Philippine companies swimming in unprecedented amounts of data should focus less on collecting more information and more on ensuring its reliability, depth, and context, business leaders said at a panel discussion organized by CIBI Information Inc.
CIBI, a Philippine credit information and business intelligence company, provides credit reports, business information, identity verification, and other data-driven risk management services used by companies to evaluate customers, partners, and transactions.
“Simply having more data isn’t the answer. What matters is having the right data, with enough depth, breadth, and context to see the whole picture,” CIBI President and CEO Pia Arellano said during the discussion.
As economic pressures, geopolitical shifts, and technological disruption make business conditions less predictable, panelists said trusted information is becoming critical infrastructure for managing risks and building resilience.
Former Trade Secretary and BSP Monetary Board Member Peter Favila said resilience means more than surviving disruption. It requires businesses to “adapt, make sound decisions, and continue moving forward despite uncertainty.”
The challenge is growing as artificial intelligence allows companies to process information and automate decisions at greater speed and scale.
“Technology without sound judgment can amplify our mistakes just as easily as it can amplify our capabilities,” Pin An Holdings Corp. and Cliveden Management Corp. President Rene Buenaventura said.
CIBI Chairman Francis Estrada stressed that technology cannot replace human accountability.
“Algorithms process data, but people exercise judgment. Systems can flag risk, but leaders must decide how to respond,” Estrada said.
The panelists said companies should treat credible information as economic infrastructure alongside technology, capital, and physical assets.
For businesses, competitive advantage may increasingly depend not on having the most data, but on knowing which information to trust, understanding its context, and pairing technology with human judgment to make better decisions.
