Manila-On January 11, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a five-year, one billion peso ($18 million) partnership with the Philippine government to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) transition to mature e-commerce businesses.

The Strengthening Private Enterprises for the Digital Economy (SPEED) project will expand the participation of Philippine SMEs in the country’s emerging e-commerce ecosystem by improving their capacity to adopt digital technologies; supporting the integration of SMEs and e-commerce platforms in logistical supply chains; increasing the use of e-payment systems and other fintech innovations; and strengthening consumer awareness and protection.

SPEED supports the U.S. government’s goal to help the Philippines develop a robust, secure, and resilient digital economy as a key to drive post-pandemic recovery and long-term economic growth for the country.

“As we all know, COVID-19 has fundamentally altered the way we do things, accelerating the shift toward e-commerce, digital platforms, and the digital economy of the post-pandemic world,” Ambassador Carlson said at the launching event attended by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla, and partners from government and the private sector. “SPEED signals the U.S. government’s strong commitment to supporting the Philippine government’s vision of a digital Philippines.”

“Key in DTI’s support to scale MSMEs is to help them overcome constraints to their access to technology. We aim to enable MSMEs to embrace digital transformation. This way, I believe DTI and USAID’s directions to enhance SME capacities align,” DTI Secretary Pascual said. In his remarks, he also emphasized DTI’s support to the development of the government’s E-commerce Adoption Platform, and their planned Supply Chain Digitalization Project that aims to digitize logistics and supply chains around the country.

“The BSP is optimistic that the programs under SPEED will further support the BSP’s Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap objective to convert at least 50 percent of retail payment transactions to digital form by the end of 2023,” BSP Governor Medalla noted. “Collaborations and partnerships such as this will contribute toward a more resilient and stronger Philippine economy that promotes a high quality of life for all Filipinos.”

During the event, private sector partners led by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry also launched the Philippine E-Commerce Alliance. Established with the support of USAID, this private sector-led coalition will facilitate the development of a national business agenda for digital transformation and inclusion. (PR)

In celebration of the 2022 National Climate Change Consciousness Week, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Globe recognized the efforts of individuals, groups, and local government units (LGUs) to address climate change, contribute in disaster risk reduction, and promote cultural and behavioral shifts.
In line with its commitment to climate resiliency, Globe partnered with the DENR Climate Change Service (CCS) and is the lone private sector co-presenter of the 2022 Mga Kuwentong KLIMA-likasan: A Climate and Disaster Resiliency Recognition Awards.
Entries were evaluated based on their Climate and Disaster Resiliency content (60%), visual appeal of photos and videos (30%), and the geographical reach of the initiative (10%).

The board of judges composed of representatives from the Climate Change Commission (CCC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and Globe chose individuals, groups, and local government units that have come a long way in their efforts to address climate change impacts within their communities or beyond.

As the county’s leading digital solutions provider, Globe recognizes that climate change is a huge challenge that requires collective action, hence the need to support and highlight the efforts of Filipinos from around the country.

“We see technology, which is a key enabler of industries, to help accelerate the just transition to a green economy,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer of the Globe Group.

“Let us all work together to build a sustainable and climate-resilient Philippines. It is our fervent wish that by giving recognition, ang Mga Kuwentong Klima-likasan ay magbibigay ng mas malawak na inspirasyon para sa ating lahat upang tumugon sa pangangailangan ng ating kalikasan,” she added.

First prize winners for the individual, group and LGU categories who won P30,000-P50,000 in cash were: Moises Butic – The Ifugao Muyong: Perpetuating a Forest Legacy;iRISE UP – Intelligent, Resilient, and Integrated Systems for the Urban Population; and CDRRMO Baguio City – Smart and gender-Inclusive Flood Early Warning and Mitigation System.
KLIMA-likasan also gave out Climate Technology for Resilience Awards. Winners for this category were chosen for their contributions and initiatives that highlight the role of digital technologies in building resilience, including the use of artificial intelligence, robotics, sensor-driven tools, smartphone applications, the Internet, SMS, and social media, among others.

The awardees are: Raheemah Hafsah Pangarungan’s BIOPHIL, which intends to provide cleaner, cheaper, a more accessible energy source and products from water hyacinth, an invasive plant species within Lake Lanao; iRISE UP’s Intelligent, Resilient, and Integrated Systems for the Urban Population, which aims to streamline the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Information System of Quezon City; and CDRRMO Baguio City’s Smart and Gender-Inclusive Flood Early Warning, Information and Mitigation System for its online system, real-time data capture system, and flood mitigation action plan.

“The stories that we received from 16 regions in the country only say one thing: there are already significant actions happening on the ground. We need to take note of them, document them, map them and see how we can scale up the initiatives to expand to other areas in their community,” shared Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh of the DENR.
To learn more about Globe’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html . (PR)

Leading digital solutions platform Globe expanded its 5G coverage to 212 sites in Visayas and 25 in Mindanao by the end of the third quarter in 2022, providing more consumers and businesses with improved connectivity and access to faster data speeds.

The company’s 5G network is now expanding and available to most of the population in Davao City, Cebu, Iloilo City, Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Boracay and Bacolod City.

The expansion of 5G technology in Visayas and Mindanao is intended to help bridge the digital divide between these regions and the rest of the country. It aims to support economic development and enable residents to access a wider range of digital services and opportunities.

The deployment is also beneficial to the growth of new industries and businesses in the said areas. It can inspire innovation and competitiveness as companies seek to provide the best possible services to their customers.

“We believe that the expansion of 5G technology in Visayas and Mindanao is essential for driving economic growth, supporting innovation, and providing access to fast and reliable digital services for residents and businesses in these regions. It will also help spur further investment and support the emergence of a vibrant and dynamic digital economy,” said Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Network Planning & Engineering.

As a pioneering provider of 5G technology in the Philippines, Globe is committed to delivering improved customer service and reliable, consistent data services to its customers.

By scaling up the rollout of its 5G network, Globe is taking a major step towards building a more connected and technologically advanced society in the Philippines. It is helping drive the adoption of 5G technology and paving the way for the next generation of digital innovation.

5G technology is capable of delivering internet speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G. It also has less lag, making it suitable for video streaming and gaming. (PR)