NTERNATIONAL concerns over the possible spread of the ernment to reimpose mandatory facility-based quarantine for all arriving passengers in the country. son Karlo B. Nograles announced on Sunday that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases A (s.2021), effectively imposing stricter protocols for all inbound A had allowed fully vaccinated non-visa travelers from Green List out the need for facility-based quarantine as long as they secure PCR) test within 72 hours prior to their “Exceptdeparture. forcountries classified as ‘Red,’ the testing and quarantine protocols for all inbound international travelers in all ports of entry shall comply with the testing and quarantine protocols for ‘Yellow’ list countries,” Nograles said, citing the provision of IATF Resolution No.He151-A. noted Hong Kong, which has confirmed a case of the Omicron variant, will also fall under the Yellow list countries.
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GOVT
OVER 3-M FARMERS LISTED FOR P75-B COCO LEVY FUND
See
Net debt redemption means there were more debts repaid compared to the amount borrowed during the period.
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario C LOSING the country’s borders is one of the most immediate courses of action the government must take to prevent the latest Covid-19 variant, Omicron, from reaching Philippine shores, according to local economists. The new variant is a threat, especially with the holidays coming up and more foreigners being allowed to travel to the Philippines, De La Salle University economist Maria Ella Oplas toldTheBusinessMirror.holidaysusually bring in Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who are eager to spend Christmas with their loved ones, while foreigners living in temperate regions usually want to relax in tropical countries like the Philippines. This year’s influx of OFWs is expected to be heavier since many of them were unable to come home for the holidays in December 2020. “My recommendation is to protect the borders. Do not allow people with a history of travel to countries with positive cases to enter,” Oplas said. “We should be more restrictive. [We have to be] more protective in terms of our Oplasmeasures.”saidthat while this will be a setback to some industries, this is a fair measure considering that this could help prevent placing the country in another strict lockdown, which, she said, the economy can no longer afford. “It is better that we do protective preventive measures than get exposed again. We have a lot to lose,” Oplas said. “We should do it now so that we can open just before Christmas. If it gets contained, we can open it again.”Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development (ACERD) Associate Director Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes said closing the country’s borders would be effective but should still adhere to the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). What is needed, Peña-Reyes told this newspaper, is for travel restrictions to be put in place swiftly and for government to be proactive in imposingPreviousthem.instances when the country had the opportunity to impose travel restrictions did not prevent the spread of Covid-19. That was mainly because the decision was not made immediately, he said. “ Kung papatay patay [If we’re slow] and we get caught flat-footed, [that’s risky] We were too reactive instead of proactive before. We should learn from that,” PeñaReyes said. “It’s a delicate balancing act. We need to push testing and tracing to be properly informed of our decisions. Blanket/shotgun approaches could have dire consequences on the economy.”
“The list will be posted in public spaces where people can easily see them. This allows everyone to see who are listed in the registry and if farmer doesn’t see his name then he shall coordinate with the PCA immediately,” he explained at a recent dialogue with coconut farmers.
By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM
Meanwhile, gross foreign borrowings in the same period also contracted by 9.7 percent to P518.7 billion from last year’s P574.4 billion.
This was raised through global bonds (P146.17 billion), program loans (P139.98 billion), euro-denominated bonds (P121.97 billion), a project loan (P86.41 billion), and yen-denominated samurai bonds (P24.19 billion). See “Borrowings,”
T his enhancement reduced production cycle time and improved business productivity as funds are received by and made available to the payees earlier,” the BSP said. T hen BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said the MBS will not only allow for more volume clearances, it will also help in the risk management of participating banks. “PESONet MBS allows for better risk management for participating banks and electronic money issuers as settlement of transactions may be divided within two cycles in a banking day,” said Diokno, who has since been appointed Finance secretary.Theformer governor also said the morning and end-of-day settlement cycles of PESONet fund transfers aims to address the business community’s demand for shorter clearing intervals to better manage cash flows. For example, a business can ensure timely crediting of payroll funds since PESONet MBS allows the transfer of funds and the receipt of the same by employees within the same banking day. Since funds are made available earlier, PESONet MBS can cut production cycle time that boosts economic productivity,” Diokno added. F ollowing the release of the latest data on the value and volume of PESONet transactions, the BSP said the MBS supports their goals of digitizing at least 50 percent of total retail payments in the country, and onboarding at least 70 percent of Filipino adults into the financial system by 2023.
MEAN?FIFTH! EXPLAINER »B4 THE METAVERSE ISN’T HERE YET BUT IT ALREADY HAS A LONG HISTORY
The PCA official noted that the completion of the initial list of coconut farmers registry would be just in time for the expected rollout of coconut levy-funded programs as President Duterte is expected to sign the industry development plan in early 2022. Rosales said the PCA will not stop updating its list of coconut farmers and enjoined them to register in order to reap the benefits of the decades-long idled coconut levy fund. “We will not stop at 3.1 million. We hope that more individuals will register in our coconut farmers registry,” he said. The updating of the coconut farmers registry is mandated by Republic Act (RA) 11524 or the Coconut Industry Trust Fund Act. See “3-M farmers,” A2
KADAYAWAN TIME Participants at Davao City’s Kadayawan street dance and floral float parade show off their talent at the competition that put the southern city on the tourism map, and declared to the world it is open again for business. At least 43 companies, local governments, business and private organizations put up 43 flower and fruit-decked floats of varying sizes to summarize what the Kadayawan festival is all about: the fruit harvest festival. Kadayawan also honors the 11 indigenous and Moro tribes in the city for protecting the bounty of nature, as seen in its sought-after fruits durian, lanzones, rambutan and mangosteen and the iconic Waling-Waling orchids.
“Sugar will be included in our regular monitoring in the coming days as directed by the President,” Trade Undersecretary Ana Carolina P. Sanchez told reporters via Viber, without elaborating. S anchez said, however, that the Trade department will provide more information “this coming week.” Currently, the Trade undersecre tary said, based on the Price Act, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is the implementing agency monitoring prices of sugar—along with other goods such as rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh and dried fish, and other marine products, fresh eggs, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, and root crops. These fall under the Basic Necessities.
NATL BORROWINGS FOR 10 MOS DIP TO P2.75T
The bulk of the amount was sourced from Fixed Rate Treasury Bonds (P1.19 trillion), followed by short-term borrowings from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or BSP (P540 billion), Retail Treasury Bonds/Premyo Bonds (P463.3 billion), Retail Onshore Dollar Bonds (P80.84 billion). In the same period, there was also a net redemption of Treasury Bills amounting to P43.94 billion.
MANUEL T. CAYON
I n January this year, the BSP and the Philippine Payments Management, Inc. (PPMI) launched the MBS to increase the frequency of PESONet settlements from once to twice a day. Settlements are done at 10 AM and 4 PM on Theweekdays.PESONet MBS increased the frequency by which payments are received by beneficiaries, allowing for faster clearing and settlement of personal transactions.
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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas M ORE than 3 million coconut farmers and workers are now registered with the government’s registry, which serves as the basis for the number of people to be covered by the utilization of the P75-billion coconut levy fund.
The PCA’s next step is to conduct an exclusion-inclusion procedure by making the updated farmers’ registry public, providing everyone the opportunity to check the veracity of the list, Rosales added.
PEOPLE walk past the mural of Gat Andres Bonifacio at Manila City Hall Underpass. The country will celebrate the 158th birth anniversary of Filipino revolutionary hero Gat Andres Bonifacio on Tuesday, November 30.
By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM T HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported a big jump in PESONet transactions, following the implementation of a multiple batch settlement (MBS) facility for the electronic funds transfer service. O ver the weekend, the BSP said the total value of PESONet transactions jumped by 48.1 percent to reach P2.9 trillion in the first half of the year. The number of transactions processed during the period also increased by 28.7 percent, to a total of 40.8 million transactions. Launched in November 2017, PESONet is the first automated clearing house under the National Retail Payment System. It can be considered as an electronic alternative to paper-based check payments.
By Andrea E. San Juan SUGARproducts that the Department of Trade and Industry is monitoring, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DTI said at the weekend.
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie T HE House of Representa tives has vowed to swift ly approve the proposed P5.268-trillion economic recovery budget of the Marcos administra tion while giving all lawmakers time to scrutinize the national budget for 2023. T he House is set to receive on Monday (today) the proposed 2023 national budget, which the De partment of Budget and Manage ment (DBM) earlier revealed would amount to P5.268 trillion. T he proposed budget for next year is P244 billion or almost 5 percent more than this year’s P5.024-trillion outlay. It will be the highest ever spending pro posal of the government. T he proposal would be the first full one-year outlay of Pres ident Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. O n hand to receive it will be Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Ma jority Leader Manuel Jose “Man nix” Dalipe, Minority Leader Mar celino Libanan, House Committee on Appropriations chairman and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and his senior vice chairperson, Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo.TheHouse leadership has vowed to finish committee and plenary de liberations on the budget proposal before October 1, when Congress is scheduled to go on its first recess that will last up to November 6. By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario B Y the time a worker ends his lunch break, some 87 babies have been born, 34 couples tied the knot, and 54 Filipinos died, based on the lat est data released by the Philip pine Statistics Authority (PSA). T he PSA said there were a total of 250,866 Filipinos born; 100,171 marriages occurred; and 157,507 died between Janu ary and April 2022. T he number of Filipinos born in the first five months of the year contracted 34.7 percent compared to 384,154 in the same period of 2021; the num ber of those who married also contracted 13.9 percent from 116,373 last year; and the num ber of those who died contracted 34.4 percent from 240,240 in 2021.“The data on the number of births, marriages, and deaths (vital events) presented in this regular monthly release were obtained from the vital events registered, either timely or be latedly, at the appropriate Of fice of the City/Municipal Civil Registrar throughout the coun try and subsequently submitted for encoding to the Office of the Civil Registrar General through the Provincial Statistical Of fices (PSOs) of the PSA,” PSA explained. “House,” “Vital events,”
A4 See
“On the other hand, if people would see names on the list and they think they are not coconut farmers or their details are incorrect, they can report it to the PCA for immediate action,” he added.
Omicron risk
‘Close borders, cut Omicron exposure risk’ See “Omicron,” A2 PESO EXCHANGE RATES n Monday, August 22, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 318 DTI TO INCLUDE SUGAR IN PRICE MONITORING PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 55.8560 n JAPAN 0.4111 n UK 66.6474 n HK 7.1211 n CHINA 8.2299 n SINGAPORE 40.3089 n AUSTRALIA 38.6133 n EU 56.3587 n KOREA 0.0421 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.8731 Source: BSP (August 19, 2022)
Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Deputy Administrator Roel M. Rosales said about 3.11 million coconut farmers and farm workers have been registered with the government since it started updating its registry following the enactment of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund law. Rosales explained that about 500,000 coconut farmers and workers were added to the PCA’s 2018 list that had about 2.5 million coconut farmers and farm workers.
THE P2.75year-on-yearbyend-Octoberborrowingsgrossgovernment’snationalasofshrankalmost6percenttotrillion.
Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the government’s gross borrowings during the 10-month period fell by 5.99 percent from P2.92 trillion a year ago. With only two months left for this year, the latest figure is already equivalent to 89.6 percent of its P3.07-trillion borrowing program. Broken down, gross domestic borrowings from January to October settled at P2.23 trillion, down by 5.08 percent from P2.35 trillion in 2020.
House vows timely okay of ₧5.268-T budget for ’23 BY STATS AGENCY
See “DTI,” A2 ‘VITAL EVENTS’ IN PINOY LIVES, AS TRACKED
PESONet transactions up 48.1% to ₧2.9T
The suspension of the rules for “Green List” countries will be in effect from November 28, 2021 to December 15, 2021.
will be included in the
T he PSA data also showed that in terms of deaths, Calabarzon record ed the highest number of registered deaths from January to April 2022 at 24,417 or 15.5 percent of the total deaths in the country. N CR registered 20,687 deaths from January to April 2022, or a 38.2percent decrease from the 33,493 deaths registered in the same period in 2021. Q uezon City recorded the high est number of registered deaths in the NCR from January to April 2022 at 4,317 or 20.9 percent of the total deaths in the region.
Data from DepEd showed that as of August 20, a total of 27,691,191 have enrolled but according to DepEd spokesperson Atty. Michael Tan Poa, the number will still in crease, since August 22 is the last day of enrollment. Poa said that out of 54,900 public and private campuses nationwide, 24,175 schools will hold in-person classes throughout a 5-day school week.Meanwhile, 29,721 schools will still be conducting blended learn ing and will hold in-person classes for at least three days a week. Poa said the remaining 1,004 schools would still be limited to distance or online learning. T he DepEd said that majority of private schools would continue blended learning (use of modules and online) until October 31. Classroom shortage
In terms of births per region, PSA data showed Region IV-A (Calabarzon) recorded the highest number of registered births from January to April 2022 at 39,872 or 15.9 percent of the total births in theTcountry.heNational Capital Region (NCR) registered 33,135 births from January to April 2022, or a contrac tion of 26.1 percent from the 44,827 births registered in the same period in 2021.Thedata also showed that in Metro Manila cities/municipalities, Quezon City recorded the highest number of registered births at 6,477 or 19.5 percent of the total births in theAregion.mong the provinces, PSA said Cavite recorded the highest number of registered births at 10,588 or 4.2 percent of the total births in the coun try during the five-month period.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, on the other hand, said that there are classroom shortages based on the report they received from the field. Not only are classrooms lacking, the group said: chairs and learning materials are also not enough. “ Not to mention the lack of teaching and non-teaching and the deployment of health workers,” the TDC said in an earlier statement. However, as to classroom short age, Poa said there are schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Calabarzon who would have to conduct double- and even tripleshifting of classes due to the huge number of students enrolled. Data showed that as of August 20, Calabarzon registered the highest number of enrollees with 3,768,357 enrollees while NCR re ported 2,694,130.
C oncern was also raised that government revenues might be dented if manufacturers of bever ages, on which taxes are imposed, are unable to roll out the usual volume.BusinessMirror reported last week that the President said after the PinasLakas vaccination drive that he already engaged in talks with traders in an effort to stabi lize the price of the sweetener. B ased on its regular market monitoring, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reported the price of sugar in Metro Manila supermarkets was at P93.01 per kilogram, while that being sold in public markets in the region was at P95 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the price of refined sugar in Metro Manila was even higher, reaching P115 per kilogram in supermarkets and P100 per ki logram in public markets. Sugar became more expensive since local supply of the sweet ener cannot keep up with market demand due to lower cane produc tion and delay in import arrivals. M arcos said the sugar supply shortage has also caused some food manufacturers to reduce days of their operations.
U nder Prime Commodities, Sanchez said the Agriculture de partment monitors prices of fresh fruits, dried pork, dried beef and poultry meat, fresh dairy products not falling under basic necessities, onions, garlic, fertilizer (chemical and organic), pesticides, herbicides, poultry, swine and cattle feeds, vet erinary products for poultry, swine andMcattle.eanwhile, DTI monitors prices of canned fish and other marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread, and salt under Basic Neces sities, said Sanchez. U nder Prime Commodities, Sanchez said the Trade depart ment monitors prices of flour, processed and canned pork, pro cessed and canned beef, and poul try meat, noodles, vinegar, patis, soy sauce, toilet, soap, paper, and school supplies. Marcos pushes nego LAST week, Marcos said the gov ernment is negotiating with trad ers to bring down the price of sugar to as low as P70 per kilogram. This, as the government tries to address the local sugar supply shortage, which is also affecting the opera tions of local food manufacturers and causing the price of the sweet ener to rise. T he economic managers last week raised concern that if unre solved, the sugar shortage-andprice issues would impact thou sands of small businesses, setting back efforts to reduce poverty and provide livelihood.
E arlier, TRLEI accused Kazuo of illegally expanding the coverage of the SQAO when he called for a spe cial stockholder’s meeting and orga nization meeting to install his own set of board of directors officers -Dino Espeleta, Maximo Modesto Flores, Tetsuya Yokota, and Hiroshi Kawamura.Kazuo’s group also forcibly ejected Japanese nationals Mich iaki Satate, co-vice chairperson and director of TRLEI; Hajima Tokuda, co-vice chairperson and UEC’s authorized representative; and James Lorenzana, a Filipino member of the Board of Directors of TRLEI, from the premises of Okada during the violent takeover. U EC, a publicly-listed company in Japan, owns 99.99 percent of TRLEI, the Philippine firm that owns and operates the Okada Ma nila Resort. T he SC took note of the criminal cases filed by TRLEI officers who were forcibly removed from their posts. L ast June 6, 2022, Satate filed grave coercion under Article 286 and unjust vexation under Article 287 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) while Tokuda filed a com plaint for kidnapping and serious illegal detention under Article 267, grave coercion under Article 286 and unjust vexation under Article 287 of the RPC. O n the other hand, Lorenzana filed grave coercion under Article 286, slight physical injuries and unjust vexation under Article 287 of the RPC. A ll the three complainants named the same respondents in their respective complaint-affida vits which include Kazuo; TRLEI president and board member An tonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, Espe leta, Flores, Yokota, and Kawamura, Kazuo’s legal counsel Florentino “Binky” Herrera III and several security guards who participated in the Okada takeover. Thecaseswerefiledbefore the Department of Justice (DOJ).
T he TRLEI has filed a motion for reconsideration seeking to set aside the SQAO that was issued last April 27, 2022 D uring the pendency of the mo tion, the TRLEI filed a motion for clarification on the scope of SQAO following Kazuo’s takeover of Oka da Manila on May 31, 2022 and the installation of new directors and officers who were not occupying such positions in 2017. I n clarifying the scope of the SQAO, the Court noted that it merely recognized Kazuo’s interest in TRLEI as an indirect beneficial owner. T hus, the Court said SQAO “is meant only to preserve his right as a beneficial owner of TRLEI during the pendency of the main case.” “As will be discussed below, the Court determined that the status quo ante or the last, actual, peace able, and uncontested state of things that preceded the present controversy is the time when Kazuo was a stockholder, director, chair person, and CEO of TRLEI, or prior to his sudden removal as such,” the SC “noted.Thegrant of the SQAO was based on equity in recognition of the right of Kazuo to protect his interest as an indirect beneficial owner of TRLEI, pending the dis position of the main case. It is in this context that the clear language of the SQAO should be read and implemented,” the Court said. T he Court stressed that “disrup tion was never the intent of the SQAO.”
L ast week, the country’s major bottling companies issued a joint statement confirming they are now facing a shortage of premium refined sugar. To address the supply issue, Mar cos said he is now reorganizing the SRA to conduct stakeholder consul tations to determine the current sugar supply inventory. Two members of the Sugar Reg ulatory Board (SRB) resigned last week after the issuance of Sugar Order (SO) No. 4 without the ap proval of Marcos, who chairs the said board. A mid the sugar supply woes, business groups also called on the government two weeks ago, to look into the crippling supply of sugar, which they said is seen to hurt both the local food processors and manufacturers, and the consumers in general. Thebusiness groups said the supply should be immediately ad dressed so as to prevent its price from spiking.
NCR registered a total of 11,690 marriages from January to April 2022, or a decline of 8.2 percent from the 12,734 marriages registered in the same period in 2021. A mong its cities/municipalities, the City of Manila recorded the high est number of registered marriages at 2,882 or 24.7 percent of the total marriages in the region. T he provinces of Batangas, Pan gasinan and Cavite registered the most marriages with 4,224 or a 4.2percent share; 3,987 or 4 percent share; and 3,936 or 3.9-percent share, respectively from January to April 2022.
DTI...Continued from A1 Vital events...Continued
27-M students enrolled, still counting, as SY opens today from A1 from A10 By Claudeth S. Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
THE Department of Education (DepEd) is expected to welcome over 27 million students from kindergarten to senior high school today (August 22) as the school year 2022-2023 formally opens.
T he SQAO stemmed from the petition that Kazuo filed before the Court questioning his removal as TRLEI shareholder and insisted that it was done through a series of fraudulent and illegal acts.
Moro... Continued from A10 BusinessMirror www.businessmirror.com.phMonday, August 22, 2022A2 News
M P Omar Sema, the son of Musli min Sema, said the MNLF and MILF “have reached an agreement on many occasions on how to go about the transition process.” There are agreements between us that define our relationship, our vital participation in the BTA,” Sema said.
SC...Continued
T his was followed by the provinces of Pangasinan with 8,551 births or a 3.4- percent share in the births of the population and Rizal at 8,077 or 3.2 percent of births in January to April 2022.Meanwhile, in terms of registered marriages, Calabarzon recorded the highest number of registered mar riages from January to April 2022 at 15,926 or 15.9 percent of the total marriages in the country.
K azuo named TRLEI and its di rectors Manuel Lazaro, Kenji, Sugi yama, Wolstenholme, Reynaldo David, Yoshinao Negishi and Tiger Resort Asia Limited (TRAL) and its directors Kenshi Asano and Takako Okada as respondents.
United MNLF IN another meeting held in Davao City with Galvez, the MNLF mem bers of the BTA who come from two separate groups—the one led by Misuari and the other by the late Yusop Jikiri, and Muslimin Sema —embraced each other in a show of unity. Thegathering, the first of its kind to be held between the two MNLF groups in recent history, was historic as it symbolized the healing of old wounds and their commitment to work together for the welfare of the Bangsamoro people. Member of Parliament (MP) Al bakil “Tong” Jikiri thanked President Marcos for playing a key role in the unification of the two MNLF groups. We thank the President… We can now see that the MNLF will be united,” Jikiri, the son of Yusop Jikiri, said, in Filipino.
“We are deeply grateful to Presi dent Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. for understanding the importance of our work during the extension of the transition period, and to assure that we can install a bureaucracy that can address the needs of our people for generations to come,” the chief minister said. We are equally grateful for President Marcos’s eagerness to assure that the new Bangsamoro Transition Authority is composed of meaningful representation from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front, sectoral groups, and other impor tant stakeholders across the re gion, making the BTA Parliament a chamber for all voices to be heard,” he added.
T he province of Cavite recorded the highest number of registered deaths among provinces at 6,124 or 3.9 percent of the total deaths in the country from January to April 2022. T his was followed by Bulacan with 5,836 deaths or a 3.7-percent share and Pangasinan with 5,582 or 3.5percent share of the total between January to April 2022. P SA said the data were still pre liminary and may differ from the fi nal count. Further, the vital events of Filipinos abroad are not yet included in this release. However, Filipinos whose usual residence is abroad and foreign na tionals with vital events occurring in the country during the reference period were included in the report.
