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Wednesday, August 4, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 294

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 22 pages | 7 days a week

Ranks of jobless grow in June on Covid curbs n

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HOUSANDS of computer technicians, laundry service workers, and those providing wellness services, among others, lost their jobs in June, according to latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

On Tuesday, the PSA said preliminar y Labor Force Statistics (LFS) data showed 3.76 million Filipinos were unemployed in June 2021, slightly higher than the 3.73 mil lion recorded in May 2021. These jobless workers included 241,000 workers in “Other Service Activities,” the major sector that recorded the largest drop in employment. In June, there were

2.55 million Filipinos working in this sector, lower than the 2.79 million in May. “The labor force survey results for June 2021 show the limits of job creation without major relaxations in quarantine restrictions, especially in the National Capital Region,” the country’s economic team said in a statement. See “Jobless,” A2

P29-B PROJECTS OUTSIDE NCR GET FIRB TAX PERKS By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

HE Fiscal Incentive Review Board (FIRB) has granted tax incentives to P29.4 billion worth of projects outside Metro Manila, which include a mass housing development and two cement manufacturing plants.

Broken dow n, t he m a ss housing project in Iloilo is estimated to cost P1.4 billion; the proposed cement plant in Porac, Pampanga will have P3.1-billion investment; and another cement plant in Calatagan, Batangas is seen to cost around P24.9 billion. See “FIRB,” A2

The Philippines’s Nesthy Petecio holds up her silver medal after losing to Japan’s Sena Irie in the women’s featherweight 60-kg final boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics on August 3, in Tokyo, Japan. Irie has claimed the first-ever women’s featherweight boxing gold medal with a unanimous decision over Petecio, who settled for the Philippines’s first boxing medal of any kind since 1996, but Manny Pacquiao’s home nation is in contention for at least two more medals in Tokyo. AP/Themba Hadebe

Nesthy bags silver; boxers, golfers chase gold By Jun Lomibao

Earlier on Tuesday, Carlo Paalam slayed a giant in boxing’s flyweight div ision— Oly mpic and world Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan—on points by split decision for a guaranteed bronze medal. Paalam’s victory came one minute and 16 seconds into the second round after Ukrainian referee Pavlo Vasylynchuk stopped the fight as both boxers sustained head injuries following an accidental headbutt. Paalam and Eumir Felix Marcial remain as the country’s gold medal hopes, with Marcial already assured of a bronze medal also in his Olympic debut.

Sports Editor

OKYO—Nesthy Petecio’s silver medal in boxing glittered as the best performance on Tuesday for Team Philippines, whose quest for more gold medals in the Tokyo Olympics now rests on two boxers and two golfers. Petecio lost in the gold medal bout of the women’s featherweight class against Japan’s Sena Irie via unanimous decision to contribute her silver to the country’s haul so far topped by the gold medal Hidilyn Diaz won in weightlifting nine days ago.

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

TOTAL

People’s Republic of China

United States of America

Japan

Australia

ROC

Great Britain

Germany

France

Netherlands

Republic of Korea

Philippines

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

Source: Olympics.com | As of August 3, 2021 9:30 p.m.

TEAM/NOC

star-studded 60-player field and a scorching Japanese summer. Pagdanganan tees off at 7:52 a.m. with Ireland ’s Leona Mag u i re a nd Fi n l a nd ’s Mat i ld a Castren while Saso will be with Canada’s Brooke Henderson and American Lexi Thompson, the same golfer she chased to win the US Women’s Open. National coach Miggy Alejandro will carry Saso’s bag at least for the next two days after her regular caddie Lionel Matichuk was rushed to a hospital after suffering from heat stroke in a practice round on Tuesday. More Olympics stories in Sports, page A14.

Govt taps ₧13.1-B funds for cash aid during ECQ

tokyo olympics medal count rank

Er nest John “E J ” Obiena, meanwhile, couldn’t clear 5.80 meters to bow out of the men’s pole vault finals late Tuesday at the Japan Olympic Stadium. Obiena missed all three chances to clear 5.80m, 7 cms below his personal best of 5.87m which also stands at the Philippine national record. The bar was first set at 5.50 for the 12 finalists, with Obiena surviving on his third and final attempt at the initial height. It will be Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan’s turn to lure the spotlight to the Kasumigaseki Golf Club where the Philippines’s top 2 golfers square off with a

HE government has allocated P13.1 billion to provide cash aid for people affected by the new round of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ ) in Metro Manila. I n a n on l i ne pre s s br ie f ing on Tuesd ay, President i a l spokesma n Ha r r y Roque sa id t he a mou nt w i l l be u sed to prov ide financia l assistance to

10.1 m i l l ion qu a l if ied benef icia r ies in t he Nat iona l Capita l Reg ion (NCR) for t he durat ion of its loc kdow n f rom Aug ust 6 to 20, 2021. Each entitled individual will get P1,000. A maximum of 4 beneficiaries per household can get the financial assistance. Roque explained the P2.4 billion excess fund for the cash aid will serve as a “contingency See “Cash aid,” A2

PESO exchange rates n US 49.9980 n japan 0.4574 n UK 69.4272 n HK 6.4319 n CHINA 7.7372 n singapore 36.9562 n australia 36.8135 n EU 59.3626 n SAUDI arabia 13.3339 Source: BSP (3 August 2021)

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Wednesday, August 4, 2021

House okays on 2nd reading bill cutting private schools’ tax rate By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE bill providing tax cuts for private schools was passed by the House of Representatives on second reading on Tuesday. House Bill (HB) No. 9913, authored by Albay second district Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, will “reduce tax rates for proprietary schools and allow them to avail of the 10-percent preferential rate on taxable income.” Sa lced a sa id t he Hou se plen a r y

Cash aid. . .

Continued from A1

budget ” of t he gover n ment i n c a se it needs to g ive assistance to people not i nc luded i n it s i n it i a l t a rget nu mber of benef ic i a r ies. He said the fund will be sourced from the unobligated funds of government agencies as well as w indfall revenue collected by the Bureau of the Treasury.

promptly approved the bill since the tax discount it provides will be beneficial for private schools and students. “We will be watching them [private schools] to make sure this tax cut makes it into tuition reductions and hiring of new teachers,” he added.

Face-to-face distribution M etroP OL I TA N M a n i l a D e ve lo p ment Author it y (MMDA) Chair man Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos said the list of beneficiaries w ill come from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSW D). MMDA is eyeing face-to-face cash aid distribution to ensure it will be promptly received by its intended beneficiaries instead of digital payments previously used by DSWD.

If passed into law, HB 9913 is expected to provide the “largest ever tax cut to any sector ever in the country’s history.” “This will constitute a 96-percent tax discount to private schools from 2020 to 2023, and a 60-percent tax discount thereafter,” Salceda said in a statement. “I am proud that we will do it for the sector the Constitution values the most— the education sector,” he added. Under HB 9913, a preferential tax rate of 10 percent imposed on proprietary educational institutions will be reduced to 1 percent from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023, after which the tax rate shall be set at 10 percent under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE). It is meant to inter vene in t he

implementation of the recent regulation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), increasing the tax rate of private educational institutions to 25 percent from 10 percent. The schools had raised a howl over the BIR regulation, saying it contradicts the spirit of the CREATE law, and will worsen the financial plight of pandemic-hit schools, resulting in more closures. Salceda explained that without his proposed legislation, private schools will be unable to avail of the tax relief and can be held liable for taxes paid since 2012, when a Supreme Court decision on the tax rate of such schools was issued. He hopes HB 9913 w ill be signed by President Duterte before the end of the year to prevent such problems for private schools.

He said the final guidelines for the distribution is expected to come out within the week. DS W D spokesm a n Irene D u m l ao sa id t hey respect t he MMDA’s recommend at ion to m a ke u se of face -to face d ist r ibut ion over t hei r d ig it a l pay ment sc heme. “We have seen that this mechanism worked during the distribution of ECQ ayuda [cash aid] in NCR plus several months ago,” Dumlao said.

NCR plus includes Metro Manila, Laguna, Cav ite, Bulacan and R izal. Dumlao said they recognize the challenges in their digital payment system, “including lacking information from beneficiaries and that some beneficiaries do not have smartphones.” However, she noted that people who were able to successfully get their cash aid via online payments “reported high or very high satisfaction levels on the use of digital disbursements.”

FIRB. . .

Continued from A1

The housing project was granted a fouryear income tax holiday (ITH) and duty exemptions on importations of capital equipment and raw materials. The Pampanga facility received two-year ITH while the Batangas plant, including the installation of clinkering facilities, was granted a six-year ITH. Both were provided with five years of enhanced deductions and duty exemptions on importations. Finance Assistant Secretary and FIRB Secretariat Head Juvy Danofrata said the Iloilo project includes over 3,000 units of “economic” and “low-cost” housing, in a bid to address the housing backlog in Western Visayas. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said granting the Iloilo project tax perks encourages the private sector in helping government fill the gap in affordable housing. The proposed cement plant in Pampanga is seen to generate P866 million worth of yearly savings from import expenses. The facility is expected to fill the cement demand of the infrastructure sector. The plant will increase the existing production line of the proponent by 898,560 metric tons (MT) from the current 687,473 MT. “The projected net benefits of the investment are driven by the locally sourced capital equipment and raw materials as well as the income taxes that the government will potentially collect from the estimated job creation of the project,” Danofrata said. Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, meanwhile, explained that the two-phase project in Batangas will incur higher project costs due to the clinker production, noting it is the “most expensive aspect of cement manufacturing.” The Batangas facility is seen to have a capacity of 2.5 million MT of cement per year. Lopez said the cement manufacturing projects will help “lessen the country’s import dependence, increase our local capacity, and encourage competitiveness in the industry.”

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Jobless. . .

Continued from A1

The PSA told the BusinessMirror that Other service activities include the “repair of computers, personal and household goods, other personal services like wellness activities, laundry services and domestic services.” Other major sectors posting the largest job losses included Accommodation and food service activities with 143,000 jobs lost; Public administration and defense; compulsory social security, 98,000; Transportation and storage, 76,000; and Financial and insurance activities, 71,000. Meanwhile, the industries with the largest gains were Administrative and support service activities which created 282,000 jobs in June 2021; and Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles which created 259,000 jobs. Other industries posting the largest increases in job creation were fishing and aquaculture at 194,000; education, 132,000; and agriculture and forestry, 118,000 jobs in June 2021. The economic managers said that the labor force participation rate’s (LFPR) rising to 65 percent in June led to a net job creation of 0.4 million between May and June 2021. They pointed out that since January 2020, net job creation has reached 2.5 million. This indicated, they said, that the economy has exceeded the prepandemic employment level, after losing 8.7 million jobs at the height of the quarantines in April 2020. “With the emergence of the Covid-19 Delta variant, the government has prioritized arresting the spread of this more contagious virus through more proactive quarantines in highrisk areas and an accelerated vaccination program. These actions are crucial in ensuring that economic gains in recent months will resume once we have addressed this current threat,” the economic team said. The economic team—Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, and Budget and Management Officer in Charge Tina Rose Marie L. Canda—said the Enhanced Community Quarantine to be reimposed in NCR from August 6-20 will have an adverse but temporary impact on the employment situation. They reiterated that the government remains determined to maximize this period to accelerate vaccination in high-risk areas in order to safely resume economic activities and restore jobs. As of August 1, 2021, they said a total of 20.9 million doses have been administered: 11.7 million and 9.1 million for the first and second doses, respectively. In July 2021, the government administered 10 million doses and saw its average daily dose administered in the last seven days reach 523,018. “With this rapid progress in the rate of inoculation and the expected arrival of 132.7 million doses in the next six months, we are confident that we can vaccinate 70 million Filipinos or the entire adult population by the end of 2021,” they said.

Underemployed Based on the PSA’s data, employed persons reached 45.08 million while underemployed Filipinos reached 6.41 million in June. The economic team said the underemployment rate rose to 14.2 percent in June following the decades-low underemployment rate of 12.3 percent in May. “Despite the increase, the underemployment rate is still much lower than the figures recorded in the first four months of 2021. Lower underemployment rates in recent months point to improving job quality as restrictions in the economy were relaxed,” they said. The average weekly hours worked by an employed person in June 2021 was at 39 hours, the same as reported a month ago. This was lower compared to January 2021 (39.3 hours) and March 2021 (39.7 hours), but higher than the average weekly hours worked in February 2021 (38.9 hours) and April 2021 (38 hours). Among men and women, LFPR in June 2021 was higher for men (76.3 percent) than for women (53.7 percent). Likewise, the employment rate was higher among men at 93.2 percent than among women at 91 percent. Underemployment rate among men was at 15.5 percent, which was also higher than among women at 12.4 percent.

IBON: Economy not recovering Ibon Foundation Inc. said the latest jobs data only confirmed that the economy was not on the mend, despite a gradual reopening. The data, it said, showed a “bloating informal sector and huge contraction in full-time work.” PSA data showed 4.412 million Filipinos were visibly underemployed in June 2021—or 444,000 more than the 3.968 million visibly underemployed in May 2021. In terms of growth rate, PSA data showed visible underemployment grew 11.2 percent while invisible underemployment surged 31.1 percent in June 2021. Ibon noted a 3.6-million increase in part-time work for those working less than 40 hours to 17 million in June 2021 from 13.4 million in January 2020. In contrast, Ibon said over that same period, the number of full-time workers or those who worked 40 hours and over contracted by over 1.2 million to just 27.5 million. By class of worker, Ibon said the increase in employment was largely from the 1.3-million increase in unpaid family workers, reaching 4 million in June 2021. This is also from a large 1.7-million increase in the selfemployed without any paid employees to 12.8 million. In contrast, the number of wage and salary workers in private establishments contracted by 769,000 to fall to 21.1 million in June 2021. “The June 2021 labor force survey [LFS] shows how far away the economy is from recovering without real fiscal stimulus. Job generation is hollow with a bloating informal sector and huge contraction in full-time work,” Ibon said. “These will worsen with the looming ECQ which will push millions of Filipinos into deeper economic distress.”

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Meralco to halt disconnection in areas under ECQ, MECQ By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is putting on hold disconnection activities in the National Capital Region (NCR) from August 6 to 20 and the Province of Laguna beginning August 1 to 15, as government imposes stricter quarantine measures. The government placed the NCR under Enhanced Quarantine Community (ECQ) and the Province of Laguna on Modified ECQ. The rest of Meralco’s franchise area remains under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with Heightened Restrictions particularly Bulacan, Cavite, the Province of Rizal and Lucena City from August 1 to 15, while Batangas and Quezon Province remain to be under GCQ for the month of August. “Given the current situation, we continue to take into consideration the challenges our customers are facing amid these difficult times. Thus, we will again suspend all disconnection activities in NCR and Laguna to help ease the burden of our customers with the needed relief and additional time to settle their bills,” said Ferdinand O. Geluz, Meralco FVP and chief commercial officer. For customers in areas under GCQ, Geluz assured that Meralco will continue to be very considerate during this period and vowed to assist customers with their concerns. Mera lco reiterated t hat it would continue vital operations such as meter reading following the order of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and will

also continue to work round the clock to serve its customers. “Meralco business operations, including meter reading and bill delivery activities, will continue throughout the ECQ. Our continued operations will ensure that actual consumption for the month will be billed accordingly. But rest assured there will be strict implementation of health protocols in order to safeguard the health and safety of both customers and our personnel,” Geluz said. The ERC, in an advisory last year, encouraged customers who can pay to settle their bills within the original due date “to help manage the cash flow in the energy supply chain and ensure the continuous supply of electricity.” In minimizing the risk of exposure to Covid-19 and ensuring everyone’s safety, Geluz reminded customers to always keep safe and encouraged customers to use Meralco’s various digital platforms such as Meralco Online and Meralco App, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, call its 16211 hot line and book an appointment through the Online Customer Appointment (OCA) system before going to Meralco Business Centers (BCs). Meralco BCs will be on skeletal work force for any inquiries and concerns on billing and payments as a precaution to the rising number of Covid-19 cases. Meralco BCs will remain open to accept payments, applications and customer assistance. Business hours will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., in compliance to IATF guidelines, from Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays.

Duterte says geopolitics, vaccine supply prompted him to retain US military pact By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

RESIDENT Duterte on Monday said the country would keep its close ties with the US despite recent calls of some American lawmakers for a probe into the government’s war against illegal drugs. During his latest public address, Duterte disclosed that the country maintains close affinity with the US government due to a similar “outlook in geopolitics in South East Asia.”

@butchfBM

HE Senate is poised to tackle in plenary deliberations a “tougher” anti-rape bill raising to 16 the statutory rape age from 12 years old under the existing law, a very low threshold that advocates stressed has allowed many predators to abuse teenagers for the past many years. This, after Senate Bill 2332 was endorsed for floor debates and early approval by the Senate’s Justice and Human Rights Committee chaired by Senator Richard Gordon, jointly with the Committee on Women, Children and Family Relations chaired by

Senator Risa Hontiveros. As endorsed, the bill provides for the prosecution of a man or a woman who has sex with a boy or girl aged 16 years and below. The accused can escape prosecution only if the age difference between him/her and the victim is not more than four years and it is proven that the sexual act is consensual, nonabusive and non-exploitative, or the minor was not coerced in doing the act. According to Gordon, it is time to legislate this law because retaining the statutory rape age at age 12 exposes many young people to the danger of sexual abuse. In all of Asia, he added, the

He issued the statement after he decided just last week to retract his earlier abrogation of the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the US government. Duterte said he opted to keep the VFA as “concession” for US’s donation of 3 million doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccine. This was on top of the 1.6 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine received by the country from the US government through the Vaccines Global Access (Covax) facility. “I would like to thank United States President Biden for not for-

getting us,” Duterte said. To recall, Duterte said he wanted the abolition of the VFA, which allows US military forces to enter the country’s territory, after the cancellation of the US tourist visa of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa due to his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings of drug suspects. The abrogation proceedings was initiated in February 2020, but was suspended due to the pandemic. Last February Duterte said the US government must “pay” if it wants to maintain the VFA.

While he thanked the US government for its donation, he warned the State Department against any investigation on the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. “I would like to say something about the State Department. Be careful. Be careful with what you are planning to do there because you yourself your country is—not just was—but is guilty of so many violations of human rights,” Duterte said. At least 11 US Senators requested to the US State Department through a letter to look into the supposed “inhumane” drug war in the country.

5 N. Ecija policemen in kidnap-slay of online trader fired By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

ATIONAL Police chief General Guillermo Eleazar has ordered the immediate dismissal from the service of five Nueva Ecija policemen allegedly involved in the kidnap-slaying of a female online seller in the province. The policemen were identified as Staff Sgt. Benedict Matias Reyes, who is assigned at the Sta. Rosa Municipal Police Station; Staff Sgt. June Malillin of the Palayan City Police Station; Cpl. Julius Alcantara of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit; Master Sgt.

Senators push ‘tougher’ anti-statutory rape bill By Butch Fernandez

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, August 4, 2021 A3

Philippines have the lowest age of sexual consent, and it is among the lowest in the world. The Senate hearing showed, Gordon said, that one in every five Filipinos between the ages of 13 and 17 experiences sexual violence, and that one in 25 respondents also suffered sexual abuse in their youth. Most of those who abuse children are relatives, the Senate hearing showed. As endorsed by the committee, Gordon said the punishment is the same for those abusing girls or boys, a move that is based on the fact that the current statutes make the abuse of young boys imposable with lesser penalty.

Rowen Martin, assigned at the Cabanatuan City Police Station; and Staff Sgt. Drextemir Esmundo, assigned at the Cabiao Municipal Police Station. The five policemen and two civilians, Franklin Macapagal and Dario Robarios, were linked to the kidnapping and killing of victim Nadia Casar, who was from Cavite. A witness to the crime positively identified the suspects. Reyes, Malillin, Alcantara and Robarios are in police custody while Martin, Esmundo and Macapagal remain at large. All of them, however, have been charged before the Department of Justice. According to the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), Casar and a Grab

driver she hired were kidnapped by at least five men at around 1:45 p.m. on July 20 in Barangay Tagpos, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija. Both Casar and the Grab driver came from Cavite and went to Nueva Ecija to meet with Macapagal. The Grab driver was robbed of his cellular phone and P4,500 cash and released by the kidnappers at around 3 a.m. the following day. On the other hand, the burnt body of the kidnap victim was recovered on August 1 at around 2:30 p.m. in Sitio Pinagpala, Barangay Imelda Valley, Palayan City where it was buried by the suspects in shallow grave. Eleazar directed the AKG and the Integrity Monitoring and Enforce-

ment Group to conduct manhunt operations against the three suspects who remain at large. The Philippine National Police chief, while condemning the incident, assured that justice will be served for Casar and the policemen-suspects may probably rot in jail. The AKG was able to identify all the suspects after the Grab driver who went to the Sta. Rosa Police Station recognized one of the kidnappers from the wallmounted poster of all members of the police station. Later, he also saw the policeman at the station and told the AKG personnel, who was with him leading to the arrests.

DILG slams rebel attack on health workers, cops on Covid transport mission in Samar

EPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año on Tuesday condemned the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) for the alleged attack on a convoy of local health workers and policemen who were on their way to transport Covid-19 vaccines to Palo, Leyte, last week. Año was referring to an incident involving the Calbayog City Health Office staff escorted by Calbayog City Police Station personnel last July 27. The health workers and the policemen were on their way to the Department of Health Regional Office 8 in Palo, Leyte, when communist

rebels reportedly attacked them. “The CPP-NPA-NDF’s height of insensitivity, callousness, and opportunism knows no bounds. Wala na talaga silang pinipiling tao, lugar, o sitwasyon para pumatay at maghasik ng terorismo. Patunay lang ito na sila ay kaaway ng bayan at walang malasakit sa mga mamamayan dahil kahit ang ating mga medical frontliners na kukuha sana ng bakuna ay tinambangan nila,” the DILG chief stressed. Año lauded the police escort for ensuring the safety and security of the health workers as they fend off the attackers, reportedly forcing them to retreat. The attackers allegedly detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) and attacked the convoy while

traversing the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Lale, Pinabacdao, Samar. To ensure the smooth and efficient rollout of the vaccines in the communities, Año said, he had directed the Philippine National Police to assign additional personnel during Covid-19 vaccination operations. “I’ve already directed our police to deploy more men to protect our Covid-19 teams especially in areas where there are communist threats,” Año said. DILG Undersecretary and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesman Jonathan Malaya called on the public to immediately report sightings of communist terrorist groups in their localities to local authorities. Jonathan L. Mayuga

A4 Wednesday, August 4, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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DOF chief assures hotel owners of govt support amid pandemic By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

INANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III assured hotel owners that economic recovery is “near,” stressing that the Duterte administration is doing its best to support the revival of the hospitality and tourism industries badly hit by

Covid-19-induced lockdowns. Dominguez said he cannot give a clear timetable for the full reopening of the economy, but he vowed that the government stands ready to support local businesses through expanded credit, lower interest rates, and ensuring fiscal prudence. Apart from this, Dominguez said they are expecting the recently en-

acted Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law, to leave more cash resources for businesses to sustain employment or use for investments. “All these will help prepare the rebound of our tourism and hospitality sectors,” Dominguez told members of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc. (PHOA) in a webinar.

“In the meantime, I urge the hotel industry to take this opportunity to maintain infrastructure systems; strengthen health and safety protocols; and embrace digitalization to be ready for the upcoming demand in travel.” While he acknowledged that the hospitality and tourism industries have been “hardest hit” by the restrictions on movement that are necessa r y to contain infections, Doming uez said the threat posed by the C o v i d -1 9 Delta variant forced the government to es-

calate the restrictions once more. Metro Manila is set to be under a two-week enhanced community quarantine—the strictest form of lockdown imposed by the national government—from August 6 until August 20. “Even as we continue with quarantine measures to prevent surges in infection, we have been scaling up the vaccination program to protect our people. The success of this inoculation drive is key to a strong and sustained economic recovery,” he said. Dominguez also said the government’s vaccination program is “on the right track,” as the country continues to receive a “steady supply of vaccines from multiple sources” and the local government units’ proven ability to administer vaccines on a wide scale. Last week, the Philippines achieved a record number of over 659,000 doses administered in a

single day and a total of 20.86 million doses have already been given to date. On Monday, Malacañang said over 9 million individuals in the Philippines have so far been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. To achieve herd immunity, the government is aiming to vaccinate 70 million Filipinos by year-end. “We have endured much since the outbreak of this pandemic. Nevertheless, every indicator tells us that we have gone through the worst part of this global health emergency,” he said. Hang in there. Economic recovery is near. As soon as the infections are contained, we will be ready to rise as one,” he said. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the economy contracted by 9.6 percent in 2020. Despite the threat of the Covid-19 Delta variant, the government’s economic team kept its projection that the Philippine economy this year will grow by 6 to 7 percent.

