Globe Forefront 2021 focuses on new online learning modalities

October 18, 2021 | 2:39 pm

In celebration of National Teachers’ Month and World Teachers’ Day, Globe held its second year of “Forefront: The National Conference on Digital Learning” last Oct. 1 via livestream on Globe Business’ and the Department of Education’s official Facebook pages. Forefront paved the way for educators and academic institutions from all over the country to come together and share their insights about new online learning modalities.

“This is a very important initiative to strengthen partnership between Globe and educational institutions as allies in technology integration and learning innovation,” said Maridol Ylanan, Head of Strategy and Marketing, Globe Business-MSME Group.

In partnership with the National Teachers’ Month Coordinating Council (NTMCC), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Globe provided a platform in the form of a National Conference on Digital Learning called Forefront to allow delegates from the academe and the industry to share ideas on how to improve online learning and pedagogies.

“It recognizes our educators for their determination and hard work, and provides the ideal venue for interactions to establish productive engagements. It’s also a venue for them to present studies on online learning and pedagogies,” explained CHED executive director, Atty. Cinderella Filipinas Benitez-Jaro.

Among the delegates, 18 were chosen to present their shortlisted papers following the theme, “Transformative Online Pedagogies: Reimagining Education for a Better Tomorrow”. The topics they discussed provided insights about technology integration across the curriculum, best practices in remote learning and teaching, emerging technologies in education, e-learning initiatives, adaptation to new technologies, blended learning, online assessment, e-tutoring, and plagiarism technologies.

Globe has also partnered with different learning technologies companies like D2L Brightspace, Microsoft, Google for Education, and ClassIn. Technology leaders from these providers imparted knowledge about their platforms, offering more accessibility, safer learning environments, and interactive platforms for students, teachers, and educational institutions.

DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito M. C. Umali addressed the risks learners and educators go through, such as the safety and reliability of information students receive, and how teachers maximize the learning management system. Umali also added that the number of enrollees from both public and private in basic education has reached 26.3 up to 27 million, higher compared to last year.

For the plenary session, international guest speaker Dr. Edwige Simon provided the attendees insights about the significance of technology in pedagogy. Dr. Simon holds a PhD from the University of Colorado Boulder. She currently the Online Learning and Instructional Technology director of International Center for Language Studies located in Washington, D.C. “Teaching takes two things: it takes skills, and it takes imagination,” said Dr. Simon.

She also discussed how online learning was no longer an innovation, as several countries have already embraced it even before the pandemic. However, most of these online courses targeted adult learners since the majority of society believes schools are still the best place for children to learn. She explained this with an example of a framework seen in her presentation.

“We need new online pedagogies to meet the needs of young learners,” Dr. Simon said. “Online learning is not a silver bullet. And it’s certainly not a silver bullet for our younger learners. For online learning to be deployed effectively, it requires proper training, it requires knowing the pedagogical frameworks, and it also requires access to the right technology.”

She also discussed adept solutions to meet the need of learners and provide high quality education programs. “As always, when we’re looking at educational initiatives and programs, the priority should always be the learners,” Simon suggested.

Dr. Simon concluded her discussion with a comment on the connection between technology and pedagogy: “We need educational technology companies to collaborate closely with teachers, with educators to develop products that will meet their needs and the needs of their students. We also need new pedagogies and tools for synchronous online learning.”

The conference concluded by announcing the awardees of Globe’s Forefront Best Research Presentation. Mark Arthur Payumo Abalos, Segment Head for Education, mentioned that “Globe recognizes selected studies that aim to contribute to a body of knowledge on digital learning. The award is a form of recognition to individuals who have used their advanced knowledge and expertise in digital learning and educational technology in helping students, fellow teachers, and their institutions.” The presentations that stood out in the conference are the following:

● Achieving Best Learning Moments Through Virtual Fieldtrips by Mr. Kaybee F. De Ocampo

● Developing teachers’ Growth Mindset: The secret to student achievement? by Ms. Joanne T. Sison

● (Re)Thinking Course Content Design and Development in the Next Normal by Dr. Louie B. Dasas

● Exploring Digital Intelligence Among Generation Z Learners: Basis for a Faculty Development Program by Dr. Jayson Bergania

Globe Business-MSME Group head KD Dizon highlighted the dedication of teachers in the continuance of learning for every student despite the pandemic crisis in her message.

“In the end, we all want to see a Philippines were families’ dreams come true, businesses flourish, and the nation is admired,” Dizon said.

With joined hands, Globe continuously extends support in providing solutions that schools can easily adapt. Enhancing digital pedagogy is enhancing the quality of online education.

To access the livestream, please visit: http://www.globe.com.ph/forefront.

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Merck COVID-19 pill sparks calls for access for lower income countries

October 18, 2021 | 1:47 pm

The plan to roll out Merck & Co.’s promising antiviral pill to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risks repeating the inequities of vaccine distribution, potentially leaving the nations with the greatest need once again at the back of the line, international health groups say.

For example, only about 5% of Africa’s population is immunized, creating an urgent need for therapeutics that could keep people out of hospitals. That compares with more than a 70% inoculation rate in most wealthy nations.

