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AC Health expands vaccination program for minors

Posted on by Sharon Mutuc
Minors are accompanied by their parents or their authorized companions during the rollout of COVIDShield’s vaccinations for the pediatric population.

Manila – Last November 6, AC Health began its rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations among the pediatric population for minors aged 12 to 17, following the approval and release of interim operational guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH).

Vaccine brands Pfizer and Moderna have secured the Emergency Use Approval (EUA) for minors through the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccination process is similar with the adult group however, minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and present additional documents required by the DOH.

COVIDShield, AC Health’s COVID-19 vaccination program, expanded its scope to include minor dependents of the COVIDShield-registered primary employees of the Ayala Group and other partner companies. Vaccinations for the pediatric population were done across 11 vaccination sites in key areas around the country, including NCR and selected provincial sites. As of November 14, AC Health has vaccinated almost 4,000 children aged 12-17 years old across these sites.

“With an adequate supply of vaccines in the country, AC Health is proud to support the national vaccination program by expanding our COVIDShield vaccinations to include the pediatric population. We recognize that our children have likewise been deeply affected by this pandemic. Aside from protection from this deadly virus, vaccinating eligible minors allows them to safely interact with other people and brings them one step closer towards navigating this new reality,” said AC Health President and CEO, Paolo F. Borromeo.

Minors are among the vulnerable group with the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection. The DOH is targeting to vaccinate 80% of the eligible pediatric population by the end of the year.    

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For more information, contact:

CHACHI MORENO, M.D.
Strategy and External Affairs Manager
Zodiac Health Ventures, Inc.
E-mail: moreno.fmm@achealth.com.ph

AC Logistics set to acquire 60% stake in AIR21 Group

Posted on by Sharon Mutuc
AC Logistics signed an investment agreement with Air 21 Holdings, Inc (AHI). AC Logistics was represented by (from L-R) Norma P. Torres, Chief Commercial Officer for AC Logistics, Rene D. Almendras, President and CEO of AC Logistics, and Janet A. Bautista, VP for Business Development. Air 21 Holdings Inc. was represented by (from L-R) Antonio L. Tañada, Investment Advisor; Alberto D. Lina, AHI Chairman; and Lucia Jane Lina, AHI Director.  

Manila, Philippines: AC Logistics Holdings Corp. (“AC Logistics”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, signed an Investment Agreement with Mr. Alberto D. Lina (“Mr. Lina”), Air 21 Holdings Inc. (“AHI”), Airfreight 2100, Incorporated (“AIR21”), Air 2100, Inc. (“AIR21 Subic”), U-Freight Phils., Inc. (“U-Freight”), U-Ocean, Inc. (“U-Ocean”), Cargohaus, Inc. (“CHI”), LGC Logistics, Inc. (“LGC”), Waste & Resources Management, Inc. (“WARM”), and Integrated Waste Management, Inc. (“IWMI”) for the acquisition of a 60% interest in AHI, subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions precedents.

AHI is a holding company owned by Mr. Lina which will have controlling interests in eight operating companies under the AIR21 Group that are engaged in a broad range of logistics services that include express door-to-door service, international and domestic freight forwarding, warehousing and waste logistics management. 

“The partnership with AHI gives AC Logistics an end-to-end logistics platform that is capable of serving the diverse supply chain requirements of high-growth industries and complements Ayala’s initial foray in logistics through Entrego. We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with the Lina family”, said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Lina, Founder and Chairman of AHI welcomes the partnership with AC Logistics. “Ayala’s businesses have proven leadership in their respective industries. The management expertise from the Ayala group combined with our extensive experience in logistics will be transformative not just for our group but for the industry as well,” said Mr. Lina.

This investment allows AC Logistics to participate and service the needs of growing and evolving industries and ecosystems. The company’s goal is to offer a full range of logistics services to more clients and to provide competitive services by leveraging on the strengths of companies in its portfolio.

The pandemic disrupted the supply chain and underscored the need for a more robust and integrated logistics network across the country. Warehousing facilities suited to the needs of critical industries coupled with investment in technologies that drive operational efficiencies are critical to deliver better services across the supply chain and to spur faster economic recovery.

