PH Businesses Must Build Workforce Resilience Amid Severe Weather Systems - AscentHR

Manila, Philippines — As severe weather systems and typhoons continue to disrupt regular business operations across the Philippines, AscentHR, a leading provider of HR technology, payroll, compliance, and workforce solutions, is urging enterprises in the country to strengthen their operational resilience by modernizing their workforce management infrastructure.

This follows the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which reported a drop in average weekly hours worked from 40.6 hours in July to 39.2 hours in August this year. According to the PSA, bad weather was a primary factor causing millions of employed Filipinos to work fewer hours, directly impacting worker take-home pay and creating administrative complexity for employers managing variable shifts, overtime, and statutory reporting.

The latest PSA report also highlighted that while overall unemployment eased to 5.3% in August, underemployment remained high at 11.9%, representing approximately 5.9 million employed Filipinos seeking additional working hours or secondary income. Coupled with severe weather that forced disruptions, businesses face various challenges, including maintaining workforce productivity while ensuring fair, transparent, and accurate compensation during the affected operating cycles.

Labor market disruptions from extreme weather events are increasingly recognized as a macroeconomic challenge across the Asia-Pacific region. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO)

, heat stress and extreme weather disruptions account for millions of lost working hours annually in tropical climate zones, significantly impacting labor-intensive and shift-based operations such as manufacturing, retail, logistics, and multi-site operations.

AscentHR emphasizes that while physical disaster recovery plans remain a priority for corporations, operational continuity must extend directly into workforce administration, particularly in managing fluctuating work hours, shift differentials, and complex pay calculations without administrative friction or compliance errors.

"Operational resilience isn't just about disaster recovery, but it's about having payroll and workforce technology agile enough to accommodate weather disruptions and seasonal hours without administrative drag," said Subramanyam Sreenivasaiah, Founder & CEO of AscentHR. "When extreme weather disrupts standard working patterns, business agility depends on automated shift tracking, flexible variable-pay engines, and real-time compliance safeguards that ensure employees are accurately compensated without delay."

As local enterprises gear up for anticipated fourth-quarter seasonal hiring and ongoing weather contingencies, AscentHR urges businesses to examine their HR tech infrastructure for flexibility, localized compliance, and real-time data visibility.

"As weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable, businesses cannot afford legacy HR and payroll systems that bottleneck operations during emergency adjustments. Investing in secure, automated, and compliant workforce technology protects both the organization’s bottom line and the economic well-being of its workforce," Sreenivasaiah adds.

As one of the top HR and payroll solutions providers in the APAC region, AscentHR enables enterprises to navigate regional compliance, multi-country payroll, and workforce volatility through secure, scalable platforms including PowerPay and StoHRM. By integrating AI-driven automation, cloud analytics, and localized compliance features tailored for the Philippine market, AscentHR helps organizations absorb operational disruptions while maintaining data security and employee trust.

For more information, you may visit https://ascent-hr.com.

88 TNL Group Launches VITBLISS Philippines, Asia’s First Pharmacist-Packaged Vitamin Cards

Quezon City, Philippines — 88 TNL Group, Inc. has officially launched VITBLISS Philippines, bringing the Dutch-developed personalized vitamin card system exclusively to the local market. Developed in the Netherlands by VandenBrink Vitaler B.V., the innovation introduces Asia’s first pharmacist-packaged, four-week personalized vitamin cards, redefining how Filipinos manage daily health, energy, and household wellness.

As holistic wellness becomes increasingly integrated into everyday routines, Filipinos are looking for simpler ways to stay consistent with their health habits. Guided by the Dutch philosophy of “Everyday Balance,” VITBLISS replaces bulky traditional bottles with sleek, pre-portioned vitamin cards. Each card contains individual multi-dose cups that tear off easily for on-the-go use, eliminating the complexity of traditional supplement routines.

Beyond convenience, VITBLISS addresses the growing consumer demand for safety and quality assurance. Licensed pharmacists prepare and package every card under European pharmaceutical regulations, which ensures precise dosage control, safety, and nutrient combinations designed for optimal bioavailability.

The launch portfolio has eight targeted wellness formulas for men and women: Foundation, Immune Booster, Energy, Beauty, Digestion and Intestinal, Joints and Bones, Sports, and 50+. Users can also switch to a different formula the following month as their wellness needs change.

"VITBLISS is a vitamin intake system that offers maximum convenience, helps you stay consistent, and is tailor-fitted to your personal wellness goals. All it takes is 10 seconds a day to achieve your everyday balance," said Mick Uy, President of VITBLISS Philippines.

