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SGV Partners and Managers participated in the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AmCham) North Luzon Economic Briefing on Central Luzon's Regional Economic Situation and Development Outlook for 2024. Forty-five AmCham members attended the briefing held on 25 January 2024 at the SGV Clark office. Atty. Margaux introduces NEDA Region 3 Regional Director Nerrisa T. Esguerra SGV Clark Partner-in-Charge and Head Atty. Margaux A. Advincula delivered the opening remarks and introduced the resource speakers from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 3: Regional Director Nerrisa T. Esguerra, Supervising Economic Development Specialist Jesito Ponio Jr., and Assistant Regional Director Divina Hope Vallejo. The NEDA speakers talked about the government’s initiatives to facilitate economic and social transformation in Central Luzon. NEDA Region 3 Regional Director Nerrisa T. Esguerra talks about Central Luzon's Regional Economic Situation and Development Outlook for 2024 SGV Consulting Partner Joseph Ian M. Canlas moderated the question-and-answer session with the speakers. AmCham North Luzon President Denise H.R. Molintas delivered the closing remarks. MG7 Leader Jose Pepito E. Zabat, Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Partner Hentje Leo L. Leaño, Assurance Senior Director Leo Niño Canlas, GCR Director David Jonathan Manalili, and Business Tax Associate Director Atty. Ma. Jeanne Therese Marasigan were also present during the event.

SGV Partners Hentje Leo L. Leaño, Margaux A. Advincula, Deonah L. Marco-Go, Jose Pepito “Peps” E. Zabat III, and Victor C. De Dios facilitated a seminar on the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act, the CREATE to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Bill, and the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS 2.0) Action Plan. The seminar organized by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) was held at the Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel on 18 January 2024. Victor, Margaux, Peps, SBFCC President Benjamin Antonio III, Deonah, Leo, and SBFCC Director Peter Tumanda at the SBFCC seminar Assurance Senior Director Leo Niño Canlas, Global Tax Compliance Director David Jonathan Manalili, Global Tax Compliance Associate Director Mica Alyanna Rivera, Business Tax Associate Director Atty. Ma. Jeanne Therese Marasigan, Business Tax Senior Associate Atty. Illysa Abquiren, and Atty. Jessica Ella Lagman provided assistance to the Partners throughout the event. About 143 locators and SBFCC members attended the seminar, including SBFCC President Benjamin Antonio III and SBFCC Director Peter Tumanda.

SGV Partners, Principals, and staff attended the 1st Central Luzon Year-end Briefing: Outlook for 2024 and Beyond held on 18 December 2023 at the SGV Clark Office. The event was organized by SGV Clark and was attended by C-suite locator-clients and potential Philippine investors, various Chambers of Commerce and Business Organizations within Central Luzon. BCDA Chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana at the 1st Central Luzon Year-end Briefing The featured guests from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) presented highlights on the 2023 developments in Central Luzon, particularly in Pampanga, Clark, Tarlac, and Subic, as well as the economic outlook for 2024, including expectations for economic growth, investment climate and any potential challenges or opportunities. BCDA also shared their most important projects and accomplishments for 2023 which included projects that locators and investors should look forward to in 2024. Present at the event were BCDA Chairman Delfin N. Lorenzana, BCDA Investment Promotion and Marketing Department Head Michelle De Vera, CDC President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, CIAC President and Chief Executive Officer Arrey A Perez, SBMA Business and Investment for Manufacturing and Maritime Department Manager Karen Magno, and NEDA Region III Assistant Regional Director Evelyn Nacario-Castro. 

The SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team and the EY Center for Climate Policy organized a webcast on “Carbon Pricing: Myths and Facts on Putting a Price on Carbon.” The webcast explored the fundamentals and varying stakeholder perspectives on different carbon pricing mechanisms. More than 400 participants from the private sector, government, non-government organizations, and academe joined the virtual session.  SGV and EY speakers, government, and private sector representatives join the panel discussion SGV Chairman and Country Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan welcomed the participants and delivered his opening remarks. EY Center for Climate Policy Partner and Leader Kasia Klaczynska-Lewis provided an overview of the carbon pricing ecosystem. SGV CCaSS Principal Bonar A. Laureto, EY Center for Climate Policy Senior Anne-Laure Pilat, and EY Manager Malwina Burzec explored the different mechanisms in carbon pricing. EY Asean CCaSS Leader and EY Malaysia Partner Arina Kok discussed carbon pricing in the Asean region. Philippine Climate Change Commission Deputy Executive Director Asec. Romell Antonio Cuenca, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Climate Change Service Chief Albert Magalang, and Ayala Corporation Group Sustainability and Risk Management Unit Executive Director Ma. Victoria Tan shared their perspectives and reactions on the earlier discussions. Toward the end of the session, the speakers and public and private sector invitees engaged in a panel discussion to address questions from the audience. Bonar served as the moderator. SGV CCaSS Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte capped off the webcast by thanking the participants and providing key takeaways from the session. SGV CCaSS Partner Katrina F. Francisco hosted the webcast.  The webcast was put together by a CCaSS organizing and production team consisting of Associate Director Louie Adrianne Cediño; Senior Associates Russel James Andrade, Cybelle Angelie Bautista, Lorenso Luis Bueno, Maria Margarita Dela Cruz, and Donna Genella Diancin; and Associates John Christopher Evangelista, Zachary Jara, Robert Joseph Revilla, and Marianne Angelica Velasco, with assistance from CCaSS Managers Reynaldo Azarcon, Diana Sadili-Chu, Jamaica Pangasinan, and Judd Tablazon; CCaSS Senior Associate Zoe Aurora Romero; and EY Center for Climate Policy Senior Leonie Schiedek.

The SGV Tax Markets Pillar held an Executive Briefing for client executives on the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Bill at the WSDC Training Rooms on 15 January 2024. More than 120 executives and officers from various industries attended the event. Atty. Fame (right) talks about the EOPT Act SGV Chairman and Managing Partner Wilson P. Tan delivered the opening remarks. SGV Tax Leader Atty. Fabian “Fame” K. Delos Santos and Philippine Quantitative Services Leader and Asean Tax Transformation Leader Atty. Cheryl Edeline C. Ong were the key speakers for the event. They talked about the EOPT Act and CREATE MORE Bill, respectively. Cheryl talks about the CREATE MORE Bill SGV Vice Chair and Deputy Managing Partner Maria Vivian C. Ruiz gave the closing remarks. Cocktails with the clients were held after the event. The event provided an avenue for the SGV Tax team to reconnect with C-Suite executives and to share their insights on tax developments and the relevant business impacts.  The SGV Tax Markets Pillar, led by SGV Clark Partner-in-Charge Tax Partner Margaux A. Advincula, organized the executive briefing. The following Tax Partners and Principals also form part of the team: Frances Rose J. Villamayor, Lee Celso R. Vivas, Arlyn A. Sarmiento-Sy, Karen Kaye M. Sta. Maria-Constantino, Ana Katrina C. de Jesus, Donna Frances G. Ylade-Torres, and Cecille M. Santillan-Visto.  Tax Senior Managers Earvin Darren L. Lee, Joan Rouella P. Corrales, Anne E. Momongan-Lim, Gerardo C. Caiga, and Yzrael Edwin V. Pineda, Tax Managers Ma. Alexandria M. Daileg, Grace Lilac S. Desuasido, and Abegaile Marie L. Lebiga, and Tax Senior Nino Louis M. Belarma helped organize the briefing. In view of overwhelming interest from clients, the SGV Tax Markets Pillar will conduct additional executive briefings that will run in February and March 2024.

The SGV Dance Company (SGVDC) was hailed as the Ultimate Champions at the 78th Annual National Convention (ANC) of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) P-POP CON 2023: Pinoy Pop Dance Showdown! SGVDC won over both the crowd and judges as they performed their winning piece at the Sorsogon Convention Center.  78th PICPA ANC P-POP CON 2023: Pinoy Pop Dance Showdown! Champions SGVDC represented PICPA Metro Manila Region, sporting costumes that were styled in a visually satisfying contrast of ethnic fabrics against modern P-pop accessories. They won first place, while representatives from Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog regions won second and third places, respectively.  78th PICPA ANC P-POP CON 2023: Pinoy Pop Dance Showdown! Champions PICPA MMR Chair Sonia D. Segovia, PICPA Southern Metro Manila Chapter (SMMC) President Aileen L. Saringan and PICPA Western Metro Manila Chapter (WMMC) President Peter John R. Ventura and the rest of PICPA MMR delegates joined the team in celebrating this achievement. The competition aimed to celebrate the rise of Pinoy pop culture globally by showcasing the dancing talents of PICPAns all over the Philippines using exclusively P-pop and Original Pilipino Music (OPM) songs. 

