Free Vulnerability Assessment solution   As more businesses embrace digital operations and AI-driven tools, cybersecurity is becoming just as important as connectivity itself. For many small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the challenge is finding a way to grow securely in an environment where they face silent, invisible digital threats. This protection is vital because SMEs are the backbone of local communities, generating millions of jobs and driving national economic growth. Yet, as these businesses shift online, cyberattacks targeting them have surged by up to 325% because automated bots continuously scan the internet for unlocked digital doors, regardless of a company’s name or size. In the latest installment of The Blueprint by Globe, Globe Business highlights that GFiber Broadband plans now include Free Vulnerability Assessment Scan (VA) to help businesses build a more secure digital foundation. By combining high-speed connectivity with proactive cybersecurity directly into everyday internet connectivity, Globe Business is changing the paradigm. Cybersecurity should not be viewed as an expensive cost center, but should instead be embedded directly into an organization’s everyday business operations. This democratizes protection regardless of business size and digital maturity. This free protective service is bundled with GFiber Broadband plans starting at Plan 1299 and extending through Plans 1499, 1999, 2499, and 2999, with the number of bundled Vulnerability Assessment scans increasing with each plan tier. Each scan can save a business PHP 4,500, giving Filipino entrepreneurs immediate savings they can reinvest back into their operations. “No entrepreneur, regardless of their size, should have to risk their entire life’s work just because cybersecurity feels too expensive or too complicated,” said KD Dizon, Globe Chief Marketing Officer. “By embedding proactive protection directly into their everyday business connection, we are helping local enterprises move past the era of basic connectivity and transition toward intelligent resilience, ensuring that as their business scales, their protection scales with it.” The integrated Free VA Scan serves as a critical digital diagnostic tool, performing three essential functions for a business. First, it detects security vulnerabilities. It identifies weaknesses across the entire network, website, and devices to protect sensitive customer data before a breach can happen. Second, it minimizes costly downtime. It prevents operations from halting and sales from stopping due to malware infections or network disruptions. Third, it drives IT efficiency. By mapping out exact digital vulnerabilities, it eliminates the critical guesswork, allowing them to allocate their IT budgets precisely where they are needed most rather than wasting resources. The solution also supports businesses across different industries. For e-commerce and retail companies, it helps secure online transactions and customer payment data. Healthcare providers can better protect sensitive patient information, while financial institutions and legal firms can strengthen the security of confidential records, contracts and digital communications. Hotels, restaurants, and cafes can also help safeguard guest information, payment systems and online transactions while maintaining reliable connectivity. Through solutions that combine everyday business broadband with robust, built-in security, Globe Business continues to strengthen its role as a trusted partner in intelligent transformation, helping Philippine businesses build secure digital platforms to innovate, scale, and succeed safely in the digital economy.              

MANILA, Philippibes -In response to ongoing global economic pressures, LANDBANK is waiving its fees on select online government payments, enabling Filipinos to transact with government agencies more conveniently and at a lower cost. From 01 June 2026 to 31 December 2026, LANDBANK will implement zero fees on eligible person-to-government (P2G) transactions made via QRPh, as part of the Bank’s ongoing efforts to make everyday banking more affordable. LANDBANK’s move also supports the National Government’s whole-of-government response to rising costs and the global economic challenges, while expanding access to affordable financial services under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Program. The fee waiver covers transactions completed through three QRPh-enabled payment channels: (1) LANDBANK Link.BizPortal via QRPh option; (2) QRPh standees at participating government institutions; and (3) government agencies’ websites where LANDBANK Link.BizPortal via QRPh is selected as the payment mode. Eligible payments include fees to participating government institutions — such as select national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), local government units (LGUs), water districts, and state universities and colleges (SUCs) — supporting faster and more convenient payments for police clearance, real property taxes, business permits, apostille certificates, and other dues. Payment channels other than QRPh, as well as charges imposed by merchants or other service providers, if any, are not covered by the LANDBANK fee waiver and shall remain in effect. “LANDBANK’s zero convenience fees for online government payments provides convenient access to essential public transactions at no additional cost. Transacting with government agencies online is now more affordable. This initiative is part of our continuous efforts to bring government services closer to the people,” said Finance Secretary and LANDBANK Chair Frederick D. Go. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz said that the initiative aims to make government transactions more convenient and affordable amid economic challenges, while promoting greater digital banking adoption. “LANDBANK is waiving fees for online government payments to make services more accessible, while bringing more Filipinos into the digital financial ecosystem. This supports our broader goal of advancing financial inclusion and delivering services that are more responsive to the needs of the public,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz. The rollout of free government payment services complements LANDBANK’s efforts to lower transaction costs, including the recent reduction of InstaPay transfer fees from ₱15 to ₱8, effective 21 May 2026. As the country’s leading government bank, LANDBANK continues to drive a more inclusive and cash-lite economy by making digital transactions simpler, more accessible, and more affordable for all.

