Author: administrator

6 July 2021 – A police lieutenant who did not think twice about breastfeeding a crying baby she found in Barangay Old Capitol Site, Quezon City. A police corporal from Iloilo who distributed face shields and grocery items for people in her community, from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic up to the present. An off-duty sergeant from Negros Oriental who helped evacuate a PWD from his burning house.

These are just two of the 17 awardees of the inaugural Pulis Magiting X Pinoy Magiting Awards, a joint program of Ayala Foundation and the Philippine National Police. Initially launched in six regions nationwide, Pulis Magiting X Pinoy Magiting kicked off with the announcement of the awardees and the signing of the agreement.

Launched at the Philippine National Police Headquarters in Camp Crame on July 6, Pulis Magiting X Pilipinong Magiting recognizes uniformed personnel who demonstrate the virtue of “kagitingan”—  courage or valor—in the performance of their role, or even beyond the call of duty. Each awardee is chosen based on how they have shown a clear love of the country and their local communities, by serving with integrity, honesty, and honor.

As part of Ayala Foundation’s Maging Magiting advocacy program that promotes love of country, Pulis Magiting X Pilipinong Magiting recognizes 15 to 20 police officers every month who show their pride in being Filipino by doing good and doing right, showing the different ways to express kagitingan in everyday life.

The initial six participating region included the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region. The simultaneous awarding also coincided with the start of the PNP Community Relations Month.

Each Pulis Magiting X Pilipinong Magiting awardee receives a certificate of appreciation, a cash award from GCash, and gift certificates from Chooks-to-Go.

“Maraming mga pulis ang tumutupad sa kanilang tungkulin nang buong katapatan, pero laging nababaon ito dahil sa kalokohan ng iilan,” said Police General Guillermo Eleazar, Chief of the Philippine National Police. “Ang masaklap, parang sinukuan na rin ang iba ng pagkukuwento ng kabutihan ng mga kasama natin. Panahon na para muli nating ikwento at ipagmalaki ang kagitingan ng mga pulis.” (Many police officers perform their duty with integrity, but this fact is often buried under the misbehavior of a few. Worse, it seems as if we have given up telling the stories of the good cops within our ranks. It is now time to tell and take pride in the stories of our heroic cops.)

Said Ruel Maranan, President of Ayala Foundation: “In celebration of our 60^th anniversary, Ang Pulis Magiting X Pilipinong Magiting ay isang proyektong nabuo dahil sa paniniwala at pagkakaisa ng business sector at ng civil society, na kapag kinilala mo ang kabutihan ng mga pulis, pipiliin nilang maging magiting, at gagawin nila ang tama para sa kapwa at bayan.” (This project was formed through the cooperation of the business sector and civil society, knowing that if you recognize the goodness of police officers, they will choose to be heroic, and they will do what is right for their neighbor and the country.)

Pulis Magiting X Pilipinong Magiting counts the Ayala group of companies, GCash, and Chooks-to-Go as its major business sector partners and is actively encouraging other members of the private sector to show support.

This project also kicks off the Ayala Group’s #BrigadangAyala community initiatives for the whole month of July. #BrigadangAyala is Ayala Group’s united contribution to serving people and communities nationwide. It is Ayala Group’s integrated response to its almost two century-old commitment to national development by doing various social development and corporate social responsibility initiatives—ranging from disaster relief and response, assistance for public education, championing of social enterprises, and public health advocacy, among others.

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For more information:

Yla Alcantara
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

Celerina Amores
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Ayala Foundation
e-mail – amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org

Paul de Guzman
Senior Manager, Corporation Communications
Ayala Foundation
e-mail – deguzman.js@ayalafoundation.org

MANILA, July 5, 2021 — Employees from Ayala’s business units have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. The vaccines are part of the first tranche of the 1 million doses secured by the group via tripartite agreements with the government.   

