P399 for 2 doctor consultations

As the country enforces more relaxed restrictions, families are eager to get back to the normal way of life.  Businesses can now operate at full capacity and people can move about freely!

Keeping in mind the lessons learned in the past two years of the pandemic, the most valuable of which are maintaining a healthy lifestyle and bringing health services closer to the people, mWell PH, continues to be at the forefront of telemedicine, providing online doctor consultations to Filipinos nationwide as a fully integrated health and wellness mobile app.

Fresh from its win as Best Initiative in Technological Innovation in The Asset ESG Corporate Awards, Singapore, mWell PH by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (PSE: MPI) introduces the Healthsavers Plan, allowing users to pay less for online doctor consultations 24/7.

mWell started the year by being honored as the Best Initiative in Technological Innovation in The Asset ESG Corporate Awards, one of the world’s leading and longest-running honors in the environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) space.

Only P399 for 2 online consults with Healthsavers Plan

As an innovative mobile app responsive to the need for affordable healthcare, mWell now offers the Healthsavers Plan. For as low as P399, users can avail of two online doctor consultations. The plan comes with free e-prescription, medical certificate, or doctor referral. Healthsavers Plan is transferable so it can be used by any member of the family. Booking fee is waived for mWell’s best value deal.

This is part of mWell’s mission to bring healthcare closer to more Filipinos. MPIC President, Chairman and CEO, Manny V. Pangilinan recognizes the crucial role of MPIC group’s newest foray in digital healthcare. He says, “Through a collaboration with trusted health experts, mWell has developed an ecosystem to provide integrated digital healthcare, even beyond the pandemic. In just a few taps on the mobile phone, our countrymen may access affordable online doctor consultation 24/7, empowering them to be in control of their health with just one app.”

Chaye Cabal-Revilla, Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, highlights mWell’s role as the family’s digital healthcare ally, “mWell is designed to respond to the health and wellness needs of every family, while keeping each member safe. The app is a fully integrated health and wellness expert that can be called on, any time of day, wherever they may be. mWell’s Healthsavers Plan makes it possible for more Filipinos to receive the expert medical advice they deserve at a price they can afford.”

Supporting Cabal-Revilla in the mWell leadership team are Gary Dujali, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer and Dr. Michael Muin, Chief Technical Officer.

Savvy moms can easily reach a doctor for a consultation on the app, adding more quality time for the whole family! Celebrities who make their family’s health top priority are among the users of the mWell PH app. Roxanne Montealegre, Sunshine Cruz, Divine Lee, Empress Schuck and beauty queen Miriam Quiambao are among those who enjoy mWell’s many features that benefit every member of the family.

24/7 Online Doctor Consultation

With mWell, everyone can consult online with a doctor on call 24/7 without leaving home. Users may also book an appointment on their chosen date. They may consult with a wide range of Primary Care and Specialized doctors—Internal Medicine Specialists, Obstetrician and Gynecologists, Pediatricians, Ophthalmologists, and more.

Powerhouse healthcare partners

To provide a fully integrated experience, mWell has partnered with leading names in healthcare, wellness, and tech industries, including CareSpan, Aktivo, Active8me, Highly Succeed and runs on fast secure payments via Maya.

Available on the app are doctors from top hospitals such as Makati Medical Center, Cardinal Santos, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, De Los Santos Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, and Marikina Valley Medical Center. It has also teamed up with PhilCare to increase the number of partner-doctors nationwide.

mWellness Score: Free daily health tracker

Beyond telemedicine services, mWell offers users a guide to achieving a healthy physical lifestyle for long-term health.  

A PH first and exclusive which was developed in partnership with an award-winning team of doctors and data scientists from Aktivo, the mWellness Score functions as a free daily health tracker. Without having to spend on extra gadgets or wearables, mWell users can easily generate their daily mWellness Score by simply clicking on the mWellness Score icon on the app.

The mWellness Score measures physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep daily, using data-driven methods. Improving one’s score requires simple tweaks in one’s daily lifestyle to make space for regular physical activity and adequate sleep.

Aside from the mWellness Score, mWell has also made available customized fitness and nutrition programs developed by Olympians and exercise physiologists. Users may also try out calorie-controlled recipes created by dietitians and nutritionists.

