Pest Science opening Saipan, Guam offices

Following its swift growth in the Philippines, one of the country's trusted pest control companies, Pest Science Corporation, will open branches in the United States territories of Saipan and Guam.

The Pacific expansion comes 20 years after the company's inception.

Pest Science Corporation president Rayner Lorenzo said the overseas branches are expected to open early next year with personnel coming entirely from the Philippines.

"Guam and Saipan are in the Pacific with tropical weather. So, they have the same pests as the Philippines, and we can use our products there. Also, there are a lot of Filipinos in Guam and Saipan," Lorenzo, a biologist by profession, said.

The company was established in 2002, which then was housed in a rented apartment, to bring both science and service together to undertake pest management.

Under the Lorenzo Group of Companies of which 500 personnel are employed, Pest Science has an authorized capital base of P30 million operating in 28 branches throughout the country.

Its entry position in the market is as a service provider with a high level of expertise in pest management.

Since its inception, the company has already worked its place as one of the top service providers in the country, and their services are being hired by top hotels and establishments, namely Okada Manila, the whole Resorts World complex including its allied hotels Marriott and Sheraton Hotels, Makati Medical Center, Shangri-La Malls, Rockwell, top manufacturing plants, and ABS-CBN, among others.

Pest Science also holds three ISO certifications, namely Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, as well as a certification for an Integrated Management System.

Headwinds blow

According to Lorenzo, the pest control business was not spared from the pounding of the Covid-19 pandemic. For more than three months during the surge of the health crisis, the company let go of some of its employees as most establishments that they are servicing for pest control have shuttered.

"After four months, we get back to business. And in 2021, we started pulling back our employees. They are with us again, while some focused on their own businesses," he said.

And with the current political tensions in Ukraine and the global economic downturn, Lorenzo said facing delays in deliveries of chemicals for their business.

"Some of our chemicals are imported from China and the USA. We suffer some delays in terms of delivery timing. Some components are delayed, while others are on time because of logistical problems brought on by the ongoing tension in Europe," Lorenzo said in an interview.

The company also embraced innovation in servicing its clients, as they now use cloud technology as part of its vision to bring in the newest and safer technology.

"Our company gained from being innovative, experimenting with new technologies and chemicals. The company always accepts new challenges. Experimenting with new technologies and products with overseas partners had brought in new opportunities to serve the client better. We have presently embarked on ventures to develop pheromones and specific electronic devices for pest management. This is directed to reduce the chemical burden in an urban environment," he said.

Pest Science does not forget to share its blessings through corporate social responsibility in helping institutions such as boys' towns, and those citizens that are hit by natural calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.