The Social Security System (SSS) today announced that its members in areas battered by tropical cyclones (TCs) Kristine, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito in the last few weeks may avail themselves of the calamity loan until 19 December 2024. SSS Officer-in-Charge Voltaire P. Agas said that SSS is offering a calamity loan to qualified members who can avail of a loan equivalent to their one monthly salary credit or up to P20,000. “Our country was battered by multiple tropical cyclones in less than a month, making life extremely difficult for our kababayans in devastated areas. SSS wants to extend a lending hand to them through this financial assistance to help them rebuild their lives and get back to normal,” Agas said. He added that members in the areas declared under state of calamity by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) can avail of the calamity loan. Areas under state of calamity due to TC Kristine are Dagupan, Bani and Anda in Pangasinan; Ilagan and Roxas in Isabela; Provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon; Cardona and Binangonan, Rizal; Puerto Galera, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Mansalay, Bulalacao (San Pedro) in Oriental Mindoro; Paluan and Looc in Occidental Mindoro; Provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Sorsogon; Naga City; Cataingan and San Fernando in Masbate; Calbayog, Samar; Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpio, Oras, Masilog, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan and Mayodolong in Eastern Samar; Magnet, Cotabato; Alfonso Lista (Potia), Ifugao; and Quezon City in National Capital Region (NCR). Meanwhile, Quirino and Mountain Province; Santiago and Cabagan in Isabela; Baggao, Cagayan; Dilasag, Aurora; and Aguinaldo, Ifugao were also declared under state of calamity due to TCs Nika, Ofel, and Pepito. Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte; including Buguey, Gonzaga, Sanchez-Mira, Aparri, and Claveria in Cagayan were also included in the list of declared calamity areas due to TC Marce. Moreover, members in other areas that may soon be declared under state of calamity due to TCs Kristine, Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito can also avail of the financial assistance. To qualify, tropical cyclone-affected members must: Have at least 36 monthly contributions, six of which must be posted within the last 12 months before the month of filing of application; Have at least six posted monthly contributions under the current membership type before the month of loan application for individually paying members such as self-employed, voluntary, and land-based Overseas Filipino Worker members; Be living or residing in the declared calamity area; Have no final benefit claim such as permanent total disability or retirement; Have no past due SSS Short-Term Member Loans; Have no outstanding restructured loan or calamity loan; and Must be certified by the employer through online (My.SSS facility) the loan application, if employed. Salary loan as an alternative option Agas said that tropical cyclone-affected members may also opt to avail of the SSS salary loan. “They must be under 65 years of age at the time of loan application and have not received any final benefit like total disability, retirement, or death benefits to qualify for the salary loan,” he explained. Aside from the age requirement, he emphasized that applicants should have at least 36 monthly contributions to get a loan of up to P20,000 or 72 monthly contributions to qualify for a loan of up to P40,000. “Six of these contributions must have been paid in the last 12 months before the month of the loan application and must be under their current membership type.” Apply through the My.SSS Portal Agas said that interested members can submit their calamity and salary loan applications online using their My.SSS account via www.sss.gov.ph “Once approved, the loan proceeds will be credited to the member’s registered Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID)-ATM Card or their active accounts with a Philippine Electronic Fund Transfer System and Operations Network (PESONet) participating bank,” Agas explained. He added that members can pay the calamity and salary loans in installment for 24 months or two years with a low annual interest rate of 10 percent based on the members’ diminishing balance.              