DOTr retains current public transport limit in ECQ areas By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

HE Department of Transportation (DOTr) has assured that it will retain the current public transport supply and capacity within the areas to be placed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said commuters who are authorized persons outside residence (APOR) in the National Capital Region “will be accommodated by public transport services,” reminding the riding public to “strictly observe the prescribed physical distancing and sanitary measures at all times.” “Restrictions will be applied on passengers. There will be stricter enforcement to ensure that only APORs are permitted to use public transport, as mandated by the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases],” said Tugade. The IATF allowed the DOTr to keep the current supply and capacity of public transportation to accommodate APORs. Tugade noted. However, he added, the IATF still has power to restrict this should it deem it necessary. ECQ will be imposed beginning Friday. With this announcement, buses and jeepneys are allowed to operate at half of their capacity on a “one-seat-apart” set up. Motorcycle taxi services like Angkas and transport network vehicle service operations like Grab are also allowed during the ECQ period. Tricycles are allowed to operate, but they are limited to accommodating one passenger at a time, also subject to the approval of the

local government units and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Commuters are also encouraged to use bicycles and electric scooters. Train systems will also remain operational with transport marshals deployed to enforce health protocols and properly identify APORs. The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2, and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) are providing free rides to APORs between August 3 and August 20. Meanwhile, domestic flights and sea travel in the NCR will also continue during the ECQ, subject to community quarantine restrictions of the destinations. Tugade said passengers need to confirm the availability of their flight or voyage with their airline or shipping line before heading to the terminals to avoid inconvenience. “We at the DOTr reiterate the need for us to strictly observe the necessary health and safety measures aboard public transportation. We are more adamant now, as we reinforce the government initiatives and measures to prevent the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant,” Tugade said. Among the rules that the DOTr is imposing on public transport are the mandatory wearing of face masks and shields, restrictions on eating, drinking and talking, as well as the frequent disinfection of transport units. “We therefore remind the riding public of the importance of stringently observing the public transport health protocols, based on the recommendations of health experts, to protect and uphold the overall welfare of the passengers, and other transport stakeholders,” he added.

DA unveils new app for farmers, fisherfolk in digitalization push By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has created a new app that includes a chat function and electronic wallet for farmers and fisherfolk. The new BayaniKita app will connect farmers and fisherfolk directly to the DA Office of the Secretary to handle concerns and complaints. The E-wallet system in the app will also allow farmers and fisherfolk to facilitate digital payments and serve as their digital ID. “All of these will simplify communication and transition to acquiring agri services without leaving the comforts of your home,” DA said in a news statement. “This will also promote the ease of doing business and lessen physical interaction with people especially in this time of the pandemic,” the statement added. The app has also been integrated with other DA’s services such as weather updates, marketing platforms, such as bagsakan/bulungan and price monitoring, and Bantay African swine fever (ASF) program, among others.

During the launch of the new app, DA signed an agreement with BAYAD, GCash, and UnionBank for a three-year contract to avail of their payment collections services. The contract would also allow DA to use these payment facilities for services such as SPS permits, laboratory fees, and other related fees in its attached agencies and corporations. The DA will be one of the billers on their platforms. The DA also said the app will also help facilitate reports on payments since everything will be deposited directly to the accounts of the concerned agency. The Philippine Association of Agriculturists Inc. (PAA) also signed an agreement for the promotion and utilization of the BayaniKita app to its registered members. The BayaniKita App is available on Android. DA’s Technical Adviser on Information Technology, Farm Digitization and Marketing Dennis Layug said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) also pledged support for the BayaniKita App. A formal agreement and launching will be signed in September 2021.

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Wednesday, August 4, 2021 A5

DTI chief urges passage of urgent economic bills before Oct

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) wants the pending bills aimed at liberalizing the economy to be passed by the third quarter so the country can reap their benefits.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez was referring to the bills seeking amendments to the Public Service Act (Senate Bill 2094), Foreign Investments Act (Senate Bill 1156) and Retail Trade Liberalization Act (Senate Bill 1840). “We hope these three [proposed] laws will be moved into effect by this third quarter, hopefully before October,” Lopez said in a TV interview on Tuesday. “As long as we pass those laws this third quarter, there is still a

good chance to benefit from the improvement in the investment climate and a more liberal structure that will allow higher foreign equity participation in these critical services,” he added. The pending bill seeking to amend the 84-year-old Public Service Act aims to improve the quality of public services and goods by allowing more players. The proposed amendments provide the inclusion of public markets in the coverage of “public service”; and

We hope these three [proposed] laws will be moved into effect by this third quarter, hopefully before October. Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez

the definition of “public utility” in the following sectors: distribution of electricity, transmission of electricity and water pipeline distribution and sewerage pipeline systems. The bill amending the Foreign Investment Act seeks to cut the minimum employment requirement to 15 from 50 direct local hires for small and medium local firms established by foreign firms with at least $100,000 in paid-in capital.

The Senate version of the bill seeking to revise the Retail Trade Liberalization Act aims to further loosen up foreign restrictions by removing investment categories. This, as it aims to lower the minimum paid-up capital requirement for foreign retailers to $300,000 from $2.5 million. Based on the latest data, Lopez welcomed the rebound in the foreign direct investments (FDI) entering the country.

FDI net inflows rose by 114.4 percent to $670 million in April from $317 million year-on-year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported recently. In the first four months, total FDI inflows reached $3.1 billion, which is 56.3 percent more than the $2 billion registered in the previous year for the same period. “We just hope that we can continue with that, especially as we are able to do these other reforms after the CREATE [Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises] reform,” Lopez said. Under CREATE, the corporate income tax rate is reduced to 20 percent from 30 percent for domestic corporations with net taxable income of P5 million and below and have total assets of P100 million and below effective July 1, 2020. All other local firms and resident foreign companies are imposed a 25-percent income tax.

Loan assistance

IN the same interview, Lopez

vowed to continue offering loan assistance to struggling micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) micro-financing program. The DTI chief said that P5.05 billion worth of loans were provided to 32,500 borrowers already. But the department has secured additional funds of about P2.4 billion, which is available for loan grants. T he C A R E S prog ra m w a s launched through Small Business Corporation. It draws P1 billion in funds from the 2021 General Appropriations Act and P4 billion from Bayanihan 2. Lopez said the MSMEs could also avail of the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-Asenso (P3) financing program, which serves as alternative to informal borrowing schemes that implement exorbitant interest rates. He said some 222,000 borrowers were given P8.8 billion worth of loan grants already.

After 4 days of 8,000-plus logs, DOH lists 6,879 new Covid cases By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

HE total number of Covid-19 cases in the country stood at 1,612,541 after 6,879 additional infections were

recorded on Tuesday. T he Tuesday Cov id-19 log snapped a four-day streak of fresh infections being recorded at the rate of 8,000 plus daily, fueling fears that the delta variant may be causing a spike in cases.

The Department of Health (DOH) explained that the relatively low cases on Tuesday is due to fewer samples received last Sunday, August 1, 2021. For four consecutive days, over 8,000 Covid-19 cases were recorded by the agency.

There were also 6,337 recoveries and 48 deaths recorded on Tuesday. Of the total number of cases, 3.9 percent (63,137) are active, 94.3 percent (1,521,263) have recovered, and 1.75 percent (28,141) have died.

There were 100 duplicates removed from the total case count. Of these, 98 are recoveries. Moreover, 12 cases previously tagged as recoveries have been validated to be active cases and 18 cases that were previously tagged

as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation. One laboratory was not operational on August 1, 2021 but 9 laboratories were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System.

News

BusinessMirror

A4 Wednesday, August 4, 2021 A6

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Comelec affirms stance not to extend listing period despite ECQ

By Samuel P. Medenilla & Butch Fernandez

@sam_medenilla @butchfBM

EARLY 5 million new voters will now be able to participate in the 2022 National and Local polls, according to the Commission on Elections, which on Tuesday reiterated its inclination not to extend the period for voter registration on account of the new quarantine restrictions.

In a radio interview on Tuesday, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the number of newly registered voters has now reached 4.6 million— exceeding the 4-million target of the poll body. With this development, he said, over 60 million voters are now ex-

pected to participate in the elections next year. The poll official said the high turnout of first-time voters is one of the reasons why Comelec is currently not considering resetting the deadline for its ongoing voters registration, even if the said activity is currently suspended

in some parts of the country. Comelec postponed voter registration in areas, which were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ) due to rising cases of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Among the said areas will be Metro Manila, which will be placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20, 2021. Jimenez said they plan to conduct Saturday registrations in NCR once its ECQ ends to give more people the chance to register. He said Comelec is unlikely to extend the voter registration beyond its deadline on September 30, 2021 since it will have to prepare for the filing of Certificate of Candidacy by October. “This is the signal for us to start finalizing the list of voters. This is a long process and if we are unable to start is immediately, we may run out of time to complete it,” Jimenez said.

Drilon weighs in

SENATE Minority Leader Franklin

Drilon on Tuesday added his voice to calls for the Comelec to extend the period of voter registration. Drilon made the point, echoing earlier an appeal by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, that the two-week suspension could materially limit the number of days that voters can sign up for the 2022 elections. On Monday night, Comelec spokesman Jimenez said the en banc had not discussed the idea of extending the registration period, signaling that this was unlikely to happen. By Tuesday, Drilon declared there is no harm in extending the registration period, suggesting that Comelec just needs to “work double time to finish all the preparations” for the 2022 elections. At the same time, Drilon enjoined qualified voters to register in order to cast their ballots in the upcoming elections. He reminded that those who fail to register cannot vote in the upcoming elections and would have “no reason to complain whoever is elected into office.”

Pandemic showed gaps in food waste handling, supply chain–UN report continued from a7 Ubial said through these facilities, local communities can get clean and nutritious meals.

“[We] just bring in the excess food of our partners to these areas so that the local communities can actually benefit from what would have been waste for these companies and these establishments. I think that is really the concept that we would like to introduce in the Philippines, it’s the concept of food rescue,” Ubial said at the briefing. Ubial cited as an example of a food rescue the community pantry effort created this year to help poor Filipinos get access to nutritious food during the lockdown. The UN report said the emergence of community pantries highlighted the “inability of government support to keep pace with the growing needs in Metro Manila.” A community-based program such as community pantries which started in Maginhawa Street in Quezon City and replicated nationwide, was self-regulating. This means those who are in need can just get food while those who can spare food can donate. “Food as the main component of relief operations happens all the time especially during disasters but responding to the need for food has

required a stronger cooperation among locals,” the report stated.

Institutional standpoint

HOWEVER, experts believe food security should be addressed from an institutional standpoint. It should be part of the Disaster Risk Reduction Measures (DRRM) of countries, especially in urban areas. ADB Philippines Country Director Kelly Bird said a food security plan should be part of the DRRM efforts of local governments. This means including efforts to ensure that food distribution lines are accessible for families and that financing is available to rehabilitate critical public utilities that support food security. Bird noted that not all people can become farmers and be self-sufficient by planting their own food. This means countries like the Philippines will need an efficient, adaptable, and resilient agricultural sector. In order for this to happen, the agriculture sector should strengthen extension services. These must be delivered to farmers with the help of the private sector. The country, Bird said, should also invest in skills development of farmers not only through schools or technical vocation facilities but at the workplace and farms. “There should be continuous skills training throughout the life of workers in agriculture. We are now working with DTI, DOLE, and the Department of Tourism and we are now preparing a pilot project which we hope to launch this year and its going to be designed to train workers, continuously reskill them,” Bird said.

With more jabs, Palace hopes it’ll be last ECQ continued from a7

During the ECQ, he said they want to increase this to 12.6 million by the end of the latest ECQ in NCR, once they get hold of the 4 million Covid-19 jabs from the national government. As of Monday, Roque said the national government was only able to commit 2.5 million doses to be used in Metro Manila due to supply issues. The government hopes to achieve this be securing more vaccine supplies this month. This includes the additional 3 million doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, which were donated by the United States government and arrived in the country on Tuesday.

Health workers

IN an online Kapihan Session, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje also said that as of August 2, a total of 21,210,129 Covid-19 vaccine doses were already administered while 9,369,625 are now fully vaccinated. Cabotaje said they aim to achieve full protection for the health-care workers (HCWs), 97.41 percent of whom have been vaccinated—1,597,315 of the 1,626,495 target. A total of 1,389,449 or 84.74 percent have completed their vaccine doses. Likewise, by end of August, they hope to sustain average daily jabs of 600,000700,000 jabs, “if supply permits.” There are also 25 million doses delivery expected to arrive this month. Once the priority groups have been reached already, Cabotaje said that the

vaccination of the general population may start already. “Siguro pagdating ng September or October ’yung general public [Maybe we can start giving jabs to the general public by September or October],” said Cabotaje, who is also the National Vaccination Operations Center head.

Locate seniors

SHE urged the local government units (LGUs) to locate those senior citizens (A2) who were not able to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Only 34.97 percent of the A2 population were vaccinated or 2,891,718 of the 8,488,441 target. Of this, 198,471 or 32.5 percent of seniors received their two Covid-19 vaccine doses. She said they plan to request for additional jabs of Janssen vaccine—which needs only one dose—from the Covax facility for the convenience of the senior citizens. While the National Capital Region (NCR) will be placed under ECQ on August 6, Cabotaje assured the public of “Unhampered and undisrupted provision of vaccination services at all times, even in Covid-19 highburden areas.” “Walk-in shall not be allowed except for A2,” she said. For vaccinee’s transportation, authorities said transportation services will be provided both to the vaccine recipients and vaccination work force. Points of pick-up shall be announced.

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Pandemic showed gaps in food waste handling, supply chain–UN report By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE pandemic exposed gaps in handling food waste and other long-standing institutional gaps in the food supply chain in Metro Manila, according to the United Nations (UN). In a Policy Brief titled Urban Food Systems and the Pandemic, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Programme, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) found issues and gaps in food systems in Metro Manila, especially at the height of the lockdowns. These issues also included food supply bottlenecks especially at the start of the lockdown last year; information gaps within the food system which bared ineffective ICT systems; and capacity gaps in food provisioning. “The Covid-19 crisis has shown how the transport and logistical disruptions and the lack of information in the shifting market dynamics contributed to massive food losses from the oversupply of highly perishable agricultural commodities, especially high-value vegetables and fishery products,” the policy brief stated. “This meant income loss for farmers and fisherfolk and reduced availability of produce for consumers.” The report said efforts to address these losses also means avoiding food waste in households and adopt-

ing measures to mitigate food losses in the country’s food supply chain. However, as to the magnitude of the losses, FAO Representative Kati Tanninen said in a briefing on Thursday no baseline was created to measure food loss in the country. The report said in Metro Manila, Food Loss and Waste (FLW) is a “blind spot in finding solutions to hunger.” The UN said even before the pandemic, poor Filipinos who have no money to buy would scavenge food from garbage cans. This was happening, the UN said, while restaurants dumped their unsold produce in garbage cans and consumers stockpiled food without a consumption or meal plan. “I think there should be a baseline assessment to really get the understanding of what (are) the amounts we are talking about and that would be very helpful for the planning purposes and for the development of any programs in this area,” Tanninen said when asked how much food waste there is in Metro Manila. Rise Against Hunger Philippines Chairperson Paulyn Ubial said this is why “food rescue” or “food banking” is important. Even before the lockdown, she said their nongovernment organization (NGO) rescued food through partnerships. Ubial said under their partnerships with hotels and manufacturers, they retrieve excess food supplies then use these in the soup kitchens in Tondo and Taguig that they support. Continued on A6

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 A7

Peza investment pledges up 8.52% to ₧32B in 1st half

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

HE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) has approved 119 projects amounting to P32.057 billion in the first half, most of which were proposed by Asian neighbors.

The latest figure showed an 8.52-percent improvement from P29.541 billion worth of approved investments from 113 inquiries for the same period last year. “Peza remains true to its mandate of promoting investments, creating employment, generating exports, and attaining total economic development in our country as we maintain and implement strict Covid-19 protocols and guide-

lines in our ecozones,” Peza Director General Charito B. Plaza said in a statement on Tuesday. Majority of the investments were from Japan, South Korea, India, Hong Kong and China. Other approved projects came from Germany, Austria, France, Canada, and the United States of America. For June alone, Peza approved 62 new projects. These include 22 for information technology proj-

ects, 20 for export manufacturing enterprises, 13 for facilities and seven economic zone development projects. “These projects are essential especially as we continue to go back to our vibrant and booming economy,” Plaza said. Company locators, meanwhile, saw their exports grow by 23.35 percent year-on-year to $24.781 billion in the first five months. This, as employment reached 1.6 million. Earlier, Plaza told the BusinessMirror that Peza is keen on meeting its target export revenues of $100 billion this year despite the shipment delays posing risks to the supply chain. The regulator of economic zones said it has been addressing its company locators’ worries over the constraints in the delivery of raw materials and other goods, which

usually resulted in longer lead times. Plaza said the investment promotion agency has been working with the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority and other agencies handling transportation of shipments to resolve the matter. The Peza chief said they continue to promote the creation of special economic zones, particularly in the countryside, to spur employment and development. “As we all move forward towards herd immunity and reopening our economy, Peza is positive that we can fulfill the last few months of 2021 with flying colors,” she said. “The Covid-19 pandemic cannot stop us from performing at our best and ensuring that we continuously attract more investments, generate exports, and produce jobs for millions of Filipinos even post-pandemic.”

With more jabs, Palace hopes it’ll be last ECQ By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

& Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

AL AC AÑANG said the latest lockdown in the National Capital Region (NCR) will likely be the last as the gover nment aims to achieve “population protection” through inocu lation in the region before the end of

the month. However, achieving the ambitious target is currently being hampered by the lack of sufficient vaccine supply from the national government. In an online briefing on Tuesday, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the local government units (LGU) are targeting to administer 4 million Covid-19 jabs during the third round of enhanced community

quarantine (ECQ ) in NCR from Aug. 6 to 20, 2021. He noted LGUs will deploy all of the said doses within 16 days provided they are able to administer 250,000 jabs per day. “We hope that this will be our last ever lockdown. Why? Because the number of vaccinated individuals continues to increase,” Roque said. “If we are able to achieve [administering] additional 4 million

jabs, that will bring our total vaccinated individuals in Metro Manila to around 45 percent. With an additional 5 percent, we could achieve population protection in Metro Manila,” he added. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos said around 8.2 million of the NCR’s 30-million population are fully vaccinated as of Aug. 1, 2021. Continued on A6

BusinessMirror

A8 Wednesday, August 4, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

24/7 BUSINESS PROCESSING INC. 5th-6th-7th Flr. 81 Newport Bl Newport City Brgy. 183 Pasay City

KANG, WEIBO Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns

Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience. *Detailoriented and has the ability to multi-task.

LIU, TAO Mandarin Customer Service Representative 13.

LIU, CHUNBING Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns

LUO, JINZHONG Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns

TEE WEI JIAN Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns

WANG, HANWEN Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns

WANG, YUNFEI Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns

PAN, LI Mandarin Customer Service Representative 14.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience.

15.

Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns

16.

ZHANG, ZHE Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) Brief Job Description: Assists clients will all their concerns

17.

CAO, FEI Mandarin Customer Service Representative 9.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

18.

CHEN, FAN Mandarin Customer Service Representative 10.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

19.

CHEN, BAIFU Mandarin Customer Service Representative 11.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status

HAN, YU Mandarin Customer Service Representative 12.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

21.

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

26.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

28.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

29.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

HA GIA MAN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in mandarin speaking

JOHN WILDER Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 23.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in mandarin speaking

LY PHUNG MAI Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 24.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in mandarin speaking

32.

33.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 34.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN DUC TRUYEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN THIEN DAT Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

QIN, HAIQIONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WANG, YANCHANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 FAN, XUZHAO Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 35. Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

36.

37.

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

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

HU, XIN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 38.

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

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

GUO, WENLI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

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

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

FU, KANGWEI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

JIANG, XIULING Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 39.

25.

LI, XIAOYU Chinese Customer Service

CHEN, LIHENG Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City

DANG MY PHUNG Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

BAN, JIANZHANG Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

LAN, ZHEN Chinese Customer Service

ZHANG, TAO Malaysian Customer Relations Officer

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

AMUSETECH BUSINESS OUTSOURCING 6, 7, 8th Flr. (np) Moa Arena, J.w. Diokno Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status ZHU, ZHOU Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting custome information and analyzing customer needs.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status YU, JIEYI Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting custome information and analyzing customer needs.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status YIN, YILUN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

22.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status WU, DAIMENG Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5/f To 10/f, Tower 4 Pitx #01 Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

No.

31.

Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status WEN, LEI Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

30.

20. YAO, QINGYUN Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts)

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

WEI, XING Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

PANG WENG LOI Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

27.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. *Preferably 6 months to 1 year customer service experience.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

LEI, LI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 40.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LI, XINQI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 41.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

LI, HUIMIN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 42.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services

LIU, YUJIAO Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 43.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

MA, JUNTING Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 44.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

QU, WUQIANG Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 45.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

TAN, SIYUAN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 46.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

TIAN, XIAOQIN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 47.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

WANG, KAI Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 48.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

WANG, YUNYUN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 49.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

WU, LIYUN Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 50.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

WU, SHAOXIA Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 51.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

YANG, JIE Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 52.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

YU, JINHONG Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 53.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

HOANG THI TUYET Vietnamese Customer Service 54.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

No.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WILSON STEVE JOHNSON Deputy General Manager 57.

NGUYEN THI OANH KIEU Advisor I, Customer Service Vietnamese 58.

59.

60.

55.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

61.

62.

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

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

HUI, XIUWEN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 63.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

LIU, JINSHENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 64.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

LUO, YU Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 65.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

LUO, YUANYUAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 66.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

67.

68.

69.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

WANG, SHUAI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in VIETNAMESE language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

TANG, JUNCHAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about service or products; Excellent Mandarin communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

NONG, LANYING Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in VIETNAMESE language.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

MENG, JUNWEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

No.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

WANG, JIALIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

WEI, LIANGLONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 72.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YANG, BAODONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

73.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

YE, BINGGOU Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 74.

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

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

YIN, FEIYU Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Basic Qualification: Proficient in both Vietnamese and English language

75.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 76.

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers.

77.

78.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

79.

LIU, BEIQI Mandarin Site Technical Officer Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

GUNANATHAN, MANIVANNAN General Manager 80.

Brief Job Description: Performs Executive functions in the field of Information Technology, IT systems, sales, marketing, and accounting.

82.

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers.

MA, BAOCHENG Computer System Analyst Brief Job Description: Research and evaluate new technologies

ZENG, LINGBIN Computer System Analyst Brief Job Description: Research and evaluate new technologies

SHI, SHAOBING Machine Feeder 83.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers. 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: Bachelor of Commerce/ Master in Science Information Technology. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applicants Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applicants Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Inspect materials and to ensure conformance to specifications

Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in machineries and supplies Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HASKELL COMPANY PHILIPPINES, INC. U-b 7/f 8 Rockwell Center Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center Poblacion Makati City

DE OLIVEIRA AZEVEDO, PAULO ALEXANDRE Superintendent 84.

Brief Job Description: Supervises assigned construction projects and obtains successful cost result with respect to labor and equipment utilization.

Basic Qualification: BS in Construction Management or equal US education preferred, minor in business administration US education preferred, US construction experience required International experience required. 5-8 years of supervisory experience, 10-12 years of applicable construction experience, experience in managing large teams (500+ people) and able to schedule CPM, 120 day schedule, 5-week schedule. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

HECTECHURE CORP. Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City

HE, GUANGSHUAI Mandarin Graphic And Web Developer 85.

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

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers.

GREAT EARTH FOOD INDUSTRIAL INCORPORATED Rm 1212 State Center Bldg. 333 Juan Luna St. 027 Bgy. 287 Binondo Manila

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

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive Sto. Niño Parañaque City

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

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers.

ELEGANT INFOVENTURES, INC. Unit 703 & 704 Parktrade Center Tower 1718 Investment Drive Mbp Ayala, Alabang Muntinlupa City

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

ZHU, JIAXING Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

ZHENG, JIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate in Mandarin Chinese with customers.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

YU, ZHI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

81.

BOUVARDIA INC. Unit-25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg. Salcedo St. San Lorenzo Makati City

56.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

HUANG, BINGANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

71.

LI, ZHIPENG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

FU, JINGTIAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

70. PHUNG MINH NHI Vietnamese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer services & managing the needs of the customer through phone calls and emails.

