Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nWhat is it like being a doctor to the barrio? What innovations are making the greatest impact in rural communities? What role does the local government play in all of this?
\nIn this\u00a0B-Side\u00a0episode,\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0talks about these topics with Francine Nicole M. Araneta, who works as a rural doctor under the Department of Health’s Doctor to the Barrios program.
\nRecorded remotely on August 22, 2024.
\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol
\nAudio editing by Jayson Mari\u00f1as
Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nObesity is now a rising health problem in the Philippines, with a staggering 27 million Filipinos considered overweight or obese, according to a 2019 survey by the Department of Science and Technology\u2019s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).
\nTo combat obesity, the government imposed an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which was signed in December 2017.
\nHowever, with sustained inflation, the initial impact of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax has diminished, according to the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives.
\nIn light of this issue, I spoke with Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III, a coordinator of Action for Economic Reforms (AER) and a columnist for BusinessWorld.
\nHe discussed the importance of protecting the value of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax amid sustained inflation.
\nHe also shared his insights on the implications of a higher sweetened-beverage tax in combating health problems like obesity and how it can finance other government nutrition programs.
\nInterview by Edg Adrian A. Eva
\nEditing by Jayson John D. Marinas
Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nObesity is now a rising health problem in the Philippines, with a staggering 27 million Filipinos considered overweight or obese, according to a 2019 survey by the Department of Science and Technology\u2019s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).\nTo combat obesity, the government imposed an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which was signed in December 2017.\nHowever, with sustained inflation, the initial impact of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax has diminished, according to the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives.\nIn light of this issue, I spoke with Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III, a coordinator of Action for Economic Reforms (AER) and a columnist for BusinessWorld.\nHe discussed the importance of protecting the value of the sugar-sweetened beverage tax amid sustained inflation.\nHe also shared his insights on the implications of a higher sweetened-beverage tax in combating health problems like obesity and how it can finance other government nutrition programs.\nInterview by Edg Adrian A. Eva\nEditing by Jayson John D. Marinas\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2024-08-27T13:43:47+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-08-27T14:41:27+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/B-side-Tax-Art.jpg", "tags": [ "Edg Adrian A. Eva", "Jayson John D. Marinas", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=608058", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2024/07/15/608058/b-side-podcast-untying-the-knot-exploring-divorce-in-filipino-society/", "title": "[B-Side Podcast] Untying the knot: Exploring divorce in Filipino society", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nThe Philippines is one of two countries in the world that does not allow divorce for married couples. On June 10, 2024, however, the Philippine House of Representatives transmitted House Bill No. 9349 \u2013 or the approved bill for absolute divorce \u2013 to the Senate.
\nWhat are the implications of this bill? If passed into law, how will it affect Filipino society?
\nIn this episode, BusinessWorld discusses some of these possibilities with Jemy I. Gatdula, the dean of the University of Asia and the Pacific’s Institute of Law.
Interview by Patricia Mirasol
\nEditing by Jayson Mari\u00f1as
Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nThe Philippines is one of two countries in the world that does not allow divorce for married couples. On June 10, 2024, however, the Philippine House of Representatives transmitted House Bill No. 9349 \u2013 or the approved bill for absolute divorce \u2013 to the Senate.\nWhat are the implications of this bill? If passed into law, how will it affect Filipino society?\nIn this episode, BusinessWorld discusses some of these possibilities with Jemy I. Gatdula, the dean of the University of Asia and the Pacific’s Institute of Law.\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol\nEditing by Jayson Mari\u00f1as\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2024-07-15T13:30:29+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-07-15T13:33:48+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7da5193d85c9d7f5c6577f8e82c5fffb?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/agarwalekwensi/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/7da5193d85c9d7f5c6577f8e82c5fffb?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/B-Side-Divorce-Art-scaled-e1721021572731.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ], "summary": "The Philippines is one of two countries in the world that does not allow divorce for married couples. On June 10, 2024, however, the Philippine House of Representatives transmitted House Bill No. 9349 \u2013 or the approved bill for absolute divorce \u2013 to the Senate." }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=606657", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2024/07/08/606657/b-side-podcast-achieving-energy-transition-goals-through-flexible-power-supply/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Achieving energy transition goals through flexible power supply", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nThe Philippines outlined renewable energy targets in its National Renewable Energy Program for 2020 to 2040, but what factors need to be in place for the Philippines to reach these targets? Why is flexibility in power generation important?
\nIn this episode,\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0discuss renewable energy in the Philippine and global contexts with Kari Punnonen, head of energy business of W\u00e4rtsil\u00e4, a power solutions provider for the marine and energy markets.
\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol
\nEditing by Jayson John D. Marinas
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\u00a0
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nThe Philippines outlined renewable energy targets in its National Renewable Energy Program for 2020 to 2040, but what factors need to be in place for the Philippines to reach these targets? Why is flexibility in power generation important?\nIn this episode,\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0discuss renewable energy in the Philippine and global contexts with Kari Punnonen, head of energy business of W\u00e4rtsil\u00e4, a power solutions provider for the marine and energy markets.\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol\nEditing by Jayson John D. Marinas\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\u00a0", "date_published": "2024-07-08T13:34:49+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-07-08T13:37:09+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/B-Side-Wartsila_Art.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=605257", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2024/07/01/605257/b-side-podcast-the-risks-of-using-e-cigarette-and-tobacco-products-especially-among-youth/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] The risks of using E-Cigarette and Tobacco Products, Especially Among Youth", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nE-cigarette and tobacco products use in the Philippines is steadily increasing, particularly among the youth, according to the study of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in 2019. Consequently, flavors and esteemed novelty contribute to the initiation and sustained use of e-cigarettes and tobacco use. With this concern, Dr. Maria Encarnita Blanco-Limpin of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians/ Philippine Medical Association explained the risk factors of using Tobacco and E-cigarettes. Furthermore, she explained ways to improve its regulation and how users can stop using it.
\nEditing by Jayson John D. Marinas
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nE-cigarette and tobacco products use in the Philippines is steadily increasing, particularly among the youth, according to the study of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in 2019. Consequently, flavors and esteemed novelty contribute to the initiation and sustained use of e-cigarettes and tobacco use. With this concern, Dr. Maria Encarnita Blanco-Limpin of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians/ Philippine Medical Association explained the risk factors of using Tobacco and E-cigarettes. Furthermore, she explained ways to improve its regulation and how users can stop using it.\nEditing by Jayson John D. Marinas\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2024-07-01T15:40:07+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-07-04T14:18:53+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/B-Side-Art_Vaping_Jun_27_2024.jpg", "tags": [ "B-SIDE Podcast", "Podcast" ], "summary": "E-cigarette and tobacco products use in the Philippines is steadily increasing, particularly among the youth, according to the study of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in 2019." }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=604533", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2024/06/27/604533/b-side-podcast-importance-of-road-worthy-vehicles-on-the-daily-lives-of-filipinos/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Importance of road-worthy vehicles on the daily lives of Filipinos", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nAccording to the World Health Organization, despite an alarming number\u00a0of\u00a0cases,\u00a0road\u00a0traffic injuries are\u00a0often neglected public health issues. With this concerning issue, Mr. John Alison Uy\u00a0of\u00a0the Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association\u00a0of\u00a0the Philippines (VICOAP) elaborated on the\u00a0importance\u00a0of\u00a0road\u00a0safety and\u00a0road-worthy vehicles to avoid\u00a0road\u00a0crashes and deaths.
\nEditing by Arjale Queral
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nAccording to the World Health Organization, despite an alarming number\u00a0of\u00a0cases,\u00a0road\u00a0traffic injuries are\u00a0often neglected public health issues. With this concerning issue, Mr. John Alison Uy\u00a0of\u00a0the Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association\u00a0of\u00a0the Philippines (VICOAP) elaborated on the\u00a0importance\u00a0of\u00a0road\u00a0safety and\u00a0road-worthy vehicles to avoid\u00a0road\u00a0crashes and deaths.\nEditing by Arjale Queral\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2024-06-27T10:18:15+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-07-01T17:15:45+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/road-worthy-vehicles-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ], "summary": "According to the World Health Organization, despite an alarming number\u00a0of\u00a0cases,\u00a0road\u00a0traffic injuries are\u00a0often neglected public health issues." }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=605285", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2024/06/09/605285/b-side-podcast-how-to-build-a-marketing-plan-for-your-small-business/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] How to build a marketing plan for your small business", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nMarketing is a tool that businesses can employ to increase brand awareness, acquire customers, and improve engagement. But is there a right way to do marketing? In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld asks what businesses should prioritize in their marketing campaigns with Ashish Goel, product marketing manager of Zoho Corporation’s Campaigns, Marketing Automation, and Sites divisions.
\nEditing by Jino Nicolas and Arjale Queral
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nMarketing is a tool that businesses can employ to increase brand awareness, acquire customers, and improve engagement. But is there a right way to do marketing? In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld asks what businesses should prioritize in their marketing campaigns with Ashish Goel, product marketing manager of Zoho Corporation’s Campaigns, Marketing Automation, and Sites divisions.\nEditing by Jino Nicolas and Arjale Queral\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2024-06-09T00:01:48+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-07-01T21:26:29+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/B-Side-cover.jpg", "tags": [ "B-SIDE Podcast", "Podcast" ], "summary": "Marketing is a tool that businesses can employ to increase brand awareness, acquire customers, and improve engagement." }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=605280", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2024/06/05/605280/b-side-podcast-are-we-ready-for-war-philippine-defense-and-the-risk-of-conflict/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Are we ready for war? Philippine defense and the risk of conflict", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nIn this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld talks to Norberto B. Gonzales, who twice served as Secretary of National Defense, on defense strategies, military aid, and the\u00a0West Philippine Sea.
\nEditing by Jino Nicolas and Arjale Queral
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol
\nEditing by Jino Nicolas and Arjale Queral
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nThe Philippines has a wet season and a dry season, or so the saying goes. Given the predictability of summer,\u00a0in\u00a0particular, what measures can Filipinos take to protect themselves from the heat?\n\nIn\u00a0this B-Side episode,\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0speaks with Dr. Albert Francis E. Domingo, the Department of Health spokesperson, on how to both spot the symptoms of – and prevent – heat-related illnesses.\nInterview by Patricia Mirasol\nEditing by Jino Nicolas and Arjale Queral\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2024-05-16T00:01:55+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-07-01T17:17:31+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-05-16-B-side-DoH-Art-Cover.jpg", "tags": [ "B-SIDE Podcast", "Podcast" ], "summary": "The Philippines has a wet season and a dry season, or so the saying goes. Given the predictability of summer,\u00a0in\u00a0particular, what measures can Filipinos take to protect themselves from the heat?" }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=605292", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2024/04/23/605292/b-side-podcast-the-corporate-benefits-of-hiring-pwds/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] The corporate benefits of hiring PWDs", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nIs it costly to hire with persons with disabilities, or PWDs? Are PWDs only limited to certain roles? In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld speaks with Grant Javier, executive director of Project Inclusion Network, about the most common misconceptions surrounding PWD employees, as well as the benefits of hiring them.
\nRecorded remotely on March 21, 2024. Produced by Arjale Jayrie G. Queral.
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nContrary to popular belief, it’s not only the lack of funding that spells doom among startup teams. In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld speaks with Martin Gonzalez, creator of Google’s Effective Founders Project, about co-founder conflicts, quality disagreements, and the necessity of having difficult conversations very early in a partnership.
\nEditing by Earl State R. Lagundino
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nOnline gambling has evolved, thanks to advancements in technology and innovations within the industry. With this evolution, however, also comes the rise of sophisticated gambling fraud. In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld speaks with Frederic Ho, Jumio Corporation’s vice president of Asia Pacific, on how online gambling has evolved, and how both consumers and the authorities can protect themselves against fraudsters in this digital space.
\nRecorded on March 21, 2024. Produced by Earl Lagundino.
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nMore than giving us answers and ideas in seconds after typing in our prompts, generative artificial intelligence (genAI) is increasingly appreciated as a tool that can positively impact businesses.
\n\nAccording to the latest study by the IBM Institute for Business Value entitled, \u201cForging the future of AI: Women can take the lead (https://zurl.co/Qook),\u201d genAI, alongside disrupting workflows, gives women “a once-in-a-career opportunity to gain equal footing.\u201d
\nIn this special edition of BusinessWorld B-Side, in partnership with IBM Philippines, Commercial Territory Sales Leader Christine Llanto-Ravelo explores the unique opportunities genAI opens to women in workplaces and boardrooms.
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nTo cap off 2023, the BBC released its 100 Women list, naming women who have inspired and influenced people worldwide.
\nAmong those on the list are former US First Lady Michelle Obama and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, and a 25-year-old Filipina farmer and entrepreneur named Louise Mabulo.
\nMs. Mabulo, the daughter of San Fernando Camarines Sur mayor Fermin Mabulo, joins 27 other Climate Pioneers in the list. She was lauded for her efforts in setting up The Cacao Project, which according to the BBC \u201caims to revolutionize local food systems through sustainable agroforestry.\u201d
\nIn this B-side interview with Joseph L. Garcia, the 100 Women-lister extols the virtues of cacao as a crop, changing the face of farming in the Philippines, and how growing up Filipino can make one sensitive to climate change.