Asticom Technology Inc., a leading player in the technology and outsourcing industry, is advancing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within human resources (HR) to foster a transformative, people-centric employee experience. Speaking at the 61st Annual Conference of the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), Asticom President and CEO Mharicar Castillo-Reyes highlighted AI’s potential to empower HR teams and enhance the employee journey. In light of Ipsos Global Advisor’s 2024 survey showing that 73% of Filipinos fear job loss due to AI, Castillo-Reyes calls for a new perspective, viewing AI as an enabler of growth rather than a replacement for human capabilities. “Technology is not just a tool; it’s an enabler of a new employee experience that brings out the best in people and organizations,” she said, adding that people-centered AI can boost engagement, reduce turnover, and enhance productivity. She discussed the critical global trends in HR, highlighting AI-powered tools and advanced analytics as essential assets for organizations striving to remain competitive in a data-driven landscape. These innovations showcase AI’s ability to automate traditional HR tasks, like resume screening and interview scheduling, while leveraging data insights for strategic decision-making. “AI can free up HR teams from mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic initiatives that enhance employee growth and development,” she said. But while AI offers substantial potential to boost efficiency, Castillo-Reyes acknowledged the challenges it presents. “As we incorporate AI into HR, we must consider issues such as bias, privacy, and transparency,” she cautioned, emphasizing the need for a strategic approach that aligns AI initiatives with business goals, grounded in fairness and integrity. Integrating digital strategies with company culture and values ensures that technology genuinely supports the workforce, she said, with inclusivity and empathy guiding AI implementation to foster continuous improvement and empowerment. Being at the helm of Asticom, Castillo-Reyes shared how the company’s HR solutions—spanning recruitment process outsourcing, employee services, learning platforms, and payroll management—use AI to enhance productivity, reduce turnover, and increase engagement. She pointed to Asticom’s AI-driven solution, NXT (www.nxt.com.ph)  designed to optimize talent acquisition strategies, showcasing how such tools empower HR teams to enhance and elevate the workplace journey. “A truly human-centered digital transformation places people at its heart,” Castillo-Reyes stated. “At Asticom, our mission is to improve people’s lives by creating opportunities through innovative services and technologies.” Through this approach, Asticom aims to help companies achieve greater employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention, shaping a workforce ready for the future.        

In support of the country’s push for digital inclusivity, Globe advocates for a collaborative, industry-wide approach to expand infrastructure in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs). Carlo Puno, Globe Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer, highlighted the importance of collaboration among telcos, government agencies, and tower operators to make the most of existing resources in expanding telecom services to underserved communities. “It should be a rollout that is maximizing the current footprint of the different players, potentially leveraging the towercos’ presence in certain areas and avoiding duplication of efforts in any of the mobile network operators,” Puno said at a recent media briefing. “I think if we’re able to do that, we will be able to support the government and bridge that digital divide. But it has to be more [of] a conversation in the industry rather than just one player like Globe rolling out,” he added.   Currently, Globe has over 600 operational sites in GIDA areas. The Connectivity Plan Task Force (CPTF), a body headed by Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO, under the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), recently proposed the construction of new towers in remote parts of the country through a public-private collaboration. This is aligned with the Marcos administration’s push to bring connectivity to remote areas. Over 7,000 Philippine barangays are classified as GIDAs, with about 25 million residents lacking access to life-enabling connectivity. Telcos also pledged to provide SIMs with data plans to unconnected households via government subsidy starting this year until 2028. Through this cooperative approach, Globe and the other players aim to support the government’s Digital Philippines vision and ensure that every Filipino, regardless of location, has access to the opportunities afforded by digital connectivity.          

MANILA — U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson led a Veterans Day ceremony in Manila to pay tribute to American and Filipino military service members, both living and deceased, and remember their contributions to freedom and democracy, during the ceremony, on November 11. “On Veterans Day, we honor American and Filipino service men and women still in uniform, those who have moved on to new opportunities outside of the military, and those who have passed.  We owe you our freedom,” Ambassador Carlson said in her remarks during the ceremony held at the Manila American Cemetery in Taguig City. “Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II – 80 years since Philippine and U.S. forces, shoulder to shoulder, succeeded in their fight to defend freedom and liberate the Philippines.  Even before our 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, we fought together side by side.  That bond of shared sacrifice by our veterans resonates through the decades and still animates our alliance in the form of ever-deepening security cooperation,” Ambassador Carlson added. Philippine Department of National Defense Senior Undersecretary Irineo Espino, U.S. Embassy Defense Attaché Col. Edward Evans, and American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) Chairman and retired U.S. Army General Michael Garrett attended the ceremony alongside Filipino and American veterans, veteran service organizations, and members of the diplomatic corps. “Veterans Day reminds us of the courage and dedication of all who have fought for peace and freedom, including the Filipino veterans who stood alongside American forces,” Undersecretary Espino said.  “The Department of National Defense, through the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, remains steadfast in our commitment to promote the welfare and wellbeing of our veterans.  We remember their legacy so their courage could continue to inspire future generations.” “The Manila American Cemetery is not only a sacred American space, but also Filipino soil honoring our shared history and shared sacrifice,” ABMC Chairman Garrett said.  “To our Filipino hosts, including our friends and neighbors right here in Manila, and all who are among America’s oldest partners here in Asia, I want to thank you for allowing us to honor our fallen here on your land.” Nearly 50 million men and women have worn the uniform of the United States, with about 20 million still in active service.  Of those, more than 69,000 have Filipino heritage, representing the second-largest foreign-born U.S. veteran population after Mexico.                

