Indian businesses urge Philippines to address concerns
Indian businesses want the Philippines to address delays in the approval of licenses for pharmaceutical products and tax refunds for manufacturing firms, as well as the high power and logistics costs, to allow the country to attract more foreign investors......»»
Manufacturers temporarily forgo price increases — DTI
The Department of Trade and Industry has announced that several manufacturers have temporarily forgone their requests for price increases after Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual requested them to be mindful of the consumer’s plight amid the skyrocketing prices that they have to endure these days, as a result of their meeting last Thursday afternoon. On 21 September 2023, the DTI convened a meeting with manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities, where a total of 29 manufacturers and two associations of canned sardines, coffee, processed milk, bread, salt, detergent, candles, condiments, bottled water, canned meat, toilet soap and batteries participated in the said dialogue. According to DTI Undersecretary Communications and Legislative Affairs Kim Lokin, Secretary Pascual’s meeting with manufacturers went well, as these firms are willing to hold off on a price increase for now. “Although of course, they raised concerns that on the production level, there is indeed an increase in cost. Sec Pascual is very appreciative of the gesture,” she said. Manufacturers assured On the other hand, the Trade chief assured manufacturers that he would also consider their plight, and the need to sustain their businesses and provide jobs. Lokin said the DTI will hold another round of consultations, especially for those who have serious or urgent concerns, which will be on a case-to-case basis. Further, the DTI undersecretary stressed that this does not mean that forgoing the price increase is definite until Christmas. “For now, we can say the manufacturers are willing to hold off any increase for as long as they can. It is difficult to say when they will adjust prices because the cost of raw materials and ingredients used are also subject to market forces. Sec Pascual would have to consider all stakeholders, although of course in his mind, consumers’ needs are paramount,” Lokin stressed. Concerns During the dialogue, manufacturers expressed their concerns about various issues, including the imposition of pass-through fees; lack of local supply of raw materials; the compliance requirements of other government agencies, and other regulatory concerns. As of 19 September 2023, 14 manufacturers of 46 Stock Keeping Units covering 10 categories of BNPCs requested retail price adjustments due to the high cost of major raw materials, packaging materials, fuel costs, wages, and other costs that affect the production of essential goods. In their statement, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. said that manufacturers of Noche Buena products decided to absorb the bulk of rising costs. “In our commitment to observing the Christmas spirit and ensuring everyone can enjoy the festival season,” PAMPI said. “We are working diligently to manage rising costs. Production costs have risen by an estimated 10-15 percent, most of these products will only see a modest price increase of 0-4 percent”, PAMPI added. Meanwhile, Pascual said he is also committed to closely working with the salt and canned sardine manufacturers to address their specific concerns. The DTI secretary ensured that all concerns raised were taken into consideration and vowed to support the manufacturing sector, urging them to go into value addition. The post Manufacturers temporarily forgo price increases — DTI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Climate change ‘dystopian future already here’: UN rights chief
Climate change is sparking human rights emergencies in numerous countries, the UN rights chief said Monday, stressing the need to fight the impunity of those who "plunder our environment". Speaking before the United Nations Human Rights Council, Volker Turk pointed to recent examples of the "environmental horror that is our global planetary crisis". He described visiting Basra, Iraq, where date palms once lined canals, but now "drought, searing heat, extreme pollution and fast-depleting supplies of fresh water are creating barren landscapes of rubble and dust". "This spiraling damage is a human rights emergency for Iraq, and many other countries," he said in his address opening the 54th council session in Geneva. "Climate change is pushing millions of people into famine. It is destroying hopes, opportunities, homes and lives. In recent months, urgent warnings have become lethal realities again and again all around the world," Turk said. "We do not need more warnings. The dystopian future is already here. We need urgent action now." Turk was speaking after the G20 at the weekend failed to commit to a phase-out of fossil fuels, something he said was desperately needed. - 'Nonchalance' at migrant deaths - At a time when the ravages of climate change are forcing more and more people to leave their homes, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said he was "shocked by the nonchalance" seen towards surging numbers of migrant deaths. "It is evident that far more migrants and refugees are dying, unnoticed," he said, pointing to the more than "2,300 people reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean this year, including the loss of more than 600 lives in a single shipwreck off Greece in June." He also highlighted migrant deaths in the English Channel, the Bay of Bengal, in the Caribbean, along the US-Mexican border, and at the Saudi border, where he said his "office is seeking urgent clarification about allegations of killings and mistreatment". The UN rights chief also highlighted a wide range of other concerning situations around the world, including in Russia, Pakistan and the Palestinian territory. On China, he reiterated concerns raised in a report by his office a year ago about the situation in the far-western Xinjiang region, which cited possible crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. "As my Office highlighted a year ago, the concerns in the Xinjiang ... requires strong remedial action by the authorities," Turk said Monday, also voicing