CHEN, XUHUI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

Brief Job Description: Provide customer service support for Vietnamese consumers

BAI, LEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

Basic Qualification: candidate must have fourplus years of experience in creating process flows and diagrams and must have strong knowledge and know-how of Epiplex and Vision

DAXIFA CORPORATION Mpire Center 93 West Avenue Project 7 Bungad 1 Quezon City

Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CONCENTRIX DAKSH SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Bldg. F Ayalaland Technohub Quezon City

Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: meets call center financial objectives by estimating requirements; p[repairing an annual budget; scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances; initiating corrective actions

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Graphic and Web Developer will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

HE, XUSHAN Mandarin Graphic And Web Developer 86.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Graphic and Web Developer, Excellent communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A10 Wednesday, August 4, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUE, QUANCAI Mandarin Operating System Analyst 87.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Operating System Analyst will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Operating System Analyst, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SUN, WEI Mandarin Operating System Analyst 88.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Operating System Analyst, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

No.

101.

JUNG, JOUNGHAN System Analyst 89.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with other IT staff such as programmers to produce new systems.

103.

OH, SEHUN System Analyst 90.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with other IT staff such as programmers to produce new systems. YOON, KISEOP System Analyst

91.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with other IT staff as programmers to produce new systems. JUN, JONGHO Web Developer

92.

Brief Job Description: Design and Layout of a website according to a company’s specification.

MOON, HYUNJO Web Developer 93.

Brief Job Description: Quality-test and Troubleshoot website its applications in various browser.

104.

Basic Qualification: Implementing new systems.

YU, MURONG Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist 105.

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

106.

NIETO SANCHEZ, ELIANA Chief Financial Officer 94.

Brief Job Description: Senior leadership role in finance function; provide financial & IT stewardship, strategic direction, leadership and management to the finance dept. including guidance on IT activities

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

95.

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction

107.

96.

Brief Job Description: provide the customers of an organization with guidance and information

XU, RONGCHAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 97.

Brief Job Description: provide the customers of an organization with guidance and information

ZHANG, LIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 98.

Brief Job Description: provide the customers of an organization with guidance and information

ZHANG, QI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 99.

Brief Job Description: provide the customers of an organization with guidance and information

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

108.

100.

Brief Job Description: Managing business accounts and preparing financial statements

BENNY Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

109.

110.

HE, YUQIAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider

112.

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

Basic Qualification: 18-50 y/o, good organizational skills, proficient in relevant computer applications

113.

114.

XU, DAQING Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

115.

ZANG, CHENGJUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

116.

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

WANG, CHUNYUAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

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

QIU, WEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, GOOD ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, PROFICIENT IN RELEVANT COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

Basic Qualification: 18-50 y/o, good organizational skills, proficient in relevant computer applications

HU, TAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

Basic Qualification: 18-50 y/o, good organizational skills, proficient in relevant computer applications

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

HU, JINNAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

111.

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

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

118.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION PHAN DINH NGHIA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TRAN HOANG NAM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

119.

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

120.

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

122.

Basic Qualification: Excellent in reading, writing and speaking in Mandarin.

123.

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

TRAN VAN DUC Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WANG, GAOYANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WANG, LIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ZHANG, SIXUE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ZHU, DEYUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ZHANG, XIAOLONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

Basic Qualification: Graduate of Business Administration. With exposure to overseas marketing and experience in the appliance industry.

CHEN, JUNJIE IT Technical Support 124.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

Brief Job Description: Maintains the computer networks of all types of organizations, providing technical support and ensuring the whole company runs smoothly.

LI, CHAO IT Technical Support 125.

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

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Brief Job Description: Maintains the computer networks of all types of organizations, providing technical support and ensuring the whole company runs smoothly.

RIDGWELL, DAVID JOHN Continuous Improvement Agent 126.

Brief Job Description: Provide real time on the floor virtual support and 1-2-1 coaching to customer service agents

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

HILDEBRANDT, MICHAEL Customer Support Advisor - German 127.

Brief Job Description: Manage accounts and concerns of clients from the German market

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

VELTEN, SARAH Customer Support Advisor - German 128.

Brief Job Description: Manage accounts and concerns of clients from the German market

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

ZEISKE, DENNIS FRANCO PATRICK Customer Support Advisor - German 129.

Brief Job Description: Manage accounts and concerns of clients from the German market

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or any related course with a minimum of 1 year IT experience and able to speak and write in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: 18-65 years old, good oral and written English language communication skills, computer applications skills Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: German language skills (written and spoken), good oral and speaking skills Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: German language skills (written and spoken), good oral and speaking skills Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: German language skills (written and spoken), good oral and speaking skills Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Sky Garage Bldg. Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City Tambo Parañaque City

130.

CHEN, SHULAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

Basic Qualification: With Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or any related course with a minimum of 1 year IT experience and able to speak and write in Mandarin.

NCH CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICES, INC. 6f, 7f, Tower 3 West Bldg. Double Dragon Plaza, Edsa Ext. Cor. Macapagal St. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

131.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 132.

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NANTAI TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 3rd Floor Net One Center Building 26th Street Corner 3rd Ave. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

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

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

JIANG, SHUJUN Mandarin Speaking Account Manager

Brief Job Description: Oversee sales and marketing team with regards to product and marketing strategy for home appliance products. Coordinates with Korean counterparts in HQ and production factories

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

WANG, MINGZHU Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

LEE, JUN Home Appliance Product Director

INQUICK SERVICES INC. Unit 606 6/f Itc Bldg. 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Bel-air Makati City

WANG, FANGKUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

117.

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

LG ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES, INC. 15 Francisco Legaspi St. Maybunga Pasig City

HOLCIM PHILIPPINES, INC. 7th Floor Two World Square Mckinley Hill Pinagsama Taguig City Basic Qualification: with multicultural/ international work background, maximum of 15 years extensive experience; with finance degree or equivalent

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business

SU, XIN Bilingual Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Web development or related field; Relevant experience.

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

No.

KWONG YUAN TRADING CORP. 16/f Tower 6789 Ayala Ave. Cor. H.v Dela Costa St. Bel-air Makati City

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer applications.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

121.

Basic Qualification: Implementing new systems. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business

SHI, CHANGLIU Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

Basic Qualification: Implementing new system. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business

OU, HAI Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 HJ WEB SOFTWARE DEVELOPER INCORPORATED Unit 207, Heritage Condominium 1851 Antonio Vasquez St., 076 Bgy. 697 Malate Manila

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business

LIANG, JINPING Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist 102.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHEN, HANWEI Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

www.businessmirror.com.ph

FEI, RUGANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HOU, JIAYAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

133.

134.

135.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LIAO, WEIQUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LIN, WEIBIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LU, HONGSHENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

147.

136.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

SONG, WEILIANG Chinese Customer Service

FENG, HUA Project Consultant 148.

137.

138.

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

SU, WANQING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

WANG, GUOWEI Chinese Customer Service 139.

140.

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

WANG, BIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

WU, DING Chinese Customer Service 141.

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

XIONG, JIANGCHUAN Chinese Customer Service 142.

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

XU, YINGXIN Chinese Customer Service 143.

144.

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

ZHAO, MIMI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year Chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and English written and orally

145.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for hiring, developing and looking after employees.

YU, CHENG-WEN Chinese Customer Service Representative 151.

146.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for delivering & promoting remote, instructor-led product training

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

CHEN, CHAO-JUNG a.k.a. RALPH LOUIE LAO SIH Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative 152.

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attract potential to a customers; contributes to team

TSENG, JIAN-RUEI Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative 153.

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attract potential to a customers; contributes to team

YU, JINGJING Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative 154.

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attract potential to a customers; contributes to team

ZENG, NIANLIN Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative 155.

Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year Chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and English written and orally Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attract potential to a customers; contributes to team

ZHAO, HENGXIN Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative 156.

Brief Job Description: Maintains financial account; recommend potential products and services; attract potential to a customers; contributes to team

XIONG, ZHISHENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 157.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints.

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

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Mandarin. Proficient in MS Office, with exceptional knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Experienced trainer, bachelor’s degree, proficiency in English and any of the abovementioned languages and amendable on any shift. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

STEFANINI PHILIPPINES, INC. 3f, 5f, 6f Imet Bpo Tower Metro Bldg. Metrobank Ave. Roxas Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and English language both in written and verbal, must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills

164.

165.

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

Basic Qualification: At least 19 yrs old. Ability to speak write and communicate in Chinese mandarin

Basic Qualification: At least 19 yrs old. Ability to speak write and communicate in Chinese mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 19 yrs old. Ability to speak write and communicate in Chinese mandarin

158.

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner

168.

169.

159.

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner DINH THI BICH PHUONG Customer Service Representative

160.

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner DUONG THI HONG TAM Customer Service Representative

161.

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin / English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin / English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

XUSHENG TECHNOLOGY CORP. Flr. No. 1-5 Bldg. No. 0050 F.b. Harrison St. Cor. Williams And Roberts St. Zone 4, Barangay 013, District 1 Pasay City CHEN, DENGYU Mandarin Speaking Technical Support 170.

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk KONG, XIANGYU Mandarin Speaking Technical Support

171.

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk KOU, GUANGPING Mandarin Speaking Technical Support

172.

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk YANG, LIU Mandarin Speaking Technical Support

173.

Brief Job Description: Deals with hardware and application support queries and issues reported to the support desk

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YOFC INTERNATIONAL (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION U-307-309, #99 Reliance It Center Bldg. E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Ugong Pasig City CAO, HONGWEI Account Manager 174.

Brief Job Description: Serve as the lead point of contact for all customer account management matters. QU, MIN Account Manager

175.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

Brief Job Description: Serve as the lead point of contact for all customer account management matters. ZHANG, QI Account Manager

176.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language, College degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language, College degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: 775-858-207

Brief Job Description: Serve as the lead point of contact for all customer account management matters.

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

ZX-PRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 16/f Robinsons Cybergate 3 Pioneer Brgy. Barangka Ilaya Mandaluyong City

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin / English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YANG, YAHAN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 177.

CHI CON LIN Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner YI, JINNUO Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner TRINH HA TRANG Customer Service Representative

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

VALUESERVICESTECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED G/f Horizon Bldg. Andrews Ave. Newport City St. Zone 20 Barangay 183, District 1 Pasay City AN THI MAI Customer Service Representative

167.

Basic Qualification: At least 19 yrs old. Ability to speak write and communicate in Chinese mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner TRAN KIM LAN Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 19 yrs old. Ability to speak write and communicate in Chinese mandarin

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner LAM MY DANH Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking reading and writing in Chinese mandarin , English and their respective native language

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner JIANG, LUPING Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in handling assisting, organizing, and managing site operation.

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner HO CAM YEN Customer Service Representative

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

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road Tambo Parañaque City

REFINITIV ASIA PTE. LTD. - PHILIPPINE BRANCH Ground Floor 18/20 Building Upper Mckinley Hill Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

DJEDJI, ABEY JEAN-LEANDRE MAXIMIN Customer Learning Specialist - French

Brief Job Description: Assist project manager to manage project.

Brief Job Description: Field incoming help request from users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner HO CAM NHUNG Customer Service Representative

TIAN XIA TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 9/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City

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

PAILI HOLDINGS CORPORATION 3rd Floor One/ Neo Building 26th Street Corner 3rd Avenue Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

SHAO, JIAN Human Resource Officer

150.

HUANG, ZHUOFAN Assistant Project Manager

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year Chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and English written and orally

162.

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

166.

Brief Job Description: Coordinate project management activities, resources equipment and information provide analytical support to manager in executing assigned projects.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION GU, YANGMING Customer Service Representative

T ONE CHINA CONSTRUCTION THIRD BUREAU CORPORATION 99 Dasmarinas St. 026 Bgy.282 San Nicolas Manila

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Coordinate project management activities, resources equipment and information provide analytical support to manager in executing assigned projects

YE, MEIDUI Project Consultant

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year Chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and English written and orally

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Foreign Language (Bahasa & French)

No.

163.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

STONE ASIA AND SPECIALTY PRODUCTS, INC. 350 J.p. Rizal Brgy. Namayan Mandaluyong City

149. PENG, JIAQUAN Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Provide professional IT Service in Indonesian Client

A11

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION DUFITEYEZU, JEAN NEPO Multilingual Helpdesk Technician Support

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin / English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help customers, give customers information about the product and services

Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months Customer Service experience/Good oral comunication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Aug 3, 2021

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-NCR Regional Office located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE-NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A12 Wednesday, August 4, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

There’s big money in plant-based meat

he recent increase in demand for plant-based meats is too dramatic to be ignored by both the government and local businesses, according to the Board of Investments (BOI). The agency providing incentives to investors declared that the market for plant-based meats is now more attractive given the increasing number of consumers who are on the lookout for meat alternatives. The rise in the number of people consuming meat alternatives enabled manufacturers to rake in $8 billion last year or about P400 billion at the current exchange rate (See, “Demand for plant-based meat rising amid ASF, avian flu—BOI,” in the BusinessMirror, July 21, 2021). More people are expected to consume these products due to the onslaught of animal diseases, such as the African swine fever and avian influenza. Citing data from Barclays, the BOI said the global market is projected to increase to $140 billion by 2029 with other sources projecting revenues of $11 billion to $50 billion in 2024 and 2025, respectively. For the Asia-Pacific region, the plant-based meat market is expected to generate revenues of $30 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 18.9 percent. The BOI is bullish on the prospects of the plant-based meat industry. So much so that it has even exhorted local businesses and exporters to consider tapping the market for these products. There is basis for this advice considering the availability of natural resources in the country that manufacturers can use to produce these meat alternatives. Aspiring Filipino entrepreneurs can learn from the experience of Thai companies that have forayed into the synthetic meat business, which used the same crops that are also grown in the Philippines to manufacture plant-based protein. NR Instant Produce Pcl, for instance, uses jackfruit and eggplants to make mock pork and other alternative meat products. The company that started making mock pork in 2016 was able to raise some 1.6 billion baht ($51.4 million) in its initial public offering in October 2020. The government and the private sector must work together to help companies that are keen on going into this business to produce and sell alternative meat products. The recent online information session on the upcoming Big Idea Food Competition (BIFC) 2022 Asia Edition, conducted by the BOI to raise awareness on the potentials of plant-based foods, is a good first step. It has trained the spotlight on Worth The Health Foods (WTH), a local plant-based meat alternatives company, which benefited from BIV investments. WTH makes various products—plant-based nuggets and ground meat—using local ingredients, such mung beans or munggo. A concerted effort involving relevant government agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Agriculture and local researchers, is needed to encourage entrepreneurs to follow the lead of WTH. Granting incentives to companies that will go into the manufacture of plant-based food and helping them access markets will open doors for many other aspiring entrepreneurs who want to take a crack at the burgeoning alternative meats market. Since 2005

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All About Social Security

E Filipinos have a deep regard for education. When I was young, my parents used to remind my siblings and me about the importance of education. They made it a point to emphasize to us that completing our education is the only bequest they can leave behind. Education indeed plays a significant role in our society. Be it via face to face, blended, or online classes, nothing can stop parents from investing in the education of their children—be it in primary, secondary, or tertiary education—not even the Covid-19 pandemic. At SSS, we recognize the importance placed by our culture on education. That is why, in 2012, SSS launched the Educational Assistance Loan Program (EALP), which was designed to help member-borrowers and their beneficiaries cover educational expenses in college degrees and vocational courses. EALP is a joint initiative of SSS and the National Government to grant affordable educational loans to qualified SSS members. Initially, it has a budget allocation of P7 billion, of which 50 percent came from the National Government and the remainder was a counterpart from the SSS.

Principal collections are plowed back to the EALP Fund to serve new beneficiaries. Thus, loan repayment by member-borrowers is critical to the continuation of this program in the future. To qualify, interested members must meet the following criteria: n below 60 years old; n with actual monthly basic income of P25,000 or below; n with at least 36 posted contributions, six of which are posted within the last 12 months before the month of filing the EALP application; n updated payment of member’s other existing member loans; and n no overdue accounts with SSS. Members, their legal spouses, and children can benefit from EALP. If a member is single, their siblings can also borrow from the program. However, only one beneficiary is allowed for every eligible member-borrower as the program does not also allow any substitution.

For a college degree course, a qualified borrower can get a maximum loanable amount of P20,000 per semester, trimester, quarter, or net tuition/miscellaneous fees/assessment balance on a cash basis, whichever is lower. For example, a four-year college degree program will be allowed a maximum number of availments in eight semesters, 12 trimesters, or 16 quarters, or P160,000 as total allocation. For a five-year degree program, a borrower can avail himself of a loanable amount equivalent to 10 semesters, 15 trimesters or 20 quarters, or a maximum of P200,000 total allocation. Borrowers can also make use of EALP for a two-year vocational or technical course. They can borrow a maximum loanable amount of P10,000 per semester or trimester or net tuition/miscellaneous fees/ assessment balance on a cash basis, whichever is lower. The maximum number of availments is four semesters or a maximum of P40,000 total allocation. For example, in a trimester program, the borrower can have a maximum number of availments of six trimesters or a maximum of P60,000 allocation. The program imposes a 6-percent interest rate per annum based on the diminishing principal balance until fully paid, a 2-percent maintenance charge of the consolidated principal loan balance, and a penalty of 1 percent per month for any unpaid amortization. Repayment starts on the month

following the consolidation of the EAL, which is after 18 months for semestral programs, 15 months for trimestral, or 14 months and 15 days for quarter programs from the month of the last release. The payment term is up to five years for a degree course and three years for a vocational or technical course. The repayment term shall be determined upon consolidation of the account. Any unpaid loan balance shall be deducted from the future SSS benefit of the member-borrower. Interested members and their beneficiaries can apply for the program by submitting to the nearest SSS branch a duly accomplished EALP Application Form, valid IDs, current school’s assessment or billing statement, member-borrower’s proof of monthly salary/income, and proof of relationship to the beneficiary. American business magnate Warren Buffett once said: “One can best prepare themselves for the economic future by investing in your own education. If you study hard and learn at a young age, you will be in the best circumstances to secure your future.” We hope that SSS members and their beneficiaries will make use of this opportunity to complete their studies, which can serve as a gateway to a better and brighter future. Have a productive week ahead!

Aurora C. Ignacio is SSS president and chief executive officer. We welcome your questions and insights on the topics that we discuss. E-mail mediaaffairs@sss. gov.ph for topics that you might want us to discuss.

Vaccine patent waivers in the time of Covid-19 pandemic

Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso

Chairman of the Board President Advertising Sales Manager Group Circulation Manager

Aurora C. Ignacio

Lourdes M. Fernandez

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

The SSS educational assistance program

Dennis Gorecho

Kuwentong kule

atent waivers for vaccines became one of the interesting issues involving intellectual property rights during this Covid-19 pandemic.

The intellectual property (IP) waivers aim to allow countries to choose not to enforce, apply or implement patents and other exclusivities that could impede the production and supply of Covid-19 medical tools, until global herd immunity is reached. The waiver would send a crucial signal to potential manufacturers that they can start producing needed Covid-19 medical tools without fear of being blocked by patents or other monopolies. As part of a bid to widen access to Covid-19 vaccines and address

supply constraints, the rationale is that by forcing manufacturers to share their intellectual property for vaccines with other manufacturers they can also start to produce them, thereby increasing supply. Intellectual property rights are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds such as copyright, trademark, patent, utility model, and industrial design. IP rights give the creator an exclusive right over the use of one’s creation for a certain period of time, ensuring that he is given due recognition or remuneration for his effort.

SVBB is committed to perform the noble task of upholding justice with excellence and professionalism, for the good and interest of society, especially the poor and underprivileged.

The governing local law is Republic Act 8942, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. The IP Code defines patentable inventions as any technical solution of a problem in any field of human activity that is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable shall be patentable. It may be, or may relate to, a product, or process, or an improvement of any of the foregoing. The law likewise gives an enumeration of non-patentable inventions. The right to a patent belongs to the inventor, his heirs, or assigns. When two or more persons have jointly made an invention, the right to a patent shall belong to them jointly. The Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan (SVBB) law offices is considered

as one of the front-running law firms in the country engaged in intellectual property prosecution, maintenance, licensing, and enforcement. The 45 years of existence of SVBB law offices, during which it witnessed episodes of political turmoil and economic crisis, are a testament to the sterling character and resilience of the partners, lawyers and staff of the firm. Established on August 1, 1976, the heart and soul of SVBB was forged by the vision and leadership of its founders, classmates Eugene A. Tan and Ignacio Sapalo, both of the Ateneo School of Law. Aside from intellectual property law, SVBB later evolved into a full service law firm with diversified practice areas in Philippine law, including corporation/taxation, litigation and labor (specifically seafarers’ claims) with branch offices in Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro. “Serving with a heart; driven to master change” is SVBB’s motto that captures succinctly what the firm is, its culture and values in the See “Gorecho,” A13

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

In heat emergency, southern Europe scrambles for resources

Morally responsible government officials Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza

MAKE SENSE

By Derek Gatopoulos, Mehmet Guzel & Colleen Barry Associated Press

THENS, Greece—A heat wave baking southeast Europe has fueled deadly wildfires in Turkey and threatened the national power grid in Greece as governments scrambled Monday to secure the resources needed to cope with the emergency. Temperatures reached 45 C (113 F) in inland areas of Greece and nearby countries and are expected to remain high for most of the week. Battling deadly wildfires along its coastline for a sixth day, Turkey broadened an appeal for international assistance and was promised water-dropping planes from the European Union. The fires have been blamed for the deaths of eight people in recent days. The help for residents in Turkey’s fire-ravaged areas couldn’t come soon enough. At the coastal village of Bozalan, resident Esra Sanli looked over at the blaze. “It’s burning. It’s obviously burning. There’s no plane, there’s no helicopter, there are no [access] roads,” she said, sobbing. “How is this going to be extinguished? How?” In Greece, an emergency was declared in fire-hit areas on the island of Rhodes, which is near the Turkish coast. Workers with health conditions were allowed to take time off work, while Greek coal-fired power stations slated for retirement were brought back into service to shore up the national grid, under pressure due to the widespread use of air conditioning. Pregnant and other vulnerable workers in North Macedonia were told to stay home. Dann Mitchell, a professor of climate science at the University of Bristol, said the heat wave in southeast Europe “is not at all unexpected, and very likely enhanced due to humaninduced climate change.” “The number of extreme heat events around the world is increasing year on year, with the top 10 hottest years on record all occurring since 2005,” Mitchell told The Associated Press. “This year, we have seen a number of significant events, including a particularly dramatic heat wave in western Canada and the US, that was extreme even for current levels of climate change,” Mitchell said. “These black swan events have always happened, but now they sit on the background of a hotter climate, so are even more deadly.” As hot weather edged southward, Italy and Croatia were experiencing storms as well as wildfires. A small tornado in Istria, on Croatia’s northern Adriatic coast, toppled trees that destroyed several cars, hours before a large wildfire erupted outside the

Gorecho. . .

continued from A12

protection of the clients’ interests with sensitivity, care, and attention. “When the world has put a stop to this pandemic, it will usher in many changes, hopefully to make the world better. Our firm’s motto, ‘Driven to Master Change,’ should come into play. This pandemic drove home the lesson that to stay safe, we need everybody to stay safe. In plain language this means that we should not only think of our own interests but also those of others,” said Atty. Sapalo, managing partner on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the SVBB law firm. Recognized as the “Father of the IP Code,” Atty. Sapalo was the former Director of the then Bureau of Patents, Trademarks, and Technology Transfer (now the IPOPhil) who worked on the passing of the IP Code in 1998, which aligned Philippine intellectual property laws with international standards and practices. Atty. Sapalo stressed that on the

“The number of extreme heat events around the world is increasing year on year, with the top 10 hottest years on record all occurring since 2005,” Mitchell told The Associated Press. nearby resort of Trogir, threatening homes and the local power supply. Some 30 people were treated for light smoke inhalation in Italy’s coastal city of Pescara after flames tore through a nearby pine forest. Beach-goers nearby had to be rescued by sea Sunday from that wildfire. “That zone of pine forest is a nature reserve, and it’s completely destroyed. It brings tears to see it. The environmental damage is incalculable. This is the heart of the city, its green lung and today it is destroyed,” Pescara Mayor Carlo Masci said. Cyprus, recovering from a major wildfire last month, kept waterdropping planes on patrol to respond to fires as they broke out. “If you don’t react right away with a massive response to any outbreak, things can turn difficult quickly,” forestry service chief Charalambos Alexandrou told state-run media. “The conditions are war-like.” On a visit to the power grid operator Monday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged members of the public to avoid daytime use of ovens, washing machines and other energy-demanding appliances to reduce the risk of blackouts. He described the weather conditions in Greece as the most severe since a deadly heat wave in 1987. It was the year that Ioanna Vergou, deputy mayor of the northern Greek town of Skydra, was born. The town of 5,500 briefly ranked among the hottest in the country. She said municipal workers had been given earlier shifts and those needing public services were handed water and sent to an air-conditioned waiting area. “Many people here have compared the heat wave to what happened in 1987,” she said. “But hopefully it will be easier this time round. We are all just waiting for it to pass.” Mehmet Guzel reported from Cokertme, Turkey and Colleen Barry reported from Milan, Italy. Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, Ayse Wieting in Istanbul, Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia, Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus, and Konstantin Testorides in Skopje, North Macedonia also contributed.

lawyer’s shoulders fall the challenging task of ferreting out the truth in every case they handle, carefully balancing contending interests to reach fair and just results, and always staying within the bounds of the rule of law. Given the important role of Filipino seafarers, SVBB also remains to be one of the leading movers advocating seafarers’ rights through initiatives showcasing its commitment to the principle of social justice. As the life of a seafarer is not a walk in the park, the SVBB cooperates with various stakeholders, such as the church-based Stella Maris Philippines, in ensuring better protection and more benefits for seafarers. SVBB is committed to perform the noble task of upholding justice with excellence and professionalism, for the good and interest of society, especially the poor and underprivileged. Atty. Dennis Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez. com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 A13

have always been particular about good values in life, both as a parent and as Chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI). In fact, guided by a conscience that makes me feel morally responsible to correct things that I see to be not morally right, I have been sued for doing my responsibility as an advocate for the protection of the local industry and consumer’s causes.

