National Summit Tackles Role of AI Technology, Big Data in 2025 Elections
Key officials from the Commission on Election (Comelec), National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) along with digital experts and campaign stakeholders will discuss ways to protect Filipino voters, political candidates against the use of AI, deep fakes and other forms of misinformation in the 2025 elections at the three-day National Election Game Changer Summit to be held from 25 to 27 November 2024 at the Marquis Events Hall in BGC Taguig City. Research firm-Capstone Intel Corporation is hosting the event that provides a platform for discussion on how public and election stakeholders can increase knowledge and awareness on digital innovations, focused on the threats and challenges of cybersecurity. Comelec commissioner Nelson Celis will speak on the new Comelec rules on Regulating the Use of AI in 2025 polls campaign, while Mr. Angel S. Averia, Jr., National Chairperson of NAMFREL will serve as one of panel of reactors. At the same time, Comelec commissioner Atty. Rey Bulay will speak on the New Election Landscape in 2025, while cybersecurity experts from US, Singapore and the Philippines, as well as veteran election campaign strategists will deliver insights on innovative digital and face to face campaign strategies in winning elections. The event also highlights the launching of the fifth edition of the book: “Winning Strategies for an A.I.-Interconnected Electorate: Campaign Management for Politics and Social Change,” a step-by-step strategy for political and social change, blending traditional campaigning methods with AI technologies. The book is authored by Capstone Intel Corp. founding CEO Mr. Eero Rosini Brillantes who succumbed to a lingering illness in April 1, 2024, and his wife Geraldine Torres-Brillantes, who is the Chief Operating Officer of the company. Atty. Nicasio Conti, CEO of Capstone Intel Corp. said the three-day event aims to increase knowledge and awareness on the intersectional benefits of digital innovations and time-tested face traditional campaign strategies for the election campaign stakeholders particularly candidates and campaign managers. It also provides a platform for discussion on how to operationalize core elements of campaign, including ways to ensure digital and physical safety of political candidates and campaign stakeholders, said Conti. Dr. Guido David, Chief Data Scientist of Capstone-Intel Corp. said the rapid advancement of AI technology will play an important role in data-driven election campaign strategies. “While AI can be used to amplify candidates’ advocacy messages to improve people’s lives, the AI technology can also be used to spread false content or deep fakes to depict candidates doing and saying things to mislead the public,” said David.
Health Management for Candidates During Intensive Campaigns
KNOW SAFETY, NO PAIN. NO SAFETY, KNOW PAIN Summer weather in the Philippines is no joke, ask anybody during the time of the year where the heatwaves keep rising, the classes get suspended and some are even forced to work from home. Not only that, but people are also experiencing dizziness, heatstroke, hyperthermia, dehydration, and fainting due to the extreme heat. Meanwhile, at the peak of the political campaign and election last 2022, there surely are a lot of reported cases wherein people are taken to the hospital for health related issues. With COVID-19 still prevalent at that time, safety measures are crucial. Here are some tips for candidates about health management during intensive campaigns period for the upcoming 2025 national elections: Avoid prolonged physical contact (such as handshakes, hugs, kisses), not only that it is humid but considered safer for less transmission of communicable diseases. Distribute food and drinks to remain hydrated. Fans, electric mini portable fans and umbrellas are encouraged. As much as possible, avoid prolonged sun exposure. Set up first aid help desks and isolation areas at the polling precincts with adequate personnels and equipment, and a vehicle in case of emergencies. Continuous monitoring of any campaign and election-related activities for a quick response on any untoward accidents that may occur. Get adequate rest. If a body is well-rested, it heals and recovers much faster. Campaign organizing requires a lot of hard work just as much as the job at the seat, that is why ensure that the voters and the general public will vote in a safe, and confident environment. Observe all health protocols and above else keep yourself out of harm’s way all the time, nobody wants to get sick in these trying times. Should you feel unwell during the election campaign and the day of election itself, best to isolate yourself and adhere to the health protocols of your precinct. By: Janha Tolentino References: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/821024/the-do-s-and-don-ts-during-campaign-season-amid-the-pandemic/story/ DOH-7 reminds voters on health protocols, heat precaution for Election Day https://monitoring-dashboard.ndrrmc.gov.ph/exports/situation_actions/situational-report-for-2022-national-and-local-elections
Strategic Communication in the Age of Information Overload
We live in a world of information overload. A plethora of information competes for our attention in the media landscape, including press releases, blog entries, social media updates, and news alerts. Now that we live in an information society work and personal life have become more digitally connected — providing numerous sources of information being easily obtainable. We also have quick access to a wide range of information and can actively search for it, and even unconsciously take in a lot of messages and information. Also, giving importance with regards to the impact of email on our daily activities— the need to go through the piles of paper and emails is already quite the workload. But it is at this point where the problem of information overload arises. Questioning the Internet being the one to take the blame— also print, film, optical, magnetic, and digital media are only a few of the known sources of information overload. And there