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Aboitiz is undergoing its Great Transformation to become the Philippines' first techglomerate.

The Great Transformation

Innovation

SABINi

Column

University of Experience

People & Culture

Power

SAKADAB members now certified in Dressmaking

Dream Big: 9 Things To Steal From The Start-up Nation

Infrastructure

LIMA Water expands services to include septage treatment

Data Science and AI

Unlocking ESG for Chief Data Officers

Aboitiz Group Advisory to External Stakeholders regarding COVID-19

2019 Bankers’ Night

2019 Brigada Eskwela Cebu

Allyson Mae Espaldon

SAKADAB members learn to take measurements and patterns during their dressmaking
training.It’s graduation season at the Gawad Kalinga community in Los Amigos,
Tugbok District, Davao City as 26 members of the Samahan ng may iba't-ibang
Kakayahan sa Dabaw (SAKADAB) Consumer Cooperative received their national
certification (NCII) in dressmaking this March, after completing the training
and passing the assessment conducted by the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) Region XI.




After a 35-day training which started in December 2022, the SAKADAB members
skilled up in dressmaking to further add to their sustainable income-generating
projects, aside from baking bread and pastries and selling goods.




“I don’t have any experience in sewing because I was more exposed to office
work, but still I took the challenge. This opportunity opens many doors for us
to provide sustainable income for SAKADAB and everyone who participated in this
livelihood training. I plan to make my own version of the bag using rags but I
will still study further to share with my group,” Marisol Labasano, the
President of SAKADAB said in her speech.




The training was launched after a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the
Cooperative Capacity Building Project was signed by SAKADAB Consumer
Cooperative, Davao Light and Power Co. Inc., and Aboitiz Foundation Inc. last
October 2022.




Historically, Davao Light, an AboitizPower subsidiary, and Aboitiz Foundation
have been supporting SAKADAB back when Aboitiz employees helped them build their
houses in Gawad Kalinga. Since 2012, the cooperative has been a recipient of
various volunteer activities and projects to build the capacity of its
differently-abled members. The utility company and its foundation also provided
support to SAKADAB's business when they were severely impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic where the latter received baking materials as well as sewing supplies
for their bakeshop and dressmaking businesses, respectively.




“Your success in your respective business ventures will further inspire us to
help more cooperatives nationwide. It reminds us to strive harder to improve our
enterprise development program,” Maribeth Marasigan, the President and Chief
Operating Officer of Aboitiz Foundation said in her speech during the graduation
ceremony.




SAKADAB also received P300,000 worth of a sewing business package to improve
their dressmaking business. This includes four (4) sewing machines, tools, and
materials. Aside from dressmaking, the graduates will soon undergo packaging and
branding training.

The 26 graduates from SAKADAB Consumer Cooperative receive their NCII from TESDA
after a four-month course in dressmaking."We believe that with the training and
business package that you have received, you can take on another good business
and we are grateful that you have put value in your skills as you use them to
prosper and bring more success to your business," Orville Lazaro, Davao Light
AVP for Engineering said in his message to the graduates.




Davao Light aims to add value to the community it serves by providing keys to
bringing about improved lives and well-being.

