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The EY Ripples Team in SGV held two mentoring sessions last 8 and 29 January through the JA Business Skills Pass program. Co-organized with Junior Achievement Philippines (JAPI), the program allows senior high school students (Grades 11-12) to create registered mini companies, and gives SGV volunteers the opportunity to mentor them by providing insights on accounting, raising capital, marketing and selling their products. Volunteer mentors included Assurance Leader Martin Guantes, Consulting Leader Rossana Fajardo, Assurance Partners Christine Vallejo and Shane Tanguin, FSO Partner Veronica Balisi, and Consulting Partner Allan W. Ocho (AWO). In the second session, AWO and Consulting Senior Associate Cora Gonzales led a plenary session on the role of technology in business enterprises. The plenary session was followed by breakout sessions where the students presented their business plans, and the mentors provided feedback and insights for the success of their businesses. Once their business plans are established, the students will sell their products in an online marketplace managed by JA and compete for the title of Best Company. Two group winners will then represent the country to compete in the Asia Pacific finals for the JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year Award. EY Ripples is a global corporate responsibility program that provides EY professionals with opportunities to use their knowledge, skills and experience to positively impact millions of lives by working with impact entrepreneurs and supporting the next generation to develop the mindsets and skills to find and sustain meaningful work.

SGV’s Government and Public Sector (GPS) Team and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) held a forum on unlocking the potential of financial technology and innovations in advancing agricultural development in the Philippines last 29 January. The forum featured sessions on financial systems and FinTech applications in agriculture of major financial and government institutions. SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio welcomed participants from financial institutions, government agencies, farmer associations and cooperatives, NGOs, and the agricultural industry and academe. SGV FSO Consulting Partner and GPS Leader Christian G. Lauron (CGL) discussed financial services challenges and opportunities in agriculture, emphasizing the importance of smallholder access to financial services. He described technological innovations in agriculture and credit risk assessments for agricultural value chains. He also spoke on how machine learning and spatial techniques and satellite imaging can be embedded for agricultural credit granting and investing. FSO Consulting Associate Director Larisa Jane Salaysay led a discussion on green financing and provided an overview of the ASEAN green bond market. She explained the Philippine landscape for green financing and the role of FinTech in green finance. FSO Consulting Senior Director Christian Edmund Chua then discussed blockchain technology and how it can help drive the agenda of the agricultural sector, increase efficiency and support digital transformation. He also spoke on the challenges in implementing blockchain applications.  The discussions were followed by an open forum moderated by FSO Consulting Associate Director Paul John Gesta. Other speakers at the webinar included Land Bank President and CEO Cecilia Borromeo who gave an overview of the Philippine agricultural financial system, and DOST Supervising Science Research Specialist Roel de la Cruz who discussed the different space technologies for mapping and monitoring of agricultural areas. SEARCA’s Operations Consultant and UP Los Baños Associate Professor Dr. Rico Ancog delivered the closing remarks and discussed the ongoing digital divide and the importance of finding financial systems and solutions to improve access to capital, information systems and cost efficiency of supply chains.

SGV and the Davao City Government launched the Doing Business in Davao investment brochure last 29 January. Developed by SGV in close collaboration with the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC), the brochure is a comprehensive guide for potential foreign and local investors looking to set up business operations in Davao City. DCIPC Head April Marie Dayap welcomed guests to the virtual launch, including officials from national government agencies, the diplomatic corps and chambers of commerce, and business organizations. SGV Davao Partner-In-Charge Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa (JJB) discussed the history of the Doing Business in the Philippines series and presented an overview of the major sections and highlights of the Doing Business in Davao brochure. SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) delivered a message about how Davao City is an ideal business hub and center of growth. He also shared that he hopes the brochure will encourage more investors to explore business opportunities in the city. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte thanked SGV for its valuable and continuous support over the years. The Firm has assisted in amending the Davao City investment incentive code in 2007, developing the first edition of the brochure in 2011, and facilitating a conference on the development of the city’s economic outlook document in the last quarter of 2020. With the challenges brought about by the pandemic, Mayor Duterte mentioned that the timely publication of the brochure will help rebuild and create a more promising future for the city. Doing Business in Davao is the latest edition of SGV’s Doing Business in the Philippines series. The brochure presents an economic overview of Davao, taxation rules, investment policies, incentives for investors and essential information on the city’s assets. The brochure is set to be translated into three languages. 

SGV Tax Leader Fame K. delos Santos (FKS), Tax Partner and PICPA Southern Metro Manila Chapter President Maricris U. See (MUS), and Consulting Partner Kaye S. Macaisa-Peña (KSM) were among the speakers at the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) 2nd National Summit of CPAs in Commerce & Industry last 28-29 January. Held in partnership with the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce and Industry (ACPACI), the summit aimed to discuss strengthening accountancy’s commerce and industry sector for future challenges. MUS served as the emcee during the summit’s first day. FKS discussed the salient features of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill and its proposed tax and fiscal incentives. He also shared insights on how to maximize the incentives under the bill. He then discussed the BIR requirements for the submission of an Information Return on Related Party Transactions (BIR Form No. 1709). KSM moderated the session titled “The Role of Finance in Navigating Through a Crisis, and Beyond” on 29 January. Other speakers at the session included executives from the food and capital markets sectors.

SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) was re-elected as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) during the PBSP Annual Membership Meeting last 26 January. Tax Partner and PBSP Visayas Regional Committee Member Cheryl C. Ong (CCO) led the opening prayer; and Tax Partner, SGV General Counsel and PBSP Corporate Secretary Carolina A. Racelis (CAR) participated and acted as the secretary for the meeting. As longtime members of the PBSP, WPT, CAR and CCO will continue to support the PBSP in its vision to lead the business sector’s efforts to reduce poverty in the country. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, PBSP is the largest business-led non-governmental organization (NGO) at the forefront of strategic corporate citizenship and business sector leadership, contributing to sustainable development and poverty reduction. Congratulations, WPT! 

SGV’s Consulting and Talent Teams organized a webinar on Women Leaders: Rising Above Adversity last December. The session is part of the She Inspires webinar series where women leaders share their experiences as female professionals and the valuable lessons they have learned over the years. Consulting Leader Rossana A. Fajardo (RAF) delivered the welcome remarks and introduced the guest speaker, Globe Telecom Chief Customer Experience Officer and Head of the Office of Strategy Management Rebecca Eclipse. Ms. Eclipse discussed her experiences as a mother, a CPA, and a senior executive, highlighting the challenges she faced and the lessons she learned throughout her life. She then shared tips on how women can overcome the challenges brought by the pandemic and emphasized the importance of faith in God. The webinar concluded with an open forum where she addressed participant questions and shared insights on having a purposeful life and fulfilling career. The forum was moderated by RAF, Financial Services Organization Leader Vicky Salas and Consulting Partner Kaye Macaisa-Peña. 

Financial Services Organization (FSO) Consulting Manager Larisa Jane Salaysay recently passed the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR™) certification exam. Offered by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), the SCR certificate is designed to equip professionals on how to manage the potential economic and operational impacts of climate change on their organizations.  Motivated by her interest in climate change and sustainability, Larisa worked for the certification and in the process gained valuable knowledge on becoming a climate risk leader. She believes that these areas will require more action and attention from business leaders and regulators as the Philippines is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Larisa credits her achievement to her FSO Consulting teammates and executives, who provided invaluable support throughout the certification process. As a newly-minted SCR professional, she strongly believes that her SCR certification will open avenues in her career and help her contribute to the Firm’s climate change and sustainability initiatives and engagements. Congratulations, Larisa!

SGV’s Learning & Development (L&D) Team conducted the first SGV Facilitator Awards last 15 January. The Facilitator Awards recognized 12 outstanding facilitators for their contributions to SGV’s learning initiatives in the past year. The awards were given under four categories for each service line – Facilitator Impact, Rising Star, Thought Leadership and Innovation. An overall Facilitator Excellence awardee was selected among the winners from all the categories.                     The Facilitator Excellence Award was given to Assurance Senior Manager Marc Bonnie Wong who is a significant contributor to L&D activities as a subject matter resource (SMR), an innovations contributor who aims to improve the learning process, and an overall outstanding facilitator. The Facilitator Impact Awards were given to Bonnie Wong, Consulting Manager Celina Rose Capalad, Strategy and Transactions Senior Manager Miguel Carlo Rancap, and Tax Senior Manager Alden Patrick Labaguis, all of whom had dedicated a significant number of hours to facilitating and consistently demonstrated excellent facilitation skills. The Rising Star Awards were presented to individuals who have made a significant impact as new facilitators. The recipients were Assurance Senior Manager Carmi Hernandez-Paigma, Consulting Manager Sarah Jane Lim, Strategy and Transactions Senior Associate Kieth Adrian Andaya, and Tax Senior Manager Gecel Codera-Ong.  The Thought Leadership Awards were given to experienced facilitators who have significantly contributed as SMRs by sharing knowledge, ideas and best practices. The awardees were Consulting Senior Manager Alvin Manuel, Assurance Senior Manager Marco Rene Barredo, and Tax Senior Manager Ana Katrina De Jesus. Consulting Manager Jerome Alvarez was the sole recipient of the Innovation Award, which is given to top contributors in learning technologies or the creation of EYU interventions that improved the learning conduct or L&D processes. Congratulations to all our Awardees!

SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan (WPT) was among the panelists at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Regional Roundtable on 14 January. The event discussed the Generation Z (Gen Z) workforce and related talent and inter-generational workplace dynamics. Other speakers included executives from other professional services firms and educational institutions from ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand. WPT discussed Creating Purpose in the Gen Z workforce and presented the characteristics of Gen Zs in the Philippines, highlighting their tech-savviness. He shared the findings of the EY People Pulse Survey and explained the qualities that Gen Zs look for in business leaders and organizations. WPT also explained the initiatives organizations can undertake to attract and retain Gen Z talent, and foster a sense of purpose among the Gen Z workforce.

Consulting Markets Co-Leader and ASEAN Finance Fields of Play Leader Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña (KSM) was a guest speaker on the Market Edge, hosted by ANC Anchor Michelle Ong, last 7 October.    KSM discussed the state of supply chains (SCs) during the pandemic. She provided an overview of the gaps in local SCs such as the inability of companies to move goods around and meet customer requirements due to strict quarantine measures; the state of local infrastructure and congested roads and ports; and companies’ ability to visualize their end-to-end supply chain model. Emphasizing the pandemic’s impact on operations and investment strategies of local companies, KSM also discussed key trends and steps businesses are implementing to build their resilience.