concern at "continued detention of human rights advocates". - 'Ecocide' - Turk also spoke about the situation in Lebanon, decrying a total lack of accountability for the 2020 Beirut port blast, that killed more than 220 people, urging "an international fact-finding mission to look into human rights violations related to this tragedy." And he mentioned the situation in Iran, one year after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody after her arrest for allegedly breaching the strict dress code for women. Turk voiced concern at a bill that would impose harsher penalties for breaching the dress code, and "renewed deployment of the morality police." Climate change and environmental degradation played a role in a number of the rights situations he mentioned, including in Africa's Sahel region. Turk insisted on the need to "counter the impunity of people and businesses who severely plunder our environment", welcoming a proposal to recognize "ecocide" as an international crime. Amid the towering problems facing the world, Turk decried "politics of deception". "Helped by new technologies, lies and disinformation are mass-produced to sow chaos, to confuse, and ultimately to deny reality and ensure no action will be taken that could endanger the interests of entrenched elites," he said. "The most apparent case of this is climate change." nl/apo/yad © Agence France-Presse The post Climate change ‘dystopian future already here’: UN rights chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A journey of innovation and creativity among kiddie entrepreneurs
IDEAYALA 2023 offers an opportunity for the next generation of entrepreneurs to showcase their innovative business ideas and turn them into action. In addition to encouraging the youth’s creative thinking and problem-solving skills, the affair also aims to instill in them a sense of confidence and determination to pursue their dreams. Spearheaded by Ayala Malls in partnership with Kiddo-preneur, IDEAYALA’s commitment to supporting and recognizing the potential of these young minds exemplifies the group’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of business leaders in the Philippines. Following the launch at Greenbelt earlier this year, Ayala Malls and Kiddo-preneur continue to empower the youth, ages five to 17, as they make rounds at various Ayala Malls in the coming weeks and months: Market! Market! on 26 and 27 August, Ayala Malls Circuit on 2 and 3 September, Glorietta on 23 and 24 September, Ayala Malls Solenad on 7 and 8 October, Ayala Malls The 30th on 21 and 22 October, Ayala Malls Feliz on 11 and 12 November and Ayala Malls Marikina on 18 and 19 November. Future leaders Launched in 2014 as the brainchild of Mariana Zobel de Ayala and Paloma U. Zobel, IDEAYALA is a visionary project that aims to inspire, train and challenge young minds to innovate and create viable, sustainable and market-inclusive mall experiences or entrepreneurial concepts. Seeking to envision the “mall of the future,” some of these ideas may even hold the potential to address the country’s social and environmental concerns. Previously, IDEAYALA mostly engaged college students through talks, mentorship programs and competitions. After seeing how the pandemic affected numerous businesses, particularly the micro, small and medium enterprises, IDEAYALA took on a different shape. This year’s IDEAYALA initiative focused on developing a new generation of strong business leaders by engaging entrepreneurs as young as five years old. This shift in approach sparked a partnership between IDEAYALA and Kiddo-preneur, a socially oriented non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurship among the youth. Together with Ayala Malls, Kiddo-preneur is driving meaningful change by propelling the next generation of young entrepreneurs forward. “IDEAYALA was created by our need to define the ‘mall for the future,’” shared Mark Sablan, vice president and head of Leasing of Ayala Malls. “Fast forward to today, after the pandemic, we revisited the concept of IDEAYALA together with Kiddo-prener because we believe these young minds will be the source of inspiration and new concepts that we’ll be discovering in the next coming years.” IDEAYALA co-founder Zobel de Ayala added, “It’s exciting to be in the midst of all this creativity. It’s also impressive to see kids this young conceptualizing and executing fresh ideas and new solutions. Our goal now at IDEAYALA is to nurture this mindset and encourage the kids to keep imagining new and sustainable business models and ideas for the future.” Opportunities Hundreds of kids launched their businesses through IDEAYALA. Some of the businesses showcased at recently concluded events in Greenbelt, TriNoma and Fairview Terraces were eight-year-old Mariella Oreta’s Science in a Jar, an education-oriented business that sold live caterpillars; Zara, Zree and Zac Chua’s Cafe de Slime, which sold slime sets; and siblings Vino and Bella Bugayong’s VB Pantry, which sold treats and refreshments to hungry mallgoers. Other notable highlights were the Build-A-Brand Workshop, where 50 young kiddo-preneurs were challenged to get creative and create and present their very own shampoo brand. The kids also got the chance to listen and learn from industry titans: Jollibee Foods Corporation president and chief executive officer Ato Tanmantiong and the founder and namesake of the well-loved Mary Grace Café, Mary Grace Dimacali, who shared their humble beginnings and how they grew their businesses into the empires they are today. The post A journey of innovation and creativity among kiddie entrepreneurs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NFA rice negotiation ‘obviously ultra vires’ — PRISM
The Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement over the weekend said that it has reached to their attention that officials of the National Food Authority were in India to negotiate, on behalf of the government, rice importation. "If this is true, we would like to ask for a clarification regarding this matter, which we believe runs counter to the provisions of the Rice Tariffication law which authorizes only the President to negotiate upon the recommendation of National Economic Development Authority and the Department of Agriculture," the PRISM said in a statement sent to Daily Tribune. "Any discussion about importation initiated by the NFA is obviously ultra vires," they added. PRISM said a closer look at the international rice market situation would reveal "problems beyond the control of our local businesses and the government." Filipino private importers who have booked supplies from Vietnam, as early as the first quarter, are now faced with the dilemma of Vietnamese importers canceling their contracts in favor of other countries affected by India’s rice export ban. Its response to current rice issues is to "reiterate our commitment to the President to ensure the availability of affordable rice. Second is to address the issues and concerns about the rice supply." PRISM boasted that on 7 July 2023, and last Saturday, along Tomas Morato near Scout Borromeo Streets, "we have successfully launched the P38 per kilo Tulong sa Bayan Bigas para sa Mamayan." It added that they have done the same in various areas in NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao "through our Rice Retail networks, Barangay and LGU Caravans, and Kadiwa outlets. Since then until this time, we still continue selling the P38 per kilo rice in the respective channels chosen by our stakeholders." Despite different challenges and turn of events due to typhoons "Egay" and "Falcon" and the unexpected declaration of India’s export ban, PRISM reiterated their commitment to ensuring the availability of the P38 rice per kilo, "to continue our commitment to this advocacy." "Today, we are strengthening our advocacy, we encourage more rice traders to join in this effort to help more of our Kababayan," the movement said. According to PRISM, recent concerns have surfaced regarding the high price and availability of rice, leading to speculations that intend to disturb the confidence of the public and the normal course of the local market. "We acknowledge and stand by the President's assurance of sufficient rice supply and recognize the importance of addressing the affordability of rice amidst the current inflationary pressures," it said. "It is of utmost importance that PRISM stands together with our efforts aligned with the President's vision for prioritizing local rice production and stabilizing the local market supply without having to resort to revenue-draining government-led importation," it added. "We, therefore, urge the National Food Authority (NFA) to rally behind this directive and channel its energy into supporting methods that increase domestic production, as specified by the President," PRISM said. "We acknowledge the problem besetting the local rice industry, but certainly it is not the availability of rice, but its affordability primarily due to inflation." "As farm gate costs (currently at P21 to 25 per kilo of palay-fresh palay) are affected by price fluctuations in the market, we urge the NFA, whose current support price of P19 per kilo (clean and dry) is far below the current farm gate price, to seize the ongoing budget season and approach the Congress for higher budget allocation that will benefit local farmers and strengthen the local industry instead of pushing for importation that will drain government funds in favor of foreign suppliers," they explained. "The NFA should focus on its role as mandated by the Rice Tarrification Law / RA 11203 to build its buffer stock exclusively from local farmers and rice millers instead of imported sources. This move is also more consistent with the President’s objective to support local farmers and strengthen OUR rice industry," it further explained. "We are thus urging that relevant authorities engage in diplomatic discussions with Vietnamese counterparts to find a mutually beneficial resolution and honor the contracts of our importers," PRISM urged. "Complicating our rice situation, careless statement of a certain DA official has maliciously criticized our members’ effort to subsidize a limited supply of P38.00 per kilo rice during lean months that was intended for our indigent kababayan. In one interview this official insinuated that this effort, which was motivated by the President’s directive to provide affordable rice, was meant to be “playing” with the market prices even if it's only offered to the poorest of the poor with a maximum purchase of 5 kilos a day," the group said, preferring not to name the DA official. Prior to the roll-out of this initiative, they added, "our organization sought clearance from the President during several meetings in Malacanang and from the DA’s Undersecretary in charge of the National Rice Program," they said. There were also pronouncements that the DA inspectorate, together with the NBI, intends to inspect warehouses to prevent traders from hoarding. "While we understand and appreciate this initiative, we urge the government to exercise caution due to the ambiguous legal definition of hoarding. Even if the intention is sound, in this current situation, warehouses with limited stocks might come out as a reflection of our dwindling rice supply and be used by those pushing for government importation," PRISM explained further. However, for warehouses that hold stocks as commercial buffers for their regular customers, such may be misinterpreted by the media as hoarding, even without going through the legal process. This can negatively impact the reputation of legitimate traders. "Careless exercise of lawful inspections will only worsen the situation and create a chilling effect that can disturb the normal course of the market," the group said. The group is requesting that the President, who also holds the position of DA secretary, devise a better strategy for communicating the government's "rice policy framework and situational response." This should be done in a way that ensures accountability and prevents any confusion or negative public and industry feedback "We strongly encourage the President to assign just one Usec for all agencies involved in the rice program (NIA, NRP, and NFA)," PRISM said. "Furthermore, we strongly encourage the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to release pertinent data and statistics on rice production and stocking in an up-to-date manner instead of a 3-month delay, to properly guide private and government stakeholders in timely decision making," the group suggested. The post NFA rice negotiation ‘obviously ultra vires’ — PRISM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Villar: Internet Transaction Act will protect online sellers, consumers vs fraud
