BusinessMirror August 19, 2022 by BusinessMirror

B S A  A C Bloomberg

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PESO E xchang E rat ES n US 55.8260 n jaPan 0.4132 n UK 67.2815 n h K 7.1178 n ch I na 8.2333 n SI nga P O r E 40.4097 n aUS t ral I a 38.7153 n EU 56.8141 n KO r E a 0.0425 n S aU DI arab I a 14.8707 Source: BSP (August 18, 2022) Adjusted 7.4% Q2 growth signals decline–think tank A broader look at today’s business www.businessmirror.com.ph n Friday, August 19, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 315 P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 22 pages | 7 dAys A week BusinessMirror

THE House of Representatives on Wednesday ended the 18th Congress, highlighting its 3-year achievements, including laws to help the country navigate through and emerge stronger from the Covid-19 pandemic. In his valedictory speech, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said the 18th Congress was a key and and strengthened our political and governmental institutions. “Despite the many challenges that happened during my tenure as your Speaker, we have risen and proven ourselves to be One Congress, ready to serve our people,” Velasco told his colleagues. “One Congress, ready to scrutinize the national budget, to pass laws, to conduct hearings, to provide oversight on the implementation of laws, and to generally make News

PANDEMIC CHALLENGE MARKS 18TH CONGRESS BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business www.businessmirror.com.ph P.  |     | 7 DAYS A WEEK■ Thursday, June 2, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 237 2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year 2021 Pro Patria Award PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS PHL to fix weak spots in path to $500-B dream ‘PHL’S H2 GROWTH RESTS ON NEW ECONOMIC TEAM’ S “PHL,”

NONOY LACZA By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) chose the more aggressive path to monetary policy tightening, as it unleashed a fresh 50-basis-point hike in its main benchmark rates on Thursday. In the monetary policy virtual press briefing, BSP Governor Felipe Medalla said the decision came as their latest baseline forecast for in flation has shifted higher for 2022. Medalla said the Monetary Board decided to raise the inter est rate on the BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase facility by 50 basis points to 3.75 percent, effec tive August Accordingly,19. the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lend ing facilities were raised to 3.25 percent and 4.25 percent, respec tively.Just last month, the BSP also tightened its monetary policy via an off-cycle hike of 75 basis points. Medalla has been telling markets since that they will still likely hike rates in their August meeting by either 25 or 50 basis points. According to the latest BSP pro jections announced on Thursday, average inflation is projected to further deviate from the 2 to 4 percent target range of the govern ment for the year at 5.4 percent. In their June meeting, the BSP’s forecast for 2022 inflation was to average at 5 percent.

OWednesday as adjourned sine die the third regular session of the 18th Congress on the part of the Senate, capping what Minority Leader Franklin Drilon described as “one of the most productive sessions” of the chamber, a feat made remarkable by the fact that much of it was in a pandemic. His peers heaped praise on Sotto for his leadership, and lauded and thanked as well the seven matter conﬁ rmed by Drilon. Zubiri appears now to be the only likely candidate to stand for election as the next Senate President, after Sen. Cynthia Villar, earWITH EYE ON INFLATION, BSP HIKES RATES BY 50 BPS

PHILIPPINES’S incoming economic planning secretary Arsenio Balisacan plans to bolster the economy’s weak spots as he targets at least 6-percent annual growth throughout the term of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. e next administration must boost investment in agriculture and manufacturing and build infrastructure to grow the economy between 6-8 percent annually to 2028, Balisacan said in an interview Wednesday.Farm and industry output currently account for less than 40 percent of gross domestic product, while services contributes the majority. “I would like to see those weakest points as the priority of the administration,” said the 64-year-old, who’s currently chairman of the nation’s antitrustConsistentlycommission.growing at the rate of 6 percent for six years will make Philippines a half-a-trillion dollar economy, according to Bloomberg calculations.enation’s fi rst-quarter expansion of 8.3 percent is already among Asia’s fastest, thanks to the reopening from the pandemic. Still, Marcos’s team faces immediate challenges: infl ation is at its fastest in three years, budget deficit has widened and the global outlook has dimmed. Still, Balisacan said the economy can expand by at least 7 percent this year, within the official growth estimate, riding the recovery from the record contraction in 2020 due to the pandemic. He said he will push for more targeted support measures to ease infl ation’s burden on the poor while ensuring “tight” government fi nances are managed properly. “We can achieve more with less,” he said, adding that a review and streamlining of beneficiaries are needed. e nation also cannot afford removal of certain taxes on goods as proposed by some sectors, he said. Experienced economist BALISACAN will draw from his experience in crafting a new economic development plan. Before taking helm of the antitrust body, he served as economic planning secretary of the late president Benigno Aquino from 2012 to 2016. To sustain economic growth of at least 6 percent, the next administration must address red tape and build infrastructure needed to attract investment in manufacturing and agriculture, said Balisacan, who holds a PhD in Economics from the University of GivenHawaii.abudget deficit infl ated by pandemic-era support programs, companies and multilateral development agencies may be tapped to fi nance roads, rail and irrigation, he said. Balisacan helped manage the Aquino administration’s fl agship public-private partnership infraA

nEDa: SUStaInED grOWth SEalS hIgh-IncOME StatUS DSWD allots ₧500-M cash aid for indigent students See “BSP,” A2 T HE Philippine economy needs two more decades of high economic growth before it can finally consider it self a high-income country and make poverty a thing of the past, according to the National Economic and Development Au thority (Neda). In the 2022 Economic Jour nalists Association of the Phil ippines-San Miguel Corporation Economic Forum, Socioeconom ic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said rapid poverty reduction can only be achieved by sustaining a high level of economic growth. Balisacan noted that the same outcome can also be fa cilitated by a reduction in in equality of opportunities and a relatively low level of infla tion. In 2021, income inequal ity in the country as measured by the Gini coefficient was re duced to 0.4119 in 2021 from 0.4267 in “Expanding2018.the economic pie quickly and sustainably leads to more resources for social services like health and educa tion, better infrastructure like railways, ports, roads, and See “Neda,” A2 By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario T HE country's 7.4-percent GDP growth in the second quarter should not make Filipinos complacent that the econ omy is on the mend, according to a lo cal think tank. In its latest Market Call re port, First Metro Investment Cor poration-University of Asia and t he Pacific (FMIC-UA&P) Capital Market Research said the season ally adjusted growth in the second q uarter showed the economy is on theFurther,decline. the think tank said, challenges such as the rise in com modity prices as well as the impact of the US Federal Reserve's pending rate hikes on the peso could still imperil the economy's full recovery. “The continuation of easing of alert levels, removal of tourism restrictions, return to work and school, among other initiatives should support the economy which shows gradual recovery with respect to pre-pandemic performance,” the think tank said. “We should, however, avoid excessive enthu siasm over the Q2 performance.”

cabinet can handle the emerging scenario,” the reportOnestated.ofthe major risks that post the most uncertainty to the economy is the Russia-Ukraine war which will mark its rst 100 days. The war began in February 24 this year and will reach B J M N. D @joveemarie

THE performance of the Philippine economy in the second half of the year will rest squarely on the shoulders of the incoming administration’s economic team, according to a local think tank.

THE House of Representatives on Wednesday ended the 18th Congress, highlighting its 3-year achievements, including laws to help the country navigate through and emerge stronger from the Covid-19 pandemic. In his valedictory speech, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said the 18th Congress was a key and steady partner of President Duterte and strengthened our political and governmental institutions. “Despite the many challenges that happened during my tenure as your Speaker, we have risen and proven ourselves to be One Congress, ready to serve our people,” Velasco told his colleagues. “One Congress, ready to scrutinize the national budget, to pass laws, to conduct hearings, to provide oversight on the implementation of laws, and to generally make it easier for the next Congress and

THE BRP Melchora Aquino, the second of two multi-role response vessels procured by the Philippine government from Japan, is welcomed by the Philippine Coast Guard at the Port Area in Manila on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, completing its maiden voyage from Japan. Constructed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. in Japan, the ship, named after Tandang Sora, the Grand Woman of the Revolution during the Spanish colonial period, is part of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project of the Coast Guard. ROY DOMINGO B C U. O @caiordinario

In its latest Market Call report, First Metro Investment Corp. and University of Asia and the Paci c (FMIC-UA&P) Capital Markets Research said the growth momentum which gave rise to the 8.3-percent growth in the rst quarter will spill over to the second quarter. However, the performance of the economy in cabinet can handle the emerging scenario,” the reportOnestated.ofthe major risks that post the most uncertainty to the economy is the Russia-Ukraine war which will mark its rst 100 days. The war began in February 24 this year and will reach 100 days on June 3. FMIC-UA&P Capital Markets D C @joveemarie

Experienced economist BALISACAN will draw from his experience in crafting a new economic development plan. Before taking helm of the antitrust body, he served as economic planning secretary of the late president Benigno Aquino from 2012 to 2016. To sustain economic growth of at least 6 percent, the next administration must address red tape and build infrastructure needed to attract investment in manufacturing and agriculture, said Balisacan, who holds a PhD in Economics from the University of GivenHawaii.abudget deficit infl ated by pandemic-era support programs, companies and multilateral development agencies may be tapped to fi nance roads, rail and irrigation, he said. Balisacan helped manage the Aquino administration’s fl agship public-private partnership infrais welcomed by the Philippine Coast Guard at the Port Area in Manila on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, completing its maiden voyage from Japan. Constructed by Mit after Tandang Sora, the Grand Woman of the Revolution during the Spanish colonial period, is part of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project of the Coast Guard. ROY DOMINGO B C U. O @caiordinario THE performance of the Philippine economy in the second half of the year will rest squarely on the shoulders of the incoming administration’s economic team, according to a local think tank. Sotto closes ‘productive’ session; Zubiri next SP?

B S A  A C Bloomberg News

B J M N.

T he think tank noted that on a seasonally adjusted basis, the country’s GDP slightly contracted 0.1 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ). This was mainly due to the 2.7-percent contraction in House hold Final Consumption Expendi tures’ and the 0.4-percent decline i n Services growth. In terms of challenges, the group said, inflation is expected to aver age 6 percent in the second half of t he year. This, however, assumes that there would be a minor reduc tion in crude oil prices and there w ould be a slowdown in consumer spending.Thepeso is another concern as it has already depreciated by 8 per cent against the US dollar as of June 2 022. FMIC-UA&P Capital Market

Research said the US Fed's aggres sive policy rate hikes will maintain t he pressure on the peso. However, the think tank said the peso may have a little respite from its recent weakness as OFW remittances strengthened in the last quarter of the year. A weak peso may also not be good for net importing countries like the Philippines but, the think tank said, the peso depreciation will benefit the families of Over seas Filipino Workers (OFWs), Busi ness Process Outsourcing (BPO) f irms and the country's exporters. See “Adjusted,” A2

T HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has allocated P500 million to provide cash aid to indigent students to help them buy school supplies for the resumption of classes next week. In a press conference on Thurs day, Social Welfare Secretary Er win T. Tulfo disclosed the fund for the initiative will be sourced from their P42-billion budget for their Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. "This program is aimed to help our indigent students all over the country, which means to say that children coming from poor families will be given cash as sistance to buy their school sup plies or whatever that they need in school such as school supplies, school fees, uniform, shoes, etc.," TulfoThesaid.program will run from August 20, 2022 to September 24,Tulfo2022. noted that qualified beneficiaries or their parents must present enrollment cer tificate and school ID to DSWD office to avail themselves of the following cash aid: P1,000 for those elementary; P2,000 for those in high school; P3,000 for those in senior high school; and P4,000 for those in college or vocational course. See “DSWD,” A2

rEaDY FOr MOnDaY the Department of Education’s Public a ssistance command center (Pacc ) part of the department’s Oplan b alik Eskwela 2022, is seen on thursday, august 18, 2022, at DepEd headquarters in Pasig city. according to DepEd, the Pacc will handle “immediate virtual assistance to the public in answering queries, concerns, complaints and clarifications” about the resumption of face-to-face classes on Monday, august 22, 2022.

US AND TAIWAN BEGIN FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE INITIATIVE THE WORLD ›› A5 US AND TAIWAN BEGIN FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE INITIATIVE THE WORLD A5 US AND TAIWAN BEGIN FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE INITIATIVE THE WORLD ›› A5

sions” of the chamber, a feat made remarkable by the fact that much of it was in a pandemic. His peers heaped praise on Sotto for his leadership, and laudDrilon moved to elect Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri as the acting Senate President Pro Tempore from noon of June 30 until July 25, when the 19th Congress Earlier in the day, colleagues signaled that Zubiri had secured the “votes” of majority of senators who will sit in the 19th Senate, a matter conﬁ rmed by Drilon. Zubiri appears now to be the only likely candidate to stand for election as the next Senate Presi-

Samuel P. Medenilla

In contrasting, inflation forecasts for 2023 and 2023 have declined. Inflation for next year is now expected to hit 4 percent on average, down slightly from the 4.2-percent forecast in June. For 2024, inflation is expected to fall fur ther into the target range at 3.2 percent from t he 3.3-percent forecast in June. Despite this, Medalla said the increase in the 2022 inflation forecast showed that the inflation target still remains at risk over the policy horizon owing to broadening price pressures. Elevated inflation expectations likewise highlight the risk of further secondround effects. In assessing risks, the governor said upside risks also continue to dominate the inflation outlook up to 2023 due to the potential impact of higher global non-oil prices, the continued shortage in domestic fish supply, the sharp in crease in the price of sugar, as well a s pending petitions for transport fare“Forincreases.thesereasons, the Monetary Board deemed further monetary action to be necessary to anchor inflation expectations and avoid a further breach in the inflation target over the policy horizon. The favorable growth outcome in the first half of the year also gives the BSP the flexibility to act against inflation pressures while allowing domestic demand to sustain its re covery momentum amid prevailing he adwinds,” Medalla said. “The BSP reassures the public of its commitment and readiness to take all necessary actions to steer inflation towards a targetconsistent path over the medium term in keeping with its price and financial stability mandates,” the governorMedallaadded.also said the BSP con tinues to urge timely non-mone tary government interventions to m itigate the impact of persistent supply-side pressures on commod ity prices. M ore rate hikes? A S k E D i f there will be more rate hikes in the coming meetings, Medalla said the BSP currently does not have the data yet to make an ef fective guidance at this point. I wish I could tell you ‘this is the last increase’. I wish I could tell you that even if this is not the last increase, the next one will be the last. But the data and information that is needed to be able to say that is not available at the moment,” the governor said. w h at he did say is that while it is “impossible” to hike rates without affecting economic growth, Philip pine recovery is “robust enough” t o absorb further tightening if necessary.Thegovernor also said that be tween inflation and growth, their p riority is bringing down the prices of goods and services as one of the BSP’s pillar mandates. l o cal bank economists, mean while, foresee the BSP hiking in terest rates further later this year t o control inflationary pressures. “Policy rate hike/s in the coming months could be needed to address risk of second-round inflation ef fects after the approved minimum w age hikes and the hike in the mini mum transport fares from June-Ju ly 2022, all of which would lead to h igher prices of other affected goods and services in the economy,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said. Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) economists said in their anal ysis of the BSP’s recent move that a lthough a slowdown in August consumer prices is a possibility due to high base effects, inflation “will remain a challenge” until the first half of 2023. we a re still yet to see the peak in inflation near 7 percent in Oc tober should global price pressures f rom oil, energy and food remain substantial. In this scenario, aver age inflation is expected to settle b etween 5 and 5.5 percent. Given this, the BSP may hike again by at least 25 basis points in its November policy meeting,” BPI said.

THE government is now eyeing the revival of the express lane for food trucks to help resolve logistics challenges in the agriculture sector. toldTheMarcos.DIlG c hief said he is now coordinating with the Philip pine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to bring back the express lanes, which were use to prevent disruption in the transport of food supplies at the height of the pandemic in the last two years. The government is now also considering the use of “technol ogy” to identify bottlenecks in the routes used for food trans portation as well as areas with food surplus and shortages. Aside from food supplies, other matters discussed in the Cabinet meeting were the initia tive of the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide the public af fordable and accessible energy, and the proposed National hous ing program of the Department of hu man Settlements and Urban Development (Dh S UD). Prior to the said meeting, Marcos also met with the Pri vate Sector Advisory Council to discuss government initiatives for job mandworkforce,and(MSME),Small,meetingwhichAmongcreation.therecommendationswerediscussedintheareto“scaleup”Micro,andMediumEnterprisesattractmoreinvestors,provideskillstothelocalwhichwillbeindeinthelongterm.

l a rge job gains in May-June and the peso depreciation should provide a counterweight to a likely weakening of consumer spending among a third of the population battered by high inflation,” FMICUA&P Capital Market Research said.“NG (national government) spending still has sufficient room for expansion since some 60 percent of targeted full-year budget deficit remains unutilized, and so outlays for infrastructure will resume its elevated trajectory,” it added. Earlier, Ateneo Eagle wa tch Se nior Fellow l e onardo A. l a nzona Jr. told the BusinessMirror that in order to ensure that the economy continues to grow and in a sustain able manner, sectors affected by t he pandemic should be prioritized. l a nzona said the government’s economic recovery program for these sectors should not only fo cus on raising productivity but in l owering poverty. “It is a simple matter of knowing the weaknesses in the economic structure exposed by the virus.” h e n oted that the Philippines actually experienced “the most se vere decline in GDP” in the Asso ciation of Southeast Asian Nations ( Asean) because of Covid-19. This may account for the country’s cur rent performance to outpace most o f its Southeast Asian neighbors, except for Vietnam. Given this, Unionbank Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asun cion said the government must be p ut to task to help the transport sector, fisherfolk and farmers as well as millions of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which continue to struggle in the pandemic.ThePhilippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) earlier told the BusinessMirror that many businesses are strug gling to cope with the high cost o f raw materials caused by supply chain disruptions, preventing them from opening more job opportuni ties for Filipinos. (Story here: https:// b ness-woes%ef%bf%bc/).explains-how-jobless-data-reflect-busiusinessmirror.com.ph/2022/08/08/pcci-

BusinessMirror www.businessmirror.com.phFriday, August 19, 2022A2 News Neda... Continued from A1 DSWD... Continued from A1 BSP... Continued from A1 Adjusted... Continued from A1 airports, as well as energy, water, and telecommunication networks. These encourage investment and business activity, create jobs, raise incomes, and improve the Filipi no’s quality of life,” Balisacan said. Baliasacan explained that in equality partly determines how responsive poverty reduction is to economic growth. Based on the 2021 Family Income and Expenditure Sur vey (FIES), the income of the upper 10 percent income group was 7.02 times as much as that of the bottom 10-percent income group. The data from the Philippine Sta tistics Authority (PSA) also showed that the total annual family income of the upper 20 percent income group was 4.74 times as much as the total annual family income of the bottom 20 percent income group. The PSA said this was driven by the growth in the average annual family income of the first to fifth income deciles and reduction in the average annual family income of the sixth to 10th income deciles. Among the regions, BARMM had the lowest income disparity with a Gini coefficient of 0.2764, while Region VIII registered the highest income inequality with a Gini coef ficient of 0.4531. Nine regions registered a Gini coefficient higher than the nation al figure. These were Region VIII (0.4531), Caraga (0.4474), Region VII (0.4344), Region VI (0.4283), Region II (0.4201), MIMAROPA (0.4193), CAR (0.4191), Region XII (0.4181), and Region X (0.4128). “The more unequal an economy is, the more difficult it becomes for its members to participate in ex panding opportunities made avail able by growth. In other words, in a highly unequal society, growth is likely to be exclusive, with the wealthier segments of the popu lation reaping most of the gains,” Balisacan said. Inflation’s impact M E AN w h I l E , B alisacan empha sized how high inflation can damp en prospects for poverty reduction, especially as different segments of the population exhibit different expenditure patterns for essentials likeBalisacanfood. said the sugar situation is a matter that needs the economic team’s attention as it will impact local producers and food manufacturers. The situation, he said, could also affect lowly vendors selling Filipino street food favorites such as banana cue and camote cue, and who rely on affordable sugar prices to continue their microenterprise. “I want to add that food inflation, especially, is a primary determinant of poverty simply because food con stitutes a more significant propor tion of the expenditure of poorer households,” Balisacan said. The economic managers aim to lower poverty incidence to 9 percent in 2028 from 18.1 percent in 2021. This target is to be attained by re ducing poverty incidence by 5 per centage points by 2025 and reducing it further by another 4 percentage points by 2028. The Neda chief said the toughest constraints to job creation and busi ness investments in the country must be addressed to achieve this target. “The attainment of the poverty targets depends on income growth and the quality of growth, whether the growth also generates oppor tunities, particularly employment, for the less well-off individuals and households. Opening more and better-quality jobs sets the pace of household income growth,” Bali sacan“Jobsaid.creation is, in turn, dependent upon businesses' short- and longterm investment decisions. There fore, it is imperative that we quickly and efficiently address the binding constraints that limit, hamper, or discourage investments and job cre ation in this country,” he emphasized. Government and private econo mists have looked to Public-Private Partnerships or PPPs to upgrade the country’s inadequate infrastructure. This is intended to boost the com petitiveness of domestic industries and encourage more investments in growth drivers such as manufactur ing, tourism, IT-BPOs and the cre ative sectors. Cai U. Ordinario

To ease food logistics, govt reviving truck express lanes

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

The Department of the Interior and l o cal Government (DI l G) made the pro posal during the Cabinet meeting held in Malacañang on Thursday. This after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. discussed the complaints of forwarders and cargo handlers on how policies and check points, which were put up by local gov ernment units ( l G U), are hampering their“Actually,movement.this should not be the case. It should be free-flowing, but sometimes they [l G U] use—because of the avian flu et cetera. Maybe these are being used as excuses [for the said policies],” Abalos

DS w D removed some of the other forschooltoeficiariescialforthreecouldplications.accommodateTulfotheirDSbeforeanaidassistance]wantwearetowillcation,certification.tiveofficialssomeceivedplicants.makecertificategramrequirementsdocumentaryfortheprosuchasbarangayofindigencytoiteasierfortheapTulfonotedherecomplaintsthatlocalgovernmentwerebeingselecintheissuanceoftheButwithoutthecertifiTulfoadmitted,itbedifficultforDSwDverifyiftheapplicantsindeedindigent.“Thatistheriskthathavetotake...Ijusttogivethe[cashasASAP(assoonpossible),”Tulfosaid.ApplicantsforthecashareadvisedtofirstsetappointmentviaemailtheygotothewDofficetosubmitrequirements,butsaidtheywillalsowalk-inaphesaideachfamilyhaveamaximumchildrenapplyingcoverageofthefinanassistance.DSwDurgedthebenoftheprogramsusethecashaidtobuysuppliesandnototherpurposes.

In an eight-page resolution released to the public on Thursday, the Court’s First Division denied separate motions filed by former Bu reau of Immigration Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles and retired policeman Wenceslao “Wally” Sombero Jr. seeking the reversal of Sandiganbayan’s deci sion issued on July 9, 2021 denying their plea for continued detention at the Metro Manila District Jail at Camp Bagong Diwa (MMDJ), Taguig City, pending the resolution of their appeals with finality. T he Sandiganbayan ruled that Argosino, Robles, and Sombero are national prisoners because their maximum prison terms consist of 40 years (plunder) and 10 years (graft). Consequently, the Sandiganbayan issued an order of commitment for their transfer to the NBP in Muntinlupa. In their appeal filed before the SC, the pe titioners asked for the issuance of a special order suspending their transfer to the NBP, invoking “humanitarian and compassionate considerations.”Theycitedthe surge of the Covid-19 “Delta” variant as reason, along with their health con ditions that allegedly make them susceptible to the lethal effects of the Covid-19 virus. In his appeal, Sombero said he is 65 years old and suffers from several ailments such as coronary artery disease, cardiac dysrhythmia, sick sinus syndrome, severe sleep apnea, ex ogenous obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. A rgosino, on the other hand, claimed that he has hypertension and diabetes, while Robles manifested that he is suffering from cardiac dysrhythmia hypertension and hy perthyroidism. Theyasserted that the Court’s ruling in Enrile v. Sandiganbayan should be applied to their cases on humanitarian grounds. T he accused-appellants asked the Court to consider the Covid-19 pandemic as the special and compelling circumstance in granting their prayer to suspend their trans fer to the NBP. However, the SC did not give weight to the reasons raised by the accused-appellants in seeking their stay at Camp Bagong Diwa pending the final resolution of their appeal.