\nCacao as Crop
\nAfter the devastation of Typhoon Nina (international name: Nock-Ten) in 2016, Ms. Mabulo thought that farmers in her Bicol hometown deserved more than seeing their crops destroyed and having to start all over again.
\nShe set up The Cacao Project as a seed exchange program, which later evolved into a training program and social enterprise.
\nMs. Mabulo said cacao was an ideal crop in the Philippines because aside from its high value as a crop due to global demand for chocolate, it is resilient to typhoons.
\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t get easily flooded, and it doesn\u2019t get cut down by high winds, which is ideal for our landscapes,\u201d she said.
\nRemoving the stigma of farming
\nAccording to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the average daily pay for a farm worker in the Philippines in 2019 was P331.10 per day.
\nApart from the low wages, the agricultural profession is not held in high esteem locally \u2014 with the exeception of wealthy landowners who own the farms. Ms. Mabulo is working to change the face of farming by presenting it as a viable career option.
\n\u201cI\u2019m trying to empower farmers to understand that what they\u2019re doing is land stewardship. It\u2019s not just farming and producing food, and creating harvests. It\u2019s also rethinking what a farmer looks like,\u201d she said. \u201cThat can be young people getting into agriculture and aspiring to be a farmer.\u201d
\nFilipinos and climate sensitivity
\nAll Filipinos have a storm story, and are thus affected by the increase in the strength and number of typhoons caused by climate change.
\nWhile she did grow up in Wales, their family\u2019s move to Camarines Sur made her appreciate how knowledge of local climate and weather is learned from a very young age.
\n\u201cWhat I like to say here in Bicol is all of us are raised as meteorologists and weathermen. We all know immediately what the tickers and signs are of typhoons and how to prepare for them,\u201d said Ms. Mabulo.
\nFarmers have, therefore, learned how to live around the changes in weather.
\n\u201cResilience is incredibly important, and that we need to build resilience and adapt to the typhoons,\u201d she said.
\nHowever, she said it is also important to have the resources to not just survive, but thrive despite challenges posed by climate and weather.
\nIt shouldn\u2019t just be left to farmers, says Ms. Mabulo.
\n\u201cIt also made me question the systems that kept us resilient. In an ideal world, we wouldn\u2019t have to be resilient. All of these resources should be readily available to us,\u201d she said.
\nRecorded remotely on Dec. 20, 2023.
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nTo cap off 2023, the BBC released its 100 Women list, naming women who have inspired and influenced people worldwide.\nAmong those on the list are former US First Lady Michelle Obama and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, and a 25-year-old Filipina farmer and entrepreneur named Louise Mabulo.\nMs. Mabulo, the daughter of San Fernando Camarines Sur mayor Fermin Mabulo, joins 27 other Climate Pioneers in the list. She was lauded for her efforts in setting up The Cacao Project, which according to the BBC \u201caims to revolutionize local food systems through sustainable agroforestry.\u201d\nIn this B-side interview with Joseph L. Garcia, the 100 Women-lister extols the virtues of cacao as a crop, changing the face of farming in the Philippines, and how growing up Filipino can make one sensitive to climate change.\nCacao as Crop\nAfter the devastation of Typhoon Nina (international name: Nock-Ten) in 2016, Ms. Mabulo thought that farmers in her Bicol hometown deserved more than seeing their crops destroyed and having to start all over again.\nShe set up The Cacao Project as a seed exchange program, which later evolved into a training program and social enterprise.\nMs. Mabulo said cacao was an ideal crop in the Philippines because aside from its high value as a crop due to global demand for chocolate, it is resilient to typhoons.\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t get easily flooded, and it doesn\u2019t get cut down by high winds, which is ideal for our landscapes,\u201d she said.\nRemoving the stigma of farming\nAccording to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the average daily pay for a farm worker in the Philippines in 2019 was P331.10 per day.\nApart from the low wages, the agricultural profession is not held in high esteem locally \u2014 with the exeception of wealthy landowners who own the farms. Ms. Mabulo is working to change the face of farming by presenting it as a viable career option.\n\u201cI\u2019m trying to empower farmers to understand that what they\u2019re doing is land stewardship. It\u2019s not just farming and producing food, and creating harvests. It\u2019s also rethinking what a farmer looks like,\u201d she said. \u201cThat can be young people getting into agriculture and aspiring to be a farmer.\u201d\nFilipinos and climate sensitivity\nAll Filipinos have a storm story, and are thus affected by the increase in the strength and number of typhoons caused by climate change.\nWhile she did grow up in Wales, their family\u2019s move to Camarines Sur made her appreciate how knowledge of local climate and weather is learned from a very young age.\n\u201cWhat I like to say here in Bicol is all of us are raised as meteorologists and weathermen. We all know immediately what the tickers and signs are of typhoons and how to prepare for them,\u201d said Ms. Mabulo.\nFarmers have, therefore, learned how to live around the changes in weather.\n\u201cResilience is incredibly important, and that we need to build resilience and adapt to the typhoons,\u201d she said.\nHowever, she said it is also important to have the resources to not just survive, but thrive despite challenges posed by climate and weather.\nIt shouldn\u2019t just be left to farmers, says Ms. Mabulo.\n\u201cIt also made me question the systems that kept us resilient. In an ideal world, we wouldn\u2019t have to be resilient. All of these resources should be readily available to us,\u201d she said.\nRecorded remotely on Dec. 20, 2023.", "date_published": "2024-01-23T12:39:10+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-01-23T16:05:49+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-01-22-B-side-Joseph-Podcast-ART-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "cacao", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=567680", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2024/01/09/567680/b-side-podcast-philippines-taiwan-and-the-uncertain-future/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Philippines, Taiwan, and the uncertain future", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nThe Philippines is so close to Taiwan that, as the old joke suggests, one could swim across the Bashi Channel to get there. Their connection goes beyond that, with the future of their geopolitical fates in question.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Girard Mariano L. Lopez, a Filipino student in Taiwan and representative of the Asian pro-democracy group Milk Tea Alliance, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Beatriz Marie D. Cruz how activists from the Philippines and Taiwan see the tensions with China.
\n\u201cTaiwanese activists and Filipino activists here, obviously, support the Filipino victory within the Hague and the South China Sea,\u201d Mr. Lopez, said, citing the 2016 landmark ruling by a United Nations-backed arbitration court that voided China\u2019s claim over most of the South China Sea.
\nAs a Filipino in Taiwan, Mr. Lopez said that the Philippines’ tricky relationship with China and the United States is something to watch out for.
\nPresident Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s granting of additional military bases to the US through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is crucial, in particular, as some believe the EDCA sites could support Taiwan in case it is attacked by China.
\nMr. Lopez noted the dilemma of allowing the US military’s soft power\u2014in light of colonial baggage, environmental damage, and gender-based violence\u2014in relation to the Philippines and US military bases that trace back to the Second World War, as well as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
\nMr. Marcos has said that the EDCA sites won’t be used to attack neighboring countries.
\nCHINA-TAIWAN TENSIONS
\nChina identifies the self-ruled Taiwan as a province that must be \u201cunified\u201d with the mainland.
\nIn April, China’s Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, said that “those who play with fire on Taiwan will eventually get themselves burned.”
\nThat same month, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian asked the Philippines to oppose Taiwan’s independence if the country “cares genuinely” about the welfare of more than 150,000 overseas Filipino workers there.
\nThe Philippines remains subscribed to the One China Policy, which recognizes Taiwan as part of China.
\nHowever, Mr. Lopez said the Philippines could be missing out on several partnerships with Taiwan due to the One China Policy, which has limited relations to investment, trade, labor, and tourism agreements.
\n\u201cThere are some things that Taiwan and the Philippines could have more formally worked together on, especially on strategic alliances and the protection of their common territory,\u201d he said.
\nMr. Lopez added that official allies of Taiwan, like Belize and Guatemala, enjoy higher quotas for
\nscholarships dedicated to foreign students through Taiwan\u2019s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
\nOn the flip side, Mr. Lopez noted that the European Union has kept its recognition of the One China Policy yet continued to build ties with Taiwan.
\n\u201cThese countries have taken the initiative to sort of move away from giving China those revenue streams and offering those to Taiwan as well. And I think that’s something the [Philippine] government [can bolster] in the future,\u201d he said.
\nMr. Lopez scored the need for Filipinos to also be more conscious of Taiwan\u2019s situation with China, given that the Philippines\u2019 ally, the US, is backing Taiwan, angering Beijing.
\nBoth former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s visit to Taiwan in Aug. 2022 and Taiwanese Vice President William Lai\u2019s visit to the US in August this year were condemned by China, even calling Mr. Lai a \u201ctroublemaker.\u201d
\n\u201cTaiwan is our neighbor to the north and anything that happens to Taiwan will eventually trickle down towards the Philippines, especially if China launches a very brash offensive,\u201d Mr. Lopez said.
\nHe also emphasized the welfare of overseas Filipino workers who will be affected by an invasion. \u201cThere are more Filipinos that work in Taiwan than in mainland China itself.\u201d
\n\u201cOur kababayans loss of revenue or being able to fend for their family and their very lives [will be] endangered because bombs don’t discriminate when they land, as we see with the current Gaza crisis or with eastern Ukraine.\u201d
\nRecorded remotely on Dec. 4, 2023.
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nThe Philippines is so close to Taiwan that, as the old joke suggests, one could swim across the Bashi Channel to get there. Their connection goes beyond that, with the future of their geopolitical fates in question.\nIn this B-Side episode, Girard Mariano L. Lopez, a Filipino student in Taiwan and representative of the Asian pro-democracy group Milk Tea Alliance, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Beatriz Marie D. Cruz how activists from the Philippines and Taiwan see the tensions with China.\n\u201cTaiwanese activists and Filipino activists here, obviously, support the Filipino victory within the Hague and the South China Sea,\u201d Mr. Lopez, said, citing the 2016 landmark ruling by a United Nations-backed arbitration court that voided China\u2019s claim over most of the South China Sea.\nAs a Filipino in Taiwan, Mr. Lopez said that the Philippines’ tricky relationship with China and the United States is something to watch out for.\nPresident Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s granting of additional military bases to the US through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) is crucial, in particular, as some believe the EDCA sites could support Taiwan in case it is attacked by China.\nMr. Lopez noted the dilemma of allowing the US military’s soft power\u2014in light of colonial baggage, environmental damage, and gender-based violence\u2014in relation to the Philippines and US military bases that trace back to the Second World War, as well as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).\nMr. Marcos has said that the EDCA sites won’t be used to attack neighboring countries.\nCHINA-TAIWAN TENSIONS\nChina identifies the self-ruled Taiwan as a province that must be \u201cunified\u201d with the mainland.\nIn April, China’s Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, said that “those who play with fire on Taiwan will eventually get themselves burned.”\nThat same month, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian asked the Philippines to oppose Taiwan’s independence if the country “cares genuinely” about the welfare of more than 150,000 overseas Filipino workers there.\nThe Philippines remains subscribed to the One China Policy, which recognizes Taiwan as part of China.\nHowever, Mr. Lopez said the Philippines could be missing out on several partnerships with Taiwan due to the One China Policy, which has limited relations to investment, trade, labor, and tourism agreements.\n\u201cThere are some things that Taiwan and the Philippines could have more formally worked together on, especially on strategic alliances and the protection of their common territory,\u201d he said.\nMr. Lopez added that official allies of Taiwan, like Belize and Guatemala, enjoy higher quotas for\nscholarships dedicated to foreign students through Taiwan\u2019s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.\nOn the flip side, Mr. Lopez noted that the European Union has kept its recognition of the One China Policy yet continued to build ties with Taiwan.\n\u201cThese countries have taken the initiative to sort of move away from giving China those revenue streams and offering those to Taiwan as well. And I think that’s something the [Philippine] government [can bolster] in the future,\u201d he said.\nMr. Lopez scored the need for Filipinos to also be more conscious of Taiwan\u2019s situation with China, given that the Philippines\u2019 ally, the US, is backing Taiwan, angering Beijing.\nBoth former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s visit to Taiwan in Aug. 2022 and Taiwanese Vice President William Lai\u2019s visit to the US in August this year were condemned by China, even calling Mr. Lai a \u201ctroublemaker.\u201d\n\u201cTaiwan is our neighbor to the north and anything that happens to Taiwan will eventually trickle down towards the Philippines, especially if China launches a very brash offensive,\u201d Mr. Lopez said.\nHe also emphasized the welfare of overseas Filipino workers who will be affected by an invasion. \u201cThere are more Filipinos that work in Taiwan than in mainland China itself.\u201d\n\u201cOur kababayans loss of revenue or being able to fend for their family and their very lives [will be] endangered because bombs don’t discriminate when they land, as we see with the current Gaza crisis or with eastern Ukraine.\u201d\nRecorded remotely on Dec. 4, 2023.\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2024-01-09T13:14:16+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-01-09T13:15:37+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-01-08-B-side-Bea-Podcast-ART-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=564177", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/12/18/564177/b-side-podcast-smes-and-the-growing-risks-of-cyberattacks/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast]\u00a0SMEs and the growing risks of cyberattacks", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) face cyberattack risks due to their less advanced technologies, making them susceptible to breaches.
