BusinessMirror August 12, 2021 by BusinessMirror

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DOF: ’22 JOBLESS RATE TO REMAIN ‘ELEVATED’ www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Thursday, August 12, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 302

P.  |     | 7 DAYS A WEEK

SOCIAL workers take photos of recipients of emergency cash subsidy from the government through its Social Amelioration Program, at the Jose Abad Santos High School in Manila. Local government units in Metro Manila started distributing cash assistance to low-income families affected by the pandemic, even as the government enforced new restrictions to stem a surge in Covid-19 infections. NONIE REYES B B D. N @BNicolasBM

HE country’s unemployment rate may remain “elevated” next year at between 6.7 and 7.6 percent, the Department of Finance (DOF) said on Wednesday.

DTI SEES ECONOMY BACK TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS BY NEXT YEAR B T J C. P @Tyronepiad

In an economic bulletin, the DOF said the economic team still sees unemployment rate and poverty incidence as a “major challenge” next year despite their generally positive outlook that the country’s real GDP will return to pre-pandemic levels by then. Economic managers have estimated that real GDP next year to grow between 7 and 9 percent on the back of the expected resurgence of domestic economic activity. “In a base case scenario, the un-

employment rate can still be within the range of 6.7 to 7.6 percent in 2022,” it said. This is lower compared to the preliminary annual unemployment rate in 2020 recorded at 10.3 percent, accounting for 4.5 million unemployed Filipinos in the labor force. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the unemployment rate recorded in 2020 is the highest so far since April 2005. In 2019, the unemployment rate C  A

2 LNG projects expected to be done in Q2, Q3 ’22 B L L @llectura

WO LNG (liquefied natural gas) projects are expected to be finished in the second and third quarters of 2022, just in time when the Malampaya gas facility starts to run dry. The Interim Floating Storage and Regasification unit (FSRU) Terminal project of FGEN LNG Corp. and partner Tokyo Gas will be finished by end-September next year while the FSRU and Onshore Regasification Terminal project of Atlantic Gulf & Pacific Company of Manila Inc. (AG&P) and partner Osaka Gas will be completed in the second quarter of 2022. “We see that the output of Malampaya will be declining for

FUENTEBELLA: “We are coming up with more policies so that we can ensure that they have more supply.”

2022, 2023 and 2024. Hence, we are moving forward with the LNG facilities. We have FGen facility

PESO EXCHANGE RATES ■ US 50.3940

FTER the Philippine economy exited recession, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is anticipating a return to prepandemic growth levels by next year. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a virtual event on Wednesday that the 11.8-percent economic growth in the second quarter—the first uptick in over a year—will provide the country momentum for the rest of 2021. “Prospects for 2021 are encouraging and will allow us to recover to prepandemic levels in 2022. This will prevent long-term scarring and productivity losses,” he said. Lopez is banking on the information technology-business process management (ITBPM) and export industries in driving the economy towards recovery. The IT-BPM industry has been “instrumental” in providing employment and boosting productivity, Lopez said, noting that it eyes to grow by at least 5 percent this year. The sector has adjusted its business model to adapt in pandemic, implementing workfrom-home arrangements amid mobility restrictions. Last year, the employment in the IT-BPM industry grew by 1.8 percent to 1.32 million while revenues rose by 1.4 percent to $26.7 billion. Exports, meanwhile, are seen to continue to be driven

by the electronics sector as this accounts for bulk of the outbound shipments. Lopez said the industry is allowed to operate amid the lockdown measure, which can help production. Addressing the unemployment, Lopez said that the partnership between the National Employment Recovery Strategy Task Force and the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines aims to generate 1 million jobs this year amid the pandemic. The project seeks to employ Filipinos in several sectors, including construction, manufacturing, tourism, hospitality and export sectors. The DTI chief said the economic recovery will also be supported by the vaccination program, in addition to safe reopening of the economy “at the appropriate time.” “This ECQ [enhanced community quarantine], the concern with Delta is a serious one, but definitely will be a temporary one because [with] the preventive ECQ, we hope we will never see...[a] big surge [like in] other countries,” Lopez said. Metro Manila is under ECQ from August 6 to 20.

Fitch think tank cuts PHL growth forecast in 2021 B B C @BcuaresmaBM

NTERNATIONAL think tank Fitch Solutions has slashed its growth forecast of the Philippines for the year amid the country’s struggle with new Covid-19 outbreaks. The research arm of the Fitch group said it now projects the country to grow by 4.2 percent for the year, down from its earlier projection of 5.3 percent, citing the continued disruptions to output from rising Covid-19 cases. The new projection came amid the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) announcement that the country’s gross domestic product in the second quarter of the year hit 11.8 percent, effectively ending the recession in the country. “The economy will face continued disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic given its slow pace of

vaccinations and difficulties containing outbreaks. With only 9.9 percent of the population fully vaccinated as of August 5, the country remains a long way off from reaching herd immunity such that it can ease preventative measures more significantly,” the think tank said. Fitch Solutions also said the locking down of Metro Manila in August and the heightened threat from the more infectious Delta variant has led it to lower its expectations for domestic activity through the remaining months of the year. “We have lowered our forecast for household consumption growth to come in at 3.5 percent in 2021 from 4 percent previously, following a contraction of 7.9 percent in 2020, given subdued retail activity. Retail activity was already weak before the impact from the S “F,” A

Spending, jabs—Finex

WHILE the second quarter saw some growth, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) noted that the figures remained below the prepandemic levels. “Getting close to the official C  A

S “ LNG,” A

■ JAPAN 0.4559 ■ UK 69.7604 ■ HK 6.4763 ■ CHINA 7.7688 ■ SINGAPORE 37.0789 ■ AUSTRALIA 37.0144 ■ EU 59.0769 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 13.4381

Source: BSP (August 11, 2021)

News BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 12, 2021

DTI SEES ECONOMY BACK TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS BY NEXT YEAR C  A

growth targets would be helped by increased public spending, particularly on infrastructure, sustained rapid vaccination to support business and consumer confidence, and improvement in health care capacity,” Finex President Francisco ED. Lim said.

Calibrated measures

THE DTI chief attributed the second-quarter economic growth to the “government’s continuing efforts to safely balance lives and livelihoods.” He said that the administration is implementing calibrated measures to manage the risks when reopening the economy. Lopez explained that essential activities were also given priority amid the lockdown to allow key businesses to operate. “The robust performance was sustained as we focused the restrictions on the less essential activities while allowing the rest of the economy, especially the essential and labor-intensive sectors such as the exports and BPO [business-process outsourcing] sectors to operate, so as to save jobs and income,” Lopez said. The trade official hopes that the current ECQ will be able to prevent the spread of the Delta variant, allowing the government to ease the restrictions.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BSP reminds banks to accept mutilated, doubtful currencies

B B C

@BcuaresmaBM

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is urging local banks to accept mutilated or doubtful currencies.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Central Bank reminded all authorized agent banks (AABs) that the practice of accepting mutilated

currencies is implemented under BSP Circular 829. “Banks shall subsequently forward the mutilated or doubtful

banknotes and coins to the BSP for examination of redemption value and/or genuineness,” the BSP said. “To avoid disintegration or further deterioration while in transit, banks are advised to place mutilated currency in appropriate containers,” it added. The BSP said only mutilated banknotes that follow certain requirements shall be valid for redemption. The requirements are: (1) The remaining surface area is no less than 3/5 of the original size of the banknote; (2) A portion of any one of the signatures of the President

of the Philippines or the Governor of the BSP remains; and (3) Presence of the Embedded Security Thread (EST) or Windowed Security Thread (WST), unless the same is lost or damaged due to fire, water, chemical, or bitten by termites/rodents and the like. Banknotes whose EST or WST were willfully removed shall not be valid for redemption. “The BSP encourages the cooperation of the banks and the public in its commitment to preserve the integrity of Philippine currency,” the BSP said.

DOF: ’22 jobless rate to remain ‘elevated’ C  A

was posted at 5.1 percent. The DOF also said they will still work toward attaining the 14-percent target for poverty incidence next year. However, it said “further measures are needed to reach the original target of 14 percent by 2022 which include transfers to the bottom 50 percent of the population.” In September last year, House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Joey Salceda said he expects poverty incidence to increase to around 24 to 25 per-

cent after the conduct of Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) this year. Salceda’s projection is higher than the 16.7-percent poverty incidence rate that the country posted in 2018 and the 23.3 percent in 2015. In terms of medium-term fiscal program, the DOF also said it still expects a gradual increase of total revenues next year to P3.29 trillion, up by 15.1 percent than this year’s level. Of the amount, P3.13 trillion is estimated to come from tax revenues. However, the DOF flagged the

reimposition of two-week Enhanced Community Quarantine in Metro Manila this month as a “downside risk” to these revenue projections. On the other hand, disbursements are still seen to reach P4.95 trillion in 2022, 4.6 percent higher than 2021 level. A huge chunk of the 2022 expenditures is allocated to projects aimed at improving health care and social services as part of Covid-19 response measures and building more infrastructure to support economic growth. Under the proposed P5.024-trillion 2022 national budget as approved by the Development Budget Coordination Committee, the national government’s share is P3.13 trillion while P1.12 trillion will go to local government units in the form of National Tax Allotments. Around P601.4 billion will be paid as debt service to creditors and the remaining P175.7 billion will be used to support government-owned and -controlled corporations. The P329.8-billion funding for

new or expanded projects for next year’s budget will be prioritized for programs on continued recovery and strengthening country’s resilience post-pandemic through enhancing country’s health system, empowering local government units, and providing a more efficient and inclusive social support and protection. On top of this, the funds will be also be used for continued procurement and distribution of vaccines to curb the spread of Covid-19, provision of booster shots to those who received the vaccines to further strengthen the immune system, establishment of the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines, and addressing the prevalent malnutrition problem among Filipino children. It will also be used to fast-track the Philippine Identification System, and to finance the Growth Equity Fund to aid the poor, disadvantaged and lagging government units as functions and services will be devolved to them in line with the Mandanas-Garcia ruling of the Supreme Court.

PHL govt lobbies OFWs’ host countries to accept vaxx cards B R L. M @rectomercene

HILIPPINE government officials are scrambling to get foreign governments to accept the vaccination cards of overseas Filipino workers following reports that some of those workers’ cards faced rejection in Hong Kong and Bangkok. The bad news was first relayed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., who said last Tuesday the vaccination cards issued by the Philippine government to OFWs will not be honored by Hong Kong authorities. Some 3,000 stranded OFWs are expected to be affected by the ban after they were set to fly back to their employers as soon as the Hong Kong government announces the lifting of the travel ban on the Philippines. Locsin said they learned the reason for the rejection: Philippine-issued vaccination cards do not come from one source, which is why Hong Kong authorities do not honor them. Vaccination rollouts are mainly handled by local government units (LGUs), which issue their respective cards, unlike in many other countries that have a uniform format with security features against fraud, making them less doubtful. On Wednesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a radio interview that he was confident that Philippine officials now making representations on behalf of the OFWs could be able to persuade host government authorities to accept the OFWs’ vaccination cards. Some critics said the government should have heeded early on

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.

the suggestions for a digital vaccine passport of some sort, but this was not followed. Sen. Grace Poe was among those who suggested this. “Poor OFWs going to their jobs in Hong Kong even if jabbed,” Locsin said in a post on Twitter on Tuesday. Locsin tweeted that he would inquire from Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam about the Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) decision. However, the Secretary expressed optimism that Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gregorio Honasan II “will get the job done right” in working on the issuance of credible vaccination certificates to OFWs. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) earlier said it was working on a standardized vaccination digital ID with QR code, as provided under the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.

Fitch...

C  A

imposition of a two-week lockdown in Metro Manila, running from August 6, was accounted for,” Fitch Solutions said. The think tank also revised downward its expectation of government consumption growth from 7 percent to 5 percent. It also said that despite the pick-up in the trade cycle in 2020, it expects the country’s net export contribution to prove a “drag” on headline growth this year. “We forecast the net exports’ contribution to flip from positive in 2020 to negative in 2021. We flag rising shipping costs and global supply-chain constraints as headwinds to Philippines’ trade activity through the second half of 2021,” Fitch Solutions said. “Higher global commodity prices will cause an uptick in imports. Moreover, as a re-exporting hub, the rebound in external demand will result in a pick-up in imports. On the export side, rebounding activity in Europe and North America will be partially offset by pandemic-related disruptions to the recovery in demand across Asia, with the slowdown in Chinese demand growth also weighing on regional trade,” it added. For next year, Fitch Solutions also cut their forecast from 6.9 percent down to 6.8 percent. It, however, said the country is expected to benefit from base effects to boost headline growth in 2022. “We temper our outlook on two factors; firstly, we now expect fiscal support to be reined in more aggressively once the economy is on a more sustained recovery path, so that the government can begin reducing its public debt load,” Fitch Solutions said. “Secondly, we believe the rebound in household consumption could be tempered by deleveraging and weakened household balance sheets,” it added.

2 LNG...

C  A

in Batangas, which is still on track to be finished by end-September of 2022 and the FSRU of AG&P. This is going to be completed by second quarter of 2022,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said during the Ensuring Sustainability of Food and Utilities forum organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP). As of June 30 this year, FGen’s overall project progress is 19.95 percent, the DOE said. This will provide the gas supply requirement for Santa Rita, San Lorenzo, San Gabriel and Avion gas plants, and for the proposed 1,200 MW of new natural gas power plants. Meanwhile, the target date of commercial operation of AG&P’s LNG facility is by end-June 2022. It will provide the LNG storage and regasification services for the existing 1,200-MW Ilijan power plant in Batangas. Osaka Gas will provide AG&P the technical support for the development, operation and maintenance of the project through a Technical Services Agreement to be signed by both parties. AG&P’s LNG project costs P15.33 billion while FGen’s LNG project cost is P13.28 billion. The Malampaya gas facility will undergo a 22-day shutdown starting October 2 this year. The DOE said that there will be sufficient power supply “if there are no forced outages” during the period. Besides, he added, gas plants can shift to liquid fuel. Also, Fuentebella said the GN Power Dinginin plant is expected to come on line by then. “So as far as 2021 third and fourth quarters are concerned, we are in a better situation. Moving forward, after the shutdown, we presented that there will be a decrease in the output of the gas field and there will be an effect—a reduction in megawatt production of natural gas plants. Hence, we showed why there is a push for LNG,” Fuentebella said. He added that for 2022, power supply on election day is thin. “That is why we are closely monitoring the situation. We are coming up with more policies so that we can ensure that they have more supply,” said the DOE official.

The Nation BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Recto: LGUs ‘well trained’ in cash-aid delivery By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

AKING up the cudgels for local government units (LGUs), Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto reminded Malacañang Wednesday that LGUs are “welltrained” in delivering aid to their constituents year round. Recto recalled that big cities like Manila have the “boots on the ground and the muscle memory” to carry out large scale distribution of aid, whether in cash or in-kind, “complex operations which understaffed national agencies may find hard to do on their own.” The Senate President Pro Tempore affirmed in a news statement that “the best is still a Bayanihan between the local and national governments.” Recto found it “irrational for the central government” to nationalize an activity, which is best done with local government participation. He affirmed that local governments have warm bodies and the command structure needed to bring aid to as many people as quickly as possible. “Those big cities and provinces have division size personnel,” added Recto, ruing that “they will be replaced with a platoon of clueless people who don’t know the terrain.” Recto reminded that City Hall people are more familiar with all the corners of their localities, including “eskinitas compared to central office bureaucrats.” He said the national government actually saves time and money in “pasa loading work to local governments.” Maintaining the national government-local government partnership, Recto pointed out, “saves the national government from embarrassment if the job it has assumed to do on its own will end up a flop.” Recto recalled that “in this current case of Manila, baka sa Malacañang pumila ang mga tao kung may aberya sa pagbibigay ng ayuda.” At the same time, the senator added that “the biggest disaster, is that aid that the people should be receiving during the no-work quarantine will be delayed.” For instance, he noted “the City of Manila has been delivering almost a million boxes of food to homes of their residents for some months. Hindi naman air dropped ito. May organization, may method. Tapos papalitan?” Recto recalled that Manila, in “bilis-kilos fashion” built a 344-bed field hospital in seven weeks, “and I do not know of a comparable feat done by DOH [Department of Health].” He also pointed out that Manila “was able to build condominiums for the poor in the middle of the pandemic.” “Mayroon bang ganoong klaseng direct shelter production ang national government na pwedeng ipagmayabang?” he asked, adding, “If Manila was able to pull off these big-ticket projects, then distributing aid to its own people is just another day in the office for them.”

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, August 12, 2021 A3

Govt suspends shortened quarantine for vaccinated contacts of virus cases By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE government has temporarily suspended the shortened quarantine period for fully vaccinated individuals, who had close contact with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases. Presidential spokesman Harry

Roque said the individuals will now be required to undergo 14day quarantine instead of just 7 days as stipulated by Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Resolution 124-B, Series of 2021. IATF Resolution 124-B allows fully vaccinated individuals to un-

Bills to boost inoculation drive, OHCC get House panel approval The NPNRS will serve as a bridge between healthcare facilities and the patients, supporting them to gain early access to the health services for better outcomes. Health Undersecretary Leopoldo J. Vega By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

O help the government in the fight against Covid-19, the House Committee on Health on Wednesday approved a bill strengthening, expanding and institutionalizing the existing One Hospital Command Center (OHCC) and a measure allowing registered dentists and licensed medical technologists as additional vaccinators. Committee Chairman and Quezon Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan said the approval of her proposed “National Patient Navigation and Referral System Act” would ensure effective and efficient health facility referral in Metro Manila through a comprehensive and coordinated response to the pandemic. According to Tan, the referral system measure is urgently necessary to bridge the current fragmented health system in terms of service delivery across the spectrum of care by gatekeeping and navigating patients. The bill will institutionalize and broaden the scope of the One Hospital Command System to become the National Patient Navigation and Referral System (NPNRS). Its implementing arm, the National Patient Navigation and Referral Center (NPNRC) and the Regional Patient Navigation and Referral Centers (RPNRC) will expand its scope to navigate patients through the different levels of health system to reach and access appropriate health facilities. The NPNRC will also link with the Malasakit Centers across different health facilities to ensure financial risk protection, particularly for the indigent and financially incapacitated patients. “With its institutionalization, the NPNRS is geared to re-define and reform the nature of the health

dergo a shortened 7-day quarantine, provided they remain asymptomatic in the said period. “The decision to temporarily suspend said protocol is part of the continued implementation of proactive measures to slow down the surge in Covid-19 cases and to stop the further spread of the variants,” Roque said in a news statement.

delivery system of the Philippines to become more responsive and towards greater equity, accessibility, and quality,” Tan said. During the hearing, Health Undersecretary Leopoldo J. Vega said the agency is supporting the approval of the measure. “The NPNRS will serve as a bridge between health-care facilities and the patients, supporting them to gain early access to the health services for better outcomes. The connectivity provided will be a breakthrough in the implementation of the Universal Health Care [UHC],” he said. For her part, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago said the establishment of a national referral system should start from barangay health stations and centers and rural health units. According to Elago, the bill provides funding and resources only to the national and regional levels. “[It] presumes that the LGUs will have the capabilities and necessary personnel and communication equipment and other resources needed for the implementation of the referral mechanisms,” she said. “We believe that LGUs must likewise be supported for the procurement and utilization of communication equipment, mobile phones, computers, ambulances as well as additional funding for mobile health teams for transport and expansion of access to telecommunication services,” Elago added. Beyond establishing a national referral system, Elago also said the issues and problems on organizational and financial or fiscal fragmentation must be primarily addressed and resolved in order to support and ensure the smooth flow of patient referrals. “We hope that this will not only be dependent on technology as many remote areas have no reliable or stable access to telecommunication and Internet services,” she added.

spike in daily cases to the local transmission of the Delta variant of the Covid-causing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). President Duterte placed several parts of the country, including Metro Manila under lockdown, in an attempt to contain the spread of infection.

Makati residents with mild symptoms get home care kits from Mayor Abby

The suspension is contained under IATF Resolution 132, Series of 2021, which was issued last Tuesday. Since last week, the number of daily Covid-19 cases registered by the Department of Health (DOH) soared to over 8,000 compared to the average of just over 5,000 last month. Health officials attributed the

AKATI Mayor Abby Binay has ordered the distribution of home care packages to Covid-positive residents with mild symptoms who are on home quarantine starting this week. The mayor said the city would provide home care packages within the week to infected residents to help them monitor and care for themselves right in their homes. “We want to make sure that our mild Covid cases have the right equipment to help them monitor themselves at home. We have seen to it that the contents of our home care package are useful and responsive to their needs,” Mayor Abby said. Each Covid home care package contains a Covid-19 Home Care Handbook, alcohol, oral antiseptic, sore throat spray, fever pad, ther-

mometer, washable and disposable face masks, pulse oximeter, vitamins and medicine for fever. “Our goal is to boost the recovery of mild cases right in their homes and prevent their condition from worsening, so that they need not go to the hospital for treatment. In this way, we can reduce congestion in our hospitals,” the mayor said. She said the Covid-19 Home Care Handbook serves as a helpful guide for patients on home quarantine or isolation and also their family members. It provides answers to frequently asked questions about the disease and its vaccine, proper home care measures, prescribed quarantine period, and other relevant information sourced from the Department of Health and the World Health Organization. The mayor also said the city gov-

ernment has been providing food packages to home quarantined individuals, and medicines for those who have a Yellow Card. Meanwhile, the Makati City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) has called on residents to be vigilant and closely monitor themselves for any symptoms. Concerned residents may call 8870-1442, 8870-1444, 8870-1447 and 8870-1448 to get help. To combat the spread of the virus and to properly identify and isolate positive individuals, the city has been continuously providing free community swabbing for barangays noted to have high cases of Covid-19. Last April, the city also upgraded its quarantine facilities at the Ospital ng Makati and Pembo Elementary School to augment its medical facilities for Covid patients.

Davao Catholic archdiocese appeals for medical volunteers for parish-based vaccination drive By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—The Catholic archdiocese of Davao City has appealed for medical volunteers as it approved the “noble efforts” of priests to put up parishbased vaccination centers. In his Circular 30 issued on August 7, Archbishop Romulo G. Valles appealed to “our parishioners, our friends and benefactors to assist the parish in terms of helping out in the campaign for needed volunteers mentioned above and to assist in seeing to it that the material items mentioned above will be available and ready for the vaccination to be conducted in the parish.” Among the personnel and items need to install the vaccination centers in the parishes were the following: professional medical volunteers (doctors, nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists, etc.); other volunteers to do the work of ushering, registration, validation of vaccinerelated documents, screening, counselling, etc.; meals and snacks and other items like bottled water for the volunteers; and computer laptops, electric fans, etc. to be used during the actual vaccination. Valles said the volunteers would be oriented and trained by the City

Health Office Vaccination Team. The appeal was aired alongside his endorsement of “the noble efforts of the priests in the parishes and the parish staff to organize this ParishBased Vaccination Center.” “Early on this year, in these difficult times of the pandemic, we have expressed as an archdiocese our willingness to be of assistance to our city government and our City Health Office in the effort to bring vaccination to as many people as quickly as possible,” he said. He said the City Health Office has started to partner with some of their parishes and in July 31, one vaccination center was established in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Barrio Obrero, where 686 people were vaccinated on that day. Meanwhile, the city’s mobile vaccination team vaccinated the first batch of 76 senior citizens when this program on vaccination on wheels was launched on Friday last week. The City Health Office said the vaccinated senior citizens lived in geriatric home facilities, or the homes for the elderly. These were in Care for Elderly Foundation in Biao Guianga, Tugbok, Hope Integrated Care Assisted Living in Catalunan Pequeño, Co Su Gian Home for the Aged in Cabantian, Buhangin, Country View Assisted Living Facility along Tacunan Road

in Tugbok, Happy Heart Caring Hands Foundation at Purok Carnagan in Bayabas-Eden Road, Toril, Golden Haven Retirement Home Inc. in Puting Bato, Riverside, Calinan District, and PLEKS Good Shepherd Care Home at Gulfview Executive Subdivision in Bago Aplaya, Talomo District. The city put up the mobile vaccination program to reach out to more senior citizens, who number to as many as 300,000. As of August 6, only 79,039 senior citizens received their first vaccine dose and 54,065 got their second shots. The program was intended to assist the elderly who may not be capable of going to the vaccination centers or who may have just changed their minds in taking the vaccines. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has appealed to city councilors at the Sangguniang Panlungsod to come up with their own mobile vaccination teams saying the City Hall has been exhausted with its manpower. “We have one already, which will pilot their vaccination in Los Amigos relocation area, to target the A5 [or indigents] and then the PWD Gawad Kalinga Village to target the persons with comorbidities,” she said. “They will be sought out for the vaccination and not the other way around.”

You want to take the Bar? Get your Covid shot first–'21 Exams chief By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Office of the 2020/2021Bar Chairperson has advised approved bar applicants to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as the Bar examination as draws near. In Bar Bulletin 22.S.2021, Bar Chairperson Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said his office is now coordinating with the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to include in the country’s vaccination program bar

applicants who do not fall to any of the priority groups. On the other hand, it advised those belonging to priority groups A2 (senior citizens), A3 (persons with comorbidities), and A4 (frontline personnel in essential workers), to take advantage of the free vaccination being offered by their respective local government units. The A4 priority group includes private sector workers required to be physically present at their designated workplaces outside their residences; employees in government agencies and instrumentali-

ties, including government-owned and -controlled corporations and local government units; and informal sector workers and self-employed who may be required to work outside their residences, and those working in private households. “The Bar Chairperson, with the support of the Court En Banc, aims to have all the approved Bar applicants fully vaccinated before November,” the bulletin read. “In the meantime, we strongly encourage every bar applicant who falls under the priority groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible,” it added.

Leonen also told applicants that his office is also looking into the possibility of procuring Covid-19 testing kits for bar examinees. Protocols for the Bar examinations would be released in early October, which would be dependent on the possible situation at that time, he added. “Keep safe and well, study with passion, help others, and do not spread false information. Advise those who do so or burden others by broadcasting their needless anxiety that they are doing everyone a disservice,” Leonen said. “Focus on all you must do today.

We are properly engaged. We have you covered,” he added. SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said he could not say yet whether the Bar examinees would be required to have a negative Covid-19 test on the day of examination. “Let us wait for the Covid-19 health protocols for the coming exams which according to the Bar Chair…will be out early October,” Hosaka stressed. Last July 15, the SC started accepting online applications for the 2020 and 2021 bar examinations, which will be conducted in at least 16 testing centers nationwide.

The testing centers are the St. Louis University in Baguio City, Ateneo de Manila University, Manila Adventist College, Saint Louis College-La Union, Saint Mary’s University, Cagayan State University, De La Salle Lipa in Lipa City, University of Nueva Caceres, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, Central Philippine University, University of CebuBanilad, Mindanao State University -Iligan, Mindanao State University -General Santos City, Ateneo de Davao University Xavier University -Cagayan de Oro, and Ateneo de Zamboanga University.

A4 Thursday, August 12, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

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Bill grants tax exemption to med supplies for Covid cure By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

LEADER of the House of Representatives on Wednesday filed the proposed “Covid-19 Emergency Tax Exemption Act” to clear emergency procurement of medical supplies and devices for Co-

vid-19 prevention, control and treatment from taxes, fees and charges. House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Salceda said his House Bill 9958 seeks to grant the Secretary of Finance, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health and Secretary of Trade and Industry, broad powers to ex-

empt the manufacture, sale, and importation of such goods from taxes, fees, and charges. The bill also grants the power to exempt exporters from their export quotas, so they may be able to meet domestic market demand. The effectivity of the proposed bill is until December 2022, which Sal-

ceda said, “is probably long enough to achieve herd immunity.” “This bill will allow Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered enterprises to sell their goods to the domestic market when we need it,” Salceda said. “Anyway, the Secretary of Finance may or may not choose to invoke the

power. As long as it’s there for when we need it,” Salceda added. The measure mandates the Secretary of Finance to issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of such exemption. “As variants grow more infectious even as the country tries to

attain herd immunity, our healthcare capacity will experience periodic surges of cases. As a result, certain essentials, such as medical oxygen, personal protective equipment [PPE], ventilators, syringes, and other devices will be in short supply during critical periods,” said Salceda.