Merck on Oct. 11 applied for US emergency clearance of the first pill for COVID-19 after it cut hospitalizations and deaths by 50% in a large clinical trial. The medicine, made with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, could gain authorization as soon as December.

The US drugmaker has taken the unusual pandemic step of licensing several generics of its antiviral molnupiravir before its branded version was even authorized for marketing.

But international health officials said even that is not enough for the medicine to reach many in low- and middle-income countries in large enough numbers, while noting shortcomings and red tape among global organizations that could further slow distribution.

Merck this year plans to produce 10 million treatment courses of the pill, which is taken twice a day for five days, and another 20 million next year.

In addition, its licensing deals with eight Indian drugmakers will allow cheaper generic versions for 109 low- and middle-income countries including in Africa, a move international groups acknowledge is a positive concession.

But as wealthy nations secure molnupiravir supply deals — the United States has already locked up 1.7 million courses with an option for 3.5 million more by January of 2023 at about $700 per course — concerns grow over who might be left out.

NOT MOVING QUICKLY ENOUGH
Merck said it has worked on the technology transfer needed to start generic manufacturing, in contrast to vaccine makers who continue to resist calls to waive patents or allow for generic versions to boost supplies.

But a recent report prepared for the United Nations’ Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator program tasked with buying COVID-19 therapeutics for poor countries cited concerns that UN agencies were not moving quickly enough to secure adequate volumes of potential new treatments ahead of time, including Merck’s drug.

Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a United Nations-backed public health organization, has 24 companies signed up and willing to make the drug if Merck agrees to expand the licenses.

“If you’re not in the license, you’re relying on Merck, and it looks to us that that could mean a potential supply shortfall as well as overpricing,” said Peter Maybarduk of Public Citizen, who sits on the MPP governance board. He suggested that could lead to wealthy countries outbidding poor nations for the medicine.

It is unclear how many generic pills will be available or when. The licensed Indian manufacturers including Aurobindo Pharma, Cipla Ltd, Dr. Reddy’s Labs, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Hetero Labs, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Torrent Pharmaceuticals declined to provide details on production plans.

In addition, manufacturing for low-income countries in many nations also requires World Health Organization (WHO) approval, a regulatory process that typically takes months.

Merck said it is committed to providing timely access to its drug globally with plans for tiered pricing aligned with a country’s ability to pay. A spokesperson confirmed it is in discussions about expanding licenses for generic molnupiravir “to build sufficient global supply of quality-assured product to meet orders globally.”

But middle-income countries will be hard pressed to negotiate against the richest nations, another MPP official said.

The governments of Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia said they already had deals or were negotiating supply contracts with Merck. The EU is considering buying the pill after Merck applies for authorization in Europe.

The eight generic manufacturers chosen by Merck all have WHO pre-qualified facilities to allow them to supply buyers like the Global Fund, according to Paul Schaper, Merck’s executive director of global public policy. They will set their pricing and decide how much they plan to manufacture.

“What we are anticipating and hoping for is that they will compete with each other on pricing,” Mr. Schaper said. — Francesco Guarascio and Michael Erman/Reuters

China condemns US, Canada for sending warships through Taiwan Strait

October 18, 2021 | 1:22 pm

warships-15208013738_f7d1844d92_h — USS Dewey. -- Image via US Navy/Flickr

BEIJING/TAIPEI — The Chinese military on Sunday condemned the United States and Canada for each sending a warship through the Taiwan Strait last week, saying they were threatening peace and stability in the region.

China claims democratically-ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and has mounted repeated air force missions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the past year, provoking anger in Taipei.

China sent around 150 aircraft into the zone over a four-day period beginning on Oct. 1 in a further heightening of tension between Beijing and Taipei that has sparked concern internationally.

The US military said the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Dewey sailed through the narrow waterway that separates Taiwan from its giant neighbor China along with the Canadian frigate HMCS Winnipeg on Thursday and Friday.

“Dewey’s and Winnipeg’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” it added.

China’s People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command said its forces monitored the ships and “stood guard” throughout their passage.

“The United States and Canada colluded to provoke and stir up trouble… seriously jeopardizing peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,” it said.

“Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. Theatre forces always maintain a high level of alert and resolutely counter all threats and provocations.”

US Navy ships have been transiting the strait roughly monthly, to the anger of Beijing, which has accused Washington of stoking regional tensions. US allies occasionally also send ships through the strait, including Britain

While tensions across the Taiwan Strait have risen, there has been no shooting and Chinese aircraft have not entered Taiwanese air space, concentrating their activity in the southwestern part of the ADIZ.

While including Taiwanese territorial air space, the ADIZ encompasses a broader area that Taiwan monitors and patrols that acts to give it more time to respond to any threats.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Sunday that three Chinese aircraft — two J-16 fighters and an anti-submarine aircraft — flew into the ADIZ again. — Reuters

Unioil raffles off a brand new car, motorcycles, and fuel vouchers for its 55^th Anniversary

October 18, 2021 | 1:15 pm

In celebration of its 55^th Anniversary, Unioil launched its Fill and Win promo last October 15, 2021 which aims to reward its customers with a chance to win a brand new Suzuki Jimny, Honda ADV 150, Yamaha YZF R-15, and fuel vouchers when they gas up at Unioil.