Online sellers and consumers will be protected once the Senate Bill 1846 or the Internet Transaction Act of 2023 is enacted into law. This was assured by Senator Mark Villar as he defended the proposed measure during the Senate deliberation. “This is good news for online shoppers and online sellers. The bill we just defended will protect merchants and consumers against fraudulent practices in Internet transactions. It will address the pressing need to ensure that Filipinos can harness the benefits of the digital world without compromising their privacy and security,” Villar, principal author of the bill, said. The senator also said he is “firmly committed to the ideals and objectives” of the Internet Transaction Act. Under the bill, digital platforms or e-marketplaces shall be subsidiarily liable to the online merchant or retailer if it failed to perform its responsibilities as laid down in the proposed measure that caused damage to the consumer. Villar said the bill also establishes a code of conduct for all businesses involved in e-commerce in order to safeguard and advance consumer interests. “Maganda po na we discuss the concerns of our fellow senators. The purpose is to make ITA future-proof so that its application will not be limited especially sa hindi pa available na business model at this point," he added. The Senate's commitment to deliver a "well-crafted and impactful law" was highlighted during the interpellation, according to Villar. Hence, Villar remains steadfast in his commitment to advocating for its passage and effective implementation. He also underscored the importance of creating an environment “where individuals and businesses can confidently participate in the digital world, ensuring a safer and more prosperous online future for all.” “Natapos na po natin ang interpellations, we are now looking forward to the period of amendments. Hopefully, by next week masimulan na natin so we can reflect all the comments and concerns raised by our colleagues,” he further stressed. Once legislated, Villar said the Internet Transactions Act of 2023 will “prevent online scams and assure the safety” of both consumers and merchants engaged in e-commerce. The post Villar: Internet Transaction Act will protect online sellers, consumers vs fraud appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US-China cooperation in climate finance ‘critical’: Yellen
It is "critical" for Washington and Beijing to keep working together on climate finance, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Saturday, urging deeper cooperation in addressing the "existential threat" of global warming. Her comments, on a four-day trip to Beijing that follows Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit, come as the United States seeks to cool tensions and stress areas of collaboration between the world's two biggest economies. "As the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases and the largest investors in renewable energy, we have both a joint responsibility –- and ability -– to lead the way," Yellen told a roundtable of experts in China, underlining a key area of cooperation despite tense bilateral relations. "Climate change is at the top of the list of global challenges, and the United States and China must work together to address this existential threat," she added. Saying that "climate finance should be targeted efficiently and effectively", she pressed China to support existing multilateral institutions like the Green Climate Fund, while urging for the inclusion of the private sector in transitioning towards net zero. "Both our economies seek to support partners in emerging markets and developing countries as they strive to meet their climate goals, and I believe continued US-China cooperation on climate finance is critical." China last year briefly said it was suspending talks on the climate after Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the House of Representatives, visited Taiwan -- the self-ruling democracy claimed by Beijing. But there are signs that talks might restart again soon, with US envoy John Kerry due to travel to China soon to discuss cooperation on climate change, a US official said Friday. Besides working together on climate, Yellen said in a Friday meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang it was also key that Washington and Beijing closely communicate on global economic and financial affairs -- while making joint efforts on international challenges such as debt distress. 'Big ticket items' On Saturday, in addition to meeting people involved in climate finance, she is also expected to speak with women economists and see Vice Premier He Lifeng, a key Chinese economic official. And a key question is whether "big ticket items that are in the category of global challenges," like debt distress and climate cooperation, get bumped to the top of the agenda, said Lindsay Gorman, senior fellow for emerging technologies at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Yellen's talks on Saturday follow meetings with US businesses, who have expressed a host of concerns ranging from level playing fields with the Chinese, reduced people-to-people exchanges, and an uncertain business climate in the face of a national security crackdown. "Anything that can help make the US-China relationship better, number one, will help the companies here, the investment sentiment and two, just give us more opportunity to cooperate," Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, told AFP. The post US-China cooperation in climate finance ‘critical’: Yellen appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Yellen to visit China, raising need to ‘responsibly manage’ ties
