PCO Data Privacy Statement

PCO Data Privacy Statement

The Philippine College of Optometrists Inc (PCO) respects the privacy of our users (“user” or “you”). The following statement has been designed to better help you understand how PCO collects, uses, and safeguards the personal information you provide to us when you visit pco.org.ph. Please read this statement carefully and if you do not agree with this privacy policy, please do not access the site.

WE ARE

The Philippine College of Optometrists is the leading peer recognition body in Asia dedicated to global excellence in education, practice and research in the field of vision science.

We Practice

The privacy practices described in this Statement are primarily intended for individuals in the Philippines and are designed to comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (R.A. 10173) and its implementing rules and regulations. When accessing our websites and/or availing of our services from outside the Philippines, you acknowledge and agree that your information may be transferred to and processed in the Philippines following legal and regulatory standards for data protection that may differ from your current or home jurisdictions.o

We May Collect From You

When you apply for or avail of any product or service that PCO offers or when you interact with our employees, authorized representatives, agents and service providers, we collect your personal information. This may include, among others:

• Your name and other particulars such as, but not limited to, contact details, address, birthdate, and educational background
• Specimen signatures
• Government ID, school ID details;
• Images via CCTV and other similar recording devices and processes which may be observed when visiting our offices or using our other facilities, and events.
• Non-personal information provided by the electronic device you are using such as the IP address, operating system, browser type and version, and other machine-related identifiers

We may, as and when necessary, seek to verify or augment these information with third-party entities including government regulators such as PRC – (Professional Regulation Commission), in the process, gain additional information about you.

We may also collect, use and keep your personal opinions or comments made known to us via feedback or responses to surveys or any other interaction that you had with our employees, authorized representatives, agents and service providers.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected to deliver and provide the products and services that you have availed to:

• Approve, facilitate, administer and process applications and transactions.
• Respond to queries, requests and complaints and improve how we interact with you.
• Send you statements, billings, notices and other such documents necessary for continued use of our products and services.
• Conduct studies and researches for the purpose of reviewing, developing and improving our products and services.
• reach out to you regarding products and services information, including offers, promotions, discounts, rewards; and for personalizing your experience with our various touchpoints such as branches, call center, telemarketing, email, messaging and other channels.
• determine the effectiveness of our marketing efforts and initiatives
• PCO Workshops.
• Faculty Development Program.
• perform other such activities permitted by law or with your consent.

How your personal data may be used, stored and shared

Your personal data may be used, stored, processed, shared and disclosed by PCO, as well as third parties (as may be necessary and allowed by law):

• A. Legal for legitimate purposes
• B. Transactions. To provide services to you or implement transactions which you request, allow, or authorize
• C. Policies and obligations. To comply with the PCO internal policies and its reporting obligations to governmental authorities under applicable laws
• D. Research. When we conduct studies and researches such as automatic and manual profile analysis, behavioral modeling, for the purpose of reviewing, developing and improving our products and services
• E. Promotion. When we reach out to you regarding services information, including offers, promotions, discounts, rewards; and for personalizing your experience with our various touchpoints such as branches, call center, telemarketing, email, messaging and other channels
• F. As necessitated by third parties:
• F.1. To support us in delivering our services and products to you
• F.2. To comply with existing laws, rules, and legal processes
• F.3. To address fraud, security or technical issues
• F.4. To protect our rights, interests, property or security, and that of our clients and third parties

Mails will not be used to collect personal data.

Emails are not entirely safe. We will not use this platform to obtain confidential information from you such as your account numbers, passwords, and credit card numbers.

An authorized representative will get in touch with you should we require confidential or other types of information. We will never ask you to confirm any such information by clicking on a link in an email.

How We Protect Your Information

We fully recognize the value of your personal information particularly as it may include sensitive personal information such as your gender, government-issued IDs, etc.  Appropriately, we strive to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your personal information by employing physical, technological and procedural safeguards.  We train our employees to properly handle your information.  Whenever we engage other companies to provide services for us, we require them to protect personal information aligned with our own security standards.

You Have Rights

In respecting your rights to privacy, you may opt to tell us:

• Not to send you marketing materials via email or SMS;
• Not to share your information with our subsidiaries and affiliates or with other companies that we have business with provided that such information is not critical nor required by applicable laws and regulations in maintaining the services that you have availed with us;
• To provide you with information that we currently have about you subject to restrictions applied to us as a bank and a company operating in the Philippines by certain laws and regulations;
• To update your information;
• About your other concerns relating to how we collect, use, share, protect or dispose your information.

We may charge a fee for processing your request/s for access and/or update. Such a fee depends on the nature and complexity of your request. Information on the processing fee will be made available to you prior to making the request.

How To Contact Us

For any queries, clarifications or requests on any aspect of this Statement, the exercise of your rights pertaining to your personal information or to provide any feedback that you may have about our processing of personal information, please visit any of our branches or get in touch with via email at [email protected]

Changes to Our Privacy Statement

We may modify or amend this Privacy Statement from time to time to keep up with any changes in relevant laws and regulations applicable to us or how we collect, use, protect, store, share or dispose of your personal information.  Any relevant updates will be posted on the PCO website.