Agri-based business a huge winner enterprise amid and post pandemic

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – Cebu’s top entrepreneurs seem to agree that agriculture-based businesses have proven to be the winner enterprises amid the pandemic and will continuously lead the micro, small and medium (MSMEs) entrepreneurs in the new normal and beyond.

In a virtual Coffee Table Discussion on June 29 hosted by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and part of the events lined up for Cebu Business Month (CBM) 2021, five top businessmen in Cebu with the government sector voiced out their opinions and insights on how entrepreneurship cope and navigate through the pandemic, its current trends and hopes for the future.

 
Rey Calooy, founder/general manager of RNC Marketing Philippines cited the resilience of agriculture and food sector as well as the strong market value of all agriculture-based products and by-products.

“The most sustainable and resilient business is in agriculture.”  In many countries in the world, where agriculture is strong and developed, manufacturing industries, food and health products as well as cosmetics and many more are mostly agri-based, Calooy added.

Benny Que, president of Golden Prince & Suites agreed with Calooy because he shared with the panel his program idea with his employees by providing them with some funding if anyone wanted to go on backyard vegetable gardening or agriculture in general.

Que was elated to have seen the success of one of his employees who went into rice farming and backyard gardening.  He encouraged his staff to go into backyard gardening and food production to compensate for losses of income from the hotel and accommodation industry.

 
Calooy and Que agreed that Cebu especially in areas where cacao, coffee and bamboo are in abundance can become brighter agri-based industries in the new normal and beyond.  These two entrepreneurs are eyeing the commercial farming and production of the cacao as a growing food product.

“We want to position Carcar town as the cacao/chocolate capital of Cebu, empower the cacao farmers and improve on the ‘Tableya’ products, it is our dream,” Calooy said.

Calooy bared that he went into a mindset of massive backyard gardening and identifying the short/long term kinds of plants and he had identified 80 kinds of plants, herbs, spices and veggies which proved to be the best savings on food expenses and in family food security.

Another entrepreneur that continues to make her mark in the plant selling business sector is Shiela Ruiz, owner of Plant Momma whose passion with plants carried her to high-value, high-end ornamental plants.

Ruiz said that ornamental plants was just her hobby even before the pandemic. She saw the opportunity and the huge market in luxury plants amid the pandemic when almost everyone was into ornamental planting and backyard gardening either propagating veggies or ornamental plants.

“I started expanding Plant Momma with P10,000 capital and I converted my passion into a high-end ornamental plant hub where rare and most expensive plants are sold.  In this business, one has to find your customers and your niche market.  Plant Momma targets the luxury market,” Ruiz stated.

Boy Tiukinhoy, president of Virginia Foods on the other hand has been a survivor of many adversities in his business, to him, the pandemic was just another of those adversities.  His shared with the panelist his insights to survive and thrive in business, no matter what.

“Work hard, act and make the toughest decisions, hire talented people and be a role model in your organization,” Tiukinhoy said.

 
Bunny Pages, president of Pages Holdings on the other hand is an optimistic entrepreneur.  He has diversified food and restaurant businesses with his entire family being involve in all aspects of business operations.

Pages said that the pandemic brought setback to the dining preferences of people as there were massive lockdowns, but this did not deter the company to move forward and to always look for opportunities to innovate and cater to the changing landscape in food and dining.

Pages added to always think of the “Blue Ocean” opportunities, have that winner and positive mindset to continue and survive any adversity including this pandemic.  “Everything has always its silver lining and this too shall pass,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nanette Arbon, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) here also shared her insights on how the government enables entrepreneurship to survive in this pandemic and to look positively to the new normal future of doing business in the country.

Arbon went on that the pandemic has taught the public sector several lessons, for one the DTI learned how to be in social media and engaging third parties for the conducts of webinars for business productivity using digital technology.

“Even before the pandemic, DTI had already been engaging in the technology community.  We were already on the transition or into digital transformation advocacy, the pandemic has accelerated the transformation,” Arbon said.

She added that the government, especially the DTI has been a great enabler.  It’s digital transformation and engagement with the tech community paid enough in helping start-ups and linking MSMEs to platforms and come up with tech/digital interventions in their various entrepreneurships.

“We have to think and look beyond the pandemic, we have three years of behavioral change and technology was thrown in hence, we must embrace innovations and digital transformation in our businesses and how we can harness our resources for the 21^st Century,” Arbon stated.