Every P200 purchase of Unioil Euro5 fuels entitles customers one raffle entry. Customers can easily register their raffle entries at raffle.unioil.com. The promo will be having 10 weekly draw dates (October 29, November 5, November 12, November 19, November 26, December 3, December 10, December 17, December 24, and December 29) and 1 grand draw which is scheduled on January 5, 2022.

Winners will be announced on Unioil’s official Facebook page and will also be notified through their registered mail, email, and text message.

Unioil’s success and longevity in the industry would not be possible it weren’t for the tireless support and patronage of its customers throughout the years. With this promotion, Unioil wishes to thank its customers by offering only the best – the best fuels with awesome prizes up for grab.

For more information and updates, follow Unioil on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or visit www.unioil.com

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Globe’s 917 celebrations raise over P13.4M worth of donations through Globe Rewards

October 18, 2021 | 1:10 pm

Globe, together with its over 85 million subscribers, raised more than P 13.4 million worth of donations to aid health and wellness, education, environment protection, unemployment and hunger, disaster response, and child safety advocacies from the #GDayEveryday celebrations last September.

Donations were raised through Globe Rewards’ many activities that catered to its Globe and TM customers, including G Music Fest, an online concert and an intimate Q&A segment with the artists; G Legends Cup, an amateur gaming tournament for Mobile Legends players; G Super Sale, and G Chance the Raffle, and on-ground rewards programs.

Globe’s #GDayEveryday campaign celebrated the long-standing connections that Globe has built with its customers over the years. The annual 917 celebration intends to show the company’s gratitude and appreciation in a way that uplifts the lives of many ka-Globe and their communities all over the country.

Customers in Northern Luzon and Boracay were able to avail themselves of free tricycle or jeepney rides within their vicinity after donating their Rewards points to Globe partner-beneficiaries.

The G Legends Cup, through the support of Globe’s mobile and broadband customers, contributed P1 million to several partner beneficiaries including the PGH Medical Foundation, Tanging Yaman Org, the Pawsion Project and more.

Meanwhile, participation in G Chance the Raffle, G Super Sale activities, and G Music Fest contributed P2 million each to the total, including the support pledged by the local indie band I Belong to the Zoo.

“The overwhelming response to our 917 celebrations this year has been truly inspiring,” said Bianca Wong, Globe’s Head of Feel Valued Tribe. “Whether online or on-ground, we saw true bayanihan spirit among our ka-Globe and TM customers with the Rewards points they have donated to our partner beneficiaries. We will continue to create more rewarding experiences for our customers while helping uplift the communities around us.”

Wong also shared that results from the collective efforts of the campaign speaks of Filipinos’ capability to share; seeing how every customer was able to pitch in whatever donation value they can and contribute to the significant amount earned.

The beneficiaries set to receive aid include Ayala Foundation, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Hero Foundation, Hineleban Foundation, Moments with Fr. Jerry Orbos, Natasha Goulbourn Foundation (Hopeline), the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), PGH Medical Foundation, Inc (PGH MFI), Rise Against Hunger, Rotary Foundation, Save Philippine Seas, Teach for the Philippines, Virtualahan, and Walang Iwanan Alliance.

Following the month-long festivities, Globe is encouraging customers to maintain the practice of paying it forward through their shared advocacies even outside of 917. Customers can continuously donate their Rewards points all year round via the New GlobeOne app.

As a member of the Globe Group, the company strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9 in building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. Globe is committed to upholding the United Nations Global Compact principles and contributing to 10 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG).

To know more about Globe Rewards, you may visit www.globe.com.ph.

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CCI France Philippines sets new heights for ‘Behind the Cuisines’ celebration

October 18, 2021 | 12:00 pm

The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines (CCIFP), together with the French Embassy to the Philippines and Micronesia, present “Behind the Cuisines,” a two-day virtual event that aims to explore the current situation of the F&B industry in the Philippines, as well as support French and Filipino restaurateurs, food retailers, distributors, and local farmers who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring the French and Filipino culture

“Behind the Cuisines” features a webinar on the theme “The Changing Phases of the Food and Beverage Industry: Defining the New Food Normal” (by registration) on Oct. 22, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The highlight of this day will be a series of high-level online conversations from key individuals in public and private sectors to inform everyone about the current state of the F&B industry in the country, key insights and practices presented by leading companies, and prominent market trends.

It follows a live cooking segment for the second part of its series, “A Fusion of French and Filipino Flavors” featuring Erwan Heussaff, that offers a platform for different French and Filipino food businesses to showcase their products and services amid this uncertain time. This virtual event will happen on Oct. 23, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and streamed live on the Facebook page of the CCIFP: https://www.facebook.com/frenchchamberphilippines.

Overall, CCIFP envisions both days of the event to complement one another by: first, imparting vital information regarding the current situation of the F&B industry in the Philippines; and second, providing the audience with ways on how they, in their own homes, can help support French and Filipino food businesses impacted by the pandemic, all while celebrating both cultures.

