2022

Climate change is real, and Filipinos are among those who have experienced the devastation it has caused in their daily lives. With roughly 20 typhoons per year, the Asian Development Bank estimated that the overall cost of storm damage will be around US$20 billion between 1990 and 2020. It produces a brief disruption owing to mass evacuations, which result in an annual drop in gross domestic product of 2-8 percent.

Despite the constant damage experienced during natural disasters, Filipinos tend to see the lighter side of life and are frequently cited as one of the world’s happiest people. However, according to the newest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change study, things are set to become worse as the earth heats up, speeding up the consequences of climate change and making the Philippines more prone to extreme changes in weather patterns.

The Philippines receives over 2,400 millimeters of rain each year on average, making it one of the world’s wettest countries. While this is a concern for the country, there is a silver lining in that it may also be a solution to the country’s water shortage. However, the Philippines now gathers just around 6% of its rainwater, compared to India, which harvests over 60% of the 700-millimeter average annual rainfall it receives.

Rain Water – a friend or a foe?

Water is a scarce resource. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 6 identifies access to clean water as one of the global priorities to be achieved by 2030. Aligned to its environmental responsibility programs, SM takes a closer look at the use of water and how it can be turned from a foe to a friend.

SM builds its malls and integrated lifestyle cities with resilience and sustainability in mind. Understanding the value of water, SM builds rain water catchments in its malls to harvest large volumes of rain water particularly in flood prone areas.

“We approach it two ways: resilience – to help communities be flood free; and sustainability – to optimize water which is a scarce resource so we can use it for other purposes rather than just waste it,” says Architect Fides Garcia-Hsu, Vice President at SM Engineering Design and Development.

Vermont Park and Vermont Royale are two communities that once saw rain as a foe. Every time it rained, their neighborhoods ended up under water, damaging their homes. Today, home owners welcome the rain as water that can be harvested and stored for future use. The reason? SM City Masinag’s rain water catchment facility!   It has a 17,681 cubic meter water capacity. The two communities connected their drainage systems to the mall which is equipped with three 30HP submersible pumps which are used to pump out accumulated rain water.

“Wherever SM is, we try to help our communities become resilient to changing weather patterns,” explains Arch. Garcia-Hsu. “Nationwide, we have 20 malls equipped with rainwater catchment facilities that help rain water management to avoid flash floods for surrounding communities.”

As a company SM invests 10% of its capital expenditure to integrate disaster resilient and sustainability features in its malls and integrated lifestyle city designs. “We take a long-term view on resilience and when we talk about sustainability, we look at how we can address perennial problems like flooding and address systemic change,” Arch. Garcia-Hsu expounds.

Serving as pioneers in the installation of rain water catchment facilities, SM was instrumental in the passing ordinances and inclusion of the installation of water catchment facilities for developments by regulatory bodies. In recent years, Senator Manny Pacquiao passed the ‘Rain Water Harvesting Act – Senate Bill 1309’ mandating the establishment, maintenance and management of rain water harvesting systems in the country.

 “Aside from building resilient infrastructure, we also build the resilience of our stakeholders by providing disaster preparedness training through our SM Cares programs,” shared Chito Bauzon, SM Cares Marketing Asst. Vice President. “We have programs targeted to senior citizens and those with special needs as they are the ones left most vulnerable during times of calamities.” 

Typhoons are projected to get stronger as a result of more rainfall as a due to climate change. With more Filipinos flocking to cities, the Philippines will need to modify old cities for resiliency or create new sustainable communities to ultimately live in a flood-free environment.

Hanabishi Appliances 5-5 Fiesta Sale is the perfect opportunity for you to score the best appliances at discounted prices, whether you’re looking for the perfect Mother’s Day present or a replacement for your old appliances.

“Our sale will run from May 5 to 7, so you’ll have enough time to choose a gift for your mom on May 8, Mother’s Day. Of course, Hanabishi products are great for gifting because they’re made from quality materials. So, if you’re also looking to replace an old appliance or invest in one for your home business, make sure to check our Fiesta Sale,” said Cherish Ong-Chua, Vice President for Finance and Marketing at Hanabishi Appliances.

The sale will happen simultaneously on Shopee Mall and LazMall.

At Shopee, select Hanabishi appliances will go on sale at up to 15% discount. Watch out for the Flash Sale, as you may just score the product you’ve been eyeing at 18% off. When you buy two items, you will also enjoy PhP55 off your purchase. Hanabishi will be giving away PhP50 vouchers and PhP50 free shipping as well.

Over at LazMall, you can also enjoy up to 18% discount on select Hanabishi appliances during its flash sale. From May 5 to 7, meanwhile, you can purchase products at up to 15% off. Buy two appliances, and enjoy PhP55 off! Make sure to collect Lazada Bonus vouchers at PhP100 as well. You can use them to enjoy further discounts. And don’t worry about the shipping costs if you’ve bought too many items; Hanabishi offers up to PhP300 shipping discount.

