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June 5 a holiday for Eid’l Fitr

JUNE 5 has been declared a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr, the celebration marking the end of Ramadhan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Proclamation No. 729 on May 28, which aims “to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of the national consciousness.” The proclamation states that “the entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sister in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr.” Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, acting as officer-in-charge for the operations and administration of the Executive Department while the President is in Tokyo, Japan from May 28 to June 1, made the announcement on Wednesday. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

House to summon Advincula in probe of social media sites

THE HOUSE of Representatives will summon Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be the narrator “Bikoy” in a series of videos, for a probe that will look into possible liabilities of social media sites like Facebook and YouTube for damaging content like his “Ang Totoong Narcolist (The Real Narcolist).” Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin Jr. filed House Resolution 2585, which directs the committee on information and communications technology to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the videos of Mr. Advincula and other widely circulated posts in social media. Mr. Garbin said the investigation would be used for crafting measures intended to make social media platform creators and operators be socially and legally responsible of their posts. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Lawyer Kapunan indicted for slander charge

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ), in two separate resolutions, indicted lawyer Lorna P. Kapunan for slander based on the complaints filed by University of Santo Tomas Law Dean Nilo T. Divina. The case stems from Mr. Kapunan’s alleged remarks against Mr. Divina in connection with the death of law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III due to hazing in Aug. 2017 and the disbarment case against him and other lawyers. Mr. Divina originally filed a libel case and three counts of violation of Republic Act No. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) against Ms. Kapunan for a television interview, wherein she alleged that the dean recruited the slain freshman law student to the fraternity and that he accommodated the fraternity members on the evening the hazing incident. The interview was also posted on Facebook and YouTube. The other complaint was filed by Mr. Divina and his firm Divina Law against Ms. Kapunan and Patricia Paz C. Bautista in connection with the filing of a disbarment case against him and 20 other lawyers, which Ms. Kapunan also discussed in a television interview. In both the resolutions, the DoJ dismissed the libel complaints as it was not the respondents who published the remarks. The DoJ said in one of the resolutions that elements of oral defamation were present in the case. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Incoming Cebu City mayor wants 2-year business permit validity

CEBU CITY Vice-Mayor Edgardo C. Labella, the incoming mayor after winning in the recent midterm elections, wants to make the city more business-friendly, starting with a proposal to extend the validity of the annual local permit to two years. “One of the first things that I will ask of the members of the Sanggunian Panlungsod (city council) is to pass a legislation that the processing of business permits will be done only every two years because we have to create a business-friendly atmosphere,” Mr. Labella told reporters. He clarified, however, that the payment of local taxes will still be every year under his proposal. “Of course, they will pay their business tax yearly, but the processing of the business permits will be once every two years, so that we lessen the burden. It needs an ordinance for that purpose,” he explained. Under the current system, business permits are renewed simultaneously every January. This year, the city assessed a total of 32,869 establishments, higher than last year’s 30,828. The City Treasurer’s Office collected P1.2 billion from 32,000 businesses within the 18-day renewal period in January. The city will impose a 2% interest per month and 25% surcharge, and other penalties, to those who did not meet the deadline. One of the city’s reelected councilors, Sisinio M. Andales, told The Freeman that he will look into Mr. Labella’s proposal. “It needs public hearing to hear the sentiments of the stakeholders and to balance the advantages and disadvantages of the said measure,” he said. — The Freeman

Del Rosario says Marawi rehabilitation transactions ‘above board’ amid complaint filed

PHILSTAR/BOY SANTOS

TASK FORCE Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chairperson Eduardo D. Del Rosario on Wednesday said they are ready to defend transactions relating to the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi City following a complaint filed by a group of displaced residents. In a statement, Mr. Del Rosario, who also heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, said, “I am confident that all dealings and engagements with regard to the development in the most affected area are above board. While we respect freedom of expression that is freely exercised in our country, we welcome the complaints filed against TFBM and NHA (National Housing Authority) and we shall respond accordingly in the proper forum.” The complaint was filed by Datu Meno Manabilang, who claims to be the leader of a group of internally displaced persons in Marawi. Mr. Manabilang wants an investigation by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged anomalies in the awarding of a contract for the Demolition and Debris Management Project in parts of the most devastated areas. Mr. Del Rosario, on the other hand, said, “TFBM and all its fifty-six (56) member agencies do faithfully follow and strictly adhere to government accounting and financial rules as we continue to discharge our functions in the fulfilment of the instructions of the President to ensure that Marawi will rise as a prosperous city again.”