Designed to fit the daily routines of active urban professionals, young mothers, and aging family members, VITBLISS addresses a range of household wellness needs. It offers particular value to young mothers, who often serve as primary health decision-makers in Filipino homes, by covering maternal wellness, personal vitality, and family healthcare in pre-portioned daily packs. It also supports older adults focused on mobility and bone health, and helps family caregivers manage multiple health regimens.

Steve Baltao, Chief Operating Officer of 88 TNL Group, said the launch advances the company's mission to deliver accessible, data-driven, and streamlined preventive health solutions to Filipinos nationwide.

“Our goal is to ensure that quality preventive care and daily wellness solutions are easily accessible to every Filipino family. True preventive health relies on consistent, everyday habits at home. By bringing VITBLISS exclusively to the Philippines as part of our growing ecosystem, we are empowering households with European-grade, pharmacist-packaged supplements that make daily vitality simple, safe, and reliable,” said Baltao.

VITBLISS Philippines is exclusively distributed by 88 TNL Group, Inc. through vitbliss.ph, where consumers can explore the available formulas and take a two-minute wellness quiz to identify the cards that best match their needs.

Lenovo AI Express Accelerates Enterprise AI Deployment with NVIDIA

Lenovo has announced Lenovo AI Express, a new solution designed to help businesses accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) deployment, simplify infrastructure procurement, and achieve faster returns on their AI investments. Developed in collaboration with NVIDIA, the offering provides validated configurations, accelerated computing capabilities, and professional services to help organizations move from AI experimentation to production.

According to Lenovo’s 2026 CIO Playbook, organizations transitioning toward large-scale AI implementation expect an average return of $2.79 for every $1 invested, while 93% of enterprise respondents anticipate positive returns. However, deployment delays, integration challenges, and infrastructure readiness continue to prevent businesses from realizing AI’s full potential.

Lenovo AI Express addresses these challenges through ready-to-deploy infrastructure and flexible configurations that allow businesses to start with their current requirements and expand as workloads, users, AI models, and inference demands increase. Eligible configurations can achieve order-to-ship timelines starting at 15 business days.

Three Configurations for Different AI Needs

Lenovo AI Express offers three validated configurations designed for different levels of AI demand.

The Small configuration, available from 15 business days, supports focused AI inference for dozens of users and models ranging from 7 billion to 70 billion parameters. It uses the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650a V4, powered by two NVIDIA RTX 6000 PRO Blackwell Server Edition GPUs.

The Medium configuration, available in 20 business days, supports higher-throughput inference and agentic AI applications for hundreds of users. Built on the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR675 V3, it features eight NVIDIA RTX 6000 PRO Blackwell Server Edition GPUs and supports models ranging from 70 billion to 400 billion parameters.

The Large configuration, available in 25 business days, targets enterprise-scale deployments serving thousands of users. It uses the Lenovo ThinkSystem SR680a V4 with NVIDIA HGX B300 technology, supporting demanding generative AI workloads and models with up to one trillion parameters.

Customers can also choose validated AMD and Intel CPU technologies and extend their deployments with enterprise AI software, including Red Hat AI Factory with NVIDIA and NVIDIA AI Enterprise. Veeam Kasten is available to strengthen data protection and resilience.

Simplifying AI Operations and Scaling

Beyond infrastructure, Lenovo AI Express includes services covering use-case identification, return-on-investment validation, proof-of-concept development, and GPU performance optimization. Premier Support Plus for Servers adds proactive and predictive support to help maintain operational continuity.

Through its collaboration with NVIDIA and the Lenovo 360 partner framework, Lenovo aims to make enterprise AI infrastructure more accessible and deployment more predictable.

As businesses increasingly adopt generative AI and autonomous AI agents, Lenovo AI Express offers a structured pathway toward production-ready AI, helping organizations scale capabilities while managing deployment complexity, operational costs, and infrastructure investment.

Baguio Deploys AI to Improve Ease-Of-Doing-Business in Pine City

Baguio City is testing how AI can help businesses determine whether their proposed ventures comply with local zoning rules, as the city refines a digital tool developed with support from PLDT and Smart’s AI-in-a-Box program.

AI-in-a-Box is the PLDT Group’s initiative to make artificial intelligence more accessible to communities, combining digital tools, connectivity, and training to help organizations and local governments turn emerging technologies into practical solutions.

Earlier this year, PLDT and Smart, with support from PLDT Smart Foundation, Lenovo Philippines, and Microsoft, provided the Baguio City government with an AI access kit, which includes a laptop, a smartphone, a connectivity device, and premium access to AI tools.

“Technology for good means using innovation to address real needs in our communities,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Engagement at PLDT and Smart. “Through AI-in-a-Box, PLDT and Smart are working with local government units not only to provide access to AI, but also to build their capacity to develop practical solutions. We hope these efforts can help local government units (LGUs) make public services more responsive and meaningful for the people they serve.”

