Stronger Fraud Prevention, Onboarding Foundations Key to Unlocking Ph’s Next MSME Growth Wave: Industry Leaders

MANILA, Philippines — The financial sector must modernize how it verifies, protects, and extends credit to millions of unique micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to accelerate financial inclusion across the Philippines, industry leaders urged.

At 'The Anatomy of Merchant Trust' executive roundtable co-hosted by IDfy and Mastercard in Manila, executives across banking, fintech, and payments concurred that while consumer adoption of digital payment channels like QR Ph has surged past 57% according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data, traditional merchant infrastructure must evolve to serve the distinct needs of every small vendor, from urban startups to neighborhood sari-sari stores.

The discussion highlighted a critical systemic challenge currently holding legitimate businesses back. Because traditional merchant identity verification remains fragmented and unverified at the micro-level, it cascades into ecosystem-wide trust issues that compel institutions to enforce rigid, blanket risk policies. Consequently, vast numbers of honest, high-potential merchants who simply lack paper credit histories are turned away from the formal digital economy.

Leaders present at the event highlighted the importance of addressing the gap to complement government-led empowerment efforts. Initiatives like the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) “Tindahan Mo, e-Level Up Mo!” have successfully equipped thousands of small merchants with digital literacy and cashless payment tools. Financial sector leaders emphasized that by streamlining merchant onboarding, such as replacing legacy paper checks and physical audits with automated, risk-based verification, banks and fintechs can seamlessly welcome these newly enabled businesses into the fold.

Internal industry polling conducted during the session underscored this sentiment, with executives identifying business document verification and compliance checks as the single highest-priority workflow for automation, scoring 4.4 out of 5.

Beyond onboarding, attendees noted that safeguarding merchants requires moving from point-in-time checks to continuous protection. By deploying real-time behavioral analytics and continuous fraud monitoring, institutions can defend against threats such as document forgery, deepfakes, and post-approval misuse without creating unnecessary friction for legitimate vendors.

“Merchant trust is no longer a one-time verification exercise—it is a continuous lifecycle,” said Raghuraman Chandrashekhar, PH Country Head of IDfy. “As digital payments scale across the Philippines, institutions must move away from fragmented onboarding and adopt intelligent, risk-based systems that unify identity verification, alternative data, and real-time monitoring. The future of financial inclusion depends on enabling MSMEs to be onboarded quickly and safely at scale.”

To bridge the credit gap for small vendors, financial institutions are increasingly leveraging alternative data, such as digital payment records, utility payments, and transaction footprints. Paired with progressive lending models that scale credit limits as merchants grow, alternative underwriting could unlock formal financing for over one million underserved merchants nationwide.

“Merchant trust extends well beyond onboarding. As more businesses participate in the digital economy, the industry needs to strengthen collaboration across banks, payment providers, fintechs, and technology stakeholders,” said Jason Crasto, Mastercard’s Country Manager for the Philippines. “Each stakeholder brings unique capabilities, perspectives, and expertise to the table. Through stronger public-private collaboration, shared intelligence, and advanced risk solutions, we can build a more secure, scalable, and inclusive digital ecosystem that empowers Philippine MSMEs to grow with confidence.”

By rebuilding onboarding foundations and adopting continuous risk intelligence, industry leaders agreed that the Philippines can transform strict risk barriers into pathways of opportunity, ensuring every legitimate merchant has the access, security, and capital needed to thrive in the digital economy.

For more information on the roundtable discussion, you may visit www.idfy.ph.

Filipino Food Chain Andok’s Expands BBQ Lineup With ‘Dokitori,’ Meets Growing Demand for On-The-Go Meal Formats

Manila, Philippines — Long recognized across the Philippines for its family-style Litson Manok, homegrown food chain Andok’s has announced the launch of Dokitori, an all-new Super Chicken BBQ Stick designed for fast-paced, on-the-go consumption.

Joining Andok’s established Pork Kasim and Liempo BBQ offerings, Dokitori completes the company’s skewer portfolio by bringing a dedicated chicken option to its individual meal menu.

The launch signals the brand’s adaptation to a rapidly evolving food service market, particularly busy solo diners seeking convenient and budget-friendly choices. The move comes as consumer dining habits increasingly lean toward accessible, single-portion formats driven by students, young professionals, and office workers navigating packed daily schedules. At ₱65 per stick, Dokitori delivers Andok’s signature charcoal-grilled profile in an accessible skewer, as well as a complete boxed rice meal.

