In their unending fight for their basic gender rights and equality, women are now turning to digital technology and social media as tools of engagement against predators, exploiters and nuisance of all stripes and political color.

The Philippine Commission on Women and the Technological Institute of the Philippines-Quezon City has launched VAWfreePH, a personal safety mobile app that reports incidents of violence against women (VAW) to the proper authorities.

Launched during the 2017 18-Day Campaign To End VAW Kick-Off program, the mobile app could send SMS to three pre-selected contacts alerting them of the user’s exact location using GPS. When tapped, its SOS button triggers the mobile phone’s flashlight and sounds an alarm to draw public attention.

In Australia, Plan International gave young women an app through which they mapped sexual harassment hotspots in their cities. Three-quarters of those hotspots have been described as bad in terms of the likelihood of experiencing street harassment.

The crowdsourced mapping tool allowed Plan International to collect data that was not reported in crime statistics and covered the lived experience of harassed young women in Australia. Its development was triggered by the need to address women’s safety in public as more people move to cities from rural areas. It is projected that millions of young women would be living in cities by 2030 and such a mapping app could act as preliminary protection against the risk of sexual predation.

On its website, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has a gallery of apps created by women for women. These apps target diverse issues affecting women and girls around the world, such as their empowerment, security, and sex education.

For instance, rAInbow helps victims of domestic violence to overcome barriers including shame, stigma, and victim-blaming that could otherwise take years to reconcile. The chatbot is essentially an information tool — a companion to those who could not speak to anyone about what they’re going through. It provides early stage intervention for those who may be experiencing abuse, or what to do if they are. It is accessible to anyone 24/7 on Facebook Messenger and available in English.

Another app My Safetipin works towards making cities and spaces safer for women and girls to move around without fear. It collects and crowdsources data about perception of safety as well as specific features of the built environment in order to enhance safety precautions. Many women have used the app to share their own experiences as well as help them navigate their city with more confidence.

This time of Covid-19 instigated lockdown restrictions and stay at home measures has left more women at a higher risk of domestic violence. With assistance from the UN Development Program, a mobile app named Be Safe has been created for the Western Balkans region to provide SOS to victims of violence at home.

The free app triggers an alarm via text message to a professional support staff that is expected to immediately reach out and assess how to deal with the reported situation. It also has educational and informative content: on the victims’ rights and entitlements; useful contacts; and video self-defense tutorials, among others.

A preliminary research study titled “Mobile applications addressing violence against women: a systematic review” sought to assess the impact of apps in preventing harassment on women.

The review is premised on the framework that VAW is a global health problem currently being addressed by a new intervention strategy in mobile apps.

Of the 327 relevant apps around the world, 171 were shortlisted for the study based on five major functional categories such as emergency aspect, avoidance, education, reporting and evidence building, and supporting apps.

The review concluded that majority of the apps addressing violence against women primarily draws on one-time emergency or avoidance solutions, as opposed to more preventative approaches. It proposed further research to delve into critical issues relating to data security, personal safety and efficacy of such mobile apps as health intervention tools.

Adding to the Reno4 Series, Reno4 Z 5G is the newest DNA of the OPPO Reno line, capable of connecting to the most advanced 5G network speed available in the country today.

The Reno4 Z 5G is the first 5G-enabled mid-premium smartphone of OPPO in the Philippines. It is built with premium features that will really upgrade the technology experience of young Filipino consumers.
OPPO’s Reno4 Z 5G is equipped with a screen refresh rate of up to 120Hz that makes every movement on the screen glide so flawlessly. Its central hub is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 800 chipset that ensures better and faster performance of every application, from camera down to messaging. The SoC is paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage, enabling you to play more and record your every best possible moment.

On top of the powerful cameras. a 48MP HD Quadcamera and 16MP+2MP Dual Punch-Hole Cameras, thf the Reno4 Z 5G is capable of shooting moments at its slowest speed with the famed 960fps AI Slow Motion and take fun videos with the AI Color Portrait that intelligently puts the background in grayscale while leaving the main subject in full color.