“The decision to enter the logistics sector was a deliberate move on our part. We have been looking at the ecosystem in the past, carefully studying the opportunities where we can invest and make a difference. The supply chain disruptions and lockdowns we faced in 2020 strengthened our conviction in investing in the logistics sector, which we started back in 2017. More than ever, logistics is a critical component of trade, particularly as we recover from the effects of the pandemic. We are very excited to improve and redefine practices with the use of new technology and with the needs of Filipinos at the core of our aspirations,” said Rene D. Almendras, President of AC Logistics.

AC Logistics aspires to become a world class logistics player in the country with digitally empowered end-to-end logistics capability similar to what is now available in other countries.

BPI Capital Corp. and Fortman Cline Capital Markets Ltd. acted as financial advisors for AC Logistics and AIR21 Group, respectively.

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AC Logistics is Ayala Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary for investments in the logistics sector.

Air 21 Holdings, Inc. (AHI) is the holding company of Mr. Alberto D. Lina that will consolidate ownership stakes in the various operating subsidiaries of AHI, namely, Airfreight 2100, Incorporated, Air 2100, Inc., U-Freight Phils., Inc., U-Ocean, Inc., Cargohaus, Inc., LGC Logistics, Inc., Waste & Resources Management, Inc., and Integrated Waste Management, Inc. (“IWMI”).

For further inquiries, contact:

Joseph M. Quesada
quesada.jam@acinfra.com.ph
AC Logistics

Antonio L. Tañada
tanadatony@yahoo.com
Air 21 Holdings Inc.

Ayala Group issues its first social bond for healthcare investments

Posted on by Sharon Mutuc

MANILA – Ayala Corporation’s (“AC” or “Ayala”) foreign subsidiary, AYC Finance Limited, signed today a 10-year Social Bond through private placement by the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) amounting to $100 million (the “Social Bond”), which will be used for the sustainable and resilient growth and capacity building of the Group’s healthcare arm, Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (“AC Health”). The Social Bond will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by AC.

The issuance marks the first social bond earmarked for healthcare-related purposes in the Philippines.

“The pandemic exposed the massive underinvestment in the country’s healthcare system, reinforcing our thesis for entering the sector six years ago. The Social Bond supports our strategic priority to scale up AC Health as a new growth platform, underpinned by its commitment to uplift the quality and access to preventive care in the country,” said Fernando Zobel De Ayala, Ayala President and CEO.

“The issuance will strengthen Ayala’s ESG financing capabilities and support growth for businesses that can make concrete social contribution, particularly in the healthcare industry. We look forward to a long-term partnership with IFC in providing quality, and accessible health care for all Filipinos,” said Alberto de Larrazabal, Ayala Chief Finance Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer.

The transaction will be settled in January 2022 based on the prevailing base rate plus a certain spread, subject to the completion of the conditions precedents set forth by IFC. The Social Bond Program by IFC aligns with the Social Bond Principles and Social Loans Principles published by the International Capital Market Association. Sustainalytics was engaged to provide a second party opinion on the Social Bond Framework.

“Addressing health gaps in the Philippines is a critical challenge that has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rana Karadsheh Haddad, Regional Industry Director, Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services, Asia and the Pacific at IFC. “Our investment in this social bond from our long-standing client, the Ayala Group, will help strengthen the Philippines’ healthcare system at a crucial time while also helping to develop the market for social bonds, which is becoming an important tool for helping the private sector to manage the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic and build resilience against future shocks.”

In 2018, Ayala Group deepened its commitment to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of the Filipino by being more deliberate and purposive in identifying areas where it can contribute substantially and help solve global issues. Ayala identified 11 Sustainable Development Goals that are at the heart of its businesses—including good health and well-being for AC Health—with the goal of bridging the Filipino to the year 2030.

Ayala announced last October its commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, aligning its business strategy with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. It is the first Philippine conglomerate to make such a commitment.

Growing the Healthcare Network  

AC Health’s vision is to build an integrated healthcare ecosystem focused on improving healthcare for all. This commitment is a testament to the Ayala Group’s long-standing purpose of improving lives and promoting sustainable development and growth for the Philippines. 

Since its inception in 2015, AC Health has gone a long way in addressing the fundamental gaps in accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare. AC Health has built an ecosystem that caters to the various healthcare needs of Filipinos.   

