SPPI Pioneers Passport on Wheels at Industrial Park

In partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Science Park of the Philippines’ (SPPI) Light Industry and Science Park I, II, III (LISP), recently held a one-day “Passport on Wheels” at the LISP I Administration Building in Cabuyao, Laguna. The first-ever mobile passport service conducted by the DFA inside an industrial park aims to make passport applications and renewals easier and more efficient for employees of locators in LISP parks. Most of the locators in LISP are multinational and global corporations whose employees are often required to visit their parent or affiliate companies overseas for training, business meetings, workshops, and conventions. Over 1,500 applicants were processed during the one-day event. The joint undertaking helps locator companies save on employees’ time and maximize productivity in- stead of being away from work for passport requirements. LISP is a group of in- dustrial parks located in Laguna, Batangas, Cebu and Bataan, developed and man- aged by Science Park of the Philippines, Inc., a member of the ICCP Group.

Pueblo de Oro Batangas and Cebu Cited by PAGIBIG

Pueblo de Oro Development Corp. (PDO) was recognized by the Home Develop- ment Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) among the top 10 housing developers in South Luzon during the Fund’s bi annual Home Lending Accomplishment Report held at Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay City recently. PDO Batangas recorded over P155 mil- lion in takeout loan value in the first half of 2018.

Pueblo de Oro Cebu was once again named by HDMF Pag-IBIG Fund as the Top 3 Developer in the Visayas in Terms of Loan Takeout Value for the 1st Semester of 2018 during the presentation of the Home Lending Accomplishment Report last September 12, 2018. PDO AVP-Cebu Operations Engr. Benjamin Y. Roleda received the award in behalf of the company. PDO accomplished a takeout loan value of P252.7 million during the first semester, bolstered by the popularity of Park Place twinhomes project and bestseller La Aldea del Mar townhouses. PDO Cebu has con- sistently ranked as among the Top Developers in the Visayas for the past four years.

ICCP CEO Shares Economic Insights at ANC

Amidst pressing talks on the effects of high inflation rate in the country, ICCP CEO and ICCP SBI Venture Partners Senior Managing Director Billy Valtos shared valuable insights about the economy in the news program Early Edition at ANC.

In the TV interview, Mr. Valtos said the investment outlook on the Philippines remains “positive” in the long term despite caution over rising inflation and interest rates. Potential investors still highly regard Filipinos’ English language capability.

“The return expectations are being scrutinized a bit more, especially inflation creeping up. It does affect the net real return on investment,” Valtos said.

“The economic fundamentals remain solid and robust vis-a -vis other choices in Southeast Asia. There are some very good long-term opportunities. Over-all investors have to look at the long-term trends and the
outlook is still positive,” he said.

SPPI President Joins PH Delegation to Israel

Laguna Chamber President Richard Osmond signed a Cooperation Agreement with Jerusalem Chamber President, Dror Atari during the State Visit of President Duterte to Israel last September 4, 2018, witnessed by DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez, PCCI Chairman George Barcelon, PCCI Dir. Jose Leviste, and Isidor Gilan of the Phil-Israel Business Council.

27th South Luzon Area Business Conference

World Trade Center Gets Up Close and Personal with…

World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) organized its fifth Up Close and Personal series of business forums and networking cocktails with recently appointed Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat as keynote speaker last August 13, 2018.

ICCP Group Chairman Guillermo D.Luchangco opened the program with Welcome Remarks followed by WTCMM President Pamela D. Pascual who formally introduced the Tourism Head. Secretary Puyat began her speech with an overview of industry statistics and its contribution to the economy. She discussed DOT’s various work programs including a brief update on the Boracay rehabilitation. Secretary Puyat also shared that the new DOT leadership will be centered on creating a culture of sustainable tourism which means the numbers do not matter the most, but rather the balance between business opportunities and social responsibility.

In the second part of the program, DOT Undersecretary Art Boncato led the open forum and entertained questions from the attendees who are mostly entrepreneurs and industry leaders. In his answers, Usec. Bonacato further edified the DOT’s mission in promoting tourism as a major socio-economic activity to generate foreign currency and employment and to spread the benefits of tourism across all classes.

