BARMM Treasury Office, GCash Partner to Simplify Digital Collections for Ministries, Offices, and Agencies in the Bangsamoro Region

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), through its collecting Ministries, Offices, and Agencies, will soon introduce a more convenient way for constituents to pay government fees and complete transactions following a new partnership between the Bangsamoro Treasury Office (BTO), a sectoral office under the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Management, and GCash.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving access to public services by providing a digital platform that connects government services directly to constituents, making transactions simpler, faster, and more accessible across the region.

Payment processes have largely remained traditional, with many transactions still done manually and requiring constituents to visit field offices to complete them. For those in remote and far-flung areas, this often results in additional time, cost, and inconvenience.

As emphasized by Minister Ubaida C. Pacasem of the Ministry of Finance and Budget and Management—BARMM, “The partnership between the BTO and GCash is a powerful vehicle for change, and we are fully committed to steering it toward success. We are ready to do the work today, tomorrow, and in the years to come,” she added.

The Bangsamoro Treasury Office’s initiative to introduce digital payment channels aims to address these challenges by bringing services closer to communities while ensuring that proper guidelines and controls are observed.

“Bangsamoro Treasury Office acknowledges that this partnership is an important step not only in strengthening our collection systems, but also in guiding Bangsamoro Ministries, Offices, and Agencies as we encourage the adoption of digital payment options to serve communities across BARMM better,” said Chief Naila Z. Dimaraw, Bangsamoro treasurer.

“At its core, this initiative is about financial inclusion. We know the realities of our geography. Across the mainland and island provinces, access to traditional banking infrastructure has long been a challenge. By partnering with GCash, we are embracing a more mobile future for public service delivery, bridging the gap and enabling constituents to pay fees, taxes, and other dues more conveniently, without the need for long travel or waiting in line,” the Bangsamoro treasurer chief added.

GCash remains committed to contributing to the Bangsamoro Government’s efforts to promote financial inclusion and strengthen the efficiency of revenue collection. The partnership also highlights how digital tools can make it easier for citizens to engage with Bangsamoro Ministries, Offices, and Agencies, fostering a more seamless and citizen-centered service experience.

“GCash recognizes the priorities, systems, and the needs of the communities of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” said Cleo Celeste Santos, Head of GCash Public Sector. “We stand ready to support where we are most needed—empowering institutions, enhancing service delivery, and helping build a more inclusive, citizen-centered digital ecosystem for the Bangsamoro Government and its people,” she added.

As digital adoption continues to grow, this collaboration marks a step toward a more accessible and responsive government—where public services are easier to access and better aligned with the everyday needs of communities.

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.

Better Together: Connect Home and Mobile with Globe for Bigger Value and Everyday Savings

In today’s fast‑moving world, staying connected is about more than speed; it’s about having one seamless experience that keeps up with family, work, and play. Globe now makes everyday life easier and more rewarding by uniting its most trusted mobile and home internet services. What you love on mobile, streaming, chatting, studying, and playing, is now powered by fiber internet at home, giving families uninterrupted connections wherever they are while unlocking rewards that celebrate commitment and deliver real everyday value.

Globe postpaid mobile subscribers who apply for a GFiber Plan can receive up to ₱500 off their monthly mobile bill for 24 months, doubling the previous 12-month benefit. The updated offer also includes VIP hotline access and prioritized Globe Care Squad visits for the GFiber Plan 2499 with 1Gbps. This long‑term savings ensures that households relying on streaming, online classes, and remote work can focus on what matters most, without worrying about connectivity or service interruptions.

Budget‑conscious families and young professionals using Globe Prepaid or TM can now enjoy free prepaid promos every month, also for 24 months. This added flexibility empowers them to stream, chat, study, and play without stretching their wallets, making everyday digital life more accessible and rewarding.

Customers who renew their postpaid mobile plan and subscribe to a new GFiber Plan can enjoy up to 12 months of free home internet. For households with heavy digital demands, multiple devices, high‑bandwidth activities, and smart home setups, this means greater freedom to stay powered up. Meanwhile, subscribers of the GFiber Plan 2499 with 1Gbps also gain VIP hotline access and Globe Care Squad visits, ensuring peace of mind that their home is always ready for work, play, and everything in between.