Bill creating Davao airport authority hurdles both chambers of Congress

THE HOUSE of Representatives adopted on Wednesday the Senate bill creating the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA). The adoption of Senate Bill 2168, in effect, amends House Bill 8691 and eliminates the need for lengthy bicameral sessions to reconcile the two versions. The proposed DIAA — which will be similar to the two airport authorities handling the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila and the Mactan Cebu International Airport — will manage the existing Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City and other airports that may be constructed within the Davao Region. Under the bill, the DIAA’s mandate is to promote and develop air traffic “as a means of making the region a center of international trade and tourism.” Once enacted, the DIAA will be under the Department of Transportation. The bill also exempts the DIAA from realty taxes, and gives it authority to raise funds, either from domestic or international sources, by way of loans, credit or securities and other financing instruments, subject to the approval of the President. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Eagle foundation still in search of funds for expansion, Compostela Valley facility

THE PHILIPPINE Eagle Center in Malagos, Davao City, run by the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), is running out of space for its continued breeding program and other conservation initiatives. “There are three pairs being worked on with additional birds programmed for cooperative artificial insemination,” PEF Executive Director Dennis I. Salvador said in an interview. Mr. Salvador said they need to expand the 8.4-hectare facility, but there is no available area nor funding. Ms. Salvador also said that they are still looking for funding sources for the proposed construction of a new facility in a 23-hectare property in Moncayo, Compostela Valley that was donated by siblings Sammy and Alice Yap. The PEC has so far produced seven Philippine eagles through cooperative artificial insemination and 21 through the natural breeding method. As part of its risk management program, PEF, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is sending a pair of Philippine eagles — named Geothermica (male) and Sambisig (female) — to the Jurong Bird Park operated by the Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS). “This move has been proposed to DENR 10 years ago as part of a larger risk management program for the species’ population,” Mr. Salvador said. DENR and WRS signed the loan conservation agreement last May 20. Geothermica and Sambisig are both captive-bred, which means they are more accustomed to human activities. Apart from being in excellent health, these eagles are considered to be in their breeding prime with Sambisig at 17 years old and Geothermica at 15. The two have already been undergoing a “pairing attempt process” at the Philippine Eagle Center. Geothermica and Sambisig have been adopted birds for over five years by Energy Development Corp. (EDC) and Dow Chemical Philippines, Inc. respectively. — Maya M. Padillo

Nation at a Glance — (05/30/19)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (05/30/19)

Cloud-based fintech start up targets underserved rural banking sector

A fintech startup and mobile wallet enabler is set to begin a pilot test program for a new generation of cloud-based financial services set to be launched in the Philippines.

PearlPay has signed a 12 month pilot program agreement with BHF Rural Bank, Inc. (BHF), based in Dagupan City, operating seven branches. The agreement marks the first time a Philippine rural bank will utilize cloud-based technologies such as core banking solutions (CBS), agent banking solutions (ABS), and white-label eWallet solutions, all of which are designed to reach customers with limited or no access to the internet.

“Previously, it was nearly impossible for rural banks to become part of the e-money landscape,” said Armand Bonifacio, president of BHF. “The foremost concern is, of course, cost. It’s too expensive and risky for us. PearlPay will help us solve that challenge. Their framework gives us the much needed jump to pursue our digital transformation. This will allow us not only to offer better and high quality services to our customers but also become an excellent example of what rural banks could achieve given the right partners and resources.”

“PearlPay is one of, if not, the most promising enabler out there,” he added.

“Millions of Filipinos remain unbanked or underserved,” said Spark Perreras, PearlPay’s CEO. “While this remains a challenge for economic growth, it also presents an opportunity for organizations to tackle the problem. In the previous survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), only around 23 percent of Filipinos have access to formal financial products and PearlPay aims to improve the economic inclusion rate in the Philippines.”