\nMany of these businesses are not aware that cyberattacks could have severe consequences, according to a cybersecurity expert.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Daniel Bernard, chief business officer of cybersecurity technology company Crowdstrike, discusses with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter\u00a0Jomel\u00a0R. Paguian the looming threat of cyberattacks against SMEs and explores strategies to combat them.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nIn today\u2019s digital economy, all businesses, regardless of size, are essentially \u201ctechnology businesses,\u201d said Mr. Bernard. This universal connection to technology exposes them to potential data breaches and cyberattacks, posing risks to both business reputation and consumer data security.
He pointed out the incentives for hackers to target SMEs in the Philippines \u2014 money and data.
\nHe said that aside from ransom money, data that can be obtained from hacking is the primary objective of cybercrime. \u201cPayment is one part of it, but it\u2019s really the power of the data exfiltration and what you can do along the whole supply chain of that small and medium business.\u201d\u00a0
\nAccording to Mr. Bernard, the aftermath of a data breach goes beyond monetary losses. Personal identifiable information of consumers obtained in such incidents can severely damage a company\u2019s reputation, making data security a societal concern. \u201cBecause reputationally, the damage is too high, as well as the sensitivity of the data.\u201d
\nData breaches can also halt the operations of some businesses, he said, citing small and medium businesses in the manufacturing or services markets. \u201cIf they lost all their customer information, it\u2019s kind of like day one all over again in the business.\u201d
\n\u201cIt very well can be a company-ending event. If you don\u2019t have cyber insurance, or you don\u2019t have the ability to remediate an attack.\u201d
\nMr. Bernard noted that three out of four small and medium businesses are likely to experience a cyber incident. He attributed this vulnerability to a lack of security features in many of these businesses.
\n\u201cIn the small and medium business segment, you\u2019ll find a good amount of businesses that don\u2019t even have any cybersecurity at all. So those are the ones that are the easiest for adversaries to play with and to gain access to.\u201d
\nHe explained that hackers now use more advanced mechanisms such as employing artificial intelligence (AI), creating a significant gap in defense capabilities compared to traditional security measures like signature antivirus. \u201cIt\u2019s a new area that we\u2019re calling in our research \u2018dark AI,\u2019 where the adversary is using AI, but the defender is still using some kind of signature antivirus and just can\u2019t keep up.\u201d
\n\u201cSo this is a great example of where you need a better defense than the offense to actually stay protected.\u201d
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nSmall and medium enterprises (SMEs) face cyberattack risks due to their less advanced technologies, making them susceptible to breaches.\nMany of these businesses are not aware that cyberattacks could have severe consequences, according to a cybersecurity expert.\nIn this B-Side episode, Daniel Bernard, chief business officer of cybersecurity technology company Crowdstrike, discusses with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter\u00a0Jomel\u00a0R. Paguian the looming threat of cyberattacks against SMEs and explores strategies to combat them.\nTAKEAWAYS\nIn today\u2019s digital economy, all businesses, regardless of size, are essentially \u201ctechnology businesses,\u201d said Mr. Bernard. This universal connection to technology exposes them to potential data breaches and cyberattacks, posing risks to both business reputation and consumer data security.\nHe pointed out the incentives for hackers to target SMEs in the Philippines \u2014 money and data.\nHe said that aside from ransom money, data that can be obtained from hacking is the primary objective of cybercrime. \u201cPayment is one part of it, but it\u2019s really the power of the data exfiltration and what you can do along the whole supply chain of that small and medium business.\u201d\u00a0\nAccording to Mr. Bernard, the aftermath of a data breach goes beyond monetary losses. Personal identifiable information of consumers obtained in such incidents can severely damage a company\u2019s reputation, making data security a societal concern. \u201cBecause reputationally, the damage is too high, as well as the sensitivity of the data.\u201d\nData breaches can also halt the operations of some businesses, he said, citing small and medium businesses in the manufacturing or services markets. \u201cIf they lost all their customer information, it\u2019s kind of like day one all over again in the business.\u201d\n\u201cIt very well can be a company-ending event. If you don\u2019t have cyber insurance, or you don\u2019t have the ability to remediate an attack.\u201d\nMr. Bernard noted that three out of four small and medium businesses are likely to experience a cyber incident. He attributed this vulnerability to a lack of security features in many of these businesses.\n\u201cIn the small and medium business segment, you\u2019ll find a good amount of businesses that don\u2019t even have any cybersecurity at all. So those are the ones that are the easiest for adversaries to play with and to gain access to.\u201d\nHe explained that hackers now use more advanced mechanisms such as employing artificial intelligence (AI), creating a significant gap in defense capabilities compared to traditional security measures like signature antivirus. \u201cIt\u2019s a new area that we\u2019re calling in our research \u2018dark AI,\u2019 where the adversary is using AI, but the defender is still using some kind of signature antivirus and just can\u2019t keep up.\u201d\n\u201cSo this is a great example of where you need a better defense than the offense to actually stay protected.\u201d", "date_published": "2023-12-18T14:49:59+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-19T22:05:32+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-12-18-B-side-JM-Podcast-ART.jpg", "tags": [ "cyberattacks", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=563027", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/12/12/563027/b-side-podcast-augmenting-human-capabilities-and-creativity-with-generative-ai/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Augmenting human capabilities and creativity with generative AI", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nThe constant pursuit of innovation is a testament to human\u2019s inherent curiosity and creativity. With the advancement of technology, people are constantly seeking innovative solutions to enhance their efficiency and productivity. In this regard, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most promising technologies, which complements human capabilities, augments creativity, and drives progress in various fields.
\nIn this B-Side episode, David Hardoon, chief data and AI officer at Union Bank of the Philippines and chief executive officer of Aboitiz Data Innovation, discusses with BusinessWorld Multimedia Editor Arjay L. Balinbin the capabilities of Generative AI.
\nRead the full story by Mhicole A. Moral:
\nhttps://www.bworldonline.com/special-features/2023/12/06/562187/augmenting-human-capabilities-and-creativity-with-generative-artificial-intelligence/
Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nThe constant pursuit of innovation is a testament to human\u2019s inherent curiosity and creativity. With the advancement of technology, people are constantly seeking innovative solutions to enhance their efficiency and productivity. In this regard, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most promising technologies, which complements human capabilities, augments creativity, and drives progress in various fields.\nIn this B-Side episode, David Hardoon, chief data and AI officer at Union Bank of the Philippines and chief executive officer of Aboitiz Data Innovation, discusses with BusinessWorld Multimedia Editor Arjay L. Balinbin the capabilities of Generative AI.\nRead the full story by Mhicole A. Moral:\nhttps://www.bworldonline.com/special-features/2023/12/06/562187/augmenting-human-capabilities-and-creativity-with-generative-artificial-intelligence/\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2023-12-12T13:13:29+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-12-12T13:13:29+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-12-12-B-side-Arjay-Podcast-ART-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=561614", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/12/05/561614/b-side-podcast-destigmatizing-mental-health-discussions-in-the-workplace/", "title": "[B-Side Podcast]\u00a0Destigmatizing mental health discussions in the workplace", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nBreaking down the stigma surrounding discussions about mental health challenges is crucial, especially in workplaces where employees might be hesitant to share their struggles, fearing judgment regarding their professional capabilities, a mental health expert said.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Gia Sison, national adviser of the Youth for Mental Health Coalition, discusses with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter Jomel R. Paguian the potential benefits of addressing mental health in the workplace for both employers and employees.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nEmployees often choose not to disclose their mental health conditions due to the fear of stigma, leading to workers \u201csuffering in silence\u201d to secure their jobs, according to Ms. Sison.
\u201cWhen you disclose that you are suffering from bipolar or depression, your supervisor might think that you are not fit to work\u2026 and so your job suffers.\u201d
\nAcknowledging the prevailing stigma, she highlighted the necessity of mental health awareness within the workplace. Employers need a reminder that individuals experiencing mental health conditions can still contribute productively in the workplace.
\nMs. Sison pointed out that the stress induced by inadequate employment compensation in the country exacerbates the daily challenges faced by employees, citing that receiving a salary not enough to cover one\u2019s needs triggers a series of anxieties.
\n\u201cWhen you receive it (your salary) it\u2019s enough to just pay the bill and nothing extra. So it dominoes into how you start to overthink, how you get anxious on getting your day by, how you get anxious having saving enough for you and your family,\u201d she explained.
\nMs. Sison said the stress associated with having insufficient salary contributed to the massive resignation trend in the country, where some even opt to migrate abroad to look for better working conditions to protect their well-being.
\nShe pointed out that to address concerns related to inadequate wages that may lead to anxiety, normalizing discussions on both salary pay and mental health is crucial in the workplace.\u00a0
\n\u201cMental health will always be part of the conversation; let\u2019s not be scared to talk about it. We have to normalize conversations pertaining to mental health just like we normalize conversations about salary pay,\u201d she said.
\nIn her message to employees facing mental health challenges, Ms. Sison underscored the significance of cultivating a support group both within and outside the workplace. She said a support group does not have to be huge, as long as you feel comfortable sharing your concerns with them.\u00a0
\nShe said employees should not wait for red flags, such as isolating themselves to a point that it obstructs their quality of life, before opening up to their peers. \u201cLet\u2019s not wait for the red flag to happen, in fact before it happens you speak to a close friend or a counselor if available.\u201d
\nTo encourage employees to communicate their mental health needs, workplaces should be \u201cpsychologically safe,\u201d she said. \u201cIt has to start with everyone, from the management to the employee, and having a mental health workplace policy in place.\u201d
\nMs. Sison also suggested employers organize engagement activities to foster an environment where workers will feel that they are recognized and that their hard work is validated.
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nBreaking down the stigma surrounding discussions about mental health challenges is crucial, especially in workplaces where employees might be hesitant to share their struggles, fearing judgment regarding their professional capabilities, a mental health expert said.\nIn this B-Side episode, Gia Sison, national adviser of the Youth for Mental Health Coalition, discusses with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter Jomel R. Paguian the potential benefits of addressing mental health in the workplace for both employers and employees.\nTAKEAWAYS\nEmployees often choose not to disclose their mental health conditions due to the fear of stigma, leading to workers \u201csuffering in silence\u201d to secure their jobs, according to Ms. Sison.\n\u201cWhen you disclose that you are suffering from bipolar or depression, your supervisor might think that you are not fit to work\u2026 and so your job suffers.\u201d\nAcknowledging the prevailing stigma, she highlighted the necessity of mental health awareness within the workplace. Employers need a reminder that individuals experiencing mental health conditions can still contribute productively in the workplace.\nMs. Sison pointed out that the stress induced by inadequate employment compensation in the country exacerbates the daily challenges faced by employees, citing that receiving a salary not enough to cover one\u2019s needs triggers a series of anxieties.\n\u201cWhen you receive it (your salary) it\u2019s enough to just pay the bill and nothing extra. So it dominoes into how you start to overthink, how you get anxious on getting your day by, how you get anxious having saving enough for you and your family,\u201d she explained.\nMs. Sison said the stress associated with having insufficient salary contributed to the massive resignation trend in the country, where some even opt to migrate abroad to look for better working conditions to protect their well-being.\nShe pointed out that to address concerns related to inadequate wages that may lead to anxiety, normalizing discussions on both salary pay and mental health is crucial in the workplace.\u00a0\n\u201cMental health will always be part of the conversation; let\u2019s not be scared to talk about it. We have to normalize conversations pertaining to mental health just like we normalize conversations about salary pay,\u201d she said.\nIn her message to employees facing mental health challenges, Ms. Sison underscored the significance of cultivating a support group both within and outside the workplace. She said a support group does not have to be huge, as long as you feel comfortable sharing your concerns with them.\u00a0\nShe said employees should not wait for red flags, such as isolating themselves to a point that it obstructs their quality of life, before opening up to their peers. \u201cLet\u2019s not wait for the red flag to happen, in fact before it happens you speak to a close friend or a counselor if available.\u201d\nTo encourage employees to communicate their mental health needs, workplaces should be \u201cpsychologically safe,\u201d she said. \u201cIt has to start with everyone, from the management to the employee, and having a mental health workplace policy in place.\u201d\nMs. Sison also suggested employers organize engagement activities to foster an environment where workers will feel that they are recognized and that their hard work is validated.", "date_published": "2023-12-05T16:23:15+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-07-01T21:26:38+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-12-05-B-side-JM-Podcast-ART.jpg", "tags": [ "B-SIDE Podcast", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=560117", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/11/28/560117/b-side-podcast-the-case-for-growing-vegetables-in-ones-backyard/", "title": "[B-Side Podcast] The case for growing vegetables in one\u2019s backyard", "content_html": "\nHome gardening has benefits beyond the purpose of serving as a diversion from the pandemic. In this\u00a0B-Side\u00a0episode, multimedia producer Patricia Mirasol speaks with Ma. Elena P. van Tooren, executive director of East-West Seed Foundation, about home gardening, the types of vegetables to grow in tropical countries, and tips for budding urban gardeners.
\nEast-West Seed Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of East-West Seed Philippines, which breeds tropical vegetable seed varieties.
\nTakeaways
\nFood security is one of the benefits of growing one\u2019s own vegetables.
\nAvailability, accessibility, and affordability are some of the benefits of growing your own vegetables, said Ms. van Tooren.
\nAround 10%, or an estimated 2.6 million Filipino families, experienced involuntary hunger in the past three months “before the survey period,\u201d according to a Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 survey by OCTA.
