From left, Anneke Evers, Senior Advisor of BiD Network; BiD Challenge Philippines winners Anne Krystle Chua Mariposa and Noreen Bautista of Jacinto & Lirio.

From left, Russelle Trinidad, Sales and Marketing Head of Planters Development Bank SME Solutions; BiD Challenge Philippines winner Rolando Corboda and his wife; Rene Meily, President of PLDT-Smart Foundation.

From left, BiD Challenge Philippines winners and Women in Business Challenge Finalists Ma. Mina Lacson and Ma. Lourdes Molina; Jazz Manabat, Senior Brand Manager of Talk ‘n Text, Smart Communications Inc.

From left, Anneke Evers, Senior Advisor of BiD Network; BiD Challenge Philippines winners Eric Cadiz and Boy Siojo.

Photo above shows Geneva-based International Trade Center (ITC) senior adviser Roger Megelas (right) and ITC adviser Mauren Devolder conferring with Plantersbank chairman Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting at the start of the conference.

Plantersbank’s planned offering of P2.5 billion worth of Tier 2 notes received a best issue rating of “PRS A plus” from independent credit ratings agency Philippine Ratings Service Corporation (Philratings). The bank plans to beef up its Tier 2 capital as it intends to lend more aggressively to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 2010.

“The issuer rating assigned to Plantersbank reflects the following key consideration: well-defined strategy and established franchise in its defined market niche; strong and focused corporate leadership; sound funding profile; and positive revenue and earnings outlook,” the agency disclosed in a recent press statement.

Throughout its more than four decades of banking history, Plantersbank has consistently pursued its stated mission of providing comprehensive and financial advisory services to the SME sector, according to the agency.

“The bank’s dedicated pursuit of its chosen mandate has been a significant factor in its growth and experience, including the establishment of a solid market presence in the SME market,” it said.

“Philratings considers Plantersbank’s intimate knowledge of the SME market as a strong competitive advantage for the bank, amid competition posed by bigger, but less experienced market players.”

Plantersbank recently played host to the two-day roundtable meeting of SME development experts from the Philippines and neighboring Asian countries to discuss plans of setting up a Regional SME Finance and Knowledge Center in the country.

The Center, which is being spearheaded by Plantersbank in partnership with the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), the ITC and the International Institute for Trade and Development of Thailand, will be the first to set up in Asia and provide facilities to educate bankers on SME financing systems and processes as well as provide a resource center for the SME sector.

Also participating in the meeting were experts from the Small Industries Development Bank of India, SME Bank Malaysia, Department of Trade and Industry, the University of the Philippines Institute for Small Scale Industries (UPISSI), the Department of Trade and Industry and the ADFIAP Consulting Group.

In his keynote at the recent 47th annual meeting of the Philippine Economic Society at Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Ambassador Tambunting called on the country’s policymakers, business leaders and thinkers to focus on SMEs as a driver for growth integrated with investments in infrastructure, agriculture and education.

“Our recovery should not be dependent on markets abroad and foreign investments,” according to Ambassador Tambunting. “With 90 million Filipinos, we have an already huge domestic market that is still fast growing.”

Many years of successful experience in assisting SMEs have proven that these businesses play a vital role in economic progress, Ambassador Tambunting said.

Improved infrastructure will facilitate movement of goods and services produced or needed by SMEs, promote travel and local tourism, thereby encouraging the establishment of allied SME industries, and spur economic activities across the country, he pointed out.

Ambassador Tambunting proposed that state-run Development Bank of the Philippines assume leadership in policy formulation and financing high-impact projects that involve high risks and require huge investments such as railways, expressways, ports, power generation and farm-to-market roads.

He also called on the Land Bank to take the lead in agricultural development, providing not only financing but also advisory services and more important, policy directions. “(The Land Bank) can be the source of funding for long-gestation projects, post-harvest facilities, irrigation systems, crop insurance and support for land reform and rural cooperatives,” he said.

Ambassador Tambunting said both the DBP and the Land Bank can perform a catalytic role by forming consortiums of foreign and local investors and contractors to jointly undertake these projects.

In addition, “better education, particularly of the young, will improve the quality of human capital and increase the capacity of SME workers and entrepreneurs to acquire new knowledge and skills and continue educating themselves,” Ambassador Tambunting noted.

