How ePLDT is raising bar on procurement in the Philippines
ePLDT is the ICT subsidiary of PLDT, which at almost 100 years old is the largest and oldest telco in the Philippines. The man who leads its procurement function was almost literally born to the role.
Rai De Jesus, the Chief Procurement Officer of ePLDT, has a familial heritage deeply intertwined with the principles of logistics, entrepreneurship, and fiscal responsibility. His father, a logistics manager for the Philippines' largest brewery, instilled in him the importance of supply chain management from an early age. Not only did his father impart knowledge and skills in this domain, but he also took his expertise a step further by establishing his own third-party logistics company upon retirement, which significantly aided De Jesus through his college years.
De Jesus also credits his mother for shaping his approach to financial management and budgeting which he says “fits the profile of a procurement professional”.
He adds: “She taught us to live within our means, and I carried that over into my adult life.”
This laid a solid foundation of his professional life, particularly in his role overseeing procurement for ePLDT. These values have influenced De Jesus's perspective on strategic sourcing, vendor management, and cost optimisation within the organisation.
ePLDT in Nation Building
As part of the PLDT Group’s vision to be a contributor to nation building through its products and services, ePLDT plays a pivotal role in delivering outcome-based tech solutions and services.
According to De Jesus, ePLDT operates in two primary domains: outcome-based secure multi-cloud and data centre solutions. In its data centre business, its subsidiary, VITRO, provides secure, reliable, and compliant data centre solutions to empower the mission-critical operations of its enterprise and hyperscale clients. On the Cloud front, ePLDT provides outcome-based multi-cloud solutions and professional cloud tech services to meet the unique needs of its clientele.
Being a subsidiary of PLDT, ePLDT works with global and local suppliers, mainly due to the nature of the clients that it serves, and also the quality of its solutions.
ePLDT building Philippines’ first hyperscale data centre
In building the country's first hyperscale data centre ePLDT's has brought employment opportunities to nearly 1,000 people, positively impacting local families and the economy at large. By spearheading this initiative, ePLDT has also spurred the development of similar data centres in the Philippines, keeping crucial infrastructure projects within the country's borders and further contributing to the country’s economic growth.
ePLDT has a 700-strong network of suppliers and partners. De Jesus says the company is looking to rationalise this, by categorising suppliers based on strategic importance, approval status, whether they are a one-time supplier, emphasising that the efficacy of a company's supply chain relies heavily on the reliability and commitment of its external partners.
De Jesus emphasises that ePLDT adopts a holistic approach to supplier selection, considering factors beyond cost, such as delivery timeliness, historical performance, contract terms, and after-sales service quality. He stresses the importance of choosing partners who demonstrate a proactive attitude towards feedback and continuous improvement.
Among ePLDT's essential partners is Socomec, specialising in low-voltage electrical network control and safety. De Jesus commends Socomec's role in their data centre infrastructure, highlighting the rigorous competitive bidding process that led to their selection. Moreover, he lauds Socomec's efficient account management style and commitment to project support, citing their proactive engagement and alignment between commitments made during the bidding process and subsequent delivery.
Elevating the Procurement Profession in the Philippines
The Procurement profession has evolved significantly in the country which is maturing to reach world-class standards. The establishment of multinational regional offices in the Philippines, plays a crucial role in elevating the procurement profession through exposure to different practices outside the country. This fuels a culture of excellence and innovation within the procurement domain.
Over the years, the perception of procurement has shifted from a back-office support function to a pivotal business enabler integral to an organisation. He highlights the evolution towards strategic sourcing, robust category management, and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders as milestones in this progression. These advancements are instrumental in reshaping perceptions, positioning the profession as a respected peer and indispensable partner within organisations.
De Jesus emphasised the importance of data insights, skilled human capital and a strategic mindset ingrained in organisational culture for procurement to excel.
De Jesus blazing trail for procurement in Philippines
De Jesus emerges as a trailblazer in propelling the profession to new heights within the Philippines. Last year, he received the prestigious Excellence in Procurement Award from the Philippine Institute of Supply Management (PISM) – the oldest non-profit organisation for supply management professionals in the Philippines.
He also bagged the W.Media’s Best Data Centre Procurement Team in Southeast Asia Award which recognises his contribution in ePLDT’s commitment to elevate digitalisation in the country.
Driven by passion and a profound sense of purpose, De Jesus finds fulfilment in the tangible impact of his work, recognising the important role that procurement plays in driving the success of organisations.
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