is an overwhelming amount of information available, but evaluating its quality is challenging since the yearly output of print, film, optical, and magnetic content in the world requires 1.5 billion gigabytes of storage. As a result, information overload has become a general issue. For reference, the following accurately depicts how frequently an average person uses the internet: An average person gets between 100 and 120 emails per day. Every month, an average person switches between seven different social media platforms. An average person typically views 10,000 advertisements every day. An average person normally texts 72 times a day. 150 times a day on average, millennials take up their smartphones. Plus, based on the definition of strategic communication, it is about the “Intentional communication that advances an organization’s goals and is specifically aligned with the mission and vision.” And when it comes to the goal? It means to communicate deliberately in order to engage our audience. How do we do this? Before connecting with your audience, both offline and online, you might want to consider the following five strategic steps: Recognize your target audience Recognize the communication styles of your audience. Recognize the learning methods that your target audience prefers. Recognize that consistency matters Recognize that systems may influence your outcomes. More than ever, effective communication remains crucial in the hyperconnected world. Delivering a message is not enough; you also need to strategically create and market it to connect, inspire, and influence your target audience. To sum up, in the digital era, strategic communication is an effective tool that can propel business success. With the potential of strategic communication to engage, inspire, and influence your target audience may be completely realized by understanding your audience, creating captivating narratives, utilizing social media, and handling crises appropriately. By: Pauline Anacay PHOTO COURTESY: LinkedIn Source links: INFO SOURCE: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov worshipfacility.com www.worshipfacility.com
Former anti-graft chief seeks audit of P245 billion flood control projects amid Metro’s massive flooding
The former chief of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) has called for a comprehensive audit of the country’s P245-billion budget for flood control projects for 2024 amid the massive flooding in the capital region following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina (international name Gaemi). Atty, Nicasio Conti, former commissioner of PAGC, now the chief executive officer of research firm Capstone-Intel Corp. said the current budget for flood control under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been raised from P185 billion in 2023, reflecting commitment to address the flooding issues. “The Filipino taxpayers are hit three times for paying for ineffective flood control projects, incurring personal losses during calamities, and funding the calamity response and rehabilitation efforts,” said Conti in a statement over the weekend. He stressed that public’s trust is undermined when these services fail to deliver, especially given the significant funds allocated for flood control. “The Filipino taxpayers deserve better public infrastructure services including effective flood control projects.” Conti said people pay taxes diligently in exchange for government programs and services, including safety and security during calamities such as typhoons and widespread flooding. However, the massive flooding in Metro Manila, Rizal and Bulacan highlights the mismanagement and possible corruption within these projects. “Due to the improper use and allocation of funds for flood control caused by corruption and substandard projects, taxpayers are short-changed,” he said. The misuse of funds leads to inadequate infrastructure that fails to protect the public effectively. Conti added that families affected by the massive flooding are faced with double whammy for additional costs of rehabilitating flooded homes, damaged properties, appliances, and vehicle. “The public not only suffers from the initial flood damage but also incurs additional expenses for rehabilitation and repairs,” he said. “What is worse is that despite the allocated funds to prevent flooding, these funds are not used properly,” said Conti. The taxpayers’ money is again used for the calamity fund and rehabilitation, thus, resulting to the three-fold burden of taxpayers. the burden thrice: paying for ineffective flood control projects, incurring personal losses, and funding the calamity response and rehabilitation efforts. Atty. Conti stressed that the flood control budget for the DPWH 2024 at ₱245 billion surpassed the overall budget allocation of key executive branches, highlighting the government’s prioritization of infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness. To illustrate: Department of Labor and Employment Php 44. 8 billion Department of Environment and Natural Resources Php 25.4 billion Department of Justice Php 26.7 billion Department of Tourism Php 2.5 billion Department of Trade and Industry Php 24.4 billion Department of Energy Php 2.2 billion Department of Science and Technology Php 24.1 billion Department of Information and Communications Technology Php 10.8 billion Department of Foreign Affairs Php 24.2 billion Department of Finance Php 32.9 billion Department of Budget and Management Php 2.5 billion Department of Agrarian Reform Php 9.3 billion **** For more information and interview opportunities regarding surveys, you may contact Capstone-Intel’s Research and Publications Director, Ella Kristina Domingo-Coronel at 09565711298. Capstone-Intel is a high-impact research company that uses innovative research technologies, tools, and methods to convert data and information into breakthrough insights and actionable intelligence outputs. It is committed to helping its clients solve problems, find solutions, grow markets and constituencies, build reputations, navigate risks, manage crises, and be the country’s leading private research and intelligence agency.
