March 2021

SGV Talent Associate Director Luisa Hebron was among the speakers at the #ForwardThinkingFlex: Making Flexible Work, Work webinar hosted by the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE), the Philippine Women’s Economic Network (PhilWEN), the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), and Investing in Women (IW) last 16 February. Other speakers included human resources executives and managers from government agencies and business organizations. They discussed the value of a Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) in promoting workplace gender equality and diversity & inclusion. They also identified practical recommendations to help companies develop sustainable and effective FWA policies and practices. Luisa began her presentation with an overview of SGV’s commitment to diversity & inclusion, sustainability, and people development. She shared how the Firm has embraced the concept that the ability to work flexibly is a key differentiator for recruitment and critical to employee retention, productivity and engagement. She then explained how the Firm’s FWA policies are aligned with our Purpose and diversity & inclusion goals. Luisa also provided tips on how participants can build a culture of flexibility in their own organizations. The webinar is the fifth installment of the PBCWE’s #WEECanDoIT​ webinar series. To watch the webinar, please visit https://tinyurl.com/LAHebronPBCWE. SGV is a Founding Member of the PBCWE. The Firm received its EDGE Certification in August 2018, making it the first multidisciplinary professional services firm in the Philippines to receive this certification for meeting the EDGE standards for gender equality. EDGE stands for Economic Dividends for Gender Equality.
SGV’s Tax Team conducted a public webinar titled Thrive amidst a BIR audit: a survival guide on 26 February. Speakers discussed the latest BIR enforcement strategies and recent issuances, rulings and court decisions involving tax audit issues. Over 300 tax and financial executives from various industries attended the event. Tax Partner Thyrza F. Marbas (TFM) discussed the technicalities of the BIR audit program, including the taxpayers covered by the program and the revised BIR organizational structure and the BIR’s primary jurisdiction. She also explained the tax assessment procedure and the applicable BIR issuances. Tax Partner Cheryl C. Ong (CCO) then discussed common tax issues and presented a comparison of BIR-related documents and specific tax assessment items. The discussions were followed by a Q&A portion led by CCO and TFM. The webinar’s organizing team included Tax Managers Virnee Joy Agot and Aiza Giltendez, and Senior Associates Crisanta Esgana and Monica Marie Miciano.
Assurance and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) moderated a webinar titled Exploring Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Trends in the APAC Region hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and Vigeo Eiris (V.E.) last 17 February. The session featured presentations from V.E. Executive Director Juliette Macresy and Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Kelvin Lee. They discussed the key drivers, risks and opportunities, and regulatory developments in ESG investing. They also shared observations on developing ESG trends in the APAC region.
Assurance and Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) Partner Benjamin N. Villacorte (BNV) was among the speakers at the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants – San Beda University (JPIA-SBU) Crossroads: A Look in Our Career Paths virtual career talk last 30 January. Over 180 SBU students participated in the event. As an alumnus of SBU, BNV spoke about his university experiences and how they shaped his professional development. He shared tips on how participants can advance their careers, encouraging them to leverage on technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation and blockchain. He also emphasized the value of teamwork and strengthening professional relationships for successful client engagements. BNV likewise discussed sustainability for ESG considerations and its significance in business continuity and resilience. He explained that companies today are not just evaluated based on financial metrics as regulators also measure their impact through an ESG lens. The session concluded with an open forum where BNV addressed questions on his career journey, the qualities of SGV professionals, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Firm and its people. Talent Supervising Associate Julia-Anne Deypalan and Talent Associates Camille Joyce Pascual and Juliene Marinela Salayon also attended the event.
The Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) organized a webinar titled Mixer: Updates on the Newly Ratified Bicameral Version of the CREATE Bill on 3 March. SBFCC President Benjamin E. Antonio III delivered the opening remarks and welcomed over 90 participants from SBFCC member companies, including SGV Clark Head Jose Pepito E. Zabat (JEZ). SBFCC Director Peter Tumanda introduced Tax Partner Hentje Leo L. Leaño (LLL), who led a discussion on the salient provisions of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill, its proposed adjustments in corporate tax and rationalization of fiscal incentives. Emphasizing the bill’s salient provisions and possible impact on Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) locators, he shared insights on how businesses can prepare for and maximize the incentives of the proposed tax reforms. The webinar concluded with an open forum where LLL and Mr. Antonio addressed participants’ questions. SBFCC Executive Director Donna May Tamayo hosted the event.