T his as UndersecretaryDENRfor Policy, Planning, and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones underscored the need for a geospatial system to manage readily-available data, which, he said, can be helpful in implementing government projects.Leones explained that the system would be helpful in the government’s reforestation program, application of geohazard maps, the conduct of mining operations, monitoring of industry compliances with environmental regulations, land administration, and supervision of protected areas.
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario HOUSING remains inaccessi ble for millions of Filipinos because they cannot afford it, especially low-income and large families as well as those who live in highly urbanized cities, accord ing to a study released by the Phil ippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). I n a discussion paper, PIDS re searchers led by Vice President Marife M. Ballesteros said most households can only afford so cialized housing, which are often located far from employment or livelihood centers. The researchers also said the standard of 30 percent of incomes used to estimate housing afford ability may be too high for low in come“Thehouseholds.inabilityof the government to maintain a pool of affordable lands in cities and urban centers will fur ther limit the supply of affordable housing in Metro Manila and other urbanizing cities,” the authors also said in the study. The researchers also estimat ed shelter poverty in the country and found that even if poor fami lies received a downpayment of 20 percent to avail themselves of socialized housing, they would not be able to make the amorti zation payments. “It further implies that poor fami lies, even if they are given the oppor tunity to avail socialized housing, will not be able to pay their amorti zations. In other words, poor fami lies would experience housing stress even at the price ceiling intended to facilitate their access to housing,” the authors said. The study also said the 30-per cent income standard is widely used and an accepted measure of the extent of housing affordability in the Sectioncountry.2of Batas Pambansa 220 (BP 220) provides that social ized and economic housing should be within low-income and average earners’ affordability level, which is at 30 percent of gross family income as determined by the Na tional Economic and Development AuthorityHowever,(Neda).theresearchers said the validity of the 30-percent income standard has not been fully estab lished in the country. There was a dearth of research on the validity of the 30-percent standard and ar guments that housing has become affordable over time. The findings of the research showed that using the 30 percent standard, only 8 percent of families in urban areas would be placed un der housing stress while the use of Residual Income Method estimates that 21 percent of families are under housing stress.
“The finding is critical because if the Philippine government revises the socialized housing price ceiling based on housing stress evaluated through the 30-percent standard, many families that should be ben eficiaries may be left out,” the PIDS researchers said. The study also estimated that given this, there are affordable housing packages available for the poor. These packages are 30 years to pay at 6 percent interest rate and 30 years to pay at 8 percent interest rate. For the low-income households, the researchers said ownership through mortgage finance is feasible but only for housing prices of P2 mil lion and below. For the middle-income groups, they are likely to have access to home ownership and to the formal hous ing market given their capacities to qualify for housing packages priced at P4 million to P8 million.
The DENR official further said that the DENR expects the database to bolster decisionmaking and collaboration with other government agencies. “If we can establish this database where all the information is already there, decision-making will be easier and we will be able to discern overlaps in our programs,” Leones said. “Once we’re done with this, we can already collaborate with the database of other agencies,” he Leonesadded. cited examples in which the database can be productive for other government agencies as well. For example, the database will enable the identification of geohazard risks which can inform the planning of the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways (e.g. where schools and roads can be constructed).Heemphasized the need to account for and conduct a valuation of the country’s environmental and natural resources.“Weneed to account for and put a value on our natural resources,” Leones said. “If we can do that, we will be able to identify our priority initiatives with these resources.”
www.businessmirror.com.ph Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, August 22, 2022 A3BusinessMirror Economy
A N official of EnvironmentDepartmenttheofand Natural Resources (DENR) said the agency will be establishing two major information systems to strengthen the data sharing and accounting of the country’s natural resources.
“The low-income households can still afford socialized housing priced at the ceiling, but they can no lon ger afford economic housing priced above P1.5 million at the same loan terms,” the study stated. In order to address the issue, the researchers recommended that the government undertake reforms to prevent speculative increases in land and residential prices and to reexamine the role of the public sector in the delivery of afford ableFurther,housing.the government should provide affordable housing that would require an overhaul of the housing subsidy programs as well as the creation of a public housing fund to finance direct subsidies to households, public sector construc tion of affordable housing (for rent or ownership); and housing support in times of disaster. At the town or city level, the re searchers said Community Devel opment Funds (CDFs) anchored to municipal councils should be established to support housing projects arising from urban re newal or upgrading or other ur banization challenges.
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
The Convention on Biological Diversity noted that the Philippines is one of the 18 megabiodiverse countries in the world. The country ranks fifth in the number of plant species and maintains five percent of the world’s flora. The Philippine Statistics Authority said that the country is one of the world’s most richly endowed in terms of mineral resources.
DENR to fortify data sharing, accounting of natural wealth
PIDS: Most Filipinos can’t afford a house near jobs
So far, the remaining workable balance is set at 1,002,485 hectares. Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Joey G. Sumatra said the field validation targets for each of the 80 Provincial Project Man agement Offices are based on “the updated workable balance less the accomplishments for the year 2021 and the first semester of this year.”
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T HE Canadian province of Nova Scotia said it wants to recruit Fili pino health-care providers to ad dress the labor shortage in this segment. To jumpstart the program, Oxford International Education Group (OEIG) launched last Wednesday a care-giving vocational course called “Continuing Care Assistant,” or “CCA,” to qualified Filipinos from ages 20 years old to 54 years old. The CCA program is open to people who are seeking a career in the health-care sector in Nova Scotia where employment opportunities are abundant, according to OIEG Chief Commercial Officer Andy Blake. Blake said students who will enroll in the program will study at the East Coast International College in Canada. He said the group’s acquisition of East Coast International enhances OIEG’s Continuing Care Assistant program as it will provide both academic and practical skills for the program. Blake assured the graduates of the 40-week CCA caregiving course will be equipped with the necessary knowl edge, skills, mindset and attitudes to deliver appropriate and respectful care. To ensure the graduates have a com prehensive background on caregiving, he said that OIEG will adopt a blended learning approach combining techni cal, employability and other essential care-giving skills. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes
The Split project’s Second-Semes ter 2022 target represents about 42 percent of the 378,293 hectares that were subdivided over the past three semesters, from January 1, 2021, up to June 30, 2022. “Once the collective CLOAs are parceled into individual titles, they will be re-awarded to beneficiaries who are co-owners of the covered landholdings,” Estrella stressed. Estrella described the 2022 second semester field validation target as an indication of the sense of urgency to get the job done within the term of the Marcos Jr. administration.
DAR to parcel out 157,000 has. to individual owners Group pitches use of tech in ‘rightsizing’ bureaucracy
Solon to push for teachers’ pay hike as classes resume
T he appropriations committee will begin hearings on the NEP on August 26 with a briefing by the Marcos administration’s economic managers on the macroeconomic parameters used in putting together the spending proposal.
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga THE Department of Agrar ian Reform (DAR) said more lands covered by collective cer tificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) covering at least 157,000 hectares of agricultural lands will be subdivided before the end of the year. T his means more areas covered by collective CLOAs will be the subject of massive field validation.
DAR Secretary Conrado M. Es trella III was quoted in a statement as saying that accelerating the sub division of the collective CLOAs into individual titles is part of the agency’s “Support to Parcelization of Land for Individual Titling,” or “Split,” project. Estrella added the move would enable beneficiaries to direct their individual aspirations as new“Itlandowners.willalsohelp improve the farmer-beneficiaries’ security of ten ure and strengthen their property rights,” the DAR chief added.
“The targets were anchored with the collective CLOA Inventory Sys tem as of July 14, 2022,” Sumatra, an engineer and also the national director for the SPLIT project, added.
“ Last Congress, we did it, we were able to beat the September 30 deadline. We gave all members of the House time to deliberate, interpellate intelligently on all departments,” Majority Leader Dalipe said.
The senator was quoted in a state ment as saying that the “all systems go” pronouncement of the Depart ment of Education (DepEd) for the opening of classes “must be matched with the readiness on the ground of the facilities, teachers and students.” He asserted that the era of missing classrooms, sharing tables and chairs and holding classes under the shade of trees “must no longer happen.” “We expect our students to have their classes in comfortable class rooms and with complete learning materials as promised by DepEd,” Vilanueva said even as he assert ed that “observance of minimum health standards must be ensured
The senator affirmed teachers are skilled professionals doing increas ingly complex and challenging work, noting that “outside of their academ ic tasks, we know of teachers who end up spending their own money to shoulder classroom-related expenses and to assist needy students so they continue to be in school.” To this end, “we have filed two Senate bills to alleviate the condition of our educators,” Villanueva said. Senate Bill (SB) 564, according to him, proposes to provide addi tional grocery and transportation allowance and medical allowance for teaching and non-teaching person nel in public basic education schools as well as teaching personnel in SUCs and TVIs (SB 565). “We must pay our teachers for what they are worth given the re sponsibility they carry on their shoulders—our children’s learning and future.”
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig USE technology to “rightsize” bureaucracy.Thisisthe pitch of Em manuel Lallana, chief executive of nonprofit organization Ideacorp Inc., to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who recently revived “rightsizing” as the way to make the bureaucracy “responsive to the modern era.” Lallana said “rightsizing” bu reaucracy doesn’t necessarily mean reducing the number of state em ployees or “downsizing.”
The 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.”
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM V OWING to continue push ing public school teachers’ long-time clamor for pay hikes, Senator Joel Villanueva also suggested that a “more realistic measure” the Marcos government can promptly provide is to increase their allowances. “ The opening of a new school year also brings to focus the hardships of our teachers,” the senator observed even as he affirmed Monday that “a salary upgrade is ideal which we will continue to push.”
BusinessMirror www.businessmirror.com.ph The Nation Monday, August 22, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug
The EUA is not a Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) or a marketing authorization, the FDA has said.
In Ghana, socio-technical recon figuration of business processes, structures and arrangements in the customs office has to led to “more effective, corruption controls.”
Lallana suggested the use of digi tal technology to be placed at “the core” of Marcos’s strategy of getting rightsizing “right.” “The intensive and effective use of digital tools can make govern ment workers more productive. At the same time, these tools can also facilitate collaboration among agen cies,” Lallana said. Other countries in the world have been taking advantage of digital technology in the public governance. In the United Kingdom, state workers in the public procurement process have been “better, leaner and more efficient” with the use of digital technology. In Nepal, government-to-govern ment, government-to-business and government-to-citizen processes were “re-engineered.”
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By Andrea San Juan PHILIPPINE Center for Entre preneurship Foundation Inc. (Go Negosyo) Founder Jose Maria A. Concepcion III welcomed the plan by the Food and Drug Ad ministration (FDA) to make the Co vid-19 vaccine commercially avail able through Certificates of Product Registration (CPR).
In Estonia, 99 percent of public services are available online 24 hours a day. Only marriages and divorces are not covered by e-commerce as couples still have to get out of the house. All Estonians have citizen’s digital ID and public registries are all digitized. “This allowed the Es tonia government to cut down on its operating cost while delivering its e-services 24x7,” Lallana cited. Agile, adaptive LALLANA explained that “digital transformation provides a better economic and political argument for making government structure more agile and adaptive.” Its focus is on how to use tech nology to make government more relevant to 21st century gover nanceSincechallenges.”thepandemic forced many to embrace digitization, Lallana ar gued that more people would now demand for a government that is adaptive to digital technology. He acknowledged though that “as a rule of thumb,” less people are needed when computers can already do their jobs. “But you don’t need to fire people made redundant, [as the number of] clients and/or constituents [explands]. For instance, the num ber of staff at the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) remained (rela tively) constant while the number of taxpayers grew. Computeriza tion made this possible.” Lallana told the BusinessMirror Also, he claims computerization “can improve the quality of service.” For instance, at the Department of Foreign Affairs, applying for pass ports is already done online. So the number of people needed to process the passport application is reduced, but the number of people in the pass port office can still be same doing other work that can improve qual ity of service such as reducing the waiting time to release the passport. State workers will also feel “less threatened” with digital transfor mation because “rightsizing” can be presented to them as an opportunity to “retool” their skills, aligning with the demands of the job.
THIS Sunday, August 21, 2022, photo shows people at a store at Pasig Market in Pasig City selling school uniforms. Parents are rushing to buy school uniforms for their children as face-to-face classes for public schools take effect on August 22. ROY DOMINGO
“ The FDA’s efforts to expedite the granting of CPRs will further promote vaccinations in the Phil ippines,” Concepcion was quoted in a statement his group issued lastTheSunday.businessman added these efforts are in line with what the Ad visory Council of Experts (ACE), a consultative group of private sector representatives, have recommended to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last FDAJuly.Director General Samuel A. Zacate was quoted in a separate statement issued last August 14 the agency believes its plan will “promote the streamlining of the approval and evaluation of the Covid-19 vaccines.” The FDA explained that under the initiative, named “Taskforce Edward,” the vaccines that will be approved and issued with CPR will be more readily available and accessible in FDA-licensed drugACE,establishments.agroupcomprising medi cal doctors, scientists and academ ics comprising the country’s fore most authorities on public health, molecular biology, disaster resil ience, data insight and analysis and economics, has recommended to Marcos the adoption of several measures as part of the country’s pandemicCovid-19strategy.vaccines are currently only available through Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) while the country is still under a State of Public Health Emergency. The President said last week the country would remain under a state of public health emergency until the end of the year to ensure government procurement during the pandemic will not be hampered. Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte placed the country under a state of public health emergency through Proclamation 922 at the on set of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
However, the Palace has tradi tionally been furnishing the Sen ate copies of its budget submis sions on the day that it presents them to the House. ‘Eye of the needle’ HOUSE Deputy Minority Leader Bernadette Herrera on Sunday said the proposed national bud get for 2023 will be thoroughly reviewed by minority lawmak ers and will “pass through the eye of the needle” at the House of TRepresentatives.heHouseleadership aims to pass the 2023 national budget “in less than 30 working days”—from the time it is submitted to Congress until it hurdles third and final read ing in plenary. Given the time constraints, Her rera appealed to the majority to give every member of the minority a chance to ask questions to govern ment agency heads on their respec tive budget proposals and other re lated issues. Herrera said House Minority Leader Libanan will assign each minority lawmaker to a task that they will perform during the bud getThearings.he agency’s absorptive capacity is “very important and critical” in the budget process, she noted. Herrera said the minority will also confront the concerned agencies on the adverse findings in the audit ob servation memorandums issued by the Commission on Audit (COA). House. from a1 as the threat of Covid-19 contin ues to linger.”
“ The budget process starts here and we want to give all House mem bers time to scrutinize the proposed budget. I can confidently say that we can make the September 30 dead line,” he said. Q uimbo, senior vice chair man of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the com mittee aims to finish its hear ings by September 16, a Friday, to give the House two weeks for plenary deliberations and third and final reading approval before the October 1 recess. She said the committee chaired by Co is committed to the swift ap proval of the proposed “economic recovery budget.”
Commercial sale of vaccines seen to boost PHL exit from pandemic Nova Scotia targets to recruit health-careFilipinoworkers
“The problem with a rightsizing approach to reorganization in the public sector is its inherent negative appeal to the bureaucracy. This is be cause of its close affinity to downsiz ing,” Lallana wrote in a policy brief. “For most people, rightsizing is the more polite term for downsizing.” He said “rightsizing” the bureau cracy should be all about focusing on delivering public services “more efficiently, abolishing unnecessary work, and reducing or eliminating non priority programs.”
“Rest assured that Congress shall work tirelessly to approve a budget that is responsive to the needs of the people and is able to bring inclusive and sustainable growth,” Quimbo, an economist, said. Meanwhile, the President will submit the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the executive de partment’s version of the national budget, through Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. T he turnover ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the social hall of the Speaker’s Office. U nder the Constitution, the President “shall submit to the Congress within 30 days from the opening of every regular session, as the basis of the general appro priations bill (GAB), a budget of expenditures and sources of fi nancing, including receipts from existing and proposed revenue measures.”Partofthe President’s submis sions is his budget message to law makers and the nation. T he budget and its accompany ing documents are submitted to the larger chamber of Congress because the Constitution provides that “all appropriation, revenue or tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of the public debt, bills of local application, and private bills shall originate exclusively in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.”
This even as he acknowledged “a realistic measure that may be im mediately addressed would be an increase in allowance of public school teachers,” including those in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and state-run technical vocational institutions (TVIs).
As of August 21, Concepcion said, only one Covid-19 vaccine manu facturer has applied for a CPR. The FDA said it continues to encourage other vaccine manufacturers to ap ply for a AccordingCPR.to FDA Circular 2020036 or the Guidelines on the Issuance of Emergency Use Authorization for Drugs and Vaccines for Covid-19, the EUA is an authorization issued for unregistered drugs and vaccines in a public health emergency.
Commitments
T he frozen pork inventory con sisted of carcass, primal parts and specialty cuts and included those in slaughterhouses and meat process ing plants.
S alceda also said irrigation and water conservation will be critical.Hesaid the National Irrigation Administration should expedite its irrigation programs and expand the capacity of the country’s irrigation facilities to catch rainwater and re tain water.
Import orders
Accordong to Salceda, Myanmar is also suffering from lower rice pro duction, as some agricultural areas have been affected by civil strife. India, our major non-Asean source of imported rice, is likewise suffering drought in some key ar eas. So, one can almost certainly predict that there will be global rice supply issues within the next three to four months.” T he lawmaker said that the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund of P10 billion has been nearly filled up for this year by the rice tariff col lections in January to June. Hence, Salceda said, there are available funds for preparatory sup port for rice farmers. “ The rice cropping season starts next month, in September. That peaks around November. The DA has a chance to craft a comprehen sive farm support program, com posed of drought-resilient seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs for rice farmers. The timely distribu tion of the rice farmers’ financial assistance, which was downloaded by the DBM [Department of Bud get and Management] to the DA already, will also be beneficial,” Salceda added. “ What we do over the next 30 days will be crucial. We need a com prehensive package of assistance, and a plan to deal with potential global rice issues. It’s like the halftime break.”
T he larval spawning technique developed by Harrison was first implemented in Bolinao, Pangasinan with the support of MERF. Essentially, we want to help restore coral reefs and promote greater resilience in our project sites, not only in Zambales but also in other parts of the country,” Ben Mead, Founder of TMF said in a statement. “This project brings together several best practices for coral restoration for the first time globally, which is exciting.”
HOUSE Committee on Good Govern ment Chairperson and San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes has proposed the issuance of separate importation orders for the bever age industry so as not to affect the price of sugar in the local market, which has ballooned to more than P100 per kilo. Robes noted that imported re fined sugar for the beverage industry accounts for more than 50 percent of the country’s consumption. R obes’s committee together with the Committee on Agricul ture and Food will conduct a brief ing on the sugar importation mess. The briefing, which will be turned into a full blown investigation, will resume on Monday. “Since the beverage industry is consuming more sugar, it is also con tributing to the consolidated demand for the country, hence the high cost of sugar in the retail market. Under the proposed scheme, the SRA will be mandated to issue separate importa tion orders for the beverage industry and for local consumers so that these will not affect inflation,” she said. We have to ensure that the coun try has enough supply of sugar in the market but this (importation) must protect sugar planters, millers and consumers as well to prevent any price spikes in the market. We also have to ensure that the measure should pre vent smuggling in the process.”
Larval spawning THE propagation of broken corals planted back to the reef, together with a technique that promotes the larval repopulation of degraded reef areas from corals that are showing more resilience to rising sea tem perature, is called larval spawning restoration technique.
Solon urges govt to invest heavily in rice PHL dressed chicken inventory down by 36 percent–report
Project boosts coral conservation effort in Zambales
T he lawmaker said global rice sup ply issues could push retail prices to P48 a kilo. S alceda said the Philippines should already secure its import channels to ensure that it will have enough rice supply should a global rice shortage take place. Of course, droughts in China’s agricultural areas will also mean lower overall global rice supply, unless other countries achieve bumper crops. So, I think we need to secure some baseline level of contracts on a government-togovernment procurement basis with Vietnam and Thailand al ready. We did that last year, just when export bans were also be ing imposed. That was a lifesaver during the pandemic. During the worst of times for global trade, our rice prices were stable. We need to secure such contracts ahead of time again,” he said. “If a global rice shortage happens, and we don’t have secure rice import contracts and strong domestic pro duction, we could see rice retail prices jump to P45 for regular milled, and P48 for well-milled rice by around November 2022. That’s when we shall have exhausted much of the JulyHharvest.”owever,the lawmaker has ex pressed confidence that the Marcos administration has the diplomatic channels to secure such contracts already, following the government to government procurement model for fertilizers.
ANOTHER factor which could delay the release of SO 1, Angeles said, is the appointment of new members to the SRA Board. Two members of the board re signed earlier this month for issu ing SO 4 sans the approval of its chairman, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. A s of Friday afternoon, Angeles said she has yet to receive new in formation as to who will replace the resigned board members.
Robes said the two committees have invited SRA Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica and Board Member Roland Beltran, as well as Agriculture Undersecretary Leoca dio Sebastian, the three resigned of ficials who signed the “illegal” SO4 to the Monday Briefing. She said the joint House probe on sugar importation on Monday is without prejudice to the recent res ignations of these officials. According to Robes, former Agri culture Secretary William Dar will also be summoned to shed light on the botched sugar importation.
PBBM can also undertake a cash sweep similar to what President Duterte did in 2019, the privatization of casinos under Pagcor [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.], and the streamlining and renationaliza tion of approvals for reclamation projects.”
‘New sugar policy will depend on probe result’
T HE chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Sunday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., also the secretary of the Depart ment of Agriculture (DA), to invest heavily in rice production during the dry cropping season, which starts next month. A lbay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda is sued the statement amid reports that Yangtze River, which feeds into some of China’s major sources of imported rice, is drying up. If a global shortage takes place, Salceda warned that rice prices could increase to P48 per kilogram by No vember this year unless the country sees a strong dry season harvest and secures import contracts from for eignI’mgovernments.nottrying to sound nega tive, given all the other crises we have to deal with. But I think, now that we can see the problems ahead before they can come, we have a chance to act. We have a 30-day window before the dry cropping season starts,” he added “ China’s Yangtze River re gions are experiencing bad spells of drought this year, and there are indications that the Mekong River (Lancang River before it leaves China’s borders) could suf fer similar issues. They have the same source. That’s not good for our rice supply, because Thailand and Vietnam rely heavily on the Mekong for rice production.”