DTI, solon outline measures to boost oxygen production amid case surge By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

OCAL oxygen manufacturers are in the process of importing more cylinder tanks in preparation for an anticipated spike in demand amid the Covid-19 Delta variant threat. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a virtual event on Wednesday that oxygen firms have ordered around 20,000 cylinder tanks from other countries, including China. “Many of them started that process already in preparation of Delta so that we [could] prevent what happened in other countries. We saw shortages in oxygen,” he said. Lopez said that current industry capacity is about three times more than the demand in the country. He said that the producers have not yet increased prices amid the surplus on the production side. The DTI chief noted that the suggested retail price for oxygen with container ranges from P2,000 to P5,000, including the deposit. Refill, meanwhile, costs P200 to P500, he added. Still, Lopez said that DTI has been encouraging the existing manufacturers to expand capacity. He explained that it may take them one to two years to put up a new facility as they would likely need bigger infrastructure. On Tuesday, the government said it was preparing to provide tax relief to oxygen manufacturers to encour-

age more production amid anticipated surge in demand.

Taxation and production

HOUSE Committee on Ways and Means Chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said on Wednesday that the Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority could implement measures to help oxygen-makers ramp up their production amid increasing number of Covid-19 cases. The lawmaker said these government agencies may be able to pursue other options while he is still preparing the bill on tax relief for oxygen manufacturers. “We will abide by the President’s request. I am having a bill prepared on this matter,” he said. During his public address last Monday, President Duterte said he wants to provide tax relief to manufacturers of medical oxygen, saying he will talk to Congress to push for the tax relief as a legislative priority. The President said ample supply of medical oxygen would be crucial for government’s response on the rising Covid-19 infections. “There are immediate recourses. The DOF could also invoke Section 109 [BB] [ii] of the National Internal Revenue Code, as we enacted in CREATE [Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises], which exempts from VAT the sale and importation

of medical devices necessary for Covid-19. Oxygen supplies definitely fall under that category. That provision is valid until December 2023,” he said. The CREATE provides tax exemptions on the sale or importation of various Covid-19 items, such as vaccines, drugs, medical devices, and personal protective equipment (PPE). The taxexempt status is valid and in effect for sales and imports from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023.

SIPP

LOPEZ, for his part, clarified that oxygen manufacturers may avail of the tax perks as they are part of the Strategic Investment Priorities Plan (SIPP) under CREATE law. SIPP is the list of investment sectors that may apply for fiscal incentives following the enactment of the said tax reform. SIPP breaks down the investment plan into three industry tiers. Lopez earlier identified the following as critical industries under the new investment plan: electrical and electronics; chemical and pharmaceuticals; machinery and transport; agriculture and agribusiness; information technology-business process management; research and development; and artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and digital technologies. He said the oxygen manufacturers may be given income tax holidays (ITH) for a specific period and special corporate income tax after ITH period expires.

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. Salceda also said the government can implement another key intervention to exempt manufacturers of forexport oxygen supplies from their required export thresholds so that they can keep their supplies here instead of selling them abroad. “We did this for personal protective equipment manufacturers, through the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority,” he said. Lastly, Salceda said a provision on exemption from customs duties on medical oxygen supplies can also be included in the proposed Bayanihan 3, which is now pending before the Senate. “We could extend the Bayanihan provision on exemption from customs duties on medical oxygen supplies in a Bayanihan 3 package, so that we could also include other needs such as funding for genome sequencing, additional swabbing, since no recoveries can be assumed with Delta until the subject tests negative, facilities-based quarantine, among other needs,” he added. Currently, he said, the total capacity for medical and industrial oxygen is at 603 tons per day. With Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Comelec resets opening of bids, tenders for 81,755 ‘vintage’ PCOS machines By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now selling its over 80,000 units of old Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS), which were last used in the 2013 elections. In a notice, the Comelec Disposal Committee (CDC) it would auction off

the 81,755 PCOS units for over P187 million or P2,293.75 per unit. The submission and opening of bid tenders for the said units was supposed to be held on August 10, 2021, but was rescheduled after Metro Manila was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) last Friday. CDC Chairman J. Thaddeus Her-

nan said the online event would now be held on August 23, 2021 through Microsoft Teams. The PCOS was the first generation of voting machines used by the poll body since it started implementing the automated election system in 2010. Comelec initially leased the said units from Smartmatic-Total Infor-

Study calls for ‘grassroots’ monitoring of SDG goals By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

FFORTS to track and meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local government unit (LGU) level should be intensified, according to a study released by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). In a study titled Assessment of the Provincial/NCR Local Government Unit Result Matrices (P/NCR LGU RMS) in the Localization of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 and the SDGs, PIDS researchers led by Charlotte Justine Diokno-Sicat found only 37 percent on average of priorities of LGUs are aligned with the SDGs. These indicators can be found in local development plans, particularly in human capital development; economic opportunities in agriculture and fisheries; safe, efficient, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable infrastructure facilities and services; ecological integrity and socioeconomic conditions of communities improved; and vulnerability of individuals and families reduced. “Information dissemination and education could be improved since some LGUs believed the exercise was for the national government to impose their priorities on local governments. The exercise should be presented as a way of recogniz-

ing the contribution of LGUs to national development,” the researchers said. Based on the data, the researchers found that, on average and without taking into consideration numbers from the National Capital Region (NCR), 41 percent of indicators monitored at the local level were aligned with the SDGs. This is composed of 127 indicators on average that are aligned with the global goals. The number of indicators, the researchers said, may be overstated “because of associating local indicators with the 151 Tier 1 SDG indicators even if these are not the actual indicators but similar.” Of the 151 Tier 1 SDG indicators, the researchers noted, only 68 that could be disaggregated to the regional level and 33 indicators can be disaggregated to the provincial level. The data showed that Region 12 or the Soccsksargen region had the highest percentage of indicators associated with the SDGs at 69 percent, while the lowest, not including NCR, is 13 percent recorded in Region 6 or Western Visayas. In terms of absolute number of indicators aligned with the SDGs, Region 12 had 231 indicators while it was only 58 in Western Visayas. Data for NCR or Metro Manila showed that there are 127 indicators locally that are aligned with the SDGs.

This only represents 10 percent of all indicators in the local development plans in the region. “The results matrix is a powerful tool that could help identify priority areas, monitor progress in these areas, collectively inform strategic investments, and surface areas that LGUs may need oversight support from the national government,” the researchers said. Earlier, a report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) showed that the Philippines is only on track to meet two of the 17 SDGs. The country ranked 99th out of 166 countries in terms of its efforts to meet its SDG commitments. It received a score of only 65.5 percent in the index. The report noted that the country is only on track to meet SDG 1 on eradicating poverty where major challenges still remain and SDG 13 on Climate Action where challenges persist. Based on the report, the Philippines’s performance in meeting the goals is decreasing or regressing in SDG 4 on quality education where challenges remain and SDG 15 on Life on Land where significant challenges remain. Around 193 United Nation member-countries like the Philippines committed to meet the SDGs by 2030. The SDGs were adopted in September 2015.

mation Management, but in 2013 it decided to purchase the same units for P1.8 billion. 97,145 units of Vote Counting Machines (VCM), which were used by Comelec in the 2016 and 2019 polls eventually, replaced the PCOS machines. The VCMs will also be used in the 2022 National and Local elections.

Glimmer of hope amid Covid-19 spike as vax arrive at the airport by the bulk

HE United Arab Emirates (UAE) government donated some 100,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine that arrived on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 from Abu Dhabi on board a Etihad Airways flight. At the airport to welcome the arrival of the vaccines are Assistant Secretary Atty. Wilben M. Mayor, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP); Director Maria Soledad Antonio and Khalid Alhajeri, acting Charge d’Affairs, UAE Embassy in Manila. The shipment was immediately transported to PharmaServ Express cold storage in Marikina City by refrigerated vans after the One Stop Shop of the Bureau of Customs-Naia issued a pre-arrival clearance for the shipment. Aside from the 100,000 doses of the China-made Sinopharm vaccines, an additional 813,150 doses of USmade Pfizer is also scheduled to arrive later on Wednesday at the Terminal 3 from Covax Facility to be delivered by an Air Hong Kong DHL flight. This brings the country’s vaccines stock to almost 40 million doses. Recto Mercene

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

TheBroaderLook BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 12, 2021

A9 A5

Metro Manila’s pandemic response: How far have some LGUs gone? By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

HEN the National Capital Region sneezes, the Philippines catches a cold. Continued on A6

BM GRAPHICS: JOB RUZGAL

TheBroaderLook BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 12, 2021

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Metro Manila’s pandemic response: How far have some LGUs gone? Continued from A5

More than a year battling Covid-19, the NCR remains the arena, especially with the emergence of the more contagious Delta variant. The logic comes from the region’s character as the center of commerce, finance and politics; where policies on the economy and health emanate. In their concerted efforts, Metro Manila’s local government units (LGUs) fight as one to defeat the coronavirus. Local officials emphasize these efforts are under the guidance of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases (IATFMEID) and the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19. While they adhere and follow the guidelines of the IATF-MEID and NTF, each LGU has its own approach. “We try to make it our own in order to address the needs of San Juaneños right away. We also partner and work together with different agencies that will help us in our fight,” San Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier M. Zamora told the BusinessMirror. Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon T. Gatchalian’s view echoes Zamora’s. Gatchalian told the BusinessMirror they come up with different strategies in response to the health crisis since the challenges experienced during the pandemic vary in each locality. “Whatever the local government realm dictates, we act accordingly and provide for what our constituents need, especially during this time that we have to break the chain of infection within the city,” he said. “What one city needs may not be the same as what Valenzuela needs because magkakaiba kami ng pangangailangan sa aming nasasakupan [we each have different needs in our territory].”

Measures taken

ACCORDING to these officials, responding to any natural or manmade catastrophe is integrated in every locality in the country. Be it a typhoon, earthquake, volcanic eruption, fire, or explosion, the city government or the municipality is always on the frontline to respond to these exigent conditions. However, the Covid-19 pandemic shocked nations weeks after the outbreak was first reported in Wuhan, China, on December 27, 2019. “Ang unang pumasok sa isip ko noong unang una palang na nangyari ito last year, syempre nag-worry ako,” Gatchalian said. [Of course I got anxious when I learned about the pandemic.] “There was some point na uncertain ako kung anong mangyayari bukas kasi bago to ‘eh,” he added. [I was uncertain as to what will happen the following day because this is something new.] So, he said, they just followed orders emanating from the national government. This was one of the many “firsts” they did in accordance with government policies, such as having a localized targeted mass testing, as well as setting up a “Mega Contact-Tracing Center,” or MCTC, and multiple isolation facilities. The Philippines was initially considered a laggard in terms of response compared to its neighboring countries when the pandemic started to hit globally in January 2020. Gatchalian conceded that “all have a fair share of lessons learned from the pandemic, though I don’t consider having a major ‘misstep’ from it.”

“The local government of Valenzuela, from Day 1, tried everything in [its] arsenal for [its] Covid-19 response. We didn’t skip anything,” he explained. “It may not be perfect. But we did learn along the road. Everybody learned from the whole battle.”

Angle of attack

VALENZUELA’S angle of attack holds true for the LGUs of San Juan and Muntinlupa. “For one, we have better and faster mass testing now,” Zamora said. “And we also added new quarantine facilities to augment our existing ones. The San Juan chief executive added they have also enacted different city ordinances—new normal ordinance, wearing of face masks and face shields, anti-spitting—that have helped in curbing the number of infections in the city. Instead of general lockdowns, the mayor noted their imposition of granular or localized lockdowns in places with high cases. “This allowed us to minimize their movement, keep others safe and still keep other areas open for business,” he said. Similarly, the LGU of Muntinlupa, through its City Health Office (CHO), has intensified its detection, isolation and treatment strategies to prevent the virus from infecting more of the residents, according to Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi. “For communities with alarming rise of confirmed Covid-19 cases, the local government of Muntinlupa has imposed localized lockdown in a bid to prevent further transmission,” Fresnedi said.

Restrictions, responses

JUST like any emergency response, handling a crisis as immense as the Covid-19 pandemic needs an allencompassing strategy from detection to surveillance and treatment. “We’ve always said that our approach has to be consistent in the application of protocols, from Day 1—whatever the protocols the national government gave us we followed it to the dot; and even up to now we are still following it. [The b]ottomline is: we implement restrictions just like how [these are] written,” Gatchalian said. The mayor pointed out that when somebody in Valenzuela is showing symptoms, has an exposure to someone who tested positive, or needs further medical attention, the city government will take care of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing at its very own molecular laboratory. Called “Valenzuela Hope,” this facility initially processed 500 samples a day; now it’s 700 daily. The lab even processes samples from neighboring cities to help ease the workload of the Department of Health (DOH). On the other hand, the Muntinlupa LGU has continued swabbing persons under investigation facilitated by the CHO, to ensure the safety of the public from being infected by the virus. Meanwhile, the testing facility at the San Juan gymnasium has not ceased in conducting swab tests of local residents suspected to be Covid-19 patients or persons under monitoring—those showing symptoms or had had close contact with Covid-19 patients—since it began operating last year. The facility can test up to 2,000 individuals per day.

Contact tracing

TRACKING down possible coronavirus carriers in Valenzuela are

200 contact tracers. These locally-funded personnel call persons whom the positive Covid-19 patients had a close encounter with prior to testing. Aside from contact tracers, San Juan City, meanwhile, also has a team that handles the LGU’s Covid-19 hotline. This team handless all queries about the illness as well as monitor the patient’s condition. Contact tracing is now more efficient because of innovations. In Muntinlupa, tracing close contacts was also strengthened using Staysafe.PH, the contact tracing application approved by the national government. Valenzuela’s very own QR-code system called “ValTrace” helps a lot in the surveillance of people who are likely coronavirus carriers, as well as in vaccination registration. Currently, Valenzuela has a consortium agreement with Pasig City, Mandaluyong City, Antipolo City and the Municipality of Taytay for use of the QR-code system in their respective locality. A strict “No QR Code, No Entry” policy is implemented in enclosed establishments in Valenzuela, as well as in workplaces, churches and government offices in Muntinlupa. With regards to isolation, San Juan City has four quarantine facilities, to date, namely: the San Juan Medical Center’s Charlie Ward; the Kalinga Center; the San Juan National High School/PNP Quarantine Facility; and, the Bahay Kaagapay, for a total of 301 beds. To encourage Covid-19 patients to make use of these facilities, the LGU also provides financial assistance of P3,000 each, apart from the provision of food, medicine and vitamins.

Helping hand

VALENZUELA strictly prohibits home quarantine, except for people who are bedridden and those who have other medical conditions. Hence, it requires a bigger network of isolation units. At present, it has around 14 facilities, with a total of 1,300 beds and provisions of everything needed by the confined patients. “We just have to keep on setting up our facilities for Covid-19 response. These facilities have always been there so whenever we might need it, which is hopefully hindi na magtagal (not for long), [these are] always ready to be used,” Gatchalian said. The local chief executive pointed out they have their own laboratory, own contact-tracing center and uses the digital platform for QR code contact tracing. “Not to mention we also back this [system] up with our city ordinances,” Gatchalian said. “That’s how we do it.”

Financial aid

AKIN to other crises, providing relief assistance to the people and business establishments gravely affected by the pandemic is a top priority of both the national and local governments. This could be in the form of food provision, cash assistance, jobs generation, loans and tax exemptions, among others. Since the enforcement of the enhance community quarantines in Metro Manila and other areas with high Covid-19 cases last year, each family in San Juan has been extended with food packs of up to 16 waves, per Zamora’s order. He added that the LGU has also provided alternative livelihood to those who have been jobless during the enhanced community quaran-

tine and lockdowns through the “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers,” or “Tupad,” program. “The local government also facilitated the inclusion of Muslim traders and other micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) owners in San Juan to receive financial assistance from the Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade and Industry.”

Overarching concerns

IN Muntinlupa, food packs were distributed to displaced workers affected by retrenchments and the halt in business operations when lockdown measures were imposed. To help achieve food security while under the pandemic, the city government said it entered into an agreement with the Department of Agriculture and the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños campus to strengthen an urban gardening program and launch the local edible landscaping project. Further, the LGU launched its “Gulayan sa Lungsod ng Muntinlupa” program. It tapped the Department of Science and Technology and the UP Institute of Plant Breeding for the training of communities on SNAP [simple nutrient addition program) hydroponics training to promote urban agriculture. “The city aims to revive urban agriculture and urban farming as a response to augment food security amid the Covid-19 pandemic,” Fresnedi said. Because constituents need regular livelihood means to financially support themselves or their families in these trying times, he said the city’s Tupad program provides emergency employment for displaced workers, including transport drivers of tricycles, jeeps and pedicabs for a minimum period of 10 days. Around 500 city residents, including returning overseas Filipino workers, who have lost their jobs during the community quarantine period, were registered to work for a delivery service provider. Also, a stimulus employment program engaged displaced seamstresses to make face masks and personal protective equipment that are distributed to local health workers and the general public.

Relief package

FOR enterprising individuals, Muntinlupa City provides P5,000 financial assistance to out-ofwork youth, students and outof-school youth who have started their own businesses during the lockdown. The local government also provides entrepreneurship trainings on financial literacy and leadership, among others. Muntinlupa officials said MSMEs continue to enjoy a zero-interest loan assistance (“Tulong Negosyo” program) ranging from P2,000 up to P150,000. It also provides a 3-month extension of repayment period for borrowers with existing loans from March to June 2020. Through its Public Employment Services Office, Valenzuela City continuously accommodates a couple of applicants and referring them to companies with vacancies, preferably people that were displaced due to the pandemic. Gatchalian said they are currently working on a tax-relief package for operators and/or owners of barber shops, spas, personal care and gyms. He added that for those businesses usually affected every time a lockdown is imposed, “we are

now coming up with a relief package wherein it may not be given to them in cash but rather it would be given to them in relief.” “We understand that MSMEs are hurting that’s why we need to provide the economic relief that they need,” the local chief executive added.

Winning slowly

COMPARED to the first time when the ECQ was rolled out in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas nationwide mid-March last year, things were different with the implementation of the NCR-Plus Bubble from March to April and the ongoing community quarantine: this time, business activities have continued though at a limited scale. Hence, the country’s economy rebounded in the second quarter and posted a level of growth not seen in over three decades, according to data released last August 10 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Gatchalian said that, surprisingly in Valenzuela, there was just a gradual decrease in the number of businesses last year at 19,842 from 19,895 in 2019. He attributed this to the LGU’s ease-of-doing-business platform called “Paspas” [rush] permit issuance. “This system has been utilized during the business renewal season per quarter in 2020 where the city managed to get at least near to 3,000 accounts now using the system compared to when we launched it,” Gatchalian told the BusinessMirror. “It is one way of providing our business taxpayers with the convenience of using online payment options with the community quarantine in place.” Hence, the mayor said, they were still able to hit their business-tax target for 2020. “Remember most of our industries here in Valenzuela City are in manufacturing and factories,” Gatchalian noted. “Most of these industries are essential in nature so they were operating ever since.

Assurance, certification

IN a bid to increase compliance of private establishments with minimum public health standards (MPHS) set by the national government, Muntinlupa has launched its safety seal certification program. This initiative ensures the public that an enterprise is strictly implementing MPHS in their stores and workplaces, such as proper wearing of face shields and face masks, and disinfection. The certification program also requires businesses to use the StaySafe.ph contacttracing system. Fresnedi urged private business owners to apply for the safety certification as, he said, it helps assure the public that their establishment adheres to health protocols. And this will be vital for the safe reopening of the economy, he added. For Zamora, keeping the businesses open amid the pandemic helps San Juan City’s economy to recover. He recently signed Executive Order (EO) 81 that encourages the vaccination of all employees of businesses that are allowed to operate in the LGU, whether or not said employees are residents of the city. Once the employees are fully vaccinated, their store will get a “100-percent Vaccinated Approval Seal.” Meanwhile, EO 82 or the San Juan City Vaccine Incentive program urges enterprises that are allowed to operate in the city to

provide whatever incentives or discounts they can give to customers who are vaccinated. “The city hopes that these will make customers feel safer when they shop and/or eat inside the establishment,” emphasized the local chief executive. “So far, businesses are starting to recover from last year’s dip in sales due to lockdowns.”

Run-up to immunity

AS the nation grapples to achieve herd immunity or inoculating at least 70 percent of the country’s population, Metro Manila LGUs are also doing their share to help attain this national goal. Just recently, San Juan City announced that it has already attained this objective after fully vaccinating 74.4 percent of its target population. As of August 9, the LGU has fully inoculated 98,590 individuals. The number exceeds the target based on the PSA’s 2020 census (where 70 percent is 88,443) and the Asian Development Bank’s projected population of the city at 92,759. Meanwhile, 147,421 local residents have received their first dose in the city’s three vaccination centers. The recorded active Covid-19 cases in the city have stood at 315, with 9,388 recoveries and 234 deaths. During the same period, Muntinlupa reported that the total number of vaccines administered in the city’s 16 inoculation sites has already reached 353,802. More than half (54.9 percent) or 211,808 of the 385,725 target population to be inoculated have received at least one dose of vaccine, while 146,353 (37.9 percent) are now fully inoculated. Since August 10, the LGU has posted 1,072 Covid-19 active cases, 14,357 recoveries and 397 casualties. In Valenzuela, the number of doses of Covid-19 jabs administered at its 17 vaccination hubs has aggregated to 406,285 as of August 7, of which 246,200 were first dose and 160,085 were second dose. Of the 476,000 residents targeted to be inoculated, 52 percent and 34 percent have received their initial and second shots, respectively. As of August 9, there have been 842 active cases, 21,368 recoveries and 575 deaths in Valenzuela.

Doubling up

METRO Manila mayors believe that the Covid-19 vaccination is the “game-changer” in the fight against the pandemic. “We believe that as long as we continue to vaccinate more people at a faster rate, we will be able to experience some sense of normalcy over the next few months as the country reaches herd immunity,” Zamora said. “This is why we are very persistent in improving our vaccination process so we can vaccinate more individuals per day; and are coming up with different plans to encourage more people to take the vaccine.” Gatchalian remains hopeful. “With the rise of the new variants, we don’t think that this [pandemic] will end sooner,” the local chief executive told the BusinessMirror. “But we are hopeful that we get to double up the vaccination progress in the local level so we can reach herd immunity. He believes that vaccination will always be a key to gradually end the pandemic. “Right now I think the bigger challenge would be trying to convince 100 percent of our population to be inoculated,” Gatchalian said. “But now, it is getting better.”

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House on move to probe Octa: We want to know them better By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

AWMAKERS on Wednesday assured the public that the impending House investigation into analytics group Octa Research won’t not turn up to be a “witch hunt,” and basically intended to “make sense” of their Covid-19 data and projections. Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera and Deputy Majority Leader Jesus Suntay issued the clarification amid fears by certain quarters that the looming probe is meant to discredit Octa. “We just want to know them [Octa] better, and we want to know the methodology used in their analytics and for them to contextualize their pronouncements,” Herrera said during the virtual Ugnayan sa Batasan media forum. “If ever Octa will end up the one who could help us, then why not? We are interested dahil kulang tayo sa data analytics and we all know that. And if this is one thing that could help our country, why not?” Herrera added. Also, Suntay said claims of a possible witch hunt are “farthest from the truth.” “We are not here to discredit anyone, especially in this time of the pandemic,” the Quezon City lawmaker said. “Lahat ng sectors na gustong tumulong sa ating bansa— whether it is the government, the private sector or NGOs—we have to work together.” Earlier, Herrera, Suntay, Ilocos Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, AAMBIS-OWA Rep. Sharon Garin and Minority Leader Stella Luz Quimbo filed House Resolution 2075 urging the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to conduct an inquiry on the quali-

fications, research methodologies, partnerships and composition of Octa Research Philippines. The resolution came after Dr. Edsel Salvana, a member of the government’s Technical Advisory Group on Covid-19, slammed Octa for its allegedly unsound projections and for sowing panic among the population. Herrera and Suntay said the House would invite officials of the Department of Health (DOH) and other health experts to the congressional hearing, which would take place once the enhanced community quarantine in the National Capital Region (NCR) is lifted. The projections and warnings of Octa Research on the Covid-19 pandemic are being considered by the national government and local government units, the most recent of which is the hard lockdown currently being implemented in NCR and other provinces in the country. Meanwhile, Herrera said she has spoken to Octa’s Professor Ranjit Rye and assured that the research group need not worry about the investigation since this will be the venue for them to introduce themselves further to the public. Suntay, meanwhile, justified that the inquiry is not a waste of time, especially since it would be done in “aid of legislation.” “We believe that any information that we could derive from this hearing, and which would be translated to better policies is not a waste of time,” Suntay said. He said the probe would also serve as a “venue of an intellectual conversation between different groups, different agencies both of government and private sector in order to arrive at how we can join hands and help our country.”

NG execs lead cash-aid payout for City of Manila beneficiaries, not Mayor Isko

THE Mandaluyong City local government in Metro Manila goes ahead in its cash-aid distribution to some 1,400 residents of Barangay Addition Hills under hard lockdown since Friday. Meanwhile, national government officials spearheaded their own cash-aid payout program in the City of Manila, bailiwick of Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, a potential presidential forerunner, according to a recent poll, who may go up against Presidential Daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in the May 2022 elections. ROY DOMINGO By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HERE will be no delay in the distribution of cash aid from the national government (NG) for low-income individuals in the National Capital Region (NCR), which is currently under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assured

DPWH chief turns over to DOH new Covid health-care facility at Lung Center in QC

on Wednesday. The DILG, through Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, said the DILG and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) supervised the distribution of the Ayuda II, or cash aid distribution, in the City of Manila “to ensure the orderly conduct of payout activities in the city,” Malaya said. The direct involvement of NG agencies in the distribution came

By Bianca Cuaresma

DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar leads the ceremonial of turnover of keys to the rooms of a modular offsite hospital at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City. With Villar are other Department of Health officials led by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. PHOTO COURTESY OF DPWH

Emil K. Sadain, handed over the symbolic key of five modular hospitals to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III joined by Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega, Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan, and Lung Center Executive Director Vincent M. Balanag Jr. The ceremonial turnover of the health facility was also attended by Presidential spokesman Harry Roque; Inter-Agency Task for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.; Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte; DPWH Directors Eric Ayapana, Aristarco Doroy and Asst. Director Edgardo Garces; and Nationstar Development Corporation President Alejandro Tengco. During the event, Duque and Roque expressed their utmost gratitude to the DPWH under the leadership of Secretary Villar for the many efforts being done to continually ex-

pand health-care capacities nationwide by putting up modular hospitals and isolation facilities for the medical care needs of Covid-19 patients. The new health facility was built under the project planning and construction supervision of DPWH Task Force to Facilitate Augmentation of Health Facilities headed by Undersecretary Sadain. The modular hospital is a testament of the unwavering efforts and initiatives of DPWH to help curb the contagion and mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The DPWH task force continues to send support to the DOH and IATF in pursuit of an efficient and upgraded health service for all Filipinos. Considering the urgency of rising cases, Wednesday’s turnover of the project will allow early admission to supplement the muchneeded additional hospital rooms and emergency facilities.

on the heels of President Duterte’s statement criticizing an LGU leader for the “disorderly” distribution of the cash aid to residents, including “chaos” in vaccination centers, apparently alluding to Manila headed by Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso, reported to be a leading presidential candidate in a recent poll who may run against another potential candidate, Presidential Daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

BDO reaffirms pledge for low-carbon regime @BcuaresmaBM

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday, turned over to the Department of Health (DOH) additional healthcare facilities at the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) in Quezon City that will boost government’s response against Covid-19. Public Works Secretary and Chief Isolation Czar Mark A. Villar said that LCP would have additional 108 beds to handle the increasing number of patients in need for hospital admission and treatment of Covid severe to critical cases. “We have completed works on five cluster units, including one unit with 20 beds, particularly as Intensive Care Units [ICU], with oxygen, suction, and vacuum system dedicated for patients who require high levels of medical care and complex treatment,” added Secretary Villar. Villar, assisted by Undersecretary

Thursday, August 12, 2021 A7

HE largest bank in the country expressed commitment to promote efforts towards sustainable finance to help achieve the private and public sectors’ goal of “cushioning the destructive effects of climate change.” In a news statement issued on Wednesday, BDO Unibank Inc. said it recognizes the crucial role of the banking system in building a foundation for inclusive and sustainable economies. “BDO recognizes its critical role in contributing to a lower carbon economy through its financial resources, extensive operations and network,” BDO Vice President for Sustainability Marla Garin-Alvarez said. “We are committed to promote environmentally-sound and climate-resilient practices to support our customers, communities, and the country.” Garin-Alvarez said that over the years, BDO’s “sustainable finance” desk has expanded its scope to include energy efficiency, climatesmart agriculture, green infrastructure, and clean transportation. In 2010, BDO was among the pioneers of promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency project financing by putting together a risk-based Sustainable Energy Finance Program

in partnership with the International Finance Corp., the private banking arm of the World Bank. In 2017, BDO was also the first to offer a green bond in the financial industry in the country and in the East Asia Pacific. This provided $150 million to seven renewable energy projects, which have since been expanded to 50 renewable projects nationwide. “In the Philippines, the local banking industry can leverage its resources and reach to hasten the transition towards a more sustainable future,” the bank said. “As a financial intermediary, banks have the opportunity to drive financial investments towards renewable energy or climate adaptation technologies and to provide expertise towards achieving sustainable economic and business models.” BDO’s statement on sustainable financing echoes the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) calls on local lenders to look into sustainable or so-called “green financing” as the country remains one of the most vulnerable for economies in the world to climate change related disruptions. In June, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said mainstreaming sustainable finance in the country is crucial to protect the economy and the financial system from potential shocks related to climate change.