“Filipinos are always looking for quick, affordable meals that fit their daily rush,” said Maverick Leonardo Javier, President of Andok’s Litson Corporation. “Together with my parents, ama ng Pambansang Litson Manok Vice Governor Sandy Javier and Congresswoman Karen Javier, we created Dokitori not just to expand our barbecue line, but to provide our customers with more options to conveniently enjoy our signature charcoal-grilled taste—whether as a sit-down meal or on-the-go.”

Rooted in local culinary traditions, each 80-gram skewer features classic Filipino-style chicken barbecue notes—balancing a rich, smoky marinade with a savory-sweet glaze and lightly caramelized edges.

Established in 1985, Andok’s has grown into a cornerstone of Filipino food culture, operating over 300 outlets nationwide today. By diversifying its portfolio beyond traditional whole-chicken takeaway options with versatile offerings like Dokitori, the brand continues to solidify its domestic presence while setting its sights on international markets, building on the initial success of its overseas expansion in Singapore.

The launch of Dokitori also builds on Andok’s expanding menu. It joins a fresh wave of releases with Dokibab, a savory chicken kebab; Shrimpura, a crispy seafood treat; and Chicken Alá Bone, a boneless, charcoal-grilled comfort food staple. Through these distinct offerings, the Filipino food chain continues to innovate beyond traditional family feasting to cater to dynamic, everyday cravings.

To mark the nationwide rollout, Andok’s will run a one-day Buy 1, Take 1 promotion on August 15, 2026, accessible in-store and across major food delivery apps including GrabFood, foodpanda, and andoksdelivery.com.ph.

For more information and updates, you may visit Andok's Facebook page.

Vivo Philippines Invites Users to Share the Stories Behind Their Phones

For many people, a smartphone is more than a device for calls, messages, and photos. It can become part of life’s most memorable moments—from family milestones and first trips abroad to unexpected adventures and everyday experiences. Through #MyVivoStory, Vivo Philippines is inviting its community to look back and share the moments that made their Vivo phones meaningful.

The campaign features a series of weekly questions, including “What’s Your First Vivo Phone?”, “What’s Your Vivo Story?”, “Trust Vivo Moment,” and “Travel with Vivo.” The stories shared by users show how Vivo devices have become companions through different chapters of their lives.

For Rodrod Pimentel, his Vivo journey began in 2018 with the Vivo Y81. Despite being accidentally left in a pocket during laundry, dropped several times, and even surviving an unexpected jump from his niece, the phone continued to work. His experience highlights how a device can become memorable simply by staying with its owner through the years.

Meanwhile, Christine Redondo has used Vivo phones to document her children’s milestones. She photographed her eldest child using a Vivo V23 and now uses a Vivo V70 to capture moments with her youngest. For Christine, every photo represents a milestone she wants to remember as her children grow.

For Keith Andrew Pacio, his Vivo X200 helped preserve a spectacular pyromusical event at SM Mall of Asia. His photographs captured the fireworks, colors, and excitement of the occasion, allowing him to revisit the experience long after the show ended.

Travel also plays an important role in the stories shared through the campaign. Joyal Hope used her Vivo V29 during her family’s first trip abroad to Hong Kong. A photograph taken at Madame Tussauds became more than a simple travel souvenir—it became a reminder of the happiness, excitement, and love shared by her family during an important milestone.

These experiences demonstrate that behind every Vivo phone is a personal story. Through #MyVivoStory, Vivo Philippines continues to encourage its community to celebrate the people, places, and memories captured through their devices.

Those who want to participate can follow Vivo Philippines on Facebook, answer the weekly Questions of the Week, and use #MyVivoStory, #vivoxAnneCurtis, and #vivoX300Ultra when sharing their responses. Participants who complete all the questions will have a chance to win a Vivo V70 or a limited-edition Vivo Bluetooth Speaker.

For Vivo users, every photo can tell a story—and every story can become a memory worth keeping.

Globe Reaffirms Support for PBBM’s Call to Provide Affordable and Reliable Connectivity for All Filipinos

Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 27, Globe emphasized that healthy telco competition should encourage continued investments, push for responsible market participation, and institutionalize efficient management of critical telecommunications resources. These conditions are all essential to delivering better connectivity and advancing the Philippines' ambitious digital transformation agenda.