Earlier this year, select LGU staff from Baguio City underwent a three-month AI mentorship and acceleration program under PLDT and Smart’s AI-in-a-Box to enable them to create an AI-powered solution that can help improve its public service delivery.

The program has led to ‘BIZ Checker’, an online tool that helps applicants determine whether a proposed establishment is allowed in a particular location based on the city’s zoning classifications and requirements.

“Using the platform, the client or the applicant can see if their business is appropriate for that site,” said Roland Bautista, Senior Project Evaluation Officer of the Baguio City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office.

The tool is designed to address a common pain point in the permitting process: applicants sometimes discover only after approaching the city that their documents are incomplete or that their proposed establishment is not permitted in their chosen location.

BIZ Checker also includes ‘Rolly Bot’, a chatbot that draws on government documents and data to provide information to users. During the pilot, Bautista said, even some people who were less familiar with technology were able to use the system through their phones.

“Some of them are non-techie, but when it comes to gadgets, even a few 60-year-olds are learning to use their phones to access the solution,” he said.

Testing the system also helped the city identify areas that still need to be refined. Bryan Sombilon, Senior Project Technical Specialist of the Baguio City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office, said the team encountered additional permits and requirements that needed to be accounted for.

“We have to account for businesses that will be operating on government-owned properties. These are situations we encountered during the pilot, and now we know they also need to be reflected in the system,” he said.

The city is also reviewing its zoning rules, which means the system will need to keep pace with changes in regulations.

“The city is updating some ordinances that date back to the 1990s to make them more relevant to current needs,” Bautista said. “When the new zoning ordinance is finished, we will put it into the system and update it.”

The team regularly reviews the system and makes corresponding changes when regulations or requirements evolve.

For Sombilon, keeping the technology aligned with actual government processes is just as important as developing the tool itself. The team is looking at how it can be incorporated into the city’s operations and sustained over time.

“We need to institutionalize the system and integrate it into the government process. We need to plan for its sustainability, budgeting, and how it will be maintained as well,” he said.

The AI mentorship also influenced how the team approached the solution, pushing them to look beyond the technology and better understand the people who would use it.

“We were guided in terms of knowing more about our target audience, like their personas,” Sombilon said. “It’s really important when we craft the solution to know the personas of the target audience that we want to cater to.”

As the team prepares to present BIZ Checker at the PLDT and Smart’s AI in Action Summit in November, it continues to refine the system based on what it has learned from the pilot. The team hopes the technology can eventually make the permitting process more seamless, while keeping human support available when applicants need further explanation.

“Rolly Bot is there, but of course, we are always around to offer our services to Baguio City residents, especially those who prefer face-to-face interaction,” Bautista said.

For Sombilon, the project demonstrates how AI can be applied to a specific government service by using existing data and documents to make information more accessible to constituents.

“AI can really help make government processes easier,” he said. “We provide the system with data and documents from the government, allowing it to learn from the information we have and provide more accurate answers to constituents.”

Baguio City’s experience shows how local governments can explore AI as a practical tool for addressing specific service challenges. Through AI-in-a-Box, PLDT and Smart continue to support LGUs in developing solutions that respond to local needs, advance digital inclusion, and promote technology for good.

The country’s summer capital is one of four LGUs taking part in a mentorship program under the AI-in-a-Box initiative. Cebu City, Cabanatuan City, and the province of Lanao del Sur are also developing their own AI-powered tools to improve public service delivery.

The initiative also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, which calls for fostering innovation and building resilient infrastructure to support inclusive and sustainable development.

Different Goals, Different Habits, One Place to Save: Find Your Savings Style

Saving means different things to different people—from managing daily expenses to building an emergency fund or planning for the future. But with competing priorities, knowing where to put your money first can be challenging. TransUnion’s most recent Consumer Pulse Study found that 49% of Filipino consumers increased their emergency savings, while Sun Life’s 2026 Financial Resilience Index found that managing daily expenses is the top financial priority for more than half of Filipinos.

With priorities ranging from daily needs to future goals, saving is ultimately about finding habits that fit your life and give your money purpose.

To help Filipinos navigate their personal finance journeys, Jax Reyes, a well-known finance content creator recognized for making personal finance and money management more accessible online, shares practical advice on everything from saving and budgeting to making the most of your money.

“Not making a move is still a move. Not making a decision is still a decision. Every month, nakaupo yung pera mo sa same account. That is still a decision. But do you know that the quietness in that decision is costing you something?” said Jax.