“As agreed with the Metro Manila Council, all local government units in the NCR [National Capital Region] started their Ayuda II distribution today [Wednesday, August 11, 2021], including the City of Manila,” Malaya added. Malaya said that officials and representatives of the DILG, DSWD, and the Department of National Defense (DND) led by DSWD Secretary Roland Bautista attended the ceremonial distribution of ayuda at the Jose Abad Santos High School in Binondo, Manila at 9:30 a.m. He said additional personnel from the DSWD and the DILG have been deployed at all distribution sites in the City of Manila to supervise the payout of the Manila Social Welfare Department and ensure the orderly and systematic distribution. “Secretary Eduardo M. Año has also directed PMGen [Police Major General] Vicente Danao to deploy additional police officers and social distance patrollers to the City of Manila for an orderly distribution,” he said. In other LGUs, representatives of national government agencies that are members of the Joint Monitoring and Inspection Committee will also be present in all distribution points to monitor the distribution and ensure compliance to Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 3. He said that the DILG, DSWD, and DND are committed to ensuring that the distribution of financial assistance is timely, orderly, and given to qualified beneficiaries. (See related story on A3: Recto: LGUs well-trained in cash delivery )

AUB’s H1 net down on lower trading and securities gains

SIA United Bank’s (AUB) consolidated net income fell in the first half of the year, resulting largely from lower gains from trading and securities. The bank reported that its consolidated net income, along with its four subsidiaries, hit P1.9 billion in the first half of the year, 15 percent lower than the year-ago’s P2.3 billion. This translates to a return on equity of 11 percent and return on assets of 1.2 percent. “We expect 2021 to be a better year than 2020 due to the vaccine rollouts by the government and the private sector that will help improve consumer confidence and lead to increased economic activity. However, we remain cautious and vigilant about the Covid-19 variants and the economic impact of the ongoing pandemic. We are not letting our guard down,” said AUB President Manuel A. Gomez. The bank set aside P896 million in provision for loan losses in the first half of 2021. This was 41 percent lower than the P1.5-billion buffer it allocated in the same period last year to cover the credit risk brought about by the pandemic. The bank, meanwhile, was able to keep its net interest income on the same level as a year ago at P5.4 billion. Bianca Cuaresma

PhilHealth to produce and distribute health kits for asymptomatic, mild Covid patients

N official of the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said that the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is finalizing its plan for the production and distribution of a home care package for consumption of mild and asymptomatic Covid pa-

tients undergoing home quarantine. “PhilHealth is already finalizing the home care package now for our fellow Filipinos,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in Filipino in an online forum. The kit will include a thermometer, pulse oximeter, vitamins,

paracetamol, face masks, face shields, alcohol and disinfection agents. Vergeire, however, reminded that while on home quarantine the patient should not take antibiotics unless prescribed by physicians. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Thursday, August 12, 2021

The World BusinessMirror

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

South Korea exceeds 2,000 daily infections for 1st time New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to board a helicopter after announcing his resignation on August 10, in New York. Cuomo says he will resign over a barrage of sexual harassment allegations. The three-term Democratic governor’s decision, which will take effect in two weeks, was announced Tuesday as momentum built in the Legislature to remove him by impeachment. AP/Seth Wenig

Andrew Cuomo resigns over sexual harassment allegations

EW YORK—Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation Tuesday over a barrage of sexual harassment allegations in a fall from grace a year after he was widely hailed nationally for his detailed daily briefings and leadership during some of the darkest days of the Covid-19 pandemic. By turns defiant and chastened, the 63-year-old Democrat emphatically denied intentionally mistreating women and called the pressure for his ouster politically motivated. But he said that fighting back in this “too hot” political climate would subject the state to months of turmoil. “The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing,” Cuomo said in a televised address. The third-term governor’s resignation, which will take effect in two weeks, was announced as momentum built in the Legislature to remove him by impeachment and after nearly the entire Democratic establishment had turned against him, with President Joe Biden joining those calling on him to resign. The decision came a week after New York’s attorney general released the results of an investigation that found Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women. Investigators said he subjected women to unwanted kisses; groped their breasts or buttocks or otherwise touched them inappropriately; made insinuating remarks about their looks and their sex lives; and created a work environment “rife with fear and intimidation.” At the same time, Cuomo was under fire over the discovery that his administration had concealed thousands of Covid-19 deaths among nursing home patients. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a 62-year-old Democrat and former member of Congress from the Buffalo area, will become the state’s 57th governor and the first woman to hold the post. She said Cuomo’s resignation was “the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers.” The #MeToo-era scandal cut short not just a career but a dynasty: Cuomo’s father, Mario Cuomo, was governor in the 1980s and ‘90s, and the younger Cuomo was often mentioned as a potential presidential candidate. Even as the scandal mushroomed, he was planning to run for reelection in 2022. Republicans exulted in Cuomo’s departure but still urged impeachment, which could prevent him from running for office again. “This resignation is simply an attempt to avoid real accountability,” state GOP chair Nick Langworthy said. At the White House, Biden said: “I respect the governor’s decision.” At the same time, he said Cuomo had “done a helluva job” on infrastructure and voting rights, and “that’s why it’s so sad.” “From the beginning, I simply asked that the governor stop his abusive behavior,” Lindsey Boylan, the first woman to accuse Cuomo publicly of harassment, tweeted Tuesday. “It became abundantly clear he was unable to do that, instead attacking and blaming victims until the end.” Cuomo still faces the possibility of criminal charges, with a number of prosecutors around the state continuing to investigate him. At least one of his accusers has filed a criminal complaint. The governor prefaced his resignation with a 45-minute defense from his lawyer and his own insistence that his behavior — while sometimes insensitive, off-putting or “too familiar” — had been used against him as a weapon in a political environment where “rashness has replaced reasonableness.” “I am a fighter, and my instinct is to fight through this controversy because I truly believe it is politically motivated. I believe it is unfair and it is untruthful,” he said, but added that he didn’t want “distractions” to consume the state government as it grapples with the pandemic and other problems. The string of accusations began in news reports last December and went on for months. Cuomo called some of the allegations fabricated and denied he touched anyone inappropriately. But he acknowledged making some aides uncomfortable with comments he said he intended as playful, and he apologized for some of his behavior. He portrayed some encounters as misunderstandings attributable to “generational or cultural” differences, invoking his upbringing in an affectionate Italian American family. The attorney general’s investigation backed up the women’s accounts and added lurid new ones, turning up the pressure on Cuomo. Investigators also said that the governor’s staff retaliated against Boylan by leaking confidential personnel files about her. As governor, Cuomo proclaimed himself a “progressive Democrat” who gets things done: Since taking office in 2011, he helped push through legislation that legalized gay marriage, began lifting the minimum wage to $15 and expanded paid family leave benefits. He also backed big infrastructure projects, including a new Hudson River bridge that he named after his father. At the same time he was engaging in the behavior that got him into trouble, he was publicly championing the #MeToo movement and surrounding himself with women’s rights activists. He signed into law sweeping new protections against sexual harassment and lengthened the statute of limitations in rape cases. AP

EOUL, South Korea—South Korea’s daily increase in coronavirus infections has exceeded 2,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic, continuing an alarming spread despite the enforcement of strict virus restrictions in large population centers.

Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol on Wednesday pleaded for people to stay home during the holiday break around Liberation Day on Friday. He said that “in our fight against Covid-19, we are entering a new phase, a new crisis.” Officials said more than 1,400 of the 2,223 new cases are in the Seoul metropolitan region. Kwon says transmissions are also spreading at faster speeds in other parts of the country. South Korea has so far administered first doses of coronavirus vaccine to 42 percent of a population of more than 51 million.

Key developments:

Texas reports 10,000 Covid patients HOUSTON—The latest wave of coronavirus infections in Texas continues to tax the state’s health care systems as health officials report that 10,000 people are hospitalized with Covid-19 for the first time since early February. State health officials reported Tuesday that 10,041 hospital patients in Texas were ill with Covid-19 as of Monday. That is the most since 10,259 Covid-19 hospitalizations were reported on February 4. Meantime, a state district judge in San Antonio granted a temporary restraining order to allow the governments of San Antonio and Bexar County to

require public school students to wear masks in class and to quarantine unvaccinated students exposed to the virus.

5,599 vaccinated people infected in Minnesota ST. PAUL, Minn.—Minnesota health officials say the state has recorded at least 5,599 people vaccinated against the coronavirus who later became infected by the virus, with 514 of them requiring hospitalization for Covid-19. At least 57 died. But officials stressed Tuesday that those cases represent a tiny fraction of the state’s immunized population. The state health department says just over 3 million people in Minnesota have been fully vaccinated and about 200,000 more have gotten one dose.

Florida hospitals fear shortage of health workers MIAMI—The Florida Hospital Association says nearly 70 percent of the state’s hospitals are expecting critical staffing shortage in the next seven days. Association president Mary Mayhew says an influx of Covid-19 cases is hitting at a time when Florida hospitals are seeing “unusually high numbers of very ill non-Covid patients.”

Mayhew says that “our front line health care heroes are finding themselves stretched thin and physical and mental exhaustion is taking its toll.” She says that many of those being hospitalized for Covid-19 during the latest surge in cases are in their 20s and 30s.

Mississippi Covid-19 hospitalizations increase JACKSON, Miss.—Mississippi is approaching its pandemic high for Covid-19 hospitalizations as the coronavirus continues spreading rapidly in a state with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the US. The state Health Department reported Tuesday that 1,410 patients with Covid-19 were in Mississippi hospitals Monday. The state’s highest number of Covid-19 hospitalizations for a single day was 1,444 on Jan. 4, before vaccines against the virus were widely available. Officials say that as of Tuesday, 35 percent of Mississippi residents were fully vaccinated, compared to about 50 percent nationally. The Health Department says that between July 13 and Monday, unvaccinated people made up 97 percent of those newly diagnosed with Covid-19, 89 percent of those hospitalized with it and 85 percent of those who died from it. AP

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1,000 buildings destroyed by massive California fire G

REENVILLE, Calif.—California’s largest single wildfire in recorded history kept pushing through forestlands on Tuesday as fire crews tried to protect rural communities from flames that have destroyed hundreds of homes. Clear skies over parts of the monthold Dixie Fire have allowed aircraft to rejoin nearly 6,000 firefighters in the attack this week. “Whether or not we can f ly depends very much on where the smoke is. There’s still some areas where it’s just too smoky,” fire spokesman Edwin Zuniga said. Heavy smoke reduced visibility on the fire’s west end while the east end saw renewed action as afternoon winds took hold, fire officials said. Burning through bone-dry trees, brush and grass, the fire by Tuesday had destroyed more than 1,000 buildings, including nearly 550 homes. Much of the small community of Greenville was incinerated during an explosive run of flames last week. But the reports are “definitely subject to change” because assessment teams still can’t get into many areas to count what burned, Zuniga said. The Dixie Fire, named for the road where it started, also threatened 14,000 buildings in more than a dozen small mountain and rural communities in the northern Sierra Nevada. Crews have cut thousands of acres of new fire lines aimed at preventing the fire from spreading. Officials believe the fire lines created on the blaze’s southern side will hold the fire at bay

there, but the fire’s future is unknown, authorities said. “We don’t know where this fire is going to end and where it’s going to land. It continues to challenge us,” said Chris Carlton, supervisor for Plumas National Forest. Temperatures are expected to rise and the humidity is expected to fall over the next few days, with triple-digit high temperatures possible later in the week along with a return of strong afternoon winds, fire meteorologist Rich Thompson warned Monday evening. The fire that broke out July 14 grew slightly on Tuesday to an area of 766 square miles (1,984 square kilometers) but containment increased to 27 percent, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Dixie Fire is about half the size of the August Complex, a series of lightning-caused 2020 fires across seven counties that were fought together and that state officials consider California’s largest wildfire overall. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for northern Shasta, Trinity and Tehama counties. The declaration frees up state resources to help fight fires in those counties and give assistance to residents affected by he blazes. California’s raging wildfires are among some 100 large blazes burning across 15 states, mostly in the West, where historic drought conditions have left lands parched and ripe for ignition. The Dixie Fire is the largest single fire in California history and the largest currently burning in the US. Nearly a quarter of all firefighters assigned to

Western fires are fighting California blazes, said Rocky Oplinger, an incident commander. Heat waves and historic drought tied to climate change have made wildfires harder to fight in the American West. Scientists have said climate change has made the region much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. The fires across the West come as parts of Europe are also fighting large blazes spurred by tinder-dry conditions. In southeastern Montana, the small towns of Ashland and Lame Deer were ordered evacuated Tuesday as a wildfire threatened hundreds of homes outside the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Rosebud County Sheriff Allen Fulton said flames were being driven by strong, erratic winds. “We’re actually pretty worried about it,” Fulton said. “It’s jumping highways, it’s jumping streams. A paved road is about as good a fire line as we could ask for, and it’s going over that in spots.” Northwest of the Dixie Fire in the ShastaTrinity National Forest, hundreds of homes remained threatened by two fires. However, nearly 50 percent of the McFarland Fire was contained. New evacuation orders were issued Monday for residents near the Monument Fire, which was only about 3 percent contained. South of the Dixie Fire, firefighters prevented further growth of the River Fire, which broke out last Wednesday near the community of Colfaxz and destroyed 68 homes. It was nearly 80 percent contained. AP

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Wildfires in Algeria leave 42 dead, including 25 soldiers

LGIERS, Algeria—At least 25 soldiers died saving residents from wildfires ravaging mountain forests and villages east of Algeria’s capital, the president announced Tuesday night as the civilian toll rose to at least 17. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune tweeted that the soldiers were “martyrs” who saved 100 people from the fires in two areas of Kabyle, the region that is home to the North African nation’s Berber population. Eleven other soldiers were burned fighting the fires, four of them seriously, the Defense Ministry said. Pr ime Minister A ïmene Benabderrahmane later said on state TV that 17 civilians had lost their lives, raising the

count of citizens from seven previously and bringing the total death toll to 42. He provided no details. The mountainous Kabyle region, 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Algeria’s capital of Algiers, is dotted with difficultto-access villages and with temperatures rising has had limited water. Some villagers were fleeing, while others tried to hold back the flames themselves, using buckets, branches and rudimentary tools. The region has no water-dumping planes. The deaths and injuries Tuesd ay o cc u r re d m a i n ly around Kabyle’s capital of TiziOuzou, which is flanked by mountains, and also in Bejaia, which borders the Mediterranean Sea, the president said. The prime minister told

state television that initial reports from security services showed the fires in Kabyle were “highly synchronized,” adding that “leads one to believe these were criminal acts.” Earlier, Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud traveled to Kabyle to assess the situation and also blamed the fires there on arson. “Thirty fires at the same time in the same region can’t be by chance,” Beldjoud said on national television, although no arrests were announced. There were no immediate details to explain the high death toll among the military. A photo pictured on the site of the Liberte daily showed a soldier with a shovel dousing sputtering flames with dirt, his automatic weapon slung over his shoulder. AP

BusinessMirror

A10 Thursday, August 12, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

24 INCH GAUGE CONSTRUCTION INC. L4 Blk. 4 Near Kay Buboy Bridge San Dionisio Parañaque City

GAO, WENKE Marketing Specialist 1.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for coordinating with other marketing and sales professionals to implement innovative campaigns for branding or product launches

Basic Qualification: Ability to work under pressure and motivation to succeed in a competitive environment; Should have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, communications or a related field; Good communication and interpersonal skills

HUANG, BINGHE Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 12.

SHI, LI Marketing Specialist 2.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for coordinating with other marketing and sales professionals to implement innovative campaigns for branding or product launches

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

YEONG YI DONG Marketing Specialist 3.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for coordinating with other marketing and sales professionals to implement innovative campaigns for branding or product launches

13.

YU, ZHIJUN Marketing Specialist 4.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for coordinating with other marketing and sales professionals to implement innovative campaigns for branding or product launches

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

ZHOU, BO Marketing Specialist 5.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for coordinating with other marketing and sales professionals to implement innovative campaigns for branding or product launches

GONZALEZ FERNANDEZ, JAIME Chief Financial Officer 14.

MUÑOZ GONZALEZ, DANIEL Project Director 6.

Brief Job Description: Manage, plan and control all resources entrusted to them. Take technical and economical decisions necessary for the proper development and project optimization. Responsible for monitoring and cost controlling.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

ALLIANTPRIME SERVICES INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. 4f One Ecom Center Building, Ocean Drive St., Moa Complex Subd. District 1, Barangay 076 Pasay City FAN, ZIMING Mandarin Field Marketing Officer 7.

Brief Job Description: Plan, organize and execute marketing and sales programs WU, HAILIAO Mandarin Site Technical Officer

Brief Job Description: Diagnosing equipment malfunctions and performing repairs

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

15.

10.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NAN HLAN Chinese Customer Service

16.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

17.

11.

Brief Job Description: Assist the hotel/resort with Chinese guests/clients

18.

Brief Job Description: Service Support Solution includes diagnosis, resolution and reporting of customer issues and questions relating YouTube paid content products. Service is Tier 1 end user support with escalations to Google

HE, CHUNYAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 19.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

LIU, GUOQING Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 20.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

QIAO, YUANRUI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 21.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

YONG, HAO Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 22.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

HUANG, QINGNA Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 23.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services

KE, TING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 24.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHANG, MIAO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

25.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

ZHANG, SHUANGFU Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 26.

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

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: with atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: with atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CSCEC STRAIT CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD (PHILIPPINES BRANCH OFFICE) Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: Master’s degree in accounting, finance or business. MBA designation preferred. Up to date knowledge of current financial and accounting computer applications. Experience in partnering with an executive team, and have a high level of written and oral communication skills.

Basic Qualification: College graduate/Level Preferably with Sales experience/Fluent in Korean/Basic English. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

HUANG, BANGWEI Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst 27.

Basic Qualification: BA or BS Degree Holder; Minimum 2-year(s) customer service support experience (voice, e-mail, or chat), working with direct consumers preferably in a B2C environment; Native Mandarin Speaker

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

TANG, TINGBANG Mandarin Project Monitoring Supervisor 28.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Project Monitoring Supervisor will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

DEXIN INTERNATIONAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP. 534 Tomas Mapua St. 029 Bgy. 298 Santa Cruz Manila

29.

LIN, MINGHAI Chinese Cargo Office Agent Brief Job Description: Prepare airline and custom documentation

CHEN, ZHIGUO Marketing And Sales Agent 30.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

CHEN, XIHUAI Marketing And Sales Agent 31.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

DONG, QINGFENG Marketing And Sales Agent 32.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

HUANG, JIABANG Marketing And Sales Agent 33.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

LUO, WENJIANG Marketing And Sales Agent 34.

Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas and researches to help develop marketing strategies; Can help to detail, design and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

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

SU, YICAN Marketing And Sales Agent 35.

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

Basic Qualification: with atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication

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

Basic Qualification: with atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: with atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese and have skills in documentation

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila

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

Basic Qualification: with atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

Basic Qualification: Proven Experience as Mandarin Project Monitoring supervisor, 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

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: BA or BS Degree Holder; Minimum 2-year(s) customer service support experience (voice, e-mail, or chat), working with direct consumers preferably in a B2C environment; Native Vietnamese Speaker

Basic Qualification: Proven Experience as Mandarin Electrical Commissioning 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

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg. Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St. Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City

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

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

Brief Job Description: overall management of Capital One Philippines Support Services Corp

NGUYEN THI MINH TRANG Senior Process Executive

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak and write in Mandarin fluently, experience as CSR

Brief Job Description: Interpreter/Translator

HEAH CAI ZHUAN Senior Process Executive

APSARAS TRIBE PHILIPPINES INC. 807 8/f The Trade And Financial Tower 7th Ave. Cor. 32nd St. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

YANG, ZHUOYE Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Specialist

Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

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: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language

KIM, YONGBAE Interpreter/translator

PARVAIZ, OSMAN President And General Manager

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City HUANG, CONG Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Driving the company’s financial planning. Performing risk management by analysing the organization’s liabilities and investments. Deciding on investment strategies by considering cash and liquidity risks.

No.

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

CAPITAL ONE PHILIPPINES SUPPORT SERVICES CORP. 5150 North Bridgeway Northgate Cyberzone, Filinvest Corporate City Alabang Muntinlupa City

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

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

Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

BORAM MILLENNIALS MARKETING CORPORATION (BORAM MILLENNIAL CENTER AND BORAM MILLENNIAL STORE) Room 108 Cabrera Bldg., #130 Timog Ave. Sacred Heart 4 Quezon City

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

ACCIONA CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES INC. 21/f Tower 2, The Enterprise Center 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: 10 years in management functions that include infrastructure works. At least 5 years experience in major railway projects. Experience in international projects. Experience in joint ventures, Fluent in Spanish and English.

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

BIGPAT DOS DEVELOPMENT HOLDINGS, INC. 405 Virginia Barangay 128 Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to work under pressure and motivation to succeed in a competitive environment; Should have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, communications or a related field; Good communication and interpersonal skills

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

LUO, MING Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

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

36.

LAN, HUI Computer System Analyst

Basic Qualification: Skills in documentation

Brief Job Description: Know how to maintain computer system

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. 4th-11th Floor Aseana 3 Building Aseana Avenue Corner Diosdado Macapagal Tambo Parañaque City

37.

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FU, RUI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

GU, XIAOLE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

GUO, WANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

HOANG NGUYEN THIEN AN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LI, XING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LI, JIAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LUO, LANJUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

MONG XIN YAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service NING, MIAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: apply diagnostic utilities to aid in troubleshooting PAN, SEN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

PHANG KHONG HOO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

SIM TENG WEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

TANG, GUOPING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

TIAN, YU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

TRUONG THI THUY OANH Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WANG, XUELING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WANG, ZONGLONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

XIONG, WEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZHAN, YUSHENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZHOU, LIMIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

57.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints, They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and the help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

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

JIANG, YONG Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

58.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in mandarin or basic English

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in mandarin or basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in mandarin or basic English

KIM, HYUNBIN Korean Bilingual HR Analyst 59.

60.

61.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for E2E Management of Telecom Network Projects; Managing project schedule, budget and quality; Have effective Financial Management and will work with account manager of regional PMO to provide project management; Can lead a mix of Chinese and local employees.

SUNG, JUNG LIM Customer Support Representative 62.

Brief Job Description: A Customer Support Representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied.

CHUNG, JINA Marketing Manager (Korean) 63.

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

Brief Job Description: Marketing managers promote businesses, services, products, or brands. They develop marketing and pricing strategies, generate new business leads and oversee marketing department staff.

HWANG, IN HONG Marketing Manager (Korean) 64.

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

IWAMOTO, YASUNORI Joint General Manager 65.

Brief Job Description: Provide strategic direction to the front office depts. in the development & expansion of the business for Japanese & non-Japanese customers in the Philippines.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

66.

67.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

68.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

69.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

GATEWAYSOLUTIONS CORP. Unit 2306 Antel Global Corporate Center Julia Vargas Ave. Ortigas Center, San Antonio Pasig City

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent communications skills in English and Korean; can provide direct support to customers via call and email to resolve inquiries and complete requests Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Fluent in Cantonese, Taiwanese, and Mandarin Language. Excellent Communication skills. Atleast 1 year direct marketing experience.

73.

74.

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77.

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

Basic Qualification: Highly familiar in Chinese and English Language; Graduate of Individual Engineering; Proficient in Chinese and English language.

78.

79.

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

Basic Qualification: Must have bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 1-2 yrs. Of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality

70.

LUONG THI TUYET Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

BI, LEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

CAI, JIANFENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

CHEN, BINGDI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

CHEN, SHIJIE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

80.

81.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must have bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 1-2 yrs. Of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must have bachelor’s / college degree in any fields, at least 1-2 yrs. of working experience in the related positions, ability to maintain high level of confidentiality

82.

83.

84.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business or related course, at least 10 yrs experience in a Japanese bank, native Japanese speaker with excellent English communication skills

85.

86.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHENH HENH VAY Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

CHIEM TO NHU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

DENG, KAI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

ERVYNNA ANAK STEPHEN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

GAO, XIAOLONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

GENG, WENQING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

GOH PING YEW Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

GUO, SHUIBO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

GUO, HAILONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

GUO, NAITONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

87. Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English

88.

89.

90.

91.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

HUANG, GUOHUA Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

HUANG, ZHONGLONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

JIA, XU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

JIA, XINGWU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

LE HOANG ANH Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LE HWAY KYWON Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LI, XIAOJING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

LIN, ZHAOYANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LIU, YUJUN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LIU, YANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

LOC NAM HONG Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

Basic Qualification: 09081973214

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

92.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

HA, LU Customer Service Representative

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

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can prepare product or service reports by collecting and analysing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can manage large amounts of incoming calls

MIZUHO BANK, LTD. - MANILA BRANCH Units 1-8, 25/f Zuellig Bldg. Makati Ave. Cor Paseo De Roxas Urdaneta Makati City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in mandarin or basic English

72.

MAGKING SERVICES CORPORATION Unit 5d Rose Industries Bldg. #11, Pioneer Street Kapitolyo Pasig City

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in mandarin or basic English

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

Brief Job Description: Responsible for establishing and maintaining profitable relationships with customer on behalf of the company by taking personal and complete responsibility for each customer contact and by ensuring that all customer requirements are completely met.

TAO, XINQIAO Network Design Senior Specialist

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

71.

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

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City

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

Brief Job Description: To deliver customer experience in HR query resolution and perform shared services administration transactions

HONG, SHAN Mandarin Collection Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

No.

HENTSON BUSINESS CONSULTANCY INC. Unit Ug-8 Cityland Herrera Tower 98 V.a. Rufino Cor. Valero Sts. Bel-air Makati City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: can speak and write fluent Korean language

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

GM PHILIPPINES, INC. A.t. Yuchengco Centre 26th And 25th Streets, Floor 20 Bonifacio Global City Taguig City

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

A11

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

CAI, YUSHUANG Customer Service Representative

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A12 Thursday, August 12, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

93.

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LUO, DEBIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

MA THI NIEM Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

NANG SEIN NYUNT Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

NIE, HUANYING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

SONG, PANPAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

SU, ZHUFENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

SU, SHENGHUI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

VONG CHI MUI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

VOON PEI XIAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WANG, QIU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WANG, GANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WENG, YONGCHUAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WU, HANMIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

XING, XIAOYU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

XU, XIAOSHAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

XU, SHIWEN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

YAN, JUNLEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

YU, MIAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZENG, ZHAOBING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZHAO, XIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZHONG, HUA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

MUFG BANK, LTD. Oledan Square 15/f 6788 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English

No.

114.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LAI, MING Mandarin Speaking Data Analyst 115.

116.

117.

118.

119.

120.

121.

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

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

Brief Job Description: provides information for management by preparing shortterm and long-term product sales forecasts and special reports and analysis

LIU, JUN Deputy Project Manager 122.

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

No.

134.

Basic Qualification: good social and presentation skills, excellent oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Ensures all task are completed correctly, on time, and within budget

135.

Basic Qualification: good social and presentation skills, excellent oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: good social and presentation skills, excellent oral and written communication skills

136.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: good social and presentation skills, excellent oral and written communication skills

123.

124.

125.

MIAO, YUHAN Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

TAN, ZHONGPENG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls.

WANG, QIANMEI Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls. LAI MINH QUANG Mandarin Marketing Specialist

126.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business opportunities CHAN SEONG FOO Mandarin Technical Support

127.

128.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system HUANG, HUILONG Mandarin Technical Support Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system JIANG, XIAOFAN Mandarin Technical Support

129.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system QIU, ZIYANG Mandarin Technical Support

130.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system ZENG, XIANGXIN Mandarin Technical Support

131.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system ZHANG, PEICHUN Mandarin Technical Support

132.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system

137.