THE Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the transfer to the New Bilibid Pris ons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City of two fraternity brothers of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte and a retired policeman, who were sentenced to 50 years imprisonment by the Sandiganbayan last year after being found guilty of plunder and graft in connection with the P50-million Jack Lam bribery scandal.

T he mayors also stressed that their man date involves the “deployment, infusion, and effective use of technology in the delivery of government services and function whether national or local.” T hey also said that the implementation of NCAP never disregarded the motorists’ due process, noting that each LGU have their own traffic adjudication boards. NCAP, they stressed, is a big help in the elimination of corruption, imposed discipline among drivers and improved their behavior, and ensured road safety thus reducing traffic violations and traffic-related incidents. T hey also called on “all relevant govern ment agencies” to stand with them. San Juan MEANWHILE, San Juan Mayor Zamora said they are not yet implementing the NCAP since “our cameras and equipment are still beingWeinstalled.”areopento listening to the LTO (Land Transportation Office) and the different sec tors and we are open as well to amending any existing provisions for a better and smoother implementation of the NCAP in our city,” Zamora said. NCAP support STRESSING that it has proven to create pub lic awareness on the compliance the existing traffic and transports laws, rules and regula tions, the MMDA has reaffirmed its full sup port to the NCAP, which is being implemented by some of the LGUs in Metro Manila. Empirical evidence clearly showed that the MMDA’s own version of the ‘No Physical Contact Apprehension Program’ was and con tinues to be an effective force multiplier to its traffic enforcers on the ground and has, in fact, raised public awareness on and compli ance with the existing traffic and transports laws, rules and regulations,” read the agency’ “solidarity” statement signed by MMDA Act ing Chairman Engr. Carlo Dimayuga. T here is no doubt, Dimayuga said, that the same experience is true for the Metro Manila LGUs. Dimayuga noted that as enshrined in the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160), it is the policy of the state that LGUs “shall enjoy genuine and meaningful lo cal autonomy to enable them to attain their fullest development as self-reliant communi ties and make them more effective partners in the attainment of national goals.”

SC denies plea of 2 ex-BI execs, retired cop to freeze transfer to NBP

“These variations in offers have sub stantial discrepancies from the actual Zonal Value or Fair Market Value of the properties affected,” they added A mong the properties covered are located in Barangays New Visayas and Datu Abdul Dadia, both in Panabo City. A mong the densely populated areas in Davao City to be traversed by the MRP is Barangay Catalunan Grande, which issued a resolution opposing the project “as this “will result to undue safety and health hazard, as well as noise pollution, to name a few.”

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

It agreed with the Sandiganbayan that they are considered national inmates under the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013 as they were sentenced by the Sandiganbayan to prison terms exceeding three years. “Being national prisoners, the Sandigan bayan was correct in ordering the transfer of accused-appellants from the MMDJ, a local jail, to the NBP in Muntinlupa City, which is the national penitentiary managed by the Bureau of Corrections,” the SC said. Unlike in Enrile’s case, the SC pointed that the accused-appellants are not mere detainees asking to be released on bail pending trial. They are national prisoners, who, upon conviction of violation of R.A. 3019 and plunder, are no longer presumed innocent,” the SC explained. “Moreover, their allegations pertaining to their health conditions, and the documents showing the medical findings of their doctors, are questions of fact which are not within the province of the Court to determine. Neither can the Court take judicial notice of their medical conditions,” the SC said. T he SC also noted that the Department of Health has recorded a downward trend in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country already. “On account of the positive developments in the country’s battle against Covid-19, charting towards ‘herd immunity,’ this Court finds no compelling reason to suspend the transfer of accused-appellants to the National Penitentiary,” the SC said. Argosino and Robles, who are fraternity brothers of Duterte at Lex Talionis, were accused of receiving P50 million from Lam, a Chinese gambling tycoon, in exchange for freeing over 1,300 undocumented Chinese workers at his casino in Clark, Pampanga in 2016. Sombero was accused of acting as the mid dleman between Lam and the two former BI deputy commissioners.

Solons seek probe of Mindanao rail project continued from a14 Five Metro LGUs firm on NCAP enforcement

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3 T HERE’S no stopping the implemen tation of the No-Contact Apprehen sion Policy (NCAP) in five Metro Manila cities. I n a joint statement of the mayors of Va lenzuela, Parañaque, Quezon City, Manila and San Juan regarding the NCAP, they noted the pronouncement of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) wherein he emphasized that government should “digi tize and make its services accessible for a more efficient governance.” M ayors Wes Gatchalian of Valenzuela; Eric Olivarez, Parañaque; Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte, Quezon City; Maria Shei lah Lacuna–Pangan, Manila and; Francis Zamora of San Juan, in a joint statement, said they will continue to implement NCAP, stressing that the advancement of tech nology is “inevitable” and that it should be “embraced” to achieve progress and development of the country. T he mayors also noted that Marcos urged local chief executives to get into more pro active and beneficial joint ventures and public private partnerships for initiatives that “we wouldn’t have otherwise the fund ing to support,” and the best example, they said, is NCAP. T hey added the scheme is widely used in countries like United States, Singapore, Ko rea, India, and Malaysia. “ With this in mind, we, the undersigned local chief executives have joined together on a common stance to continue the implementa tion of NCAP within our respective territorial jurisdictions and vow to continuously improve the infrastructure and road conditions fore seeing the need for a safer environment for our constituents,” read the statement signed by the five mayors.

D uterte and Yap acknowledged in their resolution that the MRP “will not only make travel faster, but also safer, more conve nient and comfortable for passengers in the said corridor.” T hey said, however, that “it has come to our attention through various reports from the local communities affected that there are variations in the offers for acquisition of right-of-way or expropriation of the private properties by the DOTr and/or its contractors, subcontractors, or other service providers.”

www.businessmirror.com.ph Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, August 19, 2022 A3BusinessMirror The Nation

“It comes with graphs, to make the picture clearer. Users can adjust the time periods covered by the graphs, depend ing on whether they want a long view or a shorter term one,” said MBC.

T he business group said the MBC Econo my Dashboard has almost 20 key statistics including inflation and interest rates, gross domestic product (GDP), foreign direct invest ment (FDI), and Trade, providing a compre hensive picture of the economy.

For his part, Jocot de Dios, MBC Econ omy Committee Chairman and Manila Water Co. CEO underscored the impor tance of being able to understand the Philippine economy amid the changing economic and political landscape. He added that this is crucial “so that we know what we need to work on to provide better incomes and livelihoods for our countrymen.”

THE Makati Business Club (MBC) has launched its Economy Dashboard to help executives and policymakers make better decisions and pitches in today’s fast-changing economy. We put together the MBC Economy Dashboard because, with all the economic upheavals in the Philippines and around the world, decision-makers need more tools to stay ahead and make more profitable jobcreating decisions for their business and the country,” MBC Chairman Edgar O. Chua said in a news statement on Thursday.

“The MBC Economy Dashboard gives everyone who wants and needs an economic overview easy access to it,” added de Dios. The MBC Economy Dashboard is part of the business group’s Economy Policy Pro gram, whose major sponsor is Monde Nissin, the Philippine-based producer of Lucky Me noodles and other food products. We are pleased to partner with MBC on this project,” said Henry Soesanto, Monde Nissin CEO. “As a company that does business across Asia and beyond, we see the competition for investment and jobs and hope tools like the dashboard help the Philippines get a growing share of that,” added Soesanto. A side from Monde Nissin, Philippine Na tional Bank is also a sponsor. T he business group said the launch comes a day before the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is expected to raise interest rates anew to fight inflation. MBC has been holding discussions with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s economic appointees, identifying areas where the busi ness sector can help the government boost trade, investment, and jobs.

“ My dear colleagues, happiness in the life of an OFW is never guaranteed. The reality of the situation is that many of our countrymen are habitually abused by their foreign employers,” Tulfo rued, adding: “Even more of them need repatriation and are stuck in our embassy’s shelters that are illequipped to harbor them safely.”

IPOPHL pushes creation of ACAPP in schools, LGUs to boost IP insight

A s head of the newly created Migrant Workers Committee, Tulfo vowed to push timely passage of measures ensuring that all Filipino workers abroad are protected and that Filipino embassies may be empowered to “institute offices dedicated solely to the vetting of prospective employers and enforcement of laws that are meant to protect OFWs.” S enators Christopher “Bong” Go and Robin Padilla were among those who weighed in on the issue, saying there could be no compromise on protection of migrants. For his part, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano pushed for government agencies such as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to scrutinize international job placements and limit deployment to areas that are safe to work for migrant workers. “Should the new Department of Migrant Workers study whether or not there are areas where we should really ban sending OFWs [if it is too perilous for them]? And are there certain jobs too dangerous to allow our kababayans to go?” Cayetano asked in his interpellation of Tulfo. “ There are many places around the world where Filipinos are in demand. We can pressure our departments to have job openings in places where it is safer to work,” Cayetano added, partly in Filipino.Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople had earlier declared a policy of strong caution in deciding whether to lift the ban on deployment of household service workers (HSW) in countries that Manila had flagged as riddled with cases of abuse of such domestics. Butch Fernandez

‘Get host countries to ratify treaty on protection of migrant workers’

A4 BusinessMirror www.businessmirror.com.ph Economy Friday, August 19, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

T HE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is pushing for the establishment of Anti-Counterfeit and Anti-Piracy Poli cies (ACAPP) across all local government units (LGU) and universities to deepen intellectual property (IP) respect across the country. I POPHL noted that IP Rights Enforce ment Office (IEO), the enforcement arm of the agency, is responsible for the lobby and promotion of anti-counterfeit and anti-piracy policies (ACAPP) across all LGUs and universities. T he agency underscored that ACAPP encourages all government workers to be aware of the ill effects of counterfeiting and piracy to business, livelihoods, and theAeconomy.partfrom this, IPOPHL said the above-mentioned policies aim to ensure that the actions and policies of govern ment offices are aligned with existing IP laws and regulations. To date, IPOPHL said five LGUs have established or are working on their ACAPP. In fact, the National Commit tee on IP Rights, which IPOPHL leads as acting chair, is aiming to see 50 national agencies and 18 LGUs implement their ACAPP by 2025. “ IEO will also reach out to the LGUs and Universities in Cagayan De Oro and nearby LGUs to create ACAPPs that will help boost activities in turning great ideas into real, tangible, and valuable IP assets,” said Officer in Charge Director Ann N. Edillon in a news statement is sued on Thursday. I n a separate initiative, IPOPHL is holding an “Intellectual Property Work shop for Law Enforcement Agents and Public Prosecutors” in Cagayan de Oro from August 17 to August 19, 2022 as part of the office’s broader work to im prove enforcement strategies across the country. TheIEO will also conduct the work shop which provides an opportunity for law enforcement officers and public prosecutors to know more about IP law, trends and enforcement best practices that will help them protect the prov ince’s markets from counterfeit goods and piracy. T he learning event will also provide a product identification workshop to help participants better identify counterfeit goods. Since the start of the year, IPOPHL has been going around the country, par ticularly in strategic locations across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, to con nect with law enforcement officers, prosecutors and other agents who are critical in the enforcement ecosystem,” Edillon said. “IEO’s capacity-building efforts seek to enhance the support for IP protection in areas where economies are rapidly expand ing,” she added. However, to sustain the momentum of this growth toward recovery, Edillon said, “We need to build an environment where innovators, creators and entrepre neurs are confident in the safety of their current and future IP assets from unfair business practices.” E dillon stressed, “These workshops hope to help create this safe place for IP rights holders and redound to ben efits to society.” Andrea San Juan

continued from a14

Makati biz group launches fast economy dashboard

The business group also noted that us ers have the option to download or print the statistics and graphs if they find hard copies more helpful.

By Andrea San Juan

BusinessMirror Friday, August 19, 2022 The World www.businessmirror.com.ph

The first round of trade talks is set to take place “early this fall,” the Office of the US Trade Representa tive said in a statement Wednesday, unveiling a negotiating mandate for the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade announced in June. Discussions will cover trade facili tation, regulatory practices, anticorruption standards, deepening agriculture trade and other issues, the office said. The trade negotiations “will deepen our trade and investment relationship, advance mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovation and inclusive economic growth for our workers and businesses,” the office said in the statement. Separately, Taiwan’s Office of Trade Negotiations said in a state ment that it aimed to bolster the is land’s economy by promoting trade of its agricultural products and helping small and medium-sized enterprises expand to US mar kets. Taipei also wants to increase international investor confidence in Taiwan and allow the island to “attract funds and technologies from the US and the world.”

By Linda Lew CHINA’S Covid cases surged to a three-month high, driven by a worsening out break in the tropical Hainan prov ince that has become the country’s biggest since Shanghai was shut down in the spring. There were 3,424 infections re ported across China for Wednes day, up from 2,888 a day earlier. Of the total, 2,018 were in Hainan province, up from 1,663. The vi rus has continued to spread even though most of the island has been under lockdown for almost twoTheweeks. outbreak in Hainan, dubbed China’s Hawaii, is con centrated in the resort city Sanya, which reported 1,231 cases for Wednesday. It has built four field hospitals as of Aug. 16, provid ing more than 7,000 beds. More than two thousand medical work ers from Shanghai, Shandong, Guangxi and other provinces have been dispatched to Hainan to assist with the effort. China’s Covid czar and a vice premier, Sun Chunlan, arrived in Hainan on Aug. 13 to provide di rection for the control efforts, as she has with other hotspots across the country. She said the province needed to step up its treatment and quarantine facilities, and cut community transmission. The trip underscores the se riousness of the outbreak in the region, and concern from Beijing about Hainan’s ability to handle the virus. It is in a particularly perilous situation, trying to simul taneously contain the virus locally and ensure it isn’t carried home with departing visitors. Sun also asked authorities to help the 150,000 tourists stranded on the island, some of whom have begun to protest after being locked down for more than 10 days. The airport in Sanya resumed opera tion on Monday, though there was some disruption. There were long wait times and availability was un stable, with some flights canceled, according to tourists who were still trying to leave Sanya. Bloomberg News

The last time the UN chief came to Ukraine, in April, Russia launched a missile strike on Kyiv.

Blasts in Crimea underscore Russian forces’ vulnerability

SMOKE rises over the site of explosion at an ammunition storage of Russian army near the village of Mayskoye, Crimea on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. Explosions and fires ripped through an ammunition depot in Russian-occupied Crimea on Tuesday in the second suspected Ukrainian attack on the peninsula in just over a week, forcing the evacuation of more than 3,000 people.

“Nowhere in the world you would see this level of cruelty, where it’s a government (that) punishes 6 million of its people for more than 21 months,” the WHO chief said. “The only thing we ask is, ‘Can the world come back to its senses and uphold humanity?’” Tedros called on both the Ethiopian and Russian governments to end the crises in Tigray and Ukraine. “If they want peace, they can make it happen and urge them both to resolve (these issues),” he said. Also Wednesday, Ethiopia’s foreign ministry said a government peace committee had adopted a peace proposal “that would lead to the conclusion of ceasefire” and that it would be shared with the African Union envoy working on mediation. Basic services would follow a ceasefire, the statement said. Tigray forces spokesman Getachew Reda dismissed the government statement, asserting in a tweet that “if anything, the Abiy Ahmed regime has made it abundantly clear that it has no appetite for peaceful negotiations except as delaying tactics.” In a sign of just how cut off Tigray has been, a Covid-19 vaccination campaign was finally launched at the region’s flagship hospital only in July, an improvement from a months-long period of deprivation in which hospital workers described running out of essential medicines and trying to treat wounds with warm salt water. It was the first Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Tigray. This was not the first time the WHO chief has spoken out about Tigray. Earlier this year, the government of Ethiopia sent a letter to the World Health Organization, accusing Tedros of “misconduct” after his sharp criticism of the war and humanitarian crisis in the country. The Ethiopian government said Tedros was using his office “to advance his political interest at the expense of Ethiopia” and said he continues to be an active member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front; Tedros was Ethiopia’s foreign minister and health minister when the TPLF dominated the country’s ruling coalition. When Tedros was confirmed for a second term as head of WHO, it was the first time a candidate’s home country had failed to nominate their own candidate. Cheng reported from London.

An agreement on bolstering trade may end up being more symbolic than substantive, given reticence in both major US politi cal parties to embrace free trade agreements. TheUS-Taiwan trade initia tive was announced weeks after President Joe Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in May, a deal designed to counter China’s influence in the region that didn’t feature Taipei despite more than 50 senators urging Biden to include the island. That initiative has been criti cized by trade advocates as of fering little in terms of specifics on issues such as market access or lower tariffs, though it’s been welcomed as a sign of American engagement in Indo-Pacific. Since then, Washington’s rela tionship with Beijing has become even more strained over Taiwan, a self-governed democracy China deems its own territory. After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s landmark visit to Taipei earlier this month, China launched un precedented military drills around the island, sparking concern in theTheregion. USexpects Chinese “mili tary intimidation and coercive economic tactics” around Taiwan to continue, State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a Wednesday briefing. “We will continue to take steps that are resolute but also calm to uphold peace and stability in the face of Beijing’s ongoing efforts to undermine the status quo,” he said. The drills held by China shrank a vaguely defined buffer zone that has long helped keep the peace aroundChinaTaiwan.hascalled on the US to refrain from sailing naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait, saying Beijing would take further action in the wake of Pelosi’s trip. The US has long held that visits such as ones by members of Congress are consistent with its “one Chi na” policy to not formally recog nize the democratically elected government in Taipei. The initiative is “designed not only to grow trade volumes and cooperation between the United States and Taiwan but also an opportunity to assist Taiwan in building its resilience and ensur ing that we have resilient and se cure supply chains between us,” said Daniel Kritenbrink, US as sistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, at a brief ing after the announcement. Taiwan’s position as the world’s leading supplier of semiconduc tors is a linchpin of its economic relationship with the US, China and other nations, making the island a strategic asset for coun tries seeking cutting-edge chips technology. Other electronics and machinery are also major exports, along with information and com munications tech. The US was Taiwan’s third largest trading partner last year, according to the island’s trade negotiations office. Shipments to the US surged nearly 30% in 2021 to a record value of $65.7 billion, the fifth straight year of growth, data from Taiwan’s Ministry of FinanceChinashowed.andHong Kong, mean while, account for around 40% of the island’s total exports, with bilateral trade between the two economies reaching $328.3 bil lion last Taipeiyear. hasbeen trying to reduce its economic dependence on Bei jing in recent years, with President Tsai Ing-wen exploring ways to bolster trade and investment with Southeast Asia, India, Australia and New Zealand. Taipei last year asked to join Asia Pacific’s biggest working trade deal, though its ap plication is still pending. The island’s Office of Trade Negotiations said signing trade deals with the US would “not only help” Taiwan join the Comprehen sive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, but would also afford it more opportu nities to “deepen institutionalized links with other countries.” “Both sides have shown a high degree of ambition and look for ward to achieving concrete results as soon as possible and signing a trade agreement,” Taiwan’s trade negotiations office added. With as sistance from Rebecca Choong Wilkins, Cindy Wang and Bill Faries / Bloomberg

• Editor: Angel R. Calso A5 T HE US and Taiwan have started formal negotiations on a bilateral trade initiative to deepen economic ties, in a move likely to inflame already high tensions with China.

TEDROS theothertheessentiallymillioncountrytheanDirector-General—whoAugustpressemotionalDecemberinOrganizationCovid-19toHealthGeneralGHEBREYESUSADHANOM,DirectoroftheWorldOrganization,talksthemediaregardingattheWorldHealthheadquartersGeneva,Switzerlandon20,2021.InanstatementatabriefingonWednesday,17,2022,theWHOisEthnicTigrayan—saidsituationinhishomeofEthiopia,where6peopleinTigrayhavebeencutfromworld,isworsethananyhumanitariancrisisinworld.

SALVATORE DI NOLFI/KEYSTONE VIA AP

By Maria Cheng & Cara Anna The Associated Press N AIROBI, Kenya—The head of the World Health Organization described the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region as “the worst disaster on Earth” and wondered aloud Wednesday if the reason global leaders have not responded was due to “the color of the skin of the people in Tigray.” In an emotional statement at a press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus—himself an ethnic Tigrayan—said the situation caused by the conflict in his home country is worse than any other humanitarian crisis in the world. Tedros asserted that the 6 million people in Tigray essentially cut off from the world have been “under siege” for the last 21 months. He described the Ukraine conflict as a crisis that has the global community potentially “sleepwalking into a nuclear war” that could be “the mother of all problems,” but argued the disaster in Tigray was far worse. “I haven’t heard in the last few months any head of state talking about the Tigray situation anywhere in the developed world. Anywhere. Why?” Tedros asked. “Maybe the reason is the color of the skin of the people in Tigray,” he said. In April, Tedros questioned if the world’s overwhelming focus on Russia’s war in Ukraine was due to racism, although he acknowledged the conflict there had global consequences.Theconflict in Ethiopia began in November 2020, and little humanitarian aid arrived after Tigray forces retook much of the region in June 2021. Aid has started flowing more substantially in the past few months but is widely described as inadequate to meet the needs of the millions of people essentially trapped there. The resumption of basic services and banking remains a key demand of the Tigray regional leaders. Journalists have not been allowedTedrosin. said the people of Tigray had no access to medicine and telecommunications and were prevented from leaving the region. However, the International Committee of the Red Cross in recent months has reported shipments of some medications.

WHO chief says lack of help for Tigray due to skin color

China’s Covid-19 infections surge to 3-month high on Hainan outbreak

By Paul Byrne The Associated Press K YIV, Ukraine—A spate of explosions and fires has turned Russianoccupied Crimea from a secure rear base into a new battleground in the war, demonstrating both the Russians’ vulnerability and the Ukrainians’ capacity to strike deep behind enemy lines. Nine Russian warplanes were reported destroyed at an air base in Crimea last week, and an ammunition depot on the peninsula blew up on UkrainianTuesday.authorities have stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility, preferring to keep the world guessing, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alluded to Ukrainian attacks behind enemy lines after the latest blasts, which Russia blamed on “sabotage.” Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and has used it as a staging ground for attacks on the country in the war that began February 24. Ukrainian authorities have vowed to recapture Crimea and other occupied territories. “The invaders will die like dew in the sun,” Zelenskyy, in his nightly video address Wednesday, said of the effort to retake Crimea and other areas. The explosions represent the latest setback for Moscow, which began its invasion with hopes of taking Kyiv in a lightning offensive but soon became bogged down in the face of fierce resistance. As the war nears the six-month mark, the two sides are engaged in a grinding war of attrition, fighting village to village, largely in the country’s east. The attacks in Crimea may mark the opening of a new front that would represent a significant escalation in the war and could further stretch Russia’s resources. “Russian commanders will highly likely be increasingly concerned with the apparent deterioration in security across Crimea, which functions as rear base area for the occupation,” Britain’s Defense Ministry wrote on Twitter. As a result of the airfield attacks, Russia is moving dozens of warplanes and helicopters to deeper positions in Crimea and to Russian bases elsewhere, Ukrainian military intelligence reported. Tuesday’s explosions ripped through an ammunition site near the town of Dzhankoi, forcing the evacuation of about 3,000 people. Munitions continued to explode Wednesday and authorities fought the fires with a helicopter, said Crimea’s regional leader, Sergei Aksyonov. He said a search for the perpetrators was underway. The Kommersant business paper also reported explosions Tuesday at a Crimean base in Gvardeyskoye. There was no confirmation from the Russians.