She added that entrepreneurship must move to that direction and prepare a roadmap for creative content and even the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

 

 

Workspace groups see increase demand of hybrid, flexible workspaces in Cebu

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – A global workspace provider and local property developer saw an emergence and increase demand for flexible workplaces in Cebu and other big cities in the country that was brought about by the pandemic.

Lars Wittig, International Workplace Group (IWG) country manager for Philippines and other countries in Asia and VP for Sales ASEAN and South Korea said that the pandemic has created sudden global trends where work will be flexible, and this arrived early due to the pandemic.

In a media briefing at the launching Thursday, June 29 of Regus as IWG’s multiple office space portfolio at Park Centrale, Cebu IT Park, IWG and AppleOne Properties, Inc. (API) presented insights on the direction of work post-pandemic in the city given the emergence of flexible workspaces in suburban areas such as Cebu, in light of the “hybrid work” model.

Wittig bared that many industries and companies have tried this concept of working from home, but vast majority of companies are now into flexible working spaces.

“IWG has just added a million customers to our network amid the pandemic with another million committed.  We’re signing big deals with multi-nationals including our biggest in our 31-year history with NTT for 300,000 and Standard Chartered for almost 100,000,” Wittig added.

Joy Veloso, AppleOne Properties, Inc. (API) chief operating officer described the current scenario in Cebu.  She pointed out that Cebu has been able to contain the COVID-19 spread and that people are slowly getting back to their normal lives and workers going back to offices.

She added that businesses here are starting to open and ultimately restrictions are less rigid and investment opportunities remain strong.

“What’s happening in Cebu is very exciting, some are still trying to navigate their way, but we have been able to manage the situation.  People are now accepting and moving to the new normal of adapting to the hybrid working concept,” Veloso said.

Wittig and Veloso agreed though that the current work-from-home (WFH) trend may not be the ideal long-term solution considering that many businesses rely on the traditional face-to-face model in its operations.

Both said that companies of all sizes had already been moving towards the hybrid way of work even before the COVID outbreak, and the pandemic had just merely hastened its adoption and demand.

These two industry leaders (IWG and API) foresee that the future is a hybrid office with employees spending part of the time at home, part of the time from a local office and part of the time from a central headquarters.

Wittig said that all industries are now planning for a hybrid future as research showed that three times the number of listed businesses is now looking to use a hybrid office model compared to those looking to carry on in the same way as pre-pandemic.

“Cebu is prepared and very much adapting to this new normal concept of hybrid working situation.  Human resources versus the limitation of workplaces and commuting which separate them from work. Geography is a form of limitation and suddenly you are not limited in your working situation because the hybrid working concept can give people access to more flexible ways of work and global acquisition of talents,” Wittig said.

 
According to Veloso that AppleOne is one of those companies that accept and adapt the kind of hybrid, flexible concept of work in the new normal with its commitment to the community to find ways to adapt to the new normal as well as the future.

She said that the formation of Regus here in Cebu is a proactive move of API. Regus is designed for the future and that it did anticipate the need for flexible office spaces. 

Wittig pointed out that the new normal is gravitating towards hybrid working and other ways to have both concepts.  Plans for the Visayas include the expansion strategy between API and IWG with more Regus locations, opening of other IWG brands like HQ and Spaces in key emerging locations -- Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete and Metro Cebu.

IWG and API are leading the Future of Work in Cebu- Ready to Use Space, Coworking, Meeting Rooms, Virtual Office & Flexible Working Plans. 

 

Transforming TeleHealth in PH with mWell, all-in-one health app

CEBU CITY – The Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation (MPHTC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (PSE: MPI) soon to launch mWell, an all-in-one app designed for every Filipino’s demand for treatment and care during this pandemic where connecting patients with doctors and medical professionals has become very challenging.

According to PLDT President and CEO, Manny Pangilinan that even before the pandemic, Filipinos needed better access to healthcare. Many challenges and limitations hinder medical care and treatment, more so during this COVID-19 crisis.

“We are truly excited with mWell, the MPIC group’s investment in digital health care,” Pangilinan said.

mWell, is the country’s first fully integrated one-stop health & lifestyle app aimed at transforming the way healthcare is delivered through online doctor consultations, health education, wellness programs, online pharmacy services, and more.

MPIC’s President and CEO, Joey Lim said that the fully-integrated experience empowers patients to be in full control of their health and wellbeing with just a few clicks, in the comforts of their own home. It truly is a game changer in healthcare management.

Lim added that aside from online video consultations with licensed doctors from different specializations, mWELL app users can gain valuable health information about a wide range of topics from COVID-19 to chronic disease management, pregnancy issues, online fitness, nutrition, and wellness programs.

