Globe continues to reinforce its commitment to online safety by blocking non-photographic imagery (NPI) depicting child sexual abuse, including content generated through artificial intelligence (AI), computer-generated imagery (CGI), animation, and other non-live methods. From August 27, 2024, when Globe initiated NPI blocking, until December 31, Globe has restricted access to 374 URLs and 13 domains showing AI, CGI and other non-live child sexual abuse imagery flagged by its partner, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). The IWF has been leading the fight against child sexual abuse material, warning that exposure to such content—even in CGI or cartoon form—can cause significant harm to viewers and is illegal in many jurisdictions. The organization stresses that even accidental viewing of this material can have lasting psychological effects. “Our dedication to online safety drives us to proactively detect and block harmful content, ensuring children are protected from sexual exploitation and other digital threats. Through advanced filtering technologies, we strive to maintain a safer and more secure online space for all,” said Atty. Irish Krystle Salandanan-Almeida, Globe’s Chief Privacy Officer. Globe has invested over USD 2.7 million in advanced content filtering technologies to detect and prevent access to illegal content.  This is aligned with the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9775), which requires internet service providers (ISPs) to implement technologies that prevent access to and transmission of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials. Globe’s initiative to block NPI is part of its long-standing sustainability campaign, #MakeITSafePH, which actively raises awareness and educates users on online safety while equipping them with essential tools to navigate the digital world securely. Other than NPI, Globe blocked 3,096 domains containing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials from January to December 2024.

Globe reaffirms commitment to online child safety, seeks closer public-private collaboration   Globe has called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to combat growing threats to child safety online, as it reaffirms its commitment to internet safety on Safer Internet Day. With the rapid evolution of digital technology, the internet has become both a vital tool and a potential risk, exposing children to exploitation and harm. The Philippines is the world’s highest producer of content rooted in online child sexual abuse and exploitation, according to a study led by the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Globe believes in promoting responsible and sustainable internet use— ensuring that digital platforms are not used to cause harm while also empowering individuals to use online resources for learning, productivity, and economic growth. “Public and private sectors need to work closely together, now more than ever, to fight growing threats to child safety online. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. We also would like to say, in today’s highly digital world, it takes a village– in fact the whole nation– to protect every Filipino child,” said Carlo Santos, Senior Director for Analytics and Stakeholder Engagement at Globe. Globe has taken a proactive stance in protecting children online, investing $2.7 million for content-filtering technology that blocks malicious sites, including those with child sexual abuse content. In 2024 alone, the company blocked 3,096 child pornography domains and URLs, including 387 cases of AI-generated or computer-generated imagery depicting child abuse. It also works closely with government agencies, the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to effectively fend off online threats against children. While these measures serve as immediate interventions, Globe emphasizes the need for long-term solutions to evolving online threats. At the frontlines of online child safety To help promote online safety among children and their carers, Globe continues to drive digital literacy through its Digital Thumbprint Program, which has educated thousands of children and teens since its launch in 2017. In 2024 alone, DTP reached 6,194 young Filipinos across the country, equipping them with the knowledge to protect themselves from online risks. Parents also play a critical role in internet safety. Through its MakeItSafe website, Globe helps parents decode digital language, identifying seemingly harmless terms that may have hidden sexual connotations and serve as red flags for potential exploitation. Meanwhile, senior citizens — often targets of online scams — get essential digital safety training under the Senior Digizen program, helping them recognize and avoid cyber fraud. Globe also recognizes that poverty is a major driver of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM). Economic desperation can lead individuals to resort to exploitative practices. To address this, Globe launched The Hapag Movement in 2023, providing food and livelihood assistance to over 120,000 families, helping them become financially self-sufficient. Globe calls on policymakers, industry leaders, and the broader community to work together in building a safer and more secure digital environment for future generations.        

