Shopee Launches its First-Ever Scholarship Program, Shopee Scholars, in the Philippines

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches its first-ever scholarship program called Shopee Scholars for the benefit of Shopee sellers and their families. Eligible Shopee sellers can sign up for a chance to receive a one-year scholarship worth ₱100,000 for their children.

Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines said, “Shopee is excited to launch its first-ever scholarship program with the aim of helping sellers achieve their hopes and dreams for their children. We want to further engage our sellers through this exciting program and help develop the Filipino youth to become future leaders and innovators.”

Starting July 19, Shopee sellers who are active for 6 months or more on the Shopee platform and have a shop rating of no less than 4 out of 5 stars can start nominating their children for the scholarship program. In order to qualify, their child must also be an incoming college student or currently enrolled in a university.

In order to participate, sellers need to follow these steps: 

1. Sign up through https://shopee.ph/shopee-scholars.
2. Attach the necessary documents.
3. Shopee scholarship nominee should  submit a 300-500 essay for the program. 

The deadline for applications is on August 2, 2019.

For more information about Shopee Scholars Program, visit https://shopee.ph/shopee-scholars or check out Shopee’s Facebook page.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Visit https://shopee.ph for more information. 

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It is a platform tailored for the region, providing customers with an easy, secure and fast online shopping experience through strong payment and logistical support. Shopee aims to continually enhance its platform and become the region’s e-commerce destination of choice.

Shopee has a wide selection of product categories ranging from consumer electronics to home & living, health & beauty, baby & toys, fashion and fitness equipment.

Shopee, a Sea company, was first launched in Singapore in 2015, and has since expanded its reach to Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Sea is a leader in digital entertainment, e-commerce and digital financial services across Greater Southeast Asia. Sea's mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology, and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol SE.

WTO Panel Report in Thailand – Customs and Fiscal Measures on Cigarettes from the Philippines

12th July 2019, a World Trade Organization (“WTO”) Panel upheld the Philippines’ claims that Thailand violated WTO law on customs violation. The dispute initiated by the Philippines in 2008 affects Philippine exports of cigarettes to Thailand.  Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said that “this WTO dispute has been going on for more than ten years now, Thailand has lost all three panel and appellate rulings, and it is about time that Thailand accepts the rulings and implement the customs valuation reforms called for by those rulings.”

This decade-old dispute between Thailand and the Philippines concerns Thailand’s persistent failure to value Philippine exports consistently with the WTO’s Customs Valuation Agreement (“CVA”).  These measures threaten the viability of the private sector both in the Philippines and in Thailand, harm Philippine tobacco farmers, and are inimical to the overall export interests of the Philippines. It also places bilateral relations on a sour note. Mr. Lopez notes that “Thailand is a strong supporter of the WTO multilateral trading system, and currently chairs the WTO General Council. Thailand is also ASEAN host for 2019. Accepting the panel report in this dispute would be a clear demonstration of Thailand’s responsibility and leadership in the WTO and in ASEAN.”

This dispute was initiated by the Philippines in 2008, and is still ongoing because of Thailand’s repeated allegations of under-declaration of the customs value of cigarettes, which are all based on valuation determinations consistently ruled as illegal under WTO rules.  And these unlawful measures threaten criminal prosecution and even the imprisonment of a number of employees of the importer in Thailand, Philip Morris International Thailand (PMTL).

Thailand has now lost three WTO panel proceedings: 

• In the original proceedings, a WTO panel and the Appellate Body ruled in 2010 that the Thai customs valuation measures violated the CVA and other WTO rules. 
• Following this ruling, Thailand brought further new, WTO-inconsistent customs valuation measures against Philippine cigarettes and filed criminal charges against PMTL for under-declaration.  The Philippines successfully brought a first set of WTO compliance proceedings; in November 2018, the WTO compliance panel found that the new customs valuation measures and the first criminal charges violate the CVA. 
• While these proceedings were ongoing, Thailand issued a second set of criminal charges, forcing the Philippines to initiate second WTO compliance proceedings.  This latest WTO panel ruled on 12 July that these second charges also violate the CVA.  

Thailand has yet to implement the WTO rulings, amend its customs valuations policy and practices, and withdraw the two criminal charges which based, in the first instance, on WTO-illegal measures

OTOP HUB OPENS IN DTI MAIN BUILDING, OFFERS 600 PRODUCTS FROM 110 MSMEs

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched its One Town One Product (OTOP) Philippines Hub at the DTI Main Building in Makati with a Blessing and Buyer’s day on 4 July 2019.

The store features 600 products from 110 local enterprises, mostly processed food, drinks, bags, and handicrafts. These products are developed from the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) under DTI’s OTOP Program.