To ensure long lasting performance, Reno4 Z 5G is paired with an 18W VOOC fast charging capability and has 4000mAh battery capacity. As for the software, this 5G-enabled smartphone runs on ColorOS 7.1 that gives the most updated and elevated quality of your smartphone functions

Reno4 Z 5G comes in two color variants Ink Black and Dew White, priced at P20,990 via exclusive network partners Smart and Globe. The device will come with a free Rock Space EB51 Earbuds worth P3,199.

For Globe Telecom, the exclusive offer will be available at ThePLAN1799 with only P500 cashout. Get 16GB of Data, Unlimited All-Net Text, Unlimited Calls to Globe/TM, and 50mins All-Net Calls. Free subscription to Amazon Prime Video (for 6 months, no data included), iflixVIP (3 months subscription, no data included), and Facebook access (1GB data allocation per month for 24 months) can also be enjoyed during the 24-month subscription. The device will be delivered free of charge.

For Smart, the OPPO Reno4 Z 5G with the Signature Device Plan 1499 (M) is at P1,599 a month with a one-time cash-out of P3,520. This plan comes with monthly 10 GB, Unli On-Net calls, 100 Min AnyNet calls, and Unli AnyNet texts. Smart subscribers can now enjoy Smart 5G on compatible devices in key areas in Metro Manila, Boracay, Cavite, Cebu, Clark City in Pampanga, Davao, Iloilo, Laguna, and Rizal. The OPPO Reno4 Z 5G is available for pre-order at Smart Stores nationwide and the Smart Online Store.

With the Philippines remaining under varying degrees of quarantine because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), a new Economist Intelligence Unit study for TransUnion finds businesses’ shift to digital could be permanent.

“Covid-19 has dramatically accelerated digital transformation, with 78 percent of Philippine executives surveyed as part of our study saying their organization has changed their digital transaction process due to the pandemic,” said Pia Arellano, TransUnion Philippines president and chief executive officer. “But all of this digital progress will be wiped out if we can’t remove these barriers to building bilateral digital trust. For instance, 70 percent of Philippine executives in the study who said their company changed their digital transaction process as a result of the pandemic experienced glitches.”

In addition to the above findings, nearly 84 percent of Philippine and 85 percent of global executives surveyed said they believe smooth transactions are “essential to business survival” rather than merely a competitive edge during and after the pandemic.

The report, New Dimensions of Change: Building Trust in a Digital Consumer Landscape, included responses from 1,610 executives in Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States, including 115 Philippine executives. The research uncovered how technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), national digital IDs and super-apps could help overcome hurdles and possibly create new challenges to building digital trust.

Overwhelmingly, respondents answered that biometrics would be the dominant payment customer authentication method; improved fraud detection and security is the greatest benefit to using AI; and a national digital ID system would help prevent consumer fraud.

Approximately 92 percent of Philippine and 85 percent of global executives say biometrics is likely to be used to authenticate the vast majority of payments in the next 10 years.

About 46 percent of Philippine and 43 percent of global respondents noted that improved fraud detection and security is the greatest benefit to using AI. This was the top selection by far with smoother customer experience being the second most used answer globally at 29 percent worldwide and 23 percent in the Philippines.

Furthermore, the vast majority of executives, 84 percent in the Philippines and 79 percent globally, think national digital IDs would help fraud prevention in consumer transactions.

Seven in 10 executives globally and 77 percent in the Philippines believe a national digital ID gives low-income groups access to consumer services they would have previously been excluded from. By industry worldwide, respondents from consumer lending and telecommunications think such IDs give lower-income groups access to services they might otherwise lack. Both industries have led the way over the last decade in reaching the community of financially underserved customers, manifested in innovations like microfinance and mobile money. The Philippine Statistics Authority said it would begin registering Filipinos for the Philippine national digital ID, “Phil ID,” in the fourth quarter of 2020.