The mWELL app also provides patients with the option to order medicines and healthy products via its e-pharmacy and online shop. It is also a high-performance mobile app powered by top names in the healthcare, wellness & tech industries.

CareSpan's Clinic in the Cloud™ integrates digital care tools, capabilities, and data for mWell doctors and patients. LotusFlare’s cloud-native, agile IT digital enablement platform for a seamless, end to end customer experience. Ping An's healthcare technologies has enabled mWell to address Covid-19 concerns, diagnosis, care, and treatments. Leading HMO, Medicard, provides access to COVID-19 testing services, MPIC bared.

For OTC medicines and more, South Star Drug, one of the country’s top health retailers, is mWell’s first e-Pharmacy partner. CareSpan, Keralty Clinics and Philcare, a pioneer in digital service delivery, have introduced a gamut of doctors into the mWell ecosystem.

The mWell app has an outstanding roster of primary care physicians, pediatricians, endocrinologists, internal medicine practitioners, ob-gyns, psychiatrists, COVID-19 specialists, and several credentialed providers such as nutritionists.

Doctors and Healthcare professionals considering signing up are not charged any set-up fees. There are also no recurring charges and deductions from their professional fees. With this innovative platform, doctors can easily manage digital appointments, access patients' medical records, and issue e-prescriptions.

mWell also partnered with dedicated specialists for a comprehensive care and support like active8me, an award-winning all-in-one digital health and wellness platform for personalized daily fitness, nutrition and wellness programs, and the Asian parent, a go-to platform for smart parenting solutions from family health and wellness to pregnancy development articles.

mWell users can shop in over three thousand health and wellness products at the e-shop by Adobomall and powered by PayMaya for fast, secure, and hassle-free transactions.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve Filipinos all around the country in the area of digital healthcare. At the heart of mWell lies our passion to bring health care closer to every Filipino” adds Chaye Revilla, Chief Finance & Sustainability Officer of Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

As an initial offer, PLDT Home customers will enjoy free doctor video consultation with mWell doctors.  After the video consultation, mWell users can purchase over-the-counter medicines from South Star Drug via the e-pharma in the mWell app and have it delivered to their preferred address.

Get started on your health today! Download the mWell app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. For more information, visit https://www.mWell.com.ph.

CitySavings’ Motor Mo’To program offers easy MC ownership

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – City Savings Bank, Inc. (CitySavings) offers easy access to motorcycle ownership to the growing Filipino middle class that sees the motorcycle as efficient and cost-effective for both personal and business needs.

According to Motorcyclesdata.com, the demand for motorcycles has steadily increased, as this vehicle is able to address the logistical limitations of movement and transportation. The pandemic has limited the movement of Filipinos and they must find ways to make sure that their day-to-day needs are fulfilled.

With easy access to credit, sales potential in the country is promising, says CitySavings and it capitalized on this through its Motorcycle Loans business with fast approvals, exclusive offers, and low-down payments under its “Motor Mo’To program.”

 

“The goal really is to make it simpler for our clients to drive home their first - maybe even their second or third - motorcycle. Especially with the pandemic, the demand and usage of motorcycles have grown drastically, so we want CitySavings to be top of mind when customers want to get their own,” CitySavings Executive Vice President - Motorcycle Loans Business Head Ret. Adm. Feliciano Angue said.

Angue said that another key growth area being focused on by Motor Mo’to is having several institutional partners that rely heavily on motorcycles for their operations.

Since 2019, CitySavings has been a partner of four major Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) and other logistics companies - Lalamove, Grab, Quad X, and Foodpanda.  These partnerships help to enable riders to get great motorcycle deals and flexible payment options, thus expanding their income potential, he added.

Rider Operations Manager of Quad X Bea Mantecon mentioned that for its riders, upgrading their motorcycle is meaningful for different reasons. It’s an opportunity that enables them to be more productive in their job and opens many more opportunities for growing their own business.

Jao Manahan, Communications Manager of Foodpanda shared that assisting Foodpanda riders to provide the best service possible, CitySavings' Motorcycle Loan has helped its riders' experience in more ways than one.

“As they continuously offer affordable and exclusive deals for our riders, I am very excited about what's in store for this partnership,” Manahan said.

According to Ruelito Aquino, Vice President - Institutional Sales Head - Motorcycle Loans Business of CitySavings that these partnerships are not just to further strengthen each of these bottom lines. These help the riders by making it simple to get motorcycles that would help them in growing their own businesses.

