ORMOC CITY– A housewife was wounded after a neighbor attacked her in a dispute over an electric connection on Sunday, on Sunday, October 20, at around 7:30 pm in Barangay Looc, Cabucgayan, Biliran.

The victim, identified only as alias “Rose,” 26, lives with her common-law husband and is currently unemployed. The suspect, alias “Pidong,” 50, is a fisherman and also a resident of Looc.

According to local police reports, the incident occurred after Rose cut off the suspect’s illegal electric connection to her house in order to determine her own electricity usage.

Upon realizing that his power supply had been disconnected, Pidong went to Rose’s house and, without hesitation, attacked her with a scythe, or ‘garab’ in local parlance.

Rose sustained a wound to her right eyelid and was immediately taken to the Cabucgayan Rural Health Unit for medical treatment.

The police arrested Pidong following the incident and took him into custody at the Cabucgayan Municipal Police Station for further investigation and proper disposition. (ROBERT DEJON)

GCash brings affordable and accessible insurance protection to millions of Filipinos

The Philippines has historically lagged behind its counterparts in Southeast Asia regarding insurance penetration. According to data from the Insurance Commission (IC), the country’s insurance penetration rate stands at 1.68% of GDP, compared with 3.3% in Thailand and 4.5% in Malaysia. Japan boasts an insurance penetration of 10%, while the global average rests at 7.2%.

This is the challenge that GCash, the leading finance app in the country, has been addressing as evidenced by the rapid growth of its insured user base to 7.8 million, marking a 140% year-on-year (YoY) surge. GInsure is the GCash in-app insurance marketplace. The fintech leader reported selling 28.3 million of insurance policies for the year, reflecting a 156% YoY growth as of the second quarter of 2024.

With this continuous growth, GCash has enabled more and more Filipinos to achieve a better and more secure financial future through its accessible and convenient insurance products right at their fingertips.

“We are pleased to see the significant growth in our GInsure platform. This reflects our ongoing commitment to financial inclusion and our mission to provide ‘Finance for All.’ Through GInsure, users can now manage unexpected expenses and help them be ready for a ‘rainy day’,” said GCash vice president and group head of new businesses Winsley Bangit.
As it marks 20 years of enabling financial inclusion for millions of Filipinos, the success of GInsure is part of GCash’s broader strategy to deliver comprehensive financial services that go beyond payments. From savings and investments to insurance and credit, GCash has evolved into a cutting-edge digital financial platform designed to meet the diverse needs of its users. The integration of these services into one app allows GCash to offer a seamless user experience, as well as a simpler application process by reducing the documents that a user requires to qualify for an insurance product, further encouraging the adoption of financial tools among Filipinos, especially the unbanked sector.

By integrating insurance products directly into the GCash app, the platform has made it easier for users to access various insurance options that cater to their specific needs—whether life, health, or travel insurance. This ease of access has been crucial in driving the adoption of insurance products among the previously uninsured or underinsured segments of the population.

As the leading fintech platform in the Philippines, GCash remains committed to driving financial inclusion and providing Filipinos with the tools they need to improve their financial health and independence. The continued growth in its user base and the increasing uptake of its insurance products underscore the platform’s role in shaping the future of financial services in the country. (PR)

BORONGAN CITY-The Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH ESDEO) was recently visited by Dr. Ir. Iwan Aang Soenandi, an esteemed professor from Universitas Kristen Krida Wacana (UKRIDA) in West Jakarta, Indonesia.

Dr. Soenandi, an expert in ergonomics, visited the office as part of a week-long International Faculty Mobility exercise of Eastern Samar State University (ESSU).

Accompanied by Dr. Rowena Capada, Dean of the ESSU College of Technology, and other program heads, Dr. Soenandi conducted an assessment of the workplace of DPWH ESDEO on October 9, 2024.

During his visit, he toured the entire office and inspected the working environment.
Dr. Soenandi commended DPWH ESDEO for its compliance with ergonomics standards, noting the use of ergonomic chairs and comfortable desks for all employees.

“After we have seen the facility, I think it’s very good. You already use ergonomic chairs and the desks are comfortable for all employees,” said Dr. Soenandi.

Assistant District Engineer Chito Nelson Eusores mentioned that the office certification of ISO 9001: 2015 helps improve the working environment of the office.

The Indonesian expert recommended the availability of an evacuation area for employees during a national disaster.

“In Indonesia, we must prepare for natural disasters by having an evacuation room or area for people when a disaster strikes. I think we can prepare this kind of area to improve safety for the people.”

In response, Assistant Chito Nelson Eusores mentioned that the office actively participates in the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) conducted every quarter to educate employees and prepare for disasters.

Engr. Eusores also mentioned plans to improve the open space for evacuation once the old building is demolished, which will be used as parking and will improve open space for evacuation area in the office vicinity.

Moreover, Assistant District Engineer Eusores expressed gratitude to ESSU for choosing DPWH ESDEO to be visited by their visiting professor from Indonesia.

Engr. Eusores also highlighted DPWH ESDEO’s continuous support for the university’s programs, including On the Job Training (OJT) of the ESSU students.

The visit of Dr. Soenandi, a highly regarded professor from UKRIDA, is part of a week-long engagement of Eastern Samar State University.

His visit included engagements with partner agencies of the ESSU such as the DPWH, reflecting the strong partnership between the university and these institutions. (PR)