Support local farmers and communities with partner beneficiary, AGREA

CCIFP warmly invites the public to get a glimpse of French and Philippine culture through “Behind the Cuisines” as this will be a free event. Register to the webinar and support local farmers and communities. 15% of the total revenue will be donated to the Chamber’s partner beneficiary, AGREA. Should you wish to personally support this initiative, you may access this link: https://app.glueup.com/event/behind-the-cuisines-40061/.

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[B-SIDE Podcast] A room with a whiteboard: the fate of the office in a post-pandemic world

October 18, 2021 | 11:17 am

Follow us on Spotify BusinessWorld B-Side

Hybrid working arrangements won’t kill the traditional office, said Balder Tol, general manager for Australia and Southeast Asia of WeWork, a co-working spaces firm.

“There is an absolute need for a physical space to inspire and engage employees and to drive collaboration as well,” said Mr. Tol. “There is nothing more powerful than a meeting room and a whiteboard when you want to think about innovation.”

In this B-Side episode, Mr. Tol and BusinessWorld senior reporter Arjay L. Balinbin talk about the future of work and the fate of the workplace.

TAKEAWAYS

The post-pandemic workplace is flexible.

The coronavirus pandemic forced many companies to adopt the hybrid model, in which employees can work from anywhere — whether the office, the home, or any third space (such as a cafe or a co-working space).

Post-pandemic, this model will continue. “Across the world, the research is evident that employees really enjoy a form of flexibility,” said Mr. Tol. “Choice gives a sense of empowerment. … Being free to work where and when I want — where I can be most productive — has a significant positive impact on employee satisfaction.”

On average, employees want to be in the office three days a week.

The challenge for organizations, Mr. Tol added, is creating a consistent experience of work in a hybrid environment

Commercial real estate will recover.

Office space transactions recently improved slightly, fueled by demand from outsourcing and traditional firms.

“I’m confident about the sector’s recovery, but it will take some time and evolve to be more flexible, as the country continues to navigate the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] situation,” Mr. Tol said.

“The ability to scale up or down, to increase or decrease your footprint as needed is of great advantage for organizations. I think you’ll see landlords partnering with flexible operators a lot more and therefore increasing the availability of hybrid working solutions for organizations.”

Collaboration is the main function of the office as a physical space.

“If you want to truly innovate and collaborate, there is nothing more frustrating than having some people in an office and some people on Zoom trying to … have an active discussion,” said Mr. Tol.

A centralized location (that is, a physical office) where people can gather mitigates the communication problem and also fosters company culture.

“The office needs to be redesigned as a space where employees want to come together,” said Mr. Tol.

Recorded remotely on Oct. 8. Produced by Paolo L. Lopez and Sam L. Marcelo.

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Okada Manila goes public in $2.6B deal with 26 Capital

October 18, 2021 | 11:11 am

The-Fountain-at-Okada-Manila — Okada Manila / Company handout

Okada Manila, one of the biggest casino resorts in the Philippines, is going public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company led by former casino analyst Jason Ader. The deal values the property at $2.6 billion including debt.

The resort’s current owner, Japan’s Universal Entertainment Corp., will merge the property with Ader’s 26 Capital Acquisition Corp. and hold an 88% stake in the new business. 26 Capital went public as a shell company earlier this year. It will bring $275 million in cash to the deal, the companies said in a statement.

When present construction is finished next year, the resort will be able to operate 974 gaming tables and two hotel towers with 993 rooms. The merger came just days after the Philippines said it would ease virus restrictions starting this weekend, allowing casinos in Manila to reopen at 30% capacity.

The country, which fell to last place in Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking late last month, is seeking to open its borders to global travelers as the number of new cases dropped, allowing some fully-vaccinated international travelers from low-risk areas to enter without quarantine.

The gaming property is located on the waterfront in Manila’s Entertainment City neighborhood. Current management, including President Byron Yip, will continue to lead the operations.

Universal, a maker of pachinko machines, was founded by Japanese businessman Kazuo Okada. He later got in a fight with casino partner Steve Wynn over construction of the Philippines resort, which prompted the Las Vegas tycoon to buy out Okada’s stake in Wynn Resorts Ltd.

Ader worked as an analyst at Bear Stearns and other firms before co-founding the New York-based investment company SpringOwl Asset Management. — Bloomberg

SM Supermalls launches The SM StartUp Package for aspiring Filipino entrepreneurs

October 18, 2021 | 9:52 am

100 Small business owners invited to set up shop in SM malls

It has been almost two years since the pandemic brought Filipino life and many livelihoods to a screeching halt. According to a 2020 Asian Development Bank (ADB) study of 1,804 Philippine MSMEs, 70.6% were forced to temporarily close with 66.2% reported to have temporary staff cuts during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Bucking these statistics and the odds created by the changes in the landscape, the enterprising Filipino found many opportunities in online businesses, with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recording over 88,000 new e-commerce registrations at the end of 2020. This figure is projected to be a million e-commerce enterprises by 2022 (from 500,000 in 2020). By taking advantage of the online space, MSME owners have become unsung heroes of the economy, all the while providing for their families and making their business dreams a reality.

