BusinessMirror December 02, 2021 by BusinessMirror

NG debt inches closer to P12T as of end-Oct B B D. N @BNicolasBM

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BRAZIL, JAPAN REPORT FIRST CASES OF OMICRON VARIANT

HE national government’s outstanding debt is inching closer to the P12-trillion mark as it further swelled to P11.97 trillion as of end-October this year, marking a new record high. According to the latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury, the current debt stock level is 19.38 percent higher than P10.028 trillion a year ago. While National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon earlier said they expect upcoming repayments to bring down the debt stock, the

latest figure is still beyond the government’s expected level of P11.73 trillion by the end of this year. Since the previous month’s level of P11.92 trillion, the country’s debt stock has slightly increased by 0.5 percent primarily due to the net issuance of domestic securities. From P9.795 trillion as of end2020, the debt level has already ballooned by 22.2 percent as of end-October this year. The bulk of the debt stock or 70.7 percent was still sourced from domestic borrowings while the remaining P29.3 percent, from foreign borrowings.

Domestic debt as of end-October reached P8.47 trillion, surging by 19.65 percent year-onyear from P7.077 trillion. It has also picked up by 0.96 percent from the end-September level of P8.39 trillion. Meanwhile, foreign debt hit P3.5 trillion, jumping by 18.74 percent from P2.95 trillion as of October 2020. However, this was slightly smaller than the P3.529 trillion posted in the previous month due to the impact of local and foreign currency exchange rate adjustments. Meanwhile, total outstanding guaranteed debt dropped by 4.77

percent to P426.46 billion from P447.85 billion a year ago. It also contracted by 1.48 percent from P432.86 billion as of end-September this year due to the net redemption of domestic and external guarantees. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael Ricafort said the outstanding debt slowed both on a month-onmonth and year-on-year basis on the back of further reopening of the economy, which led to an increase in tax revenue collections and reduction in government expenditures. C  A

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Thursday, December 2, 2021 Vol. 17 No. 55

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TOP shot of Edsa on Wednesday shows vehicles on slow traffic mode—precisely the situation that has led authorities to impose the uniform light trucks ban with modification: based on the UVVRP motor vehicle plate endings, light trucks shall be barred from plying Edsa between Magallanes in Makati and North Avenue in Quezon City, both north- and southbound, from 5 to 9 pm, Mondays to Fridays, except holidays. The government is trying to strike a balance between avoiding a return to prepandemic traffic and dampening renewed business activity. ROY DOMINGO

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HE country’s manufacturing sector recorded its best performance in 8 months in November as higher demand pushed up new orders during the month, an international think tank reported.

In its report on the country’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), IHS Markit reported on Wednesday that the Philippines’s PMI hit 51.7 in November, up from the 51 PMI recorded in the previous month. This is the country’s highest PMI in eight months. A country’s PMI is meant to gauge the health of its manufacturing sector. It is calculated as a weighted average of five indi-

vidual subcomponents. Readings above 50 show growth in the industry while readings below the 50 threshold signal a contraction in the manufacturing sector. The think tank said the expansion in new orders was central to the PMI uptick in November, with new sales rising for the first time since March. The report also noted

HE “Filipino First” mentality that guided the crafting of the 1987 Constitution will not propel the Philippines to a higher economic growth path that is needed to eradicate poverty, according to a framer of the country’s charter. In the first plenary of the virtual Arangkada Philippines Forum on Wednesday, constitutionalist and economist Bernardo M. Villegas said removing restrictions to foreign investments would allow the country to recover from the pandemic and help eradicate poverty. Villegas said the economy must post growth of 6 to 7 percent in the next three to five years and as high as 8 to 10 percent in the next five to 10 years to end poverty in the Philippines. “We just cannot go back to normal. We have to accelerate our growth rate to about 8 to 10 percent in the next 5 to 10 years somehow replicating what China was able to do during the time of Deng Xiaoping,” Villegas said. “I feel a little more respon-

sible because I was part of the group that wrote this Constitution. We have to finally remove that ‘Filipino first’ mentality that is so obsolete in the present context,” he stressed. By removing “Filipino First,” Villegas said, restrictions imposed on foreign investments particularly in sectors such as telecom, advertising, media, and higher education can be lifted. A lawyer and investment adviser speaking at the same Arangkada forum was equally blunt: The 1987 Constitution needs to be rewritten to eliminate foreign equity restrictions, allowing more investments to flow into the country. At the forum hosted by the Joint Foreign Chambers on Wednesday, Atty. Anthony A. Abad, a senior partner at Abad, Alcantara & Associates, did not mince words when he said that the 1987 Constitution is a “constitution that was written in haste.” “You should not leave constitutions to be written up by politicians. It actually should be written up by economists and people who will understand the economic effects of the constitution,” he stressed. One repercussion is the C  A

S “PMI,” A

Unctad ‘very uncertain’ with trade outlook for 2022 B T J C. P @Tyronepiad

ESPITE seeing double-digit growth for 2021, the global trade outlook for next year is still “very uncertain” due to economic recovery losing momentum and continuing logistic disruptions in pandemic, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) said. In its November Global Trade Update, Unctad said the pace of economic recovery slowed down in the second half of the year from the

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first half, when growth was backed by easing mobility restrictions and stimulus packages, among others. “In particular, economic growth of China in Q3 [third quarter] 2021 was below expectations and lower than in previous quarters. Lowerthan-expected economic growth rates are generally reflected in more downcast global trade trends,” the UN report noted. “Rising commodity prices and inflationary pressures may also negatively affect economic prospects and international trade flows,” it added.

As for the supply chain concerns, the UN committee noted that the “large and unpredicted swings in demand” amid the recovery this year has resulted in a logistics bottleneck. Unctad said the logistic disruptions, along with high fuel prices, led to supply shortages and heightened shipping costs. “In particular, the backlogs across major supply chain hubs that have characterized most of 2021 could continue into 2022 and therefore negatively affect trade and reshape trade flows across the

world,” it noted. The UN group, in an earlier report, warned that consumer prices will likely “significantly” rise in the coming year due to increase in freight rates. Its analysis points to an 11-percent increase to global import prices between now and 2023 if freight rates remain high. This, as consumer price levels are expected to rise by 1.5 percent in the same period. The Unctad report also cited the semiconductor shortage as a threat S “U,” A

■ US 50.3840 ■ JAPAN 0.4453 ■ UK 67.0208 ■ HK 6.4619 ■ SINGAPORE 36.9357 ■ AUSTRALIA 35.8885 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 13.4304 ■ EU 57.1304 ■ CHINA 7.9160

Source: BSP (December 1, 2021)

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Unctad...