I am referring to the importation of 5,000 metric tons of steel bars brought into the country in a port north of Metro Manila, where only three steel bars were drawn by government regulators for testing from the entire lot of the imported steel bars. Of the three samples drawn, only one was tested for its compliance to prescribed standards. The two other bars were stored for future testing, should there be a need for another round of tests. I find that ridiculous: Testing only one steel bar sample from 5,000 metric tons of imported steel bars! This is also unfair to local manufacturers of steel bars that are required to draw a sample for every 20 metric tons of steel bars they produce. In the tussle whether the three samples were enough to represent the entire universe of the 5,000 metric tons of imported steel bars, I was not really convinced by the DTI response that it complies with the requirement of the law. So, the 5,000 metric tons of imported steel bars were released. But

I still have in my possession a letter from a government expert on steel that says that the three samples drawn do not represent the whole universe of the 5,000 metric tons of imported steel bars. Fortunately, the DTI eventually amended its sampling requirements for imported steel bars after I made it an issue, which is the correct thing to do to ensure the safety of our buildings and, ultimately, our people. In our radio/TV program “Dito sa Bayan ni Juan” with former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, we had for our guest the official who issued the letter relative to the 5,000-metric-ton importation of steel bars. We discussed the circumstances behind the testing procedure. And he explained that their responsibility was only to test the steel bars and to follow the government-prescribed testing rules as they have no authority to change it. But having said in his letter that the testing results of the three samples drawn from the steel bar importation would not be representative of the entire universe

Why was DTI’s testing rules on steel bars amended only after I questioned them? And why do government officials have to wait for things to become a public concern before they act to correct them? Perhaps, those concerned government officials can enlighten us on these issues.

of 5,000 metric tons of imported steel bars, we wonder why he did not suggest for the government to address the issue immediately and appropriately. He knows this because what he said in his letter was practically an admission of the procedural problem. Why was DTI’s testing rules on steel bars amended only after I questioned them? And why do government officials have to wait for things to become a public concern before they act to correct them? Perhaps, those concerned government officials can enlighten us on these issues. This mindset, however, saddens me, knowing that government agencies are supposed to closely coordinate with each other. Government officials should not have a compartmental mind as even the government’s three independent departments—the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary—need to coordinate with each other. There’s always a time for independent departments to work cohesively on issues for the good of the nation and its people. And there’s always a time for those in government, to be morally and officially responsible officials. As parents, my wife and I trained our children to be sensitive and to

act responsibly in situations that can potentially cause damage or injury. If they see a glass of water precariously placed on the table, for instance, they need not be told to secure it to prevent it from falling. This is simple common sense, and a simple way to show care and concern. Government officials must have a sense of responsibility, accountability and concern for the public good. Good public servants must respond immediately to concerns that have the potential to cause damage or injury to the people and the nation. Maybe there is a need to undertake a moral reformation and/or reorientation program for government officials. With the program, perhaps, government officials, especially those cloaked with regulatory powers, would have the moral conscience and responsibility to act immediately on urgent issues and concerns, before they become social or economic problems. After all, this is what President Duterte wants in his administration—officials who are accountable, morally concerned, and good team players who can effectively coordinate with other agencies for the good of the nation and the Filipino people. In my next column, I will expound on the issue of the controversial importation of used, obsolete and environmentally hazardous induction furnace from China. We recently discussed this topic in our radio/ TV program.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.

Covid disguises chronic scarcity of workers for UK recovery By Jack Sidders, Deirdre Hipwell, Joe Mayes & Libby Cherry Bloomberg Opinion

N the outskirts of the Scottish town of Kirkcaldy is a crop of new houses on their way to completion. There are two large banners pinned to the perimeter fence with a mobile phone number: “Bricklayers Required.” Rather than prices or availability dates, the most visible sign for passing drivers speaks to one of Britain’s biggest challenges post Brexit. Companies across key parts of the economy just can’t find enough people. The focus in recent weeks has been on the hundreds of thousands of individuals being told to isolate because of exposure to Covid-19, the number hitting almost 690,000 in the latest period. Yet as the pandemic cloud starts to lift and the economy is unshackled, the true impact of the shortage is becoming more apparent. The number of European Union construction workers in the UK has halved over the past four years. Contractors who laid off employees at the start of the pandemic are struggling to hire them back. Other industry groups say members are crying out for food processors, workers in retail supply chains and heating engineers, among others. Vacancies for truck drivers have hit 100,000, according to the Road Haulage Association. That will raise questions over the government’s mantra to “build back better” around ambitious infrastructure projects and its “green industrial revolution.” As Noble Francis, economics director at the Construction Products Association, put it: “Where are the workers going to come from?” There’s also the prospect of more employers having to push up wages to attract talent, adding another catalyst to inflation that’s already worrying central banks and financial markets. Starting salaries are rising the most in seven years, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. Anecdotally, day rates for skilled tradespeople have already risen 15 percent while firms are also introducing more flexible hours as an incentive. Supermarket chain Tesco Plc is offering a joining bonus of £1,000 ($1,400) to truck drivers. At Northern Irish firm OS Doors,

which makes doors for kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms across the UK, pay inflation is running as high as 10 percent for highly skilled workers who can operate any machine in the factory. Chief Executive Officer John Toomey says his main concern is retaining his cohort of 350 workers, 80% of whom hail from the European Union’s eastern states, largely Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. “The reality now is if we are looking to fill a vacancy and we are not offering a top pay grade you will not find the people,” said Toomey. The UK’s post-Brexit points system for hiring non-UK nationals meant he had to turn away two Hungarians because they didn’t meet the criteria, he said. “The pipeline has totally and utterly dried up.” Countries across the continent are experiencing holes in their workforces, particularly in hospitality, but the UK is the only one to have left the EU’s borderless skills market to curb immigration. Numbers vary on how many workers have left during the pandemic. A January report by the Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence put the drop in the nonUK population at 1.3 million, though not all from the EU. The shift in the labor market was disguised by the pandemic, which distracted companies from properly preparing, according to David Jones, director of underwriting at insurer QBE. “It has essentially masked Brexit’s effect,” he said. “As the economy opens back up, many businesses will be shocked when their supply chains do not follow suit.” The UK government is helping fill vacancies though training schemes to help jobseekers acquire the necessary skills, a spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said. It relaxed rules for some critical workers last month in areas such as energy, health care, medical sup-

plies and food production to ease the short-term squeeze from workers being “pinged” by the country’s app and told to self-isolate. But the shortage occupations on the government’s website ranges from scientists and engineers to web developers architects and welders, not carpenters, bricklayers, truck drivers or meat processors. Professions on the list qualify for a skilled worker visa. Nick Allen, CEO of the British Meat Processors Association, said one of his members employing 4,000 has 642 unfilled posts, 164 of which are for skilled positions. The company, which he declined to name to avoid spooking customers, had to cut production lines. “We know that when the problems over Covid are over, we’ll still have a problem,” he said. At Unsworth, a freight forwarder that moves household brands around the country, the alarm bell is already ringing over Christmas supplies because of a dearth of drivers. It’s warning customers that surcharges could lift haulage costs by 20%, said Charles Hogg, the firm’s commercial director. “Brexit gives us the opportunity to evolve some immigration policy to allow missing skill sets to come into the UK,” he said. “We’re not going to suddenly find 100,000 drivers tomorrow. We’ve got to ease it to allow qualified other nationalities to ease the gap.” The Department of Transport said it had no plans to introduce a short-term visa for drivers of heavygoods vehicles, and instead has relaxed rules to allow longer hours and is funding apprenticeships. “Employers should invest in our domestic workforce instead of relying on labor from abroad,” the department said in an e-mailed statement. The dilemma for Britain is how to tackle the acute challenge of the pandemic on an aging workforce with the chronic effect of Brexit. Economists at Deutsche Bank warn a weaker labor market recovery could slow the UK’s return to pre-pandemic levels of output. Sanjay Raja, an economist at the bank, said the economy needs “active government policy” on immigration and investment to overcome the scarring effects of Brexit

and Covid. Regardless of the coronavirus, the UK was always going to be faced with these difficulties, said Dan Hanson, senior UK economist at Bloomberg Economics. “Covid was a short sharp shock, but Brexit is a slow burn,” he said. The combination will make it “nigh on impossible” for the economy to return to its pre-pandemic path, he said. The immediate challenge is to find the people with the right skills. There was almost one million UK job vacancies posted in June. Yet there are still 1.86 million people on furlough at the end of that month, the UK tax authority reported on July 29. A survey from the Office for National Statistics found that jobs in the performing arts and those related to air transportation were among those most likely to be on wage support. As well as new immigration rules, a barrier is that the government’s apprenticeship program doesn’t address the scarcity of people with the necessary skills, said Tamara Hill, employment policy adviser at the British Retail Consortium. “Ultimately, this underlines the urgent need to expand the funding to allow retailers to upskill their current workforce to meet the demands of the future,” she said. Before the Brexit referendum in 2016, Darin Burrows used to book conference rooms in hotels across Europe to recruit carpenters, interviewing as many as 100 a day for his construction recruitment agency. Now, he’s finding it almost impossible to find applicants to take the roles. The situation is the worst it’s been since before the EU expanded eastwards in 2004, he said. “It is chronic in every sector, from Scotland down to Cornwall, whether it be carpenters, house builders or civil engineers,” said Burrows, a director at London-based City Site Solutions. “This is the worst ratio of fulfillment for jobs I have had since then. It is a vicious cocktail.” Mark Price, an ex trade minister and former managing director of upmarket grocer Waitrose, said the structural weakness in the labor market could crimp growth across industries from hospitality to manufacturing.

Sports BusinessMirror

A14

| Wednesday, August 4, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

CARLO PAALAM of the Philippines unleashes a left straight against Uzbekistan’s Shakhobidin Zoirov during their men’s flyweight 52-kg quarterfinal boxing match at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Tuesday at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan. AP

SILVER FOR NESTHY By Jun Lomibao

OKYO—Nesthy Petecio lost in the gold medal bout of boxing’s women’s featherweight class on Tuesday, putting up a gallant stand against Japan’s Sena Irie but falling short of giving the Philippines its second gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics. Petecio tried to match Irie punch-for-punch but the Japanese was the quicker fighter, escaping with a unanimous decision win in the division that was added to the Olympic program for the first time in this Tokyo edition. Petecio’s silver was the same color of medal that Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco clinched in the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and was the second in these Olympics after Hidilyn Diaz’s gold in women’s -55 kgs of weightlifting she won last July 24. “This means a lot to me,” Petecio told a well-attended press conference, the first for the Tokyo Olympics boxing competitions. “I dedicate this fight to my country, my family and my best friend, who died last February.” Petecio was extremely saddened by the death of Alex Cel Bergantes, her best buddy and also a former national boxer, last

February. “But most especially, I dedicate this silver medal to my coach, Coach Boy [Nolito Velasco] for his tireless effort to bring me to where I am now,” she said. Petecio couldn’t hold her tears back during the medal ceremony and again broke into tears while praising her tormentor during the press conference. Two more boxers—Eumir Marcial (middleweight) and Carlo Paalam (flyweight)—are assured of at least a bronze medal each. Paalam slayed a giant in the boxing world’s flyweight division, winning on points by split decision over Olympic and world Shakhobidin Zoirov for a guaranteed bronze medal. Paalam’s victory came swift—one minute and 16 seconds into the second round— after Ukranian referee Pavlo Vasylynchuk stopped the fight after both boxers sustained forehead injuries following an accidental headbutt. Marcial goes for the men’s middleweight gold medal round when he battles Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak also on Thursday. The Olympic silver medal earned Petecio at least P20 million in incentives—P5 million each under the Athletes

hand, congratulated Petecio for and Coaches Incentives Act her silver medal achievement. through the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Chairman “Yours is a historic win for being William Ramirez, San Miguel the first Filipina to win an Olympic Corp. (Ramon S. Ang) and PLDT/ medal in boxing since we joined the Smart (Manual V.Pangilinan) and Olympics almost a century ago,” P2 million from House Deputy Go said in a statement. “As a fellow Speaker Mikee Romero. Davaoeño and chair of the Senate Phoenix Petroleum, Sports Committee, I am overthrough Siklab Atleta Pilipinas whelmed by the talent and courage Foundation, gave Petecio P3 you showed on the ring.” million also as a cash incentive. “With your unrelenting “We would like to congratulate spirit, determination and Nesthy for a job well done. As the competitiveness, you are one of first Filipina ever to win a boxthe beacons that keep inspiring ing medal at the Olympics, this is our people, especially our such a great achievement, and anyouth, amid other source of pride for our countrying try,” Phoenix Petroleum times,” he Senior Vice President added. Atty. Raymond Zorrilla said. “ AirAsia PhilipNESTHY PETECIO pines also rewarded of the Philippines Petecio five years holds up her silver of unlimited medal while in tears after her fight with flights, acJapanese Sena Irie in the cording to women’s featherweight 60-kg the airlines’ final boxing match at the 2020 spokesperSummer Olympics on Tuesday son Steve at the Kokugikan Arena Dailisan. in Tokyo, Japan. AP Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, on the other

Saso, Pagdanganan begin gold bid amid scorching Japan heat

OKYO—The country’s gold medal campaign shifts back to the Kasumigaseki Golf Club with Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan battling not only a star-studded field but also the scorching Japanese summer heat.

YUKA SASO (right) and Bianca Pagdanganan face the challenge of a tough field and the scorching Japanese summer. AP

OKYO—Will the sporting world see less of Carlos Yulo for the next three years? Yulo finished just outside the podium of men’s vault of artistic gymnastics on Tuesday night, missing a possible bronze medal had it not for a slip in his landing in his first of two vaults. “I was that close, very close,” Yulo, the youngest at 21 and shortest at 4-foot-11 among the eight protagonists at the Ariake Gymnastics Arena, told Filipino reporters. “But it happened and I can do nothing about that anymore.” Unable to qualify in his pet event, the floor exercise where he was the world champion in 2019, the vault was Yulo’s last chance for a medal in his Olympic debut. But things didn’t go his way

Why Petecio missed gold AL MENDOZA | alsol47@yahoo.com

THAT’S ALL NESTHY PETECIO did not fight a boxer yesterday. Who said she did? So, stop wondering why Petecio lost. She fought a wrestler. It was costly. She stepped into a booby trap. And missed a gold medal that would have been the

country’s second Olympics gilt after Hidilyn Diaz’s weightlifting victory on July 26 in Tokyo 2020. Petecio’s loss became evident right from the start. Sena Irie kept clinching, holding and hugging. Had she chewed Nesthy

Pagdanganan tees off at 7:52 a.m. with Ireland’s Leona Maguire and Finland’s Matilda Castren while Saso will be with Canada’s Brooke Henderson and American Lexi Thompson, the same golfer she chased to win the US Women’s Open. The 20-year-old Saso tees off in the first round with a replacement caddie after regular Lionel Matichuk was rushed to a hospital after suffering from heat stroke in a practice round on Tuesday. National coach Miggy Alejandro will carry the bag for the world No. 8 Filipino-Japanese, at least for the first round. Saso and Pagdanganan, gold medal winners at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, said the searing Japanese heat will pose a problem for most of the athletes.

“It’s very humid up here actually. It’s definitely a factor and you have to make sure you stay hydrated,” said Pagdanganan, the longest hitter on the Ladies Professional Golfers Association Tour. Saso, on the other hand, said playing with Thompson will be a pleasure. “I’m going to be playing against top players but I’ve been playing against great players in my past couple of tournaments so I’m going to enjoy it,” she said. The wind could also be a factor as the Filipinas hope to duplicate Hidilyn Diaz’s weightlifting gold medal. “You’re going to need to have control, especially with the putting,” Pagdanganan said. The greens, both players said,

PAALAM SLAYS UZBEK STAR, ADVANCES TO MEDAL ROUND

are in good shape. “The greens are really good so it’s going to be a good test of accuracy and patience,” Pagdanganan said. According to the Associated Press, the nature of the women’s field is entirely different from the men last week, where all three medalists from Rio de Janeiro are back for their second Olympics. There are 29 women in the field who competed in Rio, compared with nine men with the US and South Korea being the only countries with the maximum four players. Thompson is the only returning American. She tied for 19th in Rio, while Inbee Park, the reigning gold medalist, and Sei Young Kim are back for South Korea. Juvic Pagunsan represented the Philippines in the men’s contest where he finished in 55th place. Jun Lomibao

Yulo hints on taking ‘break’ after Tokyo stint with South Korea’s Shin Jeahwan winning the gold medal, Russian Olympic Committee’s Denis Ablizian settling for the silver and Armenia’s Artur Davtyan snatching the bronze medal. “It was disappointing because I was doing very well in practice,” Yulo said. “But I wondered why I slipped.” Yulo’s first vault was a López (roundoff, back handspring with half turn entry and front layout somersault with half twist), failing to land properly with his right leg going out the line. He was near flawless, though, in the second vault with a final-best 14.866—a Dragulescu (a handspring double

front with half turn)—for a total 14.716 performance. Yulo doesn’t plan to go home to their Manila home in Leveriza soon. “I still have a competition next month, the All Japan Seniors Championships,” he said. “I would love to go home and make up lost time with my family.” His next journey? “My next target is Paris [2024]. I want to make myself stronger and better,” he said. “I feel I have something more to show and prove.” But unlike in his rundown to the Tokyo Olympics, Yulo said he will train clandestinely for Paris.

“Next time, I won’t be joining tournaments,” he said. “I will train by myself until I get stronger and better prepared.” “I will not give up,” he stressed.

Petecio’s ear the way Mike Tyson did to Evander Holyfield in 1997, that would have been also gone unnoticed. The German lady referee was blind as a bat. So badly refereed the fight was that Irie was absolutely given the freedom to destroy the rules of boxing. Irie kept embracing Petecio at will that the only thing lacking in the Japanese’s illicit tools was a Manila rope to totally tie Nesthy up to one of the ring’s four posts. The referee could have tossed in the cord herself to Irie and, given the fight’s dysfunctional direction, the German’s act would have been justified.

The referee did not give a single warning, even when Irie turned her back—a no-no in boxing. Irie did that more than once. No word at all from the lady ref. Crazy? No. As I said, this was wrestling. OK, Petecio needs some rapping, too. The Davao bet knew right from the opening bell that she was suddenly battling a boxer-turnedwrestler but then, sadly, she obliged. She never tried hard enough to unhinge herself, never made a brave effort to untangle herself, from Irie’s clingy craziness. Irie’s ruse was as obvious as Pacquiao’s appetite to occupy Malacañang.

Was Petecio’s corner outwitted? Outstrategized? Outflanked? Fall in, fellas. Why no attempt at all on your part to call the referee’s attention that a bogus boxer had strayed into the ring? Or, why the seeming failure to reconstruct Petecio’s mindset amid the bizarreness of it all? Like, Petecio being told to unglue herself from the trap? Push Irie back and then punch fast? Alas, Petecio kept biting Irie’s bait. The empty stands couldn’t agree more.

Jun Lomibao

CARLOS YULO vows to be back for Paris 2024. AP

OKYO—Carlo Paalam slayed a giant of the boxing world’s flyweight division, winning on points by split decision over Olympic and world Shakhobidin Zoirov for a guaranteed bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Paalam’s victory came swift— one minute and 16 seconds into the second round—after Ukranian referee Pavlo Vasylynchuk stopped the fight after both boxers sustained forehead injuries following an accidental headbutt. “He’s [Zoirov] tough, quick and he moved around a lot in the first round, we used the same strategy—we both measured each other,” Paalam, 23, said. “ But I was instructed by my coaches to pressure him and bring my game out.” Disappointed with the decision, the Uzbek immediately left the Kokugikan Arena ring without the customary handshake with his opponent. The referee decided both fighters were unfit to continue because of slight gash in their heads. Paalam was ahead on points at the time of stoppage, 20-19, on four judges and a tied 19-19 score in the fifth for a 4-0 win. Zoirov appeared to be dictating the bout’s tempo in the first round but with Paalam connecting with his jabs and crosses, the Uzbek dropped his rhythm and occasionally missed his footing. Paalam won the first round in all of the five judges’ scorecards, setting him up for a dominant second round. “It was a wait-and-attack tactic,” coach Ronald Chavez said. “We told Carlo to wait for the right time, while defending occasionally attacking.” Don Abnett, the boxing team’s Australian consultant, said Paalam was tasked to win the first round and take it from there. “We went for the Uzbek’s chest and not much on the head,” Abnett said. “If he got hurt, that’s the time to follow through on the head.” Paalam knew he was up against a boxer with packed credentials—gold medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics, 2018 world championships in Russia and 2021 Asian championships in Dubai. “I used to watch him [Zoirov] on YouTube when I was younger,” Paalam said. “Now, I just fought and beat him.” The fighter from Cagayan de Oro City, owner of a gold from the Philippines 2019 Southeast Asian Games and bronze from the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, was also aware that he’s the underdog in the fight. “I knew—and many told me— that my chances against Zoirov was 50-50,” he said. “But I was inspired to fight, thanks to the Lord and the support that I have been receiving here.” Paalam advancing to the semifinals equates to at least P6 million in total incentives—P2 million under the Athletes and Coaches Incentives Act through the Philippine Sports Commission chaired by William Ramirez and another P2 million each from San Miguel Corp. (Ramon S. Ang) and Smart/PLDT (Manuel V. Pangilinan). Next for Paalam is Japanese Ryomei Tanaka, who advanced to the semifinals at the expense of Colombia’s Rivas Martinez, 4-1. The Japanese, however, was so drained from the fight that he left the arena in a wheelchair. The Paalam-Tanaka match is set at 3:30 p.m. (Manila time) on Thursday. Jun Lomibao Thus, the five judges were right. After giving Irie the first round, they kept their insanity intact by awarding the Japanese a unanimous decision after three rounds. A well-judged match, indeed. Make that wrestling disguised as boxing. THAT’S IT Boxing is not done yet. Flyweight Carlo Paalam and middleweight Eumir Marcial, already bronze winners, will gun for their silver medals, too, on Thursday. If they succeed—they should, I must insist—they aim for the gold on Saturday, August 7.

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Bloomberry losses narrow to ₧1.9B in January-June By VG Cabuag

@villygc

loomberry Resorts Corp., the operator of Solaire Resort and Casino, on Tuesday said its losses narrowed to P1.9 billion in the first half from last year’s P3.3 billion, despite minimal gambling activities due to the government’s quarantine measures. Consolidated gross gaming revenues reached P12.6 billion, 3 percent lower than the P13 billion recorded last year. Net revenues, meanwhile, came in at P10.3 billion, a decrease of 1 percent as against P10.4 billion in the same period a year ago. “Bloomberry generated respectable results during the quarter despite having virtually no gaming operations between April and midMay. Consolidated EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization], reached P1 billion in the second quarter as we benefitted from high hold rates at Solaire and realized savings

from our continuous group-wide cost optimization efforts,” Enrique K. Razon Jr., the company’s chairman and CEO, said. “As the pandemic continues to evolve, we hope to see more of our countrymen get vaccinated and build the much-needed immunity against the virus. Solaire is doing its part through the Solaire-ICTSI Vaccination Center which has so far administered close to 32,000 shots since it opened last June 28, 2021. I am pleased to report that all rostered team members at Solaire have received both doses of the vaccine and will be considered fully protected by mid-August.