Safer Internet Day 2025 Globe reinforces its leadership in the fight against online child pornography as it continues efforts to block harmful content online to make the internet safer, especially for the young. In 2024, Globe blocked 3,096 child pornography domains or those containing child sexual abuse and exploitation materials (CSAEM), a slight increase from 3,047 domains restricted in 2023. The company’s sustained site blocking reflects its commitment to creating a safer digital environment. Since the launch of its #MakeITSafePH campaign in 2017, Globe has been steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding Filipino internet users, particularly children, from the dangers of online exploitation. Aligned with the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9775), which mandates Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to implement technologies that prevent the access to and transmission of child pornography, Globe has invested over USD 2.7 million in advanced content filtering systems. These investments have improved the telco leader’s ability to detect and block illegal content, helping ensure a better digital environment for all users. “Safer Internet Day serves as a timely reminder of the need to protect children from online exploitation. Our dedication to addressing online child abuse goes beyond blocking harmful sites.  It involves a comprehensive approach that includes technological solutions, strong partnerships, and proactive educational programs,” said Atty. Irish Krystle Salandanan-Almeida, Globe’s Chief Privacy Officer. Globe’s ongoing initiatives are reinforced by its collaboration with key organizations, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). These partnerships enhance Globe’s efforts in combating online child sexual abuse and exploitation, an alarming issue highlighted by a study from the US-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which identified the Philippines as a leading source of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) content. On the other hand, Globe’s #MakeITSafePH campaign promotes educational programs and awareness activities that empower Filipino internet users with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves online. Safer Internet Day underscores the importance of collective effort to empower people to use technology safely. Globe remains committed to its mission of creating a safer digital world, particularly for children who are most vulnerable to online harm.    

The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) recently received a significant boost with a service donation from SM Development Corporation (SMDC), underscoring a milestone in the museum’s history. The donation was formally accepted on January 31. Better consumer experience  This partnership signifies a commitment to enriching Filipino lives through cultural heritage. The donation from SMDC includes crucial repairs and maintenance for the air conditioning system at the National Museum of Natural History, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable experience for visitors. “We at the NMP look forward to making the most out of this donation, and we hope to achieve the same level of quality of operations that SM produces,” stated NMP Director-General Jeremy Barns. “We’re thrilled to be a part of this exciting collaboration,” said SM Supermalls Executive Vice President (EVP) for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin. “Through strategic promotions across our malls, we aim to significantly amplify the reach of the NMP and its mission of universal access to cultural heritage.” SM Supermalls’ marketing efforts will ensure the NMP can connect with a wider audience over the next three years. This aligns perfectly with SMDC’s sentiment, as expressed by SMDC EVP for Project Development Grace Evangeline Sta. Ana: “This partnership reflects SMDC’s dedication to nation-building. We’re proud to support the arts and contribute to a richer cultural experience for Filipinos.” A lasting impact This collaborative effort between SMDC, SM Supermalls, and the NMP exemplifies a shared commitment to cultural preservation and accessibility. The improved air conditioning system and strategic marketing initiatives will undoubtedly enhance the visitor experience and ensure the NMP’s treasures are accessible to all Filipinos for years to come.  

  The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) welcomed its new Director General Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez during the traditional Turnover of Command Ceremony held at the Main Conference Room, PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City, on February 5, 2025 Outgoing Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo, through Undersecretary Earl Saavedra of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), handed over the PDEA Flag and Books of Property and Equipment to Director General Nerez as a symbolic gesture of transfer of mantle of PDEA leadership. A PDEA Badge was also conferred to the new Director General. The event was also attended by Assistant Secretary Israel Ephraim Dickson, Deputy Director General for Administration; Assistant Secretary Renato Gumban, Deputy Director General for Operations; Director Emiterio Bitong, Chief-of-Staff; Service Directors, Regional Directors who were on hand via online; Heads of Offices and personnel. Before joining PDEA, Director General Nerez was the Undersecretary for Police Affairs at the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs.        

