Saturday, May 23, 2026
Makati City, Philippines, 24 April 2026 – With obesity rising as a major driver of chronic disease and healthcare burden in the Philippines, Novo Nordisk today launched the Live Lighter movement, a multi-sector initiative aimed at transforming both public understanding and access to care.
Unveiled at a media launch in Makati City, the initiative calls for a shift in perspective: from viewing obesity as a matter of personal responsibility to recognizing it as a chronic, complex disease influenced by biology, environment, and other underlying factors.
“For almost 30 years, we have studied obesity not as a lifestyle issue, but as a chronic disease. Today is not just about introducing a new treatment option. It is about changing how a country understands obesity,” said Wei Sun, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Philippines. “Through Live Lighter, we aim to help Filipinos treat obesity right—with science, compassion, and with the support they deserve.”
Expanding access to science-based treatment
More than a platform for awareness, the Live Lighter movement also signals a step forward in how obesity is treated in the Philippines by introducing innovative, science-based treatment option that goes beyond traditional approaches.
The launch coincides with the introduction of a new prescription therapy based on semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that works with the body’s biology to help regulate appetite, energy intake, and metabolic processes. By targeting the underlying mechanisms of obesity, this class of treatment represents a shift toward more holistic and medically guided care.
Dr. Christiana Vida Montefalcon, head of Clinical, Medical, Regulatory & Pharmacovigilance of Novo Nordisk Philippines, underscored that for many patients, obesity is not simply a matter of diet and exercise, but a chronic disease that could require long-term health management and medical treatment. As such, newer therapies can play a critical role particularly for individuals who have struggled to achieve or sustain weight loss through conventional methods alone.
“Advancements like these are changing the way we approach obesity care,” Dr. Montefalcon shared. “They allow us to address the biological drivers of the disease, giving patients a more realistic and sustainable path toward better health.”
“This is not just about weight loss,” she noted. “It is about the over-all health and condition of people living with obesity.”
Reinforcing this, Wei Sun added, “Live Lighter is more than a campaign. It is a commitment to change the way obesity is understood and managed in the Philippines. By bringing science based care, including innovative treatments, closer to patients, we hope to empower more Filipinos to take control of their health in a sustainable and medically guided way.”
From stigma to science
Despite its growing prevalence, obesity continues to be framed largely around willpower and lifestyle choices, often delaying diagnosis and limiting access to appropriate care. Health experts at the launch emphasized that this outdated narrative can prevent people from seeking help and restrict the adoption of effective, evidence-based interventions.
“Treating obesity as a disease changes everything, from how patients are supported to how healthcare systems respond,” said Dr. Montefalcon. “It allows for earlier intervention, more comprehensive care, and better long-term outcomes.”
The Live Lighter movement brings together media, healthcare professionals, industry partners, and patient advocates to promote a more informed and compassionate approach; one that centers on patient realities and health outcomes, not just weight.
A growing public health priority
The initiative comes at a time when obesity is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers—placing a growing burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system.
Recent findings from the Epidemiological Burden and Cost of Obesity in the Philippines (EpiCOb-PH) study highlight the scale of the challenge, estimating that obesity cost the Philippine economy approximately Php 1.9 trillion in 2025—equivalent to 7.3% of GDP—and could reach up to Php 2.7 trillion when overweight-related conditions are included.
As awareness grows, so does the urgency to address obesity through a more structured, science-based approach that integrates prevention, early intervention, and long-term care.
Collective action
Beyond treatment, the movement underscores the need for collective action across sectors to address obesity more effectively—from improving public understanding and reducing stigma to strengthening healthcare systems and expanding access to care.
“Addressing obesity requires more than awareness. It requires a shift in mindset across healthcare, policy, and society,” said Anand Shetty, vice president for Novo Nordisk Business Area Southeast Asia. “With Live Lighter, we are working to move from stigma to science, and from fragmented efforts to a more coordinated, patient-centered approach to care.”
The launch also highlighted the role of global partnerships in advancing local health priorities, reinforcing how shared expertise and innovation can help bring evidence-based care closer to patients.
As the Live Lighter movement gains momentum, Novo Nordisk aims to spark a broader national conversation—one that recognizes obesity not as a personal failure, but as a serious, treatable disease.
“Because when we treat obesity right, we change lives, not just for individuals, but for families and communities,” Wei Sun continued. “That is the impact we hope to achieve through Live Lighter movement.”
