Q&A W H A T S I N S I D E. Executive. with ARA. DMC elected Chairman Emeritus; V O L 1 D E C

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1 Hard Hat 1 V O L 1 D E C T h e o f f i c i a l n e w s l e t t e r o f t h e D M C I G ro u p W H A T S I N S I D E DMC elected Chairman Emeritus; IAC is DMCI Holdings Chairman Christmas Messages from the Top Executive Q&A with ARA Keeping Company Wire Rope Corporation

2 2 Hard Hat Hard Hat 3 From the Editor s Desk My favourite Beatle John Lennon famously said that Life is what happens to you while you re busy making other plans. I think the same holds true during Christmas. We get caught up in Christmas party preparations, shopping and gift wrapping that in the end, we realize that it s already the start of the New Year. Sumapit at lumipas na pala ang Pasko. This year, I hope the essence of Christmas does not get lost in our plans. No matter how frantic December gets, let us find the time to give thanks to the Lord for our salvation; to our family for their unconditional love; and to our friends for giving us reasons to laugh. While we re on the topic of giving thanks, I d like to express my sincere gratitude to Engr. Jun Zalameda of the Ready Mix Concrete Division of D.M. Consunji, Inc. and his team, for our cover photo. It was a pleasure to meet and take photos of the hardworking people in our batching plant in Taguig City. Isang maligayang pasko at masaganang bagong taon sa ating lahat! Cheers! Bim Cherubim Bim Mojica is the Corporate Communications Officer of DMCI Holdings, Inc. Prior to joining the DMCI Group, Bim was Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications at Maynilad Water Services, Inc. Share with the Group! We always welcome contributions from employees. If you know of any inspiring stories or employees, just us the basic details (i.e. who, what, where, when and why) and we ll take it from there. Our address is hardhatnewsletter@gmail.com. Naming a company newsletter is usually an agonizing task. Aside from being familiar to its target audience, the name also has to be reflective of the organization s identity. For this quarterly magazine, the name came easily enough after DMCI Holdings Chief Finance Officer and Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Herby M. Consunji stared from across the Board Room and saw something that plainly represented what the DMCI Group is all about: the hard hat. Hard hats are commonly found in construction, industrial and mining sites. Workers wear them for protection. But more than that, hard hats represent diligence, productivity and development. By naming this publication Hard Hat, we hope to remind all DMCI employees of our engineering roots, and recognize those who uphold our construction work ethic. Happy reading! CONTENTS NEWS DMC elected Chairman Emeritus DMCI turns 60 Semirara changes name FEATURES Christmas Messages from the Top Join the Conversation Executive Q&A with ARA Enterprise Risk Management Keeping Company: Wire Rope Corp. On the Radar: Calvin Calimlim Team Effort: DMCTTC

3 4 Hard Hat Hard Hat 5 NEWS DMC elected Chairman Emeritus; IAC assumes Holdings Chairmanship David M. Consunji (DMC) stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Directors of DMCI Holdings in November, after blazing a trail for innovative engineering and principled contracting in the Philippines. He will remain as Chairman Emeritus to help guide the DMCI Group in its long-term plans. DMC is widely acknowledged as the Father of Construction in the country because he built structures that not only defined landscapes but also brought real benefits to the Filipino people. From high-rise offices and hospitals to flyovers and toll roads, DMC was a prolific builder who brought nobility to the Construction profession. Assuming the Chairman position vacated by DMC is DMCI Holdings President Isidro A. Consunji (IAC). My father is a visionary with a big heart. IAC will concurrently serve as Chairman and President of the Consunji holding company. He also serves as Chairman, Director and President of various companies under the DMCI Group. My father is a visionary with a big heart. Because he taught my s i b l i n g s and I well, we are confident that we can carry his legacy into the future, IAC. said NEWS D.M. Consunji, Inc. turns sixty D.M. DMCI turns 60 Celebrating a milestone. (from top, clockwise) DMCI GM Luis C. Pastor with female colleagues during kick-off ceremony. FVP Geronimo Punzal with Best