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to trade next year, noting that it has affected the automotive sector and other manufacturing industries. “Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the semiconductor industry has been facing headwind due to unanticipated surges in demand and persisting supply constraints,” it said. “If persistent, this shortage could continue to negatively affect production and trade in many manufacturing sectors.” Other factors contributing to a cloudy outlook for trade are government policies affecting international trade and debt burdens, Unctad said. “The additional borrowing of governments to sustain their economies during the Covid-19 crisis could pose continuous risks of financial instability, especially in the case of global inflationary pressures,” it explained. For 2021, Unctad sees global trade improving by 23 percent to $28 trillion year-on-year after growth stabilized in the second half. The global trade in goods and services reached $5.6 trillion and $1.5 trillion, respectively, in the third quarter alone. Unctad said that trade in goods will have the same level in the fourth quarter but trade in services will “likely continue to slowly recover.”

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BSP pins growth prospects hope on Covid log dip, rise in jabs rate

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HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has expressed optimism on the country’s growth prospects for 2022, as cases fall and vaccination rates rise in recent months.

In a speaking engagement on Wednesday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the recent economic and health developments in the country show good indicators that the economy is on its way to a “strong recovery” in 2022. “Considering the recent economic developments and significant improvement in vaccine rollout, we are optimistic that there is sufficient support for the country’s recovery this year and in the nearterm,” Diokno said. “The management of risks through the calibrated reimposition of lockdown restrictions, the expected revitalization of key industries due to government policy support and structural reforms, and an improving global economy should help the Philippine economy recover in 2021 and accelerate in 2022,” he added.

Diokno said among the economic indicators being monitored are the latest gross domestic product (GDP) growth, inflation, bank performance and the country’s external position. The governor said the latest GDP growth print suggests that economic rebound is under way and inflation remains “well-anchored.” Diokno also said banks remain sound and while non-performing loans increased, banks remain highly capitalized. He noted that the country’s external position is strong, as supported by more than adequate external liquidity buffers and improving inflows from overseas Filipinos’ remittances and business-process outsourcing (BPO) receipts. “Economic activity is vastly improving. Yet, the overall mo-

PMI...

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that higher client numbers, increased footfall, and a general improvement in customer demand were the key drivers of growth. “Latest PMI data continued to signal a recovery in operating conditions in the Philippines with the headline figure at an eightmonth high. Supporting this was an expansion in new orders, which was the first uptick since the end of the opening quarter of the year. Output, meanwhile, fell at the softest pace in eight months and inched closer towards stability during November,” Shreeya Patel, economist at IHS Markit, said. The report also noted stockpiling and efforts to boost production were a key theme in the latest PMI print for the country. Despite the growth, the country’s PMI is still below the average in the region, which was at 52.3 in November.

Issues still linger

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno

mentum of the economic recovery remains foggy as long as a big part of the population remains unvaccinated and there is still a possible emergence of more virulent variants,” the governor said. “Nevertheless, the sustained implementation of targeted fiscal initiatives, as well as the acceleration of the vaccination program, should help boost market confidence and economic recovery,” he

added. The governor also reiterated his commitment to an accommodative monetary policy stance that is supportive of infusing liquidity in the financial system and recovery of the economy. “The BSP’s actions and policy thrusts will continue to be anchored on its core mandates of promoting price and financial stability,” Diokno said.

THE think tank also said that while the country’s PMI is above the 50-point growth threshold, several concerns must be addressed in the Philippine manufacturing sector. The report said traffic issues, port congestions and difficulties sourcing materials influenced another deterioration in vendor performance during November. “Supply-side issues and the lack of availability of raw materials weighed on production,” Patel said. The continuing decline in work force numbers was another main concern for the sector. The report said respondents often cited that voluntary resignations led to the decline, but firms also said they found it difficult to source skilled replacements. “Voluntary resignations were also of concern, with headcounts falling continuously over the last year and a half,” Patel said. “Encouragingly though, firms were able to keep backlogs at bay, suggesting that companies, for now, are dealing with labor shortages.”

1987 CHARTER FRAMER JOINS CALL FOR CHANGE C  A

imposition of 40-percent foreign equity restrictions, he noted, saying such measures simply “do not work.”

Digital sector’s promise

THESE sectors currently restricted—telecom, advertising, media, and higher education—now make up just one sector and that is the digital sector, according to Villegas. The digital sector will pave the way for greater economic growth which includes electronic commerce which has seen a rapid growth during the pandemic. Liberalizing these sectors, Villegas said, should be made immediately if not during the first few months of the term of the next administration. “I cringe every time I think that people cannot invest even 1 percent in university education in the Philippines because of our [restriction] in media and so those are areas that I hope the next administration will address,” Villegas said.

Invest in agriculture

ONE this has already been addressed, Villegas said the country would be able to grow the economy faster to reach 8 to 10 percent if the government would significantly invest in agriculture. Villegas said 75 percent of the country’s population is in the rural sector, specifically agriculture. Investing in agriculture will mean investing in lifting the poor from poverty.

Foundation for Economic Freedom Calixto V. Chikiamco agreed and said that agriculture should really be seen as agribusiness and commercial farming. Chikiamco said while the farm sector may be prone to biosecurity threats, this can be best addressed through bigger farms. This means amending provisions in the Constitution on agrarian reform. Currently, he said, the country’s farmlands are fragmented, leaving the average land size in the Philippines at only 1 hectare or less.

Regulation outside Charter

MEANWHILE, Abad explained that, “We’re not saying that we should not regulate investment but that does not have a place in the Constitution.” What needs to be done instead is craft new legislation separate from the Constitution—that underwent deliberation—to put up needed restrictions, he clarified. “So, it doesn’t matter if you make it 90-10, 70-30, 51-49, 6040—doesn’t work. It is ineffective. It is only successful in violation and it’s very difficult to actually monitor this type of restriction,” he further explained. In relation to this, the lawyer underscored that the Philippines is a part of the global economy—and its participation is key to maximizing the economic opportunities. An example of this is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), he cited. It is a trade deal covering the Asean members and their free trade agreement

partners. The Philippines has yet to signify its ratification. As such, to be able to have greater participation, Abad said that governance is key. “It is important to not disconnect your economy from your political system. They work hand in hand,” he pointed out.

Opening up the retail sector

WHILE Abad welcomes the Retail Trade Liberalization measure, he said it may need further tweaking as capital requirements might still be too costly for foreign investors. The measure, which is awaiting the President’s signature, lowers the minimum paid-up capital requirement of foreign companies to about $500,000 or P25 million from $2.5 million or P125 million previously. But some retail establishments will only have less than $100,000 capital in some instances, he said. “We should not fear small investments,” he said. “Remember that retail trade is a great opportunity for entrepreneurship and employment.” “So that restriction should not be in place because it is just going to be another disincentive and it only forces investors to go to other countries,” Abad explained. Still, he said the bill should be passed immediately, with further amendments scheduled later. Abad also called for the passage of the amendments to Foreign Investment Act and the amendments to the Public Services Act, both of which are seen to liberalize the economy.