Globe fully supports the call for a Senate investigation into the illegal trade of devices used for spoofing or SMS hijacking, a fraud scheme behind the proliferation of scam texts that evade telco networks. Sen. Mark Villar recently filed a resolution seeking a senate inquiry on the trade of International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers, which allow fraudsters to send out malicious SMS in the guise of legitimate sender IDs. These portable devices serve as fake cell towers that enable SMS sending outside telco networks, thus evading spam filters. Globe has been working with government agencies to curb spoofing by cutting off the supply of IMSI catchers in the country. These devices are imported into the country either in full or in parts for assembly, then used for illegal activities. “Spoofing or SMS hijacking using IMSI catchers has been a major headache for both the industry and law enforcement. Spoofed messages are difficult to track because of the technology. We have high hopes that through this Senate probe, we’d be able to address the root of the problem: the illegal trade of IMSI catchers in the country,” said Atty. Froilan Castelo, Globe’s General Counsel. “This is a major step in our shared goal of protecting the public from fraud. Through this legislative inquiry, we hope to find a clear path forward in the fight against IMSI catchers,” said Castelo. Globe stands ready to provide technical expertise and support to the Senate panel as needed. Fraudsters have used IMSI catchers to impersonate Globe’s official sender ID, duping customers with fake Globe Rewards claims and other unauthorized messages. Such spoofed messages have seen a rise as Globe enforced stricter spam and scam blocking, filtering out all person-to-person SMS with links and enforcing stringent regulations on app-to-person SMS with URLs. Globe’s pioneering move to remove links in SMS messages shows the company will go the extra mile to make it a scam-free network and protect customers. Unfortunately the new method of scammers such as using IMSI catchers goes directly to the device and does not pass through the network anymore.  Currently, Globe is looking at more advanced technologies that might help address this issue. Globe reminds the public to stay vigilant against suspicious text messages, including those that seem to come from legitimate sources. Be cautious of links and offers that seem too good to be true. As a security measure and to protect customers, Globe does not include clickable links in its official text advisories.            

Brighter days are coming to Last Mile Schools in Sarangani as the Macaulay Club, comprised of Sun Life’s top-performing financial advisors, collaborates with Solar Village Foundation to tackle education challenges caused by lack of access to electricity. In a ceremony organized by Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation), the Macaulay Club turned over a P4.5 million grant to the Solar Village Foundation. This will fund the installation of solar-powered lighting and printing systems, and the provision of solar lanterns to teachers in 13 Last Mile Schools. These are schools located in remote areas facing various resource challenges including lack of electricity, scarce educational materials, makeshift classrooms, and limited teaching staff. They also typically serve marginalized communities, such as indigenous peoples. The joint project aims to improve learning conditions for students and enhance the safety and comfort of teachers, who not only reside in dark quarters, but also travel on foot for hours over dangerous terrain. Gracing the ceremony were Sun Life Philippines CEO & Country Head and Sun Life Foundation Chairman Benedict Sison, Sun Life Foundation President Alex Narciso, Sun Life Philippines Chief Distribution Officer Al Quitangon, Macaulay Club President Owdylyn Lee, Solar Village Foundation Chairman Jimmy Ayala, and Solar Village Foundation Trustee Carla Villacorta. “This grant from the Macaulay Club is our top financial advisors’ way of giving back and contributing to building a brighter future for our fellow Filipinos,” said Al Quitangon, Sun Life Philippines Chief Distribution Officer. “Sun Life has a long and rich history in the Philippines, having been operating here for almost 130 years.” “We at the Sun Life Foundation believe that brighter schools make for brighter futures, which is why we are very happy to support this project,” said Kristine Millete, Executive Director of the Sun Life Foundation. “We thank the Macaulay Club and Solar Village Foundation for their work for the children and teachers of Sarangani.” As the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines, the country’s first and longest-standing insurance company, the Sun Life Foundation is committed to nurturing the learning of Filipino children by supporting various education initiatives across the country.        