Muse Elena Bajao and SVP David Villaviray. Employees reciting Oath of Sportsmanship. Official logo of the 60th Anniversary of DMCI. Consunji, Inc. (DMCI), the premiere engineering and construction company in the Philippines, is celebrating its 60th anniversary on December 24, 2014 with the theme Passion to Build, Committed to Serve. Kicking-off the year-long celebration was the opening ceremony of the DMCI Group Sports Festival last October 26 at the San Juan Gymnasium in San Juan City. Among the events in the said festival are badminton, basketball, bowling and volleyball. In his opening remarks to the nearly 1,600 employees who attended the event, DMCI President and COO Jorge A. Consunji stressed the importance working together. In synergy there is strength, said Consunji. One of the highlights of the opening ceremony was the Parade of Muses, which featured hand-picked beauties from the different companies in the Group. Of the 13 ladies who participated, Ms. Elena Bajao, Operations Secretary at DMCI Main Office was adjudged Best Muse by a panel composed of Deric Borlaza from DMCI Holdings/DMCI Mining, Rani Calimbas of DMCI Homes and Johnny Devilla of DMCI. Chairing the cross-functional committee in charge of the 60th anniversary celebration is Ms. Edwina C. Laperal, DMCI Treasurer and Board Member of various DMCI companies.

4 6 Hard Hat Hard Hat 7 Semirara NEWS changes name Effective 18 August 2014, Semirara Mining Corporation became Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC). Christmas Messages from the Top During the holiday season more than ever, our thoughts turn gratefully to everyone who made our progress possible. In this spirit, we say simply but sincerely, Christmas is a time for reflection and thanksgiving. We look back at the year that was, and determine how we can be better moving forward. At the same time, `we remember those whose kindness, dedication a n d efforts made the year extraordinary. As we celebrate Christ s birth, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our employees who work tirelessly for our customers. The DMCI Group would not be what it is now without you. Let us continue to build on our accomplishments and learnings so we can deliver even greater results to our stakeholders in the coming years. Maligayang pasko at mapagpalang bagong taon sa ating lahat! IAC ISIDRO A. CONSUNJI In the same way that the Child Jesus brought hope and peace to the world over 2,000 years ago, so should we infuse optimism and renewal across the DMCI Group. The setbacks we encountered this year should not define us or our future. What is important is we learn from them so we can confidently forge ahead. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the change in corporate name after the Consunji-led company fi led for the amendment, to reflect the forward integration of its business. In addition to being a coal producer and supplier, SMPC is now a power generation company through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. SEM-Calaca Power Corp. owns and operates a 600-megawatt (MW) coal-fi red power plant in Calaca, Batangas. SMPC will be putting up more power plants as it already has an Environmental Compliance Certificate for a total of 1,500 MW. SMPC forward integrated to power production to maximize the value of its coal resources. In the Philippines, it is the only coalbased power producer that owns and mines its own fuel source. What is vertical integration? Vertical integration is the merging of two businesses that are at different stages of production for example, a food manufacturer and a chain of supermarkets. Merging in this way with something further on in the production process (and thus closer to the final consumer) is known as forward integration. The benefits of vertical integration come from the greater capacity it gives organisations to control access to inputs (and to control the cost, quality and delivery times of those inputs). Some of the best known examples of vertical integration have been in the oil industry. In the 1970s and 1980s, many companies that were primarily engaged in exploration and the extraction of crude petroleum decided to acquire downstream refineries and distribution networks. Companies such as Shell and BP came to control every step involved in bringing a drop of oil from its North Sea or Alaskan origins to a vehicle s fuel tank. THANK YOU AND BEST WISHES. VAC VICTOR A. CONSUNJI Every year, we celebrate Christmas a little