NG debt inches closer to P12T as of end-Oct C  A

However, Ricafort said the P360 billion raised by issuing 5.5-year Retail Treasury Bonds will increase the country’s outstanding debt stock by December. Budget documents show the government expects outstanding debt to hit P13.42 trillion in 2022. The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio this year is projected to rise to 59.1 percent and peak next year at 60.8 percent— slightly above the internationally accept-

ed threshold—before gradually tapering off to 60.7 percent and 59.7 percent in 2023 and 2024. As of the end of the third quarter this year, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is already at 63.1 percent. The Department of Finance also sees the national government returning to its prepandemic debt and budget deficit levels as early as 2024 or by 2025, if the recommended fiscal measures are passed early by the next administration, and if the economy quickly recovers.

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, December 2, 2021 A3

DA bans poultry imports from Japan and Hungary By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE Philippines has slapped a temporary import ban on poultry products from Hungary and Japan due to confirmed outbreaks of bird flu in the two countries. Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar issued Memorandum Orders (MO) 72 and 73 that ordered the temporary import ban of domestic and

wild birds and their products from Japan and Hungary, respectively. The import ban on Japanese poultry products came just two months after the Philippines’s previous ban on the East Asian country was lifted. In both MOs, Dar noted that the two countries reported confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu last month to the international and local authorities. Japan reported several outbreaks

of HPAI that started last November 10 to the Philippine Bureau Animal Industry (BAI), while Hungary reported H5N1 outbreaks last November 17 to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). “There is a need to prevent the entry of HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population,” Dar said in the two MOs issued recently. With the import ban, the government has suspended the processing,

evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) for poultry products from the two countries. However, all shipments in transit/ loaded/accepted unto port before the official communication of the import bans to the Hungarian and Japanese authorities shall be allowed to enter the country provided that they were produced before a given date. Japanese poultry products produced before October 27 may en-

German firms upbeat on PHL prospects in next 12 months By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

AJORITY of the German firms doing business here in the Philippines turned optimistic on their outlook in the next 12 months on the back of positive medium-term economic projection and growing confidence in local investments. In its recent World Business Outlook Survey, the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) reported that 57 percent of the surveyed participants expressed a positive outlook, which is higher than the 29 percent in the previous study. Less respondents also said they are expecting worse at 3 percent. “The lesser numbers in the daily active cases of Covid-19 and the graduation of major areas to a more liberal alert level presents a promising outlook for our survey respondents,” GPCCI Executive Director Christopher Zimmer said.

About 34 percent of the companies said they are expecting better economic development in the medium term, which is an improvement from just 15 percent earlier. Some 34 percent anticipate the status quo, but 12 percent—lower than 40 percent than before—are projecting a worse economic situation. A quarter of the respondents, which is more than just 14 percent earlier, are likely to put up investments in the next 12 months. The majority or 43 percent said their local investments would remain the same. Some 31 percent, meanwhile, are expecting to have lower to no investments. Overall, 32 percent considered the current situation of their companies as “good,” which is higher than 21 percent in the previous study. Nearly half said they were satisfied, while the remaining 20 percent said it was “bad.” In terms of employment, 34 percent said they will hire more

in the next 12 months, 51 percent will retain the current work force and 15 percent will reduce their number of employees. The top risks identified by the respondents in the next 12 months, meanwhile, include demand, economic policy framework and price of raw materials. Apart from supply chain constraints and postponed or canceled investments, the report also cited travel restrictions as an adverse impact of the pandemic. “We also welcome the recently adjusted travel-related quarantine measures for fully-vaccinated individuals,” Zimmer said. “However, we still observe that key foreign nationals of both incoming and existing companies in the Philippines still experience problems coming in as entry measures and requirements remain rigorous, time-consuming, and burdensome.” Nearly half of the companies that indicated concerns with sup-

ply chains, meanwhile, said they will add new or look for new suppliers to address the situation. However, 40 percent did not diversify their supply chains, while 19 percent said they are changing or shortening the supply routes instead. In relation to this, among the factors the companies are looking at when searching for new production sites are legal certainty (83 percent), tax laws (67 percent), energy costs (50 percent) and electricity costs (50 percent). When choosing for new or additional suppliers, the respondents are factoring in reliability of the suppliers (94 percent), price-performance ratio (84 percent), product quality (75 percent) and Covid-19 management (28 percent), among others. The recent survey was conducted from September to October with a total of 74 responses from companies coming from different sectors, including, manufacturing, construction, trade and services.

ter the country while Hungarian poultry products produced before November 1 will be permitted, according to the documents. The MO also stipulated that all other shipments accepted at the port of origin the day after the date of the official communication of the import bans to Japanese and Hungarian authorities are “advised not to sail.” “Shipments which have not complied with the conditions set forth in Item 3 to Item 4 shall be dealt with as

per DA AO 9 S. 2010 Section VII.D,” the documents read. “Importation of meat products of poultry is subject to the conditions provided in Article 10.4.18, 10.4.19 and 10.4.24 of OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code [2021],” they added. Last month, the government reinstated the temporary import ban on poultry products from the Netherlands, which was the second time this year, due to confirmed outbreaks of bird flu.

House OKs bill on LGUs share of natl taxes for health services on third and final reading

HE House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill requiring all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays to appropriate no less than 15 percent of their national tax allotment share for health services. Voting 224 affirmative, 0 negative and 0 abstention, lawmakers passed House Bill 10392, authored by House Committee on Health Chairman and Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan. Under the proposal, local government units (LGUs) will appropriate in their annual budget no less than 15 percent of their annual national tax allotment for health services, including provision of free medicines to indigent patients. Tan said that along with local development initiatives, the provision of quality, accessible, and

relevant health services is enormously important, especially in the face of the lingering Covid-19 pandemic. She said her House Bill 10392 seeks to amend Section 287 of the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 to ensure the appropriation of at least 15 percent of annual national tax allotment for health services in all LGUs and they must undertake necessary action to prepare for the greater role and responsibilities of providing health services that they are expected to assume in the context of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling. The proposed appropriation shall be on top of whatever is allotted for health services under the existing development projects as provided under the LGC and the Special Health Fund (SHF), a component of the Universal Health Care Act (UHC). Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

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TF indicts cops in death of 1 of 9 activists in ‘Bloody Sunday’ ops By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said the Department of Justice’s Administrative Order 35 Task ForceSpecial Investigating Team (AO 35-SIT) has endorsed the conduct of a preliminary investigation for

possible filing of murder charges against 17 law enforcers believed to be involved in one of the nine deaths during the so-called “Bloody Sunday” police operations against suspected New People’s Army members last March 7 in the Calabarzon region. Guevarra was referring to the death of mass organizer and secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang

Makabayan in Cavite Emmanuel Asuncion. Asuncion was shot dead by policemen at the office of the Workers' Assistance Center (WAC) in Dasmariñas, Cavite, although the search warrant issued by Manila Judge Jose Lorenzo dela Rosa, was for his house in nearby Rosario town. The warrant covered Asuncion’s home in Rosario, Cavite, where he was allegedly keeping a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition.