As mWell gains momentum in providing positive change, it shall continue to deliver innovative services, seamless app experience and exciting new features. Users simply need to download PH’s fastest-growing health app to fully enjoy what it has to offer. 

As part of the MPIC Group, mWell is committed to work towards the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. It also supports the MVP Group’s Gabay Kalusugan advocacy focusing on quality and affordable healthcare.

Download the mWell PH app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Follow mWell on Facebook and mwellph on Instagram for more updates.

ABOUT mWell

mWell, is the health technology platform developed by Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation that offers telemedicine, health and wellness programs, e-commerce, among others, in an integrated, tech-based healthcare digital ecosystem. Metro Pacific Health Tech Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, the leading infrastructure investment company in the Philippines with investments in various infrastructure assets including healthcare.

In partnership with Seven Bank, PSC aims to have 150 ATMs in its Cebu stores by June.

Land Bank cardholders can now withdraw free of charge.

7-Eleven continues to make safe and convenient banking accessible to more Filipinos as it expands its ATM services across the country, marking the activation of the 1,500th cash-recycling ATM in Casa Mira, Cebu City. This was made possible with its partnership with Pito AxM Platform, Inc. (PAPI), the local subsidiary of Seven Bank, Ltd. of Japan.

1,500th cash-recycling ATM in Casa Mira, Cebu City

Philippine Seven Corporation (PSC), the exclusive licensor of 7-Eleven in the Philippines and PAPI, plan to have 150 cash machines operational in Cebu by the end of June.  

“We have aggressively expanded the 7-Bank ATM network in Metro Manila and Luzon during the pandemic.  This 2022, we reach another milestone as we set foot in Cebu, signaling our further expansion of ATMs in Visayas and Mindanao,” said Jose Victor Paterno, President and CEO of PSC. 

PSC and PAPI plan to deploy 1,500 additional cash machines by the end of 2022, aiming to cover the majority of over 3,100 7-Eleven stores nationwide.

Masanori Sakaguchi, President of PAPI, stated “We are very happy to serve our precious customers in Visayas, and the ones in Mindanao very soon. We hope everybody appreciates our sophisticated ATM services imported from Japan.”

PAPI also introduces Land Bank of the Philippines as its newest partner bank. Land Bank customers can now enjoy free transactions on ATMs at 7-Eleven stores beginning May 23.

Besides Land Bank, PAPI has a partnership with BDO, the largest bank in the Philippines, to accommodate free cash withdrawals by its cardholders.  Meanwhile, other bank account holders may transact through BancNet, with a Php 10 transaction fee.  More partner banks will be announced soon. 

ATMs at 7-Eleven stores are cash-recycling machines. The ATMs also have a unique feature of delivering the ATM interface depending on the customer’s bank, providing familiarity and ease of use.

Lawrence De Leon, Head of Finance at PSC, said the ATMs provide an innovative solution to the cash handling requirements of 7-Eleven stores nationwide. “The sales are deposited by our store operators and the ATMs “recycle” the cash to fund withdrawals of the customers of the different banks.  This creates a lot of value to our customers because of the convenience of having ATMs available 24/7 in a safe and secured location. The ATMs also provide flexibility in cash management since deposits are immediately credited to PSC’s corporate bank account,” De Leon added.

PSC partnered with PAPI in February 2020 to equip all 7-Eleven stores with cash-recycling ATMs.

For more information on where to find the ATMs, please visit https://www.7-eleven.com.ph/whatsnew/atms-in-7eleven-list-of-stores/. 

Get ready to check out discounted items and avail thrilling ₱66 and ₱77 deals, shipping discount vouchers, and 10% off daily at the 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale!

The mid-year is the perfect time to reward ourselves and recharge for what's to come in the second half of 2022. Shopee treats more Filipinos to a memorable mid-year shopping experience at the 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale. To kick-off the mid-year sale, shoppers can look forward to “Mas Mura sa Shopee”* deals and enjoy ₱66 deals all day, shipping discount vouchers, and 10% off daily when they add-to-cart and checkout from May 27 to June 8.

