PLDT Enterprise Pushes Resilience-First AI Strategy

PLDT Enterprise Pushes Resilience-First AI Strategy

Monday, August 3, 2026

Digital transformation has become a business imperative, but as organizations adopt artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and connected technologies, they also face greater exposure to cyber threats and operational disruptions. According to PLDT Enterprise, the next phase of digital transformation should focus not only on innovation but also on building resilient organizations that can continue operating when disruptions occur.

Through a series of industry forums, executive workshops, and advisory sessions, PLDT Enterprise is encouraging business leaders to integrate cybersecurity, business continuity, and AI governance into their long-term digital strategies rather than treating them as separate initiatives.

Why is digital resilience becoming a business priority?

For many organizations, digital transformation has traditionally meant modernizing IT systems, migrating to the cloud, and automating business processes.

PLDT Enterprise argues that these initiatives must now be complemented by digital and cyber resilience—the ability of an organization to anticipate, withstand, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents and operational disruptions.

According to Alexis Bernardino, Principal CXO Advisor and Head of the CXO Advisory at PLDT Enterprise, organizations need to evaluate whether their systems, people, and operations can remain secure, trusted, and available even during disruptive events.

This resilience-focused approach spans several areas, including:

• Connectivity infrastructure
• Network architecture
• Cloud platforms
• Cybersecurity
• Data protection
• Artificial intelligence

What is digital resilience?

Digital resilience refers to an organization's ability to maintain critical business operations despite cyberattacks, system failures, natural disasters, or other disruptions.

Unlike traditional cybersecurity, which primarily focuses on preventing attacks, digital resilience also emphasizes:

• Business continuity
• Rapid incident response
• System recovery
• Operational availability
• Customer trust
• Long-term organizational readiness

As businesses increasingly depend on digital platforms, resilience has become an important component of enterprise risk management.

Bringing resilience discussions to industry leaders

PLDT Enterprise has been sharing its resilience framework through several major industry events, including:

• Gov Excellence Summit 2026
• Cyber Resilience Summit 2026
• Digital Next Philippines 2026
• Philippines Agentic AI Forum (upcoming)

These engagements build upon the company's broader initiatives, including:

• Preemptive Cyber Defense discussions
• Data Exposure Defense Workshop
• CXO Cyber and Digital Resilience Masterclass

The forums bring together executives from government, banking, telecommunications, public services, large enterprises, and small and medium-sized businesses to discuss practical approaches to digital transformation and cybersecurity.

Why cybersecurity is now a business issue

One of the key themes emphasized by PLDT Enterprise is that cybersecurity should no longer be viewed solely as an IT responsibility.

Instead, it should be integrated into broader business decision-making because cyber incidents can affect customer experience, revenue generation, regulatory compliance, business continuity, brand reputation, and public trust.

This shift reflects a broader industry trend in which executive leadership increasingly participates in cybersecurity planning alongside technology teams.

What is preemptive cyber defense?

PLDT Enterprise is also promoting what it describes as preemptive cyber defense, an approach that focuses on identifying vulnerabilities before they develop into major security incidents.

Rather than reacting after a cyberattack occurs, organizations are encouraged to continuously evaluate questions such as:

1. Where are the organization's most critical vulnerabilities?
2. Which services must remain operational during an incident?
3. How quickly can threats be detected?
4. How efficiently can systems recover after disruption?

The objective is to reduce business risk by strengthening security posture before systems are compromised.

What is Agentic AI?

One of the emerging technologies discussed by PLDT Enterprise is Agentic AI.

Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of performing more autonomous tasks by planning, making decisions, executing actions, and optimizing workflows with limited human intervention.

Unlike traditional AI tools that mainly generate recommendations or analyze data, Agentic AI is designed to carry out sequences of business processes while adapting to changing conditions.

PLDT Enterprise expects discussions at the upcoming Philippines Agentic AI Forum to focus on helping organizations move beyond AI experimentation toward practical enterprise applications that deliver measurable business outcomes.

Balancing AI innovation with governance

While AI creates new opportunities for automation and operational efficiency, it also introduces additional cybersecurity challenges.

PLDT Enterprise notes that AI can be used by both attackers and defenders.

Potential enterprise applications include:

• Faster threat detection
• Automated incident response
• Operational optimization
• Workflow automation
• Intelligent decision support

However, successful implementation also requires strong governance, secure infrastructure, appropriate controls, and reliable data architecture.

