The Open Access event brought together Cebu’s top entrepreneurs to share their startup journeys and insights in a panel discussion.
Cebu’s entrepreneurship scene lights up at “Vision to Venture”
Vivant installs solar rooftop for upscale JEG Tower
COREnergy Inc., a subsidiary of listed firm Vivant Corporation, has installed the solar rooftop facility at the 22-storey JEG Tower in Cebu, the very first high-rise commercial building in the province to embrace the technology solution for its energy needs.
JEG Tower repositions as a catalyst for Cebu’s startup revolution.
JEG Tower offers startups the opportunity to lease smaller, more flexible spaces than larger corporations might need, allowing startups to redirect their resources towards growing their business.
Cebu City is often ranked one of the most important startup scenes in the Philippines, coming in second only to the capital Metro Manila. Latest research indicates that the Queen City of the South now accounts for roughly 9% of all startups in the country. There’s also no shortage of initiatives to develop the local ecosystem with Cebu-focused accelerators like DOHE-Cebu already reporting interest in the city.
JEG Tower gets 37kWp rooftop solar panel
POWERED. The JEG Tower grid-tied solar project is expected to produce 77 MWhr of energy annually while avoiding 30 metric tons of carbon dioxide emission each year. / CONTRIBUTED
Yoga After Work: Why Yoga is Beneficial For Your Wellbeing >
In today’s work culture, many people tend to overwork themselves to the point that they forget about their wellbeing. This type of lifestyle can be hazardous to one’s health both mentally and physically, and could eventually lead to burnout.
The best way to combat these problems would be having a pastime that could help clear your mind, however picking one can be overwhelming and is difficult to fit into one’s packed schedule. Why not try Yoga? Yoga is a holistic way to work out and relieve your mind, body, and spirit, and the best part about it is that anybody can do it regardless of age or fitness level.
Here are some of the benefits of practicing yoga:
A Workout to Unwind
Unlike other forms of exercise that require specific equipment or fitness level, all you need to start your yoga journey is yourself and a calm place where you feel comfortable. The main objective of yoga is to relax one’s body, mind, and spirit through a series of breathing, poses, and chanting exercises. By incorporating yoga into your daily routine, you will be able to de-stress, refresh yourself, and keep your heart healthy.
Improves Your Mental Health
Whenever you feel stressed out and need to take a breather, yoga can help clear your mind. Studies have shown that yoga can help improve one’s mental health. Yoga can boost your endorphins, pumping more oxygenated blood to your brain, which improves and sharpens your senses. Practicing yoga is also known to improve your serotonin levels which are your hormones responsible for balancing your mood levels.
Keeps You in Shape
When doing yoga poses, you slowly stretch into your chosen position and hold that pose, accompanied by deep breathing practices. This can help warm up your muscles, and through consistent practice, you will be able to improve your strength, flexibility, and balance.
Connects you to a Community
Not only can yoga freshen up your body, mind, and spirit, it also lets you be part of a big supportive community. Last September 8, JEG tower held an outdoors yoga session at its roof deck garden. Making use of the roof deck’s spacious area and relaxing scenery, the yoga session was joined by practitioners and newcomers alike, all with the goal of promoting wellness and a healthier lifestyle. Joining a yoga session is a fun way to connect with people and make friends, all while developing a healthier lifestyle.
Host your outdoor activity at JEG’s roof deck garden! For future events or inquiries about the building, reach out to Alexa Abella at (+63) 917-825-6884. Learn more information about the best place to work in Cebu City! Send an email to jegtower@kmcmaggroup.com today!
Planning Events Post-pandemic? Top 3 Reasons why you should do it in an Open Space
People are social beings. After two years of lockdowns and strictly imposed physical distancing, events and social gatherings are slowly going back and begin again in the new normal. As more people get vaccinated and restrictions begin to loosen, more become less afraid of being surrounded by other people, their family, and friends.
