Category: News

With stronger typhoons ravaging the country in the middle of a pandemic, Ayala Corporation Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala urges the private sector to incorporate climate change in their business strategies as well as recruit “climate-competent” decision-makers who can shape, implement, and report sustainability metrics.

Zobel, the first Southeast Asian business leader recognized by the UN for championing sustainability, recently joined other business think-tanks as a panelist in the webinar “The Board and Climate Change” hosted by Deloitte on November 2. Other panelists include Paul Polman, former Global CEO of Unilever and current vice chair of the UN Global Compact.

“More urgent now than ever that business steps in. Businesses cannot succeed in societies that fail, nor can they be a bystander in a system that gives it life in the first place,” Polman said in his opening remarks. “Climate change is our biggest existential threat.”

Acknowledging the critical role of the private sector in addressing various environmental and social pain points, Zobel highlighted how private companies in the Philippines work collectively to mobilize and organize their resources in times of need. One perfect example, he added, is the formation of the private sector-led Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), where businesses put aside competition to cooperate and build resilience.

The PDRF, which has its own state-of-the-art, 24/7 emergency operations center, has proven itself useful in monitoring and responding to calamities a well as building the capacities of communities and businesses. PDRF, in collaboration with Caritas Manila, Ayala Corporation, and other big business entities, also led Project Ugnayan (www.projectugnayan.org) which distributed over P1.7 billion food vouchers to the most vulnerable population when the lockdown was first enforced.

But beyond partnering with other private entities, Zobel and his fellow panelists agree that climate change must be discussed at the board level of a corporation. That said, climate change and sustainability must be integrated in a company’s investment strategies. According to Polman, hiring one climate change expert is not enough. Instead, each key decision-maker in the company must have a strong understanding of climate change.

“Corporate executives should have a strong understanding about the implications of climate change, as well as have the opportunities to dialogue about these issues at the highest levels to enable officers and the company as a whole to make informed and sustainable strategic decisions,” Zobel seconded.

Across the Ayala group, each business unit has a sustainability officer in-charge of setting, monitoring, and reporting metrics to investors and the public. To name a few:

 AC Energy has committed to transition towards becoming fully renewable in a few years’ time in support of SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy.

 AC Health has been actively weaving together our different healthcare assets through an integrated telemedicine platform in support of SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-Being.

 GCash e-wallet platform rolled out a feature called GCash Forest, where users can earn points using the platform, which they can eventually convert into a physical tree donation that will be planted in Manila’s critical watershed.

 Ayala Land has made a commitment to be carbon neutral in the next few years, and they are adopting new technologies and techniques to minimize carbon emissions (SDG 11).

 Manila Water continues to roll out technologies to ensure that wastewater can be properly treated and reused in estates and commercial establishments (SDG 6).

 Each of these initiatives are in line with the Ayala Sustainability Blueprint, which aims to bridge Filipinos to a better world by 2030 (https://ayala.com.ph/sustainability/).

Finally, Zobel said that climate change is an existential threat to everyone, whether you are a business, a government institution, or just an individual. Its far-reaching effects and implications have an impact on long-term resilience, sustainability, and longevity. Now more than ever, Zobel emphasized that everyone must play a part in mitigating the effects of climate change and building a more sustainable future.

“Corporate executives should have a strong understanding about the implications of climate change, as well as have the opportunities to dialogue about these issues at the highest levels to enable officers and the company as a whole to make informed and sustainable strategic decisions,” said Ayala Chairman and CEO, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, who joined other business think-tanks as a panelist in the webinar “The Board and Climate Change” hosted by Deloitte on November 2. Other panelists include (upper row L-R) Deloitte Global Chair, Sharon Thorne, former Unilever Global CEO and current vice chair of the UN Global Compact, Paul Polman, BNP Paribas Asset Management Global Head of Corporate Governance, Michael Herskovich, and (lower row) Energy Foundation Chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee, Rose Mckinney James.

Makati, Philippines – November 5, 2020 As COVID-19 continues to impact lives and businesses in the country, Ayala Chairman & CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala called on private companies to reevaluate their role in society and contribute to the country’s recovery. At a livestreamed session earlier today, Zobel de Ayala joined other esteemed members of the business sector at the Management Association of the Philippines’ (MAP) “Convocation for Shared Prosperity”. Here, he delivered remarks on how companies must come together to face a shared adversity and recalibrate businesses so that more Filipinos can benefit from a shared prosperity in a post-COVID world.

“Maybe it had to take a beast like COVID-19 for all of us to understand that we all have to support each other as communities and institutions if we are to rebuild successfully.  Our capitalist ecosystem has brought millions out of poverty; and improved the lives of many millions more… Now, more than ever, we have to find ways to expand our traditional definition of who we are responsible for and accountable to – well beyond our shareholders and other providers of capital; well beyond the sole pursuit of profit,” said Zobel de Ayala, noting how the pandemic has pushed many companies to throw out the old ways of working in order to contribute more meaningfully to nation building and help government lead the country to recovery.

