Globe and Mabuhay Miles give free sims to PAL passengers

Instant communication with loved ones in the Philippines

The International Business Group of Globe Telecom partnered with Mabuhay Miles to make it easier for balikbayans, OFWs, and travelers to get in touch with their loved ones when they reach the Philippines via free Traveler sim cards distributed to passengers on PAL’s international flights to Manila.

“We continuously strive to serve the needs of our dear OFWs, balikbayans and tourists. Through the partnership with Mabuhay Miles, we have created an avenue where our customers are able to enjoy their homecoming by means of instant communication as soon as they land,” said Nikko Acosta, Senior Vice President of the International Business Group of Globe Telecom.

Since December 14, 2016, the Traveler sim has been distributed to passengers on PAL international flights for free. As a bonus, customers can avail of unlimited calls to Globe and TM mobiles, 20 all-net SMS and 15MB mobile data valid for one day.

“Through this partnership with Globe, we are very happy to give our Mabuhay Miles customers a more enriching in-flight experience by making them feel we are making their trip to the Philippines more rewarding,” said Kevin Hartigan-Go, PAL VP for Ancillary Business Unit. “As of today, we have supplied hundreds of thousands of PAL passengers with free sim cards and we cannot wait to give to more!” Hartigan-Go added.

Mabuhay Miles will give 500 bonus miles when Traveler Sim customers register or update their membership information.

New members need to enroll at www.mabuhaymiles.com and text their Mabuhay Miles number using the Traveler sim to 3456. Existing members can update their profile by texting their Mabuhay Miles number, name and email address to 3456. 

Passengers can buy prepaid load at the Globe booths at NAIA 2 (PAL terminal), other international airports nationwide, and at over 800,000 Globe retailers around the country.

BOC recognized by PDEA for its anti-drugs operations

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) received a plaque of appreciation from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for having the most number of significant drug-related operational accomplishments from January to November 2016.

The award was presented by Chairman Isidro S. Lapena, Chairman NALECC-SCDDCC/DG, PDEA at ceremonies held at the PDEA National Headquarters on 7 December. Chairman Lapena acknowledged the numerous apprehensions made by the Bureau, especially at the Customs unit stationed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

For the year 2016, the CAIDTF apprehended dangerous drugs amounting to more than P340 million as a result of 36 apprehensions which yielded cocaine, shabu, ecstasy, marijuana and other precursors.

Lt. Sherwin F. Andrada, Executive Officer of the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF), ESS of the BOC Enforcement Group, stated that the Bureau will continue to be on the look out for drug groups who would use our airports and customs border to smuggle drugs into the Philippines.

This effort is in line with the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to BOC to apprehend all drugs and drug related precursors that may pass thru the customs borders.

“The war on drugs is the priority of the present administration, and BOC is committed to fully support this challenging task,” Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement Group Ariel F. Nepomuceno said.

Globe At Home subscribers fly to the U.S. for the NBA All-Star Weekend!

“The NBA All-Star Weekend is one of the most exciting sporting events in the world, and we want to create winning moments for our subscribers by bringing them where the action is,” says Martha Sazon, Senior Vice President of Globe At Home. “Watching an NBA All-Star game live is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we want to share with the winning Globe broadband subscribers.”

Lucky broadband subscribers flew to New Orleans this weekend for the 2017 NBA All-Star festivities and got the MVP treatment with their tickets, accommodations, and airfares care of Globe At Home.

Late to news? Don’t fret! More subscribers will get a chance to watch live games in the U.S.! The next batch of winners will be drawn on February 27, 2017 where two winners will win two NBA regular season tickets with roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations. The last batch of winners will be drawn on March 20, 2017 who will get to watch an NBA Finals game and the 2017 NBA Draft live!

“Globe At Home strives to create a seamless experience for all subscribers, and this extends to our promos as well,” says Sazon. “All of Globe At Home’s subscribers will be automatically added to the raffle with the NBA LEAGUE PASS.”

Subscribers to Globe At Home Plan 1299 and higher service offerings have six months of free access to NBA LEAGUE PASS. The NBA LEAGUE PASS is a subscription service that lets users watch NBA games live, complete with multi-game views in high-definition quality. Globe At Home subscribers are eligible to join the raffle by simply activating the promo code sent to their account. Broadband subscribers will get the same number of raffle entries as the denomination of the plan.

Join us as we celebrate the NBA All-Star Festival from February 18 to 19 at the Bonifacio High Street Activity Center, where you can catch the NBA All-Star Weekend live, participate in exciting on-court activities and exhibition games, as well as win amazing prizes.

For more information on Globe At Home, call 730-1010, visit www.globe.com.ph/broadband or the nearest Globe store. For more information about the NBA Fly Away Promo, visitwww.globe.com.ph/surf/plan/nba/fly-away-promo.

