BusinessMirror April 26, 2022 by BusinessMirror

US firm, PHL miners in talks on battery plant

‘Close borders, cut Omicron exposure risk’ By Andrea E. San Juan

A C tHe World »B7

Zelenskyy meets top-level Us delegation, gets aid promises

US-BASED company plans to put up a battery plant in By Cai U. Ordinario the Philippines, according @caiordinario to the Department of Trade and Industry LOSING(DTI). the country’s borders Systems and its is ZAF one ofEnergy the most immediate affiliate company, Battery Grade courses of action the governMaterials Inc. (BGM), are already ment must take to prevent the latin talksvariant, with some Philippine-based est Covid-19 Omicron, from nickel mining companies and are reaching Philippine shores, accordlooking for more possible suppliers. ing to local economists. Tradevar Secretary Lopez T he new iant is Ramon a threat, was joined by Defense Secretary e s p e c i a l l y w it h t he hol id ay s Delfin a meeting with coming up Lorenzana and moreinforeigners ZAF CEO Randy Moore discuss being a llowed to travel toto the the US firms’ proposed investment Philippines, De La Sa lle Univerprojects in the sit y economist Marcountry. ia Ella Oplas Lopez said: “With a registratold BusinessMirror. tion with theusually Board ofbring Investments The holidays in [BOI], activities addressing valueOverseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) chain gaps, such as ZAF-BGM’s who are eager to spend Christmas

proposed hydroxide processing plant and battery manufacturing projects, may both qualify for Tier underloved Industrial Value forChain withII their ones, while Gaps of the proposed 2022 Strateeigners living in temperate regions gic Investment Priority Plan.” usually want to relax in tropical “They aim to partner with these countries like the Philippines. This companies in producing nickel year’s influx of OFWs is expected tohydroxidesince in the country using statebe heavier many of them were of-the-art and environment safe unable to come home for the holidays technologies,” DTI said in a news in December 2020. statement on April 25. “My recommendation is to protect Nickel hydroxide serveswith as an the borders. Do not allow people electrode material for battery a history of travel to countries with technologies such asOplas Nickel-Zinc positive cases to enter,” said. Batteries for electric vehicles “We should be more restrictive. [Weand for commercial haveother to be]applications more protective in terms and defense-related equipment. of our measures.” When Oplas saidfully thatcompleted while this including will be a battery factory, the projected a setback to some industries, thistotal investments could reach up to is a fair measure considering that $400 million-500 million. this could help prevent placing the addition, DTI saidin itsstatement countryInin another strict lockdown,

that this investment could employ almost a thousand direct employees. Since 2021, ZAF and BGM have been in said, closethe and active collabowhich, she economy can no ration with BOI and the Philiplonger afford. pine Center “It is Trade betterand thatInvestment we do protective (PTIC) in New York to facilitate preventive measures than get exthe again. partnership opportunities, reposed We have a lot to lose,” quirements, and negotiations for Oplas said. “We should do it now so the investment. that weplanned can open just before ChristLopez emphasized they mas. If it gets contained, we that can open “have been targeting companies it again.” that canCenter process minerals inAteneo forour Economic Restead of exporting them as raw ore.” search and Development (ACERD) He added: “This Ser will encourage Associate Director Percival high-value minerals processing K. Peña-Reyes said closing thein the country and is in line with our country’s borders would be effecefforts to bring in more investtive but should still adhere to the ments under leadership and standards set bythe the World Health guidance of President Duterte.” Organization (WHO). Apart from the fact thattold the What is needed, Peña-Reyes Philippines has vast resources this newspaper, is for travel restric-of green metals copper, cotions to be put insuch placeasswiftly and

balt, and nickel—key inputs to the production and manufacture of battery and other technology products—Lopez said US firms for government to be proactive in stand to benefit from a partnerimposing them. ship with the Philippines and the the Previous instances when new incentives they can benefit country had the opportunity to imfrom under the Corporate Recovpose travel restrictions did not preery and Tax Incentives for Entervent the spread of Covid-19. That was prisesbecause (CREATE). mainly the decision was not The meeting was held on the made immediately, he said. sidelines of the High-Level “Kung papatay patay [If Diplowe’re matic Reception for Government slow] and we get caught flat-footOfficials Business Leaders on ed, [that’s and risky] We were too reApril 19, 2022 in Washington, DC. active instead of proactive before. Lopez was joined BOI We should learnalso from that,”byPeñaManaging Head and UndersecreReyes said. “It’s a delicate balancing taryWeCeferino National act. need to Rodolfo, push testing and Economic and Development Autracing to be properly informed thority (Neda) Undersecretary of our decisions. Blanket/shotgun Rosemariecould Edillon, approaches haveCommercial dire conseCounselor Kenneth Yap, and Comquences on the economy.” mercial Consul Benedict Uy. See “Omicron,” A2

GOVT TURNS TO TARIFF NATL GOVT BORROWINGS FOR 10 MOS TO P2.75T TWEAKS VS.DIP INFLATION w w

n Tuesday, April 26, 198 Monday, November 29, 2022 2021 Vol. Vol.17 17No. No.52

DOF chief says MDBs vital Omicron risk to climate financing PHL spursin revival of quarantine rules in PHL

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

P25.00 P25.00 nationwide nationwide || 22 sections sections 20 20 pages pages ||

HE national government’s gross borrowings as of end-October shrank by almost 6 percent year-on-year to P2.75 trillion.

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the government’s gross borrowings during the 10-month period fell by 5.99 percent from P2.92 trillion a year ago. With only two months left for this year, the latest figure is already equivalent to 89.6 percent of its P3.07-trillion borrowing program. Broken down, gross domestic borrowings from January to October settled at P2.23 trillion, down by 5.08 percent from P2.35 trillion in 2020. JABThe SITEbulk As the government steps up its immunization campaign against Covid-19 in the race to foil a possible new surge and avert spoiling billions worth of near-expiry vaccines, an inoculation area is of the amount was PEOPLE walk past the mural of Gat Bonifacio at City Hallprimary Underpass. installed at the NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City, where unvaccinated domestic travelers canAndres avail themselves ofManila free jabs—the doses, as well as booster shot—upon arrival at the airport. NONIE REYES sourced from Fixed Rate Treasury The country will celebrate the 158th birth anniversary of Filipino revolutionary Bonds (P1.19 trillion), followed by hero Gat Andres Bonifacio on Tuesday, November 30. ROY DOMINGO By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas short-term borrowings from Bang& Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario ko Sentral ng Pilipinas or BSP (P540 billion), Retail Treasury Bonds/Premyo Bonds (P463.3 billion), Retail Onshore Dollar Bonds (P80.84 billion). In the same period, there was By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Dawning Developers are to thesee By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas dating its registry following the them. This allows everyone also a net redemption of Treasury @akosistellaBM lowest ranked among the tourism @jearcalas enactment of the Coconut Farmwho are listed in the registry and if Bills amounting to P43.94 billion. to the BusinessMirror growth Thehe ers Special and Industry Trust Fund law. farmerreadiness doesn’t seecategories. his name then Net debt redemption means others, in terms of tourism poORE than 3 million Rosales explained that about shall coordinate with the PCA imthere were more debts repaid comANILA is a laggard in tential, are: Emerging Performers coconut farmers and 500,000 coconut farmers and mediately,” he explained at a recent pared to the amount borrowed durterms of tourism polike Dubrovnik and Buenos Aires, workers are now regisworkers were added to the PCA’s dialogue with coconut farmers. ing the period. tential and readiness Balanced Dynamics (Auckland, tered with the government’s reg2018 list that had about 2.5 million “On the other hand, if people Meanwhile, gross foreign borfor growth. New Zealand); Mature Performistry, which serves as the basis coconut farmers and farm workers. would see names on the list and rowings in the same period also A new report published by ers (Berlin, Miami, Hong for the number of people to be The PCA’s next step is to conthey think they are notKong); coconut contracted by 9.7 percent to P518.7 the World Travel and Tourism with Managing as covered by the utilization of the duct an exclusion-inclusion profarmers or their Momentum details are incorbillion from last year’s P574.4 billion. Council (WTTC) and its partner the highest category (Amsterdam, P75-billion coconut levy fund. cedure by making the updated rect, they can report it to the PCA This was raised through global JLL, titled “Destination 2030: London, Las Vegas). Sixty-three Philippine Coconut Authority farmers’ registry public, providfor immediate action,” he added. bonds (P146.17 billion), program Global Cities Readiness for Tourcities were selected for report. (PCA) Deputy Administrator Roel ing everyone the opportunity to The PCA officialthis noted that loans (P139.98 billion), euro-deNational Economic and Dethe minimum access volume (MAV) ism Growth,” placed the PhilipJLL used 75 indicators to ana-list M. Rosales said about 3.11 million check the veracity of the list, Rothe completion of the initial nominated bonds (P121.97 billion), velopment Authority (Neda) OIC are levied with 15 percent pinesadded. capital in the “Dawning lyze a city’s readiness for sustaincoconut farmers and while farm outworksales of coconut farmers registry would a project loan (P86.41 billion), and Mercedita A. Sombilla confirmed side the MAV or out-quota imports Developers” category. These are able tourism, which were ers have been registered with the “The list will be posted in public be just in time for theintegratexpected yen-denominated samurai bonds to the BusinessMirror numerare government slapped withsince 25 percent. Cur“cities where [that] tend tocan haveeasily emerged withinofeight pillars, namely, it started upspaces people see rollout coconut levy-funded (P24.19 billion). ous approvals made by the CTRM rently, corn imports within MAV ing tourism infrastructure, perscale, concentration, leisure, See “Borrowings,” A2 regarding the tariffs on imported are slapped with 35-percent tariff haps having placed less emphasis business, environmental readicorn, pork and rice. while those outside MAV are levied historically on their travel and ness, urban readiness, safety and 50.4600 n JAPAN n HK sector. 6.4722 To n CHINA 7.9013 n security; SINGAPORE 36.8968 n AUSTRALIA Sombilla answered in the affir- n aUS 50-percent tariff rate.0.4374 n UK 67.2329 tourism date, these and policy prioritization. mative when asked if the CTRM apRice imports, particularly those cities have experienced gradual The report hopes that with proved the 5 percent in-quota and 15 coming from outside the Asean retourism growth, but have lower this assessment, “city governpercent out-quota rate for imported gion, are levied with a 35-percent levels of concentration. Such desments and tourism bodies can corn as proposed by the Economic tariff for both in-quota and outtinations often have a clean slate better understand, respond to, Development Cluster (EDC). quota due to an earlier executive in planning long term tourism and plan for the future, to ultiShe also confirmed the approval order by President Duterte that development with many oppormately enhance overall tourism of extending lower pork and rice corn temporarily reduced tariff rates on tunities ahead.” Others in the catreadiness.” tariffs until the end of the year. rice imports. egory are New Delhi and Riyadh. See “Manila,” A2 At present, pork tariffs within See “Govt,” A2

INANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III urged the world’s major multilateral development banks (MDBs) to cooperate in mobilizing financing for climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives of emerging economies like the Philippines. In his recent meetings with the officials from the World Bank Group (WBG), Dominguez said the trilateral cooperation among MDBs, particularly among the WBG, Asian Development Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, would present a more feasible and accessible option for climate financing for emerging economies instead of going through the tedious process imposed by various organizations. Dominguez made the remark on the sidelines of the 2022 International Monetary Fund-WBG Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. in United States. Finance Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven, who heads the department’s International Finance Group, also pointed out in a meeting with WBG Regional Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific programs as President Duterte Manuela Ferro that main instituis expected to sign the industry tions for climate finance such as development plan in early 2022.

MANILA SHOULD PLAN BETTER HE Committee on Tariff and TO PUSH TOURISM OVERhas3-M FARMERS LISTED FORGROWTH P75-B COCO LEVY FUND Related Matters (CTRM)

approved the reduction of corn tariff rates and the extension of current duties on pork and rice to mitigate the impact of global economic challenges on domestic food prices, according to information from reliable sources, which the main planning agency validated.

PESO EXCHANGE RATES

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.3370

Rosales said the PCA will not stop updating its list of coconut farmers and enjoined them to register in order to reap the benefits of the decades-long idled coconut levy fund. “We will not stop at 3.1 million. We hope that more individuals will register in our coconut farmers registry,” he said. The updating of the coconut farmers registry is mandated by Republic Act (RA) 11524 or the Coconut Industry Trust Fund Act. See “3-M farmers,” A2

the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund are not working together with the MDBs. By Samuel P. Medenilla Joven lamented the lost poten@sam_medenilla tial in reaching more countries that are NTER in needNATIONA of fundingL assistance concerns for their climate projects. over the possible spread of the Nmore o n e tinfectious h e l e s s , DOmicron o m i n g uCoez thanked the multilateral devid-19 variant prompted the govvelopment formandatory entering ernment to banks reimpose into a co-financing agreement facility-based quarantine for all for the passengers Philippines Cov id-19 arriving in the country. vaccination program, which also Acting Presidential spokesperprovided the government the son Karlo B. Nograles announced budgetary support it needed at on Sunday that the Inter-Agency aTask timeForce whenfor revenue collections the Management were down as a resultDiseases of the of Emerging Infectious pandemic-induced lockdowns or (IATF) suspended the implemencommunity quarantines. tation of its Resolution No. 150The trilateral collaboration A (s.2021), effectively imposing among the three MDBs in supstricter protocols for all inbound porting the Philippines’s Covtravelers. id-19 response was an offshoot To note, IATF Resolution 150of a proposal by SecA had allowedbroached fully vaccinated retary Dominguez in 2017 for non-visa travelers from Green List mu lt i l ate r a l i n st it ut ion s to areas to enter the country withcoordinate with each other in out the need for facility-based eliminating overlapping funcquarantine as long as they secure tions, reducing costs, and being negative Reverse Transcriptionmore effective and responsive in Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTproviding official development PCR) test within 72 hours prior assistance (ODA) to memberto their departure. countries, the Department of “Except for countries classified Finance said. as ‘Red,’ the testing and quarantine

See “DOF,” A2 protocols for all inbound international travelers in all ports of entry shall comply with the testing and quarantine protocols for ‘Yellow’ list countries,” Nograles said, citing the provision of IATF Resolution No. 151-A. He noted Hong Kong, which has confirmed a case of the Omicron variant, will also fall under the Yellow list countries. The suspension of the rules for “Green List” countries will be in effect from November 28, 2021 to December 15, 2021. Continued on A2

36.2807 n EU 56.5758 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4531

Source: BSP (November 26, 2021)

n JAPAN 0.4073 n UK 67.2164 n HK 6.6701 n CHINA 8.0498 n SINGAPORE 38.1799 n AUSTRALIA 37.9234 n EU 56.5606 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.9558

Source: BSP (April 25, 2022)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Comelec prober: Premature to judge staff in debate mess

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE Commission on Elections said it is “premature” to judge its officials who were involved in the controversial postponement of the last leg of its 2022 PiliPinas Debate series.

The poll body issued the statement amid its ongoing internal investigation on its personnel, who were involved in the selection of Vote Pilipinas or also known as Impact Hub Manila, as its partner debate organizer. As of Monday, Comelec Commissioner Rey E. Bulay said 14 of the concerned Comelec staff have already submitted their written explanation

Manila... Gov’t, private sector collab

to him to explain their role in the issues surrounding Vote Pilipinas. He said he aims to go through the submission of all the concerned officials and come out with a resolution within the week on who could be held accountable. “I want [the investigation] to be exhaustive and fair...I wish it could be completed by Friday,” Bulay said.

Continued from A1

THE new report was discussed in “Destination 2030: Redefining Impactful Destinations” by a panel of global leaders, at the recent 21st Global Summit of the WTTC in Manila.

The panelists agreed that sustainability is important, but that this should also go beyond environmental readiness to make a destination competitive in the long-run. “There are other elements to

“I don’t want to be unfair and condemn without a hearing,” he added.

No suspension

DESPITE the ongoing probe on the issue, Bulay said, the involved Comelec officials will continue with their duties for now. “The one, which could issue the preventive suspension is the Office of the Ombudsman once the necessary cases are filed against them,” Bulay said. Bulay said the result of his investigation will be presented to the Comelec en banc for its consideration. “It will depend on the [Comelec] en banc if it wants to file charges against anyone,” Bulay said.

Flagged purchase order

L AST week, Comelec Chairman Saidamen B. Pangarungan instructed Bulay to conduct the investigation after Sofitel sought Comelec’s assistance in collecting its unpaid liabilities from Vote PiliPinas. sustainability other than the environment,” said Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Raki Phillips. “There’s cultural sustainability, economic sustainability. It’s so important that the actions that create sustainability also benefit the community,” he added. For her part, Tourism Promo-

The incident resulted in the postponement of the Vote PiliPinas debates from April 23 and 24 to May 2 to 6. Based on his initial investigation on the matter, Bulay flagged the Purchase Request of Comelec Education and Information Department directors James B. Jimenez and Frances Aguindadao-Arabe for P15 million of Comelec funds to help Vote Pilipinas pay its bill to Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. Sofitel provided the venue for the first three debates held by Comelec. He said he wants to know if the fund release went through the requirements of Republic Act No. 9184 or the Procurement Law. In an internal memo he issued last week, Bulay said he objected to the release of the fund, stressing that Comelec has no legal obligation to pay in behalf of Vote Pilipinas. Comelec withheld the release of the Purchase Order pending the completion of its internal probe on the Vote Pilipinas issue.

tions Board COO Ma. Anthonette Velasco-Allones said, “The way forward for sustainability is one of convergence.” She highlighted the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector for destinations to grow. For instance, she said the closure of Boracay Island for six months in 2018, benefited not just its tourism stakeholders, but also its local communities. Beyond sustainability, destinations must also achieve balance with proper planning and the right policies that should be clearly understood by and benefit the entire tourism ecosystem. JLL Hotels and Hospitality Global CEO Gilda Perez-Alvarado said, “It’s really all about balance at the end of the day, and quality of destination. The world is reopening and all of us are competing for that share of the wallet and want to make sure that tourists are coming. But we also want to make sure that the citizens who live in that town are happy to welcome those tourists.” She noted, “If we think about a long-term roadmap to 2030, we have to think of the benefit for all the stakeholders. Otherwise, why are they going to participate? Why are they going to be supportive?” This is why tourism should be viewed more than just as a leisure endeavor, since it plays a key role in maintaining and improving the socioeconomic ecosystem, as emphasized by Barcelona City Councilor Xavier Marce. With the release of Destination 2030 as a guide, cities are encouraged to pivot and take advantage of the opportunities to become future-proof. “If we carry on with sustainability initiatives in a way that addresses the 2030 development goals set out for us, then I think we’re getting there and it should be a good journey,” said Allones.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Govt...

The CTRM is the Cabinet-level interagency committee tasked to advise the President and the Neda Board on tariff and related matters. The recommendations made by the CTRM only materialize if the President issues a corresponding Executive Order (EO) embodying the approvals made by the interagency committee. Sombilla also disclosed that the Tariff Commission’s (TC) recommendations to the Neda concurred with the proposals made by the EDC last month regarding the tariff rates on corn, pork and rice. The TC held public consultations last month regarding the proposals of the EDC with the body submitting its report to Neda last April 6.

Good for inflation

MONETARY Board member V. Bruce J. Tolentino said the economic recommendations approved by the CTRM are “very important” in managing the country’s inflation amid global economic challenges such as skyrocketing oil and wheat prices due to the UkraineRussia war. “The extension of the lower tariffs for meat and corn are very important for the economy to manage inflation in the face of the surge in oil and wheat prices as a result of the Ukraine war. It looks like the war will take some time, and Ukraine and Russia may not be able to supply as much wheat and natural gas to the world as it used to,” Tolentino told the BusinessMirror. “While domestically we continue to work on repopulating the hog sector and increasing corn production...this also takes time,” Tolentino added. The country’s inflation in March averaged 4 percent, higher than

DOF...

the 3 percent posted in February but slower than the 4.1 percent in March of last year, based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data. The data showed that rice inflation last month was at 1.6 percent while corn was at 31.3 percent. In an earlier interview with the BusinessMirror, Sombilla said that they hope to put in place the lower corn tariffs as soon as possible, and extend the effectivity of reduced pork and rice tariffs before they expire in the middle of May. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/03/14/ govt-wants-to-tap-tariffs-forinflation-fight/) Industry leaders had earlier rejected the government’s proposal to lower corn tariffs and extend reduced tariffs on pork and rice, arguing that such will not translate into economic benefits for consumers. Last month, the Philippine Maize Federation Inc. stood its ground that there’s no need to reduce tariffs on corn as local corn is still cheaper than imports from the United States and Brazil. PhilMaize claimed that the price of local corn nationwide averaged at P21 per kilogram (kg), or P3 lower than the average price of P24.50 per kg for imported corn from the US and Brazil. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/03/21/ p h i l m a i z e - l o c a l- c o r n- s t i l lcheaper-than-imports-f romus-brazil/) Federation of Pork Producers Inc. (ProPork) President Nonon Tambago also objected to the extension of lower tariff rates on pork imports. Tambago said the lower tariff rates, in effect for almost a year now, did not translate to cheaper pork products.

Continued from A1

On behalf of the Philippine government, Dominguez personally thanked Ferro and other key officials of the institution for the WBG’s support of the Duterte administration’s reform agenda and pandemic response efforts. In a separate meeting with WBG Vice President and Managing Director for Operations Axel Van Trotsenburg, Dominguez also expressed Manila’s appreciation for WBG’s assistance. I n res pon se, Trot senbu rg thanked Dominguez for his “great leadership and cooperation,” which ensured that the WBG was able to play a useful and effective role in extending support to the Philippines. Trotsenburg added that global solidarity is the key to addressing the widening inequalities between rich and low-income countries that were further triggered by the pandemic. The WBG, in particular, has signed 22 loan agreements with the Philippines with the Duterte administration, for a total $7.53 billion. Fifteen of these 22 agreements were for an ag gregate amount of $6.15 billion and went to the government’s Covid-19 response program. Ferro assured Dominguez that the WBG will continue helping the

Bus passengers... T he controversy started early last week when the Metropolitan Manila Development Author it y (MMDA) started enforcing the LTFR B order banning prov incia l buses from using their terminals along Edsa, which author ities had insisted was a cause of traffic. The MMDA declared the “window period” for provincial buses to enter Metro Manila, particularly Edsa, but MMDA Chairman Romando Artes clarified that the

Continued from A1

Philippines’s economic recovery in the next administration. She noted that WBG’s partnership with the Philippines helped accelerate the Covid-19 vaccination program, which led to the reopening of the economy and the return to face-toface classes in many schools. Dominguez agreed with Ferro that the Russia-Ukraine war would bring headwinds to the economic recovery of the Philippines and the rest of the world as prices of crude oil and food continue to rise. To further open the country to foreign investors and bring in the capital needed to create more jobs and reinvigorate the economy amid the conflict, Dominguez listed the three economic liberalization laws passed by the Philippines—the amendatory measures to the Foreign Investments Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Act, and Public Service Act. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua of the National Economic and Development Authority said these liberalization measures, along with the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law that reformed the fiscal incentives system, will fuel the growth of the services sector in the Philippines.

Continued from A12

window period of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. only covers the use of private terminals. Beyond this period, provincial buses are allowed to operate their routes; however—and this is the catch as far as operators are concerned— they must terminate their trips at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) for provincial buses in the south; and the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) for those coming from the north.

Provincial buses with commuter routes—or those plying less than 80 kilometer routes—are allowed to terminate at the Cubao Araneta Center Terminal. “The general rule and policy did not change—that all buses should terminate at integrated terminal exchanges,” Artes said. “We did not impose a new policy.” He noted that the “window period” was allowed as a form of “tolerance” or accommodation on the part of the government.

The Nation BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Military slams perpetrators of Maguindanao bus bombing By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HE military has condemned the bombing of a Rural Transit bus in Parang, Maguindanao, on Sunday that injured six passengers. The bombing was the second for the bus company this year after one of its buses was also bombed in January this year wherein one person was killed, while six others, including children were injured. Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the military’s Joint Task Force Central, called the latest attack an “act of cowardice and unprovoked aggression” that targeted civilians amid the month of Ramadan. The bus, with body number 107381, was negotiating the national highway at Purok Nangka, Barangay Making in Parang when a homemade bomb exploded in its rear portion. It was en route to Dipolog City from Cotabato City. The victims were identified as Fesel Culag, 40; John Paul Capio, 17; Expedito Ocay, 45; Benjamin Wahab, 32; Pastor Bularon, 53; and Elgen Palma, 30, the bus conductor. Government bomb experts successfully defused a second homemade bomb, which was seen inside the bus. Investigators also recovered ruptured parts of a mobile phone; parts of a broken blasting cap and 9-volts battery, nails and pieces of electronic circuits. Uy ordered military forces in Central Mindanao to be on alert as well as appealed to the community to report any suspicious individuals and activities in their areas. In Zamboanga City, the Naval Forces Western Mindanao said its units, including the Marine Battalion Landing Team 12 rescued 16 victims of human trafficking aboard the MV Kristel Jane 3 at the pier of Bongao in Tawi-Tawi. Lt. Chester Cabaltera, public affairs officer of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said the rescued victims were brought to Tawi-Tawi Maritime Police Station.

Comelec scraps town hall debate, shifts to panel interview instead By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

ITING the conflict of schedule from the participants of its 2022 PiliPinas Debates, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has decided to change the format of the last two parts of its debate series. In an advisory issued on Monday, Comelec Commissioner George M. Garcia said they decided to adopt the proposal of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to scrap the planned Vice Presidential and Presidential Town Hall Debate to accommodate the participants of the event. “In consideration of the inevitable

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured it has have sufficient forces to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of elections on May 9 in Mindanao. The assurance was made during a series of joint security briefing it had last week with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at the homestretch of the May 9 national and local election campaign. AFP Chief of Staff General Andres C. Centino visited the headquarters of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) and other ground units “reminding the troops of their roles and responsibilities during the upcoming elections.” “Let us make sure that we have sufficient forces spread out in wide areas to secure the elections and even during the campaign sorties of the candidates. I have no doubt we can do our job,” he said. EastMinCom Chief Lt. Gen. Greg T. Almerol also assured the Comelec “that the troops would remain non-partisan in the upcoming elections in adherence to its government mandate.” “Be assured that our goal is to maintain peace and security in our joint area of operations. Our troops are well aware of the

NINE of the PiliPinas Debates 2022 listen to moderator and broadcast journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon (inset) at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Pasay City on April 3, 2022. The third and last series of the debates will now be an interview format. PNA/AVITO DALAN

scheduling conflicts as the candidates approach the homestretch of the campaign period, and as advised by the KBP, the Comelec will now be adopting a Single Candidate or Team Panel Interview format,” Garcia said. “All will be entitled to a 1 hour panel interview,” he added. The poll official explained the presidential candidate or vice presidential candidate may opt to have their panel interview at the same time or separately. It will be done virtually or faceto-face depending on the preference of candidates. The panel, which will conduct the interview, will be provided by KBP. As of press time, Garcia said they

are still waiting to see which of the presidential and vice presidential candidates will still participate in the last two PiliPinas Debates, which will be aired from May 2 to 6, 2022. Comelec was forced to postpone the conduct of the last two parts of its debate series due to the unpaid claims of its original partner for the event, Vote Pilipinas or also known as Impact Hub to Sofitel Plaza Philippines. Sofitel provided the venue for the first three parts of the 2022 PiliPinas Debates. The schedule of the debates was moved from April 23 and 24 to April 30 to May 1, before it was changed again to its new dates.

