Category: News

“If you don’t need change, [then] you don’t need leaders; you just need managers. If you need change, then you need leaders. And leaders should be pushing people for change, and influencing others to join the push for change.”

These were the words of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto as he addressed the delegates of the 2021 Ayala Young Leaders Congress (AYLC), which kicked off online on July 3.

Speaking to the 84 delegates to the congress, which carried the theme, “Leaders Reimagining Hope,” Sotto shared the story of his leadership journey, starting with the inspiration of his family (particularly his brother) all the way to his experience working in both government and civil society. These experiences, plus the strong support and mentorship of people who believe in change the way that he did, helped drive him, and continue to inspire his work in government.

He challenged the young leaders: “If we want to see the changes, what are we going to do? As the next generation of leaders, are we just going to think of our own interests, are we just going to think of what position we can get, what power we can get, what fame we can get, what money we can get? Or are we going to challenge the status quo?”

He said that for any good work to be done, leaders must learn to continuously question their motive and intention. They must also be prepared, both with the help of theoretical knowledge and on-ground experience, to tackle the work at hand. Lastly, leaders must also have allies as they fight for positive change.

He said: “If we keep pushing, the changes we want to see in our society, big and small, will come in the course of our lifetimes. So let’s keep pushing, let’s not be frustrated, but keep pressing forward and fighting the good fight.”

Now on its 23rd year, the annual AYLC gathered some of the most promising young leaders from top colleges and universities nationwide. The congress features several interactive sessions with various speakers on servant leadership. AYLC will run throughout July.

Ayala Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala, who gave the opening remarks, encouraged the participants to value hope in leadership. He said: “Leaders are those who can inspire hope in themselves and in others. I believe hope is not about waiting for good fortune to come. Rather, it is a deeply meaningful act of building towards a better tomorrow for everyone, regardless of the uncertainties that are still to be faced.” 

He added: “It continues to be our hope that the youth leaders that we engage will meaningfully impact various organizations across different sectors – government, law enforcement, academe, business, and social development.”

AYLC is the flagship youth leadership program of the Ayala group of companies. Implemented by Ayala Foundation which began in 1998, AYLC is a student leadership summit designed to build confidence, hone leadership skills, nurture commitment, foster nationalism and idealism, and encourage faithful stewardship. To date, it has 1,681 alumni, who now take leadership roles in government, business, academe, civil society, the religious sector, and the military, among others.

This year’s Ayala Young Leaders Congress is one of a series of initiatives that are being held to celebrate Ayala Foundation’s 60th anniversary, as it reaffirms its Faith in the Filipino.

#######

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

MANILA, June 30, 2021 – Ayala Group of Companies’ holistic COVID-19 response receives an Award of Merit from the 2021 Gold Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).  

Ayala is the only Philippine business group to be recognized in the awards’ Response & Recovery Management and Communication category for assisting its ecosystem of employees, partners, customers, and the broader population in withstanding the impact of COVID-19.  

As of May 2021, the Ayala Group has allocated over P16 billion in various COVID-19 response initiatives.  

On the healthcare front, Ayala partnered with government in increasing its testing capacity by building laboratories and testing booths, donating RT-PCR machines and medical supplies to various local government units. Along with partners in the private sector, it also converted the World Trade Center into a mega isolation facility last year. Under different tripartite agreements, Ayala has allocated 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for its employees and stakeholders.  Once the vaccines arrive, AC Health will administer them in 24 vaccination sites nationwide.

On the economic front, Ayala Group maintained wage continuance for its employees during the toughest months of the lockdown. Ayala Land’s rent condonation assisted merchants to sustain their operations in the malls. Moreover, with Caritas Manila and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), the group convened a private sector-led consortium and raised P1.7 billion to purchase and distribute grocery vouchers and in-kind donation, benefitting 14 million individuals in the most vulnerable barangays of Greater Manila Area. Amidst the pandemic, the Ayala Group continues to attract foreign and local investments into the country through various capital-raising exercises.

“We truly appreciate this recognition for our COVID-response initiatives. We owe this feat to the strength of the Ayala community, where employees and leaders work together with our various stakeholders to bring to life our commitment to nation-building and continue to improve people’s lives despite the deep impact of the pandemic,” said Chief Human Resources Officer John Philip Orbeta.    