US and Taiwan begin formal negotiations on trade initiative

Last month, a small explosive device carried by a makeshift drone blew up in a courtyard at the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, wounding six people and prompting the cancellation of ceremonies there honoring Russia’s navy. In other developments Wednesday, two civilians were reported killed and seven wounded by Russian shelling of several towns and villages in the Donetsk region in the east that is the current focus of the Kremlin offensive. In the south, Russian warplanes fired cruise missiles at the Odesa region overnight, wounding four people, according to regional administration spokesman Oleh Bratchuk. In Mykolaiv, also in the south, two Russian missiles damaged a university building but injured no Russianone.forces also shelled Kharkiv and the surrounding region in the northeast, killing at least six people, wounding at least 16 and damaging residential buildings and civilian infrastructure, authorities said. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv for a meeting Thursday with Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. UN spokesman Farhan Haq said Guterres will raise the topic of food and grain shipments, nuclear power plant safety and the recent prison explosion that killed scores of captured Ukrainian fighters, and will “do what he can to essentially lower the temperature as much as possible.”

VISITORS review new Asus computer products at the Computex trade show in Taipei, Taiwan on June 2, 2015. The US government has announced talks with Taiwan, Thursday, August 18, 2022, on a trade treaty in a new sign of support for the self-ruled island democracy claimed by China’s ruling Communist Party as part of its territory. AP/WALLY SANTANA

The British intelligence report said Gvardeyskoye and Dzhankoi are home to two of the most important Russian military airfields in Crimea. Just over a week ago, explosions rocked the Russians’ Saki air base on Crimea and destroyed planes on the ground. Moscow suggested that the blasts were accidental, caused perhaps by a careless smoker, but Ukrainian authorities mocked that explanation and hinted at their involvement.

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Basic Qualification: It professional with 11.6 years of experience in rpa. Web & PhpSalaryulead.(pinnacle,coreldraw)designingtroubleshooting:managementhardwarestatistic(relatedengineoracle,management(vb.softwareajax):asp,webopenblue(automationprocessthedepthdomaindevelopmentapplicationforvariousclientswithin-understandingoffollowing:roboticsautomationanywhere,prism,uipathnice,span,workfusion):development(php,net,javascript,applicationdevelopmentNet.Vba):database(mssql,sqllite):searchoptimizationautomation&programing):&network&graphic(photoshop,videoeditingpowerdirector,Range:150,000-Php499,999

Brief Job Description: Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.

Basic PhpSalaryReclamationDredgingsandfillexperienceMinimumQualification:10-yearrelevantindryandwetinanInternationalandLandcompany.Range:60,000-Php89,999 HAPPEE, ManagesBriefSuperintendentKATEJobDescription:andsupervises the execution of a part of the project according to the contract in a safe, timely, qualitatively optimal and cost-efficient manner.

CONCENTRIX CVG PHILIPPINES, INC. 25/f Ayala North Exchange, Tower 2, 6796, Ayala Ave. Cor. Salcedo & Amorsolo Streets, City Of Makati 12. AGBOR ENOH, MARTIN Advisor I, Technical Support Brief Job “RespondsDescription:tobasicand routine inquiries of a technical nature including hardware/software, or other designated client products. This position assists external users of the client’s technical products or services by answering questions and solving problems involved in their use.”

HASKONING PHILIPPINES, INC. Unit 4 22/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati 26. VADAKKEDATHU DEVASSY, JOY Rock Expert Brief Job Description: Oversee the entire construction management and administration of the dredging and reclamation project

Basic Qualification: 10 years of PhpSalaryrivermanagementconstructionofmaritime/worksprojectsRange:150,000-Php499,999

J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg., #48 President Avenue, B. F. City Of Parañaque GANG BurmeseAUNGCustomer Job Track Korean PhpSalary(burmeseandCollegeQualification:graduate,speakswritefluently&english).Range:60,000-Php89,999 DIBANG PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2106-a West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio,

Homes,

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwritten.Range:30,000-Php59,999

CASPERS KITCHEN VENTURES, INC 1 San Vicente Ferrer Cor., Sta. Lucia Street Sav-1,, San Antonio, City Of Parañaque 10. LIM, VICTOR SEUNGLEE Chief Executive Officer Brief Job ManagingDescription:PHoperation, cloud kitchen online Basic Qualification: 10 years’ experience in PhpSalarye-commerceRange:150,000- Php 499,999

2. LE THI PHUONG TRINH Seller Onboarding Associate Brief Job CommunicatesDescription:effectively via live video call with our customer base – third party sellers who want to sell on Amazon in its various marketplaces. Reviews the seller’s identity details (information & documents) over a live video calls. Verifies ownership of the documents submitted by sellers.

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwritten.Range:30,000-Php59,999

Service Representative Brief

Description:

main industry trends in

17. NGUYEN THI LIEN ANH Gaming Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.

through blogs, micro blogs and forums. Basic

CONSTRUCTION

JIANGSU

City Of Pasig 28. FONG, KA EquipmentWAInstallation Specialist Brief Job Description: Working as per the requirements of the clients and performing all kinds of general installation Basic PhpSalaryinWithbothFluentQualification:inEnglishlanguagewrittenandoral.workingknowledgeconstructionRange:30,000-Php59,999 29. WANG, MandarinYUSpeaking Project Manager Brief Job Description: Work together with Project Supervisors to create a project plan and outline the resources needed to complete each phase of the project Basic PhpSalaryconstruction.workingwrittenFluentQualification:inEnglishbothandoral.WithknowledgeinRange:30,000-Php59,999

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Barangay 76, Pasay City

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

35. SHINN KHANT KYAW Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

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

Basic PhpSalaryspokenskillsExcellentQualification:communicationinChinese,bothandwritten.Range:30,000-Php59,999

34. SAI SWAN KHAY Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

Basic Qualification: At least 4 years of extensive experience working in a technical role in an international dredging and land development industry. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Avenue Building,

14. HA KHAI XUONG Gaming Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.

27.

9. JORDEN, TIMOTHY DAVID Chief Marketing Officer Brief Job Description: Oversee all aspects of marketing Basic Qualification: 20 years PhpSalaryexperienceleadershipRange:90,000-Php149,999

Brief Job ReportingDescription:totheSiteSupervisors or other Senior Project Supervisor and managers as required Basic PhpSalaryconstruction.workingwrittenFluentQualification:inEnglishbothandoral.WithknowledgeinRange:30,000-Php59,999

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

Basic Qualification: Must be knowledgeable in latest PhpSalarytechnologies.aviationRange:150,000-Php 499,999

22. VU MANH CUONG Gaming Support Specialist

32. LI WAY BurmeseYANCustomer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

EXLSERVICE PHILIPPINES, INC. 6th Floor, One E-com Center, Harbor Drive, Mall Of Asia Complex, Pasay City 23. NAIR, AJEESH BALAKRISHNAN Assistant Vice President- Digital Transformation Brief Job SpearheadDescription:headtohead digital transformation projects from conducting feasibility study. Advising solution plans, resource allocation, initiating market analysis to successful execution deploying technologies like AL, ML, OCR, NLP, RPA, and analytics, Devise end to end process automations in healthcare / insurance business using robotic automation, high-end analytics, and process redesign solutions. Conduct market research and competition analysis, creating e2e digital hyper automation solutions for prospect clients. Drafting go to market collaterals. Work on MSA, SOW, and POCs initiate cost benefits analysis with overall cost of the project including CAPEX & OPEX. Render solution demons while working on business case.

21. TANG MY VANH Gaming Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.

30. XIONG, LUO Site Assistant Supervisor

20. PHAN THI VAN Gaming Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Being the voice of our players within our fastgrowing online/offshore gaming platform, stay on track with the game updates, implementing procedures to support players, work creatively across multiple projects and platforms at the same time.

31. KYAN LIN FONE Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

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

BOSKALIS

1. NGUYEN PHAM HOANG NGUYEN Investigation Specialist I

Basic PhpSalaryFrenchspeakerFluentQualification:and/ornativeinEnglishandRange:60,000-Php89,999

Brief Job Description: Prepare and install advanced technical monitoring instrumentation and guarantee their correct operation and maintenance.

Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

59. HUANG, YUEQING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base

58. HONG, ChineseDEQUANCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services.

Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999

ProvideBriefRepresentativeJobDescription:product/services, information, answer questions and resolve emerging problems

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 FIDELIS BONG TECK CHEN Malaysian Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

75.

Services.

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 JIN, ChineseCHENGCHENGCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services

inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No. NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

59,999 53.

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

59,999 50. NGUYEN

60.

43.

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

59,999 49. LE THI VietnameseHA Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

Basic PhpSalarysolvingthinkingdegreeGraduateQualification:4yearsbachelorwithcriticalandproblemskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 CHEN, ChineseYAMEICustomer computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication good and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999

61.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 KONG FOO KIONG Malaysian Customer Service Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service

44.

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999

and Write

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

language

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Sky Garage Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg., Quirino Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque 57.

with

76. TAALAIBEKOVA,

77. TAALAIBEKOVA,

78.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 91. CAO QUANG VUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeDescription:incomputer applications with good oral and written communications skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 92. CAP TRONG DAT Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 93. CHAC

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 ZHANG, WEI Chinese Customer Data Base computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 ChineseXIUPENGCustomer Data Base

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

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

40. WU, ChineseKAIXIANGCustomer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:Incomingcalls and customer service inquires.

48.

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

37. YU YU BurmeseNAINGCustomer Service Representative

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

inquires

services

63.

oral

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 IndonesianNOVI Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

services

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

42.

Customer Service Brief Job

56. DODI ALJIE PRATAMA Indonesian Language Customer Service

79.

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TAN HONG YAO Malaysian Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 SOPHIA LAU YUN FEI Malaysian Customer Service Representative Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service

41. ZHOU, ChinesePANCustomer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php

with good oral

with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 65. IndonesianAGUS Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 66. IndonesianANTONY Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 67. DENI IndonesianMERYANTICustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic

Customer Service Brief Job

38. LI, ChineseXIACONGCustomer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:Incomingcalls and customer service inquires.

68. IndonesianFALENTINO Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic

46.

Basic PhpSalaryProblemCriticalBachelorGraduateQualification:of4YearsDegreeWithThinkingandSolvingSkillsRange:30,000-Php59,999

47.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php THI NGOC

59,999 51. NGUYEN

and Write

Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 SU, ChineseMINGNANCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data

with

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php NHU

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php NGUYEN VAN THUY Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 LI, ChineseTENG Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeDescription:incomputer applications with good oral and written communications skills

Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

45.

59,999 52.

ProvideBriefRepresentativeJobDescription:product/services, information, answer questions and resolve emerging problems.

Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 EGEMBERDIEV, TEMIRLAN Kyrgyzstan Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base

Representative Brief

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55. ANITA IndonesianYATI Language Customer Service

Brief

64. ZHAO,

with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 80. RANDRIARIMALALA, MIHANTARISOA SOLONANTENAINA FLEURICE Malagasy Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 81. FABIAN HOO MUN FAI Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 82. FOO SHIH CHE Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 83. TAN SIN MalaysianYI Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 84. WONG MING LIANG MARK Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 85. KHIN KHIN YEE Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeDescription:incomputer applications with good oral and written communications skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 86. WIN MyanmariSHANECustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 87. JITKHAM, PIYAPONG Thai Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeableDescription:incomputer application with good oral and written communication skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 88. PINGCHAI, SUTTHICHAI Thai Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeableDescription:incomputer application with good oral and written communication skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 89. SAWATDIRAKSA, RATCHANON Thai Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeableDescription:incomputer application with good oral and written communication skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 90. CA NGOC

base services

39. TANG, ChineseYUHUACustomer Service Representative

62.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php NGUYEN VAN LUAN

services

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 BOLOTOVA, SAMARA Kyrgyzstan Customer Service Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base

Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic

69. GERALD FARLY THOMAS Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 70. NIARTI IndonesianPRATAMACustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 71. SUTINI IndonesianGUOCustomer Service Brief Job KnowledgeDescription:incomputer applications with good oral and written communications skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 72. IndonesianWENDY Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 73. IndonesianYANTO Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 74.

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ZI, ChineseZEFU Customer Service Representative

BusinessMirror A7www.businessmirror.com.ph Friday, August 19, 2022

QUYNH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

Brief

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquiries

36. TWAN BurmeseMAINCustomer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires

services

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 AICHOLPON Kyrgyzstan CustomerDescription:supportand data base

and Write

services

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 ANDRIALALAINA, VANIAH Malagasy Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 MIALIJAONA, HOUSSANIE BIJOU MHOUDINE Malagasy Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication VietnameseKHANHCustomer CAM VietnameseDUONGCustomer

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:Incomingcalls and customer service inquires. Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 54. TRINH THI KHANH TRINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job ManagingDescription:incomingcalls and customer service inquires Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MPOTECH DIGITAL SYSTEM INC. 47/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino St.,

Services. Basic

Read, and Write

131. LY NHAT VietnameseNAMCustomer Service Brief Job KnowledgeableDescription:incomputer application with good oral and written communication skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 132. NGO THI THU PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 133. NGUYEN DUC ANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 134. NGUYEN HUU NGOC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 135. NGUYEN HUU TAI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 136. NGUYEN NGOC SON Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 137. NGUYEN QUOC HOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 138. NGUYEN THANH DUC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 139. NGUYEN THI DIEM HUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 140. NGUYEN THI NHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 141. NGUYEN THI PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 142. NGUYEN THI VAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 143. NGUYEN THI VAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarySkillsWrittenWithComputerKnowledgeableQualification:inApplicationGoodOralandCommunicationRange:30,000-Php59,999 144. NGUYEN THU TAM Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeableDescription:incomputer application with good oral and written communication skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 145. NGUYEN TRONG THUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 146. NGUYEN TRONG TOAI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 147. NGUYEN TRUNG NGUYEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999

129. LY MINH VietnamesePHATCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 LY NGOC VietnameseDUONGCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No. NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No. NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No. NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE BusinessMirrorA6 www.businessmirror.com.phFriday, August 19, 2022 94. CHU MANH TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 95. CUN SAY VietnameseLUNGCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarySkillsWrittenWithComputerKnowledgeableQualification:inApplicationGoodOralandCommunicationRange:30,000-Php59,999 96. CUNG VI VietnamesePHONGCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarySkillsWrittenWithComputerKnowledgeableQualification:inApplicationGoodOralandCommunicationRange:30,000-Php59,999 97. DANG THI VietnameseANCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 98. DANG VAN VietnameseTHUONGCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 99. DAO THI MAI ANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeableDescription:incomputer application with good oral and written communication skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 100. DIEP VietnameseQUYEN Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeableDescription:incomputer application with good oral and written communication skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 101. DINH DUC VietnameseVIETCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 102. DO THI VietnameseQUYNHCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 103. DOAN THI VietnameseTHUYCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 104. DUONG DOAN NAM KHANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 105. DUONG QUANG DUC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 106. DUONG THANH XUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 107. DUONG THI PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 108. HA VAN VietnameseNAMCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 109. HO CAM VietnameseSINHCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarySkillsWrittenWithComputerKnowledgeableQualification:inApplicationGoodOralandCommunicationRange:30,000-Php59,999 110. HOANG THANH TU Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 111. HOANG THI GIANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 112. HOANG THI HOA Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarySkillsWrittenWithComputerKnowledgeableQualification:inApplicationGoodOralandCommunicationRange:30,000-Php59,999 113. LE HUU VietnameseTHANGCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 114. LE NGOC VietnameseNGHIACustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 115. LE NGUYEN THUY DUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 116. LE THI VietnameseTAM Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 117. LE VAN VietnameseDAI Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 118. LE VAN VietnameseDOANCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 119. LE VAN VietnameseDUANCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 120. LIEU VAN VietnameseKHANHCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 121. LO XUAN VietnameseDIEPCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 122. LUC XUAN VietnameseHUUCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 123. LUNG THI VietnameseVANCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarySkillsWrittenWithComputerKnowledgeableQualification:inApplicationGoodOralandCommunicationRange:30,000-Php59,999 124. LUONG HUU HOANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 125. LUONG HUU HUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 126. LUONG THI VietnameseHONGCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 127. LUONG VAN TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 128. LUU KHAI VietnameseTRUCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999

130.

189. TRINH XUAN HUE Customer Service Representative Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 190. ZHANG, KnowledgeableBriefCustomerYANLONGServiceRepresentativeJobDescription:incomputerapplication with good oral and written communication skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 SYBOSS CONSULTANCY INC. 40/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V. A. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati 191. CHEN, AssistBriefOperationsLINGDONGSpecialistJobDescription:theoperations manager in developing, planning and coordinating operational activities. Basic Qualification: At least 2 years of experience as an operations specialist or in a similar role. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TRI7 SOLUTIONS, INC. Unit 9-a 9/f Marvin Plaza Bldg., 2153 Don Chino Roces

with good

182. VU

Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic

Basic Qualification: Must be 21 years old and above; graduate of any vocational or bachelor’s degree course; at least 1 year experience as data analyst or customer service; with good oral and PhpSalarywrittenRange:30,000-Php SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 9-11 Flr., The Biopolis Bldg., Macapagal Blvd., Barangay 76, Pasay City

Brief Job MultilingualDescription:customer support, specifically for other Asian language Basic Qualification: Must be 21 years old and above; Graduate of any Vocational or Bachelor’s Degree Course ;At least 1 year experience as Data Analyst or Customer Service; With good oral and PhpSalarywrittenRange:30,000-Php 59,999

178. VO THI VietnameseMAI Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 179. VONG CHI VietnameseDAUCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 180. VU

LIEM Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic

168. THAI VAN

186. FRANSISKA WATI Data Analyst Officer Brief Job MultilingualDescription:customer support, specifically for other Asian language

188. PHAM VAN TUAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services.

NIPPON STEEL TRADING CORPORATION MANILA OFFICE 10/f The Salcedo Towers, 169 H.v. Dela Costa St, Bel-air, City Of Makati 183. TAJIMA, TATSUSHI Chief Representative And General Manager / Resident Agent Brief Job Description: To manage and administer the Manila office. Basic skills,EnglishExcellentQualification:Japanese&communicationgoodknowledge of different business function and strong leadership PhpSalaryqualities.Range:60,000-Php

187. SOTARONGGAL MANGIRING ALEXANDER Data Analyst Officer Brief Job MultilingualDescription:customer support, specifically for other Asian language

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No. NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No. NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

181. VU

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati 192. WANG, ChineseXINHUILanguage Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Report on a daily basis operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities & various background operation duties.

Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic

176.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No. NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

PACIFIC SEA BPO SERVICES, INC. 16/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

175. TRIEU

Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand

BusinessMirror A9www.businessmirror.com.ph Friday, August 19, 2022

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 CHI VietnameseHIENCustomer CustomerDescription:supportand data base

Service Brief Job

services

OCTAGON PRIME OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg., Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati 184. PANG, MandarinMAOHUITechnical Support Brief Job Description: Provide specialized services to assist end-users in technology needs

Basic readingProficientQualification:inwriting,andspeaking in both *DatePhpSalaryMalayChinese/Vietnamese/English/Bahasa/Thai/Range:30,000-Php59,999Generated:Aug18,2022 Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this Pleasepublication.inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

with

Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic

185. CHAU KE YEN Data Analyst Officer

59,999

with

174. TRAN

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Services.

148. NGUYEN VAN DIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 149. NGUYEN VAN DONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 150. NGUYEN VAN HOA Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeDescription:incomputer applications with good oral and written communications skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 151. NGUYEN VAN LINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 152. NGUYEN VAN NGOC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 153. NGUYEN VAN NGOC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services

177. TRUC

Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 XUAN VietnamesePHICustomer PhpSalarySkillsWrittenWithComputerKnowledgeableQualification:inApplicationGoodOralandCommunicationRange:30,000-Php59,999 VietnameseSONCustomer computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 THI THU VY PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 THI HONG computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 TRINH CONG HIEU Vietnamese Data Base

Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 DIEU VietnameseHOACustomer computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 THI VietnameseNGA computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 TRONG VietnamesePHUCCustomer computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 89,999

169. TRAN DINH SON Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 170. TRAN NHAT LINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 171. TRAN THE VietnameseHOANCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 172. TRAN THI VietnamesePHUONGCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 173. TRAN THI VietnameseQUYENCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good

with good

Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic

154. NONG THUY PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 155. PHAM KHAC DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 156. PHAM KIM VietnameseSANGCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 157. PHAM THI KIM THU Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job KnowledgeableDescription:incomputer application with good oral and written communication skills Basic PhpSalarydataCustomerQualification:supportandbaseservicesRange:30,000-Php59,999 158. PHAM THI VietnameseOANHCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarycommunicationwithcomputerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplicationsgoodoralandwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 159. PHAM THI THANH MY Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:Supportand Data Base Services. Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskills.Range:30,000-Php59,999 160. PHAM THI THU THUY Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarySkillsWrittenWithComputerKnowledgeableQualification:inApplicationGoodOralandCommunicationRange:30,000-Php59,999 161. PHAM VAN VietnameseDIEPCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic PhpSalarySkillsWrittenWithComputerKnowledgeableQualification:inApplicationGoodOralandCommunicationRange:30,000-Php59,999 162. PHAN DINH KHANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 163. PHAN HOANG TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 164. PHU CHI MINH THANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 165. PHU VAN VietnameseTHUANCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 166. SUNG THI VietnameseTHANHCustomer Service Brief Job CustomerDescription:supportand data base services Basic computerKnowledgeableQualification:inapplication with good oral and PhpSalarycommunicationwrittenskillsRange:30,000-Php59,999 167. SY

Basic FluentQualification:inmandarin, both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

2 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

6 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite ZAW MIN Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

7 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite QIU, HOUXIONG Chinese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite MYINT MYINT WIN Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

5 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite THURA TUN Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

8 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite YU, BO Chinese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

21 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite TRAN VAN HIEU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

1 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE

10 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LE DINH TUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION/S FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT/S (AEP/S) Notice is hereby given that the following companies/employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s: ESTABLISHMENT NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL, POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

14 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite NGUYEN THI THUY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Friday, August 19, 2022 BusinessMirrorA10 www.businessmirror.com.ph NO.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

19 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite THAN THI NU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

12 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LE THI THIEP Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LI PAIN YAN Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

LE THI HOA Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

22 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite TRAN VIET HOANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

17 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite PHO THI XUAN THU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

13 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LUONG QUYEN NGHIA Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

20 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite TRAN DUC HAI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

11 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

15 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite PHAM THUY TRANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

16 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite PHAN TRONG HUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

23 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite TRUONG KY KHO Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362 August 19, 2022

3 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite SAI KYAW MYNT AUNG Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

18 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite TANG TIEU BINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

4 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite SENG SAN NU Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

9 MOA CORP.CLOUDZONE Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite VICTOR Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

National Security Adviser

of instruction in schools

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie THE leadership of the House of Representatives on Thursday said that it is ready to provide needed legislation, including the funding, for the extension of the state of public health emergency.

A SENIOR lawmaker is pushing for a “serious rethinking” of what medium of instruction to use in Philippine schools. Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villa fuerte called for the review, saying President Marcos himself has made a pitch for keeping our competitive edge in the global marketplace as an English-speaking people. V illafuerte said “a serious re thinking of our means of commu nication for learning is a must af ter President Marcos himself had stressed in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) that Eng lish is the language of the Internet, which has become the global mar ketplace, and that foreign employers have always favored Filipino work ers because of our command of the English language.” “A review of what medium of instruction should be used in our schools, as what the President men tioned in his July 25 SONA, should be one of the focal concerns of the would-be second Congressional Commission Education (Edcom II), in line with its mandate under the law that created it to come up with educational reforms to, among others, address the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is distinguished by the digital revolution or brisk development of information technology (IT),” Vil lafuerte added. Villafuerte was referring to the Edcom II, which the new law— Republic Act (RA) No. 11899— has tasked to make another com prehensive national assessment and evaluation of the performance of the education sector by reviewing the mandates of the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills De velopment Authority (Tesda).