Score “mas mura sa Shopee”* deals as low as ₱66 at the 6.6 - 7.7 Mid-Year Sale

As shoppers fill up their Shopee carts with their favorite finds, they can also discover “Mas Mura Sa Shopee”* [It’s cheaper on Shopee] deals with low-priced items that are guaranteed to make their haul worth every peso. 

With 6.6 just around the corner, take your pick from the following items at only ₱66 that fit your everyday lifestyle. 

Stay warm during cold nights with a stylish button down cardigan. Want to cook with ease? consider this multi cooker hot pot to be your helping hand in the kitchen. Upgrade your storage space with a multifunctional shoe rack organizer, which keeps your favorite pairs neat and orderly.  

Say goodbye to wrinkled clothing with this handheld steam iron, which you can use either at home or on your next trip. Improve your gaming experience with these noise cancelling gaming headphones, giving you that high quality sound without sacrificing comfort. Beat the heat when you buy this anti-heat portable clip electric fan, a compact, trendy item that lets you chill comfortably while being on-the-go. Be sure to check out these deals quickly as they’ll be on limited stocks on 6.6.

Shopee launches a new in-app game in time for 6.6 

Shopee is giving you more reasons to enjoy the 6.6-7.7 Mid-Year Sale with the launch of its new in-app game. The game will be available to play on the Shopee app on June 1, where users will be treated with daily prizes including ShopeePay credits, Shopee coins, Shopee vouchers, and the latest must-have gadgets when they play and win!

Here’s a little hint on this fun new game from Shopee: it will be about connecting different letters in order to solve puzzles! To know more about Shopee’s latest game and its official name, you can visit the Shopee Prizes page from May 30-31. You also get the chance to take home an iPhone 12 or an Instax Mini when you correctly guess the name of Shopee’s new game. 

Shop with up to 66% cashback and send money for free using ShopeePay

This mid-year celebration is made even more special with ShopeePay, Shopee's integrated mobile wallet that allows you to conveniently pay for your purchases and settle transactions with no hidden fees. With ShopeePay, you can send money to any bank, e-wallet or any Shopee user for free and save more with cashback promos for bills payment, as well as cheap mobile load and data offers. 

Here are some ShopeePay offers users can check out during the 6.6 -7.7 Mid-Year Sale:

• From May 29 to June 1, join ShopeePay’s QR Code Giveaway and get the chance to win up to ₱50,000.

• On May 30, get free ₱100 when you send money for the first time using ShopeePay (valid for new users).

• On June 6, get up to 66% cashback when you check out using ShopeePay. 

• On June 6, check out “ShopeePay Near Me” to enjoy ₱1 and ₱6 deals from partner merchants ranging from food & beverage outlets, lifestyle brands, and more!

To know more about the 6.6 - 7.7 Mid-Year Sale, visit the 6.6 Mid-Year Sale page on Shopee.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee connects shoppers, brands, and sellers across Asia and other fast-growing markets, empowering anyone to buy and sell anywhere and at any time. 

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

About ShopeePay

ShopeePay is an integrated mobile wallet that offers users easy access to digital payment services. Launched in the Philippines in 2019, ShopeePay enables a seamless shopping experience by allowing users to make online payments on Shopee, top-up their wallets, and transfer and withdraw funds.

ShopeePay makes it easier to shop and do business. It provides users with a convenient, secure, and rewarding payment option; it empowers businesses and helps them capture new opportunities. 

ShopeePay is part of SeaMoney, the digital financial services arm of Sea Group. A leading digital payments and financial services provider in Southeast Asia, SeaMoney’s mission is to better the lives of individuals and businesses in the region with financial services through technology.

ARTHALAND’S grand event “Advancing Net Zero Cebu” celebrates two milestones for two of the country's most cutting edge sustainable buildings in Cebu City. The first is the completion of Cebu Exchange, the largest sustainable building outside Luzon. And the second is the unveiling of model units for Lucima, Arthaland's new luxury condominium development at the Cebu Business Park.

Arthaland welcomes guest to Cebu Exchange, an iconic landmark in the Cebu skyline and to the unveiling of the Lucima model units at the Advancing Net Zero event, the first face-to-face event after 3 years.