DICT AND PCTO TO HOLD THE FIRST PHILIPPINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUMMIT

DICT Secretary Rodolfo Salalima speaks to the media during the Philippine Telecoms Summit Press Briefing on February 22, 2017

“The consensus among all players is to work on concrete solutions. It will not be a blame game. This way, we will be able to move forward and fast track ICT,” shared Eric De Los Reyes, Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), during the Press Briefing of the first ever Philippine Telecoms Summit. Held at Via Mare Restaurant, on February 22, 2017, the media briefing was attended by heads of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and PCTO, and representatives from Globe Telecom and Smart Communications.

PCTO, in partnership with DICT and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), brings together the Telecommunications Industry’s stakeholders, comprising of government agencies and regulators, industry players, experts, and consumers in one event to address the problems and issues surrounding the state of Telecommunications in the country today.

The PH Telecoms Summit will address three main concerns: Cost, Coverage, and Speed of telecommunication services in the country, and how these can be fixed with the cooperation of all stakeholders. Representatives from the different interest groups will be given the opportunity to deliver their concerns and establish dialogue with all the participants. DICT Secretary Rodolfo A. Salalima promises that the Summit will be a no-holds-barred discussion; “I want the problems and challenges all out during the Summit, because if not, we will not know how to find a solution,” he added during the Briefing.

“The problem of one is the problem of all,” reiterated the Secretary, emphasizing the shared responsibilities among the government, the private, and the public sectors. With the goal of using Telecommunications as a tool for Nation Building, the two-day summit serves as a vehicle towards better internet and telecoms services.

Secretary Salalima concluded his statement with a message: “You have the power to use ICT as an enabler for education, enterprise, governance, and social empowerment.”

The Philippine Telecoms Summit 2017 will be held on March 9 and 10, 2017 at The PICC Forum, Pasay City, Manila. Follow DICT on Facebook, Twitter, and http://dict.gov.ph for updates.

BOC, PDEA, Chinese agents join forces to stop drug smuggling

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) tie-up with China’s Fujian Provincial Drug Law Enforcement Agency for a strong stance against the entrance of prohibited drugs into the Philippines.

In a meeting on Tuesday, 21 February, Director Neil Anthony Estrella of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) emphasized the need to talk about and address the illegal drug operations involving China and the Philippines. “This will be the start of the interaction and engagement of the customs of China and of Philippines,” he said.

Deputy Director for Operation Division of Narcotics Control Commission Shen Yu explained that this tie up is a response to the agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during President Rodrigo Duterte's four-day state visit to Beijing last October 18 to 21. The said MOU supports the Philippine government’s efforts in fighting against illicit drugs.

“We have come to our new relationship after President Duterte visited China. We can discuss how to enhance cooperation in terms of narcotics control between our nation,” Yu said.

BOC, aside from its primary function of collecting the lawful duties and taxes accruing on the imported article, is also responsible for keeping all ports of entry free from smuggling in any forms.

According to reports from the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (CAIDTF) for 2016, BOC intercepted 30 illegal drugs shipments, 14 illegal shipments of methamphetamine hydrochloride also known as shabu amounting to P30,093,990.50, five shipments of ecstasy valued at P15,363,000, nine shipments of cocaine pegged at P291,677,691; and one shipment of marijuana at P25,520 -- all totaling to P337,160,201.50.

Illegal drugs are transported to the country via fishing vessels and shabu laboratories. Last 17 February, BOC seized 320 drums of imported hydrochloric acid known as one of the components in making shabu at the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT), Tagoloan Sub-port, Cagayan de Oro.

Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno of the Enforcement Group said that the top priority of the government is drug enforcement. “We can establish a specific office or person to act as a liason officer of the Narcotics Commission of China. You can expect BOC’s full cooperation because this is our priority -to end illegal drugs smuggling,” he said.

China has partnered with Japan, Australia, and New Zealand in its intelligence sharing against crimes and drugs. Philippines and China agreed to enhance exchange of intelligence and technology in fighting against drug crimes, including the training of operatives and techniques in detecting illegal drugs

PCOO holds a milestone all media gathering on Social Media

MANILA, Feb. 21 - The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will be holding a milestone gathering of the country's influential media, communications, and public relations personalities on Thursday, February 23, at the Bahay ng Alumni, the University of the Philippines - Diliman in Quezon City.

The PCOO-initiated event, dubbed #AllMediaPH, aims to acknowledge the power of social media and present the draft Social Media Policy before various interest groups and industry stakeholders, which include the academe, students, bloggers, mainstream media, and those in the legal profession.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who will deliver the keynote address, is receptive to the idea of allowing social media practitioners, i.e., bloggers, to cover the Palace's activities.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte earlier granted the request of some bloggers and social media supporters to cover Palace events during their meeting with the Chief Executive in Malacanan.