Police later said they were able to recover some items during the raid. “In the case of the death of Emmanuel Asuncion, the AO 35 special investigating team has recommended the filing of murder charges against certain law enforcement agents involved in the incident,” Guevarra said. Among the policemen subpoenaed to attend the preliminary investigation on January 11 and 25, 2022 to be conducted at the Office of the City Prosecutor of Dasmarinas City, Cavite were Police Lieutenants Elbert Santos and Shay Jed Sapitula, PSMS (Police Senior Master Ser-

geant) Hector Cardinals, PMSG (Police Master Sergeant) Ariel dela Cruz, PSSG (Police Senior Staff Sergeant), Joemark Sajul, Police Corporals Ernie Ambuyoc, Mark John Defiesta, Arjay Garcia,. Caidar Dimacangun, Bryan Sanchez and Ericson Lucido, Patrolmen. Jayson Maala, Juanito Plite, Jonathan Tatel, Prince Benjamin Torres, Jaime Turingan and Lopera Rey PJ Dacara. The task force was created under Administrative Order 35 issued in 2013 to investigate extrajudicial and politically motivated killings as well as human-rights violations in the country.

The members of the task force are the DOJ—as the lead agencythe Department of the Interior and Local Government, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Meanwhile, Guevarra said the NBI is wrapping up its interviews of witnesses in the case of the deaths of couple Chai and Ariel Evangelista, who are members of the Ugnayan ng Mamamayan Laban sa Pagwawasak ng Kalikasan at Kalupaan. The Evangelista spouses were among those killed during the Bloody Sunday operations.

Google to ban ads related to Philippine ’22 elections

OOGLE has announced that it will not accept election advertisements in the Philippines during election campaign and silence periods, including from February 8, 2022 to May 9, 2022. In a news statement, Google said the

policy will apply to election advertisements that are purchased through Google Ads, Display and Video 360, and Shopping platforms that advertisers intend to place on Google, YouTube, and partner properties. This includes advertisements that promote or oppose any political party or the candidacy of any person or party for public office. The statement added Google is focusing its efforts and resources on upcoming election-related initiatives which aim to help people access useful and accurate information via product features and media literacy programs, encourage participation in the voting process, and help protect the

integrity of the elections. Google’s work towards supporting the elections has already started earlier this year beginning with #MagpaRehistroKa of the Commission on Elections, MullenLowe TREYNA, and Dashboard Philippines. The company supported the voter registration campaign by hosting the web site on Google Cloud and promoting it on its social-media pages. In 2021, Google also launched #YOUTHink magazine both in English and in Cebuano in partnership with CANVAS as part of its commitment to helping fight misinformation through media and information literacy.

Burgos Jr. relinquishes Nolcom post after 37 years of distinguished service

OUTGOING Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. (right) and his successor in acting capacity Brig. Gen. Andrew Costelo (left) during the retirement and change of command ceremonies held at the Nolcom headquarters in Tarlac. At the middle is Lt. Gen. Andres Centino, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. President Duterte (background) gives his birthday message to Burgos through a recorded video message. AFP PHOTO By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

HE outgoing commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command (AFPNolcom) relinquished his post on Wednesday after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., who logged more than 37 years in service, was replaced in an acting capacity by Nolcom Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Andrew Costelo during a ceremony presided over by the Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Andres Centino. Costelo would only hold the post for days as he would be installed as the commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Nueva Ecija this coming Friday. “Back then I could only hope that together we could accomplish our big dreams. Now I look back at what we have achieved together, and I am just overwhelmed with pride. We were faced with an extraordinary challenge of accomplishing our mission amid a pandemic. Did we ever slow down? We did not. We put on our masks, followed safety protocols, and carried on,” Burgos said. During the term of Burgos Jr, three guerilla fronts were dismantled and a total of 2,285 members of the New People’s Army were either killed, captured or have surrendered. The Nolcom significantly reduced the rebels’ ability to commit atrocities with the seizure of a total of 340 firearms along with 300 improvised explosive devices. Air and naval assets under the opera-

tional command of the Nolcom were also able to conduct more than a thousand flying hours of maritime patrols, maritime air surveillance and support to maritime law enforcement operations (MARLEN) and almost 2,000 hours of maritime surface patrols and sealift support operations. A total of 13 sovereign markers have been installed in uninhabited islands in Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands for security and strong assertion against foreign intrusion. To further assert Philippine sovereignty, a solidarity maritime patrol was also conducted in Commemoration of the Philippine Rise on June 12, 2021. A desalination plant was also constructed in Mavulis Island to provide a potable source of water to support fishermen and the troops deployed in the area. Meanwhile, the Nolcom promptly responded during calamities and Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of individuals were evacuated and rescued during the onslaught of typhoon Ulysses, Maring and Kiko. Nolcom units also supported local government units and other stakeholders in checkpoint operation, food and monetary assistance distribution, mobile patrol and information operation to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Rebel returnees were ensured of various aid under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP). They were provided with support in their new lives, which also allowed the command to sustain its operational gains and contribute to development goals of the government.

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BOC surpasses November collection goal by 13.4% By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected P58.789 billion for November, exceeding its target for the month. According to the BOC’s Revenue Collection Monitoring Group, the

bureau’s revenue take was 13.39 percent higher than its P51.847billion target for the month based on preliminary data. This is also 34.5 percent higher than its P43.711-billion haul in November 2020. In a news statement, the bureau attributed the recovery in its collec-

tion performance to several factors, including the improvement in the volume of importation, improved valuation, not to mention, the intensified collection efforts of all 17 ports, the gradual improvement of economy, reopening of businesses and borders, and the government’s effort in ensuring unhampered

movement of goods domestically and internationally amid the pandemic. For this year, the BOC has so far managed to collect P584.156 billion since January. This is already equivalent to 94.7 percent of its P616.749billion full-year collection target. Twelve out of 17 collection districts also exceeded their respective

targets for the month of November, particularly ports of San Fernando, Manila International Container Port, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Batangas, Legaspi, Iloilo, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Davao, Subic, Clark, and Limay. In October this year, the BOC broke its streak of hitting or exceed-

ing its monthly collection targets since January. It only collected P55.99 billion for the month of October, missing its target of P57.637 billion by 2.86 percent. BOC, however, was still able to collect P525.37 billion from January to October this year, eclipsing its P513.2-billion target for the period.

