Robredo's Angat Buhay Inks Deal to Build Disaster Preparedness and Response Center

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Angat Buhay Foundation, the non-government organization (NGO) founded by former Vice President Leni Robredo, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Friday with charity organization CSS Gives Philippines (CSSGivesPH) to build a disaster preparedness and response center.

The Angat Buhay Center for Disaster Preparedness and Response or ABCDPR will be established to further enhance the capacity of the NGO in disaster preparedness and response, according to a statement. With Robredo serving as witness, the MOA was signed at the Museo ng Pag-Asa in Quezon City by Angat Buhay Executive Director Raffy Magno and CSSGivesPH Executive Director Winston Toledo.

The MOA-signing commences the scouting of the location of the center, according to Angat Buhay. Once operational, the disaster preparedness and response center will (a) provide training and capacity-building of communities in disaster risk reduction, management, and response; (b) serve as an assessment and preparatory headquarters for coordinated response with affiliate organizations and government agencies; and (c) mobilize volunteers and rescue operations in times of disaster.

“It is a center for bayanihan in times of need,” said Magno. “This disaster preparedness and response center means faster and more equipped volunteers and rescue operations to better serve our kababayan,” he added. Through CSSGivesPH, the center will initially also have a command van, ambulance, rescue vehicle, and personnel for daily operations.

Robredo’s Angat Buhay has deployed volunteers and relief operations during times of disaster in the past, including in 16 areas from all over Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao hit by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng last year. The NGO said that it expects the disaster preparedness and response center to be operational within the year.

7 Benefits of a Multilingual Business

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If the motto of a business is to run an online store or website while attracting customers from all across the globe, having a multilingual website is a must. According to a survey, 72% of customers worldwide, when they open a website, try to browse it in their native language. Therefore, any business that wants to create a global brand should shift its focus to creating a multilingual website. Even though English is the most widely spoken language, a massive percentage of the population can neither read nor speak English. Furthermore, even if they can do so, they still seek content in their native language for comfort. Here is a list of seven benefits of a multilingual business website.

 
1. A Wider Audience Reach

Firstly, a multilingual website helps the business to expand its audience reach. Only 25% of internet users are native English speakers. In other words, there is a possibility to reach 75% of the global audience through a multilingual website. When businesses offer their customers the option of multiple languages, like converting the content from English to Tagalog, they create an opportunity to work with a new customer segment. It directly gives a positive boost to the revenue of the business.

 
2. Improved Customer Satisfaction

Localized websites boost customer satisfaction by indicating that the business cares about its needs. When a customer sees the effort a company is putting in to create a multilingual website to help meet their needs, it increases their satisfaction and results in customer loyalty. Furthermore, customer loyalty brings a ton of other benefits with itself, like better reviews for the business and more clients.

 
3. Improves Search Engine Visibility

While showing results to their users, search engines consider the language in which the user has made an inquiry. Internet users prefer to search in their native language because they are familiar with the terminologies. In such a scenario, businesses selling their products or services in a global market can benefit from improved search engine visibility. Of course, a user should have the option to convert any native language like Tagalog to English, but at the same time, creating content in the vernacular language is essential to improve the website's visibility across the globe.

4. Low Advertising Costs

As English is the most widely spoken language, advertising in English is expensive compared to other languages. In addition, it also gives rise to stiff competition, and subsequently, the advertising and marketing costs associated with it are higher. Similarly, the advertising cost of a multilingual website is comparatively cheaper because of the low competition in the same niche. An additional benefit is that this reach-oriented approach also reduces marketing costs.

 
5. Increased Conversion Rate

People prefer to purchase from a brand that they can understand. If they need help understanding the language used on a website, they will refrain from making a purchase. It reduces the conversion rate of the website and increases the bounce rate. Foreign customers who stumble across a website running in one language would often turn away to another website that provides multilingual support. Hence, having a multilingual website can increase the conversion rate and reduce the website's bounce rate.

 
6. Builds Trust

Customers prefer browsing websites and trusting brands that provide information in their language. When customers can understand the website's content, they trust the brand. However, while creating a multilingual website to build customer confidence, it is crucial to keep other factors in mind, like the design and functionalities of the website. Creating a multilingual website is an excellent way of removing cultural barriers as a hindrance to gaining international customers' trust.