Perreras also revealed 94 percent of Philippine rural banks do not have access to electronic money. “This is what we mean by ‘underserved’. The rural bank customers don’t get the same services as what customers get in the major cities. Instead of doing convenient online banking to pay bills, they need to line up for hours to withdraw funds and pay their bills,” he said.

The startup is an end-to-end solutions (E2ES) provider for financial institutions. End-to-end solutions mean providing application, software, system and hardware requirements of the customer, such that the customer won’t need to source out other providers to achieve his or her requirements.

“As a mobile tech wallet enabler, PearlPay will not compete with banks,” Perreras said. “Instead, it will actually enable institutions in the Philippines like rural banks, schools, pawn shops, sari-sari stores, gasoline stations, and other micro, small and medium enterprises.”

Meet the 11 startups representing the PHL in InnoVEX 2019

Over the next two days, 11 startup companies will be representing the Philippine startup community at InnoVEX 2019 in the Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei City, Taiwan.

The event, held between May 29 and May 31, 2019, showcases progressive startups and community builders that offer cutting-edge innovation utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Geospatial Mapping, Innovative Housing Solutions, Cyber Security, Smart Advertising and eCommerce, Education, FinTech, Logistics, and Data Science-enabled Market Research.

The 11 startups startups are the following: Antipara Exploration, Container Living Philippines, Cryptors, Gypsy, Investagrams, JazzyPay, Mober, Qwikwire, Retailgate, Rumarocket, and Senti.

Antipara Exploration offers automated-data analyses in their sub-sub-marine geospatial mapping technologies for the maritime industry and marine environmental mapping. In a country- archipelago such as the Philippines with more than 7,100 islands, this is a crucial home-grown technology with many important applications.

Container Living Philippines has a modular-construction approach to offer modern housing solutions using shipping containers that are disaster-resilient and highly customizable to the client’s needs.

Cryptors offers a free mobile app that can detect and block hackers preying on free public-wifi platforms. They also revolutionized cybersecurity trainings, making them available at very low rates compared to prohibitive market service fees.

Gypsy is a Philippine advertising technology platform, that offers advertisers, not only the market reach, but valuable data-gathering technologies and hyper-targeting solutions to effectively launch campaigns via proprietary-apps installed in tablets in ride-hailing services and public transportation alternatives.

Mober offers a mobile platform to easily find and book location-based, on-demand tailor-fit trucking and moving solutions for businesses and individuals, similar to how ride hailing solutions do their businesses.

Investagrams is a one-stop-shop platform that offers beginners guides and tips for individuals who want to invest in the stock market. Investagrams offers monitoring of hundreds of stocks realtime and the ability for users to engage on virtual trading transactions.

JazzyPay is a Philippine payment platform that offers efficient billing solutions for businesses from any part of the world, to bill their clientele. JazzyPay offers their services via their proprietary app, email, sms or other messaging platforms.

Qwikwire offers advanced business solutions such as Skas Property Management services, SAP- integrated billing and invoicing systems, cross-border settlements via their own proprietary blockchain powered multi-listing engine. Qwikwire also offers a niche service catered to provide comprehensive real estate solutions for brokers and property developers.

Retailgate uses its AI-powered solutions to help retailers gain competitive market intelligence through retail analytics. Employing artificial intelligence, they offer their platform to empower brick-and-mortar stores by providing access to AI-analyzed market information on customer traffic and dwell time, forecast demand levels, assess marketing effectivity and determine conversion rates.

Rumarocket developed its own AI-enabled algorithm that offers HR analytics and machine learning solutions for talent recruitment, management and retention for enterprises and companies in their HR and Recruitment functions. Rumarocket’s solutions are aimed ensuring meaningful impact on clients’ bottomline and strategic HR management.

Senti Techlabs offers its proprietary artificial intelligence-powered solutions to businesses for market and audience sentiment data collection and analyses, using natural language processing and machine-learning processes.

The Philippine-participants in this year’s event were selected following thorough selection criteria from a list of applicants after a call to participation was announced to the Philippine Startup community.