On July 5, the group officially launched the Ayala Vaccination and Immunization Program (AVIP) at Makati Stock Exchange and UP-Ayala Land Technohub simultaneously. This will be followed by other ceremonial vaccinations on July 8 at Ayala Malls Manila Bay and BGC Parkade. Ayala aims to inoculate 3,500 individuals this week, including employees and their dependents who belong to the A1 and A2 categories. 

“While the reported number of COVID cases has been improving, the fight against COVID-19 continues,” said Chief Human Resources Officer John Philip Orbeta, who was the first to receive the Ayala-ordered vaccine. ” With the arrival of our first tranche of pre-ordered vaccines, we continue to support our national government’s vaccine program, emphasizing the importance of being vaccinated and having that added layer of protection for ourselves and our loved ones.” 

As early as March 2021, Ayala employees have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Doctors and healthcare workers of QualiMed Hospital Sta. Rosa were the first medical frontliners outside of Metro Manila to receive vaccines from the IATF and DOH. Through partnerships with LGUs led by AC Health, Ayala employees who belong to the economic frontliner (A4) category have been receiving COVID-19 vaccines since June 14. The group has since established A4 vaccination sites in Quezon City, Taguig, Parañaque, Makati, and Sta. Rosa, Laguna out of a total of 24 sites nationwide. To date, about 6,000 Ayala employees have been vaccinated through local government partnerships. 

AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo said, “Through tripartite agreements with the government, Ayala has secured 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for its various communities. Ayala created the AVIP to encourage and facilitate the vaccination of employees (direct and outsourced), retirees, registered employee dependents, household staff, and partners. We are targeting to administer these vaccines by year-end.” 

In addition, AVIP also allows registered participants to have one-year access to unlimited medical consultation as well as health monitoring in AC Health’s network of Healthway clinics and Qualimed hospitals nationwide. 

As of May 2021, the Ayala Group has allocated over P16 billion in different COVID-response initiatives. P1 billion was allotted for the pre-ordered vaccines. AVIP is being implemented under #BrigadangAyala. 

#BrigadangAyala is Ayala Group’s united contribution to serving people and communities nationwide. It is Ayala Group’s integrated response to its almost two century-old commitment to national development by doing various social development and corporate social responsibility initiatives—ranging from disaster relief and response, assistance for public education, championing of social enterprises, and public health advocacy, among others. 

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For more information

Yla Alcantara
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

Good morning to everyone. 

Before anything else, allow me to recognize, our hosts for this forum and dear partners from Ateneo de Manila – Fr. Bobby Yap, President of Ateneo and Dean Ron Mendoza of the Ateneo School of Government, Senator Sonny Angara, Secretary Vince Dizon, Head of the BCDA & Deputy Chief, our colleagues from the private sector, Cosette Canilao of Aboitiz; of course, Bill Luz from PDRF and Coco Alcuaz from MBC. Friends and partners from the Ayala Group and our other participants today.

Good morning again to all of you and it is my pleasure to join you in what should be an insightful and productive forum. Thank you to the Ateneo School of Government and Ayala Corporation’s Policy and Regulations Management unit, and Corporate Strategy and Development team for convening this broad and diverse group. 

It is timely that such an esteemed group of institutions is here today. I believe this speaks to the power of the academe to convene a diverse group from the government and private sector for rational and constructive dialogue on how we might work together to address the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, especially as we face a historic challenge that surely none of us can address alone.

There was certainly no playbook to respond to the devastating crisis last year, which included natural calamities aside from a global pandemic. Amidst such dark and uncertain times, we needed a North Star to guide our efforts to ensure that our institutions and all those that we touch on daily basis will remain strong and stable. Working together with peers and partners from business, government, and academe, it was apparent that we all shared a common desire: to deeply care for and meaningfully support our stakeholders and communities who were greatly impacted by the pandemic.  This, I believe, was the North Star that guided all our efforts last year and will perhaps continue to guide us as we begin the hard work to recover and build resilience for the future. 

If anything, last year showed us that complex challenges such as the social and economic impact of COVID-19 can only be solved through a collaborative, whole-of-society approach. 

