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Nepomuceno buckles down to work at Office of Civil Defense

December 31, 2022 11:36 a.m.

ARIEL Francisco Nepomuceno welcomed the job given by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the new Administrator III of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) under the Department of National Defense, saying that he’s up to the task.

Nepomuceno said he is happy for the trust and confidence given by the Marcos Administration on him after he formally took his oath at the Office of the Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last Wednesday inside the Malacañang Palace.

“The environment at the Office of Civil Defense is a real working job and not easy, so I immediately went yesterday to the office to start working after my oath-taking,” Nepomuceno, the 57-year-old former member of the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987, said. “The task is national and challenging so we have to start working now.”

He formally took over the OCD on Thursday after the turnover ceremonies at the Department of National Defense central office in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The OCD is vital to the government’s all-out response during times of calamities like floods, typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, among other disasters, to save more lives through evacuations and relief operations.

The OCD, also under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, is also the leading government agency in handling reactions and management during times of calamities. It is the agency that administers disaster risk reduction and implements a systematic program to lessen and avoid national disasters.

Nepomuceno is not new to the position of the OCD as this is a sort of ‘homecoming’ since he already served as a director and executive officer in the office during the time of former President Benigno Aquino 3rd from 2012 to 2013.

He replaced undersecretary Raymundo Ferrer, who served for four months as OCD administrator.

“It looks like I’m just fortunately promoted now because I was a deputy before in the OCD at the time of Pres. Aquino,” he added. “But as what I have said the nature of work in the OCD is very busy, you have to prepare for upcoming calamities and hold your ground during calamities to save the people.”

Nepomuceno awarded as the “Most Outstanding Graduate of the Social Science” of the University of the Philippines in 1989. He also served the Bureau of Customs as deputy commissioner during the time of former Presidents Aquino and Rodrigo Duterte from 2013 to 2017.

During his time at the Bureau of Customs, he and his team risked their lives for seizing billions of pesos worth of drugs and smuggled items.

He also ordered the return of the infamous Canada waste to its port of origin and was the first to use the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Law.

He was a former Major Reserve in Air Force from 2006 to 2007, a Magna Cum Laude Graduate of the University of the Philippines and a holder of Executive MBA Degree from the Asian Institute of Management prior to his services to the government.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (left) administers the oath-taking of Ariel Francisco Nepomuceno (center).

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Toyota Motor Vietnam selects Synology as Data Management Partner

6:53 p.m. March 31, 2024

Toyota Motor Vietnam, one of Vietnam’s largest automobile manufacturers, has partnered with Synology to strengthen its data management infrastructure for its growing data storage and resiliency demands.

“Synology’s storage solution has increased our business resilience,” said Bui Ta Hoan, IT Division Head at Toyota Motor Vietnam. “Synology is reliable, secure, and provides future-proofing scalability for growing data needs.”

Toyota Motor Vietnam deployed Synology data management systems to securely store hundreds of terabytes of data that are generated from assembling over 10,000 vehicles per year. Together with Synology’s high availability and remote data protection features, Toyota Motor Vietnam’s IT infrastructure is more resilient than ever against disruptions.

“Synology solutions are widely adopted in the manufacturing industry for a few simple reasons,” said Jola Le, Synology Vietnam Sales Manager. “Its robustness and ease of use save our customers considerable time. We’re proud to be able to transform and help modernize Toyota Motor Vietnam’s data management and protection needs.”

To learn more about the deployment, please visit: Synology customer story – Toyota Motor Vietnam

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Kaspersky shares cybersecurity tips for a peaceful getaway during the Holy Week

5:18 p.m. March 28, 2024

As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t.

Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared their findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November 2023 and February 2024, they uncovered 178 cases of “hijack profile” incidents. Half of these cases, eighty-nine (89) happened just in February. These cases mirror an upward trend seen throughout 2023, where the PNP recorded almost 3,000 cyber identity theft incidents.

Identity theft occurs when a fraudster obtains personal details from a victim, enabling them to commit identity fraud or fraudulently obtain goods/services. This stolen data can be used to open new bank accounts, take over existing ones, or impersonate the victim for criminal activities.