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to visit Beijing this week, the United States said Sunday, marking the second trip by a cabinet official to China since ties between the world's top two economies deteriorated earlier this year. Yellen is expected to discuss with her counterparts the importance for both countries "to responsibly manage our relationship, communicate directly about areas of concern, and work together to address global challenges," said the Treasury Department in a statement. Yellen's planned July 6-9 trip comes just weeks after Secretary of State Antony Blinken met China's top leader President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing in June. Blinken was the highest-ranking US official to visit the Chinese capital in nearly five years, and Xi said on the rare trip that he saw headway in the strained relationship between Washington and Beijing. In Beijing, Yellen will discuss how the United States views its economic relationship with China, a senior Treasury official said Sunday. She will meet with senior Chinese officials and leading US firms, the American spokesperson said without providing specifics. While the US seeks to secure its national security interests and protect human rights, actions to this effect are "not intended to gain economic advantage over China," the official added. Washington also looks towards "healthy" ties with Beijing and does not seek to decouple the economies, while pursuing cooperation on urgent challenges like climate change and debt distress, the American official said. The United States does not expect "significant breakthrough" from this initial trip, but it does aim to build longer-term channels of communication with China, the Treasury official added. - Restarting engagement - "I think the US government is clearly trying to put some floor under the deterioration of the economic relationship," Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP, speaking on the Treasury secretary's intentions to visit China. A Yellen trip could "restart a steady pattern of engagement at lower levels," he said, adding that the US has shifted from being ambiguous about how far it was supporting decoupling to explicitly adopting a strategy of "derisking" instead. This means "focusing on a narrower range of items that have strategic importance, trying to build fences around those items, but otherwise trying to continue to nurture a reasonably robust US-China economic relationship," Alden said. But observers do not expect a quick resolution to tensions. President Joe Biden's administration is considering a program to restrict certain US outbound investments involving sensitive technology with key national security implications -- an issue that has riled Chinese officials. Other possible sticking points include amendments to China's anti-espionage law which recently broadened the definition of spying while banning the transfer of information relating to national security -- a move that has spooked foreign and domestic businesses. The senior Treasury official told reporters Sunday that Washington intends to communicate its concerns over the law. While significant disagreements may not be resolved in a single trip, the US seeks to deepen and increase the frequency of communication with China and to "stabilize the relationship," avoiding miscommunication and expanding collaboration where possible, the official said. - Global growth, debt problems - For the US, discussions with officials from the world's second biggest economy "are important to help spur stronger global economic growth and to tackle the mounting debt problem of the Global South," said Wendy Cutler, vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, discussing a prospective Yellen visit. On Beijing's part, officials are "looking for concrete steps taken by the US to show that 'decoupling' and holding back China is not the ultimate goal of the United States," Cutler added. But despite US policies that have drawn ire from Beijing, officials likely have an awareness of China's continued export dependence and the importance of the US market, CFR's Alden said. "I think that there's a growing awareness in Beijing that China also needs to play a role in nurturing this economic relationship with the United States, because it's simply too important to China as well," he added. Washington and Beijing recently have clashed over trade, human rights and other issues. Relations came under further stress this year when the United States shot down a Chinese balloon it said was used for surveillance -- a claim China strongly denied. But Blinken's reception in Beijing has been seen as a symbolic sign of lowering temperatures. bys/mlm/dw © Agence France-Presse The post Yellen to visit China, raising need to ‘responsibly manage’ ties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz Data Innovation’s gender bias study makes global excellence list
Aboitiz Data Innovation’s joint non-mortgage fintech lending project with the UnionBank of the Philippines and the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in Canada on anti-discrimination law, artificial intelligence and gender bias was recently listed in the Global Top 100 list of Artificial Intelligence solutions by the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence under the auspices of UNESCO. The Top 100 list is created by IRCAI to scope and showcase effective and impactful solutions that contribute to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through the application of AI. IRCAI recognized the project’s applicability, credibility and ethics in solving SDG1: No Poverty, SDG5: Gender Equality, SDG10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goal, evaluating the research as “excellent,” placing it in the top 30 percent of projects on the Global 100 list. “This recognition is yet another milestone achievement for our team,” ADI chief executive officer Dr. David R. Hardoon said. “Our study highlights the importance of addressing gender bias in fintech lending and that we need to rethink existing anti-discrimination laws that shall be applicable to AI systems to ensure fairness and equality. We’re proud to have our work recognized by IRCAI and UNESCO, and with its proven significance for the greater good, we hope that our findings will contribute to the continued development of more ethical and inclusive AI solutions.” Recent studies have shown that the consumer lending market process is stacked against women and minorities. Recognizing the inequalities and imbalances in play, ADI carried out the study — based on a use case in non-mortgage fintech lending — engaging in explainable and responsible AI efforts. The study investigated whether excluding the use of gender information in assessing creditworthiness hurt or helped the groups they are supposed to protect. It ultimately revealed that using gender-related data results in a significant decrease in gender discrimination and increased profitability for the firm. [caption id="attachment_140689" align="aligncenter" width="750"] IMAGE COURTESY OF ADI | ‘Our study highlights the importance of addressing gender bias in fintech lending and that we need to rethink existing anti-discrimination laws that shall be applicable to AI systems to ensure fairness and equality,‘ said ADI chief executive officer Dr. David R. Hardoon.