\n\u201cIf grown naturally, you\u2019re also assuring your family of quality, healthy food,\u201d Ms. van Tooren said. \u201cGardening is [likewise] a healthy exercise \u2013 both physically and mentally.\u201d
\n\u201cSo many\u00a0plantitos\u00a0[plant dads] and\u00a0plantitas\u00a0[plantitas] started during the pandemic, and I believe that once you get started, you will continue…because you will have enjoyed it so much,\u201d she added.
\nThe non-negotiables for growing vegetables are sun, soil, and water.
\nThe three non-negotiables for vegetable growing are sun, soil, and water.
\nFor sunlight, it\u2019s at least four hours\u2019 exposure for leafy vegetables and 6-8 hours for fruiting ones, Ms. van Tooren said. Don\u2019t water later than 4 p.m., she also told\u00a0BusinessWorld.
\n\u201cIf you water later than 4 p.m., the soil will be very moist overnight, and that will encourage diseases – especially fungus,\u201d she said.
\nThe soil quality in the Philippines, meanwhile, is \u201cmostly clay.\u201d
\n\u201cSoil has to be loose but firm, so it\u2019s best if you add amendments to it to loosen it up,\u201d Ms. van Tooren said, noting popular amendments such as river sand and compost (or decayed organic material used as plant fertilizer).
\nThere are workarounds for urban gardeners with small spaces.
\nVegetables can be grown in small containers, Ms. van Tooren said, although \u201cfruiting vegetables need larger containers – around five gallons, like ones used in water dispensers.\u201d
\nContainer gardening, like balcony gardening, is a form of urban agriculture, which refers to the \u201cgrowing, processing and distribution of food crops and animal products, by and for the local community, within an urban environment.”
\nMs. van Tooren, who resides in a condominium, said that she has been able to successfully plant arugula from her unit\u2019s balcony.
\n\u201cHerbs are very good if you live in a condominium and have a window that gets sunlight,\u201d she added, \u201cbecause herbs need less sunlight.\u201d
\nFigure out a garden tending routine that works for you.
\nParents with growing children may opt to nurture green leafy vegetables such as\u00a0pechay\u00a0(Chinese cabbage) and\u00a0kangkong\u00a0(water spinach).
\n“These are very nutritious vis-a-vis the space they need,\u201d according to Ms. Van Tooren. \u201cI would go for what the children like to eat,\u201d she said, as she also noted the benefit of having children observe how vegetables grow.
\nThe National Nutrition Council moreover suggests vegetables such as\u00a0sitaw\u00a0(string beans), malunggay (moringa), and tomatoes as sustainable produce for backyard gardens.
\n\u201cI really want to encourage everyone to plant even one pot,\u201d Ms. Van Tooren said. The Internet, including East-West Foundation\u2019s social media pages, is rife with helpful information, she added.
\nCaring for a small garden plot is doable, Ms. van Tooren told\u00a0BusinessWorld.
\n\u201cYou can do the watering in the morning before you start work…the extra care can be done on weekends. You have to find what\u2019s workable for you.\u201d
\n", "content_text": "https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wfFE34KqaFjyMXcXunizv?si=NOr4Pw6LTke5Cxf6ylAglg&nd=1&dlsi=d14f8840e0e74d52\nHome gardening has benefits beyond the purpose of serving as a diversion from the pandemic. In this\u00a0B-Side\u00a0episode, multimedia producer Patricia Mirasol speaks with Ma. Elena P. van Tooren, executive director of East-West Seed Foundation, about home gardening, the types of vegetables to grow in tropical countries, and tips for budding urban gardeners.\nEast-West Seed Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of East-West Seed Philippines, which breeds tropical vegetable seed varieties.\nTakeaways\nFood security is one of the benefits of growing one\u2019s own vegetables.\nAvailability, accessibility, and affordability are some of the benefits of growing your own vegetables, said Ms. van Tooren.\nAround 10%, or an estimated 2.6 million Filipino families, experienced involuntary hunger in the past three months “before the survey period,\u201d according to a Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 survey by OCTA.\n\u201cIf grown naturally, you\u2019re also assuring your family of quality, healthy food,\u201d Ms. van Tooren said. \u201cGardening is [likewise] a healthy exercise \u2013 both physically and mentally.\u201d\n\u201cSo many\u00a0plantitos\u00a0[plant dads] and\u00a0plantitas\u00a0[plantitas] started during the pandemic, and I believe that once you get started, you will continue…because you will have enjoyed it so much,\u201d she added.\nThe non-negotiables for growing vegetables are sun, soil, and water.\nThe three non-negotiables for vegetable growing are sun, soil, and water.\nFor sunlight, it\u2019s at least four hours\u2019 exposure for leafy vegetables and 6-8 hours for fruiting ones, Ms. van Tooren said. Don\u2019t water later than 4 p.m., she also told\u00a0BusinessWorld.\n\u201cIf you water later than 4 p.m., the soil will be very moist overnight, and that will encourage diseases – especially fungus,\u201d she said.\nThe soil quality in the Philippines, meanwhile, is \u201cmostly clay.\u201d\n\u201cSoil has to be loose but firm, so it\u2019s best if you add amendments to it to loosen it up,\u201d Ms. van Tooren said, noting popular amendments such as river sand and compost (or decayed organic material used as plant fertilizer).\nThere are workarounds for urban gardeners with small spaces.\nVegetables can be grown in small containers, Ms. van Tooren said, although \u201cfruiting vegetables need larger containers – around five gallons, like ones used in water dispensers.\u201d\nContainer gardening, like balcony gardening, is a form of urban agriculture, which refers to the \u201cgrowing, processing and distribution of food crops and animal products, by and for the local community, within an urban environment.”\nMs. van Tooren, who resides in a condominium, said that she has been able to successfully plant arugula from her unit\u2019s balcony.\n\u201cHerbs are very good if you live in a condominium and have a window that gets sunlight,\u201d she added, \u201cbecause herbs need less sunlight.\u201d\nFigure out a garden tending routine that works for you.\nParents with growing children may opt to nurture green leafy vegetables such as\u00a0pechay\u00a0(Chinese cabbage) and\u00a0kangkong\u00a0(water spinach).\n“These are very nutritious vis-a-vis the space they need,\u201d according to Ms. Van Tooren. \u201cI would go for what the children like to eat,\u201d she said, as she also noted the benefit of having children observe how vegetables grow.\nThe National Nutrition Council moreover suggests vegetables such as\u00a0sitaw\u00a0(string beans), malunggay (moringa), and tomatoes as sustainable produce for backyard gardens.\n\u201cI really want to encourage everyone to plant even one pot,\u201d Ms. Van Tooren said. The Internet, including East-West Foundation\u2019s social media pages, is rife with helpful information, she added.\nCaring for a small garden plot is doable, Ms. van Tooren told\u00a0BusinessWorld.\n\u201cYou can do the watering in the morning before you start work…the extra care can be done on weekends. You have to find what\u2019s workable for you.\u201d", "date_published": "2023-11-28T09:09:07+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-11-28T09:09:07+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-27-B-side-Pat-Podcast-ART-1-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=558509", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/11/20/558509/b-side-podcast-monopolized-power-and-election-related-violence-in-the-philippines/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Monopolized power and election-related violence in the Philippines", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nElections in the Philippines have evolved into brutal political competitions over the years, with the persistent claims of general peace and safety often overshadowing the reality of election-related incidents (ERIs).
\nIn this B-side episode, Rona Ann V. Caritos, executive director for the Legal Network of Truthful Elections (LENTE), discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola the prevailing history and implications of election-related violence for Philippine democracy.
\nAmong incumbents and candidates, there have been 1,497 killed, 312 wounded, and 147 escaped attempts from Jan. 2006 to August this year, according to Peter Kreuzer, senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt.
\nAccording to LENTE, the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election (BSKE) had 47 confirmed ERIs as of Nov. 10, with more than 100 suspected cases.
\nMs. Caritos noted shooting, physical injury, and intimidation as the leading causes of ERIs.
\nThe most number of ERIs were found in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Northern Mindanao, and Cordillera Administrative Region, she added.
\n\u201cThis is the most violent [election] because the number [of ERIs] has increased since 2013 and 2018,\u201d Ms. Caritos said.
\nShe noted the general public\u2019s increased investment in the election due to the pandemic as a theory for the increase.
\n\u201cPeople know how valuable barangay and SK officials are when it comes to frontline government services and programs.\u201d
\nMs. Caritos mentioned the color-coding scheme of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), where it employs a green-yellow-red assessment for areas in terms of needed security and control, as an area that could be improved upon to curb the growth in ERIs.
\n\u201cIn areas such as BARMM, the Comelec should adopt a different color-coding scheme, or should take into account the environment or the context of what is happening in the region,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cGiven the many changes there \u2014 in terms of the territory of the political families and parties competing in the region,\u201d she added.
\nKEY PROBLEMS
\nMs. Caritos pointed out that electoral competitiveness and a lack of accountability are major problems contributing to the uptick in ERIs.
\n\u201cThe number of unopposed positions, especially in the local races, has increased,\u201d she noted. \u201c[This] means that the powers are being consolidated in one individual or family.\u201d
\n\u201cGiven this monopoly of power, there is a tendency of families and individuals to cling onto this power whatever it takes. They are resorting to violence to be able to contain the status quo,\u201d she added.
\n\u201cThe number of unopposed positions, especially in the local races, has increased,\u201d she said. \u201c[This] means that the powers are being consolidated in one individual or family.\u201d
\n\u201cGiven this monopoly of power, there is a tendency of families and individuals to cling onto this power whatever it takes. They are resorting to violence to be able to contain the status quo,\u201d she added.
\n\u201cPeople are not afraid to commit these incidents because they know that even if they\u2019re charged for it, they won\u2019t get imprisoned for it.\u201d
\nHowever, Ms. Caritos said the Comelec has recently undergone its “best innovation,” wherein it became more aggressive and focused on reported cases.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve seen this aggressive stance of the Comelec in going after premature campaigners\u2026, vote buyers and vote sellers,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cThis is the first time in LENTE that we\u2019ve experienced candidates and political parties calling our hotlines and asking about the processes because they\u2019re afraid to commit violations and have cases be filed against them.\u201d
\nMs. Caritos noted the role of local communities and civil society organizations in helping the Comelec ensure the integrity and safety of elections.
\n\u201cIt needs the help of organizations to go after and educate people against election offenses, and teach them how to go after law violators, or how to document offenses, if ever they witness one or be a victim of it,\u201d she said.
\nFollowing the Comelec\u2019s commitment to continuing the investigation and prosecution beyond the election period, LENTE maintains a positive outlook for the next elections, monitoring what the Comelec will do in response to the rise in ERIs and other malicious activities, she added.
\nRecorded remotely on Nov. 10, 2023.
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nElections in the Philippines have evolved into brutal political competitions over the years, with the persistent claims of general peace and safety often overshadowing the reality of election-related incidents (ERIs).\nIn this B-side episode, Rona Ann V. Caritos, executive director for the Legal Network of Truthful Elections (LENTE), discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola the prevailing history and implications of election-related violence for Philippine democracy.\nAmong incumbents and candidates, there have been 1,497 killed, 312 wounded, and 147 escaped attempts from Jan. 2006 to August this year, according to Peter Kreuzer, senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt.\nAccording to LENTE, the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election (BSKE) had 47 confirmed ERIs as of Nov. 10, with more than 100 suspected cases.\nMs. Caritos noted shooting, physical injury, and intimidation as the leading causes of ERIs.\nThe most number of ERIs were found in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Northern Mindanao, and Cordillera Administrative Region, she added.\n\u201cThis is the most violent [election] because the number [of ERIs] has increased since 2013 and 2018,\u201d Ms. Caritos said.\nShe noted the general public\u2019s increased investment in the election due to the pandemic as a theory for the increase.\n\u201cPeople know how valuable barangay and SK officials are when it comes to frontline government services and programs.\u201d\nMs. Caritos mentioned the color-coding scheme of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), where it employs a green-yellow-red assessment for areas in terms of needed security and control, as an area that could be improved upon to curb the growth in ERIs.\n\u201cIn areas such as BARMM, the Comelec should adopt a different color-coding scheme, or should take into account the environment or the context of what is happening in the region,\u201d she said.\n\u201cGiven the many changes there \u2014 in terms of the territory of the political families and parties competing in the region,\u201d she added.\nKEY PROBLEMS\nMs. Caritos pointed out that electoral competitiveness and a lack of accountability are major problems contributing to the uptick in ERIs.\n\u201cThe number of unopposed positions, especially in the local races, has increased,\u201d she noted. \u201c[This] means that the powers are being consolidated in one individual or family.\u201d\n\u201cGiven this monopoly of power, there is a tendency of families and individuals to cling onto this power whatever it takes. They are resorting to violence to be able to contain the status quo,\u201d she added.\n\u201cThe number of unopposed positions, especially in the local races, has increased,\u201d she said. \u201c[This] means that the powers are being consolidated in one individual or family.\u201d\n\u201cGiven this monopoly of power, there is a tendency of families and individuals to cling onto this power whatever it takes. They are resorting to violence to be able to contain the status quo,\u201d she added.\n\u201cPeople are not afraid to commit these incidents because they know that even if they\u2019re charged for it, they won\u2019t get imprisoned for it.\u201d\nHowever, Ms. Caritos said the Comelec has recently undergone its “best innovation,” wherein it became more aggressive and focused on reported cases.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve seen this aggressive stance of the Comelec in going after premature campaigners\u2026, vote buyers and vote sellers,\u201d she said.\n\u201cThis is the first time in LENTE that we\u2019ve experienced candidates and political parties calling our hotlines and asking about the processes because they\u2019re afraid to commit violations and have cases be filed against them.\u201d\nMs. Caritos noted the role of local communities and civil society organizations in helping the Comelec ensure the integrity and safety of elections.\n\u201cIt needs the help of organizations to go after and educate people against election offenses, and teach them how to go after law violators, or how to document offenses, if ever they witness one or be a victim of it,\u201d she said.\nFollowing the Comelec\u2019s commitment to continuing the investigation and prosecution beyond the election period, LENTE maintains a positive outlook for the next elections, monitoring what the Comelec will do in response to the rise in ERIs and other malicious activities, she added.\nRecorded remotely on Nov. 10, 2023.\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2023-11-20T10:46:15+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-11-20T10:47:29+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-20-B-side-Miguel-Podcast-ART-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=557479", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/11/14/557479/b-side-podcast-understanding-the-risks-posed-by-fake-and-low-quality-drugs/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Understanding the risks posed by fake and low-quality drugs", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nFake and low-quality medicines have become more common and are being sold at lower prices through online platforms.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Monash University professor Michelle McIntosh discusses the effects of subpar medication on the overall health of people with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter Adrian H. Halili.\u00a0
\n\u201cUnderstanding the quality of medicines is important, and in many cases around the world, the pharmaceutical products can be counterfeit or substandard products that are available,\u201d Ms. McIntosh said.\u00a0
\nShe said that medications like these may not be very effective and could be harmful to one\u2019s health. \u201cThere can be consequences when people use substandard materials.\u201d\u00a0
\n\u201cThere is definitely a high prevalence of substandard medication in third-world or low-resource settings,\u201d she added. \u201cIt\u2019s not only in those environments; it is something that people around the world are aware of.\u201d\u00a0
\nMs. McIntosh said that there is also a risk in purchasing medications through online platforms. \u201cIf you purchase medicine through the internet, you don\u2019t actually know what quality it is when it arrives at your house,\u201d she added.\u00a0
\nCounterfeit and substandard medication, such as anti-malaria and maternal healthcare drugs, are also observed being sold in third-world countries, according to Ms. McIntosh.
