Privacy Statement

Helpmate, Inc. commits to protect the privacy of the personal information of our clients, employees, or any other individuals in connection with the water, used water and RO services we provide in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Helpmate, Inc. collects personal information only with your consent in accordance with the Republic Act No. 10173, also known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012”, which includes the right to access, withdraw your consent, to rectify, erase and block your information. The collected personal information will be used to fulfill the purpose in providing our services and will be disclosed to relevant Third Parties (if deemed necessary). Helpmate Inc. protects the privacy of personal information and implements security measures to safeguard your data by its authorized personnel. All information will be treated with strictest confidentiality.

This Privacy Statement will help our subscribers and relevant stakeholders understand:

a.) What personal information we collect;

b.) How we collect, hold, use and disclose that information;

c.) The purposes of such collection, holding, use and disclosure.

This Privacy Statement is addressed and applies to our subscribers and relevant stakeholders including all our facilities such as our mobile and web applications, website, and social media accounts as well as all the products and services that we offer.

What Information Do We Collect and Process

When you apply for or avail of any products or services that Helpmate, Inc. offers or when you interact with our employees, we collect your personal information for reasons that are specified, legitimate, and reasonable. This may include, among others:

• • Personal details such as your name, date of birth, residential/business address, email address (including sketch or nearest landmark), contact numbers and specimen signatures.
  • Personal information connected with your Helpmate, Inc. Account such as your Account name and Account Number.
  • Other personal details such as your Barangay Certificate/Clearance, one (1) pc. latest 1×1/2×2 picture and nearest accounts water bill.
  • Sensitive Personal Information such as your government-issued identification number which we use for identity verification purposes. If you are a senior citizen, we collect your OSCA/DSWD ID and other personal details such as your latest Proof of Billing from other utilities to support your proof of residency to establish your qualification for senior citizen discount.
  • Guests and visitors collected during visits to our office premises such as the name, address and video recordings and photo images captured by our CCTV system.
  • Personal information collected while using our mobile and web applications, website and social media accounts.
  • Any other personal information collected from our existing subscribers including with terminated services collected during application for water service connection, billing, payment and collection, any communication in relation to your commercial relationship with us such as when you wish to contact us to lodge your concern and complaints, any active and separated employees collected during application for work, processing of application for work, employment and termination of employment, and any other vendors, suppliers or contractors collected during accreditation and vetting of credentials and processing of payments such as the name, address, contact details, TIN, banking information, etc.

We may also collect, use and keep your personal opinions, comments, concerns or suggestions made known to us via responses to our Customer Satisfaction Survey (CSS) or any other interaction that you had with our employees.

Why Do We Collect Your Personal Information

We collect your Personal Information for the following purposes:

• • To be used as basis for the assessment of whether your application meets requirements for a new water connection application;
  • To install the requested new water connection application;
  • To create, administer and maintain your subscriber account with Helpmate, Inc.;
  • To be used as reference for communication related to the application process, consumption and billing, notices and other such documents necessary for continued use of our products and services;
  • To enable Helpmate Inc. to respond to queries, request, complaints and other subscriber related concerns;
  • To be used in continually improving the Helpmate, Inc. services and how we interact with you;
  • To comply with government, and other regulatory requirements;
  • To establish, exercise, or defend legal claims, and;
  • Perform other activities such as permitted by law or with your consent.

How Do We Collect Your Information

We may collect and process personal information from you in the ordinary course of the company business which may include, to the extent necessary to respond to your request by signing the Water Service Connection Agreement (WSCA) when you provide it directly to us. Specifically, we collect Personal Information from you through your filled out Water Service Connection Agreement or Application For Water Service Connection, the documents and forms bearing your personal information that you submit to us or was acquired by us with your authorization. If you are a senior citizen, we also collect information through your filled out Individual Application for Senior Citizen Discount Availment Form and the documentary requirements submitted. We also collect information when you communicate with us through phone, email, our social media accounts, and/or other means of communication chosen and utilized by Helpmate, Inc. 

The Information We Disclose

We may share or disclose your Personal Information to the following:

1. 1. Any collection agency, payment center or similar service providers for facilitation of payment for the service we provided you, for debt tracing or for fraud prevention;
   2. Third party suppliers and service providers that we engaged to, to help us improve our services to the extent provided in their contract;
   3. Government authorities and such entities that may have legitimate and legal interest in the information, in response to a legal request such as a search warrant, court order or subpoena, if we believe in good faith that we are required to do so under the law.

Your Personal Information will be shared for the following purposes:

• • To install your new water service connection;
  • To perform meter reading and billing services;
  • To communicate and to respond to service, billing and other subscriber concerns;
  • To carry out data collection and analysis for the continuous improvement of Helpmate, Inc. services;
  • To conduct company audits or investigate a complaint or security threat;
  • To carry out digitization and storage processes;
  • To comply with government and other regulatory requirements;
  • To respond to law enforcement authority or other government regulatory bodies;
  • To facilitate the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

Requests, Access, Recourse, & Questions Regarding the Privacy Statement

As a data subject whose Personal Information has been and will be collected and  processed by us, you are entitled to the following rights, pursuant to Section 16 of the DPA and Section 34 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations;

1. 1. Right to be Informed
   2. Right to Object
   3. Right to Access
   4. Right to Rectification
   5. Right to Erasure
   6. Right to Damages
   7. Right to Data Portability
   8. Right to File a Complaint

How Long Do We Keep Your Information

We are committed to ensure that your Personal Data is protected and secure, We have implemented suitable and adequate organizational, physical and technical security measures, policies and procedures intended to reduce the risks of destruction or loss, or unauthorized disclosure or access to such information which are appropriate and adequate to the nature of the Personal Information we collect.

We retain personal information and data where we have an ongoing legitimate business or legal need to do so. Our retention periods will vary depending on the type of personal information or data involved, but, generally, we will refer to these criteria in order to determine the retention period. These personal information are discarded in a way that does not make it visible and accessible to unauthorized third parties. 

Protecting Personal Information and Data

We fully recognize the value of your personal information particularly as it may include sensitive personal information such as your gender, government-issued IDs, and others. Appropriately, we strive to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your personal information by employing physical, organizational, and technical measures. These personal informations are handled properly and are used only for the stated reasons and purposes. 

Changes to our Privacy Statement

We may change 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. All updates and amendments are effective immediately upon notice, which we may give by any means, including, but not limited to, by posting a revised version of this Privacy Statement or other notice on the website. We encourage you to review this Privacy Statement often to stay informed of changes that may affect you. Our electronically or otherwise property stored copies of this Privacy Statement are each deemed to be the true, complete, valid, authentic, and enforceable copy of the version of this Privacy Statement that was in effect on each respective date you visited the website. Your continued use of our website and our social media account constitutes consent of the modified Privacy Statement.

For request, concerns, questions, and complaints you may write, email or contact our Data Privacy Officer (DPO) at: 

Data Privacy Protection Office

Helpmate, Inc.

2/F Kintanar Building 330 N. Bacalso Avenue,

Duljo Fatima, Cebu City

Telephone Nos.: (032) 261-2314 / 328-8575

Mobile Phone: +639989688546

Email Address: info@helpmate.com.ph