NEWS

LALO pang pinalalakas ng Globe ang digital infrastructure ng bansa sa pagtatayo ng 833 bagong cell sites at pag-upgrade ng 5,395 mobile sites sa LTE sa unang siyam na buwan ng taon.

Ang inisyatibo ay naglalayong matiyak ang maaasahang connectivity at malawak na coverage sa buong bansa.

Ang masigasig na pagsisikap ng kompanya sa pagtatayo ng network ay mahalaga sa paghahatid ng mas mahusay na customer experience, na nagkakaloob sa maraming Pilipino ng access sa high-speed internet.

Ang dedikasyong ito na pagbutihin ang kanilang serbisyo ay kinilala sa pamamagitan ng prestihiyosong parangal na “Most Consistent Fixed Broadband Provider” sa 33 bayan at lungsod, kasama ang dalawang probinsya para sa third quarter ng 2023, ayon sa Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® data.

Ang parangal ay dumating matapos ang kapuri-puring performance ng Globe sa naunang quarter, kung saan nanguna ito sa 31 lokasyon.

Bukod dito, iniulat ng telco ang kapansin-pansing pagbilis kapwa sa download at upload speeds sa 19 strategic locations sa third quarter ng taon.

“As we strengthen our infrastructure with new cell sites and LTE upgrades, we’re helping accelerate digitalization. Our relentless builds are a clear indication of our dedication to service excellence. At Globe, we believe in harnessing technology to create opportunities and drive inclusive growth, empowering communities across the Philippines to reach their full potential,” sabi ni Beck Eclipse, Chief Customer Experience Officer ng Globe.

Kasalukuyang pinaiigting ng network ang paggamit ng existing fiber inventory nito, na nakahanay sa reduced capital expenditure (CAPEX) ng kasalukuyang taon.

Bunsod ito ng commitment ng Globe sa United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), partikular ang SDG No. 9, na nagtutulak sa inobasyon at imprastruktura bilang tagapagsulong ng inclusive economic growth.

Ang digital solutions platform ay gumastos ng ₱54 billion na CAPEX hanggang September 2023, kung saan 91% ang inilaan para tugunan ang data needs na titiyak sa patuloy na access sa premier digital solutions at connectivity.

Itinuturing na ‘milestone’ ni Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez ang nakatakdang pagpasok ng distribution utility na Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) sa buong lalawigan ng Negros.

Ito’y dahil hindi lamang ito magbibigay-daan para magkaroon ng maasahan at murang kuryente ang mga residente at mga negosyo bagkus nakatuon din para mapangalagaan ang kalikasan dahil sa paggamit ng renewable energy sources.

Pahayag ni Benitez, kanila nang inaasahan ang positibong pagbabago na ihahatid ng NEPC sa Bacolod City.

“In line with the approval of the Joint Venture Agreement with Cental Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), the city looks forward to the entry of NEPC. Promising to bring cheaper and more efficient power supply—-most of all going completely green. NEPC aims to implement eco-friendly practices and promote renewable energy sources within our city. By embracing cleaner alternatives and reducing carbon emissions, NEPC endeavors to contribute to the sustainability goals of Bacolod, fostering a greener future for generations to come,” dagdag pa nito.

Ani Benitez, wala siyang nakikitang sagabal sa paglipat ng prangkisa ng CENECO sa NEPC lalo’t suportado ito ng mga residente, mga negosyante, local government units at iba’t ibang sektor, kabilang ang mga non-governmental organizations.

Ang Bacolod City ay isa sa mga lugar sa Negros na madalas nakakaranas ng brownout at isa sa may mataas na power rates sa bansa dala ng matatas na fuel cost at palyadong distribution system habang nirereklamo rin ang mahinang customer service.

Isa din ang Bacolod sa mga major economic hub sa bansa subalit dahil sa mataas na singil sa kuryente ay nagiging hadlang ito sa pagpasok ng mga investment at bagong negosyo kung saan sinabi ni Benitez na sa pagkakaraoon ng maayos na power supply ay inaasahan na makatutulong ito sa paglago ng ekonomiya ng siyudad.