AC Health’s portfolio comprises Generika, a chain of over 700 drugstores that offer quality and affordable generic medicines; Healthway Philippines, a network of primary, multi-specialty, and corporate clinics; the QualiMed Health Network, which operates multi-specialty clinics, a stand-alone ambulatory surgery center, and full-service hospitals; and HealthNow, an all-in-one healthcare app that offers telemedicine consultations, online medicine ordering and delivery, and clinic and diagnostic testing booking. AC Health also has medicine importation and distribution arms, I.E. Medica Inc. and Medethix Inc. (“Medethix”).  

Last July, AC Health officially broke ground for the construction of Healthway Cancer Care Center, the Philippines’ first dedicated specialty cancer hospital. The 100-bed facility, which is expected to be completed in July 2023, will be equipped with 20 chemotherapy chairs, 4 operating theaters, and state of the art diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, optimized for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. AC Health has partnered with Varian-CTSI, a leading oncology service provider, to develop and operate the Healthway Cancer Care Center.   

Leading the Ayala Group’s COVID-19 Response  

When the pandemic struck the Philippines, AC Health proved to be a partner in nation-building by leading the Ayala Group’s COVID-19 response initiatives. It rallied its business units to work closely with the DOH, IATF, and local government units in implementing protocols across the Ayala Group and spearheading key milestones, from converting Qualimed sites into COVID-19 referral hospitals, capacitating 8 RT-PCR testing labs, to securing vaccines for employees and other stakeholders.    

AC Health also helped secure 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the Ayala Group via tripartite agreements with the government. To date, it has administered over 570,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to recipients from various LGUs, the Ayala Group, and partner companies across its 25 vaccination sites nationwide.   

Medethix, a member of the AC Health group, announced last week its order of 300,000 treatment courses of Molnupiravir, the first oral antiviral medicine to be authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection. Molnupiravir is expected to democratize COVID-19 treatment due to its affordable price. It will also greatly help ease the burden to the country’s healthcare system by providing an additional treatment option to prevent hospitalizations and deaths. 

“AC Health’s vision is to build an integrated and seamless ecosystem of healthcare. We are proud that this vision has resonated with many stakeholders, including IFC. We are delighted to be partnering with IFC which has been an advocate for affordable and accessible healthcare in developing markets around the world. At Ayala, we truly believe that Filipinos deserve better healthcare, and this social bond will be instrumental to AC Health as we scale-up our services beyond this pandemic,” AC Health President & CEO Paolo Borromeo said.

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For more information:

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

AC Health celebrates halfway mark to 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administration; Ayala Group successfully vaccinates 90% of regular employees

Posted on by Sharon Mutuc
Ayala Corporation Chairman, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala with AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo and Ayala Corporation Chief Human Resource Officer JP Orbeta visit frontliners at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, one of 25 COVIDShield vaccination sites

Manila – AC Health has administered over 500,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, breaching the halfway mark of its 1 million dose target.

Since its official launch in July, AC Health, through its COVIDShield program, has been inoculating members of priority groups across different LGUs, Ayala Group employees and their dependents, and partner companies across 25 active vaccination sites in key priority areas around the country, including NCR, Bulacan, Laguna, Pampanga, Batangas, Cebu, Davao, Palawan, among others. This large-scale initiative is in support of the Philippine National Vaccine Deployment Program and complements the public sector’s efforts to vaccinate majority of Filipinos at requisite scale and speed to achieve optimal protection. Moreover, over 50,000 regular employees across the different Ayala parent companies have been vaccinated. This brings the vaccination rate of the Ayala group at 90%, with majority of the remaining employees scheduled for vaccination in the next few weeks.

“Three months after launching our COVID-19 vaccination program, we are proud to have administered almost 560,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for partners and clients, as part of our contribution to the country’s response to the pandemic. Within the Ayala Group, we have successfully achieved a 90% vaccination rate for our regular employees.  Through consolidated efforts of the entire AC Health network, together with the DOH and the IATF, local governments and the private sector, we will continue to work hard to achieve our country’s vaccination goals,” said AC Health President and CEO, Paolo Borromeo.

Last September 28, Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, together with AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo and Ayala Corporation Chief Human Resource Officer JP Orbeta visited 4 sites to give support to the medical frontliners and COVIDShield staff.

“We are grateful to our healthcare frontliners who are the true heroes of this pandemic. During this time of uncertainty, we owe a lot to their unwavering dedication and sacrifice to help our fellow Filipinos be protected and to keep our nation safe,” added Borromeo.