SM Supermalls very well understands the potential of each Filipino to be successful business owners because of their founder, the late Mr. Henry Sy’s own inspiring story. Sy, fondly called “Tatang” in SM, started out as a small business owner with his first footwear shop ShoeMart.

It is said that because of this, it is in SM’s DNA to enable and inspire small businesses like the one it once was. This October 15, not coincidentally Tatang’s birthday, SM launched The SM StartUp Package, which aims to provide small online businesses the valuable support they need so they can set up their own shop in an SM mall. This is available to the first 100 digital-based MSME owners who currently don’t have a shop inside SM or any other physical store in general.

The package offers features such as start-up friendly rental rates and use of kiosks or carts free of charge; marketing assistance to give the brand free exposure in SM online assets and ad spaces inside malls; financial assistance with BDO; and mentorship from SM experts on operations and marketing.

The StartUp Markets, as they will be called, will be situated in prime mall locations within 13 regional and premier malls in major cities: SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Southmall, SM Pampanga, SM Clark, SM Grand Central, SM Sta. Rosa, SM City Cebu, SM Iloilo, SM Bacolod, SM CDO Downtown Premier, and SM Lanang Premier.

“We created The SM StartUp Package because we saw how Filipinos persevered in the past year. Very much true to the spirit of Henry Sy, who always said he worked harder during bad times, many MSMEs did not let the pandemic stop them from providing good service and products — even from their own homes. We want to give them a chance to further grow their businesses and brands, and enable them to start their own SM shops which they can one day grow into business empires, just like our founder once did.,” said SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan.

Following Tatang’s legacy

The late founder Mr. Henry Sy is also proof of an entrepreneur’s resilience and hard work. After arriving in the Philippines at just 12 years old from China, he helped sell products in his father’s retail store. When he saved enough money, he was able to open his first business in 1958: a footwear shop called ShoeMart, which would later become the foundation for today’s 77 SM Supermalls.

The success of the mall didn’t come without challenges. A notable one was when Mr. Sy opened SM Megamall in Edsa in 1985 during a turbulent time in the Philippines. Instead of letting the political and economic climate discourage him, it pushed him to work harder to overcome the crisis. This disposition would carry over in the next few decades and would inspire a new generation of MSME owners to look for opportunities even during adversity.

Starting with just one humble ChizMozza cart in SM North Edsa in 2016, Hannah Ramos’ small business has steadily grown into 21 branches in various SM malls and has not only weathered the pandemic, but has actually expanded regionally.

This is evident in the stories of entrepreneurs like Chizmozza founder Hannah Ramos, who sold her own mozzarella recipe online before opening her food cart at SM, Ian Darcy, who started his namesake fragrance brand after being forced to resign from his marketing job; and Oishii Maki Chef Randy Molina, who started a sushi and maki business at SM after working as an Overseas Filipino as a Japanese Chef in 5-star hotels.

“I took a chance to grow Chizmozza from an online store to having one humble food cart in SM North Edsa back in 2016. Now Chizmozza has 21 SM branches. They saw the potential of our unique cheese products and through our mutual hard work and perseverance, we grew, even through the pandemic.” Hannah shared

These are just some of the stories behind successful MSME owners and how they were able to succeed, when empowered with the right resources. The SM StartUp Package will allow more people to level up their online start-up, inspiring them to follow in the footsteps of “Tatang” so they can take more confident steps even during these uncertain times.

During the virtual launch of the SM StartUp Package hosted by Sam YG last Oct 15, SM Supermalls President Mr. Steven Tan was joined by three young successful MSMEs; Nina Ellaine Dizon-Cabrera from Colourette, Patty Ang from Patton, and Jerald Sze from 365 Designs Retailing, who talked about how their business began online and how they successfully grew it at SM Supermalls.

Other notable guests during the launch included Ms. Jean Pacheco, Assistant Secretary of DTI, and the SM Super Team composed of BDO Network Bank’s SVP and MSME Business Head Karen Cua, BDO Acquiring FVP Merchant Partnerships and Retail Sales Head Bob Tolentino, SM Supermalls VP for Corporate Marketing, Grace F. Magno, and AVP for Leasing Strategy and Operations, Gina T. Katigbak, who discussed details of the SM StartUp Package.

For more information, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on all social media accounts to find out how to sign up for The SM StartUp Package.

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Exploring new frontiers in logistics

October 18, 2021 | 9:10 am

Among the many lessons that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has taught is how important the global supply chains and the logistics that keep them running are to the global economy. Despite weathering the effects of the pandemic relatively well, especially in comparison to industries like travel and transportation, the logistics industry was still hit with the disruption caused by the consequent lockdowns and quarantine measures imposed by governments in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.

Global consultancy firm McKinsey & Company noted that logistics players typically rely on a wide-reaching international network to achieve scale within the highly competitive and relatively low-margin industry.

“With trade demand plunging by as much as 22% in the second quarter and significant drops continuing in the third, many road-, air-, and ocean-transport companies are reporting large declines in volumes from the same periods last year,” McKinsey wrote in an article published in January.

