GSIS inks data sharing pact with LANDBANK
State pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) signed an agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) to strengthen its client data sharing security in a ceremony held at the GSIS head office in Pasay on Tuesday, July 17.
The signing was led by GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso and LANDBANK President Lynette V. Ortiz.
Under the agreement, GSIS client data will be shared with LANDBANK to allow same-day issuance of LANDBANK Visa Debit Cards to members and pensioners upon enrolment at the GSIS Main Office in Pasay City.
Through the LANDBANK Cards, members will be able to conveniently receive and withdraw their claims and proceeds from GSIS.
Both parties commit to securely store GSIS clients’ personal data by implementing the needed organizational, physical, and technical security measures. They will also ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data and protect them from accidental or unlawful destruction, alteration, unauthorized disclosure, unlawful processing or use, fraudulent misuse, or loss.
The agreement is compliant with Republic Act (RA) No. 10173, the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and National Privacy Commission Circular No. 2020-03, which guarantee the security and protection of personal information in the government and private sectors.
GSIS and LANDBANK have designated Data Protection Officers to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of shared information.
Sun Wealth Prime relaunched
After its successful run last year, the Sun Wealth Prime 7 is back to help clients grow and preserve their wealth.
Sun Wealth Prime 7 is a single-pay life insurance plan from Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. (Sun Life) designed to help policy holders secure the future of their loved ones while receiving guaranteed annual payouts for seven years.
Aside from the guaranteed life insurance benefit, clients can get annual earnings equal to 4% of the single premium paid, starting at the end of the first policy year until maturity. The plan also serves as a way to preserve wealth, as clients can expect a 100% return of their single premium payment once the policy has matured.
“Our clients need a product that provides life insurance protection while offering long-term savings and liquidity through guaranteed regular payouts. As their Partner for Life, we listened and decided to address these needs by relaunching the Sun Wealth Prime 7,” Sun Life President Alex Narciso said.
Moreover, clients can also enjoy hassle-free application and policy approval through the guaranteed insurability offer subject to the limits set by Sun Life.
“The Sun Wealth Prime 7 is a great alternative solution for clients who want to diversify their financial portfolio or simply want to strengthen it,” Narciso added.
The Sun Wealth Prime 7 will be available starting July 24 and is here for a very limited time only.
Watsons backs cervical cancer awareness
Health and beauty retailer Watsons conducted a virtual education session to raise awareness on cervical cancer and encourage the public to take preventive steps for their health.
“Take Action for Women’s Health” highlighted how the HPV ( Human papillomavirus ) vaccine can prevent Filipino women from acquiring cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common female cancer in the world, and the second most frequent one in the Philippines.
Dr. Cecilia Llave of the Philippine Cancer Society highlighted that getting an HPV vaccine along with regular screening and having a healthy lifestyle can help lower cancer risks.
“As a leading health and beauty retailer in the Philippines, we aim to emphasize accessibility to the HPV vaccine. Awareness is the first step, second is availability. That’s why we are rolling out our awareness efforts through media events,” said Sharon Decapia, Watsons senior assistant vice president for Marketing, PR & Sustainability.
AboitizPower, ZANECO conduct medical mission in Zamboanga Del Norte
Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) and Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZANECO) mounted a medical mission for around 200 residents of Barangay Sitog, Katipunan, Zamboanga del Norte. Beneficiaries ranging from 2-70 years old were examined by the doctors from the Rural Health Unit (RHU), received medicines, and underwent various medical procedures like circumcision, dental check-up, and vaccination, depending on their needs.
“All of us at Barangay Sitog are very grateful to AboitizPower and ZANECO for providing us with this project,” Katipunan Mayor Michael Meiko Wong said.
According to AboitizPower head of Wholesale Angeli Parcia, community-based initiatives such as this medical mission are organized to address identified social needs.
“AboitizPower looks for ways to advance business and communities. As we continue our partnership with ZANECO, we are mindful of the needs of its member-consumers like access to health-related resources and procedures,” she said.
ZANECO General Manager, Atty. Jordanne B. Chan-Antonio shared her pleasure with the partnership with AboitizPower and reiterated the importance of adding value to its member-consumers beyond the distribution of electricity.
“We care for the households and businesses who rely on us for power. We also feel a sense of duty to care for their personal needs outside of the utility that we provide,” she shared.
