By Junex Doronio

ACKNOWLEDGING THE HURT of having lost a loved one who was the breadwinner, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has extended financial assistance to the family of slain broadcaster Juan “DJ Johnny Walker” Jumalon in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.

Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez personally handed over the P250,000 worth of assistance given by Romualdez to the Jumalon family.

“After suddenly losing a breadwinner, it’s really difficult for a family to pick up the pieces and carry on with their lives,” Romualdez said.

Earlier, Romualdez strongly condemned the dastardly slaying of Jumalon.

The victim was shot dead in his radio station booth at home in Misamis Occidental while he was live streaming on Facebook last November 5.

“No matter what the motive is behind this killing, the Philippine media lost another one of its members, and we don’t want this to keep on happening,” Romualdez stressed.

The House Speaker also promised that Congress will take measures to protect journalists or the members of the reputed Fourth Estate of a democratic society.

“We in Congress will take concrete steps to ensure that every member of the fourth estate is protected from these senseless killings. They must not live in fear just because of their chosen profession,” Romualdez vowed.

(AI/MNM)

New in-app feature ‘Send Money Protect’ powered by global insurer Chubb via GInsure

Digital money transfers are now an integral part of our daily transactions. However, scammers, fraudsters, and cybercriminals have devised various strategies to take advantage of users and exploit the cashless economy.

In addition to utilizing top-notch cybersecurity systems, the Philippines’ #1 finance super app, GCash, has added another layer of protection with the introduction of ‘Send Money Protect’ (SMP) on its in-app feature, GInsure.  SMP provides users with confidence and peace of mind when  sending money digitally for as little as P30 per month.

SMP provides users with comprehensive protection from the most common scams, including online shopping fraud, account takeovers, and social engineering, for their transactions done via ‘Express Send’ in the app. SMP, offered in partnership with Chubb, the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company, can easily be availed once every 30 days.

Studies show that 45% of Filipino adults have been targeted by scams, with 11% falling victim. This has led to uncertainties towards digital payment methods among some users, hampering milestones already achieved towards financial inclusion.

“We at GCash believe in building partnerships that amplify the value we provide to our users. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Chubb, a global insurance leader and our partner in consumer protection, to bring you an added layer of protection. This collaboration ensures that you have  added financial protection from the unexpected when transacting online, giving you the confidence that your hard-earned money is in safe hands,” said GCash vice president for New Businesses Winsley Bangit.

Chubb Philippines’ Country President Mari Rachelle Canta also emphasized that, “Our partnership with GCash further strengthens our mission to serve millions of customers by providing a safety net through embedding insurance in everyday transactions. Now, GCash users have enhanced protection from cybercrimes with “Send Money Protect.”

The partnership between GCash and its consumer insurance partner, Chubb, was solidified through a ceremonial MOA signing held on September 13. Signatories included from GCash: VP for New Businesses, Winsley Bangit and GInsure Head, Joseph Nino Young; and from Chubb in the Philippines: Country President, Mari Rachelle Canta and VP & Head of Consumer Lines, Maurice Hilario.

The service aims to reinforce the confidence of users in being part of a financially inclusive cashless ecosystem that is safe from scammers, fraudsters, and cybercriminals.

While this is currently in its beta version and available exclusively to GCash and Chubb employees for now, GCash has announced that it will be fully rolled out by November 13, 2023. This milestone product will soon be available to all, promising a safer and worry-free online transaction experience.

The parent company of Chubb in the Philippines, Chubb Limited, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris, and other locations and employs more than 40,000 people worldwide.

For information, visit https://www.gcash.com.

By Liza Soriano

SENATORS have called on all concerned government agencies to ensure the protection of the Filipinos in Israel after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched a deadly attack last Saturday.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Grace Poe have condemned the violence made in Israel.

“We call upon the Department of Migrant Workers, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and other Philippine government agencies to secure our overseas Filipinos and ensure safe passage if necessary,” Zubiri said.

“We urge the full utilization of the Assistance to Nationals Fund for this purpose. I pray for all who are affected by this conflict- particularly the thousands of our Filipino brothers and sisters. May the LORD cover you all,” he added.

Poe, on her part, said that the safety of the Filipinos should be the top priority of the government.

“The safety of Filipinos in conflict-stricken Israel is of primordial concern. Concerned government agencies must ensure that our kababayan, especially those living near the battle zones, are moved to secure shelters or halfway houses,” Poe said.

“Repatriation should be calibrated for those who want to go home while the borders are still open […] As we hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, we have to act with dispatch so that no Filipinos will be included in the count of casualties,” she added.

With rocket fire and the deployment of armed men into numerous Israeli communities, Hamas began its most significant strike on Israel in years on Saturday. Israel suffered at least 22 fatalities.

(ai/mnm)