Such challenges, the company added, offer new opportunities for the industry to evolve, revisit business models, formulate new strategies, tap new markets, and introduce innovative new service offerings.

“The most resilient logistics players are using this difficult environment to position themselves for future growth while remaining flexible enough to respond to shifting conditions,” McKinsey wrote.

A recent study released by NTT Data on the current state of the global supply chain suggested how the best players in the industry are managing to make the most out of the crisis. The 2022 26th Annual Third-Party Logistics Study, which included data gathered earlier this year from surveys and one-on-one interviews with almost 350 companies, also highlights several ways the industry can change to limit future disruptions: by taking advantage of advancements in technology and the reshoring of production.

Smarter, faster, better supply chains

The increased use of technology has the potential to create more intelligent, more agile supply chains and relieve some of the stress in the industry. Emerging technologies such as 5G, real-time data transmission, robotics, Internet of Things and data analytics can all provide the industry with valuable insight into the status of different areas of the supply chain, all while giving logistics firms the flexibility to respond to immediate issues.

According to the study, just over half of third-party logistics managers (56%) said they feel it is moderately or critically important to provide 5G-enabled services to their clients. “5G reduces the amount of latency, so it is much more real-time, which is important because there is a large amount of data that has to travel back and forth,” Dave Bushee, senior vice-president of Information Technology for Penske Logistics, one of the main sponsors of the study, said.

Sylvie Thompson, a supply chain consultant with NTT Data Services, further added that smart factories and warehouses can increase square footage capacity and autonomous processes could address labor shortages — to an extent.

“Tech-driven productivity improvements can only help so much,” she said. “No amount of technology is going to resolve some of the capacity issues, but it will give us more agility to adjust to maintain production.”

This is not to mention innovations in last mile delivery. The final step of the journey of a product from its source to the buyer, last mile delivery typically has been both the most expensive and time-consuming part of the shipping process.

However, with the rise of crowdsourcing local services through digital platforms, retailers are exploring their low startup costs, asset-light operations, and improved customer experience to ease their last mile delivery woes. With crowdsource technology, retailers, logistics partners, and consumers have the ability to directly contract local, non-professional couriers to make faster deliveries.

The growing significance of regional and domestic supply chains

Lean, just-in-time inventory management had been the standard strategy for supply chains for years, allowing for reduced inventory levels and costs at the expense of resilience and agility. With COVID-19, however, priorities have shifted and logistics companies are now forced to reevaluate and reformulate their contingency plans and risk mitigation strategies to cope with the disruption.

Almost two-thirds of shippers in the NTT Data survey (68%) believe supply chains have become too global and must be balanced towards more regional and local/domestic ecosystems.

Several factors such as more restrictive trade policies; changes in tax implications and government regulations; increased awareness of supply chain vulnerabilities; an increased need for supply chain resilience; and new sources of raw materials and supplies all drive this global rebalancing. Regional supply chains must be resilient enough to endure unforeseen shocks without resulting in raw material shortages, delays, and increased transportation costs.

“When a global link breaks, regional links need to be self-sustainable,” Ms. Thompson pointed out. “Whether we like it or not, all supply chains are related. Until the world gets the virus under control, supply chains are going to continue to be disrupted.”

According to the study, 83% of shippers reported disruption in the supply of key materials this year compared to 49% of respondents in the 2021 survey.

Also, 83% of shippers said they plan to adjust sources of supply as a direct result of efforts to rebalance towards regional and local/domestic sources.

Furthermore, 68% said supply chains have become too global and 45% of the companies surveyed anticipate adjusting production locations over the next three years. Such adjustments will hopefully minimize the ripple effects of a single breakdown in the global supply chain.

What defines the logistics firms of the future

McKinsey, in their own studies, have pointed out that growth strategies of logistics firms that outperformed during past crises tend to focus on four directions: growing the core business, undertaking geographic expansion, undertaking value-chain expansion, and moving into adjacent industries.

“During the last economic cycle, the logistics outperformers focused primarily on two of those four: investing more deeply in their core businesses by enhancing existing competencies, improving operational efficiency, and developing technological platforms; and venturing on geographical expansion enabled by M&A (mergers and acquisitions),” McKinsey wrote.

According to McKinsey research, many of the outperformers seem to be continuing the strategic directions they set before COVID-19 hit.

“The strategic moves of the through-cycle outperformers suggest that logistics players looking to come out strong into the recovery should prioritize the core business, seek geographic expansion opportunities, and use M&A as a platform for growth. Doubling down on the core business and boosting main competencies can help companies bolster their existing competitive advantages, improve economies of scale, or expand their operational networks,” the firm concluded.

“Developing digital platforms to connect with customers can deepen client relationships and create innovation-driven growth. Companies should also explore pockets of growth within the core, focusing on customer verticals with the biggest profit pools and shifting the portfolio mix to higher-margin and higher-growth offerings. Finally, the economic downturn may present potential targets for M&A, provided the acquirer’s own balance sheet is strong enough for such investments.” — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran

Identifying various opportunities in automation

October 18, 2021 | 9:05 am

The world continues to undergo an entirely new industrial revolution powered by technological advancements and digitalization, and the global logistics industry can stand to benefit.