Entering 2021, we have a golden opportunity to build on our learnings and further magnify our efforts in deeper, more meaningful, and even novel ways. Allow me to share three areas of partnership and some thoughts, which I hope may spark some ideas for today’s discussions. I would like to focus on collaborative response, collaborative recovery, and collaborative resilience.

Collaborative response

Let me start with collaborative response. The onset of the pandemic and the strict quarantines had a swift and devastating impact to on everyone, most especially the vulnerable segments of our population. As institutions who owed much of our stability and success to the trust of our stakeholders, we strongly felt that it was only right that we helped to the fullest extent that we could during this critical time. 

Public and private institutions took unprecedented steps to support their immediate and extended constituencies and leveraged partnerships to increase their impact. At the Ayala Group, we reaffirmed our commitment to an expanded stakeholder base, and harnessed internal resources and external networks for a stronger and more holistic response. 

We began by protecting our employees and the employees of our third-party partners who were anxious about their well-being and financial stability. Through wage continuance, loan deferments, stipends, and building our own testing and treatment facilities, we hoped to provide our associates with peace of mind, especially during the critical early stages of the lockdowns. 

We also provided critical support to our economic ecosystem partners, including the more than 250,000 MSMEs that we work with. We provided rent reprieves, deferred loan payments, and waived fees to business partners. We also set up the Ayala Enterprise Circle to help the over 250,000 MSMEs in our system to survive and pivot their businesses.

Lastly, we helped to bridge the needs of the broader Filipino community, especially the most economically vulnerable. We are honored to have shared this responsibility with Aboitiz and others in the private sector. Starting with Project Ugnayan, which brought immediate food and medical assistance to 14 million individuals, we followed this up by partnering with government to exponentially expand our capacity to fight COVID-19. This public-private partnership continues as we prepare for the rollout of the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program. 

I must credit the efforts of Secretary Vince Dizon and Bill Luz for their tireless work in assembling a broad coalition of committed and like-minded peers on a multi-sectoral solution to our current and even future challenges – thank you, Secretary Vince and Bill, for your leadership and service. 

By expanding our stakeholder base and partnering with friends and colleagues in the private sector and government, we were able to collectively bring down our infection rates to a more manageable level.  This public-private coalition that we established last year was a critical first step that perfectly set us up for the succeeding stages of our fight against COVID-19. 

Collaborative recovery

This brings me to the second critical area of partnership: collaborative recovery. Despite last year’s gains, we must not lose sight of how fragile the situation remains. It will take some time before the country is brought back to full health, with experts forecasting a late-2022 recovery of the economy to pre-pandemic levels. 

As we prepare for a longer marathon with the virus, I imagine that our recovery will be gradual and uneven across different segments of society. It is thus crucial that our sectors work together on immediate priorities to speed up this process – namely, inoculating as much of our people in the fastest time possible; preventing more businesses from closing shop; and ultimately restoring consumer confidence.

On this note, allow me to recognize the leadership of Secretary Charlie Galvez, along with the rest of the T3 consortium for the tremendous work that has gone into developing a comprehensive vaccine roadmap for the country. From procuring large quantities of vaccines from the world’s most reputable pharmaceutical suppliers; to logistics and transportation; to administering the injections and monitoring the results — a task of this scale and magnitude can only be possible through close and meaningful private-public collaboration between all our institutions. 

Let me also recognize the leadership of many LGUs who continue to be among the most progressive in terms of its pandemic response and recovery preparations. Local governments are a key component of our recovery efforts, and I am delighted that several cities whether in NCR or in the regions continue to be highly open to working with partners to deploy innovative solutions to simple and complex pain points. I hope that this could be sustained, and that we could further expand this pool of forward-thinking LGUs. 

Most countries – ours included – is looking to the vaccines as the lasting solution or, at least, as the pre-requisite to solving the biggest health and economic ailments that we are facing today. However, as we await the rollout of our vaccination program, it is imperative that we find measures to support the economy and our people. 