Luckily, there are steps event organizers can take to ensure events can be possible and safe in the post-pandemic world. There are many considerations to keep in mind when it comes to planning a safe event post-pandemic. Here are the top 3 reasons why hosting your event outdoors is ideal in the new normal:
Open, Fresh Air
Events held in an outdoor space can minimize risks in virus spread. When you’re outdoors, fresh air is constantly moving and flowing, dispersing respiratory droplets that are identified to be the primary way the virus is passed. Outdoors, event goers are less likely to breathe in enough of the respiratory droplets containing the virus.
Ample Space for Social Distancing
During the peak of the pandemic in 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidelines on physical distancing. Two years ago, when no public events were organized, it was recommended to have at least 6 feet distance between people in the same location.
However, as more people get vaccinated, the CDC no longer requires that much distance. The updated guidelines, issued in August 22, emphasized that physical distance is just one component of how to protect yourself and others.”
“It is important to consider the risk in a particular setting, including local COVID-19 Community Levels and the important role of ventilation, when assessing the need to maintain physical distance,” the CDC states.
Less Suppliers, Less Risk
Holding your event outdoors reduces the need to get more suppliers for styling and décor. This means less people to interact with prior to the event and less people to be present during the event. Having the natural scenery be the backdrop of your event can also lead to reduced cost in organizing, without compromising aesthetic and experience for your guests.
JEG Tower @ One Acacia, Cebu City’s newly launched premium green building, opens its garden rooftop and topmost floor for events and functions. The 22nd floor of this skyline crown jewel offers a generous view of the province’s mountain ranges and surrounding seas. With its strategic location in the gateway of Metro Cebu, it also offers a view of the city’s skyscrapers at night.
For reservations or inquiries about the space, reach out to Alexa Abella at (+63) 917-825-6884. Learn more information about the best place to work in Cebu City! Send an email to jegtower@kmcmaggroup.com today!
Determining the Right Office Size for your Business
One of the most crucial factors when looking for an office space is the size needed for your business to operate. When leasing a workplace, there is no one size fits all or a definitive figure applicable for everyone.
Attractive young female creative designer working on new project in office.
Here are some factors to consider when determining your office size requirement:
Number of Employees
In the Philippines, the recommended ratio of space per employee is about five square meters. This means that on average, every employee in the office should have at least five square meters of space for his workstation, equipment, and free space.
Each employee’s workspace should allow them to work without risking their health and safety and let them be comfortable enough to be productive and inspired.
Office Zones
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way people work and live. Now that many companies are returning to the traditional workplace, offices are beginning to adapt to a new set of needs to provide a safer and healthier space for their employees. Office spaces are not only a space for a person to work. It is also a place where people collaborate, socialize, think, reflect, and develop their skills.
Moreover, remember to include common and shared spaces when calculating the space needed for your office such as:
Meeting Rooms or Collaboration Spaces
Conference Rooms
Private Offices or Quiet Rooms
Kitchen and Pantry
Front Desk and Reception
Storage
Plans for Growth and Expansion
Leasing an office for your business should be a long-term plan that can accommodate expansion plans in the future. Moving to a new office isn’t something you want to do often, so it’s important to plan ahead and make sure your next office meets your current and future needs. Think about how your business will change over the next ten years. Business owners should consider and anticipate space and storage needs for more employees, larger office spaces, and more files to keep.
Each company varies in the amount each company varies in the amount of office space they need. However, by providing a comfortable space for your employees, offering safe shared spaces, having a venue to practice your company’s culture, and preparing for the future, you will have an idea of which office space is perfect for your business.
JEG Tower @ One Acacia accommodates companies that need small (93-215 sq m) to large (1,170-1,179.02 sq m) office spaces in the heart of Metro Cebu. Schedule a viewing today! Contact Alexa Abella at (+63) 917-825-6884. For inquiries and more information, call us at (+63) 2-8403-5519 or send an email to info@kmcmaggroup.com.
How Your Office Space Impacts Employee Well-Being
Office and design trends change and adapt over time. However, one constant feature of a workplace is its impact on the health and well-being of employees. As people spend almost a third of their lifetime inside office spaces, people begin to realize and put greater value in choosing a space that puts their wellness on top.
