DOTr Reiterates Strict Observance of its Bidding Processes

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Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade reiterated his directive to DOTr officials, as well as to interested parties in all projects of the Department, that he shall enforce strict observance of bidding and procurement processes, and shall not entertain nor tolerate discussions and negotiations that are not prescribed under the law.

The Transportation Chief likewise stressed his principle of not meddling with the affairs of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).

“The BAC should be an independent body from the Secretary. I will not allow anyone to discuss with me projects that are undergoing procurement. I will only be open to official discussions once the procurement process has been finalized, and complete documentation is already on my table. Maging strikto tayo sa pagsunod sa proseso para hindi tayo mabahiran ng korapsyon,” Secretary Tugade said.

Last May, the DOTr has started the online livestreaming of procurement processes for all projects of the Department to promote transparency, accountability and good governance.

Since its activation, DOTr has livestreamed a total of twenty-nine (29) projects, twenty-one (21) of which were covered during the Pre-bid Conference, while eight (8) projects were covered during the Opening of Bids. The online livestreams can be seen in the official DOTr Facebook page.

Secretary Tugade has urged the public to monitor and observe the Department’s bidding and procurement proceedings and to report any anomalous incidents.

“I am serious with my no-corruption campaign inside the DOTr. I encourage everyone to remain vigilant in our fight against the corruption. Isa man dito ang mahuli ko, lalagutin ko,” Secretary Tugade said.

DOTr Secretary Tugade Directs Heightened Security Measures in All Transport Hubs

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Mandaluyong City, Philippines—Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade yesterday ordered his key officials to put in place heightened security measures in all transport hubs in the country, and emphasized that public safety is the topmost priority of his administration.

The Transport Chief stressed the need for consistent visibility of security personnel in transport facilities to prevent untoward incidents and to deter lawless elements from conducting activities detrimental to passengers.

 “Let us be visible and vigilant in the service of country...para sa Pilipino at Inang Bayan,” Secretary Tugade said.

In response, Undersecretary for Aviation Capt. Manuel Antonio “Skee” Tamayo yesterday directed aviation authorities to post sufficiently armed roving uniformed and covert security personnel within the premises of all airports and other installations. Immediately, Manila International Airport (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal implemented the directive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Complex.

“Let’s do this in all airports— parking, arrival, lobby, departure, check in, immigration, boarding, waiting and greeting areas. We must have roving organic and security personnel,” Sec Tugade said.

The Transportation Secretary likewise underscored the need for all security personnel to always be on alert and adopt the “buddy system” while roving.

“Walang guwardiyang pa-upo-upo at pabanying-banying. No personal calls,” the Secretary emphasized.

Secretary Tugade’s order on heightened security in all transport facilities is in light of the security threat posed by the Maute Terrorist Group, which has besieged Marawi City and resulted in the President’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

It may be recalled that the Transportation Chief, through Department Order (D.O.) No. 2017-008 dated June 5, 2017, has put the control and supervision of security operations in all seaports nationwide under the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Check Out Twitter's New Look!

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Last year, we told you exactly who we are (Twitter is what’s happening!) and refreshed our brand. Today, with lots of feedback and ideas from you, we’re refreshing our product too and making it feel lighter, faster, and easier to use. We listened closely and kept what you love. And for the things you didn’t, we took a new approach to fix and make better.

These are some of the changes rolling out across twitter.com, Twitter for iOS, Twitter for Android, and Twitter Lite over the coming days. Here’s what people will see:

●       Profile, additional accounts, settings, and privacy – all in one place! A new side navigation menu and fewer tabs at the bottom of our app = less clutter and easier browsing. You told us you loved this change on Android last year and we’re excited to now bring it to iOS.

●       Links to articles and websites now open in Safari’s viewer in the Twitter app so you can easily access accounts on websites you’re already signed into.

●       We’ve refined our typography to make it more consistent, and added bolder headlines to make it easier to focus on what’s happening. Also, rounded profile photos make it clearer to see what’s being said and who’s saying it.

●       More intuitive icons make it easier to engage with Tweets – especially if you’re coming to Twitter for the first time. For example, people thought the reply icon, an arrow, meant delete or go back to a previous page. We switched to a speech bubble, a symbol most know and love. We also made the icons lighter for more seamless interaction.