Friday, May 22, 2026
Samsung’s latest display and audio innovations help Filipinos dive into their passions at home
MANILA, Philippines (May 21, 2026) – Global No. 1 TV and soundbar brand Samsung continues to make home entertainment better in every way as it introduces its newest lineup of Vision AI TVs and sound devices. Among the lineup are the Micro RGB and Mini LED TVs, built to help more Filipinos experience their passions more fully right in the comfort of their home.
Starting May 25, you can save up to PHP 86,999 and avail exclusive offers on the new Samsung Vision AI TVs. Get a free monitor worth PHP 32,999 and a free soundbar worth PHP 86,999 with every Micro RGB, Neo QLED, and Samsung OLED Vision AI TV. Plus, enjoy a free Installation and VIP Product Assistance service worth up to PHP 10,000.
Grow Your Passions with Vision AI Companion
Vision AI Companion sets the new Samsung TVs apart. With advanced natural language understanding, it allows you to interact with your TV more conversationally. You can ask for real-time recommendations or pull up cast information while watching a TV series or a movie, or ask for the current stats of your favorite player in the middle of a live broadcast.
AI Football Mode makes football viewing even better by applying picture and sound settings, designed to make you feel like you’re in the pitch. This AI-driven optimization delivers richer colors, dynamic contrast, with crystal-clear audio — allowing you to track rapid passes and feel the roar of the stadium crowd right in your living room.
The Micro RGB Vision AI TV Brings a New Dimension of Detail
Samsung’s newest Vision AI TVs are pushing display innovation further, proving that bigger moments start with something small. Leading the lineup is the industry’s first Micro RGB Vision AI TV, which introduces a breathtaking new world of ultra-wide colors. It uses microscopic backlights working together to produce a wider color range, brighter images and more accurate hues across the screen without color bleeding. This renders sweeping landscapes and moody cinematography with lifelike accuracy.
The Micro RGB Vision AI TV runs on Samsung’s most powerful processor, the Micro RGB AI Engine Pro. This enables 4K upscaling, color enhancement, and sound optimization all at once — pulling you deeper into every scene or every intense moment of a live match. To complement this, the Micro RGB Precision Color 100 refines every shade on screen, making colors appear more vivid and true-to-life. Glare from the sun or a lighting fixture has a way of breaking the spell when you’re watching, but with the TV’s Glare Free Display, distracting reflections are no longer a concern. This lets you get lost in your entertainment, day or night.
That same visual precision carries over into the gaming experience. The Micro RGB Vision AI TV becomes a premium battle station with smoother, blazing-fast gameplay even for VRR games up to 165Hz through the Motion Xcelerator technology. This ensures that high-speed esports tournaments and graphically demanding action games run with zero motion blur. Finding your next game is just as seamless with the Gaming Hub. It streamlines gameplay, bringing together your favorite titles from consoles, cloud services, and apps in one place, complete with tailored recommendations that suit your taste.
Great picture is only half the experience as the Micro RGB Vision AI TV also delivers a remarkable sound performance. The AI Sound Controller Pro allows viewers to take charge of their acoustic environment while watching, allowing them to adjust the volume of voices, background music, and sound effects to isolate even the subtlest audio.
Samsung OLED Vision AI TV Delivers Cinema-Grade Brilliance That Pulls You
The latest Samsung OLED Vision AI TV is designed to make entertainment feel more cinematic, immersive, and engaging from the comfort of your home. Built with self-illuminating pixel technology, the Samsung OLED display achieves perfect, infinite blacks and brilliant, pure whites. This results in a picture that feels less like a screen and more like a window right into the content you’re viewing. The TV holds VDE certification for Real Black Performance, Pantone validation for accuracy across over 2.100 colors and 110 skin tone shades.
This impressive picture quality is driven by the NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor, which uses 128 AI neural networks that work in real time to sharpen, upscale, and optimize every frame. Samsung OLED HDR+ further elevates the experience, analyzing each scene individually and boosting brightness precisely where it matters.
The TV’s brilliance extends to the gaming experience. The Motion Xcelerator 165Hz supports VRR gameplay at up to 4K 165Hz. It comes with a Gaming Pack, which eliminates lag, tearing, and stutter, to make every playthrough smooth and distraction-free.