Globally, stimulus programs have been used to jumpstart economic engines or to tide over consumers during temporary income stoppage; and these have been welcomed by beneficiaries of our own programs domestically. I do recognize, though, that the balance sheets of the government and of the private sector are not quite geared for long periods of welfare support. 

In the absence of a massive stimulus initiative, perhaps we can explore alternative avenues that may lead to not only to accelerated recovery, but also a solid platform for growth and resilience. 

Collaborative resilience

This leads me to the third critical area of partnership: collaborative resilience. With the strong foundations of trust and cooperation that our institutions have built, I believe now is the time to more aggressively harness this launchpad to bolster the industries that will be crucial to our recovery and competitiveness in a post-COVID Philippines. Allow me to offer four possibilities that the academe, private sector, and government can consider as touchpoints for deeper partnership:

Firstly, on healthcare: COVID has certainly exposed the woeful inadequacies in our country’s health infrastructure and system. This is gravely ironic, given that Philippine healthcare talent is, arguably, already world-class in terms of our technical expertise and our strong sense of empathy. 

We have seen this for ourselves in AC Health, where together with experienced medical professionals, young teams of MBA-holding doctors – many of whom are products of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health – helped develop robust testing, treatment, contact tracing, and now, vaccination protocols. We have shared these frameworks with the public in the hope of meaningfully contributing to our collective knowledge on pandemic response.

I think this is a point of pride for the Ateneo and the country as a whole. I am interested to see how we might build on this solid base of talent and ensure that a long-term medical career in the Philippines is a compelling proposition. In addition, to complement our world-class medical talent, I also hope that we will finally find ways to elevate the quality of our health infrastructure and systems to also be globally recognized as world class.  

Aside from healthcare, digital technologies have exponentially accelerated in the last 12 months, and I believe that we are at an inflection point in our state of digitalization. Digital infrastructure will be the highway to the future on which advanced industries will develop – from telemedicine, to inclusive finance, to e-commerce, to distance education, to resource management. It will be interesting to see what academic programs or government policies or corporate investments will help accelerate these transformations, and to ensure equitable access to all Filipinos. 

We have also seen the blossoming of entrepreneurship during the pandemic. I believe that entrepreneurship, MSMEs, and even startups are crucial elements to our recovery and resilience, given their massive contribution to employment, national GDP, and technological development.
 

Now, more than ever, MSMEs and other high-growth enterprises need significant and meaningful support from partners; including government, with its policy-making power, and large business groups who are closely liked or greatly dependent on these smaller enterprises. I am likewise curious to see what role the academe will play, given its immense intellectual capital, to bolster our MSME and startup ecosystem.

Finally, with respect to education, a more resilient economy will also be built on the bedrock of youth equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a more volatile post-COVID world. We are fortunate that the Philippines continues to enjoy a demographic dividend, and a dynamic and young population. However, this will not last forever, and I strongly believe that we should move faster to ensure that our graduates will have the technical and behavioral skills needed to find success in the future. 

I believe we have some of the right ingredients already brewing. I am delighted to hear that the Ateneo is setting up a School of Education and Learning Design. This is an excellent contribution in the effort to innovate on teaching methods, create learner-centric programs that maximizing outcomes, and train teachers that will help shape enlightened leaders of our country. I am excited to see how this new institution develops, and I am also interested to see how might government and the private sector help in elevating Philippine education overall.

These are but just a few areas of collaboration that the government, academe, and private sector can work on together. Despite the difficult times that we had last year and the many uncertainties that still lie before us, I continue to remain hopeful that our collective capabilities and commitment will carry us towards recovery, resilience, and eventually, growth.

I say this, because I believe that this strong partnership we now have between the private sector and the government is our country’s distinguishing mark. In fact, we are humbled and amazed at how many international experts cite the degree of collaboration between the public and private sectors as unprecedented and unique to the Philippines. This is a model worth sustaining, strengthening, and even sharing with others as we move forward. 

To close, we are at a critical time for the country. We emerged from 2020 having undergone the rigorous demands of responding to the pandemic, and we enter 2021 with a golden opportunity to build a roadmap for recovery and resilience around the pillars of inclusivity and stakeholder-centricity. There is a wealth of opportunities where we can collaborate, and I am filled with much hope and excitement at what we can achieve together. 