Former Anti-graft chief seeks regulated gaming BPOs to offset POGO revenues
The former chief of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) said the government can offset the potential revenue losses from the operations of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) by allowing gaming Business Process Outsourcing in export processing zones to enpolsure strict regulations. Atty. Nicasio Conti, former head of PAGC, now chief executive officer of Capstone-Intel Corp. lauded the decision of President Bongbong Marcos’ decision to ban POGO operations as it has led to serious crimes of trafficking, kidnapping, tax evasion and other national security concerns. “The ban on POGOs is a commendable step towards safeguarding our national interests and ensuring a more secure and regulated gaming industry,” said Conti. He added that, “the negative implications of POGOs on our economy and society have been evident, and this decisive action will help mitigate these risks.” Conti was reacting to the concerns raised by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda on the potential revenue losses from POGO operations. He proposed a strategic shift towards allowing gaming BPO operations in Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (APECO). These government-attached agencies have separate mandates from PAGCOR. The former cabinet official explained that gaming BPO in export processing zones can be regulated since these areas are considered as “controlled environments.” “The transition to gaming BPOs within designated Economic Zones can offset the revenue loss from POGOs. These zones are equipped to handle such operations efficiently and with greater regulatory oversight,” Conti explained in a press release on Wednesday. Conti said PAGCOR must step up monitoring and regulations, should it decide to issue licenses and allow Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs). Earlier, Conti calls for the strict prohibition of gambling advertisements across all platforms to mitigate the social impact of gambling within the country. “If PAGCOR continues to oversee PIGOs, there must be rigorous monitoring and enforcement of regulations to ensure compliance. Additionally, gambling advertisements should be strictly banned in all media to protect our citizens from the potential harms of gambling,” he said.
The Power of Social Listening: Enhancing Survey Results with Deeper Insights
Social listening refers to the process of monitoring and analyzing online conversations, specifically on social media platforms, to gain insights and understand the opinions, preferences, and trends of individuals or communities. It involves tracking mentions, comments, hashtags, and other relevant data related to a particular brand, product, or topic. Social listening provides businesses and organizations with valuable information that can be used to make informed decisions, improve customer experience, and effectively engage with their target audience. The need for social listening arises from the increasing presence and influence of social media in people’s lives. With millions of users actively sharing their thoughts, opinions, and experiences online, it has become imperative for businesses to tap into this wealth of information. By understanding the sentiments, needs, and expectations of their customers through social listening, businesses and organization can identify potential issues, address them promptly, and tailor their products or services to align with customer preferences. Moreover, social listening allows businesses and organization to keep a pulse on their competitors, industry trends, and emerging market insights, helping them stay ahead of the curve and make strategic business decisions. In the context of conducting surveys, social listening plays a crucial role in complementing traditional survey methods. While surveys provide direct responses from participants, social listening provides a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the larger public sentiment. By analyzing the online conversations surrounding a specific topic or brand, businesses can identify patterns, trends, and common pain points that may have been missed in a traditional survey. This additional layer of insights obtained through social listening can enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of survey results, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions and design better strategies to meet customer needs. Overall, social listening provides a holistic view of customer opinions and preferences, allowing businesses to stay connected, relevant, and responsive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
‘Bato Dela Rosa’ Leaves Facebook Users Laughing with Top Posts