Also, first dose vaccinations for our employees’ dependents began last month.” Consolidated net loss for the second quarter alone was at P1.2 billion, a P3.5-billion improvement from the net loss of P4.7 billion recorded a year ago. Solaire’s total gaming revenues for the period reached P5.7 billion, 18 percent lower than the P6.9 billion posted in the previous quarter, when Solaire had limited capacity operations for 88 days. Year-over-year, gaming revenues were higher by P5 billion since Solaire had minimal gaming activity for the whole second quarter of 2020. Con sol id ated net re venue amounted to P4.7 billion, representing a P3.8-billion increase from last year’s P940.9 million. Metro Manila was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from March 29 to April 11, then to a modified ECQ from April 12 to May 14. The classification was further eased to general community quarantine from May 15 to June 30. Solaire had no gaming operations in the first 44 days of the second quarter and was closed to the public. Between May 15 and June

30, Solaire reopened and utilized its invite-only policy while the casino operated at a capacity consistent with a limited dry-run as allowed by the regulators. Solaire began rolling out its vaccination program for its employees in the last week of June. To date, all who are rostered for day-to-day operations have been fully vaccinated, while dependents are being scheduled for their initial dose. Solaire, together with the corporate foundation of its sister company International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) procured Moderna vaccines for its employees as well as five of their dependents and were given for free. The Solaire-ICTSI Foundation Inc. Vaccination Center in Solaire, served as the venue for the vaccination program for employees. Selected areas of The Theatre at Solaire were converted to accommodate a robust vaccination process that supports both drive-thru and on-site appointments. The vaccine program made use of mobile technology developed by Zuellig Pharma, utilizing QR codes embedded with the employee information for a quick, efficient and safe vaccine administration.

Aboitiz allots ₧190B for energy projects By Lenie Lectura @llectura

boitiz Power Corp., the largest owner and operator of renewable energy (RE) in the Philippines, has allocated P190 billion for projects that will enable the company to hit a 50:50 balance between its renewable and thermal capacities by 2030. The amount represents around 3,700 megawatts (MW) of additional capacity. The power firm’s goal is to end the next decade with 9,200 MW of total attributable net sellable capacity. Of which, 4,600MW will come from various RE sources. To meet the 4,600MW RE capacity target, AboitizPower needs to build around 3,700 MW of additional RE capacity under its Cleanergy port-

BiotechJP taps solar power

folio. As of July, AboitizPower has already identified 2,364 MW of new RE projects, all in varying stages of development and located primarily in Luzon. “We are committed to seeing through our 10-year strategy and this is only the beginning. There will be more beyond this pipeline in order for us to reach our target,” AboitizPower President Emmanuel V. Rubio said. The company’s pipeline RE projects are currently 60 percent solar, 32 percent wind, and 9 percent hydro. Since all of these projects are still in the development stage, specific details on size and cost are still being finalized. “We look forward to making further announcements in the coming months as we progress with these projects.” As the company identifies more

RE projects in the next 10 years, AboitizPower is optimistic that it can hit its goal without building any new coal-fired power plant facilities. Rubio said that along the way, they also want to help the government achieve its aspiration of increasing the share of RE in the national energy mix. The Department of Energy aspires for a total share of 35 percent for RE in the national energy mix by 2030 and is banking on mechanisms such as the Renewable Portfolio Standards and Green Energy Option Program to get there. AboitizPower is planning to tap into its existing and pipeline RE projects to participate in these government-led initiatives. The company recently announced that it will start building this year a 74-MW solar power facility in Cayanga in the town of Bugallon, Panga-

sinan. The majority of the facility’s capacity will be contracted for retail electricity supply, which can help bring more sustainable energy to power consumers across the country. As the largest owner and operator of RE in the Philippines in terms of installed capacity together with its partners, AboitizPower continues to invest in other renewable energy projects across the country. The company also aims to pursue its international aspirations with a focus on RE in high-growth geographic markets. AboitizPower was also listed as a constituent company on the FTSE4Good Index for the fourth consecutive year, signifying that while it beefs up its RE portfolio, it is also strengthening its environmental, social, and governance performance as it strives to continue being a truly sustainable organization.

Survey: CNN Philippines most trusted media outlet

EI Power Corp., a subsidiary of Yuchengco-led EEI Corp., has completed the installation of an 83.2-kWp solar rooftop system at BiotechJP’s facility in Tarlac. It said Tuesday that the solar rooftop facility will provide more than 3,000,000 kilowatt hour (kWh) of clean energy for up to 25 years with an estimated savings in power bills of about P17 million for the same period. This would be equivalent to around 37,000 newly planted trees and 1,264,200 metric tons of carbon emission avoided. The solar rooftop system includes 188 units of 455Wp Jinko monocrystalline solar panels and 1 x 80kVA Growatt inverter. This system is the initial phase of a total 190kWp system that can fit the available roof space of BiotechJP. The remaining system components are expected to be installed next year in time for the full operation of the Tarlac facility. Lenie Lectura

ith a 60-percent high trust, CNN Philippines is the country’s most trusted media outlet, according to the results of PUBLiCUS Asia’s second quarter poll. “With the fierce battle for viewership, most traditional news outlets have diversified their businesses to include online channel—from just mirroring their main channel, to now a standalone business. The first to adapt always gets an advantage, but credibil-

ity is built with consistency, fair and balanced news,” it said in a statement. PUBLiCUS said GMA7 and the Philippine Daily Inquirer round-up the top 3 spots as the most trusted media outlets. T he sur vey was conducted from July 13 to 19. It is a nationwide purposive sampling survey comprised of 1,500 respondents drawn from a research panel of approximately 100,000 Filipino registered voters maintained by

a Singapore-based firm. The survey is an independent, noncommissioned, national poll covering eight modules measured: state of the economy and economic prospects, Covid-19 vaccine tracker, national issues, scorecard for national leaders and institutions emotional quotient of incumbent and prospective leaders, media consumption habits and responses to media campaigns, predisposition, and the Duterte administration scorecard.

Semirara net income up 279% in April-June

onsunji-led Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) registered a net income of P4 billion in the second quarter, up 279 percent year-overyear, due to record-high coal sales and prices and higher Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) prices. This brings its first-half net income to P6.3 billion, a 181-percent jump from the same period a year ago. Core profit in the second quarter stood at P4.1 billion, up 273 percent. The numbers at end-June, stood at P6.4 billion, a growth of nearly three times from last year’s P2.2 billion. SMCPC, the largest domestic coal producer, said 75 percent of the firsthalf net income came mostly from the coal segment, while Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. (SLPGC) and SEM-Calaca Power Corp. (SCPC) contributed 16 percent and 9 percent, respectively. SCPC and SLPGC generate baseload power for the Luzon-Visayas grid. Both supply electricity through

bilateral contract quantity and the WESM. “The coal and electricity markets staged a strong rebound from the negative impacts of strict coronavirus lockdowns last year. Higher coal production and reduced internal usage also allowed SMPC to boost its export sales, benefitting from robust China demand and the weak peso.” Coal shipments nearly doubled to 4.9 million metric tons (MMT), an all-time high in terms of quarterly sales. This was due to a 167-percent surge in exports and a 31-percent recovery in domestic sales. In terms of coal prices, strong China demand amid tight supply boosted Newscatle coal prices, which peaked at $136 in June, the highest level in more than a decade. SMPC said this led to a 49-percent recovery in average selling price from P1,601/MT to P2,393/MT. SMPC sees sustained high global coal prices at around $149 per MT until the end of the year largely due to increased Chinese demand during their summer and winter seasons. Lenie Lectura

Companies BusinessMirror

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Ayala Land income climbs 34% to ₧6B in January-June By VG Cabuag

@villygc

roperty developer Ayala Land Inc. said its income for the six months ending June 30 grew 34 percent to P6 billion from last year’s P4.51 billion. Revenues for the period rose by 19 percent to P49 billion from last year’s P41.19 billion as the company showed significant improvements. In the second quarter alone, revenues and net income reached P24.3 billion and P3.3 billion, up 90 percent and 16.6 times higher than the figure posted a year ago. “Improvement in our performance in the first half of the year was driven primarily by our property development business, with residential demand showing resilience and construction progress driving revenue recognition,” Ayala

Land President and CEO Bernard Vincent O. Dy said. “While it may take some time for our economy to fully reopen, particularly with the reimposition of ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] in NCR [National Capital Region], we are proactively launching new projects and ensuring we have adequate inventory to serve market segments that are demonstrating stability.” The company’s property development revenues grew 37 percent to P34.1 billion for the period, propelled by construction progress as

well as higher sales bookings. Sales reservations in the second quarter totaled P19.7 billion, a substantial growth of 45 percent from the same period last year, as local demand remained strong despite the reimposition of ECQ from March until April. This brought first half sales reservations to P48.2 billion, up 26 percent from last year. Ayala Land has budgeted P100 billion worth of residential launches in 2021. In the first half, it launched 14 projects with a total value of P44.3 billion. Around eight of these projects were launched in the second quarter and these include Anvaya Cove S3 in Morong, Bataan by Ayala Land Premier and Bayview Heights in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental by Alveo. In addition, Avida launched Averdeen Estates Phase 1 and Southdale Settings, both in Nuvali, Laguna, as well as Makati Southpoint Tower 2 and Astrea Tower 2 in Quezon City, while Amaia offered Amaia Steps Junction Place

and Amaia Skies Cubao Tower 2, both in Quezon City. Commercial leasing revenues were weighed down by renewed restrictions with revenues declining 26 percent to P9.5 billion. Shopping center revenues dipped 43 percent to P3.4 billion reflecting limited operations and ongoing rent discounts to support tenants. Office leasing revenues totaled P4.8 billion, a very slight improvement from last year as business process outsourcing and headquarter operations cushioned the impact of Chinese online gambling operation cancellations. Revenues from hotels and resorts meanwhile ended 42 percent lower to P1.2 billion as resort operations were restricted from the end of March until April. Capital expenditures for the period amounted to P32.1 billion, 50 percent of which was spent on residential projects, 21 percent for estate development and 12 percent for land acquisition among other segments.

House OKs bills on water franchises By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

he House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading two bills granting franchises to Manila Water Company Inc. (MWCI) and Maynilad Water Services Inc. Voting 206 affirmative, 7 negative with zero abstentions for each franchise bill, lawmakers passed House Bill (HB) 9422 for Maynilad and HB 9423 for Manila Water. HB 9422 seeks to grant Maynilad a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain, for commercial purposes and in the public interest, a water supply and distribution system and sewerage and/or sanitation services in the Service Area West. HB 9423, meanwhile, seeks to grant Manila Water a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain the waterworks and sewerage system in the east zone service area of Metro Manila and Province of Rizal. Dasmariñas Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., principal author of HB 9423, said his proposal is pursuant to President Duterte’s drive to “protect the interest of the Filipino consumer and the national government.” The president signed the revised concession agreement which extends the contract until 2037. According to Barzaga, the government pushed for the revision of the concession agreement, saying after a renegotiation, a Revised Concession Agreement (RCA) was signed by MWCI and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) last March 31. “MWCI is now considered a public utility subject to all restrictions applicable to public utilities, such as nationality restriction,” he added. “While respecting the terms of the RCA, a legislative franchise will promote and protect the continuity and stability of the essential services rendered by MWCI. It will secure the

continuing obligation of MWCI to provide uninterrupted and adequate supply and distribution of potable water for domestic, commercial and other purposes, and to provide necessary sewerage services in the East Zone,” he said. Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza of Buhay and House Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna objected to the swift approval of the franchise bills. Atienza said water consumers over the years have been paying a so-called sewage fee, amounting to 20 percent of their monthly water bills, for a service that has never been rendered. Atienza also directed the two concessionaires to submit the total amount of loans secured from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other funding agencies in the name of the Philippine Republic. He also criticized the “undue haste” with which the committee approved the said franchises, without having received the answers to the important questions he had raised. “I had hoped that the committee chairman and my colleagues would listen to reason and heed the people’s demand for transparency. But they did not. They railroaded the two franchises. The public does not know about this and even the media was not invited to this hearing! Why was it kept a secret? Congress should safeguard public interest above all else, and not hide such things from them,” Atienza said. The Supreme Court in August 2019 upheld a 2009 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) order penalizing the two water suppliers and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) with P1.84 billion in combined fines for violating Section 8 of the Clean Water Act. Atienza himself issued the 2009 order when he was DENR head. Also, Zarate said the bill was approved “even when the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Corporate Office (MWSS-CO) had raised issues on the bills, and, the amendments being proposed by the sponsors have yet to be fully discussed.” “Represent at ives from the Office of the

President should have been invited to discuss the implications of the revised concessionaire agreements between the Duterte administration and the two water concessionaires. We have yet to fully scrutinize the texts and annexes of the new deals

and if they are detrimental to Filipino consumers,” said Zarate, noting the absence of representatives from the Finance Department, Justice Department and the Government Corporate Counsel who negotiated the new water deal.

mutual funds

August 3, 2021 NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

208.2

6.9%

-7.58%

-5.55%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.3555

34.3%

-2.86%

-0.42%

3.24%

9.25%

-11.73%

-8.26%

-8.62%

-7% n.a.

-8.26%

-6.11% n.a.

-3.65%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.8628

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7375 9.49% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7145 First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

9.31%

-5.67%

-3.87%

-7.31%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.6845

4.04%

-8.39%

-7.77%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

4.5799

8.9%

-8.37%

95.53

23.38%

-4.06% n.a.

-6.29%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

42.4035

8.43%

-6.12%

-4.61%

-9.49%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

447.78

6.55%

-5.66%

-4.89%

-8.43%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5

1.032

20.46% n.a. n.a.

-5.95%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.098

10.67%

-4.99%

-3.68%

-6.01%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

31.9689

9.62%

-5.17%

-3.47%

-8.06%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8267

6.97% n.a. n.a.

-9.45%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.3498

9.31%

-3.85%

-9.21% -9.19%

-5.53%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

727.94

9.14%

-5.44%

-3.98%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.6661

10.45%

-8.96%

-6.87%

-7.34%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.3397

8.18%

-7.28%

-5.08%

-7.84%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8309 8.66%

-5.79%

-4.13%

-9.46%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-5.84%

-3.19%

-8.14%

-5.23%

-3.45%

3.0487

8.52%

-9.91%

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

97.7137

9.13%

-9.15%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.1903

14.09%

4.63%

6.32%

-1.05%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8174

24.32%

12.07%

11.87%

8.64%

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

1.6397

5.05%

-1.16%

-2.55%

-1.73%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.1333

4.53%

-2.53%

-2.4%

-6.66%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.494

4.36%

-1.83%

-1.63%

-5.06%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1849

0.87% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.8932

3.59%

0.34%

-0.68%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.5596

2.85%

-0.75%

-1.98%

-6.03%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

15.94

3.43%

-0.63%

-1.95%

-5.88%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

1.9888

4.64%

-1.98%

-1.58%

-5.03%

4.64%

-3.04%

-2.92%

-5.02%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9579

2.65% n.a. n.a.

-6.33%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.8616

3.69% n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8442

4.9% n.a. n.a.

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.394

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

0.8399

5.45%

-3.85%

-3.43%

-6.9%

-3.6%

-9.23% -9.53% -5.38%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a

$0.03831

-2.99%

2.87%

1.27%

-2.07%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0955

6.08%

2.76%

3.28%

-4.76%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.776

18.05%

9.23%

8.3%

5.83%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2244 8.35%

5.37%

4.52%

1.86%

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

August 3, 2021

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS MANULIFE PHIL STOCK EXCH VANTAGE

43.4 110.9 83 24 9.34 45.2 20.4 55.5 19.02 110.5 75.75 1.2 4.3 0.59 918 230.2 0.88

44 111 83.8 24.15 9.39 45.25 20.5 58.75 19.96 112 76.5 1.3 4.35 0.64 975 239 0.93

43.75 106.4 83 24.05 9.35 44.1 20.3 57.5 19.04 110.1 76.7 1.2 4.29 0.59 975 239.4 0.99

44 111 83.8 24.15 9.4 45.2 20.4 77 19.04 113 76.7 1.2 4.37 0.59 975 239.4 0.99

43.4 105.2 81.6 24 9.28 43.7 20 50.2 19 109 75.5 1.2 4.29 0.59 975 230 0.9

43.4 111 83.8 24 9.39 45.2 20.4 58.5 19.02 112 75.75 1.2 4.37 0.59 975 239 0.93

5,800 3,760,590 1,539,560 4,600 154,400 2,015,500 53,400 5,120 13,300 250,650 74,840 21,000 7,000 12,000 10 4,150 91,000

254,895 411,468,608 128,110,051.50 110,840 1,444,353 90,465,840 1,081,205 299,030.50 252,784 27,909,963 5,673,476 25,200 30,190 7,080 9,750 967,958 82,360

237,535 229,815,786 -48,363,847 -55,181 2,403,360 -299,410 11,630 1,858,868 -2,298,569 9,750 397,270 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 8.29 8.3 8.09 8.32 8.09 8.3 36,766,700 302,819,381 ALSONS CONS 1.21 1.22 1.21 1.22 1.21 1.22 29,000 35,190 23 23.2 23.4 23.45 23 23 1,666,100 38,528,330 ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY 0.48 0.485 0.445 0.49 0.445 0.485 35,160,000 16,502,900 28.9 29.1 29 29.2 28.5 29.1 157,800 4,566,650 FIRST GEN 73.9 74.3 73.85 74.4 73.85 74.3 128,600 9,497,489.50 FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO 264 269 265.2 269 263.2 269 295,190 78,524,042 16.4 16.46 16.2 16.4 16.2 16.4 332,100 5,428,302 MANILA WATER PETRON 3.08 3.09 3.1 3.13 3.07 3.08 325,000 1,006,840 3.95 4.03 3.96 4.03 3.96 3.96 83,000 329,050 PETROENERGY 12.46 12.98 12.98 12.98 12.98 12.98 2,700 35,046 PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL 17.82 17.9 18.16 18.26 17.8 17.82 256,500 4,642,460 11.86 11.88 11.84 11.86 11.8 11.86 93,400 1,105,310 SPC POWER AGRINURTURE 5.91 5.92 5.85 5.95 5.81 5.92 378,800 2,239,811 AXELUM 2.65 2.67 2.55 2.69 2.52 2.67 337,000 872,260 13 13.98 12.94 14.16 12.94 13.98 1,200 16,102 CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD 25.7 25.8 25.95 25.95 25.65 25.7 1,035,100 26,609,595 15.18 15.2 15.3 15.48 14.9 15.2 840,200 12,703,108 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 8.11 8.12 7.9 8.12 7.9 8.11 656,100 5,290,798 EMPERADOR 14.98 15.18 14.4 15.18 14.36 15.18 1,021,900 15,135,054 81.4 82.4 81.05 84.4 81.05 82.4 39,410 3,254,647 SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT 0.65 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.64 0.67 114,000 73,700 1.19 1.21 1.21 1.22 1.19 1.21 6,940,000 8,381,350 FRUITAS HLDG 89.5 90 87.5 90.05 85.55 90 38,620 3,446,745.50 GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 191.1 195.9 188 195.9 187.8 195.9 449,730 86,540,223 28.2 29.65 28.1 28.25 28.1 28.2 1,900 53,545 LIBERTY FLOUR MACAY HLDG 7.26 7.98 7.2 7.22 7.2 7.22 300 2,162 5.95 6 5.9 5.95 5.9 5.95 44,200 262,377 MAXS GROUP 0.22 0.224 0.218 0.224 0.218 0.224 730,000 160,980 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 15 15.12 14.84 15.18 14.78 15 8,105,800 121,669,914 7.5 7.8 7.45 7.97 7.4 7.5 359,900 2,694,890 SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO 0.97 0.98 0.96 0.98 0.94 0.98 2,627,000 2,515,670 RFM CORP 4.42 4.64 4.42 4.42 4.41 4.42 22,000 97,070 0.131 0.132 0.129 0.134 0.129 0.131 2,880,000 381,580 SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA 133 133.8 133.1 134.2 131 133 662,170 88,295,956 0.77 0.79 0.77 0.79 0.77 0.77 1,137,000 885,250 VITARICH CONCRETE A 48 51.45 48.45 48.45 48 48.05 7,900 379,365 CEMEX HLDG 1.2 1.21 1.2 1.22 1.2 1.21 374,000 451,190 14.54 14.84 14.52 14.84 14.5 14.84 21,100 310,604 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 7.49 7.6 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 21,300 159,750 6.4 6.5 6.25 6.4 6.21 6.4 181,800 1,158,516 HOLCIM 6.04 6.1 5.96 6.1 5.95 6.1 646,400 3,888,952 MEGAWIDE PHINMA 14 14.3 14 14.3 14 14.3 4,100 58,290 0.99 1.03 0.99 1.03 0.99 1.03 20,000 20,200 TKC METALS VULCAN INDL 1.3 1.31 1.24 1.34 1.24 1.3 7,393,000 9,641,200 1.65 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.69 2,000 3,380 CROWN ASIA EUROMED 1.75 1.83 1.8 1.8 1.75 1.75 156,000 274,760 MABUHAY VINYL 5.1 5.35 5.39 5.39 5.39 5.39 100 539 5.41 5.48 5.41 5.5 5.4 5.48 116,800 638,660 PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION 20.05 21 21 21 21 21 100 2,100 GREENERGY 2.59 2.6 2.42 2.65 2.42 2.6 15,854,000 40,434,630 8.62 8.68 8.62 8.88 8.57 8.62 391,700 3,394,376 INTEGRATED MICR IONICS 0.93 0.96 0.95 0.96 0.95 0.96 47,000 44,890 5.77 5.88 5.88 5.88 5.77 5.77 3,000 17,530 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.21 1.25 1.18 1.25 1.18 1.25 609,000 743,000 CIRTEK HLDG 4.69 4.7 4.52 4.76 4.51 4.7 1,163,000 5,428,810

86,822,819 -26,065,300 6,392,350 -1,567,040 -27,594,302 -1,609,194 -64,750 -19,900 -4,367,468.00 -34,569 208,650 3,475,765 295,720 879,188 1,638,716 -73,358 -86,710 -199,200 -24,794,872 53,550 15,400 -21,451,574 1,333,084 -977,460 -29,545,690 43,560 -57,750 -86,869 -2,150,475 596,370 26,250 464,434 -2,100 -675,440 -1,078,553 -

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.95 0.96 0.92 0.95 0.92 0.95 2,215,000 2,076,800 ASIABEST GROUP 6.11 7 6.99 7.1 6.99 7 2,900 20,301 753 759 743 759 728.5 759 221,480 165,495,240 AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY 38.7 39.5 38.5 39.5 38.3 39.5 11,648,700 448,169,910 10.06 10.08 10 10.16 9.97 10.08 1,449,800 14,602,128 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 4.13 4.14 4 4.14 3.97 4.13 3,607,000 14,655,220 AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR 6.63 7 6.8 6.85 6.8 6.85 3,200 21,775 0.96 0.97 0.94 0.97 0.94 0.96 700,000 664,670 ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A 0.55 0.57 0.55 0.57 0.53 0.57 836,000 470,100 0.56 0.57 0.58 0.58 0.56 0.56 26,000 14,640 ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL 4.95 4.98 5 5 4.92 4.95 233,000 1,156,390 DMCI HLDG 6.06 6.09 5.91 6.14 5.91 6.09 9,530,000 57,353,704 7.51 7.78 7.78 7.78 7.78 7.78 500 3,890 FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC 0.295 0.31 0.325 0.325 0.285 0.315 2,140,000 647,050 GT CAPITAL 539 539.5 540 549 531 539.5 141,620 76,368,035 3.9 4 3.91 3.91 3.91 3.91 2,000 7,820 HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT 57.8 59.35 58.7 59.35 57.5 59.35 1,673,570 97,874,422 0.63 0.65 0.63 0.67 0.63 0.65 262,000 169,180 LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG 3 3.14 3.03 3.03 2.96 3 1,116,000 3,378,150 LT GROUP 9.78 9.79 9.96 9.96 9.71 9.79 7,531,500 73,753,172 0.49 0.52 0.49 0.52 0.49 0.52 2,000 1,010 MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV 3.6 3.62 3.58 3.62 3.49 3.6 20,736,000 73,708,500 3.3 3.61 3.34 3.34 3.34 3.34 5,000 16,700 PACIFICA HLDG REPUBLIC GLASS 2.7 2.88 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 6,000 16,200 SM INVESTMENTS 949 964.5 945 964.5 921 964.5 167,860 159,484,300 105.4 105.8 106.5 107 103.8 105.8 290,380 30,331,855 SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES 0.68 0.72 0.71 0.72 0.71 0.72 10,000 7,190 130.2 137.9 132 137.9 130 137.9 6,400 842,773 TOP FRONTIER 0.265 0.285 0.26 0.265 0.255 0.265 360,000 93,400 WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG 0.195 0.203 0.196 0.204 0.195 0.203 830,000 164,400

