PLDT Inc. is confident of finding a new chief executive before the end of the year.
“We just started [the search]. It is ongoing (and) a bit new. Too early to say who the candidates could be at this stage,” Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT chairman and chief executive, said.
“It is a wide search. I cannot tell you at this stage how many. Hopefully, before the year ends, we can find the right person,” he added.
Alfredo Panlilio, the executive who last held the position, retired as president and chief executive at the end of December last year citing health reasons.
As for Pangilinan, the top man at the country’s premier telecommunications firm projects having to spend less capital expenditures this year than last.
“It will be lower this year compared to last year. We are getting a better idea of our carry over capex from issues related to 2022. It is likely to be lower overall than in 2023,” he said.
PLDT programmed capital expenditures of P80 billion to P85 billion in 2023.
Also, PLDT Global Corporation (PLDT Global), in partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) are to launch a new service enabling OFWs access the OWWA Helpline 1348 service for free via TINBO (Tindahan ni Bossing), the one-stop online marketplace it operates for global Filipinos.
“We are excited to launch this new service with OWWA as part of the overall thrust to uplift the lives of Filipinos living overseas. This shows that our Pusong TINBO and malasakit (care) extend beyond borders,” Albert V. Villa-Real, PLDT Global president and chief executive, said.
“This is also one of the many ways that we can boost government initiatives to make services more accessible through digital platforms,” he said.
TINBO has integrated a helpline button that enables OFWs to connect to the OWWA Helpline 1348 service online or via web-based calls swiftly and securely. TINBO users simply log on to their TINBO account and click on their registered Smart Virtual Number to access the OWWA Helpline 1348 button.
“This positive development in our partnership with PLDT Global is a testament to our commitment to serving millions of OFWs around the world. By providing our OFWs with a convenient channel to connect to the OWWA Helpline 1348 free of charge, they can be assured that help in any form can come to them at their most trying times,” said Arnell Ignacio, OWWA Administrator.
Powered by PLDT Global, TINBO is the one-stop marketplace that enables overseas Filipinos to buy load, send food vouchers, e-gifts, healthcare PINs from mWell, and even gaming PINs for their families in the Philippines. They may acquire a Smart virtual number (SVN) through TINBO, enabling them to receive OTPs from their e-wallets and e-banks in the Philippines like Maya. TINBO also enables overseas Filipinos access to a convenient and secure online bills payment platform for their Philippine utilities and other digital services while outside the Philippines.