Responding to the Filipino’s most urgent needs

Realizing that its businesses are built upon the support of its ecosystem, the Ayala Group (Ayala) has been working non-stop to address the most pressing needs of its employees, partners, and communities since the onset of the pandemic.

In March, Ayala quickly released an emergency response package worth PHP 2.4 billion to cover wages, leave conversions, and loan deferments for employees and contractual workers. Ayala then provided stipends for daily wage earners across the group, and has built dedicated medical facilities where COVID-positive employees and dependents can seek testing, treatment, and quarantine support. As of end-September, Ayala has spent nearly PHP 2.3 billion in financial and logistical support for direct and indirect employees across the group.

For its network of business partners, Ayala Malls has waived PHP 5.6 billion in rent condonation as of end-September. At the same time, BPI, Globe, and Manila Water have collectively allocated PHP 2.18 billion in business ops waivers and free services for customers.

Ayala has been collaborating closely with both the private sector in various projects to meet some of the country’s most urgent needs. Through Project Ugnayan, a food relief program for the most vulnerable urban poor communities, the group helped address the hunger of millions in a timely and dignified manner. Along with a consortium of 270 private companies, Ayala helped to quickly raise PHP 1.7 billion. With this fund, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and Caritas Manila distributed PHP 1,000 vouchers to 1.7 million families, or more than 7 million individuals in the Greater Manila Area. With additional contributions from ABS-CBN’s Pantawid ng Pag-Ibig, ADB and the government’s Bayan Bayanihan, and Jollibee’s FoodAID Program, food aid reached 2.8 million families, or over 14 million individuals. This helped government buy time while it mobilized resources to execute its own relief initiatives.

Lastly, Ayala continues to work with other private companies to support government in ramping up crucial testing and treatment capacity. The group participated in Task Force T3, an initiative by the IATF’s National Task Force and the Department of Health, to increase the country’s national testing capacity by 13 times from just 4,500 on April 24 to 60,000 on July 12. Ayala then joined Aboitiz, ABS-CBN, JG Summit, Metrobank Foundation, the Razon Group through Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, and the Yuchengco Group, to build seven Biosafety Level 2 laboratories to boost COVID-19 testing throughout the country.

Creating shared prosperity through inclusivity

Today’s crisis calls for a radical change in the way companies do business. In order to survive and thrive in the post-pandemic world, businesses must benefit the community-at-large through true inclusive growth, and not through pure philanthropy.

Early on for the Ayala Group, this meant extending its businesses beyond its traditional markets to serve a larger segment of society, while realigning its strategy to directly support the Philippines’ national agenda. Today, Ayala sees that it is more necessary than ever, as inclusive growth creates a multiplier effect that allows a broader community of stakeholders to benefit from a shared prosperity.

“Everyone understood that we had a broader responsibility; and this created a very interesting dynamic in our country:  a sense of common purpose and a coming together of different groups including those who were long used to fiercely competing – not cooperating – with each other,” said Zobel de Ayala. “Today, we are here to support a covenant of shared prosperity.  As individual firms, we have been engines of growth and doers of good for this nation.  Let us challenge ourselves:  how can we — where can we — level up to harness our purpose, our resources and our actions so that the Philippine Business Groups can collectively become a Force Multiplier for Growth and a Force Multiplier for Good?”

The livestreamed session was also graced by esteemed guests Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Atty. Emilio B. Aquino, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman. The lively discussion was moderated by Rex C. Drilon II, Member of the MAP Shared Prosperity Committee and Chairman of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

The Ayala group of companies bring relief, in the form of food packs and free communication services, to communities severely affected by recent typhoons.

As of today, the group already deployed potable water and food packs in Calabarzon. In partnership with their respective provincial government units, Ayala Foundation, Manila Water Foundation and Ayala Coop distributed 5,500 food relief packs along with 3,000 vitamin-fortified rice packs and drinking water in Batangas and Lucena in Quezon.

The Ayala group is now en route to the Bicol region, where close to 5,000 relief packs will be distributed to affected families in stages this weekend in close coordination with the local provincial government units. Ayala Malls Legaspi will serve as the group’s relief headquarters, where food packs sourced at discounted rates from LCC Supermarket, are being prepared. Support to at least 2,000 affected families in Oriental Mindoro will also be extended within the week.

In total, the Ayala group is initially allocating P7 million in the form of food, water, and other necessities for typhoon victims and their families.

Meanwhile, Globe Telecom is offering free calls, text, and data services to Globe prepaid, postpaid, TM, and Globe At Home subscribers in Albay, Catanduanes, and Camarines Sur. Through the Globe WiFi Jeepney, families affected by the typhoons can utilize free calling, charging, and Wi-Fi stations in Baao, Camarines Sur, and in Sta. Cruz and Poblacion in Marinduque. The Globe WiFi Jeepney will be deployed in other areas in the coming days. Special product offers will also be extended for customers in Albay, Catanduanes and Camarines Sur. Globe and GCash customers may also participate by using their Globe Rewards or donate via GCash through their Apps.