“As customers’ needs evolve, Globe is also strengthening how mobile and home internet work better together as one Globe experience,” said Abigail Cardino, Vice President for Globe’s Broadband Business. “Through our mobile‑exclusive offers, we ensure that the mobile service our customers already love now comes with high‑speed fiber at home. And it doesn’t stop at the connection—when our mobile customers avail of Globe internet at home, they don’t just get a great home connection; they also unlock exclusive freebies for their mobile phones. We are bringing the entire digital ecosystem under one roof, rewarding loyalty across every screen. This achievement was powered by what we call One Home.”

With perks lasting up to 24 months, including bill rebates, free prepaid promos, VIP support, Blast TV access, and the latest WiFi 6 modem, Globe is redefining what it means to be connected. More than just an upgrade, this is about empowering Filipino families to keep going, to stay productive, and to remain close to the people who matter most. Globe ensures that wherever life takes you, connection and rewards go with you, at home and on the go.

To learn more about these offers:

● For Globe Mobile postpaid customers, visit: https://bit.ly/4f7vFgm

● For Globe Mobile Prepaid and TM customers, visit: https://bit.ly/42VTKzf

To check out the terms and conditions, visit : https://www.globe.com.ph/broadband/exclusive-gfiber-plans-promo-terms.

PLDT Group Brings Connectivity and Relief Support to Earthquake-Affected Communities

To help support critical communications following the recent earthquake in southern Mindanao, PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the PLDT Group, has partnered with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the local government units of General Santos, Saranggani, and South Cotabato, to deploy Starlink connectivity in key Mindanao hospitals, now operational at the Malungon Sarangani Provincial Hospital, Alabel Sarangani Provincial Hospital. The deployment forms part of the Group's communications-as-aid initiatives to support emergency response and recovery efforts in affected communities.

Together with its social outreach arm, PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), PLDT and Smart have begun distributing the first tranche of relief assistance to affected families. The assistance includes food packs, potable water, and hot meals. Libreng Tawag (including free NDD calls), Libreng Charging, and Libreng WiFi services also remain available in General Santos City; Glan, Sarangani; and Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. Smart and TNT subscribers in affected areas also received emergency load assistance to help them communicate with loved ones and access important information.
The Group continues to work closely with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), DRRMOs, local government units, government agencies, and community partners in ongoing relief efforts. Personnel are working around the clock to provide communications support where needed while prioritizing the safety of employees and facilities. Through its #KonektedforResilience advocacy, the Group helps communities stay informed, supported, and connected during emergencies.

Globe Restores Services Across Southern Mindanao Following Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake

Globe has successfully restored telecommunications services in 31 out of the 32 municipalities affected by the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Southern Mindanao, demonstrating its commitment to keeping communities connected during times of crisis.

The telecommunications provider reported that full service restoration has already been achieved in several provinces and regions, including Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, South Cotabato, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani. This rapid recovery effort has helped residents reconnect with loved ones, access critical information, and coordinate relief and recovery activities in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake.

Globe continues to work around the clock to restore services in the remaining affected municipality. Restoration teams remain actively deployed in the area, particularly in locations where ongoing commercial power interruptions continue to affect telecommunications facilities and network operations.

To support affected residents, Globe immediately activated its Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging, at Libreng Wi-Fi (LTLCLW) stations in General Santos City. These free communication hubs provide essential services, allowing residents to make calls, charge their mobile devices, and access internet connectivity during the emergency situation.

As part of its #AlagangGlobe disaster response program, the company also rolled out free satellite connectivity support in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani. The initiative includes free satellite-based data and SMS services for eligible customers in areas where traditional communication infrastructure may have been disrupted by the earthquake.

Beyond restoring connectivity, Globe is also extending humanitarian assistance to affected communities. Through its partnership with Ayala Foundation, the company has already distributed initial relief assistance to residents impacted by the disaster. Additional support is on the way, with plans to deploy 1,300 more relief packs beginning June 16.