“We are proud to have an impactful participation and excellent representation this year composed of the high-innovation, talent and creativity of the Philippine Startup community at Taiwan’s Innovex 2019, to showcase the diverse and cutting-edge solutions from our startups that aim to solve very current day-to-day problems,” said Michael Alfred V. Ignacio, DTI Trade Representative and Manila Economic and Cultural Office’s Director of Commercial Affairs.

In addition to QBO Innovation Hub, another incubator-accelerator, Spring Valley Technology and Innovation Hub, located in Roxas City will join the Philippine delegation at InnoVEX. Spring Valley Technology and Innovation was created as a home for innovation and technology development both for local and international startups and technology developers in central Philippines. Spring Valley also partnered with the Province of Capiz and the DTI to create Capiz’s Fablab and Innovation Center.

64 CSR programs and leaders conferred Asia’s most prominent CSR awards

A total of 64 projects and business leaders across Asia were selected as recipients of Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2019, which was an increase of 19% from last year. Regarded as the top corporate social responsibility (CSR) awards in Asia, this year’s ceremony was organized in Taipei, after being held in Macau, Singapore, Bangkok, and Manila previously.

Organized by Enterprise Asia, the leading non-governmental organization for responsible entrepreneurship in Asia, the AREA aims to recognize and honor Asian businesses and leaders for championing sustainable and socially responsible business practices. With the categories of Social Empowerment, Investment in People, Health Promotion, Green Leadership, Corporate Governance, and Responsible Business Leadership. The categories look beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in incorporating the role of the government and the civil society in powering meaningful changes to the world, with the corporate community as the enabler and catalyst for this change.

Over 300 attendees were present at the by-invitation only event, comprising of industry leaders and leading CSR practitioners. Some of the dignitaries who graced the event include Mr. Chang San-cheng, former premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan); Mr. Jonathan Chen, vice mayor of New Taipei City; Tan Sri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, chairman of Enterprise Asia; Dr. Eugene Chien, Ambassador-at-Large of the Republic of China (Taiwan), former minister of foreign affairs and minister of environment of the Republic of China (Taiwan); and Dato’ William Ng, president of Enterprise Asia.

According to Mr. Ng, “Over the past decade CSR has evolved to creating shared values, which is based on the idea that companies can simultaneously increase profits and enhance competitiveness by reframing their corporate objectives to solve societal problems.”

He adds, “Apart from recognizing the outstanding ideas for sustainability, we aim to celebrate their important contribution, and encourage the institutionalization of sustainability. When sustainability, doing good and social change become part of our corporate DNA – they become permanent and not a subset of our profit and loss statement – but the reason for it. We hope to ensure CSR efforts are directed to the right areas following the judging parameters of effectiveness, relevance, impact, integration, and sustainability. This is in line with Enterprise Asia’s founding pillars of Responsible Entrepreneurship and Investment in People.”

This year, over 200 submissions from 16 countries were received from companies across Asia, with judges led by Dr. Chien, sieving through the submission over a three-month judging period.

According to Dr Chien, “The panel of judges were impressed by the quality and diversity of submissions this year and had the challenging task of evaluating and determining this year’s finalists. This is a far cry from when we first started giving out the awards in year 2009. Besides being able to demonstrate the design and execution of sound and effective CSR programs, much thought has been given to its impact and measurability.”

He adds, “This year, over 35% of the winners emerged from Taiwan, overtaking Thailand, which has been taking the lead in the number of winning entries over the past few years. This demonstrates the expertise and capability of the CSR practitioners in Taiwan and we congratulate them on their commitment in achieving the SDGs.”

Among the notable winning projects were “Less Carbon, Better Life” by Pacific SOGO Department Stores which instilled environment protection awareness by integrating its stakeholders to jointly create a green department store; and “Financial Education Program for Public Schools in the Philippines” by BDO Foundation, which raised the financial literacy of 24 million students in more than 47,000 public schools across the Philippines.

Mr. Ng concludes, “To date, our Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards has seen over 200 successful CSR projects being highlighted, with millions of communities uplifted and billions of lives touched and saved. Many of these projects has also served as a benchmark to other companies. Quite a few CSR departments and regional initiatives are now modelled after our categories and judging methodology, and we are quite happy to have played our part in drawing the direction for CSR across Asia.”

