ePLDT stresses the need to strengthen cybersecurity among PH enterprises

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

As online transactions become the new norm since the onset of the pandemic, cyberattacks proliferated around the globe, compromising data security, and incurring millions of losses among organizations.

One of the top cyber threats is ransomware, a type of malicious software that threatens to publish a victim’s personal data, or make use of encryption to block access, or hold hostage the victim’s files until a sum of money is paid.

According to a report from Kaspersky Security Network, cybersecurity threats in the Philippines increased by 59 percent with over 44.4 million detections for 2020 alone, and over 7,000 companies encountering ransomware attacks. 

A United Kingdom-based cybersecurity firm, Sophos, also found that organizations in the country spent an average of $820,000 to recover on attacks, including the ransom and cost incurred because of the system downtime.

“There is a need for the further strengthening of cybersecurity among businesses, especially now that cybercriminals are taking advantage of our non-standard operating mode and our increased reliance on digital platforms,” said Marilene Tayag, Chief Information Security Officer of ePLDT, the ICT arm of PLDT Enterprise.

“Organizations have started investing more in cybersecurity. Enterprises have come to realize that protecting the company’s digital assets must be integral in the implementation and adoption of innovative technologies.”

Moreover, the chief information security officer said that ePLDT has been boosting its cybersecurity solutions to assist organizations in solidifying their data protection capabilities.

ePLDT Security Operations Center (SOC) has been providing cybersecurity services that protect businesses against cyberattacks. It provides services such as cybersecurity consulting for identifying possible threats, incident response, and managed security for various security solutions suited for the needs of businesses.

“ePLDT, together with our partners, continues to develop solutions that safeguard organizations against possible vulnerabilities in the digital space,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

“Cybersecurity and data protection are critical for the success of every business endeavor; thus, we commit to this duty of keeping users proactive and vigilant with the use of our flexible and reliable cybersecurity solutions,” he added.

Likewise, to better help institutions in reinventing and revolutionizing their business operations including cybersecurity, PLDT, the country’s largest integrated telecommunications company, will hold the most prestigious digital thought leadership event, the Philippine Digital Convention 2021 (PH Digicon 2021).

The three-day convention aims to guide decision-makers in rethinking the way they conduct their business with insights from industry and technology experts around the world and help them revolutionize their organization with technologies needed to stay ahead and thrive in the ever-changing business landscape.

The PH Digicon will be on October 6 to 8, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. To register, visit phdigicon2021.com.

 

For more information, visit epldt.com

Duterte wants Red Cross to submit themselves to government audit

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

President Duterte has threatened to stop all government transactions with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as he continued to slam its chairman Senator Richard Gordon for leading the investigation into the alleged overpriced procurement of pandemic supplies.

Duterte said he will write a letter to PRC, a private entity, to open up its financial records for government audit.

“Either you submit an auditing procedure or we quarrel.”

Duterte says he will disassociate with the PRC if Senator Gordon won't allow the Commission on Audit (COA); to audit PRC

It would be a dereliction of his duty as head of the COA if Chairman Michael Aguinaldo refuses to audit the PRC.

Nag-tantrums na naman nang hindi nag-aaral si Duterte. 

Why would Duterte threaten the PRC during a health crisis?

PRC has always been at the forefront in the country's fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

From COVID-19 testing & vaccination, isolation facilities, emergency field hospitals, and so much more..

Didn't Duterte know PRC conducts more tests than other Government testing facilities? 

PRC also has the cheapest RT-PCR rates in the country and they’ve done a lot during the pandemic. 

Now tell me who's going to suffer when you stop transacting with PRC?

Independent and autonomous pero obligasyon ng gobyerno na kilalanin ang Red Cross. May international laws na pinirmahan ang Pilipinas na kumikilala sa Red Cross bilang isang humanitarian organization. Ire-revoke na rin ba ni tatay ang mga iyon tulad ng Rome Statute? 

Tsaka di yata siya aware sa RA 10072 or "The Philippine Red Cross Act of 2009?" Di ba lawyer siya at alam ko expert sa Public International Law si Roque (who was not seen on their meeting or more appropriately pre-recorded and edited talk show)? Bakit ganiyan sila sa Malacañang?

Sabi sa unang sentence ng Section 3:

The Philippine Red Cross shall be recognized as a voluntary, independent and autonomous non-governmental society auxiliary to the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines in the humanitarian field, to assist said authorities in discharging the obligations set forth in the Geneva Convention and the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement."