[/caption] The project serves as a guide in improving anti-discrimination laws to ensure that Machine Learning models foster a fairer and more inclusive system, particularly for discriminated groups within the financial services industry, all the while increasing firm profitability. “We are honored to be named one of the top 100 international AI solutions for achieving the 17 SDGs. The result of our study provides a strong basis for whether the use of protected attributes such as gender data should be allowed in fintech, particularly credit lending models. To achieve a win-win situation for both business and communities, it eventually comes down to the responsible collection and use of gender data where minority groups are treated with fairness and businesses achieve higher profitability,” said Dr. Adrienne Heinrich, head of ADI’s AI and Innovation Center of Excellence. As AI systems become more complex, achieving transparency, reliability and interpretability can be a challenge. ADI has created proper guidelines to ensure ethical and proper AI use through its Explainable and Responsible AI Guidelines. The XRAI Guidelines include practical recommendations for leaders, team members and stakeholders involved in the development and deployment of AI systems at ADI. These recommendations cover a wide range of topics, including data collection and management, model development and testing, human oversight and control, and the ethical implications of AI. The guidelines are based on eight main principles — transparency, explainability, repeatability, safety and security, robustness, fairness, accountability, and human agency and oversight. Ensuring reliable and responsible use of AI-driven technology is crucial, and the responsibility falls under businesses to actively address such concerns. This is a step in the right direction as ADI continues to encourage the operationalization of responsible AI, as well as promote trust in the technology, within and outside the organization. The post Aboitiz Data Innovation’s gender bias study makes global excellence list appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AIC Estate Water cuts economic zones losses
Aboitiz InfraCapital’s Estate Water has achieved remarkable success in reducing non-revenue water in all its economic estates including the 800-hectare LIMA Estate in Batangas, the 63-hectare Mactan Economic Zone II Estate and the 540-hectare West Cebu Estate in Cebu. Committed to providing excellent water services, Estate Water implements a comprehensive NRW management program to address water losses in its service areas. Over the past five years, LIMA Water managed to maintain the NRW level at LIMA Estate below 5%. Last year, Estate Water extended this program to other areas, including MEZ2 and WCE, resulting in a significant reduction in NRW. Specifically, MEZ2’s NRW decreased from 13 percent to 6 percent, while WCE’s water losses were reduced from 10 percent to 7 percent. These figures are well below the World Bank’s NRW benchmark rate of 25 percent, demonstrating Estate Water’s commitment to the sustainable use of water sources. Non-resource water NRW refers to water produced but which never reaches the intended consumer due to various factors such as pipe leaks, illegal connections, and pilferage. These factors contribute to the wastage of water and have a negative impact on the efficiency and sustainability of water supply systems. “We continue to tackle the issue of managing the non-revenue water of all our economic estates with utmost priority to meet the needs of the growing number of locators and customers while ensuring the sustainable use of water sources,” said AIC Head of Water Business Anna Victoria Lu. Success in cutting water losses The successful reduction of water losses in AIC’s economic estates involved network sectorization, regular leak detection and repair, pipe replacement, meter inspection and calibration, and the timely resolution of incidents. Lu added that the integration of the SMART Water Network Technology has contributed to lowering the NRW of LIMA Estate. This cutting-edge innovation has connected and transformed all water facilities in LIMA Estate into interconnected and intelligent systems. By using this technology, Estate Water is now able to monitor the pressure, flow, and quality of water in real-time, detect leaks, and respond to water concerns quickly. The same technology will also be implemented in AIC’s other economic estates, MEZ2 and WCE, to further enhance their water efficiency. Water-Wise Award Recently, Estate Water’s efforts in managing the water losses and advancing proper resource management of WCE earned them one of the three “Water-Wise Award” recognitions by the National Water Resources Board, the leading government agency for the water sector in the Philippines. This was conferred by the NWRB at the World Water Day Awards 2023 last March. In the same event, AIC also in turn recognized the exceptional dedication of the San Pablo City Water District towards protecting and preserving water sources and the environment by conferring them the prestigious “Agos ng Kinabukasan” Award. Sustainable water Aboitiz InfraCapital is committed to developing infrastructure and bringing in world-class technologies to ensure the availability of smart and sustainable water across all generations. AIC Inc., the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, aims to build purpose-driven infrastructure that spurs economic growth and improves lives. It develops Economic Estates as well as Water, Digital Infrastructure, and Transport & Mobility projects that enable businesses and uplift communities. Its current business units include the LIMA Estate and LIMA Water Corporation in Batangas, Mactan Economic Zone 2 Estate and West Cebu Estate in Cebu, Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. in Davao, and Unity Digital Infrastructure. The company also has a minority stake in privately-owned waterworks utility system, Balibago Waterworks System, Inc.. The post AIC Estate Water cuts economic zones losses appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jobs in medicine, construction and IT in demand – DoLE forecast