PH-born Bossjob bridges SEA talent to Japanese market, fuels expansion
Bossjob, the chat-first career platform for professional hiring in Southeast Asia (SEA), has announced it will launch its service in the Japanese market, facilitating Japanese companies hiring international talents with its 2.9 million users in the region.
The recruitment platform, which recently raised a $5 million seed fund, will provide Japanese companies with a limited-time free policy aimed to assist them in recruiting talents from different countries through an enhanced user experience with its AI + direct chat model.
The expansion comes as local firms increasingly seek talent from overseas. Japan currently faces a talent deficit, especially in the IT industry, despite a growing demand for recruitment driven by its rapidly recovering economy. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry projects that its IT industry could face a talent shortfall ranging from 160,000 to a staggering 790,000 by 2030.
To address this issue, the Japanese Cabinetannounced in June an expansion to the scope of the Specified Skilled Worker 2 (SSW-2) visa, allowing foreign workers with proficient skills in nine industries – building cleaning management, industrial machinery, electric, electronics and information, automobile repair and maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishery and aquaculture, food and beverage manufacturing, and food service – to work in the country.
China and SEA are becoming the main sources of talent, with 66% of foreigners who obtained Japanese high-technology work visas coming from the territories as of the end of 2019.
UnaCash upgrades its services to feature point-of-sale loans
UnaCash, a people-centric installment solution, announces a significant upgrade to its services by offering point-of-sale (POS) loans to every Filipino. This gives customers further accessibility to financing options through in-store exposure.
UnaCash delivers its products and services through innovative installment solutions. With its Buy Now, Pay Later feature now able to support its customers at the point-of-sale and allows the purchase of merchandise from its merchant partners, Filipinos are given a variety of lifestyle upgrades based on their respective interests and budgets, one transaction at a time.
UnaCash highlights its maximum loanable amount from ₱3,000 to ₱50,000 with the flexibility to extend its payment terms up to twelve months, with an interest rate that begins at 0% up to 10% max.
UnaCash is launching its POS loans together with a variety of products from its merchant partners ranging from smartphones, laptops, computers, appliances, furniture, hardware. Highlighting its successful partnerships, this includes Laptop Factory, Faith Glorious Fit, Homeworks the Home Center Inc., Emcor, JTG Trading Inc., Save’n’earn, and Trendy Gadget. Its steady expansion will go as far as beyond the boundaries of Metro Manila, reaching as far as Cavite, Rizal, Cebu and Davao.
Alongside the convenience being offered to its consumers, partner merchants are offered multiple sales channels including via the UnaCash app platform, a unique QR Code for merchants for faster processing of in-app installment applications, and low and flexible merchant fees.
UnaCash launched a new version of its app in the Google Play Store. This upgrade features improved user experience, faster loan approvals, and more merchant partners both through online and in-store partners.
RCBC Credit Cards, PAGSS Lounge partner to provide free lounge access to cardholders
The Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (“RCBC”), through its Card Servicing entity RCBC Bankard Services Corporation, has inked a partnership with Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions Inc. (“PAGSS”) to offer the services at its lounges located at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 & 3 to RCBC Credit Card holders.
With the partnership, principal cardholders of RCBC Credit Card premium cards will be able to access for free the PAGSS lounges at Terminal 1 beginning July 15, 2023 and Terminal 3 beginning August 15, 2023.
Principal Cardholders of RCBC Credit Card World Mastercard, Mastercard Platinum, Hexagon Priority, Hexagon Privilege, Visa Infinite, Visa Platinum, JCB Platinum, UnionPay Diamond, and ZALORA Credit Cards can take advantage of this partnership to access PAGSS Lounge facilities free of charge for the cardholder and one companion by simply presenting their RCBC Credit Card at participating PAGSS Lounge locations. Cardholders can enjoy a range of benefits, including comfortable seating, complimentary snacks and beverages, Wi-Fi access, newspapers and magazines, and more.
RCBC Credit Card holders can enjoy other travel privileges such as getting free travel insurance and purchase protection, on-demand conversion of their overseas purchases for up to 36 months installment through Unli Installment via the RCBC Digital App, access to cash abroad through Mastercard and Visa affiliated ATMs, and more.