“Ensuring consumer trust starts with preventing fraud. Our research overwhelmingly showed that biometrics, AI and national digital IDs aren’t just a fad for consumer fraud prevention. They are keys for trusted commerce for the foreseeable future,” said Arellano.

Entrusting personal data

About 82 percent of Philippine and 73 percent of global executives believe consumers are comfortable sharing personal data with private companies. Nearly 71 percent of worldwide and 79 percent of Philippine executives believe consumers are comfortable sharing personal data with governments. Brazilian, Chinese and Dominican Republican executives have vastly differing views about whether or not consumers are willing to share data with private companies versus government bodies (more than 10 percent difference in each country between sharing with governments and companies). Chinese respondents believe consumers are much more comfortable sharing personal data with government bodies than companies, while Brazilian and Dominican Republican executives have the opposite belief.

“Technological innovations like AI, biometrics and national digital IDs paired with proven fraud prevention methods like device intelligence could provide a more convenient and inclusive way for consumers to transact that still protects security and privacy,” Arellano concluded.

Listed Areit Inc.’s net income grew to P844 million in January to September on the back of the stable operations of its leasing portfolio amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a filing on Friday, the Ayala Land Inc.-backed real estate investment trust company reported that its revenues climbed by 3 percent to P1.4 billion, while its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization increased by 4 percent to P1.1 billion. Its acquisition of McKinley Exchange in February and the higher occupancy rate at Ayala North Exchange also lifted its rental income by 9 percent to P1.1 billion year-on-year. “Areit’s fundamentals remain strong and resilient, keeping its financial performance on track,” Areit President Carol Mills said. “We are also expanding our portfolio of leasing assets to seed the company’s future growth,” he added. Listed on the stock exchange in August, Areit used the proceeds from its initial public offering to purchase Teleperformance Cebu last month, and recently unveiled plans to acquire The 30th commercial development in Pasig City. Areit shares fell by 10 centavos or 0.39 percent to finish at P25.55 apiece on Friday.

A unit of listed First Gen Corp. is exploring small-scale liquified natural gas (LNG) solutions to speed up the introduction of this power source in the country as early as in the second half of 2022. In a disclosure on Friday, the Lopez-led energy company said subsidiary FGEN LNG Corp. was reviewing the viability of developing these solutions at the First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) in Santo Tomas town, Batangas province. FPIP could receive LNG via trucks and specialized insulated containers from its planned FGEN LNG’s interim offshore LNG terminal project in Batangas City, it added. “The project will allow FGEN LNG to be able to bring in a floating storage [and] regasification unit (FSRU) on an interim basis, and thus accelerate FGEN LNG’s ability to introduce LNG to the Philippines as early as Q3 2022 to serve the natural gas requirements of existing and future gas-fired power plants of third parties and FGEN LNG affiliates, such as FPIP,” the company said. First Gen shares decreased by 30 centavos or 1.04 percent to finish at P28.50 on Friday.

On the wall of my home office — which, since I live in a very small apartment, is also my kitchen and living room — I have a large calendar, to which I attach Post-It notes to remind me of things that need my attention in the next few days. There are so many notes there now, it looks like the damned calendar has grown feathers. My better half, who can occasionally match me for sarcasm, observed that at this point it could probably double as my Christmas decorations.

In sitting here pondering that mess, it struck me that it is a physical indicator that the tense, “life on hold” circumstances we have all experienced over the past seven-plus months are changing, or rather, have reached a point where they can change.

In my own case, just as an example, I have gone from having just enough activity to keep things ticking over (a situation for which I am eternally thankful to my patrons at The Manila Times) to having prospects for enough work to keep me busy for the next year, and then some: One big, immediate project — which has an insane deadline, so it’s slightly overdue already — two more within one of my favorite topic areas that are about to start, and the first hints of an opportunity to restart an important community project that was rudely interrupted by this accursed pandemic.

