Patrick C. Labaguis, Tax Senior Associates Gracia Mae A. Beronilla and Roland Joseph C. Mendoza.