Mamang taga-Davao, mahirap po bang ma-gets na wala sa sakop ng COA ang PRC? Hanap ho kayo ng elementary student, para i-explain sa inyo. Kaya tayo ganito ngayon eh, simpleng bagay palang sablay na kayo...

It's quite clear to see why Duterte wants the COA to audit the PRC in spite of the COA's statement that it has no jurisdiction over the PRC:

Because Gordon is the head of the Blue Ribbon Committee which is investigating the dealings of those connected to Duterte.

Hindi kami interesado sa corruption sa PRC, kung meron man.Kahit ginagamit ni Gordon na milking cow ang PRC, hindi pera ng bayan yan. 

What we are more concerned about is how this syndicate government was able to manipulate procurement procedures to favor Pharmally.

We're now at 26K daily cases and Duterte is very busy digging up dirt on Drilon, Gordon and trying to blackmail the PRC.

#RightinformationThisElection

Service Contracting Program of DOTr

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Muling aarangkada ang Service Contracting Program ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) matapos ilunsad ang Phase II o ikalawang bahagi ng programa nitong Biyernes, 10 Setyembre 2021.Sa pagpapatuloy ng programa na ngayo’y sa ilalim ng P3 bilyong pondo na bahagi ng General Appropriations Act 2021, balik operasyon din ang Libreng Sakay para sa health and medical frontliners, essential workers, at Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs). Nakatakda itong simulan sa Lunes, 13 September 2021.

“Nandito kami, malugod at masaya kaming inilulunsad ulit ang Service Contracting Program Phase II pagkat ito ay mabuti sa lahat, mabuti sa sambayanan, mabuti sa ekonomiya, mabuti sa paglago ng negosyo (sa tinatawag ng new normal),” ani DOTr Secretary Art Tugade.

Paliwanag ni Sec. Tugade, mas pinalawig ang Service Contracting Program dahil sakop na rin ng programa ang iba’t-ibang rehiyon sa bansa.

“Noon, sa Libreng Sakay, limitado ang operations nito sa Metro Manila. Ngayon ay mas pinalawak natin ang coverage nito. Sakop na po ng programa ang ibang rehiyon at lugar sa bansa, at maging ang mga APORs at essential workers,” paliwanag ni Sec. Tugade.

“Ginagawa po natin ang mga ito dahil ang Kagawaran ng Transportasyon ay naniniwala na hindi lamang ito pang-hanapbuhay ng tsuper at operator—ito po ay kaakibat sa paghahanap-buhay ng iba pa nating kababayan sa Republika ng Pilipinas,” dagdag pa ng Kalihim.

Umabot ng 31.6 milyong Pilipino ang tumangkilik sa Libreng Sakay habang nakapagbigay naman ng halos P1.5 billion total payout ang LTFRB sa mga operators at mga tsuper na lumahok sa programa habang nasa P3.388 billion naman ang inilaan para sa payouts ng mga operator at tsuper na lumahok sa programa.

Sa pamamagitan ng Service Contracting Program, binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga public utility vehicle operator at mga tsuper na kumita ayon sa bilang ng kanilang pasada na itinakbo kada linggo, may sakay man o wala. Sa ilalim ng GAA 2021, babayaran ang mga operator at tsuper linggu-linggo.

Muli namang hinikayat ni LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III ang mga operators at tsuper na makilahok sa Service Contracting Program upang magkaroon sila ng sapat at tuluy-tuloy na kita sa gitna ng pandemya at makapagbigay-serbisyo rin sa mga health workers at APORs.

“The program provides for operators and drivers an opportunity to earn based on the number of trips they run per week and make their public utility vehicle (PUV) operations sustainable whether they have passengers or none,” ani Delgra.

Samantala, nagpa-abot naman ng pasasalamat si Land Bank President and CEO Cecilia Borromeo sa DOTr at sa LTFRB sa pagkakataong maging bahagi ng Service Contracting Program at makatulong sa mga operator at mga tsuper.

"We thank the DOTr and LTFRB for this another opportunity for Land bank to take part in continuing efforts to advance the country's transportation sector. We welcome this collaboration to deliver financial assistance to PUV operators nationwide towards ensuring pay and uninterrupted operations of public transportation in the new normal," pahayag ni Borromeo.