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More Filipinos using GenAI highlights need for cybersecurity guardrails

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

ORGANIZATIONS should adopt stronger guardrails while pushing for innovation to maintain consumer trust as more Filipinos adopt generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, according to cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks.

In a report, Palo Alto noted an almost 10 times surge in GenAI traffic across the Asia-Pacific region and Japanese enterprises. Deepseek-related traffic alone surged 19 times within two months after the launch of the Chinese AI startup in January.

Filipinos’ top GenAI tools include Grammarly (46.21%), Microsoft PowerApps (33.32%) and Microsoft 365 Copilot (13.97%), according to the report.

“As GenAI tools become more embedded in enterprise operations in the Philippines, the risk of data exposure and threats grows significantly,” said Steven Scheurmann, regional vice president for ASEAN at Palo Alto Networks.

“It is imperative to create stronger guardrails, striking the right balance between AI-driven innovation and security,” he added.

Palo Alto cited the Department of Science and Technology’s plan to invest more than P2.6 billion in AI projects by 2028, with a focus on sectors such as healthcare, mobility, the environment, disaster risk reduction and other upcoming tech platforms.

The Philippine government is hard-pressed to US AI investments to strengthen the delivery of public services, improve disaster response and support the growing digital economy.

However, organizations in the region are managing 66 GenAI applications on average, Palo Alto said, with 10% classified as high-risk.

Likewise, GenAI-related data loss prevention incidents more than doubled, accounting for 14% of all data security incidents.

“Many high-risk AI models remain susceptible to jailbreak attacks that produce unsafe content, including offensive material and instructions for illegal activities,” it added.

To safely harness GenAI, organizations should enforce conditional access policies and manage permissions to gain oversight of GenAI app usage, deploy real-time content inspection and implement Zero Trust security architectures.

“As organizations adopt AI, we’re focused on helping them safeguard against potential cyber-risks associated with GenAI, empowering organizations to deploy AI bravely while protecting their entire AI ecosystems.”

Palo Alto analyzed GenAI traffic across 7,051 global customers through 2024 for its report. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

NFA releases rice stocks for disaster-stricken families

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE NATIONAL Food Authority (NFA) has mobilized emergency rice stocks to support families hit by heavy rains brought by recent typhoons and monsoon rains in various parts of the country, the Palace said on Wednesday.

In coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the NFA released 6,600 sacks of rice to Tarlac for immediate disaster relief distribution.

Additional allocations included 200 sacks for the Puerto Princesa City local government and 300 sacks for the provincial government of Palawan.

Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro, during a virtual briefing, quoted the agency assuring that the rice stocks remain undamaged across NFA warehouses, particularly in Occidental Mindoro and Valenzuela City, where concerns about spoilage had been raised amid adverse weather conditions.

The NFA assured the public that the country has enough rice supplies to last at least 12 days.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., in a press briefing in Washington, DC, said that nearly Around 488,000 families have been affected by heavy rains nationwide, with over 49,600 people taking shelter in 500 evacuation centers. Another 2,790 families are staying outside evacuation sites and are being provided relief by the DSWD.

The extreme northern part of Luzon is being battered by Tropical Storm Dante, while Laoag City in Ilocos Norte is hit by Tropical Storm Emong, as of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the 4 p.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on.

The bulletin, published on Facebook, noted that the central and southern parts of Luzon as well as Visayas and Mindanao are also affected by the southwest monsoon.

The new tropical storms came just days after Typhoon Wipha (Crising) hit the country, developing into a severe tropical storm before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility.

The typhoon and monsoon rains have caused widespread flooding in 1,875 areas spanning Metro Manila and regions including Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and BARMM.

Mr. Marcos reported six deaths, five injuries, and eight missing persons, with most casualties caused by fallen trees, drowning, and strong flood currents.

Damage to infrastructure is initially estimated at P4 billion, while agricultural losses stand at P134.7 million, including P113 million in MIMAROPA alone.