differently because of the changes within and around us. Priorities shift, schedules become tighter and new traditions take the place of old. What endures are our memories, families and faith in the Almighty. This is something we should all find joy in, because these are what makes our lives fuller and more meaningful. I pray that you and your families will get to spend the birth of our Divine Savior together, so you can create memories that will withstand the test of time. I have always believed in the spirit and fortitude of our people, and this year is no exception. I remain confident in their ability to carry our Group forward. I wish all of us a blessed Christmas and an even better 2015! JAC JORGE A. CONSUNJI Some say that Christmas is for the young. I believe that it is for the child-like--those who see the world with simplicity, humility and compassion. With the holiday season upon us, it is my hope that we become child-like in our observance of Christmas. Let us look beyond the lavish gifts and excessive parties that now characterize the Yuletide so we can find joy and meaning in the birth of the Holy Infant. I wish everyone in the DMCI G roup peace and good health in the coming New Year. Merry Christmas everyone! ECL EDWINA C. LAPERAL Source: Isang masayang pasko at masaganang bagong taon sa ating lahat! CCG CRISTINA C. GOTIANUM

5 8 Join Hard Hat the Conversation Nakapag-start ako ng business. I m Hard Hat 9 reselling chocolate-coated polvoron sa DMCI Homes, DMCI Mining at DMCI Plaza. Okay yung taste at mura yung price kaya magandang sideline. Si Sir CSF, kumuha sa akin ng 150 packs. When small companies get big, keeping track of everyone becomes a challenge. Through this column, we hope to develop kinship and familiarity among DMCI employees no matter where they are in the organization. Maia Sevilla Legal Counsel DMCI Mining Corporation I visited my family in America. Ako na lang kasi nandito. For the first time in 18 years, we were together for New Year. Naging reunion namin yun. Deo Gatchalian Resident Manager Zamboanga Diversified Metals Corporation We became number 1 in terms of profit sa DMCI Mining. Seeing my mom bounce back from cancer. She was diagnosed with colon cancer last March and now she s on the road to recovery. Baby Halog Civil Engineer D.M. Consunji, Inc. Naging regular ako dito sa DMCI Homes. Matagal kong hinintay yun kaya the best sya para sa akin. Rhea Fajardo Documents Control Assistant DMCI Homes I am still privileged to be working and learning at the same time. April Ancheta Accounting Assistant DMCI Holdings Ellery Mendoza Corporate Communications Officer D.M. Consunji, Inc. Yung pagpunta ko ng Korea to see my brother and his family. First time ko pumunta ng Korea and it s been 3 or 5 years since last kami nagkita. the After four years, nag-propose ako sa aking fiancée. Kumuha rin kami ng bahay sa Cavite so accomplishment naming dalawa yun. Using our own money, nakapagpundar kami. What s best thing that happened to you Our family is still intact. We re still close even if my sister is in another country. Yung brother ko hindi sya parating nakakauwi since yung work nya sa ibang lugar. since last Christmas Jon Jason Erasquin Electrical Engineer DMCI Power Corporation Alain Quijano Documents Control Assistant II DMCI Homes? Ric Tomines Technical Services Manager DMCI Power Corporation The wedding of my only daughter. At least, may isang anak na ako na hindi ko na masyado poproblemahin in the future. Cristina Molina Accountant Zamboanga Diversified Metals Corporation Candee San Juan Internal Audit Manager Semirara Mining and Power Corporation Yung ISO certification ng Calaca. We worked on that for two years. It was a company effort pero malaki yung contribution namin doon. Simple lang kami. My kids are all okay and happy. Our family is healthy. I went to my family in Mindanao. Once a year lang kami nagkikita kaya masaya ako when I see my family. Mag-isa rin lang kasi ako dito sa Manila. Joyce Almario Treasury Supervisor DMCI Power Corporation Argee Guevarra Remedial Accounts Assistant III DMCI Homes Anton Delos Santos Treasury Vice President Semirara Mining and Power Corporation Nagkaron ako ng mga taong makukulit. Kaya enjoy kami dito sa Legal Department. Pegiel Pesidas Junior Purchaser/Buyer DMC Construction Equipment Resources, Inc. We celebrated Christmas as a complete family. My husband travels a lot because of his work. Last year, medyo matagal yung travel nya sa US.