This integrated approach seeks to ensure that AI adoption supports both innovation and organizational resilience.

As Philippine businesses accelerate digital adoption, resilience is becoming a strategic advantage rather than simply a technical requirement.

Organizations capable of maintaining operations during cyber incidents or infrastructure disruptions are generally better positioned to protect customer trust, minimize downtime, and sustain long-term growth.

For many business leaders, this means expanding digital transformation strategies to include cybersecurity, operational continuity, and AI readiness from the outset.

PLDT Enterprise is positioning resilience as a central element of digital transformation in the AI era. Through industry engagements and executive advisory programs, the company is encouraging organizations to view cybersecurity, business continuity, cloud infrastructure, and AI governance as interconnected components of modern enterprise strategy.

As AI continues to reshape business operations, organizations that invest in resilience alongside innovation may be better equipped to adapt to evolving cyber risks while maintaining secure, reliable, and trusted digital services.

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EastWest Investment Banking Earns Industry Recognition for Capital Market Transactions

EastWest Investment Banking Earns Industry Recognition for Capital Market Transactions

As more Philippine companies turn to the capital markets to finance expansion, infrastructure, and long-term growth, investment banks continue to play a critical role in connecting businesses with investors. This year, EastWest Investment Banking received two industry recognitions that highlight its participation in major fundraising transactions across the country's equity and debt markets.

The awards recognize the bank's involvement in significant capital market deals, including one of the Philippines' largest initial public offerings (IPOs), as well as its consistent performance in arranging corporate debt issuances. Together, these milestones reflect the growing importance of investment banking in supporting business growth while expanding investment opportunities for the public.

What awards did EastWest Investment Banking receive?

EastWest's Investment Banking team received two notable distinctions in 2026:

• IPO Deal of the Year – Philippines from Asian Banking & Finance for its role as a Domestic Participating Underwriter in the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. initial public offering.

• Recognition as one of the Top 5 Corporate Issue Managers/Arrangers (Bank Category) by the PDS Group, based on its 2025 performance. This marks the sixth consecutive year that EastWest has ranked among the country's top corporate issue managers.

The recognitions acknowledge the bank's work across both the equity and debt capital markets, demonstrating its ability to support companies seeking different forms of financing.

EastWest's role in the Maynilad IPO

One of EastWest's most significant transactions in recent years was its participation in the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. IPO, completed on November 7, 2025.

Serving as a Domestic Participating Underwriter, EastWest helped facilitate investor participation during the offering.

According to the announcement, the IPO:

• Gross proceeds approximately ₱34.3 billion
• Historical significance second-largest IPO in Philippine history
• Largest IPO since 2021
• Investor demand oversubscribed 2.7 times

The proceeds are intended to support Maynilad's long-term investments in water and wastewater infrastructure, while the offering also expanded opportunities for domestic and retail investors to participate in one of the country's largest public listings.

Strengthening the debt capital market

Beyond IPOs, EastWest continues to play an active role in the Philippine debt capital market, where companies raise funds by issuing corporate bonds and other debt securities.

Its inclusion among the Top 5 Corporate Issue Managers/Arrangers by the PDS Group reflects sustained activity in helping issuers structure and distribute debt instruments to investors.

Debt capital markets provide businesses with an alternative to bank loans, allowing companies to secure long-term funding while offering investors additional fixed-income investment options.

Capital markets have become an increasingly important source of financing for Philippine businesses as companies pursue infrastructure projects, expansion plans, and strategic investments.

Recognition from organizations such as Asian Banking & Finance and the PDS Group highlights institutions that have contributed significantly to the development of the country's financial markets through successful capital-raising transactions.

Growing opportunities for investors

As more companies access equity and debt markets, retail investors also gain broader opportunities to diversify their investment portfolios.

Successful public offerings and bond issuances expand the range of available investment products while supporting economic activity by providing companies with capital for business growth and infrastructure development.

For financial institutions, maintaining strong relationships with both issuers and investors remains central to building confidence in the capital market and encouraging wider participation.

EastWest Investment Banking's recent industry recognitions underscore its continued participation in some of the Philippine capital market's most significant fundraising transactions. From supporting one of the country's largest IPOs to maintaining a consistent presence in the debt capital market, the bank continues to contribute to financing initiatives that help businesses grow while expanding investment opportunities for the market.

