An important legacy

Everybody wants to be remembered for something.

A person’s legacy can be about one’s accomplishment, but what is more important is that such accomplishment affects the lives of others in a good way.

In an article for forbes.com by best-selling author Glenn Llopis, he noted how many leaders do not spend enough time thinking about their legacy or what they will leave behind for their organization and the people they serve.

Llopis notes that for many, leaving a legacy is associated with the end rather than the beginning or the next phase in one’s career. But he emphasized that one’s leadership is not shaped, nor is it defined at the end of the road, but rather by the moments shared, the decisions made, the actions taken, and even the mistakes which one is able to overcome.

“It is not until leaders desire to be significant that they discover the true meaning of leadership and legacy building. When this moment is realized, the lens that you see through becomes crystal clear; you begin to understand that being accountable for the advancement and success of others will ultimately define your significance as a leader,” he said in the article.

We will all leave this world, but our legacy will stay behind and last forever. But creating a lasting legacy is not easy. As Theodore Roosevelt once put it, “never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.” He was also quoted as saying: “I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”

For government leaders, what better way to create a legacy than being remembered as having improved the quality of life of their constituents.

For the Duterte administration, despite its faults and the criticisms hurled against it, one thing that we can thank for is the availability of better internet services, which became all the more important during the pandemic when most of us had to stay at home.

To recall, President Duterte ordered LGU chief executives to act swiftly on applications of telecommunications companies for tower building permission, especially after Globe Telecom president Ernest Cu lamented that the industry was suffering from infrastructure construction delays, with 25 to 29 permits needed aside from different kinds of tower fees and special land use permits.

After the President’s order and warning, there was a significant increase in permits granted to telcos. According to the National Telecommunications Commission, around 1,636 permits were issued for Smart, Globe and Dito. And from January to April this year, about 2,789 permits were issued.

The increase resulted in more cell towers being put up. In 2019, the telcos put up a total of 1,746 towers. The following year, the number rose to 4,337. This year, as of April, some 1,672 towers have been installed. The country now has a total of 24,614 cellular towersto date, with Globe having 10,941, Smart with 10,433, and Dito, 3,240.

In addition, the telco industry continues to invest heavily in their fiber optic networks with a total of 846, 323 cable kilometers already laid out all over the country. Smart has the most with 497,700 kms followed by Converge with 260,030, Globe with 72, 573 and Dito with 16,020 kms.

In 2019, around 384, 341 cable kms of fiber network were in place. This increased to 726,705 km in 2020. By April 2021, the number has gone up to 846,323 cable kms.

According to Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence, Philippine fixed broadband speed now ranks 65th out of 180 countries while ranking 77th out of 137 countries in mobile. This, compared to 103rd and 110th place, respectively, last November 2020.

Meanwhile, out of 50 countries in Asia, the country’s internet speed is now 17th for fixed broadband and 23rd for mobile. In the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines ranks 14th for fixed broadband and 12th for mobile out of 46 countries.

In the ASEAN region, the country now ranks 5th in both fixed broadband and mobile out of 10 countries.

Ookla’s report on fixed broadband download speed represents a 642.5 percent improvement since the Duterte administration started in July 2016, and a 329.7 percent rise for mobile speed.

All these gain more importance with internet usage in the country increasing by as much as 500 percent since the start of the pandemic.

With no end still in sight in so far as the quarantine restrictions are concerned, we have all come to realize that good internet access is a necessity and not a luxury, even a matter of life and death for some. Even the United Nations has declared access to the internet as a human right. The government and our service providers should continue to guarantee efficient and affordable internet connectivity as we strive to continue with our lives despite the challenges.

Innovative banking

Robinsons Bank, the financial services arm of the Gokongwei Group, recently received international distinction for its various product innovations.

RBank was awarded as having the “Most Innovative Digital Banking Services – PH 2021,” by The Global Economics Awards and The Global Business Review Magazine Awards. The bank has been relentless in developing new services and innovating digital products and has released the RBank Sign Up, an online account opening mobile application which is also capable of digital payroll account opening. The app also offers the IPONsurance Deposit Product, a savings account that comes with free life insurance.

RBank Sign Up’s uniqueness has allowed it to be recognized as “The Most Innovative Digital Product – PH 2021” by the World Economic Magazine Awards. Because of the app, RBank was named “Omni-Experience Innovator” by the IDC DX Awards last year.

The bank continues to improve its online banking add through features like sending funds via QR and the RBank Remit, which allows account holders to send money to any Cebuana Lhullier branch nationwide in real time. Meanwhile, the “Instabale” cash advance service of the app enables eligible Rbank Payroll account holders to advance on their salaries, providing instant funds within minutes.

Through these innovations, RBank strives to fulfill the changing needs of its customers by making banking easier and more accessible.

For comments, e-mail at [email protected]