DICT To Launch Top 3 Priority Projects

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The Department of Information and Communications Technology is steadfast in its aim to shape the country’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) roadmap through initiatives that enhance government operations and online services, and projects that contribute towards the strengthening of telecom and public service infostructures in the country.

Pursuant to such endeavors and in celebration of National ICT Month, the DICT is holding an event focused on the Department’s three flagship projects —the launch of the National Government Portal (NGP), the unveiling of the National Broadband Plan (NBP), and the continuing of the refocused Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places (FWPP) Project. All three projects contribute to the single objective of providing ready and reliable communication and transaction channels between the government and the people. Together, these facilitate the development of a more efficient, ICT-enabled society, leading to accelerated and sustainable socio-economic growth.

The DICT thus invited us to cover the grand launch and introduction of these projects on 23 June 2017, 8 a.m., at a hotel in Manila.

Further news about the launch will be posted soon here at WazzupPilipinas.com

Relax Your Feet with ‘Zach Ebony’ from Banana Peel

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Dads are always on their feet, juggling between being a provider and making sure that quality time is spent with the family. How dads manage through their day exhausts one of the most hard working part of the body—his feet. Wearing comfortable footwear is essential in making everyday tasks easier. Being in comfortable footwear enables you to do more of what is important, and what you enjoy the most.

However, we easily neglect the importance of wearing proper footwear all the time. Poorly designed footwear can harm far more than your feet. They can cause pain throughout your body such as back pain and joint problems. You can avoid these, by picking the right footwear. The quality, style and fit must be all considered.

The quality used for your footwear should not irritate your skin. It should make your feet comfortable. More importantly, good quality footwear doesn’t easily get worn out.

In considering the style, you must look at how the arch support is shaped and how deep the heel cup is—in order to support you properly and have proper stability as you move.

And lastly you must highly consider the fit. Just like a car, you need to “test drive” the shoe by walking in them to see how they feel while moving. 

Just in time for Father’s day, Banana Peel introduces its new collection ‘Zach Ebony’ collection. These flip flops are layered with high-density EVA insoles and rubber outsoles to create a foot-bed that's firm on the ground but comforting for hardworking feet. This is perfect for fathers who put a premium in good footwear. Zach goes beyond the usual man flip flops as it offer more benefits like:

o    Arch support 

o    Easy on-and-off means it’s convenient to wear at any point

o    Even more breathability than slippers

Affordable, fashionable, and functional ‘Zach’ is the perfect flip flop gift you can give your father this Father’s day. After all, don’t they just want comfy footwear after a long and productive day, just like everybody else?

To know more about Banana Peel, go to www.facebook.com/bananapeelflipflops. 

Philippines' First Subway System Gets Underway

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The Metro Manila Subway Project may be an ambitious undertaking, but it is moving forward.

At the seventh Steering Committee Meeting presided by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade last week, partners from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) presented updates on the Feasibility Study being conducted on the Metro Manila Subway Project.

Among the issues discussed were timelines, alignment, and organizational arrangements. Sec. Tugade reiterated his directive that he wants the project to be operational before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

“I don’t want bola-bola. I want this project finished,” Tugade said.

Apart from fast-tracking the project, he also proposed for the subway to extend all the way to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

"I need to have that connectivity. I have a big problem with NAIA because of the projected increase in volume of passengers," he said.

The subway alignment originally has 13 stations, starting from Mindanao Avenue and ending at FTI Taguig. This is seen to cut travel time from Quezon City to Taguig to just 31 minutes.

Sec. Tugade also proposed a training facility for railway operators to which JICA responded positively. JICA also presented possible organizational arrangements to ensure that the subway will be constructed, operated, and maintained by a competent and dedicated team of certified operators and experts.

Apart from a world-class design, the proposed subway system will have water-stop panels, doors, and high-level entrance for flood prevention, earthquake detection, and a train stop system just like the subways in Tokyo.

At the end of the meeting, a minutes of discussion was signed by Sec. Tugade and JICA.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vince Dizon, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Danny Lim, representatives from the National Economic Development Authority, and officials of the Embassy of Japan were also present at the signing.

President Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to sign a loan agreement for the Mega Manila Subway Project during the latter’s visit to the Philippines in November.