The AREA 2019 was supported by Official Local Partner – Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy; Official PR Partner – Fides Corporate Sustainability; Sponsor – Zero Emission Venture; Supporting Organizations – AmCham Taipei; British Chamber of Commerce; Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association; Circular Economy Club; CSRone; European Chamber of Commerce; Green Trade Project Office, Taiwan External Trade Development Council; Institute for Global Environmental Strategies; Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change, Malaysia; Taiwan Corporate Governance Association; Official News Release Distribution Partner – PR Newswire; and Official Media Partners – BusinessWorld; Commercial Times; SME Magazine; The Nation; Singapore Business Review and Tuoi Tre News.

Recipient List of the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2019

Responsible Business Leadership
1. JOSEPH HUANG, CEO of E.SUN FINANCIAL HOLDING CO., LTD. (Taiwan)

Social Empowerment
1. AISECT (India) – AISECT Multipurpose IT Centre Model
2. APPLE DAILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (Hong Kong) – Apple Bursaries
Scheme
3. BANK RAKYAT (Malaysia) – Autism #Anakkita (Our kids)
4. BDO FOUNDATION, INC. (Philippines) – Financial Education Programme For
Public Schools in the Philippines
5. BE INTERNATIONAL MARKETING SDN BHD (Malaysia) – Transforming the Lives
of Children in Vietnam, Myanmar & Malaysia
6. BEIJING ORIENTAL YUHONG WATERPROOF TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (China)
– Shanghai Aihao Children Rehabilitation Center
7. CHINA MENGNIU DAIRY COMPANY LIMITED (China) – Mengniu Nutrition for All
Programme
8. CTBC FOUNDATION FOR ARTS AND CULTURE (Taiwan) – Love & Arts for
Dreams Initiatives Project
9. ELUSYF GLOBAL PTE LTD (Singapore) – Silver Screening 2-For-1
10. ENGRO FERTILIZERS LIMITED (Pakistan) – PAVE (Partnership and Value
Expansion) for Inclusive Seed Systems in Pakistan
11. FAR EASTERN BIG CITY SHOPPING MALLS CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Co-hosting 8th
Vocal Asia Festival with Kehua Foundation to Realise Big City’s Vision of Promoting
with Profound Impact the Preservation of Taiwan’s Native Culture and Hakka Folk
Songs
12. FUBON LIFE INSURANCE CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Guarding the Demented Patients
and their Families, and Promoting the Concept of Having Young People Accompany
Elders
13. GOVERNMENT SAVINGS BANK (Thailand) – GSB SMART Homestay
14. GRABTAXI HOLDINGS PTE LTD (Singapore) – Sustainable Urban Mobility
Initiative for All (SUMAI)
15. IRPC PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED (Thailand) – New Steps For New Life
16. KING POWER INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. (Thailand) – King Power Thai Power
17. NAGAWORLD LIMITED (Cambodia) – Football Development Programme in
Kampong Speu
18. PEPSI-COLA PRODUCTS PHILIPPINES, INC. (Philippines) – Water For Peace in
Marawi
19. PLANET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (Taiwan) – Educational Programme for
the Disadvantaged Children
20. PT BADAK NGL (Indonesia) – Selangan City
21. PT JAPFA COMFEED INDONESIA TBK (Indonesia) – JAPFA SiRepi Waste Bank
22. PT PEMBANGKITAN JAWA-BALI (Indonesia) – Bawean Eco Edu Tourism
23. PT PUPUK KALTIM (Indonesia) – Better Living in Malahing
24. PTT EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED (Thailand)
– Crab Hatchery Learning Center Project
25. REDTONE INTERNATIONAL BERHAD (Malaysia) – REDtone Kuala Lumpur
International Junior Open Squash Championship
26. REIJU CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Charity Express, Happiness Care
27. SAB KA MANGAL HO FOUNDATION (India) – Yoga Training at Orphanages
28. SHIN KONG LIFE INSURANCE CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Create Shared Value with
Sustainable Thinking
29. SINO OCEAN HOLDING GROUP (China) – Little Friends Education Sponsorship
Scheme
30. SINOPAC FINANCIAL HOLDINGS COMPANY LIMITED (Taiwan) – Keeping the
Face to the Sunshine
31. TAIWAN LIFE INSURANCE CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Taiwan’s New Era in Aging
32. THAI LIFE INSURANCE PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED (Thailand) – Sharing
Kindness By Thai Life Insurance People
33. VINCOMMERCE GENERAL COMMERCIAL SERVICES JSC (Vietnam) –
Accompanying, Supporting and Promoting Vietnamese Production