Ex-VP Binay appeals for a more BBM unveils environment initiatives; eyes IT-based Disaster Risk Information Roadmap ‘positive tone’ in poll campaign

COMPREHENSIVE Internetbased Disaster Risk Information Roadmap as part of a program to protect the general population and environment from the illeffects of natural disasters is on the agenda of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. if he is elected in the May 9 polls. In a news statement, Marcos bared plans to replicate and use as model the United Nation Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) system. Under such program, UNDRR has comprehensive information on all dimensions of disaster risk, including hazards, exposure, vulnerability and capacity, related to persons, communities, organizations and countries and their assets. The road map will be implemented through an IT program accessible in all parts of the country, the former senator said. “This is very important to protect our environment as we institute programs to balance economic gains and environment,” said Marcos. In UNDRR, disaster risk information includes all studies, information

AFP chief Centino assures peaceful and orderly elections in Mindanao By Manuel T. Cayon

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Tuesday, April 26, 2022 A3

imperative of impartiality as we move away from patronage politics…Our troops are keen to act with discipline, professionalism, and a positive attitude at all times,” he said. The EastMinCom met last week with the Comelec, the National Police and other government security agencies to finalize preparations for this year’s election. The series of Regional Joint Security Control Center Command Conferences were conducted on April 18 in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, and on April 20 in Davao Region, Davao City, and Caraga Region in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. “We would coordinate closely with our security counterparts regularly before, during, and after the elections. We would ensure that peaceful conditions prevail at polling stations and counting centers and that citizens can vote without fear of coercion, intimidation, manipulation, or violence,” Almerol said. There would be more and random checkpoints in different communities “while available resources are on call and ready to be deployed, if necessary, especially during the transport of election materials in polling centers.” He said reserved and forward service units of the AFP would be tapped anytime to beef up the deployment of troops on May 9.

and mapping required to understand the disaster risk drivers and underlying risk factors. Earlier, Marcos cited environment protection and preservation as part of his priority program, as he stressed the need to institute policy reforms and programs that create a peaceful balance between economic development and the environment. “Nature has its rights that should be protected. It should be allowed to flourish, reproduce and attain its abundance side-by-side with human civilization in perfect balance and harmony with our growing communities,” he said in a recent sidelines interview while on a provincial sortie. “We should do this if we want to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our society from the onslaught of natural calamities,” he added. Among his plans is to create the Department of Disaster Resilience, taking the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as an effective model of disaster resilience that integrates many other agencies.

Promoting reforestation and pushing for stricter anti-illegal logging law will also be given priority in a Marcos administration, as he will push industrial forest plantations to supply market demand for wood. In mining, Marcos said his administration will forge a collaborative relationship with all stakeholders to guard against abuse, and ensure mining helps the economy recover from the pandemic. He is also eyeing a Department of Water and Resources Management to ensure that clean and potable water is available to every Filipino. Marcos vowed to also focus on solid waste management including “waste to energy programs” that he deems an income-generating initiative of his administration. Likewise, the presidential frontrunner said he plans to create an ecology-based Disaster Risk Reduction program that should be addressed from the point of view of environmental degradation especially on forests, wetlands, coastal and marine and dry lands.

SC reverses Comelec ruling on registration of Igorot Warriors Intl for May 9 elections By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court (SC) has set aside the ruling issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) denying the registration of a group of Igorots in Cordillera for party-list elections on May 9. In a 12-page resolution, the Court held that the order of Comelec First Division dated September 22, 2021 and the resolution issued by the Comelec en banc dated December 1, 2021, were issued with grave abuse of discretion. The resolution issued by the Comelec First Division denied Igorot Warriors International Inc.’s (IWI) petition for registration for the party-list elections for failure to satisfy the requirements, including an affirmation that it is not a religious sect or group organized for religious purposes; failure to submit proof to enable a determination that all its members were made aware of the petition and had given their consent thereto; and the list of members submitted by the group failed to demonstrate that they belong to the sectors that they seek to represent. On the other hand, the Comelec en banc’s December 1, 2021 resolution excluded IWI from the raffle for party list after the denial of its motion for reconsideration. In its petition filed before the SC, IWI assailed the Comelec’s order

and resolution, insisting that it is a sectoral organization formed to strengthen the unity of its members who are collectively known as Igorot people. It added that the group was organized not for any religious purposes. The IWI told the Court that it was organized on August 15, 2017 and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Based on its Constitution and By-Laws, IWI is a sectoral organization without a well-defined political constituency. It represents mainly Cordilleran Igorots, members from sectoral groups who are Igorots and other indigenous cultural communities (ICCs), whether employed, self-employed, or jobless. As an organization, IWI said it seeks to create a venue for continuous dialogue, analysis, and action on issues affecting Igorots and other ICCs. In granting IWI’s petition, the SC noted that even prior to the issuance of the order by the Comelec First Division, IWI had already filed a joint affidavit stating that it was not a religious sect or denomination, organization or association organized for religious purposes. “At any rate, aside from the good faith attempt on the part of IWI to present a cure to its inadvertence, the required information needed by the Comelec can be found in the petition for registration itself, including its submitted attachments,” the SC said.

ENATORIAL candidate and former Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” C. Binay on Monday appealed for a more positive tone among candidates and their supporters in the closing weeks of the campaign period. “Hiling ko lang ay itigil na ang palitan ng mapanirang salita sa nalalabing araw ng kampanya,” he said. “Hindi pa huli para gawin nating positibo ang tono ng ating pangangampanya,” he added. Binay, who is running for senator under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), said the focus should be on what needs to be done to help sectors affected by the pandemic. “The coming years will not be easy, and it is important that we never lose

our focus on what needs to be done to improve the lives of our countrymen who have been displaced by the pandemic,” he said. “Partisan politics should take a backseat to the urgent task of rebuilding the country. We need to work together after the elections, but we cannot do that if the atmosphere has been poisoned by malice and animosity,” he added. Binay said the heated political exchanges, both in public and in social media, have reached a point where even family members are being maligned. “Maging ang mga mahal sa buhay ng mga kandidato ay sinisiraan lalo na sa social media. Nakakalungkot po ito, at dapat ihinto na,” he said.

PMA ‘mistahs,’ former PNP staff members campaign for Lacson in Tarlac City sortie

CHOOLMATES of presidential candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), including those who worked with him during his stint at the Philippine National Police (PNP), showed up in Tarlac City to express their all-out support for his candidacy. Lacson campaigned in the province on Monday together with his running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and senatorial aspirant Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol. The three of them also engaged the electorate in a dialogue held at the Tarlac State University. In his speech, Lacson acknowledged the presence of his “mistahs” from the PMA as well as his former staff members, including retired police Gen. Nicanor “Nic” Bartolome, who served as his spokesperson when he was still PNP chief. Also present were retired Major Generals Rey Acop, Ray Rivera and Dong Tabamo, who went with his wife Consul General Lulu Tabamo. Lacson likewise mentioned retired colonel turned lawyer Oscar Martinez, who was their valedictorian at the PMA Class of 1971, as well as Mr. Jun Fabros. According to Lacson, Bartolome—who also later on succeeded him as PNP Chief from 2011 to 2012—has been actively helping his presidential campaign together with his brothers. He is from Tarlac and served under the administration of fellow Tarlaqueño, the late President Benigno S. Aquino III. “Nagpapalit-palit siya, pupunta ng Cotabato, umuuwi ng Tarlac at ipinagpapatuloy niya tulad ng pagpapatuloy niya sa aking mga advocacy noong ako ay Chief PNP na disiplinahin ang hanay ng kapulisan, alisin ang kotong, at ibalik ang tiwala ng ating mga mamamayan sa PNP,” Lacson said of Bartolome.

[He has been switching places, going to Cotabato and back home to Tarlac, and he is continuing the same advocacies I had when I was Chief PNP, that is to discipline the ranks of the police force, eliminate corruption, and restore public trust to the PNP organization.] Lacson and Sotto presented their decades-long political track record and legislative contributions, especially during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, in trying to win the support of some 898,634 electorate from Tarlac for their tandem. “Pakatandaan po natin, ‘pag tayo pumasok sa presinto at tayo nagisip, namili ng ating iboboto, wala na kayong pipiliin pa—’yung pinakakwalipikado, ’yung pinaka-may kakayahan, ’yung mga [may] pinakamahabang karanasan sa serbisyo publiko at ’yung matapat,” Lacson told voters in attendance. [Let us remember, once we go to our polling precincts and think about those we are going to vote for, may you be left with no other choice but to vote for the most qualified, most competent, who have the longest experience in public service and who are honest.] Lacson vouched for the leadership skills of Sotto, who, he said, was a “consensus builder” throughout his tenure as Senate President. He also praised Piñol for subjecting himself to an extensive “lifestyle check” for seven months in defense of his integrity during his time as Secretary of Agriculture. The presidential candidate encouraged voters in Tarlac City to refrain from electing candidates who have a history of stealing from the nation’s coffers, deceiving the public, and are mentally unstable if they don’t want the Philippines to remain in a state of decline.

A4 Tuesday, April 26, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

PHL activates 3 more crew change hubs for seafarers

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

HE Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Monday it has set up three new crew change hubs in key areas in the Philippines, namely, Zamboanga, Iloilo and in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

With the new hubs opened, the Philippines now has nine active crew change hubs, including those in Manila, Bataan, Davao, Batangas, Subic, and Cebu. “It takes a whole maritime approach to make crew changes possible in the country. The various government agencies and the stakeholders that are involved remain firm in their strong and active participation to ensure the continuous operation of these crew change

hubs, for our maritime industry champions: our Filipino seafarers,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said. Amid the pandemic, the DOTr developed crew change hubs to process the documents needed to facilitate the movement of both on-signers and off-signers. Tugade earlier announced that the Philippines is gunning to become an “international hub” for crew change, as the government seeks

to generate more revenue streams due to the effect of the pandemic. Crew change is a vital component of maritime practice, as it ensures the safety, health, welfare, and employment of maritime employees. Seafarers are only allowed to be onboard a vessel without leave for up to maximum of 11 months, based on the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention. The crew change hubs are staffed by the following government agencies: the DOTr and its attached agencies Office of Transport Security, Cebu Port Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard , Maritime Industry Authority, Department of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Office of Civil Defense and various provincial and local government units.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Global Cooperation on Privacy and the CBPR System: The Path Forward

By Henry J. Schumacher

IVEN the deep interest of the Philippine private sector, specifically the BPO industry, and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) in becoming an active and constructive player in the personal and sensitive data flow across international borders, it is exciting to note that there will be a multistakeholder workshop on the above subject in the US from 26 to 28 April this week.

We, who are seriously involved and global cooperation in data privacy protection and making full use of the Data Flows Regulation CBPR (Cross Border Privacy Rules) System, will watch the proceedings with deep interest and will contribute to the extent the Philippine private sector can update the participants about the progress here and give some indications regarding the progress of the NPC in becoming an active participant in the APEC CBPR and its implementation through local Accountability Agents. Let me highlight some of the agenda items which are of great interest to us in the Philippines:

How to establish a CBPR program

THIS session will provide information on establishing an Accountability Agent from current Accountability Agents’ perspective and will provide a company’s perspective of the process of working with an Accountability Agent to become certified. This session is best for non-CBPR participant economies and CBPR participants without an Accountability Agent.

How to promote CBPRs through publicity and outreach

THIS session will include an interactive discussion on how to promote uptake of the CBPR System. This session is best for CBPR members and other participating stakeholders. In the Philippines, we have been highlighting the international importance of data flow cross border protection and have actively supported the country’s initial steps toward Apec CBPR.

The case for the privacy recognition for processors

THIS panel will explore the benefits of the Privacy Recognition for Processors (PRP) System. For example, how can it be used to meet vendor due diligence requirements? How can it help micro, small and medium enterprises’ (MSME) participation in the digital economy? This topic is very much part of the work of the NPC and getting the smaller and midsize companies involved in the digital economy without running the risk of data privacy breaches. In this context, I would like to highlight the NPC’s most recent

launch of it’s new data breach reporting system called Data Breach Notification Management System (DBNMS). • Regulator panel This panel will bring together regulators to discuss enforcement cooperation and how CBPRs can facilitate compliance and trust in cross border transfers. I am sure the NPC will be listening in. • Panel discussion on CBPRs and domestic law This panel will bring together experts to discuss how the CBPR and PRP Systems intersect with domestic law. For example, how do the CBPR and PRP Systems work with domestic certifications? How can CBPR and PRP certifications be recognized in domestic frameworks? Again, something for NPC. • Presentation on CBPR study by APEC Policy Support Unit • CBRP Interoperability with other Privacy Frameworks To create interoperability between the CBPR and other privacy frameworks, it is necessary to identify the differences or gaps between the CBPR program requirements and the requirements of such other frameworks through a detailed mapping exercise. The identified differences or gaps can then be evaluated to determine whether they are significant enough to require that they be addressed or bridged in some way for purposes of creating interoperability. If the gaps are sufficiently significant, there are a number of options for creating bridging mechanisms between the CBPR and other privacy frameworks. Using the example of a previously undertaken mapping between the APEC CBPR and the UK GDPR, this session will explore these issues and consider the possible mechanisms and tools that could be created to bridge any material gaps between the CBPR and other frameworks. No question, that we will listen in and study the presentation of the CBPR Study. • Review of CBPR program requirements This discussion will focus on developing recommendations for updating the program requirements building on the recommendations from the 2019 workshop. The session will also include opportunity to discuss with all stakeholders the process for making any changes. • Panel for non-CBPR participants on possibilities for engagement Jurisdictions will discuss the benefits and potential engagement in the CBPR System and how the CBPR System could be leveraged under their domestic frameworks. • Updates from CBPR participants Each CBPR participant will have 10 minutes to provide an update on participation in the CBPR System. CBPRs from an Industry Perspective Current certified companies and prospective participants will share the business case for the CBPR System. I am providing you with this exciting information so that interested parties can provide us with information of the topics to be discussed. Our aim, of course, is to make the Philippines part of the APEC CBPR development, essential for the local data processing industry. As mentioned above, the Business Data Management industry in the Philippines needs the support provided by the certifications offered by Accountability Agents in the Philippines—hopefully soon. Your input will be highly appreciated; contact me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Oil companies hike fuel pump prices today By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

OCAL pump prices will increase today, Tuesday, the 14th upward price adjustment since the start of the year. Oil firms announced Monday that they will increase gasoline prices by P3 per liter, diesel by P4.10 per liter and kerosene by P3.50 per liter. Seaoil, PTT, Phoenix, Shell, Total, Caltex, Unioil, and Petron said they would adjust their prices at 6 a.m. of April 26. Cleanfuel, meanwhile, will increase its pump prices at 8:01 am. Other oil firms are expected to follow suit. Last week, gasoline products were sold P0.45 per liter more, P1.70 per liter higher for diesel, and P0.45 per liter more for kerosene. These resulted to the year-to-date adjustments to stand at a net increase of P15.45/liter for gasoline, P27.35/liter for diesel and P21.55/ liter for kerosene. Oil firms adjust their prices every week to reflect movements in the world oil market. According to the DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau (DOEOIMB), the following global oil market developments are responsible for the oil price increases: • Russia-Ukraine peace talks are on a standstill, weakening any hope for a resolution to the conflict, and exacerbating concerns of a possible European Union (EU) embargo on Russian oil; • Ongoing discussions on a potential Russian oil ban. While the EU has not imposed a ban on Russian oil imports, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire had recently mentioned that an EU-level embargo on Russian oil was possible; • The warning from OPEC+ on the impossibility of replacing 7 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil and other liquid exports that would be lost in the event of sanctions or voluntary actions; • No Iran deal and low OPEC spare capacity due to various financial and economic factors. Reports indicate that only a few producers could maintain capacity in reserve while raising production. These are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq. Iran, under US sanctions, has over 1 million bpd that could return to the market. However, Iran would only be able to tap into this capacity if the nuclear talks are successful.

DOLE spearheads celebration of Labor Day with 64K local, foreign job openings By Samuel P. Medenilla

tative and collection specialist, while for overseas, these are nurse or nurse aide, food server, and household service worker.

@sam_medenilla

VER 64,000 employment opportunities will be up for grabs in the resumption of face-to-face Labor Day jobs fairs spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) next week. Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique R. Tutay disclosed after two years of being held exclusively online with the onset of Covid-19, most of the Labor Day Jobs Fairs this year would now be held onsite. “It will be a hybrid. There will be some areas, which will still have online [jobs fairs] at the same time there will also be those which will conduct physical [jobs fairs],” Tutay said at a virtual news conference on Monday. Labor spokesperson Rolly Francia said a total of 64,485 jobs vacancies would be made available by 641 em-

Presidential participation

FILE photo shows job seekers flocking to a Labor Day jobs fair in Negros Occidental in 2019. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has announced the opening of 64,000 employment opportunities in its first face-to-face jobs fairs since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic to highlight the celebration of Labor Day on May 1, 2022 . PHOTO COURTESY OF DOLE-NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

ployers in 23 job fair sites nationwide on May 1, Labor Day. Of which, 52,237 are for local applicants, while 12,248 are for over-

seas job seekers. For local employment, top vacancies are for production or machine operator, customer service represen-

US firm keen on building 180 more telco towers this year By Andrea E. San Juan

UNITED States-based firm is keen on building at least 180 more telecommunication towers this year to boost the country’s telecommunications sector, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) revealed on Monday. Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez met with US-based firm SBA Communications Corporation Senior Director for International Nicholas Van Slyck and Senior Director for Government and Regulatory Affairs Maria Alexandra Velez last Wednesday, April 20, to discuss the US company’s ongoing expansion in the country, particularly in the telecommunications industry. “As the Philippines is in the middle of updating its digital infrastructure, we welcome SBA’s continued expansion in the country, which will create more jobs while enhancing competition that will lead to better and more affordable telecommunication services for the people,” Lopez said. During the meeting, Van Slyck

ARTA launches public assistance desk at SM Supermalls in Manila HE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) signed a memorandum of agreement on Monday morning with SM Supermalls to launch a public assistance desk in SM Manila. During the signing of the pact on Monday morning Senior Vice President for SM Supermalls Bien C. Mateo said that SM Manila has been chosen as the location of the first ARTA Action Center. “We always endeavor to better serve our customers, including our members. We believe that giving them access to improve an efficient process doing business would help them bounce back stronger and we want them to be more competitive as we enable them to grow their business in our environment,” Mateo said. “We want to help them in their post-pandemic journey to recovery and through eliminating excessive bureaucracy,” he added. Mateo expressed gratitude over ARTA’s effort in providing better government services to the people and to every aspiring business owner by easing the process of doing business in the country. Just last week, the anti-red tape watchdog officially launched e-ARTA Complaints Management System, the first of its kind in the Philippine government.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 A5

The launch of the said on-line platform was the agency’s response to the call of President Duterte to government agencies to digitize their services to make it more accessible and convenient to the public. Through the on-line platform, ordinary citizens can file complaints before ARTA. It features an electronic ticketing system, paperless complaint filing, and cloud storage for back up, and SMS notification for complaints. On Monday, ARTA signed an agreement in partnership with SM Supermalls to launch a public assistance desk in SM City Manila, which is a hybrid version of the agency’s way of efficiently handling complaints to minimize bureaucracy and red tape. ARTA Undersecretary Carlos F. Quita highlighted the difference between the e-ARTA CMS launched last week and the ARTA Action Center launched in SM Manila. The former is purely online and thus can be easily accessed through a mobile phone. On the other hand, the ARTA Action Center is a combination of online and in-person assistance desk located at the Government Service Express of SM Manila beside government agencies and offices such as the Land Transportation Office and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. Andrea E. San Juan

mentioned the company’s goal of building 180 more telecommunication towers in 2022 and its talks with mobile network operators Smart, Globe, and Dito. He emphasized that the said local networks have been very receptive to SBA’s shared tower model. Currently, the US firm has installed 20 towers and is expecting to build 42 more by the end of the quarter. In 2021, SBA set up its Passive Telecommunications Towers Infrastructure project in the Philippines. The company’s application for registration with Board of Industry (BOI) was approved on March 31, 2021 on a pioneering status with a total project cost of P10.76 billion and 353 estimated employment. For its project, SBA intended to install a total of 1,470 tower structures in the country within five years. Lopez, for his part, addressed the country’s demand for strong connectivity as Filipinos spend more time online than any other country in Asean and most other countries in the world.

“The government and the telco players are working hand-in-hand to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and next-generation platforms that are expected to boost production, improve productivity and enhance the country’s competitiveness,” he said. In a study by Brussels-based marketing and advertising consultant Sortlist early this year, it was mentioned that Filipinos spend 10 hours, 56 minutes per day online or 166 days per year. Of this time, four hours and 15 minutes are spent on social media per day, which equates to 65 days in a year. This placed the Philippines as the country that spends the most time online and on social media. Sortlist estimated that 67 percent of the country’s population uses the Internet. Apart from talks on telecommunications, Van Slyck also commended the process of obtaining business permits in the country, pointing out that it has been much easier now and that dealing with the Philippines “really stands out.”

THE main celebration of DOLE’s Labor Day celebration will be held in San Fernando, Pampanga. Aside from the jobs fair, other highlights of the celebration include the Job Summit of the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) taskforce, as well as the inauguration of the first ever Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) hospital. Tutay said President Duterte is expected to participate in the event either via video message or a personal appearance. “We are already coordinating with the Office of the President for this,” Tutay said. As for the Job Summit, he said the NERS Taskforce is expected to

present its accomplishment to help the country’s labor sector to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Completed target

AMONG the achievements, Tutay said, was the completion of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) commitment last year to generate 1 million jobs. “This was achieved during the first quarter of 2022. But we have requested their detailed report on this,” Tutay told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message. Du r i ng t he upcom i ng Job Summit, the NERS task force will present its transition plan on how to sustain the generation of more jobs. “We believe that for the recovery process, we need to create more employment opportunities for our citizens, which we hope will be sustainable,” Tutay explained.

Leni’s daughters step up H-to-H campaign for mom By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HE d aughters of presidential candidate Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo have stepped up their house-to-house (H-to-H) campaign in their bid to boost the candidacy of their mother by visiting Batanes, Ilocos Region and Manila. The activities by the three daughters following the mammoth birthday rally of the vice president on Saturday in Pasay City was part of the continuing effort by the Robredo family as well as by the volunteers and supporters of the candidate to deliver her campaign messages to voters around the country. The H-to-H campaign for Robredo, which was also being undertaken by celebrity supporters of the vice president, has been ongoing for weeks. On Monday morning, Jillian Robredo, the presidential candidate’s youngest daughter, was in the country’s remotest province of Batanes

in the north where she notched Governor Marilou Cayco’s official endorsement for the candidacy of her mother. “During our most difficult times in Batanes, Leni showed up,” the campaign staff accompanying the youngest Robredo quoted Cayco as saying during a meeting at the provincial capital in Basco. Later in the day, Jillian was expected to travel to Ilocos Sur to conduct a H-to-H campaign and lead a prayer and a mini rally at the Plaza Burgos in Vigan City. On the other hand, Robredo’s eldest daughter, Aika, was in Pangasinan and visited different public markets in the province. She also attended a multi-sectoral assembly in the town of Mangaldan where she was joined by Rep. Toff de Venecia and his mother, Gina de Venecia. Aika later motored to Tarlac for the tao sa tao and puso sa puso campaign. In Manila, Robredo’s other daughter, Tricia, visited Malate and Tondo for the same activity.

China told: Transfer Covid-positive OFWs to more ‘hygienic’ rooms By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

HE Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai has formally requested Chinese authorities to transfer Filipino workers tested positive for Covid-19 to “hygienic” quarantine facilities. As of Friday, there are 14 OFWs in Shanghai who were taken to quarantine facilities. Most of the Filipinos are asymptomatic, or have exhibited mild symptoms. There are 4,000 Filipinos in Shanghai. Shanghai dragged to its fourth week of lockdown, the single-biggest citywide imposition since the onset of the pandemic. According to news wire reports, a total of 21,058 new cases in Shanghai were recorded on Sunday, 10 percent less than Saturday’s. The total number of Covid infections in Shanghai has topped 487,000 since March 1 when the outbreak began in the financial district, the highest since the virus emerged in Wuhan, Hubei province in 2020. With its Zero Covid-19 policy, the Chinese government has been restricting the movement of people with even just one positive case in one community. Almost daily RTPCR testing was undertaken on all residents, aside from antigen tests

to be done at home. However, many Shanghai residents—both local and foreign— have complained that such restrictions triggered food shortages, family separations, lost wages and economic pain. Consul General Josel Ignacio said he has sent a note verbale to the Chinese Foreign Ministry three weeks ago asking that in case there are Filipinos who will be required to undergo quarantine, they should be put in a facility that “meets the international standard of hygiene sanitation and water.” A 23-year-old Filipina who underwent quarantine wrote in a blog said she witnessed the “unsanitary and poor conditions” inside the centralized quarantine facility. “The facility is like an unfinished building, with no real floor. The toilets are filthy with no privacy or proper drainage. “I refused to shower in the facilities. I was afraid of the numerous safety hazards—faulty wiring, questionable water sources, reinfection and the potential for contracting other illnesses from the poor living conditions. I pleaded to be transferred,” the Filipina OFW said in a blog. (https://www.thatsmags. com/china/post/34351/my-storycovid-19-case-transferred-due-to-

unlivable-conditions ) Three days later, the Filipina OFW was transferred to the new quarantine facility. “The new facility feels more like a makeshift hospital. I am in a room with five people total and a window. We also have a bathroom attached to the room with a western style toilet and shower,” she said. Ignacio said the diplomatic community, composed of 72 missions in Shanghai, met with the local officials last week. During the meeting, he voiced again the concerns of the OFWs who need a clean and sanitary facility. “We gave them a shopping list of what we need from them. They [Shanghai officials] understand the foreign community is upset. They try their best to accommodate [requests],” he added. The Consulate was also overwhelmed with calls for help from OFWs ranging from requests for food supplies to medicine, to helping OFWs with medical conditions. However, the consul general admitted their hands are tied in Shanghai. Compared to other countries where diplomatic community are exempted during lockdowns, Chinese authorities have barred Consulate officials from going out of their residential premises during the initial

weeks of the lockdown. Instead, the Consulate doubled their coordination efforts by asking the OFWs for contact details of their community leaders and directly relay the concerns to the community leaders on the phone. The community leaders were “responsive” whenever the Consulate relays the OFWs concerns, he said. Ignacio said the diplomatic community has requested that they will be given a pass so they can move around the city and respond to calls for consular help. Recently, Chinese local authorities gave two passes per consulate or mission. Those who were given passes need to undergo RT-PCR testing every 48 hours. “Our mission is to be able to respond to nationals in distress. The diplomatic passes should be transferable so that when one is not available, it can be easily given to another one. They [local authorities] said they will try to accommodate,” he added. Ignacio reminded Filipino expatriates in Shanghai that they are “all guests and are therefore subject to the local laws.” He said they should not compare the care being given to Filipinos during quarantine by the barangay officials in the Philippines to be extended to them by the Shanghai officials or by the Philippine Consulate staff.

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

APRICUS TECHNOLOGY INC. 8/f Aguirre Building, 107 Aguirre St. Legaspi Village, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

MAI KIEU TRANG Technical Support Specialist - Vietnamese Speaking Brief Job Description: Identifying hardware and software solutions

Basic Qualification: Attention to details and good problem solving

CHOI, CHANGGEUN Customer Service Representative 2.

Brief Job Description: To assist customers regarding their queries, complaints, and promotions WOO, SANGHO Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: To assist customers regarding their queries, complaints, and promotions

NGUYEN THI HUONG Technical Support 12.

Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

TU, CHUN-CHEN Technical Support 13.

Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer needs

KIM, MINA Korean Language-officer Customer Service Brief Job Description: Develop robust financial policy procedures

CHIN AI LING Malaysian Language Supervisor Project Brief Job Description: Promote business and products

TRAN THI BICH TRAM Vietnamese Language-marketing Officer Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer needs

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree. finance, accountancy, banking or equivalent

14.

Brief Job Description: Collecting relevant information and drawing up an activities list; Resolving of acute technical problems within the project; Director/coaching crew, workshop and activities onshore in the field of maintenance, safety, and logistics; Is responsible for the proper allocation of the costs related to equipment.

15.

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write Malaysian Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian , Vietnamese, Thai

LAZZARI, ALBERTO Associate 16.

Brief Job Description: Serve as the first point of contact for Chinese speaking-customers

Brief Job Description: The Associate’s primary duty is to assist in supporting financial and data analytics, partner with key stakeholders, colleagues, and ensure value creation for portfolio companies assigned, among other related duties.

Basic Qualification: Superintendent experience in an International Dredging and Land reclamation project environment. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

HUANG, ZIH-JHU a.k.a. HERMIONE HUANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming and outgoing calls, chats and emails DINH THI TRA MY Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you are not equipped to

CGI (PHILIPPINES) INC. 2/f One World Square, Mckinley Hill, Pinagsama, City Of Taguig

10.

Brief Job Description: Resolves issues utilizing excellent customer service skills

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

ONG VU HAI It Support 11.

Brief Job Description: Installing and configuring computer systems, diagnosing hardware and software faults and solving technical and applications problem

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

QIAN, JUNJIAO Customer Service Representative

25.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

REN, YANGYANG Customer Service Representative 26.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

WANG, DIANDIAN Customer Service Representative 27.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

WANG, YANLING Customer Service Representative 28.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

WANG, YUE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

YANG, LINLIN Customer Service Representative 30.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

YANG, YANG Customer Service Representative 31.

32. DL MANILA BRANCH 12th Flr. Menarco Tower, 32nd St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Brief Job Description: Plan, sequence, supervise, and troubleshoot activities at construction sites.

KIM, BYUNG CHUL Geotechnical Manager 20.

