Schneider Electric: 98% of PH Companies Have Sustainability Targets, 22% to Invest $1M+ in Sustainability in the Next 2 Years

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced findings from its annual Green Impact Gap survey. It underscores Asia Pacific’s sustainability journey. According to the survey, 98% of PH companies have established sustainability targets, 22% plan to invest at least USD 1M or more towards their sustainability agenda in the next 2 years. Additionally, the primary focus for this investment includes prioritizing digitalization as a key driver of their sustainability strategies.

Schneider Electric spoke to 4,500 leaders across nine countries to gather perspectives of business leaders in the Asia Pacific region. The markets include Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. The survey was conducted with the market research company, Milieu Insight.

Digitalisation at the Forefront of Sustainability Efforts in Asia

Digitalization is emerging as a critical component of Asian organizations' sustainability journeys. With 93% of companies currently leveraging digital tools, the survey found that technology is at the center of efforts to meet sustainability goals. The most common applications of digitalisation for sustainability are paperless operations (35%), followed by risk and opportunity management (33%) and supply chain digitisation (31%). For the Philippines, digitalization methods implemented include going paperless (42%) and limiting travel to/from office (39%).

“Digitalization is now becoming a priority for local businesses. While there are still challenges on our digital infrastructures that hinder digital inclusion and economic development, we are seeing significant shifts in terms of prioritization. Businesses now understand that digitalization will help drive operational resiliency and address achieve their sustainability agenda,” said Ireen Catane, Country President of Schneider Electric Philippines.

Sustainability: A Top Business Imperative

The survey also underscores the growing importance of sustainability in Asian companies, with 60% of business leaders now considering it a high priority. This is particularly strong in Thailand (83%), Vietnam (73%), and Indonesia (71%).

In the Philippines, while 98% have sustainability goals, only 52% of companies have implemented comprehensive sustainability strategies. Business leaders cite regulatory or economic uncertainty and internal company resourcing as key barriers to progress. When asked about their familiarity with the Philippines’ Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (RA 11285), results show that the local business leaders are only “very to moderately familiar” with the policy. Most business leaders also expressed that they are moderately confident (44%) in meeting the terms of the policy.

Despite progress, the survey also reveals a persistent ‘Green Impact Gap’ in Asia—a misalignment between regional companies' declared sustainability goals and the tangible actions taken to achieve them.

Navigating the Path to Net Zero

A notable difference between companies that have implemented sustainability strategies and other organizations lies in their commitment to supply chain sustainability. Nearly half (49%) of companies that have implemented strategies in Asia have identified supply chain sustainability as a key investment focus for the next two years, compared to around a third (34%) of other companies. This distinction translates into significantly higher rates of collaboration with suppliers to ensure sustainable sourcing practices and reduce environmental impact throughout the supply chain.

Survey results show that 41% of Asian firms that are implementing sustainability strategies plan to invest $1 million or more in the next two years, compared to 31% of other organizations. These efforts include navigating emerging standards and regulations.

The results also reveal that energy supply and demand volatility (56%) and fluctuating energy prices (51%) are the top energy risks for Philippine companies. In response, the companies are taking steps by adopting technologies such as energy/resource efficiency measures (49%) and digitalization of systems/operations (47%) to address these challenges and meet their energy goals.

“There is a substantial opportunity to accelerate progress and close the gap between ambition and action. This involves reassessing organizational priorities and strategically allocating resources to achieve resilience through digital transformation. We believe that sustainability drives business growth, value creation, and should be at the heart of every firm's business strategy,” Catane added.

Schneider Electric is a global powerhouse in electrification, automation, and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructures, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings and intuitive homes. It was recognized by Time Magazine as the “World’s Most Sustainable Company” in 2024 and is part of Dow Jones’ Sustainability World Index for 13 years in a row.

Smart Warns Against Fake ‘Donation’ Scam

PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) warns customers about solicitations being sent through online messaging platforms and over-the-top (OTT) apps. Smart has received reports about unscrupulous individuals pretending to be company executives or representatives of organizations asking for donations for made-up or nonexistent relief operations. The scammers would then send payment QR codes to which potential victims are supposed to send their ‘donations’ to.

