The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) yesterday announced the selection of Rogelio Singson, president and chief executive officer of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.  and former secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as the recipient of the “MAP Management Person of the Year 2024” award.

The “MAP Management Person of the Year” conferred on individuals in business or government who have attained unquestioned distinction in the practice of management, and have made valuable contributions to the progress of the country and in re-shaping national values.  

Singson was chosen for the following: 0 for implementing a Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Program in the DPWH which changed its image from one of the most corrupt agencies to an acknowledged efficient line agency under his stewardship during the term of President Benigno Aquino III; 0 for his contribution to re-shaping national values by being a model of humility, ethical conduct and spiritual uprightness; 0 for setting an example for Filipino managers through an unblemished track record of integrity, managerial competence and professional leadership in his management career in both private and public sectors, particularly in the areas of public-private partnership, tollways management, water and power utilities privatization, airports, seaports and resorts; and 0 for his active role in the MVP Group’s substantial contribution to national development in terms of job creation and income opportunities for various sectors of the economy.

The conferment of the Award will be held on Nov. 25, 2024.

SM, through the Philippine Geothermal Production Company Inc. (PGPC) continues to introduce projects under  its Environmental Conservation for Sustaining Tiwi’s Aquatic Resources (ECO-STAR) Program aimed at preserving  marine environments and communities in Tiwi, Albay.

SM said the ECO-STAR Program  aims to continue its work towards turning Tiwi into a vibrant Eco-Adventure Marine Park, with ongoing plans for team-building activities, wildlife conservation, and further livelihood enhancements.

The ECO-STAR Program encompasses several critical components, including the management of the 4.2 square kilometers Corangon Marine Sanctuary and the rehabilitation of beach and mangrove areas across 14 coastal barangays in Tiwi.

The program started with a Watch Station area, which serves as Tiwi’s central resource and information center to help educate local communities on the need to address the harmful effects of illegal fishing practices such as cyanide and dynamite fishing. 

Since its inception, the program has overseen the planting and nurturing of over 300,000 mangrove and beach tree species and facilitated the rescue and release of 327 sea turtles since 2013.

PGPC also helped organize   the Youth Environmental Leaders League (TIWI YELL) whose  members are engaged in annual summer camp that provides training in marine conservation, first aid, and other essential skills.

ECO-STAR’s efforts led to the successful rehabilitation of the Corangon Marine Sanctuary which in turn contributed to the return of sea turtles to Tiwi’s shores. This success has prompted PGPC and Tiwi local government unit  to create the Sea Turtle Awareness and Rescue (STAR) Center. The program also organizes fundraising events through the annual fun run to save sea turtles, contributes to the Municipal Tourism Development Plan, engages with the Tiwi Municipal Tourism Council, and other activities like mangrove and beach tree planting, coastal clean-ups, and coral mapping.

PGPC’s partnership with local organizations has created valuable livelihood opportunities for women in Tiwi. At the Tiwi ASENSO Livelihood Center, more than 40 women are involved in producing seaweed-based products.

“Our holistic approach to coastal conservation not only focuses on environmental protection but also on improving the livelihoods of local families. By integrating education, community engagement, and sustainable practices, we aim to create lasting benefits for both the environment and the people,”PGPC president Napoleon Saporsantos Jr. said.

Since 2017, PGPC has also been at the forefront of the Adopt-An-Estero Program, focusing on the revitalization of the BariisRiver in Tiwi, Albay. The program aims to restore and sustain the river’s freshwater ecosystem through a combination of coastal clean-up activities, solid waste management, tree planting, and awareness campaigns. 

“While the Bariis River is crucial to our renewable energy operations, our primary goal is to ensure the health of our ecosystems. Clean rivers contribute to a healthy environment overall, and that’s why we are dedicated to their preservation,” said Mr. Saporsantos.

The once pollution-prone area now boasts one of the most acceptable river qualities recognized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Environmental Management Bureau. 

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said it has accepted a P1.5-million settlement proposal offered by the Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors (PALSCON) to address potential anti-competitive agreements in the organization.