The Department of Labor and Employment-Bureau of Local Employment, in its newly published Job and Labor Market Forecast for 2022-2025, projected 164 in-demand jobs across the country,. They are mainly in the field of medicine, construction and engineering, information technology and business process outsourcing, platform-based work, and tourism and services. DoLE-BLE said that the current number of in-demand jobs is much higher than the 95 occupations deemed in-demand in its previous report for 2017-2022, based on collated data from all regional DOLE offices. In Metro Manila alone, many of the listed in-demand occupations revolve around IT and BPO industries, such as customer service representatives, IT specialists, program developers, and virtual assistants, but medical practitioners, nutritionists, and therapists are also considered in-demand in the region. The agency also listed down jobs in IT and platform industries, creatives and even green industries as emerging jobs across the region. Citing online employment platform LinkedIn, these jobs have been seen as growing industries that could create more jobs in the region. “We see the green economy reinforcing its call to address climate change concerns with jobs requiring green skills and companies across sectors adopting environmentally sustainable practices; the digital economy with a growing demand as businesses develop more digital products and services building up their IT network and infrastructure; and the creative industry increasing activities driven by the generation and exploitation of knowledge and information,” the report reads. DoLE-BLE also noted a similar emerging growth in jobs under freelance or gig economy and digital economy, citing the adjustments that were implemented during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and how it improved work systems. Some of these jobs include virtual assistants, social media and digital marketers, IT specialists, software engineers, delivery riders, online sellers and call center agents. “The crisis has upended the traditional 9-5 working world and caused many blue- and white-collar employees to pursue digital and gig work for additional – or even primary – income during these unprecedented times. The gig economy offers job flexibility that is more appealing and becoming more and more necessary to workers,” the report reads. Meanwhile, 20 occupations, ranging from chemical engineering technician, geologist, agriculturist, culinary, medical technologist and even lawyers are classified by DoLE-BLE as ‘hard-to-fill’ occupations, citing lack of qualified hires, access to transportation to its location, work schedule, and that applicants prefer working on these industries abroad. The report also notably highlighted the need to enhance the ‘soft skills’ of the workforce, with some of these soft skills even part of the list of 21st Century Skills under the Philippine Talent Map initiative, as discussed by DoLE Regional Offices. These include teamwork, decision-making, workplace ethics, planning and organizing, multi-tasking and creative problem-solving. Other needed skills include English and Math functional skills, English comprehension, and innovation. “While hard skills demonstrate a candidate’s technical ability to fulfill the job requirements, soft skills demonstrate a candidate’s work ethic and character, including how well of a fit they are for the company’s culture and goals,” DoLE-BLE said. The post Jobs in medicine, construction and IT in demand – DoLE forecast appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go: E-Governance bill to eliminate red tape
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated his call for the passage of Senate Bill 194 or the proposed E-Governance Act. “There is no better time than now to prioritize the government’s digital transformation,” said Go, sponsor of the bill. “We need to bring government closer to the people through more accessible services.” If passed into law, the E-Governance bill shall establish an integrated, interconnected, and interoperable information and resource-sharing and communications network spanning the entirety of the national and local government, an internal records management information system, an information database, and digital portals for the delivery of public services. It will also enhance data privacy and security, provide for the establishment of an electronic payment system for government transactions, and digitization of paper-based and other traditional modes of workflows for a more efficient and transparent public service. “While the government continues to improve the service delivered to our countrymen, we must also keep up with the changing times, he said, adding that the government must use information and communications technology to better serve its purpose and get closer to the people in an era where practically everything can be done online and through other digital channels.” A similar bill, House Bill 7327, was approved by the House of Representatives on the third and final reading on 6 March. Considering that it is one of the priority measures of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Go emphasized the importance of digitalization in improving the delivery of government services. “We have seen the importance of digital transformation in government. In the private sector, businesses have been forced to adopt e-commerce techniques to improve their services. The government should catch up,” he added. Go said his proposed measure will mandate all heads of government agencies to comply with the requirements of the bill, including related standards for all Information and Communications Technology infrastructure, systems, equipment, designs and other technologies promoted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology. Transition to digitization, he said, shall significantly address concerns of Filipinos accessing government services, such as long