Ang House Bill 9310 na nagsusulong na mabigyan ng prangkisa ang NEPC para maging power distributor sa siyudad ng Bacolod, Bago, Silay at Talisay, gayundin sa munisipalidad ng Murcia at Don Salvador Benedicto ay kasalukuyang dinidinig ng House Committee on Legislative Franchises na pinamumunuan ni Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting.

Hinihintay na lamang ng komite ang isusumiteng mga dokumento ng NEPC, CENECO, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) at National Electrification Administration (NEA) at inaasahang maaprubahan na ang panukala sa committee level, pagkaraan nito ay isasalang na sa deliberasyon sa plenaryo.

Ang House Bill 9310 ay inakda mismo ng mga kongresista sa Negros sa pangunguna nina Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Francisco Benitez, Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer (fourth district), Abang Lingkod Partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano at Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya.

Umaasa si Benitez na bago matapos ang taon ay maaprubahan na ng Kongreso ang prangkisa upang masimulan na agad ang rehabilitasyon sa buong distribution system ng CENECO.

Una nang sinabi ni Primelectric Holdings Inc President Roel Castro na nasa P2.1 billion investment sa capital expenditures ang kanilang ilalagak sa NEPC.

“It is aimed at putting up cutting-edge and top-of-the-line systems for a better consumer experience. We need to rehabilitate the system because if you don’t put in the investment, you will be inheriting a distribution system that is just the same as now that is inefficient. That’s why we have to put in P2.1 billion to start rehabilitating and improving the system,” paliwanag ni Castro.

Sa oras na maaprubahan ang legislative franchise ay kasunod na hihingi ang NEPC ng certificate public safety convenience and necessity (CPSCN) mula sa Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) bago ang pagtake-over nito sa CENECO.

Mas madalang na brownout at murang kuryente sa mga susunod na taon ang maaasahan ng
mga residente ng Negros provinces.

Ito ay sa sandaling maaprubahan ang House Bill 9310 na nagsusulong na mabigyan ng prangkisa ang Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) na naglalayong mag-establisa ng electric power distribution system sa Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Bago at munisipalidad ng Murcia at Don Salvador Benedicto sa Negros Occidental.

Sa pagdinig ng House Committee on Legislative Franchises sa pamumuno ni Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting ay nagmosyon si PBA Partylist Rep Margarita Nograles na aprubahan “in principle” ang panukala at pinagsusumite ng mga kaukulang dokumento ang Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Electrification Administration (NEA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), at Primelectric Holdings Inc.

Ayon kay Primelectric Holdings Inc. President Roel Castro, agad silang tatalima sa kautusan ng komite.

Sinabi ni Castro na malaki ang magiging pakinabang sa mga residente sa oras na maaprubahan ang prangkisa ng NEPC lalo pa at nahaharap sa malaking problema ang supply ng kuryente sa Negros sa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ng CENECO.

“The electric service is not really that good; they have frequent brownouts, and when I say ‘frequent’, it’s normal to say that it’s daily. It takes them months to comply when you apply for a new connection. There’s a lot of complaints, and over and above that, their system loss is already beyond the cap. And when the systems loss is above the cap, it means that it is being passed on to the bottomline consumers, and CENECO is already losing P20 to P30 million a month,” paliwanag ni Castro.

Ang CENECO ay may 48 taon nang nag-o-operate at sa ilalim ng kanilang prangkisa ay mayroon pa itong 7 taon o hanggang 2030.

Subalit para mapagbuti ang serbisyo ng CENECO ay pumasok ito sa Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) sa pagitan ng Primelectric Holdings Inc., ang sister company ng More Electric and Power Corporation (More Power), ang distribution utility na nag-o-operate sa Iloilo City.

Ang NEPC ang siyang kumpanya na nabuo sa JVA at ito ngayon ang siyang humihingi ng legislative franchise sa Kamara.