Investment In People
1. ACBEL POLYTECH INC. (Taiwan) – We Strive to Uphold a Quality Joyous Work
Environment
2. AP (THAILAND) PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED (Thailand) – Navigating Happiness
3. BAXTER HEALTHCARE LTD (Taiwan) – Baxter is Making a Difference in our
Communities
4. CTBC FINANCIAL HOLDING CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – CTBC Human Capital
Comprehensive Enhancement Plan
5. DÖHLE SEAFRONT CREWING (MANILA) INC. (Philippines) – Dohle Seafront
Family Programme
6. MGM CHINA HOLDINGS LIMITED (Macau) – Making Great Moments
7. PROVINCIAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY (Thailand) – 1 Tambon 1 Electrician
8. TAISHIN FINANCIAL HOLDING CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Dual Mentoring Programme
9. TAIWAN POWER COMPANY (Taiwan) – Building the Soft and Hard Capacity for
Professionals in the Power Industry

Health Promotion
1. AIA COMPANY LIMITED (Thailand) – AIA Sharing A Life Charity Run
2. JEBSEN GROUP (Hong Kong) – Project Morning Star – National Model of
Comprehensive Rural Eye Care Network Building Project
3. KBZ BANK (Myanmar) – KBZ Bank’s Cleft Mission with Smile Asia
4. METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS AUTHORITY (MWA) (Thailand) – School Tap
Water System Project
5. NAN SHAN LIFE INSURANCE CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Nan Shan Charity Fund for
Community Health Care Programme
6. PT JAPFA COMFEED INDONESIA TBK (Indonesia) – JAPFA for Kids-Healthy
Food Ambassadors
7. SIAM FRESH ENTERPRISE CO., LTD (Thailand) – The Boss Run for Sharing

Green Leadership
1. ASIA CEMENT CORPORATION (Taiwan) – Deeply Rooting the Seeds of
Sustainable Hope – Asia Cement Eco-Environment Education Project
2. BETTER WORLD GREEN PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED (Thailand) – Green Energy
From Industrial Waste
3. CELCOM AXIATA BERHAD (Malaysia) – Tasik Chini Empowered-Harmonising
Digital Inclusion and Sustainability
4. GLOBAL POWER SYNERGY PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED (Thailand) – The Zero
Waste Village Project
5. MALAYSIA AIRPORTS HOLDINGS BERHAD (Malaysia) – klia2: “Embracing
Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Aviation”
6. NICE GARDEN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Sustainable Agri-Food
Practitioner – NEXTLAND
7. PACIFIC SOGO DEPARTMENT STORES CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Less Carbon,
Better Life
8. PT HM SAMPOERNA TBK (Indonesia) – Carbon Footprint Management in Finished
Goods Transportation
9. TAIWAN CEMENT CORPORATION (Taiwan) – Turn Carbon Dioxide Into Green
10. TAIWAN COGENERATION CORPORATION (Taiwan) – Dedication to Circular
Economy, Low-carbon Emission, and Energy Sustainability

Corporate Governance
1. CATHAY FINANCIAL HOLDINGS CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Sustainable Governance
2. CTBC FINANCIAL HOLDING CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – CTBC Financial Holding
Sustainable Governance Programme
3. E.SUN FINANCIAL HOLDING CO., LTD. (Taiwan) – Solid Corporate Governance
Led by Professional Managers
4. METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS AUTHORITY (MWA) (Thailand) – MWA
Corporate Governance Council

International CSR Summit 2019: Call for Business Leaders to Take a Stand on Delivering Global Goals

Taipei, 24 May 2019

Enterprise Asia, Asia’s leading non-governmental organization for responsible entrepreneurship hosted the 5th International CSR Summit (ICS) on 24 and 25 May 2019 at Hilton Taipei Sinban, New Taipei City.