\nShe said that due to high populations and less regulatory monitoring, the likelihood of these products being sold in the market is higher.
\n\u201cWhether the regulatory agency can conduct routine testing to check the quality of products that come in… may be more challenging. People see an opportunity to make money by providing a counterfeit or substandard product,\u201d she added.
\nMs. McIntosh said that there is a need to identify poor-quality medicines in collaboration with experts and government organizations.
\n\u201cAt Monash University, we\u2019ve recently established a quality of medicines initiative where we are working to apply our expertise in understanding pharmaceutical products, how they work, and how sometimes they may not work as they are supposed to,\u201d she said.\u00a0
\nThe quality cannot be determined easily by looking at it alone. She also said that using them might result in health problems or side effects.\u00a0
\n\u201cThat can create problems for the individual who is taking them, and also it can lead to anti-microbial resistance, in the case of antibiotics.\u201d
\nMs. McIntosh said that the university\u2019s program aims to work with governments in developing and strengthening their pharmaceutical sectors.
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nFake and low-quality medicines have become more common and are being sold at lower prices through online platforms.\nIn this B-Side episode, Monash University professor Michelle McIntosh discusses the effects of subpar medication on the overall health of people with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter Adrian H. Halili.\u00a0\n\u201cUnderstanding the quality of medicines is important, and in many cases around the world, the pharmaceutical products can be counterfeit or substandard products that are available,\u201d Ms. McIntosh said.\u00a0\nShe said that medications like these may not be very effective and could be harmful to one\u2019s health. \u201cThere can be consequences when people use substandard materials.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cThere is definitely a high prevalence of substandard medication in third-world or low-resource settings,\u201d she added. \u201cIt\u2019s not only in those environments; it is something that people around the world are aware of.\u201d\u00a0\nMs. McIntosh said that there is also a risk in purchasing medications through online platforms. \u201cIf you purchase medicine through the internet, you don\u2019t actually know what quality it is when it arrives at your house,\u201d she added.\u00a0\nCounterfeit and substandard medication, such as anti-malaria and maternal healthcare drugs, are also observed being sold in third-world countries, according to Ms. McIntosh.\nShe said that due to high populations and less regulatory monitoring, the likelihood of these products being sold in the market is higher.\n\u201cWhether the regulatory agency can conduct routine testing to check the quality of products that come in… may be more challenging. People see an opportunity to make money by providing a counterfeit or substandard product,\u201d she added.\nMs. McIntosh said that there is a need to identify poor-quality medicines in collaboration with experts and government organizations.\n\u201cAt Monash University, we\u2019ve recently established a quality of medicines initiative where we are working to apply our expertise in understanding pharmaceutical products, how they work, and how sometimes they may not work as they are supposed to,\u201d she said.\u00a0\nThe quality cannot be determined easily by looking at it alone. She also said that using them might result in health problems or side effects.\u00a0\n\u201cThat can create problems for the individual who is taking them, and also it can lead to anti-microbial resistance, in the case of antibiotics.\u201d\nMs. McIntosh said that the university\u2019s program aims to work with governments in developing and strengthening their pharmaceutical sectors.", "date_published": "2023-11-14T17:45:59+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-11-14T17:45:59+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-14-B-side-Adrian-Podcast-ART-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Adrian H. Halili", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=555674", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/11/06/555674/b-side-podcast-the-repayment-slowdown-insights-on-filipino-debt-trends/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] The repayment slowdown: Insights on Filipino debt trends", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nAs household savings were depleted during the pandemic, more Filipinos relied on credit to manage their daily expenses.
\nNow, with the rising cost of living due to inflation and higher interest rates for borrowing money, consumers are struggling to repay their debts.
\nThis reality is reflected in Collectius\u2019 own internal data, which shows a slowdown in debt repayment rates in the first half of this year compared to 2022, Marie Alexise Charisse Arboleda, head of operations at Collectius, tells BusinessWorld reporter Keisha B. Ta-asan.
\nCredit card usage is also expected to increase this quarter amid the holiday season.
\n\u201cDuring this time, many Filipinos tend to prioritize holiday spending, which includes holiday gifting, over debt repayment,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cGiven the anticipation for high inflation, it is likely that consumers will spend more and we can expect to see a decrease in debt repayment levels across all consumer loans.\u201d
\nBased on the latest data from the central bank, consumer credit jumped by 22.7% to P1.17 trillion from P950.8 billion a year ago, slightly faster than the 22.6% in July. Credit card loans expanded by 29.7% year on year in August.
\n\u201cA slowdown in debt repayment rates does pose challenges, but may not necessarily lead to financial crisis in financial stability, especially if it is sufficiently addressed by regulatory measures,\u201d Ms. Arboleda said.
\nShe noted that slower debt repayments can hurt the banks and it may be harder for financial institutions to be able to lend money and provide financial services.
\n\u201cBut banks and other financial institutions are well capitalized in the Philippines and they generally have risk mitigation strategies in place,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cThe (government) might take steps to reduce risks and support the financial system, especially during tough times, and we saw that also during the pandemic,\u201d she added.
\nSeparate central bank data showed lenders\u2019 nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio improved to a four-month low of 3.42% in August from 3.43% in July.
\nBad loans declined by 5.9% year on year to P442.9 billion as of end-August. However, this was 0.6% higher than P440.1 billion seen at end-July.
\nCollectius, a financial technology company, is one of the five Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Corporations in the Philippines licensed to acquire nonperforming loans or assets accumulated by banks during the coronavirus pandemic.
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nAs household savings were depleted during the pandemic, more Filipinos relied on credit to manage their daily expenses.\nNow, with the rising cost of living due to inflation and higher interest rates for borrowing money, consumers are struggling to repay their debts.\nThis reality is reflected in Collectius\u2019 own internal data, which shows a slowdown in debt repayment rates in the first half of this year compared to 2022, Marie Alexise Charisse Arboleda, head of operations at Collectius, tells BusinessWorld reporter Keisha B. Ta-asan.\nCredit card usage is also expected to increase this quarter amid the holiday season.\n\u201cDuring this time, many Filipinos tend to prioritize holiday spending, which includes holiday gifting, over debt repayment,\u201d she said.\n\u201cGiven the anticipation for high inflation, it is likely that consumers will spend more and we can expect to see a decrease in debt repayment levels across all consumer loans.\u201d\nBased on the latest data from the central bank, consumer credit jumped by 22.7% to P1.17 trillion from P950.8 billion a year ago, slightly faster than the 22.6% in July. Credit card loans expanded by 29.7% year on year in August.\n\u201cA slowdown in debt repayment rates does pose challenges, but may not necessarily lead to financial crisis in financial stability, especially if it is sufficiently addressed by regulatory measures,\u201d Ms. Arboleda said.\nShe noted that slower debt repayments can hurt the banks and it may be harder for financial institutions to be able to lend money and provide financial services.\n\u201cBut banks and other financial institutions are well capitalized in the Philippines and they generally have risk mitigation strategies in place,\u201d she said.\n\u201cThe (government) might take steps to reduce risks and support the financial system, especially during tough times, and we saw that also during the pandemic,\u201d she added.\nSeparate central bank data showed lenders\u2019 nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio improved to a four-month low of 3.42% in August from 3.43% in July.\nBad loans declined by 5.9% year on year to P442.9 billion as of end-August. However, this was 0.6% higher than P440.1 billion seen at end-July.\nCollectius, a financial technology company, is one of the five Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Corporations in the Philippines licensed to acquire nonperforming loans or assets accumulated by banks during the coronavirus pandemic.\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2023-11-06T13:26:11+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-11-06T13:26:11+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-06-B-side-Keisha-Podcast-ART-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=554448", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/10/30/554448/b-side-podcast-how-can-philippines-restore-manila-bay/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] How can Philippines restore Manila Bay?", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nManila Bay has been exposed to rapid urbanization over the years and is now in need of rehabilitation.
\n
In this B-Side episode, Jerwin Baure, a marine science researcher, discusses with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter Sheldeen Talavera how Manila Bay has changed over the years and how it can be restored.\u00a0
\n\u201cI think people do not realize that Manila Bay is actually a big body of water. It\u2019s not just the sea that\u2019s located along the Roxas Boulevard. But actually, Manila Bay is a big body of water off the coast of Bataan,\u201d Mr. Baure said.
\n\u201cThere are still a lot of marine organisms found there like crabs, fish, and other kinds of marine ecosystems that can be found in the country,\u201d he said.\u00a0
\nThe Supreme Court issued a ruling on Manila Bay in 2018, directing 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve it, as well as restore and maintain its waters to a level suitable for swimming, skin diving, and other recreational activities.\u00a0
\nAccording to Mr. Baure, one way of doing this is by planting mangroves.\u00a0
\nHistorically, there were around 500,000 hectares of mangroves all over the country, but they have been declining since the 1900s, primarily due to conversion into fishponds, he said.\u00a0
\n\u201cMangroves were historically found all over Manila Bay, and these trees can serve as nursery grounds for fish. They provide habitats for many species and they can also provide natural protection against storm surges,\u201d Mr. Baure said.\u00a0
\n\u201cThey can also improve the water quality because mangroves can filter out pollution coming from the land and, also, they serve as habitat for migratory birds,\u201d he added.\u00a0
\nIn August, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., issued a verbal order for the suspension of 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay, pending a review of their environmental and social impacts.\u00a0
\nThe Department of Environment and Natural Resources is working on a cumulative impact assessment with a team of scientists consisting of physical and chemical oceanographers, fishery specialists, marine biologists, and engineers.\u00a0
\n\u201cWhen we discuss the benefits\u2026, we also need to ask who benefits from these projects. Will it be the private investors? Or will it really [truly care about] marginalized people, since if reclamation projects continue, fishermen will lose their livelihood,\u201d Mr. Baure said.
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nManila Bay has been exposed to rapid urbanization over the years and is now in need of rehabilitation.\n\nIn this B-Side episode, Jerwin Baure, a marine science researcher, discusses with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter Sheldeen Talavera how Manila Bay has changed over the years and how it can be restored.\u00a0\n\u201cI think people do not realize that Manila Bay is actually a big body of water. It\u2019s not just the sea that\u2019s located along the Roxas Boulevard. But actually, Manila Bay is a big body of water off the coast of Bataan,\u201d Mr. Baure said.\n\u201cThere are still a lot of marine organisms found there like crabs, fish, and other kinds of marine ecosystems that can be found in the country,\u201d he said.\u00a0\nThe Supreme Court issued a ruling on Manila Bay in 2018, directing 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve it, as well as restore and maintain its waters to a level suitable for swimming, skin diving, and other recreational activities.\u00a0\nAccording to Mr. Baure, one way of doing this is by planting mangroves.\u00a0\nHistorically, there were around 500,000 hectares of mangroves all over the country, but they have been declining since the 1900s, primarily due to conversion into fishponds, he said.\u00a0\n\u201cMangroves were historically found all over Manila Bay, and these trees can serve as nursery grounds for fish. They provide habitats for many species and they can also provide natural protection against storm surges,\u201d Mr. Baure said.\u00a0\n\u201cThey can also improve the water quality because mangroves can filter out pollution coming from the land and, also, they serve as habitat for migratory birds,\u201d he added.\u00a0\nIn August, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., issued a verbal order for the suspension of 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay, pending a review of their environmental and social impacts.\u00a0\nThe Department of Environment and Natural Resources is working on a cumulative impact assessment with a team of scientists consisting of physical and chemical oceanographers, fishery specialists, marine biologists, and engineers.\u00a0\n\u201cWhen we discuss the benefits\u2026, we also need to ask who benefits from these projects. Will it be the private investors? Or will it really [truly care about] marginalized people, since if reclamation projects continue, fishermen will lose their livelihood,\u201d Mr. Baure said.", "date_published": "2023-10-30T12:59:32+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-07-01T21:26:44+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-10-30-B-side-Sheldeen-Podcast-ART-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "B-SIDE Podcast", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=553105", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/10/23/553105/b-side-podcast-future-proofing-philippine-education-with-technology/", "title": "[B-Side Podcast] Future-proofing Philippine education with technology", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nThe Philippine education sector must maintain the strides it has made in technology adoption to upgrade teaching methods and prepare students for future jobs that require a deep understanding of technology, an expert said.