DTI Secretry Ramon Lopez said that to fulfill the vision of President Rodrigo Duterte of better and more comfortable lives for the Filipino people, DTI continues to push for programs that aim to raise MSMEs from the grassroots to the national and international markets, creating more jobs and sharing the prosperity for all.

Buyers from major retailers like Duty Free, Robinson’s, SM, and Waltermart were present at the event to look for products for their stores.

The DTI Main OTOP Hub is open from Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 6:30 pm and is managed by the Association of Laguna Food Processors (ALAFOP).

In the photo are (from L to R) DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Duty Free Philippines Chief Operating Officer Vicente Angala, DTI Assistant Secretaries Demphna Du-Naga and Blesila Lantayona, ALAFOP Chairman and President Clarke Nebrao, and Leon Flores of the Regional Operations Group.

Up to 90% off during Shopee 7.7 Lowest Price Sale

MANILA, 3 JULY, 2019 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, wraps up the Shopee 7.7 Lowest Price Sale on July 7 with free shipping for as low as ₱0 minimum spend on flash items, 100% cashback vouchers, and ₱77 deals across categories. On the big sale day, there will be amazing prizes including televisions, smartphones, and home appliances up for grabs for only ₱1 during the Shopee ₱1 Game. Consumers can also purchase their favorite items with deals up to 90% off from official brands including Unisilver Time, Silverworks, Bosch, Realme, Dove, Safeguard, MET Tathione, and Pantene.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines said, “We’re thrilled with how Shopee has performed in the first two quarters of the year and we’re building on this success with another big campaign, Shopee 7.7 Lowest Price Sale. We understand that Filipinos are active and savvy shoppers so Shopee is happy to provide consumers a wide range of products at the lowest price possible.”  

Consumers will be treated to back-to-back promotions happening everyday until the big sale day on July 7. Here are the key highlights of Shopee 7.7 Lowest Price Sale:

• Free Shipping with P0 Min Spend happening for limited time starting midnight on 7 Jul.
• ₱1 Game where users can pay ₱1 upon check out and one lucky winner will be chosen to take home the featured item of the day. Users stand a chance to win premium gadgets including the Samsung 49” 4K Smart TV, Huawei P30 Lite, and Xiaomi Mi Band 3 for only ₱1. 
• Big discounts up to 90% off from leading brands including Unisilver Time, Silverworks, Bosch, Realme, Dove, Safeguard, MET Tathione, and Pantene.
• Exclusive promotions from partners including Cebu Pacific, Metrobank, and Pizza Hut. 

Tune in to the finale episode of Shopee Pop Star Search

On July 6, Shopee brings together the original Sexbomb Dancers for an exclusive reunion performance with Shopee’s brand ambassador, Sarah Geronimo, in the final episode of Shopee Pop Star Search. Users can tune into the final episode live streamed on the app as Shopee announces its first-ever Shopee Pop Star champion. There will also be exclusive vouchers from leading brands including Unilab, Anker, and Nokia to be given away. 

For more information on Shopee Pop Star Search, visit https://shopee.ph/m/popstar-search.

For more information on Shopee 7.7 Lowest Price Sale, please visit https://shopee.ph/m/7-7.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Visit https://shopee.ph for more information. 

Get Your Vivo Smartphones For Up To 60% Off On Shoppee From Now Till 7 July 2019

Kuala Lumpur, 28 June 2019 – Vivo is offering its smartphones for up to 60% off with free gifts and vouchers in conjunction with Shoppee’s Orange Madness Sale available exclusively on Shoppee from now till 7 July 2019.

Malaysia’s most loved smartphone will delivered the next day with the new Shopee24 Express Delivery. Shoppers just need to look out for the red tag that says ‘Shopee24’. Orders need to be made before 2pm, during business days, to enjoy the next-day delivery service to addresses within Klang Valley.

Shopee will deliver the next shipment for free if the shopper does not receive their package the next day.

Shoppers are encouraged to chat with Vivo representatives via the Shopee Live feature to find out more about the products on offer here http://bit.ly/vivoshopeepost.

About Vivo

Vivo is a leading global technology company committed to creating trendsetting smart mobile products and services. Vivo is devoted to forming a vibrant mobile internet ecosystem, and currently owns and operates an extensive network of research operations, with R&D centers in the US (San Diego) and China (Dongguan, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Beijing and Hangzhou). These centers focus on the development of cutting-edge consumer technologies including 5G, AI, mobile photography and next-generation smartphone design.

Vivo has over two hundred million users enjoying its mobile products and services around the world. Vivo is present in 18 markets globally and features offline retail stores in over 1,000 cities worldwide.