THE Rural Missionaries of the Philippines Inc. has denied ac cusations that it is channeling funds for terrorist activities of the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army (CPP-NPA). I n a news statement, the RMP Leadership Team, through Sister Rebecca D. Pacete, insisted that all its projects are well documented and accounted for. R MP added that it has complied with all the requirements for secur ing funds for their projects. Given RMP’s mandate to serve those in hard-to-reach areas, the ben eficiaries are mostly peasants, indig enous peoples and other rural poor. “ The demonization of RMP’s work has negatively affected various min istries in sustainable agriculture, ru ral schools, disaster risk reduction, climate change mitigation, health services, defense of human rights, and organic farming,” Pacete said. T he RMP issued the statement several days after the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted four nuns and 11 others for allegedly soliciting funds intended to finance the terror ist activities of the CPP-NPA. D OJ said 55 information for violation of Section 8 (ii) of Repub lic Act 10168 Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012), as amended, has been filed as of Monday before the Regional Trial Court of Iligan City against the re spondents who were mostly officers and staff of RMP.

www.businessmirror.com.ph Friday, August 19, 2022 A11BusinessMirror News

Carlos visits Pagasa Island

of Filipino professionals and other workers in the global market where Filipinos have been sought after for decades now, partly because of their English proficiency. Proficiency in English has opened a lot of opportunities for those look ing for jobs as well as for workers to keep their current employment or get promoted, Villafuerte said, because most corporations require from their employees and would-be hires a fair amount of skill in English.

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM NATIONAL Security Adviser Clarita Carlos visited Pala wan and Pagasa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) on Wednesday in her first visit to the islandThemunicipality.securityadviser went to Pala wan before flying in to Pagasa Island, the seat of power of the Kalayaan mu nicipality, on board a military aircraft. “Her visit bespeaks of our com mon aspiration, strong stand, and unwavering dedication to protect the people and the state under our responsibility,” the military’s West ern Command (WESTCOM) said in news statement. In Pagasa, Carlos interacted with officials of the municipality, military officials and the island’s residents, according to the WESTCOM. The KIG borders the West Philip pine Sea or the country’s exclusive economic zone in that territory, which is being illegally disputed by China.

However, RMP accused govern ment authorities of threatening a supposed witness into issuing a sworn statement implicating its of ficers and members in the activities of the CPP-NPA, which has been designated as a terrorist organiza tion by the Philippine government, the US Department of State and the European Union. It said that based on information gathered, one of these witnesses has been presented as a former member of the NPA after authori ties arrested her mother. T he group claimed that in ex change for her mother’s release, she executed a spurious statement ac cusing RMP members of channeling funds to the CPP-NPA. “As part of the government’s counter-insurgency program, ‘sur renderees’ have been used to link le gal democratic organizations to the CPP-NPA, while lining the pockets of corrupt officials in the process,” the statement read. T he group also expressed seri ous concerns for the safety of those charged by the DOJ, noting that two are already jailed on other trumpedup charges.

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

Rural Missionaries

E dcom shall be a 10-member commission comprising five sena tors and five members of the House of statelongformedPhilippineCommissionfirstthings analytics.”tum computing,ics,telligence, automation,tion technologyoramongdustrialic, and the advent of the Fourthresponses to theing as part of the adjustments andvocationaltion and post-secondary technical-fortive learning and delivery modesas thethe newcational reforms necessary to meetRARepresentatives.EdcomIIhasbeen directed under11899to“institutionalize educhallenges toeducation, suchimplementation of alternabasiceducation,higher educaeducation and trainglobal pandemInRevolutioncharacterized,others, bydigitalrevolutiontherapiddevelopment ofinformasuch as artificial indata analytblockchain datasharing,quanandinternetofEdcomIIisthesuccessortotheEdcom(JointCongressionaltoStudyandReviewEducation)thatwasin1991toundertakeayearstudyonthethen-deterioratingofthelocalschoolsystem.Thefirst EdcomhadtracedthedecliningqualityofPhilippineschoolstothepoorly-managededucational system,inadequateinvestmentsinteachingmaterialsandlearningresources,crowdedcurriculum,andinadequateteachers’salariesandbenefits,amongothers. AmongEdcom I’srecommendationswerethe lawsthatcreatedtheCHED(RA 7722)and Tesda(RA7796);increaseinstudytimeforcriticalsubjectslikeEnglish,ScienceandMathematics;increaseinnumberofschooldays;andclearcareerservicepathsforteachersandschooladministratorsandimprovementintheirbenefits.Villafuertesupported thegovernment’sdecisiontoupskill studentsintheEnglishlanguageasawaytofurthersharpenthecompetitiveedge

accusation

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe said the lower chamber is supporting the decision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to extend the state of public health emergency. A lthough Covid-19 cases have declined dramatically, Dalipe said the emergence of new vari ants still requires extraordinary measures to protect the health of our citizens. “ We are thankful that President Marcos acted swiftly to extend the state of national health emergency previously declared by President [Rodrigo R.] Duterte through Proc lamation 922. The House leadership will take this into account as we begin deliberations on the govern ment’s National Expenditure Pro gram,” he said. Under Section 5 of Proclama tion 922, the State of Public Health Emergency shall remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by thePPresident.residentMarcos on Wednes day said the country would remain under a state of public health emergency until the end of the year to ensure government pro curement during the pandemic will not be hampered. M arcos said the extension of the health emergency also aims to give the government enough time to amend existing procure ment laws. Ex-President Duterte placed the country under a state of public health emergency through Proclamation No. 922 at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. T he proclamation aims to “capaci tate government agencies and local government units to immediately act to prevent loss of life, utilize appro priate resources to implement urgent and critical measures to contain or prevent Covid-19.” D uring the said emergency, the Department of Health will be al lowed to use negotiated procure ment to secure common-use sup plies and equipment (CSE) instead of the usual public bidding, which usually takes a longer time to com plete, as stipulated under Govern ment Procurement Policy Board Resolution No. 03-2020. A mong the CSEs are alcohol, sani tizers, gloves, common medicine, and testing kits. of the Philippines rejects terrorist financing

Courtesy call MEANWHILE, Italy’s Ambassador to the Philippines Marco Clemente paid a courtesy call on Department of National Defense Senior Offi cer in Charge Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. where both discussed bilateralDuringissues.their talks, the officials recalled the successful acquisition of AgustaWestland helicopters for the Philippine Navy and attack heli copters for the Philippine Air Force. Clemente expressed the Italian government’s readiness to con tinuously support the capability upgrade program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Both sides have committed to work on a framework of coopera tion to further enhance logistics cooperation between the Philip pines and RecognizingItaly. that both countries are prone to seismic and volcanic ac tivities, Faustino and Clemente also discussed the possibility of coopera tion in the area of civil defense.

House backs PBBM’s call to extend state of public health emergency

Lawmaker urges ‘serious rethinking’ medium

T he said provision states, “Any person who, not being an accomplice under Section 6 or accessory under Section 7 in relation to any property or fund...makes available any prop erty or funds, or financial services or other related services to a designated and/or identified person, organiza tion, association, or group of persons, shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to reclusion perpetua and a fine of not less than five hundred thousand pe sos (P500,000.00) nor more than one million pesos (P1,000,000.00).”

“ Keeping our labor force highly attractive for local and interna tional employers is one means for the Marcos administration’s eco nomic transformation to succeed as it would go a long way in, first, continue attracting foreign inves tors to set up shop here, and, second, for international firms to keep hir ing our workers and thereby boost the dollar remittances of migrant Filipinos,” he said. A ccording to Villafuerte, the country’s competitive edge in English proficiency has been con firmed by a media report that said the Philippines’ ranking has im proved in the English Proficiency Index (EPI), an online Standard English Test conducted by the Switzerland-based EF Education First Ltd. that measures the aver age skill level in the English lan guage of 112 economies. T he report said the Philippines’ ranking went up to No. 18 (with a score of 592) in 2020 from the year-ago’s No. 27 (with a score of 562). The country’s score of 592 was considered of “high proficien cy,” according to the report, which was enough for tasks such as mak ing presentations at work, read ing newspapers or understanding shows on television. He said our workers’ skill in Eng lish has enabled them to work abroad or here in the country as outsourced professionals in IT, healthcare, cus tomer care and other industries.

Conference Committee on Judicial Security, said in a statement issued recently in the aftermath of the search. “Judges should not have to fear retaliation for doing their jobs.” A phone message left in Reinhart’s chambers was not immediately returned. He will preside over a hearing Thursday on a request by media organizations, including The Associated Press, seeking to unseal the underlying affidavit the Justice Department submitted when it asked for the Mar-a-Lago search warrant. Asked to comment about measures it has taken to protect Reinhart and his family the US Marshals Service said in a statement “while we do not discuss our specific security measures, we continuously review the measures in place and take appropriate steps to provide protection as necessary to ensure the integrity of the federal judicial process.” The vitriol directed at the magistrate, while striking, is becoming increasingly common. In 2014, the US Marshals Service handled 768 incidents that it classified as “inappropriate communications” aimed at judges and court employees. Last year, it reported more than 4,500. At one point “virtually everyone recognized how inappropriate it was to threaten the life or security of a judge because of a disagreement with the judge’s decision,” said Barbara Lynn, chief judge for the northern district of Texas. “Now I think there are a lot of people that don’t think See “Trump,” A13 See “Colorado,” A13 broader look today’s business

In a recent study by US-based luggage storage company Bounce, plastic waste has damaged coral reefs and wildlife, which are the main attraction of the world’s top snorkeling destinations. Bounce said the volume of plastics in oceans has steadily grown at 5.14 percent annually. As of 2020, it said the total volume of plastic in oceans stood at 1.73 million tons. From the Associated Press: “In a world increasingly troubled by the persistent harm that plastic—manufactured in petrochemical plants—has had on the environment, companies are investing billions of dollars to ramp up production of plastics made from natural, renewable materials that can be safely composted or can biodegrade under the right conditions. Bioplastics have long been used in medical applications. The stitches you got after cutting your hand slicing onions were likely made of a bioplastic thread that harmlessly dissolved into your body.”

T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso Ruben M. Cruz Jr. Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines. Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025. (Advertising Sales) 893-2019; 817-1351, 817-2807. (Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news.businessmirror@gmail.com www.news.businessmirror@gmail.com

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Thestatement.”federalgovernment started cutting some states’ supplies this year to maintain water levels in the river and its key reservoirs. New water cuts will build on those reductions—which all but eliminated some central Arizona farmers’ supply of Colorado River water and to a much lesser extent, reduced Nevada and Mexico’s share.

But US officials announced Tuesday there will be less water available next year for them from the river that serves 40 million people in the West and Mexico and a farm industry worth billions of dollars. Observers warn that a reckoning is still coming for the growing region because the water crisis is expected to generate future cuts. A look at the crucial source of water for the Western US and the water cuts. Why is the Colorado River threatened? There are two Colorado Rivers in the US—the 1,450-mile (2,334 kilometer) powerhouse of the West and the over 800-mile (1,287-kilometer) river that starts and ends in Texas. The river that faces cuts is the longer one. It supplies seven states plus Mexico but its flow has dropped drastically over time because of water overuse by farming and growing populations, hotter temperatures, evaporation and less melting snow in the spring to replenish the river. And for years, the seven states that receive the river’s water have diverted more water from it than what was replenished by nature. Who do Lake Mead and Lake Powell serve? Lake Mead supplies water to millions of people in Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico. Cuts for 2023 are triggered when predicted water levels fall below a certain threshold—1,050 feet (320 meters) above sea level. Additional cuts will be triggered when projected levels sink to 1,045 and 1,025 feet (319 and 312 meters). At a certain point, levels could drop so low that water can no longer be pumped from the reservoir. Eventually, some city and industrial water users will be affected. Lake Powell’s levels are also falling and extraordinary steps have been taken to keep water in the reservoir on the Arizona-Utah border. Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming get water from tributaries and other reservoirs that feed into Lake Powell. Water from three reservoirs in those states has been drained in recent years to maintain water levels at Lake Powell and protect the electric grid powered by the Glen Canyon Dam. What is being cut and why? The federal government started cutting some states’ supplies this year to maintain water levels in the river and its key reservoirs. New water cuts will build on those reductions—which all but eliminated some central Arizona farmers’ supply of Colorado River water and to a much lesser extent, reduced Nevada

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Trump has done little to lower the temperature among his supporters, decrying the search as political persecution and calling on Reinhart to recuse himself in the case because he has previously made political donations to Democrats. Reinhart has also, however, contributed to Republicans.Thethreats against Reinhart are part of a broader attack on law enforcement, particularly the FBI, by Trump and his allies in the aftermath of the search. But experts warn that the focus on a judge, coming amid an uptick in threats to the judiciary in general, is dangerous for the rule of law in the US and the country’s viability as a “Threatsdemocracy.againstjudges fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities strike at the very core of our democracy,” US Second Circuit Judge Richard J. Sullivan, chair of the Judicial and Mexico’s share. Lake Mead and Lake Powell— the two largest Colorado River reservoirs—are about a quarter full, threatening water supplies and the generation of hydroelectric power that provides electricity to millions of people.Alongthe reservoirs’ edges, “bathtub rings” of minerals outline where the high water line once stood, highlighting the challenges the West faces as a ‘megadrought’ tightens its grip on the region. How is the river shared? Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico share the Colorado River in what’s called the river’s upper basin. Arizona, Nevada and California form the lower basin. From its headwaters in Colorado, the river and its tributaries eventually flow south of the border into Mexico, which also uses its water. The river’s water traditionally flowed through Mexico and reached the Gulf of California, but rarely does so anymore because so much is used by farms and cities. Among those who depend on the water are nearly 30 federally recognized Native AmericanIntribes.theSouthwest, water stored in Lake Mead and Lake Powell—the two largest manmade reservoirs in the US—is divvied up through legal agreements among the seven Colorado River basin states, the federal government, Mexico and tribes. The agreements determine how much water each entity gets, when cuts are triggered and the order in which the parties must sacrifice some of theirUndersupply.a 2019 drought contingency plan, Arizona, Nevada, California and Mexico agreed to give up shares of their water to maintain water levels at Lake Mead. This year’s cuts are part of that plan—and as a result, state officials knew they were coming. Which parties will be affected by the cuts? Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. Arizona was hardest hit, again, and will receive 79 percent of its total share next year. But that’s only 3 percent less than what it got this year, after federal officials slashed its Nevadasupply. will receive about 92 percent of its total supply next year. Most residents will not feel the cuts thanks to water conservation, reuse and the state not using its full allocation.California has been spared because it has more senior water rights than Arizona and Nevada. That means it doesn’t have to give up its

WaSHinGTOn arizona and nevada residents won’t face bans on watering their lawns or washing their cars despite more Colorado River water shortages.

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He has faced a storm of death threats since his signature earlier this month cleared the way for the FBI to search former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as part of a probe into whether he inappropriately removed sensitive materials from the White House. Reinhart’s home address was posted on right-wing sites, along with antisemitic slurs. The South Florida synagogue he attends canceled its Friday night Shabbat services in the wake of the uproar.

The increased targeting of judges comes as trust in public institutions plummets and partisan rhetoric escalates. It’s part of a pattern that Steven Levitsky has seen before. “This is a classic precursor of a democratic breakdown,” said Levitsky, a Harvard political scientist and co-author of How Democracies Die. “To call this a warning sign is an under-

editorial Goodbye old plastics; hello bioplastics!

BelGian chemist leo Baekeland developed the first synthetic plastic in 1907, which sparked a consumer boom in affordable yet highly desirable products that could be easily massproduced. Since then, plastic has been used for an incredible variety of products around the world. But the widespread adoption of plastics has not been without adverse consequences to people’s health and the environment. Plastics pollute our cities, oceans and even the air we breathe. Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms. World Bank Managing Director for Operations Axel van Trotsenburg and Asean Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi said in a Blog that Asean members lose as much as $80 billion to $120 billion a year due to the failure to recycle plastics. This represented 95 percent of the packaging value of plastic products in the region. (Read, “Asean states lose $80B-$120B yearly due to plastic waste,” in the BusinessMirror, July 25, 2022). “Southeast Asia has emerged as a hotspot for plastic pollution, with its rapid urbanization, rising middle class and inadequate infrastructure for waste management. Half of the top 10 countries contributing to plastic leakage to rivers and seas are located here,” they said, adding that “Covid-19 has been a pandemic of plastic, triggering huge increases in the consumption of masks, sanitizer bottles, online delivery packaging and other single-use items.”

By Suman Naishadham | The Associated Press

www.news.businessmirror@gmail.comFriday, August 19, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso Opinion BusinessMirrorA12

WaSHinGTOn Hundreds of federal judges face the same task every day: review an affidavit submitted by federal agents and approve requests for a search warrant. But for US Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, the fallout from his decision to approve a search warrant has been far from routine.

How new Colorado River cuts will impact states, residents

Trump supporters’ threats to judge spur democracy concerns

Companies and investors see opportunities, the AP reported. Data from i3 Connect show investment in bioplastic manufacturing reached $500 million in the first three months of 2022, exceeding the previous high of $350 million in the last quarter of 2021. The money is coming in from both corporations and venture capitalists. Zion Market Research estimates the bioplastics market will surge from $10.5 billion in 2021 to some $29 billion in 2028. Danimer Scientific is one company making a big bet on bioplastic with a recent expansion of its plant in Winchester, Kentucky. The Georgia-based firm makes a bioplastic called PHA using microorganisms that ferment with canola oil. The result is plastic pellets that manufacturers can use to mold products in the same way they use petrochemical plastic, Danimer CEO Stephen Croskrey said in an interview. Straws and plastic drink stirrers made from Danimer’s PHA are being used in Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts and large venues like Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Croskrey said. The other primary bioplastic sold today is PLA—polylactic acid—usually produced by fermenting sugar from corn and sugar cane. One producer is Minneapolis-based NatureWorks, a joint venture by Cargill, one of the world’s largest privately-held corporations, and Thailand-based PTT Global Chemical. It is the largest PLA company in the world, capable of producing 150,000 metric tons of bioplastic pellets annually at a plant in Blair, Nebraska. NatureWorks is building a $600 million plant in Thailand that will increase its production capacity by 50 percent, said Leah Ford, the company’s global marketing communications manager, in an AP interview. The company’s “biggest visibility market,” Ford said, is compostable food service items such as plastic cutlery, clear cups, wrappers and containers that, along with restaurant food waste, can be converted into a dark organic material to enrich soil in gardens and on farms. That’s important because food waste clogs recycling machinery and contaminates recyclable petroleum plastics, the AP report said. As the AP reported, the nascent bioplastics industry envisions a far bigger role for materials made from corn, sugar, vegetable oils and other renewable materials in the hope of grabbing a larger share of a nearly $600 billion global plastic market. Bioplastics are easier to biodegrade than petrochemical plastic, which can take centuries to disintegrate. This gives us hope that soon enough we can say goodbye to the old plastic material that does not rot.

By Gary Fields & Nicholas Riccardi | The Associated Press

Two films have divided the land. The debate that followed showed obfuscation on the part of those who are learned and simplification from the point of view of those who we (I count myself as part of the dominant class) view as unlearned, uncouth. Both parties—there are individuals and groups in between, shelved in the interstices of this society—have displayed arrogance and violence confirming what we have always known but have persistently denied: that intelligence does not necessarily calm the spirit.

there’s anything wrong with that.”

Tito Genova Valiente annoTaTions

By Kim Tong-Hyung | The Associated Press SEoUL, South Korea—South Korea’s president said wednesday his government has no plans to pursue its own nuclear deterrent and called instead for more diplomacy in the face of growing North Korean nuclear weapons capabilities, even as the North test-fired two suspected cruise missiles.

Lynn is one of many judicial officials pushing Congress to approve the Daniel Anderl bill, named for the 20-year-old son of District Judge Esther Salas. He was killed in 2020 when a gunman came to their New Jersey home. His father was wounded. The bill, which has the support of groups ranging from the American Bar Association to the National Association of Attorneys General, would keep more of judges’ personal information private. In June, a retired Wisconsin county circuit judge, John Roemer was killed in his home in what authorities said was a targeted killing by a gunman, who fatally wounded himself as well. Later that month, protesters converged on the homes of conservative US Supreme Court justices after they overturned a 49-year-old ruling that women have a constitutional right to obtain an abortion. Police arrested a man with knives, zip ties and a gun near the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and he said he planned to kill the conservative justice. Congress rapidly approved money to bolster security at the justices’ homes and provide 24-hour protection to their families.Theincreased targeting of judges comes as trust in public institutions plummets and partisan rhetoric escalates. It’s part of a pattern that Steven Levitsky has seen before. “This is a classic precursor of a democratic breakdown,” said Levitsky, a Harvard political scientist and co-author of How Democracies Die. “To call this a warning sign is an Trump’sunderstatement.”initialpresidential campaign—during which he personally condemned a judge who ruled against him in a lawsuit over his now-defunct Trump University—changed the ground rules governing threats and explosive rhetoric, said Matthew Weil, executive director of the Democracy Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, DC. “There are threats everywhere now, it’s become more normalized because he changed what was allowed in public discourse,” Weil said, who said both the right and the left have turned to threatening the judicialNathanbranch.Hall, a principal consultant with the National Center for State Courts, noted that the combination of lagging public trust, coupled with access to judges’ addresses and personal information impacts everyone from nationally known Supreme Court justices to otherwise anonymous state judges. “This gets to the core issue of having equal access to justice, a core foundational principle of our ability to function as a third and independent branch of government. It’s really shaken to the core,” Hall said. “Judges are just people at the end of the day. They put on a robe, but they still go home to their families.”

Trump. . . continued from

T he opposite must also be true: the lack of critical faculty does not engender innocence, nor does it make everyone brutes. Above the din of discussion, have we ever asked if the general silence is caused by the now mythical 30-plus million? Their stillness after all by the sheer number can actually create a monumental noncommittal, an acquiescence to what is wrong, the very same thing bothering the intellectuals and which they, we believe, merely take for granted. Who has the right to imagine our nation? The concept of a nation remains contentious to us who have all the time and the faculty to think but to those below (for lack of a better word to describe them) there is a nation and they are part of it. That in their mind, their support of a government is for the maintenance of that whole. In their mind also, our voices are subversive because they are meant to challenge that unity. In our mind, their opinions are inane, silly and dumb. How do we convince them that we are treading on the same ground, that our dream for happiness includes them as well? Or, did we even consider this path at all? The past weeks have been brutal for all of us. Online and off, parallel threads run and, in its own geometry, never did meet. We know where our voices come from. They come from positions of privilege and wealth, or, at least, from statuses with a modicum of economic sufficiency. On their side, the enablers of the discourse also come from the same positions. Examining, however, the level of logic that their responses to our clarifications reveal a majority of individuals who have insufficient knowledge. But how do we tell them that? The long years of administering this “nation” has always been delivered from persons who, like us, can read, write and critique what was written. And so, where do their voices come from? Are we interested to know where they are, by reasoning, coming from? The fact is that, threatened, we have forgotten to consider the solutions available to us – education. Not the simplistic concept of education but the solid social package encompassing community development.

the overall meaning of those “basic needs.” Following the ILO report, the Basic Needs Approach possesses what it defined as two crucial elements. They are the minimum requirements of a family for private consumption, which are: adequate food, shelter and clothing and other household implements. The other requirements point to the essential services provided by and for the community at large. Among these services are safe drinking water, sanitation, public transport and health. Crucial to the gaps that we feel run across our societies are two more services and they are concerned with education and cultural facilities, two domains of development we have long neglected in the policy implementations of government programs. The same report, it must be noted, did not forget to mention how access to certain services allowed decisionmaking expected to lead to real participation in the community. All these elements never figured in the debates that rankled for days on end. We felt the only thing that mattered was to win the debate, forgetting that the other side may not be even equipped to listen to our tirades, or to comprehend our stand. We worked hard to trade insults with them, bringing in from our arsenal of reason, wit and diatribes the force of our class and education. If that did not work, we delivered the coup d’ grace: Palibhasa wala kayong pinag-aralan! (You are not educated after all!). In our haste, we ignored the poisonous tricks of algorithms. The flame in our hearts, the source of our rage, lit to conflagration that which we wanted to suppress. In the end, we had everything to lose and nothing to gain. What was that old adage, win an argument and lose a soul? We still can win them back. We need not be at the forefront. All we can do is do what we are best at— fighting for good laws and making sure they are implemented, supporting all kinds of education and, most of all, being prepared to meet, hoping against hope, citizens who can read and write, understand what they have read and wrote, step back and rethink everything in front of them. This is no less ideal but idealism has always been the source of good philosophy that outlasts regimes. It is always good to look back at the past, for the past has lessons. One of these lessons from the past comes from Thomas Paine. In his short preface to The Age of Reason, Paine writes: “You will do me justice to remember, that I have always strenuously supported the Right of every Man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it.” E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

The roads leading to education

Trump accused the government of abuse of power in targeting him, and his supporters railed against the search online, targeting the FBI and Department of Justice. An armed man who posted threats against the FBI on Trump’s Truth Social network was killed by authorities after trying to storm the agency’s CincinnatiStill,office.Trump and his supporters have waged rhetorical war against the FBI for years since the investigation into whether his initial campaign was aided by Russia in 2016. The intense focus on an individual judge like Reinhart is relatively new.