94,840 -4,200 -18,409,075 -3,451,060 2,685,393 -516,410 104,600 -28,118,348 -38,525,715 -7,820 4,733,228 -311,990 -40,027,981 -37,968,090 27,190,895 -18,321,090 710 -597,205 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.62 0.64 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.64 76,000 47,960 AYALA LAND 33.5 33.8 33.85 33.95 33.15 33.8 13,255,000 446,536,455 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.14 1.14 1.14 65,000 74,100 ARANETA PROP AREIT RT 36.3 36.4 36.2 36.4 36.15 36.4 185,800 6,752,225 1.34 1.4 1.48 1.48 1.34 1.34 212,000 287,940 BELLE CORP 0.88 0.9 0.91 0.91 0.87 0.9 15,000 13,150 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.78 120,000 93,570 0.124 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 90,000 11,700 CROWN EQUITIES CEB LANDMASTERS 2.81 2.82 2.8 2.84 2.73 2.81 1,163,000 3,229,860 0.42 0.425 0.43 0.43 0.42 0.425 2,090,000 882,300 CENTURY PROP 10.4 10.42 10.34 10.46 10.32 10.42 566,400 5,895,510 DOUBLEDRAGON DDMP RT 1.77 1.78 1.75 1.79 1.75 1.77 7,358,000 13,013,760 6.83 6.85 6.85 6.9 6.85 6.85 34,600 237,365 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.27 0.28 0.27 0.28 0.27 0.28 560,000 152,800 EVER GOTESCO 0.315 0.325 0.305 0.335 0.305 0.325 48,780,000 15,782,550 1.11 1.12 1.09 1.11 1.09 1.11 4,299,000 4,745,830 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 0.82 0.85 0.82 0.85 0.82 0.85 9,000 7,510 7.09 7.1 7.1 7.1 7.1 7.1 11,900 84,490 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV 1.23 1.25 1.2 1.25 1.2 1.23 232,000 281,860 KEPPEL PROP 3.18 3.39 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3,000 9,600 1.24 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.23 1.24 119,000 147,710 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 2.78 2.8 2.81 2.87 2.75 2.78 20,534,000 57,485,030 0.28 0.285 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.285 13,870,000 3,928,050 MRC ALLIED 0.54 0.55 0.52 0.55 0.51 0.55 4,936,000 2,653,030 PHIL ESTATES PRIMEX CORP 2.31 2.36 2.3 2.36 2.24 2.36 125,000 288,340 16.3 16.34 16.36 16.36 15.9 16.3 1,657,600 26,914,204 ROBINSONS LAND PHIL REALTY 0.27 0.275 0.255 0.275 0.255 0.27 1,430,000 381,750 1.47 1.55 1.46 1.47 1.46 1.47 30,000 43,810 ROCKWELL SHANG PROP 2.69 2.7 2.64 2.69 2.64 2.69 15,000 39,800 STA LUCIA LAND 2.78 2.85 2.75 2.85 2.75 2.85 224,000 632,180 32.7 33.8 32.45 33.8 31.5 33.8 8,048,000 265,655,460 SM PRIME HLDG VISTAMALLS 3.67 3.83 3.8 3.85 3.8 3.85 8,000 30,750 SUNTRUST HOME 1.5 1.55 1.46 1.55 1.46 1.54 345,000 523,370 43 59.9 43.1 43.1 43.1 43.1 3,100 133,610 PTFC REDEV CORP VISTA LAND 3.55 3.58 3.44 3.58 3.4 3.58 7,790,000 27,352,950 SERVICES ABS CBN 11.1 11.24 11.26 11.26 11.04 11.1 33,300 369,748 GMA NETWORK 13.64 13.66 12.92 13.7 12.84 13.66 3,612,300 48,222,548 0.405 0.42 0.405 0.405 0.405 0.405 10,000 4,050 MANILA BULLETIN GLOBE TELECOM 1,875 1,896 1,910 1,910 1,861 1,875 37,055 69,677,420 1,242 1,249 1,255 1,255 1,223 1,249 64,405 79,786,085 PLDT 0.115 0.116 0.11 0.117 0.108 0.115 162,840,000 18,434,600 APOLLO GLOBAL CONVERGE 23.2 23.25 23.1 23.2 22.8 23.2 1,562,700 36,158,105 3.63 3.75 3.62 3.8 3.57 3.75 156,000 561,150 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 6.98 7 6.68 7 6.66 7 8,444,400 58,155,529 1.41 1.73 1.41 1.41 1.41 1.41 1,000 1,410 IMPERIAL JACKSTONES 2.06 2.19 2.15 2.2 2.15 2.2 5,000 10,800 NOW CORP 2.05 2.08 2.01 2.09 2.01 2.05 455,000 938,520 0.38 0.385 0.375 0.385 0.375 0.385 3,930,000 1,500,950 TRANSPACIFIC BR 2GO GROUP 8.2 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.1 8.1 9,900 80,250 ASIAN TERMINALS 14 14.3 14.1 14.3 14.1 14.3 4,700 66,410 2.58 2.6 2.55 2.6 2.54 2.59 178,000 458,760 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 43.35 43.75 43.15 43.8 43 43.35 106,200 4,605,550 167.1 167.5 160.9 172 158.2 167.1 2,391,380 399,190,434 INTL CONTAINER LBC EXPRESS 16.24 17.5 17.64 17.64 16.24 17.6 3,100 52,660 MACROASIA 4.55 4.6 4.49 4.6 4.49 4.6 654,000 2,982,010 1.77 1.8 1.77 1.8 1.76 1.8 22,000 38,960 METROALLIANCE A HARBOR STAR 1.03 1.05 1.06 1.06 1.02 1.05 138,000 144,950 1.68 1.69 1.62 1.74 1.62 1.68 328,000 540,530 ACESITE HOTEL 0.096 0.097 0.094 0.098 0.089 0.097 115,590,000 11,043,550 BOULEVARD HLDG DISCOVERY WORLD 2.42 2.68 2.68 2.7 2.68 2.7 17,000 45,880 0.52 0.53 0.53 0.53 0.52 0.53 294,000 154,440 WATERFRONT CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.55 6.88 6.88 6.88 6.51 6.88 29,400 191,542 7.08 7.47 7.47 7.47 7.47 7.47 100 747 IPEOPLE STI HLDG 0.34 0.35 0.34 0.35 0.34 0.34 860,000 294,150 BERJAYA 5.31 5.49 5.49 5.5 5.45 5.49 14,800 81,084 5.58 5.6 5.5 5.68 5.45 5.6 1,743,900 9,759,111 BLOOMBERRY LEISURE AND RES 1.42 1.48 1.48 1.48 1.42 1.47 161,000 233,050 PH RESORTS GRP 1.64 1.69 1.64 1.69 1.64 1.69 502,000 839,360 0.4 0.41 0.41 0.41 0.4 0.41 370,000 151,600 PREMIUM LEISURE ALLHOME 7.33 7.45 7.3 7.59 7.3 7.33 25,000 183,102 1.31 1.33 1.34 1.34 1.31 1.31 72,000 94,400 METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD 39.35 39.4 39.9 39.9 39 39.35 979,000 38,544,740 ROBINSONS RTL 52.55 53 51.85 53 51.85 53 111,920 5,900,249.50 89 90 89 90 89 89 3,320 295,770 PHIL SEVEN CORP SSI GROUP 1.12 1.13 1.15 1.15 1.13 1.13 1,210,000 1,368,290 22.65 22.7 22.7 22.9 22.6 22.7 1,062,600 24,127,125 WILCON DEPOT 0.32 0.335 0.325 0.325 0.325 0.325 390,000 126,750 APC GROUP EASYCALL 5.1 5.42 5.14 5.14 5.1 5.1 13,200 67,465 6.45 6.49 6.49 6.49 6.49 6.49 7,800 50,622 IPM HLDG PRMIERE HORIZON 1.03 1.04 0.91 1.04 0.9 1.03 15,197,000 14,870,790 4.19 4.38 4.2 4.4 4.19 4.4 56,000 236,660 SBS PHIL CORP MINING & OIL

ATOK 6.52 6.73 6.74 6.84 6.5 6.73 111,000 737,115 1.58 1.6 1.61 1.61 1.56 1.6 892,000 1,412,710 APEX MINING ATLAS MINING 6.89 6.9 6.83 6.95 6.83 6.89 1,037,500 7,148,149 5.16 5.27 5.19 5.27 5 5.27 448,300 2,301,748 BENGUET A Primarily invested in Peso securities BENGUET B 5 5.19 5.15 5.15 4.9 5.15 17,200 85,285 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.285 0.295 0.285 0.3 0.285 0.3 680,000 198,950 ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 373 1.54% 3.16% 2.42% 0.52% 2.68 2.8 2.65 2.8 2.65 2.8 535,000 1,422,000 CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES 6.16 6.39 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 100 640 ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9235 -1.18% 1.07% 0.14% 1.22% 2.34 2.35 2.35 2.36 2.34 2.34 3,114,000 7,303,440 FERRONICKEL Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2357 1.2% 3.61% 4.26% 0.65% 0.27 0.3 0.27 0.27 0.27 0.27 2,120,000 572,400 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.137 0.138 0.137 0.139 0.137 0.138 1,860,000 255,880 Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2693 -1.51% 2.31% 1.21% -1.16% 0.145 0.147 0.147 0.147 0.147 0.147 40,000 5,880 LEPANTO B First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4445 -0.4% 3.33% 1.67% -0.35% MANILA MINING A 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 4,500,000 45,900 MANILA MINING B 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 2,400,000 26,000 Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.4928 -3.7% 4.52% 1.09% -3.06% 1.17 1.2 1.18 1.21 1.17 1.2 116,000 136,380 MARCVENTURES Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.3193 1.17% 4.05% 2.72% -0.14% NIHAO 1.23 1.31 1.22 1.32 1.21 1.31 264,000 333,660 6.01 6.04 5.75 6.08 5.75 6.04 3,774,900 22,505,616 NICKEL ASIA Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9847 0.62% 4.65% 1.77% -0.41% ORNTL PENINSULA 0.89 0.9 0.92 0.92 0.89 0.9 152,000 135,900 Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0382 -0.07% 4.88% 1.5% -0.36% PX MINING 5.83 5.84 5.82 5.94 5.8 5.83 1,166,200 6,801,321 17.34 17.48 16.5 17.48 16.3 17.48 5,954,500 101,822,458 SEMIRARA MINING Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2189 1.21% 5.32% 2.07% 0.4% UNITED PARAGON 0.0088 0.009 0.0089 0.0089 0.0088 0.0088 7,000,000 61,800 Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7523 0.36% 4.65% 1.4% -0.15% 15.68 16.2 15.62 16.28 15.5 16.28 31,900 498,312 ACE ENEXOR ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 10,100,000 111,200 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 16,200,000 178,200 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 55,400,000 609,500 PHILODRILL ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $487.13 1.96% 3.17% 2.14% 0.67% PXP ENERGY 6.4 6.42 6.52 6.52 6.3 6.42 262,200 1,668,313 ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є220.31 1.74% 1.09% 0.89% 0.52% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1996 -3.23% 2.43% 1.29% -6.31% PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 100.6 101 101 101 101 101 1,000 101,000 First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0261 -1.51% 1.72% 0.78% -1.88% AC PREF B1 513.5 532 539.5 539.5 539.5 539.5 30 16,185 520 530 520 520 520 520 3,800 1,976,000 AC PREF B2R PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0503 -3.56% 0.53% -1.09% -3.88% CEB PREF 43.8 45 43.6 43.8 43.25 43.8 19,300 840,520 Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.5193 0.38% 5.13% 1.83% -0.64% 101 103 103 103 103 103 80 8,240 CPG PREF A DD PREF 100.3 100.5 101 101 100.5 100.5 530 53,270 Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0630469 3.26% 3.58% 2.1% 1.17% MWIDE PREF 101.5 101.7 101.5 101.7 101.5 101.5 11,100 1,126,788 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1877 -1.92% 3.36% 0.69% -1.11% 100 103 100 100.6 100 100.6 1,250 125,300 MWIDE PREF 2B PNX PREF 3B 104 106 106 106 106 106 100 10,600 Money Market Funds 1,002 1,005 1,004 1,004 1,004 1,004 2,110 2,118,440 PNX PREF 4 Primarily invested in Peso securities PCOR PREF 2B 1,000 1,018 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 8,000 8,000,000 PCOR PREF 3A 1,115 1,116 1,085 1,115 1,085 1,115 205 228,425 ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 130.42 1.42% 3% 2.53% 0.47% 1,150 1,155 1,150 1,150 1,150 1,150 6,560 7,544,000 PCOR PREF 3B First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0539 1.04% n.a. n.a. 0.55% SMC PREF 2C 77.5 78 77.5 78 77.5 78 8,520 664,203 PREF 2E SMC 76 76.9 76.05 76.05 76 76 242,700 18,445,205.50 Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.307 1.65% 2.81% 2.55% 0.8% 78.5 79.35 78.5 79.35 78.5 79.35 31,700 2,510,755 SMC PREF 2F Primarily invested in foreign currency securities SMC PREF 2H 76.05 76.9 76.1 76.1 76 76.05 189,410 14,399,790 75.8 76 76 76.05 76 76 12,750 969,009.50 SMC PREF 2J Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0581 1.11% 1.63% n.a. 0.54% SMC PREF 2K 76.5 76.9 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.5 3,200 244,800 Feeder Funds PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS Primarily invested in Peso securities ABS HLDG PDR 10.8 10.98 10.8 10.8 10.8 10.8 118,800 1,283,040 GMA HLDG PDR 11.66 12 11.6 12 11.6 12 201,800 2,410,990 Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.3138 29.98% n.a. n.a. 16.31% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities WARRANTS LR WARRANT 1.21 1 - - - - - - ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.99 4.21% n.a. n.a. 1.02%

Bond Funds

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 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 2 - Launch date is November 15, 2019. 3 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019. 4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019. 6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund).

7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020.

"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."

-5,120 -41,169,875 759,375 -259,590 -24,160 -72,500 -3,774,274 -1,487,110 -197,350 -80,050 582,580 72,030 -32,170 -6,500,430 22,750 16,600 38,820 9,871,416 -10,600 80 15,494,295 19,250 -99,600 -133,610 12,548,120 -27,067,645 -33,682,295 1,189,190 14,211,770 -500,670 419,964 -161,650 12,930 -1,035,570 125,647,902 12,320 -100,760 -1,660 -787,940 -27,300 -4,123,038 4,100 -51,344 -19,650 -10,272,290 -2,304,590.50 -266,300 -982,090.00 22,051,025 -110,500 1,587,660 -57,925 45,080 -104,044 97,000 4,309,370 21,240 2,839,874 12,460 -442,671 26,841,386 17,600 20,900 -5,454.00 -52,120 5,425 7,296,000 5,064,930 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART

17.04 1.99 5 3.36

17.06 2 5.13 3.37

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

98.2

98.3

16.68 1.96 5 3.18

17.04 2.07 5.15 3.36

16.68 1.96 5 3.14

17.04 1.99 5.15 3.36

66,300 582,000 68,000 9,359,000

1,125,758 1,168,960 344,010 31,011,920

0 - -11,900 196,560 925,830

98.5 98.5 98.2 98.3 13,750 1,351,703 228,012.50

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Entrepreneur BusinessMirror

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, August 4, 2021 B3

Rural-based companies advance to finals in nationwide search for tech enterprises By Roderick L. Abad

@rodrik_28

Contributor

HREE local tech start-ups have made it as finalists to the Shell LiveWIRE pitch out of 200 applicants nationwide for a chance to bring home the half-a-million-peso grand prize. The fuel company’s search for a new homegrown enterprise shows excellence in innovation and a potential for nation-building. After besting seven other shortlisted semi-finalists during the Pitch Day last July 1, Panublix, Agro-DigitalPH, and SACHI (Sustainable and Compostable Horizons Industry) Group, Inc., will advance to the Accelerator Program, where they will be given mentorship, training, and a monthly product development allowance. This stage of the competition will enable them to build valuable

core business strengths, such as the capacity to scale, develop their products, expand their market, while generating sustainable revenue streams. The top 3 start-ups will then vie for the P500,000 at stake during the final pitch in November. Shell LiveWIRE was launched just last year in the Philippines, although it has been backing up local communities and promoting entrepreneurship in other parts of the world since 1982. The oil giant’s flagship enterprise development program promotes entrepreneurship, innova-

TEN innovators across the country pitch to be part of accelerator program during the Shell LiveWIRE Live Pitch Day.

tion, and meaningful employment to strengthen the economy. “This is part of our efforts to help the country recover from the pandemic,” said Serge Bernal, Pilipinas Shell vice president for external and government relations. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, he noted that micro, small, and medium enterprises, or MSMEs, comprise 99.5 percent of business establishments in the Philippines and employ ap-

proximately 63 percent of the country’s work force, but many of them have been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. “By giving them technical and financial support through Shell LiveWIRE, we increase their chances of getting back on their feet or successfully growing a business that will generate employment and contribute to improving our economy,” he stressed. Nelly Nita Dillera, executive

director of the Philippine Trade Training Center of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and a member of the panel of judges, lauded the Shell LiveWIRE for helping “bring together the puzzles of ideation, technology, development, pitching, and finding capital,” and contributing to the agency’s efforts to develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The program focuses on start-ups in various areas like energy that includes enterprises providing innovations within access, distribution, optimization of power and cleaner energy solutions. Those engaged in sustainable packaging, food waste, upcycling, or waste reduction fall under the environment and circular economy category. Local prosperity segment covers enterprises that help power human progress and deliver positive social change and/or economic growth, such as access to finance and education, job creation, health and safety, as well as diversity and Inclusion. The selection of entities belonging to any of these areas is done by a

panel of judges comprising Shell leaders, DTI representatives, and venture capitalists who are cognizant of industry and market requirements. Panublix from Iloilo City is a techstyle sourcing platform and marketplace that seeks to connect Filipino weavers and garment makers with the fashion and design market. Agro-DigitalPH from Batangas City is building a trust-based digital food value chain, helping farmers and fishermen build their online presence via cooperatives and associations so they can be part of the digital market. Bulacan-based SACHI specializes in the manufacturing and distribution of eco-friendly and highly compostable biodegradable packaging materials like the renowned Cassava BioBags. The rest of the start-ups that made it to the top 10 are FHM (Filipina Home-Based Moms) from Taguig City, AtoANI from Bohol, VORTEx (Variable Off-shore Recyclable Turbine for Exergy) from Ortigas, XalMeds from Cebu City, MyGolana from Makati City and ReMaker from Quezon City.

Start-ups elevate customer experience through digital innovation Online selling keeps Filipino

health-product maker afloat

N line with its effort to provide support to start-ups with business-to-business models (B2B), QBO, in partnership with Youth Business International (YBI), supported by Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, introduced INQBATION: Leveling Up B2B Startups, an incubation program focused on supporting start-ups enabling businesses in the Philippines to grow and digitize. “Businesses may have already put their foot down digitally, the next question is—how will they retain and adapt to the ever-evolving environment?” says Ross Fallorina, QBO Innovation Hub’s Head of Strategy and Partnerships. “Our dependency on technology has tremendously increased during the pandemic, and we will continuously rely on it even after the pandemic. It now plays a vital role for individuals and also for businesses; we need it in order to adapt and innovate,” he adds. Bernadette Nacario, Country Director of Google Philippines, shared, “Digital transformation is key for businesses to grow and succeed, that is why Google is committed to enabling entrepreneurs in the Philippines to build their digital capabilities through upskilling programs, mentorships, and partnerships. Supporting Youth Business International and QBO through Google.org is important in achieving this goal. We will continue to empower MSMEs in the country with the right knowledge, tools, and skills so they can drive business efficiency and reap the benefits of the growing digital economy.” After a successful screening, QBO announced the top 3 incubatees: Packworks, ChatGenie.PH and Senti AI, which then went through intensive training with QBO and its program partners, including Google. More than a dozen Google industry experts took their time to upskill the start-ups with oneon-one mentorship and exclusive workshops, covering topics such as megabranding, product marketing, channel management, brand philosophy and essence, futureproofing, and professional sales 101. Following the INQBATION, the three start-ups will present to investors, venture capitalists, and corporations through QBO’s SHOWQASE: Succeeding in the B2B Space on July 23 at 3:00 PM, for a chance to secure funding and partnerships. The start-up founders share their insights on how businesses can improve their digital platforms and use technology to boost and scale up one’s business:

Consolidate your business’ processes for efficiency

Packworks, a start-up that provides digital solutions from simple sales monitoring to more advanced challenges such as dispatch and logistics, has helped more than 1,200 superstores and 70,000 sari-sari stores to digitize their businesses and consolidate their processes. “The power of our platform is in providing

By Erica Torres

Packworks founders (from left) Hubert Yap, Bing Tan and Ibrahim Bernando. Photo courtesy of QBO

visibility for the entire business. We leverage the power of data through topline summaries and dashboards so that the owner can be away from the store and make running businesses a liberating experience,” says Bing Tan, CEO of Packworks. Tan says that the adage “it used to work before, it will work for me tomorrow” is fast becoming inapplicable to growing your business today. “There is a deluge of information from your suppliers, customers, operations and much more coming from the homefront, which obliges us to be connected 24/7 to catch up to everything around us. We need technology to help us record information so we can create a strategy that moves the business forward.”

Expand customer reach via mini-applications

ChatGenie.PH, a start-up that offers a program for businesses to have an end-to-end platform within Facebook Messenger and GCash through its GLife program, shares the importance of helping small businesses go digital. “We figured that a lot of small businesses have little knowledge and resources to go digital so we figured their needs and unique value proposition fit together. They are also the most vulnerable sector that needs assistance on how to go online as quickly as possible with little to no additional cost,” said ChatGenie’s CEO, Ragde Falcis. With ChatGenie, customers will have fewer friction points by bypassing the need to download and manage a specific app to engage or purchase in your business. This creates a direct relationship between the brand and its customers. They were able to generate more than P100 million transactions and launch over 1,500 mini apps since the lockdown, and have just recently launched their miniprograms via GCash. Falcis advises businesses to use technology to diversify their sales channels by utilizing a platform where they can control and have ac-

cess to customer data; to assess the journey of their customers; and, to simply sell everywhere. “If your customers are hanging out on social media, make the sale inside social media. It gives you the opportunity to be part of their purchase journey from start to finish. If your customers often use mobile wallets to send money to their friends and families, sell inside mobile wallets as well,” he said.