See IABC website for complete list of the 2021 Gold Quill Award Winners –https://gq.iabc.com/Home/2021-Gold-Quill-Awards-Excellence-And-Merit-Winners.

########

For more information:

YLA ALCANTARA

Head, Brand and Reputation Management

Ayala Corporation

e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

MANILA, June 17, 2021 – Over 2,000 employees of the Ayala Group of Companies who belong to  the A4 (economic frontliners) category have begun receiving jabs of the COVID-19 vaccine on  June 14 at the UP-Ayala Land TechnoHub in partnership with the Quezon City LGU. This is Ayala’s  first vaccination site out of 24 sites around the country.  

In the coming days, Ayala’s medical arm, AC Health, in partnership with various LGUs will  continue to administer jabs to Ayala’s A4 employees in vaccination sites in Makati Stock Exchange  in Makati City, BGC Parkade 3 in Taguig City, and Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Paranaque.    

AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo said, “As our public health experts have always  advised, our goal as a country should be to vaccinate as many people as we can, as quickly as we  can. We greatly encourage our employees to be vaccinated for their protection, as well as for the  protection of their families, colleagues, and communities. In doing so, we will help drive our  country’s economic recovery safely and responsibly. For our part, our goal at AC Health is to  administer 1Mn doses in 2021 for the Ayala Group and our external partners.”  

Earlier this year, Ayala launched the Ayala Vaccine and Immunization Program (AVIP), following  its order of 1 million vaccine doses, expected to arrive in tranches beginning this month.    

Ayala created the AVIP for thousands of its employees (direct and outsourced),  retirees, registered employee dependents, household staff and partners to encourage and  facilitate their vaccination. 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 clinics and  hospitals nationwide.  

“Since the onset of the pandemic, Ayala has been committed to protecting its employees. Apart  from ensuring financial security through wage continuance, we also provided COVID-19 testing  for our customer-facing employees. We also expanded our capacity in our Qualimed COVID referral hospitals in Laguna and Bulacan to ensure that we could accommodate employees with  severe symptoms. Through AVIP, we hope to give our employees and their loved ones additional  protection from COVID-19 at the workplace and in their homes,” said Ayala Chief Human  Resource Officer John Philip Orbeta.  

More than a year into the pandemic, the Ayala group remains steadfast in bolstering the national  and local governments’ efforts to defeat COVID-19. Ayala capitalizes on its diverse business units  to address both health and economic challenges. From ensuring the financial security and safety  of its employees at the onset of the pandemic to building and capacitating key healthcare  infrastructure nationwide, Ayala continues to respond to the needs of its various stakeholders 

and the broader population. As of May 15, 2021, Ayala has allocated close to P16 billion in various  pandemic-related initiatives.  

For more information:  

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

Ayala Corporation bagged the Silver Award as Asia’s Best Integrated Report and was a finalist in five other  categories at the 6^th Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (ASRA), the most prestigious international  awards for corporate reporting.  

Due to the pandemic, the event was hosted virtually in Singapore by CSR Works and was attended by a  multitude of representatives from Asian companies who practice Sustainability Reporting. Broadcasted  live, the ceremony was attended by more than 250 business leaders and sustainability practitioners from  20 Asian countries. Special guests and dignitaries from the academe, embassies, trade associations, and  advocacy organizations were also present.  

Guests of Honour H.R. Ms. Kara Owen, British High Commissioner to Singapore, and H.E. Mr. Niclas  Kvarnström, the Swedish Ambassador in Singapore gave their welcome remarks to formally open the  ceremony. Going beyond just announcing the winners, the program included segments where ASRA  judges were featured in a string of rapid-fire questions on sustainability reporting.  

The independent panel of judges followed a rigorous multi-tier evaluation process that involves three  rounds of assessment. This ensures that the winners in every category are the best according to the  criteria for judging and comprehensive due diligence that considers the company’s reputation among their  stakeholders. For this awarding cycle, the judges reviewed a total of 494 entries from 17 countries for 19  categories. Only 102 companies from 14 countries made it to the finals. The fierce competition produced  39 winners who were awarded with gold, silver, and bronze medals and a Report of the Year award.  

Rajesh Chhabara, managing director of CSRWorks International and the founder of ASRA, notably  commented the increasing quality of sustainability reports across the region and that each year, choosing  the winners are becoming more and more challenging. This gives a positive outlook on sustainability  reporting in the region and signifies the growth and maturity of the practitioners in the field.  