Picture-Perfect Masterpiece with the Neo QLED Vision AI TV
The Samsung Neo QLED Vision AI TV is built on the idea that no matter what you’re watching, it should always look exceptional. To deliver on that, Samsung engineered the Neo QLED Vision AI TV with the Quantum Mini LED backlighting at its foundation. This utilizes thousands of microscopic LEDs organized into precise zones controlled with greater accuracy than standard LED panels. The outcome is a picture with stronger contrast, cleaner highlights, and shadow detail that holds up even in the darkest scenes. Whether you’re viewing a nature documentary, watching a film late at night, or catching up on live sports, the Neo QLED Vision AI TV renders it all with perfect clarity.
The Neo QLED Vision AI TV’s brilliance extends beyond picture quality. Its SmartThings connectivity delivers remarkable convenience, helping you control your smart home devices directly from the screen. Whether it’s monitoring or controlling your smart appliances, staying connected to your pets while you’re away, or managing your energy consumption with AI Energy Mode, this intelligent integration simplifies day-to-day life and keeps you entirely immersed in doing what you love.
The TV can also serve as an art piece for your living room. The built-in Art Store offers access to over 5,000 curated works from famous museums across the globe. When you switch off your TV, you can turn it into a rotating gallery of masterpieces to add elegance to your space. Meanwhile, Samsung Knox Security runs in the background to safeguard your connected devices. It protects your personal data, blocks suspicious apps, and keeps the TV’s software secure through continuous updates — giving you peace of mind, so you can focus solely on what you love.
Breathtaking Depth and Dynamics from the Mini LED Vision AI TV
Samsung’s new Mini LED TVs elevate the way you experience your passions at home through smarter processing and enhanced realism. Its NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor uses 20 AI neural networks to optimize picture and sound based on what you’re watching or playing.
Mini LED technology utilizes smaller backlights than regular LEDs, allowing for more precise control of light and shadow. It displays deeper contrast, finer details in dark scenes, and a clearer, more immersive picture overall. Pure Spectrum Color adds pixel-level color precision across an expanded hamit, keeping every hue balanced and natural. Mini LED HDR further enhances contrast, pulling out deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and sharper detail in action-packed shows or championship matches.
Gaming is taken to the next level through the TV’s Motion Xcelerator 144Hz feature, which delivers seamless visuals at incredibly fast speeds. This dynamic refresh technology provides ultra-smooth motion performance for VRR games up to 4K 144Hz, making fast-action on the pitch or in-game looks smooth and clear from every angle. The AI Gaming Optimizer keeps you focused on achieving victory without having to fumble through your display settings. Through real-time screen analysis, it instantly recognizes the specific genre of your game and automatically applies the optimal visual and performance settings.
The Odyssey OLED Gaming Monitor Unleashes Your Competitive Edge
Samsung has held the title of global No. 1 gaming monitor brand for seven consecutive years, a position built by consistently delivering a gaming experience at the highest level. The Samsung Odyssey OLED takes a leap for gaming monitors, pushing your competitive edge beyond limits. Built for gamers who refuse to compromise, this monitor is equipped with self-illuminating pixels that produce near-infinite contrast, rendering deep blacks and vivid colors. This allows you to fully immerse in dark gaming environments, revealing detail that would otherwise be lost on typical LED panels. At the same time, bright scenes remain saturated and controlled rather than washed out.
The Odyssey OLED G7 brings dual mode which delivers 330Hz at FHD and 160Hz at 4K resolution, with a response time as quick as 0.03ms to ensure a smooth, seamless display performance. It has a an ergonomic stand to help you achieve winning heights. You may choose to play in landscape or stream in portrait mode.
Display Performance Built for More
Samsung’s new TVs are designed for long-term use. Running on One UI Tizen, the TVs feature a seamless, intuitive interface that won’t get left behind with up to 7 years of OS upgrades. This ensures your TV continues to grow alongside your interests, adapting to new technologies and features as they emerge.
Samsung TV Plus helps you broaden your horizons. You can deepen your passions further with unlimited access to over 750 channels and thousands of on-demand content — from sports and news, to blockbusters and the hottest TV shows —- entirely for free.
Samsung’s latest range of Vision AI TVs and sound devices create moments that feel more immersive, connected, and meaningful. Pursue your passions more fully with the new Samsung Micro RGB and Micro LED TVs, coming this June. Go to samsung.com.ph to see what’s possible.
To know more about Samsung’s latest Vision AI TVs, visit https://news.samsung.com/ph/.
DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-251774 Series of 2026
Women from Barangay 176F attend BPI’s “Basta Babae, Wais!” financial literacy program in Caloocan City.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) reinforced its commitment to financial inclusion and community empowerment through “Basta Babae, Wais!,” a one-day financial literacy program for women residents of Barangay 176F, Caloocan City. The initiative highlights the importance of empowering women with financial knowledge and access to resources, enabling them to build more secure futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
The program last March 25 gathered over 300 participants for a full day of learning sessions, community engagement, and access to financial solutions designed to support women in managing and growing their finances.
“At BPI, we believe that empowering women with financial knowledge creates a ripple effect that strengthens families and entire communities. ‘Basta Babae, Wais!’ is about meeting women where they are, equipping them with practical tools, and supporting them as they take control of their financial journey. Through initiatives like this, we become the trusted partner in their everyday progress,” said Ginbee Go, Head of Consumer Banking at BPI.
The program featured practical discussions on budgeting, saving, credit awareness, and fraud prevention. It also highlighted inspiring stories from local women entrepreneurs, including a school supplies store owner, a carinderia owner, a livestock dealer, and a street food stall owner, who shared how they started and grew their businesses.
One of the speakers, Karen Marie Castillo, a carinderia owner, shared practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in the community. When asked what guidance she could give to women who want to start a business, she said, “Target location and kailangan afford ng ating community ’yung itinitinda natin.”
Participants also explored various financial products and services from BPI and its partners, helping them take concrete steps toward financial security.
The program also encouraged participants to take their first steps toward formal financial services, with attendees opening accounts, signing up for digital banking platforms such as VYBE by BPI, and exploring loan solutions from BanKo and protection offerings from BPI AIA and BPI MS that can support their personal and business needs.
Participants explore BPI services and sign up for VYBE during the “Basta Babae, Wais!” event in Caloocan City.
“Basta Babae, Wais!” reflects BPI’s continued efforts to bring financial education closer to communities, especially to women who play a vital role in managing household finances and driving grassroots economic activity.
BPI remains committed to making financial services more inclusive, accessible, and relevant, helping more Filipinos build a better and more secure future.
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Manila Water Philippine Ventures (MWPV), the Non-East Zone subsidiary of Manila Water Company, celebrates its 11th anniversary, celebrating more than a decade of expanding access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water and wastewater services across the Philippines.
As Manila Water’s domestic investment arm outside Metro Manila, MWPV continues to support national development through strategic partnerships, infrastructure investment, and operational excellence. Over the past 11 years, the Company has expanded its footprint in key urban and growth areas nationwide, delivering essential services that support communities, industries, and local governments in over 50 cities and municipalities across the Philippines, covering a population of close to 2 million people.
Last year, MWPV sustained strong performance across its portfolio of business units, reinforcing its role as a key driver of Manila Water’s domestic growth. In Metro Ilagan, operations were fully supported by an alternative water system delivering 8 million liters per day, providing critical water supply support to Ilagan City. In Pangasinan, business units posted a 12 percent increase in service connections, extending water services to an estimated 4,500 additional individuals year-on-year in the municipalities of Calasiao, Malasiqui and Sta. Barbara. Laguna Water further strengthened its position as the Group’s largest business unit, surpassing 130,000 service connections, supported by resilient operations.
Operational efficiencies were also achieved across several service areas. Laguna Aquatech (LARC) reduced non-revenue water to 26.67 percent year-to-date 2026 from 33 percent during the time of takeover in 2024. In South Luzon, MWPV sustained network expansion and recorded over 8 percent growth in water service connections, reflecting continued demand and reliable service delivery. Through sustained operational improvements, MWPV lowered its collective non-revenue water (NRW) level from 25 percent in 2023 to 18 percent in 2025, marking a significant gain in system efficiency across the portfolio.
MWPV’s operating companies earned international and regional recognition for sustainability, operational excellence, and energy management. Laguna Water and Clark Water were recognized by the International Water Association, with Laguna Water named a 2025 Climate Smart Utility and Clark Water cited for maintaining non-revenue water levels below 6 percent. Boracay Water reduced non-revenue water to 19 percent, recovering more than 1 million liters per day, and received recognition in the SDG 6 Champion of the Year category at the 2025 Global Water Awards.
Cebu Water received the Department of Energy’s 2025 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award, while Tagum Water was honored at the ASEAN Energy Awards 2025. Calbayog Water likewise achieved full septage system operations, strengthening sanitation and public health outcomes.