Neda exec: 18 infra flagship projects finished by June ’22 By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE Duterte administration will complete 18 of its 112 flagship projects by the time the President’s term ends in June 2022, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). In a presentation at the virtual Arangkada Philippines Forum on Wednesday, Neda OIC-Undersecretary for Investment Programming Jonathan L. Uy said 94 other projects are expected to be completed after Duterte steps down from the Palace. Uy said these projects are composed of nine projects that will be completed by December 2022 and 85 that will be completed by 2023 and onward. To date, he said, the government has completed six projects; 79 are ongoing; and 27 are either pending approval or under project preparation. “Let me just say that while reforms

are initiated and several key infrastructure projects are under way, the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on our economy and the infrastructure sector has taken a big hit,” Uy said. “It is clear that the balance between spending on the pandemic as well as trying to meet all the average expenditures, in particular infrastructure, are now coming into well defined discussions and very strong positions particularly from different sectors. That is the main critical concern that the national government is facing right now, at least for 2022,” he explained. Based on the data, 55 projects broke ground as of 2020 and 21 in 2021. It is expected that 29 will break ground next year and seven projects in 2023 and beyond. The 18 projects that will be completed will amount to P235.88 billion. Of this, 14 projects that include the six that have already been com-

pleted amount to P116.11 billion and four projects that will be completed in January to June will amount to P119.77 billion. The 94 projects that will be completed after the Duterte administration are worth about P4.45 trillion. This is composed of nine projects worth P151.94 billion to be completed between July and December and 85 projects worth P4.299 trillion in 2023 and beyond. However, Uy said the government expects to start increasing infrastructure spending and get back on track on its targets. As a percentage of GDP, Uy said infrastructure spending is expected to increase to 5.8 percent of GDP in 2022 from 4.8 percent of GDP in 2020. “We are looking at 5.8 percent disbursements as a percent of GDP for the public sector in 2022. But, at the rate that we are going, we still [are] coping with the pandemic in terms

of this target. So the target may be expected to be about 4.5 [of GDP]. This is the main concern at this point with regard to the disbursements and the targeting,” Uy said. Uy hoped that the next administration would continue all the projects that are already in the pipeline. This, he said, is the reason for the many projects that were identified for the Build, Build, Build program. In another presentation on Wednesday, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Railways Timothy Batan shared that railway projects identified in the 1999 Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study and 2014 Roadmap for Transport Infra Development for Metro Manila and its Surrounding Areas as well as the 2017 Follow-up Survey on Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Greater Capital Region are all ongoing, except for only four.

The four projects that are still under project development are the Line 2 Southeast Extension in Taytay; Line 2 Southeast Extension in Binangonan; the Line 3 Northeast Extension in Navotas; and the Line 1 North Extension in Malabon. Some of the projects that are already ongoing are LRT Line 1 South Extension in Imus and Dasmariñas in Cavite; MRT Line 7; MRT 4 from Recto to Batasan, Phase 2 in Novaliches, and Branch Line in San Mateo; and the Mega Manila Subway, among others. “It is to the credit of this administration that regardless of when the project has been started, there has been continuity in the effort. And this is actually what we would like to see in the coming administration to continue the effort that we have already put forward in the flagship program,” Uy said. In his last State of the Nation Ad-

dress, the President instructed key agencies to fast-track the completion of the Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) and ensure that these are completed during his term. These agencies are the Department of Public Works and Highways, DOTr, Neda, Department of Finance, and Department of Budget and Management. The President, however, said the administration has already accomplished much in its ambitious infrastructure initiative. For one, the President said, the administration was able to address the breakdowns and unloading of passengers at midrail by the MRT-3. He added that the administration has also completed the LRT-2 East Extension Project; opened Stage 3 of the Metro Manila Skyway; and inaugurated the Kalayaan Bridge, which is part of the BGC-Ortigas Center Link Project.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

TheWorld BusinessMirror

Brazil, Japan report first cases of Omicron variant

razil and Japan joined the rapidly widening circle of countries to report cases of the Omicron variant Tuesday, while new findings indicate the mutant coronavirus was already in Europe close to a week before South Africa sounded the alarm.

The Netherlands’ RIVM health institute disclosed that patient samples dating from Nov. 19 and 23 were found to contain the variant. It was on November 24 that South African authorities reported the existence of the highly mutated virus to the World Health Organization. That indicates Omicron had a bigger head start in the Netherlands than previously believed. Together with the cases in Japan and Brazil, the finding illustrates the difficulty in containing the virus in an age of jet travel and economic globalization. And it left the world once again whipsawed between hopes of returning to normal and fears that the worst is yet to come. Much remains unknown about t he ne w v a r i a nt , i n c lu d i n g whether it is more contagious, as some health authorities suspect, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine. The pandemic has shown repeatedly that the virus “travels quickly because of our globalized, interconnected world,” said Dr. Albert Ko, an infectious disease specialist at the Yale School of Public Health. Until the vaccination drive reaches every country, “we’re going to be in this situation

again and again.” Brazil, which has recorded a staggering total of more than 600,000 Covid-19 deaths, reported finding the variant in two travelers returning from South Africa—the first known Omicron cases in Latin America. The travelers were tested on Nov. 25, authorities said. Japan announced its first case, too, on the same day the country put a ban on all foreign visitors into effect. The patient was identified as a Namibian diplomat who had recently arrived from his homeland. France likewise recorded its first case, in the far-flung island territory of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. Authorities said the patient was a man who had returned to Reunion from South Africa and Mozambique on November 20. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States’ top infectious disease expert, said much more will be known about Omicron in the next several weeks, and “we’ll have a much better picture of what the challenge is ahead of us.” In the meantime, a WHO official warned that given the growing number of Omicron cases in South Africa and neighboring Botswana, par ts of souther n Africa could soon see infections skyrocket.

US expected to toughen testing requirement for int’l travelers

ashington —T he Biden administration is expected to take steps in the coming days to toughen testing requirements for international travelers to the US, including both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, amid the spread of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. T he precise testing protocols were still being finalized ahead of a speech by President Joe Biden planned for Thursday on the nation’s plans to control the Covid-19 pandemic during the winter season, according to a senior administration official who said some details could still change. Among the policies being considered is a requirement that all air travelers to the US be tested for Covid-19 within a day of boarding their flight. Currently those who are fully vaccinated may present a test taken within three days of boarding. “CDC is evaluating how to ma ke inter nationa l travel as safe as possible, including predeparture testing closer to the time of flight and considerations around additional post-arrival testing and self-quarantines,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Tuesday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration’s plans before

the announcement, said options under consideration also include post-a r r iva l test ing requ ire ments or even self-quarantines. T he e x pected move comes just weeks after the US largely reopened its borders to fully vaccinated foreign travelers on November 8. Much remains unknown about the new variant, which has been identified in more than 20 countries but not yet in the US, including whether it is more contagious, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, said more would be known about the Omicron strain in two to four weeks as scientists grow and test lab samples of the virus. As he sought to quell public concern about the new variant, Biden said that in his Thursday remarks, “I’ll be putting forward a detailed strategy outlining how we’re going to fight Covid this winter—not with shutdowns or lockdowns but with more widespread vaccinations, boosters, testing, and more.” Asked by reporters if he would consult with allies about any changes in travel rules, given that former President Donald Trump had caught world leaders by surprise, Biden said: “Unlike Trump I don’t shock our allies.” AP

“There is a possibility that really we’re going to be seeing a serious doubling or tripling of the cases as we move along or as the week unfolds,” said Dr. Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, a WHO regional virologist. Cases began to increase rapidly in mid-November in South Africa, which is now seeing nearly 3,000 confirmed new infections per day. Before news of the Brazil cases broke, Fauci said 226 Omicron cases had been confirmed in 20 countries, adding: “I think you’re going to expect to see those numbers change rapidly.” Those countries include Britain, 11 European Union nations, Australia, Canada and Israel. American disease trackers said Omicron could already be in the US, too, and probably will be detected soon. “I am expecting it any day now,” said Scott Becker of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. “We expect it is here.” While the variant was first identified by South African researchers, it is unclear where and when it originated, information that could help shed light on how fast it spreads. The announcement from the Dutch on Tuesday could shape that timeline. Previously, the Netherlands said it found the variant among passengers who came from South Africa on Friday, the same day the Dutch and other EU members began imposing flight bans and other restrictions on southern Africa. But the newly identified cases predate that. NOS, the Netherlands’ public broadcaster, said that one of the two Omicron samples came from a person who had been in southern Africa.