Aboitiz Eyes

The Dream Big series is a collection of insights by members of the Board of AEV
and Aboitiz leaders, drawn from their recent learning tour of Israel's start-up
scene and discussions with their most inspiring leaders.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sabin's 9 Things Everyone Should Steal From The Start-up Nation
SMA with technopreneur Nechemia "Chemi" Jacob Peres, son of Israel's Former PM
Shimon Peres. Chemi is Co-Founder of Pitango Venture Capital, Israel's largest
venture capital fund, and Chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. 1. 
    Their general attitude towards innovation, the future, and the world.
 2. 
    If you have a war inside, that's the end of you/your organization. Internal
    fights will undo you. Egos always get in the way, we must remove egos and
    envy. All the instability in the region surrounding Israel forces them to
    try and get along internally and work collaboratively towards a big common
    goal.
 3. 
    They are where they are because it is borne out of necessity. They are not
    afraid to experiment and take risks. Generally, we are risk averse, very
    different from Israeli culture.
 4. 
    They are competitive and collaborative at the same time. They are supportive
    of each other and always supportive of Israel.
 5. 
    They are always hungry for knowledge, learning, understanding, and wisdom.
 6. 
    Their strong leadership and circumstances have taught them to be fearless of
    failure because they have nothing to lose.
 7. 
    There is no hierarchy. Decisions are made fast and flexibly because they
    work in a flat, agile ecosystem with almost no bureaucracy.
 8. 
    Israel really has nothing except the minds and spirits of their own people.
    This is their most valuable and only real asset.
 9. 
    The Israel experience really does validate much of what we have been talking
    about for years, and particularly now during our Great Transformation.

> I do not regret any of my dreams. My only regret is not having dreamed more. Who
says that those who do not dream right? Use your imagination and never give up. 

– Shimon Peres

The current trainees under TESDA's EIM Technical Vocational (TechVoc) can now
use the fully functional and complete facility at Tugbok District, Davao City.
Davao Light ends the year's first quarter with the donation of a PHP2.4-million
renovated electrical installation and maintenance (EIM) facility plus tools and
equipment to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
Provincial Training Center in Tugbok District, Davao City.

Davao Light, in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation Inc., the social development
arm of the Aboitiz Group, aims to support the development and creation of more
skilled workers especially electricians who are ready for work or employment
once they pass the TESDA's National Certification Level II (NC-II).

The ceilings and shelves were also revamped to properly organize the tools and
equipment used for EIM classes.“We have gone a long way in our partnership and
we will always be grateful that together we can achieve our goals of producing
more skilled workers, particularly in the field of Electrical Installation and
Maintenance (EIM),” Orville Lazaro, the Assistant Vice President for Engineering
Operations of Davao Light said in his speech during the turn over of the
project.

The TESDA EIM course takers will have a more conducive learning environment at
the same time hone their skills with the use of the fully functional and
complete facility and equipment. Also included in the package are tools for
learning fire alarm, CCTV, and telephone systems while practicing safety
standards using the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided.

In addition to the newly renovated facility, TESDA also received electrical
tools and equipment that will equip the learners to acquire the skill of
electricians that will open doors for employment once they pass the National
Certification (NC) II."We will also continue to find more ways to promote
education as an enabler of growth and enterprise development- thus, helping more
Filipinos earn more income and have better lives," Maribeth Marasigan, the
President and COO of Aboitiz Foundation said.

This is the second EIM facility donated to TESDA after the first one was
installed at TESDA Regional Training Center - Korea Philippines Training Center
in Tibungco, Davao City.

“We complement each other in terms of the resources, technical skills, and
21st-century skills we will be providing to our skilled workers. TESDA is really
willing to push that partnership,” Adonis Culas, the Provincial Director of
TESDA Provincial Office echoed Lazaro’s message in his speech.

The EIM facility, tools, and equipment were turned over to TESDA by the
President and COO of Aboitiz Foundation, Maribeth Marasigan, Assistant Vice
President for Engineering Operations of Davao Light, Orville Lazaro, and the
Head of the Reputation Enhancement Department of Davao Light, Fermin Edillon.
Davao Light takes part in giving rise to solutions that help enrich people's
lives, leading them to contribute to its vision of development for the community
and cities it serves.

Davao Light Closes Q1 With PHP2.4M TESDA Donation

Team members from NextBPO Solutions bagged the first prize for the lip spoof
contest with their rendition of the Pussycat Dolls’ Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny).
After two years of online events, Davao Light and Power Co., Inc., an
AboitizPower subsidiary, resumes its face-to-face event for its seventh
Contractors Appreciation Night. Close to 400 contractors from 20 companies
attended the event held at Grand Menseng Hotel, Magallanes Street, Davao City
last February.