Pending appointments
THE government is currently try ing to ease sugar prices, which have jumped to P90 to P110 per kilo gram (kg). A ngeles said authorities are deter mining if the high price is caused by supply issues or by hoarding. To provide immediate relief to consumers, Angeles said several supermarkets have committed to temporarily sell sugar at P70 per kg. Robinsons Supermarket may commit to sell 1 million kilos [of sugar] at P70 per kilo; SM Super market also committed to sell their inventory of sugar,” Angeles said. “Puregold also promised to bring down the price of 1 million kilos of their sugar to P70 per kilo,” she added. She said the local supermarkets decided to sell cheaper sugar after Ex ecutive Secretary Victor D. Rodriguez appealed to them to help consumers. “Actually, ES Vic Rodriguez ap pealed to them to help the ordi nary consumers by lowering their [sugar] price until September or harvest season.”
“ What they are determining is if there is an artificial shortage of sug ar,” Angeles said in Filipino during a virtual press conference last Friday. She said the result of the factfinding operations will become the basis for the determination of how much of the sugar output for crop year 2022-2023 will be allocated for local use and for export.
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga A CORAL restoration project in Zambales is giving the country’s important coastal and marine ecosystems a muchneeded boost. Situated in the municipal waters of Iba, Zambales, the A$391,000 (P14.8 million) project has been funded by the Australian Depart ment of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is being implemented by The Mead Foundation (TMF), a notfor-profit organization with sev eral conservation projects in the country, Marine Environment and Resources Foundation which is administered by the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (MERF), and the Southern Cross University of Australia un der the guidance of distinguished Professor Peter Harrison, who is a leading global expert in coral resto ration and also working to restore the Great Barrier Reef.
Agriculture/Commodities
Classification ROBES also said Congress can craft a law allowing for sugar import reclas sification, or, if the current law cre ating the SRA allows it to re-classify sugar importation so as not to affect retail price, “then we have to choose the latter option,” she said. She also said the spike in the re tail price of sugar is “artificial” but “unconscionable” that’s why “we (in the joint committees) want to know why it has increased that much.” Monday’s briefing can be immedi ately moved to a proper investigation should members opt to have a proper motu proprio inquiry to ensure that resource persons are compelled to attend under pain of possible con tempt, sworn in (under oath) and are bound by the duly published rules on inquiries, she said. T he original plan to hold a brief ing last Thursday was rescheduled to Monday, August 22, to give way to the 7-day publication requirement for the committee rules to be con sidered effective.
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla & Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie THE government will await the completion of the ongoing in ventory check for sugar before releasing a new production guidance for the next crop year which will kick off on September 1. P ress Secretary Beatrix CruzAngeles said the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Trade and In dustry (DTI) and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) are currently conducting simultaneous warehouse inspections to determine if there is an actual sugar shortage.
A WORKER places chicken breasts in a machine to be weighed and packaged in the butcher section of a Stew Leonard’s supermarket in Paramus, New Jersey, United States, on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. PHOTOGRAPHER: ANGUS MORDANT/BLOOMBERG NEWS
INDIAN Prime Minister Naren dra Modi boldly declared that his country was ready to “feed the world” after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Less than four months later, the government needs to con sider grain imports. Even before Modi made his pledge, a record-breaking heat wave that started in March was threatening Indian wheat output. That cut pro duction and pushed up local prices, making everyday life more expensive for hundreds of millions of Indians that use the grain to make staple foods like naan and chappatis. Indications that a bumper wheat harvest wasn’t going to eventuate prompted the government to restrict exports in mid-May. State reserves have declined in August to the low est level for the month in 14 years, according to Food Corp. of India, while consumer wheat inflation is running at close to 12 percent. T he looming shortage and rising prices now have authorities making preparations to buy from overseas. Government officials are discussing whether to cut or abolish a 40-percent import tax on wheat to help flour mill ers in some regions to import grain, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified as the talks are private. This was first reported by Reuters. News
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Assistance MEANWHILE , Salceda said he has found at least P179 billion in sources not in the Budget of Ex penditures and Sources of Funding, which could allow the government to craft an off-budget package of support measures. A mong such sources, Salceda said equity withdrawals from gov ernment financial institutions af ter the purpose of such infusions had lapsed under Bayanihan 2, the discontinuance of undistrib uted unconditional cash transfers from the TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) Law, the sale of bunked gas from the Malampaya field to the Ilijan Power Plant, and the privatiza tion of the now-defunct Legazpi Domestic Airport.
India may import wheat in blow to Modi’s vision of feeding world
“ The project is designed for longterm impact, and whilst the funding from the Australian government covers the first two years’ operation we have plans to make this project self-sustaining.”Meadsaidthe project will not only restore the reef but also im prove the fishing in the areas sur rounding the protected area as well as improve the earnings of the local fishing communities through im proved catch and eco-tourism. “As part of our initiative, we have opened a dive shop located near the project area, so recreational divers can experience the project as well as other sites which are actually very good. All the profits go to sustaining the conservation project and helping with the management of the Marine Protected Area, and in that way, we see it can become self-sustaining.” Conservation model THE project aims to create a model for marine conservation that can be replicated around the Philippines balancing restoration and conserva tion with sustainable livelihoods for the Filipinos who rely on fishing as their source of income. T he project also aligns with oth er initiatives such as sea turtle nest ing in the nearshore area which has been ongoing by TMF since 2021, according to Mead, an Australian businessman and environmental advocate. There are also plans to include giant clam seeding within the site.
Ng • Monday, August 22, 2022 A5BusinessMirror
MPA Management AS part of its strategy in imple menting conservation projects in coastal and marine areas, TMF pro motes effective marine protected areas or MPAs in its project sites. Since 2018, TMF has established coral restoration programs in Pan glao, Bohol, Dauin, Dumaguete, Iba, Zambales, as well as Mactan and Malapascua, Cebu. Mead said there are also plans to put up 3 other coral projects in 3 different provinces. We have seen good success with our existing projects, and this new initiative at the Iba MPA takes it one step further by introducing the technique that Professor Harrison and his team have been implement ing elsewhere,” he said. We are now including assis tance with MPA management as part of a holistic approach for the long-term and positive impact on the fisherman. Without properly managed MPAs, overfishing and declining fish catch will continue, and the proper protection of fish sanctuaries is proven successful to increase the catch in the nearby areas.” Jennifer A.
T he said allocation will be con tained in the new Sugar Order (SO) to be issued by the SRA. For the current crop year ending August 31, the SRA decided to clas sify all sugar produced in the Philip pines as “B” or for domestic use due to the effects of La Niña, which reduced the output of local cane plantations.
T HE country’s dressed chick en inventory as of August 8 fell by more than a third as local and imported stocks de clined, according to the latest data from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).
Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
T he attached agency of the De partment of Agriculture reported that the nationwide inventory of dressed chicken in cold storage fa cilities reached 32,531.26 metric tons (MT), 36 percent lower than last year’s 50,841.12 MT. T he inventory consisted of 10,353.49 MT of local chicken and 22,177.77 of imports. The figures are considerably lower than the 18,599.32 MT of local stocks and 32,241.80 MT of imported stocks recorded a year ago.
R egion 3 had the largest local chicken stocks, while region 4-A had the highest inventory of imports. Among all the regions included in the monitoring, Region 4-A had the biggest inventory at 11,594.25 MT. On a weekly basis, the latest fig ure was also slightly lower than the 32,992.79 MT recorded on August 1, according to NMIS data. T he agency said the inventory does not include chilled chicken and mechanically deboned meat and those that are already in distribu tion channels. A s for frozen pork, NMIS said inventory as of August 8 reached 80,025.91 MT, nearly 3 percent high er than last year’s 77,760.78 MT. More than 90 percent of the inven tory of frozen pork during the period consisted of imports at 79,324.92 MT. Local stocks accounted for only 700.99 MT. Data from the NMIS indicated that Region 3 had the biggest pork inventory at 32,946.09, which con sisted mostly of imports. Region 4-A had the second-largest inventory at 20,427.38 MT. On a weekly basis, the latest figure was also higher than the 76,947.84 MT posted on August 1, according to NMIS data.
Bloomberg
World Food Program chief david Beasley meets with villagers in the village of Wagalla in northern Kenya on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. the united st ates is stepping up to buy about 150,000 metric tons of grain from uk raine in the next few weeks for an upcoming shipment of food aid from ports no longer blockaded by war, the World Food Program chief has told the Associated Press. Ap photo/BriAn ingAngA
In the east, Ukraine’s military General Staff said Saturday that intensified combat took place around Bakhmut, a small city whose capture would enable Russia to threaten the two largest remaining Ukrainian-held cities in the eastern Donbas region. Bakhmut for weeks has been a key target of Moscow’s eastern offensive as the Russian military tries to complete a months-long campaign to conquer all of the Donbas, where pro-Moscow separatists have proclaimed two republics that Russia recognized as sovereign states at the beginning of the war.
Russians shoot down Ukrainian drones in Crimea as war broadens
China reports 2,181 new Covid-19 infections, tourist spots worst hit
UN: US buying tons of Ukraine grain to ship to hungry regions
uKr AiniAns visit an avenue, where destroyed russian military vehicles have been displayed in Kyiv, uk raine on s aturday, Aug. 20, 2022. d r awing the attention of large numbers of pedestrians and amateur snappers on s aturday in downtown Kyiv a large column of burned out and captured russian tanks and infantry carriers were displayed on the central Khreshchatyk boulevard. Ap photo/Andrew KrAvchenKo
A drone attack on Russia’s Black Sea naval headquarters on July 31 injured five people and forced the cancellation of observance of Russia’s Navy Day. This week, a Russian ammunition depot in Crimea was hit by an explosion. Last week, nine Russian warplanes were reported destroyed at an airbase on Crimea. Ukrainian authorities have stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility. But President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alluded to Ukrainian attacks behind enemy lines after the blasts in Crimea. Meanwhile, fighting in southern Ukrainian areas just north of Crimea has stepped up in recent weeks as Ukrainian forces try to drive Russian forces out of cities they have occupied since early in the six-month-old war. A Russian missile attack wounded 12 people, including three children, and damaged houses and an apartment block Saturday in the town of Voznesensk in the Mykolaiv region, the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office said. Two of the children were in serious condition and the governor said one had lost an eye.
“The most interesting thing we hear is people saying, ‘We’re not the only ones,’” WFP program officer Felix Okech told the AP. “’We’re the ones who have been selected (for handouts), but there are many more like us.’ So that is very humbling to hear.” In a small crowd that had gathered to listen to stories of children too weak to stand and milk gone dry, one woman at the edge of the woven plastic mat spoke up. Sahara Abdilleh, 50, said she makes perhaps 1,000 shillings ($8.30) a week from gathering firewood, scouring a landscape that gives less and less back every day. Like Beasley, she was thinking“Isglobally.there any country, like Afghanistan or Ukraine, that is worse off than us?” she asked.
A local Ukrainian official reported sustained fighting Saturday near four settlements on the border of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, which together make up the contested Donbas region. Luhansk Gov. Serhii Haidai did not name the settlements. Russian forces overran nearly all of Luhansk last month and since then have focused on capturing Ukrainian-held areas of Donetsk.Russian shelling killed seven civilians Friday in Donetsk province, including four in Bakhmut, Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote Saturday on Telegram. Taking Bakhmut would give the Russians room to advance on the province’s main Ukrainian-held cities, Kramatorsk andUkraineSloviansk.said Sloviansk and Kramatorsk were targeted Friday, along with the Kharkiv region to the north, home to Ukraine’s second-largest city. Local authorities reported renewed Russian shelling overnight along a broad front, including the northern Kharkiv and Sumy regions, which border Russia, as well as of the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region and Mykolaiv. (Kozlowska reported from London).
Oleg Kryuchkov, an aide to Crimea’s governor, also said Saturday that “attacks by small drones” triggered air-defense systems in western Crimea. “Air defense systems successfully hit all targets over the territory over Crimea on Saturday morning. There are no casualties or material damage,” his boss, Sergei Aksyonov, said on SevastopolTelegram.governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said on Telegram that the city’s air-defense systems were called into action again late Saturday.The incidents underlined Russian forces’ vulnerability in Crimea.
By Cara Anna Associated Press B ULLA HAGAR, Kenya—The United States is stepping up to buy about 150,000 metric tons of grain from Ukraine in the next few weeks for an upcoming shipment of food aid from ports no longer blockaded by war, the World Food Program chief has told The Associated Press. The final destinations for the grain are not confirmed and discussions continue, David Beasley said. But the planned shipment, one of several the U.N. agency that fights hunger is pursuing, is more than six times the amount of grain that the first WFP-arranged ship from Ukraine is now carrying toward people in the Horn of Africa at risk of Beasleystarvation.spokeFriday from northern Kenya, which is deep in a drought that is withering the Horn of Africa region. He sat under a thorn tree among local women who told the AP that the last time it rained was in 2019. Their bone-dry communities face yet another failed rainy season within weeks that could tip parts of the region, especially neighboring Somalia, into famine. Already, thousands of people have died. The World Food Program says 22 million people are hungry.“Ithink there’s a high probability we’ll have a declaration of famine” in the coming weeks, Beasley said. He called the situation facing the Horn of Africa a “perfect storm on top of a perfect storm, a tsunami on top of a tsunami” as the drought-prone region struggles to cope amid high food and fuel prices driven partly by the war in Ukraine. The keenly awaited first aid ship from Ukraine is carrying 23,000 metric tons of grain, enough to feed 1.5 million people on full rations for a month, Beasley said. It is expected to dock in Djibouti on Aug. 26 or 27, and the wheat is supposed to be shipped overland to northern Ethiopia, where millions of people in the Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions have faced not only drought but also deadly conflict. Ukraine was the source of half the grain that WFP bought last year to feed 130 million hungry people. Russia and Ukraine signed agreements with the U.N. and the Turkish government last month to enable exports of Ukrainian grain for the first time since Russia’s invasion in February. But the slow reopening of Ukraine’s ports and the cautious movement of cargo ships across the mined Black Sea won’t solve the global food security crisis, Beasley said. He warned that richer countries must do much more to keep grain and other assistance flowing to the hungriest parts of the world, and he named names.
What caught the eye of netizens in particular were pictures of fish getting oral swabs, which some chose to interpret as a symbol of China’s overzealous application of its Covid Zero“Fisherspolicies.must carry out one Covid test every day during operations,” the official notice read. “When fishers and their catch land on shore, both ‘humans & goods’ should be tested.” Wags on the Internet have been busy poking fun, suggesting that the tests could be expanded to mosquitoes, perhaps the worst spreader of disease among humans, or using the data to restrict the movements of fish in the ocean. The government in Jimei couldn’t be reached for comment. But jokes aside, the regulations in Xiamen and other coastal areas highlight how China and other countries continue to differ over two years into the epidemic on the threat posed by food when it comes to transmitting Covid.
Authorities in the coastal city of Xiamen, in southeastern Fujian province, are testing not only fishers for Covid-19 on a daily basis but also their catch. BloomBerg photo
Researchers in China have found that the virus can persist in conditions found in frozen food and packaging as well as cold-chain products, which are kept refrigerated. They have also linked some infections in people to imported goods, although the degree of surface contact or amount of virus required is unknown. China’s government has embraced this theory, and some supermarkets even have separate coolers for imported goods. However, the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in 2021 that there is no credible evidence of food or food packaging associated with, or as a likely source, of transmission.
Bloomberg
By Paul Byrne And Joanna Kozlowska Associated Press K YIV, Ukraine—Russian authorities reported shooting down Ukrainian drones Saturday in Crimea, while Ukrainian officials said Russian forces pressed ahead with efforts to seize one of the few cities in eastern Ukraine not already under their control. The Russian military also kept up its strikes in Ukraine’s north and south.InCrimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, Russian authorities said local air defenses shot down a drone above the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. It was the second drone incident at the headquarters in three weeks and followed explosions at a Russian airfield and ammunition depot on the peninsula this month.
“With oil profits being so high right now—record-breaking profits, billions of dollars every week... the Gulf states need to help, need to step up and do it now,” Beasley said. “It’s inexcusable not to. Particularly since these are their neighbors, these are their brothers, their family.”
About 553 people were confirmed to be infected and there were another 1,628 asymptomatic cases as of Saturday, according to a statement released by the National Health Commission. Infectionshave surged to a threemonth high, with tourist destinations worst hit among the current round of flareups. The southern island of Hainan reported almost 1,100 confirmed and asymptomatic cases for Saturday, the most among all provinces. That was followed by Tibet with 600 and Xinjiang, which recorded more than 200 infections. The current wave of infections is testing Beijing’s Covid Zero policy as the government seeks to strike a balance between containing the virus and maintaining economic growth. Disruption from potential lockdowns is a major uncertainty for the economy, which is also facing a property crisis, record-high youth unemployment and more recently, severeLocaldrought.officials are taking strict measures to stamp out Covid cases in their region or try to prevent the virus from spreading across their borders. Hainan was almost entirely locked down and most of Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, remained sealed off. Hundreds of vehicles got stuck on a state highway in Tibet last week after a neighboring province refused to allow travelers from the region to enter, saying its quarantine system had reached Meanwhile,capacity. eventhe fish in the sea are getting caught up in China’s attempts to stop the spread of Covid-19.Authorities in the coastal city of Xiamen, in southeastern Fujian province, are testing not only fishers for the virus on a daily basis but also their catch. The practice has stirred debate and invited ridicule on social media, and comes amid a worsening outbreak on the island of Hainan further to the south, which the government has said may have originated at a fishmonger’s shop. Xiamen’s district of Jimei announced the testing in late July because of fears that illegal trading with foreign fishers could import the virus. The regime involves testing both people and the things they’ve been in contact with, including fish plucked from the water.
Editor: Angel R. Calso
China reported 2,181 new Covid-19 cases, as conditions worsen in the country’s biggest outbreak since the lockdown of Shanghai earlier this year.
He asserted the World Food Program could save “millions of lives” with just one day of Gulf countries’ oil profits. China needs to help as well, Beasley“China’ssaid.the second-largest economy in the world, and we get diddly-squat from China,” or very little, he Despiteadded.grain leaving Ukraine and hopes rising of global markets beginning to stabilize, the world’s most vulnerable people face a long, difficult recovery, the WFP chief said. “Even if this drought ends, we’re talking about a global food crisis at least for another 12 months,” Beasley said. “But in terms of the poorest of the poor, it’s gonna take several years to come out of this.” Some of the world’s poorest people without enough food are in northern Kenya, where animal carcasses are slowly stripped to the bone beneath an ungenerous sky. Millions of livestock, the source of families’ wealth and nutrition, have died in the drought. Many water pumps have gone dry. More and more thousands of children are “Don’tmalnourished.forgetus,” resident Hasan Mohamud told Beasley. “Even the camels have disappeared. Even the donkeys have succumbed.”Withsomany in need, aid that does arrive can disappear like a raindrop in the sand. Local women who qualified for WFP cash handouts described taking the 6,500 shillings (about $54) and sharing it among their neighbors—in one case, 10 households.
A Ukrainian airstrike, meanwhile, hit targets in Melitopol, the largest Russian-controlled city in the Zaporizhzhia region, 100 kilometers (65 miles) north of Crimea, according to Ukrainian and Russiainstalled local officials. The Ukrainian military on Saturday said it had destroyed a prized Russian radar system and other equipment stationed in occupied areas in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. It was not clear if this was the strike on Melitopol. “Tonight, there were powerful explosions in Melitopol, which the whole city heard,” the Ukrainian mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Ferodov, said. “According to preliminary data, (it was) a precise hit on one of the Russian military bases, which the Russian fascists are trying to restore for the umpteenth time in the airfield area.”
• www.businessmirror.com.ph The World BusinessMirrorMonday, August 22, 2022A6
The government and transit unions have not reached a resolution despite months of talks.
Asia CHINA S biggest banks on Monday are likely to lower the interest rate they charge their best customers, after the People’s Bank of China cut borrowing costs on August 15. Meanwhile, Covid infections have surged to a three-month high, with Chinese tourist destinations worst hit. The current wave of infections is testing Beijing’s Covid Zero policy as the government seeks to strike a balance between containing the virus and maintaining economic growth.
“I know that you are aware of the state of the royal family in recent times. I request that whatever you hear in the media, and the comments being made by those disputing the throne, you should hear them but you should not listen to them,” said Misuzulu ka Zwelithini. He called for unity among the Zulu nation and thanked Ramaphosa for hisThesupport.ceremony and celebrations were colorful displays of Zulu culture where hundreds of people dressed in traditional regalia. Women wearing beads, skirts and hats ululated and sang Zulu hymns and slogans as they awaited the arrival of the new king.
UK’s port workers join rail staff in strikes as prices soar
Indonesia’s central bank may retain its outlier status in a world where central banks have been delivering large hikes, though more economists see the potential for an increase at Tuesday’s meeting after the nation’s inflation accelerated in July. The Bank of Korea meets Thursday amid growing fears that further half-percentage hikes may pop a household debt bubble. Those concerns could prompt Governor Rhee Chang-yong to revert to a 25 basis point move before he jets off to Jackson Hole. The BOK decision follows the latest preliminary export figures earlier in the week that will offer a pulse check of global trade so far in August. InJapan, board member Toyoaki Nakamura will deliver the BOJ’s latest view on the economy and prices in a speech on Thursday ahead of Tokyo inflation numbers Friday. Pakistan’s central bank, which has hiked rates by 525 basis points this year, is expected to keep them steady when policy makers meet. Latin America W HEN Banxico hiked its key rate to a record 8.5% on Aug. 11, policy makers failed in the post-decision statement to provide forward guidance. Mexico watchers will pore over the meeting minutes posted midweek. Mexico also reports final secondquarter GDP data, June’s economic activity index, and the mid-month reading of consumer prices, which economists see hitting a fresh 21year high. Banco de Mexico Deputy Governor Gerardo Esquivel on Wednesday said inflation will peak in August or September. In Peru, look for a modest increase in second-quarter output as a new round of pension savings withdrawals in June backstopped consumers. The surprising pick-up in Argentina’s May GDP-proxy data likely helped to buoy June’s results, but headwinds abound and many economists forecast a recession in the second half. In Paraguay, the central bank meets to consider a 13th straight hike from 8%, with inflation running slightly faster than 11%. Brazil posts current account and foreign direct investment results as well as the mid-month reading of it benchmark inflation index. Early estimates see the IPCA-15 index coming in at just over 10%, down from 11.39% in July. It’s being slowed largely by government price and tax cuts.