Through a series of modules, Jax helps you identify what type of saver you are, find an approach that works for you, and discover how you can make your savings work toward your goals. Have a look and see which type of saver you are:

“May Naitabi” — The Accidental Saver

For the “Ay, may natira pala” saver, putting money aside isn’t always part of a carefully planned routine. Savings happen almost by accident—whatever remains after bills, essentials, and a little spending. The catch is that when this extra money stays in the same account as everyday funds, it can easily get spent without getting noticed.

A simple way to make this habit more intentional is to give those small, irregular amounts a dedicated place to stay. With a high-yield savings account in GSave, even your may naitabi money can earn up to 3.5%, instead of simply sitting in your account. After all, saving doesn’t always have to start big—it can start with whatever you have left, as long as you make the effort to keep it saved.

“May Huhugutin” — The Rainy-Day Saver

For the “may huhugutin” saver, having a financial safety net brings peace of mind. You like knowing there’s money set aside for the unexpected, but when your emergency fund sits in the same account as your everyday money, it can be tempting to treat it as part of your daily spend. One way to make your emergency fund work better is to give it a dedicated place, separate from the money you use day to day.

With a dedicated GSave account, your emergency savings can be kept out of sight from your everyday balance, while still remaining accessible when a genuine need comes up. Because when it comes to rainy-day funds, the goal is may huhugutin when you really need it—not when you’re short on your weekend splurge.

“May Pinaglalaanan” — The Goal-Setter

For the “may pinaglalaanan” saver, every peso has a purpose. You may be saving for a long-awaited trip, a big purchase, or another goal that you’re hoping to check off soon. The challenge comes when goal money and everyday spending share the same account—you have to constantly keep track of what’s “untouchable” and what’s actually available to spend.

Giving each goal its own dedicated place can make saving feel more tangible and help you stay accountable. With GSave, you can set aside money for a specific goal and easily see your progress along the way, without having to do the mental math every time you check your balance. After all, it’s easier to reach your goals when you see how far you’ve come.

“May Pinaghahandaan” — The Future Thinker

For the “may pinaghahandaan” saver, saving is all about thinking ahead. You’re not just preparing for your next purchase or vacation—you’re setting money aside for bigger milestones, whether that’s a future home, your child’s education, retirement, or another long-term dream. But when those savings simply sit in a regular account for years, they may not be doing much beyond waiting for the day you need them.

Giving long-term savings a dedicated place can help you stay focused on the future while allowing your money to potentially grow over time. With GSave, you can set aside money for tomorrow in a dedicated account, while options like UNO Time Deposit offer rates of up to 5.5% p.a. for funds you’re ready to set aside for longer. This way, you can keep money for today separate from what you’re preparing for tomorrow—and let your savings start working toward that future today.

“Hindi lang talaga siya about dapat magaling ka sa pera. It’s really about choosing a partner kung saan mo dapat ilagay. Saan siya mas magwo-work hard for you? Sometimes, the convenience, the complacency, is costing you. This is [an option] where you can put your money where it’s working for you—that’s what’s important. This is the real upgrade. Because siyempre, we all want it to be easy, but pinaka-importante is that I want it to be beneficial for you as well,” noted Jax.

Want to find the saving style that works best for you? Explore Jax’s modules on saving for practical tips on building better saving habits.

This October, Your Savings Could Come With More Reasons to Grow

Whatever your savings style, putting your money aside can be more rewarding when you have more reasons to stay on track. This October, GSave gives savers another reason to make their money moves count with GCash Shake It Up!

You don’t have to wait until payday to get started—simply open the GCash app each day and tap on an eligible product, such as GSave or GFunds, to unlock one free daily shake. Each shake automatically gives you one raffle entry for a chance to win Php 10,000 in cash, while also giving you the chance to score instant shopping vouchers worth Php 1, Php 50, or Php 200.

Save to Win Bigger

Ready to level up your wealth? Save or invest at least PHP 1,000 in eligible Wealth Management products like GSave or GFunds to earn one raffle entry per ₱1,000 deposited (for GSave, funds must remain in the account for at least 7 days).

The promo is open to both new and existing users, giving everyone a chance to win exciting prizes throughout the campaign. Up for grabs are: 

• October 1-15: One Yamaha Aerox scooter
• October 16-31: The campaign's grand prize of PHP 500,000 in cash

There’s no one right way to save—the best approach is the one that fits your habits, goals, and priorities. Whether you’re may naitabi, may huhugutin, may pinaglalaanan, or may pinaghahandaan, giving your savings a dedicated place can help you stay intentional about where your money goes. Because smart money habits don’t have to feel restrictive—they can help your money grow while giving you something to look forward to along the way.

To open an account on GSave, you must be a Filipino Citizen, at least 18 years old, and a fully verified GCash user. Ready to grow your money? You may access GSave through the GCash dashboard or find it under “Grow.” No GCash yet? Download the GCash App on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei App Gallery. Kaya mo, i-GCash mo!