Local hopes and global risks
In national development as in personal life, hopes and expectations at the start of a new year are also fraught with risks......»»
BSP onboards 1st nonbank electronic money issuer
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) achieved a significant milestone by welcoming OmniPay, Inc. as the first nonbank electronic money issuer (EMI) participant in its Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) payment system, PhilPaSSplus. This move aligns with the National Payment Systems Act and signifies a more inclusive national payment system, allowing nonbank financial institutions to conduct efficient and low-risk funds transfers directly through the central bank. Assistant Governor Mary Anne P. Lim emphasized the BSP's commitment to safeguarding the entire Peso RTGS payment system amidst global trends of diversified participation. With 236 institutions, including various banks and nonbank entities, utilizing PhilPaSSplus for large value transactions and retail payment clearing, the BSP's initiative reflects a broader trend of central banks facilitating direct access for nonbank entities to settlement services. This development comes as international standard-setting bodies work on access guidelines to manage risks in evolving payment systems with new players and financial technologies......»»
On its 10th year, Virtual Playground rebrands to VP Global
Virtual Playground recently rebranded to VP Global Athlete and Artist Management as part of its 10th-anniversary celebration. Formed by veteran movie producer Dondon Monteverde and sports agent/businessman Charlie Dy, VP Global has been overseeing the careers of “champions and idols” in the fields of sports and showbiz......»»
Global Dominion Joins The Fight Against Scammers and Fake Accounts
Before 2023 ended, Global Dominion reported a case of unauthorized use of the company’s name in what appeared to be a mobile application. This concern was brought up by a concerned individual via Global Dominion’s customer service and complaints division (CSC). The company then submitted a report to the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) Cyber.....»»
The Future of Work: AI’s Double-Edged Sword for Global Economies
Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds promise in revolutionizing global productivity and economic growth. However, the flip side includes potential job displacement and a widening wealth gap. Without proper policies, nations may struggle to adapt to this emerging technology. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicates that nearly 40% of global jobs could be influenced by AI. In […].....»»
PH Economy Remains Optimistic Amid Global Slowdown
The country is one of the fastest growing economies in East Asia and the Pacific according to the World Bank, foreseeing robust growth despite global economic slowdown. In the latest World Bank Global Economic Outlook report released on Tuesday, the Philippines is expected to maintain its economic growth rate in 2024 at 5.8%, slightly higher […].....»»
Councilor urges social media influencers to observe local laws
The Davao City councilor, Temujin “Tek” Ocampo, has urged social media influencers to familiarize themselves with local ordinances before promoting areas to their followers. Ocampo, who heads the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, appreciates the promotion of Davao City by social media influencers but emphasizes the importance of understanding local laws before attracting crowds to specific areas. He expressed gratitude for the promotion but highlighted the challenge of controlling the influx of people once a location is featured. Ocampo plans to collaborate with Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, Chair of the Committee on Tourism and Beautification, to accredit social media vloggers through the local government unit. He underscored the need for accredited vloggers, recognizing their contributions to the city and addressing any mistakes they might make. This initiative aims to balance recognition for positive actions with corrective measures for any missteps. The concerns arose in November 2023 when a Davao City-based environment group criticized a travel vlogger for promoting recreational activities in a river within the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed. Following a waste dumping incident on January 11, 2024, the group urged Dabawenyos, especially vloggers and influencers, to refrain from visiting protected areas for leisure. They emphasize the importance of understanding and respecting rules and regulations before endorsing specific parts of the city......»»
President Marcos to Filipinos: Bring creativity to global stage
President Marcos called on creative industry stakeholders yesterday to collaborate with local and international partners to enhance the design community and improve global competitiveness of Philippine products and services......»»
Philippine showbiz is now entering its ‘global era’
The local showbiz has entered the global entertainment group chat......»»
Alliance Global taps Meralco’s MPower for clean energy
The local retail electricity supplier of Manila Electric Co.is set to supply clean energy to Alliance Global Group Inc. of tycoon Andrew Tan......»»