As capital markets continue to evolve, investment banking institutions will remain important intermediaries connecting companies seeking funding with investors looking to participate in the country's economic development.

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LG Ambassador Challenge Funds Ambulance Project for Remote Laguna Community

LG Ambassador Challenge Funds Ambulance Project for Remote Laguna Community

Access to emergency healthcare remains a challenge for many remote communities in the Philippines, where distance, difficult terrain, and limited transportation can delay life-saving medical treatment.

To help address this issue, LG Electronics Philippines has selected "Life Saver on Wheels: Ambulance for Upland Brgy. Galalan" as one of the winning projects under the 2026 LG Ambassador Challenge. The community-led initiative aims to provide Barangay Galalan in Pangil, Laguna, with its first dedicated ambulance while strengthening the area's emergency response system.

The project reflects how corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs are increasingly supporting grassroots solutions that respond to local healthcare needs through partnerships with community leaders and local government.

What is the LG Ambassador Challenge?

The LG Ambassador Challenge is a social impact initiative that invites community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and local advocates to propose sustainable solutions for pressing social, healthcare, and environmental challenges.

Rather than implementing projects directly, LG provides funding and institutional support to winning proposals, enabling communities to lead projects designed around their own needs.

The program prioritizes initiatives focused on:

• Community healthcare
• Medical assistance
• Social development
• Environmental sustainability
• Local innovation

This approach allows solutions to be developed by people with firsthand knowledge of the issues affecting their communities.

Why does Barangay Galalan need an ambulance?

Barangay Galalan is located in the mountainous municipality of Pangil, Laguna, approximately 20 kilometers from the nearest hospital.

Its geographic location creates significant challenges during medical emergencies.

One of its most isolated areas, Sitio Gisgis, has no passable roads for vehicles, making patient transport particularly difficult.

Without a dedicated ambulance, residents have relied on various alternatives, including motorcycles, private vehicles, improvised stretchers, manual transport by residents, and even a barangay garbage truck during emergencies.

These limitations can delay treatment during critical situations such as stroke, pregnancy complications, serious injuries, medical emergencies involving senior citizens, and emergencies involving children and persons with disabilities.

How will the project improve emergency response?

At the center of the initiative is the acquisition of a basic life-support ambulance that will serve as Barangay Galalan's official emergency response vehicle.

However, the project extends beyond purchasing an ambulance.

The proposal also includes:

• Emergency response training for volunteers
• Basic Life Support and first aid training
• Coordination with the Rural Health Unit
• Collaboration with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO)
• Standard emergency response protocols
• A dedicated hotline for ambulance requests
• Community awareness campaigns

Together, these measures are intended to strengthen the barangay's overall emergency preparedness rather than simply adding a vehicle.

What are the project's targets?

The initiative has established several measurable goals:

Emergency transport - assist at least 200 patients annually

Response time - reduce hospital transport delays by 50%

Accessibility - provide 24/7 emergency ambulance service for all Barangay Galalan residents

These targets reflect a broader effort to improve access to healthcare while building a more reliable local emergency response system.

A community-managed healthcare initiative

A key feature of the project is its emphasis on long-term community management.

Once acquired, the ambulance will be donated to Barangay Galalan and stationed at the barangay hall.

The project outlines a management structure in which Pastor Ramil B. Repolido will oversee operations as ambulance manager. Trained barangay responders, community health workers, and members of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (BDRRMC) will operate the vehicle. A nurse or trained healthcare worker will be available on call, supported by barangay health workers and the Rural Health Center.

To help ensure sustainability, the Barangay Local Government Unit will shoulder recurring operational expenses such as fuel, maintenance, minor repairs, and driver allowances through shared management responsibilities.

The proposal allocates a total budget of ₱1.6 million, covering the ambulance, medical equipment, emergency supplies, responder training, and initial operating costs.

Community-led healthcare projects 

Many rural communities in the Philippines continue to face barriers to healthcare due to geography, transportation, and limited emergency infrastructure.

While national healthcare programs address broader system needs, locally designed projects often respond more effectively to challenges unique to individual communities.

By combining infrastructure, volunteer training, operational planning, and long-term local management, initiatives like "Life Saver on Wheels" demonstrate how community leadership can strengthen healthcare access and emergency preparedness.