Brief Job Description: Oversee construction sites, general contractors, and workers to ensure a high level of quality and safety.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of experience in the related field.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

ZHANG, YUSONG Customer Service Representative 33.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of experience in the related field.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YU, YONGKAI Customer Service Representative

19.

Basic Qualification: Degree in computer science or information technology

24.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Vietnamese

ZOU, SHIRONG Mandarin Site Technical Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

PARK, JOOTAEK Erection, Jacking & Grouting Manager CLICKPLAY SPORTSGAME CORP. 3/f, #119, Dr. Lazcano St., Laging Handa, Quezon City

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin

Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

DONG, GUOBIAN Customer Service Representative

29.

Basic Qualification: Strong English and mandarin communication skills (both oral and written)

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Finish, German, Polish and in English

23.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification: The Associate must have the following: • Minimum of three years of experience in management consulting; • Graduate degree in Finance or Business Administration (Master’s or MBA degree); • Experience in working on projects across more than one country in Asia; • Able to communicate effectively in English and at least one Asian language; • Analytical, research and communication skills (presentation, conversational and written); • Formal working experience in a related field either in consulting or operational role while a combination of both is preferred; and • Active interest in investments, finance and business consulting.

YU, HONGXU Mandarin Site Technical Officer

CHENG, GAOJIE Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Cyberfusuiion Integration Suite, SPLUNK, Windows Admin, UNIX Admin, AWS Admin

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

FAYTAR SERVICES CORP. 4/f Caeg Bldg., 7611 Dela Rosa St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2602 & 2603 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

18.

SCHAUB, ROLAND MARTIN Multilingual Service Desk Member

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

17.

Brief Job Description: Support on Business users service, change, release and incident requests; Monitoring and support for the MFT Jobs and Cyberfusion transfers

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Degree in computer science or information technology

Basic Qualification: Experience with Xpient POS software and NCR BOH; Strong knowledge of operations service delivery in the Service desk space; Good understanding of Computers and troubleshooting

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ECHOTECH SERVICES INC. 18/f Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CREADOR ADVISORS PHILIPPINES, INC. 21/f, 8 Rockwell, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center, Poblacion, City Of Makati

BOWENHILLS TECH INC. 16/f Bdo Towers Valero, 8741 Paseo De Roxas Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

WANG, NA Chinese Speaking Customer Service Officer

Brief Job Description: Manage multiple delivery leads to achieve customer relationships through regular communication with clients through weekly/ monthly reviews. Discuss operational issues and critical to Quality (CTQ) delivery issues with the customer.

FREDERIC MOHANRAJ PAPOURAVE, PAPOURAVE RUBAN Sr. Associate - Projects

BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3701, 3801 The Orient Square, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig BARENDREGT, TOM JULIEN General Technical Superintendent

Brief Job Description: Installing and configuring computer systems, diagnosing hardware and software faults and solving technical and applications problem

JOHNSON, NATHAN SCOTT Associate Director - Projects

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree. finance, accountancy, banking or equivalent Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Degree in computer science or information technology

No.

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. 2nd, 3rd, And 4th Floors, Science Hub Tower 4 Bldg., Mckinley Hill Cyberpark, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street, Salcedo Vill., Bel-air, City Of Makati

MORI, MICHIYO Japanese Language-officer Customer Servicer

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

22.

Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Installing and configuring computer systems, diagnosing hardware and software faults and solving technical and applications problem

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

21.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ASIAN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INC. 11/f Tower 2, Double Dragon, Macapagal Blvd., Barangay 76, Pasay City

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

ZHOU, YINGDONG Customer Service Representative 34.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for engaging with customers in behalf of the company

Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to multi-task and must know how to speak mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

GAO SHOU TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. 52/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

DU, RUIXIONG Mandarin Customer Service Representative 45.

VO TUAN DANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 35.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for, fluent in Chinese Mandarin is an advantage

46. HELLOCONNECT, INC. 7/f Inoza Tower, 40th St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

DAVIDSSON, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER Sales Representative - Swedish

36.

Brief Job Description: Ensuring that the final product observes the company’s quality standards; performing routine inspections and quality test; Identifying and resolving workflow and production issues; addressing and discussing issues and proposed solutions with superiors

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Brief Job Description: Maintains the computer networks of all types of organizations, providing technical support and ensuring

47.

SHIM, INSICK It Support 38.

Brief Job Description: Maintains the computer networks of all types of organizations, providing technical support and ensuring

SHIN, KIHWAN It Support 39.

Brief Job Description: Maintains the computer networks of all types of organizations, providing technical support and ensuring

Basic Qualification: 18-50 years old, good organizational skills, proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

48.

40.

Brief Job Description: Lead technical development

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

HSU, CHAO-CHUN Chinese Customer Service Representative 41.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for. Fluent to Chinese Mandarin is an advantage

50.

HA VAN DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 42.

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services

TRAN QUOC VIET Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 43.

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Speaking , Reading and Writing in English and Their Respective native Language for the position applied for Fluent in Chinese Mandarin is an Advantage

Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service

Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service TRAN QUANG KHAI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff

51.

Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service VONG VIET HOA Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff

52.

Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service

BAE, JAEHOON Account Manager, Global Marketing 53.

Brief Job Description: Assist the chief, global marketing and/or the manager, global marketing in customer development & retention for the global marketing, elite department

NOVIA SURYATIN Indonesian Customer Service Representative 54.

Brief Job Description: Provide product/services, information, answer questions and resolve emerging problems

SUWINDINA Indonesian Customer Service Representative 55.

Brief Job Description: Provide product/services, information, answer questions and resolve emerging problems

44.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.

59.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any field, fluent in Bahasa Indonesia

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

HAO, XIUQI Chinese Customer Service 60.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently

PAN, XIN Chinese Customer Service 61.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

62.

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently

63.

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently 64.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification: Graduate 4 Years Bachelor Degree With Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

AN, HONGTAO Chinese Customer Service 56.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

57.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

CAI, ZHENGGU Chinese Customer Service 58.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

YAO, JIASHUAI Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Chinese/ Mandarin Fluently

Basic Qualification: Experience in gaming host role & in customer service, college grad, multilingual

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

YANG, WENQIAN Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

XIE, SHITAO Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

YIN, CHUANQI Chinese Customer Service 65.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries, handling complaints, provide solutions, process customer accounts and file documents.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year in experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year in experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year in experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year in experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year in experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

OAMPI INC. 8/f 6780 Ayala Ave., Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

CHUNG, YU-CHI Mandarin Customer Service Representative 66.

Brief Job Description: To respond and resolve customer service and technical support concerns via chat and email

Basic Qualification: To maintain internal and external knowledges bases, Perform other tasks as required Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

QROI NETWORK SERVICES INC. Unit 16a 16/f Pet Plans Tower, 444 Edsa, Guadalupe Viejo, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

KULOVESI, RIKU PETTERI CEO

Basic Qualification: Appointed by the board skills.

Basic Qualification: Graduate 4 Years Bachelor Degree With Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

67.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SMCC PHILIPPINES, INC. 6/f Peninsula Court Bldg., 8735 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year in experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year in experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language)

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: 1.) Responsible for the electrical repair works, maintenance, fault finding and monitoring of highly sophisticated and huge construction machineries not locally available and which local staffs are not familiar with, like Caterpillar Carry dozer D11R, Hitachi Excavator EX1900, Caterpillar Dump Truck 777.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: 1) With related experience in tailings dam earth moving works Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

SOCIALATEMYIND INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. No. 4/f, One E-com Center Bldg., Lot No. 4/f Mall Of Asia Complex Ocean Drive St. District 1, District 4, Barangay 76, Pasay City

GAO, NAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 69.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, preferably 1 year in experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native Language)

Brief Job Description: Support the project t on delivering site implementation according to the client’s quality standard and timeline

ROZAIRO, BRIAN GRANVILLE ANTON Equipment Technician

68.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

KING-MERCHANT BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED Unit 2505-f, The Finance Centre 26th St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

HAN, ZHIJIAN Chinese Customer Service

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f, Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive, Don Galo, City Of Parañaque

BAI, RUI Chinese Customer Service

LUONG HUE SAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MPOTECH DIGITAL SYSTEM INC. 47/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for. Fluent to Chinese Mandarin is an advantage

No.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin

MELCO RESORTS LEISURE (PHP) CORPORATION City Of Dreams Manila, Aseana Ave. Cor. Roxas Blvd., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Speaking , Reading and Writing in English and Their Respective native Language for the position applied for Fluent in Chinese Mandarin is an Advantage

Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service

TO THI BICH LOAN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

JIU ZHOU TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. U-3401 34/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service

SU THI NGOC LIEN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff

IT AMERICANO INC. 10/f Pacifica One Center Bldg., 2178 Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

TSAI, CHENG-CHE Lead Developer

Brief Job Description: Reports on daily operations of call center activities

QUAN DUC LUONG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff

Basic Qualification: 18-50 years old, good organizational skills, proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SUCIPTO Indonesian-customer Service Support

CHU, CHENGFEI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff

49.

37.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 26/f, 27/f, 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1, 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

INTEGRITY GLOBAL GROUP, INC. 2/f-3/f Ayala Malls Circuit, A.p. Reyes Ave., Carmona, City Of Makati

KIM, SEUNGHO It Support

Brief Job Description: Acknowledging and resolving customer complaints

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

LEEKIE ENTERPRISES, INC. 8/f Techzone Bldg., 213 Sen Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent Swedish speaker; above average English communication skills; demonstrate confidence while using all different channels; strong sales and marketing skills; able to communicate to potential and existing customer in a highly positive manner, reliable, friendly; good listening skills and selforganizing skills, team player

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Brief Job Description: Prepare and maintain company documents and reports and coordinate for daily administrative reports

LU, QIAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 70.

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / excellent mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

A6 A8

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

YU, CAN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 71.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about products and services

ZHAO, ZICUN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 72.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about products and services

CHEW LEE YING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 73.

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / excellent mandarin communication skills

No.

NGUYEN THI KIEU TRANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 87.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / excellent mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / excellent mandarin communication skills

88.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.

89.

75.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.

90.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

76.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

77.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

78.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.

PHUNG THE HAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

NGUYEN HONG PHONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

79.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN LE TUYET NGAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

80.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN MINH MAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

81.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN NGOC THANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

82.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN NHUT TRUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

83.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services. NGUYEN QUYNH NHU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

84.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services.

NGUYEN THANH TON Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 85.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services. VUONG THI LY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services. VU HUU SON Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services

86.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

96.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

VONG VIEN HUNG Mandarin Customer Service Specialist Brief Job Description: Customer service

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

97.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

98.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

Basic Qualification: Fluent in vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

99.

Brief Job Description: Develop, oversee and work to implement the ideal customer experience for new and existing products

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

100.

Brief Job Description: Lead into formulation of the bank’s information security program (ISP) for approval by the board and senior management, and oversee its implementation.

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking.

Brief Job Description: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

KRISMIEYATI Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

103.

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties

NENCY RIA PANGGABEAN Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

105.

106.

Basic Qualification: At least 10 years solid experience in information security & cybersecurity management, 5 years of which as Chief Information Security Officer in digital banking, banking, or fintech. Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties SHERWIN JONERI BURHAN Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

107.

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties SILVIA SURYA Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

108.

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties

WENDI KRISTIAN Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer 109.

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties WILLIAM Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

110.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: Previous experience in leading banks, fintech, or other regulated financial instructions, with focus product development, customerfacing operations, user experience and / or marketing. At least 5 years’ experience in an executive role in any above-mentioned institutions

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties RONALDO Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must have at least five years of managerial experience in sales or business development in an overseas casino resort

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties NIKOLAS SALIM Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin Both Oral and Written

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

ZAPPORT SERVICES, INC. 36/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

UNIONDIGITAL BANK INC. 41f Union Bank Plaza,, Meralco Ave. Cor. Onyx Road,, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

102.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

GAITANIDOU, MARIA Chief Customer Experience Office

Brief Job Description: To lead the technology side of the business

NGO CHUNG KIEN Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Build and maintain relationships with clients

Brief Job Description: Acts a front line sale to ensure the proactive delivery of company products and services to supervise daily operations of the company’s market share

Basic Qualification: Master of Business Administration (MBA)

GOSWAMI, VASU Technical Consultant

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

Basic Qualification: At least 1 year experience

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

101.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YANG, LONG Sales Consultant

LEONG, SUT U Director, Premium Marketing Business Development

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: Indonesian Speaking and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

TIGER RESORT, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

VASU INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT SOLUTIONS INC. Level 12 Robinsons Summit Center, 6783 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SW EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS INC. C3 Rd Cor Cabanatuan St., District 2, Barangay 126, City Of Caloocan

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SPEED QUALITY TECH INC. 3/f Eco Plaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave. Extn., Magallanes, City Of Makati

GRUNDEN, DOMINIC SEBASTIAN Chief Information Security Officer NGUYEN THI HONG LOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

104.

95. NGUYEN DINH HOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services. NONG THI NGOC QUYNH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

94. NGUYEN AN KHANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN VAN THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

93. NGO THO VAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services. NGUYEN VAN QUANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

92. HO SY CHIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services. NGUYEN TU ANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

91.

74.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and service questions; suggesting information about other products services. NGUYEN TONG HONG MY LINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS, INC. 10/f Tower 2 Double Dragon Plaza Bldg., Edsa Corner Macapagal Ave. St. Zone 10, District 1, Barangay 76, Pasay City DAO VAN SANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties YUWANDY Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

111.

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties

Basic Qualification: Indonesian Speaking and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

*Date Generated: Apr 25, 2022 In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on April 23, 2022, the name of CHEN, JUEI-CHE, should have been read as CHEN, JUEI-CHE aka MATT CHEN and not as published. In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on April 21, 2022, the Position of JI, LIN CHINESE SPEAKING MARKETINF SUPERVISOR, should have been read as CHINESE SPEAKING MARKETING SUPERVISOR and not as published. Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

World Features BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Covid shots still work but researchers start looking for new improvements By Lauran Neergaard

AP Medical Writer

ovid-19 vaccinations are at a critical juncture as companies test whether new approaches like combination shots or nasal drops can keep up with a mutating coronavirus—even though it’s not clear if changes are needed.

Already there’s public confusion about who should get a second booster now and who can wait. There’s also debate about whether pretty much everyone might need an extra dose in the fall. “I’m ver y concer ned about booster fatigue” causing a loss of confidence in vaccines that still offer very strong protection against Covid-19’s worst outcomes, said Dr. Beth Bell of the University of Washington, an adviser to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite success in preventing serious illness and death, there’s growing pressure to develop vaccines better at fending off milder infections, too—as well as options to counter scary variants. “We go through a fire drill it seems like every quarter, every three months or so” when another mutant causes frantic tests to determine if

the shots are holding, Pfizer vaccine chief Kathrin Jansen told a recent meeting of the New York Academy of Sciences. Yet seeking improvements for the next round of vaccinations may seem like a luxury for US families anxious to protect their littlest children—kids under 5 who are not yet eligible for a shot. Moderna’s Dr. Jacqueline Miller told The Associated Press that its application to give two low-dose shots to the youngest children would be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration “fairly soon.” Pfizer hasn’t yet reported data on a third dose of its extrasmall shot for tots, after two didn’t prove strong enough.

Combination shots

The original Covid-19 vaccines remain strongly protective against serious illness, hospitalization and

DeSantis tests limits of his combative style in Disney feud By Steve Peoples & Brendan Farrington The Associated Press

ALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ‘ deepening feud with Walt Disney World is testing the limits of his combative leadership style while sending an unmistakable message to his rivals that virtually nothing is off limits as he plots his political future. The 43-year-old Republican has repeatedly demonstrated an acute willingness to fight over the course of his decade long political career. He has turned against former aides and rejected the GOP Legislature’s rewrite of congressional maps, forcing lawmakers to accept a version more to his liking and prompting voting rights groups to sue. He’s also leaned into simmering tensions with Donald Trump, which is notable for someone seeking to lead a party where loyalty to the former president is a requirement. But DeSantis’ decision to punish Disney World, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and one of Florida’s biggest private employers, took his fighter mentality to a new level. In retribution for Disney’s criticism of a new state law condemned by critics as “Don’t Say Gay,” DeSantis signed legislation on Friday stripping the theme park of a decades-old special agreement that allowed it to govern itself. To critics, including some in his own party, such a raw exercise of power suggests DeSantis is operating with a sense of invincibility that could come back to haunt him. Others see an ambitious politician emboldened by strong support in his state and a mountain of campaign cash grabbing an opportunity to further stoke the nation’s culture wars, turning himself into a hero among Republican voters in the process. “When you listen to Ron DeSantis, it’s righteous indignation: ‘Here’s why you’re wrong and here’s why I’m right,’’” said Florida Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, a former state GOP chairman. “And it is that righteous indignation and that willingness to fight back that endears people to Ron DeSantis’ message. As long as he keeps on showing

that he’s willing to fight, people are going to continue to keep flocking to him.” DeSantis is up for reelection in November. But in the wake of his scrap with Disney, he will introduce himself to a key group of presidential primary voters this week when he campaigns for Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt. The appearance marks his first of the year in a state featured prominently on the presidential calendar, although DeSantis aides insist it is simply a trip to help out a longtime friend. Disney drew DeSantis’ wrath for opposing a new state law that bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. The DeSantis-backed bill has been condemned by LGBTQ activists nationwide as homophobic, although the measure, like others dealing with transgender athletes and racial history in schools, has emerged as a core piece of the GOP’s political strategy. The Disney legislation, which does not take effect until June 2023, could cause massive economic fallout for the company, the surrounding communities and the millions who visit the Orlando amusement park every year. There are risks to DeSantis’ embrace of the legislation, particularly if his antagonism towards Disney threatens the GOP’s standing with independents and women, who could play crucial roles in the fall campaign. Jenna Ellis, a former Trump administration attorney, called the DeSantis-backed legislation “vengeful.” Democrats who are facing a tough election year are eager to highlight DeSantis’ moves as a way to portray the GOP as a party of extremists. In a n i n t e r v i e w, D e m o c r a t i c N a t i o n a l Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison described DeSantis’ attack on Disney as a continuation of a “divisive agenda” geared toward booking interviews on conservative media at the expense of his constituents. “The people of Florida deserve a governor whose first priority is them, not his own political ambition,” Harrison said. Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writer Anthony Izaguirre contributed to this report.

A health worker administers a dose of Covid-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic in Reading, Pa. Covid-19 vaccinations are at a critical juncture as companies test whether new approaches like combination shots or nasal drops can keep up with a mutating coronavirus—even though it’s not clear if any change is needed. AP/Matt Rourke

death, especially after a booster dose, even against the most contagious variants. Updating the vaccine recipe to match the latest variants is risky, because the next mutant could be completely unrelated. So companies are taking a cue from the flu vaccine, which offers protection against three or four different strains in one shot every year. Moderna and Pfizer are testing 2-in-1 Covid-19 protection that they hope to offer this fall. Each “bivalent” shot would mix the original, proven vaccine with an Omicron-targeted version. Moderna has a hint the approach could work. It tested a combo shot that targeted the original version of the virus and an earlier variant named Beta—and found

vaccine recipients developed modest levels of antibodies capable of fighting not just Beta but also newer mutants like Omicron. Moderna now is testing its Omicrontargeted bivalent candidate. But there’s a looming deadline. FDA’s Dr. Doran Fink said if any updated shots are to be given in the fall, the agency would have to decide on a recipe change by early summer.

Don’t expect boosters every few months

For the average person, two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine plus one booster—a total of three shots—“gets you set up” and ready for what may become an annual booster, said Dr. David Kimberlin, a CDC adviser from the University

of Alabama at Birmingham. After that first booster, CDC data suggests an additional dose offers most people an incremental, temporary benefit. Why the emphasis on three shots? Vaccination triggers development of antibodies that can fend off coronavirus infection but naturally wane over time. The next line of defense: Memory cells that jump into action to make new virus-fighters if an infection sneaks in. Rockefeller University researchers found those memory cells become more potent and able to target more diverse versions of the virus after the third shot. Even if someone who’s vaccinated gets a mild infection, thanks to those memory cells “there’s still plenty of time to protect you against severe illness,” said Dr. Paul Offit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. But some people—those with severely weakened immune systems—need more doses up-front for a better chance at protection. And Americans 50 and older are being offered a second booster, following similar decisions by Israel and other countries that offer the extra shot to give older people a little more protection. The CDC is developing advice to help those eligible decide whether to get an extra shot now or wait. Among those who might want a second booster sooner are the elderly, people with health problems that make them particularly

vulnerable, or who are at high risk of exposure from work or travel.

Could nasal vaccines block infection?

It’s hard for a shot in the arm to form lots of virus-fighting antibodies inside the nose where the coronavirus latches on. But a nasal vaccine might offer a new strategy to prevent infections that disrupt people’s everyday lives even if they’re mild. “W hen I think about what would make me get a second booster, I actually would want to prevent infection,” said Dr. Grace Lee of Stanford University, who chairs CDC’s immunization advisory committee. “I think we need to do better.” Nasal vaccines are tricky to develop and it’s not clear how quickly any could become available. But several are in clinical trials globally. One in late-stage testing, manufactured by India’s Bharat Biotech, uses a chimpanzee cold virus to deliver a harmless copy of the coronavirus spike protein to the lining of the nose. “I certainly do not want to abandon the success we have had” with Covid-19 shots, said Dr. Michael Diamond of Washington University in St. Louis, who helped create the candidate that’s now licensed to Bharat. But “we’re going to have a difficult time stopping transmission with the current systemic vaccines,” Diamond added. “We have all learned that.”

Blinken: Russia is failing in war aims and ‘Ukraine is succeeding’ By Matthew Lee

AP Diplomatic Writer

EAR the Polish-Ukrainian border—A fter a secrecy-shrouded visit to Kyiv, US Secretary of State A ntony Bl i n ken sa id Ru ssi a is failing in its war aims and “Ukraine is succeeding.” The trip by Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was the highest-level American visit to the capital since Russia invaded in late February. They told Ukraine’s president, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, and his advisers that the US would provide more than $300 million in foreign military financing and had approved a $165 million sale of ammunition. “We had an opportunity to demonstrate directly our strong ongoing support for the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people. This was, in our judgment, an important moment to be there to have face-to-face conversations in detail,” Blinken told reporters Monday near the Polish-Ukrainian border. Austin said Zelenskyy’s response to the aid was deep appreciation for what was being given but “he has the mindset that they want to win and we have the mindset that we want to help them win.” In footage later released by the Ukrainian presidency of the meeting, Blinken praised the “extraordinary courage and leadership and success that you’ve had in pushing back this horrific Russian aggression.” “We got used to seeing you on video around the world, but it’s great, it’s good to see you in person,” Blinken said with a smile. Blinken also said US diplomats

returning to Ukraine likely would restaff the consulate in Lviv in western Ukraine before returning to the capital, Kyiv. They previously said the diplomats would start returning this week. The US Embassy in Kyiv will remain closed for the moment. Austin at the news conference said “the world has been inspired” by Ukraine in the war and that America would continue its support. “What you’ve done in repelling the Russians in the Battle of Kyiv is extraordinary,” he said. Zelenskyy had announced Saturday that he would meet with the US officials in Kyiv on Sunday, but the Biden administration refused to confirm that and declined to discuss details of a possible visit even though planning had been underway for more than a week. Journalists who traveled with Austin and Blinken to Poland were barred from reporting on the trip until it ended, were not allowed to accompany them on their overland journey into Ukraine, and were prohibited from specifying where in southeast Poland they waited for the Cabinet members to return. Officials at the State Department and the Pentagon cited security concerns. Austin and Blinken announced a total of $713 million in foreign military financing for Ukraine and 15 allied and partner countries; some $322 million is earmarked for Kyiv. The remainder will be split among NATO members and other nations that have provided Ukraine with critical military supplies since the war with Russia began, officials said. Such financing is different from previous US military assistance for Ukraine. It is not a donation of drawn-down US De-

fense Department stockpiles, but rather cash that countries can use to purchase supplies that they might need. The new money, along with the sale of $165 million in non-US made ammunition that is compatible with Soviet-era weapons the Ukrainians use, brings the total amount of American military assistance to Ukraine to $3.7 billion since the invasion, officials said. Z e le n s k y y h ad u r ge d t he Americans not to come emptyhanded. US officials said they believed the new assistance would satisfy at least some of the Ukrainians’ urgent pleas for more help. New artillery, including howitzers, continues to be delivered at a rapid pace to Ukraine’s military, which is being trained on its use in neighboring countries, the officials said. O n t he d iplom at ic f ront , Bl in ken told Zelensk y y t hat Biden will announce his nomination of veteran diplomat Bridget Brink to be the next US ambassador to Ukraine. A career foreign service officer, Brink has served since 2019 as ambassador to Slovakia. She previously held assignments in Serbia, Cyprus, Georgia and Uzbekistan as well as with the White House National Security Council. The post requires Senate confirmation. Blinken also told Ukraine’s foreign minister that the small staff from the now-shuttered US Embassy in Kyiv, which has relocated to Poland from temporar y offices in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, would begin making day trips to Lviv in the coming days. Officials said the US had accelerated its review of security conditions in the capital and that the State

Depa r t ment w i l l reopen t he embassy there as soon as the situation allows. Biden has accused Russian President V l ad imir Put in of genocide for the destr uction and death wrought on Ukraine. Just on Thursday, Biden said he would provide a new package of $800 million in military aid to Ukraine that included heavy artillery and drones. Congress approved $6.5 billion for military assistance last month as part of $13.6 billion in spending for Ukraine and allies in response to the Russian invasion. From Poland, Blinken plans to return to Washington while Austin will head to Ramstein, Germany, for a meeting Tuesday of NATO defense ministers and other donor countries. That discussion will look at battlefield updates from the ground, additional security assistance for Ukraine and longer-term defense needs in Europe, including how to step up military production to fill gaps caused by the war in Ukraine, officials said. More than 20 nations are expected to send representatives to the meeting. T he U krainian officials participating were Zelensky y, Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Defense Minister Olexiy Reznikov, Ambassador Oskana Markarova, presidential administration head Andriy Yermak, chief of defense Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and Andrii Sybiya of Zelensky y’s office. Representing the United States in addition to Blinken and Austin were State Department deputy chief of staff Tom Sullivan, senior military assistant Lt. Gen. Randy George and Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Laura Cooper.

A10 Tuesday, April 26, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Can traditional cures stop Covid outbreaks?

or more than two years now, China has been promoting traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a Covid-19 treatment. President Xi Jinping wants friendly countries to give China’s herbal cures a chance. For example, the Chinese government has been sending traditional medicine specialists to Cambodia and supporting clinical trials in Pakistan, two countries that rely heavily on Chinese aid. Russia, meanwhile, has been selling Lianhua Qingwen, promoted as a Covid cure, since 2020. The medicine is also available in the Philippines and in more than 20 countries.

