NEWS
Morong, Rizal becomes 1st LGU with next-generation Advanced 911 emergency response and public safety system

9:24 p.m. May 7, 2024
Second class municipality Morong in Rizal Province is now the very first local government unit in the Philippines with a first-class, next generation emergency response and public safety system to respond to emergency calls and ensure the protection of its residents.
Morong Mayor Sidney Soriano, Vice Mayor Jose Fred Feliciano and other key municipal officials signed an agreement with NGA Philippines (NGA) the local subsidiary of multinational corporation NGA 911, LLC headquartered in California, USA in April last year to provide Morong with world-class and complete solutions for emergency communication and public safety services.
NGA is known globally as the innovator of emergency calling technology, and the leader in Next Generation 911 (NG911) emergency communications worldwide. The NGA NG911 system is built on the industry standards adopted by the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) in the United States and the European Emergency Number Association (EENA).
Monday, May 6, Morong local officials led by Mayor Sidney Soriano and NGA Philippines Country Head Robert Llaguno led the Go Live activation of the Morong Disaster, Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Command Center in Sitio Paglabas, Barangay San Pedro in Morong. Present at the Go Live event were Department of Interior and Local Governments Undersecretary Juan Victor Llamas, Rizal Congressman Emigdio P. Tanjuatco III, Rizal Provincial Governor Nina Ricci Ynares and Emergency 911 National Office Executive Director Francis Fajardo.
Now the local government of Morong is ready to respond accurately and efficiently to disasters, accidents, medical emergencies and other distress calls, using the NGA NG911 state of the art digital technology that can save lives and property in the fastest possible time.
“I welcome you all to the inauguration of the Morong, Rizal Emergency 911 Command Center with Next Generation Advanced technology — the very first in the Province of Rizal, the first in the country and in Asia. It has always been our utmost desire to be able to respond to emergencies and crisis situations, effectively and efficiently so that we can provide good public service to the people. Today is the culmination of that dream,” Mayor Soriano said.
NGA Philippines Country Head Robert Llaguno said Morong’s investment in the emergency NGA911 system presently used in the United States pioneers the use of technology in the country that will revolutionize the way and speed with which the LGU can handle emergencies.
“All 911 calls to the Morong DRRM Command Center are now fully recorded and conference and transfer facilities are now seamless,” explained Llaguno. “There is more efficient dispatch and coordination, because IoT capabilities enhance situational awareness that include CCTV streams, GPS location and other early warning devices that can now be integrated to the system.”
Llaguno said the activation of 911 as Morong’s emergency number is aligned with Executive Order 56 of 2018 that institutionalized 911 as the emergency hotline and nationwide emergency answering point replacing Patrol 117.
“It will not only give Morong, Rizal a shorter 911 dialing code compared to the usual 10-digit cell number of responders. By utilizing the NGA NG911 system, the LGU will also be able to pinpoint with high accuracy the location of the emergency call and associate the same with the closest responders to provide a more immediate response.”
Personnel of the Next Generation Call Handling System of Morong will be trained by NGA and the Emergency 911 National Office. Specialized telephone equipment provided by NGA will be used by dispatchers to answer 911 calls and text messages, with the call handling equipment plotting the 911 call or text on a map and pinpointing the location of the caller or emergency. The command center runs 24/7.
The technology, used in the United States, has changed the face of emergency communications by using internet protocol (IP) technology to transmit voice, text and video messages between callers and emergency responders. It can provide real-time data on the location and condition of callers, which can help first responders make more informed decisions in emergency situations.
Other LGUs in the country have been briefed on the capabilities of the technology with some already set to follow Morong’s lead.
NEWS
Converge raises awareness on evolving trends of cybercrime, holds stakeholder webinar on Feb. 14

5:30 p.m. February 11, 2025
With internet service providers playing a role in the ‘supply chain’ of cyber crime, leading Philippine fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is taking up the cudgels against the perpetuation of illicit acts online and stressing the importance of ‘self-defense’, or rather, self-education to combat them.
This will be at the center of discussions in its upcoming Converge webinar on February 14, entitled “Building Resilience Against Online Scams”, to be headlined by Converge Chief Executive Advisor Eugene Yeo, a tech and digital expert in his own right.
Yeo, who had been at the helm of several transformation projects of leading tech companies in his home country of Singapore, notes that cyber crime today is being perpetrated by artificial intelligence – showing the dark underside of this powerful force that’s changing the technology industry.
“These malicious agents are no longer people, but AI. On the part of Converge, we can keep blocking these illicit attempts to penetrate our network but a better way is to leverage this technology so that it becomes AI vs. AI. That’s what we’re doing in our own internal network,” said Yeo.
In 2024, Converge blocked a record 183 billion entry attempts to 683,000 URLs / domains it has registered in its system as illegal sites. This is 18 times the number of attempts for the years 2021-2023 which was only at 10-12 billion.
To help make the internet a safer place for its customers and end-users, Converge has been active in its campaign against OSAEC (Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children) and other cyber threats, inking a partnership in 2022 with Stairway Foundation , a Philippine NGO promoting children’s rights through awareness, community assistance, and networking. It is also actively working with the Internet Watch Foundation, an organization that provides Converge with a comprehensive database of URLs of OSAEC content so these can be blocked from the network.
This echoed the statements of government agencies who took part in the Safer Internet Day 2025 celebration organized by the Department of Justice on February 11. The agencies registered their alarm at AI’s increasing role in the creation of images of sexual abuse of children.
“The law’s definition of Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation or CSAEM materials is very broad in our law, so whether that is AI-generated, a real person, or just a composite of a real person, we still consider that CSAEM, ” noted Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty
Undersecretary-in-Charge, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking under the Department of Justice.
NEWS
Motolite cranks up sustainability drive with use of e-bikes for delivery

