The Philippines needs to work on ensuring the safety and freedom of journalists to report reliable developments on national issues, despite its improved world press freedom ranking in six years, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said.

In this B-Side episode, NUJP Chairperson Jonathan de Santos discusses the current roadblocks to a free press in the Philippines and its potential impact on investors and the economy with BusinessWorld reporter John Victor D. Ordoñez.

In various cities and barangays (villages) without proper road infrastructure, sari-sari stores, or small neighbourhood shops, have emerged as a crucial lifeline, supporting both the local economy and the daily needs of residents, according to sari-sari store startup Packworks.

In this B-Side episode, Andres Montiel, Packworks' chief data officer, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Revin Mikhael D. Ochave the significant role sari-sari stores play in communities and the national economy.

This podcast episode was recorded remotely on May 27, 2023.

The Philippines' mobile network operators (MNOs) are now using shared towers to accelerate and lower the cost of digital transformation in the country as a result of the government's common tower policy.

In this B-Side episode, Suresh Sidhu, chief executive officer and founder of EdgePoint Infrastructure Sdn. Bhd., speaks with reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola how telecommunications infrastructure companies support the Philippines' digital transformation.

Recorded remotely on June 5, 2023.

The Philippine government needs to invest more in the local semiconductor industry to boost its competitiveness globally, according to RS Group PLC, an electronics and industrial products distributor. 

In this B-Side episode, Sean Fredericks, the President of RS Asia-Pacific, discusses with reporter Sheldeen Joy Talavera the potential of the Philippines to become a key player in the industry.

"The Philippines itself is a critical player in the global semiconductor industry... The country's strategic location provides crucial access to the Southeast Asian market through international shipping and air routes,” he said.

He also said that the country's English-proficient population and strict adherence to intellectual property protection and international labor laws make it an attractive investment destination.

The B-Side episode was recorded remotely on May 23, 2023.

Banks are now actively working to make their operations digital. They want to reduce the reliance on physical cash and move towards a cash-lite economy. This means finding ways to automate their processes and make them available online.

By doing so, they hope to provide customers with convenient and secure digital banking experiences.

In this B-Side episode, Kissflow's chief executive officer, Suresh Sambandam, discusses with BusinessWorld reporter Aaron Michael C. Sy how banks can accelerate digital adoption. 

Recorded remotely on May 22, 2023.

Philippine institutions have expressed concerns and optimism regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI), seeing it as both a potential challenge and an opportunity, according to plagiarism checker Turnitin.

In this B-Side episode, Jack Brazel, regional director and spokesperson at Turnitin Southeast Asia, speaks with reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola about the current state of AI in Philippine academia.

Recorded on May 11, 2023.

Advertising has come a long way from traditional paper and ink, and with today’s boom in social commerce and artificial intelligence, the space continues to witness rapid changes, associations, and niches that push the boundaries of product consumption.

A battle for brand reach, attribution, performance, and transparency is rapidly evolving, according to Entravision. Finding, engaging, and retaining customers has become more challenging with the increasing host of strategies to tell a story and sell a product effectively.

In this B-Side episode, Juan Saldivar, chief digital, strategy and accountability officer at Entravision, talks to reporter Miguel Hanz L. Antivola about the fundamental aspects of advertising, as well as the disruptions in the field that are turning into new beginnings.

At a time when the US Congress is not keen on any kind of free trade agreement (FTA) with the country, the Philippine Embassy in the United States is working on alternative measures to expand the country's economic ties with the world's biggest economy.

In this B-Side episode, Jose Manuel “Babes” D. Romualdez, Philippine ambassador to the United States, explains to BusinessWorld reporter Keisha B. Ta-asan how crucial it is to renew the country's participation in the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trading scheme.

Recorded physically on April 14, 2023.

Shoppertainment is seen as a more authentic form of advertising, as it provides a personal touch and allows businesses to interact with consumers in real time, according to an expert.

In this B-Side episode, Pierre Faucher, country manager of Intrepid Philippines, talks to reporter Patricia Mirasol about the opportunities in shoppertainment.

Recorded remotely on April 18, 2023.

Nuclear power plants are “cancer factories,” and the Philippines is better off growing its renewable energy industry, according to Helen Mary Caldicott, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and founder of Physicians for Social Responsibility and Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament. 

In this B-Side episode, she talks to reporter Alyssa Nicole O. Tan about the health risks and financial costs of pursuing nuclear energy.