 Advancing Net Zero Cebu  

Now, more than ever, our Net Zero commitment is critical to the times. Artahaland is the first property developer in Asia to be a signatory to the World Green Building Council's Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment in 2020. 100% of their projects are registered and are on track for net zero carbon certification – this manifests their leadership in the decarbonization of the building and construction industry.

Cebu Exchange

With over 11 hectares of gross floor area and 5 stories of premier retail space, Cebu Exchange is the largest office development vying for net zero certification. It is designed and built to withstand natural calamities. The decarbonization of its operational energy is anticipated to reduce carbon emissions, equivalent to planting and growing 1 million trees over a 10-year period. The construction of Cebu Exchange is now virtually completed. The on-time handover of units to buyers, concurrent with their pre-pandemic schedule, reflects their commitment to stakeholders and investors.

Building envelope optimization and the use of double-glazed windows allow for better thermal and moisture insulation that leads to savings in energy consumption.

Lucima

Lucima is Arthaland's flagship residential condominium in the Cebu City, envisioned to be the first quadruplecertified high-rise residential development in the country. It has earned precertification for LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is vying for WELL, EDGE, and BERDE certifications. The building foundation has been completed and basement 2 structural works are on-going.

 

Lucima is envisioned to be the first quadruple-certified sustainable high-rise residential condominium in the country (Artist’s Perspective)

Each unit in Lucima boasts a high floor-to-ceiling height of 2.9 meters. Carefully planned features will allow abundant light to penetrate inside the homes while preventing indoor heat gain.

One-Bedroom Unit. Each unit will have its own Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) which improves indoor air quality by bringing in fresh, filtered air while controlling the humidity for thermal comfort.

Lucima is located at the corner of Cardinal Rosales Avenue and Samar Loop, Cebu Business Park (Artist’s Perspective)

Lucima is also the first high-rise residential project vying for IFC’s EDGE Zero Carbon certification in Southern Philippines, reflecting Arthaland's commitment to raise the standards of residential developments. Their journey to net zero bridges the gap between a sustainable future and their most concrete contribution to today’s global call for climate action.

THE DEVELOPER 

 ARTHALAND is the only real estate developer in the Philippines with a portfolio which is 100% certified as sustainable, recognized by both local and global organizations for its focus on sustainability, wellness, high quality, and superior design. 

ARCH CAPITAL MANAGEMENT is an independently owned real estate private equity investment platform with a wellestablished track record investing across major markets in Asia Pacific. Its portfolio of assets is diversified across 29,000 residential units for sale and for lease and over 1.3 million square meters of office, retail, and mixed-use assets in key cities such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Macau, Manila, Bangkok, Shanghai, and Taipei. 

DESIGNER 

Designed by Saraiva + Associados, the structure lends an abstract representation of its elegant columns and thin slats, expressing a light and graceful feel. Through the beveled slabs making a sublime horizontal rhythm, a balance is created between the spaces. 

Always exuding quiet confidence.  

The façade treatment is materialized in pure white form, with ceramic and glass elements, for a clear panoramic view over Cebu, giving a noble touch to this exclusive residence. 

WHO IS SARAIVA + ASSOCIADOS?

The history of the studio merges with the history of its founder and CEO, Miguel Saraiva, who is responsible for the concept behind each project. His passion for architectural design is coupled with a fearless vision that enabled him to transform a small, newly formed studio into a corporate organization with international clout while preserving its renown as an architect-led studio with global reach. With Lisbon as its creative base and the home of over a hundred of its collaborators, S+A sets itself apart with its capacity for openness to the wider world, adaptability to new markets, and resilience in the face of challenges that are faced by a constantly changing society. With offices in 9 countries, S+A is now a major player in a number of different countries. https://www.saraivaeassociados.com  

ARTHALAND PRESTIGE PROPERTY SOLUTIONS

Arthaland Prestige Property Solutions, formerly known as Emera Property Management, will manage every aspect of Lucima, from upkeep to day-to-day operations. This wholly-owned subsidiary of ARTHALAND approaches property management from an owner’s perspective to deliver unparalleled services and solutions, ensuring that investments are properly taken care of.