The President said government response teams have delivered relief goods and conducted evacuations as needed, though rains have yet to subside in many areas, including Metro Manila. Nine rain-induced landslides and incidents involving collapsed structures have been recorded so far. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Marcos: SONA speech 80% complete

PHILIPPINE STAR/KJ ROSALES

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., said his State of the Nation Address (SONA) is about 80% complete, with only final refinements needed before its delivery next week.

Speaking to reporters before concluding his trip to the US on July 22 (DC time), Mr. Marcos said his team has been working intensively on the speech despite his four-day official visit to meet with US President Donald J. Trump.

“When I knew that I was coming to the United States to meet with President Trump, I’ve cleared my schedule, and I said, we have to take — we’re going to lose four days,” he said, according to a transcript from his office. “So, I cleared my schedule. We’ve been working very hard on it. As soon as I get back, we’ll be working on it again.”

The annual address is held every fourth Monday of July where the President outlines his administration’s achievements, policy priorities, and legislative agenda for the coming year, shaping the direction of national governance and setting expectations for lawmakers, businesses, and millions of Filipinos.

Malacañang on Tuesday suspended all pre-SONA preparations as mass flooding hit some areas of the country, including the capital region.

The Palace said government agencies were ordered to focus on disaster response efforts and ensure the safety of affected residents, which Mr. Marcos “fully agrees” on, noting the actions were “highly inappropriate.”

“That is an unfortunate misjudgment on their part. But we’ve corrected it, and I trust it will not happen anymore.”

Mr. Marcos is expected to deliver his fourth SONA before a joint session of Congress on July 28. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

BPO workers call for work suspension

BW FILE PHOTO

A BUSINESS process outsourcing (BPO) workers group urged the Labor department to direct companies to suspend work amid “imminent danger” in workplaces affected by heavy rains and flooding.

“We cannot accept business-as-usual while our fellow workers are wading through floodwaters, risking their health and safety just to report to work,” BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) President Mylene Cabalona said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Southwest Monsoon and a tropical depression have brought heavy rainfall causing flooding throughout the Philippine capital.

“If the government and employers truly value workers’ lives, they must recognize that this is a clear and present danger — not just an inconvenience,” she added, noting that some BPO workers were still required to report on site.

Employers are required to suspend work if there is imminent danger to workers’ safety, under the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DoLE) Occupational Safety and Health Standards.

“We challenge DoLE to enforce its own mandate and direct BPO companies to prioritize worker safety over profit. It’s not enough to leave this to employer discretion,” she added.

BIEN also called on the companies to implement work options, flexible shifts, and no-fault attendance policies in all areas affected by flooding.

“Technology allows our industry to work remotely, so there is no excuse to endanger lives just to meet (Key Performance Indicators),” Ms. Cabalona said. — Adrian H. Halili

Meralco updates brownout situation

MERALCO personnel brave the floods and storms to restore electricity service in flood-stricken areas.

POWER DISTRIBUTOR Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) reported on Wednesday that the number of customers affected by service interruptions due to inclement weather has gone down to 2,790.

In a statement on Wednesday, Meralco said that 1% of its total customers who experienced power outages mostly reside in Cavite, Metro Manila, and Bulacan.

The power distributor said that it remains on heightened alert as Tropical Storm Dante and Tropical Storm Emong, combined with the enhanced southwest monsoon, are expected to bring rains across its franchise area.

“As we near completion of our restoration activities, we would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding and assure them that we will continue to closely monitor the weather situation and respond to electricity-related incidents, while prioritizing safety,” Meralco Vice-President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said.

“We also join the Department of Energy in relentlessly reminding the public to prioritize safety by strictly following electrical safety protocols, especially in communities impacted by floods,” he added.

Meralco said that it also deployed high-bed trucks and motorized fiberglass boats to support power restoration and rescue operations. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Use of EDCA sites for disaster response criticized

PILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A CONGRESSMAN on Wednesday accused the Philippine military of using disaster response efforts as a pretext to expand the presence of US forces through joint bases in the country.