Sa ilalim ng NEPC, ang 30% ownership ay mananatili sa CENECO habang ang Primelectric ay bibilihin ang 70% assets nito.

Nagpahayag ng kumpiyansa si Castro sa kakayahan ng NEPC na mabago ang power supply sa Negros na aniya’y nagawa na nila sa Iloilo.

“With all confidence, I am saying that because we were able to do that in Iloilo. In the last three years, we were able to bring down systems loss to only 5%. We also curtailed the duration of interruptions by over 90%. In terms of rates, our rate is the lowest within the region. The number of customers increased from 62,000 when we started, and now it’s 93,000 over three years. I would say that the approach to rehabilitate and make a turnaround is something we have done in Iloilo, and now we aim to do the same in Negros,” paliwanag ni Castro.

Giit pa nito, pinakamalaking contributor sa improvement ng Iloilo ay ang pagbuhos nila ng pondo sa Capital Expenditures.

“The investment, combined with the approach, is something that we are confident we can replicate in Bacolod and in Central Negros if given a chance by Congress to have a franchise,” dagdag pa nito.

Tiwala si Castro na maaaprubahan ng Kongreso ang hinihingi nilang prangkisa lalo at mga kongresista mismo sa Negros na sina Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano, Francisco Benitez at Juliet Marie de Leon Ferrer ang siyang nag-akda ng panukala.

“They have witnessed the stark contrast between CENECO’s services and More Power’s performance in Iloilo. Notably, Congressman Paduano was initially against granting More Power a franchise when we applied five years ago but has since changed his position after witnessing the remarkable improvements in Iloilo,” wika ni Castro.

Ipinagmalaki din niya na may suporta ang NEPC mula sa mga opisyal ng local government unit (LGU), gayundin sa mga residente.

Tiniyak din ni Castro ang “improve response time for emergencies.” Sa kasalukuyan, inaabot ang CENECO ng 90 minutes hanggang 2 hours para makapagresponde habang ang More Power sa Iloilo ay 15 minuto lang na kanilang gagawin din sa Negros.

PUMIRMA ang nangungunang digital solutions platform Globe at ang top universal bank Security Bank sa isang Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Nabatid na layon nitong palakasin pa ang cybersecurity initiatives para tugunan ang dumarami at lumalalang financial crimes sa bansa.

Sa pamamagitan ng agreement, paiigtingin ang pinagsanib na kakayahan ng magkabilang panig para labanan ang financial crime at identity theft at magtulungan sa fraud investigations, bilang pagtalima sa mga umiiral na batas, tuntunin at regulasyon kapwa ng National Privacy Commission (NPC) at ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Ang two-year agreement ay magbibigay-daan sa Globe, isa sa pinakamalaking telecommunications companies sa bansa, at Security Bank, isa sa pinakamahusay na capitalized private domestic universal banks sa bansa, na magbahagi ng datos para sa fraud prevention at investigation.

“Partnering with banks and financial institutions has greatly enhanced our fraud prevention, detection, and investigation efforts, leading to better customer protection. In the first half of the year, we have seen a dramatic 46% year-on-year decline in the volume of bank-related scam and spam messages blocked in our network, indicating that our efforts are making headway,” sabi ni Atty. Irish Salandanan-Almeida, Globe Chief Privacy Officer.

“We are proud and excited to have Security Bank as our latest partner in our continuing fight against online fraud. As our network of partners grows bigger, we are able to stop more fraud attempts and expand our protection to more customers,” dagdag pa niya.

“An integral part of the BetterBanking promise we make to our customers is the safety and security of their personal and financial information when transacting. This holds especially true now given current fraud trends and increased adoption of digital payment channels,” pahayag naman ni Albert dela Cruz, Chief Information Security Officer ng Security Bank.