LANDBANK has reduced its InstaPay transfer fee for person-to-person (P2P) transactions from ₱15 to ₱8, reinforcing its commitment to make digital financial services more affordable and accessible for Filipinos. Effective 21 May 2026, the lower fee applies to P2P fund transfers conducted via the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App and iAccess. To further benefit customers, the Bank is also offering one free InstaPay transfer per day for transactions amounting to ₱1,000 and below. The move aims to ease the cost of everyday financial transactions while encouraging broader adoption of secure, fast, and cashless payment channels. The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to expand access to affordable financial services and accelerate digitalization to support inclusive economic growth. “Reducing digital transaction costs is a crucial step in bringing more Filipinos into the formal financial system. By making fund transfers more affordable, LANDBANK is helping empower individuals, families, and small businesses to participate more actively in the digital economy,” said Finance Secretary and LANDBANK Chair Frederick D. Go. LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz underscored the Bank’s focus on delivering inclusive and cost-efficient digital solutions. “LANDBANK remains committed to advancing financial inclusion by making digital banking more affordable and accessible. By lowering transaction fees, we are enabling more Filipinos to use secure and convenient digital channels for their everyday financial transactions,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz. Soon, LANDBANK will roll out zero LANDBANK fees for person-to-government (P2G) payment services for select government transactions, making it easier, faster, and more affordable for Filipinos to settle taxes, fees, and other public dues online. As the country’s leading government bank, LANDBANK continues to champion a more inclusive and cash-lite economy by delivering innovative, accessible, and cost-efficient digital financial solutions to the public.            

BDO Unibank and Mastercard are marking two decades of collaboration that has helped shape how overseas Filipinos send and receive money, and stay financially connected to their families back home Over the years, the collaboration has reached more than 4 million Filipinos abroad, supporting remittance and payment services designed to be faster, more secure, and accessible. Combining BDO’s remittance network with Mastercard’s global payments infrastructure, the two organizations have played a role in expanding access to financial services for Filipinos across different markets. “For the last 20 years, the collaboration between BDO and Mastercard has helped serve overseas Filipinos—over 4 million of them—and we look forward to the next 20 years of working with BDO,” said Jason Crasto, Country Manager, Philippines, Mastercard. The collaboration is also reflected in everyday financial use. Millions of BDO ATM cards carrying the Mastercard logo are used locally and overseas, supporting transactions that range from remittances to daily purchases. “We’re proud to stand alongside BDO in this collaboration that has reached millions of Filipinos here and abroad. Its use across markets reflects the role we’ve built together over the years in supporting how they stay connected financially,” Crasto added. For BDO, the collaboration is closely tied to its focus on serving overseas Filipinos and their families. “At the heart of our 20-year collaboration with Mastercard is a shared commitment to serve our kabayans,” said Genie Gloria, senior vice president and head of Remittance at BDO. She noted that beyond facilitating transactions, the aim has been to make it easier for Filipinos abroad to support their families. “As we look ahead, our focus remains clear—to continuously innovate and uplift the remittance experience, ensuring that every remittance is not just a transaction, but a connection delivered with care and trust,” Gloria said. As digital adoption continues to shape financial behavior, both organizations said they are working on new solutions aimed at improving security, convenience, and accessibility, particularly for Filipinos navigating cross-border transactions. “There’s a lot of innovation you’ll be hearing more about in 2026,” Crasto said, noting that upcoming initiatives will focus on making transactions simpler and more secure for users. As the collaboration moves forward, BDO and Mastercard said they remain focused on expanding financial access and supporting Filipinos wherever they may be.  