“In 2023, we monitored 26,164,699 web threats attacks in the Philippines, which made the country 4th with the highest web threats attacks globally, and when we looked at it closely, we found out that Filipinos were facing one (1) attack per second. These numbers are a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant at all times,” said Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

Web threats are browser-based attacks used by cybercriminals to spread malware. This includes common dangers like phishing and viruses, along with offline data theft.

To help Filipinos enjoy a peaceful holy week vacation, below are some of Kaspersky’s recommendations to follow:

General travel tips:

  1. Be skeptical of tantalizing offers
  2. Check to make sure your connection is secure before entering any personal information on a website
  3. Always check the address bar to make sure you are actually on the website you are supposed to be on
  4. Buy tickets and book hotel rooms either from the company directly or through a well-known ticketing or hotel site
  5. Do not participate in questionable giveaways
  6. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication wherever possible
  7. Checking the address bar is always a good idea, but it may be insufficient; some malefactors know how to fake addresses. So always use a security solution like Kaspersky Premium that scans malicious links. 

Avail up to 20% discounts on Kaspersky’s consumer solutions like Kaspersky Premium, Plus and Standard for the whole month of March at  https://www.kasperskyph.com/.

On protecting your personal data against identity theft:

  1. Keep things to a minimum: Use social media sparingly. Don’t use your real name, never post any personal information and don’t share any personal data via social messaging services.
  2. Keep your computer up to date: Many hackers now use malware to steal your information. Keeping your computer up to date with security patches and antivirus software helps protect against existing vulnerabilities and detect new attacks.
  3. Browse safely: To limit the chance of a malware infection, don’t open unknown email attachments or browse suspicious websites.
  4. Be self-aware: Take the time to check your credit card statements for any strange charges, and contact your credit card bank provider the minute you notice that something’s awry.
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Kick off your UEFA EURO 2024 adventure and watch games live with GCash

6:06 p.m. March 15, 2024

GCash, the Philippines’ top finance app, joins forces with Alipay+ to bring an exciting opportunity for Filipino football fans to take part in this year’s UEFA EURO 2024. As the premier football tournament kicks off once again, GCash is making it possible for you to witness the action live with the launch of its new raffle promo. GCash is a partner of Alipay+, which is the exclusive Official Payment Partner of UEFA EURO 2024.

Captivating millions of fans globally each year, the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament is set to take place from 14 June to 14 July 2024 across ten iconic host cities in Germany, including Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart.

By simply using GCash to pay, whether locally or internationally, users can earn raffle tickets and get the chance to experience the thrill of watching the UEFA EURO 2024 games live in Germany.

According to Paul Vincent Albano, General Manager for GCash International, “We are delighted to announce our partnership, together with Alipay+, the exclusive Official Payment Partner of UEFA EURO 2024, a collaboration that celebrates a shared passion and commitment to connecting with Filipino football fans. With GCash, users can unlock opportunities for more enriching experiences, and having the chance to attend the biggest sporting event of the year is just one of the ways we make this possible for our users. Through Alipay+, Filipino fans can pay at thousands of retail stores, F&B outlets and attractions across Germany and Europe, simply with GCash.”

GCash is now available internationally, through its partnership with Alipay+, ensuring seamless transactions for users even while they’re abroad. Through its Scan-To-Pay feature, users can enjoy hassle-free payments with zero service fees at millions of merchants worldwide, including restaurants, grocery stores, retail shops, and more!

The benefits of paying with GCash extends to gaining access to exclusive discounts and promos, including the opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Germany for UEFA EURO 2024. From March 1 to April 30, GCash users can earn raffle entries for every complete payment transaction made with Scan-To-Pay.

Payments made abroad earns users 10 raffle entries, while transactions within the Philippines earn one raffle entry each. The official winners’ draw will take place on May 4, 2024 with 16 lucky GCash users 2 winning tickets, giving them & their friends who love football the chance to watch the games with them!

Be part of football history and don’t miss out on the chance to witness Europe’s top nations in action this year. For more information and updates on the UEFA EURO 2024 promo, visit the GCash website or follow GCash online through @gcashofficial.

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