Numerous research has successfully linked space to the health of its occupants. The American Psychological Association (APA) reported in a journal that a healthy workplace should include five components: work-life balance, health and safety, employee growth and development, employee recognition, and employee involvement.
From employee attraction to retention and productivity improvement, your office space impacts your business. Here are some ways your workplace affects your employees’ health:
Mental Health
A healthy workplace can help employees manage stress and relieve anxiety. According to commercial interior designers, certain aspects of the office can contribute to increasing motivation, boosting morale, and productivity. In an article, Gensler reported that biophilic and green features such as outdoor spaces and access to natural lighting can help reduce stress, anger, and anxiety. It can also lead to improved self-esteem and a better image of self in the long run.
Physical Well-being
Businesses can provide a healthy workplace by ensuring that the physical work environment is set to the highest industry standards and criteria. An ideal physical work environment ensures that the design and layout of the workplace is optimal for the comfort, productivity, and motivation of its employees.
Providing optimal indoor air quality is also a crucial task for workspaces, especially in the new normal. Aside from disease prevention, fresh and clean indoor air can also improve cognitive function and reduce anxiety to employees.
Office spaces that also encourage movement and exercise can also improve the physical health of their occupants.
LEED-certified Buildings for Holistic Health
Workplaces located inside a LEED-certified building are linked to improved productivity, increased output, and better work performance. The same study also found that the indoor air quality of their work environment contributes to its employees’ fulfillment at work and overall mood during office hours.
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) found that potential employees prefer working in an office located in a LEED-certified building, where their health and well-being are considered to be top priority. The same study found that workers based in a LEED-certified green building are found to be more satisfied with their job, and that 79 percent of the respondents agree that they would choose a job in a LEED-certified building over a non-LEED building.
Bound by its commitment to uplift People, Planet, and Profit, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings are designed and built to promote the overall health and well-being of its occupants while leaving the least negative impacts to the environment.
LEED-certified buildings such as JEG Tower @ One Acacia have observed the highest set of standards to ensure the overall comfort and safety of its occupants. JEG Tower is designed and built to promote their physical and mental health.
As the highest-scoring LEED commercial development in Cebu City, this 22-storey tower ensures that the workplace design does not compromise the safety, security, and functionality of the space. Instead, it adds value to the often-overlooked aspect of design, which is to promote holistic wellness to its occupants.
Want to learn more about JEG Tower @ One Acacia? Contact Alexa Abella at (+63) 917-825-6884. For inquiries and more information, call us at (+63) 2-8403-5519 or send an email to info@kmcmaggroup.com.
Why Lease an Office Space in Cebu City?
The Queen City of the South, Cebu is more than just a popular tourist destination in the Philippines. Its bustling economy, supported by local business policies, big-ticket infrastructure projects, and rich real estate portfolio, Metro Cebu is now one of the most attractive investment locations in the country.\
Here are some of the reasons why you should lease an office space in Cebu City:
PREMIUM COMMERCIAL SPACES
Cebu City boasts of a huge portfolio of office and retail buildings that offer premium and tech-capable spaces to aid in the expansion of businesses in the Visayan region. Many developments are also designed and built to support and accommodate the needs of its occupiers, including IT-BPO locators. Over the past few years, the BPO industry became one of the drivers of the province’s economy and business landscape.
According to KMC Savills data, Cebu City’s office market continued to show improvement during the last quarter of 2021. The net office take-up of almost 16,000 sq m. It also added that with total completions of 65,300 sq m of new Grade A office space in Metro Cebu, vacancies will climb up to 24.9%, prompting additional options for companies locating to the economic center of Visayas.
FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY
As one of the top tourist destinations and jewels of the Philippines, real estate developments in Cebu City put more premium in the protection and preservation of the environment. Because of this, more spaces are shifting to green and more sustainable design and construction methods that also benefit employees to occupy the building.
RELATED: Why Green Buildings are Office-Rebound Ready
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS
The Cebu City local government is very supportive of its business community. With the economy in mind, local policies in Metro Cebu enable local and multinational companies and investors to set up their business in the economic center of Visayas.