In a statement, Party-list Rep. Antonio L. Tinio said the military could possibly leverage the outfall of the torrential rains brought by Severe Tropical Storm Wipha (Crising) and southwest monsoon to justify expanding joint Philippine-US bases, warning the move could make the country a bigger strategic target amid rising tensions with China.

The Defense department and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) did not immediately reply to separate Viber messages seeking comment.

“The AFP sees no shame in using a disaster to persuade the public to accept the continued presence of foreign military bases,” Mr. Tinio said in Filipino.

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. on Tuesday said the Philippine military activated the joint military sites to serve as relief hubs to support humanitarian operations amid heavy rains that battered the country earlier this week.

Manila hosts US troops at select military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), a pact that permits Washington to rotate forces throughout the country.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in 2023 gave the US access to four more military bases under the EDCA, on top of the five sites that US troops already had access to since 2016. Most of the joint Philippine-US bases are in the northern Philippines.

“EDCA sites are not neutral evacuation centers; they are forward-operating bases,” said Mr. Tinio “Every relief airlift doubles as a live drill for rapid weapons deployment. The floods merely provide the perfect pretext.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Subsidies for college students sought

PHILIPPINESTAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE GOVERNMENT should consider providing monthly stipends, transportation subsidies, and food allowances for college students to ease financial burdens and curb dropout rates, a congressman said on Wednesday.

Despite the implementation of the country’s free college education law, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said that gaps in access and support continue to undermine the measure’s intent.

“Free tuition was a landmark achievement, but the work is far from over,” he said in a statement. “Nearly four out of 10 students in state universities and colleges are still dropping out. In some regions, the situation is even more alarming.”

About 39% of college students nationwide dropped out during 2023-2024, according to data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education.

“These are not just statistics,” said Mr. Romualdez. “They are shattered dreams and interrupted futures, often because students cannot afford transportation, food, rent, books or internet.”

“We need to protect and build on the gains of the free higher education law by ensuring students have the means to actually finish school,” he added. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

ILO: BARMM finalizing labor code

WORKERS are seen at a manufacturing facility in Santa Rosa, Laguna. — PHILIPPINE STAR KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is finalizing a labor code that seeks to promote better working conditions in the region, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

In a statement, the ILO said that the Bangsamoro Labor and Employment Code (BLEC) is expected to foster decent work, social justice, and inclusive development in the region.

It was also designated as a priority legislative measure by BARMM Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua. The region is set to hold its first parliamentary elections in October.

“Finalizing and enacting the labor code will demonstrate the region’s commitment to decent work, participatory governance, and lasting peace,” the ILO said.

Officials of the region are currently aligning the draft labor code with constitutional and international labor standards, resolving remaining technical issues, and building consensus among legislators, labor experts, employers, and civil society.

It added that the proposed legal framework is expected to institutionalize an inclusive, rights-based approach to labor governance across the region to support its peacebuilding efforts.

The labor code also includes the rights for self-organization, collective bargaining, negotiations, and the right to strike, aligning with the Constitution and the Labor Code of the Philippines.

“The BLEC stands as an important milestone for BARMM. It is more than a legal instrument. It is a statement of commitment to decent work, social justice, and inclusive growth for all workers and employers in the region,” ILO Country Director Khalid Hassan said.

“Without a local labor code, the region cannot attract investments, build institutions, or achieve industrialization to create jobs. And without jobs, lasting peace will remain out of reach,” he added.

The ILO said that it had offered technical guidance and convened partners and stakeholders through a series of dialogues and consultations. — Adrian H. Halili

Death and disability benefits for BARMM barangay officials mulled

COTABATO CITY — Members of the Bangsamoro parliament have assured support for a proposed regional law that will grant at least P500,000 death and disability benefits for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials in the autonomous region.

