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Chairman's
Message
“Through all the turmoil, I saw URC working hand-in-hand with the communities we serve – to be essential and to continue being of service.”
Chairman's Message
“We understood this was an unprecedented situation and we knew that we had to adapt in a decisive and timely manner. We steered our initiatives towards securing not only the business, but the well-being of our employees, families, and communities as well.”
2020 has been quite a turbulent year for everyone. In URC, we experienced the impact of the pandemic most visibly in the Philippines, alongside other external challenges. Through our overseas units, we received frequent updates on how the pandemic disrupted communities all over the world.
In the Philippines, the trials started as early as January, when we saw the eruption of the Taal volcano. Soon after the first case of COVID-19 in the country was announced. Come February, the start of community transmission was detected, and by March the government made the call to lock down most of Luzon in order to slow down the pandemic.
This was a painful decision with hard consequences – travel was restricted, many businesses were shut down, consumer confidence declined, and many people lost their jobs.
Unemployment hit a high of 17.6% in April 2020, and the country’s gross domestic product for the 2nd quarter of 2020 was almost 17% lower than the same period last year.
We also faced several natural disasters – the earthquake in Central Luzon, and the spate of storms, namely typhoons Ambo, Quinta, and super typhoon Rolly. These events further added to the country’s woes.
A global downturn
Outside the Philippines, the pandemic raged around the world; as I write this, almost 125 million people have been infected with COVID-19, with the death toll at 2.7 million people.
The response also varied in the countries where URC operates. Some countries were able to stamp out infections quickly and control the spread of the virus, while others struggled to deal with the pandemic for prolonged periods.
Either way, across the globe, no economies were spared from the value destruction wrought by COVID-19: unemployment at an all-time high and with estimates of the world’s GDP contracting between 4 to 5 percent in 2020.
Putting people first
We understood this was an unprecedented situation and we knew that we had to adapt in a decisive and timely manner. We steered our initiatives towards securing not only the business, but the well-being of our employees, families, and communities as well.
During the first chaotic weeks of the lockdown, URC quickly pivoted to operate in the new normal, with many of our colleagues shifting to remote work arrangements. Inessential spending was cut to conserve resources for uncertain times ahead.
Employee health remained paramount, as we initiated COVID-19 tracking and tracing internally to keep our teams safe. We continued to invest in training despite the lockdowns, with the quick rollout of our online Learning Management System.
Everyone came together and worked to ensure steady supply of our food products to the market.
Serving beyond boundaries
“I chose to live my life unafraid even during times that I was afraid. I discovered that opportunities don’t find you; you find your opportunities.” — Mr. John
With the passing of our founder, Mr. John Gokongwei, in late 2019, the organization strived to stay true to Mr. John’s vision of being a shining example of always giving back to the Filipino nation. Over the past year, the URC leadership team has
come through and lived that vision. We worked hand-in-hand with our employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities we impact to codify.
URC’s own North Star – rooted in the heritage of the company, and with an eye towards continuing to serve Filipino generations to come.
Today, as URC formally rolls out its updated Purpose, Values, and Ambition (PVA), I remember something Mr. John once shared: “I chose to live my life unafraid even during times that I was afraid. I discovered that opportunities don’t find you; you find your opportunities.”
As we continue navigating through the pandemic, I think of all the crises that my father experienced at the helm of URC, and how he led URC through each one – making the company stronger, faster, and better.
As we live his principles through our PVA, I am proud of what our entire company has worked on, overcome, and achieved over the past year. I look forward to the organization’s continued transformation – acknowledging the foundations that have brought us to where we are today while striding bravely into the future.
Thank you and stay safe.
Lance Y. Gokongwei
Chairman