The COVIDShield program provides comprehensive COVID-19 vaccine administration services from ensuring vaccine supply, proper scheduling, vaccine administration to post-vaccine surveillance. AC Health is on track in achieving its goal of administering 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses as the next tranches of privately-procured vaccines arrive in the country.

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For more information, contact:

CHACHI MORENO, M.D.
Strategy and External Affairs Manager
Zodiac Health Ventures, Inc
E-mail: moreno.fmm@achealth.com.ph

Ayala commits to achieve net zero by 2050

Posted on by Sharon Mutuc
Fernando-Zobel-de-Ayala_NetZero_AyalaCorp
Ayala Corporation President & CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala during the group’s Integrated Corporate Governance, Risk Management, and Sustainability Summit said, “As Ayala’s concrete contribution to the well-being of future generations of Filipinos, we are announcing our commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We are aligning ourselves with the global movement for climate action as our way to help secure our country’s future from the threats brought by climate change. We believe that we have the capabilities and collective will to make this happen.”

MANILA, Philippines – Ayala Corporation, one of the largest conglomerates in the country, is committing to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as announced by its President & CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala during the group’s Integrated Corporate Governance, Risk Management, and Sustainability Summit held Thursday.

“As Ayala’s concrete contribution to the well-being of future generations of Filipinos, we are announcing our commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We are aligning ourselves with the global movement for climate action as our way to help secure our country’s future from the threats brought by climate change. We believe that we have the capabilities and collective will to make this happen,” Zobel said.

Ayala aligns its business strategy with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. As such, Ayala commits to set      targets aligned with science  that cover the following: Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned or controlled sources), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from generation of purchased electricity), and all relevant Scope 3 (all other indirect emissions that occur in value chain). Scope 3 emissions are expected to make up the majority of Ayala’s footprint and can be complex to address, but Ayala is committed to net zero best practices and driving meaningful change in its business ecosystem.

Prior to Ayala’s net zero by 2050 announcement, its core business units have initiated the following climate-action interventions:

  • Ayala Land pushes for offsetting its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2022 for its commercial operations
  • BPI will not finance new greenfield coal power generation projects. The Bank will reduce its coal power generation exposure to half of 2020 by 2026 and to zero by end of 2032.
  • Globe, a participant to the Race to Zero and a signatory to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), has shifted to buying energy directly from renewable energy producers for its headquarters in Taguig and six offices and facilities since 2019
  • AC Energy is on its way to installing 5GW of renewable energy by 2025
  • Ayala Corporation’s Project Kasibulan, a reforestation, forest protection, and biodiversity conservation program for carbon sequestration is to be piloted in the island of Mindoro

To develop a net zero roadmap, Ayala partners with South Pole, a leading project developer and global climate solutions provider that works with private organizations and governments worldwide. This partnership enables the group to have an accurate view of emissions across its core business units and a tangible roadmap for reducing them in line with its net zero by 2050 ambition. In the next 12 months, Ayala and South Pole will: 

  • Develop a detailed greenhouse gas footprint that includes all relevant Scope 3 emissions from the value chain, which is considered net zero best practice
  • Assess potential emission reduction activities and strategies to help Ayala prioritize and budget for these interventions across its core business units, ensuring practical steps are taken to reduce emissions as quickly as possible
  • Establish interim targets aligned with a science-based 1.5°C pathway across the core business units to ensure Ayala has robust and measurable milestones along their journey to net zero by 2050

Ayala Corporation and its core business units are signatories to the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and are currently working to implement the 11 recommended disclosures. This year,  Ayala focuses on determining the actual and potential impacts of climate-related risks and opportunities on its businesses, strategy, and financial planning. A physical and transition-risk analysis is well underway.

Ayala’s announcement of its net zero by 2050 ambition comes ahead of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to be held in Glasgow, United Kingdom in November 2021, where signatories to the Paris Agreement will be reporting back on progress made since 2015. 

Last April, the Philippines submitted its first nationally determined contribution to the Paris Agreement, committing to a projected greenhouse gas emission reduction and avoidance target of 75% by 2030.

Ayala believes that accelerating climate action is part of its recovery roadmap. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, global companies have moved towards net zero. Capital has been flowing to sustainable investments as a growing number of investors and lenders walk away from carbon-intensive sectors. And while a net zero ambition entails risks and costs, Zobel sees it as a long-term investment for the future generations, aptly defining Ayala as a catalyst and partner for net zero transition in the Philippines.  