It was in the late ’70s when the “Basic Needs Concept’’ was introduced during the International Labor Organization’s World Employment Conference. It has been more than 50 years since the said concept was popularized, which proposed as the overriding objective of development policies the satisfaction of basic human needs. Reductionist to a point, the idea, however, remains a fertile source of more ideas if we consider

The most recent warning sign came after last week’s search of MarA-Lago, Trump’s Florida resort and political and personal headquarters. FBI agents seized 11 sets of classified information as part of an investigation of three different federal laws, including one that governs gathering, transmitting or losing defense information under the Espionage Act, according to court records.

Gretchen Helmke, a political scientist at the University of Rochester, said Trump’s action mirrors what demagogues have done in other countries where democracy has collapsed. “A popularly elected leader targeting a judiciary is often one early indicator of democratic erosion,” Helmke said in an Helmkee-mail.citedVenezuela, Bolivia and Peru as places where an incoming administration vowed to clean up the judiciary, then stocked it with its followers. “The public never develops any real trust or confidence in the judiciary, and it is essentially costless for each incoming administration to use the previous government’s manipulation of the judiciary as a pretext to create the court it wants, Helmke said. “The end result is no judicial independence and no rule of law.”Hall said people can look at other countries and see what happens when public servants fear reprisals, places where “the rule of law has suffered. I guess you probably get a lot of differences of opinions on how far down that road we’re already hitting, but it raises the important question.” Riccardi reported from Denver Colorado from A12

Friday, August 19, 2022 Opinion A13BusinessMirrorwww.news.businessmirror@gmail.com

The launches were detected from North Korea’s western coast hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol used a news conference to urge Pyongyang to return to diplomacy aimed at exchanging denuclearization steps for economic benefits. South Korea’s military, which didn’t reveal the launches until after Yoon’s remarks, provided no immediate flight details about the North’s weapons, including how they moved or how far they traveled.Yoon’s office said his national security director, Kim Sung-han, discussed the launch with other senior officials before Yoon addressed reporters and that they reviewed the South’s military readiness. Tensions could further rise as the United States and South Korea kick off their biggest combined training in years next week to counter the North Korean threat. The North describes such drills as invasion rehearsals and has often responded to them with missile tests or other provocations. Yoon during the news conference maintained a reserved tone on Pyongyang, saying Seoul doesn’t desire political change in North Korea that’s brought by force and that the rivals should aim at building sustainable peace. Yoon’s comments followed his proposal on Monday for an “audacious” economic assistance package to North Korea if it abandons its nuclear weapons program. He has avoided harsh criticism of the North after it threatened “deadly” retaliation last week over a Covid-19 outbreak it blames on the South.Yoon’s proposal for large-scale aid in food and healthcare and modernizing power and port infrastructure resembled previous South Korean offers that were rejected by North Korea, which is speeding its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, seen by leader Kim Jong Un as his strongest guarantee of survival. Still, Yoon expressed hope for “meaningful dialogue” with North Korea over his plan and stressed that Seoul is willing to provide corresponding economic rewards at each step of a phased denuclearization process if the North commits to a genuine “roadmap” toward fully abandoning its weapons“Weprogram.arenot telling them to ‘denuclearize entirely first and then we will provide,’” Yoon said. “What we are saying is that we will provide the things we can in correspondence to their steps if they only show a firm determination (towardInter-Koreandenuclearization).”tieshave worsened amid a stalemate in larger nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the US that derailed in early 2019 because of disagreements over a relaxation of crippling US-led sanctions on the North in exchange for disarmamentNorthsteps.Korea has ramped up its missile testing to a record pace in 2022, launching more than 30 ballistic weapons so far, including its first intercontinental ballistic missiles in nearly five years. The heighted testing activity underscores North Korea’s dual intent to advance its arsenal and force the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power so it can negotiate economic and security concessions from a position of strength, experts say. Kim could up the ante soon as there are indications that the North is preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since September 2017, when it claimed to have developed a thermonuclear weapon to fit on its ICBMs. While Kim’s ICBMs get much of the international attention, North Korea is also expanding its range of nuclear-capable, short-range missiles that can target South Korea. Kim has punctuated his weapons development with threats to proactively use his nuclear weapons in conflicts against the South or the US, which experts say communicate an escalating nuclear doctrine that could increase concerns for its Yoonneighbors.hasvowed to strengthen the South’s defenses through its alliance with the United States by resuming large-scale military training that was canceled or downsized during the Trump years and boosting the South’s missile defenses. The Biden administration has also reaffirmed US commitments to defending South Korea and Japan, including “extended deterrence,” referring to an assurance to defend its allies with its full military capabilities, including nuclear. But some experts say it’s becoming clear South Korea has no clear way to counter the leverage North Korea has with its nukes, expressing concerns that Washington might hesitate to defend its ally in the event of war when Kim’s ICBMs would pose a potential threat to mainland American cities. Some South Koreans have called for the reintroduction of tactical US nuclear weapons that were removed from the South in the 1990s, or for Seoul to pursue its ownYoondeterrent.dismissed the possibility of the latter during the news conference, saying that Seoul will stay committed to an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. “I believe the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) regime is a very important and necessary premise for permanent world peace,” Yoon said, expressing hope that the US deterrence strategy for its allies could evolve to counter the North’s growingYoon’sthreat.comments came after North Korea last week claimed a widely disputed victory over Covid-19 but also blamed South Korea for the outbreak. North Korea insists leaflets and other objects flown across the border by activists spread the virus, an unscientific claim Seoul describes as “ridiculous.”NorthKorea has a history of dialing up pressure on South Korea when it doesn’t get what it wants from the United States, and there are concerns that North Korea’s threat portends a provocation, which could include a nuclear or missile test or even border skirmishes. Some experts say North Korea may stir up tensions around joint military exercises between the allies.

South Korean leader: Seoul won’t seek own nuclear deterrent A12

Inter-Korean ties have worsened amid a stalemate in larger nuclear negotiations between North Korea and the US that derailed in early 2019 because of disagreements over a relaxation of crippling US-led sanctions on the North in exchange for disarmament steps.

water first, according to the hierarchy that guides water law in the AmericanMexicoWest.willget about 93 percent of its total supply. The water is used in cities and farming communities in northwestern Mexico, which is also enduring a severe drought. Who will lose water? Farmers in central Arizona, among the state’s largest producers of livestock, dairy, alfalfa, wheat and barley, lost most of their Colorado River allocation this year when the government implemented its first shortage. Some farmers were compensated with water through deals with cities like Phoenix and Tucson. More farmers will likely need to leave their land fallow—which some farmers in the region have been paid to do by state agencies and others— and rely even more on groundwater. Others will be forced to grow more water-efficient crops such as durum wheat and guayule and find other ways to use less water. Western water suppliers have planned for such shortages by diversifying and conserving their water sources. But intensifying drought depleting reservoirs faster than scientists predicted—and the resulting cuts—will make it harder for farms and cities to plan for the future. “Most people are also not prepared for the kind of difficult choices that we need to make,” said Mark Squillace, a professor of environmental law at the University of Colorado. “And that’s sort of the situation we’re facing in the Colorado River.” Phoenix will lose some water it would otherwise store in underground basins as a water reserve, said Cynthia Campbell, the city’s water resource management advisor. That happened this year, too. The city will rely on more water from Arizona’s Salt and Verde rivers. Campbell said Phoenix residents and businesses won’t be affected. The city that was a sleepy desert community in the 1950s is now the nation’s 5thNevadalargest. will also face cuts, but residents won’t face big impacts. The state does not use its full supply of Colorado River water and most water used indoors by businesses and homes in the populous southern part of the state is recovered, treated and delivered recycled back to Lake Mead.

. . . continued

There is a need to properly determine the correct and ap propriate manner of identifying the areas where the MRP will traverse in order to ensure pub lic safety and welfare while still being able to pursue the MRP for sustained growth and develop ment in the region,” they said. D uterte and Yap said the probe will “ensure transpar ency and accountability [on] the use of public funds while always keeping in mind the safety and welfare of the general populace in the delivery of public services.”

‘Get host countries to ratify treaty on protection of migrant workers’ on A4

T he proposed inquiry in aid of legislation aims “to revisit existing laws and rules on the manner of identifying the ap propriate locations and/or ar eas of the MRP, in addition to concerns of proper acquisition of right-of-way and expropria tion of private properties. T his will, in turn, help ensure that all affected public and pri vate stakeholders are adequate ly compensated and protected by applicable laws and rules, they added. The three-phase MRP, to be implemented by the DOTr, is the first rail system outside Luzon. It covers 1,530 kilome ters of circumferential and spur rail lines connecting the Davao provinces, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City andPhZamboanga. ase1oftheMRP (TagumDavao-Digos segment) is a 105-kilometer line expected to reduce travel time from Davao del Norte to Davao del Sur from 3.5 hours to just 1.3 hours. It will have eight stations: Tagum, Car men, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao Terminal, Toril, Sta. Cruz, and Digos. A 10-hectare depot will be built in Tagum City.

TWO lawmakers on Thurs day called for a congres sional investigation into the proposed Mindanao Railway Project (MRP), specifically on the way the Department of Trans portation (DOTr) undertook its right-of-way acquisition and ex propriation of private properties to be affected by the rail line. D avao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap filed the resolution amid re ports that the project will also pass through densely populated areas in Davao City, “without the appropriate geological surveys or proper public consultations with the affected communities.”

A14 Friday, August 19, 2022

D uterte and Yap filed House Resolution (HR) No.286, fol lowing reports from various local communities to be tra versed by the proposed rail line about disparities in the offers for ROW acquisition and expro priation made by the DOTr and its service providers.

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

DHSUD seeks ₧36-B housing interest subsidy in budget

SOLONS SEEK PROBE OF MINDANAO RAIL PROJECT

House to review status of over half a million govt casuals, JOs on A3

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THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has appealed to Congress to include the P36billion housing interest subsidy every year to boost the government’s housing production efforts.

A DEPUTY speaker has filed a resolution asking the House of Representatives to look into the status of casual and contractual employment in the government with the end in view of determining the possibility of regularizing them to guarantee their security of tenure. In House Resolution 177, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto said that out of the 1.75 million government em ployees, 1,597,973 hold permanent or regular employment status while around 157,000 were appointed as casual or contractual employees. “ The aforesaid number does not include the huge number of job-or der employees in the government totaling approximately 580,000 who are hired for a short duration and who are not covered by the civil service rules and regulations, but are being paid through the main tenance and other operating ex penses of the agencies,” he added. R ecto also said it is important for Congress to call the attention of the Department of Budget and Management and the government agencies concerned to review, study and update, if necessary, the ap proved staffing pattern and man power complement of the govern ment agencies to ascertain the need for the regularization of its casual and contractual positions. “ It is also necessary for Congress to determine the extent of casual and contractual employment in the government and the necessary costs to regularize the said posi tions to come up with a legislative measure that will protect the wel fare of our civil servants while at the same time taking into account fiscal responsibility,” he added. A ccording to Recto, the casual and contractual government em ployees enjoy the same benefits as the permanent or regular employ ees except for the security of tenure. A number of the casual and con tractual government employees are appointed on a fixed period and may be terminated if the agency no lon ger needs their services, he said. Despite the fixed-term appoint ment as provided by civil service rules and regulations, many of the casual and contractual government employees have been continuously appointed to government service with some staying in the service for more than five years,” he added. Despite the many years that they have been in the government service, the casual and contractual employees cannot be made permanent due to the absence of permanent or regu lar plantilla items in their respective agencies,” Recto added. Notwithstanding the Presiden tial veto, Recto said both Houses of Congress have strongly advocated and pushed for the approval of the Security of Tenure and End of “Endo” bill to end the practice of contractu alization in the private sector. C urrently, several lawmakers have refiled bills seeking to end the “endo.” I n the interest of fairness, Rec tor said the government should also apply the same policy and address the issues on the lack of security of tenure of its casual and contractu al employees and consider the same for its job order personnel. T he lawmaker said the Congress must determine the status of ca sual and contractual employment in the government and eventually start a process that would bring these employees to the regular government workforce. By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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T he amount will allow the gov ernment to address the 6.5 million housing gap, DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar told a recent Senate Committee hearing. Senator JV Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Urban De velopment, Housing and Resettle ment, said that human settlements and urban development should be included in the master plan or blueprint of the country’s overall development plan, including in frastructure and basic services. “ Moving forward, we appeal for the support of the Congress on pushing for the Department’s budget proposal, specifically, the inclusion of a P36-billion housing interest subsidy every year which will serve as catalyst of housing production,” Acuzar said. A cuzar said the Department’s priority programs would benefit informal settler families (ISFs) and those living along danger zones, and eventually address the grow ing housing gap in the country. He stressed that the provision of decent and safe human settle ments or townships to the under privileged Filipinos throughout the country is among the priorities of the current administration. We crafted plans based on our assessment of the sector. As we can see now, there are two main bottlenecks that we must address to conquer the housing backlog in the country - first is access to fund ing and second, affordability. That is the direction of our strategies,” Acuzar said. In a presentation, DHSUD Assis tant Secretary Avelino Tolentino III stressed the Department intends to focus on two banner programs – (1) the development of 10 priority areas and (2) urban renewal project sites in major cities and ISF sites along esteros and waterfronts in major urban areas nationwide, in partner ship with local governments and the private sector. I nitial site inspections conduct ed by DHSUD, its regional offices and key shelter agencies (KSA) in the last two weeks have identified potential areas for the develop ment of sustainable settlements and townships. T he DHSUD is also looking at blighted areas, waterways and highrisk coastal communities currently occupied by ISFs for urban re-de velopment for compact, mixed-use and efficient urban districts, hence promoting urban development. “ We are involving as many play ers who are capable of helping us achieve our ultimate goal to pro duce and finance quality houses for Filipinos. This is where our partnerdevelopers will come in. We seek the support of our legislative branch to attract the participation of the pri vate sector in government housing programs,” Acuzar emphasized.

T he sectoral priority legislative agenda was also discussed during the meeting, including the renewal of the National Housing Authority Charter; amendment of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corpora tion; and the strengthening of the Social Housing Finance Corpora tion—all DHSUD KSAs which imple ment government housing produc tion and finance. E arlier, constraints such as the lack of livelihood opportunities and administrative difficulties prevent ed the poor from owning a home, according to documents obtained by IBusinessMirrornatechnicalreport prepared by the previous administration, the DHSUD said it was only able to provide direct assistance to less than 20 percent of what is needed annually.This,the agency said, is com pounding the challenges faced by poor Filipinos in accessing affordable homes. The DHSUD added that while microfinance is available, these are often “uncollateralized, short-term” and carry high interest rates. T he report stated that be tween 2011 and 2015, the DHSUD through its Key Shelter Agencies (KSAs) provided direct housing as sistance to 883,222 households. This translates to a total of 196,271 households per year, less than 20 percent of the estimated aver age annual housing need which is pegged at 926,077 households.

O NE protective step the Marcos government could take to protect millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) is to urge “receiving” countries to ratify the International Conven tion on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Mem bers of their Families, said Senator Pia Cayetano. I nterpellating Senator Raffy Tulfo on his speech accepting the newly-created Committee on Mi grant Workers during the Senate’s hybrid plenary session Wednes day, Cayetano reminded her peers that the international agreement was adopted during the United Nations General Assembly in De cember 1990. However, she noted that none of the signatories are the “receiv ing” countries or the countries of destination of migrant workers. C ayetano recalled that when she was President of the Commit tee of Women Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, she called on European parliaments to ratify the convention. These members of the Euro pean Union states were shocked... [that] none of them present, after all of their long speeches about pro tecting the migrant workers, have signed that convention that pro tects migrant workers,” Cayetano recalled. Earlier, also at the plenary ses sion, Tulfo, in his maiden privilege speech, showed his colleagues a series of video clips highlighting what he calls “the reality” of the state of many Filipino migrant workers who experience grave physical and sexual abuse from their foreign employers.

BusinessMirrorEditor: Jennifer A. Ng Companies B1Friday, August 19, 2022

By VG Cabuag @villygc Ayala-led firms have consolidated their digital healthcare applications into a super app dubbed KonsultaMd, which will be launched by nearly nextTheyear.agreement to combine the health apps was signed on Thursday by Globe Capital Venture Holdings Inc., the corporate venture builder of the telecom firm; ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc., the healthcare portfolio arm of the ayala Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vigos Ventures Inc.; and Mexico’s Salud Interactiva.Thesigning paves the way for the consolidation of Global Telehealth Inc., HealthNow Inc. and a PPPPS Partners Inc. (a Ide).

Prime e x ploration signed last month a share purchase agreement acquiring M e X P Holding Pte. l t d., which previously inked an agreement with Shell Petroleum N. V. (Shell) for the 45-percent stake of SP e X in the MalampayaTheproject.acquisition is still subject to the consent of the PNOC e x ploration Corp., which holds a 10-percent stake in the Malampaya consortium, and the d e partment of energy. Once such consent is given and Prime Infra assumes full ownership and control of SPe X , Quiniones will work towards fulfilling the vision of Prime Infra of accelerating investments for the expansion of the Malampaya deep-water gas-topowerQuinionesproject.is no stranger to the industry, having served the same position from 2019 to 2016. He also held various key positions in Shell for the past 41 years. From 2013 to 2016, he was concurrently a member of the Board of d i rectors of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. Prime Infra said Quiniones’ appointment bolsters its commitment to strengthen its talent capabilities in the upstream industry as it awaits regulatory consent to acquire the shares of the Malampaya operator. “We are pleased to welcome Mr. Quiniones to the Prime Infra team. It is a reflection of our commitment to ensure that, upon receiving the necessary regulatory approvals and taking over SPe X , we will Contract.oftheandperformanceoperationaloutstandingdeliverfurtherpotentialtheServiceWithhisdeep industry expertise and unparalleled experience, I am confident that Mr. Quiniones will help ensure that a critical power asset is steered to further development and progress,” said Prime Infra President and C e O G uillaume l u cci. The Malampaya project is one of the country’s most important power assets, as it produces natural gas to power plants in Batangas City that account for around 20 percent of the Philippines’s total electricity requirements. It began operations in 2001, with the consortium’s license for the project set to expire in 2024. Operating since 2001, the Malampaya project is the only local producer of indigenous natural gas. It supplies fuel to around 40 percent of gas-fired plants in l u zon, powering around 3,457 megawatts (MW) of power plants that provide power supply to the l u zon grid. “We believe that gas is an important transition fuel in the near-term, reducing the need for baseload fossil fuels like coal. Hence, we intend to accelerate investments on the Malampaya gas field to improve the output of existing wells and, if possible, develop new wells in the area once the license extension is secured from the government,” Prime Infra Chairman enrique K. Razon Jr. said. Prime Infra’s investment in the expansion of Malampaya operations will also be critical in providing the necessary infrastructure that would support the development of natural gas in the area, one of the key points defined in the administration’s energy agenda.

The company said its core net income in the second quarter rose by 8 percent to P542 million, from last year’s P502 Includingmillion.theimpact of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for enterprises (CR e aT e) act, the company said its net income contracted by 28 percent to P542 million from last year’s P749 million. “We are seeing some topline weakness because of the depletion of the Berong mine but with elevated nickel prices and steady production of our other mining asset, we think we can end the year strong,” dMCI Mining President Tulsi das C. Reyes said in a statement.Forthesecond quarter alone, dMCI Mining revenues declined by 20 percent to P1.2 billion, from the P1.5 billion recorded a year ago. The company said average selling prices of nickel ore surged by 50 percent to $63 from $42 owing to global supply disruptions and strong China demand while the US dollar appreciated by 10 percent against the local currency.Fromapril to June, shipments plunged by 51 percent to 367,000 wet metric tons (WMT) from 746,000 WMT after production from sole operating asset Zambales diversified Metals Corp. (ZdMC) contracted by 24 percent to 248,000 WMT from last year’s 328,000 WMT. For the first semester, the company said its topline was flat at P2.6 billion while core net income rose by 11 percent to P1.1 billion, from P979“Meanwhile,million. net income slipped by 11 percent from P1.2 billion to P1.1 billion with the adjustments made in 2021 relative to the CR e aT e law,” the company said. In June, the company reported that its core net income in the first quarter rose by 14 percent to P543 million from P477 million, its highest for any given quarter. The company said its revenues grew faster at P25 percent to P1.4 billion, from P1.1 billion, on account of higher nickel ore shipments and favorable foreign exchange rates. From January to March, total production plunged by 43 percent to 318,000 WMT from 555,000 WMT on the nil production of Berong Nickel Corp. (BNC) and a 5-percent uptick in the output of ZdMC, to 318,000 WMT from 313,000 WMT. The average selling price slipped by 5 percent as BNC sold lower-grade nickel amid higher shipments from ZdMC.dMCI Mining is looking to expand its mining operations by another 3,500 hectares, which have a potential nickel resource of over 200 million WMT. Once fully permitted, these additional operating assets can sustain the company for at least 50 years.