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is an active participant in Senate hearings and regularly provides statements on social issues, which has garnered significant media attention. In order to gauge public perception of the senator, Capstone-Intel Corporation conducted a study. Capstone-Intel Corporation is a high-impact research company that uses innovative research technologies, tools, and methods to convert data and information into breakthrough insights and actionable intelligence outputs. It is committed to helping its clients solve problems, find solutions, grow markets and constituencies, build reputations, navigate risks, manage crises, and be the country’s leading private research and intelligence agency. Background Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is a prominent figure in Philippine politics. He rose to national prominence and served as the first Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the Duterte administration, where he played a crucial role in the government’s war on drugs. Known for his tough stance on crime, Senator dela Rosa has become a controversial figure, with both critics and supporters expressing strong opinions about his policies and actions. Born on January 21, 1962, in Davao City, Senator dela Rosa had a long and distinguished career in law enforcement before entering politics. He joined the police force in 1986 and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the 21st of the PNP from July 2016 to April 2018. In 2019, Senator dela Rosa transitioned from law enforcement to politics, winning a seat in the Philippine Senate. He has continued to focus on issues related to national security and public order. Methodology The study was conducted between August 23, 2023 and October 23, 2023. Capstone-Intel utilized its social listening tools to scan publicly available Facebook pages for the posts mentioning “Bato Dela Rosa.” In this study, there were no specific demographics or personal data that were tracked. The agency was able to scan 1,033 posts with a consolidated 42,808 comments, 20,408 shares, a reaction count of 217,453 total, and an engagement score that reached 46,434.1. Facebook Keyword Performance Monitor for “Bato dela Rosa” Reaction distribution On Facebook, out of a total of 217,453 reactions, 121,326 (55.8%) were Likes, 58,368 (26.8%) were categorized as Haha, 31,866 (14.7%) were Love, 2,938 (1.4%) were Wow, 2,009 (0.9%) were Angry, and 946 (0.4%) were Sad. These figures indicate that the majority of individuals expressed positive reactions. The keyword “Bato dela Rosa” has a significant presence in X, with a notable mention rate of 61.5%. This keyword is particularly popular on Facebook, where it accounts for 30.8% of mentions, and receives 7.7% of mentions in News. Top posts The keyword “Bato Dela Rosa” garnered considerable engagement scores from various Facebook pages of news agencies and influencers. Among them, the Inday Sara Duterte’s page recorded an engagement score of 2,907.5, followed by ABS-CBN News with 2,465.5, Philippine Star with 2,418.9, and Raffy Tulfo in Action with 2214.7. The post from Inday Sara Duterte Facebook page received a total of 10,039 Love reactions, 8,953 Likes, 381 Wow reactions, 20 Haha reactions, 1 Angry reaction, and 0 Sad reaction. It is worth noting that the data presented in this post is from Sen. Dela Rosa’s ally. On the other hand, the post from ABS-CBN News generated 8,303 Haha reactions, 2,055 Likes, 148 Angry reactions, 116 Love reactions, 63 Sad reactions, and 54 Wow reactions. Similarly, the topic from Philippine Star gathered 6,168 Haha reactions, 2,278 Likes, 1,056 Love reactions, 10 Wow reactions, 9 Angry reactions, and 8 Sad reactions. Lastly, the post from Raffy Tulfo in Action received 3,313 Likes, 1,443 Love reactions, 1,017 Wow reactions, 8 Haha reactions, 3 Sad reactions, and 2 Angry reactions. It is noteworthy to mention that Senator Bato has garnered significant support and admiration on the pages of his political allies, Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Tulfo. On these pages, he has received a higher number of likes, and love reactions. However, when considering sources beyond these circles, Senator De La Rosa tends to generate more laughter reactions. This data indicates that Senator Bato’s supporters actively engage on his allies’ pages, but may have less support in news articles. In today’s fast-paced world, social media has become an indispensable tool for politicians to connect with their allies and supporters. Social media platforms, such as Facebook, offers politicians the opportunity to engage with their allies on a regular basis, share updates, rally support, and coordinate efforts. However, it is important to recognize that the dynamics of social media change when it comes to news articles. Unlike personal interactions with political allies, news articles serve as a vital source of information and a platform for meaningful conversations. In this context, social media platforms play a crucial role in providing a space for public discourse, allowing individuals to share their opinions, engage in thoughtful debates, and access a wide range of perspectives. This system of checks and balances ensures that multiple viewpoints are considered, promoting a more informed and well-rounded understanding of political issues. Furthermore, social media allows individuals to access news articles from various sources, expanding their knowledge and facilitating critical thinking.