6 10 Hard Hat Hard Hat 11 EXECUTIVE QA & HH: What makes DMCI Homes distinct from other DMCI companies? ARA: We are in retail; not commodities or utilities. DMCI Homes is a discretionary purchase so brand equity and integrated marketing communications are important to us. Visual and emotional appeal comes into play because we cater to a market that is prestige conscious--the upper middle segment. HH: How would you describe the corporate culture at DMCI Homes? ARA: I think we have a fairly innovative culture here. From day one, we wanted our developments to be different from our competitors. We try to think outside the box to come out with differentiated products. Hindi yung susundan lang namin yung ginagawa ng iba. Malaki rin yung infl uence ng DMCI Creed sa amin. We look at this as a profession and not a business. Although profitability and margins are important, they re not our main scorecard. Our sense of pride comes from serving our clients the best way we can. HH: Name three challenges facing DMCI Homes right now. ARA: Pwede bang 30 challenges? (laughs) Here at DMCI Homes, we re deliberately trying to build a quality culture. That s challenging because quality doesn t happen automatically or accidentally. This column aims to provide employees with valuable insights into the business perspectives, growth strategies and management styles of senior executives within the DMCI Group. With such information, employees can hopefully adapt their decisions and behaviour to support their leaders and company. with Alfredo R. Austria DMCI Homes President Alfredo R. Austria (ARA) is a man on a mission to create model communities by establishing an organizational culture of quality. A civil engineering graduate (cum laude) and board topnotcher from UP Diliman, ARA has been with the DMCI Group for three decades. In this sit-down interview with Hard Hat (HH), ARA reveals how he intends to accomplish his mission at DMCI Homes, and why he wants their company to be like Toyota. So we put up a quality council that will steer us in the right direction. Constant innovation is another challenge. We think that having a quality culture will help address that. Our limited land bank is third. Among the major developers, kami siguro yung pinakamaliit ang land bank. HH: What was the most important thing you learned this year and why? ARA: The Torre de Manila project taught us to become more sensitive to those around us, especially the local communities. But our bigger lesson from that experience is really the need to develop our people; for them to have the humility to see their weaknesses. We now have a leadership development program for that purpose. HH: How would you describe your management style? ARA: I m more participative than dictatorial. But I m not into making decisions by committee. I do get inputs from other people kasi marami silang nakikita na hindi ko nakikita. I know my weaknesses, which is why I surround myself with very good people. I also like to lead by example. Rather than lead using fear or authority, I believe in inspiring trust from your people. Dapat mahusay ang pagkatao mo para respetuhin at sundin ka ng iba. HH: You mentioned having weaknesses. Can you share these with our readers? ARA: (laughs) Madami pero the first thing that comes to mind is, I m not good at giving feedback or communicating appraisals. I think I acquired that here at DMCI. (laughs) HH: Name three companies that you admire and explain why. ARA: From day one, our example here at DMCI Homes has always been Toyota. We want to be the Toyota of the real estate industry; successful, reliable, superior. Maybe in the future, magkakaron rin kami ng product na parang Lexus; prime and prestigious. In terms of Marketing, I admire Starbucks and Zara. They don t advertise much but because of the customer experience they provide, they ve become really famous brands. We want to do the same thing here at DMCI Homes. We want to be the Toyota of the Real Estate Industry --ARA HH: When making decisions, what are your sources of information? ARA: Consultants or subject matter experts. Kasi we don t claim to be experts about everything. Minsan may mga bolero rin na consultants or there are grey areas, so we do peer reviews. HH: What sort of people do you like to hire and retain? ARA: Recruitment and selection are very important. We want people who can naturally align with our corporate values of interdependence, integrity, excellence and customerorientation. We also want people who share our vision of creating good communities. Just like in basketball, teams go through extremes to recruit good players. Kasi hindi lahat kaya sa training. Kaya I believe in getting good people. Otherwise, we can t compete. HH: If you could make one audacious move for DMCI Homes, what would it be and why? ARA: It s not really audacious but I want to build a model community, not just beautiful structures. Communities are the basic building blocks of our nation. If we can create a model community where the leaders are good, the people are happy and their habits are aligned to their values, then we would have done our part in nation-building. We would have contributed something significant and lasting to society.