The two day event themed “Take a Stand, Delivering on the Global Goals” convened over 300 corporate social responsibility (CSR) experts, leaders, and practitioners from across 16 countries to collaborate and exchange insights on the most stirring conversations in CSR today, and in deliberating solutions to current society issues.

The ICS 2019 urged participants to reflect upon the journey that the CSR community has embarked over the past decade, and the impact garnered from those initiatives. Echoing the movement of the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos, the Summit called for business decision makers to mobilize their resources to aggressively deliver on the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and to achieve a low carbon future.

Welcome Address from Tan Sri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, Chairman of Enterprise Asia

The Summit was officiated byMr. Hou Yu-Ih, mayor of New Taipei City, and Mr. Lai Ming-chi, director-general of Department of NGO International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the presence ofTan Sri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, Chairman of Enterprise Asia; Dr. Eugene Chien, Ambassador-at-Large of Republic of China (Taiwan), Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Environment of Republic of China (Taiwan);and Dato’ William Ng, President of Enterprise Asia.

According to Mr. Ng, President of Enterprise Asia, “Global warming is one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime and a moral imperative for future generations. Achieving a low-carbon economy not only makes good business sense, it is also necessary for fighting climate change.As heads of global businesses and conglomerates, it is our responsibility to send an urgent message to the world that we need to take a stand, and be more ambitious in driving actions to create a sustainable future.”

The ICS 2019 featured a full suite of speakers from the private sector that are well known in their fields of expertise sharing their experience on sustainability. Among the distinguished speakers were ErdalElver, CEO of Siemens Taiwan; Jean-Marc Champagne, head of environmental finance of WWF Hong Kong; Dr Niven Huang, Regional Leader of KPMG Sustainability Services Asia Pacific; Dr. Naoki Adachi, CEO of Response Ability, executive director of Japan Business Initiative For Biodiversity;Dr.LihChyi Wen, director of Center for Green Economy, Chung Hwa Institution for Economic Research; Alexandra Tracy, president of Hoi Ping Ventures Hong Kong; Shinji Onoda, policy researcher of Sustainability Governance Center, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies; Gennie Yen, CEO of Veda International, Co-chair, European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan; Joanna Fong of DHL and Shalom Chen of  L’Oreal.

The key takeaway of the Summit was to educate attendees on opportunities and strategies to decarbonize their businesses. Using case studies such as how a 170 years-old integrated company transformed itself into a low-carbon business amidst megatrend challenges, participants discovered strategies to accelerate the adoption of decarbonizing actions across the company. Topics on large scale collaborations across industry value chains, governance transformation, the significance of data collection, latest updates on science based targets initiatives, smart technologies and renewables that disrupt industry norms were discussed among panellists and keynotes.

The full day workshop on Circular Economy held on the second day of the Summit inspired participants to embrace innovative solutions and a circular approach in their strategy and actions to deliver resilient economic systems across their organizations.

The ICS 2019 was supported by official local partner – Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy; PR partner – Fides Corporate Sustainability; sponsor- Zero Emission Venture; supporting organizations – AmCham Taipei; British Chamber of Commerce; Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association; Circular Economy Club; CSRone; European Chamber of Commerce; Green Trade Project Office, Taiwan External Trade Development Council; Institute for Global Environmental Strategies; Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change, Malaysia; Taiwan Corporate Governance Association; official news release distribution partner – PR Newswire; and official media – BusinessWorld; Commercial Times; SME Magazine; The Nation; Singapore Business Review and Tuoi Tre News.

 

Media Contact
Ms Koo Tse Chien │ Enterprise Asia
(60) 3 7803 0312
tsechien@enterpriseasia.org

About Enterprise Asia

Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, in uplifting the economic status of people across Asia and in ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation and courage for the future generation. Please visit https://www.enterpriseasia.org/ for more information.

About theInternational CSR Summit (ICS)

ICS is a series of annual regional events in Asia which gathers top CSR leaders and practitioners to strengthen ties, share experiences and insights, as well as identify regional challenges and opportunities to shape Asia towards a more responsible, sustainable and progressive socio-economic market. Please visit https://enterpriseasia.org/area/ics/ for more information.

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