Responsive, efficient, and pleasing — its dedicated and well-trained in-house staff will ensure the safety, security, and peace of mind of residents.

Arthaland Prestige Property Solutions’ leasing services will create seamless, proactive, and convenient management of your property investments to maximize earnings.

1Q2022 Key Highlights

• Converge continues its growth trend in 1Q2022 with 39.7% YoY revenue growth and 49.5% YoY EBITDA growth

• EBITDA margins expanded significantly from 55.0% in 1Q2021 to 58.8% in 1Q2022 

• Net income after tax grew to P1,973 million in 1Q2022 from P1,549 million in 1Q2021, representing a 27.2% YoY growth 

• Residential revenue grew 42.0% YoY driven by growing subscriber base

• 1Q2022 residential subscriber gross additions at 187,594 reaccelerating from 163,215 gross additions in 4Q2021, bringing residential subscriber count to more than 1.8 million 

• FTTH port roll-out of almost 645,000 in the first three months of 2022 resulted to 47.3% household coverage across the Philippines and 71.4% household coverage in Luzon

• Maintained industry leading ROIC of 17.3% in 1Q2022

MANILA, Philippines, May 16, 2022 – The Philippines’ only pure-play high-speed fixed broadband operator, Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions, Inc. (PSE: CNVRG) (“Converge”) ended 1Q2022 with 1,802,202 residential subscribers, a 52.5% increase from March 2021. The Company deployed 643,528 new fiber-to-the-home (“FTTH”) ports during the first three months of this year, fastest among the local players in the industry. As of March 31, 2022, Converge’s nationwide network reached more than 12.2 million homes, representing a 47.3% household coverage, on track to reach the Company’s accelerated target to cover approximately 55% of households in the Philippines by 2023.

Industry-leading Trifecta with 39.7% YoY Revenue Growth from 1Q2021 to 1Q2022, 58.8% EBITDA Margin and 17.3% ROIC 

Residential Business Continues to Grow 

Consolidated revenues grew by 39.7% from P5,547 million in 1Q2021 to P7,748 million in 1Q2022. Revenues from our residential business grew by 42.0% from P4,797 million to P6,812 million during the same period, driven by a 52.5% YoY growth in our subscriber base. Average monthly revenue per user (“ARPU”) declined to P1,243 in 1Q2022 due to among others rebates awarded to subscribers who were not provided broadband in the areas affected by Typhoon Odette. On the other hand, enterprise revenues grew by 25.1% YoY, from P749.7 million to P938.2 million during the same period, mostly from the strong growth in the small and medium enterprise (“SME”) segment, marking further revenue acceleration of our enterprise business. 

During the first three months of 2022, Converge had 187,594 quarterly gross adds, 14.9% higher than the 4Q2021 gross adds. This growth was due to our efforts in aligning with market strategies of waiving installation fees in some of our operating areas. Gross adds grew despite the adverse impact of Typhoon Odette in certain cities in Visayas and Mindanao, where aggressive expansion was halted due to focus on repair of affected equipment. On the other hand, churn rates have grown to 1.47% in 1Q2022, higher than the 1.16% in 1Q2021, resulting in quarterly net adds of 110,652. Converge has been implementing various controls and measures to manage churn, including stricter onboarding requirements in selected areas with high churn blacklisting of previously delinquent subscribers, and implementing a payment reminder pop-up on browsers of subscribers with overdue bills. 

Reflecting the high unserved demand for fixed broadband connectivity services in the Philippines, we estimate that c. 95% of our new subscribers nationwide in 1Q2022 continue to be first time fixed broadband users. 

Revenues from our enterprise business grew by 25.1% YoY, marking a further acceleration from the 10.7% YoY revenue growth in FY2021. The revenues from SME business grew by 118.2% on the back of growing customer base. Compared to 1Q2021, SME customers grew by almost 200%, reaching 25,810 customers as of March 31, 2022.

Maintained Strong Profitability in 1Q2022 driven by Increased Scale and Cost Management Initiatives

Converge achieved an EBITDA of P4,558 million in 1Q2022, 49.4% higher from the previous year. As a result, Converge was able to improve its record consolidated EBITDA margin to 58.8% in 1Q2022, higher than the 55.0% in 1Q2021. 