7 12 Hard Hat Hard Hat 13 Managing Risks for Better Results Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg once said The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks. Zuckerberg said this because all businesses have inherent risks, yet these are vital in order for a company to grow and be sustainable. But how are these risks calculated and managed so as not to jeopardize an enterprise? This is where Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) comes in. Defining ERM The Institute of Internal Auditors defines ERM as the structured, consistent and continuous process across the whole organization for identifying, assessing, deciding on responses to, and reporting on opportunities and threats that affect the achievements of its objectives. Due to the diverse nature of its businesses, DMCI has many types of risk that the ERM team has to consider. These risks are primarily divided into quadrants. First is the Hazard Risk which includes natural catastrophes and damages to properties, which can disrupt the operations of the company. Second is the Financial Risk type which analyzes risks in pricing, currency, assets and liquidity. Third is the Operational Risk which is concerned with client satisfaction, product fallibility, public perception and reputation. Finally, Strategic Risk takes into consideration how the current economy, competition, political stability and demographics affect enterprises. By identifying and proactively addressing these risks, businesses are able to protect their stakeholders, including their investors, employees, customers, and society in general. Meet the ERM Team The DMCI Group s Enterprise Risk Management team is being championed by Reena Reyes and Brian Lim from DMCI Holdings. Their objective is to advise and help the Management improve business processes for decision-making, monitoring and corporate governance, to help the group maintain its competitive advantage. In addition to making strategic contributions to the Group, being part of the ERM Team also has other perks. Working together has allowed us to meet co-workers from different companies and gain insights on their best practices, operations and team dynamics, shares Reyes. As co-members we also get to exchange knowledge and impart each of our expertise, so we can make the right ERM program for the Group, she adds. Talking about enterprise risk is not really one of the most comfortable things to do. But during workshops and meetings, the ERM team tries to inject light humor and creativity in order to keep the participants engaged and attentive. In the end, the ERM team wants to create a culture of risk awareness across the board. With the right education, mindset and management, they are confident that risks could be overcome, and even turned into opportunities for the betterment of all the stakeholders. Keeping Company Being part of a bigger group has its advantages: access to best practices and insights into other industries. On every issue, we shine the spotlight on one DMCI company that offers these things and more. Wire Rope Corp.: ASEAN Integration-Ready While other companies are dizzy preparing for next year s free flow of goods and services under ASEAN integration, there is one DMCI company that is already primed for the imminent competition. We started preparing for ASEAN integration more than ten years ago. AFTA pa ang tawag nun or ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, reveals Engr. Mandy Inocentes, Sales Manager of Wire Rope Corporation of the Philippines (WRCP). Formed in 1960 as a joint venture project of Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company of Manila, Inc. (AG&P) and British Ropes Ltd. (now Bridon International, Ltd) of United Kingdom, WRCP is the leading manufacturer and distributor of the world-renowned Blue Strand steel wire rope in the Philippines. It also exports its self-invented wire rope products to Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand under the BSWR brand. Best Defense is Good Offense AFTA pa lang nakita na namin na yung mga Korean at Chinese ginagawang battlefield itong lugar natin. Kaya naisip namin, dalhin kaya natin yung ball game sa kanila. Kaya kami nag-export, reveals Inocentes. A WRCP employee since the 1980s, Inocentes takes pride in the ingenuity and quality of their products. He credits BSWR for facilitating the company s entry into other ASEAN markets. BSWR was the result of their reverse-engineering efforts in their 6,000m2 Valenzuela City plant. A handful of their employees studied a foreign wire rope brand and found a way to produce it locally, at a much cheaper price. To establish their product s quality, they sent samples to Singapore and local users for testing. WRCP then decided to market BSWR against Chinese, Korean and Indian brands, particularly in areas where the Bridon brand had no presence. The rest, as they say, is history. Crème de la Crème Locally, WRCP s client list is a proverbial who s who of industry bigwigs: Energy Development Corporation, International Container Terminal Services, PLDT, Shell Malampaya, Tagaytay Highlands, Enchanted Kingdom and so much more. The company s wire rope products are used in bridges, shipping yards, mine sites, cable cars, and even a giant Ferris wheel. In addition to its high-quality product offerings and excellent safety reputation, WRCP cites its technical