AGI fast-tracks digitalization program

Andrew L. Tan. PHOTO from MEGAWORLD CORPORATION

Tycoon Andrew Tan-led Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) has spent over P1 billion for various relief efforts during this coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has likewise prompted the group to fast-track digitalization initiatives.

“This pandemic is accelerating our digitalization efforts across our businesses. These involve investments in e-commerce applications, interactive customer service management, and contactless online transactions, among others. This should help us navigate the business environment and provide our customers with the enhanced services they need under the new reality,” AGI chief executive officer Kevin Tan said in a press statement on Thursday.

The group has interests in real estate developments (Megaworld Corp.), leisure, entertainment and hospitality (Travellers International Hotel Group), spirits manufacturing (Emperador Inc.), quick service restaurants (Golden Arches Development Corp. or McDonald’s Philippines) and infrastructure developments (Infracorp).

Tan said AGI’s performance in 2019 – during which it grew net profit by 15 percent to a record P27.1 billion – had “placed the AGI Group on a strong and healthy financial footing that served us well during this time of the coronavirus pandemic.”

“This has also allowed the AGI Group to quickly respond to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic where we have released a total of P1.1-billion in donations and financial assistance to various institutions, local government units (LGUs), hospitals, and other partner beneficiaries,” Tan added.

Earlier during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), AGI and its subsidiaries contributed P110 million to Project Ugnayan of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, and another P66 million in donations to various LGUs and other organizations that support pandemic frontliners as well as poor communities affected by the crisis.

Together with Emperador, it donated one million liters of disinfectant alcohol worth around P250 million to various LGUs and frontline workers, including medical personnel, policemen, soldiers and other marshals during the lockdown.

Megaworld and its subsidiaries donated P60 million to the Philippine Red Cross for the purchase of four brand new sets of COVID-19 test laboratories in Metro Manila. The real estate group also donated more than P10 million worth of meals, groceries, personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, and transport services to various hospitals, security checkpoint frontliners, LGUs, and partner organizations around the country.

McDonald’s Philippines rolled out its McDonald’s Kindness Kitchen that provided meals and financial assistance amounting to around P500 million to poor communities and its own employees around the country.

Travellers and its partners donated around P125 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPEs) to hospital partners and food to poor communities around Metro Manila. The company also contributed P12 million to ABS-CBN’s Pantawid ng Pag-Ibig project, using proceeds from the livestreaming of its hit musical Ang Huling El Bimbo.

“Now that the economy has slowly opened up from the government-imposed restrictions, the AGI Group has also been at the forefront in providing a safer, better and more secure environment for our employees, tenants, customers, home dwellers, communities and other stakeholders,” said Tan.

In addition to enhanced safety protocols and sanitation efforts within its townships, AGI has installed state-of-the-art disinfecting equipment in its facilities. It also partnered with medical institutions, various pharmaceutical and personal care brands, and tech companies.