133.

Brief Job Description: Processes and maintains data accurately and in a timely manner into Refinitiv database using technical and financial knowledge.

CHENG, LANBO Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

GAO, MINGHUI Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

LIN, XINWEI Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

LU, KAIXIN Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: good social and presentation skills, excellent oral and written communication skills

138.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: good social and presentation skills, excellent oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

139.

Basic Qualification: Good oral and written communication skills in mandarin, atleast 6 months work related experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

140.

QIN, CHUNYAN Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

TANG, XILONG Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

ZHANG, JINGZHONG Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

Basic Qualification: Minimum of 5 years experience in the same position Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

141.

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

142.

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

143.

ZHOU, SHENLI Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

HAN WIN AUNG IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

NANG HYUM LYANN IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

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

144.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree; Proficiency in English and any of the abovementioned languages; and amenable on any shifts. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

WELLA APRILLIA IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

Basic Qualification: 200 vacancies college graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, Fluent in mandarin and english speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 200 Vacancy/College Graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices fluent in mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Washington St. Pio Del Pilar Makati City XIAO, YONGSHUN Bilingual Finance Support Specialist 145.

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

REFINITIV ASIA PTE. LTD. - PHILIPPINE BRANCH Ground Floor 18/20 Building Upper Mckinley Hill Fort Bonifacio Taguig City NGUYEN DUY HUNG Content Analyst-Vietnamese

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1439 Adriatico Cor. Sta. Monica St. 072 Bgy. 669 Ermita Manila

RED DOT MARKETING AND BRANDING INC. Unit 1514 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Manila

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

Basic Qualification: 4 yr college/university degree, desirably a business related course, N1 level fluency in Nihongo

QINGDAO MUNICIPAL CONSTRUCTION GROUP CO., LTD. Suite 1106 Ermita Center 1350 Roxas Blvd. 072, Bgy. 668 Ermita Manila

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

Brief Job Description: responsible for the management of workflow throughout all departments within a business LIN, WUN-JYUN Mandarin Speaking Product Manager

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: responsible for the management of workflow throughout all departments within a business YEH, CHUN-CHENG Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: responsible for the management of workflow throughout all departments within a business YANG, SHENG-SIANG Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: responsible for the management of workflow throughout all departments within a business UNG CAM PHUNG Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: develop and track goals for the recruiting and hiring process HUYNH PHUONG ANH Mandarin Speaking Operations Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: preparing reports based on analysis and presenting to management WANG, YUANJIA Mandarin Speaking HR Recruiter

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Based on branch goals, develop & discuss customer strategy, targets including KPIs for the year of the team

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

OUTWIT, INC. 2/f Marvin Plaza 2153 Chino Roces Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HAYASHI, YUSUKE Team Leader / Associate For Japanese Corporate Banking

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Process and prepare financial business forms for the purpose of checking account balances, facilitating purchases CHEN, CHEN Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

146.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity of computer system

Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in Bilingual languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in Bilingual languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WYC FUNTRIP TRAVEL AND TOURS INC. Unit E & F Avr. Bldg. Beaterio St., 069 Bgy. 655 Intramuros Manila

CAI, JIANGLONG Chinese Marketing Director 147.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for company’s marketing and communication strategies

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business and marketing campaign experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

*Date Generated: Aug 11, 2021 In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on August 7, 2021, the NAME of MASAKI, TOMOYUKI under MARCOPAY INC., should have been read as MASAKI, MOTOYUKI and not as published. In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on July 29, 2021, the position of OH, SEUNGRYEOL under MAGKING SERVICES CORPORATION, should have been read as CUSTOMER SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE and not as published. Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE-NCR Regional Office located at DOLENCR 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

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Thursday, August 12, 2021 A13

Meat labeling rules seen affecting food supply By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T least 2.5 million kilograms of imported meat products are currently being held in cold storage facilities pending resolution of the labeling issue, which could further stretch the country’s food supply system, according to industry players. Meat Importers and Traders Association President Jesus C. Cham said at least 100 containers carrying 2,500 metric tons of various meat products cannot be sold until the labels are rectified. “And there are more shipments arriving. Importers are now incurring costs because of this. At the same time they cannot easily sell to the market or their clients pending clearance from the authorities,” Cham told the BusinessMirror in a phone interview. The confiscation of meat shipments started after the National

Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) issued a memorandum circular last July 27, which reiterated the strict enforcement of labeling requirements for meat products. (Related story: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2021/08/04/tradersworry-over-label-rules-for-meatimports/) The shipments were held in abeyance due to incomplete labels, which did not specify the shelf life or expiration date of the products. The Bureau of Animal Industry and the NMIS issued a joint memorandum circular (JMC) on meat labeling requirements last August 10 after industry players aired their concerns over the NMIS memorandum circular. However, the new JMC did not sit well with industry stakeholders. Some of them had pointed out that it contains “legal impediments” and that it had nothing to do with food safety. The JMC allowed importers to rec-

tify the meat labels of their imports arriving in the country from August 4 to September 30 on the condition that these shipments will be held in abeyance and will only be released upon compliance with the labeling requirements. The JMC indicated that all meat imports arriving starting October 1 that are not compliant with the minimum labeling requirements “shall be seized and held in abeyance, and subject for confiscation and disposal.” It also stipulated that the two agencies—BAI and NMIS—reserve the right to hold shipments that will not comply with existing rules and regulations for further investigation. The JMC is anchored on two administrative orders (AO) issued by two previous agriculture chiefs. “First of all, they should realize that a memorandum circular cannot violate the administrative order of the secretary. And the administrative order allows for modification of labels [even after arrival],” Cham said.

“The more important concern here is that this [memorandum circular] does not impact food safety.”

Concerns

CHAM said he has already aired his group’s concerns about the latest JMC with Agriculture Undersecretary for Livestock William C. Medrano, who also signed the new rules. “We relayed to Medrano that it is better to withdraw these two memorandums because there was no issue before about labeling. The NMIS can very easily go to the importer and tell them you will not get your certificate of meat inspection [if you don’t comply with the labeling requirements],” he said. “What is happening right now is that exporters who cannot meet these labeling requirements are being asked to hold their shipments by the importers, thus, further increasing the landed cost [of meat products].” Some of the Philippines’s trade

partners, like the United States and Canada, do not require the inclusion of the shelf life or expiry date of meat products on labels. In a letter sent to Medrano last August 10, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) expressed its “serious” concern about the implementation of the minimum labeling requirements for imported meat products. PAMPI said NMIS Director Jocelyn Salvador issued the July 27 MC without consulting industry stakeholders. The group noted that the NMIS MC “shocked and surprised stakeholders.” “As far as we know, the aforementioned AOs [AO 26 of 2005 & AO 24 of 2010] were issued at a time when the DA still had jurisdiction and control over processed meats. In 2016, DA ceded jurisdiction on processed meats to FDA [Food and Drug Administration] as mandated by the Food Safety Act of 2013,” the group said. “Existing practices on labeling

of imported raw meats have been carried over since 2016, and are presumed to have been regular and acceptable since DA did not make any effort to make amendments or corrections.” According to the group, the two AOs have “contradicting provisions” as AO 26 allows the use of the phrase “best before” or the expiration date to indicate shelf life. Under AO 24, only the expiration date should be included in the label. The group urged the DA to maintain the status quo ante until the DA chief issues a new AO amending or modifying the existing AOs on imported meat labeling requirements “to avoid further confusion among stakeholders and trading partners.” Industry sources have pointed out that the manner in which the government is enforcing the meat labeling requirements is affecting the country’s meat supply at a time when the Philippines is in dire need of meat products.

BUSINESSMIRROR FILE PHOTO

‘Appropriate budget will unleash full potential of agri sector’

GRICULTURE Secretary William D. Dar is optimistic that his agency would receive a substantial increase in its budget for 2022, which will allow the Department of Agriculture (DA) to hit its production targets. Based on the National Expenditure Program, Dar said the DA’s budget for 2022—excluding the allocation for

government owned and controlled corporations under the agency—is estimated at P72 billion, or just P1 billion higher than its 2021 budget. “We will continue to drum up support from various stakeholders so that during discussions in Congress our budget could still be increased in a big way,” he said during a virtual forum organized by the Economic

Journalists Association of the Philippines and Aboitiz on Wednesday. “We have seen why we need more budget. In rice alone, we brought in the budgetary support and we have seen the outcome. [Production] really increases. Higher investment means higher outcome.” Last month, Dar revealed that the DA proposed a budget of P250 bil-

lion for 2022, which is “three times” higher than this year’s budget of P85 billion, to sustain its efforts to ensure the country’s food security. The DA made the pitch despite concerns over a limited budget space for departments in light of the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling next year, which will increase funding for local government units (LGUs) by at least P234 billion. Dar said the potential of the agriculture sector “could be further unleashed” if it will get “appropriate” budgetary support, as well as much-needed private sector investments and financing from LGUs. “We pray that the country’s agriculture sector could be afforded that long-delayed financial support so the Philippinescouldkeeppaceatleastwith our counterparts in the Asean region.” In the same forum, Dar maintained that the agriculture sector can still grow by 2 percent this year despite the 2.5-percent contraction in the value of agricultural output for the first half. Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, Dar noted that the agriculture, forestry and fishing contracted by only 0.1 percent.

Kids Who Farm to get aid from Google employees

IDS Who Farm, a Zamboanga City-based nongovernment organization (NGO) encouraging young people to go into agriculture, is among the beneficiaries of an NGO that will receive donations from Google employees. Google employees have set up an internal giving campaign where Googlers from the Philippines and other offices can donate and these donations will be matched by the company. Once final, the funds will go to iVolunteer, an NGO that distributes donations to other

nonprofits and matches volunteering opportunities between individuals and organizations. Unless specified by the donor, iVolunteer will split the donations equally across the following organizations: Citizens Disaster Response Center, Silid Aralan, Solar Hope, and Kids Who Farm to address challenges in disaster preparedness, education, and food security which have been aggravated by the pandemic. “Giving has always been part of Google. Knowing that the pandemic

is far from over with the continuous rise in cases locally and the threat of a new Covid-19 variant, we continue to extend help where possible, especially for our local communities,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director of Google Philippines. “With this employee-led effort, we remain committed to helping the Philippines get through the pandemic together.” Google has previously enabled similar employee-led donations campaigns for the Philippines, among which was a matching initiative launched in No-

vember 2020 for households from vulnerable barangays and municipalities affected by severe flooding caused by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. The campaign was able to raise a total of $100,000 used for cash transfer programming, livelihood interventions prioritizing farming and fishery activities, enhanced health and hygiene support and awareness for Covid-19 protection. In July, Google announced that it will provide a $7.5-million grant to Asian countries including the Philippines.

COA flags deficiencies in DOH handling of ₧67.3B. . . continued from a16

Duque was also asked to instruct DOH’s administration and financial management team as well as program directors “to closely coordinate and conduct regular/period assessment” on the use of Covid-19 funds to “prevent delays in downloading of funds and project implementation.” “Order the concern program directors to extend guidance and assistance to the operating units as to the proper implementation of programs and utilization of funds,” the annual report read.

No mismanagement–DOH

HEALTH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III denied that there was corruption involved in the P67.3-billion Covid funds flagged by COA. “The P67.3 billion is accounted for. Wala pong kinurakot, inilaan natin

ang mga pondong ito para sa ating mga kababayan [There was no corruption here, we allotted the funds for our countrymen]. The flagged issues are being addressed by the DOH. Rest assured, that the funds allotted to the DOH are all spent for the procurement of test kits, PPEs [personal protective equipment], payment of health-care workers’ benefits, salaries of HRH [Human Resource for Health] among others,” Duque said in a statement to media late Wednesday afternoon. Moreover, he said, with the enactment of RA 11519 extending the availability of appropriations under Bayanihan II, the Department was still able to utilize the unobligated balance for this year. He stressed though that the DOH acknowledges the findings

concerning these funds, and is currently addressing the compliance issues and deficiencies. The DOH said it has always been transparent and cooperative with yearly auditing efforts within the government. Moreover, the DOH has always complied with COA recommendations. “Bukas po ang aming tanggapan at handa po kaming ipakita sa ating mga kababayan na tama ang paggastos ng kanilang mga taxes [Our office is open and ready to show the people where their taxes were spent]. We take our COA findings very seriously and have been working to further improve our processes and controls so that we can serve the public most effectively especially during this pandemic,” said Duque. I n res pon se to COA f i nd -

“We will exert more effort and hard work to intensify our services and agriculture interventions to our farmers and fisherfolk.” The agriculture chief is also optimistic that the crops subsector would serve as the driver for overall farm growth in the second semester following a bountiful harvest in the first semester. The BusinessMirror earlier reported that the country’s farm output inthefirsthalfcontractedby2.5percent as the gap in the livestock and poultry production widened on an annual ba-

ings, t he DOH sa id t hat t he P67,323,186,570.57 public funds to combat Covid -19 “are compliance issues, procedural and documentary deficiencies” which are currently being addressed by the agency.” After the COA noted “various deficiencies” on the Covid response funds, Duque, when sought for his reaction earlier, told the BusinessMirror that he will provide the “detailed” report as soon as the internal audit office of DOH gives him the copy. However, in an initial report Duque provided it stated: “In year 2020, the DOH have exerted efforts in order to effectively implement provisions of both Bayanihan I and II more particularly those health responses in this time of state of calamity /national emergency amidst varying challenges.”

sis.(Relatedstory:https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/08/09/farmoutput-shrinks-2-5-on-livestockpoultry-woes/) The Philippines is also on track to achieve a historic 20.4 million metric ton palay harvest this year following a record palay output of 8.8 million metric tons in the first half. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/08/09/ barring-adverse-weather-condition-in-h2-phl-on-track-to-historic-palay-yield-in-2021/). Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

A14 Thursday, August 12, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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editorial

When solons engage in absolute nonsense

cta Research has been issuing Covid-19 projections after cases started multiplying all over the country. The Octa fellows must have been doing a good job because not once did any government official question their forecast. Their projections impressed members of the media and the press, who keep publishing their releases, like this news headline on April 5, 2021: “Octa Research: PHL may hit 1 million Covid-19 cases by end-April.” From channelnewsasia.com: “The number of Covid-19 cases logged in the Philippines since the start of the pandemic topped 1 million on Monday [April 26], as a health official warned against easing restrictions, to give hospitals some “breathing room.” News report on July 26: “Octa Research on Sunday [July 25] said Metro Manila is already in the early stages of a coronavirus surge most likely because of the Delta variant as the Department of Health reported 55 new cases of the more transmissible strain…. It said on Sunday that the Covid-19 reproduction number in Metro Manila rose from 1.21 to 1.29. Octa pushed for “circuit breaking” lockdown in Metro Manila to prevent a “catastrophic” spike.” For the first time, the Department of Health opposed Octa’s claim. In a statement issued on July 27, the DOH said: “While there is an observed increase in cases, there is no definitive evidence of a surge in the National Capital Region.” News report on July 30: “President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the proposal of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and mayors to place Metro Manila under enhanced community quarantine from August 6 to 20, 2021, Malacañang said Friday [July 30].” August 3 news report: “Several lawmakers have filed a resolution seeking a House probe into the “qualifications” of the Octa Research group, as well as their ties and research methodologies. House Resolution 2075, filed on August 3, reads: “There is a public health and public policy need to ensure the safety and security of the population during this pandemic, and that information being distributed is correct and are not irresponsibly published.” Octa fellows have in the past said they use strictly scientific methods and are making projections based solely on data. Their dire warnings have often been on the spot, like their projection that “Philippine cases may hit 1 million by end-April.” On their latest suggestion that a “circuit breaker” might be needed with a projected Delta-fueled surge in infections, Octa’s warnings have apparently not been shown to be misplaced or premature. As Octa fellow, Fr. Nicanor Austriaco from UST, said in a tweet on Monday as he showed the surge in bed capacity utilization by patients requiring hospitalization, “Apparently, despite those who called us alarmists, the Delta surge is worse than what we had anticipated.” Sen. Dick Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, finds absurd a House panel move to investigate the research group of scientists, mathematicians, academicians and analysts that issue regular projections on Covid-19 cases. Gordon said the dubious motives ascribed to this exercise becomes more questionable when one considers the “high level of accuracy” shown by the Octa Research forecasts. “Which brings us to the question: Is Octa being punished for being right?” Gordon said: “Using the power of congressional oversight to question the motives of a private non-profit group whose members are academics with published credentials is a waste of resources and constitutes a veiled attempt to assign the blame to the bearer of bad news. Accusing the same group of “gaming the system” by brazenly trying to manipulate the health emergency in order to promote its professional reputation at the expense of public welfare is a preposterous idea which cannot be allowed to fester by allowing idle minds to sensationalize it ‘in aid of legislation.’” Sen. Joel Villanueva also wondered why some House members would seek to conduct an inquiry into Octa Research. Instead of conducting a probe, we should be encouraging other research groups, especially in the context of the current pandemic where research findings are so important for policy makers to make the right decisions, he said. As taxpayers, we couldn’t agree more with Senator Gordon that “legislative efforts should instead be directed to address more urgent concerns such as the non-payment of claims by PhilHealth to health service providers, the lack of testing and contact tracing in most local government units, and the ramping up of vaccination nationwide—issues that will profoundly impact the way we deal with the current pandemic. These times require the best from all of us. Nowadays, solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to understand this, everyone loses.”

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Constructing governance: Education and training in Philippine creative industries

By May Zuleika Salao

he Philippine Creative Industries Act 2021 presently moves closer toward legislative approval as pushed by active participation from a critical mass of stakeholders—government, business, and civil society associations. This bill stands as the most comprehensive to date, covering a wider range of government funding and incentive support including the formation of state-level organizations, namely, a Philippine Creative Industries Development Council and a National Secretariat for Creative Industries. What governance path will creative industries likely to take? Will it add to centralization or decentralization? Due to several factors one of which is the archipelagic constitution of our country, government agencies at regional and municipal levels fragment responses, delivering what appear to be piecemeal solutions to limited issue areas. Proponents of the bill envision the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council to set directions for a “whole-of-government” approach to industry growth as articulated in the Philippine Creative Industries Development Plan. While the National Secretariat for Creative Industries will implement this plan by collaborating with various sectors across the country and reporting directly to the President. As creative industries receive crucial attention in Philippine policymaking, questions about their governance become central to public debate. Searching for answers necessitates examining the intrinsic nature of creative goods and services vis-à-vis our consciousness as a people. On this path, we need to continually rediscover our creativity, our centrality as creative workers and by implication, the labor market needing to be shaped by our education and training institutions. Can the evolving governance mechanism respond to inequalities in access to education and training? What education and training do creative workers need? Existing as legal rules or policies implemented by firms and the organizational system for developing industries, education and training institutions define worker opportunities.

Creativity is linked to culture

Creative industries produce and trade goods and services described as essentially expressive, symbolic, or nonmaterial. All commodities have their nonmaterial element. Goods such as mobile phones, cars, even a doorknob, for example, and services such as transport, hotels and catering may be aesthetically pleasing, but they are primarily in the market for their functional or utility element.

Creative goods and services are said to be distinct because their ultimate value lies on the expressive or symbolic—their nonmaterial, rather than their utility element. Cultural economist David Throsby who wrote the book, Economics and Culture published in 2000, has written extensively about valuation (i.e., the process of bestowing value), and its meaning in creative industries. More importantly, developing creative industries highly depends on governing or managing the delicate relationship between two values— cultural and economic. The expressive, symbolic, or nonmaterial element is the cultural value that lends creative goods and services almost impervious to exact measurement and quantification. Simply put, creative goods and services reflect subjectivities or intangibles like appreciation of beauty, relationship, identity, uniqueness, knowledge, and meaning. Intangibles have greater value, yet they are sold in the market thus needing to be quantified or priced for their economic or utility-exchange value. How do we reconcile the cultural and economic? How much should a dress or a wallet created from ikat weave cost? More than merely a dyeing technique used to create artwork out of weaving materials, an ikat fabric represents a way of life evolved by a people for generations. Keen discernment of cultural value simply means treasuring a way of life. For us, it is loving our Filipino culture as conveyed by our institutions. How much of this love is imparted in schools, colleges, universities, and the media? As institutionalized in formal organizations of government, business, and civil society, how much of this love is celebrated in building communities, cities, regions and in so doing, provide impetus for creating Filipino goods and services? How much of this love is translated into policy for buying Filipino?

We, creative workers

AS we gain insights from history, we perceive a pattern of conflictridden, push-and-pull for material profit that pits the cultural against

the economic. Nowadays, public attention accorded to creative industries is merely the most recent manifestation of a capitalist development transforming into a creative economy and society. Technological advancement likewise indicates this latest turn. As conditioned by access to technology, manifold information becomes available that inspires the creative process. Presently, it appears that this technology-inspired creativity originates from the individual, which underscores asserting one’s intellectual property rights. We tend to nurture this image of a lone artist conceptualizing, composing, and designing a work of art. Nevertheless, evidence also shows the centrality of an agglomeration of creative people or social groups sparking creativity. Here in the Philippines, we observe creative groupwork in our tech-modern urban spaces as well as in our rural craft communities. Talking with creative workers or artists of all kinds across the country, their endless gratitude goes to their family and friends, teachers and mentors, communities, companies, and other support organizations paving the way for their creative work. Unraveling group characteristics—starting from exploring the seedbed of creativity to examining the organization of production to distribution and trade, fosters awareness of creative work’s social dimension together with an understanding of creativity as a cultural phenomenon. The cultural is social and we, creative workers, shape our creative industries.

Education and training for creative work

Over and above cultural and economic values, therefore, the sociocultural value of creative goods and services puts the spotlight on building a pool of creative workers. Creative workers communicate, network, or relate with each other for securing their creative spaces. Governance work for education and training includes bringing these communities of creative practice to public attention while they find articulation in public policy fora. Our creative industries involve a great diversity of subsectors from the heritage industries to the high-tech. The Philippine Creative Industries Act 2021 encompasses a vast industry area as crafts and folk art, cultural sites, performing arts, books and publishing, film, music, animation and video games, graphic arts, and design of all kinds. These subsectors are socially, though not all are politically, organized into their respective

communities of creative practice. Two general subsectors—traditional and modern—may be cited here. Knowledge of creating traditional crafts like woodcarving and weaving is basically handed down from one generation to the next, remaining integral to their communities and the family life of artists and artisans. In this setting, formal schools for education and training hardly exist. One explanation comes from informal, random interviews of local woodcarvers and weavers who say that their young people choose other occupations that may sustain family life. Contrast this to foreign companies outsourcing Filipino creativity. Animation and other digital art and programming work outsourced abroad are stimulating private schools to open for business. Nevertheless, education and training are still significantly acquired through learning-by-doing on the job and associating with other digital artists and computer programmers for updating styles and techniques learned from Internet sources. Unlike expensive private schools, these means of honing one’s own professional skills are largely free of cost. Another practice is organizing video calls or webinars with fellow artists and programmers regarded as role models for achieving higher levels of creativity and who now work in global companies located in world cities like California, New York, Berlin, and Tokyo. Indeed, the evolving industry organization, including its specific or local circumstances, influences education and training. Philippine creative industries are embedded in the country’s industrial development trajectory. And as we unravel current understanding about creative industries, we also recognize the heightened cultural value of creative goods and services as they continually straddle if not oscillate between the cultural and economic as well as their individual and social characteristics. Never has industrial development been highly political and decisive to our nation than today’s social movement toward constructing governance in Philippine creative industries, particularly, in education and training. May Zuleika Salao, PhD, is Program Director in Political Economy of the School of Law and Governance, University of Asia and the Pacific. As scholar of Hanns Seidel Foundation in Germany, she is presently a visiting researcher at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Konstanz.

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‘We fought a great battle’: Greece defends wildfire response By Nicholas Paphitis & Elena Becatoros Associated Press

THENS, Greece—As the worst of Greece’s massive wildfires were being tamed Tuesday, the country’s civil protection chief defended the firefighting efforts, saying every resource was thrown into the battle against what he described as the fire service’s biggest-ever challenge. Nikos Hardalias said authorities “truly did what was humanly possible” against blazes that destroyed tens of thousands of hectares (acres) of forest and hundreds of homes, killed a volunteer firefighter and forced more than 60,000 people to flee. Two other firefighters were in intensive care with severe burns. “We handled an operationally unique situation, with 586 fires in eight days during the worst weather conditions we’ve seen in 40 years,” Hardalias told a news conference. “Never was there such a combination of adverse factors in the history of the fire service.” Greece had just experienced its worst heat wave since 1987, which left its forests tinder-dry. Other nearby nations such as Turkey and Italy also faced the same searing temperatures and quickly spreading fires. Worsening drought and heat— both linked to climate change— have also fueled wildfires this summer in the US West and in Siberia in northern Russia. Scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving extreme events. Researchers can directly link a single event to climate change only through intensive data analysis, but they say such calamities are expected to happen more frequently. In Greece, the worst blaze still burning Tuesday was in the northern section of Evia, the country’s second-largest island, which is linked by a bridge to the mainland north of Athens and is a favorite holiday destination for the Greek capital’s residents. Nearly 900 firefighters, 50 ground teams and more than 200 vehicles were fighting the blaze that broke out Aug. 3, the fire service said. They included crews from Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Cyprus and Poland—part of a huge international response to Greece’s plea for assistance. Fourteen helicopters provided air support Tuesday on Evia, including three from Serbia, two from Switzerland and two from Egypt. The wildfire on Evia, unlike many in the United States, was burning in an area in which villages and forests are entwined. Hardalias said all the fire fronts on Evia were waning, but firefighters were guarding the perimeter of the blaze, particularly around a cluster of villages that were among the dozens evacuated on the island in recent days. However, heavy smoke from the fires has often reduced visibility to zero, making it too dangerous for water-dropping aircraft to assist ground forces. According to EU wildfire data and satellite imagery, more than 49,000 hectares (121,000 acres) have burned up on Evia — by far the worst damage from any of the recent fires in Greece. Several other wildfires were burning in the country, with the most significant in the southern Peloponnese region, where new evacuations were ordered Tuesday afternoon. About 400 firefighters, including teams from the Czech Republic and Britain, battled that blaze, assisted by five helicopters and 23 water-dropping planes from several countries. A judicial investigation is under way into the causes of the fires, including any links to criminal activity. Several arson suspects have been arrested. “I don’t know whether there is any organized arson plan, that’s not my job,” Hardalias told the news conference. But it was his “feeling” that at

Hardalias argued that when the Evia blaze broke out, authorities were already facing other enormous challenges. A major forest fire was burning through the northern outskirts of Athens, forcing the evacuation of thousands, and another was coursing through villages towards ancient Olympia—a hugely important archaeological site in the Peloponnese where the ancient Olympic Games were held for more than 1,000 years. least with the flames near ancient Olympia, the seven or eight fires that broke out in close succession could be due to arson. Also on Tuesday, a woman convicted of intentionally starting a fire in an Athens park last week was sentenced to five years in prison. Residents and local officials on Evia have complained about a lack of water-dropping planes in the early stages that they say left the fire to grow to such proportions that flying became too hazardous. Hardalias argued that when the Evia blaze broke out, authorities were already facing other enormous challenges. A major forest fire was burning through the northern outskirts of Athens, forcing the evacuation of thousands, and another was coursing through villages towards ancient Olympia—a hugely important archaeological site in the Peloponnese where the ancient Olympic Games were held for more than 1,000 years. “Every house lost is a tragedy for all of us. It’s a knife in our heart,” he said. Asked whether he was satisfied with the country’s firefighting response, Hardalias said: “Obviously, there can be no satisfaction after such a catastrophe. But all our available forces, ground and airborne, were sent immediately to the fires.” “Whether we could have done something different remains to be seen,” he said. “But in any case, we fought a great battle, and the losses were among those fighting it, not among civilians.” Greek authorities have emphasized saving lives, issuing evacuation alerts for dozens of villages and neighborhoods this summer. In 2018, a deadly fire that engulfed a seaside settlement near Athens killed more than 100 people, including some who drowned trying to escape the flames and smoke by sea. Critics say the government’s focus on evacuating villages prevented villagers with local knowledge from helping firefighters and led to more property destruction. Greece’s center-right government has pledged to provide compensation to everyone who suffered loss from the wildfires and to undertake a massive reforestation effort to replace the trees that have burned. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told a special cabinet meeting Tuesday that owners of destroyed or damaged homes would receive up to 150,000 euros ($176,000) in state compensation, with initial payments to begin next week, while businesses and farmers will also get support and tax breaks. In southwest Turkey, crews battled two fires Tuesday in the coastal province of Mugla, including a brush fire near Bodrum’s Gumusluk resort neighborhood. Bodrum’s mayor said the fire was close to being extinguished and no residential areas were threatened.