abilities as the reason behind its undisputed leadership in wire rope sales. We re the only one in the country that can conduct non-destructive inspection. We have a machine that acts like an x-ray. It detects the internal condition of a wire rope to determine its integrity, Inocentes elaborates. Levelling Up WRCP continues to gear up for the competition by banking on its twin strategy of certification and innovation. In October 2002, WRCP became the only one of its kind in the country to obtain an ISO 9001:2008 certification, proving that its systems and procedures meet international standards of quality. In June 2013, the company secured an American Petroleum Institute 9A certification so it could export its products to the enormous Indonesian oil and gas industry. WRCP is also working on another potentially game-changing invention. His colleagues are currently fabricating a bigger Planetary machine that could produce larger, high-tech wire ropes. Such products will allow them to penetrate and compete in other foreign markets. The company is also working on another potentially game-changing invention. His colleagues are currently fabricating a bigger Planetary Machine that could produce larger, high-tech wire ropes. Such products will allow them to penetrate and compete in other foreign markets. Innovation is a matter of survival for us. If we don t innovate, the competition will eat us alive. Fortunately, we have a culture that supports innovation. We are not so strict or stiff. Management also empowers and guides us to make the right decisions, he observes.

8 14 Hard Hat Hard Hat 15 C alimlim On the Radar: alvin C TDMCTTC: raining for Excellence Team Effort Companies are only as good as the teams behind them. In recognition and support of such teams, this column will feature groups of employees who not only perform well but also embody the values of the Group. Like father, like son. For two generations, the Calimlim family has been with the DMCI Group of Companies. The son, Calvin, has been working for over 11 years as Senior IT Specialist. His job is to ensure the availability of the server network and to secure DMCI s data. Meanwhile, his father, Carlos, has been working as a heavy machines operator for almost 40 years. When I was young, I would occasionally visit my father at his workplace; D.M. Consunji, Inc. (DMCI) has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, Calvin said. As I grew up, I also saw the company grow exponentially. That is why it was a very easy decision for me to work at DMCI as soon as I graduated. IT Challenges According to Calvin, working with the same company with your parent can be seen as a reason to be complacent, but it actually makes work the more challenging. My father has a very good reputation in DMCI and I must uphold the same level of professionalism and proficiency as him, said Calvin. Aside from stepping outside his father s shadow, he said that another hurdle that he had to overcome as an IT Specialist was when he transferred from DMCI to DMCI Homes. Although they are from the same Group, the challenges of working with a new set of people, management, policies, and IT systems entailed a few periods of adjustment, Calvin said. But after that, everything went smoothly. Another challenge that he went through was when their team initiated the no USB policy. He said that they implemented it because they wanted to increase employee productivity and secure office data. Some employees might take company files at home and will be prone to leakage, while other employees might just transfer viruses to their computer through their USB flash drives, he said. While many employees were hesitant at the policy first, he explained to them that the policy was for the betterment of the company s IT system. Eventually, after much discourse and consultation, the company finally gave in and the policy is now implemented, he said. The DMCI way The reason for Calvin s continued loyalty to the DMCI Group is because its employees are treated with great value and importance. Calvin said that the company puts the employees growth and satisfaction as one of their top priorities. They always consider their employees in all of their policies, said Calvin. They would ask questions such as if we implement this, how will this be beneficial to the employees? Even people who left the Group are very thankful to the company because it has imbued them knowledge and discipline which proved invaluable when they transferred to other workplaces....the reason why I still work here is because I m happy here and my growth as an individual never stops, As for me, the reason why I still work here is because I m happy here and my growth as an IT Specialist and as an individual never stops, he said. The training and knowledge gained in DMCI played a big role in Calvin s development. Aside from regular team-buildings, parties, and seminars, he also met friends he would have strong ties with even after he left. Because I came from DMCI, my friends there would also invite me to their parties like I m still part of their family, he said. In 10 years, he still sees himself as part of DMCI Homes and hopefully, with more senior responsibilities. Furthermore, he said that he has no regrets working in the Group and if given the chance to turn back time, he would choose to work there again. As an advice to