Despite higher gross installs in 1Q2022 compared to the same period last year, network materials and supplies costs declined, reducing the account’s cost margin from 8% to 5%. This is due to lower unit costs of our network materials and supplies. Bandwidth and leased line costs continue to decline year-on-year from P277 million in 1Q2022 to P258 million in 1Q2021 as the Company relies more on capacities from our invested international cable lines rather than the short-term leases. This resulted to cost margin reduction from 5% to 3%. 

Net income after tax grew from P1,549 million in 1Q2021 to P1,970 million in 1Q2022, resulting in Net Income margins of 25.4% in line with our Net Income margins of 4Q2021. As expected, depreciation and amortization increased by 66.9% year-on-year due to the aggressive expansion of the Company’s infrastructure in the previous years. Depreciation and amortization margins grew from 14.0% to 16.8% from 1Q2021 to 1Q2022. Finance costs also grew by 83.1% due to higher outstanding loans as of 1Q2022 – mainly used for the aforementioned infrastructure expansion. 

Industry Leading ROIC and Strong Balance Sheet

Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) declined due to slower net income increase compared to capital expansion and an increase in our financial liabilities. Converge recorded a 17.3% ROIC in 1Q2022 from 20.9% during FY2021. Our high ROIC continues to be at industry-leading levels as a result of Converge’s disciplined approach in deploying capital to expand its fiber network and tracking key capital efficiency indicators such as our port utilization ratios. Converge’s blended port utilization ratio as of March 31, 2022 was at 27.6%. Of the 1Q2022 FTTH ports deployed, around 20.6% were rolled out in Visayas and Mindanao (“VisMin”), as we are actively expanding into these new markets, while continuously deepening our presence in Luzon. 

As of March 31, 2022, the Company had achieved an average utilization of 25.5% on all FTTH ports deployed nationwide in the month of March 2021 (12 months after deployment) and an average utilization of 48.4% on all FTTH ports deployed in the month of September 2020 (18 months after deployment). 

Converge has been able to maintain its strong balance sheet and cash flows with ample liquidity and gearing comfortably within bank covenants, as we drew down from available facilities to finance the significant network expansion done during the first quarter of the year. The Company’s net debt position (as measured by total financial debt less cash and cash equivalents) increased from P11,762 million as of December 31, 2021 to P16,299 million as of March 31, 2022. The Company availed of a total of P4,963 million in new debt in 1Q2022 offset by repayments and amortizations amounting to P486 million. The Company’s debt service coverage ratio (“DSCR”) was 6.1x and the gross debt position as a percentage of total equity was 0.7x, well above the required financial covenants from its debt facilities. Converge’s total undrawn debt facilities amounted to P26,500 million (~US$530 million) as of March 31, 2022. Also, the Company has issued its maiden long-term Philippine Peso bond offering which was listed in the local bond exchange on April 8, 2022. These additional funds will further increase the available liquidity the Company can prudently utilize. Our weighted average cost of debt from drawn debt facilities increased from 4.3% in December 2021 to 4.6% as of March 2022, reflecting a higher interest rate environment due to the macroeconomic situation. 

Our strong credit profile is also reflected in the PRS AAA credit rating (with Stable outlook) from PhilRatings on Converge, which was released in December 2021 for its aforementioned maiden bond issuance. Converge’s long-term Philippine Peso denominated bonds was fully oversubscribed (up to 8x base principal of P5 billion) last April 2022. This P10 billion fully oversubscribed issuance was the first tranche of its shelf registration with the SEC of up to an aggregate principal amount of ₱20 billion. We believe that our long-term debt facilities with seven commercial banks, together with the Company’s available cash, bond issuance proceeds, and increasing operating cash flows, provide Converge with sufficient headroom to execute its capital expenditure plans in the mid-term.

Inclusion in the MSCI Global Standard Index

Converge has been added in the highly-watched MSCI Global Standard Indexes in its latest rebalancing announced on May 12, 2022 – the only Philippine company to be added during the most recent review period. The MSCI Global Standard Indexes is an international equity index which tracks stocks across 33 markets. The latest additions will take effect on May 31, 2022.