Smart has been actively blocking from its network mobile numbers found to be scammers, to further protect customers. It is also working closely with digital payment platforms and concerned government agencies to investigate reported incidents and aid authorities in the prosecution of personalities behind this scheme.

 

Smart urges customers to #BeCyberSmart and double-check the authenticity of senders, whenever requests of this nature are received. It may be best to verify such requests with the person by calling him or her through the mobile number saved in your devices. When possible, initiate a video call with your contact for confirmation. You can also check the official online pages of the organization to confirm such activities.

 

If you have received similar messages, report them to Smart’s HULISCAM portal - https://smart.com.ph/huliscam . Take note of the sender’s mobile number, the date the message was received, and the actual message.

 

Customers may also report cyber threats and fraudulent activities to Smart’s verified and official social media pages – Smart Communications on Facebook and @SmartCares on X — or call hotline *888.

Globe, Yondu Champion Cellular Security at RootCon 2024

Globe and its IT solutions subsidiary, Yondu, have taken a stand against mobile communication threats by supporting the Cellular Assault Village at RootCon 2024, one of Southeast Asia's premier hacker conferences.

RootCon 2024’s theme, "Connected Realities," highlighted the convergence of the physical and digital worlds, where every action, transaction, and interaction leaves a traceable footprint.

“We are proud to support this important initiative at RootCon 2024. By collaborating with Yondu and highlighting the risks associated with unsecured cellular networks, we aim to contribute to a more secure digital ecosystem. As mobile technology continues to advance, we are committed to protecting our customers from the growing threats that come with it,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe’s Chief Information Security Officer and concurrent Chief AI Officer.

“Cyber threats are evolving at an alarming rate, especially in the realm of mobile communications, where the risks are often underestimated. At Yondu, we believe that by supporting initiatives like the Cellular Assault Village, we can educate the public and empower them to take control of their mobile security. We are dedicated to helping safeguard both our corporate clients and individual users from malicious actors,” said Dennis Paul Nino Sanchez, Chief Information Security Officer of Yondu.

In its 18th year, the two-day conference brought together top cybersecurity experts, hackers, students, researchers, and enthusiasts to explore the latest advancements in digital security.

The Cellular Assault Village was a special feature of the conference, offering attendees invaluable insights into risks posed by unsecured cellular networks while equipping participants with the knowledge to enhance mobile security.

It revealed the vulnerabilities in everyday mobile communications, showing how voice calls and SMS can be intercepted through advanced techniques, and how passive and active interceptors are used to eavesdrop on seemingly secure conversations.

The session also covered Smishing (SMS phishing), with live demonstrations of spoofed number attacks and other deceptive tactics used by cybercriminals to manipulate users.

Seasoned cybersecurity expert Henry N. Caga, led the discussion. Caga is a certified Lead Penetration Tester holding CEH, ECSA, LPT (Master), and eCPTXv2 credentials whose expertise was recognized by top tech companies like Google, Yahoo!, and PayPal.

Frisco de Leon, Manager for Signaling NetOps at the Threat Response and Intelligence team under Globe’s Information Security and Data Privacy Group, talked about Globe’s initiatives against spam, and scam SMS, and malicious websites through proactive blocking and awareness campaigns. He also walked the audience through how to report spam and scam SMS through Globe’s Stop Spam portal.

Globe and Yondu have been at the forefront of raising awareness about the dangers of unsecured mobile communications. By sponsoring this event, both companies reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their cybersecurity posture and enhancing the security of mobile users in the Philippines.

Globe has been implementing stringent security measures against threats to mobile users, including proactive blocking of spam and scam messages and voice calls to protect customers against phishing and vishing attacks.

To learn more about Globe and Yondu's cybersecurity initiatives, visit www.globe.com.ph or www.yondu.com.

Dive into SUPERVIVE: A Full Week of Nonstop Action at Steam Next Fest

LOS ANGELES - October 2024 - Theorycraft Games today announced that SUPERVIVE, their free-to-play MOBA battle royale meets hero shooter, will debut a feature-rich demo at Steam Next Fest: October 2024 Edition. From October 14 to October 21, all interested players can experience SUPERVIVE’s wild, open-ended combat sandbox at any time and from anywhere; no sign-ups are required! Dedicated matchmaking servers in North America, Europe, and Asia ensure a smooth and explosive experience. Competitive squads hungry for their next “10,000-hour game” can wishlist SUPERVIVE on Steam here.