AP
Indonesia announces its first case of monkeypox
Purchasing managers’ indexes due Tuesday will likely show privatesector output shrinking for a second month, adding to signs that a recession in the 19-nation euro zone is now more likely than not. Business confidence gauges from Germany, France and Italy will probably confirm that Germany,direction.Europe’s largest economy, has emerged as the region’s weak spot, with its outsized industrial base suffering disproportionately from surging energy costs and a persistent shortage of supplies. Meanwhile, services aren’t seeing the same kind of tourism boom that’s tiding over countries around the Mediterranean as vacation travel picks up post-Covid. Anupdate on Germany’s secondquarter performance on Thursday will reveal whether the negligible contraction initially reported, small enough to be rounded away, will be revised into a bigger one, or whether consumer spending was strong enough to avert a decline in output—for now. Data in the coming week will be key ingredients for discussions on where monetary policy is headed after the European Central Bank raised rates by half a point in July and signaled “further normalization” in September without pre-committing on the size. The ECB’s next meeting is less than three weeks away, and most policy makers have yet to express their preferences. An account of the July meeting due on Thursday may offer some insight, and about half of the ECB’s 25 rate setters—including Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel and Bundesbank chief Joachim Nagel -- will get a chance to share their views during the Kansas City Fed’s annual Economic Policy Symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. ECB President Christine Lagarde won’t make the trip to the Grand Tetons this year. But her comments following the July decision, along with another pickup in inflation to just under 9% and expectations that price pressures will increase further, suggest she’s leaning toward a bigger move: “We have to bring inflation down to 2% in the medium-term,” she said. “It’s time to deliver.” “Minutes from the ECB’s July 21 meeting may offer clues on whether investors should brace for another 50-basis-point rate hike in September. Given widespread inflationary pressures, a large increase is our base case,” said Maeva Cousin, senior Bloomberg economist. Central bankers from around the world are also headed to Jackson Hole, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell scheduled to speak on Friday. Before that, Chinese banks will likely trim their benchmark loan prime rates for the first time in months, while monetary policy authorities in Israel, Iceland, South Korea and Botswana are among those expected to hike rates. Europe, Middle East, Africa EL SEWHERE in Western Europe, it’s a fairly quiet week, with UK PMI readings scheduled for Tuesday. In the east, data due on Wednesday will likely show that Russian industrial production slumped in July at the fastest rate since the start of President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, as energy output falls amid a standoff with the rest of the continent.Iceland’s central bank is expected to raise its key rate by 75 basis points to 5.5%, keeping it ahead of developed-nation peers in tightening as a housing boom there keeps fueling priceThegrowth.Bankof Israel is set to increase its benchmark by another half point after annual inflation and economic growth topped all forecasts, with price gains accelerating to the quickest since October 2008. Botswana may also hike again to curb average inflation that’s at the highest level in more than a decade. The International Monetary Fund said in July that the central bank will need to continue raising rates to bring price growth back within the 3% to 6% target range. South African data will probably show that inflation in July remained above the 6% top of the central bank’s target range for a third straight month, fueled by gasoline prices. The institution, which is scheduled to meet next on Sept. 22, told lawmakers in a recent presentation that a return to the target band was “likely to be sluggish,” with risks tilted to the upside.
The strike comes as people across the U.K. faced travel disruptions Saturday for the third day this week as thousands of rail workers continued a summer of strikes to seek better pay and job security amid soaring food and energy price hikes. Only around one in five U.K. trains were expected to run on Saturday, with some areas having no services all day. Soccer and cricket fans attending sports games, as well as tourists, were among those affected. The disruptions will continue into Sunday, and union leaders say more strikes are likely. On Friday, most of London’s underground subway lines did not run due to a separate strike.
By Jana Randow
Cheers rose in the air as Misuzulu ka Zwelithini entered the main enclosure at the palace where he was handed a sharp, gold-plated scepter and received congratulatory messages from elders of the Zulu nation. Hundreds of male Zulu warriors known as amabutho wielded traditional shields, spears and sticks as they chanted and marched into the royal palace to pledge their allegiance to their new Throughoutleader.theday men slaughtered an estimated 50 cattle, while women cooked the meat and other foods and brewed traditional sorghum beer for the celebratory feast. The event, widely viewed as the installment or coronation of the new king, was also attended by traditional leaders from other South African ethnic groups and representatives of other nationalities who trace their origins to the Zulu nation, including communities from Zambia andTheMalawi.Zuluethnic group is South Africa’s largest with more than 12 million people who are mainly located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. They are acknowledged for their fierce resistance to British colonialism under King Shaka Zulu in the early 1800s.
returning from their summer breaks will find a more fragile economy that risks buckling under the threats of energy rationing, record inflation and tighter monetary policy.
By Mogomotsi Magome Associated Press K WANONGOMA, South Africa—The new king of South Africa’s Zulu nation Misuzulu ka Zwelithini was enthroned in a colorful ceremony Saturday before hundreds of supporters in a rural part of KwaZulu-Natal province. The king dismissed those challenging his right to the throne in his first public comments on the issue. He was crowned as the traditional leader of the Zulu nation, although some members of the royal family dispute his right to succeed his late father King Goodwill Zwelithini. Some members of the family prefer an older brother and a different group supports another brother. The late king had six wives and several sons. After the king died last year, Misuzulu ka Zwelithini’s mother served as the regent for just a month before she died but in her will she named her son to be the next king. This is regarded by many as the strongest claim to the Zulu Presidentthrone.Cyril Ramaphosa has recognized Misuzulu ka Zwelithini as the rightful heir to the Zulu throne. Ramaphosa is set to present him with an official certificate pronouncing him the king of the Zulu people at a ceremony later this Misuzuluyear.kaZwelithini addressed about 1,000 supporters after undergoing a traditional ritual known as ukungena esibayeni (entering the royal cattle enclosure) to mark the beginning of his reign as king.
L ONDON—Almost 2,000 workers at the U.K.’s biggest container port will launch an eight-day strike Sunday over a pay dispute, the latest industrial action to hit the U.K. economy. Workers including crane drivers and machine operators will walk off their jobs at Felixstowe port on England’s east coast, which handles around 4 million containers a year from 2,000 ships.
Europe slips toward recession as ECB mulls over steps ahead
United States POWELL at Jackson Hole on Friday morning is the week’s main event. His remarks on the economic outlook are expected to reaffirm the US central bank’s resolve to keep raising rates to curb decades-high inflation, though he’s not likely to specify how big the officials will go when they meet in PolicySeptember. makersraised rates by 75 basis points in July for the second straight meeting and have said that a similar hike could be on the table again -- or potentially a smaller, halfpoint move -- depending on the data. Economic data in the coming week include the government’s July personal income and spending report, which will help shape third-quarter growth estimates. Inflation-adjusted outlays on goods and services are projected to have firmed a bit in July after soft readings the previous two months. Thereport’s personal consumption expenditures price index, which the Fed uses for its inflation target, is forecast to settle back after energy costs plunged. Other data include revised second-quarter gross domestic product, durable goods orders and new home sales for July, and the August S&P Global manufacturing and services surveys.
EuropEans
The Unite union alleges that Felixstowe port’s parent company, CK Hutchison Holding Ltd., prioritized profits instead of paying workers a decentPortwage.authorities, for their part, said they were “disappointed” that Unite did not “come to the table for constructive discussions to find a resolution.”Felixstowe handles almost half of the container freight entering the country. The strike could mean vessels have to be diverted to ports elsewhere in the U.K. or Europe. A growing number of unions are planning strikes as Britain faces its worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Latest figures put inflation at 10.1%—a 40-year-high—and increasing numbers of Britons are struggling to cope with steeply rising energy and food bills as wages fail to catch up with the cost of living. Postal workers, lawyers, British Telecom staff and garbage collectors have all announced walkouts for later thisRailmonth.workers began a series of large-scale strikes that grounded national train travel in June, demanding better pay and working conditions as authorities try to reform the rail system, which has lost large chunks of its income due to the coronavirus pandemic and shifting commuting patterns.
thE monkeypox vaccine is seen inside a cooler during a vaccination clinic at the OASIS Wellness Center on Aug. 19, 2022, in New york. A man in Indonesia has tested positive for monkeypox, making him the country’s first confirmed case of the disease, authorities said late Saturday, Aug. 21, 2022. AP PhOtO/MAry AltAffer
J AKARTA, Indonesia—A man in Indonesia has tested positive for monkeypox, making him the country’s first confirmed case of the disease, authorities said late Saturday.The27-year-old who lives in the capital, Jakarta, had returned from an overseas trip on Aug. 8, Health Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Syahril said in a news conference. The man began experiencing symptoms five days later and went to see a doctor. He tested positive for monkeypox on Friday night and is now isolating at home, Syahril said. “This is a self-limiting disease that will disappear after 20 days if the patient does not have any preexisting conditions,” Syahril said, adding that the government for now did not see the need to implement any community-level restrictions to containIndonesia,monkeypox.a vast archipelago nation with more than 270 million people, has been on alert for a monkeypox spread since the World Health Organization asked countries to increase their vigilance after the United Kingdom experienced an outbreak in May. Before then, the monkeypox virus was only endemic in several African countries. Monkeypox spreads when people have close, physical contact with an infected person’s lesions, their clothing or bedsheets. Sexual contact may amplify transmission. Most people recover from monkeypox without needing treatment, but the lesions can be extremely painful. More severe cases can result in complications including brain inflammation and death. Globally, there have been more than 31,000 cases of monkeypox reported in nearly 90 countries. Last month, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak to be a globalMonkeypoxemergency.is not a totally new disease but one that has been known since at least the 1970s and has been a serious challenge in Africa for years. With only a limited global supply of vaccines, authorities are racing to stop the spread of the disease.
By Sylvia Hui Associated Press
Bloomberg
Empty platforms at Wandsworth Common Station in south London on Aug. 12, 2022. Rail services are set to be severely disrupted as members of the tr ansport Salaried Staffs Association ( tSSA) and the Rail, maritime and tr ansport (Rmt ) union strike in a continuing row over pay, jobs and conditions. Kirsty O’COnnOr/PA viA AP
The World BusinessMirror Monday, August 22, 2022 A7www.businessmirror.com.ph
New king of South Africa’s Zulu nation dismisses challengers
T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez
Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard
We can be great like Ninoy
LITO GAGNI
Ramos Lyn
Once upon a time people thought that the purpose of government was to accomplish things that were done easier, better, and more effectively if centrally planned and done through a collective effort.
editorial
Protecting sugar’s special interests
Jennifer A. S. B.
Just as Ninoy did back then when he stood up against the injustices occurring before his eyes, we should remain vigilant and actively strive to make things better in any way that we can.
A9 BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business GroupAdvertisingChairmanChiefCreativeAssociateEditorPublisherinChiefEditorNewsEditorSeniorEditorsOnlineEditorDirectorPhotographeroftheBoardPresidentSalesManagerCirculationManager
“Protectionist trade policy allows the government to promote/protect domestic producers, and thereby boost the domestic production of goods and services by imposing tariffs or otherwise limiting foreign goods and services in theThatmarketplace.”certainlyseems reasonable; protect local business and protect local workers. It is a win-win for everyone. The Food and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC) for the Asian and Pacific Region writes in a study from 2020. “The Philippine sugarcane industry is contributing an annual revenue of about P70 billion. Close to 700,000 Filipinos are directly employed in sugar production and about 5 to 6 million more are indirectly employed.” We certainly want to protect thatButindustry.“tradeliberalization has the potential of a major negative impact on various stakeholders. The domestic market might be flooded with imported sugar, and this may cause potential labor displacement among farmers and workers in the industry.” Even more reason for trade protection. Except, “on the other hand, positive effects are envisioned from consumers at all levels, as they will benefit from lower prices of sugar.” In theory, Protectionism has the singular purpose of protecting domestic businesses until they are competitive with foreign companies. How far and how long is that protection supposed to go? Since the establishment of the Philippine Sugar Commission in 1976 through to today, efforts to balance and provide for the needs of the producing companies, the workers, and the consumers have failed. The conclusion of the FFTC: “While liberalization may provide cheaper sugar in the domestic market, pros and cons of this policy should be carefully weighed.” In plain language: “We don’t have a clue what the answer is.” Neither does the government.
The troubling CBS docu on Ukraine
The Right views government as the most important defense against those forces and events—natural and man-made—that would endanger the right of every person to prosper financially. Further, when the government cannot protect, then it should provide “prosperity” when it is needed. Both views, had they been standing around when Nehemiah built the wall, would have asked for “more government contracts to build more walls” and “more government control for high wages and guaranteed employment.” Government is expected to protect the “special interests” of everyone.
IF you went around and asked what people thought about the man that was Benigno “ninoy” S. Aquino Jr., you would likely get a myriad answers. To many, he was the unsung hero who brutally died for the Filipinos. To some, possibly the younger members of our population, he could only be the namesake of an airport terminal simply because he died there.
By the way, Amnesty International’s Donatella Rovera also appeared in the film, saying that “there is really no information as to where [the weapons are] going at all.” The CBS has since come up with a new version of the documentary—amid complaints that this is Russian propaganda. Yet, it’s not just the Russian government: Europol, Canada, the CIA and some US Republicans have aired this troubling thought as well, i.e. that some of the weapons are getting into the hands of criminal elements and terroristThegroups.documentary has since “sported” a new look: Ohman’s quote is removed and a phrasal explanation talks of arms delivery having significantly improved. This, however, does not depart from the fact that some of the weapons got lost through the labyrinth of power brokers, overlords and oligarchs. According to Antiwar.com, an editor’s note from CBS stressed that the article that was to accompany the documentary was changed and that the docu itself was “being updated.” Per Antiwar.com, the editor’s note also insisted that Ohman has said the delivery of weapons in Ukraine has “significantly improved” since he filmed with CBS back in April, although he didn’t offer a new estimate on the percentage of arms being delivered. This brings us back to our question: how much has the arms delivery improved, and was this improvement due to the bigger number of arms shipments that have now dwarfed the previous percentage cited by Ohman, that 70 percent is unaccounted for because only 30 percent gets to the Ukraine frontline?“Theeditor’s note also said that the Ukrainian government noted US defense attaché Brig. Gen. Garrick M. Harmon arrived in Kyiv in August for “arms control and monitoring.” Defense attachés are military officers stationed at US embassies that represent the Pentagon’s interests in See “Gagni,”
From the looks of it, the documentary was meant to “audit” the flow of arms to Ukraine and thus there is that interview with Jonas Ohman, the founder of a Lithuanian-based organization supplying the Ukrainian military who talked of the problems he had to deal with, and it was from his mouth that the claim of the 70 percent weapons getting lost was cited.
Resurreccion, Dennis D. Estopace Angel R. Calso Ruben M. Cruz Jr. Eduardo A. Davad Nonilon G. Reyes D. Edgard A. Cabangon Benjamin V. Ramos Aldwin Maralit Tolosa Rolando M. Manangan BusinessMirror is published daily by the Philippine Business Daily Mirror Publishing, Inc., with offices on the 3rd floor of Dominga Building III 2113 Chino Roces Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Makati City, Philippines. Tel. Nos. (Editorial) 817-9467; 813-0725. Fax line: 813-7025. (Advertising Sales) 893-2019; 817-1351, 817-2807. (Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news.businessmirror@gmail.com www.news.businessmirror@gmail.com Printed by brown madonna Press, Inc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque, Metro Manila Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder Since 2005 ✝ MEMBER OF
THe cBS documentary and its subsequent edit on the weapons that the West delivers to Ukraine and how 70 percent gets “lost” on its way through a jungle of “power lords, oligarchs and political players” shine a spotlight on the fact that some of the modern weaponry get into the hands of criminal elements and terrorist gangs. And that is troubling.
Nehemiah, cupbearer to Persian King Artaxerxes I, gets the monarch to give him permission and resources to rebuild the protective wall of Jerusalem, which neither the Jewish community nor the non-Jewish local government could get accomplished after 125 years. While this may be an outstanding example of why we need government to step in when the people are either too incompetent, lazy, or corrupt to get the job done, it may also have created a slippery slope. Three-thousand years later, it may be that the people are no less incompetent, lazy, or corrupt than in Nehemiah’s time expecting the government to “serve the people” by giving us what we want.
RISING SUN Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II tries to fend for their families and would do anything for them, especially in times of trouble? In our time, some public servants cannot even relate to the problems that have come to befall the average Filipino struggling with inflation, rising oil prices, and many other issues. And so it is also not to anyone’s surprise that they cannot devise solutions to these problems. Ninoy was different in this regard for he was able to relate to the people, to understand them and their plight. The sad thing is that a lot of people do not think they can do anything to improve their situation, as they are simply ordinary citizens. They do not hold any power as public figures, forButexample. thatis simply not true. It was the ordinary Filipino who used his power to give our public servants the positions they now have. The average Filipinos are their constituents and they should be taking care of the needs of the people. It is our right to hold them accountable for their actions and make them fulfill their sworn duties. Just as Ninoy did back then when he stood up against the injustices occurring before his eyes, we should remain vigilant and actively strive to make things better in any way that we can. Of course, there will still be many different opinions that some Filipinos may have about Ninoy Aquino. But there is no denying his impact on the country and its affairs, both as a politician and our countryman. Ninoy left us with so many lessons, and among them is this: The average Filipino is, indeed, capable of doing great things with his ordinary life. We can use our life experiences to come up with solutions to the problems around us. The only requirement is a sincere love for our nation and our fellowmen.
While Ninoy Aquino was known to be this genius politician that came to stand up and speak against President Ferdinand Marcos’s militarized government, it is also true that he was a regular student once upon a time and an average Filipino—if you will look at him beyond the glitz and glamor that comes with the Aquino name. Even if he delved into politics, he was still a Filipino that encountered the issues of everyday life and strived to do something about it as he was in the position that had the privilege of doing so. He lived in a home with a family he loved dearly and worked every day to provide for them. He also believed in his passions, upholding justice for his countrymen in ways that he saw fit even if it inevitably ended with his exile. How is he any different from the average Filipino citizen who
www.news.businessmirror@gmail.comMonday, August 22, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso Opinion BusinessMirrorA8
Henry David Thoreau was an American essayist and philosopher. He wrote the essay “Civil Disobedience” as an argument for disobedience to an unjust state. That would certainly cheer the hearts of many on both the “left” and the “right.” In the essay he also writes “that government is best which governs least,” which would drive both the “left” and the “right” crazy but for differentThereasons.Leftviews government as the most important defense against oppression and the best option to provide for the people’s needs and prosperity. More government means “more” in every sense of the word. More jobs, more public services, and more of everything that makes for a more equal standard of living. The Marxism becomes “to each according to his wants.”
Even with the “retouching” of the documentary aptly titled “Arming Ukraine” that the American channel painstakingly developed in seeking the truth and heeding journalism’s tenets, the inconvenient truth is there for all to see: Some of the weapons, modern ones, that can obliterate cities, have missed the boat to Ukraine. The findings that 70 percent gets lost, as the docu asserted, had been widely criticized, sparking an outcry from Ukraine and the Pentagon. Subsequently, the original docu was apparently pulled out and there was a change in the news peg. From the looks of it, the documentary was meant to “audit” the flow of arms to Ukraine and thus there is that interview with Jonas Ohman, the founder of a Lithuanian-based organization supplying the Ukrainian military who talked of the problems he had to deal with, and it was from his mouth that the claim of the 70 percent weapons getting lost was cited. Later, in the subsequent edit, Mr. Ohman corrected his musings that there has been an improvement. Which begs the question: How many of the weapons were not delivered in April? Of course, when an X amount of weapons—where 70 percent was allegedly lost—have been tripled or quadrupled by August, that would reduce the percentage of the lost weaponry.
Win-win-win solutions to the Philippine sugar crisis
Joel L. Tan-Torres is the Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. This column accepts articles from the business and academic community for consideration for publication. Articles not exceeding 700 words can be e-mailed to jltantorres@up.edu.ph.
of taxpayers.Considering the magnitude and importance of this initiative, a whole of tax community approach should be adopted, with the participation of the Department of Finance and the BIR; other regulators such as the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy and the Securities and Exchange Commission; taxpayers (big and small and medium enterprises; tax consultants and external auditors, professional and business organizations (TMAP, PICPA, PCCI, etc), and Furthermore,others. the cost of doing business should be considered in these initiatives, such that the BIRimposed guidelines should not be too burdensome for taxpayers to comply with. The bridging the gap process has started. I just hope that this initiative will be pursued to have the much needed outcomes in the soonest time possible.
“Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the retraction by CBS was not enough and called for an investigation into the documentary. “Welcome first step, but it is not enough.... There should be an internal investigation into who enabled this and why,” and that may signal a new challenge and could provide a new platform, a new anchor to a story on the missing weaponry.
On July 28, 2022, Bureau of internal Revenue Commissioner Lilia guillermo convened a meeting with her key BiR officials, and a select group of taxpayers and tax consultants for initial discussions on how to bridge the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards and Tax Code reporting gaps and differences. i was one of the BiR-invited experts to said meeting where the attendees agreed to initiate a project that is focused on facilitating the process of reconciliation and accounting of the differences between the PFRS financial information with the Tax Code tax declarations.
DEBIT CREDIT Joel L. Tan-Torres
T his 2022, National Coconut Week is commemorated nationwide with the theme “Masaganang Niyugan: Katuwang Tungo sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan.”
of the healthiest foods. In the Bible, metaphorically speaking, there is a verse that says the “righteous will flourish like a palm tree...planted in the house of the Lord.” Aside from this metaphor, Jesus said that He is the living water, the bread of life, the Good Shepherd that protects those who believe in Him, and the living vine through which we get our life and our nourishment. As one pastor said, Jesus is like the coconut tree— all in one! Hence, for believers as well as those in the coconut industry, a coconut can indeed be a tree of life! From an equally-important perspective, a coconut represents resiliency and reproduction as it can drop from its tree, bounce and roll into the beach, and float from one island to another. Many of these coconuts find refuge in another island where they productively spread their seeds to grow new palm trees and continue the cycle of fruit-bearing. This simple observation of the life journey that characterizes a coconut is undeniably interesting. In fact I would say that what we once knew about this amazing tree (and fruit) during our elementary school days has taken on a new level of erudition in a moment of reckoning—that the coconut we see almost everywhere, yet ignore sometimes, is a symbol and source of life’s most relevant lessons! Founded on said predicate, believers can be a coconut to the extent that they ought to spread the good news about the life-saving message of our Savior from one land to another. Whenever believers study God’s Word and share it with others, they can potentially be a coconut Christian! From one person to another, he will bear fruit and become a tree of life! This is actually aligned with what we refer to in Christianity as The Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you....” ( Matthew 28: 19-20). Just as the coconut “bounces” from one place to another, and re-plants from one land to another, so must each one of us, bounce with joy in sharing the good news about Jesus from one person to the other, and from one place to another. If our imagination would serve us right, we could picture the apostles back then as the human coconuts—“announcing the good news everywhere, as the Lord Himself consistently worked with them, validating the message they preached with miracle-signs that accompanied them.” ( Mark 16:20) Perhaps after reading this article, we would not look at coconuts the same way ever. Given its life-sustaining purpose, a coconut is truly a vital creation. And given their lifeenhancing purpose, pursuant to the Great Commission, men and women can become “coconut Christians.” Our country, in particular, should be considered fortunate in this path, living up to the rank of being the second-largest coconut producer in the world and having Franklin Baker in our bosom, the company that started desiccated coconut production in the Philippines. Following the cycle of a fruit-bearing coconut, regardless of distance and area, we can achieve another momentous feat—by making the most number of Christ-followers in the world! This spiritual mission is surely one good return on investment worth celebrating during the National Coconut Week, and every single day for that matter. A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.