Thursday, August 12, 2021 A15

The ‘Delta pandemic’ and the 2022 polls Val A. Villanueva

Businesswise

he near riot caused by people flooding vaccination centers a day before Metro Manila and Calabarzon went into a lockdown may very well be considered a reflection of the mounting fear and exasperation Filipinos feel about the inability of the government to contain a pandemic that has sapped them physically, emotionally and financially. Palace spokesman Harry Roque furiously blamed the melee to “fake news” that circulated on social media, which claimed that the government would not extend financial aid to unvaccinated individuals. He threatened to criminally charge those spreading “such fake information,” glossing over President Duterte’s own intimidation against those who refuse to get inoculated. During his regular televised address, Duterte said that unvaccinated people should be barred from leaving their homes and should be put in prison. There’s the rub. How can the government achieve its zealous vaccination target amid a vaccine shortage? Many Filipinos want to take the jab, but where’s the vaccine? With about 1.62 million Covid-19 cases and as many as 28,000 deaths, the Philippines has the second-worst coronavirus outbreak in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. Only 10.3 million people, or 9.3 percent of the country’s 110-million population, have taken the two-dose jab. This is way below than the 70-million vaccination target needed to induce herd immunity. A slow vaccination rate worries global health experts because it heightens the risk of more people getting in-

fected by the Delta variant. The Delta variant is now wreaking havoc among unvaccinated people around the world and has pushed pharmaceutical companies into overdrive to find an immediate antidote. While recent data suggest that all three vaccines allowed for emergency use by the US Food and Drug Administration provide sound protection against severe disease and death from the Delta variant, they appear to offer meager protection against minor to moderate infections. This means that vaccinated people could still catch the virus and spread it to those who have refused to, or are unable, to take the jab. “Vaccinated people are transmitting it, and the extent is unclear, but there’s no doubt they’re transmitting it… People who are vaccinated, even when they’re asymptomatic, can transmit the virus,” says Anthony S. Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, in a recent White House Covid-19 task force briefing. In the same briefing, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky labelled the Delta variant as a unique virus compared with other coronavirus variants and that “it is showing every day its willingness to outsmart us and to be an opportunist in areas

Reimagining Paeng Salas

By Rodolfo C. Estimo, Jr.

F the late Rafael “Paeng” M. Salas were still alive today, he would have celebrated his 93rd birthday anniversary last Saturday, as he was born on August 7, 1928 in Bago, Negros Occidental to Dr. Ernesto Salas and Isabel Montinola.

He would have had a blast with his wife: the former Carmen “Menchu” Rodriguez of Cebu, close friends who include former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and the so-called “Salas Boys” like Salvador “Buddy” Garbanzos, Horacio “Boy” Morales and Jose Molano, among others. Salas was called many names. He was called Toto Cay because he was light-skinned, his fine hair tinged with golden brown, according to the biography A Millennial Man for Others: The Life and Times of Rafael M. Salas. It has multi-awarded writer Jose Y. Dalisay, Jr. and Carmen Sarmiento as co-authors. He was also called Jolly—an apt description of him because he was by nature a happy person; while still in high school, a teacher remarked: “Even in death, Salas will still be smiling.” On the occasion of his birthday, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) sent this writer a soft copy of the book. Assuming that he were alive today and serving the country as president, how would Salas have tackled the various problems confronting the country? These problems include grinding poverty, unemployment, graft and corruption, smuggling, drug addiction, among others, foremost of which is the Covid-19 pandemic that has brought the country—and the world—to its knees. The figures on infections and mortalities are alarming, to say the least, to the extent that not a few have become passive and helpless about it. While many may have been resigned to the situation, Salas would be in the thick of it as the country’s chief executive, mobilizing local resources at his disposal. He would tackle the issue headon, enlisting the support of everyone from government officials to grass-

root leaders and direct concerned government officials to ensure proper implementation of health protocols. He would seek experts’ opinions on vaccines and coronavirus; inspire frontliners in effectively discharging their respective tasks, especially the medical doctors, nurses and other health workers; and rally the citizens to fight the virus by following directives from the National Task Force Against Covid-19, whose current implementer is Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., also the vaccine czar. According to the 2020 Census, the country’s population has crossed 109,035,343. With the emergence of the Delta variant, so many lives are endangered without effective pandemic response. Salas would deploy all available resources, and he would also enlist the support of foreign countries. On Friday Galvez said that the NTF and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging and Infectious Diseases activated the new crisis action plan to ensure the “more effective containment and mitigation” of highly transmissible Covid-19 strains, such as the Delta variant. For the country to get over with the pandemic, Salas as chief executive would rely mainly on science for a solution. Commenting on Salas’ proclivity for science, Francisco S. Tatad wrote in the Bulletin on February 12, 1969: “… As the first Executive Secretary to introduce science into the management of presidential affairs, Salas has given his office a respectability unknown to it before. It may not be possible at this stage of the Marcos government to breed many officials like Paeng….” Even when he had left Malacañang as executive secretary to go to New York on July 5, 1969 and accept an offer involving popula-

where we have not shown a fortified response against it.” The speed with which it has spread worldwide has brought anxiety among scientists about what the virus is up to next. This year’s variant battles are shaping up to be a much longer war, one whose end is not in the immediate horizon. Also known as B.1.617.2, the variant has mutations on the spike protein that makes human infection easier. Based on current trends and barring the entry of a new and more competitive variant, Delta will be the globally dominant strain over the coming months. It is now the dominant strain in the US and has been identified in many other countries, causing a frightening global surge in Covid cases and wreaking havoc in already overwhelmed health systems. It took only a couple of weeks for Delta to alter the estimate for what it will take to end the pandemic. Epidemiologists had earlier placed it at 70 percent or 80 percent of the population vaccinated. With the help of immunity from natural infections, the forecast was that the virus could be under control at that range. Since the emergence of more contagious variants, they surmise that the target could now be in the range of 90 percent. “To see Delta just running laps around these other strains is very concerning,” Benjamin Neuman, a virologist with Texas A&M University, told the Washington Post. “It’s like ‘Jurassic Park’, the moment you realize the dinosaurs have all got loose again.” For the Duterte administration, there is no other time than now to show its resolve in combatting the pandemic. For one, 9 out of 10 Filipinos believe that the government response to the pandemic has been deficient. This is according to a June 2021 poll by Pulse Asia Research, which found that Filipinos bewailed

the lack of financial aid, slow and inefficient vaccine rollout and failure to enforce health protocols. Add to this the fact that joblessness rose to 3.76 million in June from 3.73 million a month earlier, according to the Philippine Statistics Agency which placed underemployment to 6.409 million Filipinos. The National Economic and Development Authority also predicted that the strict lockdown in Metro Manila from Aug. 6 to 20 would increase the number of poor people by 177,000, and that about 444,000 Filipinos could become jobless. Dennis C. Coronacion, head of the University of Santo Tomas Political Science Department, said that Duterte may have risked his political capital after failing to chart in his last State of the Nation address his administration’s tack against the pandemic. “Since President Duterte has failed to do this,” Conception noted, “I expect most of the presidential aspirants to fill the gap and craft their own economic recovery programs.” Political pundits also believe that recovery from the pandemic would be a crucial issue in the campaign for the 2022 elections, with the opposition having a chance of winning, if it could present a viable pandemic recovery plan. Of course, it is not farfetched to think that the opposition would try to win votes by highlighting this administration’s failure to contain the pandemic, and solve problems of poverty, rising commodity prices, unemployment, among other key issues. The government’s pandemic response—among the other deciding factors in the 2022 polls—could either be an endorsement or a condemnation of this administration’s performance. Has Duterte done enough?

tion from Paul G. Hoffman, thenadministrator of the United Nations Development Programme, his predisposition toward science was noted by Asiaweek Editor T. J. S. George. “Editor George ascribed to Paeng the change in attitude to the UNFPA from traditional prejudice to scientific interest,” Nick Joaquin said in his book: The World of Rafael Salas. On October 1, 1968, or two months after he and his wife Carmen arrived in New York, he formally became the executive director of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, or the UNFPA. How effective could he be in handling the crisis as a result of the pandemic? If his track record is taken into consideration, he would fare well. In his brief but storied life (he died at 59 on March 4, 1987 in Washington, D.C.), he embarked on various activities as executive secretary in the first term of Marcos and his performance had earned him kudos from both the public and private sectors. He had immense powers. He was in charge of the civil service, was a cabinet head or chief coordinator of the officials of the executive branch, was liaison officer and supervisor of the press office, and when so designated, the President’s official spokesman. On his effectivity, he showed it in his work on the government’s rice production drive. In traveling the lecture circuit, he never skipped to talk on rice to rice people, making a newspaper columnist remark that he was talking more like a farmer than a bureaucrat. He visited the demonstration farms, soil sampling centers, private farms and agricultural schools. He tramped through farmers’ markets and spent endless hours in discussion of crops and markets. “What disappointments. What pleasant surprises. There is no conformity in the pace but the program is moving,” he said. On July 1, 1967, Paeng was exulting over good news from the field. “We have passed the first milestone with a flourish. Harvests of over 154,000 metric tons were reported from the priority provinces—

and there is more to come,” he said. Aside from his brilliance, Salas was also gifted with good leadership. In their book, Dalisay and Sarmiento said that outsiders marveled at Salas’ ability to spot or recognize talent and in correctly identifying people for a task or assignment. “The Salas Boys who went on to carve successful careers in government and in the UN owe Rafael Salas for setting them in the right path. He continuously urged them to keep studying. He envisaged in them the progressive development of competent individuals, each with a deep knowledge or expertise in the field of interest—a veritable technocracy,” the authors quoted Jose Molano as saying. Moreover, Salas went out of his way to explore and seek scholarships or study grants for his assistants from various external sources such as people he knew in the diplomatic corps. This way he earned their goodwill. They eventually did their best in what were assigned them. Amid the pressures of a busy office, Paeng Salas would find time to sit down with individual staff to discuss at length what each of them could best be doing in the future and what it would take for them to help achieve their ambitions. “Thus, we had colleagues who went to Cornell, Harvard, Michigan state and Wharton; others opted for immersion programs to study government or development institutions in countries like Israel, Japan, Taiwan or Sweden, among others. Mr. Salas took the professional development of his staff quite seriously, and needless to say, other many rare opportunities for them,” Molano added. Salas noted with gratification that before he resigned from the Marcos cabinet, Dalisay and Sarmiento added, there were more than 3,100 Filipinos he had helped in the government and private enterprises with advance training from abroad in the fields of education, health, community development, public safety, industry, transportation and highway improvement. Salas, multiplied 3,100 times, would have been a Great Wall against Covid-19.

For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com

A16 Thursday, August 12, 2021

GOOD MARKS FROM COA BUOY OWWA HOPES ON FRESH P7.5-B REQUEST By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE Commission on Audit (COA) has issued the highest audit rating to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for its use of its P8.9 billion funds last year. OWWA is now banking on the positive assessment to secure the additional P7.5-billion budget it requested from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to provide aid to more overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who will be arriving later this year. COA issued an “unqualified opinion” on the consolidated financial statements of OWWA in 2020 as it handled billions of government funds to assist the repatriated OFW. It noted that OWWA complied with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) with the corresponding Philippine Application Guidance (PAG) in the management of its finances in 2022. As of Tuesday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported the government was able to repatriate a total of 641,717 since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. The OFWs were repatriated in a whole-of-government effort led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and DOLE, and provided free ac-

commodation, food, transportation, and financial aid by OWWA.

Fresh funding

In a phone interview on Wednesday, OWWA administrator Hans J. Cacdac told BusinessMirror he welcomed the audit report, which he attributed to the efforts of OWWA’s finance team. He said he hopes the latest COA report will give a “positive signal” to DBM that they are able to efficiently utilize their funds. The OWWA chief said they are once again in dire need fresh funding from DBM since the quarantine period for repatriated OFWs, particularly in countries where there are cases of the Delta variant of Covid, now lasts for a longer 14 days. OWWA’s 2021 budget is only sufficient to provide accommodation and aid repatriated OFWs for two to three days of quarantine. Cacdac said their remaining fund of the P5.2-billion supplemental budget, which was released by DBM earlier this year, will now only last until September 15, 2021. To address the matter of diminishing funds, he said Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III wrote to DBM in July to request for a P7.5-billion additional budget for OWWA. If approved, the supplemental budget will allow OWWA to provide assistance to OFWs until the end of the year, Cacdac said.

COA flags deficiencies in DOH handling of ₧67.3B

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas & Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco | Correspondent

HE Commission on Audit (COA) on Wednesday flagged various deficiencies in the handling of P67.323-billion Covid-19 funds by the Department of Health, with state auditors saying such affected the department’s response to the pandemic.

“These deficiencies contributed to the challenges encountered and missed opportunities by the DOH during the time of state of calamity/national emergency, and casted doubts on the regularity of related transactions,” the COA said in its annual audit report on DOH. The COA audit earlier revealed initial deficiencies involving public funds amounting to P66.287 billion, about which it notified Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III through a consolidated management letter (CML) last May 4. State auditors, however, further disclosed additional deficiencies involving Covid-19 funds amounting

to P1.036 billion through a continuous audit. “Most importantly, the billions of pesos in the coffers of the DOH that have remained not obligated and disbursed as at year-end is counter-beneficial to the Department’s continuing efforts towards controlling the spread of Covid-19 through provision of quality health services,” their report said. Auditors added that the over P67 billion funds that “remained idle” at the end of 2020 did not translate into “much-needed health supplies, equipment and services” that could have benefited both health workers and the public during the pandemic.

Some of the deficiencies observed by government auditors include the P11.89-billion unobligated funds as of end-2020 which were “aimed at strengthening” the DOH’s capacity to address Covid-19 pandemic and further “buttressing the health system.” This condition, said the report, “affects the efficient utilization of Covid-19 funds vis-à-vis the agency’s implementation capabilities and its response to the urgent healthcare needs during the time of the state of calamity/national emergency.” State auditors observed that P5.038 billion worth of procurement by the DOH had “procedural deficiencies” and lacked documents that “deprived the government of the most disadvantageous prices and cast doubt on the regularity in the payment of transactions.”

No MOA

The audit report also revealed that P42.412 billion worth of Covid-19 funds were transferred to procurement or implementing partneragencies without required memorandum of agreement and other relevant supporting documents.

State auditors noted that this posed questions on the regularity of the transactions. The state auditors also flagged the non-payment of financial assistance claims by intended beneficiaries amounting to P4.885 billion by year-end “due to the delayed downloading of cash allocations through sub-allotment advice.” Due to this, the intention of the financial assistance “to cushion the impact of Covid-19 disease to both the private and public health workers was not attained,” according to the report. COA asked Duque to implement its recommendations and asked him to submit a status report on actions taken on the audit recommendations. First, auditors recommended that Duque remind the heads of various operating units “to act with urgency and efficiency in the utilization of Covid-19 funds.” Duque was urged to direct concerned officials “to immediately address the challenges and roadblocks currently impeding the efficient use of Covid-19 funds and come up with a proper courses of action.” Continued on A13

Locsin replaces QRS as passport delivery complaints mount By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

UE to mounting complaints over the late deliver y of Philippine-issued passports, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., confirmed on Wednesday he had replaced the logistics contractor QRS (Quick Reliable Service). Locsin said he heard of QRS for the first time and apologized for the passport delivery debacle. “First time I’ve heard of this sorry outfit; they are totally out and it is back to the DFA Cooperative which ran it superbly in the past. We’re getting AIR21, LBC and others,” he tweeted in his official Twitter account. Last Sunday, August 8, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued an advisory saying it has terminated the services of QRS. “In view of the multiple complaints received from passport applicants who booked courier services online, about the unsatisfactory performance of courier service provider, Quick Reliable Service, Inc. or QRS, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has instructed APO Production Unit, Inc., its end-to-end-passport process provider, to immediately cease using the passport delivery services of QRS.” The DFA said starting at 6 a.m. Monday, August 9, “online passport applicants who are expecting a delivery from QRS may inquire on the status of their parcel with APO’s customer service center using these contact details: Email: applicationstatus@passport.gov.ph Hotline #: +63 2 82343488, press 1 for QRS concerns The DFA said onsite passport applicants who wish to avail themselves of courier services on the day of the filing of their applications remain unaffected by the termination of QRS’ services, “as LBC shall continue to provide its services to these applicants.” The advisory added: “The DFA apologizes for the shortcomings of QRS and requests the public’s understanding as it puts together alternative delivery options in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

For those who complained to Locsin about their delayed passport delivery, apparently not aware that QRS had been sacked, the secretary said: “Well, why do you think they (QRS) were terminated by me with extreme and rapid prejudice. We’re setting up a better shop that will be competitive: you can pick your courier.” He assured those that have been affected by the change of delivery service that their passport has not been lost. “Dontcha worry, not a passport has been lost; and real couriers are taking them to you. Right now I’d pick them up myself if I were you,” Locsin tweeted. For those who claimed they had to pay again to secure their passport, Locsin said this calls for a police investigation. He said he had chosen a non-monopolistic service to replace QRS. Netizens hailed the DFA decision to replace QRS, with some tweeting appreciation for the speedy delivery of their passports: “My family’s passport has finally been delivered and it’s via Air21. Renewed at TOPS MOA July 10.” Locsin’s decision to terminate QRS came in the wake of numerous complaints of delays in the delivery of passports to applicants, some of whom said they paid an extra amount to avail of the speedy services. QRS is allied with APO Printing, the same entity involved in the production and personalization of Philippine passports. QRS surfaced at the height of the pandemic and replaced the partnership of LBC-DFA Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DFAMPC) as the official courier of passports. The DFA rank and file were surprised by the move, given the proven track record of LBC in the courier service sector. Locsin earlier directed the Office of Consular Affairs, a division under the jurisdiction of DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay, to investigate the proliferation of social media sites, especially on Facebook, that are openly selling online schedules to as much as P3,800 per slot.

Ayuda (cash assistance) claimants fill out forms at Barangay Sta. Lucia in San Juan City on Wednesday, as several major cities in Metro Manila—now under a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the strictest lockdown category—rolled out the subsidy for affected populations. San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora supervised the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program cash subsidy in his city. NONOY LACZA

De Lima: Gaps in contact tracing doom Covid efforts

ETAINED Senator Leila de Lima has deplored gaps in the government’s ongoing contact tracing efforts to effectively contain the Covid-19 contagion that has been running since March 2020. De Lima recalled in a statement Wednesday that when the government’s contact tracing czar, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, admitted in May last year that contact tracing remains the weakest link in Philippines’s Covid-19 response, “it should have been enough of a wakeup call to get this government’s priorities straight.” Magalong has since resigned from that post. However, she added, “it is now nearly seventeen (17) full months since the

first lockdown and past several surges of infection, yet this fact, along with many other medical data from neighboring countries, has been disregarded to the point of it now seeming like an outright dereliction of public duty.” The opposition lawmaker said it appears that the medical aspects of the campaign against Covid have been abandoned. “Tila ba isinuko na ang labang medikal at inabandona na ang taumbayan habang salitan ang sagutan, epalan at pamumulitika [It seems the medical effort has been surrendered while political skirmishes and grandstanding go on].” De Lima rued that “with the Delta variant now poised to infect thousands of Filipinos, it is

now beyond a shadow of a doubt that the government remains to be ill-informed, ill-prepared and ill-advised. “Hindi maalam kaya’t hindi maagap, hindi handa kaya’t hindi makausad [Ignorant, hence, incompetent, not ready, a nd therefore unable to advance].” She asked: “Kailangan pa bang i-memorize ‘yan? Tatlong salita lamang yan: Test. Trace. Treat. Pero hanggang ngayon eh puro lockdown saka curfew pa rin ang alam niyo. Bakit? May oras lang ba ng paglabas ang Covid [Do you need to memorize that? Test. Trace. Treat. But until now all you know is lockdown and curfew. Why? Does the Covid virus come out only at certain hours]?” The senator recalled that “this

question used to be amusing until everyone realized that we truly have an inutile President whose delayed and deficient actions are the textbook opposite of the meaning of “leadership”, as they still cannot keep up with the medical facts. And so, we are stuck with policies that are nothing short of confusing, ineffective and downright fatal to public health and harmful to the economic and social interests of our people. “This and the fact that billions of Bayanihan 1 and 2 funds were unspent and failed to reach our people in the form of ayuda and other social services raises one question: “where do you plan to spend the funds that were borrowed?” she added. Butch Fernandez

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 12, 2021

LT Group net income declines by 63% in January-June By VG Cabuag @villygc

T Group Inc. (LTG), the holding firm of most businesses of tycoon Lucio Tan, on Wednesday said its attributable net income in the first semester fell 63 percent to P3.73 billion from last year’s P10.03 billion. The company said the fall was mainly due to the higher provisioning for credit losses booked by its banking subsidiary, Philippine National Bank (PNB), and the elimination of the gain from the transfer of real estate assets at the consolidated level. The tobacco business accounted for P8.97 billion of total attributable income, while PNB had a negative net

contribution of P6.46 billion after eliminating its huge gains from the transfer of properties to its unit. Liquor maker Tanduay Distillers Inc. added P602 million, beer and beverage firm Asia Brewery Inc. contributed P343 million while property developer Eton Properties Philippines Inc. accounted for P287 million. The company’s 30.9-percent stake in Victorias Milling Company Inc. added P169 million. Net expenses and other income at the parent level amounted to P185 million, the company said. Lender PNB reported a net income of P22.2 billion under the pooling method, inclusive of a P33.6-billion gain from the transfer of some prop-

erties into PNB Holdings Corp. At the consolidated LTG level, however, these gains were not recognized, which together with higher provisioning for credit losses resulted in a P6.46-billion loss contribution from PNB to LTG. The tobacco business, under PMFTC Inc., had a net income of P9.01 billion in the first half, some 10 percent more than last year’s P8.21 billion. The industry’s volume was estimated at 26.8 billion sticks for the period, 9 percent lower than last year’s 29.5 billion sticks. This is due to the October to November 2020 price increases to pass on the additional excise taxes. “Illicit activities have also been rising, which include smuggled and locally produced products,” the com-

pany said. Tanduay’s net income for the first semester reached P605 million, 11 percent higher than last year’s P543 million. The higher income is largely due to the 13-percent increase in the volume of liquor sales and 55 percent growth in bioethanol sales. As of end-June, the company’s nationwide market share for distilled spirits was at 26.9 percent, compared to last year’s 24.1 percent. In the Visayas and Mindanao regions where most of its sales are generated, market share was at 68.2 percent and 79.5 percent, respectively, compared to 62.4 percent and 72 percent, respectively, last year. Asia Brewery’s net income for the period was at P343 million, an improvement from a mere P40 million it

reported last year. The higher income was due to the absence of any losses from the AB Heineken joint venture as the partnership transitions starting 2021 to the engagement of the company to brew and distribute Heineken and Tiger beers in the Philippines. Revenues were relatively flat as the lower volume of bottled water and soymilk were offset by higher volume from Cobra Energy Drink with a market share of 65 percent. Vitamilk maintained its leadership with a market share of 70 percent, while bottled water brands, Absolute and Summit, accounted for the second-largest share in this segment at 23 percent. Eton’s net income was at P288 million for the period, 29 percent lower

than last year’s P404 million, due to the decline in residential unit sales and lower leasing income. Projects in the pipeline include Blakes Tower, a 36-storey office and residential building in Makati City which will have 11,400 square meters of office space and 14,000 square meters of residential space once completed. Also, Eton City Square 1, the 4.3-hectare neighborhood retail and commercial center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna will add 7,200 square meters of gross leasable area to Eton’s commercial leasing portfolio in phase 1. Eton currently has a leasing portfolio of around 181,000 square meters of office space and over 45,000 square meters of retail space.

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 12, 2021

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

August 11, 2021

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

BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MANULIFE NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH

111 82.6 24.6 9.49 46.6 21.25 55.2 19.22 113.3 76 4.38 2.92 1.3 920 0.64 210

111.5 82.65 24.9 9.5 46.7 21.6 55.5 19.7 113.6 76.35 4.44 3.13 1.35 975 0.68 215

111 83.5 24.9 9.3 46.85 20.55 55.1 19.92 113 76.35 4.44 2.92 1.3 974 0.62 210

111.5 83.65 24.9 9.49 46.9 21.6 56 19.92 113.8 76.35 4.44 3 1.35 975 0.64 215

109.7 82.6 24.55 9.25 46.45 20.55 55 19.12 112.4 75.75 4.38 2.92 1.3 974 0.62 210

111.5 82.6 24.9 9.49 46.7 21.6 55.25 19.12 113.6 76.35 4.44 3 1.35 975 0.64 215

802,940 1,403,530 5,900 68,700 1,133,700 1,316,300 3,740 3,900 130,110 8,740 85,000 15,000 29,000 100 7,000 22,580

89,064,067 116,073,833.50 146,210 645,943 52,897,150 28,096,570 206,853 75,388 14,705,778 666,463 374,900 44,020 38,260 97,490 4,400 4,845,088

52,492,623 -802,978 98,900 99,015 -10,315,285 -3,616,170 -121,445 19,140 10,283,138 407,803 -2,680 -9,750 -1,240 4,511,744

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 9.22 9.23 9.07 9.25 8.92 9.22 81,598,700 744,844,210 ALSONS CONS 1.23 1.24 1.24 1.24 1.23 1.23 416,000 511,780 23.65 23.7 23.7 23.85 23.5 23.7 1,287,400 30,526,185 ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY 0.61 0.62 0.57 0.62 0.57 0.61 52,954,000 31,892,980 27.1 27.15 27.85 28.1 27.15 27.15 1,344,600 36,708,590 FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG 73.95 74 74.45 74.45 73.95 73.95 21,440 1,585,913 280.2 281.2 276.6 281.2 275 281.2 669,040 185,678,814 MERALCO MANILA WATER 18.04 18.06 18.1 18.1 17.8 18.04 493,600 8,880,668 3.16 3.18 3.16 3.18 3.15 3.18 476,000 1,508,180 PETRON 12.54 12.96 12.54 12.98 12.52 12.96 167,200 2,143,094 PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL 17.76 17.78 17.8 17.82 17.68 17.78 340,400 6,056,846 12.8 12.9 12.7 12.9 12.7 12.9 73,300 940,230 SPC POWER VIVANT 14.66 15.68 14.98 14.98 14.98 14.98 600 8,988 6.05 6.06 6.05 6.12 6 6.06 397,100 2,411,739 AGRINURTURE AXELUM 2.71 2.74 2.68 2.71 2.67 2.71 202,000 542,250 13.02 14.18 12.98 14.18 12.98 14.18 300 4,134 CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD 25.15 25.5 25.45 25.6 24.7 25.5 2,517,100 64,112,365 DEL MONTE 13.94 14 13.42 14 13.24 14 293,400 3,987,456 8.31 8.32 8.38 8.38 8.25 8.32 4,535,200 37,720,265 DNL INDUS EMPERADOR 12.74 12.86 12.9 13.3 12.74 12.74 3,609,500 46,741,042 81.75 82 82.45 82.45 81.45 82 84,760 6,935,654.50 SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT 0.65 0.68 0.64 0.68 0.64 0.68 1,757,000 1,177,260 1.19 1.2 1.21 1.21 1.19 1.2 1,760,000 2,105,070 FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA 93.55 94.5 95.35 95.35 93.2 94.5 7,330 690,518 191.6 193.7 194.6 197.7 191.6 191.6 432,260 83,994,435 JOLLIBEE MACAY HLDG 7.23 7.97 7.23 7.23 7.23 7.23 2,000 14,460 MAXS GROUP 6 6.09 6 6.1 6 6.09 61,900 375,124 0.233 0.238 0.238 0.238 0.231 0.238 740,000 174,830 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 16.96 17 16.96 17.4 16.72 17 27,392,300 465,857,350 7.62 7.88 7.9 7.9 7.6 7.9 19,300 152,286 SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.93 0.95 3,843,000 3,642,210 4.5 4.67 4.4 4.5 4.36 4.5 443,000 1,947,940 RFM CORP SWIFT FOODS 0.135 0.136 0.13 0.137 0.13 0.135 14,590,000 1,951,320 134.7 135 135 135.5 134.5 134.7 659,260 88,914,023 UNIV ROBINA 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.78 563,000 439,840 VITARICH CEMEX HLDG 1.27 1.28 1.27 1.28 1.25 1.28 1,003,000 1,269,300 14.9 15.18 14.88 15.3 14.88 14.9 265,900 3,977,316 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 8.1 8.15 8.1 8.15 8.07 8.1 190,700 1,543,126 6.72 6.74 6.8 6.8 6.71 6.72 179,100 1,204,368 HOLCIM MEGAWIDE 6.28 6.29 6.24 6.28 6.2 6.28 487,800 3,044,117 12.94 13 13.9 13.9 13 13 50,000 653,626 PHINMA TKC METALS 1 1.02 0.99 1 0.99 1 149,000 148,650 VULCAN INDL 1.44 1.45 1.43 1.57 1.43 1.45 11,224,000 16,623,250 1.66 1.69 1.65 1.69 1.61 1.65 62,000 100,800 CROWN ASIA EUROMED 1.82 1.86 1.81 1.87 1.81 1.82 84,000 153,650 5.3 5.4 5.45 5.45 5.4 5.4 300 1,625 MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP 5.35 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.4 294,300 1,589,220 20.2 20.95 21 21 21 21 6,000 126,000 CONCEPCION GREENERGY 2.87 2.9 2.93 2.96 2.86 2.9 6,477,000 18,842,640 8.49 8.55 8.55 8.71 8.41 8.55 1,951,000 16,667,194 INTEGRATED MICR IONICS 0.92 0.94 0.94 0.94 0.94 0.94 16,000 15,040 PANASONIC 5.81 5.89 5.88 5.89 5.84 5.89 11,400 67,047 1.24 1.26 1.26 1.26 1.22 1.26 798,000 998,370 SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG 5.04 5.09 5.18 5.18 4.98 5.09 2,769,500 13,913,806