Lianhua Qingwen is just one of the traditional treatments officially endorsed by the Chinese government. The medicine became so popular it raked in about $6 billion for Wu Yiling, majority owner of Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., the medicine’s manufacturer. Lianhua Qingwen made Wu one of the world’s 500 richest people. A recent social media post, however, managed to erase about $2 billion from Wu’s $6 billion fortune. A Bloomberg report said the plunge in Yiling Pharmaceutical’s shares started on April 15, after Wang Sicong, the son of property billionaire Wang Jianlin, shared a video on Weibo, a Chinese Twitter-like platform, questioning whether the World Health Organization had ever recommended Lianhua Qingwen as a Covid remedy. That came after he called on social media for China’s securities watchdog to investigate Yiling. Bloomberg said both posts were deleted, and Weibo later banned Wang because his account “violated related laws and regulations.” The following day, Yiling vowed to take legal action against defamatory statements and reiterated its Lianhua Qingwen has some “rare” adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. From Bloomberg: “Debate over the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine—or TCM—has intensified in recent weeks as the nation fights its worst outbreak since the early days of the pandemic. While the government has been promoting the remedies, they haven’t received the nod from regulators with global credibility, and the World Health Organization hasn’t approved or recommended the use of Lianhua Qingwen to treat Covid-19.” The US Food and Drug Administration in 2020 sent at least six warning letters to companies selling Lianhua Qingwen and other TCM-based products purported to be Covid cures, telling vendors that the products were unapproved and misbranded drugs. Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority said in November: “To date, there is no scientific evidence from randomized clinical trials to show that any herbal product, including Lianhua Qingwen products, can be used to prevent or treat Covid-19. We strongly advise members of the public not to fall prey to unsubstantiated claims or spread unfounded rumors that herbal products can be used to prevent or treat Covid-19.” Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at SOAS University of London, said the promotion of traditional Chinese medicine is about geopolitics, not science. “If TCM will be proven as an effective cure, I am sure the whole world will rejoice,” he said. “The problem is that there is no solid evidence that it is.” Even China is not betting entirely on TCM. In February, the Chinese government approved Paxlovid, the first foreign pharmaceutical product for Covid to win acceptance from China’s regulators. Antiviral treatments, such as Paxlovid, are medications that are taken orally. Although they are not considered a replacement for vaccination, they are known to reduce hospitalization or death in people at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19. Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

Fresh data indicate solid recovery Manny B. Villar

THE Entrepreneur

E are still a month away before the official release of the gross domestic product data in the first quarter of 2022. Judging from the early numbers and indicators I’m reading in the newspapers, however, I can confidently say that the Philippine economy posted a robust growth in the first three months of the year. Fresh data point to a Philippine economy that is nearing the prepandemic level of business activities. Higher automotive sales, increased electricity demand, a vibrant manufacturing sector and recharged tourism activities are telltale signs of a strong economic rebound in the first quarter of 2022. The higher electricity sales of Manila Electric Co. in the first quarter of the year, as predicted by a company official, reflected the strong consumption of the residential, commercial and industrial sectors in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces amid the easing of mobility restrictions. Meralco sales likely expanded

‘Challenges 2022’ John Mangun

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua

OUTSIDE THE BOX

Founder Publisher Editor in Chief Associate Editor News Editor Senior Editors

Online Editor Creative Director Chief Photographer Chairman of the Board President Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso Ruben M. Cruz Jr. Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan

BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines. Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025. (Advertising Sales) 893-2019; 817-1351, 817-2807. (Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news@businessmirror.com.ph.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Printed by brown madonna Press, Inc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque, Metro Manila MEMBER OF

6 percent in the first quarter of 2022 from the same period last year. Electricity consumption is on the rise, reaching pre-pandemic levels in 2021 when it also rose 6 percent to 46,073 gigawatt-hours from 43,572 GWh in 2020. Another 6-percent growth in 2022 would bring the total to a new record high. The nation’s fuel consumption is another key indicator of an economy that has long exited recession. Energy demand last year already breached the pre-pandemic levels, which means many of our factories and commercial establishments resumed full operations, while household demand remained steady.

here will be a hard learning curve this year and it is not the presidential candidates’ fault that they are unprepared for the issues the new administration will face after Inauguration Day 2022. Let me summarize some of the ideas. China Covid: the epicenter of the quarantine is Shanghai but about 373 million people in 45 cities are in some sort of lockdown. Their economy is not moving, and the world is affected. That much of the clothes, electronics, and cooking utensils we buy comes from China means a factory in Guangdong that is suddenly “Covid closed” hits the world hard. Twenty percent of all ocean-going container vessels are waiting to load or unload outside of a congested seaport and one-third of them are sitting in Chinese waters. Bank of America just lowered its 2022 China gross domestic product growth forecast from 4.8 percent to 4.2 percent, with Nomura Holdings Inc. cutting its forecast to 3.9 percent. The International Monetary Fund revised down its estimate

to 4.4 percent. But this is the real kicker. The IMF has cut its global GDP growth forecast to 3.6 percent in both 2022 and 2023. China’s GDP growth has been in a downtrend since 2010 and needs five percent just to keep its economic head above water. And the world needs 4.1 percent. There is a global fertilizer crisis that has been building for some time and has been exacerbated by the Ukraine war. Some fertilizer prices have more than doubled in 12 months. Farmers will then decrease use to save money, which decreases crop yield driving prices higher. In July 2020, corn traded at $320; today it sells for nearly $800, the highest price in the 21st century. An outbreak of “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza” (bird flu) in chicken and turkey flocks has spread across 24 US states since February.

There is no doubt that most economic sectors are experiencing growth again. What will complete the recovery from the pandemic is the return of both foreign and local travelers to tourism destinations. This is crucial because the travel and tourism sector directly and indirectly employs millions of Filipinos. Per the latest report of the Department of Energy, the country’s net import bill—or the difference between oil exports and imports— jumped 88 percent in 2021 to $11.146 billion from $5.93 billion in 2020 on the back of higher volumes and prices. The Philippines’s net oil import bill in 2021 surpassed the pre-pandemic level of $11.075 billion in 2019. In terms of volume, net imports of oil climbed to 22.204 billion liters in 2021, exceeding the pre-pandemic level of 16,026 billion liters in 2019 and 15,137 billion liters in 2020. The higher fuel consumption is evident in the traffic congestion that re-emerged in major thoroughfares of Metro Manila, like EDSA and C5, as well as major tolls roads such as North Luzon Expressway, Subic-

Since 2020, energy is up 130 percent with food increasing 25 percent. The best way to measure these changes is the Simon Abundance Index. This index, with 1980 as a base year, shows the relationship between population growth and the abundance of 50 basic commodities. It’s global. “Quebec duck farm says it has to kill 150,000 birds, lay off 300 staff.” “Paris, March 31 (Reuters)— France is facing its worst bird flu crisis in history with cullings topping more than 12 million birds.” China is serious about food security, as it wants to avoid a billion hungry people taking to the streets. Nikkei Asia: “Less than 20 percent of the world’s population has managed to stockpile more than half of the globe’s maize and other grains.” According to the US Department of Agriculture, China is expected to hold 69 percent of the world’s corn reserves in the first half of 2022, 60 percent of the rice and 51 percent of the wheat. Since 2020, energy is up 130 percent with food increasing 25 percent. The best way to measure these changes is the Simon Abundance Index. This index, with 1980 as a base year, shows the relationship between population growth and the abundance of 50 basic commodities. The “abundance” is how much it costs to

Clark-Tarlac Expressway and South Luzon Expressway. Increased automotive sales, meanwhile, are a critical gauge of a rebounding economy. Car sales in March surged 43 percent to 29,685 from a year ago and almost reached the industry’s pre-pandemic monthly level of 30,000 units. Car sales are a barometer of consumer confidence. The higher figures mean the middleincome earners have regained their confidence to invest in big-ticket items that include properties. The healthy performance of the manufacturing sector of late is another encouraging sign. The volume of production index grew 84.3 percent in February from a year ago, faster than the 17.1-percent expansion in January, after laxer mobility restrictions increased consumer and business confidence. We should prepare for and meet the sustained increase in demand as the economy finds its way back on the growth track. The International Monetary Fund officially confirmed that the Philippines was showing signs of economic recovery from the pandemic starting in the second semester of 2021. There is no doubt that most economic sectors are experiencing See “Villar,” A11

acquire these commodities measured in human labor time. Global resource abundance increased by 5.9 percent in 2020 but fell by 22.6 percent in 2021 moving back to 2014 levels. Despite the recent decline, resource abundance is still increasing at a faster rate than the population is growing. That relationship is called “superabundance.” Are we facing total gloom-anddoom? Absolutely not. So why am I pessimistic on the ability of a new government to successfully respond to “Challenges 2022?” All the above conditions are exceptionally fluid but with a clear and growing negative trend. From a practical governance standpoint, this is like walking into the middle of a movie and trying to figure out what is going on. Government policies are made on current conditions. But conditions have changed considerably during Campaign 2022 and October last year. Most of the campaign rhetoric is unrealistic and the promises not feasible. The Philippines will not bear the brunt of the coming economic fallout and the fall-down. But if you depend on government to adequately protect you and your family, you will be greatly disappointed. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

China promotes coal in setback for efforts to cut emissions

We need to return competence and respectability in the Senate

By Joe Mcdonald | AP Business Writer

EIJING—China is promoting coal-fired power as the ruling Communist Party tries to revive a sluggish economy, prompting warnings Beijing is setting back efforts to cut climatechanging carbon emissions from the biggest global source. Official plans call for boosting coal production capacity by 300 million tons this year, according to news reports. That is equal to 7 percent of last year’s output of 4.1 billion tons, which was an increase of 5.7 percent over 2020. China is one of the biggest investors in wind and solar, but jittery leaders called for more coalfired power after economic growth plunged last year and shortages caused blackouts and factory shutdowns. Russia’s attack on Ukraine added to anxiety that foreign oil and coal supplies might be disrupted. “This mentality of ensuring energy security has become dominant, trumping carbon neutrality,” said Li Shuo, a senior global policy adviser for Greenpeace. “We are moving into a relatively unfavorable time period for climate action in China.” Officials face political pressure to ensure stability as President Xi Jinping prepares to try to break with tradition and award himself a third five-year term as ruling party leader in the autumn. Coal is important for “energy security,” Cabinet officials said at an April 20 meeting that approved plans to expand production capacity, according to Caixin, a business news magazine. The ruling party also is building power plants to inject money into the economy and revive growth that sank to 4 percent over a year earlier in the final quarter of 2021, down from the full year’s 8.1 percent expansion. Governments have pledged to try to limit warming of the atmosphere to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the level of pre-industrial times. Leaders say what they really want is a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Scientists say even if the world hits the 2-degree goal in the 2015 Paris climate pact and the 2021 Glasgow follow-up agreement, that still will lead to higher seas, stronger storms, extinctions of plants and animals and more people dying from heat, smog and infectious diseases. China is the top producer and consumer of coal. Global trends hinge on what Beijing does. The Communist Party has rejected binding emissions commitments, citing its economic development needs. Beijing has avoided joining governments that promised to phase out use of coal-fired power. In a 2020 speech to the United Nations, Xi said carbon emissions will peak by 2030, but he announced no target for the amount. Xi said China aims for carbon neutrality, or removing as much from the atmosphere by planting trees and other tactics as is emitted by industry and households, by 2060. China accounts for 26.1 percent of global emissions, more than double the US share of 12.8 percent, according to the World Resources Institute.

Villar. . .

Continued from A10

growth again. What will complete the recovery from the pandemic is the return of both foreign and local travelers to tourism destinations. This is crucial because the travel and tourism sector directly and indirectly employs millions of Filipinos. I welcome the prediction of the World Travel and Tourism Council that the sector will grow faster than the GDP over the next decade. The Philippines, by the way, successfully hosted the WTTC Annual Global Summit at Okada Manila on April

Coal is important for “energy security,” Cabinet officials said at an April 20 meeting that approved plans to expand production capacity, according to Caixin, a business news magazine. Rhodium Group, a research firm, says China emits more than all developed economies combined. Per person, China’s 1.4 billion people on average emit the equivalent of 8.4 tons of carbon dioxide annually, according to WRI. That is less than half the US average of 17.7 tons but more than the European Union’s 7.5 tons. China has abundant supplies of coal and produced more than 90 percent of the 4.4 billion tons it burned last year. More than half of its oil and gas is imported and leaders see that as a strategic risk. China’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2060 appears to be on track, but using more coal “could jeopardize this, or at least slow it down and make it more costly,” Clare Perry of the Environmental Investigations Agency said in an email. Promoting coal will make emissions “much higher than they need to be” by the 2030 peak year, said Perry. “This move runs entirely counter to the science,” she said. Beijing has spent tens of billions of dollars on building solar and wind farms to reduce reliance on imported oil and gas and clean up its smogchoked cities. China accounted for about half of global investment in wind and solar in 2020. Still, coal is expected to supply 60 percent of its power in the near future. Beijing is cutting millions of jobs to shrink its bloated, state-owned coal mining industry, but output and consumption still are rising. Authorities say they are shrinking carbon emissions per unit of economic output. The government reported a reduction of 3.8 percent last year, better than 2020’s 1 percent but down from a 5.1 percent cut in 2017. Last year’s total energy use increased 5.2 percent over 2020 after a revival of global demand for Chinese exports propelled a manufacturing boom, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Stimulus spending also might raise carbon output if it pays for building more bridges, train stations and other public works. That would encourage carbon-intensive steel and cement production. China’s coal-fired power plants operate at about half their capacity on average, but building more creates jobs and economic activity, said Greenpeace’s Li. He said even if the power isn’t needed now, local leaders face pressure to make them pay for themselves. “That locks China into a more high-carbon path,” Li said. “It’s very difficult to fix.” 20 to 22, where industry players expressed a positive outlook for the next 10 years. The local tourism sector is showing signs of life. Our local airlines and the travel sector, as I’ve said in my previous column, are bouncing back strongly after tourism took a plunge in the early months of the pandemic. To recap, I’m confident to say that the Philippine economy is about to reach its pre-pandemic level as supported by emerging indicators. The Philippines has nowhere to go but up. For comments, send e-mail to mbv_secretariat@vistaland.com.ph or visit www.mannyvillar. com.ph

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 A11

Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

anted: qualified men and women with competence, courage and integrity who are willing to serve the Philippine Senate to their level best. There is no question that the Senate, one of our venerable institutions, is damaged and is very much in need of urgent repair. What we need are senatorial candidates who are willing to stake their political careers to expose venalities and corruption in the government. They must be unafraid to make powerful enemies and offend vested interests that could promote or destroy their political future. Filipinos look for leaders who are not daunted by the risks they may confront in order to uphold the principles that we hold dear. Our voters will support senatoriables who will not shrink from paying the highest price for speaking out their minds even at the cost of losing support of influential power brokers. Topping our wanted list are exceptional public servants who are not afraid to lose their government positions because they will refuse to subordinate the public interest to their own personal motives, unlike many who have pursued and achieved their ravenous ambitions by betraying the public trust to advance their private agenda. We look for leaders with deep-seated conviction, unsullied integrity and moral courage to prosecute the rightness of their cause; politicians who dare to follow their conscience and disdain personal aggrandizement; and unafraid to cross the path of the President for fear of losing their official perks by becoming a pariah of the ruling administration. Unfortunately, our wish list is frustrated by political realities on the ground. Voters go for popularity instead of competence. The masses will believe deceptions and lies over unvarnished truth. A majority of our people will embrace empty slogans and false promises. It’s a tragedy when well-de-

serving candidates fall outside the probable list of winners in the coming senatorial elections. Many will agree with me that the preelection polls are unkind to Senator Richard Gordon, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Gibo Teodoro, Leila de Lima, Chel Diokno, Neri Colmenares, General Guillermo Eleazar, Dra. Minguita Padilla and other highly qualified candidates. Half of those who outrank them in the surveys cannot hold a candle to them when it comes to qualifications, integrity, competence and character. How many of the front-running senatoriables can match Richard Gordon and Neri Colmenares’s legislative skills or the legal acumen of Gibo Teodoro, Senator Leila de Lima and Chel Diokno? Who can surpass the dedication of Senator Risa Hontiveros and General Guillermo Eleazar in discharging their duties? Based on most recent surveys, these names placed outside the top 15 contenders with slim statistical probability to join the winners’ column. They are not even on the periphery of the winning circle. They need to upstage formidable candidates whose popularity among the masses are well entrenched. Can they still succeed to make a giant stride within the next two weeks to overtake the others who presently occupy the first dozen slots? This is unfortunate to one of Gordon’s caliber that has even been considered as a presidential timber in the

We look for leaders with deepseated conviction, unsullied integrity and moral courage to prosecute the rightness of their cause; politicians who dare to follow their conscience and disdain personal aggrandizement; and unafraid to cross the path of the President for fear of losing their official perks by becoming a pariah of the ruling administration. past. Even among the current presidentiables, Gordon’s wealth of experience in public service and effective administrative skills are beyond question. Getting elected as senator is one of the highest honors a Filipino can aspire for. It is an exalted office that must only be reserved for a leader who is gifted with fastidious and incisive intellect, an unblemished integrity and uncompromising conviction to serve the public good. There is no middle ground or compromise if we want only the best and the brightest to serve in the Senate. Applying these exacting standards, only a handful can qualify to sit in that august chamber. Reviewing the current crop of senatoriables seeking our mandate on May 9, many will undoubtedly fail. We no longer see the likes of a Claro M. Recto, Jose P. Laurel, Arturo M. Tolentino, Emmanuel Pelaez, Lorenzo Tañada, Jovito Salonga, Ambrocio Padilla, Lorenzo Sumulong, Benigno Aquino, Jr., Jose W. Diokno, Doy Laurel, Joker Arroyo, Nene Pimentel, Serge Osmena and other outstanding senators who have made the Senate the greatest legislative and deliberative body in our land. The Philippine Senate observed its 100th Anniversary six years ago and it’s grossly disappointing how our highest legislative body has degenerated over the years. It’s true that some bright stars illuminated that august body but they are few and far between. Blas Ople, Edgardo Angara and Frank Drilon brought a breath of fresh air there for a while. Will the likes of Raffy Tulfo, Lo-

ren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Mark Villar, Chiz Escudero, Migz Zubiri, Jojo Binay and Joel Villanueva bring back the luster of the old Senate? Or will nincompoops who hardly know the business of lawmaking populate the Senate in the 19th Congress? Whoever gets elected as our next batch of honorable senators should be ready to meet the challenges of his or her office. So much is at stake within the next five years. The next administration will be hounded by horrendous socio-economic and geo-political problems, which will require tremendous legislative support. Our newly elected senators would do well to remember every word of what the great US Senator William Pitt Fessenden had said in his eulogy of his colleague Senator Foot of Vermont more than a century ago: “When a man becomes of member of this body (the US Senate), he cannot even dream of the ordeal to which he cannot fail to be exposed; of how much courage he must possess to resist the temptations which daily beset him; of that sensitive shrinking from undeserved censure which he must learn to control; of the ever recurring contest between natural desire for public approbation and a sense of public duty; of the load of injustice he must be content to bear, even from those who should be his friends; the imputations of his motives; the sneers of sarcasms and malice; all the manifold injuries which partisans or private malignity, disappointed of its objects, may shower upon his unprotected head. All this, if he would retain his integrity, he must learn to bear unmoved, and walk steadily onward in the path of duty, sustained only by the reflection that time may do him justice ….” Posterity will be the ultimate judge of a senator’s performance in office. Let everyone seeking a Senate seat reflect and ponder on the awesome task that awaits him or her in office. A senator should be equal to the task at hand and perform his or her duty to be the people’s voice and the constituted protector of public welfare. He or she can do no less.

Clarifying taxability of proprietary educational institutions and non-profit hospitals

he implementation in Revenue Regulations (RR) 5-2021 of the provisions of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) on the taxability of proprietary educational institutions and hospitals has created confusion, particularly those in the educational sector.

Private schools have been the partner of the government in providing quality education to millions of Filipino children. They likewise provide jobs and livelihood to many. Thus, giving tax relief to these taxpayers would give them comfort to continue their role as a vital partner of the government in improving the quality of education in our country.

Pursuant to CREATE, proprietary educational institutions are imposed a preferential tax rate of 10 percent, which is reduced to one percent starting July 1, 2020 up to June 30, 2023. But as implemented by RR 5-2021, the proprietary schools ended up being imposed with the regular income tax rate of 25 percent, which is higher than the tax imposed prior to CREATE. This confusion has led to the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 11635 that President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law in December 2021. This law amended Section 27(B) of the Tax Code, which provides special tax treatment of hospitals that are nonprofit and proprietary educational institutions. So, as provided in RA 11635, hospitals that are nonprofit and proprietary educational institutions shall pay a tax of 10 percent

groups with an issued permit to operate from the Department of Education (DepEd), or the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), as the case may be, in accordance with existing laws and regulations. As implemented by RR 3-2022, the coverage of the preferential corporate income tax rate of 10 percent shall apply to 1) Proprietary educational institutions, 2) Hospitals that are non-profit, and 3) Non-stock, non-profit educational institutions whose net income or assets accrue/inure to or benefit any member or specific person. Beginning July 1, 2020 up to June 30, 2023, the rate of one percent shall apply. After June 30, 2023, the rate shall revert to the preferential corporate income tax rate of 10 percent.

Atty. Rodel C. Unciano

Tax Law for Business

on their taxable income, provided that beginning July 1, 2020 until June 30, 2023, the tax rate imposed shall be one percent, provided further that if the gross income from unrelated trade, business or other activity exceeds 50 percent of the total gross income derived by such educational institutions or hospitals from all sources, the tax prescribed in Subsection (A) shall be imposed on the entire taxable income. The phrase “unrelated trade, business or other activity” means any trade, business or other activity, the conduct of which is not substantially related to the exercise or performance by such educational institution or hospital of its primary purpose or function. “Proprietary educational institution” means any private school maintained and administered by private individuals or

However, the regular corporate income tax rate of 25 percent shall be imposed on the entire taxable income of the covered institutions if their gross income from unrelated trade, business, or other activity exceeds 50 percent of the total gross income they derived from all sources. On the other hand, a non-stock, non-profit educational institution shall be subject to the regular corporate income tax of 25 percent on the portion of its revenues or assets not used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes. Private schools have been the partner of the government in providing quality education to millions of Filipino children. They likewise provide jobs and livelihood to many. Thus, giving tax relief to these taxpayers would give them comfort to continue their role as a vital partner of the government in improving the quality of education in our country.

The author is a partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law), a member-firm of WTS Global. The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at rodel.unciano@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 local 140.

A12 Tuesday, April 26, 2022

PHL, INDIA SIGN AGREEMENTS ON CUSTOMS, AYURVEDA By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

HE Philippines and India have signed two agreements to boost cooperation on customs and alternative health care, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance on Customs Matters between Manila and New Delhi was signed by Philippine Ambassador Ramon Bagatsing Jr. and India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs Chairman Vivek Johri last Sunday. The DFA did not expound on the details of the bilateral customs agreement. Bilateral customs agreements usually include improving cooperation to expedite cargo clearances, exchange best practices, information, intelligence to help in the investigation of customs offenses such as smuggling, piracy, illicit drugs and human trafficking. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar witnessed the signing after their bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi Sunday. Four days before this, the Philippines and India also signed an agreement on Ayuverda, a natural system of medicine developed in India 3,000 years ago. The Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health

Care of the Department of Health and the Indian Institute of Ayuverda signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Ayurveda and Other Traditional Systems of Medicines. The signing, witnessed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, was done at the sidelines of the Global AYUSH Innovation and Investment Summit in Gujarat, India on April 20. No details of the agreement were given, too. Locsin is on a four-day official visit to India starting Saturday. He will also participate in the 7th edition of Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics. Fifteen other ministers and high-level officials from other countries participated in the Raisina Dialogue. During their bilateral meeting Sunday, Locsin and Dr. Minister Jaishankar looked into new areas of cooperation, particularly in cybersecurity and science and technology. The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments, particularly on the Ukraine crisis, the situation in Myanmar and the South China Sea. “One of the best talks I’ve had in any of my incarnations. Candid, clever, amusing, deep. Came away with deeper insights on issues of the day. I’ve time to revise. Wish I could be as effortlessly calm and collected; see things w/ a measure of detachment for a wider & longer view,” Locsin tweeted.

PHL, Japan finalize master plan for Subic Bay’s devt

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

T least 34 projects meant to develop the Subic Bay and surrounding areas are embodied in a master plan recently finalized, with Japan’s help, to further transform into an economic powerhouse one of the country’s most promising zones. The Philippines and Japan welcomed the finalization and publication of the Subic Bay Regional Development Master Plan when Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III met Japan Foreign Affairs Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Monday in Tokyo, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines said in a statement. Dominguez expressed his deep appreciation for Japan’s expeditious fulfillment of the plan, which is expected to contribute to the economic development of the Subic

Bay Area. The master plan outlines 34 projects in Subic Bay and its surrounding areas in the fields of road network development, port sector, airport sector, disaster risk management, industrial promotion, and environmental protection. The technical assistance to formulate a regional development master plan for Subic Bay commenced, following the Japan–Philippines Summit Meeting in November 2019, when then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe conveyed Japan’s inten-

tion to render assistance. Dominguez, at his meeting in Tokyo with Hayashi, also thanked Japan’s support for the Duterte administration’s massive infrastructure program “Build, Build, Build, and for its assistance in the country’s response against Covid-19. With the recent passage of economic liberalization bills on foreign investments in the Philippines, Dominguez expressed optimism that this will further broaden avenues of cooperation with Japan. For his part, Hayashi vowed to continue close coordination with the Philippines on infrastructure development, including the Philippine Coast Guard’s new facility in Subic Bay. He also said they will continue to support the country in its response to Covid-19 and provide socioeconomic assistance for Mindanao. Meanwhile, the two ministers discussed cooperation in economic security and concurred on strengthening cooperation in response to issues of safety and reliability of critical infrastructure as well as economic coercion. On the Russia-Ukraine conflict,

Dominguez said he is also willing to coordinate with Japan in light of the war’s impact on price increases in the Philippines. Manila, he noted, has voted in favor of relevant resolutions and condemned the invasion at the United Nations General Assembly. Hayashi pointed out that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine constituted an outright violation of international law and jeopardized the foundation of the international order that encompasses Asia. The Japanese foreign affairs official also thanked Dominguez for his contribution as the Philippine Co-Chair of the Japan–Philippines High-Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation. Hayashi said he is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Philippines as Strategic Partners toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” on the recognition that free and open international order based on the rule of law is essential amid numerous challenges such as unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force.

‘Bus passengers should not suffer from conflict of bus operators, govt’ By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

AKING up the cudgels for commuters who were stranded for hours and inconvenienced by the week-long row between provincial bus operators and regulators, Senator Grace Poe said Monday there’s no reason why the thousands of passengers should bear the brunt of the conflict. Citing complaints from commuters since the row began early last week, Poe prodded the operators to ensure full compliance with their mandate to ferry commuters, even as she called out government agencies for failing to provide for the consequences of their policy changes. Poe, who chairs the franchisegranting Senate Committee on Public Services, warned that the daily commuters should not be made to suffer, even as she pleaded: “‘Huwag naman natin silang ipitin at pahirapan pa sa pag-aabang, pagbabakasakali at pagpapalipat-lipat ng masasakyan [Let’s not make it so hard for them to wait, to agonize over the uncertainty of getting a ride, and have to keep changing rides]” just to survive the new challenges posed by the government’s enforcement of a “window period” that limits provincial buses entering Metro Manila. In a statement, Sen. Poe prodded Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to “take the wheel to ensure that challenges hounding those taking the provincial buses to and from Metro Manila are promptly addressed.” She said Tugade must “ensure that things work out for our passengers who brave long hours of commuting under risk or peril.” The bottomline, she added, “is to serve our passengers coming to and from the provinces carrying heavy belongings, with meager

resources and no home or place to stay in Metro Manila.” The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued show-cause orders to six provincial bus companies to explain why passengers were unduly stranded since the new rules took effect, and set a virtual hearing on May 10. Some provincial bus operators were reported to have limited their operations based on the window hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for the use of their respective private terminals in Metro Manila. Transport officials had insisted that the buses can ply to the National Capital Region even outside these hours, but must use their designated intermodal terminals, not the operators’ usual private terminals, which authorities had blamed for worsening traffic on Edsa by virtue of their locations. Poe earlier dispatched a team that made the rounds of the intermodal transport terminals, including the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue, Bulacan, which had few buses and passengers last Friday. “What further hurts commuters is that they have to shell out more for fares instead of spending less,” Poe said, citing commuters’ gripe. She earlier conveyed the urgency to have “seamless connectivity in public transportation to be able to conveniently move people faster,” stressing the importance of putting up “intermodal terminals in strategic locations” for greater access to the commuting public. However, commuters told media teams that being let off at the intermodal terminals complicated their situation, as many of them had to take several more rides just to reach their destinations, stretching travel time and causing extra expense. See “Bus passengers,” A2

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr. gets a warm welcome from supporters during the BBM-SARA Uniteam Grand Rally held at Arca South in Taguig City, attended by his wife Lisa Araneta-Marcos and Uniteam senatorial candidates. See related story on A3, “BBM unveils environment initiatives; eyes IT-based Disaster Risk Information Roadmap.” ROY DOMINGO

SM malls’ foot traffic near prepandemic level

OOT traffic in SM malls is inching back to pre-pandemic levels, according to an executive of SM Supermalls. Senior Vice President for SM Supermalls Bien C. Mateo told BusinessMirror in an interview on Monday that the number of customers entering SM malls is “as high as 90 percent” of the pre-pandemic level. He emphasized that “this is continuously improving.” Despite the threat of Covid-19 surges brought about by different variants such as the Delta variant in 2021 and the Omicron variant in early 2022, SM Supermalls seem to be recovering now in terms of its foot traffic. Now that majority of the Philippines is already placed under Alert Level 1, people have started flocking to public places such as malls.

Under Alert level 1, “all establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards,” according to the Department of Health. When asked which malls are specifically leading the foot traffic comeback, Mateo said: “Baguio has already exceeded prepandemic traffic. Clark, yung mga ganyan.” “But generally, on average, it’s about 70, 75 percent,” he added. SM, with over 70 malls across provinces and the largest cities in the Philippines, houses not only restaurants, food court, its very own department store, and other partner-stores, but also caters to people needing government services.