“You don’t have to leave home to purchase Hanabishi appliances as they’re available in two of the most popular online selling platforms in the country. You can also visit our own e-commerce website, www.myhanabishi.com,” Ong-Chua shared.

Hanabishi is well-known for producing high-quality kitchen and household appliances. Because of its dependability and low cost, it has become a household staple in most Filipino households.

Follow Hanabishi on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up to date on their latest goods, events, and sales promos.

About Hanabishi:

Sa Bahay at sa Business Mo, Hanabishi!

Hanabishi is a Filipino household name for appliances for over 35 years. It is a brand engineered to fit the lifestyle of the Filipino both for homes and businesses. Hardworking, durable and resilient, are the attributes that personify Hanabishi making it the brand of choice of every Filipino mom and businessman when it comes to value and practicality. Hanabishi is the mark of quality that grows with you through the years. Built with passion and an impeccable desire to uphold the quality of life in every Filipino home, Hanabishi will remain to be the PRACTICAL choice and KAPARTNER, today and for the many years to come.

For more information about Hanabishi, please visit www.myhanabishi.com/shop/and like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHanabishiAppliances/

Shiptek Solutions Corp., the creator of XLOG, the world’s first fully integrated, blockchain-based, end-to-end shipping and logistics platform, plans to expand beyond the Philippines and into the larger Southeast Asian region, capitalizing on the growing demand for digital solutions in the regional logistics industry.

Shiptek is confident that it can meet the need for digital solutions throughout the area with the adoption of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries’ (Asean) regional effort known as the Asean Single Window, based on its early success in the Philippine market.

The Asean Single Window aims to expedite cargo clearance and promote economic integration by enabling the exchange of trade-related documents among Asean Member States.

“We have seen remarkable and exponential growth in volume and revenues since our launch in 2018. As the only fully-integrated blockchain-based, end-to-end shipping and logistics digital ecosystem in the country, we are able to serve all the needs of the players in the industry — from shipping lines, freight forwarders, customs brokers, trucker associations, and even drivers,” Shiptek Founder and CEO Eugenio Ynion Jr. said.

Ynion added: “This gives us the confidence that we will be able to expand in the Asean region and allow us to become the backbone of the regional shipping industry, providing the tech needed to make logistics more transparent, efficient, and affordable to all players.”

Launched in 2018, Shiptek operates the homegrown supply chain and logistics orchestration ecosystem called XLOG, which houses digital solutions such as digital documentation, online booking, fleet management, payment systems, tracking and tracing of shipments, container insurance, finance management, and a mobile app for truck drivers.

In a nutshell, XLOG streamlines the process interconnecting different players in the industry, allowing them to work with one another to create efficiencies and promote productivity.

The fully-customizable platform caters to all players — including the smaller ones — in the logistics industry.

“Our goal is to continue growing rapidly throughout 2022 by expanding our solutions and services, offering financing and digital solutions as a package. This will help our market address the main pain point of limited cash flow, while enabling them to digitize their operations, thereby promoting transparency and efficiency at more affordable costs,” Ynion said.

XLOG offers financial services by leveraging the open finance platform of its minority investor UBX, the fintech arm of Aboitiz-led Unionbank of the Philippines.

“Digital revolution has had a major impact on the logistics industry. UBx Chairman Henry R. Aguda remarked, “We expect XLOG will empower more businesses in the logistics industry to digitally alter their operations to boost productivity and help to economic recovery, complementing our open finance platform.”

Over 1,000 enterprises and organizations have trusted Shiptek to help them take their logistics operations to the next level.

“In many industries, digital transformation has become the standard, and the logistics business is on its approach to fully embracing this trend. Our technology creates a level playing field by allowing even the tiniest players to digitalize their activities. We at Shiptek are thrilled to expand to additional Asean nations in order to assist more participants in the logistics industry in joining the digital revolution,” Ynion stated.

For more information, please visit https://web.xlog.net

About Shiptek Solutions Corp.

Shiptek Solutions Corp. is a Filipino software development company that operates the pioneering end-to-end digital logistics platform, XLOG. Shiptek is a subsidiary of Yngen Holdings, which takes pride in our Filipino ownership and heritage.

Democratizing access to financial tools and services for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will result in a considerable boost to the local economy. During the European Chamber of Commerce Philippines’ Promoting Women and Financial Inclusion Today webinar, government officials from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Senate, as well as executives from leading open finance platform UBX and insurance provider Pru Life UK, emphasized the enormous benefits of including women entrepreneurs in the country’s financial systems.