Corporations have only less than a month left to clear their record and avoid higher fines and penalties for the late and non-filing of reportorial requirements to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Ending on November 30, the SEC Enhanced Compliance Incentive Plan (ECIP) under Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 13, Series of 2024 provides eligible corporations a final chance to regain their good standing and pay penalties at significantly lower rates. “With less than a month left before we officially close ECIP, we encourage noncompliant, suspended and revoked corporations to complete their applications to ensure the continuous operations of their businesses,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said. “We remind corporations that the submission of reportorial requirements is mandated by law, and failure to comply could result in the suspension or revocation of their corporate registration,” he added. Republic Act No. 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, requires all SEC-registered corporations to submit their annual financial statements (AFS) and General Information Sheets (GIS). Noncompliance could lead to the imposition of applicable fines and penalties and, for extreme cases, the suspension or revocation of corporate registration. This strips a company of the powers and privileges granted to a registered corporation, including separate juridical personality, limited liability, and perpetual existence, among others. Corporations who have incurred fines and penalties for the late or non-filing of their AFS or GIS, as well as noncompliance with MC No. 28, Series of 2020, which requires corporations to designate official and alternative contact details, may apply for ECIP. Page 2 of 2 Under the program, non-compliant corporations, including those under the delinquent status, shall pay only P20,000 to settle their fines and penalties for the covered violations, while suspended or revoked corporations will only have to pay 50% of their total assessed penalties, and a petition fee of P3,060 to lift their order of suspension/revocation. However, payment of the ECIP fees does not guarantee that corporations will automatically regain their good standing. Eligible corporations will have to submit their latest due AFS and GIS as part of their application. Suspended/revoked firms, meanwhile, will also have to submit their petition to lift the order of suspension or revocation, along with other supporting documents. Eligible corporations, which fail to avail of ECIP, will be subjected to the updated scale of fines and penalties that the SEC implemented in April through MC No. 6, Series of 2024. The new rates are around 900% to 1,900% higher compared to the previous rates that had been in place for more than two decades. The application process is fully online. To apply for ECIP, corporations should log in their respective accounts on the SEC Electronic Filing and Submission Tool (eFAST) and pay the fees through Electronic System for Payments to the SEC (eSPAYSEC).        

Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, took three consecutive deliveries of aircraft in October to support the growing demand for air travel and ongoing network expansion efforts. The new aircraft deliveries included two (2) A321neos, which arrived on October 23 and 30, and an A320ceo, which arrived on October 28. This raises the total number of aircraft delivered to CEB this year to 15 so far. “We’re excited to expand our fleet with these additional aircraft ahead of the peak travel season in December. These deliveries are a key part of our continuous efforts to expand routes and enhance our service, allowing us to better serve the increasing number of travelers,” said Xander Lao, CEB President and Chief Commercial Officer. Airbus NEOs are the latest-generation aircraft that burn 15 percent less fuel per flight and produce less noise compared to the previous generation. The reduction in fuel consumption leads to a corresponding reduction in aircraft carbon emissions. On October 2, CEB announced that it has signed a landmark purchase agreement with Airbus and Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, for up to 152 A321neo aircraft, equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines. The acquisition is the largest in Philippine aviation history, valued at approximately USD $24 billion (PHP 1.4 trillion) based on list prices. CEB operates one of the youngest fleets in the world, with its diversified commercial fleet mix of nine (9) Airbus 330s, 40 Airbus 320s, 24 Airbus 321s, and 15 ATR turboprop aircraft enabling the widest network coverage in the Philippines.