Corporate-backed grant programs also enable communities to pursue solutions that might otherwise be difficult to finance through local resources alone.

The selection of Barangay Galalan's ambulance project as a winner of the 2026 LG Ambassador Challenge highlights the growing role of community-driven innovation in addressing healthcare access gaps.

More than providing a vehicle, the initiative seeks to establish a sustainable emergency response system built around trained local responders, coordinated healthcare support, and long-term barangay management. For residents of this upland community, the project represents a practical step toward improving access to timely medical care when every minute counts.

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Lenovo Showcases AI at FIFA World Cup 2026 Through Enterprise-Scale Technology Deployment

Lenovo Showcases AI at FIFA World Cup 2026 Through Enterprise-Scale Technology Deployment

Artificial intelligence played a larger role than ever at the FIFA World Cup 2026, extending beyond player analytics to broadcasting, officiating, and tournament operations. As FIFA's Official Technology Partner, Lenovo delivered the digital infrastructure and AI-powered solutions that supported what organizers described as the tournament's largest and most technologically complex edition to date.

Hosted across three countries, 16 cities, 48 national teams, and 104 matches, the tournament required an extensive technology ecosystem to support operations, broadcasting, team performance analysis, and fan engagement. According to Lenovo, its systems maintained 99.99% uptime throughout the competition while supporting hundreds of venues and operational sites.

How did Lenovo support the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Lenovo's involvement extended far beyond supplying hardware.

The company deployed an integrated technology ecosystem that included:

• More than 25,000 Lenovo and Motorola devices
• Over 350 engineers and operational specialists
• Support across 600 FIFA locations
• AI-powered analytics platforms
• Broadcast technologies
• Tournament operations systems
• Data center infrastructure
• Managed IT services

The deployment supported stadiums, broadcast centers, team base camps, command centers, and FIFA operational facilities throughout the tournament.

What is FIFA AI Pro?

One of the tournament's most notable innovations was FIFA AI Pro, an artificial intelligence platform jointly developed by Lenovo and FIFA.

Definition

FIFA AI Pro is an AI-powered football analytics platform that enables coaches and analysts to access official match data, performance metrics, and video analysis using natural-language queries.

Unlike traditional analytics systems available only to elite football organizations, FIFA AI Pro was made available to all 48 participating teams, helping broaden access to advanced performance insights during the tournament.

Built using Lenovo's AI Factory and enterprise AI technologies, the platform:

• Processed millions of football data points
• Analyzed more than 2,000 performance metrics
• Generated reports, graphs, video clips, and 3D match recreations
• Supported 16 languages
• Recorded thousands of queries from over 300 users during the tournament

How AI changed the viewing experience

Artificial intelligence also influenced how fans experienced matches.

Referee View

Lenovo introduced Referee View, a broadcast feature that used AI-powered video stabilization to transform body-camera footage worn by referees into smooth, broadcast-quality video.

The technology reduced camera shake by up to 60%, creating immersive first-person perspectives during live matches. According to Lenovo-commissioned research cited in the announcement:

• 87% of fans said technology enhanced their viewing experience.
• 84% said close-up camera perspectives made them feel closer to the action.

The feature appeared throughout the tournament and generated more than 20 billion impressions, including coverage of the tournament's opening goal.

AI-assisted officiating

Artificial intelligence also supported officiating through 3D digital player avatars.

Ahead of the tournament, Lenovo created digital models of all 1,248 players competing in the World Cup. These avatars were integrated into FIFA's Semi-Automated Offside Technology, providing officials and broadcasters with more realistic visualizations of offside decisions.

The initiative aimed to improve transparency while helping fans better understand complex refereeing decisions.

Behind the scenes: AI for tournament operations

Away from the pitch, Lenovo deployed its Intelligent Command Center, a centralized operations platform supporting FIFA's Tournament Operations Center.

The system consolidated data from more than 40 operational functions, including:

• Security
• Infrastructure
• Ticketing
• Logistics
• Communications
• Venue management

By bringing operational information into a single platform, FIFA officials could monitor issues in real time and coordinate responses across multiple countries and venues.

Although showcased at one of the world's largest sporting events, many of the technologies highlighted during the FIFA World Cup have broader enterprise applications.

Large-scale sporting events often serve as testing grounds for technologies that later find commercial applications, particularly in artificial intelligence, networking, and cloud computing.

