Coca-Cola Philippines Drives Water Stewardship With Reforestation Activity at La Mesa Watershed

MANILA, Philippines – Coca-Cola Philippines employees gathered at La Mesa Dam on December 17, 2025, for a tree-planting activity with the Million Trees Foundation, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainability through hands-on volunteerism. The effort highlighted how corporate participation and community action can help protect one of Metro Manila’s most critical water sources.

At the Million Trees Nursery and Eco Learning Center within the La Mesa Watershed in Quezon City, Coca-Cola Philippines employees came together to plant native seedlings. The initiative forms part of the larger Annual Million Trees Challenge (AMTC), a long-term watershed rehabilitation program that began under Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and is now being sustained by the Million Trees Foundation, Inc. (MTFI) with the goal of planting 10 million more trees by 2030.

La Mesa Dam is Metro Manila’s primary watershed and one of the remaining major forest reserves in the region. Its protection is essential to ensuring a clean, stable water supply for the capital. Reforestation efforts—especially those that focus on tree-growing, not just tree-planting—contribute to soil conservation, improved groundwater recharge, and long-term ecological resilience.

“The strength of the Million Trees Initiative comes from collective effort. When partners like Coca-Cola Philippines show up on the ground, it accelerates our work to restore critical watersheds like La Mesa,” Mr. Melandrew T. Velasco, Million Trees Foundation Inc, President and Executive Director. “Each seedling planted today is part of a bigger commitment to protect the ecosystems that support millions of Filipinos.”

For employee volunteers, the activity was a meaningful way to take part in environmental protection while gaining a deeper appreciation of watershed stewardship — a core focus of the company’s Sustainability Matters campaign. “Today proved that sustainability is about action — and that small efforts become meaningful when we work as one,” said Maria Christine Garcia, Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability of Coca-Cola Philippines.

Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines and Vice President for Franchise Operations East of Coca-Cola Far East Limited (CCFEL), underscored how employee volunteerism strengthens the company’s sustainability goals.

“Our sustainability journey is grounded in strong partnerships, long-term commitments, and the dedication of our people. Initiatives like this underscore the vital role each of us plays in safeguarding essential resources such as the La Mesa Watershed,” said Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines and Vice President for Franchise Operations East of Coca-Cola Far East Limited. “This activity reflects our broader commitment to environmental stewardship and to collaborating with communities and partners to create lasting, meaningful impact.”

To learn more about Coca-Cola Philippines’ sustainability initiatives, the public may visit www.coca-cola.com/ph/en/sustainability.

Security Bank Caps 2025 Expansion With 377 Branches Nationwide

Makati, Philippines – Security Bank Corporation capped off 2025 with the opening of five new branches in December, bringing its nationwide branch network to 377 branches and reinforcing its commitment to making banking more accessible and inclusive across the country.

The December openings mark a strong finish to a year of sustained expansion, reflecting Security Bank’s continued focus on bringing BetterBanking closer to more Filipinos, supporting households, entrepreneurs, and growing communities nationwide.

In Luzon, the Bank opened new branches in Guagua, Pampanga, and Batangas City Highway, strengthening its presence in high-growth corridors serving both residential communities and key transport routes. In Metro Manila, the opening of Caloocan–Camarin enhanced access to banking services in a strategically located and rapidly developing area.

In the Visayas, new branches in Calbayog and Cebu–Mahi further extend the Bank’s reach to communities that support local enterprises, regional trade, and a growing base of individual and SME clients.

“This month’s branch openings are yet another affirmation of our unwavering commitment to customer-centricity. It is a deliberate investment in what truly matters: the needs, convenience, and aspirations of our clients,” said Leslie Cham, Executive Vice President and Branch Banking Head at Security Bank.

As its network grows, Security Bank continues to elevate the in-branch experience. Each new location is designed to meet a wide range of customer needs—from everyday transactions to long-term financial planning—while seamlessly integrating with the Bank’s digital channels.

For more information on Security Bank’s products, services, and branch locations, visit www.securitybank.com or follow Security Bank on social media.

