CSMC partners with OCTA and Go Negosyo for webicon on PH’s COVID-19 exit strategy

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Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC), together with the OCTA Research Group and GO Negosyo, recently facilitated a relevant and pressing discussion on the country’s progress through the COVID-19 pandemic in its latest webicon entitled “COVID-19: From Pandemic to Endemic". The webicon was held via Zoom and Facebook Livestream last July 28, Thursday.

Present as speakers were OCTA Research fellows Prof. Ranjit Singh Rye and Dr. Guido David, GO Negosyo Founder Mr. Jose Maria “Joey” Concepcion, National Task Force Against COVID-19 Special Adviser Dr. Teodoro “Teddy” Herbosa, Health Reform Advocate Dr. Anthony “Tony” Leachon, and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante. CSMC’s very own Dr. Paul Salandanan joined in as a reactor, and the event was facilitated by CSMC’s Vice President and Head of Human Resources, Ms. Lucky Diaz-Tiozon.

The webicon opened with a discussion from Rye and Concepcion, taking points from the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) given by Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Rye and Concepcion talked about what strategies will help the country move forward from an economic standpoint, and how clear, effective, and relevant policies can mitigate COVID-19 and sustain economic recovery.

David presented a scientific, research-based analysis on recent COVID-19 trends, comparing the Philippines’ current COVID-related statistics to numbers during previous surges. Solante, on the other hand, provided a look into the various strains of the virus, what differentiates them from each other, and the on-ground experiences of clinicians in handling it.

Herbosa touched on the challenges faced by various sectors because of the pandemic, and gave his recommendations on potential exit strategies that can be explored in order to better prepare for potential threats in the future. Leachon followed this up by tackling what measures ought to be observed in order to move forward from the pandemic, while Salandanan offered his own insights as CSMC’s resident Infectious Disease Specialist.

The webicon was concluded through an open forum session with all the panelists and speakers, where they stamped out any misconceptions regarding vaccines and COVID-19 testing, and stressed the importance of working together in safeguarding the health and well-being of the Filipino people.

“What is important is capacity building,” said Herbosa. “We need to build up our capacity in terms of policy formulations in vaccines, emergencies and pandemics.”

“As we move from pandemic to endemic, one of the key elements of any national exit strategy [is to] really ensure access to quality testing,” added Rye. “Apart from expanding treatment facilities [and making them accessible], we really need to deal with testing. The state has to [find ways to] provide quality antigen testing and [improve the] reporting of these results.”

“Getting the first and second booster will protect our healthcare utilization because we are [preventing] people [from] developing the more severe form of COVID, especially if [they] have comorbidities,” said Solante.

“The way forward is really informing our public more so that [they] can make better decisions. It is important for us to come up with a holistic and comprehensive plan for everything, whether it is expanded testing and treatment, information campaigns, [or] even just sustaining our booster and vaccine programs,” stressed Rye. “We need to come up with a comprehensive national COVID strategy. That is the challenge for this new administration.”

For more information about the programs and services that CSMC offers, please visit https://cardinalsantos.com.ph/. CSMC is also on Facebook, like and follow them at www.facebook.com/CardinalSantos.

With BDO Foundation and Go Negosyo, Makati pooled PCR testing this month

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Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion announces that the city of Makati led by Mayor Abigail Binay will pilot the Go Negosyo’s pooled PCR testing this month. ARK PCR Chief Private Implementor Cong. Janette Garin, Tessie Sy-Coson, Chairwoman of BDO Unibank, Philippine Children’s Medical Center’s Dr. Julius Lecciones, and Dr. Raymond Lo were also present during the virtual MOA signing.

“The private sector will fund a pooled PCR testing pilot for 16 cities and one municipality in NCR this month. That represents about P160,000 pooled PCR tests that will be done for this part of the research. This will be a game-changer for our country. It could speed up testing, increase the capacity, and make it cheaper. Testing will create greater visibility,” said Concepcion.

Concepcion also highlighted the significance of the partnership between the private sector and the local government units in winning the war against COVID-19 and thanked both BDO and Makati for their participation.

“We are making the best out of this two-weeks. The challenge is how to co-exist with COVID-19. The objective is to save lives, jobs, and livelihoods. I’d like to thank Tessie for her untiring support. They have been supportive of every effort that is needed to help the health situation which is needed to help the economy. We cannot have a vibrant economy if we cannot control the health situation.”