Thank you very much and a good morning to everyone.

In what way can the youth continue to be a driving force in improving the lives of Filipino,  even in the face of uncertainty and various calamities?  

Delivering the keynote at an online conference organized by the alumni of the Ayala  Young Leaders Congress (AYLC) on February 27, Ayala Corporation Chairman and CEO  Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala urged young leaders all over the country to “reimagine  hope,” as a way to power through the changes faced by communities and the rest of the  country.  

“I share the belief that hope indeed springs eternal, especially in challenging situations,”  said Zobel de Ayala. “However, I believe that hope is not about being passive and just  waiting for good fortune to come. Hope, I believe, requires determination, action, and  inspiration.”  

The conference was one of several online events organized for the 1,685 members of the  AYLC alumni network as well as their partners and supporters. Through this initiative,  AYLC aims to open up opportunities for collaboration and collective action in the service  of communities nationwide. Administered by Ayala Foundation, AYLC is the Ayala group’s  flagship youth development program.  

Zobel recalled that in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, people and countries  had to deal with a lot of ambiguity and fear, but over time “institutions and individuals  slowly came together and bravely faced the unknown.”  

Through initiatives like Project Ugnayan, the Ayala group and its partners from the  business sector provided food aid for over 14 million individuals in the Greater Metro  Manila Area during the early months of the pandemic. In addition, the Ayala group  provided financial support for its employees, as well as the employees of partner  organizations.  

Said Zobel: ”Along with many others, determination amidst ambiguity and a bias towards  action, rather than just standing still were among the driving factors to Ayala’s COVID-19  response. As an institution, we felt that we could meaningfully help in mitigating the  pandemic’s impact, and we were fortunate to find partners who shared this belief and  commitment.”  

In his talk, Zobel also recognized the initiatives led by AYLC alumni, who transformed  compassion into action in the face of various challenges.  

These included the Malong for Marawi project, which gathered aid for people and  communities displaced by the 2017 Battle for Marawi; the 20:20 project, where AYLC alumni raised funds for projects implemented by young leaders from Ayala Foundation’s  Leadership Communities program; and the continuing support of AYLC alumni in the  Armed Forces of the Philippines, in packing and delivering relief items for communities  devastated by typhoons and other natural calamities.  

Zobel also challenged the AYLC community to “find inspiration and embrace greater  collaboration among each other, between different alumni chapters, and perhaps even  across AYLC generations.”  

Aside from Zobel, the event also featured three AYLC alumni who shared their own takes  on “reimagining hope,” and how this might be harnessed for the greater good. These were  Ria Salvana (AYLC 1999), who spoke about her experience in the private and business  sector; Elvin Uy (2003), who shared his story as an educator and active member of the  not-for-profit sector; and Tobit Cruz (AYLC 2010), who spoke about hope as experienced  in local government service.  

Launched in 1998, AYLC is an annual student leadership summit designed to build  confidence, hone leadership skills, nurture commitment, foster nationalism and idealism,  and encourage faithful stewardship.  

For its 23rd congress, AYLC is accepting applications from March 1 to April 4, 2021. Visit  the official Facebook page of the Ayala Young Leaders Congress for details.

For more information:  

Cel Amores  

Director, Corporate Communications  

Ayala Foundation  

Email – amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org

Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) through Healthway Philippines, Inc. (HPI), has completed its  acquisition of a majority stake of Mercado General Hospital Inc. (MGHI) through the purchase of shares  from White Knight Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Land, Inc. and other shareholders.  MGHI owns and operates the QualiMed Health Network, which includes 4 hospitals: QualiMed Sta. Rosa  located in Nuvali, QualiMed San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, QualiMed Iloilo in Iloilo City, and Daniel O.  Mercado Medical Center in Tanauan, Batangas. In addition, QualiMed also operates an ambulatory  surgical center in UP-PGH, and has clinics in Makati, Quezon City and in Cebu IT Park.  