Vivo Philippines Celebrates Berry Christmas 2025 with SUV and Smartphone Giveaway

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Cheers and excitement filled the OMODA & JAECCOO Pasig branch on January 16 as Vivo Philippines held the Berry Christmas 2025 Raffle Draw, rewarding loyal customers with premium prizes nationwide. The event transformed holiday shopping into a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, with 11 major winners taking home high-value rewards.

Ten lucky customers won brand-new Vivo V60 smartphones, while one grand winner drove away a JAECOO J7 SHS SUV worth PHP 1,549,000. The nationwide raffle ran from November 15, 2025, to January 10, 2026, reinforcing Vivo’s commitment to giving back to its customers during the holiday season.

Customers qualified for the grand prize by purchasing a minimum of PHP 8,000 worth of Vivo smartphones from any official Vivo store nationwide. Meanwhile, buyers of vehicles from participating OMODA & JAECCOO dealerships became eligible to win a Vivo V60 smartphone. All raffle entries were verified and drawn under the supervision of a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) representative, Ms. Cheryl Pelo, ensuring transparency and fairness.

During Vivo Philippines’ Facebook livestream on January 16, 2025, Clarina Bañal was announced as the grand winner. She received the JAECOO J7 SHS SUV, a plug-in hybrid vehicle featuring the Super Hybrid System (SHS). The SUV offers an impressive 1,488-kilometer driving range, over 100 kilometers of fuel-free electric driving, and a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating.

The ten Vivo V60 winners are Roberto Dela Rosa Del Rosario, Earl Edward Cruz, Gerry Santos Angeles, Nemesio Conti Jr., Kristea Mae Santos, Sherwin Demani Beguico, Maureen Grace Yu Llamas, Richmond Carlo Reyes Quiambao, Mercia Gesmundo Riego, and Mark Oliver Garbo Canson. Each received a Vivo V60 (12GB RAM + 256GB storage) valued at PHP 28,999, featuring a 50MP ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera, Stage Mode for cinematic videos, AI Four-Season Portrait, and the stylish Berry Purple design.

Beyond the prizes, the event highlighted Vivo’s innovation-driven partnership with OMODA & JAECCOO Philippines. According to Fritz Gerald De Ocampo, Marketing Manager of OJPH, the collaboration reflects a shared vision of advancing technology both on the road and in everyday life.

All winners will be notified via registered mail, email, and SMS, with official announcements posted on Vivo Philippines’ Facebook page. As Berry Christmas 2025 concludes, Vivo looks ahead to more exciting promotions in 2026, continuing its promise of innovation, style, and exceptional value.

Lenovo CIO Playbook: Asia Pacific Enterprises Shift from AI Experiments to Execution in 2026

According to the Lenovo CIO Playbook, enterprises across the Asia Pacific region are entering a new phase of artificial intelligence adoption—one that prioritizes execution over experimentation. Recent data shows that 96% of organizations in the Asia Pacific plan to increase their AI investments in 2026, with spending expected to rise by an average of 15%. This momentum is mirrored across ASEAN+ markets, where enterprises are aligning AI initiatives with clear business outcomes rather than isolated pilots.

For CIOs in the region, AI is no longer just a technology upgrade—it is a strategic growth driver. Revenue growth, improved profitability, and enhanced business and customer experiences have emerged as the top AI-driven priorities. This shift reflects a broader move toward outcomes-led AI adoption, where success is measured by tangible returns. Notably, 88% of organizations now expect positive ROI from their AI investments, with an anticipated average return of 2.8 times their initial spend.

AI adoption is also expanding beyond traditional IT departments. Around 66% of enterprises are already piloting or systematically using AI, and many report that non-IT teams are actively funding AI initiatives. Functions such as marketing, operations, finance, and customer service are increasingly driving demand, accelerating enterprise-wide AI integration.

One of the most significant emerging trends is Agentic AI—systems capable of autonomous decision-making and task execution. Interest in Agentic AI is expected to double over the next 12 months as organizations explore its potential to improve efficiency and responsiveness. However, despite growing enthusiasm, only a small percentage of enterprises feel ready to scale Agentic AI due to persistent challenges around governance, security, data quality, and system integration.