Belgium reported a case involving a traveler who returned to the country from Egypt on November 11 but did not become sick with mild symptoms until November 22. Many health officials tried to calm fears, insisting that vaccines remain the best defense and that the world must redouble its efforts to get the shots to every part of the globe. Emer Cooke, chief of the European Medicines Agency, said that the 27-nation EU is well prepared for the variant and that the vaccine could be adapted for use against Omicron within three or four months if necessary. England reacted to the emerging threat by making face coverings mandatory again on public transportation and in stores, banks and hair salons. And one month ahead of Christmas, the head of Britain’s Health Security Agency urged people not to socialize if they don’t need to. After Covid-19 led to a oneyear postponement of the Summer Games, Olympic organizers began to worry about the February Winter Games in Beijing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said omicron would “certainly bring some challenges in terms of prevention and control.” World markets seesawed on every piece of medical news, whether worrisome or reassuring. Stocks fell on Wall Street over virus fears as well as concerns about the Federal Reserve’s continued efforts to shore up the markets. Some analysts think a serious economic downturn will probably be averted because many people have been vaccinated. But they also think a return to pre-pandemic levels of economic activity, especially in tourism, has been dramatically delayed. AP

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

US panel backs first-of-a-kind coronavirus pill from Merck

ASHINGTON—A panel of US health advisers on Tuesday narrowly backed a closely watched Covid-19 pill from Merck, setting the stage for a likely authorization of the first drug that Americans could take at home to treat the coronavirus. The Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13-10 that the antiviral drug’s benefits outweigh its risks, including potential birth defects if used during pregnancy. “I see this as an incredibly difficult decision with many more questions than answers,” said panel chair Dr. Lindsey Baden of Harvard Medical School, who voted in favor of the drug. He said FDA would have to carefully tailor the drug’s use for patients who stand to benefit most. The recommendation came after hours of debate about the drug’s modest benefits and potential safety issues. Most experts backing the treatment stressed that it should not be used by anyone who is pregnant and called on FDA to recommend extra precautions before the drug is prescribed, such as pregnancy tests for women of child-bearing age. The vote specifically backed the drug for adults with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 who face the greatest risks, including older people and those with conditions like obesity and asthma. Most experts also said the drug shouldn’t be used in vaccinated people, who weren’t part of Merck’s research and haven’t been shown to benefit. The FDA isn’t bound by the panel’s recommendation and is expected to make its own decision before year’s end. The antiviral is already authorized in the UK. The drug, molnupiravir, could provide a much-needed weapon against the virus as colder weather pushes case counts higher and US officials brace for the arrival of the new Omicron variant. Merck hasn’t specifically tested its drug against the new variant but said it should have some potency based on its effectiveness against other strains of coronavirus.

That uncertainty frustrated many panelists as they grappled with whether to back the treatment for millions of Americans. “With no data saying it works with new variants, I really think we need to be careful about saying that this is the way to go,” said Dr. David Hardy of Charles Drew University School of Medicine and Science, who ultimately voted to back the drug. On Friday, Merck released updated data that paint a less compelling picture of the drug’s effectiveness than just a few weeks earlier. Merck said final study results showed molnupiravir reduced hospitalization and death by 30 percent among adults infected with the coronavirus, when compared with adults taking a placebo. That effect was significantly less than the 50 percent reduction it first announced based on incomplete results. For many panelists, the modest effect wasn’t enough to outweigh the drug’s potential toxicity to human fetuses. “Given the large potential population affected, the risk of widespread effects on potential birth defects has not been adequately studied,” said Dr. Sankar Swaminathan of the University of Utah School of Medicine, who voted against the drug. FDA scientists told the panelists earlier Tuesday that company studies in rats showed the drug caused birth defects when given at very high doses. FDA staffers concluded the data “suggest that molnupiravir may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant individuals.” The agency is weighing a blanket restriction against any use in pregnant women or allowing doctors to use the drug in rare cases. Some panelists said that option should be left open for pregnant mothers who have high-risk Covid-19 and may have few other treatment options. Dr. Janet Cragan, who backed the drug, said that even with tight restrictions some pregnant women would inevitably take the antiviral. AP

Abe warns China: Taiwan military action would be ‘economic suicide’

ormer Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said China should be aware that any crisis with Taiwan would pull in Japan and its ally the US, warning of a dire situation if Beijing takes military action against Taipei. Delivering a speech by video to an audience in Taiwan on Wednesday, Abe said actions of an increasingly powerful China toward Japan and Taiwan were likely to become more complex, blurring the line between war and peace. The comments were some of the most pointed by a prominent Tokyo politician on tensions in the Taiwan Strait. “A military adventure would be the path to economic suicide,” Abe said. “We must keep reiterating

that peaceful ties between China and Taiwan are the only option.” The remarks by Abe, who stepped down as premier last year citing ill health, come after China sent a fresh sortie of warplanes toward Taiwan on Sunday in response to a visit by a group of US lawmakers. China’s Communist Party sees the island as part of its territory despite never having ruled it and seeks to block any official interactions with other countries. Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party asserts the island is a de facto sovereign nation awaiting wider international recognition and not part of Chinese territory. “Any armed invasion of Taiwan would present a serious threat to Japan,” Abe said. “A Taiwan cri-

sis would be a Japan crisis and therefore a crisis for the JapanUS alliance,” he added, saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping should not fail to understand the situation. Democratic peoples should continually remind Xi and Chinese Communist Party officials not to take the wrong path, Abe said. While China is large, its links with the rest of the world mean that any aggression on its part would hurt its own economy, he said. Spooked by Beijing’s clampdown in Hong Kong, senior Japanese lawmakers have been increasingly speaking out about the importance of Taiwan to Japan’s security, sparking irritation from Beijing.