98,032,319 -18,012,450 -2,483,150 -13,325,675 729,147 17,145,520 3,668,500 18,970 410,648 -427,312 442,330 -38,308,480 -53,480 -14,487,357 3,950,730 -3,441,954.50 2,380 -115,761 -30,325,404 109,578 107,100 -104,583,908 -1,395,510 1,374,220 116,360 -13,639,029 -611,860 1,031,766 -143,857 -640,428 159,730 -126,000 -591,620 -594,096 -1,713,647

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 1 1.01 1.04 1.04 1.01 1.01 1,950,000 1,983,220 ASIABEST GROUP 6.01 6.88 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 100 690 744 745 749 754 739.5 745 125,070 93,200,855 AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY 39.9 40 40.2 40.85 39.85 40 1,126,100 45,091,045 9.86 9.89 9.95 10 9.86 9.89 1,875,000 18,588,544 ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG 4.25 4.26 4.28 4.28 4.17 4.26 1,399,000 5,902,420 6.72 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.8 13,200 89,760 ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG 1 1.01 0.97 1.02 0.96 1.01 4,631,000 4,647,340 0.57 0.59 0.58 0.58 0.57 0.57 88,000 50,860 ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B 0.58 0.6 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.58 26,000 15,080 COSCO CAPITAL 5 5.01 5.03 5.05 4.96 5.01 510,700 2,557,986 5.88 5.89 5.83 5.98 5.83 5.88 35,449,900 209,607,810 DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV 7.56 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 7,600 59,280 0.31 0.34 0.32 0.34 0.31 0.34 1,180,000 379,100 FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL 529.5 530 532.5 539 527 530 168,400 89,329,640 3.87 3.9 3.88 3.9 3.88 3.9 21,000 81,500 HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT 58.95 59 60 60 59 59 1,407,310 83,243,012.50 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.61 5.99 5.61 5.61 5.61 5.61 100,000 561,000 0.67 0.69 0.7 0.71 0.67 0.69 389,000 267,020 LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG 2.93 2.94 2.93 2.96 2.93 2.93 1,210,000 3,546,840 9.8 9.81 10.04 10.3 9.76 9.8 15,310,100 153,310,684 LT GROUP METRO PAC INV 3.77 3.8 3.72 3.8 3.72 3.8 8,468,000 32,045,310 3.17 3.29 3.2 3.31 3.2 3.2 43,000 137,950 PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA 2.51 2.54 2.48 2.59 2.46 2.53 310,000 783,210 991 1,008 989 1,008 981.5 1,008 119,550 119,648,640 SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP 110.5 110.6 112.4 112.4 110.6 110.6 173,090 19,219,267 SOC RESOURCES 0.67 0.7 0.66 0.7 0.66 0.7 17,000 11,740 0.265 0.28 0.265 0.265 0.265 0.265 80,000 21,200 WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG 0.198 0.201 0.193 0.201 0.193 0.201 60,000 11,980

830 -21,804,950 7,979,330 12,605,341.00 -749,180 -745,912 -41,713,555 32,400 -34,724,135 -3,900 15,155,635 -388,260 -39,610,325 -4,425,610 -12,770 31,618,010 202,279 11,080 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.74 0.75 0.66 0.74 0.66 0.74 10,589,000 7,657,540 AYALA LAND 34 34.2 33.2 34.25 33.2 34.2 16,054,000 543,753,105 36.4 36.45 36.6 36.6 36.4 36.4 207,900 7,579,360 AREIT RT BELLE CORP 1.39 1.43 1.37 1.39 1.37 1.39 101,000 138,910 0.88 0.89 0.87 0.89 0.86 0.89 98,000 84,820 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.78 0.8 0.79 0.8 0.78 0.8 301,000 236,610 0.126 0.128 0.128 0.128 0.128 0.128 110,000 14,080 CROWN EQUITIES CEB LANDMASTERS 3 3.02 3.07 3.07 2.91 3 1,332,000 3,983,190 0.43 0.435 0.42 0.44 0.415 0.435 32,540,000 13,871,200 CENTURY PROP 10.74 10.76 10.78 10.8 10.7 10.74 244,100 2,624,046 DOUBLEDRAGON DDMP RT 1.78 1.79 1.8 1.8 1.78 1.78 3,816,000 6,825,270 6.98 7 7 7 6.95 7 32,000 223,805 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.285 0.3 0.295 0.3 0.29 0.29 1,340,000 397,850 0.355 0.36 0.365 0.375 0.35 0.36 24,920,000 8,992,800 EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.13 1.12 1.13 1,468,000 1,655,280 0.82 0.89 0.9 0.9 0.82 0.82 1,314,000 1,103,320 GLOBAL ESTATE 8990 HLDG 7.13 7.28 7.45 7.5 7.11 7.13 40,400 295,065 PHIL INFRADEV 1.25 1.28 1.25 1.28 1.25 1.28 72,000 90,260 1.37 1.4 1.37 1.4 1.35 1.37 332,000 455,040 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 2.87 2.89 2.9 2.92 2.84 2.89 25,744,000 74,191,740 0.31 0.315 0.315 0.315 0.31 0.31 4,460,000 1,385,950 MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES 0.56 0.57 0.56 0.57 0.55 0.56 3,230,000 1,806,900 2.16 2.2 2.15 2.22 2.15 2.2 239,000 525,460 PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND 15.96 16 16.18 16.2 15.9 16 5,008,300 80,334,160 0.285 0.295 0.29 0.3 0.28 0.285 4,890,000 1,411,650 PHIL REALTY STA LUCIA LAND 3.02 3.03 3.05 3.07 3.02 3.03 53,000 161,580 SM PRIME HLDG 34.95 35 34 35 33.95 35 12,277,400 425,412,245 1.57 1.6 1.67 1.67 1.55 1.57 347,000 544,450 SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND 3.52 3.57 3.51 3.6 3.5 3.56 1,179,000 4,215,250 SERVICES ABS CBN 11.12 11.18 11.12 11.18 11.08 11.18 266,900 2,962,960 GMA NETWORK 13.78 13.8 14.14 14.22 13.66 13.8 3,078,300 42,770,420 9.51 10.36 9.85 9.85 9.5 9.5 22,700 221,091 MLA BRDCASTING GLOBE TELECOM 2,000 2,002 1,990 2,016 1,990 2,000 135,980 272,208,140 1,251 1,252 1,258 1,268 1,250 1,251 183,695 230,753,720 PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL 0.13 0.131 0.124 0.133 0.12 0.13 495,490,000 62,917,480 27.3 27.35 26.95 27.6 26.95 27.35 8,119,700 221,829,520 CONVERGE DFNN INC 3.57 3.67 3.56 3.74 3.52 3.57 570,000 2,049,760 8.1 8.12 8.29 8.43 8 8.1 17,367,400 142,992,357 DITO CME HLDG 1.44 1.61 1.45 1.45 1.41 1.45 64,000 92,760 IMPERIAL JACKSTONES 2.15 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21 10,000 22,100 2.14 2.15 2.14 2.15 2.11 2.14 1,782,000 3,792,100 NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.39 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.39 0.4 5,560,000 2,202,750 2.25 2.27 2.26 2.26 2.25 2.26 85,000 191,810 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 8.07 8.29 8.06 8.29 8.06 8.06 12,800 104,686 13.9 14.1 14.1 14.1 14.1 14.1 4,000 56,400 ASIAN TERMINALS CHELSEA 2.75 2.79 2.81 2.84 2.7 2.75 759,000 2,101,060 CEBU AIR 45.2 45.3 45.5 45.7 45.3 45.3 545,700 24,799,160 179.6 180 180.6 183.7 180 180 877,530 159,008,928 INTL CONTAINER LBC EXPRESS 16.52 17.58 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5 300 4,950 4.72 4.73 4.65 4.76 4.63 4.73 1,074,000 5,061,820 MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A 1.86 1.89 1.8 1.86 1.8 1.86 33,000 60,720 1.05 1.06 1.09 1.1 1.05 1.06 280,000 298,600 HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL 1.67 1.72 1.73 1.73 1.65 1.72 323,000 540,840 0.113 0.114 0.11 0.113 0.109 0.113 185,830,000 20,685,970 BOULEVARD HLDG DISCOVERY WORLD 2.46 2.5 2.5 2.55 2.5 2.5 69,000 173,000 GRAND PLAZA 12.06 13.96 14.98 14.98 14.92 14.92 6,100 91,366 0.53 0.54 0.54 0.54 0.52 0.54 658,000 352,830 WATERFRONT CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.97 6.98 6.97 6.97 6.97 6.97 2,000 13,940 0.35 0.355 0.36 0.36 0.35 0.355 380,000 135,450 STI HLDG BERJAYA 5.39 5.45 5.41 5.6 5.31 5.5 139,900 754,255 5.82 5.84 5.95 6 5.8 5.84 4,151,100 24,543,499 BLOOMBERRY LEISURE AND RES 1.42 1.45 1.42 1.45 1.41 1.45 64,000 91,370 1.75 1.76 1.8 1.8 1.74 1.75 877,000 1,547,780 PH RESORTS GRP 0.41 0.415 0.41 0.41 0.4 0.41 1,040,000 421,600 PREMIUM LEISURE PHIL RACING 5.8 5.95 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 100 580 7.36 7.43 7.48 7.48 7.35 7.36 41,600 306,198 ALLHOME METRO RETAIL 1.27 1.28 1.26 1.29 1.25 1.28 1,140,000 1,450,620 38.15 38.2 39.1 39.25 38.2 38.2 1,885,800 72,563,425 PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL 50.45 50.5 51.15 51.45 50.4 50.5 214,100 10,863,014 89.5 90 90 90 90 90 7,430 668,700 PHIL SEVEN CORP SSI GROUP 1.14 1.15 1.14 1.14 1.13 1.14 674,000 766,880 WILCON DEPOT 22.7 22.8 22.8 22.9 22.4 22.7 522,200 11,829,730 0.335 0.35 0.335 0.335 0.335 0.335 10,000 3,350 APC GROUP EASYCALL 5.17 5.43 5.16 5.16 5.16 5.16 3,700 19,092 400.2 448 448 448 448 448 1,310 586,880 GOLDEN MV IPM HLDG 6.65 7 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7 1,000 6,700 1.31 1.33 1.35 1.4 1.28 1.31 243,125,000 320,844,760 PRMIERE HORIZON MINING & OIL

ATOK 6.2 6.3 6.28 6.36 6.18 6.3 147,500 918,982 1.55 1.56 1.55 1.56 1.54 1.55 1,507,000 2,344,000 APEX MINING ATLAS MINING 7.27 7.28 7.01 7.36 7.01 7.28 2,339,200 17,015,034 5.26 5.41 5.38 5.43 5.2 5.41 120,300 647,093 BENGUET A BENGUET B 5.25 5.28 5.2 5.25 5.2 5.25 96,200 504,415 0.285 0.295 0.285 0.3 0.285 0.3 300,000 86,200 COAL ASIA HLDG FERRONICKEL 2.37 2.39 2.39 2.4 2.36 2.38 1,362,000 3,226,740 0.29 0.3 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 20,000 5,600 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.135 0.137 0.138 0.138 0.136 0.137 2,360,000 321,790 MANILA MINING A 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 12,200,000 131,200 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 1,000,000 11,000 MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES 1.01 1.03 1.03 1.05 1 1.03 725,000 746,780 1.25 1.28 1.28 1.28 1.24 1.25 130,000 162,320 NIHAO NICKEL ASIA 5.81 5.84 5.92 5.98 5.78 5.81 4,964,600 29,085,741 0.94 0.97 0.93 0.96 0.93 0.96 627,000 598,690 ORNTL PENINSULA PX MINING 5.82 5.85 5.92 6.03 5.8 5.85 648,100 3,812,610 SEMIRARA MINING 17.8 17.98 18.08 18.18 17.8 17.8 3,880,700 70,015,560 0.0087 0.0088 0.0084 0.0088 0.0084 0.0088 17,000,000 146,900 UNITED PARAGON ACE ENEXOR 17 17.2 17 17.4 17 17.2 33,800 578,200 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 23,000,000 253,900 ORNTL PETROL A PHILODRILL 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 33,400,000 369,500 6.19 6.24 6.25 6.31 6.16 6.19 573,200 3,554,522 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 100.8 101 101 101 101 101 33,000 3,333,000 AC PREF B2R 520 522 520 520 520 520 5,000 2,600,000 44.95 45.4 44.6 45.2 44.6 45 39,200 1,762,440 CEB PREF CPG PREF A 101 102.9 102.9 102.9 102.9 102.9 20 2,058 100.6 101.4 101.4 101.4 100.6 100.6 1,530 155,134 DD PREF FGEN PREF G 103.4 103.6 103.5 103.5 103.5 103.5 9,960 1,030,860 100.5 101.5 102 102 100.5 101.5 400 40,460 MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3B 105 106 105 106 105 106 1,920 203,030 1,019 1,020 1,018 1,019 1,018 1,019 805 820,195 PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 3A 1,115 1,116 1,115 1,116 1,115 1,116 305 340,145 SMC PREF 2C 76 76.05 76.1 76.1 76 76.05 43,190 3,283,442.50 76 76.25 76 76 76 76 38,350 2,914,600 SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F 78.3 78.8 78.8 78.8 78.35 78.8 53,130 4,180,305.50 75.7 75.75 75.75 75.95 75.75 75.75 26,720 2,024,046 SMC PREF 2J SMC PREF 2K 76.05 77 77 77 77 77 280 21,560 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 10.48 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 164,900 1,731,450 GMA HLDG PDR 12.4 12.5 12.5 12.58 12.36 12.4 253,000 3,153,986 WARRANTS LR WARRANT 0.67 0.68 0.75 0.75 0.64 0.68 9,871,000 6,779,500

-91,110 244,589,960.00 102,290 2,480 860 2,560 38,940 27,350 -1,116,296 -4,149,050 -132,750 -358,950 -49,670 4,659 11,310 19,250 -18,912,640 -52,850 72,170 -13,200 30,165,538.00 181,815,410 710,230 -14,662,940 -93,765,360 2,252,560 -4,122,310 824,600 -3,025,429.00 -1,418,720 -79,000 -6,760 -53,990 65,710 -3,907,042 -67,630 -114,400 5,200 -7,050 4,607,841 -53,300 -298,600 169,647 -11,051,960 912,053 -177,300 -65,760 174,519,300 -204,716 21,840 -41,865 -373,870 59,740 2,072,028 -587,941 -8,017,924 -8,500 -945,219 -17,850 57,030 - -1,621,200 -1,134,294 28,810

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP ITALPINAS MERRYMART

18.3 2.15 3.75

FIRST METRO ETF

101

18.32 2.17 3.76

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

101.1

18.5 2.1 3.78

18.6 2.19 3.82

18.32 2.09 3.67

18.32 2.15 3.76

68,300 379,000 4,765,000

1,256,894 808,120 17,836,160

575,048 -6,450 -121,860

100.9 101 100.8 101 14,870 1,501,054 490,687

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Aboitiz keen on supplying power to Meralco via CSP By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

BOITIZ Power Corp. will participate in the competitive selection process (CSP) for the Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) baseload capacity requirement of 1,000 megawatts (MW) for 2026 to 2046 and 1,200MW for 2030 to 2049. AboitizPower President Emmanuel V. Rubio said during a forum on Wednesday titled “Ensuring Sustainability of Food and Utilities”—organized by the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and Aboitiz—that the second unit of GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. (GNPD), which has

a capacity of 668MW, could partly supply the 1000MW CSP. “For 2026, we will participate via GNPD unit 2 that we will be offering for that CSP that’s coming hopefully towards the end of the year or the first quarter of 2022,” said Rubio. Meralco plans to start the publication of the 1,000MW CSP in January 2022.

GNPD’s construction has been pushed back due to the travel restrictions. “Unit2 is behind unit1. We are expecting some delays but we are looking to start commissioning by mid-March 2022,” said Rubio. GNPD Unit 1, also 668MW, is still in the commissioning stage. Rubio said AboitizPower is expecting for the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to issue the certificate of compliance of GNPD Unit 1 by the third week of September, before the Malampaya gas facility shuts down from October 2 to 22. For Meralco’s 1,2000MW CSP, Rubio said AboitizPower might offer gas. “Gas is one of the options. If it proves to be the most competitive option by then, we will consider building one.” At present, the power firm has no gas in its portfolio. But many power firms agree that gas is the transition

fuel prior to full decarbonization come 2050. “Hopefully, greener technology that can be cost competitive and as competitive as gas will be considered for that 2030 delivery of what we know is a 1,200 MW CSP of Meralco. Today, the only visible cost competitive technology that we see is gas. We don’t think coal will be built given all the pressures on the environment and the lack of financing. But we are not closing our doors on any alternative technology that can provide the same capacity factor that would be cost competitive or more cost competitive than gas. Gas is just a placeholder because today, that is the most competitive option that we are seeing but we’re are still 9 years away and if there will be an alternative to gas, which is cleaner or more cost-competitive, then we will go for that option and I think there will be,” said Rubio.

Cebu Air net loss widens to ₧13.79B By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

ebu Air Inc., the operator of budget carrier Cebu Pacific, saw its net loss widening in the first semester, largely because of the adverse impact of the pandemic on its operations. The company told the stock exchange that its net loss reached P13.79 billion in the first six months of the year, larger than the P9.14billion loss it recorded the year prior. Revenues were also 66 percent lower at P5.90 billion from P17.33 billion due to the decline in earnings from its passengers and ancillary operations. Passenger revenues dropped by 82.4 percent to P2.03 billion from P11.51 billion as passenger volume plunged by 73.4 percent to 1.2 million from 4.5 million the year prior. This led to its ancillary revenues sinking by 70.6 percent to P1.06 billion from P3.61 billion. Its cargo operations, meanwhile, helped cushion the impact of the drop in both passenger and ancillary revenues. Cargo revenues rose by 26.7 percent to P2.82 billion from P2.22 billion as it yielded more char-

tered cargo flights during the first semester. Cebu Pacific currently operates 50 domestic and 11 international routes through its 74-aircraft fleet. “The group believes that it remains a resilient airline despite the adverse impact of the Covid-19 outbreak,” the company’s disclosure read. It noted that given the volatile nature of this situation and the uncertainty as to when operating and demand conditions will improve, “it will be premature to provide any guidance with respect to expected impact in succeeding periods.” Earlier Cebu Pacific officials said the airline is hoping that its operations will go back to normal by 2022, citing inoculation initiatives from both the government and the private sector. However, the Philippines has yet to vaccinate the majority of its population with Reuters’ Covid-19 Tracker reporting an 11.6-percent inoculation-to-population rate. The tracker also noted that Covid-19 infections are increasing in Philippines, with 9,087 new infections reported on average each day.

mutual funds

August 11, 2021

NAV

By VG Cabuag @villygc

hemical manufacturer D&L Industries Inc. said its recovery continued in the second quarter, allowing it to record an income of P1.39 billion in the first semester, 74 percent higher than the previous year’s P802 million. D&L President and CEO Alvin Lao said the company is on its way to attaining its 2019 income of P2.62 billion as the income of all of its segments had already reached pre-Covid levels. “Our next target is to reach our income in 2018. But we can do that by next year,” Lao said during the company’s media briefing. In 2018, the company’s income reached P3.18 billion, the highest in its history. Its income then fell in the succeeding year, mainly due to the delayed passage of the national budget and the trade war between the United States and China which also affected smaller countries, such as the Philippines. “Assuming that the income for the first half holds steady for the remainder of the year, we are set to reach our 2019 income level.

Moreover, we see emerging positive catalysts in the horizon, such as the onset of the Christmas season, an additional spending boost coming from the 2022 election, and progress on the country’s vaccination efforts that can provide upside surprises,” Lao said. Sales for the first half grew 37 percent to P14.9 billion from last year’s P10.17 billion. For the second quarter alone it jumped by 83 percent to P6.9 billion from P4.5 billion last year. Net income in April to June more than doubled to P671 million from last year’s P287 million. “Our strong earnings recovery in the second quarter suggests that things are much better compared to last year. It also demonstrates the essential nature and the resiliency of our underlying businesses,” Lao said. While Metro Manila and nearby provinces have reverted to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ ) this month, he said he does not this to have a significant impact on the company’s businesses. He noted that the ECQ and modified ECQ were reimposed in the second quarter.

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

213.58

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.4319

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.9512

9.4%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.734 First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

4.7366

-6.94%

-5.11%

-6% 9.06%

41.93%

-1.6%

0.03%

13.06%

-11.09%

-7.95%

-5.8%

-7.4% n.a.

-8.17%

-5.45% n.a.

-1.02%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7382 9.79% 8.92% 12.92%

-4.86%

-3.33%

-4.14%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.7069

7.53%

-7.45%

-7.23% -6.96%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

97.19

26.04%

-4.38% n.a.

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

43.5414

11.36%

-5.53%

-4.13%

-7.06%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

459.36

-5.09%

-4.44%

-6.06%

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

1.0711

21.99% n.a. n.a.

-2.39%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -

1.1277

13.12%

-4.79%

-3.4%

-3.47%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

33.045

12.91%

-4.79%

-2.97%

-4.96%

9.14% n.a. n.a.

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8498 4.4668

12.21%

-4.93%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

747.61

12.08%

-4.84%

-3.49%

-6.74%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.686

14.43%

-8.26%

-6.35%

-4.58%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.4506

11.75%

-3.37%

-6.92% -6.77%

-6.56%

-4.48%

-4.78%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8534 11.64%

-5.19%

-3.65%

-7.01%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-5.21%

-2.8%

-5.9%

3.1233

11.19%

ALFM

-4.66%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 100.3584

12.06%

-4.64%

-2.97% -6.69%

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

$1.2021

14.76%

4.97%

6.14%

-0.07%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8303

22.68%

12.13%

11.85%

9.42%

-0.53%

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

1.6598

5.57%

-0.89%

-2.3%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.1669

6.16%

-2.22%

-2.21%

-5.19%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5469

6.5%

-1.22%

-1.21%

-3.05%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.186

1.75% n.a. n.a. -6.34%

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

1.9181

4.95%

0.64%

-0.44%

-2.34%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.6196

4.13%

-0.32%

-1.67%

-4.45%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.2065

4.66%

-0.23%

-1.65%

-4.31%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0198

6.23%

-1.57%

-1.25%

-3.55%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.4696 6.86%

-2.56%

-2.5%

-2.9%

3.34% n.a. n.a.

-5.4%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.8791

5.5% n.a. n.a.

-7.39%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8629

7.07% n.a. n.a.

-7.52%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

7.61%

-2.88%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9674

D&L posts strong recovery in Q2

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

0.8621

-3.34%

-2.94%

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

$0.03818

-3.85%

2.73%

1.14%

-2.4%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1023

5.7%

3.05%

3.29%

-4.16%

16.59%

9.26%

8.26%

6.23%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2248 7.2%

5.33%

4.43%

1.89%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.794

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

373.37

1.54%

3.16%

2.44%

0.62%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9268

-1.06%

1.15%

0.23%

1.39%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2361

1.2%

3.57%

4.28%

0.67%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2693

-1.86%

2.28%

1.2%

-1.16%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4462 -0.45%

3.34%

1.71%

-0.29%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.5085

-4.04%

4.62%

1.15%

-2.72%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6

1.3187

0.93%

2.7%

-0.19%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9845

0.64%

4.65%

1.79%

-0.41%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0407

0.2%

4.95%

1.55%

-0.12%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2231

0.77%

5.22%

2.13%

0.53%

-0.37%

4.54%

1.44%

-0.07%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

1.7537

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

$487.21

1.75%

3.15%

2.09%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є220.33

1.53%

1.02%

0.83%

0.52%

$1.202

-3.74%

2.47%

1.35%

-6.12%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

0.69%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0261 -1.88%

1.72%

0.7%

-1.88%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0456

-4.93%

0.33%

-1.2%

-4.31%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.5169

-0.18%

5.01%

1.74%

-0.74%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.0630734

3.15%

3.57%

2.1%

1.21%

-2.31%

3.25%

0.63%

-1.1%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.188

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

130.49

1.4%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0541 Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.3075

2.54%

0.52%

1% n.a. n.a.

0.57%

1.58%

2.99% 2.8%

2.55%

0.84%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0582

1.08%

1.62% n.a.

0.55%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.3362

30.68% n.a. n.a. 18.29%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.99

4.21% n.a. n.a.

1.02%

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."

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Thursday, August 12, 2021

Regulator warns public on unlicensed insurers By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Insurance Commission (IC) has warned the public against two unlicensed entities selling insurance products. In a statement last Wednesday, the IC said it has recently issued Notices to Explain to Miler Insurance and Insuro’s Insurance Services, which were discovered to have been conducting business without the necessary certificates of authority from the regulator. “This may be an opportune time to warn the public, for their protection and peace of mind, to transact only with companies that have been duly licensed by the Insurance Commission,” Insurance Commissioner Dennis B. Funa said. According to the IC, a company called Miler Insurance is reportedly selling insurance products through Facebook and its company web site without the necessary license to act as a non-life insurance company or as an insurance agent. The IC cited the Facebook page of Miler Insurance that

BOC rules on disposing condemned goods

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) issued rules and regulations providing for the mechanism to expedite the disposition and release of shipments for condemnation. Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero signed Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 24-2021 providing a uniform procedure and requirements in the bureau’s accreditation of service contractors for condemnation of goods in line with Republic Act 11032 or the “Ease of Doing Business” law. A Condemnation Committee shall also be created to evaluate the recommendation in the accreditation of service contractors. The same panel is also tasked to issue an Order of Condemnation, and recommend the imposition of appropriate administrative and/ or other sanctions against any entity, subject to the approval of the District Collector in the port concerned. Apart from the Condemnation Committee, a “Supervising Team for Condemnation” will also be formed to ensure compliance to condemnation procedures from under-guarding to arrival in the condemnation facility, proper disposal and submission of the completion report. Under the CMO, goods subject to condemnation include forfeited and abandoned goods that are restricted and highly dangerous, absolutely prohibited or prohibited by law to be released, have no commercial value, and are injurious to public. Furthermore, these goods shall be condemned through rendering, crushing, thermal decomposition, shredding, among others. During the first half of the year, the BOC disposed a total of 1,041 overstaying containers through auction and condemnation, which resulted in improved trade facilitation by eliminating port and yard congestion. Of this number, 636 containers were disposed through public auction while 405 containers were condemned and destroyed. The BOC earned P279.42 million from disposing the containers through public auction during the same period. Bernadette D. Nicolas

PNB net income soars to ₧22.1B in first half By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE Philippine National Bank (PNB) reported last Wednesday that its net income hit P22.1 billion in the first six months of the year due mostly to the booking of a one-off gain of P33.6 billion. The one-off gain represents the increase in fair market values of the bank’s three prime real estate properties which were transferred to PNB Holdings Corporation in exchange for shares. This pushed the bank’s consolidated year-to-date net income after provisions and taxes 16 times higher compared to its earnings for the same period last year. PNB closed on Wednesday at P21.60 per share; P1.10-higher than its previous close. “The bank delivered excellent results during the first half of 2021 as we were able to sustain profits from core banking operations and reap the benefits of monetizing the value of low income-generating assets. This allowed the bank to continue to build our loan loss provisions as the pandemic continues to impact local businesses and the overall economy,” PNB President and CEO Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso said. PNB’s net service fees and commission income grew by 45 percent, boosted by higher investment banking revenues as capital markets resumed momentum in the first half of 2021 as well as increase in volume of credit and deposit-related transactions. Its net interest income, meanwhile, slightly declined by 3 percent to P16.9 billion year-on-year on account of reduced earnings from loans and investment securities, reflective of the continued downtrend in the benchmark interest rates. As of end-June 2021, loan receivables stood at P618.2 billion, up by 3 percent from prior year as the bank re-focused its credit granting to entities belonging to “financially resilient” industries. Deposit liabilities at P828.1 billion also increased by 5 percent versus June 2020 levels. Trading and foreign exchange gains declined by 57 percent to P1.6 billion resulting mainly from limited trading opportunities in the market during the period. PNB also reported that it booked additional impairment provisions of P16.9 billion during the second quarter of the year, bringing the total provisions to-date to P19 billion. This brings the bank’s non-performing loan coverage ratio to 60 percent, up from 43 percent as of end-December 2020. Operating expenses, excluding provisions for impairment and credit losses, remained relatively flat year-on-year at P13.4 billion as spending was focused on more essential expenditures.

described the firm as “an emerging nonlife insurance company, [which] aims to make a more friendly [sic] atmosphere for our clients and business partners.” Additionally, its Facebook page also indicates that there are already reviews written by different individuals that have apparently transacted with Miler Insurance, according to the IC. Meanwhile, another unlicensed entity called Insuro’s Insurance Services was also found to have been selling

insurance products through Facebook wherein it identifies itself as a “consulting agency” and an “insurance agent” offering motor car, property, marine, liability, engineering and personal accident insurance products. Based on the records of the IC, Insuro’s Insurance Services does not have a certificate of authority to act as an insurance agent, according to the regulator. The IC said Insuro’s merely has a pending application for the issuance of

an insurance agent’s license. Funa vowed that they will continue their crackdown against these kinds of entities. The Commission also said the lists of licensed regulated entities are available on its web site. “The public can likewise be assured that your Insurance Commission will be relentless in taking down unlicensed entities for the security and safety of the insurance, pre need, and health maintenance organization markets,”

Funa added. Based on the latest lists on its web site, the IC has so far licensed 26 life insurance companies, 52 non-life insurance companies, five composite (life and non-life) insurance companies, one professional reinsurer, seven servicing insurance companies, four pre-need companies, one servicing preneed company, 29 health maintenance organizations and 36 mutual benefit associations.