President and CEO of Ayala Corporation, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, says “We are grateful, honored, and  humbled to receive the Silver award for Asia’s Best Integrated Report. This award serves as an affirmation  of our continued sustainability efforts and it reminds us to commit to and persevere in the long road  ahead. More than an award, this is a challenge to us to never cease in improving our reporting process as  we continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability.” 

###

For more information, contact:  
Yla Alcantara  
Head, Brand and Reputation Management  
Ayala Corporation  
Email: alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

28 May 2021, MANILA – Four years since it last tapped the local debt market, Ayala Corporation  returns big via a debt securities program that is more than 10 times oversubscribed.  

During the virtual listing ceremony led by the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp., Ayala  Corporation President and CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala said the successful issuance of the first  tranche of the company’s P30 billion debt securities program, which raised P10 billion in  proceeds, will support Ayala’s strategic priorities: strengthening and recalibrating its diverse  portfolio and repositioning the company for a post-pandemic economic recovery.

“The Ayala group has always been and continues to be an active participant of the capital  markets,” said Zobel. “During this [health] crisis, Ayala Corp., Ayala Land, BPI, Globe, Manila  Water, and AC Energy raised over P190 billion pesos in combined proceeds from the domestic  and international capital markets to allow us to take advantage of opportunities and further  solidify our balance sheet during these challenging times.”  

The oversubscription of the offering allowed Ayala Corporation to price at the lowest end of the  marketing range, carrying a coupon of 3.0260% and 3.7874% for the 3-year and 5-year tenor,  respectively. Moreover, this offering is the largest 5-year allocation among dual tranche offers  during the pandemic, a reflection of the market’s confidence in Ayala’s long-term stability and  credit strength.  

“We are delighted to see that investor interest remained high, with demand from both retail and  institutional investors reaching over P60 Billion,” Zobel added.  

Zobel, meanwhile, lauded the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PDS Group for  launching the country’s first Electronic Securities Issue Portal called e-SIP, which would eliminate  voluminous paper-based submissions and expand a company’s reach by selling securities online.  Ayala Corporation and Ayala Land were the first companies to utilize the e-SIP system.  

In his remarks, Securities & Exchange Commission Chairperson Emilio Aquino thanked Ayala  Corporation for playing an important role in realizing the “capital market’s potential to sustain  our economy’s expansion and bring growth to every Filipino.”  

“As issuers, you create legitimate investments opportunities. And through the capital market,  you make them accessible and thereby allow fellow Filipinos to share with your business success.  By pursuing your expansion projects responsibly and sustainably, more of our fellow Filipinos can  be employed and will be able to provide for and secure a better future for their families,” Aquino  added. 

In addition, Antonio Nakpil, President & CEO of Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corporation,  commended Ayala Corporation and Ayala Land for being the pioneer users of the e-SIP portal  and for their continued support to local capital markets.  

“It is fitting that the Ayala Group, led by Ayala Corp—the longest-standing supporters, constructive contributors, and most active group of issuer participants of the domestic capital market—featured prominently to bookend this month, a milestone in the digitalization timeline for the corporate bond primary market,” Nakpil said.

At Ayala Corporation’s annual stockholders meeting last month, Zobel said the Ayala Group will continue to support the expansion of its core value drivers—Ayala Land, BPI, Globe, and AC Energy. It will also support the growth of emerging businesses, Entrego and AC Health. For 2021, the Ayala Group is allocating a combined capex of P196 billion.

For more information:
YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

The Ayala group is coming strong in responding to the call for more effective climate related financial reporting with its business units signing as official supporters of the Task  Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Recognizing that climate change  is a universal challenge that could irreversibly devastate communities and organizations,  the Ayala group took deliberate steps in affirming its resolve, supported by initiatives to  protect and renew the environment. Now joining the more than 1,800 TCFD supporters  from 78 countries are Ayala Land Inc, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Telecom Inc.,  AC Energy, Manila Water Co., and Integrated Micro-electronics Inc. – setting another  milestone for the group since its pioneering effort to report on TCFD disclosures in its  2019 Integrated Report.  

TCFD is a set of globally recognized recommendations by the Financial Stability Board  that encourages organizations to align their strategies and financial reporting to the risks  and opportunities associated with climate change. Adoption of these recommendations  helps companies build a more resilient financial system, based on more transparent  climate-related disclosures, risks, and opportunities.  