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For more information, contact:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
E-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

Ayala’s HR chief bares secrets to being one of the ‘World’s Best Employer’

Posted on by Sharon Mutuc
Ayala Corporation’s Managing Director JP Orbeta weighed in with his insights in adapting with today’s changing world of work with the HR heads of Standard Chartered, Zilingo, and Institute of Employment Studies in a panel discussion hosted by The Economist.

MANILA – Ayala Corporation’s Managing Director JP Orbeta bares how company’s human resources units address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and fulfill their commitment as responsible employers at the panel discussion “The New People People” hosted by The Economist.

Ayala Corporation is one of the three Philippine corporations that made it to Forbes’ 2021 list of the World’s Best Employers. This recognition follows Ayala’s merit of excellence award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and another gold from Gawad Pandayon by PANA, the country’s biggest advertiser group.

Speaking alongside HR leaders from another ‘best employer’ Standard Chartered and tech startup Zilingo, Orbeta said Ayala has always had a people-first perspective in addressing the COVID-19, prioritizing the health and well-being of employees across the group.

“There was never a question about making sure that we continue to pay our employees despite them not physically coming to work. The true north for leaders is ‘What is the right thing to do here?’” Orbeta said. 

Beginning March of last year, Ayala empowered its personnel to work efficiently and effectively under a remote setting and in the workplace which it calls ‘Work Where Effective’ weeks before government announced the nationwide lockdown.

Ayala also rolled out a groupwide COVID response package, covering all employees, business partners, customers, and the broader population. As of October 2021, Ayala Group has allocated over P19.5 billion for this response package.  

  • Groupwide emergency financial response package for direct and indirect employees’ salary continuance, leave conversions, and loan deferments;
  • A quarantine facility for employees called Ayala Group Employee Care Center;
  • A dedicated healthcare hotline and teleconsultation service, including an in-house bot called Assistant during Crises and Emergencies (ACE) for daily health and risk assessments to monitor employees and household members;
  • Work-from-home arrangement and online resources for re-tooling and upskilling, as well as shuttle services for essential workers who needed to be physically present at work;
  • A re-entry plan that included redesigning the workplace and providing tools and protective equipment;
  • Administration of one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for employees and their registered dependents and business partners; over 500,000 doses have been administered to date; and
  • An all-in-one healthcare app called HealthNow, which offers teleconsultation, online medicine ordering and delivery, and clinic and diagnostic testing booking.

According to Orbeta, Ayala also prioritized employees of vendor partners given their crucial role to the value chain. From 60,000 direct employees, Ayala Group extended its service to its 120,000 indirect employees.

Inspired by the group’s caring gesture, Ayala employees gave back to vulnerable communities by raising over P149 million through an internal program called Project Pananagutan, which benefitted staff under no-work, no-pay arrangement, public hospitals, and vulnerable families in Metro Manila and Cavite. Some employees also donated to Project Ugnayan, a private sector consortium-led response to feed the hungry, which raised P1.7 billion and distributed grocery vouchers to over 2.8 million families or 14 million individuals in Greater Manila Area during the first months of the lockdown in 2020.

For Ayala, the overall well-being of the people within and outside its companies is at the center of its operations.  At the core of Ayala’s pride is its HR departments organized to manifest the company’s commitment to its primary asset – its people.   

“When they know that your company will put the people above everything else, it sends a huge message across that this is a place that really takes care of its people,” Orbeta noted.

John Philip S. Orbeta has been recently appointed as Chief Administrative Officer and Chief HR Officer of AC Energy. He served as Chief Human Resources Officer of Ayala Corporation for 16 years.

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For more information, contact:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
E-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

AC Health bags the Service Excellence Company of the Year Award at the 12th Asia CEO Awards

Posted on by Sharon Mutuc


Manila – AC Health was hailed as the Grand Winner of the Service Excellence Company of the Year Award for their contributions in healthcare, at the recently concluded 12th Asia CEO Awards, the largest business awards event in the Philippines and one of the largest business award events in the Asia Pacific region.

The online event, held last October 12, was attended by local and international business leaders who have advocated for progress and innovation in their respective sectors despite the pandemic. AC Health was chosen as the winner among 28 other companies in the Service Excellence Company of the Year category for their continued commitment to improve access to healthcare as evidenced by the group’s COVID-19 response initiatives.

AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo highlights the company’s vision in providing quality healthcare to Filipinos in his speech, stating, “It has been a challenging year but we remain committed to investing in healthcare. Throughout the crisis, we have leveraged the entire AC Health network to lead the group’s COVID-19 response initiatives through spearheading and implementing key milestones to address gaps in the healthcare system. We hope to continue this momentum and strive to deliver better care to all Filipinos.” He also dedicates the award to AC Health’s frontliners and healthcare workers who have tirelessly served during the pandemic.

To date, AC Health, together with Healthway, QualiMed and HealthNow, has set up mega-isolation facilities, COVID-19 testing labs, and has administered over 500,000 COVID-19 doses across 25 vaccination sites in key cities.

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For more information, contact:

CHACHI MORENO, M.D.

Strategy and External Affairs Manager

Zodiac Health Ventures, Inc E-mail: moreno.fmm@achealth.com.ph

Ayala Chairman hails strong ties between PH, Japan firms

Posted on by Sharon Mutuc
AC-chairman-hails-strong-ties-PH-Japan-firms


Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala shares ideas with public and private sector leaders from the Philippines and Japan during the 38th Joint Meeting of the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committees held Monday. Representatives from both countries discussed how they can strengthen the nations’ partnerships in the fields of innovation and digitalization.

MANILA – Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala is keen to continue exchanging ideas and investing resources with Japanese firms to accelerate a strong and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic through innovation and digitalization.    

At the 38th Joint Meeting of the Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committees held Monday, Zobel shared thoughts alongside DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez and Japanese business leaders Ken Kobayashi of Mitsubishi Corporation, Teruo Asada of Marubeni Corporation, and Nobuhide Hayashi of Mizuho Bank, Ltd.    

“The Philippines and Japan have always maintained a strong economic partnership even during this pandemic,” Lopez said. “In this partnership, innovation and digitalization now play a key role—as both our countries continue to encourage globally competitive and innovative industries at this crucial stage of recovery.”    

“Japan has been the largest foreign investor in the Philippines for the last two decades, with more than 1,400 Japanese companies presently operating in the country,” Kobayashi said. “I’m grateful for this strong and growing relationships between our two nations that will bring economic growth for both.”   

During his speech, Zobel cited the Ayala group’s long-standing strategic partnerships with Japanese firms, notably Mitsubishi Corporation since 1974; and highlighted three key areas of outsized potential for co-investment between Japanese and Philippine firms to drive recovery and growth in the new normal. “We often look to Japan, with its history and leadership in innovation, as a source of inspiration for the forward-thinking and novel ways in which technologies can be applied to address pain points and create value for business and society alike,” Zobel noted.    

Access to Healthcare   

First in Zobel’s list is healthcare, a traditionally underserved market in the Philippines, which has been most critical during the pandemic.

“Globally, the pandemic has exposed woeful inadequacies in healthcare infrastructure,” Zobel said. “Our experience with HealthNow–Ayala Group’s all-in-one healthcare platform—and COVID illustrates the need for systematic investment in innovation and digitalization to address challenges faced by our healthcare system.”      

According to Zobel, while the Philippines produces the best healthcare workers in the world, the country’s physical and digital healthcare infrastructure requires substantial stimulus, which can be provided by a collaborative effort between the private and public sectors.    

 Financial Inclusion    

Another opportunity for PH-Japan collaboration is financial inclusion. As both BPI Mobile Banking and GCash generated record-high transactions during the pandemic, Zobel invites Japanese firms to look at these channels, citing Paypal’s $2.7B deal with Paidy.

“Considering Paidy’s ‘buy now, pay later’ model, there are many analogues that we can possibly borrow from this— perhaps on exploring ways around how we might adapt learnings from Japan to the needs of our own young market that has a sub-10% credit card penetration rate,” he said. 

“We have much to learn from the approaches and models of our Japanese counterparts, and we hope that further success stories might arise from continued cooperation to transform this space,” he added.        

During the pandemic, BPI saw its transactions swing to digital. With 92% of transactions now done online, the platform recorded over 4 million digital enrollments, with over 2.5 million digitally active users. Meanwhile, GCash has experienced over 280% growth in daily active transactions year-on-year, and nearly +1,000% growth from pre-pandemic levels. The GCash App now has 46 million downloads.  