Gagni .
Conclusion
continued from A8
Code accounting, reconciliation and reporting.Inventory of existing DOF/BIR regulations, RMOs, RAMOs, training materials on the PFRS-Tax Code Issuance of a complete, clear and consolidated rules on the PFRS-Tax Code accounting, reconciliation and reporting.Issuance of guidelines on the recording/accounting of the transactions of taxpayers covered by these PFRS-Tax Code differences for the proper monitoring and tracking of these differences over an extended period of Issuancetime.ofBIR audit guidelines to handle the examination of taxpayers on these PFRS-Tax Code differences. Issuance of regulations to prescribe the appropriate disclosures in the audited financial statements by taxpayers and external auditors.Training, conduct of workshops and focus group discussions, and mentoring of the stakeholders, including BIR personnel/examiners, taxpayers, external auditors and tax consultants on these consolidated rules and Assessmentguidelines.ofthethe BIR personnel/examiners on their learnings of the provision of issuances by means of competency and“outliers”ogyDevelopmentexaminations.ofBIRtechnol-toolstored-flaginstancesoforsuspiciousaccountingtaxdeclarations/disclosures
Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling. Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza MAKE SENSE
I propose that government allow manufacturers to import part of their sugar requirements. This will prevent plant closures that affect thousands of workers, which will cause government losses to the tune of billions of pesos.
Being the second-largest producer of coconuts in the world, the Philippines specifically created coconut-focused agencies, such as the national Coconut Corporation (1940) renamed as Philippine Coconut Administration (1956), and the Coconut Coordinating Council. Today, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is the single governing body centered on the development of the coconut industry. By virtue of Presidential Proclamation 142 signed by the late President Corazon Aquino, the PCA founded “national Coconut Week,” celebrated every year from August 23 to August 30.
These differences in accounting for transactions between financial statements and tax returns result in permanent and temporary differences in the information reported in the income statement and tax return. Oftentimes, the financial statements have income tax determinations that are different from the tax reported in the income tax returns. Generally, these are reflected in either the Deferred Tax Asset or Deferred Tax Liability reported in the accounting records and financial statements. But these DTA and DTL do not contain all the information that are necessary to conveniently track the reconciliation differences and requirements to determine the correct income tax liability of a taxpayer. There is a need for a more comprehensive BIR issued tax guide that addresses the gaps in the PFRS-Tax Code reporting requirements. To address this, and other related concerns, I presented the following solutions to bridge this gap. These include the Conductfollowing:abaseline survey or study on the perception of stakeholders on the state of PFRS-Tax
the country. “Previously, it was unclear if there was any sort of military presence at the US embassy in Kyiv after it reopened in May,” the said website cited. But it would seem that this is not the end of the Accordingstory.toAntiwar.com,
In a statement, PCA Administrator Benjamin R. Madrigal, Jr. enjoined every Filipino to actively participate in transforming the industry “towards a secure and resilient coconut industry with empowered and prosperous farmers.” The objective of these weeklong activities is to encourage all stakeholders in the coconut industry to give thanksgiving for all the blessings and benefits derived from the so-called “Tree of CoconutLife.”parts, from top to bottom, from inside and out, are useful and can sustain human life. Historically, people use coconut in myriad of ways: for food, clothing, water, tools, even for soap. During World War II in the Pacific, military pilots (when shot down), or sailors (when stranded in any island), survive for many months on nothing other than coconuts. Since then, its obvious use is cooking, where various food recipes become gastronomically delightful when infused with coconut cream. Desiccated coconuts are used by food manufacturers all over the world to add coco flavor in their chocolate and candy bars, baked products, and other food creations. Coconut provides sustenance in so many ways that coconut water, milk, and oil have been widely used as healthier alternatives. With over 150 species, coconuts are used in the production of wood as well as fuel. Husks can be used as an insect repellant, specifically for mosquitos. In short, all the parts of a coconut serve a purpose. There was once a merchant who was paid coconuts for his flour instead of money. Faced with this adversity, Mr. Franklin Baker, Sr. ended up establishing a desiccated coconut plant in the United States in 1913, and eventually built the first ever “coconut company” in the Philippines in 1922. Named after its founder, and after 100 years of business presence in the country, Franklin Baker has since lived up to its mission of being the gold standard producer of desiccated coconut. And in keeping with the versatility of the coconut, the company makes use of all the components to produce coconut meat, milk, water, and oil. Coconut shells are not even spared since they are used by Franklin Baker to “provide power” to its plants in San Pablo City, Laguna and Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. Nothing goes to waste as farmers who supply coconuts to the company could be smiling all the way to the bank whenever their harvest is used by companies like Franklin Baker! When it comes to smiles, the word coconut supposedly came from the Spanish word “coco” meaning “grin,” which can be seen on the coconut’s three-indention shell design. Despite having a “nut” in its name, a coconut is a fruit, hailing from the coconut palm, a tree of the palm family. In the food industry, coconuts are one
Coconut provides sustenance in so many ways that coconut water, milk, and oil have been widely used as healthier alternatives. With over 150 species, coconuts are used in the production of wood as well as fuel. Husks can be used as an insect repellant, specifically for mosquitos.
THE PATRIOT Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
K ing Solomon is best known for stories told in the Bible about his wisdom. The holy book depicts Solomon’s reign as an era of unprecedented prosperity due to his wisdom, a quality bestowed upon him by god. given the country’s current sugar crisis, we clearly need a Solomonic solution to our sugar supply problem that is starting to adversely affect the economy’s recovery from the pandemic.
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The current sugar crisis is not only the result of recent weather disturbances and the skyrocketing prices of fertilizers and other farm inputs. Low Philippine sugar production is a lso the result of many plantations being transformed into housing subdivisions, malls and buildings. Be that as it may, I would like to take up the subject of what might be done to arrive at a win-win-win situation—a Solomonic solution because everybody wins. I propose that government allow manufacturers to import part of their sugar requirements. This will prevent plant closures that affect thousands of workers, which will cause government losses to the tune of billions of pesos. Thus, the manufacturers win because they will be able to compete—and government won’t lose billions of pesos in revenues, as Balisacan said. Sugar imported by manufacturers won’t be sold in the local market because it is easy for government to monitor their activities using a simple formula: Sugar input corresponds to product Anotheroutput.advantage of allowing manufacturers to import their sugar requirements is the fact that they won’t compete with consumers for the scarce local supply, thus helping ease supply constraints that could lead to price reduction. But I also have the interest of the sugar producers in mind. Which is why I propose that manufacturers MUST source part of their sugar supply from local producers, which will help ensure their survival. This is my humble win-win-win proposal for the Marcos administration to Lastly,consider.wecommend President Marcos for his fast action in trying to solve the country’s sugar shortage, particularly his efforts in reaching out to the manufacturers and sugar producers, an action in the right direction.
The country has been reeling from a sugar shortage in the past few months, amid government efforts to control surging prices of the sweetener. Data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) shows that raw sugar production for 2022 was previously projected to reach 2.1 million metric tons. However, the country missed its sugar production target for the year due to various factors, including extreme weather events that damaged crops and sugar refineries, and after high fertilizer prices reduced yields. Total sugar production for the year is projected at 1.7 millionReportsMT.from the US Department of Agriculture, as well as Nielsen data, show that the Philippines’s annual average domestic consumption of sugar had reached about 2.3 to 2.5 million MT, which leaves a shortfall of approximately 600,000 MT given the estimated production figures. Sales of fast-moving consumer goods have been growing post-Covid lockdown, at a rate of 8 percent to 12 percent. This necessarily implies requiring the same growth rates in terms of raw material input. This means 2023 will likely see a GDP growth of around 8 percent—which will lead to an even larger sugar deficit next year. While the Sugar Regulatory Administration’s previous issuance of Sugar Order No. 3 sought to address the shortage, said Sugar Order was limited in its design. Its allocation methodology did not take into consideration critical factors, such as sugar consumption, market share, or taxes paid. As a result, many importers were allocated more stocks than needed, while leaving some larger players without sufficient sugar stocks to support their production requirements.Withthecountry’s sugar supply close to depletion, the retail prices of sugar in the market have soared to P100 per kilo, double from last year’s prices, worsening the country’s inflation woes. Current price for a 50-kilo refined sugar is about P4,100, which is double the price of imported 50-kilo refined sugar from Thailand at P2,000. Since the onset of the sugar shortage in the country early this year, carbonated soft drink producers have maximized sourcing of available sugar from the domestic market. However, while there was sugar in the market, what was typically available was not the type of sugar that they could use for bottling operations— premium refined bottler-grade sugar. I have heard that some producers have been forced to reduce operations by at least 30 to 40 percent. Worse, shutdowns are feared if sugar supply does not stabilize. The confectionery industry and other support industries are also bracing themselves for the bitter aftertaste of a worsening sugarThiscrisis.isan unwelcome development for the government because carbonated soft drink producers and the confectionery industry are significant excise tax contributors. The reductions in operations have led to a commensurate reduction in excise tax contributions—some by as much as 40 percent. In a recent EJAP forum sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the impact of the sugar crisis could be felt in terms of low tax revenues from manufacturers of soft drinks and other carbonated beverages. “If soft drinks production goes down, billions of pesos in revenues will be lost,” Balisacan said. While the sugar milling season is about to commence, it will take six to eight weeks from harvest, milling, and refining before the sweetener can be ready for industrial use. There is also no guarantee on the quality and quantity of the incoming harvest. If we buy from abroad, the matter of importation itself requires a lead time of at least five weeks for the sugar stock to arrive at producers’ warehouses due to the shipping, processing and administrative approvals required.
Monday, August 22, 2022 Opinion A9BusinessMirrorwww.news.businessmirror@gmail.com
Coconut investment Bridging the gap
PBBM NAMES 3 NEW MEMBERS, SRA MAY RESUME BUSINESS
By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM
See “Moro,” A2 A10 Monday, August 22, 2022 See “SC,” A2
Govt eyes ‘recycled’ permitsin drive vs sugar hoarders
F ifty kilograms per sack of im ported sugar from Thailand were found in the inspected warehouses. Of the four warehouses, at least two were half-full while one has sacks of sugar neatly stacked up to the roof. Following the discovery of a huge volume of sugar in various warehous
AUTHORITIES discovered at least 60,000 bags of suspected hoarded sugar in four more warehouses in Guiguinto, Bulacan over the weekend as they continued to address the “artificial” shortage and bring down the price of the commodity.
O n Thursday, a combined 44,000 sacks of sugar estimated to be worth P220 million were seized by Customs personnel in different warehouses in Pampanga and Bulacan. I n a span of two days, simultane ous operations were conducted by the BOC, the SRA and the Depart ment of Agriculture to inspect sug ar warehouses in Deparo, Caloocan City; Balut in Tondo and San Nicolas in Manila; Rosales, Pangasinan; San Fernando, Pampanga; Ibaan, Batan gas, and Davao.
M alacañang said Customs per sonnel used their visitorial power to inspect four warehouses in T12 Polo Land, Ilang-Ilang street in Barangay Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan late Sat urday afternoon upon the orders of President and concurrent Agriculture Secretary Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
O n orders of the President, the Office of the Executive Secretary had earlier directed the Sugar Regu latory Administration (SRA) to ac count for the 63,000 metric tons of sugar from the 200,000 MT im portation authorized under Sugar Order No. 3. E xecutive Secretary Vic Rodriguez earlier raised suspicion about why the SRA could not account for the 63,000 MT of sugar, which was the balance from the 200,000 MT under Sugar Order No. 3 approved by the Sugar Regulatory Board in February.
es in Luzon, Malacañang concluded that there is currently an “artificial” sugar shortage as it suspects that sugar traders are hoarding the com modity to rake in huge profits from the sudden spike in sugar prices. T he warehouse caretaker told Customs inspectors that the sugar from Thailand had just been deliv ered from the Manila International Container Terminal Friday (August 18) evening, Malacañang said. Moreover, authorities also learned that the import permit used for Thai land sugar was the allocation for Sug ar Order No. 3 issued in February by the Sugar Regulatory Board. Customs officials are now con ducting verification on the authen ticity of the importation documents presented to them by the warehouse caretaker in Guiguinto, Bulacan.
To recall, Subic Port customs per sonnel have seized 140,000 bags of imported sugar from Thailand equiv alent to 7,000 metric tons. A uthorities suspect that a “recy cled permit” was used for the cargo, meaning, it was already used for an earlier sugar shipment. P ress Secretary Trixie Cruz-An geles earlier said heads may roll at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) if the evidence would show that any of the agency’s personnel connived with smugglers using recycled sugar im port permits.
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla P RESIDENT cos,“Bongbong”FerdinandR.MarJr.hasappoint ed three new members of the Sugar Regulatory Board (SRB), allowing it to resume issuing new orders. E xecutive Secretary Vic tor D. Rodriguez confirmed the appointment of David John Thaddeus Alba as the acting administrator of Sugar Regulatory Adminis tration (SRA) and vice chair person of the Sugar Regula tory Board didandmetrictheOrdersignValderramasugartranwhoand Ma.sentativeValderrama,placed AurelioPablomembersHermenegildo(SRB), replacingR.Serafica.AlsodesignatedasnewoftheSRBareLuisAzcona,whoreGerardoJ.Jr. as repreofsugarplanters,MitziMangwag,replaced RolandB.Belasrepresentativeofmillers. Serafica,Beltran,anddecidedtoreaftertheysignedSugarNo.4,whichallowedimportationof300,000tons(MT)ofsugar;thePalacesaidlateritnothavetheapprovalof Marcos, SRB chairman. M arcos earlier said he wants to hold off the im portation of an additional 50,000 MT of sugar until October after the harvest season next month. P ress Secretary Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles earlier said the SRB must first be reorganized before it could issue new orders for the im portation of sugar. T he SRA is a governmentowned and -controlled corpo ration (GOCC), which issues policies to ensure the coun try’s sugar supply. It is an at tached agency of the Depart ment of Agriculture (DA). T he SRB is the policymaking body of the SRA. T he government is cur rently trying to stabilize the rising price of sugar, which ranges from P90 to P110 per kilogram, due to the in sufficient supply of the said sweetener. Toaddress the supply issue, the government is now implementing several measures to make sugar af fordable by negotiating with traders, going after sugar hoarders, and proceeding with the planned, calibrated importation.
T HE Supreme Court has given the Court of Appeals 30 days to come up with a recommendation on whether or not it should lift the status quo ante order (SQAO) that was used by Japanese gaming tycoon Ka zuo Okada to regain control of the country’s largest hotel-casi no, the Okada Manila Resort in Parañaque.Ina22-page resolution issued August 10, 2022, the Court’s First Division deemed it prudent to re fer to the CA the reception of evi dence that would finally resolve the ownership dispute involving OkadaTheManila. CAhas the authority to receive evidence and perform any and all acts necessary to resolve actual issues. When supported by substantial evidence, the CA’s findings are binding on this Court. In fact, the practice of re manding a case to the CA for the determination of factual matters is not novel,” the SC declared. A mong the evidence the CA was tasked to receive were: on the propriety of maintaining the SQAO in view of alleged devel opments in Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc. (TRLEI) following Kazuo’s ouster, spe cifically, its financial condition and the alleged dissipation of its assets; supposed nonpayment of landlord, suppliers and contrac tors; TRLEI alleged intention to list Okada Manila Interna tional Inc., (OMI) in the United States; TRLEI’s purported plan to transfer its casino business permit to OMI; supposed waiver of TRLEI’s leasehold rights over the land on which Okada Ma nila is situated; and other acts claimed to be ultra vires (beyond the powers) and prejudicial to TRLEI.Likewise, the CA was tasked to determine the existence, authen ticity, and accuracy of the trans lations of purported decisions of the Japanese and Hong Kong courts which allegedly effectively ruled that Kazuo has no control over OHL, the ultimate parent company of TRLEI, OMI, TRAL (Tiger Resort Asia Limited) and UEC (Universal Entertainment Corp.), and as such, limit Kazuo’s ability to influence and control the affairs of TRLEI.
SC gives CA 30 days to recommend action on Okada Mla SQAO Moro leaders back PBBM’s call for unity in Mindanao
H EEDING President Fer dinand Marcos Jr.’s call for national unity, the leaders of the country’s top Moro organizations have finally set aside their differences and vowed to advance the welfare of the Bangsamoro people. We are hoping for President [Ferdinand] ‘Bongbong‘ Marcos [Jr.] to succeed in his administra tion…We are behind him…You can tell the President that the Muslim brothers and sisters in the south are all behind him,” Prof. Nur Misuari, founding chair of the Moro Na tional Liberation Front (MNLF), told Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secre tary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., during the latter’s visit to Davao City on Thursday.Galvezpresented to Misuari the MNLF members who were appoint ed by President Marcos as members of parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) last August 12 in Malacañang. I n a separate meeting in Co tabato City, Moro Islamic Libera tion Front (MILF) chairman and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in terim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim committed to Galvez the BTA’s fast-tracking of the passage of the region’s remaining codes within the year. A mong the key concerns tack led at the Galvez-Ebrahim meeting were the passage of the BARMM’s critical codes; the improvement of the delivery of basic services in the region; and the need to start lay ing the groundwork for the 2025 BARMM regional elections. In an earlier statement, Ebrahim expressed the MILF’s full support to the President’s call for unity. “As we continue our duties in the interim government, we join the President’s call towards national unity and set aside whatever dif ferences that divide us,” Ebrahim said.
“ To aid this Court in resolving the matters raised by the parties in relation to the issuance of the SQAO, we deem it proper to refer the pending factual issues to the CA for its determination,” the SC said.“The CA, as commissioner, may issue subpoenas and subpoe na duces tecum, swear witnesses, and rule on the admissibility of evidence. Upon conclusion of the trial or hearing, the CA shall be required to submit a reporter to the Court. Ultimately, this shall form the basis of the Court’s fi nal adjudication on the matter,” it added.TheSC directed CA Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar-Fer nando to cause the immediate raffle of the case and to report the action taken within three days from the raffle. It also directed the concerned CA division, where the associ ate justice to whom the case was raffled, “to conduct continuous hearings on the reception of evi dence, with utmost dispatch and to submit to the SC its findings and recommendations within an inextendible period of 30 days” from receipt of the Court’s directive. SQAO upheld THE SC tossed the controversy to the CA even as it upheld the SQAO it issued on April 27, 2022 directing the parties to observe status quo prevailing prior to Kazuo’s removal as stockholder, director, chairperson and chief executive officer of Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI), which operates the ho tel-casino.
German companies Schunk Bahn- und Industrietechnik Gmbh and h e A G Mobilo Gmb h also sought to place the whole train system under a massive transformation program to augment its capacity and to provide safe and comfortable travel to commuters from the northern and southern corridors of Metro Manila. The P4.64-billion proposal, submitted in February 2015 with Filipino partner Comm Builders and Technology Phils. Corp., calls for the complete overhaul of the 73 light-rail vehicles of the MRT; the replacement of the rails; the upgrading of the line’s ancillary system; the upgrade of the track circuit and signaling systems; the modernization of the conveyance system; and a three-year maintenanceSobrepeña’scontract. group also submitted its own proposal to extend the life of the BLT agreement during the AquinoTogetheradministration.withforeign firms Sumitomo Corp. of Japan and Globalvia Infrastructuras of Spain, Metro Global holdings Inc. proposed to “fix” the ailing system through a $150-million investment that involves the procurement of a total of 96 new train cars, and the rehabilitation of the existing 73 coaches, increasing its capacity by fourfold to 1.2 million daily passengers. Under the proposal, a single point of responsibility will be implemented: meaning the rehabilitation and the maintenance of the line will be handled by a single company. In the Philippines, three out of the four train lines are operated by the government, namely the MRT 3, the LRT 2, and the Philippine NationalLightRailways.RailManila Corp., a consortium led by Metro Pacific and partner Ayala Corp., currently operates the LRT 1 under a 30-year concession to operate, maintain, and expand the train system.
BusinessMirrorEditor: Jennifer A. Ng Companies B1Monday, August 22, 2022
C e B U Pacific (C e B ) continues to boost its international network as it adds flights to some of its top Asean destinations, namely Bangkok andBeginningBali. August 29, C e B will fly daily from Manila to Bangkok, coming from its current five-times-a-week frequency. By September, flights from Manila to Bali will also increase from thrice to five times weekly. The airline also intends to restart its Manila-Brunei flights by September 1, starting with a twice weekly frequency. “We are happy to keep growing our international network as we see an increasing demand for travel abroad, and as more destinations ease restrictions. It is exciting and encouraging to see more Filipinos travelling confidently in and out the Philippines, that is why we make sure we consistently provide convenient and affordable flight options to enable everyJuan to travel more for less,” said Xander Lao, C e B Chief Commercial Officer.