You can watch the trailer here.

The explosive combo of MOBA BR meets Hero Shooter.

In SUPERVIVE, face off in all-out, multi-squad team fights, take down boss monsters for big loot, get that W, and run it back. Squad up with friends and dive into 10-team battle royales, 2-player duos, or 4v4 deathmatches. With 16 unique hunters, each with distinct abilities, players can build a team of hyper-styled heroes designed to be exciting playmakers. Featuring dynamic map-based objectives and game-changing storm shifts, SUPERVIVE ensures that every game is always different.

Exclusive content is available only during the demo.

Throughout Steam Next Fest, players can access special events and unlock exclusive collectibles by playing the game. A new trailer is also coming out on October 14th to kick off Steam Next Fest. 

At the announcement, SUPERVIVE received overwhelmingly positive press coverage and ranked in the Top 10 for Twitch viewership during its June debut. It set a strong foundation for its road to open beta planned later this year. SUPERVIVE will always be free-to-play and is designed to ensure that cosmetics are the only in-game purchases, with no pay-for-power elements, ever.

Players eager to show their support for Theorycraft and SUPERVIVE’s development can purchase Supporter Packs, granting premium currency, exclusive cosmetics, and more perks.

Supporter Packs: https://www.playsupervive.com/en-us/supporter-packs

Join the discord community here and be updated with SUPERVIVE:

https://discord.gg/SUPERVIVE

DMAP Launches First-Ever Program Certifications at DigiCon 2024 to Upskill, Future-Proof Digital Professionals

October 2024 Manila, Philippines — The Digital Marketing Association of the Philippines (DMAP), the country’s center of excellence and innovation in digital marketing, has announced its strategic partnership with the Certified Digital Marketer (CDM) designed to offer program certifications to over 2,000 expected attendees at the Digital Congress (DigiCon) 2024 on October 15-16, 2024, in Newport City, Metro Manila.

For the first time in its nine-year history, DMAP will offer certifications at DigiCon, which annually converges professionals from marketing, advertising, business, academia, media, and innovation sectors.

Attendees can earn a certification of completion through this year's focused tracks: 'From Ecommerce to Digitally Enabled Commerce' (Ecommerce), 'From IMC to Customer-Centric Campaigns' (Brand Building in AI Age), 'From Digital Transformation to Business Evolution' (Digital Transformation), 'From Data Driven to Insight Driven' (Analytics RPA and Data Science), and 'From I to AI' (Innovation Labs on AI).

Through this initiative, attendees can not only boost their knowledge but also enhance their professional credentials in the digital marketing world.

DigiCon REVOLUTION 2024 Co-chair Alan Fontanilla emphasizes the importance of upskilling for digital professionals, saying, "In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the ability to continuously upskill is a necessity rather than a competitive advantage. DigiCon 2024 offers professionals the opportunity to stay ahead of emerging trends and transform their expertise into real, measurable business impact. With a focus on practical, industry-leading certifications, this year's event ensures that attendees are equipped to lead in the digital revolution."

The country is predicted to have a PHP 5 trillion injection in the country’s annual economic value by 2030 if digital transformation is leveraged fully.

The partnership aligns with DMAP’s commitment to address the widening digital skills gap in the Philippines. Despite the country’s digitally connected population, the local workforce remains challenged by a digital skills gap. The 2023 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) ranked the Philippines 59th out of 64 countries, with particularly low scores in knowledge and talent (63rd), technology (51st), and future readiness (59th).

Founded in the Philippines in 2008, CDM empowers professionals and organizations to equip themselves for the future of work with highly-rated and expert-led digital marketing training and certifications.

This initiative complements the government's ongoing efforts to address the skills gap. The Philippine Digital Workforce Competitiveness Act (Republic Act 11927) aims to enhance the competitiveness of the workforce by promoting public-private partnerships and establishing an Inter-Agency Council involving industry stakeholders.

To learn more about DMAP DigiCon REVOLUTION 2024 and to secure your slot, visit https://www.digicon.com.ph.