Green Energy Shift  

Finally, Zobel echoed the global call for a shift to green energy development, which the Ayala Group is addressing through AC Energy.   

With Japan being recognized for designing and building infrastructure resilient to natural disasters, Zobel said the Philippines can borrow technologies and practices from Japan to build a more resilient and adaptive grid.   

Zobel also touched on Japan’s pioneering efforts in the liquefied hydrogen space, which has tremendous implications for accelerating green energy transitions in the automotive space, and for the scalability of clean energy generation and storage vis-à-vis fuel cell technology.       

“Japan is certainly well on its way with its Green Growth Strategy by investing in these technologies, with hopes to achieve 40% of its national mix generated by renewable sources by 2030. There is much we can continue to learn from Japanese leadership in this field— disaster-resilient energy infrastructure and cutting-edge carbon-free fuels being just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.     

AC Energy aims to be the largest listed renewable platform in Southeast Asia, with a goal of producing 5GW of attributable renewable capacity by 2025.    

According to Zobel, Ayala’s longstanding partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation—which has supported Ayala at the holding company level as well as in Manila Water, AC Energy, and Ayala Land—is a testament on how Philippine firms can work with Japanese firms to scale up and innovate.    

“I believe there is much room for further cooperation and investment in innovation and digitalization between the Philippines and Japan,” he said.   “Combining our resources and experiences will surely yield innovative ways of addressing the challenges posed by a more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world that demands more digital and inclusive means of serving our stakeholders,” he added.    

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For more information, contact:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
E-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

#Brigadang Ayala: AC Health starts flu vaccination for Taguig City’s priority beneficiaries

Posted on by Sharon Mutuc
AC Health starts flu vaccination
Healthway Family Clinic Palingon branch frontliners administer flu vaccines to Taguig City’s beneficiaries
Ayala Corporation, together with AC Health, turned over 1,000 doses of flu vaccine to Taguig City
Ayala Corporation, together with AC Health, has donated 1,000 doses of flu vaccine to Taguig City. (L-R: Taguig Mayor, Lino Cayetano, AC Health President and CEO, Paolo Borromeo and Taguig Vice Mayor, Ricardo Cruz).

Manila – Ayala Corporation, together with its healthcare arm, Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health), has donated 1,000 flu vaccine doses to the City of Taguig as part of #Brigadang Ayala. The turnover ceremony was done last July 2021 during the groundbreaking event of the Healthway Cancer Care Center, AC Health’s specialty cancer hospital, located in Taguig City. The initiative is part of Ayala’s commitment to support both COVID and non-COVID healthcare initiatives.

The flu vaccination drive kicked off last September 7, 2021 in 3 participating Healthway branches: Healthway Family Clinic Palingon, Healthway Family Tuktukan and Healthway Multispecialty Clinic Market Market. This vaccination drive aims to administer flu vaccines for Taguig City’s priority beneficiaries, namely, immunocompromised patients and those at high risk or with comorbidities.

“AC Health has continued to be at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19. We also recognize the need to address other vaccine-preventable infectious diseases such as Influenza, which continue to pose a burden for many Filipinos. We hope that the administration of these flu vaccines to those most at-risk will support the City of Taguig’s efforts in lessening the burden of Influenza. We are proud to partner with Mayor Lino Cayetano and the Taguig City team, who have always been strong advocates in promoting the health and wellness of its constituents, especially during this pandemic.” said AC Health President & CEO Paolo Borromeo.

Influenza and influenza-like illnesses affect an estimated 480,000 Filipinos annually, according to the IPSOS 2020 Flu Vaccination Report. Commonly called the flu, this respiratory illness may cause complications, especially among high-risk groups such as children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. 

The flu vaccination drive in Taguig City is expected to continue until the end of September with the target of administering 1,000 doses.

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For more information, contact:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
E-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

CHACHI MORENO, M.D.
Strategy and External Affairs Manager
Zodiac Health Ventures, Inc
E-mail: moreno.fmm@achealth.com.ph

Ayala looks beyond COVID with P10-B investment on healthcare; AC Health administers over 300K vax doses to date

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Healthway Cancer Care Center Facade

Facade of the Healthway CancerCare Center, the Philippines’ first dedicated specialty cancer hospital    

MANILA – As the country continues to grapple with COVID-19, AC Health takes a valuable lesson from its 187-year-old parent Ayala Corporation: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.  