Already the industry has seen massive changes driven by technology, resulting in benefits such as increased productivity in the supply chain and minimizing costs and errors in all areas — from trucking transportation, international transportation (ocean and air), supply chain management, to shipment tracking.

Yet, a new frontier is emerging that could further take the logistics industry into the future: automation.

As global consultancy firm McKinsey & Company puts it, the history of logistics is also a history of automation, from the steam engine to the forklift to today’s robotic pickers and packers, giving plenty of precedent to the renewed interest in new machinery.

“Many trends are thrusting automation toward the top of the logistics CEO’s agenda, not least these three: a growing shortage of labor, an explosion in demand from online retailers, and some intriguing technical advances. Put it all together, and McKinsey Global Institute estimates that the transportation-and-warehousing industry has the third-highest automation potential of any sector,” McKinsey wrote on its website.

Global logistics firm DHL shares the sentiment, pointing out that logistics industry players from traditional warehousing to new e-commerce startups are moving towards automated processes to boost throughput, cut costs, and meet growing customer demand.

“As more processes along the supply chain are matched with robotics solutions, the robotics industry is only expected to grow. Logistics robots are diversifying and achieving proficiency that matches and exceeds human capabilities. Upgraded with enhanced hardware and developments in AI, new devices have human-like dexterity, improved vision, and quick, agile movement,” DHL noted.

“With better robots and more use cases, partnerships are being forged throughout the logistics industry — pairing traditional automation providers with a new wave of startups — to achieve next-level value with intelligent automation.”

Opportunities abound as logistics providers, retailers, and manufacturers are following suit, co-innovating products and services for efficiency gains in supply chain operations. Among the emerging trends, DHL observed, are autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which are being adopted on a massive scale by supply chain players. Operating safely alongside human workers in mixed environments, AMRs can substantially improve productivity — up to 50% with point-to-point (P2P) transport with, say, bins or pallets, and up to 150% with assisted order picking, for example with e-commerce orders.

Not only that, AMRs are also widely deployed to clean facility floors or even perform functions like property mapping and surveilling. Whether AMRs are simply driverless versions of familiar vehicles like forklifts and yard trucks or completely new types of machinery, they have inherent built-in safety precautions and operation functions to support the reduction of hazards in facilities.

Stationary robots, commonly known as articulated robotic arms, meanwhile, are developing at a rapid pace, approaching human-like performance and throughput. DHL pointed out that some models have even exceeded this.

“As performance has improved over the past few years, a wider array of logistics applications has opened up to stationary robots beyond simply palletizing heavier goods and other less complex operations,” the company said.

“Random bin picking, co-packaging, sorting orders into put walls, inducting objects onto conveyor belts — all are now supply chain tasks that are within the realm of intelligent and fast articulated robotic arms, sometimes surpassing human counterparts. As stationary robots proliferate, their costs are lowering and return on investment can now take less than four years.”

Another promising field in logistics automation is micro-fulfillment. Micro-fulfillment is a focus topic for novel automation and robotics technologies, encapsulating the concept of small-scale warehouse facilities in urban locations, close to the consumer. These new mini-inventory and distribution hubs provide valuable opportunities for instant and short-time delivery to a large number of customers.

As real estate in cities becomes ever more expensive compared to that in rural areas, along with the shorter expected delivery times mandating 24/7 availability and uptime, fully automated systems and integrated robotics technologies allow logistics firms to create denser facility designs and achieve around-the-clock operations.

“The first wave of automation using intelligent robotics has arrived in the logistics industry. Driven by rapid technological advancements and greater affordability, robotics solutions are entering the logistics workforce, supporting zero-defect processes and boosting productivity. Mobile or stationary, robots will adopt more roles in the supply chain, assisting workers with warehousing, transportation, and even last-mile delivery activities,” DHL said. — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran

Elements for a resilient food system

October 18, 2021 | 9:00 am

Screenshot OL — In photo during the BusinessWorld Insights, in partnership with SM Foundation, are (clockwise, from top left) moderator Patricia Mirasol of BusinessWorld; and panelists Romeo S. Recide, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines Representative and Secretary to the Board; Tamara P. Duran, an assistant FAO representative for programme; Ayn G. Torres, a policy specialist and researcher at World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF); and Charina A. Javier, science research specialist II at the Nutrition Assessment and Monitor Division of DoST-FNRI.

By Chelsey Keith P. Ignacio, Special Features Writer

The journey of foods from production to consumption encounters a variety of roadblocks in the Philippines. According to its “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” in 2020, the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recorded 59 million Filipinos suffering from food insecurity in 2017 to 2019, the highest number in Southeast Asia. Actions towards “eradicating hunger” experienced continuing challenges, among the causes was natural disasters.

The food situation in the country further became affected with the quarantine impositions due to the pandemic. From the “Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey” conducted from November to December 2020 by the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DoST-FNRI), 62.1% of the surveyed households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity.

Climate crisis and pandemic implications as vulnerabilities of the country’s food systems were also stressed in the BusinessWorld Insights on “Ensuring Resiliency in our Food Systems” held on Oct. 13. Experts from the food and agriculture sector nonetheless shared the means to cultivate a resilient chain of producing foods.

