Globe Group’s 917Ventures, Ayala Corp and Gogoro introduce new era of sustainable transport in PH

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Companies launch Gogoro Smartscooters® and Battery-Swapping Pilot in Metro Manila, announce public availability by Q4 2023

Globe Capital Venture Holdings Director Bernie Llamzon, Ayala Corporation Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Gogoro Founder and CEO Horace Luke, Globe Group President and CEO Ernest Cu, and 917 Ventures Managing Director Vince Yamat at the launch of the Gogoro Smartscooters^®  and Battery-Swapping GoStation ecosystem in the Philippines. 

Globe Group’s 917Ventures, Ayala Corporation, and Gogoro Inc. on Monday made history as they launched Gogoro Smartscooters® and battery-swapping in the Philippines. The companies are introducing a new era in sustainable transportation that brings together smart, convenient and accessible electric two-wheelers to customers.

The announcement was made at a ceremony at the Globe headquarters in Bonifacio Global City where the three companies also announced the commercial public release of Gogoro Smartscooters® and battery-swapping stations in Metro Manila in Q4 2023.

“We in the Globe Group are very proud to bring Gogoro Smartscooters® and battery-swapping to the Philippines, a transport ecosystem that marries mobility innovation and sustainability. This year, Filipinos will have access to these electric two wheelers and Gogoro’s convenient and cost-efficient battery-swapping technology, another first in the Philippines,” said Globe Group President and CEO Ernest Cu at the launch.

Gogoro’s launch is the Globe Group’s debut in the climate tech space, as it continues to deliver innovations that address Filipinos’ daily pain points. As a better transportation alternative, Gogoro aims to address commuter woes on expensive gas prices while helping curb carbon emissions, in line with the partners’ shared commitment to sustainability, and the Philippine government's sustainable development agenda.

It also marks the Philippine entry of Gogoro, a brand that has transformed two-wheel mobility in Taiwan and fostered a new smart mobility industry with a network of eco-friendly businesses and end-users. In addition to Taiwan and the Philippines, Gogoro is also operating in China, India, Japan, Indonesia, Korea and Israel. 

Horace Luke, Founder and CEO of Gogoro, said the company is excited to bring the Gogoro ecosystem to the Philippines and is committed to replicating its success in Taiwan, where Gogoro has 540,000 riders and has deployed more than one million smart batteries at 12,000 battery-swapping stations. Gogoro riders have swapped more than 450 million total swaps, 400,000 per day, and Gogoro has saved more than 627,000 tons of CO2 since it launched.

“Our partnership with the Globe Group and Ayala Corporation in the Philippines is a major milestone in our mission to transform urban transportation and provide an accessible path for riders to adopt sustainable urban mobility and play a key role in battling climate change and making the world better for all. We look forward to working together to deliver a sustainable transport system that will improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and provide a superior riding experience for consumers in the Philippines,” Luke said. 

At the event, the partners unveiled the first Gogoro battery-swapping station at The Globe Tower – the start of a network of Gogoro battery-swapping stations planned to be established initially in Metro Manila and eventually across the country. 

They also announced the Gogoro pilot in Globe, where 70 employees will be the first to try out the Gogoro Smartscooters® and battery-swapping. They will test the system for two months starting in May and share insights on their experience to ensure an even better customer experience once the e-bikes become available to the public later this year. 

"The Gogoro ecosystem is very convenient as its swap-and-go technology allows riders to swap out depleted batteries for charged ones in just seconds and go on their way. With the current traffic situation in the metro, these Smartscooters® will serve as an eco-friendly alternative to ease congestion while at the same time reducing carbon emissions,”  said Bernie Llamzon, Globe Capital Venture Holdings Inc. Director. 

917Ventures Managing Director Vince Yamat, meanwhile, thanked the government’s support for the shift to EVs as he cited the importance of enabling policy for electric vehicles to succeed in the country. 

It’s as easy as swap and go with the Gogoro battery-swapping station.

“The shift to EVs, particularly deploying Gogoro’s battery-swapping system, will go a long way with sustained government support that will allow private sector initiatives to prosper. Sustainable transportation projects are, after all, aligned with the government’s long-term agenda to promote environment-friendly transport options and foster digitalization as mobility needs of Filipino individuals and businesses rise,” Yamat said.  

The Globe Group, 917Ventures and Ayala Corporation consistently lead the way in utilizing technology to enhance the lives of Filipinos and safeguard the environment through their innovative change-making initiatives.

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Contractors join hands with Philippine government to build emergency quarantine facilities to fight COVID-19

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Racing against time, the Philippine government and some of the biggest construction companies that are also members of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) pulled out all the stops to convert big sports coliseums and convention centers into emergency quarantine facilities (EQF) for the treatment and monitoring of COVID-19

cases.

The initial facilities that have been converted into EQFs and targeted to be all fully operational by the week of April 12 are the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the Philippine International Convention Center and the World Trade Center.

Mobile medical facilities turned over to one of the hospitals in the city.

The converted quarantine facilities where 24/7 medical care will be given are designed to make patients comfortable while ensuring the.protection of the medical staff and other front liners according to standards set by the Department of Health (DOH). Aside from air-conditioned cubicles, free access to internet connection and

electrical outlets, the facilities will also have food and water stations as well as sufficient toilets and showers.

Fast-tracking the work at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum with a 112-bed capacity are Prime Metro BMD and the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. under the Razon Group of Companies led by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr. As the country targets to start mass testing this week, the facility is ready to accept COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic and those displaying mild symptoms.

Work at the Philippine International Convention Center Forum Halls with a 294-bed capacity is spearheaded by the EEI Corporation of the Yuchengco Group of Companies in collaboration with Vista Land under the Villar Group of Companies. Construction work at the World Trade Center (WTC) is led by the Makati Development Corporation and other companies under the Ayala Group. This facility will have 502 beds.