This week’s relief operations are part of the Ayala group’s unified disaster relief and rehabilitation initiatives led by Ayala Foundation.

“As a conglomerate, the Ayala group, through Ayala Foundation, is committed to providing assistance for communities in times of emergency. We join the rest of the country in lending a helping hand to communities severely battered by Typhoon Rolly. We stand with you as you begin the process of recovering from the damage wrought by the typhoon,” Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan said.

Last October, Governor Danilo Suarez of Quezon Province expressed his gratitude to the group for quickly delivering relief when back-to-back typhoons slammed the province last month.

“Kami’y nagagalak na big corporations like this [Ayala group], hindi nakakalimot sa kanilang mganahihirapang kababayan sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong na ito. At sana’y ito na rin ang panawagan namin doon sa iba na ring may korporasyon na maayos naman ang kalagayan sa mga panahong ito na maraming nangangailangan, sana ay maging generous sila sa pagtulong,” he said.

Ayala Foundation is inviting the public to take part in its Typhoon Rolly relief efforts via cash donations through any of its official channels which may be accessed here: ayalafoundation.org/donate.

Individuals and groups donating through Ayala Foundation’s channels are requested to specify that the donation is for “Rolly” or “Typhoon Rolly” in the notes section of the transaction. Donors are requested to email the confirmation receipt to donate@ayalafoundation.org.

Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health), the healthcare arm of the Ayala Group, has inked a strategic partnership with Cancer Treatment Services International (CTSI), a Varian company, to develop and operate the first comprehensive cancer specialty hospital in the Philippines. During a signing event on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, AC Health also announced that the 100-bed cancer facility will be located in the FTI Complex in Taguig City, Metro Manila, adjacent to Ayala Land’s Arca South development.

“We are delighted to partner with CTSI to bring much-needed affordable quality cancer care services to more Filipinos. This project is part of our broader commitment to continue to invest in the country despite the pandemic. We are also excited to be locating the hospital next to Arca South, one of our up-and-coming developments at Ayala Land. By bringing together our local knowledge and AC Health’s network, with CTSI’s operational and clinical expertise, we have the unique opportunity to redefine cancer care in the Philippines,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Chairman of the Board of AC Health.

“Cancer continues to be the third leading cause of death in the Philippines, and treatment has become even more complex amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. AC Health is committed to provide our patients with more affordable high-quality cancer care, especially in this time of need. This cancer hospital is envisioned to be an integral pillar of our integrated healthcare ecosystem. With this hospital as our future referral hub, our network of Healthway specialty and family clinics can provide cancer screening programs, while our pharma companies, IE Medica and MedEthix, can source more affordable cancer medicines for our patients,” AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo said.

CTSI, a Varian company, is a leading oncology services provider that has supported the delivery of safe, quality, and affordable cancer care worldwide for nearly two decades. CTSI provides clinical services and solutions to over 100 hospitals, clinics, and physician groups around the world with a focus on multidisciplinary oncology care. CTSI’s evidence-based delivery model uses technology-enabled solutions to accelerate the adoption of advanced technology, enable operational efficiency and clinical safety, and rapidly improve patient access to high-quality treatment options.

“We are excited to partner with AC Health to establish the first cancer specialty hospital in the Philippines. We are committed to our mission of improving patient outcomes while reducing the cost of cancer care, especially in countries that need it most. Our strategic partnership with AC Health spans the entire cancer care continuum from diagnosis through treatment and follow up, and our vision is fully aligned with AC Health’s goal to provide quality and affordable comprehensive cancer care to Filipinos,” Andrew Shogan, Senior Vice President of CTSI added.

The hospital will be built at the FTI Complex in Taguig City, adjacent to Ayala Land’s Arca South development. Arca South is envisioned to be the next mixed-use commercial, residential, and transportation hub. This central location provides easy accessibility for residents of the Greater Metro Manila Area, as well as for patients flying in from the provinces, owing to its proximity to NAIA.

“The Food Terminal Incorporated is delighted and encouraged that AC Health will be using the FTI lot to build a stand-alone cancer hospital that will provide comprehensive high quality and affordable cancer care services. FTI’s new strategic direction under the current administration’s AMBISYON NATIN 2020 aspires for a strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life. It is hoped that this ground-breaking partnership between AC Health and FTI for cancer treatment will make this dream a reality,” FTI President and CEO Ariel Buenaventura added.