PCC said PALSCON opted to submit an undertaking to the Commission to correct its behavior after an investigation by the PCC Enforcement Office showed the group could be in violation of Section 14 (b)(2) of the Philippine Competition Act (PCA). The provision prohibits agreements among competitors that aim to limit competition, such as dividing the market based on sales, territory, product or service type, or other factors.

PCC said PALSCON’s Code of Ethics had the effect of limiting the competition among its members.

During the PCC Enforcement Office’s full administrative investigation in 2021, PALSCON requested to engage in settlement discussions pursuant to Section 2.17 of the PCC Rules of Procedure. The rules allow entities under investigation to offer a settlement to the Commission at any time during the investigation, but before the final decision is made.

After a series of negotiations, PALSCON submitted a Complete Revised Settlement Proposal on July 14, 2023, which the Commission approved on Oct. 5, 2023.

PALSCON has committed to pay the settlement amount of P1.55 million.

In addition, it committed that PALSCON board of directors and at least two senior officers of each PALSCON member will attend a competition law seminar to be organized by PCC.

PALSCON would also appoint   a competition law compliance officer who will ensure compliance of PALSCON members with the PCA, PCC issuances, as well as attendance to competition law seminars by identified PALSCON officers.

Another commitment is for PALSCON to issue an acknowledgment recognizing their association’s inadvertent mistake or failure to properly communicate to its members the meaning of Article II, Section 3 of PALSCON’s Code of Ethics, which shall be published on PALSCON’s website for two years.

Lastly, PALSCON will revise its Code of Ethics, particularly, Article II, Section 3, to state: PALSCON shall not support, tolerate, or condone anti-competitive practices between and among its members, as well as agreements, conduct, policies or regulations which are anti-competitive in nature.

BARANGAYS have recorded the lowest compliance rate in submitting their Citizens’ Charters, a key component of ease of doing business (EODB) in the Philippines.

In a statement, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said data collected by the Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation Office (CMEO) showed it has only received submissions from six barangays out of the 1,710 Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR) since 2018 when Republic Act (RA) No. 11032, known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act was implemented.

In a statement, ARTA said CMEO has rolled out projects on the implementation of RA No. 11032, BLGUs in NCR. This initiative is a key component of ARTA’s strategic objectives for 2024.

Under the RA, government agencies and instrumentalities are mandated to set up the most current and updated service standards to be known as the Citizen’s Charter in the form of information billboards, which shall be posted at the main entrance of offices or at the most conspicuous place, in their respective websites and in the form of published materials written in English, Filipino, on in the local dialect. The Citizen’s Charter is one of the primary tools that government agencies use to communicate their service standards on the delivery of government service s to their citizens or clients.

ARTA Secretary Ernesto Perez noted the importance of the compliance to the establishment of Citizen’s Charter since barangays, as the basic political unit of the country’s governance system, are essential in improving the country’s bureaucratic efficiency and global competitiveness.

The rollout includes an orientation on the key provisions of RA 11032 and related ARTA guidelines, designed to guide barangays in complying with the law. Additionally, a workshop will be held to assist BLGUs in drafting their own Citizens’ Charter.

“The primary goal of rolling out the Ease of Doing Business law to barangays is to equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to ensure compliance with the law’s mandates,” said Perez.

ARTA will leverage the Anti-Red Tape Electronic Management Information System or ARTEMIS, a web-based platform that facilitates the submission and evaluation of Citizen’s Charter submitted by government agencies and provides a real-time database accessible to the public.

 ARTA targets to reach out to at least 150 barangays by yearend. 

The pilot run took place in Pasig City last July attended by 29 out of its 30 barangays. A workshop attended by representatives from 14 barangays across 14 NCR LGUs was conducted last month.

Globe has committed to ethical and responsible AI development and deployment under the the GSMA’s industry-first Responsible AI (RAI) Maturity Roadmap.

Globe joins a select group of leading telecommunications companies from around the world committed to this pioneering initiative that ensure these technologies are harnessed for the benefit of its customers, the environment and the society as a whole.