MWPV’s growth platforms continued to scale infrastructure development and new business. Manila Water Infratech Solutions closed P622-B in sales orders, up 253 percent year-on-year, and completed its largest pipelaying project under the Canlubang Sugar Estates joint project with Estate Water. Estate Water Group expanded its national footprint through new developer partnerships and advanced the Non-East Zone’s first desalination facility in Lio, El Nido, with its portfolio now spanning 129 developments across 50 cities and municipalities.
To support continued expansion and service reliability, MWPV invested more than P3 billion in capital expenditures in 2025, funding critical infrastructure, network upgrades, and sustainability initiatives.
As it enters its second decade, MWPV remains focused on expanding safe and reliable water services nationwide, advancing climate resilience, accelerating partnerships, and driving operational excellence, continuing its mission of delivering sustainable water solutions beyond Metro Manila.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), through its VYBE e-wallet, has partnered with Watsons Philippines to allow customers to earn cashback on their purchases during the much-anticipated Watsons Nationwide Sale happening from May 14 to 18.
As part of the collaboration, VYBE users can enjoy P50 cashback for every single-receipt purchase of at least P500. All they need to do is scan the QR Ph code using VYBE at more than 1,100 Watsons stores nationwide. This comes on top of Watsons’ biggest sale offers, including up to 50% off on select items.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to make everyday spending more rewarding and accessible for Filipinos, especially during high-demand shopping moments. It also supports the growing adoption of QR Ph payments by making cashless transactions more gratifying for everyday shoppers.
“Through VYBE’s cashback offer, we deliver extra good VYBEs to Filipino shoppers with every purchase,” said Eric Faustino, Head of Digital Partnerships and Ecosystems at BPI.
Beyond cashback, customers will also receive 100 BPI Rewards Points for every qualified transaction, adding another layer of benefit for users who choose to pay with VYBE.
VYBE by BPI allows users to pay bills, send money, earn and redeem points, and enjoy curated deals from partner merchants, all within a secure and easy-to-use app. With VYBE, everyday spending becomes more rewarding through simple tipid hacks, giving customers more ways to save while enjoying their favorite Watsons finds during the Nationwide Sale.
Download the VYBE app today and sign up for free to enjoy cashback rewards, exclusive deals, and more good VYBEs with every transaction. To learn more, visit https://www.bpi.com.ph/personal/bank/digital-banking/mobile/vybe.
From single parents balancing careers to women navigating disability, the She Can! 2026 celebration of GCash honored employees who turned challenges into paths of influence, building on its annual recognition program to spotlight journeys marked by perseverance and growth. This year’s program carried the theme “She Can Lead, She Can Conquer, She Can Inspire.”
The annual She Can! program is an internal recognition and empowerment initiative designed to celebrate the women of GCash who embody leadership and empathy within and outside work. This year's honorees were nominated by their own colleagues, a process that opened nominations across all employee levels to seek out extraordinary GCash women who inspire those around them every day. At the awarding ceremony, each honoree was presented on stage by her own nominator, emphasizing that these women are recognized by the very people they impact daily.
Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon affirmed the company’s commitment: “We recognize the women of GCash whose courage and leadership continue to shape our organization. Their stories remind us that when women are allowed to grow, they not only overcome challenges, but they lead, they conquer, and they inspire others to do the same.”
The honorees also shared about the intersection of personal growth and professional excellence. Tanya, one of the She Can! honorees, reflected on the power of emotional intelligence in the workplace, stating, “I’m proud that I can be strong and compassionate at the same time. I learned that empathy isn’t a weakness. The celebration also highlighted how GCash women navigate the complexities of modern life. Steffi, one of the honorees, shared how she models work-life harmony for her team: “I try to make it visible to others that it’s possible to create a balance between your career and your family life. You don’t have to set any one area aside”.
The program's special guest, former ABS‑CBN CEO and multi‑awarded actress Charo Santos, led a forum where she shared her own experiences of leading, conquering, and inspiring. She urged women professionals to embrace continuous learning and courage in a fast‑changing digital economy. "Leadership starts with learning," she said. "Your decision to improve is not just for yourself but for the people who follow you and rely on you.”
At the core of workplace inclusion at GCash is the belief that achieving Finance For All starts with providing opportunities for all. Behind inclusive products and services is an inclusive environment that empowers every employee to grow.