Suited up and dressed as pirates for the night’s theme, contractors in line
works to customer services presented their Music Television (MTV) lip spoof and
electrified the stage with various acting and dancing performances.




Organized by the Contracted Services Management Department (CSMD) of Davao
Light, the event aims to show praise and appreciation for the yearly performance
of the contracted service partners of Davao Light, who are mostly
customer-facing.

Davao Light gives special recognition to the linemen who responded as Task Force
Odette to Bohol last December 2021.Davao Light also recognized the ten linemen
who served as Task Force Odette to Bohol, Visayas after Typhoon Odette hit the
Philippines last December 2021.




“The ultimate measure of the company's success is the satisfaction of our
customers, and we thank you, our contractors, for helping us deliver excellent
service to our customers,” the President and Chief Operating Officer of Davao
Light said in his speech.




Davao Light continues to guarantee reliable service by also ensuring the safety
of its contracted service providers and customers.

The General Manager of the Estacio Magbanua Construction Corporation (EMCC),
Leopoldo Magbanua, receives an award from Davao Light President and COO Rodger
Velasco, Assistant Vice Presidents for Engineering Orville Lazaro and Enriczar
Tia, and Operating Unit Head James Ryan Malones of the Distribution Network
Department.Davao Light contractors dress up as pirates for the Contractors
Appreciation Night on February 17, 2023 held at Grand Menseng Hotel, Magallanes
Street, Davao City.

Davao Light recognizes contractors for the seventh year

Dustin Ibanez

Committed to accelerating change to solve water and sanitation crisis, LIMA
Water, Aboitiz InfraCapital's water unit that oversees the water and wastewater
services operations of LIMA Estate in Batangas, is set to launch its septage
treatment services for neighboring cities and municipalities in the provinces of
Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon.

"Septage management is important to guarantee the safe disposal of human waste
to protect the environment and public health," said LIMA Water General Manager
Hazele Manalo.

Unfortunately, many households in the Philippines have neglected the need for
regular septic tank cleaning and the treatment of wastewater. This poses a risk
of contaminating groundwater, the country's primary source of water, which might
lead to an outbreak in water-borne diseases and other negative health
repercussions.

“One of the gaps to regular septic tank cleaning is the availability and
accessibility to a trusted and reliable desludging services and septage
treatment partner. Thus, our septage treatment initiative would allow our
neighboring towns and cities to address this,” Manalo added.

Septic tanks must be cleaned once every three to five years. LIMA Water’s
initiative to offer septage treatment services would help improve sanitation,
ensure long-term viability of groundwater sources, and safeguard public health
in Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon.

LIMA Water operates two wastewater treatment facilities that are compliant with
the latest effluent standards and have a combined treatment capacity of 26
million liters of wastewater per day.To ensure that LIMA Water provides
efficient and quality septage treatment services, it uses a wastewater treatment
plant that is compliant to the latest effluent standards and has its own
DENR-accredited laboratory. With LIMA Water’s commitment to sustainability, this
facility is also set to operate on solar energy.

“Everyone has the right to safe, clean water and adequate sanitation. We at
Aboitiz InfraCapital are committed to enable businesses and uplift communities
through infrastructure that can provide access to basic human necessities such
as water and wastewater services,” said Aboitiz InfraCapital Water Business Head
Anna Victoria Lu.

LIMA Water is set to complete the installation of solar panels for its
wastewater treatment plants in Batangas.LIMA Water provides water services and
wastewater treatment to more than 140 locators with more than 65,000 employees
in LIMA Estate . In 2022, it employed a SMART Water Network  technology in its
water operations, transforming all its water facilities into interconnected and
intelligent systems and increasing efficiency of its water services. It operates
two wastewater treatment facilities that have a combined treatment capacity of
26 million liters of wastewater daily. LIMA Water was able to treat more than 2
billion liters of wastewater last year.