For Lalamove alone, the partnership potentially benefits 35,000 riders in Luzon and Cebu where their operations are currently in place, Aquino bared.

The Motorcycle Business Group does not hit the brakes there. Repossessed motorcycle units have also shown huge sales potentials, given that resale values are more affordable and more attractive to our customers.

CitySavings is accelerating the “Repo” Line with offers as low as 0% interest rates for pre-owned units. Another initiative lined up to further improve the services for the business is Telco Credit Scoring.

This technology helps in increasing operational efficiency and minimizing risks by providing credit scores using clients’ telco data that can assess their payment capability and potential for defaulting, and of course, the group works to further improve the service capabilities of the Loan Rangers to give its clients the best customer service, CitySavings said.

The Motorcycle Group has made owning a motorcycle much simpler for those who want or need one. It has also been made very accessible, not just through affordable deals, but also through the various channels where our customers can inquire and apply for a Motor Mo‘to loan.

CitySavings added that aside from the more than 100 CitySavings branches nationwide, interested clients can also apply through the Loan Rangers, through the CitySavings website, and through the most recent addition, the Facebook Messenger Chatbot, Talk To Maria.

Payment channels have also been expanded to complete the simpler customer experience. Aside from CitySavings and UnionBank branches, Motor Mo‘to clients may also pay their monthly amortizations through PERA HUB, M Lhuillier, and Bayad Center. (Photos: CitySavings)

Marcos tells ICC to stay out of PH justice system, VFA not its problem

CEBU CITY -- Senator Imee Marcos told the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stay out of the Philippine Justice System and that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is not its problem.

Marcos said that Filipinos would be naïve to believe that the ICC is beyond reproach, citing the way the court accepts funding and selects its judges. The Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) which identified the ICC’s major funders as the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, Japan, Mexico, and Australia

“If the ICC decides to investigate President Duterte, it will not be free of foreign meddling. The court is largely European-funded at a time it is short on funding and has so far decided mostly on cases involving Africans. Less economically and politically powerful nations are at a disadvantage,” Marcos said.

Pressure by the United States could also be applied on countries that it continues to defend militarily, despite its not being a state party to the Rome Statue that established the ICC, the AEI said.

Marcos cited that it is interesting to note that before she retired last week, former Chief Prosecutor (Fatou) Bensouda pushed to investigate President Duterte at the heels of his announcement that the suspension of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) would be extended.

“Human rights issues will be deployed in pursuit of military goals,” Marcos added, citing another Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which recommended that the Biden administration negotiate for greater military presence in the Philippines through an addendum to the VFA and greater pressure on human rights issues.

Vote trading and political favors among state parties have been “an open secret” in the selection of ICC judges, Marcos added and that when Japan ratified the Rome Statute in 2007 and became the ICC’s biggest funder, it was awarded with the selection of one of its nationals, Fumiko Saiga, as a judge despite her not having any legal experience. 

“Even her replacement after she died was a Japanese diplomat with no experience as a lawyer nor a judge,” Marcos said, citing Kuniko Ozaki’s mention in the book “Justice Denied: The Reality of the International Criminal Court.”

Marcos called on the Filipino legal community to resist any move by the ICC to take over cases of alleged human rights abuses in the Duterte government’s war on drugs.

Foreign meddling in the Duterte case is not far-fetched. It would be an insult to every Filipino lawyer, judge and court if the ICC presumes to stand in their place, even before cases linked to the drug war undergo due process in our very own judicial system, Marcos stated. (Photos: Google Images)

 

DSWD-7 releases P3.5M for 1,315 KALAHI-CIDSS beneficiaries from 3 Cebu LGUs

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU Province—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7)-Regional Field Office VII released P3.5M for the payment of work and services rendered by 1,315 individuals/beneficiaries under its Cash-For-Work Program or Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services KALAHI-CIDSS in the LGUs of Talisay City, Borbon and Tabogon in Cebu Province.

According to DSWD-7 regional information officer Leah Quintana that the cash-for-work program is one of KALAHI-CIDSS sub-projects that gives opportunity to bounce back from the effects of the pandemic. 

It is a temporary employment that bridges the gap from the loss of income by families and individuals affected by COVID-19.  Paid laborers are required to work five (5) to (10) days in the rehabilitation of purok centers, cleaning of roads, and river desilting, Quintana said.

Quintana added that women beneficiaries were engaged in communal gardening or the ‘Gulayan sa Barangay’ to provide food security in the local supply chain. In exchange for work, beneficiaries received a minimum wage of Php 356.00 per day.