In 2019, AC Health reported that it would invest over P2Bn for the facility. The cancer hospital will be a specialized center, equipped with diagnostic equipment (including a PET Scan), chemotherapy facilities, linear accelerators for advanced radiation therapy, and operating rooms for the specialist surgeons. Apart from offering a comprehensive range of services, the hospital will be led by some of the top local oncologists. As part of the hospital’s leadership, AC Health has established a Medical Advisory Council, composed of leading local medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, as well as experts from CTSI and other specialists, to assist in the design and development of the hospital.

In the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis, AC Health responded to the difficulty that both cancer patients and oncologists face as they seek treatment, by repurposing Healthway Medical Greenbelt 5 into a cancer specific unit that will serve the needs of oncology patients. The Chemotherapy Infusion Center at Healthway Greenbelt 5, which meets DOH regulatory and safety standards, can accommodate up to 15 cancer patients for chemotherapy per day.

With the finalization of the partnership and site, construction will begin in early 2021, and the hospital is expected to be operational in 2023.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 26 October 2020.

Business 20 (B20) Saudi Arabia, the official voice of the global private sector to the G20, will host the B20 Summit virtually on October 26-27th, 2020, bringing together global leaders from business, academia, civil society and international organizations to discuss the world’s most pressing economic issues affecting communities today. Saudi Arabia is the first Middle Eastern country to ever host the G20 Presidency, representing the region and the developing world.

“Rooted in our mission to drive Action Through Collaboration, the B20 Summit is the culmination of the efforts of our more than 650 members, who worked tirelessly this past year to develop action-oriented policy recommendations to the G20 across several issue areas. 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year as communities around the world deal with the impact of the pandemic, and our leaders must act with urgency to address their immediate needs while looking into building a more inclusive and sustainable future,” said Mr. Yousef Al-Benyan, Chair of B20 Saudi Arabia. “I look forward to welcoming renowned global leaders and to the fruitful discussions that will take place at the Summit.”

Under this year’s B20 theme, Transforming for Inclusive Growth, discussions taking place at the Summit will address the post-pandemic recovery and how collaboration between parties can help build back a more sustainable, inclusive global economy. Within this context, discussion topics will focus on the role of multilateral organizations, the digital economy, how to build a more sustainable future and leveling the playing field for women in business.

Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), who will be speaking on the panel Redesigning Multilateralism for a New Era, shares his perspectives ahead of the discussion: “The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards the world of the future. And it is crucial that our institutions keep up with the rapid pace to ensure no one is left behind. The changes we make now will have a lasting impact on our world as our economies and societies recover.”

“Policymakers around the world have already taken extraordinary and synchronized measures to curb the spread of the pandemic and avoid massive bankruptcies and layoffs. The IMF contributes to these efforts by providing policy advice and financing – more than $100 billion was extended already to 81 countries. We urge further efforts for international cooperation to preserve stability, support confidence and build forward to a more sustainable and inclusive recovery,” adds Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), on the role of multilateral organizations.  

Speaking on the second day, which will focus on digital economy, trade and participation of women, Diane Wang, Founder & CEO, DHgate, and Co-chair, Digitalization Taskforce at B20, notes: “COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the digital divide, and especially the gender digital divide. Women-owned businesses typically have access to fewer resources than their male-owned counterparts. Yet the rapid digitalization of the last few months can bring long-term opportunities to millions of women and girls, allowing them to contribute to economic growth.”

Other confirmed speakers of the B20 Summit include HRH Princess Reema Bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US, Gordon Brown, UN Special Envoy for Global Education and former Prime Minister to the UK; Amin Nasser, President & CEO, Saudi Aramco; Carly Fiorina, Chairman, Carly Fiorina Enterprises; Bill Winters, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank; and Patrick Pouyanné, CEO, Total, amongst other prominent leaders from G20 countries. The full agenda of event, which will be livestreamed on B20’s Twitter and YouTube channels, can be accessed here.

In early October, B20 Saudi Arabia announced 25 policy recommendations to reinvigorate the global economy. The policy actions, delivered to G20 Leaders, focus on key issues such as digitalization, free and fair trade, sustainable finance and infrastructure, mainstreaming women in business, integrity and compliance, climate change and sustainability, and the future of work and education. The full set of policy actions can be viewed here.

Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman & CEO, Ayala Corporation, is the Co-chair of Trade and Investment Taskforce at B20 Saudi Arabia. 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.

“The pandemic we face today has abruptly placed the world at an unprecedented junction in our shared history. This is a health emergency with a grave socio-economic impact on the lives of many around the world, with no geographical boundaries,” said Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman & CEO, Ayala Corporation, and Co-chair, Trade and Investment Taskforce at B20. “The path to recovery requires that we all work together to cooperate, not compete, for economic recovery. It is only through committed cooperation that we can turn this crisis into an opportunity for truly inclusive and sustainable growth to build back better into a more just and equitable world,” he further added.

Further information on B20 Saudi Arabia:
Contact Us: connect@b20saudiarabia.org.sa
Reach Us: +966 (11) 280 4947
Visit Us: www.b20saudiarabia.org.sa

About B20
The Business Twenty (B20) is the official G20 dialogue with the business community. As the voice of the private sector to the G20, it represents the global business community across all G20 members and all economic sectors. Formed in 2010, it is the first engagement group of the G20.