This issue, SME Community Philippines features entrepreneurial husband-and-wife team Arden and Jen Siarot and their multi-awarded export firm Arden Classic Inc. of Cebu. Arden, the industrious son of working class parents, did not allow poverty to get in the way of his ambition and thirst for education. While holding down a full-time maintenance job to support his siblings, he also earned his engineering degree.

Later, Arden’s brilliance with machines and materials earned him the respect of employers and customers. To Arden and his wife Jen’s credit, what once was a small operation in the kitchen of a rented apartment, is now a multi-million peso export manufacturing company turning out items for the most distinguished shops, homes and offices around the globe.

This issue also acquaints our readers with Elaine Lasac, one of Plantersbank’s SME.com.ph web service customers. Elaine is the driving force behind Goldnest Inc., a small company in downtown Manila, which is doing brisk business delivering fresh from the henhouse one of the country’s favorite foods. Thanks to her pioneering venture into online marketing, Elaine has raised Goldnest to become one of the fast-growing brands of trusted quality eggs in the market, prized by restaurateurs, bakers and hoteliers alike.

Our third issue is dedicated to the “business of going green”. Through these reports, we hope to provide insights why ‘green is good’ for SMEs and how ’social mission’ can be effectively embedded into the company bottom line.

Meanwhile, Issue No. 4, now off the press, features entrepreneurs Martin and Hermelit Tundagui, whose company Ron and Mar Handicrafts in Baguio is literally carving a reputation synonymous with uncompromising quality and proud Cordillera workmanship.

Also in the new issue is Mindanao’s Presidential Awardee for Small Enterprise Pedro L. Barrios, who traded a career in banking to become a baker and then transformed his first business venture Manolette’s Bakeshop into the flagship of a chain of profitable undertakings in this promising region.
SME Community Philippines is a component of Plantersbank’s advocacy program for Enabling Entrepreneurs.

If your missed an issue, please visit our archive to download a copy now.

MAKATI Shangri-La - Besting the crème of the crop of entrepreneurs, from diverse industries, from all over the country, Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting was named the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2009 in an awards banquet held last Oct. 15, 2009 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.

Photo shows Ambassador Tambunting (center) during the awarding
ceremony. Ernst and Young, the award giving body, recognized his efforts of forwarding the interest of small and medium entrepreneurs; committing himself and Plantersbank to focus on financing and helping SMEs grow - when very few other commercial banks refused to take the risk.

As Entrepreneur of the Year (2009), Ambassador Tambunting will represent the Philippines in the World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco on June 1, 2010.

Ambassador Tambunting was also presented with the Master Entrepreneur
Award for his sound management practices in key areas of the bank -
finance, marketing, human resources and sales - catapulting Plantersbank to becoming the leader in SME finance and the country’s largest private development bank.

Other awards presented were the Small Business Entrepreneur (Eduarda V.
Ayo, Owner and Manager of E.V. Ayo Enterprises), Manufacturing
Entrepreneur (Justin S. Uy, President of Profood International Corp.),
Social Entrepreneur (Gemma N. Bulos, Founding Director of A Single Drop
for Safe Water (ASDSW)), Emerging Entrepreneur (Antonio L. Tiu, chief
executive officer of AgriNurture Inc. (ANI)) , Woman Entrepreneur
(Corazon D. Ong, Founder and Vice Chairman of CDO Foodsphere, Inc.) and
Innovation Entrepreneur (Kenneth C. Cobonpue, CEO of Interior Crafts of
the Islands, Inc.)
The others finalists were:

• Mylene R. Abiva (Felta Multimedia Inc.);
• Dustin B. Andaya (Philippine Cut Flower Corporation;
• Mary Grace Arboleda-Young (Cordillera Coffee Company);
• Henry P. Cureg (United Graphic Expression Corp.);
• Michael L. Escaler (All Asian Countertrade);
• Bonifacio P. Fernandez (BF Industries, Inc.);
• Antonio I. Gloria (Unitel Productions, Inc.);
• Marianne G. Quebral (Venture for Fund Raising);
• Ricardo E. Reyes Jr. (Ricky Reyes Hair Salon for Men and Women);
• Carlos C. Salinas (Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc.);
• William Tiu Lim (Mega Fishing Corp.); and
• Salvador B. Veluz (Buddy’s Pizza and Restaurant).