‘South China Sea’ Dispute Gets 75% Negative Mentions Online Amid Latest Collision Allegations
A recent study from Capstone-Intel Corporation revealed that the South China Sea topic is currently facing 75 percent of negative mentions across social and non-social media platforms in the Philippines, citing various issues concerning the disputed waters. Capstone-Intel Corporation is a high-impact research company that uses innovative research technologies, tools, and methods to convert data and information into breakthrough insights and actionable intelligence outputs. It is committed to helping its clients solve problems, find solutions, grow markets and constituencies, build reputations, navigate risks, manage crises, and be the country’s leading private research and intelligence agency. Background In 2016, a landmark maritime dispute was decided in favor of the Philippines by an international tribunal in The Hague. The panel came to the conclusion that China had no legal foundation to claim historic rights over the majority of the South China Sea. This ruling was a significant victory for the Philippines, which has now called the area the “West Philippine Sea.” However, China has disregarded the verdict, and according to the Philippine government, Beijing has continued to send its marine militia to Scarborough Shoal and significant seas located within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. The Philippines and the People’s Republic of China have yet to resolve the brawl, with China asserting more dominance in the South China Sea by guarding the whole area with its militia and advanced defense systems. Recently, China and the Philippines lodged mutual accusations over the instigation of crashes within a contentious region of the South China Sea. These incidents mark the most recent occurrences in a series of maritime conflicts between the two nations, thereby exacerbating tensions within the area. According to an official statement, Philippine officials have reported that a Chinese Coast Guard vessel engaged in hazardous obstruction tactics, resulting in a collision with a Philippine vessel transporting provisions to military personnel deployed at Ayungin Shoal, alternatively referred to as Second Thomas Shoal, situated within the Spratly Islands territory. According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, China’s actions can be characterized as “provocative, irresponsible, and illegal,” posing a threat to the safety of the crew members on the Philippine boats. In a statement, the Chinese Coast Guard lodged allegations against the Philippines, asserting that the latter had contravened established principles of international maritime law and posed a risk to the safe navigation of Chinese vessels. The Chinese Coast Guard ship intercepted the first Philippine ship, which it accused of trespassing into the waters it refers to as the Nansha Islands and Renai Reef. Methodology Capstone-Intel conducted a one-month backtracking of posts across social and non-social media platforms in order to determine how Filipinos reacted to the issue. The agency utilized its customized social listening tools in order to gather data across all publicly available posts on social media from September 23 to October 23, which covers the recent collision within the South China Sea, in order to identify the sentiments of users about the topic. Facebook Performance Capstone-Intel Data showed that on Facebook, the topic received a total of 38,245 Facebook reactions, with Facebook Like reactions getting the majority of these numbers with 28,205 (73.7 percent). This was followed by heart reactions with 4,684 (12.2 percent), “haha” reactions with 3,390 (8.9) percent, angry reactions with 1,332 (3.5 percent), and sad reactions with one percent. This information showed varied reactions from the public as investigations remain underway. Sentiment Analysis When looking at the mentions it generated across social and non-social media platforms, Capstone-Intel found that there were a total of 75 percent negative mentions online and 25 percent positive mentions. These mentions led to the total 45 million social media reach it has received during one-month backtracking. On the other hand, when the study was conducted, issues concerning safety within the area rose as the primary topics being discussed online. The phrase “Unsafe China Sea’ received a 19 percent share of voice online, while its interaction share is reportedly at 9.9 percent. Top posts In terms of top posts, Capstone-Intel Corp. found that a social media post from the Armed Forces of the Philippines about a naval vessel belonging to the Philippine Navy that issued a warning to a Chinese Navy vessel due to its hazardous maneuvers within the territorial waters of Pag-Asa became the top post for the issue with a 905.6 engagement score. This was followed by a multimedia report from PTV4, which reports about the Department of National Defense, Sec. Teodoro’s insistence that it is necessary to oppose China’s intention to control the entire South China Sea, especially since the Philippines has sovereign rights in the area, This story received a total of 369.4 engagement scores. The third top story regarding the issue was about President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who underscored the critical significance of peace and security in the South China Sea and Arabian Sea during the ASEAN-GCC Summit.
How AI is Reshaping the Political Campaign Lanscape
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