Dr. Jayarethanam Pillai, Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI)'s Head of Data Science
Consulting, recently lent his expertise as a panel member at the CDO Innovation
Singapore 2023 held at Carlton Hotel, Singapore. Together with Philip Lim,
Foresight Economics Senior Advisor, they discussed how modern-day stepping
stones like growth modelling and new digital solutioneering can help companies
achieve corporate viability.

Their discussion covered how CDOs add value to the growth of companies,
developing and deploying technological solutions sustainably, resource
optimization pivot, and diversification as a new ESG tool in the hands of CDOs.

One key takeaway from the discussion is the role that Chief Data Officers (CDOs)
play in driving progress towards achieving Environmental, Social, and Governance
(ESG) goals. With the increasing focus on sustainability and responsible
business practices, companies need to prioritize their ESG initiatives.

> CDOs play a crucial role in helping organizations achieve these goals by
leveraging data and analytics to identify areas for improvement and drive
meaningful change.

– Dr. Jayarethanam Pillai, Head of Data Science Consulting, Aboitiz Data
Innovation 
Moreover, the ever-changing business environment requires companies to
constantly innovate to stay relevant. Growth modeling helps in predicting market
trends, enabling businesses to make informed decisions about their future
direction. Meanwhile, digital solutioneering helps companies automate their
processes, driving operational efficiency and cost savings. Together, these
tools can optimize revenue, better manage risks, and help organizations achieve
their overall business and sustainability objectives.

For instance, ADI’s AI-powered solutions steered progress in the areas such as
financial sustainability and emissions reduction by operationalizing Data
Science and AI. Ensuring that we use AI for good, the DSAI team developed an
AI-powered alternative credit scoring solution that makes it possible for
UnionBank and its tech arm UBX to offer loans and credit to a broader range of
individuals and small businesses who may have not qualified under traditional
scoring methods. 

Meanwhile, ADI worked with Republic Cement to develop the 28-day cement strength
predictive modeling tool, which was able to optimize the latter’s cement
manufacturing process. Beyond that, it resulted in better-managed resources,
increased efficiency of raw materials usage, and most importantly, effectively
reducing carbon emissions in the cement manufacturing process by approximately
35,000 tCO2e annually, all while ensuring consistent product quality.

By transforming data into business and sustainability outcomes and with CDOs
leading the way, we can continue to transform businesses and advance communities
through game-changing solutions.

Franzia Marie de Leon

Pilmico distributed flour bags to 11 Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations
(ARBOs) in support of Tinapay Ti Uno, a product development program of the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and the Office of Tarlac First District
Congressman Jaime Cojuangco.Camiling, TARLAC — Last March 3, the Aboitiz Group’s
Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation (Pilmico) distributed flour bags to 11
Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) for Tinapay Ti Uno, a program
of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Office of Tarlac First
District Congressman Jaime Cojuangco. 


This initiative aims to establish Tarlac’s bun and bread recipe, utilizing crops
such as guava, banana, monggo, malunggay, squash, and cow’s milk from their
district’s ARBOs. Each ARBO received an electric oven from the Office of Cong.
Cojuangco and Pilmico Kutitap Hard Wheat Flour through Bakery Solutions Company
(BASCo).


“We at DAR Tarlac are always on the lookout for partnerships and linkages
because we believe that this kind of effort can work well in the implementation
of various support services programs for our ARBOs,” stated DAR Tarlac in a
Facebook post.




Camiling Mayor Erlon C. Agustin was present in the turnover ceremony together
with representatives from public and private sectors partners — Pilmico, BASCo,
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education And Skills
Development Authority (TESDA), and the Office of Cong. Cojuangco.


DAR Tarlac, represented by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II (PARPO
II) Officer-in-Charge Rogelio Marzan, spearheaded the program. Meanwhile,
Camiling Mayor Erlon C. Agustin graced and hosted the event. Also in attendance
were representatives from partner government agencies and institutions under the
program: Pilmico, BASCo, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical
Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Office of Cong.
Cojuangco.


