Globe Launches Free eLibrary to Benefit Over 15M Public School Students Nationwide

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Over a thousand educational e-books appropriate for K-12 learning will be made available to over 15 million public elementary and high school students and some 500,000 public school teachers nationwide beginning September 30 as part of the Global Filipino School (GFS) program of leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom.

The GFS Library launch coincides with the National Teachers Day celebration of the Department of Education (DepEd) at Ateneo de Manila University in Davao City where Globe is one of the participants.

“With the expansion of the Global Filipino Schools Program and awareness of the GFS Library around the country, public schools can more effectively make use of reading resources and promote digital learning to more students and teachers nationwide, particularly in schools where access to quality books is limited and usage of technology for learning is not maximized,” said Fernando Esguerra, Globe Director for Citizenship.

GFSLibrary.com is a web-based platform that provides free and quick access to digital story books for children and young adults as well as textbooks on core subjects such as Math, Science, English, Filipino, Music, Arts, among others. The ebooks may be opened via their desktop, laptop or mobile device using any basic ebook reader.

Mindanao Oil players Urged to Explain Unusual Price Reductions

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) is asking the oil players in Mindanao to explain the unusual price reductions in gasoline products that may be breaching provisions under the existing law.

Based on the monitoring of the DOE-Mindanao Field Office (MFO), the price adjustment of the oil companies in Mindanao from the period of 30 August to 6 September 2016 was a huge PhP3.00 rollback, hence attracting the attention of the agency.

While price rollbacks like this are a welcome development for the consumers, the DOE cautioned that sudden and sustained huge decreases in oil prices might qualify as an “anti-competitive behavior” under the Oil Deregulation Law.

This market behavior puts both the smaller oil players and the consumers at a disadvantageous position in the long run. Smaller oil players may actually lose its market share and end up closing, allowing the remaining oil players the chance to dictate prices to the detriment of the consuming public.

Relative issues brought about by this market behavior include the peddling of petroleum products using in the “bote-bote” scheme and the alleged smuggling of oil products from nearby countries.

Currently, the DOE-MFO has already been coordinating with local government units (LGUs) concerned and the Bureau of Fire to eliminate the “bote-bote” scheme while also discouraging consumers from patronizing such activity as this may endanger public safety and health

On the alleged smuggling of oil products, the DOE is now in talks with the Bureau of Customs as this may hurt not only the oil industry players, but also the economy of LGUs in Mindanao and the rest of the country. Taxes are lost, affecting the delivery of basic services to our people.

Moreover, the DOE is closely coordinating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the possible convening of the DOE-DOJ Task Force to determine any violations of the law.

The DOE has given assurances of its continuous vigilance to protect the welfare of the energy consumers.

Globe Drive Versus Unauthorized Signal Boosters Yields Arrest of Illegal Seller

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Globe Telecom’s campaign against the use of illegal repeater has led to the arrest of an individual suspected of selling such equipment.

A recent joint entrapment operation between police authorities and Globe security personnel led to the arrest of Raymundo Canete, a 28 year-old resident of Block 69, Sitio Panghulo, Floodway, Barangay San Juan, Taytay, Rizal. Canete is allegedly the delivery boy of Mark Lewis Chua, a resident of Lot 17, Block 1, Ather St., Greenwoods Executive Village, Pasig City, who is allegedly engaged in selling signal booster/repeater through online selling portal OLX.

Based on a report made by QCPD District Special Operation Unit, Globe investigator Eddie Catalo sought police assistance in addressing online selling of illegal repeaters. Acting on Catalo’s report, DSOU-QCPD led by PINSP Danilo Sonbgalia conducted entrapment operation at the corner of General Santos and General Roxas Sts. (in front of PNB Farmers’) in Cubao, Quezon City. The entrapment operation led to the arrest of Canete right after he handed a set of signal repeater to Catalo in exchange for P1,000.00 used as a marked money.

Seized from Canete were 1 unit of signal booster, 1 unit of repeated amplifier and 1 unit of signal antenna. Police authorities recommended the filing of appropriate criminal case against Canete and Chua.

National Telecommunications Commission Memorandum Order No. 01-02-2013 prohibits the sale, purchase, importation, possession or use of signal boosters operating on the 800 megahertz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz frequency bands without the approval of the regulatory agency. Violation could entail penalties and even imprisonment. Online selling of illegal repeaters is also in violation of Section 4 (a) of RA10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. According to Ronald Uychutin, Globe Vice President for Security and Anti-Fraud and Investigation, the use of repeaters or signal boosters, without any permit from the NTC, causes network interference that that could result in dropped calls, garbled lines, and weak signal.