Globe delivered strong year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2026, demonstrating business resilience and strong execution amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. Consolidated gross service revenues reached Php42 billion, up 5% year-on-year, supported by sustained demand for connectivity and digital services. Data continued to anchor performance, contributing 91% of total consolidated service revenues, underscoring the strength and scale of Globe’s core connectivity platforms. Mobile data remained a key growth driver, with revenues rising 11% year-on-year to Php26.8 billion, while traffic expanded 18% to 1,810 petabytes, reflecting sustained usage across video, social media, gaming, and digital payments. The 1Q2026 performance marks Globe’s second-highest quarterly revenue level on record, reflecting sustained business momentum following its peak in the fourth quarter of 2025. It also represents one of its strongest start to a year in recent periods, with all core segments, including mobile, broadband, and enterprise, contributing to growth. Essential Nature of Connectivity The continued expansion of data usage highlights the essential nature of connectivity, even as consumers navigate tighter spending conditions. Growth was driven by structural digital adoption rather than short-term consumption patterns, reinforcing the durability of Globe’s revenue base. Mobile revenues reached Php30 billion, up 6% year-on-year, supported by strong data monetization and a growing subscriber base. Home broadband revenues rose 6% to Php6.2 billion, driven by deeper fiber adoption, while corporate data revenues increased 6% to Php5.1 billion, led by demand for ICT and cloud-enabled solutions. Profitability remained stable, with EBITDA growing 7% year-on-year to Php22.2 billion and margins expanding to 52.8%, reflecting disciplined cost management alongside sustained topline growth. Core net income rose 9% year-on-year to Php4.9 billion, indicating underlying earnings strength despite external pressures. “We are pleased to have sustained our momentum into the first quarter of 2026, delivering resilient topline growth of 5% year-on-year. This was driven by disciplined execution and prudent cost management, alongside sustained demand for data and connectivity,” said Carl Cruz, Globe President and CEO. High-impact network, capacity upgrades Against the backdrop of ongoing global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions affecting energy costs and consumer behavior, Globe has adopted a focused and disciplined operating approach to protect margins and sustain overall service quality. The company continues to prioritize efficient capital allocation, directing investments toward high-impact network and capacity upgrades while maintaining positive free cash flow and minimizing foreign exchange exposure. Capital expenditures for the quarter reached Php12.7 billion, with 91% allocated to data-related initiatives, reinforcing Globe’s commitment to delivering a reliable and high-quality network experience nationwide. “We are operating with discipline with a war-like stance, focusing on protecting margins, optimizing our capital spend, and ensuring that our customers continue to receive a reliable, high-quality network experience. This approach allows us to remain resilient while positioning the business for long-term growth,” Cruz added. Looking ahead, Globe expects full-year performance to reflect evolving market conditions, including potential impacts on consumer spending and rising operating costs such as power rates. The company is guiding for low to mid single-digit revenue growth for the year, aligned with its focus on sustainable, quality growth. Globe’s first-quarter results underscore the strength of its data-driven strategy, demonstrating that connectivity-led growth remains resilient across economic cycles while continuing to support the country’s accelerating digital transformation.                  

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading airline, ranked as the top Philippine carrier for on-time performance (OTP) and fifth overall among Asia Pacific carriers in April 2026, achieving an 84.98% on-time arrival rate across over 12,000 systemwide flights based on data from London-based aviation analytics firm Cirium. Cirium’s OTP review, considered the longest standing in the industry, measures punctuality based on aircraft arrival times. Flights are considered on time when they arrive at the gate within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival. “This recognition reflects the discipline and teamwork of our people across the network, who work tirelessly every day to keep our operations running efficiently. At Cebu Pacific, we remain focused on delivering operational excellence so our passengers can enjoy a smooth and reliable travel experience every time they fly with us,” said Javier Massot, CEB Chief Operations Officer. To reaffirm its commitment to operational excellence, the airline recently inaugurated the Cebu Pacific Training Academy, a purpose-built, state-of-the-art training facility aimed at providing high-quality, hands-on, and experience-based training for prospective aviation professionals. The facility was also designed to support service consistency and operational readiness as the airline continues to expand. CEB has also upgraded its Network Control Center into the Cebu Pacific Operations Control Center, enhancing crisis and disruption preparedness while reinforcing the airline’s shift to a more integrated, digital-first, and proactive approach to operational management. CEB currently operates in 35 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading airline, reported a 10% year-on-year increase in total revenue for the first quarter, driven by an increase in seat capacity and sustained passenger demand. Total revenue for the quarter rose to ₱33.3 billion, supported by a 10% increase in seat capacity and sustained passenger demand across both domestic and international markets. CEB carried 7.5 million passengers, up 8% year-on-year, while maintaining a healthy seat load factor of 83.7%, reflecting effective capacity deployment and stable travel demand. Passenger revenue increased 6% to ₱22.5 billion, while ancillary revenue rose 19% to ₱9 billion, driven by continued improvements in ancillary yields. The airline’s cargo business also expanded, with cargo revenue growing 8% year-on-year to ₱1.8 billion, supported by higher widebody capacity. EBITDA rose 26% year-on-year to ₱8.4 billion, while operating income increased 54% to ₱3 billion. Cost discipline and improved operating efficiencies partially offset higher operating costs associated with fleet and capacity expansion. Core profitability improved, with core income before tax increasing to ₱1.3 billion from ₱325 million last year. Quarter-end peso depreciation resulted in non-core foreign exchange losses of ₱1.8 billion, resulting in a net loss of ₱400 million versus net income of ₱466 million in the prior year. Cebu Pacific ended the quarter with 101 aircraft in its fleet and a strong liquidity position, closing March 2026 with over ₱23 billion in cash, providing ample flexibility to manage near-term volatility while supporting strategic initiatives. “Our first‑quarter performance reflects the strength of our network and disciplined capacity deployment,” said Mike Szucs, Chief Executive Officer of Cebu Pacific. “As we navigate a more volatile operating environment amid higher fuel prices, we are taking a more cautious and measured approach focused on margin protection, prudent capacity deployment, and liquidity preservation. Our scale, fleet efficiency, and strong domestic network position us well to navigate near-term uncertainty while continuing to build long‑term value.”    