The Barangay Officials Death and Disability Benefit Act of 2025, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Bill 379, was filed at the 80-seat regional parliament in Cotabato City on Tuesday, member of parliament Naguib G. Sinarimbo

Ranking members of the public information team in the Bangsamoro parliament, among them Jamaleah L. Benito, told reporters on Wednesday that the BTA Bill 379 will soon be subjected to extensive procedural deliberation by regional lawmakers.

Mr. Sinarimbo had proposed in the draft regional law the grant of at least P500,000 to P1 million cash each for any barangay officials who dies, or gets physically incapacitated due to atrocities, or accidents in line of duty, or ailments while serving an elective term.

“We have colleagues in the parliament who assured us to help us work out the passage of this bill into law,” Mr. Sinarimbo said.

Mr. Sinarimbo was local government minister in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao before he was appointed last March as member of the BARMM parliament by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

“We have barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials who are active in maintaining law and order in some troubled areas. This measure is so important. We need to have this as regional law,” Mr. Sinarimbo said.

More than 20 out of 80 members of the BARMM parliament had separately told reporters on Wednesday morning that they will work together in ensuring the passage into law of BTA Bill 379.

The measure compels the BARMM government to allocate the funds for the death and disability packages, which two private entities, the Al-Amanah Islamic Bank and the insurance firm Pru Life UK will help manage as a regional humanitarian program.

Gov. Emmylou T. Mendoza of Cotabato province in Region XII, which has 63 barangays under the Bangsamoro regional government, said she is hoping for the enactment into regional law of the BTA Bill 379.

“That will be good for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials of the 63 barangays in my province that are under the Bangsamoro government, but are inside several towns under my administration,” Ms. Mendoza said.

The provincial government of Cotabato has not stopped its public service thrusts benefitting the residents of the 63 BARMM barangays, now grouped into eight towns created last year by the Bangsamoro parliament, despite being no longer under its jurisdiction. — John Felix M. Unson

Rights group blasts Imee’s PRRD bill

BAGUIO CITY — Human rights alliance Karapatan denounced the proposal of Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, dubbed the President Rodrigo R. Duterte (PRRD) bill, that seeks to prohibit the transfer of individuals within Philippine territory to any foreign entity not recognized through a treaty, or without a local court order.

“Imee Marcos wants to turn the country into a haven for Duterte’s co-conspirators in the drug war as well as other high-ranking political leaders and military officers who may be held liable in the future for crimes against humanity,” said the human rights group’s secretary general Cristina Palabay.

The bill references Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) last March on the basis of a valid arrest warrant for crimes against humanity issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Ms. Palabay believes, “among those she wants to shield are Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa who is reportedly on the verge of being arrested by the ICC,” she added. “Even Imee Marcos’ own brother Ferdinand Jr. may benefit, should such a law be passed, since he is already accountable for numerous war crimes perpetrated in the course of his brutal counter-insurgency war

“This bill plays into the myth of a competent and fully functioning justice system in the country, one that dispels any hint of impunity,” Ms. Palabay decried.

“And yet no less than the Department of Justice (DoJ) has admitted that it could not prosecute suspects in the drug war killings because the police refused to cooperate and hand over evidence and necessary documents, among others,” she said.

Ms. Palabay added that, “facing a brick wall, the DoJ had to admit that it had no choice but to allow the ICC to pursue cases related to Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.”

Karapatan further decried Ms. Marcos’ proposal as “thoroughly self-serving and is a slap in the face of the tens of thousands of victims of Duterte’s drug war as well as those who suffered other injustices committed under his regime.” — Artemio A. Dumlao

PSEi jumps to 6,400 level after PHL-US tariff deal

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

SHARES jumped on Wednesday, with the main index breaching the 6,400 level and hitting an over one-week high, after the Philippines secured a slightly lower “reciprocal” import tariff rate from the United States.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 1.67% or 106.56 points to close at 6,462.25, while the broader all shares index increased by 1.33% or 50.15 points to 3,807.35.

This was the PSEi’s highest close in over a week or since it ended at 6,525.04 on July 14.

