PLDT Inc. is expected to appoint a new chief executive before the end of the year, its top executive said Thursday.
“We just started [the search]. It is ongoing now. It is a bit new. Too early to say who the candidates could be at this stage,” PLDT chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan said.
“It is a wide search. At this stage, I cannot tell you how many. Hopefully, before the year ends, we can find the right person,” he said.
Alfredo Panlilio retired as president and chief executive on Dec. 31, 2023 on health reasons.
Pangilinan said he expected PLDT to have lower capital expenditures (capex) this year. “It will be lower this year compared to last year. We are getting a better idea of what is the carry-over capex from the issues related to 2022. It is likely to be overall lower than in 2023,” he said.
PLDT programmed between P80 billion and P85 billion for 2023 capex.
Meanwhile, the company, through its international unit PLDT Global Corp., teamed up with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to launch a new service that enables OFWs to access the OWWA Helpline 1348 for free via TINBO (Tindahan ni Bossing), the one-stop online marketplace for global Filipinos.
“We are excited to launch this new service with OWWA, as part of our overall thrust to uplift the lives of Filipinos living overseas. This shows that our Pusong TINBO and malasakit extend beyond borders,” said PLDT Global president and chief executive Albert Villa-Real.
“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 integrated a helpline button that enables OFWs to connect to the OWWA Helpline 1348 through online or web-based calls swiftly and securely. To use, TINBO users simply need to 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 OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio.
Powered by PLDT Global, TINBO is the one-stop marketplace that enables Filipinos living overseas to buy load, send food vouchers, e-gifts, healthcare PINs from mWell, and even gaming PINs for their families in the Philippines.
They can 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.