Advantages of Social Media

According to a famous English Philosopher Francis Bacon, “Knowledge is power.” Social media is the most accessible source of information. SociaI media facilitates my continuous learning. It helps me to stay informed and updated about what’s happening across the world especially in business and banking as well as health and fitness. As a banker for countryside development Land Bank of the Philippines, I draw a lot of inspiration from the many success stories in other parts of the country and in the world in promoting financial inclusion in the countryside. Through social media we increase our reach in promoting LANDBANK’s products and services. By posting events in the social media we inform and assure the bank’s priority clients of the bank’s efforts toward its mission to create countryside development. Social media also supports teamwork and camaraderie, our Lending Center maintains a group account in the Facebook. It is a venue for all members of the group to express themselves and stay motivated through pictures, inspiring quotes and messages of recognition for jobs well done. Social media also keeps me connected to family and friends.

               My Personal Commitment Statements on the Responsible Use of Social Media

As a responsible user of social media:

1. I will only post positive and inspiring messages.
2. I will adopt a “ No Phones Policy” during bonding activities with my family.
3. When bonding with friends, I will not multi-task through my phone.

Signed this 19^th of March 2016, Iloilo City

                                                                                      Vivian Manuel-Canonero                   

 

 

 

 

Software Piracy

According to the Business Software Alliance (BSA) which is the leading advocate for the global software industry before governments and in the international marketplace, about 36 % of all software in current use is stolen. Software piracy has continued to be a big threat to the software industry worldwide. It has also been causing billions of loss revenue in the economy.

Not being able to afford a legal copy of a software does not justify the use of pirated ones. It is not right and it is not ethical. Furthermore, there is a risk that the pirated ones are prone to malwares and virus attacks that can lead to data theft and losses. Unfortunately however, the use of pirated software is very common in the Philippines. The software companies should find ways to make the legal copies affordable and accessible. It is also a good strategy to already install and incorporate the cost of the commonly used software in the pricing of the hardware. The software companies should continue its alliance to fight against software piracy and make representations to the various governments worldwide. In the Philippines, there are already laws against piracy however, there is a need to for its strict implementation and monitoring to ensure that the pirated software is removed from the market.

Knowledge Management

Knowledge Management (KM) is an essential element in the operations of Land Bank of the Philippines which is a service universal bank with a unique social mandate. It has a dual role as a catalyst of progress in the countryside while sustaining commercial viability to support its social mission. It is the only universal bank in the Philippines present in all 81 provinces with a network of 352 branches, 1,404 ATMs and 38 Lending Centers.

LANDBANK has more than 8,000 employees all over the country, knowledge management is used to increase employee effectiveness and efficiency. It has a LANDBANK portal that allows employees access  to databases, manuals, bank policies and procedures, latest circulars, copies of the newsletters and relevant newspaper clippings among others. It also has a Human Resource Information System that supports  personnel administration. Employees are regularly sent to seminars and trainings locally and  abroad. Tacit knowledge is shared through brainstorming sessions and workshops.

To remain relevant in responding to the needs of its priority sectors, the small farmers and fishers, farmers and SMEs, the bank compiles and shares to clients and employees a compilation of business modules stored in  CDs.  It is a compilation of best practices for specific commodity  such as cacao,  banana, seaweeds, poultry among others. The commodity modules contain industry updates, technical requirements, financial assumptions and projections, industry prospects including  insights and issues. The compilation of business modules intend to increase the success of the client in his business and to guide loan officers all over the country in packaging the appropriate credit facility for the client. This is further supplemented with industry updates, seminars and trainings.

Continuous trainings of employees on how to access information from the LBP portal will further improve the employees proficiency in the use of the on line system.

Knowledge sharing is indeed empowerment. It increases awareness and improves the ability of other people to use the knowledge for self improvement.