Male-led enterprises have more access to business finance than female-led businesses, according to global research done by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

And yet, women entrepreneurs, according to a Digital Readiness Study conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry, are motivated to grow their businesses for their families and communities. They just need more knowledge and skills to optimize digital platforms and convert engagement to sales.

“The future of finance is in many ways female,” UBX President and CEO John Januszczak said.

Plugging gender gaps

BSP Deputy Governor of the Financial Supervision Sector Chuchi G. Fonacier said bridging gender gaps by empowering women to become entrepreneurs and democratizing access to finance for female-led businesses are important areas that the central bank wants to address.

“One area where there has been substantial exchange and sharing of ideas and initiatives between the BSP and its stakeholders is empowering women to become successful entrepreneurs in the MSME sector. The BSP recognizes the important role of MSMEs in the economy, and in line with this, the BSP has implemented a wide range of policies and regulatory relief measures to support them — particularly as they have been among the most vulnerable sectors during the pandemic,” Fonacier said.

These include measures that provide incentives to supervised financial institutions to extend financial relief to borrowers, initiatives that incentivize bank lending, and endeavors that promote continued access to lending and financial services, among others.

“The BSP continues to promote the adoption of innovative MSME financing approaches by banks such as the agriculture value chain financing and supply chain financing to direct much needed funds for this sector,” Fonacier said.

Fonacier explained that empowering women entrepreneurs also involves financial literacy measures, as this will equip them with the right knowledge to tap the right tools for their financial needs.

“Financial literacy promotes economic empowerment of women as they aspire to become leaders and agents of change, financial inclusion, and sustainability. Financial literacy leads to growth and development in women welfare and, in turn, contributes to economic growth. Financial feminism through financial literacy presents an opportunity not only to reduce gender gaps in pay, investing, and wealth but also to use women’s increasing financial power to align with the goals and actions required to build a sustainable and equitable future,” Fonacier said.

Significant driver

For her part, Senate Committee on Women, Children, and Family Relations Senator Risa Hontiveros lamented that the pandemic magnified the vulnerabilities of Filipinas.

“We must expand the opportunities for women, especially in financial inclusion. Hindi lang pinto ang dapat pagtutulungan buksan, pati bintana. We can find solutions to common problems of limited access to financing support, training, business development services, and technology that will enhance the competitiveness of women-led micro, small and medium enterprises,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros also called on the government to enhance its support for the development of digital solutions that democratize access to financial services for women entrepreneurs, noting that the majority of enterprises in the Philippines are female-led.

UBX Managing Director for Banking Services Anne Yosuico agreed, saying that it is imperative for the finance sector to empower women-led businesses as this leads to significant growth to the broader economy.

Citing a McKinsey Global Institute study, Yosuico said addressing gender gaps could add between $12 trillion to $28 trillion to the global economy, which is larger than the combined economies of the US and China.

World Bank data shows that the Philippines is one of three countries with more female sole proprietors than men. In fact, before the pandemic, 55.8 percent of business name registrations were women-owned and run, according to data from the DTI.

Furthermore, 64 percent of MSMEs assisted by the DTI Negosyo Centers were led by women. Another 64 percent of the 5.8 million individual members of the cooperatives under the National Association of Training Centers for Cooperatives (NATCCO) are female.

“If you look at the potential impact of women, it is game changing,” Yosuico said. “This investment in women whether it’s through education or targeted financial services — will result in an impact of this scale.”

Yosuico emphasized that UBX has been in the business of empowering women entrepreneurs through its open finance platform, considered to be the leader in the Philippines.

Through open finance, participating banks and other financial institutions are able to tailor financial products and services to the needs of women.

“There are so many other things that we can do. We can start to look at how women entrepreneurs can also enable other women entrepreneurs. We can provide focused resources and services aimed at enabling women. Most of all, participation and representation matters, so where you are – you have to keep the conversation going. Doing this will open more access for women, especially women entrepreneurs,” Yosuico said.

Pru Life UK Chairperson Ida Tiongson, for one, believes it is critical for the Philippines to solve the four key issues that women entrepreneurs face: a lack of funds, a lack of confidence, a lack of support, and a lack of time. These four issues, she claims, can be solved by increasing women’s financial knowledge. “Helping women will have a domino impact on the economy,” Tiongson said, adding that “education is the bottom line for all of us.”

About UBX

UBX is the financial technology venture studio and fund of UnionBank of the Philippines. UBX is predicated on a future where financial services are invisible: seamlessly embedded into the experiences and activities that truly matter to businesses and people. For partnerships, email us at [email protected].

For more information about the company and this article, please visit www.ubx.ph

About ECCP

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) is a bilateral foreign chamber that promotes European interests in the Philippines and vice versa. As a membership organization with over 700 members among its ranks and a strong partnership with the government, the ECCP offers a strong business network that holds great potential in translating to tangible business opportunities.