The distribution effort will be carried out through the #BrigadangAyala program and in partnership with WAABC Davao, helping ensure that aid reaches communities that have been heavily affected by the earthquake. These relief packs are expected to provide essential supplies to families as they begin the process of recovery and rebuilding.

Globe's comprehensive response highlights the critical role telecommunications companies play during emergencies. By restoring network services, providing free connectivity solutions, and supporting relief operations, the company continues to help affected communities stay connected and resilient during one of Southern Mindanao's most challenging times.

As recovery efforts continue, Globe remains committed to ensuring reliable communication services and extending assistance to those who need it most.

YGG Play and Planetarium Labs Launch New Nine Chronicles Game, Ragnarok Breaker

YGG Play, the publishing arm of Yield Guild Games (YGG), has officially launched Ragnarok Breaker, a web-based roguelike auto-shooter set in the Nine Chronicles universe. Created by Planetarium Labs, the same game developer behind Nine Chronicles, Ragnarok Breaker drew more than 3,000 pre-registrations, with 58% sign-ups from referrals, demonstrating strong anticipation among Web3 gaming guilds ahead of the launch.

Ragnarok Breaker is built around five Meta Tags, each defining a different combat approach, including projectile damage, area control, and explosive critical hits. Build identity is determined by Wave Shop choices rather than character class, meaning two players can start a run identically and finish with completely different builds.

Items progress across four tiers to Legendary Crowns, named for Norse artifacts such as Mjolnir and Gungnir, that reshape how a build functions rather than just raising its numbers. A total of 42 collectible pets deploy up to 10 at a time, running as a second build layer alongside item synergies. Two endgame modes also ship at launch. Valhalla Trials is an endless PVE gauntlet, while League is a score-based PVP competition with Ruby Coin rewards.

As Ragnarok Breaker’s publishing partner, YGG Play provides go-to-market support, player acquisition, and community growth through the YGG Play Launchpad, which established the Casual Degen category of crypto-native casual games.

“The impressive pre-registration interest we’ve seen from competitive guilds is a testament to YGG Play’s user acquisition engine and deep community network,” said JC Kim, CEO of Planetarium Labs. “By pairing our Verse8 AI-native infrastructure with YGG’s distribution strength, we can rapidly scale polished Web3 experiences to meet this demand. Seeing our development speed match YGG’s community momentum at launch proves how powerful this collaborative model is for the future of onchain gaming.”

Ragnarok Breaker is the second official IP expansion of Nine Chronicles, an onchain MMORPG with an active NCG token economy, and the first built entirely on Verse8, an AI-native game creation platform. Verse8 demonstrated its development pace by shipping a complete 3D shooter from a single prompt in three days. Earlier this year, YGG Play and Verse8 co-hosted the Casual Degen track of BuidlHack 2026 at Korea Buidl Week, where 120 teams submitted vibe-coded prototypes in under a month, with standout projects under review for publication by YGG Play.

YGG guilds that have previously played Nine Chronicles include Allgud, NFT X-Street, Synergy Guild, Sando, and AxU, with members drawn in by its idle mechanics that kept progress moving and spending on in-game items along the way.

Activity surged when the game was featured on the first questing platform developed by YGG, the Guild Advancement Program (GAP), which ended after 10 seasons in August 2025. Nine Chronicles drew 11,723 quest sign-ups in GAP Season 6, ranking second among all eight of the featured games, and returned for Season 7. Ragnarok Breaker extends the Nine Chronicles universe into a faster, more accessible format and opens a new competitive entry point for guilds already inside it.

“Ragnarok Breaker shows the power of expanding a strong IP like Nine Chronicles into new, accessible formats,” said Gabby Dizon, co-founder of YGG. “YGG Play is built as a launchpad where developers keep full ownership of their IP, which flips the traditional publisher model on its head. Planetarium Labs has built a great ecosystem here, and now it's time to let the players take over.”