“I’d like to thank PCE Go Negosyo, PSP, BDO Foundation, and PCMC. It is an honor that you chose Makati to do pooled testing. We are very honored to pilot pooled testing. Until we are able to get a vaccine, we will have to live with the virus,” Mayor Abby Binay said. 

“Pooled testing will be helpful not just to our constituents but also to our business community who are unable to afford the P3500 PCR test. Hopefully, this will encourage our companies to open up, our employees will be assured that they are not spreading the virus as well. Hopefully eto na po ang sagot na hinihintay nating lahat so we can all move forward, living with COVID.”

As the country’s business capital, Makati is one of the cities in NCR to pilot Go Negosyo’s pooled PCR testing for 10,000 individuals. The pilot will focus on public market vendors as well as tricycle, jeepney, and pedicab drivers, in addition to a community near Makati Coliseum. The city also pledges to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through massive targeted testing. The data and results that will be gathered during the tests will then be used as a guide in policy-making, program formulation in line with the LGU’s COVID-19 response.

One of the staunch supporters of Go Negosyo programs and big brother BDO Foundation led by Tessie Sy-Coson expressed her belief in the pooled testing program, “We always believe in this pooled testing program which is initiated by Go Negosyo under Joey Concepcion and Cong. Janette Garin. As a matter of fact, Nestor and I have been talking about it. When we learn that Mayor Abby Binay is going to start this program, we were excited to involve BDO to work along in this worthy program and I’m happy to know that we will be working together.”

“It’s very difficult to be in a pandemic. But what inspires everybody, especially the health workers, is that when the private sector and government come together… Pooled testing does not only deal with a drastically reduced price, but it also deals with protecting our healthcare workers, hastening the turn around time and making our laboratories the windows that can open and guide us where these viruses are. Go Negosyo and the partnership with BDO has made possible for us the circle with the entry of the city of Makati,” said Garin.

She also added that the desire of the city of Makati, BDO Foundation and Go Negosyo is not only to make testing affordable, “Basically it boils down to how we can put back confidence in the workplaces. We look forward that the outcome of this pilot implementation of pooled testing will be the replica that will be cascaded to all other LGUs where government, private sector, and LGU will become enlightened in crushing COVID and allowing us to co-exist with it.”

Pooled PCR testing is expected to optimize the availability of test kits, reduce the workload of laboratory staff, eliminates large groups of negative cases, makes PCR testing more affordable and available, provides LGUs and businesses with a better and clearer direction, and restores confidence in returning to work while sustaining the gains of the initial lockdown.

Garin explained that a proposed costing mechanism has already been developed which will bring down the cost of testing to PHP450 per person in pools of 5s; PHP350 per person in pools of 10s, and PHP250 per person in pools of 20s, inclusive of PHP150 swabbing fee with VTM. If the study is approved by the Department of Health, pooled testing can be piloted in 21 implementation sites namely 11 Go Negosyo supported laboratories and 5 each from San Miguel Foundation and Ayala Foundation.   

“I’m glad that we will be able to sign this MOA today. This will pave the way and accelerate all the things that we were talking about. The real challenge is how to put that into action. Today we will be doing that. Tomorrow and the next days to come, we commit to ourselves to show to everyone that this is the way to go. Our commitment and our dedication to this enterprise is something …. [that] you can be proud of,” Dr. Lecciones shared.

Dr. Lo, who is leading the PCMC COVID-19 Laboratory, also shared, “Our research is proceeding as we speak. Now, we’re beginning to test them with the pooling method. Initially, we will be testing them individually to establish a baseline and then we will do pooling so we can see… which pools of 5, 10, or 20 [is most effective]. That will be a function of the prevalence of the virus. We are going to be testing asymptomatic. We don't expect that many [asymptomatics] in the community but we do hope to catch them before they can spread the virus.”

Lo added that the first phase of the research shows promise for pools of 5 and 10 and that the second phase is ongoing. The second phase will focus on cascading further protocols that other labs, especially those under the Go Negosyo mantle, can adapt.

ARK Project Lead Josephine Romero,  Philippine Society of Pathologists, Inc. President Dr. Roberto Padua Jr., President, and CEO of BDO Unibank and trustee of BDO Foundation, Nestor V. Tan, BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito were among the attendees.

Skin Magical’s Ghie Pangilinan, Certified Go Negosyo Mentor

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A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. The mentor may share with the mentee information about her own career path, as well as provide guidance, motivation, emotional support and role modeling. A mentor can also help with exploring careers, setting goals, developing contacts and identifying resources.