“The industry will grow but not as much as expected,” Caldwell said. “As an industry, you need to be competitive to employ more people.” he said improvements in the broadband connectivity by local telecom companies has enabled the staff of Concentrix and other BPO firms to be productive in the WFh notwithstanding the challenge posed by the Covid-19. Moreover, a lot of BPO workers said the horrendous traffic situation in Metro Manila is a major drawback to reverting to the onsite arrangement.Caldwellnoted the Philippines has a lot of potential in the BPO industry. he said Concentrix plans to bring “complex” jobs to the Philippines, such as data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence as long as there are a substantial pool of skilled workers, strong intellectual property policies and consistent business regulations andhpolicies.esaidConcentrix’s expansion has boosted the company’s position as the Philippines’s largest private employer with approximately 100,000 staff, and brings the company’s total sites in the Philippines to 50. Its brick-andmortar operations are currently in 20 cities. Rizal Raoul Reyes
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
“We already bought the banked gas, $1.2 billion. The banked gas that we bought is good for 5 years. Yes, we bought all the remaining banked gas,” San Miguel Corp. (SMC) President Ramon S. Ang said in an interview.Basedon a filing, SPPC entered into a gas supply agreement for 70.26 petajoules of banked gas with PNOC at a daily volume of dispatch sufficient to run the Ilijan Power Plant at 45 percent to 75 percent plant factor. This volume of gas is adequate and expected to support the Ilijan power plant’s fuel requirements until February 2024. To date, the delivery of the banked gas by PNOC has yet to commence.ThePNOC, for its part, confirmed that it sold the remaining uncontracted banked gas to SPPC under the Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) executed on June“The23.banked gas is intended to supply the Ilijan power plant until full delivery of the total contract quantity on or before February 23, 2024. however, the said delivery has not commenced as the SC38 Consortium or the Malampaya consortium and its operator, Shell Philippines ex ploration B.V. (SPe X ), have yet to comply with the series of directives by the DOe [Department of energy],” PNOCThesaid.agency is requiring them to immediately resume the supply and maintain the allocation of natural gas minimum daily contract quantity of banked gas to the Ilijan Power Plant, pursuant to the GSPA. The sale of PNOC’s remaining uncontracted banked gas assures that PNOC’s remaining pre-paid banked gas, one of its biggest assets, will not be stranded and will be fully monetized. Further, it will ensure the uninterrupted operations of the Ilijan Power Plant, which is one of the largest natural gas power plants in the country, thus securing sufficient and affordable power supply in the Luzon grid. In addition to the banked gas, SPPC will commence purchase of commercial liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the Ilijan power plant once the LNG Terminal, currently being built and to be operated by Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Co. besides the Ilijan plant, commences operation later this Currently,year. the country’s main source of natural gas is the Malampaya gas field, which accounts for 20 percent of the country’s electricity. It is expected to be nearly depleted by 2027.TheDOe earlier reported that the country’s natural gas output from January 1 to June this year stood at 60,951 million standard cubic feet (MMcf), bringing to 2,572,830 billion cubic feet (Bcf) the total production since 1994. According to the agency, consumption by power generation sourced from Malampaya stood at 53,411 MMcf in January to June. Meanwhile, the banked gas consumption for power generation in the same period stood at 4,825 MMcf. These brought the total gas consumption for the first half to 58,237 MMcf. The agency did not provide comparative figures. It only provided yearly figures starting 1994. In 2020, gas production declined to 141,732MMcf from 155,495 MMcf in 2019. In 2021, the DOe recorded gas restriction incidents as it ended the year with a lower output of 121,089 MMcf. Of the total gas output recorded from 1994 to June 2022, 2,428,387 Bcf was utilized for power generation, 37,766 MMcf for industrial, 184cf for transport, 4,978 MMcf of banked gas for power generation, and 2,967 MMcf of banked gas for industrial. Total consumption was recorded at 2,474,283 Bcf. Gas production peaked in 2019 at 155,495 MMcf. The DOe said banked gas consumption for power generation covered the period of December 26, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The DOe defines banked gas as the accumulated unused gas of the Ilijan plant because of the underutilization of the plant’s take-or-pay quantity from 2022 to 2007.
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan The government plans to bid out the operations and maintenance (O&M) component of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 by 2025, a deal that may be akin to the private concession for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1, a Cabinet official said. In a recent interview, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the government will wait for the buildlease-transfer agreement with MRT Corp. (MRTC) to lapse three years from“Thenow.current arrangement, which is build-lease-transfer, will lapse in 2025. We’ll study the possibility of offering it for a concession. We can bid it to a private consortium,” he toldMRTreporters.3iscurrently owned by MRTC, a company controlled by businessman Robert Sobrepeña. Its 25-year BLT agreement allows the government to lease the train system and manage its daily operations. The administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III wanted to cut short the BLT agreement and buyout MRTC from the MRT 3, but this never materialized and was shelved by the Duterte government. Other groups also wanted to invest in the train system. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. initially wanted to exercise its 48-percent option in MRTC. The Pangilinan-led conglomerate proposed to shoulder the upgrade costs of the train system and release the government from the bondage of paying billions of pesos in equity-rental payments. The $524-million investment proposal would have expanded the capacity of the railway system by adding more coaches to each train, allowing it to carry more cars at faster intervals. The multimilliondollar expansion plan would double the capacity of the line to 700,000 passengers a day, from the current 350,000 passengers daily. It was submitted in 2011, but the transportation agency’s chief back then rejected the proposal.
South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC), a unit of SMC Global Power holdings Corp. (SMCGP), purchased the remaining banked gas of the Philippine National oil Co. (PNoC) for $1.2 billion.
Govt eyes O&M deal for MRT-3
“The Philippine government must seriously consider the implementation of WFh to be able to compete aggressively on a global scale,” Caldwell told reporters in an interview last Thursday, following the simultaneous launch of its sites nationwide.
Fully vaccinated Filipinos flying to these three destinations are only required to present their proof of complete vaccination as Thailand and Indonesia have already eased its restrictions to easily allow tourists to enter. Apart from this, the airline also intends to increase its flights from Cebu to Seoul from twice weekly to a daily service by September 9. On September 23, flights to Nagoya from Manila will be daily from its current five times weekly. By October 1, C e B ’s Bali flights will increase to a daily service, while its flights to h a noi and Taipei from Manila will both have one additional flight per week— from thrice to four-times-a-week for h a noi, and twice to thrice weekly for Taipei. Coming home, boosted Filipinos no longer need to take a Covid test pre-departure. For more information, passengers may refer to C e B Travel reminders page for the latest updates and complete travel guidelines to their destination.CeB continues to offer its guaranteed low fares to stimulate travel across its widest domestic network in the Philippines. It continues to implement a multilayered approach to safety, while it operates with a 100 percent fully vaccinated crew, 95 percent of whom have been boosted.
CEB ramps up international flight network scheme will make BPO sector more competitive’
San Miguel power unit buys PNOC banked gas for $1.2B
The Philippines will be more competitive in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry if Manila will support the work-from-home (WFh ) scheme, according to the chief executive of ConcentrixConcentrixPhilippines.President and CeO Chris Caldwell said he is optimistic that the Philippine government is now more receptive to WFh as a main setup for the Filipino workforce.
‘WFH
“We have a feeling the different secretaries of the different departments are working together to solve this problem before September 12.” Caldwell said India, Latin America and Central America--where lockdowns were imposed—have achieved exponential growth during the pandemic. “In fact, India is aggressively supporting WFh he said the country’s BPO industry will still achieve growth even if it adopts either a hybrid or a 100 percent onsite setup.
Lending program
Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel issued the statement last Sunday following reports that the Department of Budget and Management is still looking for money to finance the two-fold increase in the monthly pension of impoverished seniors to P1,000 from P500. Funding for the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPPISC) is lodged in the annual budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The SPPISC has an allocation of P25 billion this year, which is enough to pay for the P500 monthly pension of 4.1 million indigent seniors identified by the DSWD, according to Pimentel.
The first LandBank AgriSenso Virtual Forum put the spotlight on the poultry industry and featured United Broiler Raisers Association President Elias Jose M. Inciong and Ana’s Breeders Farms Inc. (ABFI) President and CEO Jonathan O. Suy, who shared about challenges facing the industry and innovative ways to meet consumers’ evolving needs. Meanwhile, Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary and Bureau of Animal Industry Officer-in-Charge Director Reildrin G. Morales discussed the National Government’s development roadmap for the local poultry sector.
Dividend income from GOCCs seen funding elderly pension
THE national treasury’s dividend income from governmentowned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) can fund the P25 billion needed to double the pension of indigent senior citizens to P1,000 per month, a lawmaker said. the incidence of hunger could worsen among the elderly who do not have any means of financial support,” Pimentel“Theirwarned.current P500 monthly subsidy has been reduced into a pittance by rampant inflation,” he added. “Indigent seniors” refer to Filipinos 60 years old and above who do not receive any old-age pension from existing retirement benefit systems, who have no regular source of income, and who do not receive any aid from Accordingrelatives.toPimentel, GOCCs are mandated by RA 7656 to declare as dividends and remit to the treasury at least 50 percent of their annual netTheprofits.same law also empowers Malacañang to adjust the dividend payout to any rate higher than 50 percent (of net profit) for all covered GOCCs, Pimentel said. We would urge Malacañang to compel GOCCs to pay a higher dividend rate of up to 75 percent, PimentelTraditionally,said. the 15 biggest dividend payors among GOCCs are: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp.; Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.; Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority; Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; Manila International Airport Authority; Philippine Ports Authority; Philippine National Oil Co.; Philippine Reclamation Authority; National Power Corp.; Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office; PNOC Exploration Corp.; Philippine Economic Zone Authority; Bases Conversion and Development Authority; and, Clark DevelopmentPimentelCorp.has asked Malacañang last week to include in the proposed 2023 national budget the extra P25 billion needed to pay for the increase in the monthly pension of indigent seniorPimentelcitizens.explained that under Section 25 of the Constitution, “Congress may not increase the appropriations recommended by the President for the operation of the government as specified in the budget.”
By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM
Mentorship and networking
This week, however, the curve steepened with long-dated yields leading increases, highlighting the complexity of theThetrade.move—which widened the gap between two- and 10-year rates by about 14 basis points—occurred as hot inflation abroad and comments by Fed officials pushed up market expectations for where the policy rate will peak early next year and further dimmed the outlook for easing later in 2023.
Banking&Finance
LANDBANK Program Management Department I, Assistant Vice President Edgardo S. Luzano discussed the state-run lender’s poultry lending program, designed to help promote sustainable and competitive poultry production.Theprogram offers financial support to qualified cooperatives, micro, small and medium enterprises, large agri-business enterprises and corporations for the production of broilers, layers, breeders, ducks, quails, ostrich, turkey and other poultry animals, as well as for ancillary or allied businesses, such as feed mill, dressing plant and hatchery. Under the program, up to 80 percent of the total project cost may be borrowed with an interest rate based on the prevailing market rate, depending on the term of the loan and credit rating of the borrowers. Short term loans are payable up to one year, while term loans are payable based on project cash flow or payback period but not more than the economic useful life of fixed assets. LandBank said that since April 2015, it has approved loans totaling P26.9 billion under the poultry lending program, with outstanding loans amounting to P12.5 billion supporting 400 borrowers as of end-June 2022. The next run of the bank’s AgriSenso Virtual Forum will be held on August 30 to discuss opportunities for growth for the livestock industry.
“There is a problem when it comes to recirculating coins: some people hoard or collect them while some people leave them behind altogether, leading to an artificial coin shortage. This defeats their intended purpose as a medium of exchange,” BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla said. For the deposited coins collected from the machines, fit coins will be returned into circulation when partner retailers use them as change for over-the-counter payments of goods andUnfitservices.coins, on the other hand, will be removed from circulation and subsequently retired by the BSP. Data from the BSP showed coins per capita rose by 584 percent over the past 17 years, up to 342 pieces in June 2022 from 50 pieces in 2005 as the BSP increased coin production to meet growing demand. “That’s why we hope that this project will solve problems for everyone: businesses, financial institutions, and the public. I’m very optimistic that after a two-year pilot run, we will be able to deploy these machines [in more locations] and I am confident that the benefits will be realized,” Medalla said.
Succession SIMILARLY, many leading family businesses are addressing succession in a meritocratic way. “Pioneer family businesses have added a policy that requires family members to work outside of the company before they have a chance to work for our business.” Family businesses represent an opportunity for women to advance in business more quickly, according to some of our interviewees. Unlike in other businesses, where women may feel shut out of the conversation for leadership positions, women in family businesses can use their family status to help vouch for themselves. However, we can still see that some family businesses limit women’s involvement in the organization to certain roles such as handling corporates social responsibility or human resources. Or, in other instances, if they do have a senior position within the business, becoming a C-suite, a board member, or discussing the succession of the chairman—usually a family member—are still considered taboos. Discussing the CEO succession because many family members are hiring non-family members for the role is an easier topic to discuss.
A S part of its intensified support to the agriculture sector, the Land Bank of the Philippines Inc. (LandBank) kicked off a series of virtual forums to discuss with local agri players opportunities towards modernizing the industry, while also ensuring foodFinancesecurity.Secretary and LandBank Chairman Benjamin E. Diokno and LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo led the first run of the Landbank AgriSenso Virtual Forums last August 15, which gathered contract grower-investors, integrators and other key players from the poultry “Throughindustry. the AgriSenso Virtual Forums, we hope to sustain our engagement with agri stakeholders from all over the country and to foster greater collaboration. LandBank continues to service the development requirements of the agricultural sector through accessible and responsive lending programs,” Borromeo was quoted in the lender’s press release as saying. The AgriSenso Virtual Forums also address the request of customers to learn more about the bank’s available credit facilities, as noted during the Online Stakeholder’s Consultation Forum conducted by the Bank last year. “LandBank is at the forefront of supporting key players in the agriculture sector by ensuring that the entire agri value chain has access to much-needed credit and other financial services. How to access the services to meet your diverse needs is, hopefully, what you can take away from today’s forum,” Diokno was to have said during the forum. Each session of the AgriSenso Virtual Forums will focus on a specific agriculture industry, with industry experts and players invited to share insights and successful initiatives, as well as the development plans of the government for each industry.
This photo courtesy of the Land Bank of the Philippines inc. shows (clockwise from upper left) Finance secretary and Landbank Chairman Benjamin E. Diokno and Landbank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo lead the very first Landbank Agrisenso Virtual Forum, together with Department of Agriculture Assistant secretary and Bureau of Animal industry Officer-in-Charge Director Reildrin G. Morales, United Broiler Raisers Association President Elias Jose M. inciong, Ana’s Breeders Farms inc. President and CEO Jonathan O. suy and Landbank Program Management Department i, Assistant Vice President Edgardo s Luzano. Photo courtesy Land Bank of the PhiL PPines nc.
Coin deposit machines seen to boost circulation LandBank mounts first ‘AgriSenso’ virtual forum
The increase in the monthly pension to P1,000 means that another P25 billion would be needed. “The country’s economic recovery is on track, so we are counting on GOCCs to generate higher profits and pay out more cash dividends,” Pimentel said. “The money can be used to bankroll the pension increase.”
Fate of bond traders’ fave on the line at Jackson Hole
The power of women in family business
REGARDLESS of gender, mentorship and networking are integral aspects of professional development. In our interviews for this report, the vast majority of women believe that having the right mentor can sometimes be essential to working in a new company or getting a promotion.Aswith women in non-family businesses, women in family firms require strong networks that are not dominated by family influence, as well as mentoring and guidance to orient them. successfully toward management and leadership roles. As a family member in a family business, it is not always easy to find effective mentors from within the business. Even though the business would have individuals who have spent considerable time in the business, they would not always be comfortable mentoring family members. “The mentorship role for females (and males) in a family business is a challenge because sometimes you don’t get 100-percent honest, brutal feedback,” said a third-generation leader in a family business. “When I receive feedback, I want to receive it honestly as if I was a non-family employee.”
Relationships between family and non-family employees are complicated, especially when a non-family employee is a mentor to a family member. In these cases, she mentioned that she has learned to use intuition to read between the lines of mentorship feedback. Open communication is “for the collective value of the business,” she said. Such a phenomenon is partly based on traditional social norms. While men have traditionally met with each other after work to stay connected and discuss business, it isn’t a natural phenomenon for women to be present in such networkingFormingevents.professional groups that involve women (or are exclusively women) will provide an environment to build networks and connect mentors or mentees. To better connect women within a certain profession or with certain interests, these groups can be tied to a particular purpose. Several interviewees cited the need for women in family businesses to form stronger connections.
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
Generational change is impacting the way family members are involved in the company. In many generations that founded companies or in the second generation, leadership and control were passed on to the eldest son within the family. With more companies adopting a merit-based approach to succession, often due to failures experienced with adopting the primogeniture approach, the gender consideration is removed, which many women feel is giving them more chances to prove their worth against their male family members.
FOR young female family leaders, acknowledging and celebrating the efforts of generations of women who have preceded them is important. Women supporting women is more prevalent in the next generations because of this mindset shift and a stronger commitment for women to empower each other.
Age and generation
“In 2021 alone, GOCCs remitted a combined P57.55 billion in cash dividends to state coffers,” Pimentel Theadded.bill raising the monthly pension of indigent seniors from P500 to P1,000 earlier lapsed into a new law as Republic Act 11916. “If the government does not provide money for the pension increase,
IN an effort to boost coin circulation in the economy, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is set to install so-called coin deposit machines in retail areas across Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The BSP said it has recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with various retailers for the deployment of these coin deposit machines in malls and stores in other selectTheareas.retailers involved were SM Retail Inc., Filinvest Land Inc. and Robinsons Supermarket Corp. About 25 of these coin deposit machines will initially be deployed as per the MOA, according to the central bank. The BSP said these coin deposit machines are automated and allow customers to deposit coins and redeem their accumulated value from partner retail establishments through shopping vouchers or rewards card Alternately,points.customers may opt to directly credit the amount to their participating bank accounts or electronic wallets.
T HE fate of one of the $23 trillion US Treasury market’s favorite trades is riding on the nuances of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks when he speaks next week at the central bank’s annual Jackson Hole symposium.Wagerson flattening yield curves have been a winner for most of the past year, with rates on longer-dated securities moving lower relative to shorter-term benchmarks, and in many cases even quite deeply below. Those moves came as traders anticipated and capitalized on the Fed’s sequence of increasingly big rate increases that are aimed at tackling persistently high inflation. The two-year Treasury yield ended this week at around 3.26 percent, about 28 basis points higher than the 10-year’s at 2.98 percent. Whether it remains a winner—becoming even more deeply inverted— depends not just on how many more rate hikes there will be, but also on the economic consequences and the Fed’s tolerance for pain. Powell will open the Wyoming confab with remarks on Friday at 10 a.m. New York time. And speculation is mounting that he’ll strike a hawkish tone that leans against market expectations for rate cuts in 2023 in response to an economic“Powellslowdown.willwant to err on the hawkish side,” stressing that restoring price stability is the top priority, said Tim Magnusson, chief investment officer at Garda Capital Partners, a hedge fund. “The flattener will be in play until the Fed stops tightening,” however, “it’s a harder trade now,” having already moved so much. Broadly over the past year, episodes of yield-curve flattening have occurred via short-term rates rising more than longterm ones, while steepening has been explained by short-term rates leading the way lower. The logic is that as Fed rate hikes push policy-sensitive front-end yields higher, the odds of an economic recession in the next 12 months to 18 months increase, weighing on longer-dated yields. As the policy rate rises beyond the theoretical neutral level into a zone where it’s restricting economic activity, the flattening trend should gather pace. The minutes of the Fed’s last policy meeting in July, released this week, showed that some participants expected that once the policy rate “had reached a sufficiently restrictive level,” it would need to stay there “for some time to ensure that inflation was firmly on a path back to 2 percent.”
It can be frustrating for women growing in leadership roles to be stereotyped with characteristics commonly associated with women leaders—just as it can be frustrating for women family members to feel underappreciated as they grow in the family business.
“Congress can cut the budget, but we can’t increase it, so it would be better if the budget tendered to Congress already includes the additional P25 billion,” Pimentel said. The DSWD pays out the monthly pension based on three priority age groups, with the oldest seniors aged 80 years old and above getting first priority. Seniors aged 70 to 79 years old get second priority, while those aged 65 to 69 receive third priority.
The excerpt was taken from the KPMG Thought Leadership publication: home.kpmg/ph.sendinformationlimitedatedorganizationpartnershipen-in-family-business.pdf.tent/dam/kpmg/sa/pdf/2022/the-power-of-wom-https://assets.kpmg/con-©2022R.G.Manabat&Co.,aPhilippineandamemberfirmoftheKPMGglobalofindependentmemberfirmsaffili-withKPMGIntlLtd.,aprivateEnglishcompanybyguarantee.Allrightsreserved.FormoreonKPMGinthePhilippines,youmayamessageviasocialmediaorvisitwww.
BusinessMirror Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Monday, August 22, 2022 B3www.news.businessmirror@gmail.com
Bloomberg News
Leadership styles “I BELIEVE there are differences in leadership styles for women and men, but I also believe everyone has a different style,” said a family member and Vice President. “Sometimes women pressure themselves to act like men in business, and they end up becoming a person without emotions. Leaders should embrace their differences because those differences often complement one another.”
W OMEN in family businesses, especially those who were the first to enter the workforce and have gone through a series of challenges, are strategically placed to manage this dilemma and bring about change in their organizations and society at large by becoming role models and mentors for younger women who will contribute to the future talent pool.
Perspectives
The con temporary metaverse is over whelmingly owned and developed by corporations whose profit mod els demand focus on the Next Big Thing. This typically sidelines his tory – with massive financial and social implications. At its core, the metaverse is de fined by the concept of the virtual world. As Wired Love illustrates, the telegraph and later the tele phone constitute early virtual worlds.Multi-user dungeons, or MUDs, arose in the second half of the 20th century. These virtual worlds ap peared on local computer networks in the late 1970s, and entered dial-up internet services in the 1980s and 1990s. r ic hard Bartle, co-creator of the first MUD, noted that by 1993 over 10% of all inter net traffic was on MUDs. Virtual worlds with graphics, including avatars, date back to Habitat, launched in 1985. With the advent of broadband in the 2000s, many key aspects of the contemporary metaverse became established. Longtime metaverse observers like Wagner James Au have repeatedly emphasized how many “new” developments have rehashed long-standing debates. Real estate and the laws of virtual physics Co N SIDE r wh at metaverse his tory reveals about virtual real es tate. Pundits enthuse about the virtual “land rush” and empha size location. For instance, virtual world The Sandbox sells plots for around $2,300, but in December 2021 someone paid $450,000 to purchase land next to a virtual mansion owned by rap star Snoop Dogg.Why the price spike? Co-found er Sebastien Borget explained that The Sandbox has a finite number of plots, and people can access only adjacent plots. Thus, only a few people can own virtual land next to Snoop Dogg. I believe that The Sandbox is deeply indebted to the virtual world Second Life, where spaces to practice building have been termed “sandboxes” since its 2002 launch. Second Life originally had “point-to-point teleportation” (P2P). You could arrive anywhere in an instant. But in 2003 Linden Lab, the company that owns Sec ond Life, disabled P2P. r e sidents trying to reach a destination would appear at the nearest “telehub.” This had implications for real estate. Valuable for businesses and entertainment, plots of land near telehubs sold for top dollar — until 2005, when Linden Lab suddenly announced the end of telehubs and the return of P2P. Land near former telehubs no longer had special value; some people lost thousands of dollars. The most powerful landlord can’t change the laws of physics, but Linden Lab could literally recode scarcity out of existence.