A couple of pieces of news on Friday seemed to suggest that the country in general is sensing change, too. The first was from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which recently conducted a follow-up to a study of the effects of the pandemic on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that it first did a few months ago.

At that time, which covered the first couple of months of the pandemic and the government’s imposition of its alphabet soup of quarantine classifications to deal with it, the MSME sector was, not surprisingly, in dire shape. More than 70 percent of the country’s MSMEs reported that they had reduced operations or closed entirely; about two-thirds had temporarily or permanently reduced their workforces. Almost 90 percent of businesses reported revenue declines of at least 30 percent, and almost 60 percent reported earning no income at all during the strictest lockdown period from mid-March to the end of May.
Even more alarming, as of July, almost 80 percent of MSMEs reported they had either exhausted their cash and savings, or would do so within a month.

In its update, however, the ADB found that circumstances for MSMEs have improved remarkably. The number of MSMEs closed has fallen to about 9 percent, and as of August, the number of MSMEs that reported they would run out of funds within three months had sharply decreased, as well.

The other piece of news that caught my attention on Friday was a survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) on public perceptions of the reliability of coronavirus case data provided by the Department of Health (DoH). That survey found that a plurality — about 39 percent — of people believe that case statistics are being “overreported,” or in other words, that the pandemic is not as serious as it is made to seem it is by official data. Another 23 percent believe the DoH figures “are about right,” while the remainder — although the news reports, which were presumably just repeating whatever SWS’ press release said, did not actually say so — apparently think the DoH may be lowballing the case statistics.

The rough conclusion to draw from these two news stories is that if consumers and businesses are not yet actually returning to normal activity, a significant number of them wish to do so, and are anticipating doing so. Bangko Sentral ng Piipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno made the same observation recently, although he used wonkier evidence, such as improvements in the country’s unemployment rate, trade balance and purchasing manager’s index, and said the economy is at an “inflection point.”

The good doctor is not wrong in the sense that we are definitely at a point of change, but calling it an “inflection point” implies a certain optimism that many may not feel is warranted just yet. I think “tipping point” may be more appropriate, because right now, we are as likely to fall into disaster as we are to resurrect some semblance of our old lives.

Within our little bubble here, at 9:57 a.m. on the last Friday of October, things do seem fairly positive. Business activity is visibly increasing, and while the pandemic is still far from under control, over the past couple of weeks there has been a clear deceleration in its spread; new cases have slowed from the 3,000 to 4,000 reported daily a month or two ago to about half that. Other broad indicators of economic activity, such as consumer prices and electricity demand, have ticked upward in recent weeks, as well.

If you turn off the news and attend to the personal affairs that are right in front of you, things very likely could look promising. And that’s a nice feeling. Believing that I might actually begin reducing the number of Post-Its on my wall without the interference of some uncontrollable outside force puts me in a good mood.

Take a peek outside, however, and that sort of belief is severely challenged, if not dashed entirely. As I am writing this, the country is facing the immediate threat of one and possibly two typhoons, barely a week after the destructive passage of the last one. While we seem to have kept the coronavirus from getting completely out of hand for the moment, the pandemic is as bad as it’s ever been in much of the rest of the world. The Philippines is hypothetically in a good position to protect itself from the latest surge in the spread of the coronavirus, but the push to “reopen” does not bode well for the country’s actually being able to do so. And if that’s not enough to worry about, we are just days away from a US election that will either herald the start of a global recovery or the destruction of civilization.

Not being able to really do anything about any of this, and not knowing which of the only two options available to us — either hunker down and wait for the storms to pass, literally and figuratively, or continue as though there is a future and hope for the best — is the right choice is maddening. We’ve gotten this far, and that’s good, but it’s not over yet, not by a long shot. Try to be smart and keep going, whatever path you’re following, apreciate the people around you, and wish each other luck. We’re all going to need at least a little.