his fellow employees, Calvin stressed that money should never be their topmost priority when working, but to cultivate discipline, absorb knowledge, and to love the company they work in. My father taught me that money can be earned over time, and will always come back if you lose it. But if your reputation is ruined, you can t recover it, Calvin said. If you consistently do your best as a professional, money will surely follow. They are disciplined and competent This is how training director and engineer Rudy Menguita describes his group of nine trainers. He also believes that it is the reason why despite their numbers, the D.M. Consunji Technical Training Center (DMCTTC) is able to effectively conduct trainings and seminars to thousands of employees across the DMCI Group of Companies. What I like about my team is that they have the right attitude to become trainers: intelligent, goal-oriented, willing to learn, and passionate to share knowledge to others, Menguita said. Established in 2006, the DMCTTC is the brainchild of DMCI Founding Chairman David M. Consunji. The Center s goal is to contribute to the growth of the Group by investing and training its human resource, so they can be better assets to the company. Achieving Together According to Menguita, their biggest achievement as a team is the continuous expansion of DMCTTC in terms of their scope of services, partnerships and accreditations. Before, we only trained people in the construction industry. But now, we conduct trainings for employees working in mining, agriculture, real estate, and management, among others, said Menguita. The Center has also been given accreditation by TESDA, Department of Labor and Employment, Vetasses Australia, and United Architects of the Philippines. It has also forged partnerships with Meralco Foundation, TUV Rheinland, Philippine Constructors Association, and Safety Organization of the Philippines. Growing individually Another remarkable trait among DMCTTC trainers is their thirst for growth and professional development. My trainers are inherently motivated and know what they want in their career, said Menguita. My trainers are inherently motivated and know what they want in their career Some of our previous trainers now hold positions in other DMCI Companies, either as consultant or manager. Their stint as trainers was a big help in grooming them to handle bigger responsibilities. Recurring Challenge Rapid growth across the Group also meant additional challenges for the Center. According to Menguita, there are times when their trainers are not enough to meet the demand. We conduct trainings in different DMCI companies all over the Philippines so conflicts in schedules and availability arise, said Menguita. The demand for trainings is constantly fluctuating. There are months when there would be few workshops, but during summer, we are fully booked because of the team-building activities of the different companies. To help address such surges in demand, DMCTTC would hire outside speakers and trainers to help conduct the trainings. Versatility also plays a big factor in meeting training demands. A trainer in Organization Development can also train in the Program Development and Evaluation Department. The trainers are capable of wearing many hats to adjust to the various demands of DMC Group of companies. Next Chapter For 2015, DMCTTC has formulated strategies to further enhance their capabilities as a major training institution. Some of these include improvements of training facilities, maximization of financial resources through reduction of operating expenses, full compliance to ISO Integrated Management Systems, and updating of teaching and training paraphernalia to comply with international standards. We are amazed at how much we have accomplished since 2006, said Menguita. In 2017, our team envisions DMCTTC to become a Center of Excellence for the DMCI Group. We are thankful that the top management has given full trust and support in pioneering this Center.

9 16 Hard Hat Words WisDM of The DMCI Group was founded by a builder whose values and work ethics are nothing short of legendary. In this column, we highlight not just the words but the wisdom of our Chairman Emeritus David M. DM Consunji, so that each of us could continue his exceptional work. DM believed that the growth of DMCI was largely due to the ethical values that its people worked and lived by, as well as the core principles which the company always upheld. To remind everyone of these values and principles, he created the DMCI Creed, a powerful and elegantly written statement about fairness, accountability, dignity and service. The DMCI Creed We believe: That construction is a noble profession whose activities are vital to economic development and national progress; That fair competition is essential to the growth and stability of the construction industry; That a contractor s primary responsibility to his client is to give his best in faithful compliance with their agreement; That labor and capital should cooperate with one another so that labor may live with dignity and capital may find its just rewards; That the ill-gotten violates business ethics and the ill-conceived wreaks havoc on the public good; That the ultimate objectives are to serve not only man but humankind, and to build not only an enterprise but an institution that will serve society.