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Asean welcomes UK as new dialogue partner

HE United Kingdom has agreed to become Asean’s latest dialogue partner—the first of such cooperation with the region in 25 years.

According to its embassy in Manila, the collaboration will lead to closer ties between the UK and the bloc covering matters on trade, investments, climate change, the environment, science and technology, as well as education. (Related story on Envoys&Expats, April 22, 2021.)

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab joined a virtual ceremony with Asean Foreign Ministers, where they welcomed the UK as a “dialogue partner.” Since submitting its application in June 2020, Raab has attended two UK-Asean Ministerial Meetings, and has hosted the Asean Chair at the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting in May. The UK acknowledges the Asean an influential group of 10 membercountries in the Indo-Pacific. By becoming its dialogue partner, the European country will formalize its relations with the group by attending annual foreign and economic ministers’ meetings, along with other ministerial engagements. For the UK, a dialogue partner status puts it at the heart of the Indo-Pacific. It will work with Asean and its members on key shared chal-

lenges such as maritime security and transnational crime, boost economies through trade, and strengthen cooperation on issues such as the pandemic and climate change.

‘Indo-Pacific tilt’

BRITISH Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce said, “I am immensely proud that the UK has been accepted as the first new Asean dialogue partner in 25 years. This will lead to more trade, better security cooperation and greater people-topeople links for [us] and Asean, alongside our strong and growing bilateral relationship with the Philippines.” Pruce added, “Achieving this status is a key step forward in the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt, and can only serve to help the UK and Asean memberstates work even more closely together on some of the key global challenges—including climate and ‘Covid.’” He shared that Raab has visited Southeast Asia five times since becoming foreign secretary, which demonstrates the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific, as set out in UK’s Integrated Review.

PRUCE

For the envoy, the announcement comes at a time of growing UK defense and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, as the said country’s Carrier Strike Group, led by the HMS Queen Elizabeth, is in the region and has completed a series of engagements with a range of Asean partners, with further interactions planned in the coming months. In June the UK formally launched accession negotiations with nations belonging to the CPTPP, or the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which is one of the largest free-trade areas in the world, accounting for 13 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. Four Asean states: Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, are its members.

Safeguard of key pillars

MEANWHILE, Raab commented: “I am delighted that the UK has…formally become a dialogue partner of the Asean bloc—the first new country in 25 years…Our closer ties with

Asean will help create green jobs, reinforce our security cooperation, promote tech and science partnerships, [as well as] safeguard key pillars of international law, like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” According to the foreign secretary, the new agreement will also help the UK to deepen economic links with the region, which has a combined GDP of $3.2 trillion. Total trade between the UK and Asean was £32.3 billion in the four quarters up to the end of the first three months of 2021, with a huge potential to boost such trade, while creating local jobs. For UK’s International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, this latest development shows Global Britain in action, forging stronger relationships around the world as an independent trading nation. “Along with CPTPP accession and deals with countries like Singapore and Vietnam, this will help unlock opportunities for British businesses in a high-growth region of more than 650 million people, allowing them to expand and create jobs across the UK,” Truss stated. The embassy also shared that the UK is already a dialogue partner of the regional policing body ASEANAPOL, or the Asean Chiefs of National Police, where the Philippines also is a member. Other Asean dialogue partners are Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

British Chamber: Passage of priority bills to support local economy T

HE British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) expects the swift passage of priority bills amending the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), Public Service Act (PSA) and Foreign Investment Act (FIA), as they will be integral in attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs), and are expected to contribute in boosting the country’s economic growth and recovery. The chamber hopes that the final version of the RTLA will reduce the barrier to FDIs as low as possible, as it noted there had been little changes in foreign ownership in the country’s retail sector since the RTLA was passed in 2000. For BCCP, it is important to minimize the restriction now to allow more retail enterprises to operate in the Philippines, which will benefit Filipino customers. It highly prioritizes the said bill, as one of its key sectors includes retail. Significantly, the chamber is receiving growing interest from United Kingdom (UK)-

BCCP’S Chris Nelson

based companies interested in the country’s retail sector. Proposed amendments of the FIA are also expected to increase the entry of FDIs and technology transfer. Additionally, the proposed amendments aim to enable foreign ownership of small and medium-sized enterprises with a minimum paidup capital of less than $100,000 if they involve advanced technology, or employ at least 15 direct-hired workers. The bill is likewise seen to improve technology transfer, raise foreign exchange from exports, and lead to higher tax revenues. Meanwhile, proposed amendments to the PSA, according to the

chamber, will encourage new investments from foreign firms in telecommunications, transportation, and other services which will result in greater competition. Filipinos, for instance, will have greater and improved choices, experience better services, and enjoy lower costs on telecommunications and transportation. Moreover, Chris Nelson, BCCP executive director and trustee, expresses his appreciation to the House of Representatives’ goal and commitment to quickly pass the priority reforms: “I look forward to additional developments that will be made in the next three months. As such, the British Chamber’s main objective is to send a powerful message to foreign investors, particularly British businesses, that the Philippines remains a great destination for investments.” Moreover, the UK is an important economic partner and ally of the Philippines. In 2019 two-way trade was valued at $1.3 billion (£944

million), which positions the UK at 18th place among foreign trading partners. Notably, the former is now looking at joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership or CPTPP, one of the largest free-trade areas in the world, where the Philippines has also expressed interest in joining. The BCCP believes it is strategically important to engage with the UK further, as it now pursues independent trade policies championing rulesbased free and fair trade. Overall, the chamber will continue to highlight business opportunities to British companies. It believes it is necessary to emphasize the country’s advantage and great potential for attracting long-term investments. To achieve such, the Philippines, it said, should continue reducing trade barriers and ease investment restrictions by amending the RTLA, FIA and PSA, as the passage of these bills will support the recovery of the local economy.

German-PHL chamber calls for lifting of deployment cap for Filipino HCWs

HE German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) is requesting that deployment cap for Filipino healthcare workers (HCW) heading to Germany be lifted, as numbers have already breached the limit of 6,500. “After reaching the extended cap again, and the introduction of a new batch of 5,000 licensed nurses in July, we appeal [to the Philippine government that it should review the current deployment ban,” said GPCCI President Stefan Schmitz. “Many of the HCWs in our business community have

signed a working contract, and [their] employers are waiting.” As the European country needs about 50,000 HCWs, the Philippines has 2,000 HCWs who are already waiting for deployment. According to the chamber, most of them have already exerted effort, time, and finances just to qualify to the high standards of German employers. The said deployment cap, however, prevents them from being sent out to their assignments. Lifting the ban would mean a winwin situation for the two countries. For example, the positive economic

impacts in the Philippine economy such as remittances from the estimated 12 million overseas Filipino workers reached €28.2 billion in 2020, accounting for 8.5 percent of the local gross domestic product, with €500 million coming from Germany. Additionally, it shall resolve the unemployment issues of Filipino HCWs. “The appropriate skills and qualifications of Filipino HCWs remain to be the important interest of Germany,” stated GPCCI Deputy Executive Director Charlotte Bandelow. “The chamber has been an important av-

enue on these discussions in the past several months, and we look forward to continuing the dialogue with the relevant stakeholders.” In an interview, Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel said the German Embassy is actively negotiating with the Philippine government, as her country has a huge demand for Filipino HCWs. In the perspective of the private sector, President and CEO of Saisy Professionals Jason Heinen said that at least those HCWs who have already been trained would be allowed for deployment.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Envoy, mayor discuss sister-city pact between QC, Rishon Lezion

EL AVIV—Ambassador to Israel Macairog S. Alberto paid a courtesy call on Mayor Raz Kinstlich of Israel’s Rishon Lezion on July 29 to discuss the conclusion of a sister city agreement with Quezon City, as well as other proposals for cooperation. Rishon Lezion’s Holocaust Park is the site of the Open Doors Monument, which to date is the only memorial to the “Open Doors” policy of former president Manuel L. Quezon, under whose administration the Philippines provided refuge to 1,300 European Jews who fled the Holocaust. “I wish to assure you of the Philippine Embassy’s full support of the sister city agreement...being forged between Quezon City and Rishon Lezion,” Alberto told Kinstlich. “This agreement is deeply meaningful to us because of the link it will create between [the two].” Kinstlich affirmed Rishon Lezion’s intent to engage with the city named after the former Philippine

MAYOR Raz Kinstlich (left) and Ambassador Macairog S. Alberto DFA

leader, particularly in terms of building awareness of his legacy and its contribution to Philippine-Israeli relations. Both agreed to further strengthen the partnership of the two locales by developing other areas of cooperation, including possible collaborations between academic institutions and organizing a special screening of the movie Quezon’s Game to be held sometime in October.

PHL, Singapore to spur local, global digital transformations

OVERNMENT and industry leaders from the Philippines and Singapore kicked off “Digital Pilipinas: A Closer Look at the Philippine Sandbox,” a movement aimed at influencing reforms via technology and innovation across local and global arenas. Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Chief FinTech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, as well as Digital Pilipinas Convenor and GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications Inc. Cofounder Amor Maclang expressed their support for a more technologically-capable and innovation-driven digital landscape in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. The Philippines, according to Mohanty, is a market in Asia that has the biggest potential to fully transform digital-wise. The fintech leader of MAS emphasized, however, that all the Filipino citizens must gain from the sandbox: “You must ensure that the sandbox will benefit all the citizens for public good. We are promoting technology for people to progress, so the public good is important to make the sandbox successful.” Even prior to the health crisis that crippled almost all the economies globally, the Philippines has already embraced the digital era.

Together with the nation’s business community, its public sector has already shifted to digitization. “Before the pandemic, the government has already been utilizing digitalization to push the ease of doing business,” Lopez explained. “The adoption of e-commerce facilitated the digital transformation of business.” Beyond the online marketplace, the state has also pushed for various innovations like in the financial services field. Digital Pilipinas has a 12-point agenda that provides solutions to address challenges within the local industry and economic ecosystem, as it introduces a way to leverage on information and communications technology-driven opportunities. It covers the following areas: fintech, govtech and regtech; proptech; digital transformation; overseas banking; future of mobility; insuretech; e-commerce; cyber security; Internet of Energy; future of education; digital cities; and gaming. This movement has a multimonth series of activities that will culminate on November 11 and 12 at the World FinTech Festival Philippines, which will gather the nation’s top tech leaders to delve on trends and how organizations can become stronger under the new normal. Roderick L. Abad

Mexico unveils recent silver screen success

HE Embassy of Mexico, in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Cinemalaya Foundation Inc., is bringing to Filipino audiences the movie Leona as part of the 17th edition of Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival which will celebrate Mexico’s National Film Day on August 15. Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival will open its doors to world-class films to cineastes with this Mexican drama film, directed by Isaac Cherem. It tells the story of Ariela, a young artist in Mexico City from a Syrian-Jewish family, who is pressured into finding an appropriate partner. She develops feelings for a non-Jewish man, Iván (Christian Vazquez). This presents her with a dilemma, as she weighs the relationship against the approval of her family and community. Premiered at the Morelia International Film Festival, Leona was also featured in several international Jewish film festivals such as the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, Poland’s Jewish Motifs International Film Festival, and the United Kingdom Jewish Film Festival. The embassy said that, together

with its partners, they aim for the public and lovers of good cinema to discover and understand the great complexity of Filipino and Mexican cultures by looking through the artistic window of this film. Leona will be screened online and free-of-charge starting midnight of August 15, Sunday. For further information, visit the embassy’s official Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as the CCP and Cinemalaya’s social media pages and web sites at https:// culturalcenter.gov.ph and https://cinemalaya.org/.

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, August 12, 2021

5 tips from a play therapist to help kids express themselves and unwind

BY JESSIE D. GUEST University of South Carolina

PHOTO BY ROBO WUNDERKIND ON UNSPLASH

S many children go back to school after months of global pandemic, social isolation and on-and-off remote learning, they too are feeling the additional stress and uncertainty of these times. Children need play to decompress and communicate in ways that are meaningful to them. Play is how they express themselves, process their day and solve problems. It’s essential for their social, emotional, creative and cognitive well-being. Play helps teach them self-regulation, boundary setting and decision-making. As a licensed clinical mental health counselor and registered play therapist and supervisor, I spend a lot of my time helping people understand children. I show adults how to see the world through kids’ eyes and how to engage them on their level. After so much isolation and increased demands on parents and families during the Covid-19 pandemic, I believe now is an important time for parents and caregivers to increase their understanding of, communication with and connection to their children—through play. STRUCTURED VS. UNSTRUCTURED PLAY THERE are two main types of play that provide cognitive and emotional benefits for kids—structured play and unstructured play, or free play. Structured play—such as board games, puzzles and individual or team sports—involves instructions and follows a set of rules. An objective or purpose of the play is established. Structured play helps children learn to manage their emotions, take turns, follow rules and deal with feelings of frustration as well as feelings of success. Unstructured play, also called free play, encourages children to do what interests them without adult direction. It doesn’t require an outcome or product. Unstructured play allows the child’s brain to recover from a highly structured school day and provides a sense of freedom. It fosters problem-solving, resilience and creativity, and gives kids time and space to make sense of their experiences. Examples of unstructured or free play include fantasy play, painting, playing made-up games with others and building with blocks.

FREE PLAY TIPS ALTHOUGH free play is child-led, parents can engage with their child during this time. Here are five tips based on Sue Bratton and Garly Landreth’s childparent relationship therapy, which uses play to build stronger and healthier parent-child attachment. 1. GET ON THEIR LEVEL. Create a space on the floor with some of their toys or join them in their play area. Sit on the ground with them. Let them know that this is their “special play time.” This time is special because the parent is engaging with the child in a very different way than other interactions throughout the day. 2. ALLOW THE CHILD TO LEAD. Allow the child to direct the play. If asked what to play, try responding,

“You get to decide what we play today.” 3. SHOW INTEREST. Parents can do this by providing feedback. State what you see your child is doing without any notion of acceptance or approval: “You’re playing with the doll” or “You’re coloring that red.” Repeat back what your child says: “Cars go fast” or “Yellow is your sister’s favorite color.” Reflect the feelings that your child is expressing: “You feel happy when your car wins” or “You’re mad when you lose the race.” This type of responding illustrates the parent’s engagement without taking over the play. 4. SET LIMITS AND BOUNDARIES. Play that is childled does not mean the child can break toys or hurt themselves or others. Sometimes the parent may

Unicef Change for Good with Cebu Pacific goes online THE Philippines’s leading carrier, Cebu Pacific renews its partnership with Unicef by making the Change for Good program available online, as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. Now, the carrier’s fans and passengers can donate to help vulnerable children, anytime and anywhere, even without booking a flight. “By enabling the Change for Good program to be available inflight and now online, we are committed to improving the lives of Filipino children and families through our continuing partnership with Unicef. Now, everyone can safely contribute to support Unicef’s programs for children,” said Lance Gokongwei, president and CEO of Cebu Pacific Air. More than a year into the pandemic, children face greater risks to their health and well-being. Through partnerships and individual donations, Unicef reimagines a better future for children by improving their access to basic services through national programs with the government.

“Thanks to our partnership with Cebu Pacific through the Change for Good campaign, airline passengers have helped save and improve the lives of thousands of vulnerable children and families. By taking the campaign online, more people can now easily help children get improved access to health and nutrition, water, hygiene and sanitation, education, child protection and support during emergencies,” said Oyunsaikhan Dendevnerov, country representative, Unicef Philippines. In 2016, Unicef and Cebu Pacific launched the Change for Good campaign, enabling passengers to donate their spare change in flight. All funds supported Unicef’s First 1,000 days program on child health and nutrition. Cebu Pacific is the first and only partner of Unicef for the Change for Good initiative in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. To date, CEB is also the only local airline partner who raises funds to benefit children in its home country. More information can be found at bit. ly/3AB4O4L.

Get your kids moving at home WITH quarantine measures extended and kids continuing to stay home, parents are looking for new creative ways to entice their younger ones to get moving. The good news for parents is that The Great Cartoon Network Workout starts on August 21. Through the initiative, families can sign up for a month filled with themed weekly events with topics on health and fitness. On top of that, kids can enjoy various activities alongside friends from their favorite shows, like We Bare Bears, The Amazing World of Gumball, Teen Titans Go!, and many others. Is your family up for the challenge? Fitness coaches Melissa Gohing, Enzo Bonoan, Jo Sebastian and Eileen Ramos will lead the challenges through Toon Challenge Zones that will get both kids and kids-at-heart to get moving, so make sure you do your stretches and get ready to sweat! For those who are feeling a little more competitive, families can enter as a Fit Fam

Challenger and upload their videos for a chance to win prizes. Families that aren’t terribly competitive can still watch the uploaded videos weekly and interact with the web site’s other features, like the photobooth. Cartoon Network has also partnered with schools in the Philippines to make this an exhilarating school activity for kids. Look forward to getting active if you’re a student of Southfields International Christian Academe Centrum (SICAC), Jose Rizal University, Saint

Jude Catholic School, Elizabeth Seton School, Saint Mary of the Woods, Xavier School, Childlink Learning Center and Childlink High School, and others. The Great Cartoon Network Workout is supported by Executive Optical, in cooperation with Dutchmill, with special thanks to Playdoh and Frootees. More information about this series of activities that families can join is available at www.GreatCNWorkout.com.

need to step in and set a limit if the child’s behavior becomes destructive or harmful. Be sure to validate the feeling the child is exhibiting and provide another option for that behavior. For example: “You are mad right now, but people aren’t for hitting. You can hit the stuffed animal instead.” 5. BE CONSISTENT. Children thrive on stability and consistency. Try to implement the “special play time” each week for about 30 minutes and use a timer to ensure the amount of play time is consistent and your child is prepared for the ending. This special play time should take place regardless of behavior and should not be used as a punishment or reward. THE CONVERSATION

B6 Thursday, August 12, 2021

PLDT, Smart empower Tarlac youth via online mental health talk series

ENTAL health can be seen as a multi-sectoral approach where one must be surrounded with a good support system and their own safe space. In PLDT and Smart’s recent mental health talk series, it empowered the youth of Tarlac to be co-champions in advocating for mental health and wellness. Called ‘Better Today with Tarlac’, the talk series, which premiered last August 6, has since garnered over 15,000 views. Tarlac Provincial Governor Susan Yap underscored the multi-sectoral and whole-of-society approach and response for mental health with programs and interventions among different communities. “Mental health issue is everyone’s issue, no one is exempted. Regardless of race, creed, color, nationality, or status in life, one may encounter difficulties involving mental health,” Yap said. According to Yap, even though the public perception on mental health conditions has significantly improved, there is still a long way to go when it comes to destigmatizing mental illnesses and disorders. “There are still stigmas against mental illness due to stereotypes and lack of information and education on the matter. More platforms are needed to voice out that mental health is real and not an imaginary fiction,” Yap said. “We are glad, that through this webinar, another platform, which I hope will not be the last, will be able to reach out to a wider audience to encourage them to speak because there will always be those of us who are ready and will listen to them,” Yap added. Riyan Portuguez, more popularly known as Your Millennial Psychologist, shared her insights during the session, specifically on ways to address and recognize mental health issues, such as loneliness, anxiety and depression. Portuguez also provided practical tips on how to help friends and family members who may be experiencing these issues. “It is important to understand that our emotions and feelings are a natural response on what’s happening outside of ourselves. We must learn how to embrace these feelings and emotions. Denying what is natural is not okay. You are a human being who is capable of feeling a wide range

MENTAL health professionals Riyan Portuguez (more popularly known as ‘Your Millennial Psychologist’) and Jeremiah Paul Silvestre, a registered psychometrician and Psychology Professor in Tarlac State University, share their knowledge and expertise on mental health and wellness during the talk series. of emotions,” Portuguez said. According to Portuguez, the things we feel are all valid – from loneliness, anxiety and languishing among others. Portuguez describes languishing as a feeling of joylessness and aimlessness. “It’s okay to allow yourself to experience this feeling of languishing but it is important to do something about it. It’s okay to not be okay but to stay that way is not okay,” Portuguez said. John Paul “JP” Silvestre, who is a Psychology Professor from Tarlac State University, also shared how the feeling of languishing also results to collective grief. “Grief is more than just the people we have lost, but it could also be related to the things that we have lost along the way. It’s also the feeling of losing inspiration and motivation,” Silvestre said. Silvestre and Portuguez shared that the feeling of numbness and languishing is a common feeling. It’s the uncertainty and the in-between of feeling okay and not okay. According to Portuguez, in order to fight the feeling of languishing to flourish, one must practice self-compassion, selflove and self-care. Youth leaders Provincial Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President Christine Dizon and Tarlac City SK Federation President Genise Anne P. Delos Reyes also shared their insights on mental health awareness. Both leaders mentioned the importance of taking

care of oneself by understanding one’s feelings and emotions. By validating one’s feelings, a person is able to find ways to heal and cope. It is important to let someone know that they are not alone when it comes to facing these mental health issues. Asking someone how they are today – a simple ‘kumusta’ – will go a long way. The youth of Tarlac echoed the critical role of mental health in one’s holistic growth and development. Through the conversations on mental health awareness, the youth shared inspirational messages of empathy and hope. These included the messages of not being alone, of having a social support system and a safe space; of self-love and self-care by prioritizing one’s mental health. PLDT and Smart’s trade partners in Tarlac province, Netwire Specialists, Inc., CKC, Inc. and Infinireach, Inc., contributed to the success of the event. “We purposely designed the event to be multi-sectoral where each stakeholder contributed to the event structure, execution and eventually the outcome,” revealed Smart AVP and Head for Government Relations Jose Lukban Rosete. Better Today is PLDT and Smart’s collaborative platform for changemaking in the digital space. The program emphasizes the companies’ commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly UN SDG #3: Good Health and Well-Being.

Global consumers have transformed to become digital, health-driven, eco-friendly, and price-sensitive

HE recently conducted webinar entitled, “Career and Business Opportunities in Pursuing Culinary Arts,” revealed that global consumers have positively transformed and have now become more digital, health-driven, ecofriendly, and price sensitive. There is a huge growth in the plantforward eating patterns as consumers tend to become more health-conscious. People are trying to look for alternative protein and the best option for their food as well, said industry leader Joey Garcia, President of Eight-8-Ate Holdings Inc. Conti’s Specialty Foods Inc. “Their purchasing behavior has evolved in becoming more attentive with organizations that provide sustainable efforts which will eventually benefit both the community and the environment,” Garcia added.

The webinar aims to instill awareness and inspire both parents and students to be involved in careers related to culinary arts. Aside from Garcia, the event also featured respected Wenphil Corporation (Wendy’s), and Masuma Food Industry, and a group of Enderun alumni namely Jeston Chua, Chef de Cuisine of Common Abode, Matthew Lim, CEO of Baked by Machew, and Managing Partner of Burnt Bamboo and CargoFish, and Danielle Millanes, CEO and Owner of Cafe Gorda, and Fetes and Folk. Chua worked at Belon in Hong Kong with Daniel Calvert from mid-2016 to the beginning of 2019 and took up the role of Junior Sous Chef. During the time he was there, the restaurant was recognized as one of the 50 best restaurants in Asia for the first time and earned its first

Michelin star. In 2019, he moved to Tokyo, Japan for a year to gain more international experience in both INUA and Signature at the Mandarin Oriental Tokyo. Meanwhile, Lim has worked with renowned chefs in Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee, a three-Michelin star restaurant in Paris. After graduating, he then worked his way up to become an Executive Sous Chef for 4 years. Then he started his business in 2017 and is now managing two brands with branches in the cities of Taguig and Pasig. Millanes shared her internship experiences in New York, USA at ABC Kitchen by Jean Georges Vongerichten. She came home in 2019 to work for their family business in the restaurant, events, and catering industry. During the pandemic, she started home baking and started Cafe Gorda and Le Fou, a mobile bar for banquets. In the 2nd year into the pandemic, she has also started a gifting studio called Fêtes & Folk. Garcia, with over 30 years of professional experience in the F&B sector, advised aspiring students, “Expand your horizons in many ways. Not only will it help you become a professional chef, but it will also give you a deeper appreciation for food as culture, food as art, your health, and more—all of which you can pass on to your customers through your culinary efforts.” The event was moderated by Jose Gaerlan, Senior Manager of Enderun Extension and Chef Instructor at École Ducasse Manila at Enderun Colleges.

GCash moves closer to ‘Finance for All’ vision with 44 M users, 2.5 M merchants

S more Filipinos embrace cashless transactions for safety and convenience amidst the shift we are currently experiencing, GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, cements its position as the staple mobile wallet in the country as it continues to grow its merchants to 2.5 million and its subscriber base by 44 million, equivalent to 40 percent of the Filipino population having a GCash account. This was revealed during the recent discussion on “Fintech's Role in Empowering Businesses of All Sizes.” GCash Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Frederic Levy discussed how digital transformations are being integrated in businesses. Levy underscored that GCash has played a key role in the Philippine economy during the pandemic. As some businesses have been forced to close their physical stores, their access to digital payment through GCash has enabled the economy to keep on moving. The GCash app has an extensive ecosystem of products for its consumers’ everyday payments and transfers, savings and investments to lifestyle benefits. “There is clearly an appetite for Filipinos now to jump into digitalization of any financial aspect,” said Levy. For the businesses choosing a financial technology solution, Levy emphasized that a payment provider should be aware of their business’ unique needs and challenges for it to provide relevant solutions such as cashless payment acceptance, disbursement platforms, and digital advertising and marketing support. Growing businesses can transition from

FREDERIC LEVY, GCash Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) phone numbers to QR Codes to accommodate their consumer’s demands. Apart from businesses, GCash is also strengthening its e-government platform for users to pay more fees and bills through the app. GCash has also been in constant cooperation with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in pushing for a more inclusive finance for Filipinos. GCash is now shifting the perspective of businesses and consumers towards digital space and its possibilities. “GCash is starting to become embedded in the life of Filipinos and its impact is felt across all forms of digitalization in the country,” Levy said. With only 1 in 3 Filipinos who have access to a bank account or any other financial services and the painstaking challenge of the pandemic, the need for fintech to address these pain points has been revealed to which GCash stepped up and provided more accessible and easier to understand products and services to continue their ‘Finance for All’ vision.