“Our inclusion in the global benchmark, the MSCI, is yet another testament to our strong market position. We’re pleased to have joined another index that will further broaden our exposure to international passive investors,” said Maria Grace Y. Uy, President, Chief Resource Officer, and Chief Risk Officer of Converge.

This was the latest securities index the Company has been added to. Converge is currently included in four global equity indices under the FTSE Russell Indices, as well as the 30-member bourse of blue chip companies in the country, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index.

Augmenting International Network Capacity with Investment in the SEA-H2X Cable Network

China Mobile International Limited (“CMI”) , China Unicom Global (“CUG”), PPTEL SEA H2X Sdn. Bhd (“PPTEL”), and Converge reaffirmed their partnership to construct and operate the South East Asia Hainan - Hong Kong Express Cable System (“SEA-H2X”), a new submarine cable system that will connect Hong Kong SAR China, Hainan China, Philippines, Thailand, East Malaysia and Singapore, with options to extend to Vietnam, Cambodia, West Malaysia and Indonesia.

At approximately 5,000 kilometers in length, the SEA-H2X cable will consist of at least 8-fiber pairs between Hong Kong SAR and Singapore, with a design capacity of 160 terabits per second to meet the growing bandwidth requirement in the region. The system is targeted to be ready-for-service in 2024 which help businesses and consumers benefit from increasing digital ties.

Employing state-of-the-art optical submarine transmission equipment, this high-performance submarine cable’s completion will provide the needed additional bandwidth within the region and network diversity. The construction of SEA-H2X will respond to the high broadband demand between Hong Kong SAR and Southeast Asia countries by providing needed capacity and faster transmission, and in preparation for the coming 5G era.

“We are pleased to be a partner in this trans-Asia cable that will respond to the booming data traffic between Hong Kong SAR and Southeast Asia. This submarine cable system will boost the connectivity between our two points of presence located in Hong Kong and in Singapore. Further, this will serve as a crucial infrastructure to add diversity and redundancy to our international network. We are truly diversifying our international capacity portfolio as transpacific demand will be served by the Bifrost, and now trans-Asia demand will be served by SEA-H2X,” said Mr. Uy.

Repairs in Odette-Impacted Areas Near Completion

Last December 2021, Typhoon Odette struck the Philippines and caused massive casualties and infrastructure damage – mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Though Converge’s footprint in these areas are still relatively smaller compared to its presence in Luzon, Converge’s local network operations were still affected. 

Converge continued its efforts to reconnect existing subscribers to their rightful broadband capacity. Service personnel in the regions reduced expansion activities to focus on repairs and reconnection. The efforts were delayed by slower restoration of the infrastructure of utility companies. As of April 30, 2022, only less than 5% of affected subscribers are still disconnected. For subscribers unserved since the impact of the typhoon, Converge has given rebates until connection was restored.

Employing Nationwide Marketing Strategy to Improve Brand Awareness in New Expansion Areas

In March 22, 2022, Converge officially announced its investment in a basketball team franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (“PBA”) for its nationwide marketing initiative. Converge acquired the franchise of the Alaska Aces, the PBA team with second-most number of championships. With basketball being the leading national sport in the Philippines, having a consistent broadcast of the team’s games and activities aired nationwide through various print, radio, and television channels poses as a valuable and effective marketing investment.

Converge’s upfront investment amounted to around P100 million paid to the league and the previous franchise owner. Annual net operating costs of having the franchise is at a maximum of around P200 million, covering fixed costs (mostly salaries and wages) and bonuses assuming the team wins the championship for all conferences during the season. Based on a detailed bottom-up assessment of media value across channels (TV, online, print, offline), we expect to create c. P2,300 million in media value in year one of our investment, representing more than 10 times the annual expenses required to operate the team. The media value is computed as the cost of employing other marketing channels to reach the same level of audience engagement.  The annual operating cost of around P200 million represent c. 15% of total marketing and promotions budget for the year. This will replace other less efficient marketing initiatives, therefore, not increasing the expected marketing expenses for the year.