The B20 supports the G20 through specific policy recommendations, the consolidated representation of business interests and economic expertise. It also fosters dialogue between the public and private sector.

Ayala Corporation once again earns the nod of the Ethical Boardroom as a holding company with the Best Corporate Governance in Asia and Australasia.

“We believe that adherence to good corporate governance principles is essential for the achievement of our strategic goals,” said Solomon Hermosura, Ayala Corporation’s corporate secretary and corporate governance group head. “This recognition proves that Ayala continues to raise the bar of good governance by pursuing measures that bring up the level of awareness and practices in the organization to help drive value creation and long-term growth.”

Ayala first received such an accolade in 2017. This 2019, Ayala is joined by Globe Telecoms, which received a Best Corporate Governance Award under the telecom company category. Ayala and Globe are the only Philippine companies that made it to the list.

“Implementing good corporate governance ensures organizations conduct their business in a fair and ethical manner, considering the interests of all its stakeholders to achieve long-term and sustainable growth,” the citation reads.

“The awards recognize the outstanding leadership from boards who have raised the bar to ensure that strong corporate governance plays an essential part in protecting and enhancing long-term value for all stakeholders.”

The Ethical Boardroom is a London-based magazine and website that is trusted by influencers for its unparalleled track record in delivering in-depth coverage and critically aware analysis of global governance issues. Full list of winners can be viewed on https://ethicalboardroom.com/corporate-governance-winners-2019-asia-australasia/.

MAKATI CITY — With the pandemic presenting novel challenges that shake companies and governments, Ayala Corporation Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala shares his thoughts on leadership that can withstand the changing times.

Zobel, a graduate of Harvard Business School, said in a webcast hosted by ATR Asset Management that no specific leadership style could work in all types of crisis. But surely, he said, people need a leader who has a point of view.  

“You need to have a sense of what the future will look like. You need to have a sense of how things should be run,” he said.  

According to Zobel, good leaders should also be able to connect the dots, bringing together different ideas and facts and using them to create a holistic road map to a future that is far from the status quo. They must be authentic and bold, willing to take risks and go out of their comfort zones to look for the best solutions to a problem. In addition, all leaders should have empathy and be comfortable listening, understanding, and connecting to people.  

“Empathy is underrated. Showing empathy in this day and age is important—understanding people, listening to them, having a sense of what’s important to them,” he said.  

All leaders should also be sensitive to the changing needs of every generation. Zobel, who joined Ayala in 1981 as a fresh graduate, said he spent a lot of time working with non-profit organizations that gave him a view of the different social and environmental pain points faced by the country.  

As the first business leader from the Philippines and Southeast Asia to be recognized by the United Nations for championing sustainability, he spearheaded the creation of a framework that is far more inclusive and engaged in addressing different social and environmental pain points. This framework is called the Ayala Sustainability Blueprint, which assigns specific UN sustainable development goals to each business unit.  

“I was very happy to integrate it to Ayala because people could see that the role of a corporation goes far beyond its financial impact,” he said. “Corporations are part and parcel of the very progressive fabric of an economy. This sustainability blueprint shows the different roles we play in a society.”    

Finally, Zobel highlights the importance of prioritizing cooperation rather than competition in this time of crisis. The Ayala group of companies have been actively working with the national and local governments in building facilities and setting up equipment to expand the country’s testing, tracing, and treatment capacity through Taskforce T3. The Ayala group is also working with other private companies to safely reopen the economy.    

“It’s cooperation that has led to significant successes in this pandemic,” said Zobel, who is among the founding partners of the TaskForce T3. “It is a time for all of us to learn to cooperate rather than be at odds with each other.”  

For Zobel, the new normal should see private companies and the government working together to address the many pain points that the pandemic may bring. “We either succeed together or not. It is a time for all of us, particularly the private and the public sectors, to learn to cooperate rather than be at odds with each other.”  

As the first business leader from the Philippines and Southeast Asia to be recognized by the United Nations for championing sustainability, Ayala Corporation Chairman and CEO, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, spearheaded the creation of the Ayala Sustainability Blueprint launched last April 2019. The blueprint assigns specific UN Sustainable Development Goals to each of the group’s companies to makes its businesses more inclusive in addressing different social and environmental pain points. “I was very happy to integrate it to Ayala because people could see that the role of a corporation goes far beyond its financial impact. Corporations are part and parcel of the very progressive fabric of an economy. This sustainability blueprint shows the different roles we play in a society,” said Zobel at the ATR Asset Management virtual webcast entitled “ESG & Sustainable Investing: The Rise of Purpose” held last October 15, 2020. (File photo: August 2019)

Sept. 29, 2020 – The City of Manila has partnered with the Ayala Group of Companies in the construction of a new molecular laboratory inside Sta. Ana Hospital.

