Jollibee Group assists local onion farmers
Six groups of onion farmers composed of almost 300 members directly sell their produce to Jollibee Group.
The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) through its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) since 2008 has been helping smallholder onion farmers improve their livelihood.
The Foundation works with partners to train farmers to become agro-entrepreneurs, enabling them to increase their income by delivering quality produce directly to institutional buyers such as Jollibee Group.
Jollibee Group has been sourcing a portion of its requirements for white onions and other vegetables directly from local farmers. In 2022, FEP partner farmer groups supplied almost 680,000 kilos of white onions to the company. FEP farmers also supply green bell pepper, tomatoes, calamansi, and ginger which are used for Jollibee, Greenwich, Chowking, and Mang Inasal products nationwide.
Under FEP, JGF and its partners organize smallholder farmers as clusters and hone their business and leadership skills so they can build agro-enterprises that can transact with corporate markets. Trainings in business include teaching farmers how to correctly compute their costs and price their goods to help ensure that they make a profit.
Eighteen FEP farmer groups from across the Philippines have become accredited suppliers of the Jollibee Group, resulting in over 9 million kilograms of vegetables worth more than P360 million delivered to the company since 2008.
Sun Life Grepa wins award anew as insurer of choice of MSMEs
Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa) was recently recognized by the 2022 International Finance Award (IFA) as the Best Insurance Provider for SME-Philippines for its tailor-made insurance and protection solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The annual IFA seeks to validate industry talent, leadership skills, industry net worth and capability on an international platform. After careful consideration of nominations, winners are declared on the strength of their application and past initiatives in the industry.
Sun Life Grepa’s MSME MyBiz campaign promotes financial security through a suite of insurance products that address the wellness, protection and medical recovery needs of employees, such as Accident ProSafe, Smart Care Plus and HIPSTER, all available for MSMEs with 5 to 200 employees.
This is the second award for Sun Life Grepa under its Healthcare division. Recently, Sun Life Grepa also won the MSME Insurance Initiative of the Year — Philippines at the Insurance Asia Awards 2022.
Bay Area next big thing in post-pandemic metropolis
From digitalization and advancements in technology and collaboration tools, the current post-pandemic situation has paved for new ways of thinking with people embracing the new normal, changing how they live, work, and even design their spaces away from congested cities.
In global cities like Melbourne and Sydney residents enjoy walkable and bikeable streets and access to public green spaces that promote social interaction and engagement which directly influence health, happiness, and well-being.
Architect Ian Fulgar, principal architect at The Fulgar Architects emphasized the potential benefit of coastal and waterfront developments in local and national economies through tourism, real estate activities, infrastructure developments, economic diversification, and improvement of residents’ quality of life.
Manila’s Bay Area is being touted as the next big thing in the metropolis with billions of investments from multifaceted industries predicted by property experts to be a flourishing fourth CBD joining the ranks of Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Makati City, and Ortigas Center.
In one of Colliers’ most recent Property Outlook reports, the Bay Area’s ongoing projects will likely overtake BGC in the residential sector’s condominium market in Metro Manila.
Bay City offers accessibility, variety, and health benefits both to foreign tourists and the public, thus making it the perfect hub for commercial, cultural, economic, and residential activity. It has the biggest potential of helping the local and national economies as the country recovers from the pandemic.
Globe SIM registration assistance
Globe continues to support the SIM registration assistance initiative of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), setting up booths in 46 areas across the country from February 28 to March 4.
The areas cover Ifugao, La Union, Cagayan, Zambales, Quezon, Palawan, Capiz, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Biliran,
Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao Del Sur, Sarangani and Agusan Del Sur, Surigao Del Sur.
Globe supported earlier rounds of NTC-led SIM registration, deploying assistance desks in over 90 areas. Last week, it launched its own National SIM Registration Week (NSRW), rolling out assistance desks in over 500 locations across the country from February 20 onwards.
The company’s online SIM registration platform, new.globe.com.ph/simreg and the GlobeOne app are also available 24/7. For postpaid subscribers, just text SIMREG to 8080 to confirm that details earlier submitted to Globe are updated.