In fact, it has a Government Service Express which includes several government agencies’ satellite offices in order to heed customers’ demand for easy access to government services. In addition, SM Supermalls has just partnered on April 25 with the Anti-Red Tape authority (ARTA), to help the anti-red tape watchdog launch its public assistance desk to aid in doing business and to combat bureaucracy and red tape. At the Monday morning signing of the agreement, Senior Vice President Mateo said SM Manila was chosen to host the first ARTA Action Center. “We always endeavor to better serve our customers, including our members. We believe that giving them access to improve an efficient process doing business would help them

bounce back stronger and we want them to be more competitive as we enable them to grow their business in our environment,” Mateo said. Mateo expressed gratitude for ARTA’s effort to provide better government services to the people and aspiring business owners by easing the process of doing business in our country. SM Supermalls is one of Southeast Asia’s biggest developers with over 70 malls in the Philippines and seven in China. It has an average foot traffic of 3.5 million daily and about 5,000 tenant partners SM Supermalls is owned by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. SM Prime is a publicly-listed company and is one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia. Andrea E. San Juan

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Sales of Toyota unit in 2021 exceed pre-pandemic levels

By Andrea E. San Juan

@andreasanjuan

he global recovery allowed the sales of Toyota Motor Philippines Logistics Inc. (TLI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP), to exceed pre-pandemic levels. The company said its sales in 2021 surged by 43 percent year-on-year. The increase is higher than the 29 percent recorded in 2019. “TLI attributes its success to a large extent to the government’s policy which allowed unhampered operations of logistics service providers and export-oriented businesses even during the pandemic,” the company said in a statement.

“TLI’s sales (performance) was also reflective of global market recovery momentum as evidenced by increased exports to top destinations including Thailand, Pakistan, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia.” TLI, a Philippine Economic Zone Authority or PEZA-registered Ecozone Logistics Service Enterprise (ELSE) located in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, handles exports of multi-

sourced Toyota Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, spare parts and accessories. Last year, the company said it remitted to the government a total of $1.25 million in the form of withholding taxes. The Bureau of Internal Revenue District Office No. 57 recognized TLI as the third largest taxpayer under the non-individual taxpayer category. “The amount is one of the highest collected by the RDO from the

whole of Cabuyao, Santa Rosa, Biñan and San Pedro in Laguna,” the company said. Since its incorporation in 2016, TLI has already established its role in Toyota’s supply chain as a warehousing and logistics services provider, catering to the needs of Toyota affiliates worldwide. The company currently exports to over 30 destinations in five continents. The Toyota Network continues to provide critical support to the local automotive industry and global parts supply chain. Export contribution of Toyota Group accounted for 32 percent of the total Philippine exports of automotive parts and components in 2021. In 2021, TMP dominated the industry, accounting for nearly half of the market share. Its sales rose by 29.6 percent to 129,667 units last year from 100,019 units in 2020.

SM Prime expects strong performance By VG Cabuag @villygc

ropert y developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) expects to post a strong performance in the second half of the year, but this may not be enough to surpass its pre-pandemic numbers, such as foot traffic in its malls. SM Prime President Jeffrey Lim said things are getting better after the government eased the restrictions in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, resulting in a foot traffic “close to pre-pandemic [levels] during weekends” in its malls. “We believe that even if we’re not able to reach a pre-pandemic level before end of the year, at least we should target between 80 to 90 percent (of 2019 figures). So we are optimistic about the prospect for 2022,” he said.

Lim said the company’s hotel occupancy rate is less than half of the pre-pandemic level at about 45 percent, but it has started to receive tourists in their facilities. “But we believe that this will continue to improve, because now we are reopening. So we expect that by May or June up to the end of the year we should have a lot in terms of tourist arrivals,” he said. SM Prime is set to spend some

Power Beacon allots ₧750M for hydro plant

ower Beacon Renewable Solutions Inc. has started the construction of a P750-million hydropower project, which will deliver 4.15 megawatt (MW) of additional capacity in some municipalities in Pangasinan. Once operational by December 2024, the hydro power plant is expected to generate 18.87 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually and will meet the increasing need for energy of the municipalities of San Quintin, Umingan, Tayug and Natividad. “The project shall be the first major industry in easternmost part of Pangasinan and will generate renewable and clean energy geared towards improving the lives of the people of San Quintin in support of the thrust of the local government unit,” said Beacon Chairman Armando L. Diaz. The Dipalo hydropower project will utilize the waters of the Dipalo River by means of a diversion weir in the mountains while allowing significant volume to flow over the weir to assure the ecological sustainability of the river. Power Beacon said the difference in elevation of the diversion weir and powerhouse measured at approximately 210 meters will serve as the driving force that will turn the turbines that are coupled to electric generators. The process converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. After doing its work in turbines, the water utilized is coursed back to the Dipalo River Park and the irrigation facility of the National Irrigation Administration. Europe’s best engineering and manufacturer of hydro components, Global Hydro Energy GmbH of Austria, will supply the two vertical Pelton turbines, including the integration of main equipment and auxiliaries. At full load, the two turbines will churn out a total capacity of 4.15MW. The hydropower plant will be connected to Pangasinan Electric Cooperative III for distribution to the consumers. Lenie Lectura

P80 billion this year, some 20 percent or P16 billion will be for land banking and the rest for its projects that may include its foray into the horizontal housing business for locations outside of the city centers. The company will also build several mid-rise buildings of about four-storeys high and may pause for the development of high-rise projects since the pandemic has disrupted the market and caused the dislocation of workers, according to Jose Mari H. Banzon, the company’s president of the residential division. The mid-rise projects will be located in Baliwag in Bulacan, Sta. Rosa and Iloilo, which will follow its recent project launch in Cagayan de Oro some two weeks ago. The horizontal projects, meanwhile, are mostly in Central Lu-

zon such as in Tarlac, Pampanga and also in Batangas, he said. The price range for these projects will be below the value added tax coverage for housing projects at P3.2 million per unit. SM Prime listed its P30 billion in fixed-rate bond on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. last week. The debt is the fourth tranche of SM Prime’s P100 billion worth of bonds under shelf registration at the Securities and Exchange Commission. John Nai Peng C. Ong, SM Prime CFO, said the company has funded its capital expenditures for the year but they may revisit the market again if the opportunity comes.

Strong sales lift Meralco income By Lenie Lectura @llectura

HE Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) power generation business and higher electricity sales pushed its first quarter numbers higher this year. During the company’s presentation of its January to March financial and operating results, officials reported a 10-percent increase in consolidated core net income (CCNI) to P5.624 billion, from P5.1 billion in the same quarter last year. Reported net income also increased to P5.564 billion, up 28 percent from P4.3 billion, as the company benefitted from a lower income tax under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act. Revenues, meanwhile, went up by 33 percent to P85.9 billion from P64.7 billion, as electricity revenues grew similarly to P83.3 billion from P62.5 billion, mainly due to higher pass-through charges on account of the unprecedented increase in global fuel prices. Energy sales volumes in the first quarter rose to 11,069 gigawatt hours (GWh) from 10,473 GWh in the same three months last year following the easing of pandemicrelated restrictions and higher temperatures. Meralco peak demand for the first quarter stood at 7,816 MW, 10 percent higher than the previous year. It explained that the continuing hybrid work arrangements and home-based learning set-up, as well as the relatively warmer temperatures pushed residential sales volume to grow 5 percent to 3,808 GWh from 3,616 GWh. Commercial sales volumes also rose to 3,781 GWh from 3,560 GWh while industrial sales volumes went up to 3,443 GWh from 3,261 GWh. At end-March this year, Meralco

customers grew to 7.46 million. Meralco warned its customers that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, along with the continuing effects of the pandemic, that has affected fuel prices in particular, may have a significant impact on electricity consumption moving forward. “The significant rise in fuel prices, as well as the persisting supply restrictions of the Malampaya natural gas field continue to pose risks to Meralco electricity rates,” said Meralco President Ray Espinosa. “We are proactive in implementing mitigating measures, including supply augmentation efforts through CSP [Competitive Selection Process] and coordination with our suppliers, to cushion the impact to our customers, while we continue to deliver stable, reliable, and quality electricity service to our customers.” Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a statement that the company remains cautious about the impact of geo-political developments. “We are working with industry players, including the government, regulators, and our suppliers, to agree on ways to mitigate the adverse impact of these challenging circumstances to our customers. The challenges notwithstanding, we remain positive that we shall be able to sustain Meralco’s operational and financial performance in the course of the year, as we bank on the further reopening of the economy, and traverse the road towards postpandemic recovery,” he said. In the power generation business, Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) contributed P1.2 billion to Meralco’s earnings, mainly on account of the contribution of Singaporebased PacificLight Power Pte. Ltd. (PLP). As of end-March, MGen had a total power generation capacity of 2,251 MW.

Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

AC Energy identifies sites for offshore wind projects By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

C ENERGY Corp. (ACEN), the Ayala Group’s power generation unit, has identified possible sites for its offshore wind energy projects here and abroad. Offshore wind power is “currently one of the new technologies that we’re currently exploring,” ACEN Chief Development Officer Jose Maria Zabaleta said during the company’s stockholders’ meeting Monday morning. “We have identified possible sites in the Philippines and Vietnam while we’re currently pursuing studies through pre-development work. In our home market, ACEN has already secured wind energy service contracts for sites in Batangas and Manila Bay. These are, however, medium- to largeterm initiatives that will depend on commercial and financial and technical feasibility of potential projects,” he said. The company is aware of the rising development costs in pursuing power projects. Still, Zabaleta said ACEN would continue to closely monitor any developments in off-

shore wind technology. “Energy and material prices are currently elevated while some prospective project sites may require us to build additional transmission lines, roads and others. Nevertheless, we continue to track these new technologies closely, alongside f loating and tracking solar through our development platforms in countries across the region.” While offshore wind power projects take longer to develop compared to solar power projects, ACEN is interested to add more wind power in its portfolio. “Yes, we’re keen to explore offshore wind opportunities in the country. Developing off shore wind will require long lead time, but hopefully we see the first projects to come to fruition within the decade,” said ACEN President Eric Francia. ACEN continues to grow its re-

newables portfolio aggressively. In 2021, it more than doubled its renewables capacity in the Philippines to 1000 megawatts (MW). It also increased its international renewable capacity by 70 percent to 1500 MW by the end of 2021, and further added another 800 MW in the first quarter of 2022. “Today, our renewables capacity stands at 3,300 MW, which puts us in a position to reach our 5,000 MW goal, one or two years ahead of the 2025 target,” said Francia. “We also have a robust project pipeline in the Philippines and around the region, totaling 18,000MW worth of renewables projects in various stages of development”. The company started the construction of over 500 MW worth of projects in 2021, including the 283-MW San Marcelino solar farm in Zambales and the 160MW Pagudpud wind farm in Ilocos Norte. Both projects will be the country’s largest solar and wind farms once operational in 2023.

mutual funds

April 25, 2022

NAV

@villygc

reit Inc., the real estate investment trust sponsored by Andrew Tan’s Megaworld Corp., on Monday said it declared dividends of P0.243 per share based on its income for the first quarter. The cash dividends will be payable on May 31 to stockholders on record as of May 10, the company said. The latest tranche of dividends is higher than the previous quarter’s P0.2399 per share, it said. “This dividend is just the first tranche of the total amount we aim to distribute for the year 2022. Not including the impact of the acquisitions scheduled for this year, we are looking at declaring dividends amounting to P1 per share, which translates to a 6.2 percent dividend yield versus our IPO [initial

public offering] price. At current prices, the yield is at 5.7 percent,” Kevin Andrew L. Tan, the company’s president and CEO, said. T he c omp a ny e a r l ie r a n nounced an expanded acquisition plan this year to reach P20 billion, with the deed of exchange for the initial acquisition of four prime properties worth P5.3 billion already signed between MREIT and Megaworld. In December, Mreit completed the acquisition of four commercial properties with a total gross leasable area (GLA) of 55,700 square meters for P9.1 billion. By the end of 2021, Mreit’s expanded portfolio already consisted of 14 prime buildings with a total GLA of around 280,000 square meters located mainly in PEZA-accredited zones in Megaworld’s developments in Eastwood in Libis, Quezon City, McKinley Hill in Taguig and Iloilo Business Park.

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

224.52

8.82%

-4.92%

-3.21%

-3.68%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.5146

18.75%

-1.76%

0.55%

-8.99%

9.95%

-8.72%

-5.75%

-3.88%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1123

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7417 2.32%

-7.19% n.a.

-1.96%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6901

-7.19% n.a.

-10.48%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

By VG Cabuag

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

5.0431

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

Mreit declares dividends for January-March

The company continues to expand around the region. It reached 1,000MW of attributable capacity in Vietnam, with the recent completion of several wind farms worth 360 MW of attributable capacity and the recent acquisition of a 49 percent stake in Super Energy’s 837 MW solar platform in Vietnam. ACEN has raised around P48 billion last year to convert the renewables pipeline into actual operating projects. It is now firming up its 2030 goals, which include expanding its geographic footprint, investing in new technologies, and leveraging strategic partnerships. “In terms of geographic expansion, the Philippines remains our core market, accounting for 40 percent of our installed capacity,” said Francia. “ACEN is well positioned to accelerate its renewables expansion—especially amid the ongoing energy crisis brought about by global supply issues and the Russia Ukraine conflict.”

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

1.8% 11.16%

-2.63%

-0.87%

-2.69%

0.7525

15.5%

-4.77%

-4.29%

-12.24% n.a.

-8.96%

85.97

-10.83%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

46.107

9.08%

-3.79%

-1.78%

-4.2%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

481.93

8.6%

-3.77%

-1.96%

-3.75%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.3541

24.47%

1.23%

1.36%

-0.16%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

35.5724

12.07%

-2.57%

-0.44%

-2.79% -3.04%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9128

11.15%

-4.02% n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.7789

10.37%

-3.04%

-1.05%

-3.67%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

794.64

9.72%

-3.16%

-1.14%

-4.09%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7184

-4.54%

9.45%

-8.31%

-4.02%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.5993

9.6%

-5.73%

-2.41%

-4.67%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.905

9.39%

-3.47%

-1.41%

United Fund, Inc. -a

9.02%

-3.62%

-0.23%

-3.42%

3.3198

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a

1.171

15.61% n.a. n.a.

-3.93%

-4.18%

0.71%

969.69 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Exchange Traded Fund (shares) First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c

107.2174

10.33%

-2.89%

-0.71%

-3.82%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$0.9622

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.6662

-24.09%

-2.63%

0.73%

-14.58%

-4.36%

8.73%

8.57%

-9.76%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

1.6095

-0.75%

-2.07%

-1.6%

-4.88%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2024

2.68%

-1.57%

-1.01%

-3.47%

6.07%

0.12%

0.72%

-2.01%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6369

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.206 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.9694

4.38%

10.16% n.a. n.a. 0.97%

1.04%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.6452

3.4%

-0.18%

-3.18%

16.3315

3.35%

-0.42%

-0.23%

-3.05%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0758

5.05%

-0.92%

-0.34%

-2.15%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5196 5.25%

-2.8%

-0.92%

-3.5%

-1.87%

-0.38%

-3.31%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

0.9226

11.65%

-1.44%

-2.35%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a

0.9388

-1.98%

-1.85% n.a.

-5.15%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.8993

4.85%

-3.18% n.a.

-4.79%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.8886

5.63%

-3.52% n.a.

-4.85%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$0.03429

-10.09%

-1.6%

-0.72%

$0.9838

-13.6%

-0.55%

0.94%

-7.81%

-6.15%

5.3%

5.72%

-9.39%

1.15%

1.94%

-9.25%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.351

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.0877 -8.05%

-9.62%

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

373.47

0.86%

2.39%

2.4%

-0.22%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.887

-1.28%

0.05%

0.11%

0.12% -0.19%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2379

0.53%

2.39%

3.55%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2063

-2.16%

0.73%

1.09%

-2.01%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4157 -0.64%

2.35%

1.76%

-0.42%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.2748

-4.15%

1.99%

1.04%

-2.75%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.316

-0.2%

3.22%

2.77%

-0.24%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9165

-1.1%

2.8%

2.43%

-1.24%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0122

-1.61%

3.31%

1.84%

-1.56%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1558

-0.76%

3.08%

2.96%

-0.99%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-1.52%

2.32%

2.27%

-1.14%

1.7109

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$482.89

-0.15%

2.06%

-1.36%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є214.59

-2.38%

-0.21%

0.4%

-2.46%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.0897

-7.44%

-9.49%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0247 -4.63% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

-2.24%

-0.5%

-0.67%

-0.16%

-5%

$0.9238

-12.59%

-4.5%

-2.94%

-9.68%

$2.2742

-8.42%

0.23%

0.59%

-9.24%

$0.0610288

-2.61%

1.61%

1.39%

-2.03%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.8165 -10.41%

-1.76%

-1.02%

-11.88%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) 131.65

1.31%

2.42%

2.53%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

1.0614

1.04%

1.71% n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3219

1.53%

2.29%

2.49%

0.35% 0.35%

0.48%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0625

0.63%

1.24% n.a.

0.18%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

45.2597 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.3272

7.87% n.a. n.a.

-4.03%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.8925

-10.75% n.a. n.a.

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

April 25, 2022

Net Foreign Stocks Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Buy (Sell) FINANCIALs

BDO UNIBANK BANK COMMERCE BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK COL FINANCIAL FILIPINO FUND IREMIT NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

132 12.16 98.1 26.7 6.95 8.17 55 18.98 56 19.4 105.6 81.25 3.67 6.51 0.86 0.66 205 2,652

133 12.18 98.2 26.75 8.47 8.18 55.5 19.2 57.3 20 105.9 81.3 3.8 7 0.88 0.68 209 2,750

134.5 12.2 98.9 26.9 6.94 8.23 55.3 19 57.3 19.4 105.8 82.1 3.65 6.51 0.9 0.66 213 2,652

134.8 12.22 98.9 26.9 6.95 8.23 55.5 19.2 57.3 19.4 105.9 82.95 3.8 6.51 0.9 0.66 213 2,652

131.1 12.16 97.8 26.7 6.94 8.16 54.1 18.9 57.3 19.38 104 81.3 3.62 6.51 0.88 0.66 209 2,652

133 12.16 98.2 26.75 6.95 8.18 55.5 18.98 57.3 19.4 105.6 81.3 3.8 6.51 0.88 0.66 209 2,652

2,161,280 435,500 1,402,570 11,500 3,000 762,900 1,515,650 175,700 50 7,500 207,010 46,570 38,000 300 10,000 1,000 30 5

287,046,297 5,301,584 137,677,621 308,125 20,840 6,247,430 83,339,583 3,344,004 2,865 145,462 21,809,111 3,802,608.50 139,240 1,953 8,980 660 6,350 13,260

INDUSTRIAL

AC ENERGY 8.15 8.16 8.2 8.26 7.96 8.16 8,077,800 65,622,266 ALSONS CONS 0.99 1 0.99 1 0.99 1 95,000 94,750 33.4 33.6 34 34 32.9 33.4 2,615,600 87,225,185 ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY 0.39 0.395 0.4 0.4 0.39 0.395 1,290,000 507,750 FIRST GEN 25 25.15 25.2 25.3 25 25 101,000 2,538,250 70 70.55 70 70 70 70 8,520 596,400 FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO 339 342.4 339 344 333 342.4 209,840 71,301,874 19.16 19.2 19.2 19.48 19.16 19.2 571,800 10,978,310 MANILA WATER 3.25 3.26 3.25 3.28 3.25 3.26 812,000 2,653,690 PETRON PETROENERGY 4.9 4.95 4.6 4.9 4.6 4.9 453,500 2,221,840 9.91 10.2 10.1 10.2 10.1 10.2 3,000 30,400 PHX PETROLEUM SYNERGY GRID 12.48 12.56 12.7 12.7 12.4 12.56 450,800 5,623,708 PILIPINAS SHELL 17.4 17.6 17.8 17.8 17.4 17.4 167,100 2,926,606 14.22 14.24 14.4 14.4 14.22 14.24 76,500 1,092,398 SPC POWER SOLAR PH 1.69 1.7 1.71 1.71 1.67 1.7 28,326,000 47,955,750 AGRINURTURE 4.44 4.53 4.53 4.69 4.44 4.53 958,000 4,466,170 2.49 2.58 2.48 2.58 2.48 2.58 58,000 148,360 AXELUM CENTURY FOOD 22.5 22.7 22.5 23 22.5 22.5 866,000 19,538,890 14.3 14.38 14.3 14.38 14.3 14.38 13,000 185,908 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.3 7.22 7.23 297,200 2,152,872 EMPERADOR 19 19.02 18.3 19.3 18.3 19.02 6,543,100 124,066,920 62.6 62.75 62.5 62.8 62.1 62.75 92,090 5,766,704.50 SMC FOODANDBEV FIGARO COFFEE 0.54 0.55 0.54 0.55 0.54 0.55 1,597,000 866,020 FRUITAS HLDG 1.1 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.11 1.12 1,005,000 1,125,370 104.7 107.8 108.9 108.9 104.7 107.8 310 33,280 GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 216.4 217.6 219.8 219.8 216 217.6 559,400 121,676,720 1.26 1.28 1.3 1.31 1.26 1.27 6,153,000 7,868,370 KEEPERS HLDG 5.55 6.24 5.55 5.55 5.55 5.55 200 1,110 MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP 6.24 6.3 6.16 6.3 6.15 6.3 116,500 729,697 0.13 0.135 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 200,000 26,000 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 12.74 12.84 13.1 13.1 12.74 12.74 9,042,500 115,996,220 SHAKEYS PIZZA 8.42 8.47 8.45 8.49 8.44 8.49 1,050,400 8,896,413 0.56 0.58 0.58 0.6 0.56 0.56 175,000 99,110 ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP 4.21 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 10,000 43,000 ROXAS HLDG 1.2 1.25 1.22 1.22 1.22 1.22 4,000 4,880 0.101 0.102 0.105 0.105 0.102 0.102 200,000 20,430 SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA 109.1 109.8 111.4 111.4 108.8 109.8 1,159,610 127,072,573 0.64 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.65 0.65 384,000 250,130 VITARICH VICTORIAS 3.01 3.02 2.9 3.03 2.78 3.01 2,895,000 8,653,010 CEMEX HLDG 0.82 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.82 0.82 714,000 590,100 12.82 13.2 12.92 12.92 12.8 12.8 38,200 489,784 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 4.45 4.47 4.72 4.72 4.47 4.47 995,000 4,506,860 HOLCIM 5.5 5.6 5.49 5.5 5.49 5.5 54,600 300,199 5.08 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.05 5.08 352,300 1,780,590 MEGAWIDE PHINMA 19.72 19.74 19.72 19.74 19.72 19.72 148,100 2,920,612 TKC METALS 0.77 0.78 0.75 0.77 0.75 0.77 12,000 9,140 0.96 0.97 0.99 0.99 0.96 0.96 2,296,000 2,226,450 VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA 1.79 1.82 1.82 1.82 1.82 1.82 3,000 5,460 1.11 1.15 1.12 1.12 1.12 1.12 10,000 11,200 EUROMED MABUHAY VINYL 4.28 4.41 4.41 4.41 4.41 4.41 4,000 17,640 PRYCE CORP 5.64 5.66 5.65 5.66 5.65 5.66 104,300 589,740 19.2 19.5 19.18 19.56 19.18 19.5 1,000 19,416 CONCEPCION GREENERGY 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.56 1.5 1.55 8,092,000 12,456,680 INTEGRATED MICR 7.44 7.47 7.5 7.5 7.4 7.44 248,000 1,852,765 0.7 0.73 0.7 0.71 0.7 0.7 34,000 23,820 IONICS PANASONIC 6.13 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 6.2 4,100 25,420 SFA SEMICON 1.1 1.15 1.12 1.16 1.12 1.16 29,000 32,840 3.01 3.05 3.11 3.11 3.01 3.05 794,000 2,410,200 CIRTEK HLDG

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

1.12 765 55.5 12.12 9 0.9 0.55 0.55 4.89 8.45 7 513 57.1 2.96 8.79 3.8 1.22 870 104.7 0.28 0.158

1.13 779 56.9 12.36 9.21 0.96 0.56 0.57 4.9 8.53 7.14 514 58 2.98 8.8 3.83 1.26 885 107.5 0.3 0.16

1.1 756 56.8 12.3 9 0.96 0.56 0.55 4.89 8.62 6.93 512 56.65 2.96 8.84 3.82 1.23 860 107 0.28 0.16

1.13 779 56.9 12.36 9 0.96 0.56 0.57 4.9 8.63 6.93 517.5 58 2.96 8.84 3.83 1.26 885 107.5 0.28 0.16

1.09 750 55.5 12 9 0.96 0.55 0.55 4.88 8.45 6.93 510 56.5 2.95 8.76 3.78 1.22 855.5 104.4 0.28 0.158

1.12 779 56.9 12.36 9 0.96 0.55 0.55 4.9 8.45 6.93 514 58 2.96 8.8 3.83 1.26 885 107.5 0.28 0.158

14,641,000 120,230 707,570 2,098,800 2,900 1,000 5,996,000 475,000 466,000 7,235,300 900 67,310 970,870 230,000 5,683,500 11,316,000 6,000 268,520 183,350 100,000 1,880,000

16,246,650 91,980,010 40,087,806 25,527,808 26,100 960 3,299,640 261,270 2,280,340 61,681,787 6,237 34,587,545 55,975,443.50 680,170 50,063,132 43,087,730 7,380 234,197,850 19,433,852 28,000 300,600

PROPERTY

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

www.businessmirror.com.ph

-7.99%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU). 1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.). 2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa.com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