Taguig City, Philippines — Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (PSE: CNVRG) is ramping up its support for the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, citing world-class digital infrastructure as the primary catalyst for the industry’s continued global leadership. Converge Global Business, the company’s corporate and large enterprise unit, recently hosted the Elevating Connections forum at its BGC headquarters. The event convened top industry leaders to address the escalating technological demands of the IT-BPM sector, with discussions focused on how strategic partnerships and robust connectivity are essential to sustaining the Philippines’ economic momentum. Jack Madrid, President and CEO of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), underscored the sector’s role as a fundamental pillar of the national economy. “As we shift to higher-value services and embrace a more digitally-driven global landscape, our continued growth depends on world-class digital infrastructure,” Madrid said. “Strategic partnerships with leading technology providers ensure we maintain global competitiveness and continue to elevate Filipino talent on the world stage.” The forum highlighted the shift in operational requirements for modern BPOs, which now face increased demands for secure data management, AI integration, and the support of permanent hybrid workforces. Industry leaders noted that any interruption in connectivity directly impacts revenue and international client trust, making network redundancy a top priority for telecom procurement. In response to these needs, Converge reaffirmed its commitment to a robust infrastructure expansion initiative. Grace Jarin-Castillo, Senior Vice President for Sales & Marketing at Converge Global Business, stated that the company is continuously investing in both local and international assets to ensure scalability and redundancy for its stakeholders. “We recognize that seamless connectivity is the lifeblood of global operations,” Jarin-Castillo noted. “We are committed to delivering the robust, diverse, and scalable solutions necessary for this dynamic sector to support its customers, both locally and abroad.” Central to this commitment is Converge’s investment in massive subsea cable systems. As a consortium owner of the 5,000-kilometer SEA-H2X Cable System, Converge provide direct links to major Asian markets. Furthermore, its partnership in the 20,000-kilometer Bifrost Cable System will enable secure, high-capacity connectivity from Southeast Asia to North America. With a fiber network now spanning over 896,000 kilometers, Converge Global Business remains positioned to support the large-scale requirements of the country’s leading BPOs, ensuring the Philippines remains the destination of choice for global outsourcing. Ready to future-proof your BPO operations? Contact Converge Global Business for tailored, enterprise-grade connectivity solutions or visit www.convergeict.com/enterprise      

Gen Zs are taking a fresh approach to securing their future. While many prioritize side hustles and personal goals, they also value authenticity and see the importance of financial protection early on. Recognizing this shift, BDO Life has emerged as Gen Z’s top choice for their next purchase, earning the No. 1 spot in Consideration in the insurance sector at the 2026 Synergy-YouGov Awards. This citation comes from YouGov BrandIndex’s 2025 nationwide consumer tracking results, based on daily brand health tracking among more than 3,000 Gen Z respondents. “BDO Life is expanding its reach to support a broader range of breadwinners, including Gen Z. We appreciate how they value life insurance as a meaningful way to plan ahead and secure their future. This milestone inspires us to keep growing alongside the evolving needs of future generations,” shares Shirlyn T. Book, BDO Life VP and Marketing Head during the awards ceremony. The award underscores BDO Life’s deepening relevance among younger generations who consider insurance not just a safety net, but as their Plan B in building a secure future.