“Ang assistance ng Pilmico ay hindi lamang upang mabigyan ng additional
livelihood ang COOP, kundi para ma-suportahan din ang local farm produce ng
ating mga farmers. Napakaganda ng layunin nitong programa ng DAR [Tinapay Ti
Uno] dahil mabibigyan din ng oportunidad ang mga COOP na ma-showcase ang
kanilang produkto at ngayon nga - gagawing tinapay,” said BASCo-Pangasinan
Branch Manager Arnel Mayo. 


(Pilmico's assistance will not only provide additional livelihood for the COOP,
it will also support the local farm produce of our farmers. The objective of
DAR's Tinapay Ti Uno program is commendable since it will give an opportunity
for our COOP [farmers] to showcase their produce which will now be made into
bread.)




In photo (from left): Pilmico Flour Resident Chef Carla Valencia, Camiling Mayor
Erlon C. Agustin, DAR Tarlac Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II OIC
Rogelio Marzan, Robert Randolph Moulic from the Office of Cong. Cojuangco and
BASCo Branch Manager Arnel Mayo.Also part of the Tinapay Ti Uno program is a
competition among the ARBOs where they develop an original recipe for two kinds
of bread — bun and special bread – using their own locally produced crops as the
main ingredients. The winning bread created by the ARBOs will be the official
specialty bread product of the First District of Tarlac. It will be developed,
labeled, packaged, and distributed to the market as well as to various feeding
programs. 


Pilmico will award three Bakery Livelihood Packages, which will include bakery
tools, equipment, and flour bags, to the major winners. The runners-up will also
receive flour bags. 


“We recognize that in order to fulfill Pilmico’s mission of feeding humanity, we
cannot accomplish it on our own. It would require a partnership between the
private sector and the public sector for it to have a greater impact, and our
partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform enabled us to reach
additional communities, bringing us one step closer to our goal of accomplishing
this purpose,” said Pilmico Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist Pinky
Christine Baroman.



Last October 2022, representatives from Pilmico developed and presented to Cong.
Jaime Cojuangco (second from left) their specialty bread recipe using locally
produced crops from ARBOs.Last October 2022, before the turnover of the bakery
equipment, Pilmico developed and presented its specialty bread recipe to Cong.
Cojuangco. Pilmico then distributed the sample pieces of bread to daycare
students of Brgy. Matalapitap in Tarlac. In February, Pilmico Flour Resident
Chef and TESDA-accredited trainer Carla Valencia facilitated training on
packaging cost and the nutritional value of bun and bread at the DAR Tarlac
office.

Food

DAR’s Tinapay Ti Uno Program taps Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) for bread making competition

Jade Hazel Chiu

The overall power rate of Davao Light further decreased from PHP11.52 in
February to PHP11.14 this March.

The 38-centavo per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) decrease is due to (1) Davao Light’s
participation in the commercial operation of the Philippine Wholesale
Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Mindanao which the company took advantage of
given the low power supply prices, and (2) the decrease of the price of power
from coal suppliers where Davao Light sources a part of its power requirement.
It can be recalled that power generation rates were high beginning in June 2022
due to the increase in the price of imported fuel particularly coal.

Davao Light customers whose household’s average monthly electricity consumption
is 200 kWh will experience a decrease of PHP76 this month as compared to their
February billing.

Power rates as reflected in Davao Light monthly bills are divided into 4 major
components: Generation and Transmission, Distribution, Subsidies and Other
Charges, and Government Charges and Taxes. Generation and transmission charges
are pass-through charges that the distribution utility collects and pays to
power suppliers and the transmission operator, respectively. The company only
charges its customers for distribution, which remains at an average of PHP1.4257
per kilowatt-hour as approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). This
charge has not increased since 2013.

Davao Light, an AboitizPower subsidiary, aims to provide its customers with a
front-seat vantage point regarding its services, including the sourcing and
pricing of its electricity. This is in line with the mission of the company to
deliver at the most reasonable cost, safe and reliable electric service to the
people and businesses it serves.