ARTHALAND CORP 0.56 0.58 0.56 0.56 0.55 0.56 85,000 46,980 AYALA LAND 34.6 34.75 34.5 34.75 34.2 34.75 6,238,300 215,244,345 4.63 4.66 4.7 4.7 4.5 4.66 414,000 1,909,320 AYALA LAND LOG ARANETA PROP 1.05 1.08 1.05 1.08 1.04 1.06 94,000 99,740 AREIT RT 42.7 42.8 43.85 43.85 42.8 42.8 757,800 32,597,340 0.84 0.89 0.85 0.85 0.84 0.85 161,000 135,840 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.71 0.72 0.71 0.71 0.71 0.71 147,000 104,370 0.092 0.094 0.094 0.095 0.094 0.095 160,000 15,050 CROWN EQUITIES CEB LANDMASTERS 2.83 2.84 2.82 2.87 2.81 2.83 452,000 1,275,280 CENTURY PROP 0.41 0.42 0.4 0.42 0.4 0.42 470,000 195,950 2.58 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.58 2.6 4,015,000 10,407,450 CITICORE RT DOUBLEDRAGON 8.8 8.9 8.8 9.05 8.6 8.9 210,900 1,851,782 DDMP RT 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.56 1.54 1.54 7,153,000 11,080,450 6.86 6.9 6.9 6.91 6.8 6.9 89,000 613,230 DM WENCESLAO EVER GOTESCO 0.244 0.249 0.242 0.249 0.242 0.249 270,000 65,480 FILINVEST RT 7.33 7.35 7.37 7.37 7.33 7.33 2,840,300 20,840,370 1.06 1.07 1.06 1.1 1.05 1.07 29,444,000 31,786,920 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 0.89 0.91 0.89 0.89 0.89 0.89 234,000 208,260 13.14 13.46 13.04 13.48 12.36 13.46 981,900 13,042,528 8990 HLDG 634.5 674 636.5 675 636.5 675 310 205,420 GOLDEN MV PHIL INFRADEV 0.92 0.95 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 24,000 22,080 0.83 0.86 0.87 0.87 0.83 0.83 157,000 130,920 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 2.9 2.93 2.95 2.95 2.89 2.93 5,482,000 15,951,940 MRC ALLIED 0.212 0.215 0.221 0.221 0.21 0.212 7,460,000 1,596,550 17.42 17.44 17.96 17.96 17.4 17.44 3,638,900 63,680,598 MREIT RT PHIL ESTATES 0.4 0.415 0.41 0.415 0.4 0.415 1,400,000 561,650 2.34 2.46 2.48 2.48 2.35 2.46 1,180,000 2,893,310 PRIMEX CORP RL COMM RT 7.33 7.34 7.4 7.42 7.33 7.34 3,292,900 24,286,751 ROBINSONS LAND 19.8 19.9 19.92 19.92 19.2 19.9 1,224,000 24,159,040 1.36 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.43 1,000 1,430 ROCKWELL SHANG PROP 2.51 2.61 2.61 2.61 2.61 2.61 8,000 20,880 STA LUCIA LAND 2.81 2.91 2.78 2.94 2.78 2.94 67,000 187,940 36.1 36.15 36.25 36.25 35.25 36.15 7,981,000 286,610,725 SM PRIME HLDG SUNTRUST HOME 1.01 1.06 1.02 1.06 1.01 1.06 24,000 24,520 VISTA LAND 2.61 2.63 2.65 2.67 2.6 2.61 704,000 1,842,940 SERVICES ABS CBN 12.58 12.98 12.98 12.98 12.54 12.98 91,800 1,169,426 GMA NETWORK 13.32 13.34 14 14 13.3 13.32 4,378,600 58,906,806 7.53 9.8 9.87 9.87 9.86 9.86 200 1,973 MLA BRDCASTING GLOBE TELECOM 2,400 2,438 2,422 2,438 2,364 2,438 27,605 66,622,860 PLDT 1,886 1,910 1,898 1,910 1,870 1,910 75,415 142,676,665 0.042 0.044 0.043 0.044 0.042 0.042 174,200,000 7,407,500 APOLLO GLOBAL CONVERGE 29.6 29.65 29.2 29.9 28.9 29.6 5,248,800 155,209,930 2.91 2.98 2.82 3 2.69 2.98 761,000 2,206,270 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 4.98 5 5.02 5.03 4.96 4.98 3,259,700 16,262,197 IMPERIAL 1.15 1.34 1.15 1.15 1.15 1.15 4,000 4,600 1.3 1.33 1.28 1.33 1.24 1.33 1,192,000 1,516,580 NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.31 0.315 0.315 0.315 0.31 0.315 4,060,000 1,263,050 2GO GROUP 7.28 7.55 7.26 7.56 7.26 7.55 8,400 63,071 1.49 1.5 1.52 1.52 1.49 1.5 37,000 55,430 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 45.6 45.8 45.8 46 45 45.6 191,300 8,682,595 INTL CONTAINER 223.2 226.2 222.4 226.2 220.8 226.2 840,530 188,203,388 5.34 5.4 5.4 5.46 5.25 5.34 420,700 2,243,634 MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A 0.94 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.99 1,000 990 0.96 1.03 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.09 1,000 1,090 METROALLIANCE B PAL HLDG 6.08 6.2 6.12 6.12 6.06 6.07 47,400 287,343 HARBOR STAR 0.64 0.65 0.65 0.65 0.64 0.65 49,000 31,820 1.75 1.87 1.8 1.8 1.75 1.75 15,000 26,550 DISCOVERY WORLD WATERFRONT 0.43 0.445 0.43 0.43 0.43 0.43 120,000 51,600 IPEOPLE 6.86 7.65 6.82 7.65 6.82 7.65 61,300 418,398 0.34 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.345 0.345 1,520,000 524,550 STI HLDG BELLE CORP 1.26 1.28 1.28 1.28 1.27 1.27 69,000 87,870 6.11 6.12 6.21 6.21 6.09 6.11 3,719,400 22,759,750 BLOOMBERRY 1.37 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.47 1.5 277,000 418,240 PACIFIC ONLINE LEISURE AND RES 1.23 1.27 1.24 1.24 1.23 1.23 198,000 244,440 0.96 0.99 1 1.01 0.97 0.97 315,000 312,650 PH RESORTS GRP 0.435 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.44 0.44 4,680,000 2,077,950 PREMIUM LEISURE PHILWEB 2.27 2.3 2.26 2.3 2.26 2.3 203,000 466,340 0.45 0.455 0.435 0.455 0.43 0.45 16,850,000 7,536,000 ALLDAY ALLHOME 8 8.17 8.46 8.46 7.7 8 200,000 1,579,906 METRO RETAIL 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.42 1.42 506,000 718,810 35.8 35.9 36.1 36.15 35.6 35.8 382,500 13,722,760 PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL 55.4 55.5 55.2 55.5 55 55.4 92,760 5,132,709.50 63 66.95 67 67 63 63 4,610 292,010 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.13 1.15 1.14 1.16 1.13 1.16 1,765,000 2,024,520 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 28.55 28.95 28.3 28.95 28.1 28.95 2,402,600 69,278,415 0.239 0.24 0.239 0.239 0.239 0.239 100,000 23,900 APC GROUP EASYCALL 3.75 4.4 3.98 3.98 3.98 3.98 1,000 3,980 MEDILINES 0.78 0.79 0.81 0.81 0.78 0.79 8,552,000 6,838,960 0.51 0.52 0.53 0.53 0.51 0.51 3,387,000 1,762,270 PRMIERE HORIZON

MINING & OIL ATOK 5.55 5.69 5.55 5.55 5.55 5.55 900 4,995 1.64 1.65 1.7 1.7 1.63 1.64 3,244,000 5,349,500 APEX MINING ATLAS MINING 6.69 6.7 7 7 6.68 6.69 1,672,900 11,374,755 BENGUET A 6.98 7.1 7.05 7.3 6.98 7.1 168,400 1,182,682 6.93 7 7.01 7.01 6.82 6.93 70,300 489,909 BENGUET B COAL ASIA HLDG 0.245 0.265 0.27 0.27 0.245 0.245 30,000 7,600 2.7 2.75 2.6 2.75 2.6 2.75 39,000 104,110 CENTURY PEAK 4.91 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.2 100 520 DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL 2.65 2.69 2.83 2.83 2.55 2.65 7,322,000 19,504,030 0.176 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 10,000 2,000 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.138 0.141 0.145 0.145 0.138 0.138 9,570,000 1,342,930 LEPANTO B 0.14 0.143 0.144 0.144 0.143 0.143 940,000 134,860 0.0099 0.011 0.0099 0.011 0.0099 0.011 6,000,000 59,520 MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B 0.0099 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 35,300,000 353,000 MARCVENTURES 1.62 1.64 1.69 1.69 1.56 1.62 2,192,000 3,560,490 0.95 1.02 0.95 1.02 0.95 1.02 66,000 62,970 NIHAO NICKEL ASIA 7.95 7.98 8.1 8.1 7.78 7.98 13,503,200 107,407,272 0.95 0.98 0.99 1.01 0.97 0.98 163,000 161,770 ORNTL PENINSULA PX MINING 5.16 5.2 5.25 5.29 5.14 5.16 2,232,500 11,531,952 SEMIRARA MINING 28.9 29 30.35 30.35 28.7 28.9 7,999,000 233,341,630 16.3 16.4 16.86 16.86 16.3 16.4 39,800 656,566 ACE ENEXOR ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 1,400,000 15,400 PHILODRILL 0.0091 0.0094 0.0094 0.0094 0.0094 0.0094 16,000,000 150,400 4.75 4.77 4.83 4.83 4.75 4.77 395,000 1,887,390 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 100 101 101 101 101 101 20,000 2,020,000 HOUSE PREF A 100 101 101 101 101 101 10,000 1,010,000 505 514.5 514.5 514.5 514.5 514.5 20 10,290 AC PREF B1 BRN PREF A 103 105.8 105 105 103 103 2,800 293,400 CEB PREF 45.4 46.3 46.3 46.3 45.2 45.2 6,300 291,250 99.5 99.8 100.7 100.9 99.5 99.5 55,000 5,505,180 DD PREF EEI PREF B 107 108.8 108.8 108.8 108.8 108.8 300 32,640 102.7 105.5 102.7 102.7 102.7 102.7 500 51,350 FGEN PREF G GTCAP PREF B 1,010 1,035 1,035 1,035 1,035 1,035 50 51,750 JFC PREF B 980.5 999 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 60 60,000 97 100.5 100 100.5 97 100.5 20,020 1,947,302 MWIDE PREF 4 PNX PREF 4 975 987 987 987 975 975 2,890 2,819,950 PCOR PREF 3A 1,056 1,063 1,056 1,063 1,056 1,063 30,250 32,154,000 1,085 1,113 1,119 1,120 1,085 1,085 265 289,775 PCOR PREF 3B SMC PREF 2F 76.25 76.3 76.25 76.35 76.1 76.3 149,770 11,424,997 SMC PREF 2I 78.5 78.95 77.9 78.5 77.9 78.5 296,920 23,236,839.50 75.1 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.45 76.5 240 18,355.50 SMC PREF 2J TECH PREF B2C 52.5 52.95 52.75 52.75 52.75 52.75 5,000 263,750 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS GMA HLDG PDR 12.98 13 13.14 13.14 12.72 12.98 115,800 1,511,490 WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.6 0.63 0.6 0.64 0.6 0.63 338,000 204,230

-60,980,405 3,388,128 -36,818,161 13,450 -4,393,966 -20,383,359.50 18,940 -13,043,754 -205,499 -54,390 -7,491,301 -4,950 -6,729,480 -23,550 -991,435 12,600 -2,868,062 -2,508,096 -653,120 -599,608 -1,487,406 -172,620 -427,740 3,435,725 -346,591 -793,960 -952,437.50 -78,400 -21,060,952 5,005,630 -21,368 8,198,750 330,856.00 -43,000 202,770 5,809,350 -334,990 -7,684 -2,135,020 66,548 -85,830 5,650 -11.9999 9,365,950 -903,198 30,450 11,272,010 -24,775,650 -7,695,973 -3,622,178 26,100 -127,300 -2,307,230.00 -14,681,935 -14,220,851.50 -680,170 -4,493,237 -4,830,090 -50,945,610 4,214,631 -284,800 -25,223,560 -256,260 805,785 -8,520 -14,100 269,530 97,696.00 -27,900 -312,670 8,024,805 -9,250,410 -248,972 48,140 -235,500 -219,900 -14,874,840 4,299,780 -7,714,490 -55,608,860 -598,220 -5,782,740 36,811,610 4,300 36,133,235 4,598,970 -10,590 1,813,100 -16,435,248 -53,709 1,830 3,600 -57,150 -3,132,817 19,400 34,500 -11,500 1,679,300 435,241 -6,198,425 -2,582,186.50 -164,300 1,691,000.00 -29,118,325 1,221,450 -104,030 -300,060 -1,175,052 -91,885 78,010 312,150 45,580 33,223,909 6,474 -50,631,635 -4,920.00 71,550.00 -1,650,335 263,750

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP CTS GLOBAL HAUS TALK ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART XURPAS

16.2 1 1.15 0.9 2.54 1.73 0.305

16.5 1.01 1.17 0.93 2.6 1.74 0.31

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF

106.7

106.9

16.3 0.97 1.11 0.9 2.6 1.76 0.31

16.3 1 1.17 0.93 2.6 1.76 0.31

16.2 0.95 1.09 0.9 2.6 1.72 0.31

16.2 1 1.17 0.93 2.6 1.73 0.31

9,500 46,270,000 1,224,000 128,000 3,000 1,530,000 30,000

154,350 45,746,800 1,408,860 118,400 7,800 2,659,720 9,300

52,046 223,070 -12,870 -52,110 -3,100

107 107.5 106.1 106.5 13,160 1,403,059 608,776

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Investors sought high rates for 364-day T-bills

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury sold P15 billion in Treasury bills (T-bills) on Monday as rates moved sideways, with investors demanding higher rates for longer-term tenor of the government security.

The tenors attracted total bids amounting to P37.6 billion, making the auction more than twice oversubscribed. The 91-day T-bills capped at an average rate of 1.14 percent, dropping by 8.3 basis points from previous auction’s 1.223 percent. Total bids for the security reached P17.2 billion, more than triple the P5-billion program. Meanwhile, the 182-day T-bills slipped by a basis point to 1.558 percent from 1.568 percent in the last auction. Bids for the debt paper stood at

P13.44 billion, more than double the P5-billion offering. Unlike the 91-day and the 182-day tenors, the 364-day T-bills fetched a higher average rate at 1.901 percent. This is up by 2.4 basis points from 1.877 percent previously. Posted bids for the debt paper hit P6.998 billion, slightly above the P5-billion offering. Last March, the Treasury was able to raise only P91.7 billion, a third of its P250-billion programmed offering as investors demanded trooped to safer havens amid macro uncertainties and raising capital has become

costly. The Treasury programmed to raise P200 billion from the domestic debt market this month. Since the start of the month, the Treasury has so far sold P146.8 billion. This year, the government is set to borrow a total of P2.2 trillion, of which around 75 percent is expected to come from domestic sources. As of end-February this year, the national government’s outstanding debt rose to another record-high level of P12.09 trillion due to currency fluctuations and net financing from

both domestic and foreign sources. That amount has surpassed the previous all-time-high level of P12.03 trillion in January. Of the total debt stock, 30.4 percent was sourced externally while 69.6 percent were domestic borrowings. The NG domestic debt amounted to P8.41 trillion, P45.42 billion or 0.5 percent higher compared to the endJanuary 2022 level. According to the Treasury, the rise is primarily due to net issuance of domestic government securities, at P44.89 billion.

On the efficient use of debt WB project seen to hike land amortization payments

EBT has always been a very difficult subject. As a seller of credit card products, you will be shunned and avoided by most people, for fears they will be plunged into bankruptcy. Most financial advisors including myself would urge most people to pay only in cash and not in credit. The advice given is good in intention but may not be the most efficient thing to do in some cases. Allow me to give an example. Chef T. has been a successful restaurant owner for quite some time. He started off with one small food stall in a night bazaar and has recently expanded to a full-fledged restaurant, with a much wider and promising menu, bigger seating capacity and more waiters and cooks under his employ. For the first few months, sales from walk-in customers have been steadily increasing, but not enough to cover all his operating expenses. One day, a group of sales personnel approached him and they wanted to occupy his entire restaurant every Sundays of each month. Chef T. was of course, delighted with the entry or a large-scale client and wanted to accept their offer since sales was difficult to come by. There was a catch however, unlike individual clients that paid right away after eating, this group of sales personnel and the company they represent will only be able to pay 2 weeks after their event has concluded. After two weeks, a manager’s check is sure to be deposited to the restaurant’s bank account. In other ways, they requested for a credit term of at least 14 days. After some consideration, Chef T. agreed to the deal. On the fourth week of his operations, they were already preparing stocks for their fifth major reservation. That was when he realized that he didn’t have enough cash on hand to push thru with the event. Based on his finances, he wasn’t losing money; the problem was his funds were tied with receivables. The payment of his major client was about to be deposited and cleared by Wednesday next week. His event however, was already on Sunday. Chef T. evaluated his options. For one, most of his other assets would take too long to convert into cash. He only needed cash to push through with his event in a few days. After that, he would have enough cash again. He also considered borrowing from his relatives but, unfortunately,

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

Raymond Anthony Quisumbing

personal finance none of them had the cash to help him. Lastly, he looked at his wallet and found his credit card which was still active. It allowed him to order stocks and pay his suppliers (who accepted credit cards) and it also gave him 20 days from his cutoff date (e.g. every 15th of the month) to fully settle his debts, without incurring any late penalties or interest charges on the loaned amount. After using his credit card for purchasing ingredients worth P20,000, their event went by smoothly and successfully. The payment from their past events came in a few days later and Chef T. used part of that to pay in full his obligations. The credit term his card supplied helped him better manage his business. To make sure that his debts didn’t become unmanageable, he always paid ahead and in full as soon as his client payments came in. In the short story example, the efficient use of debt allowed the owner to sustain his business operations, until such time that his client payments came in. This is one example of how to best utilize debt: by borrowing money at nearly zero interest cost, in order to make more money. Now that I have given the best case of using debt, here are some situations where you should not use debt for: 1. Do not go into debt for expenses that you simply cannot afford. Don’t spend for a lavish vacation only to go into bankruptcy after you return home. 2. Do not borrow money if you have no intention of paying it back. 3. Do not borrow money for investing that is highly speculative or that borders on gambling. 4. Do not borrow money to buy something that will only depreciate in value and that has no impact on your work productivity. “The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.” Psalm 37:21 Raymond Anthony Quisumbing is a registered financial planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about investment planning, attend the 95th batch of RFP program this May 2022. To register, e-mail info@rfp.ph or text at 0917-6248110.

NCREASED land amortization and real property tax collections are expected as a result of the World Bank-funded “Support to the Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling,” or “Split,” project, according to officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). From the loan proceeds amounting to P19 billion, the government can collect through the Land Bank of the Philippines Inc. (LandBank) about P44 billion land-amortization payment from agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), DAR Secretary Bernie F. Cruz said last Monday. Cruz added that local government units (LGUs) can expect a dramatic increase in the collection of real property tax because of Split. Funded by the World Bank with a total project cost of P24.625 billion, the project aims to fast-track the subdivision of lands previously issued with Collective Certificates

of Land Ownership Award into individual land titles to ARBs under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The Split cost comprises 78-percent loan proceeds amounting to P19.240 billion and 22-percent counterpart from the Philippine government amounting to P5.385 billion. In the province of Sorsogon alone, the implementation of the Split project had so far generated a total of 114 computerized titles (C-titles) with a total area of 178.8907 hectares involving 112 ARBs. Cruz said that Sorsogon is one of the first provinces to launch Split. Since it’s launch in September 2021, the province has validated a total area of 1,240.4956 hectares for the landholdings located in its one city and 14 municipalities. Regional Director Rodrigo O. Realubit expressed his joy and appreciation for the significant milestones undertaken by Sorsogon in the implementation of the project. “This is the kind of information

Unionbank attributed the year-onyear (YoY) growth in recurring income improvement in its net interest margin by 6 basis points (bps) to 4.6 percent brought about by higher yields in earning assets, coupled by lower cost of funds from the expansion of CASA (current account savings accounts) deposits. Likewise, the bank said the improvement in fee-based income is also attributed to the growth of InstaPay charges and interchange fees. “Higher foreign exchange income (up 53 percent YoY to P369.5 million) also boosted our topline revenues.” Compared to the fourth quarter of last year, the bank said its net income grew 40 percent mainly due to lower

one of which is the Landbank, to whom the collection of agrarian reform receivables is lodged,” Santiago added. Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Mariam G. Jamoralin said the successful launch and implementation of Split has been advantageous not only to ARBs in Sorsogon but also to the realization of a more inclusive execution of the CARP in the whole province. “Not only that it has fast-tracked the issuance of individual titles for the ARBs, but it has created a renewed hope for them and an assurance of an uninterrupted tenure in the land that they have spent their lives on. As implementers, this gives us an assurance that we are doing a good job” she added. Santiago said DAR Sorsogon commits to proceed with the generation of the remaining c-titles and will continue to consistently assist in the raising of revenue for the government through the collection of tax payments and land amortizations.

BDO warns vs scammers SSS reiterates advice promising online ‘prizes’ to secure log-in data By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

HE country’s largest bank on Monday issued a public advisory warning the public of scammers offering help in opening online banking accounts. “As online scammers remain on the prowl for potential victims, BDO Unibank advises its clients and the banking public in general to follow this simple caution: if you didn’t join any contest, you didn’t win anything. Don’t fall for offers that are too good to be true because they most probably are not true,” the bank said. BDO said one of the latest scams circulating involves scammers calling account holders about a prize they allegedly won and encouraging them to open an online banking account to redeem it. These scammers will offer their help and ask the victim to activate it using a code they will be providing. However, the bank said that this supposed offer “help” or “assist” account holders in opening an online banking account is just a modus by scammers to get direct access to their would-be victims’ bank account. BDO warned clients that if they have an online banking account, scam-

mers may try to take over their account through email or phone scam by offering higher daily transfer limit, stronger account security, or other enticements. “They will trick you into allowing a third-party account to be enrolled to your online banking account through ATM activation” the bank said. Once this is done, BDO explained that scammers will be able to fully take over the victims’ account and steal their money. “Don’t instantly fall for promising rewards or other enticements that will lead you to share your account details to others,” the lender said. ”BDO will never ask you to activate your online banking account via ATM to claim rewards or upgrade your account/ATM. Also, do not let others assist you in opening an online banking account or activate it via ATM.” “ATM activation is required only when account holders initiate the Online Banking or third-party account enrollment themselves,” the bank added. In December last year, BDO has been the target of a cybercrime incident, where cash was transferred unknowingly from BDO account holders to a person named Mark Nagoyo, who has several UnionBank accounts. The bank said over 700 clients were affected by the online fraudulent transactions.

Unionbank records ₧2.6B net income in 1st quarter ISTED-lender UnionBank of the Philippines Inc. (Unionbank) reported to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) it recorded a net income of P2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2022, which translated to a return on equity of 9.2 percent. The bank said its recurring income grew 21 percent versus the same period last year as net interest income increased by 12 percent to P8.1 billion and fee-based income more than doubled to P1.4 billion. “Net income, however, was lower by 45 percent due to extraordinary trading gains” recorded in the first quarter of 2021, the lender said in a statement sent to the PSE.

that we need to disseminate because it makes our work more relevant,” Realubit said. Field Collector and Agrarian Affairs Specialist I of the LandBank Domingo Venus Jr. noted the DAR’s assistance in collecting amortization payments from ARBs who voluntarily meet their obligations. Venus said that during the collection of amortizations from the first six recipients of the c-titles in Mabini, Casiguran, the government gained P65,355.56. He added that five of these payees have fully-paid their amortizations and Landbank will prepare the required documents for the cancellation of encumbrance in their titles. Sorsogon Agrarian Reform Chief Nida A. Santiago said the payment of taxes and land amortization is an assurance to the ARBs that they are now the genuine owners of the land that they till. “For years, we have created a harmonious relationship with our CARP implementing agencies in Sorsogon,

provisions for credit losses. As of end-March, Unionbank said its total assets were at P844.4 billion, 13-percent higher than the same period last year. Total loans and receivables were at P351.8 billion, up 2 percent YoY. Total deposits were higher by 15 percent to P577.2 billion primarily driven by the sustained growth of CASA deposits at 28 percent to P356.5 billion. “The optimism generated by the reopening of the economy is palpable and if the pandemic is behind us, we are hopeful that the economic gains since 2021 are sustainable,” Treasurer and Corporate Planning Services Head Jose Emmanuel U. Hilado was quoted

in the statement as saying. “While the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict could adversely affect investor and consumer sentiment, we think that the country’s economic fundamentals are strong enough to weather the challenges ahead.” Nonetheless, Hilado added, they remain optimistic “that improving credit appetite and spending patterns will allow us to sustain momentum in our recurring income for the rest of 2022.” President and CEO Edwin R. Bautista was quoted in a statement as saying the bank is “on track to achieve the strategic milestones” executives have set for the year.

OCIAL Security System (SSS) President and CEO Michael G. Regino urged members, pensioners and employers of the statepension fund to secure their login credentials on the My.SSS portal and other personal information to protect their accounts from fraudulent transactions. Regino issued the reminder following several complaints from SSS members that their accounts with the My.SSS were being subjected to fraudulent transactions perpetuated by scammers and other unscrupulous persons. One of the reasons why such fraudulent transactions occur, SSS insiders noted, was the tendency of some members to share their login credentials with unauthorized persons. These login information, Regino noted, should be kept confidential by accountholders to protect themselves from scammers. Regino likened the SSS login credentials to the personal identification number (PIN) that bank depositors use to access their accounts at the automated teller machines (ATM). An ATM card PIN is a multidigit number required at bank ATMs for carrying out transactions and is initially provided by the banks. This PIN can be reset or changed to a new PIN by the card owner but is kept as a strictly confidential information by the user. “We have asked our stakeholders not to share their usernames, passwords and other login details on their My.SSS accounts to unauthorized individuals. Giving your username and password to another person is like sharing your ATM PIN,” Regino said. “Anyone with this information could use your My.SSS account to avail of monetary benefits without your authorization.” The SSS chief cited a case wherein a member sought the assistance of another person while trying to create and access his My.SSS account on the Internet. It turned out that the person from whom the SSS member sought for help is a fixer and scam-

mer who later drew a salary loan from the account without his knowledge. Regino also advised members not to entertain unofficial online groups in various platforms, like Facebook, that allegedly offer easier access to SSS online accounts and provided technical assistance for a fee to loanseekers. “We do not recognize these unofficial online groups, even those found on Facebook. We consider them illegal and they cannot facilitate SSS transactions on behalf of our members,” Regino said. He added that online transactions and services offered by the SSS portals are free, except when a member is requesting for a replacement of the Unified Multi-purpose ID Card (UMID), which carries a minimal fee. Regino said members may visit the E-center in local branches and they will be assisted by SSS employees in their online transactions. “All our branches have an E-center containing several computers connected to the Internet. We have employees stationed there who are ready to help our members in creating and accessing their My.SSS account as well as guide them navigating and using the online portal for their transactions.” Regino said the SSS management also regularly update its online facilities, such as the My.SSS Portal and SSS Mobile App, to better serve its members. In 2021, the Mobile App was redesigned to make it more userfriendly and easier for members to navigate and conduct their online transactions through mobile phone facilities. He also reminded members, pensioners and employers that they cannot be held accountable for fraudulent transactions once a member connives with a fixer. Under Republic Act (RA) 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 and RA 11199, or the Social Security Act of 2018, make it illegal for members to engage the services of fixers.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Art

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Art in the park (and the metaverse)

Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jemima Kirke, 37; Channing Tatum, 42; Tom Welling, 45; Kevin James, 57. Happy Birthday: Tune into what’s going on around you, and you will connect with the right people at an advantageous moment. Flawless vision will keep you in step and ensure that you take advantage of what’s available to you. Trust your intuition, and use your knowledge and experience to guide you to a place that suits your expertise and desire. Pick up momentum. Your numbers are 6, 14, 22, 27, 32, 36, 45.