“Our partnership with Globe will help us secure the data of our clients and ensure they enjoy seamless, safe, and smooth digital payment experiences. This is one of our main initiatives towards driving the bank to be the most customer-centric bank in the Philippines,” sabi pa ni Dela Cruz.

Ang pagsisiwalat ng personal information para sa fraud investigation ay pinapayagan sa ilalim ng Section 12 (f) ng Data Privacy Act, per NPC Advisory Opinion No. 2021-026. Gayundin, pinapayuhan ng BSP Memorandum No. M-2021-059 ang BSP Supervised Financial Institutions na makipagtulungan at magbahagi ng mahalagang impormasyon.

Ang Globe ay nakikipagtulungan sa lahat ng major commercial banks at online retailers para magkaloob ng direct at round-the-clock communication channel upang i-report ang anumang malicious o fraudulent activities para sa kagyat na imbestigasyon at pagharang.

Noong Agosto ng nakaraang taon, ang telco ay lumagda ng kasunduan sa Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) upang bumuo ng framework of cooperation para sa pagbabahagi ng data at intelligence para sa fraud prevention at investigation.

Nabatid na layon ng kasunduan sa organisasyon na may 45 major banks members, na tugunan ang dumarami at lumalalang financial crimes, identity theft, phishing, spam messages at iba pang uri ng panlololo na labis na nakaaapekto sa Filipino consumers.

Kung matatandaan, noong nakaraang Marso ay lumagda rin ang Globe sa hiwalay na kasunduan sa Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) at consumer finance firm Home Credit bilang bahagi ng kanilang commitment na labanan ang spam at scams.

Officials and senior representatives from Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) member states gathered for the 67th annual Governing Board (GB) Meeting. The meeting, attended by Ministries of Education (MOEs), SEAMEO Secretariat Director, and INNOTECH Center Director as ex-officio members, coincided with the United Nations (UN) Day on October 24. SEAMEO INNOTECH has a history of collaboration with international agencies such as UNESCO, UNDP, and UNICEF.

During the meeting’s opening ceremony, SEAMEO INNOTECH Center Director Prof. Leonor Magtolis-Briones highlighted its significance. She noted that this assembly serves not only as a platform for reviewing the center’s accomplishments and programs but also for fostering partnerships and collaborations among attendees, in line with the principles of the United Nations.

Recently, the Center collaborated with UNICEF for the Youth Summit 2023. As part of the 67th GB meeting, discussions centered on operational strategies, the endorsement of initiatives, and setting the future course of education in Southeast Asia. The primary focus of the meeting was youth empowerment, with an aim to understand, celebrate, and expand successful youth programs implemented by Ministries of Education across the region.

Additionally, as part of SEAMEO’s ongoing mission to provide innovative education solutions for Southeast Asia, the Center underscored the importance of discussions surrounding the development of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), aligning with one of the agendas for this year’s UN Day.

On UN Day, SEAMEO INNOTECH reiterated its commitment to building a better future for every learner in Southeast Asia. The organization believes that through youth empowerment, adoption of innovative practices, and fostering collaborations, a future where education serves as the foundation of a united and prosperous society will emerge.

PINANGUNAHAN ng SEAMEO INNOTECH ang annual program nito para sa National Teachers’ Month nitong Biyernes, Oktubre 6, sa Center’s Pearl Hall sa Diliman, Quezon City.

Ito’y para ipagdiwang at kilalanin ang dedikasyon, commitment, at ambag sa edukasyon ng bawat guro sa bansa.

Halaw mula sa temang nabuo ng National Teachers’ Month Coordinating Council (NTMCC), umikot ang selebrasyon ngayong taon sa “Together4Teachers” na may kahulugang Appreciation (Pasasalamat), Admiration (Paghanga), Approval (Pagkilala), at Attention (Pagtugon).

Maliban dito, nagsagawa rin ng forum ang INNOTECH na may pamagat na “Palette of Possibilities: Illuminating Teaching through Arts and Humanities.”