One of the emergency medical facilities or smarthouse being put up by member companies of the PCA.

Property company Ayala Land Inc. is also converting part of the Philippine Red Cross headquarters in Mandaluyong City into a testing facility that can process almost 3,000 COVID-19 tests per day with results that can be released in as fast as two hours.

PCA also pooled resources from the association, its regular and  associate members as well as affiliate organizations to assist EEI Corporation in fast-tracking the installation and deployment of 60 emergency medical facilities or “smarthouses” that will be utilized by eight hospitals in San Juan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Quezon City, Antipolo, Santa Rosa in Laguna province and Batac in Ilocos Norte.

According to the PCA’s executive director Barry Paulino, their member-companies are one with the Philippine government in the fight against the pandemic. “As a nation builder, PCA is committed to working with the government in its COVID-19 response. Bayanihan (community spirit of cooperation) is a Filipino concept that we truly own and it now leads all of us to do our best in this great fight,” Paulino said.

Guiding the efforts for the conversion of the establishments into “instant hospitals” is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under Secretary Mark Villar, with other private companies collaborating in the project such as Filinvest and Capital Corporation of the Philippines, Aboitiz Corp., Lina Group of Companies, PLDT and Smart, DM Consunji, Concepcion Industrial Corp. Boysen Philippines also partnered with the government to make the facilities color coded for enhanced protection of frontline workers. DM Consunji and Boysen Philippines are member of PCA.

Another PCA member, DATEM Construction, also put up the EQFs at the National Kidney Institute and the Philippine Army General Hospital. It is now working on a similar facility at the Ospital ng Makati. Will Decena and Associates also installed the EQF at the Mandaluyong Medical Center and the Lung Center of the Philippines.

President Duterte had signed into law Republic ACT 11469 granting him expanded but limited budgetary powers to step up the country’s fight against COVID-19. Under the law also known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” the government can realign certain state funds to deliver Php200 billion (US$3.9 billion) in emergency subsidies to 18 million low-income households that have lost their sources of income amid the pandemic – the largest financial aid package ever granted to Filipino

households – as well as special risk allowances and cash aid for public and private health workers in the frontlines, and the purchase of personal protective equipment and other measures.

The Philippine president has also extended the enhanced community quarantine for the entire island of Luzon to April 30 with strict social distancing protocols in place to fight the spread of the coronavirus disease with over 1.4 million cases and more than 82,000 deaths globally.

According to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program will fuel the country’s economic “bounce back.” PCA is now working on a plan to allow the industry to meet the challenge that may come whether the quarantine is lifted or modified.

Despite the pandemic, the Philippine government continues to aggressively pursue sustainable development measures, build major infrastructures and forge economic ties with diverse markets through solid economic fundamentals and a strong, resolute leadership consistent with the nation’s potential as the fastest growing economy in Asia.

Bench + 39 retail brands to accept GCash Scan to Pay this January

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The Bench and Suyen Global Brands will expand the use of GCash scan to pay feature to include all of its retail outlets and its other brands nationwide by mid-January, to make shopping more convenient and secure.

In photo are  Suyen Board Chairman Ben Chan (2nd from left) and Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu (2nd from right).  With them are Suyen VP for Business Development Bryan Lim (left) and Mynt President and CEO Anthony Thomas (right).

By simply scanning the GCash QR (quick response) codes present in the stores, GCash users can pay for any item at Bench and at least 39 other affiliated brands which include Paul Smith, American Eagle, The Face Shop, Aldo, Assembly, Aldo Accessories, Bench Body, Bench Fix Salon, Bench Kiosk, Bobbi Brown, Call It Spring, Cotton On, Cotton on Kids, Cath Kidston, Charles and Keith, Dimensione, Estee Lauder, Fox, Her Bench, Human, Jo Malone, Kashieca, La Senza, Maisen, Multibrand, Marugame, Mothercare, Origin, Pablo, Pedro, Paul, Personal Exchange, Repetto, Rubi, Skin Expert, St. Marc, Typo, Under Armour and Vero Moda.

Aside from the convenience of shopping without carrying cash, GCash users can enjoy a 30 percent cashback of up to P500 until January 31 this year when they scan to pay with GCash in Bench and all of its other brands.

“GCash is here to ensure that customers are given the convenience and security they deserve when paying for goods and services. With the GCash scan to pay feature, anyone with a GCash account and smartphone can easily pay the exact amount using their phone.  There is no longer any need to wait for loose change or pay in smaller denominations, or even stand in line for a  long time,” said Ernest Cu, President and CEO of Globe Telecom.

Using the GCash scan to pay feature is simple. With their iPhone or Android smartphone, customers only need to download or update to the latest version of the GCash App, register for an account, and then fund their GCash wallets at any of the more than 12,000 GCash Partner Outlets nationwide, including Globe Stores, Puregold branches, SM Business Centers, Robinsons Business Centers, 7-Eleven Barcode and Cliqq kiosks, TouchPay kiosks and pawnshops such as Cebuana Lhuillier, Villarica and Tambunting. Once it’s done, customers will simply tap on the Scan QR, point a phone’s camera at the partner’s QR code, and pay.

GCash is being operated by Mynt, a company owned by Globe Telecom, Ant Financial, and the Ayala Corporation.

GCash now dominates the country’s retail e-payment landscape as there are more than 4,000 GCash QRs being accepted in several merchants all over the country, including the biggest players in the retail industry such as Ayala Malls, Robinsons Department Store, SM Malls, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Cinema, Puregold, Ministop, and NCCC Malls.

Learn more about GCash by visiting www.gcash.com. 

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