With this strengthened commitment, the newly signed-up business units of Ayala will  undergo a gap analysis against the four pillars of TCFD: Governance, Strategy, Risk  Management, and Metrics & Targets. Each organization will disclose according to the 11  recommendations and set up strategies that will ensure adherence to the four pillars.  Beyond helping investors, lenders, and insurers have a better view of the company’s  longevity and resilience, this will help Ayala navigate the financial landscape as it  transitions to a low-carbon economy.  

This bold step is in line with Ayala Corporation’s Sustainability agenda, one that is backed  by commitments of CEOs across the group:  

Ernest L. Cu, Globe President and CEO, emphasizes the responsibility they have in  ensuring they positively contribute to the environment as they serve their customers, “As  a sustainability leader, we are mindful of our impact on Filipinos and our society. That is  why we leverage our strong culture of innovation and use of technology to mitigate risks  to our business operations and protect the environment. Climate change is a global  concern that requires an ‘all of nation’ approach to manage its impact. In supporting  the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Globe joins a robust  multi-sector international alliance to address climate-related risks through science-based  research, financial information, and disclosures. We invite our partner vendors, customers and the rest of our stakeholders to collectively join us in taking action on  climate change for a sustainable future.” 

BPI President and CEO, Jose Teodoro “TG” K. Limcaoco, also expresses the bank’s  aim to further integrate sustainability in the business and encourages their stakeholders,  saying, “This ongoing pandemic magnified the importance of having a strategy to create  long-term value and longevity. BPI has contributed significantly to nation-building in the  past 170 years, and we are committed to continue our role in shaping a better Philippines  by integrating sustainability into our strategies and practices. We support the Task Force  on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) as this will help us better understand  climate-related risks, and more importantly, put us in a better position to address and  mitigate potential risks and seize opportunities. We encourage all our stakeholders,  customers, and partners to commit to responsible business practices for a more  sustainable and brighter future.”  

Manila Water President and CEO, Jose Rene Gregory D. Almendras, also sees TCFD  as an avenue to further engage with stakeholders and says, “Manila Water adopted a  climate change policy in 2007, even before a law was passed, because we knew we had  to commit to climate change adaptation efforts to ensure resilience towards situations of  ‘too much water’ and ‘too little water’ brought about by extremes in the water cycle. The  disclosure recommendations from TCFD will hopefully gain us more support from our  stakeholders in taking collective action to address this global issue.”  

Meanwhile, IMI President and CEO Arthur R. Tan says, “IMI has always been in the  forefront of pioneering ESG values in the manufacturing sector for the Philippines. As a  part of the global supply chain for the world’s top brands and products, we have been  complying and exceeding these requirements over the past decades. Our decision to  support the TCFD initiatives is a natural path for us to take and support.”  

In the field of real estate, Ayala Land President and CEO Bernard Vincent O. Dy¸  stresses the benefit of being a TCFD supporter and says, “As a real estate company  operating in the Philippines, Ayala Land has long recognized the importance of  responding to climate change. We welcome the Task Force for Climate Related Financial  Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations as these provide a clear framework on disclosing  material climate-related information. By adopting TCFD recommendations, the company  will have a more thorough understanding of climate risks and opportunities. We can then  continue to align our future investment strategies so that we can effectively transition to  a lower-carbon economy.” 

Speaking more about efforts toward a low-carbon economy, John Eric Francia,  President and CEO of AC Energy, reaffirms their commitment by saying, “AC Energy is  transitioning to a low carbon portfolio. The company will be divesting all its coal assets by  2030 and scaling up renewable investments, which is expected to exceed 5GW by 2025. In line with this commitment to sustainable investing, the company is adopting the TCFD  framework along with the Ayala group.” 

Ayala Corporation’s President and CEO, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, takes this joint effort  of the business units to support TCFD as a vital step in the group’s sustainability journey,  “This decisive effort of the Ayala group to collectively support TCFD is in line with our  aspiration to be a regional leader in the field. This is a common ground for our largely  diversified group, one that speaks of our continued commitment to transparency and  accountability. In light of the pandemic, we believe that our alignment with TCFD will help  make us a more future-ready Ayala.”  

###  

For more information: 
Yla Alcantara  
Head, Brand & Reputation Management  
Ayala Corporation  
e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com