The agreement was signed on February 26, 2021 between HPI, led by Paolo Borromeo, AC Health  President and CEO, Dr. Edwin Mercado, QualiMed’s founding President & CEO, and Alfonso Javier D.  Reyes, representing Ayala Land, Inc.

QualiMed also introduced its new President and CEO, Jaime “Jimmy” E. Ysmael, who was formerly the  President and CEO of Ortigas Land Corporation. Jimmy previously held the position of Senior Vice  President and Group Chief Financial Officer of Ayala Land, Inc., and was a Managing Director of Ayala  Corporation. 

“The addition of QualiMed into the AC Health network comes at an opportune time, now that health has  become top of mind for all of us. QualiMed helps complete AC Health’s service delivery network by  providing healthcare at the tertiary level, and by expanding its portfolio of specialty clinics. We have big  ambitions for QualiMed. This year our focus will be on integration to drive QualiMed’s clinical, operational  and financial performance, building on the strong foundation established under Dr. Mercado’s leadership”  said Jimmy Ysmael, newly appointed President and CEO of the QualiMed Health Network  

With this acquisition, AC Health’s clinics and hospitals portfolio will now include QualiMed’s four general  hospitals, more than 85 outpatient clinics and 80 corporate clinics under the Healthway brand, and the  country’s first specialty cancer hospital, which is set to open in 2023.  

“We are excited and honored to be part of the AC Health family. Over the years, we have worked hard to  establish the QualiMed Health Network as a trusted provider of affordable and accessible healthcare. This  is a common vision that we share with AC Health, and we look forward to becoming even stronger now  that we are part of a broader healthcare ecosystem. We are also excited to develop synergies with the AC  Health family, including a stronger pharma supply chain, digital integration, and our upcoming COVID-19  vaccination program” said Dr. Edwin Mercado, founding President and CEO of the QualiMed Health  Network.  

The QualiMed Health Network will be housed under Healthway Philippines, Inc. (HPI) along with the  family, multi-specialty, and corporate clinics, and the specialty cancer hospital.  ###  

AC Health  

Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ayala Corporation, and  serves as the portfolio company for healthcare businesses. Its vision is to build an ecosystem that links  every patient to a seamless healthcare experience. Its portfolio includes Generika Drugstore, the pioneer  in generic retail pharmacies, IE Medica and MedEthix, major pharmaceutical importer and distributor,  Healthway Medical, one of the most trusted brands of community, mall-based multi-specialty and  corporate clinics in the country. AC Health is also investing in health technology solutions, such as its  HealthTech arm, Vigos Health Technologies, HealthNow, a healthcare super app that offers online  consultations, medicine delivery, and clinic and diagnostic booking, AIDE, a home health care platform,  Fibronostics, an algorithm-based health-risk assessment tool, and ObvioHealth, a digital clinic trials  platform.  

For further inquiries, contact:  

Nicole B. Bautista  

Strategy and External Affairs Associate  

Contact: 0917-143-7831  

E-mail: bautista.nb@achealth.com.ph

The Ayala group of companies immediately mobilized resources to assist families affected by Taal Volcano’s seismic activity. 

Through Ayala Foundation, the Ayala group provided food and non-food items for families staying in three evacuation centers in Talisay, Batangas on February 17 and 18. According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Batangas, 406 families or 2,030 individuals living on Taal Volcano Island (called “Pulo” by locals) were brought to evacuation centers in barangays Tumaway, Poblacion, and Aya. 

Among the items distributed were canned good and instant noodles, toys and clothing, and 5,000 protective face masks. Five hundred washable Magiting Face Masks, produced by Ayala Foundation as part of its Maging Magiting advocacy for nationalism, were also distributed.

Manila Water Foundation and Globe Telecom also provided support for displaced  families. For its part, Manila Water Foundation brought 500 units of 5-gallon water bottles, while Globe set up “Dyip Sagip” stations, providing “libreng tawag,” phone charging, and WiFi connectivity in evacuation areas.

