Over 132,000 public school buildings nationwide to be insured by GSIS starting 2024
In a move to strengthen the resilience of the nation’s educational infrastructure, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) today announced that it will provide fire insurance for more than 132,000 public school buildings under the Department of Education (DepEd) nationwide.
The total fire insurance for these public school buildings is worth P843.11 billion, and will cover fire, lightning, and natural catastrophes for a one-year period effective from January 1, 2024.
The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) helped put together the insurance coverage, marking a pivotal step in the nation’s focus on educational infrastructure security under the National Indemnity Insurance Program (NIIP).
The NIIP, an initiative of the BTr, aims to provide adequate and comprehensive insurance protection to critical government assets such as schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges.
In addition to ensuring DepEd’s school buildings, the GSIS has provided a 24/7 personal accident insurance coverage for all DepEd personnel, covering death and medical expenses.
DBP cited for good governance
State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has been recognized by the government’s chief corporate regulator for its consistent outstanding performance in the field of corporate governance, a top official said.
DBP president and chief executive officer Michael O. de Jesus said DBP was one of the three recipients of the Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS) Hall of Fame award from the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) for consistently ranking in the top ten of the CGS ratings since 2017.
DBP is the ninth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy — infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; the environment; and social services and community development.
Created under Republic Act No. 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011, the GCG is the central policymaking and regulatory body for government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and uses the CGS to evaluate and assess the corporate governance initiatives of GOCCs through a methodology benchmarked against international best practices.
De Jesus said that DBP was also awarded by the GCG for being Top 4 in the Corporate Governance Scorecard for 2022 with a high score of 100.He said the Bank shall remain committed in formulating and implementing measures to further strengthen its corporate governance mechanisms anchored on its core values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, service to others and love for the Filipino.
You Can Be A Winner with Petron Loyalty Craze
Surpassing mere gimmickry, Petron has once again crafted opportunities for real and exciting rewards – the Petron Loyalty Craze.
Petron Loyalty Craze continues to reward thousands of winners by giving away prizes every day to lucky Petron Value Card (PVC) members.
During the 2022 Christmas season, millions worth of prizes were received by hundreds of Petron Value Card members through the “Namamasko Po!nts” Promo. The excitement kept going with Php 100,000-worth of prizes awarded every day to hundreds of lucky PVC holders.
In the “Petron x Purefoods” Promo, PVC holder James Peralta was among those who took home thousands of pesos worth of Purefoods products.
In the “Isang Motorsiklo Kada Araw” Promo, Primitivo Salo won one of 60 brand-new motorcycles given away every day.
In the “Free Gas for One Year Every Day” Promo, winners were Manuel Lionel, and Kristina Joveres.
The ongoing promo “Araw-Araw Panalo! Pamaskong Salu-Salo” promotion keeps on spreading the festive cheer. Over 300 lucky winners have already experienced the joy of receiving Noche Buena packages worth Php 10,000 each.
STT GDC Philippines cultivates future-ready talent to support data center expansion
ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Philippines (STT GDC Philippines) is building a robust local talent pool to meet surging demand for data center services in the country.
STT GDC Philippines has been collaborating closely with its global partners from ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, leveraging their extensive experience in operating across nine different countries in more developed markets to enhance the technological expertise within the Philippines.
The company has also been sourcing talent from the country’s pool of engineers, developing their skills across a range of disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. This effort is part of a broader strategy to build a workforce capable of supporting the expansive digital ecosystem anticipated in the future.
STT GDC Philippines has also initiated partnerships with top Philippine universities such as the De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, and National University to cultivate the country’s digital infrastructure talent.
STT GDC Philippines, a joint venture between Globe, Ayala Corporation, and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), is currently executing a substantial expansion of its data centers in response to the high demand for digital services and a commitment to further the nation’s digital infrastructure.
This move includes a significant 5.2MW capacity increase across three existing facilities in Makati, Cavite, and Quezon City. The initiative will elevate the company’s offerings well above the local standards, providing near-term capacity solutions critical for the digital economy.
Looking ahead, STT GDC Philippines is poised to become a pivotal hub for global hyperscalers and diverse customer segments. The planned STT Fairview data center campus, with an impressive IT capacity of 124MW, is set to be the largest, most interconnected, carrier-neutral and sustainable data center campus in the country, with operations slated to commence in early 2025.
2GO as vessels of growth for local MSMEs
2GO recently introduced 2GO Getters, a “community of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), start-up companies and anyone who aspires to build their business empire in need of delivery services.” 2GO, part of the SM group of companies, is the Philippines’ leading end-to-end logistics, transportation and distribution solutions provider.
The company’s quest to “enable entrepreneurs of all scales and sizes to reach their dreams and aspirations” resonated with Valdez. An officer of Cavite Association of Producers and Entrepreneurs (CAPE), Valdez champions her fellow entrepreneurs and business owners as well.
Created to empower small businesses, 2GO Getters is a dynamic initiative dedicated to providing MSMEs with the tools they need to excel in a competitive market, offering a series of growth-focused workshops, online promotional campaigns, and networking opportunities.
Joining the 2GO Getters Community is free and members get exclusive deals and access to programs to equip them with the right knowledge to thrive.
With 2GO’s proven efficiency in moving products, their 17 ports of call covering major hubs in the country, and their retail footprint as convenient pickup and drop off locations, they can definitely be a reliable MSME partner.
Extraordinary welcome awaits OFWs at NAIA
PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has brought back its annual Grand Salubong at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to let OFWs feel the extra warm Pinoy Christmas as soon as they arrive in the Philippines.
With the partnership of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Smart had set up booths at the Arrivals area of Terminal 1 and welcomed OFWs with local treats such as bibingka and ready-to-drink coffee, and gift baskets that they took home as pasalubong to their families. They were also serenaded by a band to add to the holiday cheer.
Local and foreign tourists arriving at NAIA can also get their Smart SIMs or eSIMs at the Smart kiosk in any of the terminals. Alternatively, inbound tourists may also order it ahead of arrival from the Smart Online Store and get the QR code containing the eSIM right away. Smart has also made it easy and hassle-free for tourists who have 5G SIMs and 5G-capable devices to connect to Smart’s 5G network when they visit the country, especially during the Christmas holidays.
Smart’s initiatives to serve and honor overseas Filipinos, and to connect people and communities across the country are aligned with the Group’s commitment to the Government’s overall digitalization thrust and are also in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) particularly SDG No. 9 — Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