From an infrastructure perspective, hybrid AI has become the default enterprise architecture. Organizations are combining on-premises, cloud, and edge environments to balance performance, regulatory compliance, and security requirements. At the same time, rising inferencing demands are reshaping CIO priorities, with projections indicating that AI compute workloads will increasingly shift toward inferencing by 2030.

Employee productivity is another key focus area. Half of all enterprise PC purchases are expected to transition to AI-optimized devices equipped with on-device AI agents, signaling a move toward more intelligent, assistive work environments.

Despite strong confidence in AI’s value, scaling remains a critical challenge. Only about half of AI proofs-of-concept successfully reach production, highlighting the need for better execution frameworks, governance models, and cross-functional alignment as enterprises move deeper into the AI-driven future.

Leading EV Logistics Firm Mober Partners With TESDA to Advance PH’s EV Workforce Training, Development

Manila, Philippines — Mober, the leading green logistics services provider in the Philippines, has entered into a landmark partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to help advance national workforce training and development for the country’s emerging electric vehicle (EV) sector.

The partnership was formalized through a handshake ceremony at the TESDA Central Office in Taguig, with the support of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP). Under this collaboration, education and training programs in EV driving, EV maintenance, and specialized skills such as customer service and assembly work will be developed and offered under TESDA, with Mober supporting end-to-end education delivery and providing clearer pathways to employment in green logistics.

TESDA will ensure all competencies meet national standards. Mober, in turn, will provide trainers, facilities, access to its operational EV fleet, and industry expertise to provide trainees with hands-on exposure to commercial EV operations and real-world logistics environments. The initiative positions Mober as a key industry partner helping shape employment-ready EV workforce programs aligned with the country’s long-term transport and sustainability goals.

This partnership forms part of Mober’s broader commitment to being an industry leader in people care and inclusion. Its internationally recognized gender diversity campaign, MoveHer, promotes the meaningful participation of women in the traditionally male-dominated logistics industry by creating more pathways into green jobs.

The initiative highlights the high level of workforce readiness among female TVET graduates. TESDA’s latest report revealed they recorded a standout employment rate of 85.67%, outpacing the national average. By providing targeted support, Mober and TESDA aim to bridge gender gaps in technical industries by tapping into this highly capable talent pool.

“Mober is serious about building new pipelines of skilled female professionals for the green economy. This is where we can truly make a meaningful contribution to nation-building. As we grow our business, we are equally committed to strengthening the capabilities of our people. This is how we meet the needs of our global clients while growing responsibly, with both sustainable business practices and the country’s social needs in mind,” said Miguel Bermundo, Vice President for People and Sustainability of Mober.

The partnership also comes as commercial EV adoption gains momentum across the Asia-Pacific region. According to industry research, the Asia Pacific electric commercial vehicles market was valued at USD 114 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 221 billion by 2029, growing at a nearly 18% compound annual rate, driven by rising electrification of logistics fleets, urban delivery vehicles, and public transport systems.

“Having a partner like Mober can help us jumpstart localizing the competency standards we may find globally, and more importantly, create avenues of training for our people,” said TESDA Secretary/Director General Jose Francisco "Kiko" Benitez during the handshake ceremony.

Nelly Nita Dillera, CESO III, Deputy Director General at TESDA, added, "Through our partnership with Mober, we're particularly excited about the work we will be doing with women to upskill them in EV driving, repair, and maintenance. This partnership brings together education, local governance, and industry—three pillars that, when aligned, create real pathways to employment, enterprise, and community development.”

The initiative reinforces Mober’s reputation as a people-centered organization. Following its recognition as one of Asia’s Inspiring Workplaces at the ACES Awards last November 2025, Mober continues to prioritize inclusivity alongside its environmental goals.

This year, Mober intends to scale these training initiatives and further expand its all-electric fleet, cementing its position as the leading green logistics partner in the Philippines.

To learn more about how Mober is leading the charge toward a cleaner, more sustainable future, you may visit https://www.moberdelivery.com.