\nModern digital education platforms offer educators data that can help address students’ needs.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Ryan Lufkin, vice president of Global Strategy at Instructure, a New York-listed education technology innovator, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter John Victor D. Ordo\u00f1ez how modern technology can be used to ensure that Philippine education remains relevant.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nAs we transition out of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers worldwide are leveraging digital classrooms and blended learning platforms, Mr. Lufkin noted. They collect data from online assessments to make “data-informed decisions” and craft curricula based on student performance, he said.
\n“Data assists us on many levels. At an organizational level, data across the learning experience helps educators understand the effectiveness and efficacy of their learning tools.\u201d
\n“In classroom settings, data can identify at-risk students or those struggling with learning early enough in the process, allowing for timely support,” he added.
\nHe also emphasized the importance of teachers using data from these platforms to refine course offerings and assist students in setting and achieving academic goals.
\n“The more data we possess, the easier it becomes to provide a comprehensive view of not just student success but also program and overall institutional success,\u201d he said.
\nA big population of students globally has experienced learning loss due to pandemic-related disruptions.
\n\u201cUsing data gathered from these platforms, we can pinpoint where students stand in comparison to established standards and devise pathways to bridge those gaps,\u201d Mr. Lufkin said.
\n\u201cWe should reconsider traditional assignments like ‘write a 10-page paper’ as the primary measure of skill mastery. It’s time to reevaluate this approach,\u201d he added.
\n\u201cInitially, artificial intelligence (AI) was perceived as a cheating tool, leading many schools to ban it,\u201d he noted. \u201cHowever, just ten months after the launch of ChatGPT, the narrative has shifted towards how AI can enhance students’ learning experiences.\u201d
\nMr. Lufkin also said AI can alleviate some burdens for teachers by eliminating many mundane tasks. \u201cI urge educators globally to recognize the positive potential of AI in fostering student success.\u201d
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nThe Philippine education sector must maintain the strides it has made in technology adoption to upgrade teaching methods and prepare students for future jobs that require a deep understanding of technology, an expert said.\nModern digital education platforms offer educators data that can help address students’ needs.\nIn this B-Side episode, Ryan Lufkin, vice president of Global Strategy at Instructure, a New York-listed education technology innovator, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter John Victor D. Ordo\u00f1ez how modern technology can be used to ensure that Philippine education remains relevant.\nTAKEAWAYS\nAs we transition out of the coronavirus pandemic, teachers worldwide are leveraging digital classrooms and blended learning platforms, Mr. Lufkin noted. They collect data from online assessments to make “data-informed decisions” and craft curricula based on student performance, he said.\n“Data assists us on many levels. At an organizational level, data across the learning experience helps educators understand the effectiveness and efficacy of their learning tools.\u201d\n“In classroom settings, data can identify at-risk students or those struggling with learning early enough in the process, allowing for timely support,” he added.\nHe also emphasized the importance of teachers using data from these platforms to refine course offerings and assist students in setting and achieving academic goals.\n“The more data we possess, the easier it becomes to provide a comprehensive view of not just student success but also program and overall institutional success,\u201d he said.\nA big population of students globally has experienced learning loss due to pandemic-related disruptions.\n\u201cUsing data gathered from these platforms, we can pinpoint where students stand in comparison to established standards and devise pathways to bridge those gaps,\u201d Mr. Lufkin said.\n\u201cWe should reconsider traditional assignments like ‘write a 10-page paper’ as the primary measure of skill mastery. It’s time to reevaluate this approach,\u201d he added.\n\u201cInitially, artificial intelligence (AI) was perceived as a cheating tool, leading many schools to ban it,\u201d he noted. \u201cHowever, just ten months after the launch of ChatGPT, the narrative has shifted towards how AI can enhance students’ learning experiences.\u201d\nMr. Lufkin also said AI can alleviate some burdens for teachers by eliminating many mundane tasks. \u201cI urge educators globally to recognize the positive potential of AI in fostering student success.\u201d\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2023-10-23T12:59:35+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-10-23T13:59:42+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-10-23-B-side-JV-Podcast-ART-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=551754", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/10/16/551754/b-side-podcast-divorce-in-the-phl-reimagining-filipino-norms-and-values/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Divorce in the PHL: Reimagining Filipino norms and values", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nDivorce is quite a taboo topic in the predominantly Catholic Philippines. Lobbying for divorce has mapped its way into Filipinos\u2019 understanding of the State, religion, family, abuse, principle, and love.
\nIn this B-side episode, Athena Charanne R. Presto, a sociologist and policy consultant for the United Nations Development Programme, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola the challenges and sociocultural implications of enacting divorce in the Philippines.
\nA Senate committee approved in September Senate Bill No. 2443, a consolidated measure on absolute divorce \u2014 the farthest legislative push it has reached to date.
\nMs. Presto observed that the latest version of the divorce bill has reached a commendable level of inclusivity and safety, almost identical to the grounds for annulment.
\n\u201cYou have to have been separated for a number of years, have irreconcilable differences, or have a proven case of domestic violence or abuse,\u201d Ms. Presto said, listing the grounds for absolute divorce in SB 2443.
\n\u201cBut I think we can still push our definition of divorce beyond that,\u201d she added.
\n\u201cI think divorce should include the fact that you, as adult individuals, decide to call it quits already without the need for \u2018acceptable reasons\u2019\u2026 perhaps you just fell out of love or have differences.\u201d
\nThe Philippines remains one of only two countries in the world, alongside Vatican City, without a divorce law.
\nAmid decades of lobbying, one major challenge remains: \u201cThe loudest critics of divorce are not religious actors themselves but policymakers who conveniently invoke religious doctrine to serve their own political interests,\u201d Ms. Presto said.
\nShe noted that comparing the successes and failures of other countries\u2019 marriage customs can be misguided. \u201cThat should not be the be-all and end-all of implementing divorce in the Philippines.\u201d
\n\u201cHaving divorce is better than not having divorce,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need to argue more based on Philippine data.\u201d
\n\u201cA divorce law must address misconceptions about the law itself,\u201d she added, referring to dismantling misinformed associations such as people using it as an \u2018emergency exit\u2019 or \u2018harming Filipino family values.\u2019
\nMs. Presto said that Filipino norms and values are bound to change over time with society, given the increasing number of transnational families, same-sex couples who adopt children, and single parenthood, even as depicted in national media.
\n\u201cWhether you like it or not, the composition of the Filipino family is changing,\u201d she said. \u201cOur marriage norms will change, but not for the worse.\u201d
\nPassing divorce will challenge the Filipino toxic mentality of \u2018relentless suffering\u2019 in marriage, alongside empowering wives and husbands to continue their lives through a viable option, Ms. Presto noted.
\nAlong with norms, social institutions are also seeing changes, such as the Catholic Church \u2018relieving pressure\u2019 and opening up to more nuanced realities, and media representation straying away from damaging stereotypes, she added.
\nHowever, Ms. Presto noted an increasing number of politicians who believe that men and women are equally oppressed, which undermines the rightfully women-centric arguments for divorce.
\nThe 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the national statistics agency reported that one in four Filipino women aged 15-49 had experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence by their husband or partner.
\n\u201cYou need to expose the misinformed opinions of all these senators, but you also need their support,\u201d Ms. Presto said, addressing the ‘checkmated’ advocates and stalled progress of divorce in the country.
\nRecorded remotely on Oct. 9, 2023.
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nDivorce is quite a taboo topic in the predominantly Catholic Philippines. Lobbying for divorce has mapped its way into Filipinos\u2019 understanding of the State, religion, family, abuse, principle, and love.\nIn this B-side episode, Athena Charanne R. Presto, a sociologist and policy consultant for the United Nations Development Programme, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola the challenges and sociocultural implications of enacting divorce in the Philippines.\nA Senate committee approved in September Senate Bill No. 2443, a consolidated measure on absolute divorce \u2014 the farthest legislative push it has reached to date.\nMs. Presto observed that the latest version of the divorce bill has reached a commendable level of inclusivity and safety, almost identical to the grounds for annulment.\n\u201cYou have to have been separated for a number of years, have irreconcilable differences, or have a proven case of domestic violence or abuse,\u201d Ms. Presto said, listing the grounds for absolute divorce in SB 2443.\n\u201cBut I think we can still push our definition of divorce beyond that,\u201d she added.\n\u201cI think divorce should include the fact that you, as adult individuals, decide to call it quits already without the need for \u2018acceptable reasons\u2019\u2026 perhaps you just fell out of love or have differences.\u201d\nThe Philippines remains one of only two countries in the world, alongside Vatican City, without a divorce law.\nAmid decades of lobbying, one major challenge remains: \u201cThe loudest critics of divorce are not religious actors themselves but policymakers who conveniently invoke religious doctrine to serve their own political interests,\u201d Ms. Presto said.\nShe noted that comparing the successes and failures of other countries\u2019 marriage customs can be misguided. \u201cThat should not be the be-all and end-all of implementing divorce in the Philippines.\u201d\n\u201cHaving divorce is better than not having divorce,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need to argue more based on Philippine data.\u201d\n\u201cA divorce law must address misconceptions about the law itself,\u201d she added, referring to dismantling misinformed associations such as people using it as an \u2018emergency exit\u2019 or \u2018harming Filipino family values.\u2019\nMs. Presto said that Filipino norms and values are bound to change over time with society, given the increasing number of transnational families, same-sex couples who adopt children, and single parenthood, even as depicted in national media.\n\u201cWhether you like it or not, the composition of the Filipino family is changing,\u201d she said. \u201cOur marriage norms will change, but not for the worse.\u201d\nPassing divorce will challenge the Filipino toxic mentality of \u2018relentless suffering\u2019 in marriage, alongside empowering wives and husbands to continue their lives through a viable option, Ms. Presto noted.\nAlong with norms, social institutions are also seeing changes, such as the Catholic Church \u2018relieving pressure\u2019 and opening up to more nuanced realities, and media representation straying away from damaging stereotypes, she added.\nHowever, Ms. Presto noted an increasing number of politicians who believe that men and women are equally oppressed, which undermines the rightfully women-centric arguments for divorce.\nThe 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey conducted by the national statistics agency reported that one in four Filipino women aged 15-49 had experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence by their husband or partner.\n\u201cYou need to expose the misinformed opinions of all these senators, but you also need their support,\u201d Ms. Presto said, addressing the ‘checkmated’ advocates and stalled progress of divorce in the country.\nRecorded remotely on Oct. 9, 2023.\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2023-10-16T12:21:05+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-10-16T13:05:57+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-10-16-B-side-Miguel-Podcast-ART.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=550708", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/10/10/550708/b-side-podcast-steering-clear-of-financial-predators-lessons-for-phl-msmes-from-mongolia/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Steering clear of financial predators: Lessons for PHL MSMEs from Mongolia", "content_html": "\n\n
Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nLoan sharks, or informal lenders, exploit small businesses with exorbitant interest rates.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Baasandorj Davaasuren, chief business development officer of fintech solution company AND Global, discusses with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter Aaron Michael C. Sy some learnings from Mongolia\u2019s experience with loan sharks, aiming to guide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines. AND Systems, the R&D subsidiary of AND Global, is based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
\nThe archipelagic nature of the Philippines makes it difficult to track and regulate loan sharks, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas, Mr. Davaasuren noted.
\nHe said that the situation regarding loan sharks in the Philippines is currently more severe than in Mongolia, but there is hope to address it.
\nLow financial literacy makes individuals and businesses more vulnerable to loan sharks.
\n
Many do not fully understand the financial products offered and may mistakenly view high interest rates as acceptable, Mr. Davaasuren noted.
\n\u201cThey think a 5% [interest rate] per week or per month is okay.\u201d
\nPotential solutions, he said, include tailored interest rates where private institutions can offer MSME-specific loans at lower interest rates than general retail loans; involvement of major stakeholders, which means encouraging bigger financial institutions to engage in MSME lending to diversify financing options for small businesses; improved credit data access to facilitate better decision-making by banks during loan approvals; and offering uncollateralized loans.
\nIn order to properly lend to small businesses, there is a need to deeply understand the MSME market in the Philippines as the country\u2019s economic growth significantly relies on this sector, he also said.