Know the Tools to Help Improve Your Business at PBEX 2017

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Small and Medium Enterprises make up the majority of companies in the country, and large companies also depend on SMEs that they can supply with the necessary items they need to do business.

In an effort to improve business processes in the SME industry, the 8th Philippine Business and Entrepreneur's Expo has invited entrepreneurs and consultants to share tips and ideas on how they can grow their business further.

The Entrep Success Forum (to be held on Sunday, July 29) feature business owners Mr. Von Ryan Reyes (King’s Care Laundry) and Mr. Jerome Arenas Lustre (JBooks Consultancy Services), business consultant Prof. El Pangulayan Buelva (Host of the Business Café radio program) and marketing educator Prof. Jerry Yao as they share business tips from cashflow to human resource management to marketing and business expansion. This forum is open to everyone.

The 8th Philippine Business and Entrepreneurs' Expo will be held at the Megatrade Hall 1 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City this July 28 to 30, Friday to Sunday. We are open for exhibitors to showcase their products and services - get in touch with Ex-Link at (+63 2) 633-0153, 643-3887 or 535-1150; SMS (+63) 920 981 4376 or (+63) 920 924 2532; email info@exlinkevents.com or message us on Facebook @exlinkevents. Program lineup subject to change without prior notice.

Innovation is Key to Penetrating Different Market Segments: Lenovo

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The world’s top PC maker credits its consistent growth to a customer-centric approach

During a recent visit to Lenovo Philippines’ headquarters in Taguig, Lenovo’s Executive Director and Regional General Manager for Central Asia Pacific (CAP), Ivan Cheung shared
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why innovation matters at Lenovo. According to Cheung, the company allocates US$1.5B each year to explore and create new products for its customers.

Cheung said, “Innovation is at the core of Lenovo’s business. It allows us to better serve our clients and provide them what they need. With a history of ‘firsts’ and pioneering leadership that is rooted in genuinely listening to customers and through analysing data, we will continue to provide cutting-edge technologies to cater different users’ needs.”

Customer centricity also plays a huge part at Lenovo. “We take engagement with our customers seriously. By addressing their needs at every touchpoint – from product inquiry, the actual purchase of products, to the after-sales experience – we are confident that the experiences we create are highly relevant, no matter for consumers or business users.”

In addition, Lenovo Philippines Country General Manager Michael Ngan shared, “To stay on top of a competitive market, we do our best to keep our core business strong and leverage our strengths. Part of the strategy is to create products for different market segments continuously.”

In recent months, for instance, the multinational tech company has locally introduced a wide range of products catered to different kinds of enthusiasts and professionals, including Legion, the company’s PC brand dedicated to the gaming community. It also released Kaby-Lake powered ThinkPad devices designed for the working professionals.

As for smartphones and convertibles, Lenovo respectively brought in the Phab 2 Pro – a Tango-enabled smartphone with an augmented reality (AR) feature – and the Yoga Book, which is geared for both productivity and creativity, through its touch glass surface allowing users to type, write, or draw digitally.

Cheung also demonstrated confidence in bringing more growth and improving the company’s quality of service in the country. He believes in the power of communication to make things happen for a team; and thus, makes it a point to engage regularly with team members of the recently-formed CAP unit – made up of Lenovo offices based in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the rest of Asia.

Cheung leads CAP’s business operations, strategy, sales and marketing for Lenovo’s line of PCs, mobile devices, and data center infrastructure.

Rustan’s Supermarket Says, “Thank you, Dad!” with a Weekend Sale

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The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach—and the same goes for dads! This Father’s Day, a treat for the taste buds could be the perfect way to say thanks to the first and special man in your life.

Luckily, Rustan’s Supermarket has got everything you need to whip up a perfect present just for dad. Starting today until June 18, the supermarket is holding the Dad’s Day Weekend Sale where you can score every father’s favorites at a special discount.

An occasion such as Father’s Day calls for gathering the whole family. Why not hold a big barbecue? Your meat-loving dad will appreciate choosing from Australian steak cuts and assorted sausages, which come at 20% off, and wagyu burgers and lamb chops, which are on a buy 1 take 1 promo.

Have the right accompaniments to your heavy meats at the ready. UK brand Waitrose has a great selection of sauces to slather on while or after grilling. Then, stock the table with healthy Deep River Kettle Chips for a light bite. Get all these at 10% off.