In his SONA, President Marcos underscored the growing importance of affordable and reliable connectivity in enabling education, work, and economic resilience, saying:

"Dahil sa mas malakas, mas malawak, at mas mura nating internet, naging mainam na alternatibo ang online classes at work-from-home." (Because of stronger, wider, and more affordable internet, online classes and work-from-home arrangements have become viable alternatives.)

The President also highlighted digital transformation and artificial intelligence readiness as national priorities to strengthen the country's global competitiveness.

"Reliable connectivity is today's fifth utility. As demand for digital services continues to grow, the government can help the private sector in fostering an environment where long-term investments will translate to actual industry growth, lower total cost of ownership, and stable policies that support business," said Carl Cruz, President and CEO of Globe Telecom.

Sustained investments

Telco is a capex-driven industry. Globe said achieving the country's digital ambitions will require sustained investments in network infrastructure and new technologies. The company urged policymakers to adopt regulatory approaches that balance market openness with long-term industry sustainability. The Konektadong Pinoy Act, signed by the President this year, promises faster and more reliable internet services by allowing new players in the country without the need for a legislative franchise. The company emphasized that to enable greater participation in the sector, real investments should be protected, with accepted service standards.

These ongoing efforts in reliability are further supported by Globe’s recognition as the Most Consistent Mobile and Fixed Network in the Philippines for the first half of 2026 by Ookla.

Globe also underscored the importance of good spectrum management. As a finite national resource, spectrum should be allocated and utilized in ways that maximize coverage, improve network experience, and deliver real value for Filipinos.

These priorities align with the administration's broader vision of building a digitally empowered Philippines, where connectivity serves as an enabler of education, innovation, financial inclusion, government services, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

"The country's digital future will be built through strong collaboration among government, regulators, and industry. By creating the right conditions for sustained investment and innovation, we can continue expanding digital opportunities and delivering better connectivity to more Filipinos," Cruz said.

Globe remains committed to working with policymakers and industry stakeholders to help advance reforms that strengthen the telecommunications sector, encourage innovation, and support inclusive and sustainable digital growth.

For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph.

HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max Redefines Mobile Productivity and Creativity in the Philippines

Manila, Philippines — HUAWEI, the Philippines’ no. 1 tablet brand, is raising the bar for mobile productivity and creative work with the launch of the HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max. Designed for Filipino creators, professionals, students, and multitaskers, the flagship tablet combines PC-level performance, an immersive display, AI-powered tools, and ultra-portable design in one premium device.

At just 4.7 mm thin and 499 g light, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max is built around HUAWEI Cloud Falcon Architecture and a full-metal unibody. Its design improves bending resistance by 60% and has earned the TÜV Rheinland Ultra-Thin Bending Resistance Certification. A 10,400 mAh battery provides up to 14.5 hours of video playback, while 40 W reverse SuperCharge and Live Multitask support help users stay productive throughout the day.

The tablet delivers a 4-in-1 PC-like experience for work, entertainment, study, and creative projects. Upgraded PC-Level WPS Office and the new WPS AI suite can help users refine text, suggest topics, extract key points, and create presentations. Real-time multi-device collaboration also allows teams to edit and synchronize files efficiently. Its 439 g HUAWEI Glide Keyboard folds into a laptop-like setup, while its hidden stylus slot stores and charges the pen for added everyday convenience.

For creators, the 13.2-inch 3K flexible OLED display offers a 144 Hz refresh rate, up to 1,600 nits peak brightness, and a 94% screen-to-body ratio. The PaperMatte Edition adds a nano-level etched surface designed to improve clarity while reducing visual distractions. The tablet also features a 50 MP True-to-Color rear camera, GoPaint tools, and HUAWEI M-Pencil Pro integration for more natural digital artwork.

AI-powered features extend to HUAWEI Notes and Gallery. Users can convert handwriting into polished text, solve math equations, select preferred facial expressions in group photos, and remove unwanted objects from images.

The HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max is now available for pre-order until August 19, 2026, at PHP 96,999 for the Wi-Fi-only 12GB+512GB Blue PaperMatte Edition. Customers can receive up to PHP 39,595 worth of premium freebies, including the HUAWEI Glide Keyboard, HUAWEI M-Pencil Pro, Bluetooth Mouse, WPS Office, WPS AI membership, and an extended warranty.

With flexible installment options of up to 24 months at 0% interest through participating credit cards, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max offers a powerful new way to work, create, and collaborate on the go.