\n\u201cIn terms of the real economic drive and financial impact on the country itself, it really comes down to small and medium enterprises\u2026 These businesses are the key driving indicators in terms of sustainable growth in the country\u2019s economy.\u201d
\n", "content_text": " \nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nLoan sharks, or informal lenders, exploit small businesses with exorbitant interest rates.\nIn this B-Side episode, Baasandorj Davaasuren, chief business development officer of fintech solution company AND Global, discusses with\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0reporter Aaron Michael C. Sy some learnings from Mongolia\u2019s experience with loan sharks, aiming to guide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines. AND Systems, the R&D subsidiary of AND Global, is based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.\nThe archipelagic nature of the Philippines makes it difficult to track and regulate loan sharks, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas, Mr. Davaasuren noted.\nHe said that the situation regarding loan sharks in the Philippines is currently more severe than in Mongolia, but there is hope to address it.\nLow financial literacy makes individuals and businesses more vulnerable to loan sharks.\n\nMany do not fully understand the financial products offered and may mistakenly view high interest rates as acceptable, Mr. Davaasuren noted.\n\u201cThey think a 5% [interest rate] per week or per month is okay.\u201d\nPotential solutions, he said, include tailored interest rates where private institutions can offer MSME-specific loans at lower interest rates than general retail loans; involvement of major stakeholders, which means encouraging bigger financial institutions to engage in MSME lending to diversify financing options for small businesses; improved credit data access to facilitate better decision-making by banks during loan approvals; and offering uncollateralized loans.\nIn order to properly lend to small businesses, there is a need to deeply understand the MSME market in the Philippines as the country\u2019s economic growth significantly relies on this sector, he also said.\n\u201cIn terms of the real economic drive and financial impact on the country itself, it really comes down to small and medium enterprises\u2026 These businesses are the key driving indicators in terms of sustainable growth in the country\u2019s economy.\u201d", "date_published": "2023-10-10T13:33:58+08:00", "date_modified": "2024-07-01T21:26:49+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/cedadiantityclea/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/eda8ffc51ac7ec8b231b61b4c6a0d14e?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-10-10-B-side-Aaron-Podcast-ART.jpg", "tags": [ "B-SIDE Podcast", "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=549116", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/10/02/549116/b-side-podcast-from-joyful-living-to-empowering-spaces-the-impact-of-interior-design/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] From joyful living to empowering spaces: The impact of interior design", "content_html": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nGood design offers numerous benefits, including its potential to enhance daily life, boost business efficiency, empower marginalized groups, and improve public spaces, according to an expert.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Nina Santamaria, principal designer of interior design firm Grupo Santamaria, talks to\u00a0BusinessWorld\u00a0senior reporter Joseph L. Garcia about the benefits of good design for business, how lives can be transformed through well-planned spaces, and designing for marginalized communities.
\nTAKEAWAYS
\nDesign cultivates joy
\nMs. Santamaria defined good interior design as “use (of) a space that allows you to be the best version of yourself.”
\nShe gave an example of a mother bonding with her children in the kitchen. “You want to enjoy finding what you need easily,” she said. “You want to talk to your kids while you’re cooking? How we will design your kitchen will enable you to do that,” she said, citing elegant solutions like kitchen islands that will allow for easier flow (instead of having a conventional stovetop and work area facing a wall). “That changes the game.”
\nDesigning for business
\nA well-designed, efficient space reflects a tight ship. “In retail or in offices, good design will really help your business,” she said.
\n“It’s space planning.” For example, a reception area is sometimes just an afterthought, but she said, “If your clients come inside the room and they don’t know who to talk to, that’s already a turn-off. They’ll leave.”
\n“You’ll have a better impact on your buyers or your customers.”
\nDesigning for the marginalized
\nGrupo Santamaria has planned a series of seminars this year to raise funds for renovating spaces occupied by Resources for the Blind and Children’s Joy Foundation as a way to celebrate its 20th anniversary. These sectors, often overlooked in design considerations, pose unique challenges, she said.
\n“The satisfaction of appreciating interior design is mostly visual,” she said. “We forget that component of ease of movement; ease of flow.”
\nShe said that for many of the visually impaired, they still retain their other senses. “If you’re impaired visually, you have all these senses that we would like to address. It’s really a lot of touch and movement,” she noted.
\nFor her, well-designed spaces for persons with disabilities means, “You need to be able to encourage independence as much as possible.” For the visually impaired, this means designing paths, furniture that aids in self-assistance, the reduction of sharp edges and corners, and tactile markers to aid them when moving from one space to another.
\nAs for the indigent children from the foundation, Ms. Santamaria said that children from the ages of about three to ten have needs in their spaces that they share with children across the world, in all walks of life. “They need to have their own space,” she said. “It’s really healthier for kids, for their own development, to have a sort of (space), whether it’s just a curtain dividing the room or their own little desks where they can express their personalities.”
\nThe purpose of interior design in public life
\nOn a personal note, she said that a well-designed space achieves its purpose “if it makes you feel what you imagine your ideal self would be, then that’s a good space.”
\nHow then do we apply that to the concept of nationhood? In a country riddled with bureaucracy \u2014 with old buildings that creak and crack, how does the Filipino become their ideal self? Ms. Santamaria, for example, spoke about the experience of paying taxes in a government office. “If you’re forced to fall in line in such a dirty place with no proper speaker system, and people haggling you…there’s no proper line \u2014 you’ll feel really shitty.”
\n“If you design it in such a way where you’re respecting the taxpayer by providing them with a well-lighted space, proper lines, a nice waiting area, an efficient speaker system…you’ll feel like you’re respected.”
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nFor the longest time, the Philippines has maintained a modest relationship with its Southeast Asian neighbors. Recurring tensions in the South China Sea have left the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) seeking clarity on how to navigate potential conflicts with China, even with the involvement of the United States.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Herman Joseph S. Kraft, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Beatriz Marie D. Cruz the ways in which ASEAN can leverage its already strong ties to protect peace within its waters.
\n“Relations within the region are increasingly dominated by the rivalry between China and the US, and even if we keep emphasizing the idea of ASEAN centrality, it\u2019s becoming more and more difficult to assert that,” he said in an interview.
\nThe goal is to ease constraints felt by ASEAN within the ongoing rivalry between China and the US, Mr. Kraft noted.
\n“Ideally, ASEAN is going to be able to work in a way where it doesn\u2019t have to actually play or at least play a role within the competition between China and the United States,” he said.
\nHowever, this is easier said than done, with ASEAN countries having their own national interests to consider.
\nThe Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, for instance, each have territorial interests in the South China Sea, with China claiming more than 80% of the waters.
\n“It\u2019s much more difficult for ASEAN to actually come up with a common appreciation of its strategic environment. Some of the members of ASEAN are actually closer to China, for instance, and some are actually closer to the US,” Mr. Kraft said.
\nAs a long-standing treaty ally, the Philippines has allowed the US more access to military bases under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. However, this has caused China to accuse the US of aggravating tensions in the Asia-Pacific due to its continued military expansion.
\n“There\u2019s a tendency to see that or at least to look at the Philippines as going too close to the United States at the expense of our relationship with China, so our situation is seemingly a zero-sum game,” Mr. Kraft said.
\nHe said that the Philippines should strengthen its diplomatic prowess to be recognized for its role in maintaining peaceful navigation in the disputed waters, especially within ASEAN, where the former is not seen as an “agent” of the US.
\nMembers of ASEAN have been vocal about the need to ensure peace and stability in the region. Even Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said, without naming China, that ASEAN “must never allow the international peaceful order to be subjected to the forces of might.”
\n“We cannot emphasize enough that actions, not words, should be the ultimate measure of our commitment to securing peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Mr. Marcos Jr. said during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia earlier this month.
\nAlso present during the summit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang warned of a “new Cold War,” and called on affected states to “appropriately handle differences and disputes.”
\n“China has not necessarily been forthright about how it wants to deal with us,” Mr. Kraft said.
\nA security hotline between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards has been inactive since January of this year.
\nChina and ASEAN also have yet to agree on a code of conduct in the South China Sea.
\nMr. Marcos Jr. reported progress on the code of conduct at the ASEAN summit, with “milestone issues and a preliminary review of the Single Draft Negotiating Text\u2026achieved in Manila.”
\nForeign Affairs Spokesperson Teresita C. Daza recently said that the Philippines has submitted 43 diplomatic complaints against China this year. These protests are in response to China obstructing the Coast Guard’s resupply missions at the Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin, where the old World War II ship BRP Sierra Madre is stationed to assert the Philippines’ ownership in the area.
\nGiven the region\u2019s proximity to the South China Sea, ASEAN members should agree to a consensus on how the strategic environment should work, according to Mr. Kraft.
\nHe cited how ASEAN made a strong stance against Vietnam\u2019s invasion of Cambodia in the late 1970s and 1980s.
\n“It\u2019s a very good example of how small countries, but acting collectively\u2026[and] being able to sway public opinion on an issue that is central to their own regional concerns,” Mr. Kraft said.
\nHe noted that stronger ASEAN ties would not likely be a threat to China and would similarly draw in conflict. “ASEAN has always been what some authors have said a political diplomatic community.” “Any increase in the [ASEAN’s] capability is going to be largely political-diplomatic, not hard security or military,” Mr. Kraft said.
\nWhen asked about China’s relationship with ASEAN, Mr. Kraft said: “Historically, it’s always been good.”
\nAFP MODERNIZATION
\nAlongside leveraging its diplomatic capabilities, Mr. Kraft also urged the Philippine government to be consistent with its modernization plan. He pointed out the country’s tendency to recognize the importance of enhancing its military capability when issues arise.
\n“Do we have to wait for a crisis to take the modernization of our instruments for asserting our sovereignty seriously?” Mr. Kraft said.
\n“All that China has to do is wait for us to lose interest.”
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nFor the longest time, the Philippines has maintained a modest relationship with its Southeast Asian neighbors. Recurring tensions in the South China Sea have left the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) seeking clarity on how to navigate potential conflicts with China, even with the involvement of the United States.\nIn this B-Side episode, Herman Joseph S. Kraft, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Beatriz Marie D. Cruz the ways in which ASEAN can leverage its already strong ties to protect peace within its waters.\n“Relations within the region are increasingly dominated by the rivalry between China and the US, and even if we keep emphasizing the idea of ASEAN centrality, it\u2019s becoming more and more difficult to assert that,” he said in an interview.\nThe goal is to ease constraints felt by ASEAN within the ongoing rivalry between China and the US, Mr. Kraft noted.\n“Ideally, ASEAN is going to be able to work in a way where it doesn\u2019t have to actually play or at least play a role within the competition between China and the United States,” he said.\nHowever, this is easier said than done, with ASEAN countries having their own national interests to consider.\nThe Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, for instance, each have territorial interests in the South China Sea, with China claiming more than 80% of the waters.\n“It\u2019s much more difficult for ASEAN to actually come up with a common appreciation of its strategic environment. Some of the members of ASEAN are actually closer to China, for instance, and some are actually closer to the US,” Mr. Kraft said.\nAs a long-standing treaty ally, the Philippines has allowed the US more access to military bases under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. However, this has caused China to accuse the US of aggravating tensions in the Asia-Pacific due to its continued military expansion.\n“There\u2019s a tendency to see that or at least to look at the Philippines as going too close to the United States at the expense of our relationship with China, so our situation is seemingly a zero-sum game,” Mr. Kraft said.\nHe said that the Philippines should strengthen its diplomatic prowess to be recognized for its role in maintaining peaceful navigation in the disputed waters, especially within ASEAN, where the former is not seen as an “agent” of the US.\nMembers of ASEAN have been vocal about the need to ensure peace and stability in the region. Even Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said, without naming China, that ASEAN “must never allow the international peaceful order to be subjected to the forces of might.”\n“We cannot emphasize enough that actions, not words, should be the ultimate measure of our commitment to securing peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Mr. Marcos Jr. said during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia earlier this month.\nAlso present during the summit, Chinese Premier Li Qiang warned of a “new Cold War,” and called on affected states to “appropriately handle differences and disputes.”\n“China has not necessarily been forthright about how it wants to deal with us,” Mr. Kraft said.\nA security hotline between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards has been inactive since January of this year.\nChina and ASEAN also have yet to agree on a code of conduct in the South China Sea.\nMr. Marcos Jr. reported progress on the code of conduct at the ASEAN summit, with “milestone issues and a preliminary review of the Single Draft Negotiating Text\u2026achieved in Manila.”\nForeign Affairs Spokesperson Teresita C. Daza recently said that the Philippines has submitted 43 diplomatic complaints against China this year. These protests are in response to China obstructing the Coast Guard’s resupply missions at the Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin, where the old World War II ship BRP Sierra Madre is stationed to assert the Philippines’ ownership in the area.\nGiven the region\u2019s proximity to the South China Sea, ASEAN members should agree to a consensus on how the strategic environment should work, according to Mr. Kraft.\nHe cited how ASEAN made a strong stance against Vietnam\u2019s invasion of Cambodia in the late 1970s and 1980s.\n“It\u2019s a very good example of how small countries, but acting collectively\u2026[and] being able to sway public opinion on an issue that is central to their own regional concerns,” Mr. Kraft said.\nHe noted that stronger ASEAN ties would not likely be a threat to China and would similarly draw in conflict. “ASEAN has always been what some authors have said a political diplomatic community.” “Any increase in the [ASEAN’s] capability is going to be largely political-diplomatic, not hard security or military,” Mr. Kraft said.\nWhen asked about China’s relationship with ASEAN, Mr. Kraft said: “Historically, it’s always been good.”\nAFP MODERNIZATION\nAlongside leveraging its diplomatic capabilities, Mr. Kraft also urged the Philippine government to be consistent with its modernization plan. He pointed out the country’s tendency to recognize the importance of enhancing its military capability when issues arise.\n“Do we have to wait for a crisis to take the modernization of our instruments for asserting our sovereignty seriously?” Mr. Kraft said.\n“All that China has to do is wait for us to lose interest.”\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2023-09-26T08:32:10+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-09-27T16:24:36+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-09-25-B-side-Bea-Podcast-ART-scaled.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=546195", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/09/18/546195/b-side-podcast-exploring-the-nation-building-role-of-industrial-engineers/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Exploring the nation-building role of industrial engineers", "content_html": "\nIndustrial engineering, or IE, is an often-overlooked field of engineering that deals with cutting costs, increasing savings, and making improvements to systems. In the Philippines, industrial engineers have been responsible for many such improvements, like streamlining product lines to make them more efficient and adjusting vaccination queues to accommodate more people.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers (PIIE) Founder Rodel \u201cAudi\u201d E.C. Adiviso and current president Jerry A. Lim talk to BusinessWorld reporter Bronte H. Lacsamana about how IE can fix modern-day systems and develop in the age of digital transformation.
