Project Swipe Safe Strengthens Child Protection in Cagayan de Oro With PLDT, Smart Support

As Cagayan de Oro City continues to strengthen initiatives that protect children from online risks, local government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector are working together to help create a safer digital environment for the youth. In support of the campaign against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) donated mobile phones and connectivity devices to Xavier Science Foundation, Inc. (XSF) for the implementation of Project Swipe Safe.

Implemented by XSF in partnership with ChildFund Philippines and the City Council for the Protection of Children (CCPC) of Cagayan de Oro City, Project Swipe Safe equips children and young people with practical digital safety skills to help create a safer online environment free from abuse, exploitation, and violence. The donated devices from PLDT and Smart will support facilitators in delivering training sessions and implementing other project initiatives.

"At PLDT and Smart, we promote the use of technology because it enables people to learn, connect, and build communities. But equally important is teaching online safety. By supporting partners like Xavier Science Foundation and initiatives such as Project Swipe Safe, we not only help protect young people but also empower them to become advocates of responsible digital citizenship. We want them to look out for the people they care about and help build a safer digital world," said Roby Alampay, Public Engagement Head at PLDT and Smart.

Developed by ChildFund Australia, the Swipe Safe mobile application and training package was first launched in Vietnam and has since been adopted in several countries across the Asia-Pacific. The Philippines is the latest to implement the program, with Cagayan de Oro City serving as its pilot site.

“The project helps children learn key concepts about the internet, develop personal safety plans, and practice positive online safety behaviors through engaging and meaningful learning experiences,” said Sheila de Lima, Project Manager of Xavier Science Foundation.

The project will be rolled out in five public secondary schools—Mambuaya National High School, PN Roa Sr. National High School, Kauswagan National High School, Lapasan National High School, and Cagayan de Oro City High School – Junior High School Campus—and is expected to reach more than 10,000 learners.

PLDT and Smart continue to strengthen partnerships that help create safer digital spaces for children and young people. The initiative supports the PLDT Group's commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Vivo Refurbished Phones Offer Filipinos a Smarter Way to Experience Vivo

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — For consumers who want to experience a Vivo smartphone without buying a brand-new unit, refurbished devices offer an alternative. Unlike ordinary second-hand phones, refurbished Vivo units undergo inspection, cleaning, and necessary repairs by Vivo customer service professionals before being offered for resale. This gives consumers a more accessible way to own selected Vivo smartphones.

Watch the Vivo Philippines video on TikTok

Refurbished Vivo phones may include units previously used by KOLs or ambassadors and store display or demo devices. Once returned, these phones go through inspection, cleaning, and repair before being relisted. Instead of being sold as-is, refurbished units are professionally prepared for their next owner.

For Filipino consumers, this provides another smartphone option. Professional refurbishment and after-sales support can provide confidence.

Professional refurbishment with warranty support

Vivo refurbished phones come with a standard one-year warranty. The start date depends on the unit’s classification and proof of purchase.

There are two types of refurbished Vivo phones:

Pre-owned (LDU) — These are older demo or ex-display units refurbished for resale. The product code has a two-digit suffix, and the device and packaging say “Pre-owned.”

Near New — These are units returned within 15 days and subsequently refurbished for resale. The product code has a one-digit suffix, and the device and packaging say “Near New.”

When proof of purchase is available, the warranty begins on the purchase date shown on the receipt. For Pre-owned units without proof of purchase, the warranty start date is based on the device’s IMEI binding, activation, or sold date. For Near New units without proof of purchase, the 90th day after the production date applies, in accordance with Vivo’s warranty policy.

How to buy a refurbished Vivo phone

Buying a refurbished Vivo phone is straightforward. Consumers can visit the official Vivo website, open the e-store, select Products, and choose refurbished phones. They can also visit a Vivo Store and select Shop, followed by refurbished phones.

Watch the Vivo Philippines video on TikTok

Consumers can currently explore refurbished versions of the Vivo X300 FE and Vivo X300 Ultra, offering another way to experience Vivo’s smartphone capabilities.

With clear classifications, professional refurbishment, and warranty support, Vivo refurbished phones offer Filipino consumers an alternative to brand-new or ordinary second-hand devices. Follow Vivo Philippines on social media for updates on products, news, and available refurbished phones.

Mobile Internet Keeps Southeast Asia’s Remote Work Hubs Connected, but Fixed Broadband Tells a Different Story

Southeast Asia continues to strengthen its position as a hub for digital nomads and remote workers, with Ookla’s latest report highlighting generally strong mobile connectivity across the region’s popular destinations. While mobile networks are proving increasingly capable, the report also reveals important differences in fixed broadband reliability and Wi-Fi technology.

Among the 13 destinations measured, Da Nang, Vietnam, recorded the fastest median mobile download speed at 215.56 Mbps. At the other end of the range, Cebu in the Philippines posted 55.48 Mbps. Despite the gap, mobile performance remains broadly satisfactory for remote work. Median download speeds increased in 12 of the 13 destinations over the past year, indicating continued improvements in mobile network performance.

The expansion of 5G availability is another positive development. Availability increased across all 13 destinations, ranging from an impressive 83.8% in Phuket, Thailand, to 40.0% in Penang, Malaysia. However, greater access to 5G has not necessarily translated into more consistent performance. The share of 5G samples meeting the benchmark of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload declined in seven destinations.