The Entrepreneur Of The Year was founded in the United States by
professional services firm Ernst & Young in 1986 to recognize the
achievements of the most successful and innovative entrepreneurs
worldwide. In 2001, Ernst & Young expanded the program and launched the
World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards. In the Philippines, the SGV
Foundation, Inc. established the Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2003.

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Globe Business and Plantersbank officials toast their renewed ties for SME development. From left, Plantersbank Corporate Communications head Roberto F. Banaag, Globe Business Corporate and SME Segments Marketing head Ailene Averion, Plantersbank senior vice president and controller Bernadette T. Ratcliffe, SME.Com.Ph president Adonis C. Yap, Globe Business Corporate and SME Segments head Manny Aligada, and SME.Com.Ph vice chairman Steven A. Tambunting.

For the past two years, Globe Business has been a solid partner of Plantersbank and its e-business subsidiary PDB SME Solutions, Inc. (SME.com.ph) in all its events geared towards the service of the Filipino entrepreneurs. This includes the SME Toolkit Roadshow, an avenue where enterprises take advantage of learning modules for improving business competitiveness, as well as explore new business solutions from partners like Globe, and the SME Speaker Series, held in various venues across the nation, which features important and relevant topics from valuable personalities and resources.

According to Globe Business Corporate and SME Segments head Manny Aligada, Globe is committed “in every effort that Plantersbank makes, from live events to the various campaigns and promotions that it makes for the Filipino business community…we intend to be constantly present, and constantly at the service of SMEs.”

“I am proud to see how we have both remained true to our commitment to the development and growth of SMEs, and to the success of the Filipino entrepreneurs,” Aligada added.

“Today’s business environment is like a jungle where one has to stay one step ahead of everything,” said SME.Com.Ph president Adonis C. Yap. “SME.com.ph provides business solutions that enhance the SMEs ventures, ensuring our clientsgain the biggest advantage in marketability and raking in profits by using the latest gadgets and our partner services like Globe.”

Our second issue for 2009 is dedicated to the “business of going green”. Through these reports, we hope to provide insights why ‘green is good’ for SMEs and how ’social mission’ can be effectively embedded into the company bottom line.

Meanwhile, Issue No. 3, which has just rolled off the press, features award-winning entrepreneurs Arden and Jen Siarot, whose Cebu-based company started as a small operation in the kitchen of their apartment and is now a multi-million peso export firm. And Elaine Lasac of Goldnest Inc, one of the fastest growing brands of trusted quality eggs in the market.

SME Community Philippines is a component of Plantersbank’s advocacy program for Enabling Entrepreneurs.

Missed an issue? Visit our archive to download a copy now.

In photo, cutting the ceremonial ribbon, from left are: Imus Mayor Manny Maliksi, Mr. Roberto A. Buhain and Ms. Jojie de Guzman of developer client Property Company of Friends. Imus Branch assistant vice president Lani de Torres looks on.

The transfer to Tansang Luma makes services accessible to more SMEs and residents of this progressive Cavite town.

Photo shows Plantersbank chairman Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting with MAP president Joey A. Bermudez and MAP Corporate Social Responsibility committee chair Lydia P. Sarmiento.

Plantersbank, with its unique focus on Small and Medium Enterprises as lender, advocate and provider of enabling services, was recognized for successfully integrating corporate social responsibility into the core business.

For more than 35 years, Plantersbank has served as a catalyst for the growth of the SME sector, opening doors of social opportunity and contributing to a better quality of life for Filipinos.

Plantersbank client Phoenix Sun International Corporation received the Sustainable Community Development Award for the “El Pueblo Condormitel Project,” a novel housing solution to meet the needs of the poor.

The MAP CSR Leadership Challenge aims to promote Corporate Social Responsibility as an important and integral part of good management practice, inspire MAP members and industry executives to improve their practice and set the bar for the practice of CSR in the country, and recognize companies that exemplify what it means to be true corporate citizens through CSR programs.