 
7. Provides Competitive Advantage

A business can only be successful or create a legacy when it has a competitive advantage or unique selling proposition. Many websites run either in one or two languages. When the internet is flooded with such websites, having a multilingual website automatically gives a competitive advantage. It also improves the brand image compared to other companies. Additionally, multilingual websites are an excellent way of creating brand credibility.


Most large eCommerce businesses and other enterprises run multilingual websites for the reasons mentioned above. Therefore, any business that wants to flourish locally and internationally should invest in creating a multilingual website.

How to Secure Your Digital Transactions

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In the past few years, the financial services landscape has dramatically changed. Out of all the changes, the adoption of digital payment has been massive. The pandemic worked as a catalyst to increase the adoption of digital payment at an unprecedented rate. In the last two years, digital transactions have become a prominent mode of transaction. Even though digital transaction adoption is pandemic-induced, the behavioral change is expected to stay permanent. Although digital transactions have many benefits, they come with their own challenges.

 
The Challenges Of Digital Transaction

The biggest challenge of digital transactions is that their adoption happened very rapidly. Consequently, it became difficult for the financial service provider to adapt to the changes. In addition to that, security issues are common in digital transactions. With rising online fraud and cheating cases, taking care of digital transaction security has become paramount. Therefore, not only the financial service providers but also the users need to stay careful while doing digital transactions. Listed below are a few ways to secure digital transactions.

 
Set Unique Passwords

It is a fundamental piece of advice but the most important one. When setting passwords for different bank accounts, keep all the passwords unique. Doing so will ensure that if the security of one account is jeopardized, the other bank accounts are secure.


Also, in addition to choosing a unique password, it is vital at the same time to choose a strong password. Try combining letters, numbers and special characters to create a strong password. Furthermore, go for non-dictionary words and avoid using personal details such as birthdays as passwords, as they are easily guessable.

 
Do Not Use Public Wi-fi Networks

Governments across the globe are making public wi-fi available to create smart cities. Such public wi-fi has many users and also benefits like improved internet accessibility. However, one should avoid using public wi-fi while making financial transactions. Firstly, devices sharing the same wi-fi network have the same IP address, which one can verify on What Is My IP. This itself is a huge problem.


Secondly, public wi-fi networks are insecure and carry plenty of security loopholes. Therefore, one should use a private wi-fi network or mobile data when transacting digitally.

 
Do Not Save Card Details

With digital transactions becoming a standard mode of payment, many users make the rookie mistake of saving their card details for convenience. However, even though saving card details make digital transactions convenient, it is precarious at the same time. It is because if the device falls into the wrong hand or is stolen, the prey can lay hands on all the card details.

 
Use 2-Factor Authentication

Many bank services now provide 2-factor authentication for an additional layer of security. Sign up for 2-factor authentication whenever available to make the digital transaction more secure.


When 2-factor authentication is enabled, a user needs both password and an OTP to make a digital transaction which makes it more secure. However, avoid sharing your password or OTP with anyone to retain the security.

 
Regularly Keep An Update On Financial Statements

Many people prefer to check their financial statements once a month which is a bad practice. In this scenario, faulty transactions have a high chance of going unnoticed. Therefore, users who regularly engage in digital transactions should make it a habit to monitor their financial statements constantly to observe any unusual or suspicious activity.


Contacting bank customer support is recommended if one sees any inconsistency in the financial statement.

 
Use Official Website And Trusted Apps

First, the users should ensure the banking website or app is secure. One should download banking apps only from a trusted source. The official app often comes with a verified sign to make it easier for the users to identify the source's legitimacy.


In addition, the user should also ensure that the platform where they are carrying out the financial transaction is legitimate. For example, if you plan to use an unpopular website or store to purchase a product or service, always check for its review first. You should proceed with the transaction only when you are sure the website is safe.


Lastly, do not click on any link shared in any message from an unknown number or email. Many emails are smartly crafted to give a feel of an official email. Users can check the trustworthiness of such emails by paying attention to their content and email address. Digital transactions have numerous benefits, but staying cautious is critical to reaping those benefits.