Armed with a P10 billion investment, AC Health has gone a long way in addressing the fundamental gaps in accessibility, affordability, and quality of healthcare. With its President & CEO, Paolo Borromeo, at its helm, AC Health has built an ecosystem that caters to the various healthcare needs of Filipinos.   

“As part of Ayala’s commitment to investing in social infrastructure and human capital, AC Health’s vision is to build, invest, and connect various businesses into an integrated and seamless ecosystem of services across three key pillars of healthcare: drugstores, clinics, hospitals, and digital health,” Borromeo said.   

AC Health’s portfolio comprises Generika, a chain of 700 drugstores that offer quality and affordable generic medicines; Healthway Philippines, the country’s largest clinic network; QualiMed Health Network, which operates mall-based multi-specialty clinics, stand-alone ambulatory or day surgery centers, and full-service hospitals; and HealthNow, an all-in-one healthcare app that offers telemedicine consultations, online medicine ordering and delivery, and clinic and diagnostic testing booking. AC Health also has a health technology arm, Vigos, as well as medicine importation and distribution arms, IE Medica and MedEthix.   

Addressing the pandemic: 2,000 confirmed cases admitted; 300K vax doses administered  

When the pandemic struck the Philippines, AC Health embodied Ayala’s commitment to nation-building by leading the group’s COVID-19 response initiatives. It has rallied its business units to work closely with the DOH, IATF, and local governments in implementing protocols across the Ayala Group and spearheading key milestones, from setting up mega-isolation facilities, testing labs to securing vaccines for employees and other stakeholders.   

To help expand the country’s COVID wards, AC Health converted QualiMed’s network into COVID-19 referral hospitals, which have admitted nearly 2,000 confirmed cases as of August 10, 2021. AC Health also helped secure 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the Ayala Group via tripartite agreements with the government. It has administered over 300,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since the first batch arrived in the Philippines late February. It has set up 24 vaccination sites across the country to inoculate members of priority groups across LGUs, the Ayala Group, and partner companies.  

“AC Health will remain committed to supporting the country’s vaccination efforts and will continue to strengthen our partnerships with our LGUs and private sector partners, in order to vaccinate at the requisite scale and speed and to help achieve our nation’s goal of achieving herd immunity at year-end. We are proud to leverage the full strength of our network, with Healthway and QualiMed leading site operations and vaccine administration, and HealthNow functioning as our vaccine management platform to meet our goal of administering 1 million doses within 2021,” Borromeo said.   

Looking beyond COVID: Building the country’s first dedicated cancer specialty hospital  

According to Borromeo, as AC Health continues to invest in improving healthcare in the Philippines, it will not put all its eggs in one basket. Instead, it will strike a balance between battling COVID-19 and addressing other health issues unrelated to the pandemic.   

Last month, AC Health officially broke ground for the construction of Healthway Cancer Care Center, the Philippines’ first dedicated specialty cancer hospital. The 100-bed facility, which is expected to be completed in July 2023, will offer a complete range of cancer services from screening, diagnosis, treatment to post-cancer care.   

The Healthway Cancer Care Center will be equipped with 20 chemotherapy chairs, 4 operating theaters, and state of the art diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, optimized for cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The Ayala Group has invested over P2 billion for this facility and has partnered with Varian-CTSI, a leading oncology service provider, to develop and operate it.  

Beyond the cancer hospital, AC Health aims to leverage its integrated healthcare network to expand its oncology services. A hub-and-spoke model, involving its integrated clinic and hospital network, allows AC Health to drive access to affordable cancer care for patients across the country. As such, Healthway and QualiMed will serve as “spokes” of the model and extensions of the cancer hospital “hub.” This provides patients more avenues to seek consultation and have easier access to cancer screening and detection. The vision of this model is to provide impact and solutions to the many Filipinos in need of cancer services.  

“The eventual growth of the healthcare industry will be largely dependent on its ability to regain patient trust and confidence to continue looking after non-COVID healthcare issues. AC Health remains in a unique position to ride on these key trends with our expanded ecosystem of end-to-end services and platforms for all patients and customers,” Borromeo said.  

For more information

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

JANELLE MICAELA S. PANGANIBAN
Strategy and External Affairs Specialist 
AC Health
e-mail: panganiban.jms@achealth.com.ph