Spearheaded by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, the Manila Molecular Testing Laboratory at Sta. Ana Hospital will support the city’s ongoing efforts against the pandemic by increasing its testing capacity. Free serology testing is now being offered in its various barangays to serve the community, especially workers who are required to pass through required health protocols.

“The construction of this laboratory is significant for us. The City of Manila has been providing free serology testing, and as we speak, more than 67,000 individuals have already benefitted from it – individuals and corporations, because I want us to go back to normal. Normal in such a way that we can live with COVID-19, accept the fact that there is danger so that we have to discipline ourselves, but we can go back to work safely,” Mayor Isko Moreno said.

“Maraming mga empleyado na babalik na sa trabaho who need to be tested and we have to practice simple medical protocols. So that’s why Manila provided this free testing para maibsan namin iyong gastusin ng mga empleyadong papasok na sa kanilang trabaho,” he added.

The collaboration reflects the continuing commitment of the Ayala Group to support government initiatives in the fight against COVID-19. Ayala Corp. President Fernando Zobel de Ayala believes in the positive impact of public-private collaborations in addressing the current crisis.

“We support the national government’s efforts to upgrade our testing, tracing, and treatment capabilities. While we are doing what we can to help at the national level, we also believe that engaging local governments and applying decisive leadership at the grassroots level are critical to our success. The construction of this bio-molecular laboratory is an important example of our commitment to help in the fight against COVID-19. We hope that this facility will be a significant help in strengthening the health systems of Manila,” Zobel de Ayala said.

According to Dr. Grace Padilla, Director of the Sta. Ana Hospital, the hospital is the only local government unit district hospital to house two types of molecular laboratories. One is the Xpress Xpert SARs COV2 Testing Laboratory using cartridges and the other is the RT-PCR molecular laboratory.

“We can perform more or less a thousand tests a day for one machine and now we have two Sansure machines. Kung ma-maximize natin ‘yung capacity, puwede tayong tumulong even sa national government. We’ll be doing our best to make it efficient, fast, reliable and real time. The new molecular lab will really strengthen our testing capacity and our fight against COVID 19,” Padilla shared.

Ayala Foundation Inc. and Ayala Land’s construction arm, Makati Development Corporation (MDC) led the specialized construction of the molecular laboratory to prepare for the installation of new equipment which the City of Manila has procured for the district hospital.

MDC has been instrumental in the transformation of a number of buildings into COVID-19 facilities since March 2020. MDC has so far built eight COVID-19 facilities in the country including the Sta. Ana laboratory. These include converting the World Trade Center into a 500-bed quarantine center and the Philippine Red Cross headquarters into COVID-19 bio-molecular laboratory. It has also built AC Health and Qualimed testing laboratories such as the Qualimed Nuvali Triage facility in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

AYALA GROUP’S CONTINUING SUPPORT

Prior to the pandemic, the Ayala group of companies has already been supportive of the further development of the City of Manila through various programs for its constituents. These programs include <code/it>, an educational technology program that trains public elementary school students and teachers in the use of technology to prepare them for more advanced workplaces; and Sari-Saring Aralan, which uses the sari-sari store as a hub for learning for out-of-school youth in Tondo.

The Ayala Foundation’s CENTEX Program has also been in place in Manila since 1998 and continues to provide holistic and quality education for students in the CENTEX School.

Previously, the group helped oversee the construction of a rest room at the Kartilya ng Katipunan monument, after the important landmark drew national attention for being filled with human waste during an inspection led by Mayor Isko during the first few weeks of his term.

Last June, Globe Telecom Inc. started giving public school students in the city free access to online learning platforms through its BatangMaynila Surf Plans, which are specially customized to serve the needs of students for their online school activities. At the same time, Globe donated 11,000 LTE pocket mobile WiFi devices to the city’s public school teachers to assist them in the Department of Education’s blended learning programs.

Other companies under the Ayala group have also poured in their support for the Sta. Ana Hospital and the Manila Molecular Testing Laboratory.

Globe Telecom’s GoWiFi team deployed WiFi services at the Sta. Ana Hospital so healthcare workers, patients, and visitors can easily connect with loved ones through the internet.

Manila Water Company Inc. continues to provide round-the-clock water supply to the Sta. Ana and San Andres districts, which forms part of the Manila side of its concession. The company is also assisting in the declogging of Sta. Ana Hospital’s internal sewer pipe.

The partnership with the City of Manila marks the Ayala Group’s continuing efforts to help various communities mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. The group is an active participant in Task Force T3, which stands for Test, Trace, and Treat, convened by the Inter-Agency Task Force–National Task Force (IATF-NTF) and the Department of Health (DOH).

As of September 15, the Ayala Group has allotted more than PHP 10.2 billion for COVID-19 related initiatives.

