A CALL PROMPT TO BUY A NEW SIM

 Pa-sample ng isang “spammer-scammer-or-simply-entrepreneurial”?

 

To comply with the mandate of the SIM REGISTRATION LAW, a lot of us hurried to fulfill the requirements. Even when a number of criticisms can be raised against the new law (Republic Act 11934).

And besting the silence in my quiet corner, this writer recently got an out-of-line call.

The call was made on my mobile and the other man, upon hearing my voice said, “baka gusto ninyong magpalit ng sim. Nagbebenta ako.”

Something to this effect.

Caught by surprise, was a reply on my end: “Where did you get my number?”.

The man revealed it was from a list. More like the information about my mobile was fished right out.

I cannot understate the man’s impudent gesture. It was like a zero-in.

Let’s further this on the side of how complaints are supposed to be handled by the right personnel or authorities, whom local subscribers go to when a spam/scam or anonymous call is done.

There is an actual call to action at the National Telecommunications website that advises the public where to send a complaint, and this can be done via text.

The site also protrudes an email address where ordinary Filipinos can send their complaints.  

Expectedly, all that could be gotten from sending a complaint to the address given is an NR (no reaction), as of posting time.

However, a response is awaited from the National Telecommunications Commission “hotline”, is not the real issue.

The pressing concern is whether a government office expected by the public to act on a complaint, does have the capability and required number of personnel to resolve issues about spamming and scamming as reported.

Based on the NR received,  complaining about a spam call/ fraudulent sim seller seems like a trivial inconvenience to make.

In another instance, having been on the receiving end of spam messages many times prior to the call received from a pushy sim seller, complaining about such also did not benefit a reply from a mobile services provider.

This site is open to comments and reactions regarding this issue.

 

 

Go Negosyo Founder Stresses: Time to Focus on the Economy

In a press release dated May 5, 2023, the indefatigable Go Negosyo Founder, JOEY CONCEPCION, highlighted the importance of reverting back to normalcy by boosting tourism and investments in the country.  

Even at the onset of a new Covid variant that raised concern among the public, the "defender of micro-entrepreneurship" believes it’s time to focus back on tourism. 

CONCEPCION reiterated tourists and investors must not be given reasons to have "second doubts" about the country's preparedness to mitigate the effects of COVID.   He also emphasized the potential for more robust local tourism, which would be supported by Go Negosyo--a benchmark of Mr. Joey Concepcion’s accomplishments.  

GO NEGOSYO heralds this renewed enthusiasm for local tourism via a Tourism Summit this May 6, to be held in Cebu. It is anticipated to be attended by key tourism officials, businessmen, influencers, and vloggers.

NEWS REVIEW PHILIPPINES 2023

 

SHOW ME THE RECEIPTS, BEYOND THE ONION-SPEAK

 WE HAVE A THROWBACK HERE FOR THE PRICE WATCHERS.

As I was rummaging through a pile of bills,  novelty keeps, and receipts included, I remembered a task I vowed to make at the height of the “receipts” flaunting trend last holiday season. It was when consumers complained about the rising prices of commodities.

The prices of primary commodities seemed to have taken a bad turn last year when I noticed the prices of cooking oil had gone up to Php 400 per bottle (let’s not name the brand). 

In another grocery shopping anecdote of mine, we were poised to have mungo beans (small green legumes), this mom was about to cook in a hush, where to my surprise, I noticed the packs of mungo beans that we’d been sold with, has become so tiny-- I might need a magnifier (not using “hyperbole” here), to see the actual beans up close.  It almost looked very small when cupped by the hand.

In another, I recall having gotten a pack of a popular candy brand from a mall, which we bought for Php 200.  But alas, upon going home we found out, the contents of the pack were all melted.

What price, and what quality these days do we have to contend with, as ordinary consumers?

Whether we can buy the item for the price we want, or for the quality we can afford, the better know should be-- how much are we paying for the items we usually need at home? And are these fairly affordable for the regular Pinoys?

Receipts can give a footprint on how merchants “categorize” and market their goods.

Is a grocery item made affordable or is it priced exorbitantly,  when there must be food at the table for those thirsty for fairness, in a household of the ordinary?

More on this “keeping tab of food receipts”, in 2010, the prices of LPG were at around

Php 629.00 (March 2010). Today, LPG (based on published estimated prices when rounded off), can fetch between Php 900 to 1100. 

            Still from the same year as a point of reference, onions (sibuyas) can be bought at Php 50.00 per kilo. We all know the price of onions has gone up and even peaked as high as the price of beef meat per kilo.  What absurdity, what highness. 

While the good ‘ole “lomi” noodle from our favorite eatery used to cost Php 68.00 per order in 2010, now its most affordable price is at Php 165.00. Surely, we must “cherish” the times we used to enjoy more affordable food as Filipinos.

Understandably prime commodities have taken a lot of the brunt because of the global pandemic that dramatically affected the economy.  But how long can consumers settle for  such “real as it gets” pompous food prices?

While others can still have a luxury stay at their favorite hotel for summer; or while some can brag about their “vacation” on social media as if to defeat the true trend of consumer spending, many middle-aged moms or even the dad’s themselves, could actually be treasure-hunting for the best, lowest prices to buy their necessities from. We all have to reel the feel, at times!

 

NEWS REVIEW PHILIPPINES 2023