Banking customer experience (CX) innovator Bank-Genie recently bagged multiple awards, highlighting its incredible achievement in driving excellence and innovation in banking technology.

Bank-Genie took home the Silver Award under the “CX Vendor Excellence” category in the 2020 CX Asia Excellence Awards through an online event emanating from Singapore in September, apart from receiving honorary mentions for “Best Use of CX Technology” and “Best Digital Experience.” CX Asia Excellence Awards is on its sixth year recognizing the highest level of achievement in Customer Experience across Asia, as part of the region-wide Customer Experience Asia Week 2020 event.

UnionBank also awarded Bank-Genie the distinction of offering the “Best Digital Upgrade” for its major contribution to the bank’s colossal triumph as the “Best Digital Bank in the Philippines” at the Asset Triple A Awards 2020.

This comes amid challenging times affecting the financial industry worldwide gripped by the coronavirus pandemic. As such, Bank-Genie lived up to its mission of delivering excellence and innovation in customer experience that allowed banks to respond to the times and achieve resiliency in this unprecedented era.

“Bank-Genie continues to build both an experience-focused approach and an inclusion driven purpose to develop better, accurate and thoughtful technology for banks to better connect with their customers meaningfully and improve both efficiencies and effectiveness,” said Ragunandhan Senthil Kumar, chief technology officer and co-founder of Bank-Genie.

As such, digital transformation is key to impacting and growing in the financial industry, and partnerships with technology providers is crucial in implementing such migration.

“Bank-Genie recognizes the value of partnerships, their trust and support, in transforming the digital journeys of banks,” said Kumar.

Despite the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Philex Mining Corp. Noticed its center internet profits develop to P865 million within the first nine months of 2020 on favorable gold and copper expenses. In a disclosure on Friday, the listed mining company stated the amount become “considerably in advance” of the P39 million published in the same length ultimate yr. Earnings before hobby, tax, depreciation and amortization within the first three quarters rose through seventy nine percentage to P2.038 billion from P1.One hundred thirty five billion a yr in the past. For the 0.33 zone alone, middle internet income jumped to P462 million from P103 million within the first area, P300 million inside the 2nd, in addition to from P58 million yr-on-year.

“This turned into due to the increasing running revenues introduced approximately via favorable gold and copper fees no matter the Covid-19 (coronavirus disorder 2019) pandemic, and higher gold output specially from better ore grades,” Philex Mining stated. Philex Mining shares brought 4 centavos or 0.Seventy five percentage to end at P5.39 apiece on Friday.
Listed Wilcon Depot Inc. Noticed its nine-month internet profits decline by 42.6 percent to P886 million from P1.Five billion yr-on-year. In a submitting of Friday, the house-development firm stated the quantity resulted from the deltamarket terrible boom in its net profits inside the first half being cut to forty two.6 percentage for the 9-month period. Net income slipped by 12.5 percent to P15.8 billion from P18.04 billion remaining year. For the 0.33 sector, Wilcon’s revenues climbed through 7.Nine percentage to P6.75 billion from P6.26 billion in 2019. Same-save sales of its depot layout received 1.Five percent, while those of Home Essentials slipped by using eleven.1 percent and assignment income dived with the aid of fifty four.3 percent. The depot layout accounted for the majority of its internet sales in July to September at 97.Three percentage; home necessities and initiatives made up 2.1 percentage and zero.6 percentage, respectively. Wilcon stocks decreased through 4 centavos or zero.28 percentage to P14.30 apiece on Friday.
Damage inflicted by way of Typhoon “Quinta” (global name: Molave) on electric cooperatives (ECs) reached an initial fee of P50.922 million, state-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) stated on Friday. Based on the state-of-the-art monitoring record of the NEA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department as of October 29, the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc. Turned into hit the toughest some of the energy cooperatives, with P14.659 million in initial harm. Camarines Sur 4 Electric Cooperative Inc. Accompanied with P9.479 million; Marinduque Electric Cooperative Inc., P8.476 million; Camarines Sur three Electric Cooperative Inc., P5.523 million; and Camarines Sur 2 Electric Cooperative Inc., P4.585 million. Meanwhile, the strength situation in the insurance areas of Cagayan 2 Electric Cooperative Inc. And Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. Has back to ordinary after restoring electric powered services to all its affected consumers on October 28. The NEA record also confirmed that about 1,391,349, or 62.61 percentage, of the 2,222,330 affected households have their power restored, bringing the quantity of households with out strength as of Thursday to 830,981 below the insurance regions of 19 ECs.