By Tom Boellstorff, University of California, Irvine
Learning from history T H E metaverse has a long way to go, but it already has a long history. Proximity and immersion are just two examples of crucial topics this history can demystify. This is important because the current, rampant mystification isn’t accidental. The emerging version of the metaverse is over whelmingly owned and developed by Big Tech. These companies seek to manufacture the perception that the metaverse is new and futuristic. But metaverse histo ries are real; they can reveal past mistakes and contribute to better virtual futures. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: long-history-186083.here-yet-but-it-already-has-a-tion.com/the-metaverse-isnt-https://theconversa
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Fast-forward almost 20 years. Land next to Snoop Dogg’s virtual mansion is scarce: A plot could cost $450,000 because The Sand box doesn’t have P2P. But were the company to suddenly add P2P, that $450,000 investment could become nearly worthless. That pundits have tended to ignore this fact reveals the danger of forget ting metaverse history. Immersion—sensory or social? A N o T HE r example of metaverse history’s importance concerns the idea of virtual environments. Virtual worlds don’t just connect places; they’re places in their own right.People played chess using the telegraph 150 years ago; those virtual chessboards weren’t lo cated on either end of the wire. In 1992 Bruce Sterling noted that telephone calls don’t take place in your phone or in the other person’s phone. They take place in a virtual environment: “The place between the phones. The indefinite place out there, where the two of you, two human beings, actually meet andIncommunicate.”1990,Habitat’s founders concluded that the metaverse is defined more by the interactions among people within it than by the technology that creates it. They were particularly skeptical of virtual reality technologies, not ing “the almost mystical euphoria that currently seems to surround all this hardware is, in our opin ion, both excessive and somewhat misplaced.”Atissue isn’t V r ’s potential, but the Matrix-like idea that sen sory immersion is necessary to the metaverse in every instance. The key distinction is between sensory immersion and social immersion. The idea that virtual environments require V r m isun derstands “immersion.” It’s also ableist, since not everyone can see or hear. The metaverse’s history indicates that social immersion is the metaverse’s foundation.
The metaverse isn’t here yet, but it already has a long history
Nattie’s metaverse romance began with anonymous texting. at first “C” would admit only to living in a nearby town. Nattie eventually learned “Clem” was a man with a solitary office job like hers. For Nattie “lived, as it were, in two worlds”—the world of office tedium and an online world where “she did not lack social intercourse.”
Texting drew them closer: “an noyances became lighter because she told him, and he sympathized.” Nattie soon realized “she had wo ven a sort of romance about him who was a friend ‘so near and yet so far’.” Their blossoming relation ship almost failed when Clem’s co-worker visited Nattie’s office pretending to be Clem, but the de ceit was exposed in time for their “romance of dots and dashes” to succeed.With that last sentence I gave away the ending to Wired Love, source of the quotes above. Pub lished in 1879, Ella Thayer’s novel of “the telegraphic world” makes remarkable predictions. Yet Wired Love is planted firmly during the time of what journalist Thomas Standage aptly termed the “Victo rian Internet.” Many aspects of the current metaverse were already familiar 143 years ago. What’s old is new H I ST or Y i s more than fun facts: It deeply shapes ways of thinking and acting. As an anthropologist who’s been studying virtual worlds for almost two decades, I’ve found that the metaverse’s rich past shapes what too often appears unprecedented.Thisisn’taccidental.
The Conversation
T O coincide with the “Buwan ng Wika” celebrations, an exhibit called “Obras Filipinas” will showcase the Filipino designers’ artistry in creating national costumes. It will be held from August 22 to 28 at The Activity Center, Market! Market! at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City. The culminating event is “The Philippines Costumes Show” on August 28 at 4 pm.
“We will present different costumes from different regions around the country which take inspiration from our history, culture, ethnic origins and religious practices,” says Ignacio Caluyo of Philtrade Exhibits, the organizer of the special project. “Obras Filipinas’ style and content are parallel to Flores de Mayo and Independence Day celebrations, wherein we present Filipino traditional dresses but highlighting costumes specifically created for pageantry.”Theparticipating designers are Basil Malicsi, Bibay Bautista, Carl Arcusa, Cathy Mora Capistrano, Dee Jay Abustan, Edwin Uy, Erjohn dela Serna, Ehrran Montoya, Er Stephen Alvarado, Gil Granado, Ira Baylon, Jandy Roman, Jehrick dela Roca, Jeric Sayno, Jerome Campano, Jillian de Guzman,Johnri Jot Guardiano, Joseph Palma; JP Chua, Julien Gentica, Khandie Segovia, Kennette Jabla, Mac Taug, Marbin Garcia, Maricris dela Peña, Mikee Andre, Nestor Borromeo, Nomes Cerbito, Randy de Leon Satin, Raymond Granados, Ricmar Agas, RS Roman Sebastian, Russ Cuevas, Sai Macapagal, Younhed Bada and Zyrill Jane Jacinto. One of the most meaningful and colorful costumes to be displayed is by young designer Er Stephen Alvarado, who hails from Baybay, Leyte. He created “Turismo de Albay” for Jash Dimaculangan, who represented Albay Province at Binibining Pilipinas 2022. The Ibong Adarna ensemble pays tribute to the Mayon Volcano, as well as the LGBT community.
“As colorful as the rainbow is the best definition of the people of Albay who come in different forms, shapes, colors, age and sexuality. That’s why their famous slogan is very popular in the entire country: ‘Indulge yourself in warm Albay,’” the designer explains.TheBest in National Costume award at Miss Universe Philippines 2022 went to Julia Saubier, the French-Bicolana overachiever. Inspired by Julia herself and the moon goddess Haliya, “Hulya” was created by Erjohn de la Serna, a rising designer from Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. “[Julia’s] silver and blue ensemble portrays the courageous warrior within her. To complete the corset, trousers and wide wrap skirt, Ifugao weave, T’nalak weave, Pinilian weave, and Mountain Province weave were sewn to construct the intricate design. The patterns sparkled with blue and silver stones along with clear and black beads to accentuate the costume. The concept of her salakot came from the Mayon Volcano, a metaphorical representation of her explosive potential and strength in overcoming the pressures of life,” de la Serna says. At Miss World Philippines 2022, Marbin Garcia of Bulakan, Bulacan, created the winning national costume for their representative and the first Singkaban Festival Queen, Lady Justerinnie Santos. Bulakan being known for its Grand Sagalahan, Santacruzan, and Flores de Mayo festivities, Garcia (who is also a municipal councilor) designed “Elena,” which depicts the royalty and grandeur of the Queen who searched for the Cross of Christ, as well as the artistry and creativity of the province’s Singkaban, or decorated bamboo tradition. For a dose of the avant-garde, upcoming designer Carl Arcusa of Cavite will present his striking “Modern Filipiniana” piece: “This is how I translate how a modern terno would look like. A modern terno is something strong, playful, unapologetic but still has the important features of it such as pure elegance and empowering the Filipina wearing it.” Leading the pack of designers at Obras Filipinas is the most decorated of them all, Edwin Uy. At Binibining Pilipinas alone, he made the winning costume of Nicole Schmitz in 2012, Top 5 Best National Costume worn by Nancy Leonard in 2015, Best National Costume worn by Chanel Thomas in 2017, Top 10 Best National Costume worn by Sandra Lemonon in 2018, and Top 10 Best National Costume worn by Samantha Lo in 2019. Uy also created the winning costumes for Rein Villareal at Mister International 2015 and for CJ Hirro at Miss Global 2016. But of all the countless national costumes he has created for international pageantry, he will display the astounding gold design inspired by a Maranao princess worn by Parul Shah. It won her the Best in National Costume award at Miss Grand International 2015, where she finished third runner-up.
PRETTY AND PREPPY Cropped cardigan sweater, floral print cropped top and skirt, ruched floral print mini dress, hoop earrings and round-frame sunglasses.
WITH offices increasingly embracing hybrid working, it’s time to say hello again to bosses and coworkers onsite. It’s also time to say hello to dressing up again, and new clothes for that comebacking young work force. And Forever 21 celebrates schoolgirl style with four inspirational, looks Elle, Alexa, Callie and Sofia. Elle introduces a bohemian rock-n-roll vibe with a touch of western floral and elegant femininity—dresses, woven tops, flare pants, denim flares, sweaters, boots and hats. Alexa’s style highlights contemporary minimalist work wear with a downtown luxe feel. Tops, pants, dresses, skirts and heels with a dash of 1990s Wall Street style plus a sprinkling of modern minimalism. Callie has a touch of 1990s skate culture with grunge— athletic tops, sweaters, skirts, shoes and bucket hats for athletic and punky girls. Sofia’s high speed style is sporty and with a touch of motor racing, and sexy night out/party outfits. Check out Forever 21’s latest collection in-store at SM City North Edsa, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City Clark and SM Lanang Premier, or shop from the comfort of the homes by checking out Forever 21 at ShopSM, Lazada, Shopee and Zalora.
“With Switch and Save, we want to tell our customers they can enjoy savings when they buy their vitamins, supplements and other health, wellness and beauty products at Watsons,” said Jared de Guzman, customer director at Watsons Philippines.
‘Kuya’ Kim bares his health and wellness secrets
“It’s my honor to be part of the Watsons family and be able to tell people that the Watsons brand Vitamin B Complex is 80 percent cheaper than that of other brands so they can easily make the switch.” Kuya Kim started taking Vitamin B Complex regularly after he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2013, just three years after he had a stroke. He has since recovered from both ailments. Like many people, Kuya Kim lived a sedentary lifestyle before he had the stroke and Guillain-Barré syndrome.“Iwasso busy that I neglected my diet. I didn’t do any physical activity beyond getting up and going to work,” he said. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. Weakness and tingling in the hands and feet are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing the whole body. Severe cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome can be fatal. This was the time that Kuya Kim served as a councilor for Manila’s fifth district for three consecutive terms while his father Lito served as the city’s vice-mayor and then mayor. He has since retired from politics. Kuya Kim currently appears on three daily live shows on GMA: TiktoClock, Dapat Alam Mo! and the long-running, multi-awarded news show 24 Oras After his illnesses, Kuya Kim began his journey to good health. He changed his eating habits and engaged in active sports like running and biking. When the pandemic hit, Kuya Kim found himself unable to do his favorite outdoor activities like biking and participating in triathlons. “Health is wealth so I found ways to exercise at home. I’m lucky to have a treadmill at home so it wasn’t too difficult for me. I take my vitamins and supplements every day, especially Vitamin B Complex. With this partnership, I want to tell people that it does not cost a lot to be healthy. Anyone can Switch and Save to Watsons Vitamin B Complex, which is of high quality and affordable,” said Kuya Vitamin B complex is composed of eight B vitamins, which contribute to your overall bodily function. These vitamins include thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folate, and cobalamin. You can find these vitamins in milk; cheese; eggs; liver and kidney; meat, such as chicken and red meat; fish, such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon; and shellfish, such as oysters and clams. Switch and Save, which offers high quality, effective and affordable products, is Watsons’ longestrunning campaign, marking its 10th year in the Philippines this year.
Editor: Gerard S. Ramos
• Monday, August 22, 2022 B5 Style BusinessMirrorwww.businessmirror.com.ph
Schoolgirl style baguette shoulder bags, bootcut jeans, knitted bodysuits and faux leather blazers.
“It is an honor and an achievement just to be able to make it to the Top 10 best national costume because so many Pinoy designers are very talented,” says Uy, who is based in Mandaluyong City. n
‘Obras Filipinas’
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FILIPINIANASFINE Er Stephen Alvarado national costume worn by (DimaculanganJash PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAYMOND SALDANA AND OWEN REYES), Edwin Uy worn by Parul Shah (ROSS PARIS); Erjohn de la Serna costume (CLARK SARMENTA); Marbin creationGarciaworn by Lady SantosJusterinnie( FRANCHEJOMAR ); Carl Arcusa costume worn by Tatyana Austria (@CARLARCUSA).
THEY say you can tell a person’s age by their hands so it was a pleasant surprise to meet Kim Atienza and see that his hands (and his face) didn’t show his age, which is 55. Kuya Kim, as Atienza is more popularly known, looks like he’s just around 45. His secret is exercising regularly. During the two years that most of us have stayed at home, Kuya Kim ran on his NordicTrack treadmill and tried to be as physically active as he could be. He also tried to eat well.“I believe in taking our vitamins from the food we eat but at my age, we really need to supplement,” he said during the announcement of his being the endorser of Watsons Vitamin B Complex.
HOUSING DEVELOPERS CALL ON DHSUD SECRETARY. The Board of Directors of the Subdivision and Housing Development Association (SHDA) recently paid a courtesy call on new Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino “Jerry” Acuzar (left). During the call, SHDA reiterated its support and cooperation to DHSUD and to its policies and programs aimed to help address the increasing housing demand and backlog in the country. The group also discussed price ceilings, socialized housing midrise projects, and the upcoming SHDA Convention. With Sec. Acuzar is SHDA national treasurer and Pueblo de Oro senior vice president & general manager for Luzon Operations Leonardo Dayao, Jr.
WBA is an international not-for-profit organization working to build a movement to measure and incentivize business impact towards a sustainable future that works for everyone. They do so by developing free and publicly available benchmarks that compare the private sector’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These benchmarks inform and empower business leaders and investors, as well as governments, civil society, and other key stakeholders. Every January since 2020, the WBA publishes the SDG2000 list, which outlines the 2000 companies that have the most influence in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs.
METRO Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), the country’s leading infrastructure investments company, represented by its Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla, joined the World Benchmarking Alliance’s (WBA) Allies’ Assembly 2022 as a speaker and panelist in Cape Town, South Africa. At this global and multi-stakeholder panel discussion, as the representative from the business side, Cabal-Revilla shared MPIC’s sustainability journey of integrating a holistic approach to its core business strategies and its sustainability-linked advocacies to a multi-stakeholder group of over 100 delegates from local, regional, and international organizations. MPIC was included early this year as part of the WBA’s SDG2000, the 2000 most influential companies that shape the future in relation to their contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Programmes Coordinator Joseph Eliabson from African Monitor, and WBA’s Executive Director Gerbrand Haverkamp, Cabal-Revilla delved into how MPIC is fulfilling its key role in contributing to collective action aligned with global benchmarks. “We were delighted to have MPIC represent the business voice in the panel, and to hear how the company has embraced ‘EESG’ and are encouraging other companies to adopt a similar holistic approach. This was a wonderful illustration of the capacity of an SDG2000 company to really enable systems transformation. It was clear to our audience that through making sustainability the centre of MPIC’s core business models, the company is making a concrete difference locally in the Philippines, but also elsewhere. The leadership and actions taken by MPIC really showed us that business can be such a powerful lever for change” said Pauliina Murphy, Engagement Director at the World Benchmarking Alliance. Beyond the speakership, she also attended a session on the development of a framework and methodology for the WBA’s urban system transformation benchmark, which is intended to measure the progress of the world’s keystone companies working in the field of urban development in terms of their contribution to SDG 11 Sustainable Cities andWithCommunities.MPICand the entire Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) Group of Companies pivoting towards being the largest catalyst for sustainability in the country, the company’s involvement in shaping the urban system transformation benchmark solidifies its role as a key driver of ESG in the Philippines. It also emphasizes MPIC’s role in making the country resilient and sustainable – aligned with its mission to contribute to national progress and uplift the lives of all Filipinos.
ATTENDING THE WBA ALLIES’ ASSEMBLY 2022, FROM LEFT: WBA Executive Director Gerbrand Haverkamp; WBA Engagement Director Pauliina Murphy; Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa Sebastiaan Messerschmidt; MPIC Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla; African Monitor Senior Programmes Coordinator Joseph Eliabson; Western Cape Education Department Deputy Director General Haroon Mohamed.
VALUEPLUS Auto Services Philippines, Inc. the franchisor of VPX is delighted to announce that its ValuePlus Auto Service Las Piñas, the first shop established under its build-operate-transfer (BOT) or turnkey franchising model, is now ready for acquisition by interested franchisees. Under the BOT or turnkey franchising model, ValuePlus Auto Service first builds its VPX shop in a strategic location, operates it for a specific period to establish its customer base, and then transfers or sells it to an interested party.
The event is a regular gathering of the Academy and serves as one of its continuing educational activities to support its mandate in the promotion of excellence among key education stakeholders in the teaching profession in the country today. It coincides as well with the 5th Induction of the PATAPE Board and National Officers for the year 2022-2023. The Academy has more than 3,000 members across the country.
Sen. Gatchalian to grace PATAPE event on August 27
HIGHLY-SKILLED ValuePlus mechanics working on a pick-up truck in a shop properly equipped with tools and equipment.
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Mark Saberola, General Manager of VPX, said this franchising model is novel in the auto service industry and will make it easier for people to have their own auto service business. “Building an auto service business from the ground up can be time-consuming, not to mention the challenge of getting people to know that your business exists. We want to alleviate this stress on our franchisees by laying the foundation for them so they can start making profits as soon as possible. We are proud to be a pioneer of this gamechanging model in the auto service industry in the country.”“Weopened ValuePlus Auto Service Las VPX introduces turnkey auto service shops Piñas before the pandemic and managed to grow it amid strict and long lockdowns in Metro Manila, which guarantees our franchisees that the shop has a strong customer base and is self-sustaining,” SaberolaValuePlusadded.Auto Service Las Piñas, located at No. 30 CAA Road, offers professional auto repair and maintenance services such as preventive maintenance, mechanical and electrical repairs, oil service, computerized wheel alignment, and clutch repairs, among others. To help its franchisees operate the shop, VPX will provide them with intensive staff training as well as management and marketing support by assigning a dedicated zone supervisor where their shop is located and promoting their shop on socialValuePlusmedia.will soon open its second BOT VPX shop in Pasig, which is also now accepting applications from interested franchisees. Those interested in franchising or participating in the pre-selling of its Pasig branch may contact Mark Saberola via email at mark@valueplusph.com or by phone at 0917-637-2085 for more information.
Jenson Button, the 2009 FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion who recently joined the Rolex family of Testimonees and is set to attend the event, says: "The Quail is truly unique and inspires everyone who attends. I love seeing pioneering new designs and prototypes being launched by the resourceful and independent coachbuilders, alongside car manufacturers who are household names. Equally, the style and functionality at the heart of Rolex watchmaking is reflected here in the beauty and longevity of these classic cars. For me, it’s all about the stunning lines and seeing machines that are like carefully sculpted works of Stagedart.”on the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links®, the grand finale of this car extravaganza takes place on Sunday, 21 August. The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® is a glamorous showcase of automotive design and engineering, where the camaraderie among competitors and aficionados is always strong. As the muchanticipated Talbot-Lago Grand Sport takes to the field, the centennial of Lincoln’s luxury cars will also be honoured. Rolex first partnered the Concours in 1997, as a testament to the Swiss watchmaker’s commitment to uphold tradition and continuously innovate. As is the custom after the closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, the winner of the Best of Show is awarded a Rolex Timepiece and a trophy in honour of their exceptional commitment to preserving motoring heritage.
HE Monterey Peninsula once again transformed into a motoring haven. Visitors from all corners of the globe experienced a spectacular array of tours, concours and races between 17 -21 August as French endurance racing met Californian tradition as activities centre on the highly anticipated 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023. From the prestige of the world’s oldest twice-aroundthe-clock race to the automotive excellence on show throughout the five days, Rolex supports the celebration of heritage and pioneering technology that makes these events truly timeless. An association which first began in 2001, the brand has now been Title Sponsor of the annual Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion since 2010, sharing a desire to preserve the legacies of racing heroes and those who so expertly maintain these vintage machines. The hallmarks of the four-day meeting are authenticity, period correctness and provenance, with 500 historic cars taking to the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca across 14 categories. As the only driver to have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans nine times and an emblematic figure in the world of motor sport, it is fitting that Rolex Testimonee Tom Kristensen will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal. Kristensen, who joined the Rolex family in 2010, says: "I’m immensely proud of the legacy of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and it makes me very nostalgic when I see these events in California recognizing it. Marking milestones and reflecting on the past helps you move forward, succeed and achieve new records. It’s what Rolex and motor sport are about – always improving and breaking down the boundaries of possibility. Taking part in such a wonderful occasion gives me the chance to reminisce on the remarkable time I had competing, and it also inspires me to look ahead to the future as technology rapidly develops.”