queues, inefficient processes, and lack of transparency. “I always say that we should not neglect the poor and let’s bring the service closer to them. Others have a hard time getting services from the government that is why through E-Governance, government processes can be made more accessible and understandable to the public,” he said. He said e-governance can streamline government processes and make them more efficient. “With the use of digital technology, government services can be delivered faster, with less bureaucracy, and at a lower cost,” Go said. Meanwhile, on 15 April Go visited a Malasakit Center at Zamboanga del Norte Medical Center and inspected the new Super Health Center in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte The Super Health Center broke ground on 3 March. The Super Health Center in Dipolog City is set to provide basic health services such as database management, outpatient services, birthing facilities, isolation facilities, diagnostic (laboratory, x-ray, and ultrasound) services, pharmacy services, and an ambulatory surgical unit. The center will also offer specialized services such as eye, ear, nose and throat care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine services, which allow remote diagnosis and treatment of patients. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed. In the province of Zamboanga del Norte, necessary funds have been allocated for the DOH to construct other Super Health Centers in Dapitan City, and in the towns of Kalawit, Sindangan, and Sirawai. Additionally, two more centers are planned to be constructed in other areas in Zamboanga del Norte. Apart from the Super Health Center, Go was also present for the turnover of three brand-new ambulance units to Dipolog City that are a much-needed addition to the city’s fleet. Go was present for the inspection of the Oval Track Project in the city, which is another groundbreaking initiative aimed at providing Filipinos with a state-of -the-art facility for sports and recreation. He supported the funding for these projects as the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. He and his team also distributed assistance to 1,000 indigents at the Dipolog Sports Complex. The Department of Social Welfare and Development provided financial assistance to the qualified beneficiaries. The post Go: E-Governance bill to eliminate red tape appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Radio program empowers local industries
Ang Probinsyano Party-list representative Alfred delos Santos teamed up with veteran journalist Ces Drilon to host Basta Promdi, Lodi, a radio show that aims to promote local products and businesses, address pressing concerns in the country’s many provinces, and advocate for rural development......»»
Indian businesses urge Philippines to address concerns
Indian businesses want the Philippines to address delays in the approval of licenses for pharmaceutical products and tax refunds for manufacturing firms, as well as the high power and logistics costs, to allow the country to attract more foreign investors......»»
‘Create, FIST to help Covid-hit companies’
The proposed Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (Create) and Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) laws would address the top concerns of businesses hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, according to the Department of Finance (DoF). In a statement on Wednesday, Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito Lambino 2nd said the findings of […].....»»
EAM Jaishankar visits Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar in Manila
Manila [Philippines], March 27 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday during its port call to Manila and said that India's Act East policy and Indo-Pacific vision will continue to give it a more contemporary form. He presented his remarks at the Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday and said that his visit and the ship's presence signify th.....»»
Jaishankar, Philippines counterpart discuss shared interests in ensuring maritime safety
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): India has briefed the Philippines on the Indian Navy's deployments in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to counter ongoing threats, external affairs minister Jaishankar said on Tuesday. Jaishankar, who is on a visit to the archipelagic country, said that he discussed with Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo discussed shared interests in ensuring maritime safety. Addr.....»»
Indian Coast Guard ship docks at Manila port amid tensions in South China Sea
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): Amid tensions in the South China Sea, the Indian Coast Guard ship, Samudra Paheredar docked at the Manila Bay in the Philippines as part of a broader initiative aimed at demonstrating ICG Marine Pollution Response capabilities, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an official release on Tuesday. The ICG ship which arrived at the port on Monday, is on an overseas deployment to ASEAN c.....»»
Coast guard ship visit highlights shared problems for PH, India — external affairs minister
The arrival of the Indian pollution control vessel in Manila brought attention to the shared challenges in marine pollution encountered by both India and the Philippines, according to India’s external affairs minister......»»
Biden to Host Japan PM Kishida, Philippines President Marcos
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for a White House summit next month amid growing concerns about North Korea's nuclear program, provocative Chinese action in the South China Sea and differences over a Japanese company's plan to buy an iconic American steel company.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a sta.....»»
Addressing the Philippines’ 2024 Threat Landscape: Kaspersky Launches KUMA Platform
To help Filipino businesses and organizations stay safe in cyberspace while embracing digitalization, Kaspersky announces today the launch of Kaspersky Unified Monitoring and Analysis Platform (KUMA), its integrated software solution that includes a set of functions for security information and event monitoring and management. The Philippines is expected to continue its double-digit growth towards $35B […].....»»