medical research

Connecting the dots on COVID-19

There has been a sharp contrast between evidence and policies during the pandemic, but these actions will encourage evidence-informed policymaking as we move forward. Months into the pandemic, many governments continued to use the same approaches as they did at the beginning. Many did not adopt new evidence or applied lessons learned. There has been…

How consumer behavior has changed during this pandemic

We asked two top market research practitioners—NielsenIQ managing director for Myanmar, Vietnam and Philippines Patrick Cua and Kantar Philippines president Gary de Ocampo—to share about consumer behaviors which they have uncovered in 2021 and their implications in 2022. Here are their views: Q: What key changes in consumer behavior have you decoded during the pandemic…

Building a better and safer PH with drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are evolving beyond military applications to become a mainstay in boosting productivity within industries and organizations. As drones become more technologically sophisticated, this creates new opportunities for drone operators and their technology partners. In the Philippines, we are already seeing drones helping to keep commercial activities going and contain…

texting, mobile phones, hands

Globe raises $600M from equity securities offer

Globe Telecom Inc. has raised from the sale of equity securities abroad $600 million, which it would use to finance network upgrades and to pay off debts. Globe on Wednesday announced its return to the international capital markets after its dual-tranche US dollar-denominated senior notes issuance in 2020. The $600-million fundraising involves five-year dollar-denominated senior…

qr code, quick response code, scanning

Small businesses benefitting from QR payment system, says BSP

Filipino entrepreneurs who have adopted electronic payment systems are now even more productive, efficient and competitive, thanks to the new quick response (QR) code system that makes person-to-merchant transactions easier. In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) further urged consumers, payment service providers and merchants, including micro, small and medium enterprises, to avail…

electronic payment

Surigao del Sur-based bank joins digital service revolution to reach unbanked

The Cantilan Bank (CanBank) is expanding its digital footprint through the launch of its app iCAN targeting unbanked Filipinos. CanBank, established in 1980 in Surigao del Sur, said in a statement iCAN would introduce features such as fund transfer, bills payment, prepaid phone reloading and QR code payment to its customers in over 100 communities.…

woman looking at mobile phone

SSS prepares to resume foreign investment plan interrupted by pandemic

The state-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) may finally push through with its planned offshore investments next year once it’s no longer pressured to disburse more benefits to members and pensioners badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Right now, we are trying to study the environment. Definitely, we’re looking at global bonds, global equities,…