Power Rates Continue To Decrease For March 2023

Earl Gio Manuel

BRAND REFRESH RECOGNIZED. Aboitiz Construction’s rebranding campaign was honored
with a Silver award at the Public Relations Society of the Philippines’ (PRSP’s)
prestigious Anvil Awards held last March 8.Aboitiz Construction, Inc. (ACI) was
recognized with a Silver award during the recently concluded 58th Anvil Awards
for its outstanding corporate/organizational identity program: The New Brand of
ACI.




Launched in February 2022, the rebranding of Aboitiz Construction was inspired
by its mission of promoting economic growth by helping businesses to prosper and
by advancing communities. Aboitiz Construction proudly provides livelihood
opportunities to Filipinos. The unveiling of its new image established its
unique identity in the Aboitiz Group and a strong presence in the construction
industry.

“To be recognized by the ‘Oscars of the Communication Industry’ has given us so
much pride and honor. In essence, our new brand signifies our Great
Transformation and underscores our purpose of building for business to prosper
and communities to thrive,” said Aboitiz Construction Executive Director Antonio
Penalver, Aboitiz Construction.

THE NEW BRAND OF ABOITIZ CONSTRUCTION. The image of ACI, which is a building
block, reflects the stability, credibility, and confidence of the firm towards a
brighter and better future. The new color palette represents winning,
sustainability, and fuel for advancing the nation.The Anvil symbolizes
excellence in public relations and is awarded by a distinguished multi-sectoral
jury for outstanding public relations programs and tools in the country.

Starting its operations in Cebu in 1975, Aboitiz Construction has since expanded
its footprint nationally by participating in more diversified construction and
maintenance services projects. To date, the firm has successfully implemented
more than 800 projects on a national scale, focusing on heavy and light
industries, infrastructure, and maintenance services.

Construction

Aboitiz Construction wins Silver at Anvil Awards for its rebranding campaign

Aboitiz Family & Firm Educational Series


THE SINGULARITY IS NEAR
When Humans Transcend Biology
by Ray Kurzweil


Enrique Aboitiz Mendieta



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Tito Ortiz recommended this book to me. I finally got to reading it.

You come out of this journey with Kurzweil with an antimony of feeling: Rational
Fear of the Future and Rational Optimism of the Future. It is long. The normal
of us will not understand it well. I did not. However, you will get a feel of
what is possible post 2030. There will not be a need for heart. Blood will flow
by itself. Intelligence will be enhanced, not only by computers, but
biologically.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may listen to this book here: 
https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Singularity-Is-Near-Audiobook/0593163265

The Union Of Human And Machine

UnionDigital Bank (UD) recently announced its partnership with the country’s
first fully integrated and fully digital health and wellness platform, mWell.
The collaboration comes as part of UD’s efforts to make financial services more
accessible to Filipinos.

UnionDigital Bank will provide mWell’s patients with a holistic health and
financial wellness experience by integrating its banking services into mWell’s
app. Being the number one digital lender in the Philippines, UD is committed to
providing innovative solutions to enable more individuals and businesses to
obtain the financial resources they need to achieve their goals.

Driving health and financial wellness. mWell President and CEO, Chaye
Cabal-Revilla, and UnionDigital Bank president and CEO, Henry R. Aguda, agree to
deliver a holistic and integrated solutions for Filipinos.mWell, on the other
hand, aims to bring healthcare to more Filipinos here and abroad through its
fully integrated, sustainable, and future-proof digital platform. It provides a
seamless end-to-end journey for its patients – from booking a video consultation
to having their medicines delivered to their doorsteps. As part of the MPIC
group, it is committed to working towards the achievement of the United Nation’s
Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Recently, mWell was recognized at the highly-coveted 2023 Global Mobile Awards
at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Spain. They bagged the award for Best
Mobile Innovation for Digital Life, Digital Everything Category.