Network stability also deserves attention. Mobile jitter remained below the 30 ms threshold that Microsoft Teams considers poor for video calls in every destination. Da Nang recorded the lowest jitter at just 7 ms, while Cebu had the highest at 18 ms. However, jitter increased year over year in 11 of the 13 destinations, suggesting that connection stability could become a growing concern for remote professionals.

Fixed broadband is where the differences between destinations become much more pronounced. Singapore led with a median download speed of 447.75 Mbps, while Jakarta, Indonesia, recorded 60.33 Mbps. Reliability can also vary significantly. Chiang Mai, Thailand, for example, delivered a 258.50 Mbps median speed, but only 65.7% of fixed samples achieved the 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload benchmark.

Finally, Wi-Fi remains an important part of the remote-work equation. A fast fixed connection can still result in a poor experience if the local Wi-Fi network is outdated. Singapore stands out, with 34.4% of reported Wi-Fi connections using Wi-Fi 7—7.5 times the share of the next ASEAN destination. Meanwhile, legacy Wi-Fi 4 remains common in Jakarta and Bali, accounting for 42.7% and 41.9% of connections, respectively.

Overall, the findings show that Southeast Asia remains well-positioned for remote work, but speed, consistency, reliability, and Wi-Fi technology all matter when choosing a destination.

Protecting Children in the Digital Age: Why Online Safety Requires Everyone

The rapid growth of digital technology has transformed how children learn, communicate, create, and connect. But as young people spend more time online, new forms of exploitation, violence, and manipulation are emerging. Addressing these threats requires more than technology alone—it demands cooperation among government, law enforcement, industry, schools, families, and communities.

This was the focus of “Protecting Children in the Digital Age: A Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Online Violence, Child Exploitation and Digital Safety,” led by PROTECTA Pilipinas, a multi-sector alliance spearheaded by PLDT. The forum brought together representatives from government, telecommunications, education, media, law enforcement, mental health, and the private sector to strengthen collective efforts toward a safer digital environment for Filipino children.

Atty. Roy D. Ibay, Smart VP and Head of Regulatory Affairs and lead convenor of PROTECTA, emphasized that no single organization can secure the digital ecosystem alone. Protecting children requires government, industry, civil society, and communities to work together.

PLDT Chief Operating Officer Menardo G. Jimenez Jr. highlighted the moral responsibility of telecommunications companies to help protect children from harmful online platforms and communities. His message was particularly clear: the protection of even one child matters. As online threats evolve beyond exploitation and pornography to include scams, grooming, coercion, and violent content, digital safety strategies must evolve as well.

Usec. Angelo Tapales of the Council for the Welfare of Children stressed that children should not be expected to protect themselves from online risks. Their experiences and voices should inform solutions, but adults must carry the responsibility of creating safer digital spaces.

Law enforcement also pointed to the changing nature of online harm. Lt. Col. Ayn Natuel of the PNP Women and Children Protection Center noted that highly networked online communities can exploit, groom, blackmail, and manipulate vulnerable young people.

The forum underscored that child protection is ultimately a digital resilience issue. Stronger laws, platform accountability, effective content moderation, responsible creators, parental guidance, education, mental health support, and community awareness must work together.

As technology continues to reshape everyday life, the goal should not be to prevent children from accessing the digital world. Instead, society must ensure that children can benefit from technology without having to choose between being connected and being safe.

LG Electronics Unveils Micro RGB evo at IFA 2026, Advancing the Future of Home Entertainment

LG Electronics is showcasing the future of high-performance television technology at IFA 2026 with the introduction of Micro RGB evo, an ultra-large LCD TV designed to deliver high-purity RGB color performance. The new display technology highlights LG’s continued efforts to push the boundaries of picture quality while giving consumers more immersive and vibrant viewing experiences.

A key feature of Micro RGB evo is its ability to produce highly pure RGB colors, allowing images to appear more vivid, accurate, and lifelike. The technology has received the “High Purity RGB Spectrum Display” certification from TÜV Rheinland, providing independent recognition of its color performance. This certification underscores LG’s focus on delivering advanced display quality through precise color reproduction.

Micro RGB evo also benefits from LG’s powerful α11 AI Processor, an award-winning processor previously associated with the company’s flagship OLED televisions. Recognized for its ability to enhance both picture and audio quality, the α11 AI Processor brings sophisticated artificial intelligence-powered processing to LG’s latest RGB display technology.

The processor can play an important role in optimizing the viewing experience by analyzing content and applying intelligent processing designed to improve image and sound performance. By extending the α11 AI Processor beyond its flagship OLED lineup, LG is bringing its advanced processing capabilities to a broader category of premium displays.

LG’s presence at IFA 2026 also highlights the company’s broader expansion of its RGB display portfolio. Beyond the ultra-large Micro RGB evo, LG is extending the technology to Mini RGB evo models, giving consumers more choices across different screen sizes and product categories.

The expansion reflects a broader industry trend toward increasingly sophisticated display technologies that combine advanced color reproduction, artificial intelligence, and large-format entertainment. For consumers, this means greater flexibility when selecting a television that fits their viewing preferences, space, and budget.

With Micro RGB evo, LG is positioning RGB-based LCD technology as another important part of its premium television strategy. The combination of high-purity RGB color performance, TÜV Rheinland certification, and the α11 AI Processor demonstrates how display hardware and intelligent processing can work together to create more compelling home entertainment experiences.

As LG continues expanding its Micro RGB and Mini RGB evo lineup, the company is giving consumers more ways to experience enhanced color, detail, and audio quality. Its showcase at IFA 2026 signals that the next generation of television technology will continue to focus on color accuracy, AI-powered optimization, and greater consumer choice.