Art in the Park 2022 welcomes back two of Philippine art’s most important artists practicing today, husband and wife Rodel Tapaya and Marina Cruz.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Go over every detail with a microscope. Don’t give anyone a chance to prove you wrong or meddle in your business. Your determination and thoroughness will be your redeeming features against outside interference and setbacks you encounter. HHH

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t wait until it’s too late. Pitch in and do your part. An enthusiastic attitude will put you in a leadership position that gives you the clout to get things done in record time. The feedback you receive will boost your ego. HHHH

HE annual fair Art in the Park makes a comeback to its home venue this week, while running exhibits online and featuring an NFT marketplace for the first time. The 16th edition of what is tagged as the country’s premier affordable art fair returns to its roots at Jaime C. Velasquez Park in Makati City on April 28, from 4 pm to 8 pm. Meanwhile, the fair presents over 61 galleries, art schools, independent art spaces and art collectives online at www.artinthepark.ph until May 1. Art in the Park 2022 includes several special exhibits as well. Acclaimed husband-and-wife artists Rodel Tapaya and Marina Cruz share the spotlight as they present their ongoing experimentation with various media. Tapaya will be showcasing nine artworks for Chicken Army and Cruz will be exhibiting 11 pieces for Imprinted Musings. Tapaya’s works, of course, are defined by visionary narrative tableaux that merge folklore and social history into painterly figurations. Meanwhile, Cruz’s evolving investigation into the materiality of antique objects, photographs and dresses encompasses their physicality, history, and how they shape her biography. Together, the couple founded IsTorya, a narrative design studio that celebrates creativity, love of identity, and new ways of learning that root back to the stories of Filipinos. IsTorya believes that, at the end of the day, the best stories are the ones that impart important lessons. Art in the Park 2022 will also present Studio 1616. In 2012, artist Lynyrd Paras approached the organizers of the fair and asked if they would welcome a bunch of his students. After confirming a slot for that year’s Art in the Park, the group had to come up with a name. They decided to take on the address of Paras’s workspace, and Studio 1616 was born. A decade later, that promising band of art students has blossomed into some of the most exciting names in Philippine contemporary art. The group includes Johanna Helmuth, Yeo Kaa, Jeremae Jumaoas, Jerahmeel Alvarez, Keb Cerda, Dale Erispe, Jayvee David, Jett Osian, Levin Paras, Ciron Señeres, Kiko Urquiola, Gian Miroe, Roy Rosatase, Yani Unsana and Erick Villaruz. The artists return to Art in the Park and will be exhibiting 15 artworks for sale, each measuring 16 x 16 inches, on the web site.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Dodging bullets will be part of the requirement when dealing with people trying to entice you with temptation and colorful antics that make you feel like you are missing out. Be practical and strong enough to say no. HH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be the one to make a move and head to the finish line. Trust in what you know and can do and move forward with confidence. Share your ideas, and you’ll gain respect and support. A personal or financial gain is within reach. HHHHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep a close watch on what others do, but don’t be a copycat. Take your time, and protect your reputation and cash. Run a tight ship, budget wisely and refuse to make a precipitous move. HHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your timing is impeccable, and the opportunities that come your way will change your life. Jump into action, take care of business and get on with your life. Network, wheel and deal, and if you want something, ask. Personal gain is favored. HHH

Art aficionados and Jaime Velasquez Park visitors will have the chance to view their work, Reflect Deflect, installed live at the park. In a rare coming together for this project, the work takes off from the tents that characterize Art in the Park, using steel and mirrors as reflective surfaces that encourage visitors to examine themselves more closely. Another featured artist for this year’s presentation is Distort Monsters, who bridges digital art and traditional art. Art in the Park, in partnership with Globe Platinum, will present 100 pieces from part two of Monster Mayhem MegaMash, an ongoing project of the Filipino street artist. Distort Monsters aims to connect the physical and digital art realms with the release of colorful creatures in two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and digital forms, taking his distinct images from murals to beyond NFTs. The concept of the online exhibit takes off from Blindboxes, where buyers do not know which of the

100 unique prints and NFTs they have purchased until the giclee prints are delivered to them. A live installation of 10 three-foot-high resin sculptures will complement the online exhibition. Lastly, Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) will present an exhibit, called INK in the Park, as part of their 30th anniversary celebration. The exhibition features a collection of 40 artworks from various illustrators including Juno Abreu, Aldy Aguirre, Fran Alvarez, Jamie Bauza, Benedir Dasig, Jovan De Ocampo, Danielle Florendo, Liza Flores, Tin Javier, Jasmin Lacay, LD Mendoza, Arli Pagaduan, Jonathan Ranola, Mark L. Ruste, Jomike Tejido, and Ige Ochoa Trinidad. Art in the Park is organized by Philippine Art Events Inc., for the benefit of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, and with support from Globe Platinum and Bank of The Philippine Islands. More information can be found at www.artinthepark. ph and www.facebook/artinthepark. n

Spotlight on Pio Abad, Stephanie Syjuco Silverlens presents the two-artist exhibition Crime and Ornament, featuring Pio Abad and Stephanie Syjuco. Re-engaging and re-energizing previous works to confront the urgency of the moment, the artists materialize the ontology of protest, recalibrating how text, image and even the seeming impersonality of the chroma key may be activated to prompt oppositional relationships, revolutionary impulses, counternarratives. The material components of the show share the

same skin as those found in the streets steeped in the climate of outrage and dissent: banners, photographs, textiles—inert objects that, through the artists’ fierce subjectivities, are transformed into vehicles of chronicle and commentary, able to traffic within the discursive spheres of the social and the political. Their approaches are wildly different: Abad, through the mechanized language of seriality, disassembles and desecrates Marcosian iconography; while Syjuco reconfigures the slogan of resistance

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Map out what you want to achieve, then proceed. Hard work, dedication and practicality will be your ticket forward. Don’t lose sight of your goal or let anyone lead you astray. Laziness and temptation will stand in the way of your success. HHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take care of responsibilities before moving on to enjoyable pastimes. Indulge yourself in something that puts a smile on your face or gives you purpose. Spend time developing your talents or doing things that will bring you closer to someone you love. HHHHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Distance yourself from pushy, demonstrative people using emotional tactics to win favors. A handout will come with hidden costs. Until you know what you want and what’s best for you, sit tight. Time is on your side. HH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll be offered or come up with unique ideas or ways to use your attributes. Open your doors to people who can help you make progress or improve your home, position or direction. Be attentive, and you’ll get what you want. HHHH

k through the transformative labor of human hands. Crime and Ornament brings to critical visibility the compulsion to disrupt the vectors through which the dominant ideology flows, slashing a seam so that the energies of the periphery—voices, visions, vocabularies—can rush through. In the works of Abad and Syjuco, these energies achieve surface texture. Crime and Ornament by Pio Abad and Stephanie Syjuco is on view until May 7 at Silverlens Galleries, 2263 Don Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Be careful around people who are trying to change you. Don’t feel obligated to participate in something that doesn’t interest you. Be honest, and head in a direction that feels comfortable, regardless of pressure, complaints or criticism. HHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be observant, and it will help you make better decisions. Listen, but don’t force your will on others. If you want freedom, you must grant freedom. Keeping the peace and maintaining equality are in your best interest. Personal growth is encouraged. HHH Birthday Baby: You are tactful, energetic and patient. You are colorful and witty.

‘would not recommend’ by zachary david levy The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Purple hue 6 CAPTCHA target 9 Morsel added to sour cream 14 Puccini production 15 Gun, as an engine 16 Gave a job to 17 Say “The secret herbs should be kept secret. Also, get a better skillet,” maybe 20 Summer hrs. in NYC 21 4.0, e.g. 22 Longtime ISP 23 Cruise ship facility 24 Say “This meat is dry as the Sahara. It deserves a Grade F,” maybe 27 Young ‘un 30 Lead-in to “state” or “cycle” 31 Miles away 35 Plannin’ to 37 A big one may be rabid 38 Really love 39 Vow made under a chuppah 40 Docs-to-be 43 Lubricate 44 “Barbie’s middle name is Millicent,”

e.g. 46 Late time to cram 48 Place to fire a pot 49 One busting a pusher 50 Earn an elbowing from your bedmate 53 Got a big hit in baseball 56 This hint, for one 57 Grp. named after a continent 59 Slaw, say, for ribs 60 Clear the ___ 61 Complaining 63 Metal container 64 Pellets used as ammo 65 Carry out, as the law 66 “___ a deal!” 67 Command to Fido 68 “I’m thinking...” 69 Revolutionary Guevara DOWN 1 Unhurried gait 2 Alternative to Microsoft’s Surface 3 Period after Mardi Gras 4 Bark noise 5 It’s held in the hold 6 Nursed 7 “Non-fungible” was added to it in

December 2021 8 Old-school spot for a VCR and an NES 9 Neighbor of Peru 10 Hawaiian Punch rival 11 Bothers 12 POTUS’s backup 13 Giant writer Ferber 18 90 Minute ___ (Dogfish Head brew) 19 Weeding tool 24 Stimpy’s pal 25 Knightsbridge streetcar 26 It’s big for a little while 27 Cry after a long week 28 Jedi teacher 29 Say “The casing is way too tough. The Germans would be appalled,” maybe 32 Restaurant reviewer, and this puzzle’s inspiration 33 La Scala solo 34 Trust, with “on” 36 Skating medalist Ohno 38 Indian tea region 41 Bars on a phone? 42 Condemn

45 47 50 51 52 53 54 55 58 61 62

Scrabble piece Very, in French Strikebreakers Suspect’s excuse Elevator passage Ones named in wills Name within “credit history” Packed tightly Actress Mireille Voice actor Blanc “My goodness!”

Solution to today’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Actor Ezra Miller arrested again on Hawaii’s Big Island HONOLULU—Ezra Miller was arrested on suspicion of assault early Tuesday, the second time the actor known for playing the Flash in the Justice League films has been arrested in Hawaii in recent weeks. Miller became irate after being asked to leave a gettogether at a Big Island home and threw a chair, hitting a woman in the forehead, according to a news release from the Hawaii Police Department. The woman refused treatment for a half-inch cut on her forehead, police said. Miller, described by police as a 29-year-old visitor from Vermont, was arrested during a traffic stop and released pending further investigation. About 12 hours after Miller’s arrest, the actor appeared via Zoom for a court hearing for an arrest last month at a Big Island karaoke bar. Miller pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and stay away from Margarita Village in Hilo. Miller was also charged with harassment after police said the actor grabbed a mic from a singing woman and lunged at a man playing darts. Miller was aggravated by a rendition of the Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper ballad “Shallow,” Hawaii Police Assistant Chief Kenneth Quiocho said. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped the harassment charge, along with an unrelated traffic charge. Miller received a traffic citation after police were called to a dispute in downtown Hilo last month where Miller was uncooperative, refused to leave the area and obstructed a sidewalk, Quiocho said. Miller’s Hawaii attorney didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment on the latest arrest. Another lawyer and a Miller representative also didn’t immediately respond to messages requesting comment. There was no mention of the latest arrest during the court hearing. Miller also has a key role in the third installment of the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. AP

Bigger, stronger ‘Unang Hirit’ welcomes summer with surprising new segments GMA Network’s longest-running morning show Unang Hirit relaunches this summer with a bigger and stronger lineup as it continues to deliver early morning news and information, as well as entertainment for viewers of all ages. Among the exciting new games is “Cashword” where viewers only have to guess one magic word to win P10,000 with a consolation prize of P2,000 in case a wrong answer is given. There will also be celebrity guests who will be going to different places to bring more exciting segments and games. And who doesn’t love pets? The “Ang Lu-PET!” segment will feature a variety of remarkable and talented pets. Meanwhile, Unang Hirit’s news segment “Unang Balita” will continue to present accurate, unbiased, and credible news and information, as well as live traffic updates. Unang Hirit is anchored by Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Connie Sison, Ivan Mayrina, Mariz Umali, Suzi Entrata-Abrera, Lyn Ching, Love Anover and Nathaniel Cruz. Viewers should also make sure to stay tuned as there will be “Sorpresa Riders” going around to give surprises to lucky Unang Hirit viewers.

FROM left: Suzi Entrata-Abrera, Ivan Mayrina, Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez and Connie Sison.

From left: Stephanie Hsu, Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan in a scene from Everything Everywhere All At Once. AP

Michelle Yeoh shows Asian immigrant women are ‘Everything’ M

By Terry Tang The Associated Press

ichelle Yeoh was adamant about one script change before committing to Everything Everywhere All At Once. The main character’s name had to go. She was named Michelle as a love letter to her from the directors. “I’m like ‘No, no, no’ because I believe this person, this character that you’ve written so rich, deserves a voice of her own. She is the voice of those mothers, aunties, grandmothers that you pass by in Chinatown or in the supermarket that you don’t even give a second glance to. Then you just take her for granted,” Yeoh told The Associated Press. “She’s never had a voice.” At 59, Yeoh commands the lead of the genretwisting flick by playing someone often invisible— the Asian immigrant wife and mother trying to be everything for everyone. “An independent film on steroids” as she puts it, Everything Everywhere All At Once recently went into wide theatrical release. It ranked fourth in this weekend’s domestic box office, bringing in nearly $6.2 million, according to figures compiled by Comscore. Yeoh’s performance is drawing raves at a time when Asians and Asian Americans of all age ranges continue to be the target of pandemic-fueled racism in Chinatowns, cities and suburbs across the US. But reports have found Asian women have experienced these hate crimes at a higher rate. After decades first as a star in Hong Kong cinema and then more mainstream hits like Tomorrow Never Dies and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the Malayasian-born Yeoh has grown into a movie queen. She’s had integral roles in what have been the first large US studio movies in years with all-Asian casts—

Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings and Crazy Rich Asians. “So much weight was on [Crazy Rich Asians]...What if we weren’t as successful as that? Did that mean that we don’t deserve to be up there?” Yeoh said. “It exploded and the way it did made everyone realize, ‘Hey, we’ve been neglecting this very major part of our society for so long.’” As much as those films mean to her, she was a polished supporting player in them. Everything Everywhere All At Once is a whole otherworldly experience where she gets to play “an aging Asian woman.” Written and directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (known as the Daniels), the story centers on a glammed down Yeoh as Evelyn Wang, a frazzled laundromat owner preparing for an IRS audit. Meanwhile, she is struggling with an unhappy husband (Ke Huy Quan), her critical father (James Hong) and an openly lesbian daughter (Stephanie Hsu). She is literally upended when another version of her husband pops up claiming to be from another universe. Evelyn ends up jumping through the multiverse and picking up skills possessed by her otherworldly counterparts. The story is a wild laundry list of action, sci-fi, comedy and family drama that includes people with hot dogs for fingers and a giant everything bagel. The first word that came to Yeoh’s mind after reading the script was “insane.” “I was blown away that they had the courage to write the script and put all these kinds of things. Because it wasn’t just about the wackiness. The familial connections was so powerful,” she said. The movie puts the spotlight on the other actors as well. It marks a Hollywood homecoming for Quan. He charmed audiences as a child playing Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Data in The

Goonies. Funnily enough, Crazy Rich Asians is what made him want to return to the screen after more than 20 years. Yeoh is attached to the sequel and agreed it would be a great full-circle moment to find a role for Quan. “We are so grateful that made him think because he never really left the film industry,” Yeoh said. The film has hit a nerve with audiences but especially Asian Americans. Across social media, many describe crying during the film’s last hour as the relationship between Evelyn and daughter Joy hits a make-or-break juncture. Some say they feel like they’re watching their own immigrant mother become the hero of her story for the first time. Others say they’ve gained a better understanding about parents who typically don’t wear their emotions on their sleeve. “I think especially Asian parents, they tend to be more critical. But they show their love—they’ll save you the best part of the meat, they’ll make sure that you’re well fed,” Yeoh said. “That is their way of showing love and care.” For Asian American women, the movie is a breath of fresh air. Hate incidents like last year’s Atlanta spa shootings renewed conversations about the propensity to sexualize or dismiss Asian women. But in this movie, Yeoh gets to show a wide range—from comedic and martial arts chops to heartwrenching angst. The actress promises she will never give up on proving women can be the leads in parts that are more than stereotypes. “Why is it men can get to a certain age and keep pushing forward with all these kinds of things and women sort of like get left behind?” Yeoh said. “With the new sustainable development goals, one of the things up there is gender equality, equal opportunities. And that’s all what we’re asking for.” n

number of votes and win in the election, my priorities will have to be clear and laid out. I have reached a point in my life to commit to public service and to be an instrument of God in making an impact on the lives of others.” Abalos is aware how dirty politics can get. “I think that is a given, not just in the Philippines but everywhere in the world. But you don’t have to and should never be part of dirty politics. Like what’s going on in our country at this time, bashing is everywhere, negative campaigning has become a norm for many of the parties, but I believe one can stand his ground not to engage in negative campaigning, body shaming, personal attacks, and not go that low just to convince people to vote for us.” The 37-year-old actor affirmed that the campaign has enriched him and broadened his knowledge not only about his province but the entire country in general. “As an actor, our world is just limited. We go to locations to shoot, we stay in air-conditioned studios, we experience life in a comfortable bubble, but this new journey has brought me back to the real

world.” He is very vocal about being inspired by Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto. “He is showing everyone that he is serious in his desire to serve his constituents. He is fair, he is firm, he is fierce, he is serious in his desire to uplift the level and quality of life of his constituents. He is doing very, very well, and I believe he is to be emulated.” When our talk shifted to his private life, Abalos said that he couldn’t be happier with former beauty pageant runner-up Vickie Rushton on his side. “Vickie and I have been together for around 10 years now and we know each other very well. She supports my every move, in the same way that I support her in all her dreams and aspirations. My venturing into politics has her blessings and we’d like to build our life together here in Nueva Ecija someday soon.” The campaign is on its final stretch and Jason Abalos is aware that in the end, it is destiny that will decide if he will get the needed votes to win. “I have done my best. I lift everything to God. I pray for wisdom, acceptance and guidance, knowing that in the end what will be, will be.”

Jason Abalos sets his sights on politics URIAN award winner and GMA contract star Jason Abalos is setting his sights on becoming a Provincial Board Member of Nueva Ecija’s 2nd District. It is Abalos’s first foray into the world of Philippine politics and he is keeping an open mind, absorbing every new thing that he needs to know about public service. “My father also served as Provincial Board Member for one full term but he decided to go back to being a civil and structural engineer. It’s not like another case of the son taking over because it took many months for me to discern and decide. I also prayed hard about it. I feel that there has always been this calling inside me to be of service to more people in our province, and create ordinances and resolutions that will benefit our kababayans in Nueva Ecija,” he volunteered. Abalos is aware that in the event that he wins a seat in the coming elections, he will have to put his acting career in the sidelines to give way to his duties and responsibilities as a first-time politician. “This is the perfect time to spread my wings and explore things that will give me more fulfilment,

more satisfaction and deeper happiness. And I think that public service checks all the boxes. I am a newbie in politics. I believe that the second district where I am part of is just the right size to serve because we have around half a million residents to serve.” He added, “I have been in show business almost 20 years now, and being in politics does not mean that I will shut my doors on my other passion, which is acting. I will still want to be part of good projects, especially films, but of course if I get the required

B6 Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Be 1-foot closer to your Subway favorites MPIC builds a biodiversity-friendly city, forges partnership with DENR and QC LGU

E T RO Pac i f ic I nvest me nt s Corporation (MPIC), the country’s leading infrastructure investment company, partnered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENRBMB), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), and the local government unit of Quezon City to implement the project “Building a Biodiversity-Friendly Environment in Metro Manila.” The parties signed a Memorandum of Agreement to signify their three-year commitment to implement the urban biodiversity program in Quezon City. To jumpstart this partnership, MPIC will adopt the Madison Park along Aurora Boulevard and develop it into an urban green park model, which will be formally known as the Gabay Kalikasan Park. “We at MPIC have embedded environmental stewardship into our key business and investment strategies, which emphasizes our commitment to building a biodiversityfriendly environment for all,” MPIC Chairman, President and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said. “This partnership is another step that helps us move towards uplifting the lives of Filipinos by ensuring that environmental sustainability is a top priority,” he added. In his recorded keynote speech, DENR Acting Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said, “While our focus is largely directed at managing natural ecosystems through the establishment of protected areas, we also need to address the importance of enhancing our urban ecosystems to be able to provide a quality and livable environment for urban dwellers.” Through this partnership, the project aims to pilot the Adopt-a-City approach in

At the MOU signing, from left: DENR-BMB Director Natividad Y. Bernardino, DENR-NCR Regional Executive Director Jacqueline Caancan, QC-LGU City Administrator Michael Victor Alimurung, and MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla.

the implementation of the Urban Biodiversity program, encouraging business sector support in creating green urban communities at the city and barangay/village level. Quezon City Mayor Hon. Joy G. Belmonte expressed her gratitude to the partners for starting the project in their city. “Expanding our green spaces has always been one of the priorities of the City Government, and the development and sustainable management of Madison Park in Brgy. Mariana, which they have proposed to be named as Gabay Kalikasan Park, is an initial step to hopefully gain more support from the national government and the private sector in advancing the City’s urban biodiversity goals.” MPIC, guided by its thrust to design, build, and operate its key businesses with minimal environmental and social disruption, will invest the needed financial support to ensure the project’s sustainability and success. Aligned with MVP’s Gabay Advocacies for a Sustainable Philippines, the

Officials demonstrated how the Dendo Drive Station works as they plug in the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV into the Vehicle-to-Home system. They are, from left: PMPI Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Mabasa, Meralco First Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto Rubiano, and MMPC President and Chief Executive Officer Takeshi Hara.

ITSUBISHI Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) has officially unveiled its first Dendo Drive Station in the Philippines during the inauguration held in Pasay City on April 18. This project is made possible through its partnership with Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest electricity distribution utility. Piloted at the Mitsubishi dealership under Peak Motors Philippines Inc. (PMPI) in Pasay City, the Dendo Drive Station

partnership also cements the conglomerate’s significant role in both infrastructural progress and environmental stewardship. “We recognize that the essential nature of our businesses has a pervasive impact both in our country’s progress and sustainable development. We are a firm believer that public-private sector partnership is important to create greater environmental responsibility. By investing in green public spaces and transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces, we hope to be a catalyst for inclusive, safer, resilient, livable, and sustainable cities and communities,” said MPIC Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla. Aside from the establishment of the green linear park, the parties will also jointly implement important project ac t iv it ies suc h a s de ve lopme nt of Communication, Education, and Public Awareness (CEPA) plans and capacitybuilding trainings and workshops for the partner communities, among others.

features a clean energy ecosystem enabled by the services provided by Meralco subsidiaries eSakay, Spectrum, and MServ. The next generation dealership uses solar panels and vehicle to home (V2H) equipment with bidirectional chargers. The V2H system enables the charging of electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) at home using solar energy, while also supplying electricity from the EV or PHEV to an entire house or in the case of the Dendo Drive Station, the Mitsubishi branch. Meralco subsidiaries provided the tailor-fit sustainable solution for the pilot station. Spectrum’s services involved the installation of a 28-kilowatt peak solar panel and the facility’s inclusion to the net-metering program, while eSakay provided two EV charging pods. Putting them together was MServ, which handled the electrical works and system integration for the Dendo Drive Station. Mitsubishi’s flagship plug-in hybrid SUV, the Outlander PHEV, which was launched in 2020, is also part of the Dendo Drive Station. When purchased, the Outlander PHEV will come with a conventional charger, allowing it to be charged directly from a home socket. “We are very happy to have achieved this milestone with our dealer partner PMPI and energy provider Meralco. Mitsubishi Motors has always been dedicated to continuously studying technologies and gaining expertise when it comes to vehicle electrification. The Dendo Drive Station is a manifestation of this, bringing a new kind of value in terms of eco-mobility,” MMPC President and CEO Mr. Takeshi Hara said. Engr. Ferdinand O. Geluz, Meralco FVP and Chief Commercial Officer, for his part, said: “The Dendo Drive is a testament to the shared commitment of Mitsubishi and the One Meralco Group to promote a new energy ecosystem where consumers can generate, store, and share energy.”

New-generation business opportunities featured at Cove Manila on May 1

URRENT generation business and new lifestyle opportunities will fill up the air come May 1, 2022, at Cove Manila at Okada Hotel in Patanaque City, as a big gathering of people who are into NFT (Non-fungible tokens), metaverse, and Gamefi takes place. Experience the magic of Gamefi & Metaverse with thought leaders, content creators, and experts from the Philippines and around the world on stage at the NFT Metaverse Gamefi 2022, dubbed as the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia. Fourprominentglobalcryptoinstitutions, namely, CoinVoice, AC Capital, Block Tides, and Asia Token Fund are in the forefront of this gathering to “explore everything from your imagination to an entire universe.” Key figures expected to be present or virtually involved to a great extent are the following: Vincent Shang, CoFounder of AC Capital; Aron Koh, SVP of

Visit us now at a Subway restaurant near you to get your 1-foot closer sub favorites through dine-in and takeout transactions, or order for delivery via Grab or FoodPanda. (Prices vary for delivery.)

Get long-lasting relief from fever and pain with the right medicine

Meralco Group powers Mitsubishi’s first Dendo Drive Station in PH

N the last two years of strict lockdowns, social distancing has become a norm. Now it’s about time to reunite with one another through sharing and togetherness. Subway wants to bring back every person’s friendship, relationship, and every family! And because we value togetherness, we bring you 1-foot closer to the Subway Favorites featuring the Half and Half Footlong sub— combination of 2 flavors served in a footlong sub, perfect for sharing! So, satisfy your sub cravings with the tasteful combinations of Subway Melt & Chicken Teriyaki; Tuna & Subway Melt; and Roasted Chicken & Tuna. Enjoy the Subway Favorites Half & Half Footlong sub for only Php260 per a la carte order. Get this awesome deal until July 5, 2022.

Gala Games; Myrtle Ramos, Founder & CEO of Block Tides/Placewar; Rommel Carlos, CEO of Arcus; Charlene Chan of CoinEx PR; Meehan William Bergquist, Director of Covenant Child; Ashley Ouyang, Principal of Crypto.com Capital; Randy Knutson, CEO of DynaQuest; Kirck Allen, CEO of Kaloscope; Marilyn Vu, CMO of Mecha Morphing;Angelo Punayo, BD of Open Blox; Alan Ta, CEO of Roseon World; and Frank Yun, Director of Baby Shark Bubble Fong Friends. Parokya Ni Edgar and Kamikazee are among the local celebrity guests at the event that will also feature a cosplay fashion show and a discussion on women in blockchain technology. MYRTLE RAMOS, Founder & CEO of Block Tides/ Placewar, is among the key personalities in the the NFT Metaverse Gamefi 2022 event scheduled on May 1.

UR battle with the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over. Just when we thought we had seen the worst with the Delta outbreak, along came the Omicron variant that set record high Covid cases in the country. Thousands of people particularly from NCR reported flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and body pain, causing general alarm with demands for antigen tests and home care remedies reaching astronomical proportions. Even with the lowering of Covid-19 alert level and lifting of restrictions, it is still best to practice minimum health and safety protocols such as wearing face mask and frequent hand washing or sanitizing. Health experts also advise taking medications to curb the risk of developing severe illness and avoid hospitalization. Good thing there is Sarimax (generic name: Naproxen Sodium), an over-the-counter medicine that can address flulike symptoms such as headache, fever, and body pain associated with Covid-19 infection. Naproxen Sodium is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that offers relief for fever and pains. Studied and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), WHO stated that there is no evidence of severe adverse effects on the use of Naproxen and other

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in addressing Covid-19 symptoms. The scientific brief was released in April 2020. After the Omicron scare, the public was advised to stock up on medications to immediately address the onset of flu-like symptoms. And Bayer is making Naproxen Sodium (ASC Ref. No. B078P040822SS) readily available for Filipinos. “We at Bayer are committed to helping everyone to have access to resources and care they need to lead a healthy life. By making Naproxen Sodium (Sarimax) available to consumers, we can assure our kababayans that we can get through this crisis and be ready to face the new normal,” says Shaina Regina Darmawan, Country Division Head for Consumer Health Bayer Philippines Inc. Naproxen Sodium (Sarimax) relieves headache and fever as well as general body pains and arthritis. It provides All Day Strong pain relief with twice daily use. One pill can provide up to 12 hou rs longer lasting relief.

Kaspersky’s parental control app receives AV-TEST Approved Parental Control Software Certificate

OWADAYS, kids use devices from a very early age (around five-nine years old) giving them access to the Internet. To keep their children’s digital experience safe and secure, parents are turning to parental control apps. These applications help to protect kids from inappropriate content on the web, regulate the time spent on devices, and even show the child’s physical location, if their gadget has a tracking app installed. A mong t he not able ac h ievements of Kaspersky Safe Kids, AV-TEST specifically mentioned a high level of website protection. Kaspersky Safe Kids managed to block an overall average of 90 percent of potentially inappropriate links on Windows and 85 percent on Android. The highest result among the blocked content categories was received in “Adult content”– where 100 percent of links were detected and blocked in Windows. It is worth noting that Kaspersky Safe Kids blocks websites from 14 different categories across 15 languages. Lab tests also revealed the over-blocking

detection rate significantly decreased in 2021—down to 6.7 percent for Windows (from 9 percent in 2020) and 6 percent for Android (from 8 percent in 2020). “AV-TEST tested Kaspersky Safe Kids for the sixth time in 2021. The Parental Control by Kaspersky is steadily improving every year it is evaluated. New protection features are extended and existing ones are improved. It provides very comprehensive protection and can provide parents with some confidence in letting their kids online, as well as providing some safeguards in the offline world,” said David Walkiewicz, Director Test Research at AV-Test. “Parenta l control apps do more than just provide a secure online experience for kids by allowing adults to manage access to inappropriate content. With the help of such applications, parents can also form their child’s relationship with devices as they see fit, and establish certain habits. We are very pleased that Kaspersky Safe Kids was recognized for providing comprehensive protection tools for children and their devices, as well as for the everincreasing quality of website categorization,” comments Marina Titova, Vice-President, Consumer Product Marketing at Kaspersky.

Keep your family extra cool and germ-free this summer

THE summer season is officially here which can only mean one thing: outdoor family fun for everyone! The hot weather pushes more families to have more quality time while cooling down—enjoying frozen treats at home, watching movies again at the cinemas, going on beach trips, or simply playing with one another outdoors. But with the pandemic still not over, it’s going to be double the effort for parents as they keep their families safe not only from intense heat, but also from germs. Fortunately, both of these worries can be eased with the Avon Care Antibacterial Cooling Hand and Body Lotion Gel which is perfect for the hot summer season!

Dermatologically tested and formulated with menthol and eucalyptus, the Avon Care Antibacterial Cooling Hand and Body Lotion Gel instantly soothes and calms the skin with long-lasting freshness and cooling sensation against the heat of the season! It also helps to fight 99.9% of disease-causing germs that thrive on the skin, all while retaining moisture with Avon’s Germ Defense + Moisture Lock Technology—leaving the skin moisturized all day long! Since the lotion gel is lightweight and quickabsorbing, the skin won’t feel greasy or sticky, wherever the season takes you—whether you’re lounging at home, enjoying the beach, visiting the amusement park, spending time at the playground, or exploring the great outdoors! Get ready to plunge into a hot new season and keep everybody in the family cool and germ-free with 400mL or 250mL available sizes. Shop for the Avon Care Antibacterial Cooling Hand and Body Lotion Gel and more of your favorite Avon products at www.avonshop.ph or contact your local Avon representative. Check out Avon Philippines on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Angel R. Calso

TheWorld

Shanghai erects metal barriers to bolster zero-Covid approach

AIPEI, Taiwan—Volunteers and government workers in Shanghai erected metal barriers in multiple districts to block off small streets and entrances to apartment complexes, as China hardens its strict “zero-Covid” approach in its largest city despite growing complaints from residents. In the city’s financial district, Pudong, the barriers—thin metal sheets or mesh fences—were put up in several neighborhoods under a local government directive, according to Caixin, a Chinese business media outlet. Buildings where cases have been found sealed up their main entrances, with a small opening for pandemic prevention workers to pass through. In Beijing, authorities announced a mass testing starting Monday of Chaoyang district, home to more than 3 million people in the Chinese capital. The announcement set off panic buying Sunday evening, with vegetables, eggs, soy sauce and other items wiped off grocery shelves. A fresh outbreak has infected at least 41 people, including 26 in Chaoyang district, state broadcaster CGTN reported. China reported 21,796 new community transmitted Covid-19 infections on Sunday, with the vast majority being asymptomatic cases in Shanghai. Across the country, many cities and provinces have enforced some version of a lockdown in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. The latest outbreak, driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant, has spread nationwide, but has been particularly large in Shanghai. The city, a financial hub with 25 million residents, has counted hundreds of thousands of cases but fewer than 100 deaths since the outbreak began nearly two months ago. An Associated Press examination of the death toll found that despite a history of narrow criteria for linking deaths to particular diseases, especially Covid-19, authorities have changed how they count positive cases, leading to wiggle room in how they arrive at a final death count. The result is almost certainly an undercount of the true death toll.