What this means for the future of AI-powered sports

The FIFA World Cup 2026 demonstrated how artificial intelligence is expanding beyond player performance analytics into nearly every aspect of sports management.

From coaching support and referee assistance to broadcasting and operational coordination, AI is becoming an integral component of modern sporting events.

For technology providers like Lenovo, the tournament also served as an opportunity to demonstrate enterprise AI capabilities under demanding real-world conditions where reliability, scalability, and security are essential.

Lenovo's technology deployment at the FIFA World Cup 2026 illustrates the growing convergence of artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and sports operations. By supporting everything from match analysis and officiating to broadcasting and tournament management, the company showcased how AI can enhance both operational efficiency and fan engagement at global scale.

As international sporting events continue adopting advanced digital technologies, the innovations demonstrated during the tournament may also influence how businesses across industries implement AI to improve decision-making, streamline operations, and deliver more connected customer experiences.

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LG Brings Laundry Love to Earthquake-Hit General Santos

LG Brings Laundry Love to Earthquake-Hit General Santos

Recovering from a natural disaster often involves more than rebuilding damaged homes. Everyday tasks such as washing clothes and bedding can become difficult when families are focused on safety, temporary shelter, and restoring their daily routines.

Recognizing this need, LG Electronics Philippines, in partnership with Imperial Appliances, brought its Laundry Love community program to General Santos City for the first time, providing free laundry services to families affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the region in June.

What is LG Laundry Love?

LG Laundry Love is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative that provides free access to washing machines and dryers for communities affected by natural disasters and other emergencies.

Instead of distributing laundry supplies alone, the program establishes temporary community laundry stations equipped with LG appliances, allowing families to wash clothing, blankets, and other household fabrics at no cost.

The initiative has been operating in the Philippines since 2018, supporting communities recovering from natural calamities through partnerships with local government units and appliance dealers.

How did the program help General Santos residents?

The five-day community activation was held from July 13 to 17 at the Barangay Hall in Purok Estrella, Barangay Calumpang.

Operating daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the temporary laundry station served:

• 310 families
• Approximately 2,544 kilograms of laundry
• Five consecutive days of free washing and drying services

The initiative enabled affected households to clean clothes, linens, and other essential household items while they focused on other aspects of disaster recovery.

According to LG Electronics Philippines Managing Director Nakhyun Seong, the program reflects the company's commitment to addressing practical community needs during difficult times by making everyday household services more accessible.

Although often overlooked, access to clean clothing and bedding is an important part of humanitarian response.

Providing laundry services helps improve hygiene while allowing families to devote more time to rebuilding their homes, accessing aid, and caring for loved ones.

Humanitarian organizations frequently identify water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services as essential components of disaster recovery because they help reduce health risks in affected communities.

Partnerships strengthen community response

The General Santos activation highlights the role of collaboration between the private sector, local businesses, and government agencies during disaster response.

Through partnerships with Imperial Appliances and local government units, LG was able to establish a temporary laundry facility in a location that was accessible to affected residents.

This model combines corporate resources, local coordination, and community participation to deliver practical assistance tailored to immediate household needs.

As companies expand their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and CSR programs, initiatives focused on restoring everyday services have become an increasingly important complement to traditional relief efforts.

Disaster recovery extends beyond emergency food packs and temporary shelters. Helping families regain access to everyday necessities can contribute to a faster return to normal routines and improve overall community resilience.

Programs such as Laundry Love demonstrate how private-sector initiatives can address practical challenges that may not always receive the same attention as larger infrastructure or housing projects.

For participating families, access to free laundry services represented not only a convenience but also one less household responsibility during a period of recovery.

LG Electronics Philippines' Laundry Love initiative illustrates how targeted community programs can provide meaningful support after natural disasters. By offering free laundry services to more than 300 earthquake-affected families in General Santos City, the company and its partners addressed an everyday need that contributes to health, dignity, and recovery.

As climate-related events and natural disasters continue to affect communities across the Philippines, collaborations between businesses, local governments, and community organizations are likely to remain an important part of broader disaster response and resilience efforts.

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Jollibee Foundation Wins CSR Award for Farmer Program

Jollibee Foundation Wins CSR Award for Farmer Program

The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) has received national recognition for a farming initiative that places agricultural innovation in the hands of farmers themselves. Its Agri-Tech Facilitators (ATF) Program won the Outstanding CSR Project in Enterprise Development category at the 2026 League of Corporate Foundations CSR Guild Awards, recognizing its contribution to strengthening smallholder farming communities through peer-led learning.

