Globe is the undisputed Mobile leader in the Philippines, edging out competitors in its user count as it logged nearly 54 million registered SIMs as of July 30, the end of the 5-day grace period following seven months of registration.

Based on data released by the National Telecommunications Commission, Globe has logged 53,727,798 registered SIMs as of 11:59 p.m. on July 30, over 1.2 million higher than the nearest competition.

Globe earlier logged a last-minute surge in SIM registrations after as the deadline lapsed on July 25 and the grace period for reactivation started on July 26, recording nearly 4 million more registered and reactivated SIMs during the 5-day grace period. A survey found that many registered at the last minute as they were afraid to be victimized by identity theft while the others were extremely busy with other pressing matters.

“After seven months of our nationwide registration which brought us to the remote parts of the country, Globe was able to reach the most number of customers successfully. With close to 54 million subscribers registered, we retained our position as the country’s Mobile leader,” said Darius Delgado, Head of Globe’s Consumer Mobile Business.

“We thank our customers for taking part in this historic undertaking as we work together to beat spam, scam and other forms of online fraud,” he said.

Throughout the registration process, Globe rolled out several modes of registration for the convenience of its customers: its online portal https://new.globe.com.ph/simreg, the GlobeOne app, GCash, and the bulk registration portal for enterprise customers.

To reach as many customers as it could, Globe also deployed 1,572 SIM Registration Assistance Desks to help the elderly, PWDs, and those without internet access or are using basic or feature phones. Globe Stores and EasyHubs nationwide were also open for walk-in customers who may need help to register their SIMs.

With the lapse of the deadline and grace period, all unregistered SIMs have been permanently deactivated. Globe said those who missed the deadline may buy new SIMs and register for activation so they could access connectivity services. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) regional office here and the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte will assess the impact of the foreign-funded Fisheries, Coastal Resources and Livelihood (FishCORAL) project implemented in Eastern Visayas from 2016 to 2020.

NEDA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Meylene Rosales said the project was chosen as one of the eight studies across the country with funding of PHP2 million under the NEDA and United Nations Development Programme Philippines for the 2023 capacity development program on impact evaluation.

“The impact evaluation study aims to estimate the impact of the FishCORAL livelihood projects on the income of fishing households in the recipient coastal barangays. It also intends to determine the extent of women’s participation in the livelihood project, among others,” Rosales said in a statement on Friday.

Recently, key officials from NEDA regional office and VSU representatives met to finalize the approach to the study and discuss the partnership between the agency and the school. The study will kick off within the year.

The meeting specifies the evaluation design, timeline of key deliverables, communication and policy advocacy plan, evaluation team composition, budget, and survey questionnaires, among others, for the study on the implementation of the FishCORAL project in the region.
The FishCORAL was a five-year (2016-2020) project jointly funded by the Philippine government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the concerned local government units.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) implemented the project in 11 bays in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Those four regions got an allocation of PHP1.86 billion during the five-year implementation. The BFAR has no data available on how much was spent for the Eastern Visayas region.
Of the 11 bays covered by the project, four are in the region. These are Maqueda, Matarinao, Leyte Gulf, and Silago-Cabalian Bays.

The project aimed at reducing poverty among fishermen while strengthening local food and nutrition security in economically challenged coastal communities in four regions.

FishCORAL targeted the covered areas to adopt sustainable management of the fisheries and coastal resources as well as to increase the income of the fishing households through viable engagement in diversified livelihood activities and entrepreneurship. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY – A total of 238 police personnel from the Police Regional Office (PRO-8) graduated from their Basic Internal Security Operations Course (BISOC) on Tuesday (August 1).

BISOC is a 60-day specialized training course designed to develop personal effectiveness and capability of police in handling internal security operations that could best help the police force sustain the victory in the campaign against insurgency and terrorism.
These graduates are to be deployed in the three Samar provinces to address these problems of insurgency and terrorism.

During the graduation, B/Gen Vincent Calanoga, the police regional director, urged the graduates to fight all forms of corruption, including threat and bribery, as it undermines the confidence of the public in the police, and to foster the culture of political inclination.

“I expect you to build and stand on your principles. Despite having responsive policies or programs and equipping you with sufficient trainings, our organization cannot fulfill its mission nor will it stand the threats of infiltration if you are too weak to yield to temptation, coercion, and intimidation,” he said during the graduation ceremony held at the PRO8 grandstand.

“Prove that you are worthy or deserving to be in the PNP organization and to wear the uniform which symbolizes being human rights defenders and duty bearers”, Calanoga added.

He also gave emphasis on prohibiting the BISOC graduates from seeking political intervention in the placements and reassignments of personnel.

Calanoga also assured the full support of the PRO8 to the BISOC graduates, particularly on the provision that they need when they start rendering their ISO duties.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)