SGV Davao hosted the “Symposium for Business Owners: Bringing your Business to the Next Level” at the SGV Davao office. The symposium featured SGV Partners and was attended by family business owners. SGV Davao Partner-in-Charge Jose Raoul J. Balisalisa hosted the event.  SGV Davao symposium participants SGV Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) Partner Anna Maria Rubi B. Diaz talked about Finance Remediation while Philippine FAAS Leader Aris C. Malantic and MG4 Leader Veronica R. Pore (VRP) served as panelists for the event. SGV Business Tax Services (BTS) Partner Karen Kaye M. Sta. Maria-Constantino, Global Compliance & Reporting (GCR) Partner Saha A. Bulagsak, Business Consulting Partner Maria Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña and Assurance Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte talked about Corporate Restructuring, Tax Health Check, Process Improvement and Sustainability Reporting, respectively. The event included business consultations with the key speakers to address the participants’ business concerns.

SGV Tax Principal Atty. Alden C. Labaguis assumed the position of Vice Chairperson of the Tax and Financial Services (TFS) Committee of The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) effective 8 January 2024. ECCP Executive Director Florian Gottein confirmed Atty. Alden’s appointment on the same date through official correspondence.ECCP TFSC Chair Atty. Con Simundac (left) and ECCP TFSC Vice Chair Atty. Alden C. Labaguis (right) Atty. Alden works together with ECCP TFSC Chair Atty. Con Simundac, Lead Legal Counsel of ING Bank Philippines. The ECCP is a bilateral foreign chamber that promotes European interests in the Philippines and vice versa. As an organization with close to 800 members and a strong partnership with the government, the ECCP offers a strong business network that holds great potential in translating to tangible business opportunities. The Chamber strives to make its members’ viewpoints heard on economic and business issues, legislative measures, and administrative regulations. The ECCP recognizes that the financial and fiscal sectors play a key role in helping ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development. Subsequently, the implementation of suitable policies can help facilitate improved generation of funds as well as adequate allocation of resources. The ECCP TFSC engages with relevant stakeholders in initiatives towards improving fiscal and monetary policies including tax reform measures, as well as on improving inclusivity and security in the financial sector.

SGV Clark Partner-in-Charge and Head Atty. Margaux A. Advincula and SGV Tax Partners Hentje Leo L. Leaño and Atty. Maria Margarita D. Mallari-Acaban were resource speakers in a seminar organized by the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA). Around 180 locators, other CILA members, and clients from Clark, Pampanga, Subic Bay, and Tarlac attended the event held at the SGV Clark office on 25 January 2024. Atty. Margaux discusses CREATE MORE Bill Leo discusses EOPT Act Atty. Marga discusses BEPS 2.0 CILA Director Joyce Manansala delivered the opening remarks. CILA President Dr. Frankie Villanueva introduced the speakers. Atty. Margaux, Leo, and Atty. Marga discussed the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act, the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS 2.0) project, and the CREATE to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Bill. Dr. Frankie moderated the question-and-answer sessions and shared his insights on the topics discussed. He also gave the closing remarks. Leo, Tan, Atty. Margaux, Atty. Marga, CILA President Dr. Frankie Villanueva, Leo, and Peps MG7 Leader Jose Pepito “Peps” E. Zabat, Assurance Senior Director Leo Niño Canlas, Global Compliance and Reporting (GCR) Director David Jonathan “Tan” Manalili, and Business Tax Associate Director Atty. Ma. Jeanne Therese Marasigan were also present during the event.

SGV Consulting Manager Jeffrey C. Yee is now a Certified Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Green Belt (GB) professional. Jeffrey received certification from the LSS external certification program sponsored by SGV for Business Consulting – Supply Chain and Operations in October 2023. SGV Consulting Manager and Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt professional Jeffrey C. Yee Jeffrey obtained the certification by attending a 56-hour LSS GB course, passing the written examination, and successfully completing and submitting an actual project study application. Lean Six Sigma is a recognized process improvement methodology thatis needed for foundational operational excellence skills for the Supply Chain team. This supplements the EY Supply Chain Internal Training and Industrial Engineering (IE) curriculum. This is also a preferred certification by EY clients. Congratulations, Jeffrey!