Having the same objective of using innovation in providing ease and improving
access to wellness for its customers, mWell and UnionDigital Bank will strive to
make healthcare services more affordable by offering digital banking products,
such as medical emergency loans and flexible payment terms, integrated within
the mWell app.

> Joining forces with UnionDigital Bank is a major step towards improving the
overall healthcare experience of our customers. It will bring a new level of
convenience and support, enhancing our ability to deliver on our mission of
empowering people to live their healthiest lives.

-Chaye Cabal-Revilla, President and CEO, mWell; Chief Finance, Risk, and
Sustainability Officer, MPIC.
By working together, UnionDigital Bank and mWell can create a more efficient and
effective digital experience that prioritizes the needs of its customers from
health to finances.

> Combining our expertise in digital banking and healthcare innovation, our
partnership with mWell will enable us to offer cutting-edge solutions and
seamlessly integrate our services into their app, making it easier for their
customers to manage the financial aspects of their healthcare journey.

-Henry R. Aguda, President and CEO, UnionDigital Bank
Together, we are committed to empowering mWell users to have greater control
over their health, allowing them to focus on what truly matters – their health
and well-being,” he added.

This is a milestone for both UnionDigital Bank and mWell as they mark a major
step forward in driving financial inclusion and improving the overall healthcare
experience of its customers.

UnionDigital Joins Forces With Metro Pacific’s mWell To Drive Health And Financial Wellness

Members of the Mankayan’s MANPAT-A Farmers Association with Benguet Governor
Melchor D. Diclas, M.D., Mankayan Mayor Dario Banario, Department of Agriculture
- Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Technical Director for Operations
Engr. Danilo Daguio, Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal Chairman James P.
Estong, NVAT General Manager Gilbert Cumila, EcoZen Solutions President Ravindra
Dolare, Hedcor President and COO Rolando Pacquiao, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures
(AEV) Vice President for Transformation Dea Franko Csuba, together with Fresh
Depot’s young blood project leads from AEV - Aly Virrey, Lester Gimeno, and
Bianca Gempesaw.In line with its Great Transformation to become the Philippines’
first Techglomerate, the Aboitiz Group launched Fresh Depot, which seeks to
become the first-ever physical and digital solutions platform for farmers in the
country. Its first phase involves piloting a modular and sustainable cold
storage unit in Mankayan, Benguet, with the vision of helping farmers reduce
their post-harvest losses and maximize crop yield.

“Fresh Depot aims to transform the lives of our farmers by offering a platform
that optimizes their yield and income while reducing waste, making a significant
contribution to our country’s food security,” said Aboitiz Group President and
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sabin Aboitiz.

“Uplifting the agricultural sector and our farmers is crucial to strengthening
our food supply chain and reducing our reliance on imports. We see various
opportunities to make an impact in this sector and this is just one of the many
projects we’re working on,” he added.

According to a study by the Institute of Food Science and Technology of the
University of the Philippines Los Baños, about 42% of locally grown produce goes
bad before it can be eaten, and farmers, consumers, and other supply chain
players are suffering for it.

In 2020, the Department of Agriculture (DA) underscored the need to establish
more cold storage facilities in the country. This was echoed by the Philippine
Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI), highlighting that it can reduce
post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ income.

In the Philippines, however, most cold storage facilities are located near urban
areas and are used for storing meat and other frozen products. These
conventional, energy-guzzling cold storages are not built for farmers, who need
farm-level and affordable cooling facilities for their crops.

Aboitiz launches Fresh Depot, an integrated solution that aims to help farmers
reduce their post-harvest losses and maximize crop yield.In addition to offering
sustainable modular cold storage, Fresh Depot’s second phase will involve
digitizing farmers’ land, and planting practices, pre-harvest, harvest, and
market information. Digitization will allow Fresh Depot to offer advisory
services, explore market linkage opportunities and financial inclusion programs,
as well as build a database of information that the government can utilize for
their agricultural programs.