S M a R T Communications Inc. has partnered with Washington-based satellite connectivity provider Omnispace to “explore and demonstrate the capabilities of space-based 5G communications” using low earth orbit ( l e O) satellites in the Philippines.arvin l Siena, who heads P l d T ’s technology strategy and transformation office, said the partnership will identify specific use cases for satellite-based 5G communications in the country, especially in remote areas. These may include the incorporation of internet of things (IoT) and sensors for use for disaster relief, maritime and telematics, among“Thisothers.isalso part of P l d T ’s broader initiatives to future-proof our services, including Smart 5G. This includes exploring opportunities to team up with companies like Omnispace, to test the interoperability of our network with their 3GPP-compliant 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN), which will support the 5G ecosystem of the future,” Siena added. Lorenz S. Marasigan

Globe Telehealth’s brand KonsultaM d will become the surviving entity. The super app will bring together KonsultaMd s expertise in on-demand consultations; HealthNow’s strength in medicine delivery, storage of medical records and implementation of vaccination and other health programs; and a Ide s expertise of delivering health services at “Thehome.consolidation of KonsultaMd, HealthNow and a Ide is a step towards achieving our shared vision of providing healthcare for all. Through the super app, Filipinos from across the country will be able to conveniently and immediately access quality healthcare and avail of related services such as diagnostics and medicine deliveries through their phones—an all-in-one digital solution to ensure a healthy nation,”

WITH support from the Private Sector advisory Council (PS aC ), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is firming up concrete plans to create more jobs and attract more investors.

a C Health’s end-to-end service delivery network coupled with the expanded digital reach of the new KonsultaM d puts us in a unique position to meld the online-ofﬂine experience for an omnichannel approach to health,” a C Health President and C e O P aolo Borromeo said. “a s Mexico and the Philippines share similar health infrastructure and services, we have always believed this to be very beneﬁcial for Filipinos, transforming their healthcare experience. We expect the Philippines to follow along the same path with KonsultaM d s strong teleconsultation, HealthNow’s medicine delivery, and a I de s home care services with over 2 million users combined,” Pedro yr igoyen, principal and cofounder of Salud Interactiva, said. By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

PS a C Convenor and a b oitiz Group President Sabin aboitiz disclosed the five priority recommendations that the Council has endorsed to Marcos to create more jobs – scale up micro, small and medium enterprises; identify labor-intensive, highpotential industry segments; attract more investors by making it easier to do business; make labor regulation more flexible; and build skills for short-term productivity and longterm competitiveness. a b oitiz, along with the Council’s Jobs sector lead RFM C e O Joey Concepcion and members JG Summit President and C e O l a nce Gokongwei, SM Investments Vice Chairperson Tessie Sy Coson, Magsaysay Group President and C e O d o ris Magsaysay Ho, a l liance Global Group C e O Kevin Tan, and ay ala Corp. Independent d i rector Rizalina Mantaring, met with Marcos in Malacañang on a u gust 17 to co-create solutions to generate more jobs, upskill more owners of MSM e s , and enable more Filipinos to participate in a digital economy. New l abor Secretary Bienvenido l aguesma also joined the meeting and provided his full support for the top 5 priorities recommended by PSaCTheCouncil will again be meeting with Marcos in the coming weeks to lay out a roadmap that will help the Build, Build, Build and Tourism sectoral groups secure quick and substantial wins in the first 100 days of the administration.

DMCI Mining core income rises despite higher costs

DMCI Mining Corp. said Thursday its core net income in April to June went up despite lower shipments of nickel and higher fuel costs during the period.

By Lenie Lectura @llectura T H e former general manager and managing director of Shell Philippines e xp loration B.V. (SP e X ) has joined a Razon-led firm that made an offer to be the new operator of the Malampaya gas field. Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. (Prime Infra) has appointed Sebastian C. Quiniones Jr. as the general manager of Prime e x ploration Pte. l t d. (Prime e x ploration) effective a u gust 17.

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

Marcos scales up jobs via PSAC priorities The Jobs sectoral group of the Private Sector Advisory Council with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. after endorsing recommendations to create more jobs for Filipinos. From left to right, Kevin Tan of Alliance Global Group, Joey Concepcion of RFM, Rizalina Mantaring of Ayala Corp., Tessie Sy Coson of SM Investments, Marcos, Doris ho o f the Magsaysay Group, Lance Gokongwei of JG Summit, Sabin Aboitiz together with Gie Polanco and Ginggay hontiveros of the Aboitiz Group. Contributed photo Smart ties up Omnispacewith Former SPEX exec joins Prime Infra Jollibee to open store in NY’s Times Square SebASTIAn C. QuInIoneS JR

Globe President and C eO er nest Cu Thesaid. said ay ala-led application merges complementary online and offline services. It will offer on-demand and scheduled consultations, same-day medicine delivery, home-service diagnostics, doctor visits, concierge services, nursing care, fitness coaching, and nutritional counseling, the companyOn-sitesaid.laboratory testing required after a virtual consultation may already be booked through the app, while doctor’s prescriptions may be fulfilled virtually through online orders. The three brands will be able to expand their reach altogether, from its current base of over 2 million and a network of over 1,000 healthcare providers across 45 specializations.

F I l I PINO OWN e d fast-food chain Jollibee will open its flagship store in Times Square—New yo rk’s famous landmark and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. On Wednesday, Jollibee inaugurated its flagship store in Times Square, the 65th store in the United States and the fourth store in the Big a p ple, Consul General to New yo rk e l mer Cato announced in his Facebook and Twitter accounts. “It was a proud moment to see what could be considered the most famous Filipino brand establish its presence right in the heart of New yo rk City,” Cato said. Officials from the Jollibee North a m erica led the inaugural ribbon-cutting at 1500 Broadway, between 43rd and 44th Streets, beside Good Morning a m erica and in the Bowtie where the New ye ar’s e v e Ball d r op takes place. The store will open Friday (Philippine time) and it is expected that thousands of Filipinos and Filipino- a m erican patrons in the e a st Coast will flock to it. In Vancouver, Canada, fans camped outside a Jollibee branch for over 12 hours when it first opened early this year. a s ide from the US and Canada, Jollibee has stores in 31 other countries such as China, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore, Saudi a r abia, United a r ab e m irates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, India, Costa Rica, e g ypt andJollibee’sPanama. Chickenjoy was recently adjudged as the “best fried chicken” among 16 fried chicken chains in the US by food website eater.com of Vox Media. Its Times Square store will offer the classic Chickenjoy which was pitted with South Korea’s Bonchon, KFC, Popeyes, Mc d onald’s, Burger King and other fast food chains in e ater’s“Thecompetition.subtlyseasoned skin is as tectonically crunchy as advertised, if loosely attached in such a way as to be able to slide off an entire hunk with one bite,” e a ter’s deputy editor l e sley Super wrote. “But the real surprise here was the chicken itself: satisfyingly light, flavorful in a ‘tastes like chicken’ sort of way, and supremely moist.”

Ayala units consolidate health apps

Press release Do’s & Don’ts for associations Remolona takes oath as seventh MB member

BusinessMirror Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, August 19, 2022 B3www.news.businessmirror@gmail.com

Govt starts raids vs. alleged sugar hoarders

A SSOCIATIONS do public good but not many of these good deeds are known to the public. In my talks to associations in my capacity as founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE), I always tell my audience, “Doing good is one thing but communicating this good to the public is another matter.” An association needs to tell its story of good deeds to the world and this brings me to the topic on making a press release. I recently read a post entitled “The Modern Press Release: Two Don’ts and Three Do’s” by Jay hickman in the Marketing Profs Today e-newsletter. I wish to share this with a few modifications to adapt to the PhilippineFirst,context.onwhat not to do: 1. Don’t send non-news, period. Your latest initiative may matter to you, but what is the importance of this news to anyone else? Upon receiving your release, the editor is likely to ask, “Why should I care and why should my readers care?” Think about that question. If your news is self-serving, merely publicizing that your association or service is doing well, the audience that will care is likely to be quite small and the likelihood of getting your press release printed is almost zero.

CREDIT: PhoTo CouRTEsy of ThE Bangko sEnTR al ng PIlIPInas

IN a separate news briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said it is also possible that more “inspections” on the warehouses will be done in the coming days. Last week, Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz reported that the bureau has so far seized P701.82-million worth of agricultural products from January to August 7 this year. The bureau also filed 25 criminal cases before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against 71 importers, exporters and customs brokers for the unlawful importation and exportation of agricultural products with a total dutiable value of P186.98 million and total duties and taxes amounting to P76 million.Ruizalso said last week the BOC would conduct a formal investigation once the agency gets a copy of the Senate Committee of the Whole report that identified Ruiz’s predecessor, former Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero and 21 other government officials as alleged protectors and smugglers of agricultural products. (See to-agri-smuggling/)vows-to-probe-officials-linked-mirror.com.ph/2022/08/10/boc-https://businessGuerrero strongly denied the accusations.Officials from the BOC, Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Plant and Industry were among those included in the list. “Once I get a copy of the official report, yes, we will investigate,” Ruiz told reporters in a news conference. Di namin to pinapabayaan,” he added. [We’re not neglecting this.] “I promised to the President that we will curb agricultural smuggling.” Should anyone be found liable for agricultural smuggling, the Customs chief said they could only recommend that the DOJ file charges against these officials.

Banking&Finance

2. Don’t badger the press. If you refuse to be ignored – calling or emailing repeatedly to find out why your non-story didn’t make it to publication—you could develop an aggressively bad reputation that will reinforce the idea that ignoring you is a good plan. It could also lead the media to use its powerful platform to publish a rather unflattering account of your association. On what you should do: 1. Post your releases on your website and social media outlets. Even if your story is not of interest to the media, there are benefits to sharing the announcement on your association website’s news page. This will show visitors and prospective members you’re active in your industry, recognized and knowledgeable. Steering interested readers from your social channels to relevant pages on your site could also bring multiple marketing benefits. 2. Refine your targets. Think about how you can get your news to audiences who are interested in your association or industry. If you are a trade association, say, on engineering or architecture, consider submitting your release to some building/ construction trade publications; they might happily add it to their next month’s news briefs section or consider it deserving of its own feature story. There are also newspapers that have “bulletin boards” for news on people, events or trends. Explore this opportunity.

controversyWirecardin

3. Consider alternative angles. A project may be big news to your association and you feel it is worthy of attention. however, there is also a chance the newspaper might not feel the same way and that not a lot of readers would care. In this case, see whether there’s a way to make your story more applicable to a generalBrainstormaudience. questions, do some research and you might find a new angle that gives your announcement broader appeal (and placement). Showing a timely link between your story and current events can also spark potential media interest. Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” PCAAE is holding its Associations Summit 10 (AS10) on November 23 and 24, 2022. E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM SUSPECTED digital frauds originating from the Philippines declined overall in the second quarter of the year, a private quarterly fraud analysis showed. Information and insights company TransUnion Information Solutions Inc. said findings from their latest quarterly fraud analysis showed that the rate of suspected digital fraud attempts originating from the Philippines decreased 11 percent in the second quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2021. Broken down, TransUnion said the largest suspected fraud declines from Philippine-based transactions were seen in gaming, which declined by 53 percent and financial services with a 16 percent decline. The report also saw other communities also saw declines such as online dating sites and retail with a 14 percent decline, and travel and leisure with a 3 percent decline. The drop in the rate of suspected digital fraud in the country was parallel to the decline in global digital fraud in the same period.

Digital fraud originating from PHL declined in Q2, analysts say

DOJ indicts BPI exec

Last Thursday, the BOC announced its operatives raided separate warehouses in Pampanga and Bulacan wherein they seized a combined total of 44,000 sacks of imported sugar estimated to be worth P220Executivemillion.

sacks of corn starch from China, sacks of imported flour, plastic products, oil in plastic barrels, motorcycle parts and wheels of different brands, helmets, LED Televisions sets and paints. A Chinese-Filipino warehouse keeper identified as Jimmy Ng received a copy of the Letter of Authority and the Mission Order from the Customs agents, read a statement that the Office of the Press Secretary issued August 18. Currently, the CIIS is undertaking an inventory of said products and gave the warehouse owners 15 days to present necessary documents to prove that the items were legally imported into the country. If proven that the sacks of sugar from Thailand were smuggled, the warehouse owners may face charges of smuggling in relation to the provisions of The Customs Modernization ActMeanwhile,(CMTA). a certain Victor Teng Chua, the alleged owner of the warehouse in Bulacan, was brought to the San Jose del Monte Police Station for questioning due to a lack of permit from the Sugar Regulatory Administration. Authorities are also verifying the possibility of large-scale hoarding of sugar by the owner of the warehouse.

anlassesconducthiretiveandrepresentativeshall32representativefederationsassociations/cooperatives/andtheauthorizedSRAasteamleader,”CLread.“Asforsugarrefineries,eachITbecomposedoftheauthorizedofthesugarrefinerytheauthorizedSRArepresenta-asTeamleader,”itadded.Undertheguidelines,theSRAwillaprivatesurveyorthatwouldthephysicalsugarandmo-inventoryinthepresenceofinventoryteam.

This photo courtesy of the Bangko sentral ng Pilipinas (BsP) shows BsP Governor Felipe M. Medalla (left) swearing in Dr. Eli M. Remolona Jr. as the seventh member of the BsP ’s Monetary Board.

More ‘inspections’

Th E Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) urged the public last Wednesday to avoid transacting with Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) that are either unregistered or domiciled abroad. In a public advisory, the Central Bank said virtual asset dealings, especially those with unregistered entities, pose a high risk of loss to the financial consumer. VASPs are entities that offer services or engage in activities that provide facility for the transfer and exchange of virtual assets. “On top of the inherent risk of price volatility associated with Virtual Assets (VAs), VASPs that are based abroad may present additional challenges on enforcing legal recourse and consumer protection and redress mechanisms for local customers, among others,” the BSP said. The Bangko Sentral said VA dealings are generally considered as “high risk activities” which may result in “huge financial losses due to price swings”. “Both the government and registered VASPs do not, in any way, guarantee protection against financial losses stemming from VA price fluctuations,” The Central Bank also said recent data suggests that frauds and scams have consistently contributed to a large portion of VA-based crimes. Bianca Cuaresma

Secretary Victor D. Rodriguez said they began raiding these warehouses upon the order President and concurrent Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Rodriguez said BOC personnel would also visit other CBWs to check on the inventory of imported agricultural products with the aim of finding out if there is hoarding of sugar.ACBW, to note, “is a warehouse facility duly authorized to receive and store general cargoes for exportation, transfer to another CBW, free zones or for local consumption, in the same state when the cargoes wereTheimported.”BOCsaidpersonnel of its Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Service of the Port of Clark (Customs District XIV) and Port of Manila (Customs District II-A), along with the military, swooped down on the New San Fernando Public Market in San Fernando, Pampanga and beside Taruwe’s Lugawan, Tapsihan Atbp., along Kaypian Road, in Jose del Monte, AccordingBulacan.toastatement released by Malacañang, suspected hoarded sacks of imported sugar from Thailand were found neatly stockpiled in the Pampanga warehouse while hundreds of sacks of sugar were found loaded inside delivery vans. “The BoC’s Pampanga sugar warehouse raid may very well serve as a warning to unscrupulous traders who are currently hoarding their stocks of sugar in order to profit from the current artificial sugar shortage situation,” Rodriguez was quoted in a statement as saying.

SRA inventory ThE raid comes during the period allotted for an inventory by the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), based on the Circular Letter (CL) 32 issued by then SRA Officer-InCharge hermenegildo R. Serafica. (See ph/2022/08/01/sra-to-conduct-https://businessmirror.com.

inventory-of-local-sugar-stocks/) SRA’s CL 32 outlined the guidelines for the physical inventory of sugar stock, molasses and quedan permits. The inventory would be conducted in all operating sugar mills and refineries nationwide as part of the SRA’s efforts of assessing the country’s sugar production in crop year (CY) 2021-2022. The physical inventory inspection will be conducted from August 15 to 20, a few weeks before the start of CY 2022-2023 on September 1. Under the guidelines, the SRA will hire a private surveyor that would conduct the physical sugar and molasses inventory in the presence of an inventory team (IT). “For sugar mills, each IT shall be composed of the authorized representative of the mill company, platners’

BSP warns vs illegal VASPs By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573 ThE indictment of an executive of the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) has been recommended last Thursday by the Department of Justice (DOJ), having found probable cause in his role in the $2.1-billion Wirecard AG controversy.Inastatement released to the media, the DOJ said Joey dela Cruz Arellano (alias Joey Cruz Arellano) would be charged with four counts of falsification of bank certificates and two counts of violation of Section 55.1 (a) in relation to Section 56.1 of Republic Act (RA) 8971 (The General Banking Act of 2010) in relation to Section 36 of RA 7653, as amended by RA 11211 or the New Central Bank Act. The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last May 2021 against Arellano, German payments company Wirecard AG’s Chief Operating Officer Jan Marsalek, former DOT Assistant Secretary and lawyer Mark Kristopher G. Tolentino, Judith Singayan Pe and several Jane and John Does. however, the DOJ said the charges against Marsalek, Tolentino, Pe and others were dismissed for insufficiency of evidence. The justice department did not provide other details of its resolution.The NBI’s investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by the BPI anchored on the alleged fake bank documents submitted by Tolentino to an auditing firm as proof that Wirecard had 1.9 billion euros in its trust Tolentinoaccounts.waslinked in the scandal after his law firm M.K. Tolentino Law & Business Consultancy Office admitted opening and maintaining foreign currency deposit accounts with BDO and BPI, but did not name their clients, citing absolute confidentiality required by the Foreign Currency Deposit Act. Tolentino’s camp has denied knowing or participating in any alleged irregularity involving Wirecard’sThemoney.Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) also maintained that the missing money of Wirecard did not enter theTwoPhilippines.ofthe country’s biggest banks—BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO) and BPI—were previously linked to thehscandal.owever, then BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno claimed that those behind the anomaly merely used the names of the two banks to cover their tracks as initial reports showed none of the missing $2.1 billion entered the Philippine financial system.

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM AS sugar prices remained high and while there is an ongoing inventory of stocks, the government started raiding customs bonded warehouses (CBWs) that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) suspect are hoarding the commodity.

ELI M. REMOLONA JR formerly of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), has taken his oath of office as the seventh member of the Monetary Board (MB), the policymaking body of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). MB Chairman and BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla administered Remolona’s oath. A statement from the BSP said that Remolona will serve the remainder of Medalla’s unexpired term, which is until 2023, following the latter’s appointment as head of the country’s monetary authority. “We welcome the appointment of Remolona to the MB,” Medalla was quoted in the statement as saying. “his invaluable expertise and practical experience should contribute greatly to the fulfillment of BSP’s mandates.” Remolona brings to the MB a wealth of experience in central banking, having worked for nearly 20 years at the BIS in Basel and hong Kong and 14 years at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. he was also the Director of Central Banking and a Professor of Finance at the Kuala-Lumpur-based Asia School of Business, which was established in 2015 as a partnership between Bank Negara Malaysia and the MIT Sloan School of Management.healsotaught at Williams College, Columbia University and New York University in the US, as well as at the University of the Philippines. he holds a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University. The MB is the highest policy-making body of the BSP. The powers and functions of the BSP are exercised through the MB, which sets the policy directions of the country in the areas of money, banking and credit.

Corn starch APART from the imported sugar from Thailand, Customs agents also found in the said warehouse several imported items, such as Octavio PeraltaAssociation World

Other industries W h I LE suspected digital fraud saw an overall decrease in the country, the report said suspected fraudsters have “honed in” on specific sectors.Inparticular, the logistics industry had the biggest growth in suspected digital fraud attempts coming from the Philippines among all sectors with a 236-percent jump. Shipping fraud was also the top logistics-focused form of digital fraud across the world. TransUnion said common examples of this type of fraud include instances where buyers fabricate shipping addresses, or when sellers receive payment for goods or services, but never ship to buyers. The telecommunications industry posted the second largest increase in the rate of suspected digital fraud coming from the Philippines at 45 percent, while gambling placed third with a 32 percent uptick. “With more Filipinos choosing to transact online, fraudsters will continue to capitalize on any opportunities to exploit both consumers and businesses,” said Pia Arellano, President and CEO of TransUnion Philippines.“Asthe Philippines continues its rapid acceleration into a digital economy, organizations must take decisive steps to stay ahead of any present and emerging form of fraudulent activity,” she added.

HH VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Connect with people who enjoy the same things you do and discuss life, love and what’s on your bucket list. Attending a function that offers information and insight into something you want to pursue will set you on a unique path. HHHHH LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Changes to your living arrangements will turn out better than anticipated. Pay attention to what others want, and offer incentives that help you get something in return. Sharing your feelings with someone you love will rectify a misconception that surfaces. HHHHH SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A change will put you in an awkward position. Size up what’s going on and what you need to do to reach your goal. Take care of responsibilities, and address issues that can stand between you and what’s important to you. HHH SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Embrace what life offers. Share time and space with people who want the same things you do, and don’t settle into situations that make it difficult for you to take advantage of what makes you happy. HHH CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Put your ideas on paper. Don’t leave shared expenses or money matters incomplete. Sort through any differences you have with others, then offer solutions. Recognize what’s important to someone you love, and do your best to accommodate. Romance is favored. HHH AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Speak from the heart and share your long-term plans. Make changes at home that will improve a relationship and encourage you to do more as a unit. Love is in the stars, and a promise for a brighter future is within reach. HHHHH PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Speak up, share your ideas and focus on how to use your attributes to bring in more cash. A change to where or the way you live will boost your morale and give you the confidence to live life your way. HH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are wise, complicated and precise. You are imaginative and productive. H: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. HH: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. HHH: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. HHHH: Aim high; start new projects. HHHHH: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Relationships

tourism

❶ THE Coconut Club is known for its Nasi Lemak and other dishes with coconut ❷ CLANS or associations are a Chinatown staple and it is no different in Singapore ❸ SEARED Akaroa Salmon at Open Farm Community in Dempsey Hill Text and photos by Dinna Chan Vasquez SINGAPORE has many homegrown brands that are worth looking into, as Singaporeans are known to bring their brand of excellence and perfectionism into everything they do. One of these brands is Awfully Chocolate, a shop that started with just one product and has since evolved into having several cafés and restaurants which all highlight dark chocolate. Its bestselling melt-in-your-mouth Dark Chocolate Truffles are made using the finest 70 percent dark Belgian chocolate. We tried the chocolate chip cookies and they were also really good. One of the most interesting places we visited was the Intan Peranakan Heritage Museum, a designated Heritage Home owned by Alvin Yapp who has filled it with Peranakan artifacts and antiques. From the outside, the house looks like a typical two-story house in an affluent district but the spacious interior houses Yapp’s extensive collection of intricate wood furniture, jars, Tiffin carriers, beaded slippers, Peranakan Chinese porcelain, Nyonya sarong batik and many other priceless objects. There are so many things to see in the museum. Let me tell you that even the restroom is Instagramworthy and Yap is such an engaging storyteller. He has a story for every object in his house. For instance, the jars lining the staircase were used as spittoons and chamber pots back in the day. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, tours at the Intan have to be pre-scheduled. The museum can house up to 40 guests comfortably and the place can be booked for special events, such as engagements, dinners, birthdays and even small weddings. Dinner that night was at Potato Head located inside a heritage building in Chinatown. The place has several restaurants but we went to the rooftop bar where we enjoyed burgers and fries. For after-dinner drinks, we went to Native Bar on Amoy Street where we had interesting cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks. The theme here is foraging so we had a lot of fermented drinks with local ingredients.

