BIZ BUZZ: Tan lauds, challenges BDO team

BDO Unibank Inc. of the Sy family rewrote the record books when it posted a net income last year of P73.4 billion, the highest for any company in Philippine corporate history.

This laudable feat BDO president and CEO Nestor V. Tan credits to the bank’s employees up and down the table of organization.

“I commend everyone’s dedication and commitment—your collective efforts have contributed to our success last year,” Tan told the staff after the record net income was disclosed to the public.

READ: BDO shatters PH income records

It would be difficult to top that stellar performance this year but Tan is not resting on any laurels and he challenged the bank’s team members to join him in the quest for perhaps another record in the Year of the Dragon.

“Let us approach the year with renewed passion, and be ready to face any challenges that may arise. Together, we can build on the bank’s solid foundation and achieve even more,” Tan said. —Tina Arceo-Dumlao

Chem whiz is MBC’s new executive director

Dow Chemicals Phils. Inc.’s former country manager Roberto F. Batungbacal has been elected the new executive director of the influential Makati Business Club (MBC), replacing Francisco Alcuaz Jr., who will soon join the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Batungbacal’s career at Dow spanned 28 years, including 16 years as country manager, before retiring in 2023.

He also took up various positions in the chemical company, including the role of a marketing manager for Asia-Pacific, as a regional sales director covering the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand, as well as a Six Sigma black belt leading projects in North America, Europe and Asia.

Batungbacal holds a chemical engineering degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and an executive master of business administration degree from the Asian Institute of Management. —Alden M. Monzon