Nabatid na nasa 100 educators mula sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa ang dumalo sa event habang higit 1,000 online participants ang lumahok sa pamamagitan ng Zoom broadcast.

“You illuminate the path for our future generations. It is you who produce the engineers, the scientists, who suffer and lead. Any successful doctor or any successful politician is the product of a teacher, parents, and their sacrifices for their education and development,” ayon naman sa mensahe ni SEAMEO INNOTECH Director at dating Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones.

MALAPIT nang gumanda ang power supply sa lalawigan ng Negros.

Ito’y matapos talakayin ng National Electrification Administration (NEA) ang nabuong joint venture agreement (JVA) sa pagitan ng Primelectric Holdings Inc. at Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CENECO).

Ayon kay NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda, dahil natapos na ang plebisito na pumabor sa JVA ay ang pagpapatupad nito ang siya nang gagawin ng ahensya.

Base sa kasunduan, walong buwan ang target bago ito masimulan.

“I hope we can address the concerns of the oppositors. We must also consider them. Regarding the participation of the Member-Consumer-Owners, it has been concluded during the plebiscite so we will put this into motion with all the required legal objectivity,” pahayag ni Almeda matapos ang naging pulong sa pagitan ng mga opisyal ng Ceneco at Primelectric.

Matatandaang inanunsyo ng NEA na 98,591 member consumers ang pumabor para sa JVA kontra sa 6,899 na hindi pabor.

Ang Primelectric ay sister company ng More Electric and Power Corporation (More Power) na power distribution utlity sa Iloilo City.

Sa oras na makumpleto ang JVA, ang Ceneco-Primelectric merger company ay tatawagin nang Negros Electric Power Corp (NEPC).

Sa naging pulong sa NEA, iniharap ni Primelectric President Roel Castro ang kumpletong detalye ukol sa JVA, gayundin kung paano ito ipatutupad at ang target na modernisasyon sa mga pasilidad.

“This venture seeks to magnify the electric industry in Central Negros by not just streamlining the internal and external operations of concerned parties but also rehabilitating and modernizing the distribution system, which is deemed crucial in providing quality service to our consumers,” paliwanag ni Castro.

Sa panig ng CENECO, sinabi ni acting general manager Atty. Arnel Lapore na umaasa siyang agad mapasisimulan ng NEA ang JVA.

“I’m one with NEA in facilitating the service for the benefit of our consumers. That’s why I strongly support and cooperate through this JVA to ensure we deliver quality operations internally and externally. Rest assured that we duly consider all the suggestions raised by Admin Almeda during the hearing,” wika ni Lapore.

Samantala, target naman ng Primelectric na maglaan ng P2.1 billion investment na nakatuon sa modernisasyon ng power distribution system.

“We need to rehabilitate the system because if you don’t put in the additional P2 billion investment or even bigger, you will be inheriting a distribution system that is just the same as now that is inefficient. That’s why we have to put the investment to start rehabilitating and improving the system,” ani Castro.

Sinabi ni Castro na sa oras na maayos ang distribution system ay kasunod na ring masosolusyunan ang mataas na singil sa systems losses na siyang pinapasan ng mga consumers.

“The P2.1 billion will result in reduced system losses and much better reliability but will not lead to any immediate increase in the Distribution System and Metering rates for the consumers once operates,” sabi ni Castro.

Maliban dito, nangako si Castro na pagsapit ng 2028 ay makakamit nila ang 100 % target na total electricifation sa Negros.

“On behalf of NEPC, we have our commitment to continue, and we will achieve the 100 percent target in alignment with the government’s direction. It will now be fully funded by NEPC, and thus, we are shifting the burden of electrification from the government to the private sector,” paliwanag pa ni Castro.

Para maisakatuparan ang target programs, tiniyak ng NEPC ang kanilang kooperasyon sa NEA.

“We will ensure that Primelectric/NEPC will collaborate with NEA and CENECO because we have the same mission to bring light to the progression of the Filipino people and make their lives even more comfortable,” dagdag pa ni Castro.