Rather than relying primarily on external agricultural experts, the program trains experienced farmers to become local facilitators who introduce practical technologies, mentor fellow farmers, and encourage the adoption of climate-smart farming practices within their own communities.

Why did the Agri-Tech Facilitators Program receive the award?

The League of Corporate Foundations recognized the program for promoting a sustainable approach to agricultural development, where farmers take an active role in sharing knowledge and introducing innovations suited to local conditions.

The Agri-Tech Facilitators Program forms part of JGF's Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP), which helps smallholder farmers improve productivity while connecting them with institutional buyers, including the Jollibee Group's supply chain.

Instead of depending solely on periodic technical assistance, the initiative develops farmer leaders capable of:

• Testing new agricultural technologies
• Demonstrating climate-smart farming practices
• Mentoring fellow farmers
• Leading community-based agricultural projects
• Encouraging technology adoption within cooperatives

According to JGF President Gisela Tiongson, empowering farmers to become mentors and problem-solvers helps communities sustain agricultural innovations over the long term.

What is farmer-led agricultural extension?

Farmer-led agricultural extension is a development approach where trained farmers share practical knowledge, technologies, and farming techniques directly with other farmers.

Unlike traditional extension programs that rely mainly on government or academic experts, this model leverages local experience and peer learning, making it easier for communities to adopt practices that fit their environment and resources.

The approach is increasingly recognized as an effective way to improve knowledge sharing, strengthen local leadership, and encourage long-term adoption of agricultural innovations.

How the program builds local agricultural leaders

Participants undergo a combination of classroom instruction, field-based learning, mentoring, and community practicums before becoming certified Agri-Tech Facilitators.

Training covers several key areas, including:

• Climate-smart agriculture
• Agricultural extension
• Participatory technology development
• Project implementation
• Proposal writing
• Community facilitation

To improve accessibility, learning materials were translated into Filipino, enabling participants to better apply and share their knowledge within their communities.

The program was developed in partnership with several academic institutions. Ateneo de Cagayan – Xavier University helped design and deliver the training, while Central Luzon State University contributed to the development of learning modules. Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines Los Baños conducted a formative evaluation to assess the program's effectiveness in strengthening participants' leadership, facilitation, and technical skills.

What results has the program achieved?

Since its pilot implementation, the initiative has:

• Trained and certified 18 Agri-Tech Facilitators
• Established 14 agricultural technology demonstration projects
• Shared farming innovations with more than 200 farmers

Demonstration projects introduced technologies such as rain shelters, greenhouse production, drip irrigation, vermicomposting, and green manuring.

The projects also produced measurable improvements in farm productivity.

Rain shelter technology

One facilitator in Laguna introduced rain shelter technology for cabbage farming after experiencing repeated weather-related crop losses.

According to the project results:

• Growing period Reduced from 120 days to 90–105 days
• Marketable harvest Increased from 30 kg to 174 kg

The farmer has since shared the technology with other growers in the community.

Greenhouse tomato production

Another demonstration project showed how greenhouse cultivation improved tomato production:

• Yield increased by 79%
• Plant survival improved from 83.2% to 95.2%
• Production cost per kilogram reduced by 32%
• Net income increased nearly tenfold compared with open-field farming

These results demonstrate how practical technologies, when combined with peer mentoring, can improve farm productivity and profitability.

Why climate-smart farming matters

Climate-smart agriculture refers to farming practices that help increase productivity while improving resilience to climate-related risks such as extreme weather, changing rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures.

For many smallholder farmers in the Philippines, adopting climate-resilient technologies can help reduce crop losses, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen long-term food production.

Programs that encourage farmer-to-farmer learning may also accelerate the spread of practical innovations because participants often trust techniques demonstrated by fellow farmers working under similar conditions.

Smallholder farmers play an important role in the country's food supply, but many continue to face challenges related to climate change, access to technology, and market opportunities.

Initiatives that combine technical training, peer mentoring, and market linkages can help strengthen rural livelihoods while improving agricultural productivity.

By encouraging farmers to become educators and community leaders, the Agri-Tech Facilitators Program supports a more sustainable model of agricultural development that extends beyond individual farms.