Ervin Brion of Barangay. Tagnucan, Borbon shared that he is one of those affected by the PUJ Modernization.  He needed money to renew the requirements to be able to drive again, Cash-For-Work has given him the opportunity to work as a laborer, thus earning some income for his license renewal and for his family needs too.

This program keeps people away from migrating or abandoning their communities in search of a new source of income, Quintana added that Josem Contreras, a queer member of Barangay Manlagtang, Tabogon was excited to receive the money so he can continue with his beauty business.

“As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I was very grateful to the Cash-For-Work Program of KALAHI-CIDSS. My hard work for a few days of service helped me buy manicure and make-up supplies so I can continue my small business,” Josem happily shared.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala attended the payouts and told the beneficiaries how important positive thinking is.  “Poverty should not be the reason to stop achieving your dreams,” she said.

Geamala also challenged the other LGUs in Central Visayas to participate in the various programs of DSWD to provide the needs of all sectoral groups, especially the marginalized. (Photos: DSWD)

DOT to improve, promote local destinations as part of travel in and beyond new normal

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is committed to continuously improve the local destinations, promoting them as part of travel in the new normal and developing them in an inclusive and sustainable manner while waiting for the complete vaccinations to achieve the country’s herd immunity.

 

“Many countries have gone to vaccinations and open up their economies and are looking forward to this.  Meantime, we are working and taking the opportunity to discover, explore and develop what our own islands can offer,” DOT secretary Bernadette Puyat said in her keynote message during the virtual Tourism Summit on June 24 hosted by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) as part of its major event for the 2021 Cebu Business Month (CBM).

Puyat bared that this health crisis was a major setback for the country’s tourism industry which had been on a steady rise since 2009 with three million foreign tourists’ arrivals to 8.36M in 2019 but due to the pandemic, tourism experienced a very sharp drop.

The country’s tourism sector generates investments, foreign exchange, employment and social development, Puyat said that because of the pandemic tourism recovery got underway with the reopening of select destinations and create tourism bubbles for green corridors.

She went on that the strategy had another setback when COVID-19 cases rose gain in the NCR+.  The Tourism industry has learned its lessons that the short or long-term goal should not merely be to recover but to make the industry better, stronger, more resilient and more sustainable, Puyat added.

According to Puyat that the goal is not to transition in the new normal but to rise above it and aim a better normal. Over the past few months DOT aimed to revive the tourism industry for for a big push for a domestic/local tourism. 

DOT revealed that in 2019, tourism recorded 110M domestic trips.  The market is there but we must first convince potential travel can be safe and convenient, even during the pandemic.  “We must do everything to bring forth our recovery through all safe and responsible manner,” Puyat said.

 

DOT and local government units (LGUs) have issued policies that all tourists, tourism establishments must strictly comply with safety and health protocols confirming to globally accepted health standards.

She said that there is a need for all LGUs to coordinate their protocols to make tourists journey convenient and safe as much as possible.

According to Puyat, the DOT has developed products and marketing programs for Cebu and other parts of Central Visayas that include culinary and food mapping trips; religious pilgrimage, church visits and faith trips; heritage and museum tours.

Other local tourism destinations that are in varied stages of implementation, planning and development include farm tourism and wellness circuits in the region; development and creation of regional meetings, conventions, exhibits (MICE) networks; regional dive development programs including visits in popular dive sites in Moalboal, Panglao, Malapascua, Dauin, Lapulapu, Alegria, Samboam and Santander.

DOT is also developing the Central Visayas eco-tourism loop in the nine protected areas in the region and the development of al fresco taste and tour circuits in the light of dining preference during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, DOT-7 regional director Shalimar Tamano, in the same forum bared that as of May 2021 the agency has accredited 1,702 establishments and individuals which were given Seal of Safety to conform with minimum public health standards for the use of PH Safe Application.

Tamano said that as member of the task force in the management of OFWs and ROFs, DOT-7 has assisted around 80,000 Filipinos since June 2020 to date in airports and other areas of concern.

DOT-7 has also developed policies for the campaign for the use of safety seals certification in all local tourism-related establishments, including hotels and accommodations for them as quarantine and multi-use facilities.

According to Tamano recovery tourism plans in Central Visayas include the revisiting of domestic tourism and its implication to product development in the region and close coordination with all LGUs in the implementation of travel, health and safety protocols

“We also have rolled out the tourism development guidebook, mentoring and coaching on the formulation of the tourism development plan in the provincial, city and municipal LGUs, having in mind their local competitive advantage of tourism destinations,” Tamano said. (Photos: Google Images)