Current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said the Taiwan Strait may be the next major diplomatic problem facing Tokyo, and Japan should seek to cooperate with Taiwan and countries that share its values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Abe also called for Taiwan to have a greater voice on the world stage, including at the World Health Organization, and said he supported Taipei ’s bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership regional trade agreement. China is also seeking to join the partnership, and Japan’s current leaders haven’t given a clear opinion on how the competing applications should be handled. Bloomberg News

Fiji welcomes back tourists despite threat by Omicron

ELLINGTON, New Z e a l a nd — Fiji w e l comed back its first tourists in more than 600 days on Wednesday after pushing ahead with reopening plans despite the threat posed by the newly detected Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The Pacific nation is famed for its idyllic white-sand beaches and relaxed, welcoming attitude. And it depends on the tourist dollars those features attract. Fiji’s economy took one of the biggest pandemic-related hits in the world

last year, declining by 19 percent and prompting the government to offer jobless people tools and cash to become farmers. So it was w ith a sense of relief that officia ls greeted the first tour ist f light from Sydney. More f lights from Australia and the US are schedu led in the coming days. Fiji Airways Chief Executive Andre Viljoen told media that the resumption of tourism would help reignite the economy. “Welcome to this very momentous day,” he said. “We have been

waiting for this day for the past 20 months.” He said the airline’s health and safety measures had been designed to account for potential coronavirus variants, and it had put in place extra screening for Omicron to ensure passengers hadn’t recently visited any highrisk countries. He said the airline experienced some cancellations in recent days following media coverage of the new variant, which was first reported in South Africa last week, but they also had re-bookings and

new bookings, resulting in little overall change. Tourism Fiji Chief Executive Brent Hill said 75,000 tourists had booked travel to the country over the next couple of months and the group had launched a campaign fronted by Australian actor Rebel Wilson. Fiji was spared from the worst of the virus until April, when an outbreak of the Delta variant took hold. The outbreak killed nearly 700 people but has now faded to about five new infections each day. AP

BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 2, 2021

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad,

E knew it was bad. Gerardo Santiago knew from experience that phone calls arriving at four in the morning—the shrill bouncing across and outside the house waking up roosters—are harbingers of bad news. Continued on A8

BM GRAPHICS: JOB RUZGAL

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

TheBroaderLook

TheBroaderLook BusinessMirror

A8w Thursday, December 2, 2021

Continued from A7

“Patay na si kapitan (The captain is dead),” the voice, cracking, from the other end sent a chill to his spine. Eyes still shut, he shuddered not because of the cold breeze seeping through the window jalousies that April dawn. “Okay,” Santiago forced himself to utter to close family friend Lolit Velasco whom he knew went through with what he is going through, albeit minutes early. With a click, the phone went dead and the 53-year-old councilman opened his eyes and sighed. Another colleague, this time, the village chief himself, Efren Panganiban, lost to Covid. With the 71-year-old village chief ’s untimely demise, Santiago came to a second realization: he’s next in line. He has to fill in the big shoes of the kapitan of Barangay Magpapalayoc, Nueva Ecija. It was at that point, he told the BusinessMirror, when he didn’t know whether that was bad or good.

Struggle vs Covid

BAR ANGAY Magpapalayoc is a tightly knit rural barangay beside the 120-mile Pampanga river. The 415-hectare barrio is the third most-populated of 15 villages of San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, some 100 kilometers north of Metro Manila. The Philippine Statistics Authority recorded 5,512 people living in this village surrounded by calamansi trees and rice fields. Latest data from the Facebook page of the Nueva Ecija local government showed 2,741 total active cases of Covid-19 infection as of September 20. Majority of these cases (2,171) are in home quarantine. The website of the Department of Health (DOH) noted that the filter testing laboratory of Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center showed a positivity rate of 31.7 percent of 12,766 individuals tested last November 29. The weekly positivity rate based on the DOH-accredited laboratory showed a decline from a spike of above 40 percent in June and August. The late-village chief Panganiban was one of 768 Novo Ecijano casualties of Covid-19. Santiago recalled he was aware that Panganiban was hospitalized, but he didn’t know why. He told the BusinessMirror he knew that the captain was always visiting the hospital for regular check-ups. Another barangay official also said that Panganiban was undergoing kidney dialysis at a hospital in Pampanga—about two hours away from Barangay Magpapalayoc.

Taking stock

ACCORDING to Santiago, elected barangay or village officials received the marching orders from the national government to handle citizens’ compliance with public health protocols since mid-March last year. Panganiban did his part. Santiago said while he was made to understand the situation the country and their village was thrust into, he couldn’t help but worry. Self-doubt was my number-one enemy, he told the BusinessMirror. “Ano kaya ang gagawin ko? Paano

kayang pag-aadjust ang gagawin ko? Makakaya ko ba?” he said without taking a pause. (A lot of things were going through my mind. What will I do? How will I adjust? Can I do this?) Santiago was the first elected councilman of Mag papa layoc during the 2018 elections. Being elected as a councilor was his foray into public service. With Panganiban’s demise, he now has to respond to a more challenging mission. Spearheading a rural barangay’s confrontation of a raging pandemic was suddenly thrust upon him. This is a daunting task that doesn’t affect only me but also my family, he said. And as he navigates his new role, Santiago said he discovered he has yet to learn more. “Nabigla rin asawa ko dahil kasi iba na ang magiging buhay namin. [It was shocking, even for my wife, because we know our life will never be the same again],” Santiago said.

Accessible leader

DAYS later, Santiago is seen spending most of his time at Magpapalayoc’s 2-storey barangay center. This has become my second home, he told the BusinessMirror, pointing to the direction where his house sits, some 15 minutes away. Santiago said he chose to stay at the center because he wants to be easily accessible to villagers. Sitting behind a desk squaredin by dandelion-painted walls where posters and announcements f lutter w it h t he midmorning breeze makes Santiago wax nostalgia. “Yung dating ginagawa sa bahay, hindi ko na magawa ngayon. Datidati, tumutulong ako maglaba, sa mga gawain sa bahay. Kung minsan, yung paligid namin, nalilinis ko pa,” he said, chuckling with nostalgia. (I cannot do the household chores anymore like before. Before, I helped in doing the laundry and other household chores. Sometimes, I even clean our backyard.) But he knows there are risks given his interaction with fellow villagers as dusk nears. Santiago said he takes a bath before entering his home, hoping water and soap would rinse any trace of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). “Medyo malakas yung katawan ko pero yung pamilya ko, ‘yun ang inaalala ko. Kaya may takot din,” he said. (My body is somehow strong enough but I worry about my family. That’s why I fear going out.)

Years of driving

PRIOR to running as a barangay

official, Santiago and his wife were selling clothes from an L-300 van. Their routes include Magpapalayoc and the municipality of Jaen, less than 30 minutes away. Santiago’s previous jobs also included being a family driver in Manila and tricycle driver in Cabanatuan City (the reputed tricycle capital of the Philippines). He said he started driving when he graduated from high school. He was unable to finish a vocational course in automotive. Santiago lived and grew up in Adorable, a neighboring barangay. He moved to Magpapalayoc in 2013 after inheriting a piece of land from his father, where he built a new home for his growing family. The newcomer decided to run for office because he realized he wanted to serve his fellow residents. And this remains true until now, Santiago claims. Like many Philippine barangays, Covid-19 response has been the village officials’ staple daily task. Just this September, the barangay officials decided to put Magpapalayoc under strict lockdown for two weeks. Authorities put up checkpoints at the entry points after about 13 residents tested positive for Covid-19. Most of the infected were the elderly who presumably got the virus through close contact with those who go outside for work, such as construction workers and calamansi pickers. The council distributes provisions of rice and grocery items to families of Covid-stricken villagers placed under quarantine. Some of these were donated by the Municipal Government of San Leonardo.