The Jollibee Group Foundation's recognition at the 2026 CSR Guild Awards reflects the growing importance of community-driven agricultural development. Through the Agri-Tech Facilitators Program, farmer leaders are equipped not only with technical knowledge but also with the skills to guide others in adopting practical and climate-smart farming practices.

As agriculture continues to face environmental and economic challenges, farmer-led learning models may become increasingly valuable in helping rural communities build resilience, improve productivity, and strengthen participation in institutional markets.

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Maya Wins Two Honors at PR Awards Asia-Pacific 2026

Maya Wins Two Honors at PR Awards Asia-Pacific 2026

Digital financial platform Maya received two major recognitions at the PR Awards Asia-Pacific 2026, earning Gold for Best Brand Collaboration and Silver for Consumer Launch for campaigns that combined marketing with financial technology and customer engagement.

The company was also shortlisted in the PR Event category for its Welcome to Maya Black campaign, extending its streak of recognition at one of the region's leading public relations award programs.

Which campaigns won the awards?

Maya secured the Gold Award for Best Brand Collaboration through its "Save a Housemate. Save with Maya." campaign, created around the 2025 season of Pinoy Big Brother.

Instead of using the show's traditional SMS-based voting system, Maya introduced a Save-to-Vote feature within its app. The mechanism required users to first deposit funds into their Maya accounts before casting votes for their preferred housemates.

The campaign integrated the feature into televised segments and digital fan engagement, encouraging participation while promoting saving as part of the voting experience.

Meanwhile, Maya received the Silver Award in the Consumer Launch category for Welcome to Maya Black, the campaign introducing the company's premium Maya Black Visa Platinum Credit Card.

The launch campaign was also recognized as a finalist in the PR Event category.

What is Maya Black?

Maya Black is a Visa Platinum travel and lifestyle credit card offered through Maya's digital financial platform.

Unlike traditional credit cards that often rely heavily on conventional credit histories, Maya Black uses an AI-driven underwriting framework to assess applicants. This approach aims to broaden access to premium credit products, particularly for individuals who may have limited credit records under traditional evaluation models.

Applications are completed through a fully digital process, reflecting the growing adoption of online financial services in the Philippines.

Why did the campaigns stand out?

Both award-winning campaigns focused on connecting financial products with everyday consumer behavior rather than relying solely on conventional advertising.

The Save-to-Vote campaign incorporated digital savings into a popular entertainment platform, encouraging users to engage with financial services while participating in a television program.

Meanwhile, the Welcome to Maya Black campaign introduced the credit card through a coordinated multimedia rollout, including a black-and-white launch film and synchronized "Blackout" campaign across multiple channels.

According to Maya Group Chief Marketing Officer Pepe Torres, the company's approach centers on developing campaigns that address customer needs while delivering measurable business impact.

The PR Awards Asia-Pacific, organized by Campaign Asia, recognize outstanding public relations and communications campaigns across the region.

The awards evaluate initiatives based on creativity, effectiveness, storytelling, and measurable results, making them one of the established recognition programs for communications professionals in Asia-Pacific.

For brands, recognition at regional industry awards can highlight successful approaches to customer engagement while showcasing how marketing strategies support broader business objectives.

Maya's continued recognition

The latest awards mark Maya's fourth consecutive year of recognition at the PR Awards Asia-Pacific.

Previous award-winning campaigns include:

2022 PayMaya-to-Maya Rebrand

2023 My Money, My Bank, My Way

2024 Get Banked with Maya

2026 Save a Housemate. Save with Maya (Gold); Welcome to Maya Black (Silver)

The continued recognition reflects Maya's ongoing investment in integrating financial services with consumer-focused digital experiences.

Competition among digital financial platforms has expanded beyond payments and banking services to include customer experience and financial education.

Marketing campaigns increasingly serve as channels for introducing new financial products while encouraging behaviors such as saving, responsible credit use, and digital banking adoption.

As fintech companies continue expanding their services, campaigns that combine financial technology with everyday consumer experiences may play a growing role in improving awareness and accessibility.

Maya's recognition at the PR Awards Asia-Pacific 2026 highlights how fintech companies are using integrated marketing campaigns to promote financial products while encouraging greater engagement with digital financial services.

By linking savings to entertainment and introducing premium credit through a fully digital experience, the award-winning campaigns demonstrate how financial technology providers are adapting their customer engagement strategies in an increasingly competitive market.

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