We were seated at the loft, which is a cool spot to hang outOnin. the third day of our trip, we did the famous Sidecar Tour of Kampong Glam. You’ll enjoy the onehour tour seated on a sidecar of a vintage Vespa by Singapore Sidecars. They will provide the helmet and a protective plastic for your head. Kampong Glam is formerly the seat of Malay royalty and best known for its two major landmarks: Sultan Mosque, Singapore’s oldest and largest mosque, and the Istana Kampong Gelam, the former Sultan’s palace (now known as the Malay Heritage Centre). This is a tour that’s quite expensive at around P7,000 upward but worth every peso if money is no object. It’s an experience that you can only find in Singapore. This is a tour that will allow you to look at Singapore from a totally different perspective.Thenextstop was the Vintage Cameras Museum, which is shaped like a camera and has about 1,000 cameras (most of them vintage) on display. These include spy cameras, a walking stick camera, pigeon cameras, 3D camera, and pistol cameras. The short tour is quite interesting especially if you’re into photography.Lunchwas at the Coconut Club on Arab Street, where all of us had the Nasi Lemak, a dish of fried chicken and rice cooked in coconut milk and served with sunny side-up egg, peanuts, spicy fried anchovies and sambal (chili sauce). I’m not usually a fan of this dish but Coconut Club’s version is really really good and the serving is generous that no one in the group could finish their food. This is a restaurant I would definitely come back to. The restaurant also has beautiful and airy interiors, and there’s an al fresco area outside if you don’t mind the heat. We took a short walk to SIFR Aromatics for the Perfume Discovery Workshop. The store specializes in customized perfume blends, small-batch perfumes, scented soy-wax candles, natural essential oil blends, and home fragrances. The workshop gives you the chance to create your own fragrance by learning about the different notes. As a fragrance enthusiast, I love this concept. I saw one more perfume place by the corner so if this is your thing, you know where to go. The following day, we went to the new Museum of Ice Cream on Dempsey Hill. If you have little kids, they will definitely love this. There are lots of free ice cream in the different rooms. My friend told me that the best time to go is at night when there are lights outside, so I will keep that in mind. We had an unforgettable lunch at Open Farm Community in Dempsey Hill, which has an open kitchen concept and is pet-friendly. Everything they served us tasted exquisite. The restaurant also grows its own vegetables, and I believe the menu changes according to what is in season and what is available. They also suggest wine pairings for the dishes. For my main course, I had the Seared Akaroa Salmon with Curry, which was really good, but what I enjoyed the most was the Cauliflower Wings, which tasted like Korean chicken. It was a starter meant for sharing but I finished a bowl by myself. It was that good. Our next stop before dinner was Design Orchard, a local brand showcase on Orchard Road. The place is expansive and houses different brands offering fashion, skin care, jewelry and even fragrances. I wish I had more time to explore it (Design Orchard is across 313@Somerset) because so many of the brands are really worth talking about. There was clothing by designer Sabrina Goh, and handbags by Cocoonese. What I really loved are the fragrances from local brands. I wish I had taken down notes because some of the scents I sampled really smelled good. Dinner was at Chatterbox in Hilton Singapore Orchard. I will never forget Chatterbox because this is where I had my first meal on my very first visit to Singapore decades ago. Their specialty is, of course, Chicken Rice and I know that you can get good Chicken Rice in many other places but for me, this is the best for sentimental reasons. Chatterbox, by the way, is a 51-year-old restaurant. On our last day, we did a Chinatown tour and we were given some free time. I will share my beauty and food finds in my column soon. If you want to know what Singapore requires as far as entry is concerned, I already wrote about it here (bit.ly/3pq8mmL).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Look past any problems standing between you and what you want. Once you know your destination, it will be easier to map out which course will get you where you want to go with the least amount of interference. A broad view of the possibilities and a good intuition will be your saving grace and your ticket to success. Your numbers are 9, 13, 22, 28, 31, 33, 40.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Dream on, and you’ll devise a plan that excites you. Explore new ways to get ahead. Stick to people who are helpful and encouraging. A chance to try something new will inspire you to expand your knowledge and skills. HHHH TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Open your doors to friends and family. Indulge in laughter and pamper yourself. Don’t get angry if someone doesn’t agree with you. Give everyone the right to an opinion. A kind word or gesture will have more of an effect than criticism. HHH GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Spend more time at home and less time trying to socialize in competitive situations. Taking time out for yourself will help you gain perspective on what’s important to you. Don’t make a hasty decision, even if someone is pressuring you for answers. HHH CANCER (June 21-July 22): Handle personal matters quickly. Update documents that are about to expire or handle institutional issues before they close for the weekend. Leave nothing to chance, and don’t neglect your responsibilities. HHHH LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Spend time primping and updating your look. You’ll gain confidence if you look and feel your best. Look for a suitable place to invest money. Building your savings will lower your stress and encourage you to live a simple and affordable lifestyle.

Singapore highlights local brands as it reopens

doors to tourists: Part II ❸❹ ❷ ❶

Friday, August 19, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos www.businessmirror.com.phBusinessMirror

brandsandlocalRoadOrchardDESIGNonOrchardshowcasesfashion,beautyaccessories ❹

HoroscopeToday’s By Eugenia Last CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Manny Jacinto, 35; Christina Perri, 36; Matthew Perry, 53; John Stamos, 59.

ACROSS 1 One in a slalom race 6 Fiber in brown rice 10 What cats do constantly 13 “That toy is mine!” 14 Prefix with “space” 15 De la Reguera of Goliath 16 “There’s just no way” 19 ___ Friday’s 20 “What was I thinking?!” 21 Thor or Vishnu 22 National park attendant 24 “Get lost, pest!” 25 Professions 26 Really bad 29 Astronomer who taught at the University of Pisa 31 “Ha! I was right!” 33 A bunch of 34 Easy-to-learn card game 37 Digits in a sock 38 Big Little Lies author Moriarty 40 The “k” in kg 41 Lager alternative 42 ENTs and GPs 43 Needed replenishing 45 Harmony, to Taoists 48 State fair thrills 49 Poses a danger to 51 Provide a false alibi for, say 53 Headwear in Santa’s workshop 54 Mother of a piglet 55 Frodo’s friend 58 Opposite of paleo59 Informal addition to the Fab Four 63 First numero 64 Artist’s inspiration 65 Gemstones with a matrix variety 66 Plopped down 67 Periods whose names often end in “zoic” 68 Mombasa’s African country DOWN 1 Reached base dramatically 2 Diet high in fat 3 Poison ivy symptom 4 Problem that often comes with success 5 Approximately 6 “No SmartBones for you!” 7 Stimpy’s companion 8 Butter sculptures, e.g. 9 Easy decision 10 Secrets of the Zoo network 11 Fury 12 Units for socks and shoes 17 Bathroom at Wimbledon 18 Ahead of schedule 23 Word before a birth name 24 Bodywash lather 25 Large family group 26 Lead in to “girl” or “boy” 27 Cashmere, e.g. 28 Run away 30 Gather together 32 Period for self-care 35 Diaper cream additive 36 Propels a dinghy 39 Treats with a cold pack 40 Make a blankie, say 42 Late-night tea choice 44 “Everything all right between us?” 46 “Uh-uh” 47 Glam bands? 49 Lists of salon services 50 Kagan of the Supreme Court 52 Move like a buoy 55 Comics icon Lee 56 Partner in a fight 57 Flat-topped hill 60 Coyote’s coat 61 Org. screening carry-ons 62 Donkey Kong, e.g. ‘insect sound’ BY DOUG BURNIKEL AND ZHOUQIN BURNIKEL The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg Solution to today’s puzzle:

• Friday, August 19, 2022 B5 Show BusinessMirrorwww.businessmirror.com.ph

HOLLYWOOD, SOCCER STARS APPEAL FOR MORE UKRAINE DONATIONS BORODYANKA, Ukraine—Hollywood actor Liev Schreiber and former Ukraine soccer star Andriy Shevchenko appealed for international donations to Ukraine to continue during a visit on Monday to a residential area outside Kyiv that suffered extensive damage by Russian bombardment. “People see it as a one-time thing. But, as you can see, people live with it every day,”said Schreiber, who has starred in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse “It’s a coward move,” Schreiber said, pointing at a damaged apartment tower block in Borodyanka, 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Kyiv. Borodyanka is located in the Bucha area, where hundreds of dead civilian were discovered following the Russian occupation and then retreat in late March. Ukrainian authorities said 16,000 residential buildings were damaged in the area. Schreiber, who is partly of Ukrainian ancestry and is involved in several charity initiatives for the country, earlier met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A number of Hollywood stars have visited Ukraine during the war, including Angelina Jolie, Sean Penn and Ben Stiller. AP Andriy Shevchenko (left) and American actor Liev Schreiber speak to media in front of a house which have been destroyed by Russia bombardment in Borodianka, near Kyiv, Ukraine. AP

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

GMA digital TV receiver celebrates anniversary with price drop

THIS beauty pageant contestant did not win because of her attitude—and not because she was discriminated for her looks. Everyone involved in the pageant was resentful that the contestant would not wake up because she reportedly suffered from migraines when, in fact, other contestants had no trouble doing so even when they weren’t feeling well. She also had so many complaints about everything while other contestants, even those who came from wealth, did not complain one bit. The contestant probably thought that on the strength of her popularity in social media, she’d be one of the winners but she was wrong. Those who’ve worked with the contestant during the pageant said she has two personalities. One personality is the one the public sees, which is friendly and funny. The second one is this personality she shows only when there are no cameras—and this other side of the woman is not that nice.

SHE NEEDS AN APPOINTMENT

HOW true is it that the wife of a powerful man doesn’t look too kindly on the antics of his sister and these include stunts the latter has pulled to “clean” their name? The wife has reportedly banned the sister from entering her husband’s office without an appointment after the things the sister did angered the powerful man. Most of those things were done without his clearance. The sister seems to think that she and her brother are on the same page when they no longer are.

A dream of houses

■

HER TWO PERSONALITIES

MOVING ON MANY fans of this former loveteam are blaming the girl because she fell in love with another guy. The truth is that the girl did fall in love with her former screen partner except that he was mean to her in so many ways. At the time, the guy had his eye on another girl so he was repulsed by the girl’s attention. It’s not as if she chased him or stalked him but that’s what the actor told people. The girl shed many tears for him until she realized the truth about him and she finally moved on.

CELEBRATES its second anniversary with bigger treats and surprises, the popular digital TV receiver GMA Affordabox can now be purchased at an even more affordable price of P799. And making the anniversary celebration brighter and more vibrant is real and real-life couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. Talking up the receiver, Marian says about GMA Affordabox: “Bukod sa napaka-affordable niya, mapapanood pa ito nang mas maliwanag, mas makulay at mas maganda. Kasi kapag ganun ang offer, ibig sabihin mas masarap manood at mas naiintindihan mo kung anong pinapanood mo.” Agreeing with Marian, Dingdong touts how much he appreciated the easy installation steps for GMA Affordabox users. “Kumbaga, babasahin mo lang ’yung instructions, wala pang three minutes, mayroon ka na kaagad mapapanood.” GMA Affordabox (www.gmaaffordabox.com) has sold over 2 million units since its launch in 2020. As part of the network’s initiatives to help the country shift from analog to digital broadcast, GMA Affordabox also enables Filipino households to further enjoy

MARIAN RIVERA (left) and Dingdong Dantes for AffordaboxGMA

watching GMA and GTV at a higher definition along with the GMA digital channels Heart of Asia, Hallypop, and I Heart Movies. Other free-to-air channels in digital broadcast are also available depending on their area. Along with the growing number of GMA Affordabox users, it also continues to grow its coverage areas, from Luzon to Mindanao. GMA Affordabox has unique features such as Personal Video Recorder, which lets users re-watch highlights of their favorite GMA shows with instant or scheduled recording. The device can also become a multimedia player through its USB port. It also has a nationwide Emergency Warning Broadcast System (EWBS) that receives alerts from the NDRRMC about any calamity warnings in their area, as well as a functional auto-on alert feature. From its original price of P888, GMA Affordabox is now available at its new suggested retail price in leading supermarkets, appliane and gadget stores, and online via the official GMA Store on Shopee and Lazada.

Instant Dream Home PHOTO FROM NETFLIX MAD AT THE WIFE

T HERE is another home improvement program on television. Not again, you might say. It is called Instant Dream Home, not to be confused with Dream Home Makeover If that is not confusing enough, there is another show and its title is Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (because there are editions where faces, not homes, undergo makeovers). Is there a shortage of catchy titles? I am being flippant. Instant Dream Home, after all, is a heartwarming addition to shows that address the basic human desire to possess an abode, where a family, to use a cliche, can make dreams together. What is a product if it does not have a competitive advantage? Instant Dream Home has this in its promise to overhaul, redesign, restructure a house in 12 hours. This deadline is at the core of the program—to finish a house in a day. There are many factors going for Instant Dream Home. One of these is the novelty of addressing situations in ordinary homes in less fancy addresses. Compared to Dream Home Makeover, for instance, it is more common in Instant Dream Home to find houses with decrepit parts and grounds left unattended.Fromthe point of view of audiences from less affluent countries, there is less feeling of wastage when a house is rid of its broken furniture, like in Instant Dream Home In other home improvement shows, we grimace when old serviceable floors and carpets are removed and thrown into trucks for disposal.Inone episodeof Dream House Makeover, for example, a couple has sought the services of Shea and Syd McGee of Studio McGee because the interior of the house they recently acquired was arranged in such a way that they could not enjoy the exquisite view outside. The design studio proceeds to alter the luxuriously appointed living room and kitchen. Nothing of this sort happens in Instant Dream Home, where prospective homes are all badly needing repair. One more exciting thing about Instant Dream Home is the process of selecting the recipients of these generous projects. A nominator brings to the attention of the production team a particular home and family. This nominator is responsible for taking all the members of the family from their home early in the morning at 7 and kept away somewhere far from their place till 7 in the evening. We of course give the program the benefit of the doubt in how they are able to maintain the whole grand endeavor under wraps. Unless the nominating person is part of the family, no one from the house has an idea that when they come back, they will be surprised by their house, its facade either replaced or painted with an outstandingly different color. After 12 hours, the family goes back to a changed house where the living room has grown bigger because walls were shifted, or to a lush garden that did not exist before. In an episode of nine home-schooled children, a “schoolbuilding” was built right in the backyard. In another episode, a mini pool and a basketball court were set up behind the house. Outside the renovation and repair, there is a factor that makes Instant Dream Home memorable. This is the choice of recipients of the boon. The first episode is an eight-hankie presentation without really trying. Titled “Mission: Renovate Buitekant,” it involves a family of three, with a baby about to be born. The home is a small two-bedroom bungalow that has belonged to Beth-Anne, the mother, for some 40 years. By the time of the renovation, Beth-Anne has lost her vision. Her daughter, Ruby-Beth, lives with a partner. The mother, in particular, has been known to lead an active life, joining cause-oriented meetings including advocacies for racial justice, a sense of civic duty inherited by her daughter. The person who nominated them believes they need to be the receiver now because they have been givers for a long time. For every renovation, there is a focus on a design which is dubbed “Special Project.” In this case, the project is aimed at Beth-Anne’s welfare. The team builds a garden with gravel and plants composed mostly of herbs. The team calls it “the sensory garden.” When Beth Anne steps on the gravel, she would immediately feel that she is in the garden and the herbs will give off scents to draw her in further. It is a simple solution but one that has something to do more with being human than achieving any desired aesthetics.Oneofthe surprises for the couple in this episode is how the team, given how cramped the whole bungalow is, develops a functioning space for a nursery.Responsible for the massive renovation for each episode is a team of designers and hundreds of crew taking over the house after the owners have been reported or sighted as having left the premises. The design team, led by Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black), has Erik Curtis (carpenter), Adair Curtis (interior), Nick Cutsumpas (landscaper), and Paige Mobley (special project). With seemingly less focus on design aesthetics, one would think the renovation will simply be slapdash (there are reviews that seem to question how stable the repairs are). That impression is a bit unfair. In many difficult situations, the team, especially head carpenter Erik, who also taught 3D design and woodworking, manages to provide solutions that are extraordinary—and maybe expensive. One of these is a small “school’’ hoisted up by a giant crane over the house itself to be planted in the backyard. Nothing beats the time a helicopter is employed to bring heavy glass windows to serve as part of a roof. The glass windows open to a terrace above the house, made for a gay couple, one partner a firefighter who loves his motherTheredearly.isagreat lesson we should not miss in this program, and that is the value of good planning. Weeks before the actual implementation of changes, the team meets at a warehouse where they simulate the conditions similar to the beneficiary house. They rehearse and practice with all kinds of interventions. Instant Dream House, which has landed in the Top 10 list of most-viewed titles in various territories, is streaming on Netflix.

THIS starlet linked to the businessman embroiled in a marital scandal is actually furious that people have called her the other woman. The starlet is part of a so-called swingers’ circle that the businessman and his wife used to move in and, yes, she was involved with him but not in a romantic way. The starlet is mad at the wife for spilling tea when she was part of the whole swinging thing. The starlet sees the wife using all the secrets to her advantage but the thing is, many of the secrets are not hers to divulge.

THE team creating dream homes for deserving families: (from left) CurtisMobleyBrooks,Curtis,Cutsumpas,NickAdairDaniellePaigeandErikof

The TECNO Camon 19 Series Philippine launch:

The price range of the TECNO Camon 19 Series is quite reasonable, from Php 10,290 for the basic TECNO Camon 19 model (6GB RAM + 128GB ROM) to Php15,490 for the Camon 19 5G (8GB RAM + 128GB ROM). Select TECNO Concept Experience Kiosks and TECNO Partner Retail Stores nationwide will also showcase them starting August 26 , 2022 (Please check http://bit.ly/TecnoStoresPH to discover which stores have the TECNO Camon Series 19 phones in stock). Stay updated on all the latest promos when you like and follow TECNO Mobile Philippines on Facebook. Visit www.tecnomobile.com/ph to learn more about your favorite TECNO Mobile smartphones and gadgets.

The newest shooting star unveiled at Okada TECNO Mobile Limited Executives with Chief Executive Officer for Philippines, Mr. Robin Lu (5th from the left) S UN Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), one of the major insurers in the country, has tied up with Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) to offer special life insurance products through the RCBC DiskarTech Mobile App (DiskarTech). With this strategic collaboration, all new and existing DiskarTech users can avail of affordable life insurance products with premium prices ranging from Php36 to Php 108 per month. Over 1.5 million Diskartech users may choose from Sun Life Grepa’s diverse offerings such as My Income Protect Plus, My Scholar Plus, My Personal Life Shield and My Family Life Shield. “Teaming up with Diskartech provides us with opportunity to offer to Filipinos meaningful life insurance products that are easy to purchase, easy to maintain and easy to manage,” Sun Life Grepa President Richard S. Lim said. “Our initial life insurance offers are very relevant now, offering financial security for themselves and their family when it’s needed most.” “RCBC with its financial inclusion app DiskarTech has always been a champion of bringing inclusive digital finance services closer to Filipinos,” said Lito Villanueva, RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer. “This collaboration Sun Life Grepa, RCBC DiskarTech offer digital sachet-sized insurance with Sun Life Grepa concretizes our efforts to help our fellowmen understand and appreciate the value of insurance products through digital sachet insurance.” Depending on the product, policyholders are covered for accidental death, permanent disability and dismemberment with medical reimbursement, and life insurance protection.Onecan start their own journey towards a brighter future in three easy steps in the comfort and safety of their own home: 1) Choose the insurance plan you want, 2) Enroll through the Diskartech App, and 3) Receive the electronic Certificate of Cover. DiskarTech, which was recently launched by RCBC, is the first “Taglish” super inclusion mobile app that encourages users to manage their finances online. It can be downloaded through the Google Play Store and App Store. App users can open basic deposit accounts through DiskarTech in less than three minutes with no required maintaining balance, and users can also earn interest of 3.25 percent in terms of their savings. Sun Life Grepa and RCBC are both members of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC). Sun Life Grepa is a joint venture of YGC and Sun Life Philippines while RCBC is a leading financial services provider in the Philippines offering a wide range of banking and financial products and services. Follow the Diskartech facebook page for more information.

THE agreement was signed at the RCBC DiskarTech offices in August by RCBC DiskarTech and Sun Life Grepa, represented by Lito Villanueva, RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer (left); and Sun Life Grepa Vice President for Affinity Marketing Joen Songco (right). T HE Filipino dating scene is all about wooing the other person with your best foot forward. Dressing up to the nines, putting on alluring makeup, or donning the trendiest hairstyle can pull the right people in any room you walk in. In a post-pandemic world, social distancing will put everyone in a caution to flirt and socialize. But to really grab attention, one needs an intoxicating scent to maintain a magnetic kind of interest to pull your target in without them even realizing it. In celebration of its 44th anniversary in the Philippines, Avon is bringing in a cult favorite from its world-class fragrance line: Avon Attraction Sensation, the first-ever pair of fragrances that captures the gayuma effect in a scent. Designed by two of the world’s most prestigious perfumers, Laurent Le Guernec (Avon Attraction for Her) and Michelle Defina (Avon Attraction for Him), these sophisticated olfactives are especially made for Her and for Him to awaken the five senses: Sight, Touch, Hearing, Taste, and Smell. Floral, oriental, and fruity notes embody the Avon Attraction Sensation for Her, and the thrill of irresistible attraction begins when you breathe in this new intoxicating scent. The body reacts instantly to Spicy Ginger and Oriental Mandarin. The heart beats faster with the alluring Jasmine. Orris and Midnight Freesia create a hypnotic feeling. Meanwhile, Avon Attraction Sensation for Awaken the senses with a gayuma-like fragrance

Mowelfund marks 48th anniversary with sustained financial independence and a new modern building struggled in the past years before finally reaching it goal towards financial stability. Today, it is working on sustained financial independence through a joint venture in 2019 with Victor Consunji Development Corp. (VCDC),” she reported. “During the Covid interim, Mowelfund has successfully embarked on a joint property project with the VCDC. And now we have finally moved into our modest building with its own library and we are also launching our own Dengcar Theater,” she added. Aside from Rodrigo, Mowelfund is guided and inspired by its Board of Directors led by Vice President Gina Alajar, Direk Edgardo “Boy” Vinarao, CMB Director Jim Baltazar, Foundation President and COO Rez Cortez, and Vice President and COO Julius Topacio. Management and day-to-day operations are carried out by the Executive Committee led by Cortez and Topacio with Administrative and Financial Director Emma Mon Alon, Wellness Director Joey Roa, and Education Director Ricky Orellana as members. The board thanked former president Joseph Estrada for his vision in founding Mowelfund in 1974 to help provide medical and health benefits as well as film education opportunities to the marginalized workers in the film industry.

T HE Movie Workers Welfare Foundation, Inc. (MOWELFUND),led by its Chairman Boots Anson-Roa Rodrigo, officially inaugurated its new building, state-of-the-art 54-seat theater, and post-production, and other technical facilities at Rosario Drive in Quezon City last July 28. Rodrigo reminisced how the foundation

The new Mowelfund building.

ART EXHIBIT AT WTCMM. “Artists for Peace”, a contemporary art exhibition featuring the works of international Filipino artists Nemi Miranda, Juno Galang, and Augusto Santiago will open on August 24 and will run until October 24, 2022, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM). Nominated for National Artist in the category of Visual Arts, Miranda is a master of Imaginative Figurism and has a large number of commissioned monuments across regions of the Philippines. Galang is known for his modern style that depicts figurative subjects that are well-celebrated and desired by art enthusiasts while Santiago is a Figurative artist with a wide range of expertise in different mediums. For more details, call WTCMM at 8-WTC-0000 (8982-0000) and 09771729185. Or email wtcclub@wtcmanila.com.ph, marketing@wtcmanila. com.ph or clarosantiagojr@gmail.com.

Him is an Oriental Fougeré that pulls the ladies with the magnetic force of spicy seduction induced with top notes of spicy Black Pepper and Ginger Oil that increases the heart rate. The intoxicating thrill intensifies with sensual Clary Sage and the fresh and robust Lavender Oil. Addictive Patchouli and Vetiver release a high dose of adrenaline. Both scents are imbued with Bold Leather accord, which helps you instantly connect with your partner through an intensified sensation that is undeniably irresistible. When rubbed against the skin, this special accord is tied to memory and highlights sensuality. Visit avonshop.ph or contact your trusted Avon Representative to get your hands on this product.