California looks forward to marking 100 years of Le Mans
A FTER a two-year break, the “Kadayawan sa Davao” is finally celebrated in-person and no longer through the computer screens, creating much exhilaration within the city and the tourism industry. Now on its 37th year of celebration, the festival serves as thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest, rich culture, and a celebration of life. To officially celebrate the festival, Park Inn by Radisson Davao launched the Pinta Madayaw: A Kadayawan Art Exhibit in partnership with Group of Aspiring Mindanawon Artists (GAMA) and the hotel’s Kadayawan room and F&B promotions last August 10. The event was graced by Davao city Vice Mayor, Hon. Melchor Quitain, Deputy Mayor of the Bagobo - Tagabawa Tribe - Bae Sheirelle Uy Anino, Consulate General of Republic of Indonesia - Consul Novita, friends from the local art scene, media and tourism & corporate sector. The exhibit aims to support local artists from GAMA and Pasudkaroy where 10% of the sold art pieces will be used to purchase art materials for the children trained under Pasudkaroy. Pasudkaroy is a non-profit group composed of visual artists who belong to the Indigenous Persons community and one of their biggest ambition is to widen the knowledge of IPs in terms of visual arts and to increase the number of visual artists who are part of IPs. Along with the ribbon-cutting of the exhibit, the hotel launched the Kadayawan offerings that will be offered until the end of the month. Take delight on the cake of the month: Flourless Durian Cheesecake, specially curated by the hotel’s pastry team. Have a bite into sliced layers of graham crust and cream cheese, decorated with beautiful Malagos Chocolate dark and white chocolate garnish. Whole cake is at P1,600 and a slice is at P195. Looking for something more savoury? Enjoy the Kadayawan Set Meal at P3,850 – good for 5 persons! Each set comes with an abundant platter of grilled chicken, tuna, squid, beef satay, sinigang na hipon sa santol, turmeric fried rice, ube rice turon and pomelo juice. For bookings & queries: reservations.davao@ parkinn.com | 082 272 7500 For more information, visit radissonhotels. com/parkinn or connect with us on: Instagram: www.instagram.com/parkinndavao Facebook: www.facebook.com/parkinndavao Kadayawan Festival: A celebration of art & music
The Allies Assembly is their annual gathering to bring this international community together to reflect on learnings and challenges; engage multi-stakeholders within and beyond the network to raise ambition and create impact on the ground for the evolution of this movement for business action towards the global goals. The 2022 Assembly was built on the theme of “Community Building”, with an aim to inspire global and diverse partnerships to drive collective action on sustainable development.Attheplenary, with four other notable speakers including Western Cape Education Department Deputy Director General Haroon Mohamed, Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa Sebastiaan Messerschmidt, Senior MPIC CFO Cabal-Revilla joins WBA Allies’ Assembly 2022
T HE Senate Committee Chairman for Basic Education, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian will be the Keynote Speaker for this year’s Philippine Academy of Teachers, Administrators and Practitioners in Education (PATAPE) event as it organizes a privileged meeting with the theme, “PATAPE: Reinventing Education for Relevance and Quality” to be held on August 27, 2022 at 9:00 am at the Novotel Manila Araneta City, Quezon City. The event provides an invaluable opportunity for the Honorable Senator to present the Senate initiatives and proposed reforms on K-12 Law as we begin a new school year where students will experience face to face classes for the first time in two years since the pandemic. Further, with the education sector in a pivotal stage due to the push to review the K-12 curriculum after a recent Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Sen. Gatchalian himself revealed a growing dissatisfaction on the program, this is an opportune time to address these compelling issues and challenges in the Education Sector. The event also hopes to look into the strategic objectives of the K-12 Program within the purview of the digital age of learning. The event targets participants from various government educational institutions (DepEd, CHED and TESDA), the academe from both public and private institutions, and other relevant sectors.
PR Matters By Millie F. Dizon
Monday, August 22, 2022BusinessMirror Marketing B7news.businessmirror@gmail.com
To get the mix right, Coyle recommends that we research on the most effective tactics to grab their attention and with that what channels tey engage in the most to target where they are.
Don’t forget the internal—decide early how you will present results to senior leaders—and howPrepareoften.” an itemized budget for each year of the plan. Your last step will be to prepare an itemized budget for each year of the plan. “This will help determine costs and areas for potential scale back,” says Doyle. “It may be hard to calculate a cost for every step of the implementation. Provide estimates if necessary.”Thelast and most crucial step is to present the plan to top management. Adjust the plan as they give their inputs, and work it out together or what’s best for the company.
Atome launched in the Philippines in October 2021, when it also announced its first-ever global celebrity brand ambassador, popular K-pop group ASTRO. Atome is Asia’s leading “buy now, pay later” platform, partnering with over 15,000 online and offline retailers in 10 markets (Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, mainland China, and Japan). In the Philippines, it partnered with over 600 online and offline retailers, including SM Store, ZALORA, Suyen Corp, Primer Group, Agoda, Converse, Giordano, Rustan’s, Timex, National Bookstore, Time Depot, Anker, Garmin, Uratex, Fitness First, Skechers, Toby’s, Bayo, Pretty Looks, Boozy. ComCo C e lebr At es 6th ye A r w ith A slew of m A j or milestones for the young Ag en C y MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Coming from its groundbreaking Blazing Sapphire milestone, Communications firm COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA) celebrated its 6th year this 2022 with the unveiling of its global headquarters, the full rollout of its COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA) branch, major account wins, and awards from prestigious international awardgiving COMCObodies.Mundo League of Enterprises unveils new global headquarters This year brought yet another milestone for COMCO SEA as it opened its global headquarters in Makati City’s Central Business District as part of its expansion. The new headquarters will house COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises’ current and upcoming ventures: COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA), COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA), Camp COMCO Alumni Society, Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, and Taro Digital AOX.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the UK based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chair. We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.
Presenting the Atome C Ard, A new wAy for filiPinos to buy now, PAy l Ater MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Financial services company Mastercard and pay later brand Atome have partnered to launch the Atome Card in the Philippines, offering Filipino consumers a new way to pay with credit. The Atome card provides cardholders with an Atome line of credit that can be used to pay online and in-store retailers by simply presenting the card during check-out. At launch, consumers in the Philippines can register their interest for the Atome Card with one click, directly via the latest version of the Atome app, or via this Early Bird registration link. Selected consumers from the Early Bird phase will receive an email inviting them to apply for the Atome Card. “The launch of the Atome Card marks an exciting new chapter for Atome, as it’s the first financial service we offer apart from Buy Now, Pay Later. With no annual fees and minimum income requirements, the Atome Card will give many underserved segments in the Philippines access to a flexible credit facility, the first such innovative solution across the region with more markets to come in the next few months,” said Magic Tang, Atome Payment partnerships director. “Mastercard is delighted to partner with Atome on this innovative product that will contribute to building a cash-lite society and drive financial inclusivity by serving more than 70% of Filipinos who are unbanked or underbanked and do not qualify for credit cards. The Atome Card will enable cardholders with choice, control and flexibility to manage their finances and is available to use anywhere Mastercard is accepted. For merchants, this also means increased sales and better conversion rates, extending the benefits of digital commerce to more consumers and businesses in the Philippines,” added Simon Calasanz, Country Manager, Philippines, Mastercard.
Choose tactics and channels oNC e you have defined audiences, how will you communicate to them? What mix of channels will you use?
Each area is inspired by different pop culture references rooted in COMCO’s love for movies, series, music, books, and all the emerging platforms out there. The COMCO SEA workstation is called the “Millennium Falcon” while the executive office is dubbed the “Cerebro.” The rest of the areas are “Rivendell” for the Corporate Services Unit, “Black Castle” for the Digital and Multimedia Arts Unit, “Watch Tower Hall” for the conference room, “Bifrost Bridge” for the reception, “Room of Requirements” for the stock room, and “Wooley Hall” for the lounge area.
Determine Measurement and ReportingAsyou are developing your plan, think of how you will measure and how you will report these measurements, and to whom.Typically, “it is a combination of campaign metrics, benchmarking, and surveying/focus groups,” says Coyle. With that, “it’s best to choose the right combination that works for your organization and measures your audience engagement as effectively as possible.
insight: 5 Cre Ative AgenCies from the PhiliPPines in r 3 worldwide’s l Ate st business le Ague MANILA, PHILIPPINES — R3 Worldwide has released the creative and media agencies’ new business league in the Philippines for June ThereCreative2022.agencieswereonlyfive agencies that made it into the June list of R3’s business league. Topping the rankings is Ogilvy, with four big wins including Coca-Cola Company, Facebook, Nestlé, and Unilever; followed by Dentsu with its acquisition of the Chowking Food Corp. account. DDB ranked third with three new accounts: Department of Health (DOH) Project, APEC Schools Project, Xtreme AppliancesMeanwhile,Project.12media agencies are in the ranks for June’s new business league. In the lead is OMD for winning Reebok, and Unilab; followed by Carat with the accounts: Universal Robina Corporation, and The Insular Life Assurance. Universal McCann placed third for the tourism promotions board Philippines – Global Media Project, JS Unitrade – EQ Diapers, and Eneos.
Now that things are easing up, events are slowly emerging, company plans put on hold are being implemented, and brands are back with what’s now and what’s new.
The coronavirus chronicles: How do I make a good PR plan?
This gives communicators more work opportunities to revitalize their craft with their agencies and companies. And this all starts with a well thought of plan. But where does one begin? In an article in PR News, Sandra Coyle, founder of Coyle Communications, shares with us The 6 Must-Have Elements of a Comprehensive PR Plan which offers great tips for new and communicators coming back after a two year hiatus. Understand the scenario What is the purpose of the plan? To launch a new product? To avert a looming crisis? To build the company’s image? Design your plan to do that. Coyle further suggests that we “have discussions with senior leadership and board members, when appropriate, about concerns and desires”, and may we add,Likewise,directions.“research your industry to see what competitors are doing with their PR. Develop a strong understanding of the climate your organization is operating in, both internal and external.” e s tablish goals NoW is the time to determine what will be achieved after implementation of your plan. Do you wish to change behaviors or perceptions within the organization? Do you wish to gain customers? Do you desire greater brand recognition and higher sales? “Try to have 3-5 goals,” says Coyle. “Remember to ensure that they are measurable along the implementation of the plan.” Define audiences It is crucial to know whom you are trying to reach—customers, business partners, or local government groups? More importantly, what do you need to communicate.“Definingkey audiences and segmentation are critical to ensure your plan will be effective,” says Coyle. “In addition, it’s important to have consensus among leadership and your board as to who these audiences and how they are defined.”
COMCO Middle East and Africa in full swing Following its launch during COMCO SEA’s Blazing Sapphire anniversary event last year, COMCO Middle East and Africa is now in full blast servicing various brands in the market. In its first year, COMCO MEA has already worked with notable brands in the Middle East such as Buono Buono, Nolte, Open Thrill, Paus, POPC Live!, Red Shrimp, TruCARE, Victor, Yas Plaza Hotels, Belcanto Restaurant, Empire Movies, Central Park Towers, Dubai London Hospital, Electric Pawnshop, GESS Education, R&B Kids, Playbook, Universal Trading Company LLC, MaKiRa Dubai, Hudson Tavern Dubai, Katsuya, Najah Connect and Middle East Film & Comic Con. COMCO MEA, together with COMCO SEA, also recently conducted the property roadshows for Philippine property firm RLC Residences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as among the group’s first of many synergy initiatives.
CLARKSON BIG PLUS FOR GILAS
programMonday.ForumwritersPhilippineingChotrosterGilas12-manthenounceanwillBarrios“Sonny”RenauldpersonPilipinasofcoachReyesduraspecialonlineSportsAssociationatnoononThepublicsportsispresented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Philippine PhilippineUnileverAmelieSportsCommittee,OlympicPhilippineCommission,HotelManila,andtheAmusement and Gaming Corp. The weekly Forum is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page pineSportswritersAssociationfb.com/Philip and aired on a delayed basis over Radyo Pilipinas 2, which also shares it on its official Facebook page. Josef Ramos JORDAN CLARKSON brings world-class act to Gilas Pilipinas.
A RRIANA JUNE CESISTA scooped eight gold medals to emerge as the most valuable player in the Finis Short Course Swimming National Finals on Sunday at the New Clark Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac. The pride of Pangasinan representing the Thresher Shark Swim Team, Cesista swept the girls 7-8 class with victories in the 50-m butterfly (50.52 seconds) over Zavrinah Pailagao of Sweetdophins (51.39), 100-m backstroke (1:43.31) against Teof Velez of Northmin Stars (2:03.04), and 50-m breast (53.50) against Zavrinah Pailagan (59.87) and Violette Chavez (1:04.15) in the event organized by Finis Philippines. Our focus was to win and I am thankful to my coach and my parents,” said the second Grader from Tambungan Preparatory School in Pangasinan.I’lltreasure this medal,” added Cesista, referring to the medals personally designed by Finis Managing Director Vince Garcia. Cesista won gold medals in the 100-m Individual medley (1:44.60), 100-m butterfly (2:01.43), 50-m backstroke (49.72), 100-m breaststroke (2:00.11) and 50-m freestyle (44.60). Davao Del Norte’s Czarina Cavite won one gold and one silver medals in the girls’ 9-10 class—50-m butterfly (40.94) and 50-m breast (45.84) won by Reese Tacuboy (43.63). The 10-year old Cavite of the DavNor Blue Marlins Swim Team became the event’s first triple gold medalist in the morning session on Saturday with victories in the 100-m IM (1:28.83), 100m butterfly (1:32.29) and 50-m finishers.to(35.41).freestyleCapasMayorRosellerRodriguezawardedthemedalsandtrophiesthepodiumGarciasaidthe
J ORDAN CLARKSON draws all the oohs and aahs from his would-be teammates at Gilas Pilipinas, the final 12 of which will be announced on Monday. His passing skills and leadership is something else, his offense … when we need to score,” said NLEX’s Kevin Alas, one of the 17 players in the pool which will have its final practice Monday morning before the final 12 will be named and fly to Beirut later in the day. He’s a game changer for sure and the focal point of offense,” Alas said. C larkson will be Gilas’s naturalized player when the country plays Lebanon in Beirut on Thursday and Saudi Arabia on August 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Sixth Man of the Year playing with the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association 2020-21 season, Clarkson will play primarily play guard for Gilas but could be stretched to the forward position. The 39-year-old FilipinoAmerican, who played for Gilas in the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games, arrived in the country Friday and immediately joined the team practice at the Meralco Gym. He’s a legitimate NBA player, but he doesn’t have that superstar complex,” Alas said. “He joins all the drills during training and workout.”
AP FINIS Managing Director Vince Garcia raised Arriana June Cesista’s hands.
A las said Clarkson’s playmaking skills, passing and court vision will be of full use for Gilas during the fourth window of the International Basketball Federation World Cup Asia qualifiers. B arangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Japeth Aguilar, meanwhile, finally joined the team practice on Sunday morning after yielding a negative result for Covid-19 test. W ith Aguilar and Clarkson at practice were Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Carl Tamayo, Arvin Tolentino, Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Roosevelt Adams, sevenfoot-3 center Zachary “Kai” Sotto, Jamie Malonzo, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and Dwight Ramos.
HINA made quick work of South Korea while Japan survived a three-setter against Thailand at the start of the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup for Women before a good Sunday crowd at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The Chinese, the five-time champions of the tournament, needed only 69 minutes in disposing of the Koreans, 25-9, 25-8, 25-9, at the refurbished Philippine Sports Commission facility that had all the looks of a world-class arena borne out of its historic past. The Japanese, on the other hand, faced a Thai side that played hard-tobeat in each of the three sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-22, to also gain a headstart in the event organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation. Z huang Yushan finished with 13 points, eight she made in the third set, while Zhou Yetong and Hu Mingyuan had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Chinese. Setter Sun Haiping was solid in the service area with five of China’s 13 service aces. Yuki Nishikawa tallied a match-best 20 points, Miyu Nakagawa had two blocks for 19-point outing and went 12of-23 from spikes while Mizuki Tanaka was the other Japanese player in double digits with 11 points.
Editor:mirror_sports@yahoo.com.phJunLomibaoSports
“ We wanted to improve our offensive play. That’s our goal for the next game,” captain Shibata said. The Koreans are fielding high school standouts who are getting a taste of top-level international play and were immediately tested by the Chinese. “ The rest of the teams are all seniors while we are all young generation. So we will learn more and more throughout the competition,” South Korea playmaker Choi Yeonghye said through an interpreter. The Chinese outhit the Koreans, 3816, and had 10 blocks to open Pool A. They’re strong, they have the height and everything. They gave us a hard time,” 17-year-old Choi said.
I t hought—is this crazy? No country in history that has been invaded has pushed through with any sporting event. Wouldn’t this make an ideal target for these inhumane Russians who have lied about their wrongdoings and have bombed indiscriminately? And is this a huge PR move? I know the Ukrainian national team competed abroad for World Cup qualification and that is different. On home soil? Wow this is saying something to the Ukrainian people and giving the finger to the Russians. Just this past Sunday, I watched the film adaptation of the Tham Luang Cave Rescue of 2018 that I followed keenly in the news. As film director Ron Howard said, he was struck by the sense of volunteerism amongst the 10,000 people who took part in the rescue efforts. A nd the same can be said for the plight of Ukraine that undergoes daily attacks from Russia. Polish sports stars—tennis player Iga Swiatek and footballer Robert Lewandowski who have not only spoken out against Russian aggression but have contributed to the affected person. L ast July 23, Swiatek organized a charity tennis event in Poland with the proceeds going to affected children. L ewandowski on the other hand prematurely ended his sponsorship of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei that has been supporting Russian defense against Ukrainian hackers. The world cannot accept what is happening there. I hope the whole world will support Ukraine,” said FIFA’s Best Men’s Player of 2020 and 2021. A lexander Volkov, who played in the National Basketball Association as a Russian player when Ukraine was still a satellite of the now defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics reached out to Sarunas Marciulionis, a Soviet teammate who later played for his native Lithuania, have helped transport and settle down nine Ukrainian kids in Vilnius. A community in the German town of Hennef has provided refuge for the Ukrainian U-17 team. T he National Canoe Federations across Europe have also provided housing, food, and support for displaced Ukrainians. Andthere’s a whole lot more (we haven’t included the voices and demonstrations of support by athletes from all over the world). And you have Ukrainian sports stars like Andriy Shevchenko and Elina Svitolina being named as ambassadors for UNITED @4 that aims to direct donations to Ukraine’s war effort. Two of the greatest boxers ever in brothers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko have taken up arms to defend their nation’s capital of Kyiv. Vitali is the mayor of Kyiv. And there are others such as biathlon star Dmytro Pidruchnyi, tennis player Sergej Stachowski, boxers Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko, footballer Oleh Luzhnyi, football coach Yuriy Vernydub, and mixed martial artist Yaroslav Amosov who have also joined the armed forces of Ukraine. It is really an unfortunate thing in our lifetime—this war. The world hasn’t even recovered from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 virus and then there’s this war that has not only disrupted the flow of basic goods and necessities, but it has also driven up prices. And China’s war games off the coast of Taiwan is not helping any. These are utterly dangerous times we live in. One mistake could lead to a global conflagration. And despite all of this, I must say that the spirit of volunteerism, the compassion shown, and the help offered by people from all over the world tells me there is hope just yet. Monday, august 22, 2022 BusinessMirror
Sports world comes together for Ukraine
Cesista scoops eight gold medals in Finis swimfest
Kids Triathlon will also be staged at the New Clark City while the Open Swimming will be held in Batangas in collaboration with Rep. Eric Buhain. The other winners were Ichico Velez of Northmin Stars in the boys 9-10 100m butterfly (1:53.40), Daniel Ocampo of Dax Swim in the boys 11-12 (1:07.63), Gilbert Gonzalvo in the boys 13-14 (1:02.46), Kobe Ramirez in the boys 15-16 (1:00.21), Anton Malayang (boys 15-16, 1:03.80), Kaelan Garzon (boys 17-18, 57.91), Joco Delizo (boys 19over, 1:00.75), Kyle Belicena (girls 11-12, 1:14.78), Rianna Montelibano (girls 13-14, 1:10.00), Keilah Labarda (girls 13-14, 1:35.73), Triza Tabamo (girls 15-16, 1:08.30) and Jasmine Obra (girls 17-18, 1:13.03).
C
THERE is talk that the Ukrainian Premier League is set to return after football matches were suspended when Russia invaded. There will be no live audiences and matches will supposedly be played behind closed doors with safety measures in place.
Josef Ramos CHINESE-TAIPEI yields a point with this miscue.
NONIE REYES
USYK: PRIDE OF UKRAINE
K ING ABDULLAH Sports City, Saudi Arabia— Oleksandr Usyk kissed the blue-and-yellow flag of Ukraine and looked to the Saudi Arabian sky as he waited to discover if he had honored his war-torn country by retaining his world heavyweight titles. W hen he heard the winning words “and still,” an emotional Usyk raised his left arm and pulled the flag over his Sface.ixmonths ago, he was patrolling the streets of Kyiv with an automatic rifle and defending Ukraine from the invading Russians. Here, inside the ring at King Abdullah Sport City arena, the still-undefeated Usyk had lived up to his billing as the sporting pride of Ukraine by beating Anthony Joshua in a closely fought rematch on Saturday to keep his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation belts. “ I devote this victory to my country, to my family, to my team, to all the military defending this country,” the 35-year-old Usyk said through a translator. “Thank you very, veryAmuch.”fteragrueling five-month training camp, Usyk entered the arena in a blue-and-yellow top carrying the words “Colors of Freedom” and supported by words of encouragement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his nightly video address to the nation. We stick together,” the president said. “We help each other. We restore what was destroyed. We fight for all our people. And we cheer for those who represent Ukraine, today— definitely for Usyk, our guy!” A nd Usyk started as the favorite after outclassing Joshua in the first fight in London in September last year. However, the British challenger, a former two-time champion, came into the rematch with a new game plan from his new trainer Robert Garcia: Attack Usyk’s body and keep the pressure on. A nd it nearly worked, with Usyk as he was chased around the ring by Joshua, who landed combinations and targeted Usyk’s ribs. Usyk took a deep breath at the bell, then came out hard in the 10th round, hurting Joshua with an early right hook and forcing him onto the ropes for the first time in the fight. The battering of Joshua was sustained in the 11th while the 12th was evenly fought, the fight ending with both fighters—clearly exhausted— falling to their knees in front of each other on the canvas. They embraced and Joshua appeared to offer his help to the plight of Ukraine.Then, in an expletiveladen speech inside the ring after grabbing the microphone, Joshua— who moments earlier was seen picking up two of Usyk’s belts and throwing them to the canvas—hit back at his critics before praising Usyk for fighting so well in the circumstances.IwasstudyingUkraine and all the champions from your amazing country,” Joshua said. “I’ve never been there. What’s happening there, I don’t know but it’s not nice. For Usyk to be champion, under those circumstances, please raise your hands.” Usyk was complimentary about Joshua,Thistoo.isalready history,” he said. “Many generations are going to watch this fight, especially the round when someone tried to beat me hard. But I stood up to it and turned it in a different way.” Usyk also claimed the Ring Magazine belt with the win. There’s only one heavyweight title that Usyk doesn’t own—the World Boxing Council one that is about to be vacated by Tyson Fury, who says he is retired. W hen asked about Fury, Usyk said: “I am sure Tyson Fury is not retired yet. I am sure Tyson Fury wants to fight me. If I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m Two judges gave it to Usyk, one 115113 and the other 116-112. The other gave the fight to Joshua, 115-113. Joshua, a two-time heavyweight champion, fell to his third loss in 27 fights and his career is at a crossroads. W here Usyk goes from now appears to depend on Fury. Saudi state television published photographs showing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attending the fight. The 36-year-old son of King Salman, the crown prince has pushed for sporting events to come to the kingdom even as US intelligence agencies believe he ordered the beheading and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Khashoggi.Jamal
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director and spokesChinese, Japan book straight-set victories in AVC Cup for Women
SIX months ago, Oleksandr Usyk was patrolling the streets of Kyiv with an automatic rifle and defending Ukraine from the invading Russians. On Sunday, he makes his country proud.
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