The push to transform government services through digitalization, led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, is now just one step away from Senate approval after passing the Second Reading on Tuesday, January 21. During the plenary session, Cayetano, the bill’s sponsor, introduced his amendments to Senate Bill No. 2781, also known as the proposed “E-Governance Act,” along with the changes proposed by Minority Leader Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. This development came less than a week after the bill passed the interpellation stage. The proposed E-Governance Act aims to streamline government processes and make them more transparent by institutionalizing a national framework for a unified digital government system. This framework, to be spearheaded by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), will guide agencies on the technical and informational standards they need to adopt for seamless digital integration. The framework will be based on a comprehensive master plan, which will be updated every three years to keep up with rapid technological advancements. At the heart of the plan is a secure network called the “Integrated Government Network” (IGN), which will connect all government websites and applications and allow different agencies to share data more efficiently. For ordinary Filipinos, these changes mean a smoother experience: no more long lines or switching between multiple apps to access government services. Cayetano, who chairs the Committee on Science and Technology, had earlier emphasized the importance of leveraging technology for nation-building. “It is not per se the solution to all of our problems, but it is a tool that, if used effectively and assigned properly to various agencies, can address many of our challenges today,” he said during last week’s plenary debate on the bill. He highlighted the lack of interoperability as one of the main issues with existing government digital platforms, a problem the E-Governance Act aims to solve. “This bill is actually a product of the experience of the DICT in the last few years. This is to emphasize and articulate what they need,” he said. The bill has received support from other senators, including Minority Floor Leader Pimentel, who thanked Cayetano for championing the proposal. “The times have changed. Talagang very critical na po itong DICT,” Pimentel said. The bill is now set to be approved on Third and Final Reading in upcoming sessions        

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revoked the corporate registration of Farm to Market (F2M) Agri-Farm OPC for soliciting investments from the public without the necessary license from the Commission. In an order dated October 9, 2024, the SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD) revoked F2M Agri-Farm OPC’s certificate of incorporation for violating Section 44 of Republic Act (RA) No. 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code (RCC), Sections 8.1, 26.1 and 28.1 of RA No. 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code (SRC), and Section 11 of RA No. 11765, or the Financial Products and Service Consumer Protection Act. The RCC prohibits corporations from possessing or exercising powers beyond those conferred by law and provided under the articles of incorporation. The SRC, on the other hand, prohibits the selling or offering of securities without a registration statement duly filed with and approved by the Commission, and requires people engaged in the business of buying and selling securities to be registered with the SEC. Accordingly, F2M Agri-Farm OPC was ordered to pay an administrative fine of P1 million, while its incorporator and nominee were directed to pay the same amount. The EIPD found F2M Agri-Farm OPC and its related entities, namely F2M Tarlac City-Main Branch, F2M, F2M Paalaga System, Hog Raising Business, F2M Tuguegarao Branch, F2M Dagupan, F2M La Union Branch, F2M Lagawe, Ifugao, F2M-Solano Nueva Viz. Branch and F2M Tayug, to be offering investments in the nature of an investment contract without the necessary registration and approval from the SEC through the F2M 3 Months Paalaga System. Under the Paalaga System, F2M and its related entities enticed the public to buy one piglet for P5,000 with a promised return of P7,600 after three months, representing a 30% return on investment less 5% service charge, as advertised on their social media page. If an investor buys 20 piglets for P100,000, the investor is expected to receive P152,000 return after three months. The related entities of F2M Agri-Farm OPC are not registered as corporations or partnerships with the SEC and do not have the secondary license to solicit investments or offer securities. The company’s illegal solicitation of investments also constitutes fraud due to its similarity to a Ponzi scheme, where profits or payouts are taken from incoming investors or additional pay-ins of existing member-investors as it does not have any underlying legitimate business to source the returns. As early as April 16, 2024, the SEC has already issued an advisory against the company and its related entities. The Commission subsequently issued a cease and desist order against F2M Agri-Farm OPC on August 20, 2024 to stop the company and its related entities from soliciting investments.