\nIE goes hand in hand with technological advancement because it blends management expertise with engineering principles, said Mr. Adiviso.
\n\u201cIf you magnify it and apply it to factories, to companies, then you see the relevance of getting products on a timely manner, getting services in a more efficient way, and with a lot of savings in terms of cost implications,\u201d he said.
\nFor Mr. Lim, the crux of the IE principle is simple \u2014 it’s a \u201cstudy of systems, where you just keep on trying to improve something\u201d \u2014 and that includes making do with the technology we have today.
\nThe IE mindset has already been applied to local systems.
\nThe coronavirus pandemic actually illustrated the brilliance and importance of IE in emergency or safety situations that require putting things in order, according to Mr. Adiviso.
\nHe said that clients like Unilab reached out to ask how to solve overcrowding in vaccination centers, which they began looking into by going to one such center in Quezon City.
\n\u201cThere, we noticed that a lot of people can get their injection in 12 seconds, but the bottleneck was actually in filling up forms, in queuing upfront,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you balance the line, it should happen, that smoother flow.\u201d
\nThe person who thought of the rapid pass used to enter malls and establishments was also an IE. \u201cThey did spot checks at first, which caused long lines. It took an IE to come up with a rapid pass using a QR code,\u201d Mr. Lim said.
\nThe term they use for that thinking is \u201ckaizen,\u201d a Japanese word which means \u201ccontinuous improvement.\u201d That is how IEs develop a better way of doing things, he added.
\nIE professionals can be certified.
\nMr. Adiviso pointed out that, though it is an underrated field in engineering that does not have a government-mandated board exam, IE has had a certification exam in the Philippines since 2010, established by PIIE.
\nIt started off with only 60 takers and gradually reached 1,000 every year, right before the pandemic hit. Since then, it is inching up from a hundred in 2020 to around 300 exam takers this year.
\n\u201cIEs are now valued here, and big companies are stipulating that they wish to hire certified industrial engineers or professional industrial engineers,\u201d he said.
\nPIIE itself, which he started in 1998, aims to further the relevance of the IE mindset. Though the certification program has helped with this goal, emerging technologies are rapidly shifting the skillset that an IE needs.
\nPeople who are trained to analyze data and to find solutions with the data given to them are becoming very, very relevant, and IE is the field of engineering that trains the most in that skillset, said Mr. Lim.
\n\u201cThe bottom line is that the IEs come up with the system, the flow of information, and then the computer science people are the ones who will translate it into formulas or numbers for people to use,\u201d he explained.
\nAI, machine learning will be integrated into many systems.
\nTraffic is an example of a bottleneck situation that can utilize operations research to build an algorithm that solves the problem, Mr. Adiviso said.
\n\u201cYou can find the right combination of what factors need to be enhanced or improved. Maybe we can balance the line by improving the infrastructure or putting the right number of traffic enforcers.\u201d
\nHe shared that a traffic algorithm exists in countries like Taiwan, where the flow at intersections are regulated by synchronized traffic lights that adjust to accommodate wherever high vehicle volume has accumulated.
\nIn the Philippines, such technologies are not yet in place, although PIIE will hold a research conference in October for its 25th anniversary, where digital transformation, sustainability, and artificial intelligence have special focus.
\nMr. Lim emphasized that the Filipino IE\u2019s concern today is to make do with whatever we have on our hands now and optimize it.
\n\u201cAs to how we will quickly adapt or start to be at par with our wealthier neighbors in terms of the Internet of Things, in terms of having good internet, in terms of robotics or AI, that’s beyond me,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cWhatever it is that we have achieved or come to, it is IEs\u2019 role in nation building to uphold the discipline of maximizing what we have.\u201d
\n", "content_text": "Industrial engineering, or IE, is an often-overlooked field of engineering that deals with cutting costs, increasing savings, and making improvements to systems. In the Philippines, industrial engineers have been responsible for many such improvements, like streamlining product lines to make them more efficient and adjusting vaccination queues to accommodate more people.\nIn this B-Side episode, Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers (PIIE) Founder Rodel \u201cAudi\u201d E.C. Adiviso and current president Jerry A. Lim talk to BusinessWorld reporter Bronte H. Lacsamana about how IE can fix modern-day systems and develop in the age of digital transformation.\nIE goes hand in hand with technological advancement because it blends management expertise with engineering principles, said Mr. Adiviso.\n\u201cIf you magnify it and apply it to factories, to companies, then you see the relevance of getting products on a timely manner, getting services in a more efficient way, and with a lot of savings in terms of cost implications,\u201d he said.\nFor Mr. Lim, the crux of the IE principle is simple \u2014 it’s a \u201cstudy of systems, where you just keep on trying to improve something\u201d \u2014 and that includes making do with the technology we have today.\nThe IE mindset has already been applied to local systems.\nThe coronavirus pandemic actually illustrated the brilliance and importance of IE in emergency or safety situations that require putting things in order, according to Mr. Adiviso.\nHe said that clients like Unilab reached out to ask how to solve overcrowding in vaccination centers, which they began looking into by going to one such center in Quezon City.\n\u201cThere, we noticed that a lot of people can get their injection in 12 seconds, but the bottleneck was actually in filling up forms, in queuing upfront,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you balance the line, it should happen, that smoother flow.\u201d\nThe person who thought of the rapid pass used to enter malls and establishments was also an IE. \u201cThey did spot checks at first, which caused long lines. It took an IE to come up with a rapid pass using a QR code,\u201d Mr. Lim said.\nThe term they use for that thinking is \u201ckaizen,\u201d a Japanese word which means \u201ccontinuous improvement.\u201d That is how IEs develop a better way of doing things, he added.\nIE professionals can be certified.\nMr. Adiviso pointed out that, though it is an underrated field in engineering that does not have a government-mandated board exam, IE has had a certification exam in the Philippines since 2010, established by PIIE.\nIt started off with only 60 takers and gradually reached 1,000 every year, right before the pandemic hit. Since then, it is inching up from a hundred in 2020 to around 300 exam takers this year.\n\u201cIEs are now valued here, and big companies are stipulating that they wish to hire certified industrial engineers or professional industrial engineers,\u201d he said.\nPIIE itself, which he started in 1998, aims to further the relevance of the IE mindset. Though the certification program has helped with this goal, emerging technologies are rapidly shifting the skillset that an IE needs.\nPeople who are trained to analyze data and to find solutions with the data given to them are becoming very, very relevant, and IE is the field of engineering that trains the most in that skillset, said Mr. Lim.\n\u201cThe bottom line is that the IEs come up with the system, the flow of information, and then the computer science people are the ones who will translate it into formulas or numbers for people to use,\u201d he explained.\nAI, machine learning will be integrated into many systems.\nTraffic is an example of a bottleneck situation that can utilize operations research to build an algorithm that solves the problem, Mr. Adiviso said.\n\u201cYou can find the right combination of what factors need to be enhanced or improved. Maybe we can balance the line by improving the infrastructure or putting the right number of traffic enforcers.\u201d\nHe shared that a traffic algorithm exists in countries like Taiwan, where the flow at intersections are regulated by synchronized traffic lights that adjust to accommodate wherever high vehicle volume has accumulated.\nIn the Philippines, such technologies are not yet in place, although PIIE will hold a research conference in October for its 25th anniversary, where digital transformation, sustainability, and artificial intelligence have special focus.\nMr. Lim emphasized that the Filipino IE\u2019s concern today is to make do with whatever we have on our hands now and optimize it.\n\u201cAs to how we will quickly adapt or start to be at par with our wealthier neighbors in terms of the Internet of Things, in terms of having good internet, in terms of robotics or AI, that’s beyond me,\u201d he said.\n\u201cWhatever it is that we have achieved or come to, it is IEs\u2019 role in nation building to uphold the discipline of maximizing what we have.\u201d", "date_published": "2023-09-18T10:47:54+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-09-18T12:08:35+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-09-18-B-side-Bron-Podcast-ART.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] }, { "id": "https://www.bworldonline.com/?p=544761", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/podcast/2023/09/11/544761/b-side-podcast-ghost-month-and-the-stock-market/", "title": "[B-SIDE Podcast] Ghost Month and the stock market", "content_html": "\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\nGhost Month, a tradition deeply rooted in Chinese culture, has fascinated financial analysts for years.
\nIn this B-Side episode, Carlos A. Temporal, a senior equity research analyst at Unicapital Securities, Inc., discusses the impact of Ghost Month on the stock market with BusinessWorld reporter Justine Irish DP. Tabile.
\nThis year, Ghost Month, the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar, runs from Aug. 16 to Sept. 14.
\nGhost Month, which usually falls in the month of August, stems from an ancient Chinese belief that claims the gates of hell open, letting ghosts return to the living world.
\n“Given that major businesses in the Philippines and most of the index constituents of the Philippine Stock Exchange are owned by Filipino-Chinese businessmen, and considering how superstitious Filipinos are, which is also attributable to the ingrained Chinese culture in the Philippines, Ghost Month has become a widespread phenomenon believed by many local market participants,” said Mr. Temporal.
\nIn the case of the local bourse, he said, the period that Ghost Month covers is seasonally weaker, which is why investors are driven to position themselves ahead of it.
\n“By positioning, they are liquidating their positions and their stocks ahead of the potential decline in August, so that is how it affects the market,” he noted.
\n“Given that the belief during Ghost Month is that doing big-ticket things such as investments may cause some bad luck, which could upset spirits visiting our world, this has prompted investors and market participants to delay making investments in the market,” he added.
\nFor this year, he said that although the weeks covered by Ghost Month showed a slowdown, it is not that much different from prior months.
\n“I won’t really say that what happened in the market is mostly attributable to that phenomenon, but I think it did play its part because we have that low liquidity. But again, the negative macro-conditions are what really drove the sell-off,” he also said.
\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side
\n", "content_text": "Follow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side\nGhost Month, a tradition deeply rooted in Chinese culture, has fascinated financial analysts for years.\nIn this B-Side episode, Carlos A. Temporal, a senior equity research analyst at Unicapital Securities, Inc., discusses the impact of Ghost Month on the stock market with BusinessWorld reporter Justine Irish DP. Tabile.\nThis year, Ghost Month, the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar, runs from Aug. 16 to Sept. 14.\nGhost Month, which usually falls in the month of August, stems from an ancient Chinese belief that claims the gates of hell open, letting ghosts return to the living world.\n“Given that major businesses in the Philippines and most of the index constituents of the Philippine Stock Exchange are owned by Filipino-Chinese businessmen, and considering how superstitious Filipinos are, which is also attributable to the ingrained Chinese culture in the Philippines, Ghost Month has become a widespread phenomenon believed by many local market participants,” said Mr. Temporal.\nIn the case of the local bourse, he said, the period that Ghost Month covers is seasonally weaker, which is why investors are driven to position themselves ahead of it.\n“By positioning, they are liquidating their positions and their stocks ahead of the potential decline in August, so that is how it affects the market,” he noted.\n“Given that the belief during Ghost Month is that doing big-ticket things such as investments may cause some bad luck, which could upset spirits visiting our world, this has prompted investors and market participants to delay making investments in the market,” he added.\nFor this year, he said that although the weeks covered by Ghost Month showed a slowdown, it is not that much different from prior months.\n“I won’t really say that what happened in the market is mostly attributable to that phenomenon, but I think it did play its part because we have that low liquidity. But again, the negative macro-conditions are what really drove the sell-off,” he also said.\nFollow us on Spotify\u00a0BusinessWorld B-Side", "date_published": "2023-09-11T12:00:37+08:00", "date_modified": "2023-09-11T12:00:37+08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "BusinessWorld", "url": "https://www.bworldonline.com/author/rgentribirthfurd/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/67e0d160ec455979f75e504cb026950a?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://www.bworldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-09-11-B-side-Justine-Podcast-ART.jpg", "tags": [ "Podcast" ] } ] }