While many remain anxious about the coronavirus pandemic, many have also become aware that this crisis isn’t most effective a health problem, however also a cash issue. Indeed, Covid-19 has altered many components of our lives. Before the pandemic, the majority who send me inquiries typically ask a way to make investments within the stock marketplace and in cryptocurrencies. They are extra worried about developing their money inside the fastest way possible via a few popular investments.

When the community quarantines began, people started dropping their jobs and plenty of commercial enterprise proprietors started suffering. People now comprehend that economic making plans is not best about developing cash, however also approximately negotiating the financial obstacles which could arise at every degree of life.

During the quarantine period, I have become busy engaging in on line conferences with human beings looking for guidance in crafting their financial plans. This time, they had been addressing their whole monetary nicely-being and no longer just their investments.

The significance of reviewing your economic plan is similar to having a dental test-up or scheduling your annual bodily examination. Some don’t see its fee, thinking it’s already sufficient to have an funding account or insurance policies.

The calculation stems from COA’s interpretation that corporate profits tax must not shape a part of the government’s percentage within the Malampaya project, the united states of america’s largest gas producing exploration challenge to date.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi raised the problem to the Economic Cluster quickly after Spex filed a 2d arbitration case springing up from the COA ruling.

On September 19, Cusi wrote the COA informing the fee that, “We are still adopting the aforementioned motion for advice [to honor the contract] as the legit DOE function within the challenge controversy.”

“First time it became raised, I said I need to take a look at the entire heritage of the problem. Then discussed it with the Economic Cluster and the Cabinet. We concurred with the DOE stand,”said Cusi in a separate remark.

MGI has reduced in size Fuji Corporation of Japan to build and deliver the turbine/generator for Maibarara-2, presently the handiest energetic construction of a new geothermal strength plant within the u . S . A ..
THE Department of Energy (DOE) stated it’ll honor the sanctity of contracts of the Malampaya fuel project off northwest Palawan and urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to revise its selection.

The COA has issued a note of charge to gather from the Malampaya consortium, composed of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (Spex), Chevron Malampaya LLC and PNOC Exploration Corp. A incredible P151 billion covering the duration 2002 to 2016.

In addition, MGI also confirmed a larger geothermal reservoir in Maibarara with the a hit step-out drilling and final touch of well MB-15D, which has at least ~6 MWe output.

MGI is currently constructing the steamfield and electricity plant additives of Maibarara-2, a 12 MWe expansion within the present advanced website aimed for business operations with the aid of overdue 2017.

This extra investment comes after MGI secured a P1.Four billion loan with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation and signed a long-time period strength sales contract with Phinma Energy in January 2016.

This award suggests that Filipino knowledge and ingenuity in geothermal strength operations are second to none.
Such worldwide reputation of MGI’s facility in just two years of industrial operations owes to the vision and knowledge of our Board, the determination and professionalism of our team, and the engagement and cooperation of our stakeholders in regulatory organizations, non-public industry, and host communities,” MGI president F.G. Delfin Jr. Said in a announcement.

In 2015, MGI was capable of limit unscheduled shutdowns and to boom load nomination and net technology from the lender-devoted 18.Five MWe to 18.Eight MWe. This caused will increase in availability component from 95.7 to ninety eight.2 percentage, internet capability issue from 89.5 to 91.8 percentage, and internet income by 28 percentage in comparison to 2014.