This pilot, which will initially run for three to six months, will become a case
study for this new type of enterprise, which Aboitiz hopes to scale up across
other farm locations in the Philippines if proven viable. Ultimately, Fresh
Depot is envisioned to assist the government in enabling millions of farmers.

Among those in attendance during its pilot launch in Mankayan were Benguet
Provincial Governor Melchor D. Diclas, M.D., Mankayan Mayor Dario Banario,
Department of Agriculture - Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Technical
Director for Operations Engr. Danilo Daguio, Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal
Chairman James P. Estong, NVAT General Manager Gilbert Cumila, EcoZen Solutions
President Ravindra Dolare, Hedcor President and COO Rolando Pacquiao, and
Aboitiz Equity Ventures Vice President for Transformation Dea Franko Csuba.
Aboitiz is planning to launch a second pilot location in the next few weeks.

Collaborating with local players and global experts
With the support of government units and agencies, Fresh Depot is working with
Mankayan’s Manpat-A Farmers Association for its first pilot site of the cold
storage unit. The Benguet region is home to quality highland crops and thousands
of farmers.

For its pilot project, Fresh Depot is also collaborating with two leading
international agri-tech players: Ecozen Solutions Pvt. Ltd., which is backed by
Nuveen global impact fund USA and EXIM Bank of Government of India, and Cropin
Technology Solutions Pvt. Ltd., which is backed by Impact Assets Singapore, as
one of its investors. Ecozen manufactured the modular hybrid cold storage unit
called Ecofrost. Ecofrost is designed with climate-smart deep tech to harness
solar energy to power the unit, with a proprietary technology for battery-less
back-up, which after pre-cooling will keep the fresh produce market-ready 24/7.

During the launching of the Fresh Depot’s cold storage unit in Mankayan, (from
right to left) Benguet Governor Melchor D. Diclas, M.D., Department of
Agriculture - Cordillera Administrative Region Regional Technical Director for
Operations Engr. Danilo Daguio, Mankayan Mayor Dario Banario, Manpat-A Farmers
Association President Basilio Ngaseo Jr., Aboitiz Equity Ventures Vice President
for Transformation Dea Franko Csuba, and Hedcor President and COO Rolando
Pacquiao show off the first crates of vegetables to be stored in the unit.
Meanwhile, Cropin’s services include farm monitoring and management and an
easy-to-use, seamless communication solution connecting farmers,
agri-businesses, and field officers and helping digitize farm activities. With
its presence in 92 countries, the company is known for creating the world’s
first industry cloud for agriculture, Cropin Cloud, which helps the agricultural
ecosystem make informed decisions that increase farming efficiency, improve
productivity, manage risk and environmental changes, and enhance sustainability.

These separate solutions have been tested and proven effective in other parts of
the world, such as India, Kenya, and Nigeria. Fresh Depot’s pilot will allow
participant farmers to experience how technology has improved agriculture in
other developing countries during the period and help future-proof the industry
to make it more resilient to emerging threats and challenges.

Moreover, Fresh Depot has been selected by the Basel Agency for Sustainable
Energy (BASE), a Swiss foundation and Specialized Partner of the United Nations
Environment, to participate in a three-month international Incubator Program.

Fresh Depot was selected along with four (4) other global companies that are
making decentralized solar-powered cooling accessible to farmers on a
pay-per-use basis instead of traditional methods. The Incubator will support
Fresh Depot in digitizing inventory management and monitoring the shelf-life of
stored crops in real time through an app.

Great Transformation in action
Fresh Depot is an innovative solution that has been developed as part of Aboitiz
Group's Voyage Program, an internal initiative that aims to discover the most
effective solutions to social challenges worldwide. Other initiatives being
developed under the program cover a range of sectors, including food and
agriculture, power, infrastructure, education, health, real estate, and
manufacturing.

Similar to other business ventures of Aboitiz, the Voyage Program initiatives
are aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Fresh Depot specifically aims to address UN SDGs 12 (Responsible Consumption and
Production), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 13 (Climate Action),
and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

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