Make your business accessible to customers

With contact centers relying on digital channels, Senti AI recognized the need for smarter tech-enabled solutions and built a voice center artificial intelligence named “Voix”, a program which specializes in the Filipino language to help contact centers and their agents adapt to overwhelming call volumes and continue delivering customer experiences on multiple online channels. Senti AI was able to close 6 enterprise clients this year, and is considered as one of the 30 Google Cloud Breakthrough partners in the Philippines. “The sudden surge in call volume has caused agent burnout and has also negatively impacted contact centers’ satisfaction ratings and customer experience,” says Ria Flora, Senti AI’s Head of Special Projects and Data Scientist. “There are many stories about companies who lost market share because they didn’t innovate or listen to their customers. It doesn’t make sense for any company to keep acquiring new customers but fail to retain them.” “Technology can help you improve your competitive stance by improving or creating new services; use it so you can become more reachable, accessible, and so you can engage better with your customers,” says Dr. Charibeth Cheng, Co-founder & Chief Research Officer of Senti AI. To know more about the start-ups presenting on SHOWQASE: Succeeding in the B2B Space, register via bit.ly/showqasejulyregistration. Check out QBO on Facebook or visit https://www.qbo.com.ph/.

he prolonged lockdown period due to Covid-19 has forced the closure of a large number of small and medium businesses, leaving thousands of employees out of work. But for health and wellness firm Yamang Bukid Healthy Products Inc. (YBHPI), quick adoption to technology helped them keep the business afloat amid the economic ravages being unleashed by the pandemic. YBHPI operates over 200 brick and mortar stores across shopping malls in the Philippines, with more than 500 employees. “We were caught off-guard and unprepared. Many malls where we have outlets closed,” recalled Rhecks Bolasoc, Yamang Bukid’s area manager for Bulacan. While they were forced to close some outlets, the management embraced the digitalization of its business operations, and employees were trained to run the company’s Facebook page, to take in, facilitate and move orders, said Bolasoc. “We were worried about losing our source of income. We were worried for our families,” he said. Yamang Bukid is known for its was traditional way of doing business, with primly, yellow-clad salespersons giving free taste of its flagship product, Yamang Bukid Turmeric 10-in-1 Tea, to shoppers and ushering them to its display of the product in glass shelves in outlets or booths conspicuously located within leased mall spaces. Besides setting up local pages, Bolasoc also directed staff to do online selling themselves, with inventories either those from closed outlets or from the company warehouse and distribution hubs. Before long, his online selling operation gained momentum and attracted many buyers and inquiries, said Bolasoc. Prior to the pandemic, Yamang Bukid’s online presence was minimal, mainly comprised only of the company’s web site that published company-related social responsibility stories, and a Facebook page where they post about selling activities in outlets and occasional call-to-action to new customers. “The company is slowly recovering, and we are thankful that we were able to retain most of our employees despite a huge drop in revenues,” said Katherine Guadiz of Tarlac. She said Yamang Bukid had to scrounge the lost revenue from non-operating outlets and remain afloat as an organization. “We started our first promotion through FB Live. We also set up another Facebook page dedicated for online selling, orderstaking and deliveries,” said Guadiz, who has

A lady merchandiser presents an array of Yamang Bukid healt products at a mall. Photo courtesy of YBHPI

been with the company for over five years. Guadiz said she also encouraged her staff to share their page to other online selling groups to gain more traction and attract potential customers. While shopping malls are returning to normal, she added, small and medium scale businesses still have a long way to go to recover. Even if the economy recovers and the market normalizes, doing business online is seen to remain as part of the new normal, Guadiz said. For companies like Yamang Bukid Healthy Products Inc. to continue to thrive and stay relevant, it has to adapt to and integrate digitalization as a way of doing business, according to experts. The health and wellness firm has embraced the digital shift wholeheartedly. “Going online as a result of the pandemic presented many opportunities to us,” said Mordino Visitacion, YBHPI Chief Executive Officer. “Our online business model created new partnerships, with more resellers from businesses like pharmacies, merchandising stores, convenience stores to individual sellers.” While the company strengthened its distribution and delivery systems through established e-commerce giants like Lazada and Shoppe, its in-house delivery system through its partner courier J&T Express also relied heavily on orders placed through its social-media accounts, the Yamang Bukid chief executive said. “Our online presence also made our brand more widely available and more accessible. Aside from our usual mall outlets, and supermarkets where our products are on display, you can now easily purchase the Yamang Bukid Turmeric 10-in-1 Tea in the comfort of your home through the different online platforms.” he said.

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 • Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

Govt raises ₧35B from selling IOUs with lower coupon rate

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury borrowed P35 billion from the local debt market as it fully awarded reissued 10-year Treasury Bonds (T-bonds) on Tuesday. With 9 years and 11 months to maturity, the debt paper fetched an average rate of 3.914 percent, lower than the 4 percent coupon rate set last July. The tenor attracted total submitted bids of P70.7 billion, making the auction twice oversubscribed. The security is set to mature on

July 22, 2031. Following the auction, National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon said they have observed investors’ continued preference for long tenors amid expectations that July inflation will settle within the monetary authorities’ target range. “[We] continue to see bias in long

tenor with steady inflation outlook,” De Leon told reporters. She added they also opened the tap facility window to auction off an additional P7-billion offering for the same tenor. The Philippine Statistics Authority is set to report the July inflation data on Thursday, August 5. Days ahead of the release of the official inflation data, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno told reporters last Friday that inflation likely hit 4.3 percent in July, but is expected to fall within the range of 3.9 percent to 4.7 percent during the month. Inflation has been steady at 4.5 percent since March to May before falling to 4.1 percent in June. Inflation has not tamed down to a rate within the government’s target of 2 to 4 percent for the year. For August, the Treasury has set to

borrow P200 billion from the local debt market, slightly lower than the P235 billion it programmed in July. This year, the national government programmed to borrow a total of P3.1trillion, of which around 75 percent is expected to be raised through domestic sources. The outstanding debt of the national government has already piled up to P11.166 trillion as of end-June this year, swelling by 23.3 percent from P9.054 trillion a year ago. Finance officials last week said the debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio this year is projected to rise to 59.1 percent from 54.6 percent in 2020. It is also expected to peak next year at 60.8 percent—slightly above the internationally accepted threshold—before gradually tapering off to 60.7 percent and 59.7 percent in 2023 and 2024.

Reimagining tomorrow Metrobank says H1 net income up 28%

MONG the three major sectors of the Philippine economy, agriculture was least affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. While the country’s GDP shrunk by 9.5% last year, the agriculture sector contracted by a negligible 0.02% compared to its 2019 level. In contrast, the services sector fell by 5.5% and the industry sector dropped by 4.0% during the same period. Agriculture has thus become a key pillar in the country’s economic recovery efforts. Highlighting this pivot was the 14th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards honoring journalists who bring agricultural issues to the fore in the national and regional conversations. The 2021 awarding ceremony was held for the first time in virtual format last July 28. When the Bright Leaf’s inaugural edition was launched in 2007, it had less than a hundred entries. Philip Morris Philippines sponsored the competition during its first three years and handed it over starting 2010 to PMFTC Inc., the joint venture between Philip Morris International and Fortune Tobacco Corp. This year, more than 600 entries were submitted from across the archipelago, vying for awards in the print, broadcast, and online categories. The BusinessMirror had the most number of winners and made history as the first broadsheet to garner four major awards in a single edition of the Bright Leaf. Agriculture and commodities reporter Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas received the Oriental Leaf Award after winning five Bright Leaf awards in different categories that qualified him for the Hall of Fame. Previously he won twice in 2017 and twice in 2018 for news and features categories, capped by his fifth Bright Leaf award in 2019 as co-author of the Tobacco Story of the Year. Veteran reporter Cai U. Ordinario won two awards, namely: the Tobacco Story of the Year for her piece on gold leaf farming, and the Best National News Story for investigative report on the rice trade liberalization law. She coauthored both stories with Arcalas under the supervision of Senior Editor Dennis D. Estopace. Photojournalist Erwin M. Mascariñas bagged the award for Agriculture Photo of the Year for his shot that portrayed drying fish in Siargao, which was published in the tourism page of the BusinessMirror. In 2016 and 2017, he also won in the same category. PMFTC President Denis Gorkun said the 2021 theme of “Reimagining Tomorrow” is very

Finex free enterprise Joseph Araneta Gamboa appropriate for the Bright Leaf community since “our agility to adapt and pivot were tested in this unprecedented global crisis.” For his part, PMFTC Communications Director Dave Gomez told the winners: “Your stories are the stories that matter to us. Your eyes are our windows to our farmers’ plight. Your masterpieces are a reminder of the industry concerns we should pay attention to.” Louise Maureen Simeon of the Philippine Star won the Agriculture Story of the Year award for her article on rice tarrification, while the Tobacco Photo of the Year award went to Wilfredo Lomibao of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Winning twice this time was Baguio Chronicle’s Frank Cimatu for Best Regional Feature Story about the effects of the quarantine on the Cordillera farming sector, and Best Story on Tobacco Product Alternatives regarding the possibility that the local tobacco industry will produce the first Filipino vaccine against Covid-19. The Best National Feature Story award went to Inquirer business reporter Karl Angelica Ocampo for her piece on MovefoodPH, while Erwin Nicavera of SunStar Bacolod obtained the Best Regional News Story award for his report on urban farming amid the pandemic. Manila Bulletin’s online agriculture publication produced a winner for the Best Online Story Award, Vina Medenilla of www. agriculture.com.ph for her story about agri-tourism. Named the winner for Best Radio Program or Segment was Rose Malekchan of DZWT Radyo Totoo for her program about wild berries. The Best TV Program or Segment award went to GMA 7’s Team MMPI for their segment on the Agriculture Technical Institute. Palanca Hall of Famer and multi-awarded author Alfred Yuson, who chaired the board of judges, summed up this year’s Bright Leaf awards aptly: “It is during these times of uncertainty and despair when our desire for creativity is on fire.” Joseph Gamboa is the co-chairman of the Finex Annual Conferences for 2020-2021, chairman of the Finex Business Columns Subcommittee and director of Noble Asia Industrial Corp. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of these institutions and the BusinessMirror.

E T R O P O L I TA N Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) reported a net income of P11.7 billion, accelerating its earnings to 28 percent for the first half of 2021. The double-digit growth is a result of its strong recovery in fee income and lower cost base, pushing its second quarter income to surge to 29.9 percent to P3.9 This undated photo courtesy of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) billion. shows the façade of the bank’s building. The publicly-listed lender reported “With the sustained prog- its net income surged to 28 percent in the first half of the year. ress in vaccination roll-outs sustained efforts to improve operational across the country, we are optimistic of efficiency. the recovery of the economy,” Metrobank Metrobank said its portfolio health President Fabian S. Dee was quoted in a was stable, with NPL ratio further easing statement as saying. “We remain driven to 2.3 percent from 2.4 percent in March to keep our growth momentum.” 2021. Restructured loans ratio was largely According to Dee, the lender’s reserves already cover 179.0 percent of nonperformunchanged at 0.5 percent. Amid this backing loans (NPLs). drop and supported by its anticipatory “Capital ratios are almost double the provisioning strategy in 2020, the Bank regulatory minimum and, with abundant managed to reduce provision expenses by liquidity, the bank is in a strong position to 69.1 percent to P7.0 billion. NPL cover went up to 179.0 percent from 166.0 percent in endure prolonged risks. We have the capacthe previous quarter. ity and are looking forward to provide fundGrowth in low-cost current account and ing support to business activities that will savings accounts (Casa) remained healthy help push economic recovery,” he added. Fee-based income rose by 16.4 percent to at 13.5 percent to P1.3 trillion as clients P6.4 billion in the first semester supported continued to park their excess liquidity in by the revival of transaction volumes, acMetrobank. CASA ratio remained high at cording to the publicly-listed firm. Trust 73.8 percent which helped keep funding income sustained its healthy 21.2 percent costs steady. growth as assets under management exMetrobank is the country’s second panded by 16.7 percent. The recovery in relargest private universal bank with concurring fees helped mitigate the impact of solidated assets of P 2.5 trillion as of end subdued loan demand and margin pressure. June 2021. Total equity reached P313.2 Operating costs were kept under conbillion, leading to a formidable capital adtrol, even declining slightly to P29.4 bilequacy ratio of 20.4 percent and common lion in the first half of the year driven by equity Tier-one ratio ratio of 19.5 percent.

Insular Life names new COO

HE Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd. announced it has appointed Efren C. Caringal Jr. as Chief Operating Officer (COO) with the rank of Senior Executive Vice President. According to the insurer, Caringal has handled executive roles in the Middle East, Germany, Ireland and Singapore before coming back to Manila when he was appointed chief finance officer and treasurer and chief investment officer at a multinational life insurer. “He was a former regional risk head of a multinational life insurer in Singapore. Before that, he was Chief Risk Officer in Dublin and Munich and head of both life products and risk management at a life insurer in Manama in the Gulf region. Insular Life President and CEO Raoul E. Littaua was quoted in a statement as saying that Caringal “has built a strong life insurance experience gained from both domestic and international life insurance companies.” “He will work closely with the Board of Trustees and top management in formulating and implementing business strategies,” Littaua added. As COO and one of the Group heads, Caringal will have oversight on strategy and financial management, insurance

CARINGAL JR.

operations, actuarial, investment management, real property, information technology including digital transformation, and information security and data privacy. Caringal is a BS Mathematics graduate of the University of the Philippines. He also completed an Actuarial Science Postgraduate Diploma with merit from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. He is a fellow of Life Management Institute and Life and Health Claims, as well as an Associate member of the Actuarial Society of the Philippines.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Mastercard to sell online payment platform to SMEs

astercard Inc. anno unce d i t re cent l y launched a simple and secure platform it says would “enable small business to make it easier for them to accept electronic payments, regardless of payment network.” “Mastercard consistently introduces efficient, secure and accessible payment technologies to support businesses as they respond to consumers’ changing habits and needs,” Simon Calasanz, Mastercard country manager for the Philippines, was quoted in a statement as saying. “This is also essential in creating an inclusive digital economy, with the majority of businesses in the country made up of micro-scale, small and medium enterprises.” In the Philippines, the platform is made available to small and medium-sized merchants through the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank), the first acquirer of the platform in the country and in Southeast Asia. Calasanz said payment technologies are playing an important role in the rapid adoption of ecommerce in the region. Citing a recent study by Mastercard, Calasanz said there was a change in behaviors and attitudes among the consumers brought about by Covid-19. The survey said around 40 percent of surveyed consumers in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand reported an increase in their use of home delivery services

and online shopping platforms. He added these changes in purchasing habits also brought led to a shift in payment methods, with the majority of consumers in all markets surveyed, and 64 percent in the Philippines, reporting a significant decrease in cash usage. Calasanz emphasized the platform they call “Simplify Commerce” is a user-friendly platform that allows business owners with minimal technical skills to set up the platform within minutes, easily create their own web store and sell products on ecommerce and social media channels. “Merchants will be able to accept electronic payments online, in-app and in person using the platform’s virtual terminal. Moving away from physical invoices, merchants can issue secure e-invoices branded with their own business logo and branding, all managed from a central dashboard,” Calasanz said. “Simplify also has a mobile app for iOS and Android that allows merchants to manage payment activities and add products to the storefront in real time and on the go.” “Simplify Commerce” is just one of the solutions from Mastercard to drive digital acceleration among small businesses. By enabling small businesses to open online storefronts, Mastercard can help them build new revenue streams and emerge stronger to ensure success in the digital environment.

Rizal Raoul Reyes

Image BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Leading technical teams Baliwag Municipal Mayor Ferdinand Estrella (right) graced the opening of NU Baliwag together with the National University officials headed by the NU president Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita Jr. (left) and NU vice president for administration Jose Nilo Ocampo (second from left). They are joined by the officiating priest Bishop Dennis Villarojo from Diocese of Malolos (center) and SM Supermalls senior vice president for mall operations Bien Mateo (second from right).

NU Baliwag, located at the Annex Building of SM City Baliwag, brings quality education closer to home.

National University inaugurates first Central Luzon campus

National University brings quality education closer to home as it inaugurates its first campus in Central Luzon at SM City Baliwag in Bulacan. NU Baliwag is the fourth campus to open as part of the university’s 10-year expansion program. As shared by National University chairman Hans Sy, the NU expansion anchors on the mission of their late patriarch, Henry Sy Sr., which is to help Filipinos gain access to education. Located at the annex building of SM City Baliwag, the 14,259.13 sqm campus could accommodate at least 6,000 students once face-to-face class resumes. NU Baliwag aims to provide National University’s high standards of educational services not just to students in the first-class urban municipality of Baliwag, but also in some parts of Bulacan and as far as Pampanga. In the meantime, it adapts to the new normal by virtually opening its doors to students for online classes. Last August, it introduced the Flexible Learning Experience (NU FLEX), which focuses on blending remote asynchronous and synchronous learning, a mix of scheduled classes and recorded lectures that are accessible anytime and anywhere. Gracing the inauguration were Baliwag Municipal Mayor Ferdinand Estrella together with the National University officials headed by the president Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita Jr. and vice president for administration Jose Nilo Ocampo, and SM Supermalls senior vice president for mall operations Bien Mateo. NU Baliwag showcases National University’s highly credible background as a provider of quality education in the country. Apart from being a Microsoft showcase school, the campus takes pride of its state-of-the-art facilities including simulation rooms with up-to-date equipment for specific courses, and modern computer laboratories. The campus is equipped with competent faculty members from topperforming schools to ensure the highest quality classroom instruction. More information is available at 0923-5330342 or 09239495265.

S you move up in managing people, you will notice that your people skills increase while your technical know-how declines. This is natural since your focus is more on managing people and their development than on the technical requirements. This is because as you grow your leadership skills and influence, you will have more people doing things for you and your job is to get things done through people. Some become people managers because of their technical expertise but invariably they will discover for themselves that focusing on people development gets more done in less time. Others will find themselves being assigned to other groups because management sees them as a potential leader to manage another group. Whatever the case, you will be working with people whose technical knowledge and expertise are superior to your own. This, however, does not mean they make for better people managers. Leading and influencing people is a different skill set. And when you find yourself leading people who are technically better than you, the challenge is to work with them and influence them, so the team’s goal is achieved. As someone leading a technical team, you need to upgrade yourself. This does not mean to become as technically proficient as every member of your team. It means knowing enough of the tools and processes they use such that you know the end result. Understanding what your team can do will help you evaluate requests from other departments and help you decide who to tap for certain tasks and projects. If you can, team up with a team member who can reverse mentor you. Reverse mentoring helps you understand key elements of the team’s tasks and deliverables, and at the same time provide you insight to the workings of the team. Make sure you get someone who understands the workflows and timelines so you can make informed decisions on work assignments and deadlines. Probably one of the pain points of leading technical teams is communicating clearly. The end goal of any communication is to be understood. And that entails knowing where your audience is coming from, and using words and actions that they can understand so your message is received. Make sure you speak their language, and you use words and phrases they can relate to and understand. Ensure also that goals and deadlines are understood, and how each of them contributes to the organization’s success. A common problem of technical teams is that they use jargon, idioms, or slang when they talk among themselves and even with you. This is an

opportunity to teach your team how to communicate to other departments in a clear and precise manner, and weed out any word that might be misconstrued by other teams. Your team needs to understand that communication with one another is not the same as communicating with other teams. Aside from what you can do for yourself, there are several things you can also do for your team so they can be a cohesive and efficient team. One of those is creating an environment where they can thrive. This means ensuring the team understands what needs to be done and providing them with the correct information and resources to achieve the organization’s goals. This means allowing them the means to adapt and be flexible to craft creative solutions to issues encountered, and trusting them to do their work from a distance. Part of creating a good environment is managing how members relate to one another. Provide venues for collaboration, and for your team to get to know each other better. Deliberately set aside time for talking to them individually and as a team. Be available when they need you especially when they have issues you need to act on quickly and decisively. Empower your team by delegating responsibilities. Know who can take on more responsibilities and are willing to be trained for them. You will only know who is ready if you spend time with your team and understand their motivations. The best thing is when your team members volunteer to take on more responsibilities and chart their own development. To empower your team, make sure you continuously upgrade your people, process and tools. Get to know your team and create an individual development plan per team member so they know their career options, and they can also identify which

areas they are good at and what skills they need to work on. Allow your team to look for process improvements and creative solutions to issues which they might encounter. Listen to their recommendations but also allow the team to comment and give their feedback. This ensures you have their buy-in early on and if it helps your team work smarter, then support its implementation. Your role as a people manager is to clear roadblocks to your team’s productivity. Make sure your team’s tools are updated and upgraded regularly so they can do their work efficiently and quickly. Be on the lookout for emerging technologies and applications that might impact the way your team does its work. And, lastly, reward your team when they do their work well. This goes without saying but praise your team publicly but reprimand them privately. There are so many ways of rewarding your team. But the best rewards are those that fuel their motivations and aspirations for working. Some teams are content with being treated for lunch, while others need a promotion. Knowing what drives your team can greatly help in developing a reward program for them. Leading a technical team is not easy. But always remember that leadership is about influencing people to do their work well and harmonizing the efforts of individual members into a cohesive goal. This requires people skills more than technical skills. So, expect that when you go higher up the leadership ladder, you will be entrusted with more people to manage. And that is fine as long as you remember that your role as a people manager is to ensure your team lives up to their potential. n

Big tech has a vaccine misinformation problem By Anjana Susarla Michigan State University WITH less than half the United States population fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and as the Delta variant sweeps the nation, the US surgeon general issued an advisory that called misinformation an urgent threat to public health. The advisory said efforts by social-media companies to combat misinformation are “too little, too late and still don’t go far enough.” The advisory came more than a year after the World Health Organization warned of a Covid-related “infodemic.” There’s good reason to be concerned. A study in the UK and the US found that exposure to online misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines reduced the number of people who said they would get vaccinated and increased the number of people who said they would not. A serious threat in online settings is that fake news spreads faster than verified and validated news from credible sources. Articles connecting vaccines and death have been among the content people engage with most. Algorithms on social-media platforms are primed for engagement. Recommendation engines in these platforms create a rabbit-hole effect by pushing users who click on anti-vaccine messages toward more antivaccine content. Individuals and groups that spread medical misinformation are well-organized to exploit the weaknesses of the engagement-driven ecosystems on social-media platforms. Social media is being manipulated on an industrial scale, including a Russian campaign pushing disinformation about Covid-19 vaccines. Researchers have found that people who rely on Facebook as their primary source of news about the coronavirus are

less likely to be vaccinated than people who get their coronavirus news from any other source. While social-media companies have actively tagged and removed misinformation about Covid-19 generally, stories about vaccine side effects are more insidious because conspiracy theorists may not be trafficking in false information as much as engaging in selectively distorting risks from vaccination. These efforts are part of a well-developed disinformation ecosystem on social-media platforms that extends to offline anti-vaccine activism. Here are two key steps social-media companies can take to reduce vaccine-related misinformation. n Block known sources of vaccine misinformation. There have been popular antivaccine hashtags such as #vaccineskill. Though it was blocked on Instagram two years ago, it was allowed on Facebook until July 2021. Aside from vaccines, misinformation on multiple aspects of Covid-19 prevention and treatment abounds, including misinformation about the health benefits of wearing a mask. Twitter recently suspended US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for a couple of days, citing a post of Covid misinformation. But social-media companies could do a lot more to block disinformation spreaders. Reports suggest that most of the vaccine disinformation on Facebook and Twitter comes from a dozen users who are still active on social media referred to as the disinformation dozen. The list is topped by businessman and physician Joseph Mercola and prominent anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Evidence suggests that infodemic superspreaders engage in coordinated sharing of content, which increases their effectiveness in spreading disinformation and, correspondingly, makes it all

the more important to block them. Social-media platforms need to more aggressively flag harmful content and remove people known to traffic in vaccine-related disinformation. n Disclose more about medical misinformation. Facebook claims that it has taken down 18 million pieces of coronavirus misinformation. However, the company doesn’t share data about misinformation on its platforms. Researchers and policy-makers don’t know how much vaccine-related misinformation is on the platforms, and how many people are seeing and sharing misinformation. Another challenge is distinguishing between different types of engagement. My own research studying medical information on YouTube found

different levels of engagement, people simply viewing information that’s relevant to their interests and people commenting on and providing feedback about the information. The issue is how vaccine-related misinformation fits into people’s preexisting beliefs and to what extent their skepticism of vaccines is accentuated by what they are exposed to online. Social-media companies can also partner with health organizations, medical journals and researchers to more thoroughly and credibly identify medical misinformation. Data about social media will help researchers answer key questions about medical misinformation, and the answers in turn could lead to better ways of countering the misinformation. THE CONVERSATION

Gokongwei Group rolls out Covid Protect program

Thirty-three-year-old Henessy Catajay Pallarca, assistant store manager of Robinsons Supermarket in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, is the first front-line employee of the Gokongwei Group to be jabbed under the conglomerate’s Covid Protect vaccination program. The vaccine rollout is an initiative of the group to inoculate tens of thousands of its employees and their dependents, along with third-party workers, in support of the government’s goal of attaining herd immunity against Covid-19 in the country.

PHOTO BY DYLAN GILLIS ON UNSPLASH

B6 Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Preventing the ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’

Dinagat Islands gets first-ever fleet of buses for public transport

GOV. Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao accepts a donation of three brand new 30-seater buses from Engr. Arnilo C. Milaor, CMC resident mine manager.