DITO rewards
DITO Telecommunity encourages its subscribers to register their DITO SIM cards in three easy steps and enjoy bonus 2GB all-access data!
New subscribers just need to click on the SMS link received upon SIM card insertion while existing subscribers can log in to the DITO app and click on the “Register your SIM DITO” banner/button. Then, follow the steps as indicated.
SIM card registration is free of charge and upon successful completion, DITO subscribers will receive their bonus 2GB all-access data.
Aside from the bonus data, DITO is also giving away 100 smartphones per week until March 17 to reward successful SIM registrants.
Tiong Bahru expands
Tiong Bahru Philippines recently opened its sixth branch in Alabang Town Center, bringing the Michelin-starred Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice to the palate of more people in the metro.
Its seventh branch is set to open in Eastwood in Quezon City this month.
Tiong Bahru Philippines, the franchise of the Singapore hawker known for its Hainanese chicken, opened its first international franchise in the Philippines in 2019
Palawan Pawnshop promo
Palawan Pawnshop is currently offering a special promotion of “Libreng Interest” for one month with a 2.5 percent loan interest rate. This offer is open to all new, lapsed, and existing Suki customers who wish to pawn their items at any Palawan Pawnshop branch nationwide.
The promo is available from February 1 to April 30.has redefined the pawning industry with its commitment to fair and affordable services.
Palawan Pawnshop offers very low interest rates with high appraisal rates, giving customers the advantage of saving more. They have a tiered interest rate system with only 1 percent for a loan of 11 days, 2 percent for 22 days, and 3 percent for 33 days. Suki card holders can enjoy discounts of up to 5 percent.
Bring-a-Buddy
Teleperformance Philippines recently held a gala for the top performers of Bring-a-Buddy, its premier employee referral program, signifying its rapid and sustained expansion across the country.
Teleperformance’s best employee referrers, hailed as Royalties and Superstars, were celebrated at the Bring-a-Buddy Ambassadors Recognition Ball, which was hosted by Drag Race Philippines celebrity judge Kaladkaren. Teleperformance Philippines Human Capital Resource Management senior vice president Jeffrey Johnson and Vice President of Talent Acquisition Christina Gaspe presented the awards to 26 exceptional ambassadors in honor of the company’s 26th anniversary.
Held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, the Bring-a-Buddy Ambassadors Recognition Ball also surprised awardees with gift certificates and a brand-new Vespa S-125 to lucky raffle winners.
Honda top dealer
Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) held its 2023 Dealer Conference last February 24 at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila in Pasay City.
The conference recognizes dealers who excelled in sales and after-sales operations. This year’s Dealer Conference was attended by 663 dealer participants from HCPI’s 37 dealerships nationwide with the theme “Honda Charging Ahead: Drive to Transformation”.
Awarded Dealer of the Year is Honda Cars Batangas, which demonstrated steadfast excellence having also achieved third place in 2020 and second place in 2021. Honda Cars Marcos Highway came second in this year’s conference, while Honda Cars Quezon City and Honda Cars Fairview both placed third.
The event also included the awarding of winners of the 23rd National Skills Contest which showcases the dealer service associates’ valuable skills that are in line with global best practices designed to elevate service quality.
PLDT, Smart ‘Buy Local’ sale reaps profit for farmers, community artisans
PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. joined in spreading the love and hosted a Valentine sale in their Makati City headquarters to support the livelihood of local farmers and community artisans.
Buy Local is one of PLDT and Smart’s home-grown advocacies on livelihood that aims to help provide farmers with a sure market for their crops. Harvested rice from Buy Local partner farming communities were sold to PLDT and Smart’s employees during Valentine’s. Fresh flowers were also sold with part of the generated profits to be allocated to the ‘Buy Local’ sustainability fund.
Local artisan and carefully handcrafted goods from the Community Crafts Association of the Philippines, Inc. were also offered to PLDT and Smart employees during the Valentine sale.