PLDT Global taps NGA 911’s emergency response system
PLDT Global Corp., the international unit of the local telco giant, is enabling US-based technology solutions provider Next Generation Advanced 911 (NGA 911) to help boost emergency response systems in the Philippines with advanced technology, delivered through the nationwide PLDT network infrastructure......»»
Local youth back local gov’t decision to deny mining entry in Sagay
Local youth back local gov’t decision to deny mining entry in Sagay.....»»
Travel agencies group warns about cheap, illegal operators
The Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA) has issued a warning about unregistered and illegal travel and tour operators in their area. These operators have been found to be offering travel and tour services without proper licensing, leading to issues such as lack of refunds, scheduling problems, and other travel arrangement discrepancies. Pia Partoza Montano, a travel agency owner and Vice-President for the Travel and Tours Sector of DTAA, emphasized the prevalence of these unauthorized operators, particularly in inbound tourism, and the challenges in monitoring and regulating them due to their large numbers. Montano also highlighted the potential risks associated with using these unregistered agencies, as they may offer cheaper rates but could lead to problems in case of incidents. To address this issue, the Department of Tourism-Davao (DOT-Davao) has introduced a QR code system to help the public verify the legitimacy of travel agencies by accessing data on authorized and registered operators. The DOT-Davao encourages travelers to transact with accredited enterprises to ensure the quality and reliability of their travel arrangements. Currently, there are at least 109 registered travel and tour agencies in Davao City under DOT-Davao's accreditation. The DOT-Davao also provides information on the requirements for registration and renewal for travel agencies on their official website. This warning serves as a reminder for the public to be cautious and discerning when engaging with travel and tour operators to avoid falling victim to unauthorized and illegitimate services......»»
Rep. Cindi Chan thanks PBBM for sining Tatak Pinoy Act
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu— Lapu-Lapu City lone district Representative Cindi King-Chan expressed her gratitude to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos for signing into law Republic Act No. 11981, also known as the “Tatak Pinoy Act,” which she co-authored. The Tatak Pinoy Act encourages local industries by incentivizing them to create more sophisticated products. Chan hopes that through.....»»
PSEi tumbles as Fed quashes rate cut hopes
Local stocks retreated yesterday as investors took cues from Wall Street’s overnight performance......»»
Kaspersky Report: 1 in 3 Filipinos Face Threats from USBs, Removable Devices
Global cybersecurity company Kaspersky is urging Filipinos to be wary of careless plugging of USBs into their computers unless they have been scanned following the release of data that 36.80% of users in the Philippines were attacked by local threats from January to December 2023. Local threats are malware spread through removable media such as […].....»»
A Quick Guide to Online Gambling and Financial Responsibility
With the rise of PAGCOR accredited online gambling platforms, many individuals are drawn to the allure of quick wins and entertainment. However, the world of online gambling will require extreme caution and financial responsibility to avoid potential pitfalls and safeguard one’s financial well-being. Understanding the Risks Online gambling can be enticing, but it comes with […].....»»
Job insecurity, climate change pose challenges in Philippines human development – UNDP
The lack of job security and the high exposure to climate and disaster risks are seen as challenges to the country’s economic growth and human development, making it necessary to make investments in climate resilience and education, according to the United Nations Development Program......»»
El Niño attacks: How-to fight off the summer heat
El Niño heightens as the heat index reaches a “danger” level in certain areas of the Philippines, spiking up to 47 °C from April 17 to 21. The risks it brings to everyone’s—elders, people with chronic illnesses, and young children—health and well-being is evident as schools opt for online classes and allow alternative uniforms for.....»»
Bird flu: What we know (and don’t) about its potential to cause a human pandemic
Virologist Seema Lakdawala recently expressed concerns about the potential spread of the H5N1 avian flu virus among dairy cows and the risks it poses to.....»»
Councilor demands Davao Light to remove hazardous utility poles
DAVAO City Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr. on Tuesday urged the Davao Light and Power Company (Davao Light) to remove old power poles that pose risks to motorists and pedestrians......»»