Cities and municipalities within the province prioritize the strengthening of measures and ordinances to support the growing local business sector. The local administration also adopts necessary changes and adjustments to promote the province as the next key location in the Visayas region. Government officials take pride in sustaining the standards in business policymaking and investment promotions in Cebu. Similar initiatives will encourage more business locators to invest and occupy more office spaces and commercial buildings in other areas within the province.
UP AND COMING LABOR POOL
One of the main benefits of locating your business in Cebu City is its young and lively workforce. Cebu City is home to some of the best universities in the country, including the University of the Philippines Cebu and University of San Carlos that produce graduates exceptional in various fields and industries.
Additionally, Cebu is well-known for its English-speaking population which can be an additional benefit for multinational companies and BPOs to operate and expand to the province.
EXPANSION OUTSIDE METRO MANILA
KMC also cited that many multinational companies under the healthcare services, legal services, professional travel management, financial services, IT services, software development, and animation industries are some of the top locators that are looking to expand their business footprint and operations in Cebu City.
JEG Tower @ One Acacia is one of the newest premium green buildings in Cebu City. Named as the Best Commercial Green Development by PropertyGuru in 2020, this LEED Gold-certified development is truly the best place to work in Cebu.
LEARN MORE ABOUT JEG TOWER: Checklist for the Best Business Address in Cebu City
Interested in expanding to the Visayas? Locate in the best place to work in Cebu City. Get in touch with Gerold Fernando at (+63) 917-565-3547 or send an email to jegtower@kmcmaggroup.com for more details.
Economic Benefits of Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency and renewable energy provide significant benefits to the economy. More than reduced utility costs, the shift to more sustainable energy options can lead to macroeconomic impacts that can boost economic activity and drive employment for businesses.
According to a publication released by the World Bank, energy efficiency directly contributes to some prevailing development challenges in its twin goals of poverty reduction and shared prosperity. In a report published in 2016, it noted that improved energy efficiency in various industries can modernize technology and increase competitiveness without compromising the environment. As economies develop and more infrastructure rises, the demand for energy services will continue to increase. Investing in renewable energy will also provide the same requirements for this development, but with less negative impacts to the planet.
Moreover, the World bank also emphasized that cleaner sources of energy can lead to freed up fiscal resources can then be used for socio-economic development and for programs. Energy efficiency mitigates the impact of ongoing tariff reforms, which adversely affect poorer households.
Instead of importing natural gas and electricity supply, renewable energy generated can benefit domestic and local companies and retailers to provide energy management services. Local governments can contribute to economic growth by generating energy on-site, purchasing green power. The combination of renewable energy options can help meet local government goals especially in areas where the availability and quality of renewable resources vary.
Larger Impacts of Reduced Utility Bills
Lesser utility bills can benefit companies more than overhead savings. Sustainable commercial developments offer this advantage to businesses, leading to a greater return on investment, more funds to allocate for development, and providing better options to its employees.
READ MORE: How can solar power reduce building costs?
Increasing Property Value
In the commercial real estate market, energy-efficient developments frequently sell for a higher price than regular buildings with comparable features. Energy efficiency features and measures add value to your property.
According to the International Energy Agency, solar power is turning into the cheapest source of new electricity generation capacity in many countries, especially in Asia. It is also endorsed by frontrunners of sustainability and green real estate for the benefits it offers environmentally and financially. According to a study conducted in 2018, the Philippines ranked first among other developing countries in the continent in terms of the use of solar photovoltaic systems for electricity generation. It has topped Asia and ranked 5th in the world for the use of solar energy across various sectors and industries.
RELATED: Capitalizing on Solar Energy: PH tops Asia, ranks 5th worldwide in solar energy use
JEG Tower @ One Acacia is the first commercial development in Cebu City to utilize solar energy to power its shared spaces. Committed to sustainability, this 22-storey premium green building is designed and constructed to promote and practice holistic benefits to businesses, the community, and the planet.
Interested in knowing more about the impact of energy efficiency on your business? Contact Alexa Abella at (+63) 917-825-6884 or email jegtower@kmcmaggroup.com.