“The market seemed to have taken positively the US-Philippines trade deal announced by President Donald J. Trump, wherein the tariff rate set on Philippine exports was marginally brought down from 20% to 19%,” Philstocks Financial Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a Viber message.

“PSEi ended with a strong showing after the recently concluded negotiations between the US and the Philippines despite a minimal reduction on the initial 20% tariff,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan likewise said in a Viber message.

The new tariff rate — which was still higher than the 17% announced by Mr. Trump in April — came at the close of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s three-day state visit to Washington.

As part of the deal, Mr. Marcos said the Philippines will increase its imports of soy, wheat products, and medicines from the US. Mr. Trump also requested that certain markets be opened, including the automobile sector.

“Investors also cheered the peso’s appreciation against the US dollar this Wednesday,” Mr. Tantiangco added.

The peso strengthened by 16.9 centavos to close at P56.881 versus the dollar on Wednesday, which was also its best finish in over a week or since it ended at P56.73 on July 15.

All sectoral indices closed higher on Wednesday. Services surged by 5.84% or 125 points to 2,264.35; mining and oil went up by 2.08% or 191.78 points to 9,391.19; holding firms improved by 1.34% or 72.31 points to 5,469.51; financials climbed by 0.47% or 10.73 points to 2,259.63; industrials jumped by 0.43% or 39.82 points to 9,179.93; and property inched up by 0.36% or 8.61 points to close the session at 2,399.87.

“Bloomberry Resorts Corp. was the day’s index leader, jumping 7.19% to P4.62. Bank of the Philippine Islands was the main index laggard, falling 1.56% to P125.80,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Value turnover increased to P10.18 billion on Wednesday with 1.94 billion shares traded from the P5.01 billion with 1.07 billion shares that changed hands on Tuesday.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 128 versus 71, while 49 names closed the session unchanged.

Net foreign buying was at P181.16 million on Wednesday, a turnaround from the P14.67 million in net selling recorded on Tuesday. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Eala braces for tournaments in Canada ahead of US Open in Aug.

ALEX EALA — USOPEN.ORG/BRAD PENNER/USTA

VACATION’S over for Filipina tennis ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala.

Following a well-deserved homecoming and much-needed break in the Philippines, Ms. Eala troops to Canada to begin her preparations for the US Open next month.

“And just like that, we’re off again. Here’s to Montreal (Canada),” said Ms. Eala on her social media selfie on Wednesday with an emoji of the Philippine flag while on a plane en route to North America.

Ms. Eala reunited with her family here in Manila and spent time with her fans, local media and private supporters after etching historic milestones for Philippine tennis abroad, mostly in Europe.

The 20-year-old sensation is the first Filipina ever to play in not one but two Grand Slam main draws in the French Open and Wimbledon before another major shot in the US Open in New York on Aug. 24 to Sept. 7.

She’s also the first Filipino to reach the Top 100 of the world rankings, currently at No. 69 due to inactivity from a career-best of No. 56 last month.

In North America, the first order of business for Ms. Eala is the National Bank Open in Montreal, Canada from July 26 to Aug. 7 where she is already seeded in the main tournament.

The National Bank Open has yet to release the official draw but Ms. Eala is expected to be up against more seasoned and higher-ranked opponents, who are also ramping up their preparations for the centerpiece US major.

Montreal is a WTA 1000-level hardcourt tourney, making it a tough transition for Ms. Eala after spending her summer on the grass and clay courts of Europe.

Good thing for Ms. Eala, she has been impressive in WTA 1000 tournaments with a semifinal finish in the Miami Open and a finale stint in the Eastbourne Open, which were both historic feats for Philippine tennis.

Ms. Eala is expected to vie in more tournaments in Canada and the United States before strutting her stuff in New York with hopes of scoring her first-ever Grand Slam main draw win.

After that, she will fly closer to home with stints in China, Hong Kong and other Asian cities to continue harvesting pro points in a bid to finally barge inside the Top 50. — John Bryan Ulanday

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