Andanar acknowledged the role these bloggers played in disseminating information to the public.

"The bloggers come in because there is an evolution of the media and the bloggers always tell me about Article III, Section 4 of the Constitution," Secretary Andanar said, referring to the Bill of Rights on the freedom of speech and of expression.

This same Article, the PCO Chief said, has become his basis to consider giving bloggers media accreditation to cover the Palace's events.

Social media platforms have given their users a similar power of spreading information and forming public opinion, making it imperative for the government to consider social media and its platforms, alongside traditional media channels, in developing its communications strategy and communicating directly with the people.

Nonetheless, Andanar, being a former media personality, is aware of the difference between the mainstream media and the bloggers. "I'm from the media. We are accountable to our editors, accountable to our bosses, and that's the difference. And also the discipline," he said.

Andanar also underscored the fact that since bloggers work independently, they have different sets of standards.

"We're in interesting times wherein we are seeing bloggers with names become bigger than anyone... It's a phenomenon that we have to embrace, at the same time we also have to control," he said, pointing out that social media is a new way of disseminating information.

Hence, it is important, the PCO Chief said, that bloggers must have a personality, not anonymous so that they can be held accountable if they write something libelous.

Andanar is looking forward to talking and consult with resource persons and representatives of various sectors during the event in a bid to come up with a social media framework that is acceptable to all concerned.

Some of the event's important highlights include the presentation of draft Social Media Policy, knowing the stand and opinions of resource persons, and a plenary discussion. (PCOO)

Globe supports Senate move to reform telco industry

Globe Telecom expressed its support to the bills, particularly those that refer to adoption of nationwide mobile number portability and streamlining of permitting process for cell sites to improve efficiency of telecommuting, introduced by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to institute reforms to the local telecommunications industry. 

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, has authored several proposed measures directly affecting the telecommunications industry that will fast track the roll out of telecom services in the country, improve speed and service of the internet, and lower the cost for the consumers.

“We have always taken the position that government support is indispensable in enhancing the country’s ICT capacities, which is vital in growing the economy. We hope that any move to reform the telco industry should include formulation of policies that would fast track the development of the ICT industry as a whole to further boost economic development,” Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo said.

He pointed out that GSMA reported in October 2016 that the mobile ecosystem in Asia Pacific, consisting of network operators, infrastructure service providers, retailers and distributors of mobile products and services, handset manufacturers and mobile content, application and service providers, makes a significant contribution to their respective economies in terms of economic growth, job creation and public funding. According to GSMA, the total value added generated by the mobile ecosystem was around $440 billion (or 1.8% of GDP), with network operators accounting for well over half of this total.

In addition, the use of mobile technology also drives improvements in productivity and efficiency for workers and firms. GSMA estimates that productivity impacts were worth around $737 billion in 2015 (or 3% of GDP). “Overall, taking into account the direct, indirect and productivity impacts, in 2015 the mobile industry made a total contribution of $1.3 trillion to the Asia-Pacific economies in value added terms, equivalent to 5.4% of the region’s total GDP,” GSMA added. (http://www.gsma.com/ mobileeconomy/asiapacific/)

Castelo emphasized the need to accelerate development of ICT infrastructure to improve business competencies and capacities as well as enhance delivery of essential government services in communities where even basic infrastructure such as roads and bridges are lacking for a more inclusive economic growth.

Despite heavy investments in recent years, establishment of telco infrastructure in remote areas in the country continues to be a challenge, hindered by business viability concerns that has kept telco operators from aggressively deploying infrastructure in rural and far-flung areas. To address such challenges, Globe has proposed that the government itself should help develop the ICT sector by investing in internet infrastructure in outlying communities, stressing that internet access creates significant impact on the development of marginal areas as this allows the community to conduct businesses, get information on education, health and other government services.

In addition to investments in “missionary routes”, telecommunication operators also need government support in minimizing, if not eliminating bureaucracy in relation to the permitting process for cell sites and right-of-way for fiber deployment, said Castelo, pointing out that the company needs to secure around 25 permits, spanning at least 8 months to complete, to build a single cell site. He emphasized that given public clamor for better internet speeds and access, rationalization of the permitting process for telco infrastructure should be addressed as soon as possible.

Globe needs to continuously build cell sites especially in relation to the deployment of the previously warehoused 700 MHz spectrum, which is seen not only to deliver additional capacity but also enhanced indoor coverage. The company, however, is able to deploy only around 450 cell sites a year even as it targets to build roughly around a thousand towers annually due to permitting challenges.