10:12 p.m. January 22, 2025
Motolite, the country’s leading, most trusted battery brand and leader in technology and product innovation, shifted its sustainability drive to a higher gear as it started deploying to key outlets eco-friendly e-bikes for the delivery of batteries to customers.
These e-bikes will now be part of the delivery fleet of Motolite Express Hatid (MEH) hubs and will be used by well-trained technicians in providing services to motorists.
The deployment of e-bikes started last November 28, with the MEH Maceda Hub and Cebu Hub receiving the initial batches of three units each. The MEH hubs in Mindanao Avenue, Las Pinas, Mandaluyong, Katipunan, and Pasong Tamo are also included in the project’s pilot phase.
E-bikes produce zero emissions, making them a more environment-friendly option for delivery. They help reduce air pollution and have three times less carbon footprints than conventional vehicles.
E-bikes also do not contribute to noise pollution and are lighter and easier to navigate than regular motorcycles, especially on busy metropolitan roads. Their speed is also comparable to conventional gas-powered motorcycles.
The deployment of e-bikes for delivery is part of Motolite’s heightened sustainability campaign, which also includes programs for the recovery and recycling of used lead acid batteries (ULAB) and the mounting of solar panels on the rooftops of its retail, warehousing, and production facilities.
Motolite’s battery production plants in Bulacan alone have an installed photovoltaic system capacity of 7,472 kWp, cutting its carbon footprint by 2,346 tons of CO2.
Both the solar panels and e-bikes are being supplied by Greener Solar Power and Electric Motor, Inc. (GEMI), a rising player in the country’s green energy sector.
Motolite’s ULAB recovery and recycling program, meanwhile, significantly reduced its dependence on fresh plastic resins and newly mined lead for its battery production.
“We are looking for every opportunity to contribute to the global effort to limit climate change. We are the only battery brand that takes its sustainability drive seriously, from manufacturing to retail and delivery,” Richard A. Chan, Motolite Vice President for Sales and Marketing, shared.
Aside from its free battery delivery 24/7 nationwide, Motolite also provides services to motorists such as emergency refueling, jumpstarting a dead battery, assisting with overheating, and changing a flat tire via the Motolite Res-Q App.
NEWS
The story on how EJ Obiena vaulted over controversy

6:57 a.m. January 17, 2025

The Philippines’ top pole vaulter and Olympian EJ Obiena faced a challenging moment when he became the subject of a controversial accusation last October, 2023.
However, the 29-year-old athlete demonstrated grace under pressure, addressing the claims with professionalism and composure. His dignified response not only refuted the allegations, but also earned widespread praise. Ultimately, the accuser issued a public apology, acknowledging the false nature of the claims against him.
Behind the scenes, Obiena’s coach and mentor, James Michael “Jim” Lafferty, played a vital role in guiding the athlete through the ordeal.
Lafferty, a seasoned executive coach and motivational speaker, provided strategic PR and crisis management support to help Obiena navigate the situation effectively. Known for his dedication to nurturing athletic talent, Lafferty has also mentored other Filipino Olympians, including long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang.

“Whilst I have long stated that EJ Obiena is a world-class athlete, yet an even better human being, he, like all celebrities, has been unfairly embroiled in various controversies,” Lafferty recalled.
He highlighted Obiena’s remarkable ability to overcome challenges, including handling multiple crises over the years.
Despite these hurdles, Obiena rose to become the world’s No. 2 pole vaulter, Asia’s top pole vaulter, a member of the six-meter club, and now a two-time Olympian.
Recognizing a broader need for expert crisis management among businesses and public figures, Lafferty, who also serves as the Chairman of Katapult, one of the country’s leading end-to-end marketing solutions providers, took action.
“Sensing the need to better serve EJ and other clients, Katapult has established a new PR and Crisis Management division as of January 1,” Lafferty said.
Lafferty is collaborating with Media Head Anika Basa and Data Analytics Head David Rosario to ensure the seamless integration of services.
The launch of this division underscores Katapult’s commitment to help clients navigate challenges, while safeguarding their reputations and achieving sustainable growth.
Lafferty’s leadership experience spans over three decades, during which he has held CEO roles at multinational companies such as Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, British American Tobacco, and Fine Hygienic Holding. His proven track record of driving success across industries makes him exceptionally qualified to lead Katapult’s PR and Crisis Management division.
CEO Francis Uy highlighted Katapult’s comprehensive approach: “Katapult was born as a digital-first company with a sniper-shotgun strategy—combining precision targeting of specific consumer personas with broad-reaching campaigns that maximize impact. By leveraging insights from our AI-powered platform, we not only drive marketing success but also provide a robust safety net for brands navigating crises. With our expanded services, including PR and crisis management, we ensure our clients’ reputations are protected and their stories resonate in even the most challenging situations.”
Rosario’s team enables hyper-precise consumer targeting, fostering authentic campaigns and lasting connections.
Together with Basa’s team, they seamlessly execute the Sniper-Shotgun Approach—combining the wide-reaching impact of a shotgun with the pinpoint precision of a sniper rifle to deliver tailored ads that drive maximum impact.
Discover how Katapult can help safeguard your brand’s reputation and lead you through any crisis with precision and expertise. Reach out today to learn how we can support your brand’s continued growth, no matter the challenges ahead.
Check us out at katapultdigital.com.