Globe said by adopting the GSMA RAI Maturity Roadmap, Globe ensures its AI will not only deliver business value but also contribute to sustainable development.

The GSMA, a global organization that unifies mobile operators around the world, developed the RAI Maturity Roadmap to address the growing importance of AI in the telecommunications industry. This marks the first time an entire sector has committed to a common approach to AI.

Globe is among 19 mobile network operators from around the world that have adopted the roadmap to track, maintain and improve AI use.

The roadmap, based on insights from McKinsey and a group of leading operators, provides a structured framework for telecommunications companies to assess their current AI maturity level and identify areas for improvement. This allows them to align their AI strategies with responsible practices, ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI applications.

The roadmap addresses five core dimensions: a company’s vision, values, and strategic goals; operating model and AI governance; technical controls to ensure compliance with regulations; collaboration with third-party ecosystems; and corporate change management and communication.

Globe recognizes the transformative potential of AI across its operations, from strengthening climate resilience and optimizing network performance to enhancing customer service and preventing fraud. At the same time, Globe has bolstered its online safety measures by actively blocking non-photographic imagery (NPI) of child sexual abuse, including AI-generated content. By adhering to the GSMA RAI Maturity Roadmap, Globe is committed to ensuring that its AI-driven innovations are not only cutting-edge but also deployed ethically and responsibly, prioritizing the safety and well-being of its users.

Speaking at the GSMA’s Mobile 360 series held in Seoul, South Korea, Anton Bonifacio, Globe’s Chief AI Officer, emphasized the need for early action towards responsible AI use.

“We’ve seen in the internet age, it took the world longer to prioritize cybersecurity, data privacy, ethics, and governance. I think we do have a great opportunity in this new technology to do it right much earlier, whether that’s in terms of privacy or security, and just ensuring that the human is still at the center, especially with something this disruptive,” Bonifacio said.

He said the GSMA Roadmap is crucial given the dearth in frameworks and references on best practices when it comes to responsible AI use. Through the GSMA initiative, Globe can also share its own learnings as it goes through AI adoption.

“Maintaining a balance between rapid innovation and ethical development is crucial. We can’t wait for perfect standards and policies before moving forward, but we also can’t move forward without them. The GSMA roadmap provides the necessary framework to achieve this balance, ensuring we can reach an ethical and responsible ground as we drive AI adoption in Globe,” said Bonifacio.

Globe is advancing AI adoption for both internal and external processes. Earlier this year, Globe named Bonifacio its Chief AI Officer, the first in the Philippines, and established a separate AI Group, demonstrating the company’s commitment to integrating AI in the business.

Currently, Globe is using AI to transform ways of working towards greater productivity and engagement among employees. Generative AI is also being used to “simplify the way we serve customers,” said Bonifacio.

“AI is immensely important to Globe. We do firmly believe it’s beyond the hype and it could be as transformational as the internet was. We see AI as a powerful tool that can help us create happier employees by simplifying tasks, improving work-life balance, and freeing up time for more meaningful work. This, in turn, enhances customer experiences and, ultimately, shareholder value. In Globe, this is what we call the Circle of Happiness. And AI is key to greasing those wheels to keep the circle going,” said Bonifacio.

PLDT Inc. is pushing for full connectivity in all state universities across the country by next year.

“We are calling for renewed efforts to make digital education accessible in all state universities by 2025,” said Menardo Jimenez Jr., PLDT chief operating officer, said in a statement yesterday. 

PLDT said this objective builds on its ongoing efforts with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to advance digital inclusion in education, and with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) for internet expansion in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).

Expanding connectivity in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) supports PSAC’s broader push for digital inclusion.

PLDT is among the founding members of the Digital Infrastructure Sector along with its wireless arm, Smart Communications Inc.  The body plans activation of key GIDA sites starting this year.

“Through this collaboration, we are shaping a future where all students, regardless of location, have access to the tools they need to succeed in a digital world,” Jimenez concluded.

Since 2022, PLDT Group, through its corporate business unit PLDT Enterprise, has successfully activated 1,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across 220 public HEIs in 60 provinces, providing critical internet access for students and educators.