Since the announcement of the acquisition, Converge has been highly searched for in social media and search engines. Converge was a trending topic on Twitter on the day of the announcement. Converge was also the #1 searched word in Google in the Philippines for the first two days of the report

Increasing Accessibility of Existing and Potential Customers Through Partnership with Various Nationwide Outlets

As the number of residential customers grow, Converge continues to strengthen its presence across the country to make its services more accessible and visible. Converge as partnered with ExpressPay Inc., MicroGold Pawn Shops, PETNET and Sta. Monica Pawnshop Inc. (referred to as Converge Partner Outlets or “CPO”) to amplify the company’s presence and accessibility among different areas.

With these partnerships, Converge now has more than 1,000 partner outlets nationwide Each CPO has its own distinct strengths that help Converge become a more accessible internet provider for all.

The expansion allows customers to conveniently pay their bills or apply for a new line through the CPOs. With the CPOs scattered among main strategic areas, customers and even potential subscribers will have greater access to better pure fiber internet service, resulting in improved customer experience.

“Here in Converge, we always innovate ways to give our customers the best experience they deserve. With the help of our CPOs, we can make our services more accessible to the public, so they can start or continue their journey with us through convenient transactions,” said Converge Chief Operations Officer Jesus Romero.

Strengthened Commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance with Established Roadmap

In April 2022, Converge published its first Sustainability Report that is accordance with Global Reporting Initiative (“GRI”) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) guidelines. In the report, Converge laid out its Sustainability Roadmap with an organization structure that defines the key roles of the management team. With the Sustainability Commitment, Pillars, and Principles as building blocks, the Company has developed relevant short, medium, and long-term targets for key metrics. Converge also expresses support for the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial disclosure (“TCFD”). Over time, the Company will further adhere to the standards and best practices of TCFD.

Converge has recently signed up as a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact (“UNGC”), the world’s largest corporate social responsibility initiative. The UN Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 15,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 69 Local Networks. Fulfilling the UN Global Compact is seen not just to deliver on broader socio-economic developments, but also to improve the company’s business performance.

“With this announcement, Converge is proud to join thousands of other companies globally committed to taking responsible business action to create the world we all want,” said Benjamin B. Azada, Chief Strategy Officer.

During the first quarter of 2022, Converge has launched several sustainability initiatives with views of meeting the short, medium, and long-term goals enumerated in the Company’s 2021 Sustainability Report:

Delighting customers by taking care of our own

• Under Converge University, the Company has launched various training seminars to improve technical knowledge and to learn new skills and practices in the industry. Completion of these training seminars are monitored by management.

• Converge conducted webinars promoting gender equality specifically privacy protection and violence against women and children

Giving back to our planet

• The Company has developed Solid Waste Management and Hazardous Waste Management Policies to standardize waste management activities to comply with international best practices.

• Converge has cumulatively planted 2,000 trees as part of its efforts to improve air quality in the future. This will also contribute to its long term goal of a net zero emission by 2050.

• Data centers in Clark and Pasig now fully green-powered, in view of supporting the Company's overall shift to more sustainable sources of energy, resulting in over PHP 2 million worth of cost savings per year

Operating a sustainable company and leading it with integrity and good governance

• Converge launched its Whistleblowing platform in March 2022. This third-party platform puts in place additional confidentiality measures on the identity of the whistleblower and his/her protection against retaliation. 

• The Company conducted its first ESG Investor Day to improve interaction with the investing public on sustainability matters. This event also allows investors to inform the Company on items or metrics that are important to them.

Creating positive community impact

• The Company continued its disaster relief operations for victims of Typhoon Odette, and extension of free fiber-connectivity in affected areas

• Converge launched its Safer Internet Campaign in partnership with the Interagency Council Against Child Pornography through our linkage with Stairway Foundation, an organization advocating against all forms of abuse to children. The Company conducted webinars for parents on how to better protect their children from online abuse.

• With the onslaught brought about by Typhoon Odette, Converge has reached out to affected communities and provided disaster relief operations with donations and free fiber connectivity.

• The Company continues to intensify its network security systems as part of efforts to help make the internet a safer place, especially for children. Until January 2022, over 20,000 websites featuring child sexual abuse imagery have been blocked on the Converge network, effectively curbing the heavy traffic to these illicit sites.