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Pinoy salary increases to be lower than Asia Pacific average in 2022

PLDT, Smart block 19K mobile numbers linked to digital pyramiding schemes

PLDT Inc. and its mobile subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. have blocked thousands of mobile numbers connected to digital pyramiding schemes this month alone, the group announced Sunday.

According to the group, its teams have blocked 19,000 mobile numbers and 5,693 user access to sites connected to the scheme reportedly orchestrated by a global syndicate, and uncovered over 100 domains involved in the ongoing SMS spam scheme.

“The cybercriminals have mischievously capitalized the high unemployment rate in this pandemic to make money,” PLDT and Smart Cyber Security Operations chief of Information Security Angel Redoble said in an emailed statement.

“To avoid falling victim [to] financial loss, we urge the public to delete, block, and not click such too-goodto-be-true job offers,” he elaborated.

The latest report comes after the National Privacy Commission (NPC) reported that an organized international or global syndicate is behind the influx of random spam text messages.

The scheme involves sending unsolicited but enticing messages such as jobs with high salaries from unknown numbers, which could then lead to an elaborate online phishing scam where the target mobile users fall victim to fraud.

The PLDT group last week said it is blocking mobile numbers and IP addresses due to the recent spike in spam and text messages, and it has found that the spam text messages were from registered users of the online messaging platform WhatsApp.

“PLDT and Smart recognize how crucial data privacy has become, and we have convened with various sectors regarding the matter—a recognition that this issue requires a multisectoral approach,” said PLDT and Smart chief data privacy officer Leah Jimenez.

“We assure the government agencies and other sectors that PLDT and Smart will take an active role in protecting Filipinos against cybercrime by strengthening our cybersecurity reinforcements,” she added.

For its part, the NPC said it has already summoned the data protection officers of telecommunications firms, online shopping applications, and banks to report on their spam prevention measures. Projected salary increases in the Philippines for next year will be lower than the regional average in Asia Pacific, according to a recent poll conducted by asset management firm Mercer.

Mercer’s latest Total Remuneration Survey (TRS) found that the median pay increase in the country is expected at 5% next year, with increases across all industries.

However, this is lower than APAC’s projected median salary increase of 5.4%, reflecting the divergence in pay progression between emerging and developed economies.

Other peers in the region are expected to report higher salary increments of as high as 9% in Pakistan, and as low as 2.3% in Japan.

In the Philippines, the High Tech industry is expected to record the highest improvement in the median salary from 5% to 5.8%, followed by Retail and Wholesale up 0.7% to 6%, and Consumer Goods up 0.2% to 5.2%.

The highest salary increases are expected in the energy, life sciences, retail and wholesale, and shared services sectors which expect increases of 6% next year, while the lowest increases are in the chemical, manufacturing, and non-financial services sectors.

“Talent in the High Tech space is in demand and it is no surprise that companies in the sector continue to boost salaries to hold on to their people,” said Mercer’s Career Business Leader for Philippines Floriza Molon.

“The salary increments for industries that are dependent on consumer spending like retail and wholesale and consumer goods, show that consumer spending is on the uptrend as the Filipino economy continues its path toward recovery,” she added. Two in five Philippine employers said they had no plans of changing their headcount, while many have reported cuts in spending by skipping overtime wages, implementing shorter work weeks, and layoffs.

“We see companies exercising greater prudence

around recruitment in the short term, with their immediate priority being keeping their businesses afloat. This has had material impact on the economy as jobs may not be created fast enough to satisfy the demand,” said Molon. “More Filipinos are not earning enough even if they hang on to their jobs, and are therefore on the hunt for more work. Until the pandemic situation stabilizes and granular lockdowns are lifted, jobs and livelihoods in the country will continue to be affected,” she added. The latest data available from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicates that there were 4.25 million jobless Filipinos in September, reflecting an unemployment rate of 8.9% — the highest rate since January this year. CebPac receives 1st Airbus A330neo

Cebu Pacific said it has received its first Airbus A330neo as part of its goal of becoming the “greenest airline” in Asia.

In a statement, the country’s largest airline said the 459-seater Airbus A33neo (New Engine Option) could carry more travelers in a single flight resulting in the lowest carbon footprint per passenger.

The plane also uses 25 percent less fuel than previous generation aircraft and consumes as little as 1.4 liters per seat per 100 kilometers, “burning less fuel and emitting less carbon,” Cebu Pacific said.

“We believe that growth and sustainability are not mutually exclusive and should in fact be inclusive if we want to work towards the greater good. This is why we will always choose the greener options – increased aircraft efficiency, reduced noise and carbon emissions, to ensure that more low fares will be available for every Juan,” Cebu Pacific chief strategy officer Alex Reyes.

The airline said it is on track to have an all-Neo fleet by 2027.

The aircraft’s exterior noise footprint is also nearly 60 percent less, Cebu Pacific said. It is powered by a Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engine. Airbus Asia-Pacific president Anand Stanley said the A330neo is the first aircraft in the world certified to comply with ICAO’s (International Civil Aviation Organization) CO2 emission standards beyond 2028.

“The airline will benefit from the aircraft’s stepchange in performance and economics, while maintaining passenger comfort and lowest operating costs,” Stanley said.