To complete the celebration, score beers, wine, and spirits offered in bundle deals or at a 30% discount.

Continue to show dad your appreciation in the little things—sometimes that’s what people appreciate the most. Make every day more special for dad and show him that you care with a simple gift box of his daily essentials. Choose from coffee and men’s care products that will brighten up his everyday—all at 10% off.

Come to a Rustan’s Supermarket near you and find that special something to give your dad the big thanks he deserves.

For more info, visit www.rustansfresh.com, follow and like rustansfresh on Facebook, and @rustansfresh on Instagram and Twitter.

Rustan’s Supermarkets are located at Makati Area: Glorietta, Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Magallanes, Alphaland Makati Place, Paseo Center, Century City Mall.  North Area: Shangri-La Plaza, Gateway Mall, Katipunan, Tomas Morato, P. Guevarra, Corinthian Hills, Village Center Antipolo, The Grove by Rockwell, Ayala Malls The 30th. South Area: Ayala Alabang Village, Evia Lifestyle Center, Uptown Mall BGC. Cebu: Oakridge Business Park, Ayala Center, Arcenas Estate CDO: Ayala Centrio Mall. Also, visit Marketplace by Rustan’s at San Antonio Plaza, Rockwell Power Plant Mall, Central Square Bonifacio High Street, and Connecticut San Juan.

NPC Conducts Privacy Compliance Check on BPI

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The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is conducting a privacy compliance check on the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) after the recent incident that caused the bank’s electronic channels to be temporarily suspended, inconveniencing many of its clients.

The compliance check will evaluate the existing governance, organizational, physical and technical measures in place and seek to address any gaps especially in the bank’s breach management protocol, with the view of preventing or mitigating similar incidents in the future.

Under Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Data Privacy Act), the NPC is mandated to ensure compliance of institutions with its provisions, which includes data breach notification, management and mitigation.

The NPC has been in contact with the bank since 7 June 2017, the first day news about the incident spread on social media. The high profile nature of the incident, and the potential harm to thousands of data subjects prompted the Commission to immediately coordinate with the bank and its data protection officer to work towards containing the breach and lessening the impact of the incident.

According to Privacy Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro; “We appreciate BPI’s efforts to establish communication with the Commission throughout this episode to assuage our concern for the privacy of their depositor’s personal data. We highly regard the bank’s assurances. As advocate and vanguard of people’s privacy rights, however, the NPC’s public mandate compels us to look even further and deeper into this matter,” Liboro said. “We believe the BPI management fully understands this, because of our shared goal of ensuring the protection of the privacy rights and interests of their clients” he added.

The BPI incident was reported to have been caused by human error resulting in previously posted transactions to be reposted. The discovery of the error prompted to the Bank to suspend access to thousands of accounts. The BPI incident involved a breach in security affecting the availability and integrity of information that relates to individuals, considered a personal data breach under NPC’s memorandum circular on personal data breach management (NPC MC 16-03).

Commissioner Liboro explains further, "First, the BPI incident impacted information which is considered personal under the Data Privacy Act. This includes the processing of data, which is capable of uniquely identifying data subjects, such as the account information of BPI and BPI Family Bank customers contained in BPI’s systems. Second, the nature of the incident impacted both the availability and integrity of personal information considering that the incident resulted in the posting of erroneous account information and the prevention of its access to account holders. Under the law, impacts to availability and integrity of personal information may constitute a breach where loss and/or alteration to personal information occurs, whether accidentally or unlawfully."

Commissioner Liboro underscored the importance of data protection in the Internet age. “With many services being on-line, a simple data processing error can affect thousands of data subjects as well as have national impact, we can’t help to reiterate the importance of good house keeping for data processing systems and having breach management protocols in place compliance with data protection and privacy regulations reduces breach incidents and puts data subjects out of harm's way.” Commissioner Liboro said.

The National Privacy Commission recently held a general assembly of Data Privacy Officers (DPO) in the banking industry. The event, called DPO2, was conducted in cooperation with banking regulator the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP). After government, the NPC believes that the banking and finance sector's Personal Information Controllers (PICs) are involved in high-risk processing, because of the nature of the data they process and the potential impact of breaches to economic security.