MPIC champions ESG, features global experts in first Group Sustainability Summit

ETRO Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) assembled an impressive line-up of global environmental, social and governance experts in their first-ever Group Sustainability Summit held virtually last August 6. The summit was attended by over 300 participants composed of MPIC’s and MVP Group Companies’ Board of Directors and Senior Management as well as sustainability champions across all of MPIC’s businesses. The summit was designed to bring key issues such as climate change, sustainability reporting standards, investor expectations and emerging global trends, at the forefront of senior management’s agenda. “Sustainability is the hot topic today and we all know that climate risk has steadily risen in our risk management boards. However, most of us will probably want to have a fuller understanding of what sustainability means and how it may impact the way we manage our companies,” said MPIC President and CEO Jose Ma. K. Lim as he opened the Summit. “I think the more interesting parts are the discussions on sustainable financing options and the changing expectations of shareholders and investors from management of their investing companies. I hope all the attendees find the topics stimulating and helpful in our journey towards a truly sustainable business model for each of our companies and for our country.” “The group has a very strong social ethic beyond our traditional role of providing goods and services for a profit. The major metric by which our success should be measured is how well we uplift the lives of our people,” said MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan. “I think we have the ability to push the sustainability agenda ahead of other corporates in this country. I’m glad that this summit sends an affirmative but resounding message that it is time to really be serious about these sustainability programs within our group and within the business community in general in the Philippines.” MPIC purposely partnered with established institutions who graciously shared their insights during the summit. Neil Stewart, Director of Corporate Outreach at the Value Reporting Foundation,

spoke about the importance of global reporting standards and how the merging of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) is a major step in driving the global alignment of reporting standards. EY Leader for Climate Change and Sustainability Services and Oceania Chief Sustainability Officer Mathew Nelson stressed the importance of going beyond compliance as he discussed EY’s Global Climate Risk Disclosure Barometer. Brendan Baker, Vice President and ESG Climate Specialist at MSCI, discussed the value of forward-looking, return-based quantification of climate change risks. BSR Vice President for Asia-Pacific Jeremy Prepscius led the panel on “Transformation to Net Zero” with co-panelists Melissa Brown, Partner at Daobridge Capital and the Director for Group Sustainability of an established player in the power industry in Asia. Speakers from S&P Global’s Sustainable1, Michael Salvatico, Head of Asia Pacific ESG Business Development and Bertrand Jabouley, Head of Sustainable Finance, AsiaPacific, covered global emerging ESG trends and sustainable financing options. MPIC Investors M&G Investments represented by Ben Constable-Maxwell, Head of Impact Investing and Michael Bourke, Head of Global Emerging Markets and Fund Manager commended the group’s impressive metrics in human capital excellence as well as its efforts as a strategic partner of the government in helping improve lives in the Philippines. They also shared their expectations on environmental, social and governance matters from their investee companies. Yayu Javier, United Nations Global Compact Network Philippines (UNGCP) Chairperson highlighted key sustainability areas of focus where MPIC and UNCGCP can jointly make meaningful contributions in. As a leading infrastructure investment company, MPIC is committed to contributing to the achievement of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with SDG #9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure as its anchor.

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TB diagnosis increases chances of acquiring Covid-19 infection By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

f you have any of these symptoms—a cough that lasts for more than three weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood, feeling tired, night sweats, chills, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss—it is time for you to see a doctor. These are the symptoms of tuberculosis (TB). It is caused by the bacteria spreading through the air. You will be at risk of having TB if your family member, friend, or co-worker has active TB. You are also likely to get TB if you are a smoker. The DOH also noted that males and smokers, the elderly, and those who were previously treated of the disease are the top three groups that most vulnerable to TB in the Philippines. Smoking, according to HealthJustice Philippines Board Member and Former Secretary of Health Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, is very dangerous to lung health. He said that smoking can also cause many serious chronic diseases of the lung. He said that TB is an airborne bacterial infection and is transmitted through coughing or sneezing particles into the air.

Passive and active exposure

In a review of different studies conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), it concluded that: “This review indicates that passive or active exposu re to tobacco smoke is significantly associated with tuberculous infection and tuberculosis disease. Active smoking is significantly associated with recurrent tuberculosis and tuberculosis mortality.” It added that “opportunities must be created within the health care system to provide every TB patient, who is a smoker, encouragement and help them overcome the tobacco addiction. In addition every TB patient who is not a smoker must be made aware of the consequences of being exposed to secondhand smoke.” “Smokers should quit to reduce the risk of lung infections,” Dr. GalvezTan said. Globally, the Philippines has the third highest incidence of TB cases with approximately one million individuals currently living with TB.

Quitting the bad habit

It may be noted that when the pandemic broke out, HealthJustice Philippines was quick to advise smokers to quit the bad habit. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has made both smoking and e-cigarette cessation more difficult. But Dr. Galvez-Tan said that living a smoke-free lifestyle for a better immune system should not be derailed by the pandemic. He said the national government should enact stricter smokefree laws to protect the people from secondhand and tobacco smoke as

part of the health measures of the government. “Another problem with smoking, vaping and exposure to secondhand hand smoke and aerosols is that they increase risks associated with Covid-19 virus transmission.” Dr Galvez-Tan said.

Drop in number of reported cases

The Department of Health (DOH) reported the drastic reduction in the number of TB cases reported to the DOH. Dr. Ana Marie Celina Garfin, medical specialist and program manager of the DOH National TB Control Program, said TB cases dropped by 35 percent in 2020. “Fewer reported cases means that many Filipinos with TB are left untreated and may spread the infection to their loved ones,” Garfin said. The Philippines has the highest TB incidence rate in Asia, with 554 cases per 100,000 people.

Media’s role on TB treatment awareness

The DOH and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) opened recently a media fellowship grant for Filipino journalists to produce stories that help TB care get back on track. Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, director of DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, cited the important role of the Philippine media in setting the public health agenda. “Universal health care is difficult to explain. But your stories can help our fellow Filipinos realize that getting access to proper health care at the right time at the right place is possible,” said Dr. Ho. The grant initiative is managed by Evident Strategic Research and Consulting Inc. Evident carried out a media scanning of TB reporting in the Philippines and revealed that the mention of TB in mass media and social media increased threefold in 2020 with most stories and posts linking TB with Covid-19. Out of over 5,000 articles scanned, 641 stories were analyzed to determine the compliance of journalists to the global USAID TB health reporting guidelines. “We found that many stories lack messaging on the call to action. What should people do? This is what we hope to achieve with this media grant program,” said Raya Albarece, Evident project manager, sharing a handy guide on responsible TB coverage for journalists. Under the grant, 20 journalists will receive a seed fund to develop in-depth reports about the urgency to find and start on treatment as many Filipinos with TB as possible. DOH and USAID’s TB Innovations and Health Systems Strengthening Project launched the #TBFreePH Journalists’ Grant on TB Coverage on July 1 and held an online training workshop for over 100 journalists.

RT-PCR now more affordable thanks to Manila HealthTek

ith the Philippines classified as a “high risk” area for the spread of Covid-19, one of the ways of controlling the spread is to conduct more testing. To help the country with this new wave of threats, Manila HealthTek (MTek), the country’s first and only biotech company in diagnostics, is reducing the prices of its reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing at its laboratory in Marikina and remote testing site in Manila from P2,950 to P2,650. Results will be emailed in 24 hours. For those who need their results in 12 hours, the rate is P3,400. “We want to ease the financial burden brought by Covid-19 pandemic to Filipinos. We encourage even those vaccinated to have themselves tested whenever they are experiencing symptoms,” said Dr. Raul Destura, founder and CEO of MTek. MTek Labs Station is located at 86 Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue, Sta. Elena, Marikina. Appointment slots will be between 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. To book an appointment, call 0917-8057331. The remote testing site in Manila is located at Palacio de Manila park-

ing lot located at Barangay 699, MH Del Pilar Street in Ermita, Manila. Appointment slots will be between 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The number to call to book an appointment is 0917-1227250. Its home service remains at an affordable rate of 2,950 pesos for a minimum of three persons. Testing outside Metro Manila will also be accepted for a minimal charge. Discounts are also given to senior citizens and PWDs with valid IDs. To book a home service appointment, call 0917-1625531 or 09171425325 preferably three days before the preferred testing date. Alternately, links for online booking are provided at MTek’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/mteklabs. “Please continue protecting yourselves with the standard set of protocols—appropriate use of face masks, social distancing, washing of hands, improved ventilation and vaccination. Viruses do not mutate if there are no transmissions. Curbing transmission is the key,” Dr. Destura said. For more information, go to manila-healthtek.com, email talk2us@ manila-healthtek.com or call 09178057331.

Thursday, August 12, 2021 B7

Diabetes can be managed, controlled with ‘Apat Dapat’ By Rory Visco

Contributor

nother lockdown, more weeks of quarantine where no one can go out except when buying essential items or for medical needs, remains to be a cause of concern. Little do people know that being holed at home can also cause some health-related effects. The tendency of staying at home with mostly no physical exercises to do may lead people to discover alternative, even unhealthy, activities—eating, for example—since many will resort to binge-watching on TV or play games to while away their time. But this can be disastrous and can cause ailments such as joint pain (lack of mobility) or worse, diabetes, because of uncontrolled eating. Unfortunately, with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic that still persists up to this day, diabetes is among those ailments that go unnoticed and most of the time ignored. Diabetes is a serious and chronic metabolic disease characterized by an increase in blood sugar levels, and has become one of the major causes of death in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (2021), diabetes has claimed 37,265 lives last year (2020) despite the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic.

Controllable, manageable

While diabetes is deadly and taken for granted, not a lot of people

know that it can still be controlled and managed if only patients will stick to the healthcare management and other forms of treatment prescribed by their doctor, according to Dr. Aurora Macaballug, Board Member and Chair of the Advocacy Committee of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PSEDM). During the recent webinar entitled “Mga Ano at Bakit ng Diabetes” organized by PSEDM, the Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators (PADE), MSD in the Philippines and Mercury Drug Corporation (MDC), the goal was to raise awareness about diabetes and advocate for greater medication adherence to improve patient outcomes among Filipinos with diabetes, as part of MSD’s Kontrolado Ko, Diabetes Ko (KKDK) campaign.

Four pillars

According to Dr. Macaballug, four elements have to be met to successfully manage diabetes. Dubbed as “Apat Dapat,” patients can take control of their condition by going through the four pillars which are exercise, proper diet, regular intake of diabetes medication/insulin, and regular consul-

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tations with a physician. This last pillar can be challenging primarily because it would mean going out, but tele-consult is available and can be a replacement. Adherence is important, Dr. Macaballug said, which means taking prescribed medication with the right dose and frequency. She said it is also one of the four pillars of PSEDM’s advocacy to managing diabetes. And while the patient is largely responsible in adhering to “Apat Dapat,” she said that healthcare providers recognize the need for more proactive support. “Managing one’s diabetes is not easy. That’s why we try to help people cope with the illness through more proactive support, beginning with education,” said diabetes nurse educator and PADE President Leyden Florido. “The more they know about their disease, the better they’re equipped to cope and manage it.” Pha r macists have a lso e xpanded their support for diabetes patients during the pandemic, as they have become one of the more accessible healthcare professionals in the community.

“We can help patients understand the dangers of chronic diseases like diabetes and the importance of prevention and adherence,” said Mercury Drug representative and pharmacist Nellie Calipjo. “The adherence by the patient requires a lifestyle change and will be better accepted if access to medicine, counseling, and other care items are readily available. This is the inspiration behind our Get Well Diabetes Care Hub, a one-stop-shop section in select Mercury Drug stores dedicated to the needs of patients with diabetes,” she added. In the end, the best outcomes for people with diabetes will depend on the changes they make to their lifestyles to follow prescribed treatments. Through the Kontrolado Ko, Diabetes Ko campaign, MSD continues to collaborate with medical societies and the health care industry to remind Filipinos about the importance of making impactful changes to one’s lifestyle to manage diabetes and promote better health outcomes.

Covid-19 inspires creation of superior, cost-effective biomedical devices

uring the “Stop Covid Deaths” webinar by the University of the Philippines titled “Laging Handa: World Class Filipino Covid-19 Innovations,” it presented various innovations in healthcare management, all locally made with local materials, to help in the fight against Covid-19 as well as other ailments or applications in other sectors in the future to help revolutionize medical care in the Philippines. Last week, the device featured was SaniPod, a no touch self-contained disinfection cubicle designed to protect frontliners coming out of heavily infected Covid areas with their PPEs. Now taking the spotlight are more innovative medical equipment under Project SIBOL (Surgical Innovation and Biotechnology Laboratory).

run for eight hours, which is a regular healthcare worker’s shift, must be lightweight, cost effective and breath responsive as well because different tasks require different demands for ventilation. So far, there are three prototypes of the PAPR, he said, with two different iterations and five performance validation tests—particulate air filtration, breath responsiveness test, noise level testing, communication performance test, donning and doffing procedures. The SIBOL PAPR is at par with foreign brands regarding filtration, the highest range of airflow available in the market today, long battery life, lightweight, breath responsive and is more affordable and can be used in other sectors as well and easy to mass produce.

The PAPR

myBESHIE

According to Dr. Samuel Arsenio Grozman, Clinical Associate Professor, PGH Orthopedics, the PAPR, or Powered Air Purifying Respirator, is a PPE and a Respirator rolled into one. A PAPR is a kind of respirator that protects the user from outside contaminants by filtering the air using a battery-powered blower and provide the user with clean air through a tight-fitting respirator, a loose-fitting hood or helmet. It has three components—the filter, the blower and the hood. Contaminated air enters through a HEPA filter and is removed by the PAPR filter. The filtered air is then pushed through the face plate. The PAPR is used mainly in environments with particulate generation, when there are organic aerosol particles that can lead to infection. Aside from healthcare workers, it can also be used by firemen, military, laboratory and even welders. Why use a PAPR? Dr. Grozman said it has superior assigned protection factor, it is comfortable to use and no fit testing is required, but it will be more cost effective in the long run. An ideal PAPR should

The my Bot Ensuring Safety and Health in Isolated Environments or “myBESHIE” is a telepresence service connected wirelessly with or without internet to help healthcare providers interact with isolated patients remotely. Dr. Nathaniel Orillaza, Jr., Associate Professor, PGH Orthopedics, said that the inspiration for myBESHIE was physical distancing. Before, doctors should wear PPEs when approaching patients but their voices become muffled since patients want to talk to doctors as much as possible. It’s best used in dangerous areas where personal or face-to-face visits are not allowed. The service has been used for decades already but not in the healthcare situation such as the Covid pandemic where healthcare personnel need to limit contact with patients and PPE supplies were dangerously low. The devices that are currently available are prohibitively priced if brought here, and were designed to assume that internet service is reliable, which is still a problem in the country, according to Dr. Orillaza. So SIBOL, with the support of

UP Manila and UP Diliman College of Engineering, assembled a team of clinicians, engineers, artists and scientists to brainstorm on solutions. The early prototypes saw action in Covid areas or ICUs where doctors can talk to patients without having to be present in the area, and was helpful to elderly patients in isolation who are both physically and technologically challenged. It can be used in hospitals for bedside visits, Tele-Kumusta between patients and relatives, and clergy visits for spiritual healing and counseling. It can also be used on a wider scale in local health centers, community isolation facilities, and even home-based care. “Overall. it has not just become an innovation by the team but also by the community,” he said. Lately, the team was able to develop another prototype with upgraded features like no-touch operation and it can move on its own, no tech knowhow required, and can work with or without internet connection. “For us, we know that nothing can replace personal care, but this shouldn’t stop us from thinking of other solutions that can be very helpful in order to enhance our role as healthcare workers and not necessarily replace us.” For the next prototype, Dr. Orillaza added that they are now looking at using sensors (vital signs monitoring), modules for assisting, and Artificial Intelligence for autonomous monitoring of patients. “We’re looking at ‘Cobots’ or Collaborative Robots that can collaborate with healthcare workers. Hopefully this will lead to solving a lot of problems in providing universal healthcare even in the farthest of regions.”

A breath of relief with GINHAWA

It is a compact, safe and effective ventilator designed for use of both children and adult Covid-19 patients confined in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), affordable, battery-powered

and easy to operate, and can be used in ambulances when transporting patients. Dr. Abundio Balgos, President and CEO, The Health Centrum Hospital and Wellness Center, Roxas City, Capiz said the saga of developing a low-cost, bag-in-a-box ventilator started in 1983. It stopped for several years and only resumed in 2011 when they got a grant from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) to create a newer, better ventilator together with critical care specialists, biomedical engineers and technicians and software specialists. “We did a lot of bench testings for several prototypes over the years with different valves and tubings and came up with three prototypes,” he said. Dr. Balgos said the simplest and most affordable is the Ginhawa I, an ICU ventilator but can be used for transport or home use. Then came Ginhawa II, a mid-level ventilator cost-wise but with functions of a Ginhawa III prototype minus the touch-screen control knobs and waveforms. Finally, the Ginhawa III is the top-of-the-line model similar to expensive ICU ventilators, with touch-screen and waveforms display. The onset of the pandemic created a scramble for low-cost ventilators. However, the safety of patients should not be sacrificed in creating ventilators. The parts should all be medical grade, and the product should be absolutely safe and efficacious. “All ventilators should go through international standards that looks not only at quality of the materials used but also the processes and even emissions, leachables in condensates, alarm systems, etc.” Dr. Balgos said clinical trials they will commence in one to two months and will use the smaller Ginhawa I with simple operating knobs, but when attached to a heated humidifier and a touch screen, it can perform functions similar to more expensive ventilators. Rory Visco

Sports

WANTED: HOUSE OF POC, EDUCATION FOR BOXERS T

BusinessMirror

| Thursday, August 12, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

PAYBACK IN VEGAS

TALK about training and Senator Manny Pacquiao is relentless. COURTESY WENDELL ALINEA

By Josef Ramos

T will be payback time in the Nevada desert for Senator Manny Pacquiao when he fights Cuba’s Yordenis Ugás still on August 21 (August 22 in Manila). “The proper way and the only way to win a world title is inside the ring,” Pacquiao said in an Associated Press report on Wednesday. The 35-year-old Ugás was elevated to welterweight super champion in the World Boxing Association’s byzantine championship system last January after Pacquiao was abruptly stripped of the belt for inactivity. The WBA stripped last January 30 the former eight-division world champion of his super welterweight belt which he won from Keith Thurman via split decision two years ago also in Las Vegas for not figuring in a single fight in 2020. Pacquiao, 42, quickly agreed to shift his focus to Ugás after

Nuclear Bomb blows up field

UCLEAR Bomb exploded behind Pabs Cabalejo’s masterful riding to win the first leg of the prestigious Triple Crown series at the San Lazaro Business and Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite, over the weekend. Sired by Oh Oh Seven out of Ha yley Rebecca, Nuclear Bomb left the rest of the field eating dirt in the last 250 meters to rule the 1,600-meter rain-drenched race in one minute and 40 seconds (quarter times 24-24-24-27). Nuclear Bomb gave his connections—owner Gabriel Gaerlan and trainer Conrado “Dodek” Vicente—the top prize of P2.1-million, with War Cannon settling for the P700,000 second place prize. “I knew the victory was there when we got past War Cannon starting from the final 500 meters,” said Cabalejo, who rode his first Triple Crown race. “I’m so happy with this win that I cannot describe the way I feel.” Liquid Gold kept the pace early, but faded amid the blistering run Nuclear Bomb and War Cannon set. In the end, the race was reduced to a battle between the eventual top two finishers with Nuclear Bomb flashing the form that won for his connection last month’s Road to the Triple Crown. Late-charging Kevlar came in third for P350,000 and Kaparkan Falls salvaged fourth for P17,000. Rounding out the money list were Stayinthemoment (P105,000) and Hook On D Run (P70,000). Alay Sa Atleta, an organization supporting the country’s para athletes, donated the prizes.

Errol Spence Jr. announced on Wednesday his withdrawal from the fight because of a retinal tear in his left eye. “It’s definitely a huge disappointment,” MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons told BusinessMirror also on Wednesday. “But things happen in boxing, it is not unusual and you have to make something out of that bad situation.” With Spence out, Pacquiao won’t be aiming for a legacy fight. Instead, it will be payback for the Filipino boxing icon. But Gibbons said Ugás could pose as a tough customer in the fight set at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “Ugás is a very tough WBA super champion…he holds our belt that they [WBA] gave him,” Gibbons said. “So basically, the Senator will get his title back, which they took it away from him.” Pacquiao (62-7-2 win-lossdraw record with 39 knockouts) told his fans to pray for Spence’s fast recovery in a statement relayed by his American publicist

Fred Sternberg. “I ask everyone to join me in praying for a full and complete recovery for Errol Spence,” Pacquiao said. “Thank God his physical examination discovered his eye condition before he suffered any further damage.” The Nevada State Athletic Commission’s physical examination revealed Spence’s injury, barring him from fighting Pacquiao in the FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View showdown. “I’m very disappointed that I won’t be able to fight Pacquiao,’’ Spence said in a statement. “I was excited about the fight and the event. Unfortunately, the doctors found a tear in my left eye and said I needed to get surgery on it ASAP and that there was no way I could fight with my eye in that condition.” “I’d like to apologize to everyone. You know I’ll be back soon. We’ve come back from worse,” he added. Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) was supposed to stake his World Boxing Council and International

Boxing Federation welterweight titles in the fight. Spence had surgery at home in Texas on Wednesday to repair the tear. Ugás (26-4, 12 KOs) was scheduled to make his first career defense of his WBA title versus Fabian Maidana on the undercard of Pacquiao’s meeting with Spence, but the Cuban Olympic bronze medal winner instead will get the biggest showcase of his upand-down professional career. Ugás has won three straight fights, and he claimed the first version of his WBA title with a split-decision victory over Abel Ramos in his most recent bout last September. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Pacquiao, but I am coming to win this fight,” Ugás said in a statement. “Everyone knows my story about how I came to America to follow my dreams of becoming a world champion, and now it’s time to stamp my legacy with a victory as one of the best Cuban fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves.” With AP

HE Olympics yielded the best out of the nation’s athletes and at the same time reared a bucket list of what needs to be addressed following the successful 1-2-1 gold-silver-bronze medal haul in Tokyo. Tops on the list are academic scholarships the medal-winning boxers in Tokyo clamored for and a permanent home for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), which, according to its chief, has been an “informal settler” since its establishment in 1911. “We hope that schools will now recognize our effort as boxers and that as athletes, we also want to complete a college education,” men’s middleweight bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial told Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. “If I had my way, I could have attended college, but because no school or college, and no collegiate league holds boxing competitions, I had no choice but to focus on my sport,” Marcial added. Men’s flyweight silver medalist Carlo Paalam, also a dropout having been a scavenger in his young days in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro, had the same sentiment. “Hopefully, upcoming boxers get that chance to train and practice boxing while also getting a college education at the same time,” Paalam said. The country’s top collegiate leagues—University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association—maintains combat sports like taekwondo and judo in their programs. But never boxing. Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, meanwhile, wanted the POC to have a permanent home, now that sports has proven its worth after the Tokyo Olympics success. “After 97 years, we have already delivered the first [Olympic] gold [and multi-medal]. But after 97 years, I am still sad that the POC remains without its own building, it’s still an informal settler,” Tolentino said. He envisions the headquarters to be a three-story building with the ground floor

housing a museum, the second floor the administrative offices and the third floor a multi-purpose level. Tolentino said a most ideal location could be the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, which is government-owned. “What the POC needs is just a small piece of government land,” he said. “We hope that the government could give us that land, and the POC will take care of funding the building from its friends and supporters from the private sector.” Tolentino said it would be difficult for the athletes to inspire Filipinos if they don’t have a permanent headquarters where their medals and memorabilia would be prominently displayed. “I have a request to our beloved President [Duterte] to allow us inside the CCP Complex to have an office, which is very wide and near, compared with Clark in Pampanga,” he added. Tolentino couldn’t keep his frustrations when he revealed in the forum that officials of the Philippine International Convention Center turned down the POC’s request last February to set up a “staging area or war room” for the Tokyo Olympics campaign. “It’s saddening because PICC turned down our request to have a small room in the facility,” Tolentino said. “The POC’s request was for us to rent a room, and not to get it for free.” As a result, Tolentino said the POC, through chef de mission Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, had to hold dozens of meetings in different restaurants around Metro Manila. “Our office at the PhilSports Complex [Pasig City] remained closed because of the pandemic,” he said. “Good thing, our sacrifices paid off with Hidilyn’s [Diaz] gold medal and the two silvers and one bronze.” “Hopefully, they would realize that by now,” he added. Josef Ramos

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino with boxing silver medalist Carlo Paalam.

‘Chooks’ ups stake in Southern Finals

HOOKS-TO-GO has once again upped the stakes in the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup by staking a P1 million cash prize for the winner of the Southern Finals between Mindanao champion Jumbo Plastic-Basilan and Visayas titlist KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue. The runner-up gets P500,000. The best-of-five Finals series begins on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Pagadian City Gymnasium in Zamboanga del Sur. The games will be played everyday until a champion is crowned. “After some delays due to the ongoing pandemic, we have finally reached the Southern Finals,” said Ronald Mascariñas, President and General Manager of Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. which produces

Chooks-to-Go. “To reward the sacrifices of the teams and the players, we beefed up the prize money.” “Personally, I have been waiting for this game as the league has brought out the best in the Visayas and Mindanao regions,” added Mascariñas, a native of Butuan City. “We are happy with this partnership with Chooks-to-Go because they have supported our vision of promoting talents in the Visayas and Mindanao regions,” VisMin Cup Chief Operations Officer Rocky Chan said. “The additional prize money will truly inspire both Basilan and KCS to do their best and put on a show.” Chooks-to-Go gave P500,000 to the winners and P100,000 to the second-placers in the Visayas and

Signing of Messi sends PSG into new dimension

ARIS—By securing the prized signing of Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain moved into a new dimension with a player widely considered to be one of the all-time greats of the game. The 34-year-old Argentine forward, who joined on a two-year deal on Tuesday with an option for a third year, will be presented to a 50,000 crowd at Parc des Princes before the game against Strasbourg on Saturday. He strengthens a glittering attack that includes his friend Neymar, his countryman Angel Di Maria, and France’s star striker Kylian Mbappe. “Everything about the club matches my football ambitions,” Messi said. “I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans.” Ten years after Javier Pastore was unveiled as PSG’s first marquee signing for €42 million

($49 million), Messi joined on a free transfer after bidding a tearful farewell to Barcelona on Sunday. Messi’s net salary of €35 million ($41 million) is less than Neymar’s (€37 million/$43.4 million). After taking over at PSG in June 2011, cash-rich investors QSI now boast one of the best squads in European soccer, having already signed Italy’s Euro 2020-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, veteran Spanish defender Sergio Ramos and former Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum on free transfers. One transfer outlay was the hefty €60 million ($71 million) it spent on Achraf Hakimi from Italian champion Inter Milan. He is arguably the best attacking right back in Europe and scored a fine goal on his league debut.

Mindanao legs. Basilan heads into the Southern Finals armed with a 10-game winning streak after topping the Mindanao leg. The team beat Petra Cement-Roxas, 89-70, to sweep the leg’s race-to-two finals last Monday. KCS last played on May 9 when it beat heavily-favored MJAS Zenith-Talisay in Game Three of the Visayas finals. Mandaue, however, will not have Finals MVP Ping Exciminiano, All-Visayas team member Gryann Mendoza and Al Francis Tamsi in the Southern Finals. “It does not matter who wins the championship,” Mascariñas said. “In our hearts, they are all champions inspiring their respective basketball fans in the Visayas and Mindanao.”

LIONEL MESSI waves to his fans from his hotel balcony in Paris. AP

Qatari-backed PSG has been desperate to win the Champions League, falling just short when it lost the 2020 final to Bayern Munich. Now, with Messi on board, it has arguably the strongest attack in the game. Eager fans waited at Le Bourget airport on Tuesday afternoon and broke into chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi! as he waved from a window wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with ”Ici C’est Paris” (This Is Paris)—a favorite chant among fans. His arrival surpasses the fanfare of Neymar’s world-record signing for €222 million ($261 million) from Barcelona in 2017, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s brazenly self-promoting presentation by the Eiffel Tower in 2012. Their transfers boosted TV viewing figures considerably, with broadcaster Canal Plus getting a 40 percent increase for Neymar’s first few games. AP