This was the role that Ghie Pangilinan, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Skin Magical, played during the biggest women mentorship event. Women entrepreneurs, industry leaders and icons came together to show women power last February 28, 2020 at Go Negosyo’s Mentor ME on Wheels led by presidential adviser Joey Concepcion at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall. 

Founded by Joey Concepcion, Go Negosyo is an organization that aims to promote entrepreneurship and the February 28 event was part of the celebration of Women Entrepreneurs and a pre-Women’s Month Offering. The women offered free mentorship advice and business tips to more than 1,500 attendees. 

“Sharing the secrets of the success of Skin Magical and what I have learned from the challenges that I was confronted with is all part of my giving back,” Pangilinan said. “We at Skin Magical want to share our business with as many people as possible and we in fact have monthly caravans where we introduce our products and where we even teach them how to do the Skin Magical business.”

This was not the first time that Pangilinan took part in Go Negosyo’s Mentoring program. She participated in the Mentors for DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and Go Negosyo’s Mentor on Wheels in Pampanga on September 16, 2019.

“I will never grow tired of sharing the Skin Magical story because this is my way of sharing my blessings with everyone,” Pagilinan said. “If I can help just one family overcome their financial problems, then I know that I have done my job as a mentor.”

Pangilinan was joined by about 100 more women entrepreneurs during the whole day mentoring program. 

To know more about Ms. Ghie Pangilinan please follow her on facebook and also the Skin Magical facebook fan page and visit www.skinmagicalph.com

GCash powers biggest mobile app summit in PH

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GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, sponsors the biggest and most anticipated mobile app summit and expo in the country—the SIGN UP! SUMMIT 2019 on September 23 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.

SIGN UP! SUMMIT 2019 aims to support aspiring online businessowners in establishing their own companies and enterprises. It targets to educate around 12,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) about the essential elements in growing and expanding an e-business.

“By far, SIGN UP! is the biggest gathering of mobile platforms and mobile applications in the Philippines. We want to empower more Filipinos to go digital and help them improve their livelihood,” said Ney Villaseñor, chief corporate affairs officer of GCash.

As the biggest digital alliance in the country today, SIGN UP! attendees can expect to familiarize themselves with various mobile applications, platforms and solutions, as well as be inspired by success stories of other e-preneneurs who are going to be featured at the event.

“GCash is known by many for buying mobile load, paying bills, remitting money and the like, but GCash is more than just these financial services that it offers,” explained Villaseñor. “You can actually do more with your business by expanding it through the app. There’s so much opportunity for GCash when it comes to growing your online shop. Because with GCash, what can’t you do?”

The SIGN UP! SUMMIT is open to anyone, from students to stay-at-home parents. In addition, GCash has prepared a lot of surprises that the attendees can look forward to.

Interested participants can sign up for free and be part of the biggest mobile app summit and expo in the Philippines at www.signup.ph

Shopee teams up with Go Negosyo to drive digital agriculture in the Philippines

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Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, partners with Go Negosyo, the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship’s official advocacy, to digitize the agricultural industry in the Philippines. The initiative equipped farmers with the skills and knowledge to sell their homegrown products online. 

Through this partnership, local farmers can promote their products directly to consumers, as well as expand their reach nationwide via Shopee. They can also reach more customers at minimal cost, allowing them to deliver quality local produce to online shoppers at competitive and affordable prices.

Martin Yu, Associate Director, Shopee Philippines, said, “Through our partnership with Go Negosyo, our local farmers will be able to tap the full potential of e-commerce. By being on Shopee, they are able to expand their market reach by leveraging our platform’s wide user base as well as enjoy a seamless online selling experience. At the same time, consumers will enjoy greater access to organic and homegrown products while supporting our local farmers.” 

The project kicked off with a special Shopee University class geared toward agricultural cooperatives. Farmers and agri-entrepreneurs owners were taught the basics and benefits of e-commerce.

Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Adviser for Agripreneurship at Go Negosyo, said, “We are grateful to Shopee for providing an inclusive and convenient way for farmers to sell their products online. Through this project, Shopee is enabling the agricultural industry to grow and touch base with consumers nationwide. We look forward to strengthening our partnership and creating more initiatives that benefit small entrepreneurs.”

Go Negosyo-affiliated farmers, which participated in the class, will showcase their local all-natural products on Shopee from September 18 to 20. Users can look forward to discounts of up to 20% off on various local agricultural products. There will also be an additional ₱100 off for a minimum spend of ₱500 with the voucher SPHGOLOCAL.

For more information visit https://shopee.ph/m/go-negosyo.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.