GCash champions women’s empowerment through the holistic 3Cs framework (Care, Career, and Culture). Employees are given holistic “Care” by providing them a robust safety net far exceeding statutory requirements. By integrating comprehensive health benefits—such as Day 1 HMO coverage with women-specific screenings and fertility treatment accommodations—with flexible work arrangements and dedicated mental health support, GCash ensures female employees are supported at every life stage. At the same time, inclusive life partner benefits allow female employees to enroll same-sex partners as dependents for HMO, insurance, and bereavement coverage, with no marriage certificate required.
From honoring specialized leaves for solo parents and survivors of gender-based violence to offering a secure environment for caregivers and recognizing non-traditional family set-ups, GCash fosters a culture where women can thrive both personally and professionally as drivers of fintech.
GCash has consistently invested in the career trajectory of women in tech through initiatives like the For The Women Scholarship and the Women Up Top Masterclass—both of which have provided women opportunities to widen their tech skillset.
To foster an inclusive workplace culture, employee resource groups like “Mamahood” offer working mothers a dedicated community to share experiences and support one another, alongside other ERGs open to women, including Limitless League, Queer Peers, and Self-Made Solos.
These efforts are reflected in GCash numbers and stand out sharply against industry norms. The fintech sector remains male-dominated, with less than 10% of leadership roles held by women. GCash has actively reversed this trend: as of March this year, women make up 47.2% of the Mynt workforce, and 47.7% of leadership roles are held by women, a figure that far exceeds industry standards. More strikingly, women occupy roughly half of GCash executive decision-making positions, with leaders such as Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon, Chief Technology & Operations Officer Pebbles Sy, and Chief Strategy Officer Rowie Zamora holding the company's top seats at a time when female executives represent a small fraction of leadership in fintech globally.
Beyond recognition, She Can! has transformed into a testament to an everyday culture where every woman is given the opportunities, tools, and voice to drive Finance for All. As Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon affirmed, GCash remains committed to strengthening mentorship, professional development, and leadership pathways for women across the organization, in service of its mission to advance financial inclusion in the Philippines.
For more information, visit https://www.gcash.com.
GCash chief data officer Sara Venturina takes the stage at the DepDev AGOS National Innovation Day at the Diamond Hotel Manila
Responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) is critical in driving inclusive and sustainable growth, as it can address persistent gaps in financial access and literacy, particularly in a mobile-first yet risk-exposed region like Southeast Asia. This was the key message of GCash, the country’s leading finance app and largest cashless ecosystem, as it joined policymakers and industry leaders at the 2026 National Innovation Day.
Held at the Diamond Hotel Manila, the event, organized by the Depdev National Innovation Council in partnership with ASEAN, brought together key stakeholders under the theme “AI for Growth, Opportunity, and Sustainability in ASEAN (AGOS)”, focusing on how emerging technologies can be scaled safely across the region.
During the discussions, Mynt chief data officer Sara Venturina highlighted how GCash is leveraging data and AI to help deliver equitable fintech access to Filipinos. “If we don’t use technology responsibly, it will lead to more inequality,” Venturina said. “At Gcash, we harness the power of data and AI to help move Filipinos toward financial progress, while ensuring that inclusion remains at the center of innovation.”
She emphasized that GCash’s AI strategy is grounded in improving customer outcomes while upholding strict standards for data privacy and protection. This includes carefully evaluating how technologies are deployed, ensuring efficiency without compromising accessibility or trust.
As conversations around AI governance continue to evolve, Venturina also pointed to the need for stronger industry-wide standards. “As AI scales, the question is not just how we build these systems, but how we ensure they remain fair, safe, and accessible,” she said, citing the importance of standardized testing and evaluation frameworks.
She added that accountability remains constant regardless of where data is stored, reinforcing GCash’s commitment to safeguarding user information.
“Whether the data resides locally or in a data center, the responsibility to protect that data remains with us, and we take that seriously.”
GCash also highlighted the growing role of emerging technologies that enable the safe use of data while preserving user privacy, allowing institutions to innovate without compromising trust.
The broader event featured discussions on national innovation policy and digital transformation, with key insights from government leaders, including Department of Science and Technology Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum, Department of Education Secretary Atty. Juan Edgardo Angara and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
As AI adoption accelerates across the Philippines and the ASEAN region, GCash reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside government and industry partners to advance responsible innovation—strengthening financial literacy, enhancing data governance, and expanding access to digital financial services for more Filipinos.
For more information, visit https://www.gcash.com.
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