Since the eruption of Taal Volcano in January 2020, the Ayala group has been providing much needed help for affected communities. As much as PhP11.4 million was mobilized to provide immediate relief for 4,000 families or 20,000 individuals. Part of the support was the distribution of 10 Kia 2500 Vans from AC Motors. These vans continue to be used by the recipient communities for relief and other public service activities.

Batangas was also one of the areas served by the Ayala group’s nationwide Brigada ng Ayala initiative, which supports public school teachers and students as they adapt to the new normal of education. In Batangas alone, Brigada ng Ayala covered 78 public schools, providing e-learning kits for 1,740 teachers and “Ayala EduCare” learning and hygiene kits for 9,417 students. To date, Brigada ng Ayala has expanded its reach nationwide, reaching 258 schools and serving 5,649 teachers and 21,123 students.

The Ayala group also provided food assistance for 2,000 families from Batangas communities affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly in November 2020. 

As Taal’s seismic activity continues, the Ayala group regularly coordinates with the office of Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, as well as with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Association of Barangay Captains. 

For more information:

Yla Alcantara

Head, Brand & Reputation Management

Ayala Corporation

e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

Cel Amores

Senior Director, Corporate Communications

Ayala Foundation

e-mail – amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org

Ayala Group among Thirteen New Large and Small Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations to Implement More Inclusive Practices

MANILA, February 18, 2021 – The Council for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican has welcomed Ayala Corporation Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala into the global nonprofit coalition of business and public sector leaders working to build a “more trusted, fair, responsible, dynamic, and sustainable economic system that addresses the needs of people and planet.” Ayala is the first business group from the Philippines to be represented in the Council. 

“I am thrilled to welcome these new members as they take the necessary actions to ensure a better future for us all,” said Meredith Sumpter, CEO of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism. “Whether you are a small-town grocer, or a CEO of a global corporation, we all have a role to play to build more inclusive economies and societies.”

Launched in December 2020, the council is a “historic collaboration of CEOs and global leaders” provided moral guidance by His Holiness Pope Francis and the Vatican through His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. It serves as a forum for interaction and sharing best practices, and a core group of guardians for inclusive capitalism. Guardians include leaders of the United Nations, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Bank of America, Ernst & Young, and Mastercard, among others.

Hailed by the UN Global Compact as a Sustainable Development Goals pioneer, Zobel is among the 17 new stewards of the council–business and investment leaders from around the world working to “change capitalism for good” via measurable public commitments toward more inclusive and sustainable practices.

“All of us who thrive on the success of capitalism need to have a sense of responsibility and empathy to counteract the forces of inequity that the system also creates. We need to collectively harness our resources, ingenuity, and energy to align our institutions to the broader, progressive development goals of humanity, in general, and our host communities,” Zobel said. 

Last year, Zobel was also named co-chair of Trade and Investment Taskforce at B20 Saudi Arabia, the official voice of the global private sector to the G20. As part of the Taskforce leadership, he has been an instrumental part of the policy formulation process, providing his continuous guidance and expertise to other leaders and members.

“I believe that no challenge is insurmountable if we harness our collective ingenuity and energy, most especially when we are driven by a shared commitment to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people; and the future of our children and our planet. The Council for Inclusive Capitalism is an excellent coalition to push this agenda forward, and I am committed to contribute and to learn,” Zobel added.

Watch Zobel’s full message to The Council here:

-END- 

About the Council for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican:

The Council for Inclusive Capitalism with the Vatican is a global nonprofit organization established to harness the potential of the private sector to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and trusted form of capitalism. The Council is led by a core group of global CEOs and public leaders, known as the Guardians for Inclusive Capitalism, who convene annually with the Vatican to advance the Council’s mission. Further information can be found at www.inclusivecapitalism.com. 

Media contact:

Yla Alcantara 

Head, Brand and Reputation Management 

alcantara.ypg@ayala.com 

Amanda Byrd

Director of Communications

Amanda@inclusivecapitalism.com