The United States government is providing Php84 million ($1.5 million) to support the Philippine government’s response to Tropical Storm Kristine, known internationally as Trami. This funding will augment the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) ongoing efforts to deliver lifesaving assistance that will help individuals severely affected by the storm in the Bicol region and Batangas recover safely and with dignity. Through this funding, USAID will provide access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, emergency shelter, and cash assistance. USAID will also provide logistical support in the management of evacuation centers. On October 27, USAID supported the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in dispatching 1,500 shelter-grade tarpaulins and 1,500 household relief kits to the Bicol region through a C-130 provided by the Singaporean government. These disaster relief items were prepositioned in the OCD humanitarian relief depot at Fort Magsaysay, an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in Nueva Ecija. U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. launched this critical joint humanitarian prepositioning effort in September. “My heart goes out to all those suffering the devastating effects of Tropical Storm Kristine,” Ambassador Carlson said.  “We are working side by side with the Philippine government to bring relief to communities in need.” Since October 25, the United States has worked with humanitarian partners to deliver lifesaving humanitarian relief material prepositioned across the country.  With USAID funding, the World Food Programme mobilized 33 trucks to support the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development in delivering more than 53,000 family food packs and other relief items to the Bicol region. This assistance builds on the U.S. government’s previous support to Philippine government’s disaster response efforts, such as during the massive flooding in Mindanao in February, Super Typhoon Carina in July, and Super Typhoon Julian earlier in October. Since 2010, the U.S. government has provided more than Php21.85 billion ($390.2 million) in disaster relief, preparedness, and early recovery in the Philippines.  USAID works year-round to help communities build resilience in preparing for, and responding to, the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters.        

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. named Social Security System (SSS) Executive Vice President for the Branch Operations Sector Atty. Voltaire P. Agas as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of SSS. In a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin dated October 17, Agas was designated as the OIC of the state-run pension fund to ensure the continuous and effective delivery of public service to its members, pensioners, and their beneficiaries. Agas started his career at the SSS in 2012 as its Chief Legal Counsel, a position he held until 2022. Since March 2022, he has been overseeing all SSS branch operation activities nationwide, including membership expansion programs, contribution collections, and benefit processing. He is a seasoned public servant with more than three decades of government service in various capacities, such as in the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), National Prosecution Service, both under the Department of Justice (DOJ), and as a trial judge in Quezon City.  He is the first career official coming from the ranks of the SSS to be designated to serve as its OIC. After obtaining his law degree from the San Beda University, Agas began his legal career as a PAO lawyer, which he held from 1989 to 1994. His exemplary service as a public attorney has earned him the Outstanding Public Servant Award, a recognition recently given to him by PAO in August 2024 during the 8th MCLE-Accredited National Convention of Public Attorneys. In the private sector, after graduation from the University of the Philippines, he was engaged as a socio-economist in community development projects under the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.  As a lawyer, he had more than a decade of experience as a corporate legal manager and chief compliance and governance officer in the Ayala Life Insurance Group now known as the BPI AIA Life Assurance Corporation (BPI AIA). He replaced Commissioner Robert Joseph M. De Claro who was earlier designated by the Social Security Commission (SSC), the policymaking body of the SSS, as the OIC to ensure the continuous day-to-day operations of the pension fund “until a replacement is designated or appointed by the President.”  De Claro will remain a member of the SSC, wherein he represents the Employers’ Group.        

Manila —The United States Peace Corps, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), recently launched the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Toolkit, a comprehensive training guide designed to help Peace Corps Volunteers and their partner communities build resilience by enhancing their disaster preparedness capability. The DRR Toolkit contains resources on developing disaster preparedness strategies, conducting risk assessments, managing community resources, and strengthening early warning systems.  As an inclusive training guide, the DRR Toolkit promotes the active participation of all community members in pre-disaster planning. From October 14 to 18, the Peace Corps gathered 28 of its Volunteers, staff, and work partners from the Philippine government and non-government institutions for an orientation-training based on the DRR Toolkit in San Mateo, Rizal. Funded by USAID, the training program deepened collaboration and knowledge exchange between the Peace Corps and its work partners, helping strengthen the disaster preparedness programs of local communities. “The DRR Toolkit is a vital resource for helping communities build resilience and reduce the impact of disasters and extreme weather events,” said Peace Corps Philippines Country Director Marguerite Roy.“The toolkit is very inclusive and can be easily integrated and used as a guide in the participatory planning and mentoring activities in the communities,” said Engineer Raoul Cam of the City Planning and Development Office of Ormoc City, Leyte.  “I will be glad to endorse the toolkit to my colleagues in the local government unit and partners in other sectors that are involved in the DRR advocacy.” To help participants observe DRR practices in action, they also visited the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) office and the Marikina City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Since its establishment in 1961, over 9,300 Peace Corps Volunteers have served alongside host communities across the Philippines to address the country’s most pressing development priorities, including the disaster preparedness of vulnerable communities.