Energy Sector Pushes “Bayanihan” for Quick Restoration of Power in Town Centers and Nearby Communities by New Year

Wazzup Pilipinas!
As Typhoon Nina exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the entire energy sector, spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE), has mobilized various assets for the quick restoration of power facilities in Southern Luzon and parts of Visayas downed by superTyphoon Nina.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi instructed immediate restoration of power facilities using “bayanihan” or Task Force Kapatid in the typhoon-hit area as the priority of DOE and the energy family.

“The DOE commits to mobilize as many technical personnel and transport the necessary equipment and facilities to attain 100% energization of main commercial areas with hospitals, vital government offices, banks and other necessary communal facilities before New Year,” emphasized Sec. Cusi.

He added that priority towns include: Daet in Camarines Norte; Naga City, Goa, Tinambac, Iriga City, Libmanan in Camarines Sur; Ligao City, Legazpi City and Tabaco City in Albay; Sorsogon City in Sorsogon; Boac in Marinduque; and, Calapan in Mindoro Oriental.

10 Productivity Tools for Writers You Don’t Want to Miss

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Whether it comes to academic papers, copywriting, content writing, blogging, fanfiction writing, or anything in between, being a writer is not that easy, even if you are fond of what you are doing. However, while students can order their papers from professional writing companies like Your Writers, for freelance writers it’s the way to earn a livelihood. The truth is that sometimes it is simply hard to focus on what you are writing about. No wonder, productivity continues to be the top issue for writers of any kind. If it is true for you too, consider the following tools you don’t want to miss!

1. Oktopost

Oktopost is an easy-to-use online marketing tool that allows you to manage and measure all of your publishing activities across different social media accounts. It can greatly facilitate communication with potential customers.

2. Anti-Social 

Make a step further and turn off the social parts of the Internet while working. Anti-Social is an incredibly simple and effective productivity tool that blocks you from all your social media accounts.

3. Everhour

Everhour is a time tracking app that easily integrates with the most popular project management tools. It offers many useful opportunities for writers, including the ability to create highly customized reports and accurate invoices.

4. Writing Prompts

If you are stuck with your writing, Writing Prompts may come in handy. This user-friendly app that randomly generates different words, colors, sketches, and other types of writing is a great tool for inspiration.

5. Calendly

Since the writer’s productivity largely depends on scheduling, you need a handy tool for planning your work, meetings, conversations, etc. Calendly is a good choice for such a task. This app can easily save your time and improve productivity.

6. Grammarly

Grammarly is one of the best online proofreading tools that can not only help you avoid all possible grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors but also check your paper for style and plagiarism. Besides, it can be your personal grammar coach.

7. Canva

This easy-to-use online service makes design simple for everyone. So the next time you need an eye-catching blog post, presentation, or any other content, Canva is the right tool for creating images and graphics. 

8. PromodoroApp

If you think that frequent breaks help stay mentally agile, PromodoroApp is just for you. This useful time management tool can help you learn and measure your productivity.

9. Powtoon

Powtoon can create amazing animated videos and personalized presentations, which makes it a must-have tool for web content writers who want their work to be more unique and interesting to website visitors.

10. Evernote

Last but not least is Evernote. This effective online note management tool is exactly what you need to write down your ideas and thoughts on the go. Install this app on your mobile device, and you will be ready for even the most unexpected brainwave moments.

These online tools can greatly facilitate the process of writing and increase your productivity. Just try them out, and you will never go back to working on your own!

Globe, GCash, Cauayan City Ink Strategic Partnership to Deliver 1st World Internet

Wazzup Piipinas!

Globe Telecom and the Cauayan City government have hammered out a strategic partnership to deliver 1st world internet services as well as create a digital cashless ecosystem, which will be undertaken through GCash.

The partnership involves deployment of an integrated network plan to improve mobile coverage and provide high-speed internet service in the city. The rollout forms part of Globe Telecom’s One Digital City initiative, intended to expand network coverage and enhance capacities, particularly for fixed-line, in a bid to elevate the state of the country’s internet.

“Accelerating ICT development enhances inclusive economic development as it significantly improves delivery of public services, enables enterprises to access valuable information and spur transformation in growth areas. We are grateful for the support that the Cauayan city government extended to Globe and we hope to replicate this partnership in other areas in the country,” Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu said.

As part of using technology for governance, GCash, the mobile money platform of Globe, and Cauayan City have embarked on a pioneer initiative to implement the co-branded Citizen ID cards initially for 5,000 government employees and constituents to provide easy access to social and financial services that will bolster the economy forward. Eventually, the IDs will be rolled-out to all 130,000 constituents of the city.

The Citizen ID may be used to electronically pay government fees and taxes, utilities and other bills electronically and purchases from local merchants; for disbursement of salaries, stipends, allowances and other benefits to citizens, government employees and volunteers; and in the provision of easy, fast and flexible Fuse loans for sustainable livelihood development programs for micro and small and medium enterprises.

Enabling e-payments will help increase access to social and financial services for citizens, reduce opportunity cost lost in cash handling, and tighten security of funds and transparency in government transactions.

Globe has been aggressively ramping up network investments as it gained access to new spectrum resources following partial acquisition of San Miguel’s telecommunication assets such as the 700 megahertz (MHz). Specifically, the company committed to deploy 4,500 sites in about 95% of cities and municipalities in the country within a 3-year period.

The company’s collaboration with the Cauayan city government is also in line with its initiative, which started early this year, of creating an internet superhighway by deploying high-speed broadband technology. Specifically, the company plans to deploy high-speed broadband technology in 2 million homes nationwide by 2020.

Globe has also been pouring significant investment for its corporate data network with additional investment of $50 million. The company started rolling out a capacity expansion program for its corporate data network to address bandwidth requirement of its enterprise clients as they make use of various data solutions to improve business efficiency, enhance productivity, and boost competitiveness. With the partnership, the initiative to enhance Globe Telecom’s corporate data network is also expected to benefit enterprises based in Cauayan as well as help promote social inclusion through technology.