Field innovations

Romeo S. Recide, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines Representative and Secretary to the Board, considered innovations as hope in addressing the impacts of different issues in the food system.

For Mr. Recide, a prime achievement in the collaboration between IRRI, the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) was the food regulatory approval of golden rice in the country.

“Filipino farmers can now be the first in the world to grow this beta-carotene fortified rice, which has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of childhood blindness among malnourished children,” he said.

The partnership has also developed a digital advisory for farmers about crop, nutrient, and pest management.

They also used satellite-based information to give details on the current situation of the area, yield, and possible interventions that the government has to carry out to protect the crop.

Another development of IRRI is rice straw management, which can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr. Recide hoped that DA would soon consider and distribute drone technology to the field as well. “We have demonstrated how this is done not only in overseeing the crop situation but also in delivering fertilizer, pesticide application, and then [exceeding] in the farm, which is good for labor and efficiency,” he said.

“Increasing and intensifying climate change impacts, competition in the use of natural resources for production, and the growing populations are straining our food systems’ ability to deliver available, accessible, and affordable food. And the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have also exposed the fragility of food systems, either local, regional, or global,” Mr. Recide expressed.

“So, resilience needs to be built into our value chains from seeds and cultivation to harvesting and transport from farm to market. Advances in various fields show promise in delivering solutions to some of the challenges that we face.”

New approaches

Tamara P. Duran, an assistant FAO representative for programme, discussed some approaches to develop a better food system in the country.

In supporting the improved functionality of these systems in the pandemic response and recovery, Ms. Duran said that employing a holistic approach was crucial in evaluating and addressing constraints as well as trade-offs implied in the resolution.

“The focus should be building back better while leaving no one behind. This calls for promoting innovations for increased efficiency; enhancing inclusiveness and resilience of food supply chains; ensuring food safety and nutritional quality of diets; reducing food loss and waste; [taming] and strengthening agri-food enterprises; and fostering investment in the green recovery of food value chains,” she said.

The promotion of domestic food production and shorter supply chains are also imperative, as these are key to building a resilient and sustainable local food system.

Ms. Duran also shared that FAO recognized the value of innovations to enhance the agri-food system resilience, but emphasized that innovation does not only comprise technologies.

“[It is] also developing new kinds or worthwhile approaches or methodologies and making sure that they reach and are understood by the actual people who will be using them. This may include promoting biodiversity for food security and nutrition and new ways of resilient livelihoods for communities with different contexts,” she said.

And to be more resilient and sustainable, evidence and sufficient information are also valuable in the process. “It will help inform the decision-makers and policymakers where the scarce public resources should be allocated. And at the same time, it can help inform the different partners or actors on what are the gaps and where their contribution is most needed or more impact can be generated from,” she explained.

In ensuring the capacity of the country to foresee and withstand risks and potential threats to food security, Ms. Duran added that “planning and preparing in advance, having mitigation measures at hand, and making sure that everyone knows what to do are very much essential to prevent the recurrences of food supply disruption.”

Diversifying foods

Charina A. Javier, science research specialist II at the Nutrition Assessment and Monitor Division of DoST-FNRI, highlighted the need for diversification in foods.

Discussing the food system challenges in availability, which involves production and distribution, Ms. Javier noted that agricultural policies comprise more favor in cash crops that have reduced the focus on diversifying food and livelihood opportunities.

A study by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research in 2020, she added, saw that the Philippines met rice requirements. But the country has an oversupply of protein sources like meat and fish products. While vegetables and fruits are insufficient, counting in both local produce and imports.

“There is a need for us to diversify the food that is available in terms of production and distribution,” Ms. Javier said. “We have to support small and medium enterprises to develop added-value products from our agriculture produce and use technology to connect our food producers and consumers.”

“The message number one of the nutritional guidelines for Filipinos is eating a variety of food every day,” she added. “I think it should also be our guide from the production to consumption, from farm to plate.”

Collective efforts

Ayn G. Torres, a policy specialist and researcher at World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), said that solutions for issues in the food system resilience can be done on a larger or smaller scale.

Ms. Torres agreed on the possibility of nurturing vegetable gardens at home, whether integrated with trees or not, as long as diversified. However, the space to plant a nutrition-rich, diversified range of species can be an issue, especially for the poor in urban settlements where spaces can be cramped. “This is where a lot of public and private initiated efforts are very much appreciated,” she said.

“We should always highlight the role of the local government in these efforts. We have seen how much the power of the local government can do in terms of recovery response during the pandemic.”

She shared that local governments have also started community gardening to aggregate people to begin such gardening as well.

“We have to recognize that it can be done on a smaller scale, [and] we should look at it to try to level that up [so] more people can benefit,” she added.

Ms. Torres also noted that “while a bigger chunk of [food system] problems like economic and environmental can be solved at the policy or public sector level, we encourage a lot of private-sector movement also because that is [where] most of the innovations start.”

This session of #BUSINESSWORLDINSIGHTS was made possible by SM Foundation and was supported by British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and The Philippine STAR.