 

50th Anniversary of DBS Singapore

The Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), the largest bank in Southeast Asia and share- holder of Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines (ICCP), recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a musical based on its award-winning web mini-series, Sparks. The musical by Singapore theatre company Pangdemonium ran from August 3-5, 2018 at the Capitol Theatre in Singapore.

The golden jubilee celebration was attended by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as well as many of the bank’s leaders and employees from its early years and the new leaders at the helm head- ed by DBS CEO Piyush Gupta. Other senior DBS executives present included Eric Ang, Managing Director and Head, Financial Mar- kets; Tan Jeh Wuan, Managing Director and Head, Capital Markets Singapore; and Choe Tse Wei, Managing Director, Strategic Advisory.

The gala show on the evening of August 4 was graced by the bank’s clients, supporters and stakeholders, including ICCP Group repre- sentednby Chairman Guillermo D. Luchangco. Luchangco presented an artistic rendition of a sailing ship made out of a seashell to DBS CEO Piyush Gupta as an expression of ICCP’s grati- tude to the bank which has been an integral part of its journey and success.

The special musical, which served as a tribute to the bank’s pioneers as well as leaders and staff who have shaped DBS over the years, was also an opportune time to envi- sion future collaborations and opportunities for growth between DBS and ICCP.

IGFI Executive Director Sits in the League of Corporate…

ICCP Group Foundation, Inc. (IGFI) Senior Manager Ronnie Tapnio will serve on the Board of Trustees of the League of Corporate Foundations B.Y. 2018-2019. The appoint- ment is a good opportunity to continue IGFI’s benchmarking and sharing of best practices in corporate social responsibility with top corporations like Coca-Cola, BDO, Aboitiz and Unilab among others.

The League of Corporate Foundations is a network of corporate founda- tions and corporations that promotes and enhances the strategic practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among its members and the larger business community, towards sustained national development.

Pueblo de Oro Ramps Up Expansion in Batangas

Pueblo de Oro Development Corp. (PDO), the residential development arm of the ICCP Group, is ramping up its expansion in Batangas as it hitches a ride on the growing residential house and lot market in the country.

Last year, the company grew its net sales by 38 percent to P1.3 billion, resulting in a 130 percent growth in net income to P204.4 million from P89.8 million a year ago. This is a valida- tion of the company’s strategy to focus on the residential market, said PDO president Prim Nolido.

“We secured further growth potential in the financial year by expanding and improving our portfolio. Our latest acquisitions and collabora- tions make us confident that we will continue on this course for this year and onward,”

he said.

Nolido said there is a six million-unit housing backlog in the country, which is projected to increase to 10 million by 2030. The company, he said, would constantly look for opportunities to help fill the backlog.

“The housing sector must work quickly to produce enough decent homes to make a dent on this huge demand. This is the reason PDO is constantly looking for opportunities to take advantage of this market and develop new and improved housing models which buyers will be proud to own,”

he said.

Toward this goal, the company is about to em- bark on its latest project, a 40-hectare residential subdivision in Malvar, Batangas and development will commence by the fourth quarter of 2019, he said.

“This will be part of a 250-hectare ‘live-work’ community that will be developed by our sister company, Science Park of the Philippines Inc.,”

Nolido said.

The company expects ASEAN integration and the pick-up in the economy to lure more multinationals President Nolido further added that this would encourage industrial locators to come in and set up in areas outside Metro Manila, such as Batangas. PDO’s first project is a 360-hectare township in Cagayan de Oro which it launched in 1995. It has since grown its property developments in key cities around the country.

It has expanded in Mactan, Cebu where it opened La Aldea Buena in 2004 and La Aldea del Rio in 2007. These were followed in 2010 by the 30-hectare Pueblo de Oro San Fernando, Pampanga, which is a collection of three private and gated villages, and Pueblo de Oro Sto. Tomas, a 24-hectare project in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.