OVERNOR Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao’s vision of establishing an efficient inter-connected public transport system in the Province of Dinagat Islands that links seven municipalities within the island province is slowly being realized. In support of that vision, Cagdianao Mining Corp. (CMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), with operations in barangay Valencia, in Dinagat Island, turns three units of brand new buses, backing Governor Bag-ao’s “DinagatLink” – a transport system that is part of a developmental agenda to transport people and goods efficiently. “It is not enough that we have roads, it is important that there will be movements in these roads, a transport system that will move people and products,” says Gov. Bag-ao. Part of Governor Bag-ao’s initiatives is the opening up of road networks in the province that systematize its public land transportation. Bag-ao also acknowledges CMC for the mining company’s contributions

in opening up and building roads that now connect the barangays and the municipalities of the island to the business and trade centers of the province. The governor herself led the unveiling of a 19.2-kilometer access road last August 2020, a development project that CMC has initiated, as part of the mining company’s social responsibility programs. The access road costs some P12.2 Million which was funded with the company’s Social Development and Management Program and Corporate Social Responsibility funds. Bag-ao cites the social and economic benefits of opening up new roads that now enable, for the first time, land travel for residents who had been relying solely on sea transport. The governor says efficient roads and transport system help ensure the sustainability of development initiatives being undertaken by the government in partnership with the private sector. CMC’s donation of a fleet of new 30-seater buses amounting to P10.8

Million brings bus transport to Dinagat Islands for the first time, getting the residents all excited. With the new and opened roads, the buses will not only generate income, from fares based on the imposed standard of the LTRFB, but will be vital for mobility of goods and services, and in transporting people safely, especially during this challenging time of the pandemic. “CMC’s support to ‘DinagatLink’ represents the company’s aspirations for a sustainable development in the province of Dinagat Islands”, says Engr. Arnilo C. Milaor, Resident Mine Manager. Bag-ao also commends CMC for its efforts in protecting the environment and the health of Dinagatnons and in contributing as the island province continues its steps to economic growth. “I agree that the only way to develop is to have growth and I thank CMC for the opportunity to tell everyone that a ‘stakeholder-ship’ relations with companies working in Dinagat Islands is possible,” the governor says.

HLO inaugurates warehouse in Bulacan

RESIDENTIAL Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion is pleased that the government has considered placing NCR under a lockdown in the next 2 weeks from August 6 until August 20, 2021, following the call from the business sector and OCTA research that this ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown is the key to contain the spread of the Delta variant. “I am glad that the DOH has supported this. I am also happy that Secretary Francisco Duque III and the members of the IATF-EID have made the right decision, supporting also the Metro Manila mayors’ proposal,” Concepcion added. While more and more cases have been reported recently, Concepcion reiterated that this is now a race between the Delta variant, the government and the private sector's inoculation. “The Delta virus is here, and we must prepare now. It’s become a tight and dangerous race between Delta and the government and private sector efforts to vaccinate the unvaccinated,” Concepcion said. Concepcion also bats for the right mechanism to prevent the rapid transmission of the Delta variant. “We need to slow down the acceleration of the Delta infections to buy us more time to inoculate the unprotected. This also allows us to save the lives of the unvaccinated people, who are the most vulnerable during this time,” he added. Being the adviser for entrepreneurship, Concepcion explained his motivation to help the country’s MSMEs especially at this time of nationwide crisis. “My role as an adviser to the president is to help our MSMEs survive this pandemic. I have earlier recommended that the earlier we do this [lockdown], the shorter it is,” Concepcion affirmed. Recently, Concepcion expressed his support to the implementation of a twoweek lockdown at this point, instead of the subsequent reimposition of a stricter quarantine sometime in 4th quarter, as it will be counterintuitive to the goal of better economic recovery in the last few months of the year. “We prefer that we solve the problem early and not wait for the problem to get

bigger, because then we will have a lockdown for months. That is the most catastrophic thing in our country if that happens in the 4th quarter,” Concepcion said. According to Concepcion, it is only through vaccination efforts can the entire country, especially the severely-affected NCR Plus, build the much needed “wall of defense” against the virus, particularly the Delta variant. “We must prepare now and build our wall of defense by striving for herd immunity. If we do it now, we can save more lives and livelihoods,” he added.“While we are pushing for this lockdown, we hope that we also consider giving greater mobility for the fullyvaccinated individuals,” Concepcion shared. This supports his recent proposal to effectuate restrictions to those who are not yet vaccinated, not only to protect them but also others.“Even during this expected lockdown, part of our request is for us to continue effective strategies to fight COVID-19: aggressive testing to detect who among us contracted COVID-19, intensive contact tracing to avert any possible infections from those already positive, and finally, the private sector’s vaccination program to fully immunize the Filipinos from severely getting affected by the virus. Of course, this is on top of allowing the unhampered mobility of the vaccinated people,” he added. Meanwhile, IATF-EID Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon has requested the private sector to accelerate its vaccination efforts to hopefully finish them in NCR Plus by August 15. “We would like to save the lives especially of those who have not taken the vaccines. After all, we don't want to make this the pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Concepcion concluded. This is in line with his proposal, along with various measures, for us to hasten the country’s attainment of herd immunity while eyeing for a merry Christmas and a better new year.

BLOODLETTING ACTIVITY. CDC President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan (2nd from right) led the blood donation program organized by the Dugong Alay, Dugtong Buhay, Inc. in cooperation with the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, Clark Development Corporation, PAF Air Reserve Command and Masonic District R-III Pampanga. With are, from left: District Deputy Grand Master R-III Pampanga Felixberto Paras, Deputy Group Commander 23rd Airforce Group Reserve (PAF) Maj. Rolando Rodolfo, and 2nd Air Force Reserve Center (ARCEN-PAF) Lt. Col Joan Dalmacio. The bloodletting drive was held on August 1, 2021, at the Clark Bicentennial Park. (CDC-CD Photo)

Malapatan cooperative gets modern jeeps

AT HMO inaguration, from left: Dexter Argonia (Facility Maintenance Officer), Florante Padilla (Facility Maintenance Assistant), Michael Madulin (Logistics Head), Joe Sevilla (President and Founder), Chay Sevilla (Vice President and Finance Head), Rose Pangan (Facility Head), Rosalyn Pangan (Facility Manager), Ardie Dela Rama (Logistics Supervisor)

APPY Life Organics (HLO) recently inaugurated its newly built warehouse located at 1634 Mayumi St., Santa Cruz, Santa Maria, Bulacan. HLO is a Philippine based company that promotes innovative and ecofriendly solutions for the home, pets and unwanted pests. The company's success comes from the effective use and the health benefits of neem tree extract. Previously available only in India, now, the neem tree extract can be sourced out from Santa Maria, Bulacan. With high hopes for the rest of the

year, and the years to come, HLO is strengthening its distribution base to cater to the needs of the market specifically in promoting a chemicalless shift in the way the market use cleaning products at home and in different industries. What’s more, HLO also adapted eco-friendly practices by creating environmentally sustainable products.

From the all-natural ingredients up to their biodegradable packaging, the company wants its consumers to have that peace of mind knowing that aiming for a happy life can be achieved with them. Pertinent to its expansion, HLO recently launched the waterless shampoo for pets, a quicker, safer, innovative and plant bath alternative against chemical actives in shampoo for pets, saving 70% of grooming time. HLO products are available thru the company website: www. happylifeph.com, Lazada, Shopee and Zalora. Follow Happy Life Organics FB and IG stores: @happylifeorganics. Products are also available at top Vet Clinics in the country.

HE Malapatan Drivers Operators Transport Cooperative (MDOTC) in Malapatan, Sarangani recently acquired its first brand new unit of a modernized public utility jeepney as part of the Department of Transportation’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP). The cooperative, the biggest in the municipality, is expecting nine more units for delivery upon complete processing of documents. Priced at P3-million apiece, the modern jeep which plies the MalapatanGen Santos City route, is compliant with the DOTr’s safety and environmental standards. Once fully implemented, the modernization

program is also expected to eradicate the proliferation of colorum public transportation in the town, which is considered the cultural hub of Sarangani because of its Blaan lumad and Maguindanaon Moro communities. The town’s modernization program is made possible with the support of the Office of the Governor, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the Malapatan Municipal Government, and the Sarangani Congressional District Office. MDOTC chairperson Virgilia Bendulo and Sarangani Transport Alliance for Reform and True Development (STARTeD) chairperson Merly Nebres led the ceremonial ribboncutting of the first unit of the modern jeep.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 B7

Clark builds more space and infrastructure

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

HE former home of the United States Air Force (USAF) in Pampanga is transforming into a premier business district, according to a major real estate and investment management firm. Metro Clark offers an attractive prospect to local and foreign investors and occupiers as a good alternative to Metro Manila, with its existing developments and improved infrastructure that are soon to be completed, according to real-estate services and consultancy firm JLL Philippines. “All roads lead to Clark. Improved infrastructure is being put in place to make it more accessible now—major highways such as the North Luzon Expressway and Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, the Clark International Airport, and soon, the North-South Commuter Railway,” said Ian Perez, JLL Philippines’ director for Capital Mar-

ket during the company’s recent thought leadership event. Perez said Metro Clark’s proximity to Metro Manila (about 80 kilometers or a 45-minute car drive) makes living in Metro Clark and working in Metro Manila’s central district and vice versa more viable. He pointed out that Metro Clark can fill in the needs of decentralization among businesses which quickened during the pandemic. Following the “hub-andclub model” where occupiers will maintain a head office (club) for social activities such as client meetings and town halls, and expand through satellite offices (hubs), which may be closer to where em-

An overview of Clark economic zone Getty image

ployees reside. He said Metro Clark has the necessary amenities and facilities to support businesses for their expansion, adding that it has a diverse availability of supply for office, retail, residential, and lo-

gistics and industrial offerings. JLL forecasts an additional office supply of at least 280,000 sq m starting the first quarter of next year, and there is an existing dedicated 700 hectares of land across Metro Clark for industrial

purposes. “Offshoring and outsourcing firms, on top of traditional offices, remain to be one of the key drivers for the demand in office spaces in Metro Clark,” said Perez. “We expect rents to remain steady until

the end of the year and slightly dip as new supply becomes available in the market starting in 2021.” “Depending on the quality, size and site of a building, locating offices in Metro Clark has costsaving benefits such as lower rent, labor, utilities, and other operational costs,” he said. The logistics and industrial sector is also driving demand for space, particularly on the lastmile delivery, due to the booming e-commerce. “The more we shop online, the need for additional warehouse space increases, particularly from e-commerce companies. And with the Skyway 3 already in place, logistics hubs in the Clark area are strategically located to support distribution operations in all of Metro Manila’s 16 cities and one municipality,” said P. Ryan Isip, JLL Philippines’ head of Capital Markets. “As Clark builds more space and infrastructure development comes into full swing, more companies will move and expand to Clark and northern Luzon,” Joey Radovan, vice president, Country Firm Management, JLL Philippines said.

LIMA Estate undergoes constant transformation Have a safe and secure highlands sanctuary with a reliable work-from-home setup

LIMA Central Business District (CBD), which already houses The Outlets at Lipa, LIMA Exchange, LIMA Park Hotel, and LIMA Transport Hub, is the first commercial area in Batangas.

By Roderick L. Abad

EVERAGING on the anticipated boom of businessprocess outsourcing (BPO) industry outside the National Capital Region (NCR), Aboitiz-owned LIMA Land Inc. continues to develop its 30-hectare commercial area and the pioneering central business district (CBD) to rise in the province of Batangas, with LIMA Tower One, the first building of its seven-tower office complex, set to break ground later this year. A recent study by real-estate consulting firm PRIME Philippines revealed that the BPO sector would likely to take up office spaces as they expand outside of the already congested NCR. With the current pipeline of infrastructure projects boosting interconnectivity between Metro Manila and neighboring areas, PRIME also expects more developers increasing their land banks in key provinces, including Batangas. “We are excited to get started on our seven-tower office complex, which will further spur muchneeded economic activity and employment opportunities in the countryside post-pandemic. We believe that this is a fitting next step in our expansion, as we seek to drive the growth of Batangas through this world-class development,” said Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, first vice president for Aboit i z Integ rated Economic

Centers. LIMA Estate’s 4 hectares of commercial lot inventory are up for grabs. Lot sizes range from 1,800 sq m up to 5,000 sq m, ideal for BPO firms, offices, dormitories, condominiums, schools, hospitals, hotels, civic centers, and other commercial uses. These establishments will complement existing commercial components in the zone, such as The Outlets at Lipa, LIMA Exchange, LIMA Park Hotel, and LIMA Transport Hub, plus the planned office complex. As of June 2021, 46 percent of the total commercial lots within the CBD have been sold and investors may start construction by the first quarter of 2022. LIMA Land is, likewise, developing over 100 hectares of its existing 794-hectare property in the next few months to accommodate more industrial locators. Targeted for completion by the third quarter of 2022, it is expected to generate up to 20,000 new jobs in Batangas and neighboring areas. The Estate is highly accessible with direct access to South Luzon Expressway and STAR tollways. It is an hour-and-a-half away drive from Makati and Ninoy Aquino International Airport, 40 minutes from Alabang, and 30 minutes away from Batangas International Port. Residential options are inte-

grated across the CBD with The Villages at Lipa, and the Campo Verde and Summer Hills subdivisions. Educational institutions located within the Estate are Edustria Senior High School by the Far Eastern University and the Technological Institute of the Philippines. It also boasts of its proximity to 23 universities and colleges, including De La Salle Lipa, Batangas State University, and University of Batangas. With wide open spaces, greenery, and a safe environment, it is conducive to doing business amid the pandemic and under the new normal. The development already has world-class infrastructure services in place run by Aboitiz Group affiliates, such as LIMA Enerzone and LIMA Water. Together with LIMA Land, they are transforming the CBD into a next generation development via upgrades to existing facilities and the use of smart technologies. LIM A Land is managed by Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. under its Aboitiz Integrated Economic Centers business unit. Aboitiz is the leading fully integrated economic center developer with a proven track record of over 25 years. Its other estates include the Mactan Economic Zone II in LapuLapu City, Cebu and West Cebu Industrial Park in Balamban, Cebu.

NY which way one looks at it, choosing Tagaytay Highlands as your alternate primary residence or as your permanent home—and work—address can be the best move one could ever make. Imagine being transported from your sleek corner office in a posh high-rise to a tranquil workfrom-home (WFH) setting with a lavish nature view. Then visualize yourself heading for a game or two at an exclusive golf course or sweating it out at the gym, then bonding with family and friends at a specialty restaurant. All these just a brisk walk or short drive from your beautiful home where you’ve just wrapped up a productive workday. No traffic to endure, no smog or pollution to breathe in—just clean, crisp mountain air and a year-round cool breeze. Picture this idyllic setting as the country continues to adapt to the “new normal.” With the health situation showing little or no sign of abating anytime soon, wellheeled Filipinos are seeking safe havens for their families and finding these down south in Tagaytay Highlands, an exclusive mountain

With its tranquil and calming environment set amid wide open spaces, Tagaytay Highlands’ low-density communities serve as a natural therapeutic refuge.

resort complex just 90 minutes’ drive from the metropolis. Perched 2,500 feet above sea level, Tagaytay Highlands (www. tagaytayhighlands.com), is a luxury residential and recreational estate sprawled over 1,200 hectares of rolling terrain, affording its homeowners stunning views of placid Taal Lake and majestic Mt. Makiling in the horizon. Apart from offering its famous signature log cabins to forward-thinking families, Tagaytay Highlands boasts elegantly themed residential enclaves designed to serve as alternative primary homes for discerning property seekers. It’s a scenario that continuously unfolds. Having culled vital lessons from a global health threat that has lasted for more than a year now, companies are looking at physical, emotional, and mental wellness as part of the adaptive restructuring of their workplaces. Business owners are likewise looking to the suburbs for short- and even long-term retreats that have been proven conducive to “working from home.” With such in mind, expect Tagaytay Highlands to tout its best features as a natural

therapeutic refuge: wide-open, low-density spaces, serene and relaxing environs, breathtaking vistas, garden parks, and fresh, mountain air—all long-lasting deterrents to viral transmission. To ensure the holistic well-being of families and individuals accustomed to the lifestyle amenities of the city, each property purchase at Tagaytay Highlands comes with access to two challenging golf courses, cable cars, outdoor and indoor sports facilities, swimming pools, gourmet dining places, and membership in The Country Club. And as the Philippines awaits the end of the pandemic, Tagaytay Highlands assures its homeowners and guests that all facilities and personnel strictly adhere to sanitation procedures and safety protocols including disinfection, hand sanitation, wearing of face mask and face shield, and social distancing. Property Management has also been consistent in complying with health and safety precautionary measures and delivering quick crisis response during adverse natural and high-risk events. Reni Salvador

The World

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso

US hits 70% vaccination rate –a month late, amid a surge

he US on Monday finally reached President Joe Biden’s goal of getting at least one Covid-19 shot into 70 percent of American adults—a month late and amid a fierce surge by the Delta variant that is swamping hospitals and leading to new mask rules and mandatory vaccinations around the country. In a major retreat in the Deep South, Louisiana ordered nearly everyone, vaccinated or not, to wear masks again in all indoor public settings, including schools and colleges. And other cities and states likewise moved to reinstate precautions to counter a crisis blamed on the fast-spreading variant and stubborn resistance to getting the vaccine. “As quickly as we can discharge them they’re coming in and they’re coming in very sick. We started seeing entire families come down,” lamented Dr. Sergio Segarra, chief medical officer of Baptist Hospital Miami. The Florida medical-center chain reported an increase of over 140 percent in the past two weeks in the number of people now hospitalized with the virus. Biden had set a vaccination goal of 70 percent by the Fourth of July. That figure was the low end of initial government estimates for what would be necessary to achieve herd immunity in the US. But that has been rendered insufficient by the highly contagious Delta variant, which has enabled the virus to

come storming back. There was no celebration at the White House on Monday, nor a setting of a new target, as the administration instead struggles to overcome skepticism and outright hostility to the vaccine, especially in the South and other rural and conservative areas. The US still has not hit the administration’s other goal of fully vaccinating 165 million American adults by July 4. It is about 8.5 million short. New cases per day in the US have increased six-fold over the past month to an average of nearly 80,000, a level not seen since midFebruary. And deaths per day have climbed over the past two weeks from an average of 259 to 360. Those are still well below the 3,400 deaths and a quarter-million cases per day seen during the worst of the outbreak, in January. But some places around the country are watching caseloads reach their highest levels since the pandemic began. And nearly all deaths and serious illnesses now are in unvaccinated people.

The surge has led states and cities across the US to beat a retreat, just weeks after it looked as if the country was going to see a closeto-normal summer. Health officials in San Francisco and six other Bay Area counties announced Monday they are reinstating a requirement that everyone— vaccinated or not—wear masks in public indoor spaces. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York City airport and transit workers will have to get vaccinated or face weekly testing. He stopped short of mandating either masks or inoculations for the general public, saying he lacks legal authority to do so. Denver’s mayor said the city will require police officers, firefighters and certain other municipal employees to get vaccinated, along with workers at schools, nursing homes, hospitals and jails. Minnesota’s public colleges and universities will require masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. New Jersey said workers at state-run nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals and other such institutions must get the shot or face regular testing. Nor t h Carol ina’s gover nor ordered state employees in the agencies under his control to cover up indoors if they are not fully vaccinated. And McDonald’s said it will require employees and customers to resume wearing masks inside some US restaurants regardless of vaccination status in areas with high or substantial coronavirus transmission. The company didn’t say how many restaurants would be affected by the new mask mandate. White House press secretary

Jen Psaki said a nationwide vaccination requirement “is not on the table,” but noted that employers have the right to take such a step. The US Senate saw its first disclosed breakthrough case of the virus, with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina saying he has mild symptoms. In Florida, it took two months last summer for the number of people in the hospital with Covid-19 to jump from 2,000 to 10,000. It took only 27 days this summer for Florida hospitals to see that same increase, said Florida Hospital Association President Mary Mayhew. She noted also that this time, 96 percent of hospitalized Covid-19 patients are unvaccinated and they are far younger, many of them in their 20s and 30s. Amid the surge, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down on his anti-mask, anti-lockdown stance, warning in a fundraising e-mail over the weekend: “They’re coming for your freedom again.” While setting a national vaccination goal may have been useful for trying to drum up enthusiasm for the shots, 70 percent of Americans getting one shot was never going to be enough to prevent surges among unvaccinated groups. And when he announced the goal, Biden acknowledged it was just a first step. It’s the level of vaccinations in a community—not a broad national average—that can slow an outbreak or allow it to flourish. Vaccination rates in some Southern states are far lower than they are in New England. Vermont has fully inoculated nearly 78 percent of its adult population. Alabama has just cracked 43 percent. AP

Rapid Covid-19 spread through Indonesia taxes health workers

AK ARTA, Indonesia—Irman Pahlepi is back at work in Jakarta’s Dr. Suyoto public hospital, immediately resuming his duties treating Covid-19 patients after recovering from an infection himself—for the second time. With numbers of infections in Indonesia skyrocketing and deaths steadily climbing, health care workers are being depleted as the virus spares nobody, Pahlepi, 30, felt he had no option but to jump right back in. “We have so many extra patients to treat compared to last year,” he said. “The number of Covid-19 patients is four times higher now than during the previous highest spike in January.” Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, had its deadliest day with 2,069 deaths from Covid-19 last Tuesday and fatalities remain high. As of Sunday, total official cases stood at more than 3.4 million with 97,291 deaths, though with poor testing and many people dying at home, the real figures are thought to be considerably higher. As the region grapples with a new coronavirus wave fueled by the Delta variant, Indonesia’s death rate hit a 7-day rolling average of 6.5 per million on August 1, second only to Myanmar and far higher than India’s peak rate of 3.04 that it hit in May during the worst of its outbreak. Among the dead in Indonesia are more than 1,200 health care workers, including 598 doctors, according to the Risk Mitigation Team of the Indonesian Medica l A ssociation. T he doctors

included at least 24 who were fully vaccinated. Many others are exhausted from the workload, said Mahesa Paranadipa, who co-leads the mitigation team, making them more likely to fall ill, like Pahlepi. “We are worried about overburdened workloads lasting for a long time, causing potential burnout conditions,” Paranadipa said. “This fatigue causes the immunity of health care workers to decrease.” Acknowledging the risks faced by health care workers, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Monday that a top priority is giving them a third booster vaccine dose. Most who have been vaccinated have received Sinovac, which appears to be less effective against the Delta variant, and Indonesia has already begun administering booster shots. “ T he boosters, f rom Moderna, are for health care workers...so they will be ready for the patients at the hospitals,” Sadikin said. On top of the lack of medical personnel, Indonesia is also suffering from inadequate supplies. Pahlepi said his hospital experiences oxygen shortages and is filled far beyond its patient capacity, making it even more difficult to treat people properly. Over the last two months, it has become common to see dozens of people with severe symptoms waiting in line for a bed in the hospital’s emergency unit, and more lines of people waiting for a space in the isolation ward following treatment, he said.

Some patients have brought their own oxygen tanks with them, and as the hospital’s own supplies have waned, doctors and nurses have had to ask them to share with others. Last year, most of the severely ill patients Pahlepi saw were senior citizens. Now, as the Delta va r ia nt spreads t hrough t he country, most of the patients arriving at the emergency room with medium and severe symptoms are children and young adults, he said. Between his own coronavirus infections, Pahlepi and his w ife had their first child—a daughter who is now 5 months old—and he said it’s been particularly hard as a new father to see so many children admitted for treatment w ith relatively severe symptoms. “It is difficult to help the infants put on an oxygen hose because they feel uncomfortable when an unfamiliar object is on their face. They need their parents to be with them when we put on the hose,” Pahlepi said. “Those infants remind me of my baby daughter at home. It makes me sad.” Pahlepi has been involved in treating coronavirus patients since the beginning of the pandemic, starting as a Covid-19 intake doctor at Gatot Soebroto Army Central Hospital, which was designated by the government as a referral hospital for the disease. In November, he tested positive himself despite taking precautions. Fortunately, his case was

mild and he was able to return to work after recovering in isolation for two weeks. He tested positive again on July 14 while working extra shifts to help cope with the influx of patients in the recent surge—just one week before he was to receive his first vaccination. While he was asymptomatic during his first infection, he had severe headaches and his bones ached during the second. Like many of his patients, he decided to isolate at home. But unlike most, with his training he was able to keep a careful eye on his health, ensuring that his blood oxygen level was adequate and that he didn’t need more advanced treatment. “There are so many people with heavier symptoms who deserve beds in the hospital more than me,” Pahlepi said in a video interview as he was in isolation. A s soon as he was better, Pahlepi went right back to help his overworked colleagues. “The emergency unit was full, and we were overwhelmed handling Covid-19 patients,” he said. “The number of patients is beyond our capabilities. We have to use 200 percent to 300 percent of our energy every shift.” Though there is no end in sight for the current wave in Indonesia, Pahlepi’s thoughts are regularly of the day when life returns to normal for his young family and the rest of the country. “I feel tired—exhausted—but we have to keep our spirits up to make Indonesia successfully free from Covid-19,” he said. AP