Makati, Philippines – September 25, 2020 On September 10, 2020, Ayala Corporation Chairman & CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala joined an online panel entitled “Corporate Social Responsibility Revisited” with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business to discuss the private sector’s evolving definition of CSR, especially in today’s COVID-19 crisis.

“When you have a broader point of view where we are part of civil society, you realize that the business sector has a role in addressing some of the pain points that we have in our development needs… your institution has a bigger responsibility than just to the shareholders. It has a responsibility to the society it’s working in,” Zobel said at the webinar.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the Ayala Group (Ayala) has been at the forefront of the private sector response to this ongoing health, economic, and social crisis. The group continues to work with other private companies as well as the government to scale COVID initiatives throughout the country.

Here are some other thoughts that Zobel shared at the webinar.

Calling for cooperation, not competition

“When you have a global or national situation where the broader problem can only be addressed by a sense of unity, a sense of cooperation, and a sense of common purpose, then cooperation is more needed than competition.”

In today’s crisis, Ayala believes that companies must work together to serve a bigger purpose. A good example of this timely and effective collaboration is Project Ugnayan, a food relief program by a consortium of 270 private companies and individuals. This consortium raised PHP 1.7 billion in just a few days, and through the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation and Caritas Manila, distributed PHP 1,000 vouchers to 1.7 million families, or more than 7 million individuals in the Greater Manila Area. With additional contributions from ABS-CBN’s Pantawid ng Pag-Ibig, ADB and the government’s Bayan Bayanihan, and Jollibee’s FoodAID Program, food aid reached 2.8 million families, or over 14 million individuals. This helped government buy time while it mobilized resources to execute its own relief initiatives.

The Ayala Group, together with other private companies, has also been collaborating closely with government to ramp up crucial testing and treatment capacity. The group participated in Task Force T3, an initiative by the IATF’s National Task Force and the Department of Health, to increase the country’s national testing capacity by 13 times from just 4,500 on April 24 to 60,000 on July 12. Ayala then joined Aboitiz, ABS-CBN, JG Summit, Metrobank Foundation, the Razon Group through Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, and the Yuchengco Group, to build seven Biosafety Level 2 laboratories to boost COVID-19 testing throughout the country.

Going beyond CSR

“It’s not about social responsibility—it’s about changing a business model to become more inclusive… All of us, I think, have a responsibility on our own, not just the government’s, to address the pain points in society and see if we can use business methods, not just social interactions but embed some of those solutions into the way we do business. Businesses have to take on this broader responsibility of contributing to society in a more positive way.”

As more and more Filipinos adapt to online shopping while they confine themselves to their homes, GCash’s total users doubled during the quarantine period while its transaction volume doubled in June, compared to pre-quarantine levels. By offering Filipinos a secure means to transact online, Ayala is able to provide a safer and seamless shopping experience for Filipino—which is crucial during this time—while making financial services more accessible to the unbanked.

Business owners, too, have been benefiting from their partnership with Ayala. As of August 2020, the group has helped ease the strain on its partner businesses through PHP 6.8-B worth of waived fees, deferred loan payments, free services, and rental condonations.

The group also launched the Ayala Enterprise Circle (AEC), a group-wide Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) network that enhances the group’s ongoing initiatives to educate, connect, and enable SMEs. This synergistic initiative is currently focused on helping its existing 250,000 SME partners continue their operations and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The AEC was launched as a platform to help these businesses, who provide 63% of employment and 35% of the national GDP, to give them training modules, networking opportunities, and support services that would help them cope with the unprecedented challenges they now face.

Revitalizing the healthcare sector

“This crisis has put a focus on how far behind we are on the healthcare side… It’s an industry that has not been given the attention it deserves, and it deserves far more support. I think we will never go back to looking at the industry in the same way again. I think there will be a renewed focus on both the government side and the private sector side to try and address some of the pain points that we’ve had during this crisis.”

The group has been rolling out countrywide initiatives to make healthcare more accessible to Filipinos as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to climb.

Ayala has launched two new healthcare innovations to help treat Filipino patients and protect healthcare frontliners. These innovations include an FDA-approved, lower-cost breathing aid device from Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. (IMI) for COVID-19 patients; and an all-in-one health app from Globe Telecom and AC Health that will help decongest healthcare facilities.

In August 2020, Ayala’s electronics manufacturing unit, IMI, secured FDA approval to locally produce the UCL Ventura Flow Generator, a lower-cost, non-invasive ventilation system specifically designed to aid COVID-19 patients with breathing difficulties. Based on an existing off-patent continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system, the design has been modified to optimize oxygen consumption. It is designed to reduce the spread of aerosols, to help keep healthcare workers safe from infection. The UCL Ventura Flow Generator is an alternative and preventative system used to avoid the need for an intubated ventilator treatment.