On social media, people posted videos of the new barriers being put up Saturday, with some expressing anger over the measures. The barriers are meant to leave main roads unblocked, Caixin reported. In one video, verified by the AP, residents leaving a building in Shanghai’s Xuhui district broke down the mesh fence barricade at their front entrance and went looking for the security guard they believed to be responsible for putting it up. Shanghai is using a tiered system in which neighborhoods are divided into three categories based on the risk of transmission. Those in the first category face the strictest Covid-19 controls and were the main target of the new heightened measures. In the third category, some buildings allow people to leave their homes and visit public areas. In Shanghai, authorities reported 39 new Covid-19 deaths, raising the official death toll to 4,725 as of the end of Saturday, the National Health Commission said Sunday. The city’s lockdown has drawn global attention for its strict approach and sometimes dangerous consequences. Many residents in the city have had difficulties getting groceries, resorting to bartering and bulk buying. Others have been unable get adequate medical attention in time, owing to the strict controls on movement. On Friday, Chinese Internet users shared a six-minute video called “Voices of April” that documents some of the most challenging public moments the city has experienced in the nearly month-long lockdown. One part features audio of residents in one Shanghai community who protested on April 8, screaming: “Send us food! Send us food! Send us food!” in unison. The video blanketed WeChat timelines before it was abruptly removed by censors Saturday. Chinese authorities have continued to say that the “zero-Covid” strategy is the best way forward given low vaccination rates in people over age 60, and that Omicron would result in many deaths and severe illnesses if the country ended its strict approach. AP

To Europe’s relief, France’s Macron wins but nationalist far-right gains By John Leicester The Associated Press

ARIS—French President Emmanuel Macron comfortably won a second term Sunday, triggering relief among allies that the nuclear-armed power won’t abruptly shift course in the midst of the war in Ukraine from European Union and Nato efforts to punish and contain Russia’s military expansionism. The second five-year term for the 44-year-old centrist spared France and Europe from the seismic upheaval of having firebrand populist Marine Le Pen at the helm, Macron’s presidential runoff challenger who quickly conceded defeat but still scored her best-ever electoral showing. Acknowledging that “numerous” voters cast ballots for him simply to keep out the fiercely nationalist far-right Le Pen, Macron pledged to reunite the country that is “filled with so many doubts, so many divisions” and work to assuage the anger of French voters that fed Le Pen’s campaign. “No one will be left by the side of the road,” Macron said in a victory speech against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower and a projection of the blue-white-and-red tricolor French flag. He was cheered by several hundred supporters who happily waved French and EU flags. “We have a lot to do and the war in Ukraine reminds us that we are going through tragic times where France must make its voice heard,” Macron said. During her campaign, Le Pen pledged to dilute French ties with the 27-nation EU, Nato and Germany, moves that would have shaken Europe’s security architecture as the continent deals with its worst conflict since World War II. Le Pen also spoke against EU sanctions on Russian energy supplies and faced scrutiny during the campaign over her previous friendliness with the Kremlin. A chorus of European leaders hailed Macron’s victory, since France has played a leading role in international efforts to punish Russia with sanctions and is supplying weapons to Ukraine. “Democracy wins, Europe wins,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. “Together we will make France and Europe advance,” tweeted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Italian Premier Mario Draghi called Macron’s victory “splendid news for all of Europe” and a boost to the EU “being a protagonist in the greatest challenges of

our times, starting with the war in Ukraine.” Macron won with 58.5 percent of the vote to Le Pen’s 41.5 percent percentsignificantly closer than when they first faced off in 2017. Macron is the first French president in 20 years to win reelection, since incumbent Jacques Chirac trounced Le Pen’s father in 2002. Le Pen called her result “a shining victory,” saying that “in this defeat, I can’t help but feel a form of hope.” Breaking through the threshold of 40 percent of the vote is unprecedented for the French far-right. Le Pen was beaten 66 percent to 34 percent by Macron in 2017 and her father got less than 20 percent against Chirac. She and hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, one of 10 candidates eliminated in the first round on April 10, both quickly pitched forward Sunday night to France’s legislative election in June, urging voters to give them a parliamentary majority to hamstring Macron. Le Pen’s score this time rewarded her years-long efforts to make her farright politics more palatable to voters. Campaigning hard on cost-of-living issues, she made deep inroads among blue-collar voters in disaffected rural communities and in former industrial centers. Le Pen voter Jean-Marie Cornic, 78, said he cast his ballot for her because he wanted a president who would prioritize “our daily lives percentsalaries, taxes, pensions.” The drop in support for Macron compared to five years ago points to a tough battle ahead for the president to rally people behind him in his second term. Many French voters found the 2022 presidential rematch less compelling than in 2017, when Macron was an unknown factor. Leftist voters percentunable to identify with either the centrist president or Le Pen percentagonized with Sunday’s choice. Some trooped reluctantly to polling stations solely to stop Le Pen, casting joyless votes for Macron. “It was the least worst choice,” said Stephanie David, a transport logistics worker who backed a communist candidate in round one. The Associated Press journalists Sylvie Corbet, Elaine Ganley, Angela Charlton and Thomas Adamson in Paris, Sam Petrequin in Brussels Michel Spingler in HeninBeaumont, and Alex Turnbull in Le Touquet, contributed.

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Zelenskyy meets top-level US delegation, gets aid promises By David Keyton

The Associated Press

YIV, Ukraine—The US secretaries of state and defense met Sunday night with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the highest-level visit to the country’s capital by an American delegation since the start of Russia’s invasion. The secretive meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin came as Ukraine pressed the West for more powerful weapons against Russia’s campaign in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, where Moscow’s forces sought to dislodge the last Ukrainian troops in the battered port of Mariupol. Blinken and Austin told Ukraine’s president, Volodomyr Zelenskyy, and his advisers that the United States would provide more than $300 million in foreign military financing and had approved a $165 million sale of ammunition. They also said that US President Joe Biden would soon announce his nominee for ambassador to Ukraine and that American diplomats who left Ukraine before the war would start returning to the country this coming week. Reporters who accompanied Austin and Blinken to Poland were barred by Pentagon and State Department officials from reporting the Kyiv visit until the two men physically left Ukraine. US officials cited security concerns. Before the session with Blinken and Austin, Zelenskyy said he was looking for the Americans to produce results, both in arms and security guarantees. “You can’t come to us empty-handed today, and we are expecting not just presents or some kind of cakes, we are expecting specific things and specific weapons,’’ he said. Z e len sk y y ’s l a st face - to - face meeting with a top US official was Feb. 19 in Munich with Vice President Kamala Harris, five days before Russia’s invasion. While the West has funneled military equipment to Ukraine, Zelenskyy has stressed repeatedly that his country needs more heavy weapons, including long-range air defense systems and warplanes. In an apparent boost for Ukraine, polling agencies said French President Emmanuel Macron would win reelection over far right candidate Marine Le Pen, who has faced questions about her ties to Moscow. The result was hailed by France’s allies in the European Union as a reassuring sign of stability and continued support for Ukraine. France has played a leading role in international

efforts to punish Russia with sanctions and is supplying weapons systems to Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s meeting with US officials took place as Ukrainians and Russians observed Orthodox Easter. Speaking from Kyiv’s ancient St. Sophia Cathedral, Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, highlighted its significance to a nation wracked by nearly two months of war. “The great holiday today gives us great hope and unwavering faith that light will overcome darkness, good will overcome evil, life will overcome death, and therefore Ukraine will surely win!” he said. Still, the war cast a shadow over celebrations. In the northern village of Ivanivka, where Russian tanks still littered the roads, Olena Koptyl said “the Easter holiday doesn’t bring any joy. I’m crying a lot. We cannot forget how we lived.” The Russian military reported hitting 423 Ukrainian targets overnight, including fortified positions and troop concentrations, while its warplanes destroyed 26 Ukrainian military sites, including an explosives factory and several artillery depots. Since failing to capture Kyiv, the Russians have aimed to gain full control over the eastern industrial heartland, where Moscow-backed separatists controlled some territory before the war. Russian forces launched fresh airstrikes on a Mariupol steel plant where an estimated 1,000 civilians are sheltering along with about 2,000 Ukrainian fighters. The Azovstal steel mill where the defenders are holed up is the last corner of resistance in the city, otherwise occupied by the Russians. Zelenskyy said he stressed the need to evacuate civilians from Mariupol, including from the steel plant, in a Sunday call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is scheduled to speak later with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Arestovych, the Zelenskyy adviser, said Ukraine has proposed holding talks with Russia next to the sprawling steel mill. Arestovych said on the Telegram messaging app that Russia has not responded to the proposal that would include establishing humanitarian corridors and the exchange of Russian war prisoners for the fighters still in the plant.

In this image provided by the Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, left, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, right, meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, April 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Department of Defense via AP UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to travel to Turkey on Monday and then Moscow and Kyiv. Zelenskyy said it was a mistake for Guterres to visit Russia before Ukraine. “Why? To hand over signals from Russia? What should we look for?” Zelenskyy said Saturday. “There are no corpses scattered on the Kutuzovsky Prospect,” he said, referring to one of Moscow’s main avenues. Mariupol has endured fierce fighting since the start of the war because of its location on the Sea of Azov. Its capture would deprive Ukraine of a vital port, free up Russian troops to fight elsewhere, and allow Moscow to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014. More than 100,000 people—down from a prewar population of about 430,000—are believed to remain in Mariupol with scant food, water or heat. Ukrainian authorities estimate over 20,000 civilians have been killed. Recent satellite images showed what appeared to be mass graves to the west and east of Mariupol. Children in an underground bunker were seen receiving Easter presents in a video released Sunday by the far-right Azov Battalion, which is among the Ukrainian forces at the steel plant in Mariupol. The group’s deputy commander, Sviatoslav Palamar, said the video was shot at the plant. One toddler is seen wearing homemade diapers made of cellophane and people are seen hanging laundry on makeshift hangers. “Please help us,” one woman in the video said through tears, appealing to world leaders. “We want to live in our city, in our country. We are tired of these bombings, constant air strikes on our land. How much longer will this continue?” Mykhailo Podolyak, another presidential adviser, tweeted that the Russian military was attacking the plant with heavy bombs and artillery while accumulating forces and equipment for a direct assault. Zelenskyy over the weekend accused Russians of committing war crimes by killing civilians and of setting up “filtration camps” near

Mariupol for people trying to leave the city. He said the Ukrainians— many of them children—are then sent to areas under Russian occupation or to Russia itself, often as far as Siberia or the Far East. The claims could not be independently verified. Zelenskyy highlighted the death of a 3-month old girl in a Russian m i ssi le st r i ke Sat u rd ay on t he Black Sea port of Odesa. The baby w a s a mong e i g ht p e ople k i l le d when Russia fired cruise missiles at Odesa, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, citing social media, reported that the infant’s mother, Valeria Glodan, and grandmother also died when a missile hit a residential area. Zelenskyy promised to find and punish those responsible. “The war started when this baby was 1 month old,’’ Zelenskyy said. “Can you imagine what is happening? They are filthy scum; there are no other words for it.” For the Donbas offensive, Russia has reassembled troops who fought around Kyiv and in northern Ukraine. The British Ministry of Defense said Ukrainian forces had repelled numerous assaults in the past week and “inflicted significant cost on Russian forces.” A fire erupted early Monday at an oil depot in Russia near its border with Ukraine, but Russia’s Tass news agency gave no immediate cause for the blaze in oil storage tanks. NASA satellites that track fires showed something burning at coordinates that corresponded to a Rosneft facility some 110 kilometers (70 miles) north of the Ukrainian border. Moscow previously has blamed Ukraine for attacks on the Russian region of Bryansk, which borders Ukraine. The spiritual leaders of the world’s Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics on Sunday appealed for relief for Ukraine’s suffering population. Associated Press journalists Yesica Fisch in Sloviansk, Ukraine, Mstyslav Chernov and Felipe Dana in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Cara Anna, Inna Varenytsia and Oleksandr Stashevskyi in Kviv and AP staff around the world contributed.

Palm oil soars on Indonesia ban in risk to global food inflation

alm oil rallied after top producer Indonesia said it will ban all exports of cooking oil, a surprise move that threatens to worsen global food inflation and aggravate volatility in crop markets still reeling from the war. Indonesia said on Friday that the shipment halt will start from April 28 and last until the government deems a domestic shortage resolved. Benchmark palm oil futures jumped as much as 7 percent while Indonesia plantation stocks tumbled. The move by Indonesia, which accounts for a third of global edible oil exports, adds to a raft of crop protectionism around the world since the war erupted in Ukraine, as governments seek to protect their own food supply with agriculture prices surging. The ban threatens to further fan food inflation, which has been surging at a rampant pace, and

raises the risk of a full-blown hunger crisis. “The halting of shipments of the cooking oil and its raw material, widely used in products ranging from cakes to cosmetics, could raise costs for packaged food producers globally,” said Avtar Sandu, senior manager of commodities at Phillip Nova. The surprise move has “left many questions unanswered especially as it comes at a time when other edible oils like sunflower oil supplies are facing issues due to violence in the Black Sea region,” Sandu added. Palm oil futures for July delivery rose 7 percent to 6,799 ringgit ($1,564) a ton in Kuala Lumpur, the highest since March 11, while the nearby May prices climbed more than 9 percent to a record for the contact. Soybean oil, palm’s closest food and fuel rival, rose 1.9 percent in Chicago to trade near all-time highs.

Panic button

Local shortages of edible oils has roiled Indonesia, leading to street protests over high food prices and the detention of a trade official in a corruption case. Managing food prices is a key priority for President Joko Widodo especially as the country that’s home to the world’s largest Muslim population heads into the Eid al-Fitr holiday, usually marked with feasts and celebration. Just days earlier, the industry ministry said distribution of its domestic cooking oils has met national demand, which makes the export ban even more unexpected. The shortage of domestic supply at retailers, high palm oil prices and strong festive demand may have “triggered the government to press the panic button,” said

Sathia Varqa, owner of Palm Oil Analytics in Singapore. Although inventories are swelling after Indonesia’s export curbs in February and March, there are still problems in the flow of cooking oil from refineries to packaging companies down to retailers, he said. This is hitting availability just as Eid al-Fitr is coming up. “People are excited to celebrate big time after two years of muted celebration due to the pandemic,” he added. While limited supply and soaring prices are set to worsen inflation of food items like salad dressing and frozen pizza in wealthy economies like the US, developing nations like India are set to feel the worst impacts. Such countries depend on imports of palm oil as a cheaper alternative to more costly soybean, sunflower and canola oil.

Bloomberg News

Sports BusinessMirror

| Tuesday, April 26, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Serna, Acabo steal show in Sindangan tennis meet

PHL PUGS MARKED IN HANOI

MARCIAL

GABUCO

By Josef Ramos

HEN the national boxing team arrives in Hanoi for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in May, each of the five men and five women on the squad will have imaginary bullseyes on their backs. “Our boxers will be targets in the SEA Games,” Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) training director Don Abnett told the BusinessMirror on Monday. “This

PETECIO

MAGNO

is because of the good result we got at the Thailand Open.” Flyweight Rogen Ladon, a gold medalist in the Philippines 2019 SEA Games in Manila, and women’s lightweight Risa Pasuit and middleweight Hergie Bacyadan won gold in the Thailand Open, one of the more prestigious tournaments in Asia that was held last month. “We will be one of the favorites because of that performance in the Thai Open,” added Abnett from the team’s training camp Muak Lek, Thailand, where the Filipino boxers have been

LADON prepping for the last 40 days. Abnett made the assessment though in the absence of a scouting report on their potential opponents. “I haven’t seen yet the lineup of the other countries, but I’m sure we’re obviously one of their objectives to get beat,” he said. Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist and two-fight pro Eumir Felix Marcial arrived in Muak Lek on Monday to add more firepower to the men’s team that includes Rogen Ladon (52 kgs), Ian Clark Bautista (57 kgs), James Palicte (63 kgs) and Marjon Piañar (69 kgs).

Abnett said that Marcial, who’ll be aiming for a fourth-consecutive SEA Games middleweight gold medal in Hanoi, will be assessed by the coaching staff. “I believe that he’s not in bad shape but we have to see first how he performs in training and sparring,” he said. Marcial beat American Isiah Hart in Las Vegas via a fourth-round technical knockout to go 2-0 as a pro. He will spar thrice this week to retool his amateur boxing skills, according to Abnett. Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam is on hand to lend a hand in the Thailand training camp, but won’t suit up for Hanoi. He gave way to fellow flyweight Ladon. With Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio and fellow Tokyo Gams veteran Irish Magno, the women’s squad is as formidable. Also on the team are former world champion Josie Gabuco (51 kgs), Pasuit (57 kgs) and Bacyadan (75 kgs). “We will try to get as many gold

medals as we can, but it still depends on the performance, draw and luck,” Abnett said. BusinessMirror also learned from ABAP Secretary General Marcus Jarwin Manalo that Aira Villegas will be the country’s lone representative to the Women’s World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, that conflicts with the Hanoi Games schedule. The worlds are set May 6 to 21 while the SEA Games boxing competitions are from May 15 to 22. Villegas will be accompanied by Coach Reynaldo Galido. To guarantee the SEA Gamesbound boxers’ preparedness for Hanoi, the ABAP included Olympic flyweight silver medalist Carlo Paalam, featherweight Ian Clark Bautista, featherweight Mario Fernandez, light welterweight James Palicte, light welter John Paul Panuayan, welterweight Marjon Piañar and light heavyweight Wendell Dagle in the training camp.

Arevalo, Singson dominate national stroke play tournament at Southwoods

RISTOFFER AREVALO used a solid start to break away from Perry Bucay and went on to fire a 69 and beat Rho Hyun Ho by two while Mafy Singson pounced on Lois Kaye Go’s backside meltdown to rally from two down and snare a one-stroke triumph in the National Stroke Play Championship at Manila Southwoods’ Legends course over weekend. Tied with Bucay after 54 holes, Arevalo shook off his rival’s challenge with back-to-back opening birdies then shot three more birdies against two bogeys for a 33-36 card and a 286 as Ho moved from joint third and took the runner-up honors in the men’s side with a 70 for a 288. Bucay failed to match Arevalo’s fiery start with pars and fell farther back with a double-bogey on No. 3 for a frontside 40. He matched par at the back but his closing 76 dropped him to joint fifth at 293 with Gabriel Manotoc and Ivan Monsalve, who shot 70 and 71, respectively, and Shinichi Suzuki, who started the final round just a stroke behind the joint leaders but faltered with a 38-37 for a 75. Korean Kim Tae Soo carded a 73 and finished third at 291 while Jet

Hernandez, who topped the recent Southeast Asiab Games qualifying at Luisita, failed to sustain a third round 69 with a 74, ending up fourth at 292. Two strokes off Go in a tie with Laurea Duque with 18 holes left, Singson cashed in on her familiarity with the bunker-laden layout which she calls home, hitting two birdies against a bogey at the front then bouncing back from a bogey-bogey start at the back with an eagle on the par-5 14th. The International Container Terminal Services Inc.-backed member of the SEA Games-bound ladies squad actually wavered at the finish, making two bogeys against a birdie in the last four holes to settle for a 72 and a 295. But Go, who will join Singson and top amateur Rianne Malixi in the biennial regional games in Hanoi next month, also faltered with backto-back closing bogeys and wound up with a 75 for a 296. Go, member of the team that swept the gold medals in the last SEA Games at Luisita in 2019, held on a one-stroke lead despite a 36 start and went 3-up again on Singson’s shaky backside start. But the Cebuana ace bogeyed the 12th and dropped into a tie with

Knights stake record against Stags

EFENDING champion Letran tries to move closer to sweeping the nine-game elimination round as it takes on San Sebastian College on Tuesday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors’ basketball tournament at the La Salle Greenhills Gym. A victory by Letran—its eighth straight—in the 3 p.m. clash will formalize the Knights entry to the Final Four. Coming off a 14-point loss to Mapua, San Beda tries to rediscover

its winning ways as it plays College of Saint Benilde in the 12 noon game that has major implications for the other outright Final Four berth. The Red Lions are running second with a 6-1 card, just half a game ahead of the Cardinals, who are

Singson, who gained on a two-shot swing on No. 14 (eagle-par). Go regained the lead as Singson bogeyed the next but the latter pounced on the former’s bogey on the 17th which birdied for the decisive two-stroke swing and the lead. Needing a strong finish to win or force a playoff, Go hit it straight off the mound but dumped her approach shot on the par-4 closing hole into the rightside bunker, her blast rolling past the green and onto the fringe and missed her par-bid to match Singson’s closing bogey. Duque also faded with a 38 start, finishing with a 76 for third at 299. MAFY SINGSON holds her huge National Stroke Play trophy.

sporting a 6-2 record in third place. With a 5-3 card in fourth spot, the Blazers’ chances of making it to the Final Four outright is not entirely in their hands. A loss will drop Saint Benilde to the play-in stage to determine the other two Final Four qualifiers. San Sebastian is locked in a four-way tie in fifth place at 3-5 with University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Arellano University and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

Forum on hoops, triathlon

ROSPECT of another Philippine sweep of the basketball and triathlon events in the 31st Southeast Asian Games will be discussed Tuesday in the virtual Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum. Gilas Pilipinas team manager and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) deputy executive director Butch Antonio, along with defending men’s individual gold medalist John Chicano and coach Melvin Fausto of triathlon will talk about their respective campaigns in the May 12 to 23 SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Philippines swept all events in basketball and triathlon in the 2019 SEA Games. The weekly session starts at 10 a.m. and presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Unilever, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. The Forum is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and aired on a delayed basis the same day at 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. over Radyo Pilipinas 2, which also shares the livestreaming over its Facebook page.

At Errol’s ex-Spence WE saw highlights of the fight between Yordenis Ugas and Errol Spence. The fight was mostly in the middle of the ring with both pugilists exchanging hellacious shot after hellacious shot. Ugas is known for accuracy in his punches, just ask Manny Pacquiao, while Spence combines the same accuracy but with volume as well. As a result of Spence’s lethal combination of punching power in both hands plus punches in

INCE SERNA and AJ Acabo pulled off victories in varying fashions to foil Thomas Gabuat and Ma. Judyann Padilla’s bid for another two-title sweep in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) National age group tennis tournament at the Sindangan tennis courts in Zamboanga del Norte over the weekend. Serna, ranked ninth in the fullpacked 32-player draw in the boys’ 18-and-under division, racked up four straight wins to barge into the finals then out-steadied Gabuat in a tensefilled decider, 6-2, 2-6, 10-6, while Acabo got back at Padilla in the girls’ 16-under finals, 6-3, 6-2, to lead the winners in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop. But Gabuat kept the 16-under crown with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over top seed Neo Maratas, while Padilla reigned in the 18-under play for the second straight week with a 6-2, 6-3 romp over Acabo. “Serna and Acabo’s victories further underscored the level playing field and we expect more new faces to emerge as the circuit holds more tournaments in various towns and cities in search for talents,” Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro said. The other winners in the four-day tournament serving as part of the PPSPEPP age grouper’s Mindanao swing were Dipolog’s Rashdi Macaundas, Alexa Manahan from Manukan, Zambo del Norte, Maranding’s Josh Lim and local bet Marlyn Mesiona. Macaundas routed Yuree Madrona, 6-3, 6-2, while Manahan edged Nathalie Barrios, 7-6(4), 6-4, to share the 12-under honors, while Lim upended top seed Pete Bandala, 6-1, 6-4, and Mesiona trampled Cielo Gonzales, 6-1, 6-1, to split the 14-under diadems. The chase for leg titles and ranking points moves to Labason this week. For details and registration, contact event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464. Liloy will host the next stop from April 28 to 30, both in Zambo del Norte. The circuit moves to Lanao del Norte from May 1 to 3 for the Maranding leg and then to Oroquieta City in Misamis Oriental from May 4 to 6.

STANDHARDINGER VOWS LOYALTY TO CONE, GINEBRA ORGANIZATION

FTER helping Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup crown, Christian Standhardinger’s staying put in the Gin Kings jersey— regardless of how juicy teams in the Japan and Taiwan pro leagues have offered the FilipinoGerman big man. “There’re a lot of interest to play outside of the the Philippines. But contract-wise and life-wise, I have a very long-term commitment with Ginebra,” Standhardinger told BusinessMirror on Monday. “I’m committed to Boss Al [team governor Alfrancis Chua], RSA [San Miguel Corp. boss Ramon S. Ang] and to coach Tim [Cone].” “I’m grateful and appreciated everything so I’m very committed to Ginebra long term,” he said. “All I can say is I’m very, very happy.” The lure of the pro leagues in Japan and Taiwan—where players’ salaries could be four times more of what they get in the PBA—are

hard to refuse. But not for the man called C-Stan. “There’s a lot of amazing characters or personalities on this team. We are a great team and coach Tim has done a lot of recruiting good people,” Standhardinger, 32, said. “Now that we won a championship, I’m very, very happy about how we performed in the Finals.” The Gin Kings won the crown, 4-2, over the Meralco Bolts who they beat for the fourth time in a championship series. “If you look at Scottie [Thompson], LA [Tenorio] and Best Import Justin Brownlee—how they played—you can see how good a team we are under coach Tim,” he said. “I’m now looking forward to winning another championship without Brownlee.” Up next is the all-Filipino Philippine Cup that kicks off the PBA’s 47th season in June. Standhardinger has made the rounds in the league. He was San Miguel Beer’s top rookie draft pick in 2017, was shipped to NorthPort and now found his way to Ginebra. Standhardinger didn’t reveal how long he’ll be with Ginebra but vowed that all his years as a Gin Kings will be focused on winning championships. Josef Ramos

CHRISTIAN STANDHARDINGER deflects lucrative offers to play overseas.

bunches volume punching, Ugas suffered a fractured orbital bone in his right eye. According to boxinginsider.com, “In totality, it was Spence Jr.’s overwhelming volume punching that allowed him to wrap his third world title around his waist. With 784 punches thrown from the Dallas product, compared to only 541 from Ugas.” Hypothetically speaking, because Ugas beat Pacquiao and Ugas lost to Spence via a 10th-round TKO, what would’ve happened had both southpaws fought back in August of last year? On Pacquiao’s loss to Ugas on boxing insider.com, “I wish we had fought Spence instead of Ugas,” Roach told FightHype.com. “We ended up taking that fight on two days’ notice. There’s no way you can get ready for a big fight on two days’ notice. He has a long reach and a little bit awkward. I wish we would’ve waited for Spence to get healthy.” It’s one of those “I guess we’ll never know” kind of thing, but moving forward, the fight boxing fans are drooling over is Spence vs Crawford, Terence “Bud” Crawford. Crawford has already started preparing for his next fight against an unnamed opponent who we hope

will be the Dallas native. Derrick James, Spence’s longtime trainer was clearly pleased with his fighter’s performance, “I don’t know who beats that guy I saw on Saturday,” the usually hard-to-please James told FightHype. com. “I haven’t really seen anybody in boxing throw so many punches, some of them hard punches, break somebody’s ribs, break somebody’s nose, break somebody’s orbital bone.” Timothy Bradley, two-time world champion likes Crawford’s chances, “I’m going Terence Crawford by knockout, 11th round,” said Bradley to Fight Hub TV. “I just think that he has more to him. Switch southpaw, right-handed, can punch, supreme accuracy and timing. I’m a go with Crawford.” Styles make fights, and if these two decide to get it on in the squared circle, it’s going to be Crawford’s accuracy and precision vs Spence’s head-body-bodyhead volume punches in bunches. Both boxers have footwork, knockout power in both hands, lateral movement, and the will and the skill to win fights. This one is going to be tough to call. I’m going to go out on a limb and say Errol Spence by split decision.