Friday, August 19, 2022B6 STYLE. Innovation. Passion. All three were on full display in what could prove to be one of the hottest tech events of the year, the TECNO #CAMON19Series launch, held at the Grand Ballroom of Okada Manila on August 12, 2022. Touted the world over as one of the best performance camera smartphones for the stylish go-getter, the TECNO CAMON 19 Series should excite the fashion–forward and mobile photography-savvy Filipino user with a promise that #YouLookSoGoodTonight will be a reality every time and every night they use a TECNO CAMON 19 smartphone.Theseries was brought to the Philippines by global tech giant TECNO Mobile Limited, through its local entity, TECNO Mobile Philippines. An internationally-renowned and highly regarded premium smartphone brand, TECNO Mobile Limited has staked its reputation on one simple premise: to stop at nothing to give its users the super night shot, or the best night shots possible. Mr Robin Lu, Chief Executive Officer of TECNO Mobile Limited, gave an inspirational welcome to start the event off in a rousing mood, even reiterated that they are committed to unlocking the best contemporary technology in order to give their customers stylishly designed products that could inspire them to uncover a world of possibilities, something that the stylish, innovative, and passionate in the country could be excited about and appreciate. And there was just so much to appreciate from the TECNO CAMON 19 Series launch event. Guests were invited to strike a pose and show off their best angles at the Nylon Photobooth and the Glamshot booth. There was also a very attention-grabbing product experience area where the different TECNO CAMON 19 variants as well as other TECNO smart AIOTs and laptops were on full display, ready to be tinkered and played with by eager and curious guests, dealers, and mediaTECNOpartners.Mobile has always believed in the powerful of meaningful collaborations, which is what led them to partnering with one of the country’s top social media personalities, Donnalyn Bartolome, who debuted her new song, which was produced in collaboration and in celebration of the social media star’s officially joining the TECNO Mobile family as the face of the CAMON 19 Series. Holding one of the TECNO CAMON 19 smartphones immediately gives you a sense of how cutting edge they are with regards to both form and function. In fact, the TECNO Camon 19 Series can lay claim to being a global standard for mobile phone design after it won a prestigious iF Design Award in 2022, which is one of the world’s most renowned industrial design competitions.Italsopossesses the world’s slimmest bezel at just 0.98mm, TüV Rheinland certified screens, and an ultra-luminescent backshell that mimics a star filled sky. There is even a variant, the TECNO Camon 19 Pro Mondrian Art Design, which has a luminescent secret: the Sunlight Drawing technology that features a backshell inspired by the highly evocative art style of noted Dutch visual artist Piet Mondrian but which is only revealed when light hits it. And the technology inside is just as dazzling. The combination of the 64MP Bright Night Portrait lens and the RGBW Color Filter Sensor technology allows it to have resolutions close to that of professional cameras, so that it produces clear, high quality photos even in challenging conditions, such as low-light environments or light sensitive situations. The TECNO Camon 19 Series promises to be a real game changer for those who are passionate about night photography and would love to explore the many creative ways they can express themselves with it. And given that TECNO Mobile Limited would like to offer that privilege to as many people as possible, they’ve consciously made an effort to drive price points that make it accessible to as many users as possible.

PLDT expands strategic collaboration with Amdocs to provide enhanced digital customer experience

A MDOCS (NASDAQ: DOX), a leading provider of software and services to communications and media companies, today announced the extension of its managed services agreement with PLDT for an additional three years, extending the agreement through 2028. As part of the broader strategic partnership, Amdocs will continue to consolidate, modernize, and manage PLDT and Smart’s IT Infrastructure and applications, enabling efficient delivery of services and optimized IT spends. Under the deal, Amdocs will enable modernization of IT platforms and infrastructure, supporting all lines of business as an integrated telco. Amdocs and PLDT also put importance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in IT operations, beginning with foundational steps such as e-billing adoption, to major initiatives such as transformation of PLDT’s IT footprint to the “PLDTcloud. is committed to empowering Filipinos everywhere with customer-focused digital innovations, helping them create a better tomorrow,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO at PLDT. “Our longstanding strategic partnership with Amdocs is enabling us to achieve this, as we move into the future with infinite potential of 5G and digital services evolution.” “We are delighted to strengthen our longterm partnership with PLDT, a journey of collaboration that builds on a shared vision to deliver amazing customer experiences,” said Anthony Goonetilleke, Group President of Technology and Head of Strategy at Amdocs. “We look forward to partnering with PLDT as they drive their business to new heights.”

HIGHEST PAID IN NBA HISTORY

L OS ANGELES—LeBron James has agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension through the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agent announced Wednesday. K lutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said the league-maximum deal makes James the highest-paid player in National Basketball Association (NBA) history. His new deal includes a player option that would keep the second-leading scorer in NBA history with the Lakers past his 40th birthday in December 2024. T he 37-year-old James is headed into the final year of his most recent contract with the Lakers, who signed the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and fourtime league champion in JulyTh2018.enew deal talk of his possible departure as a free agent or in a trade. James hasn’t appeared to be going anywhere on social media or in his public appearances, and he praised the hiring of new Lakers coach Darvin Ham. James has missed significant portions of the season due to injury in three of his four years with the Lakers. He was largely healthy in the elongated 2019-20 season when the Lakers won the franchise’s 17th NBA title in the Florida bubble, and he has been every bit the dominant player of his prime when at full strength in the ensuing two years. A lthough his contract status inspired plenty of offseason chatter, James seemed unlikely to relocate after spending the past four seasons of his 19-year career with the storied Lakers. His family is settled in Los Angeles, where his eldest son, Bronny, is a 17-year-old senior and college basketball prospect playing at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth. James has occasionally said he intends to play on the same team with Bronny when his son reaches the NBA. Although plenty of obstacles remain between the younger James and the NBA, he could be drafteligible in the summer of 2024.

A IGLE, Switzerland—Twotime Tour de France runnerup Nairo Quintana was disqualified from the 2022 edition on Wednesday for misuse of an opioid banned during races. Q uintana will lose the sixth-place finish he achieved last month but is not banned from other races, the International Cycling Union (UCI) when announcing the decision. The UCI said it was not a doping violation.Quintana is due to start Friday in the three-week Spanish Vuelta, which he won in 2016. Traces of the synthetic painkiller tramadol were found in two dried blood spot samples taken from the Colombian rider during the Tour on July 8 and 13, the UCI said. Quintana’s case is among the first in world sports to rely on the dried blood spot (DBS) method of collecting samples which the World Anti-Doping Agency approved last year. Tramadol was banned in 2019 from use during cycling competitions because of the potential side effects. “In addition to the risk of dependence and addiction, commonly reported adverse side effects of tramadol are dizziness, drowsiness and loss of attention, which are incompatible with competitive cycling and endanger other competitors,” the UCI medical rules state The 32-year-old Quintana finished the three-week Tour de France more than 16 minutes behind winner Jonas Vingegaard. “As this is a first offence, (Quintana) is not declared ineligible and can therefore participate in competitions,” the UCI said. Q uintana finished second in 2013 and 2015, behind Chris Froome both times, and also won the 2014 Giro d’Italia. AP

Josef Ramos PRINCESS SUPERAL (left) and Pauline del Rosario take a break in Jakarta.

LEBRON JAMES inks two-year, $97.1 million deal with the Lakers. AP

means the 18-time All-Star will make $46.7 million this season. B arring injury, James is likely to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s career scoring king this winter. James and the Lakers also still hope to be in contention for another title if James and Anthony Davis can return at full health after an injury-plagued 2021-2022 ended without a playoff appearance. J ames’s new deal syncs with Davis’s most recent contract extension with the Lakers, allowing both to leave the Lakers or to negotiate new deals in 2024. Both superstars are represented by Klutch. James’s recommitment to the Lakers also silences persistent

Plania climbs ring vs unbeaten Aleem for WBO/NABO belt

SAN MIGUEL Beer Coach Leo Austria and June Mar Fajardo are battle-ready for the Finals.

By Josef Ramos

Sports B7Friday, August 19, 2022BusinessMirrormirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Editor: Jun Lomibao

BOLTS JOLT BEERMEN TO SEMIS WIN–AUSTRIA

C J Perez, Mo Moala Tautuaa, Vic Manuel, Jericho Cruz, Rodney Brondial and Robbie Herndon weren’t Beermen yet when the San Miguel Corp. franchise lorded it over the Philippine Cup. Sure, 6-foot-10 June Mar Fajardo, the six-time Most Valuable Player, still dons the Beermen jersey and was his usual dominant self with 29 points and 14 rebounds, and Marcio Lassiter, too, with 16 points in Game 7. But the rest of Austria’s crew stepped up when needed most with Perez making 10 points, Manuel 13 points and Cruz 12 points for the Beermen, who posted their biggest lead at 70-47 early in the third period on Wednesday night. S MC management, Austria said, was also instrumental to the Beermen’s return to the Finals after watching their streak snapped in Covid year 2020. I would like to thank management, our sports director Alfrancis Chua, for inspiring us during our practice [before Game 7],” Austria said. “It’s a difficult series and the players learned from it.”

Superal in the hunt in AsPac Cup, trails 2-time major winner So by 1 shot

MIKE “MAGIC” PLANIA finally gets to face unbeaten World Boxing Association interim super bantamweight champion Ra’eese Aleem for the World Boxing Organization/North America Boxing Organization belt on September 4 at the Cypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The bout was initially set for June 18 in Houston, Texas, but was postponed after Jermall Charlo suffered a back injury and couldn’t defend his World Boxing Council middleweight belt against Poland’s Maciej Sulecki. Plania, 25, took the opportunity to add power to his punches in those two months under the meticulous eyes of Cuban coach and trainer Moro Fernandez in their Miami training camp. I really thank God for another big break in my career. It’s a few steps away from a world title shot,” said the boxer from General Santos City, who holds a 26-1 win-loss record with 13 knockouts. “I cannot afford to lose this and I’m going all out to win this fight.” The delay also gave Plania’s camp a chance to strengthen their game plan against a technically superb Aleem, who is sporting a 19-0 record with 12 knockouts. “Aleem is a technically superb fighter. It will not be an easy fight,” Plania said. “But I have the experience. I have the hunger. I want the Philippines to have another world champion.” The faceoff is an undercard of the Andy Ruiz-Luis Ortiz main event.

NU sweepBulldogs8-gamepreseasonhoopselims

The San Miguel BeerMeralco series seesawed with the Beermen winning the odd numbers games—127-97, 9691 and 89-78—and the Bolts prevailing in the even number matches—99-88, 111-97 and 96-92.Game 7, taking the trend into consideration, was destined to be San Miguel Beer’s. The Beermen will be up against the team that snapped their all-Filipino streak—the TNT Tropang Giga, who finished off Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in six games. Game 1 of the best-of-seven Finals is on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

I T was a classic case of the enemy helping its opponent win the battle. “ We’re really thankful they made the entire series very difficult for us,” said San Miguel Beer Head Coach Leo Austria the day after the Beermen beat the Meralco Bolts, 10089, in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup semifinals series that was played to the limit of seven games. “ Most of our players are new and they don’t have that championship experience yet,” Austria said. “But the series made them very competitive and wise heading to the championship round.” S an Miguel Beer no longer has the core that won the team five-straight all-Filipino crowns. Gone are veterans Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos, who’re now with Terrafirma and NorthPort, respectively.

Quintana gets Tour DQ for opioid use NAIRO QUINTANA, however, is not banned from other races. AP

NATIONAL University (NU) scored a come-frombehind 87-82 victory over University of Perpetual Help System Dalta to sweep the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup elimination round Wednesday at Filoil EcoOil Centre. John Lloyd Clemente starred with 21 points, five coming in the Bulldogs’ 16-2 surge in the last three minutes to topple a nine-point deficit en route to an unblemished 8-0 won-loss card in Group A. G ermy Mahinay and PJ Palacielo also contributed 12 points apiece and combined for 14 rebounds for NU. NU looked headed to another easy victory with a 67-61 lead at the eighth-minute mark of the final quarter but the Altas went on a 19-4 rampage for an 80-71 lead. Fortunately, Clemente rallied the Bulldogs who limited their opponents to only one point in the stretch. “ Even though we won, the way we performed, we relaxed late in the game,” NU Coach Jeff Napa said. “Defense first, we had to remind them about that. For Perpetual, Kim Aurin had 23 points in leading Perpetual Help, which has one more opportunity to improve on its 2-5 record when the Altas take on Arellano University (1-5) on Saturday. San Sebastian College-Recoletos, meanwhile, remained in the playoff race after frustrating Letran, 69-64, also on Thursday. Ian Suico sank four charities in the last two minutes to help the Golden Stags hold off the charging Knights and hang on to a much-needed win that hiked their record to 3-3 in Group B. “Coach Egay says that every game, we have to win. Our morale’s low but we need to step up,” said coach Louie Bautista, who called the shots in lieu of Egay Macaraya, a day after they suffered a disappointing loss in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants Cup semifinals. The National Collegiate Athletic Association rivals were all even at 63 with 3:06 left before San Sebastian went on a 7-2 run—all on free throws—to put the game away. Suico wound up with 13 points, while Itchie Altamirano tallied an allaround 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals. The Golden Stags could boost their bid for the quarterfinals if they beat the winless Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on Saturday. The Knights (3-3), on the other hand, need to beat perfect De La Salle to stay in contention for the next round.

RINCESS SUPERAL rode a three-birdie binge from No. 10 to fuel a fiery six-under 66 for a share of second spot with world No. 4 Lydia Ko, just a shot behind two-time major winner So Yeon Ryu in individual competition while steering the Philippines to joint second in team play at the start of the Asia Pacific Cup at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday. Failing to gain much headway with a one-birdie frontside card, Superal bucked the winds that started to pick up at the back as she birdied the first two holes on crisp iron shots then added another on the par-3 12th to find herself in the mix. She drilled in another on the 15th then struck a brilliant approach shot to within three feet on the par-5 18th. I played consistently, especially wit h my drives. I also hit solid iron shots and my putting clicked at the back as I made a couple of up-anddown saves to preserve by bogeyfree card,” Superal said. But while Superal flourished with a closing 31, Epson Tour campaigner and International Container Terminal Services Inc. teammate Pauline del Rosario wavered with three bogeys in the last nine holes, including on No. 18. She ended up with a 75 as the Philippines slipped to joint second with Japan in team competition with a three-under 141 aggregate. Ko actually turned in a more explosive finish, holing out with a birdie-eagle feat to churn out her version of a 35-31 at the par72 layout, whose tricky surface bedeviled the games of the rest of the 44-player cast with only nine players able to break par. But Team Korea 2 rose to the challenge as Ryu fashioned out a bogey-free 65 (34-31) round to wrest control in individual play while teaming up with Bomee Lee, who also shot a solid 67, to put the team way out in front by nine at 12-under 132. The Philippines and Team Japan 2 matched 141s for joint second with New Zealand slipping to fourth as Ko’s teammate Momoka Kobori faltered with a 76 for a 140. Team Thailand 2, made up for Patcharajutar Kongkraphan and Saraporn Chamchoi, assembled a 143 for joint fifth with Team Korea 1 as world No. 8 Hyo Joo Kim struggled with a three-birdie against one double bogey and a bogey card for a 72 and You Min Hwang shot a 71. S uperal is coming off a break following an exhausting campaign on the Thailand Ladies PGA and Thai Women’s PGA marked by two runner-up finishes, including a playoff setback to Aunchisa Utama in the Thailand Ladies Professional Golf Association Championship last May. The former US Girls’ Junior champion actually didn’t get that much respite as she had to undergo intensive training with swing coach Bong Lopez at the Manila Southwoods while doubling up in sharpening her short game and putting for the inaugural championship that features team and individual competitions. The 54-hole event, the second of a series of tournaments on the Ladies Asian Tour following the season-opening DB Group 36th Korea Women’s Open last March, offers a prize purse of $500,000 in team play and $250,000 in individual competition. The individual champion will receive $100,000 while the runnerup will get $57,500. U nlike Superal, Ryu, the 2011 US Women’s Open champion and winner of the 2017 Chevron Championship, banked a blistering start to take command, birdying three of the first four holes then closing out her big frontside with two birdies in the last three. The six-time LPGA Tour winner slowed down a bit at the back with two birdies, the last matching Superal’s last-hole feat to seize the solo lead at 65. W ith teammate Bomme Lee also producing a solid 67, including closing back-to-back birdies, South Korea moved to dominate the team play, posting a combined 12-under 132 for a whopping nine-shot lead over Japan and the Philippines. K okona Sakurai shot a 70 while Maria Shinohara carded a 71 for a 143.

The camera can actually be allowed to penalize a driver by just taking a shot at the vehicle’s plate number of the vehicle he is driving. The most crooked part of it is, it is always the vehicle owner that gets pinned down by violations—even when he’s not behind the wheel when the camera caught the car supposedly goingThiswayward.meanssimply that if you lend your car and the one driving it has committed a traffic offense based on a camera “report,” it will always be you who takes the rap. Isn’t that as crazy as Trump in sisting Biden had stolen the last US presidential election? Many car buffs and even road cour tesy advocates have long been up in arms protesting the NCAP—to no avail, sadly.Ironically , even the Land Transpor tation Office wants the NCAP scrapped and subject it to further review. It’ s about time this regrettable LGU blot got zapped. It is not only retrogressive, it is also anti-progress as it penalizes poor folk already burdened by financial dif ficulties in these trying times.

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino A NOTHER full-electric ve hicle made it to the local market—WM Motor Philip pines (WMPH) recently unveiled the Weltmeister W5 full-electric compact crossover. Early this year, WMPH became the newest automotive com pany to enter the local market and the official Weltmeister car distributor in the country. After several online teasers, the recently introduced fullelectric crossover became WMPH’s first model offering. WMPH’ s parent company, WM Mo tor (China), was established in 2015 and derived its name from the Ger man translation of “World Champion” (Weltmeister). In the Chinese market, the W5 is badged as the EX5-Z, an updated version of their best-selling EX5, which became the first Chinesedesigned and built full-EV to surpass 30,000 units sold since its introduc tion in April 2019. WMPH claims that the W eltmeister W5 is an EV built to maximize driving quality and security and made with submarine-grade steel with anti-col lision designs. This top-of-the-line car helms road safety, longevity, and durability. Aside from a vehicle built to reduce carbon footprint toward a sustainable future, it is also packed with interactive technology for those who want to evolve the way they live. No other than Rashid Delgado, WM Motor Philippines president, expressed his pride and excitement for the com pany to be the pioneer in the electric vehicle industry in the Philippines. “With the continuous rise of fuel pric es in the country, we strongly believe that electric vehicles would prove to be the friendlier and more sustainable choice for consumers while positively impacting the environment with zero emissions. We are confident that the time is right, and the time is now to be introducing a sustainable technology and e-mobility lifestyle to the Philip pines and the Filipino people.”

Pure green powerplant

WM China claims that the cabin also offers a “CleanPro” tech which has un dergone a comprehensive upgrade in terms of health and safety. It has the CN95 health and safety certification with excellent performance, covering clean air and low noise. WM claims it covers four major indicators, includ ing sound, ultraviolet, antibacterial, and healthy material selection, from hearing and smell to the touch. The main highlight is the large 15.6inch longitudinal touchscreen panel, which supports upper and lower split screen interaction functions. While it does not support Android Auto and Apple Carplay functions, it has an intelligent voice system, 360-degree camera view, entertainment, and tele phony, among Interestinglyothers.,thetouchscreen panel also has a “Hands-Free” inductive elec tric opening tailgate control apart from a WM theatre-style surround sound speaker setup. Also clustered in the center con sole are the drive dial (integrated with the power on control), cabin climate control, drive mode switch, smartphone wireless charging tray, and USB ports. Moreover, there is an additional USB interface on the back of the front seat for charging, apart from the available rear air vents at the back of the center console.

W HY must we become impersonal?What’s the point in penalizing someone you have not personally seen violating a trafficThoserule?are but two of the many ques tions begging for answers in the govern ment’s long-bashed NCAP regulation. NCAP stands for No Contact Ap prehension Policy.It allows our Local Government Units (LGUs) in some major areas in the country to slap devastating penalties on owners of a vehicle caught on camera disobeying traffic rules, such as parking on no parking zones, unau thorized loading and unloading passen gers on identified areas, and disregard ing traffic lights, among others. Severe punishments include exor bitant fines amounting to thousands and the LTO’s cancellation of a driver’s license and refusal to renew registra tion of your vehicle. These consequences will hinge mainly on an LGU-installed cam era monitoring vehicles on the road, whether mobile or not. Since when is a camera allowed to do the job of a human being? Why in heaven’ s name do we allow a camera to judge us?

Penalizing the car owner not being behind the wheel

Total peace of mind The vehicle has a C-NCAP five-star security certification. According to WM China, the frame is made of a submarine-class high-strength steel structure with a robust anti-collision design. The battery pack is also IP68 waterproof and dustproof with dual ECU power battery safety monitor ing and a five-fold battery safety guarantee.Standard safety features include double front airbags, side airbags, and front and rear through side air curtains. Further, the interior system adopts vari ous software and hardware protection. There is also automatic and fast safety defogging, 360-degree panoramic im age recording, and ESP body electronic stability control system. The vehicle also has an Intelligent Mobility Assist System such as Lane keeping, low-speed follow-up, and high-level intelligent driving assistance, among others. There is also “low bat tery attenuation” utilizing long mileage low attenuation management system to achieve 200,000 kilometers of battery attenuation of less than three percent. Pricing and color availability The all-electric Weltmeister W5 re tails at P2.548 million. As for body colors, we have witnessed the Gentian Blue and Tranquility Ash shades pre sented during the launch event, along with an unspecified shade of black and red units. The good news is that WMPH’s first showroom in Seven/NEO BGC, Taguig is now open. It is highly recommended that interested custom ers visit the dealership to learn more about the EV’s detailed and long list of tech features.

Honda promos HONDA diehards have until August 31 to avail of cash discounts from 10k to 45k on purchases, insurance premiums and parts services of any of Honda’s fiveBrmodels.yanAaron Rivera enjoins everyone to visit any of Honda’s 37 dealerships nationwide and choose from the line-up of City, BR-V, CR-V, HR-V and Brio-V 1.2V CVT. A slew of banks are in the mix, includ ing BPI, Chinabank, Bank of Commerce, RCBC, BDO, Maybank, East West, PNB, PSBank and Robinsons Bank. Visit www.hondaphil.com for more details.

PEE STOP The recent three-day Toyota GAZOO RACING Festival at the Clark International Speedway in Angeles City, Pampanga, drew no less than 180 members from Toyota dealerships and the motoring media from across the archipelago—another testament to the massive impact that Toyota creates every time it stages an event of na tional significance.The occasion saw the Vios Cup getting flagged off to a roaring start but a huge highlight was the unveiling of Toyota’s new 86 edi tion, that iconic sports car that earned international acclaim a while back as the paragon of drifting.Already, preorders of 86 began on August 6...Con dolences to the loved ones of Melvyn Calderon, the respected photojour nalist and a noted fighter for press freedom, who succumbed to cancer on August 12.Rest in peace, Melvyn.

BusinessMirror

WM PHILIPPINES BRINGS IN THE WELTMEISTER W5 FULL-ELECTRIC CROSSOVER

The cabin’s main highlight 15.6-inch longitudinal touchscreen panel, which supports upper and lower split screen interaction functions

The W5 variant for the Philippine market has a 400km (theoretical) range battery capacity of 52.56kWh using a Ternary lithium battery type. Delivery-wise, the electric motor generates a maximum of 160 KW power, equivalent to 215 hp and 315 N-m of maximum torque. WM China claims a 100 km/h sprint from a standstill is achievable in about eight Duringseconds.the launch event, a proprietary charging unit was on display. Accord ing to WMPH, this charging unit is in cluded in the vehicle purchase package. This charging unit charges the battery in about eight hours. But using the emergency charging cable alone via any household 220-volt electrical outlet takes about 16 hours.

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame B8 Friday, August 19, 2022 Editor: Tet Andolong • www.businessmirror.com.ph

Motoring

THE Weltmeister W5 full-electric crossover EQUALLY sharplooking rear end

Conscious interactive aesthetics According to WM Motor (China), the design adopted the aesthetic layout of conscious interaction. Hidden door handles, far and near light integrated LED headlights through tail lights, and even an integrated luggage rack. The model’s “Gen Z sport aesthetic design” highlights a suspended roof design and 18-inch new wheels complementing the dark matte underneath panels. Over all, the W5 shares the same blend of sharp lines and curvy profiles that are prominent in the local market of other Chinese-madeInterestinglycrossovers.,thelogoupfront also serves as a charging indicator, and be neath that is the rapid charging port, cleverly covered. There is also a slow charging port found on the left rear panel. It is the charging port provided for home charging. Dimension-wise, the W5 is 4,585 mm long, 1,835 mm wide, and 1,672 mm long, with a wheelbase of 2703 mm.

Electrifying interior The cabin exudes that modern and pre mium touch from the soft materials and metallic trims to the light tone material accent on the dashboard. Seats are not only draped with leather-like material but also have a nice snug and comfy design. There is an electric panoramic sunroof with a broader field of view.