The Ayala Group has also released HealthNow, an all-in-one health app from Globe Telecom’s corporate incubator, 917 Ventures, and AC Health’s health tech arm, Vigos Health, to help address the pain points that have long discouraged Filipinos from seeking proper medical care. This free app allows patients to consult licensed physicians via video calls, and by September and October 2020 respectively, users will be able to have medicines delivered, and book clinic and lab appointments through the app.

Lastly, Healthway Medical plans to expand its network to over 100 Family, Multi-Specialty, and Corporate Clinics, to become the largest network of clinics in the country. It aims to make primary to multi-specialty healthcare services more accessible and affordable to Filipinos. Healthway will soon have a network of 70 Healthway Family Clinics, 7 Healthway Multi-Specialty Centers, and 45 Healthway Corporate Clinics, located across the Greater Metro Manila Area.

These are just some of Ayala’s initiatives to help the government combat the virus and contribute to national development despite the ongoing pandemic. Ayala believes that by aligning private businesses to the national good and to the national development agenda, true progress can be to help the Filipino emerge stronger from this crisis.

This online panel discussion was the first of several keynotes in Chicago Booth’s online series. The September 10 webinar also featured Ahmed Saeed of Asian Development Bank, and was moderated by Henny Sender of the Financial Times.

Watch the full session here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/why-booth/stories/corporate-social-responsibility-revisited-videos

24 September 2020 – The Ayala group reaffirms its commitment to providing assistance for towns in the province of Batangas severely affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano earlier this year.

In an online gathering, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas officially acknowledged the receipt of donations from the Ayala group, particularly the 10 Kia 2500 vans, which continue to be used for official functions. Channelled through the Provincial Government of Batangas, the vans are now under the care of the following Batangas towns: Taal, Balete, Mataas na Kahoy, Alitagtag, San Nicolas, Talisay, Agoncillo, San Luis, and Lemery.

The vehicles were donated through the efforts of AC Motors, the automotive distribution and retail group of AC Industrials. AC Industrials handles the Ayala group’s investments in industrial technology.

As part of its continuing support for Taal-affected communities in Batangas, the Ayala group also announced that it will provide much-needed support for public school teachers and students who are getting ready for the opening of classes this October.

The Ayala group’s Brigada ng Ayala initiative, which kicks off in October, will distribute health and hygiene packs, as well as provide support for online learning, to public schools nationwide, as a unified response to the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela programs.

In Batangas, 89 DepEd schools all over Batangas will receive learner’s kits for its students, while teachers will receive their “teacher’s kits,” which contains a Globe SIM pack with PhP1,000 allowance for mobile data. Health and hygiene kits called “Ayala EduCare packs,” which contain face masks, rubbing alcohol, a face mask, hand soap, and instructional materials on protecting oneself from COVID-19.

Said Governor Mandanas: “Ayala has been traditionally consistent in its commitment to corporate concern for the good and welfare of the community, always an active part of helping society specially during time of real need. This social conscience has been innate and part of the DNA of Ayala. And we in Batangas are so proud that Ayala has its roots in our province, and Ayala still shelters Batangas in both in good and difficult times. Ayala—Magiting.”

Said Arthur Tan, president of AC Industrials: “AC Industrials—through our automotive and motorcycle distribution and retail group AC Motors—partnered with Kia Motors Global by way of Kia Philippines to donate 10 brand new Kia 2500 light trucks as well as relief goods. With the help of volunteer employees from the Ayala group and our friends from the motoring media—who wholeheartedly decided to join this CSR drive, we distributed the relief goods to evacuation centers in the province, and delivered the Kia K2500 units.”

Said Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan: “The partnership of the Ayala group with the Province of Batangas extends over many years, and we are privileged to continue supporting with the provincial government’s efforts to create productive, creative, self-reliant citizens who are also proud of their Filipino identity. We continue to stand behind every magiting na Batangueño, who stays resilient and hopeful in the face of different challenges.”

Throughout the first quarter of 2020 the Ayala group conducted relief activities in affected areas. Aside from the provision of clean water through Manila Water Company and the restoration of mobile services and setting up of free call stations through Globe Telecom, Ayala distributed hygiene kits, sleeping kits, and food packs to different evacuation centers. In addition, the group organized medical missions through AC Health and also with Ayala Land’s Makati Development
Corporation.

Aside from donating vehicles, AC Motors partnered with Ayala Foundation for relief distribution activities in January. A convoy of 30 vehicles, composed of AC Motors employees and volunteers from the motoring media, distributed hygiene kits and sleeping kits to six evacuation centers based in different barangays.

About Ayala Foundation
As the social development arm of the Ayala group of companies, Ayala Foundation envisions communities where people are creative, productive, self-reliant, and proud to be Filipino. Ayala Foundation is committed to community development, working closely with communities in identifying compelling developmental needs and providing suitable solutions with measurable outcomes. Its main program areas are Education, Community Leadership, Suitable and Sustainable Livelihood, and Arts and Culture.

For more information, visit www.ayalafoundation.org