Service 24/7

SOMETIMES, Santiago himself also drives the residents—a task he is quite familiar with—to hospitals during emergencies. He recalled spending a day driving patients to and from the barangay. “Maaga akong nagsimula maghatid ng pasyente. Pag-uwi ko, may tumawag na pasyente. Tuloy pa rin. Inabot kami ng alas singko ng umaga sa sumunod na araw,” he said. (I brought a patient to the hospital early. When I got back, another patient called me. So I continued driving patients to the hospital. We were out until 5 a.m. the next day.) He said he always wore personal protective equipment for safety. For vaccination, Santiago said the barangay receives allotted vaccines f rom t he municipa l government. While Covid-19 threats still loom, Santiago and his council

are keen on continuing the plans outlined by the former captain. These include the construction of additional drainage systems in areas prone to flooding, like Purok Hulo and Purok Tumana (located at the opposite sides of the barangay hall). In addition, the council has been recently processing barangay certificates in volume to help the residents secure National ID. Nueva Ecija province, as of November 3, has 28,047 cases (2,099 of whom have died, and with some 768 residents currently with Covid-19). The National Task Force Against Emerging and Infectious Diseases, or the IATF, currently placed Nueva Ecija under Alert Level 2.

Typical task

LIKE any local government unit (LGU) nowadays, Magpapalayoc officials are also busy finalizing their budget next year. Last August, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) transmitted its P5.024-trillion national budget proposal for 2022 to Congress, marking the start of legislative process of assessing the expenditure program. Santiago said Magpapalayoc officials are focusing on allocating funding for Covid-19 response and for cementing certain roads in the barangay for better transportation. The development funds must be divided equally among the four purok (zones) as well. The budget components outlined by Santiago are in line with the National Budget Memorandum 138 issued by the DBM earlier this year. The order effectively delegates the “maintenance of barangay roads and bridges and water supply systems” to the barangay-level governments. T he barangay officia ls are also in-charge of the several infrastructure facilities, including multi-purpose hall, plaza and sports centers. These, in addition to looking after the services and facilities related to general hygiene and sanitation. While this is a typical task, setting up a new budget will also provide an opportunity for Santiago to make his own mark. After all, he only inherited this year’s f inancia l pl an. Ever ything was set when he took over months ago. Santiago said that he will, of course, consult with his councilors to evaluate next year’s budget.

Mandanas ruling effect

WHAT every barangay and other

LGUs will consider as well in their budget preparation is the Mandanas Ruling, which is set to take effect next year. This ruling provides a bigger share of the budget for the LGUs, from the provincial level down to the barangay level. The Supreme Court ruling expanded the basis for the computation of Internal Revenue Allotment. This now includes the following: customs duties collected by the Bureau of Customs; a portion of taxes collected in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; taxes from the exploitation of national wealth; excise tax on tobacco products; and, other taxes provided in the National Internal Revenue Code and franchise taxes. These are in addition to collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the only source where the LGUs received a share, pre-Mandanas. According to the local budget memorandum released by the DBM in June, 41,933 barangays have a total share of P191.81 billion in the National Tax Allotment (NTA) for 2022. Magpapalayoc is one of them. In total, LGUs are provided P959.05 billion of the NTA. This is higher than the P695.49 billion earmarked for this year.

Optimize spending

HAVING a bigger slice of the budget, however, may trigger further underspending by the LGUs because many of them “do not have the capacity to absorb a significant increase in revenues,” the World Bank had said. “As a result, the government faces a significant risk that the transition process could lead to a large gap in service delivery, as a lack of coordination between the national and local government and weak implementation capacity could delay the transition towards increased decentralization,” it added. As such, Justine Diokno-Sicat, research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), recommended ways for LGUs, including Magpapalayoc, to optimize their spending. “ Improved budget ut i l i zation could be attained through improved planning, investment programming and fulfilling at the very least mandated spending,” she told the BusinessMirror. Citing a PIDS baseline study, Diokno-Sicat said that development plans and local development investment programs by the LGUs were usually “outdated.” In addition, the researcher said the study revealed that only half

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of the municipalities observed the prescribed guidelines by the Department of Interior and Local Government in preparing project briefs for investment programs.

Need to delegate

AS village officials spearhead localized Covid-19 response efforts, residents want more visibility. Ignacio Hementera Jr., 47, believes the new captain can still do more to improve the way Magpapalayoc is governed and the handling of the public health crisis. Immersion and dialogues with fellow villagers may make Santiago hear villagers’ pleas, Hementera suggested. “Kung ikaw ay isang kapitan, ikutin mo ang nasasakupan mo. Alamin mo kung ano ‘yung kulang, alamin mo anong pangangailangan,” the resident said. (If you are a captain, go around your vicinity. Know what is lacking and what is needed.) Hementera cited as possible activities the holding of a barangay-wide medical mission for the residents and procuring more supplies of medicines and vitamins. Councilor Hector Valmonte, 59, meanwhile, appreciates that Santiago keeps an open line of communication and is working hard. But he believes that Santiago can still do a better job in delegating tasks among the councilors. Santiago tends to do most of the work, in contrast to the delegation of tasks by two-term captain Panganiban, Valmonte observes. It is crucial to have proper task delegations so the councilors will be challenged in doing their jobs as well, the councilor said. T he fellow councilman explained that Santiago may still be settling down into his new position. “Baka nahihiya siya mag-utos,” Valmonte said. (Maybe he is still too shy to give instructions.)

Grasping the future

ABOUT half a year into his new role, Santiago admitted that he is still adjusting. Santiago did not mince words when he reflected on his performance in the past months. “Medyo kumakapa pa ako sa sitwasyon kung paano patatakbuhin ang isang barangay (I have yet to fully grasp how I can run a barangay).” Recalling the first council session after Panganiban’s death, Santiago said it was strange when he chaired the session. But he found solace from colleagues, with village councilors understanding the situation and cooperating with him. Santiago said he continues to work on building a stronger rapport with the residents and launching better initiatives for the barangay, especially at a time of crisis. Yet while President Duterte continues to handle the country, now in his final eight months under office, his “order” at barangay captains stays. Santiago is aware of this. The ambulance driver is now on the front row at Magpapalayoc, scooping for added physical endurance since this village of 1,600 households now looks up to him. And yes, Santiago is ready to pick up the phone when duty calls, even as early as before dawn. He just hopes it wouldn’t be bad news.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

2MG INCORPORATED 64 Unit 3c Gloria Diaz St., Bf Resort Village, Talon Dos, City Of Las Piñas SIHAG, MOHIT KUMAR Country Manager 1.

Brief Job Description: Oversee daily operations of the company and works of executives

Basic Qualification: Good people management skills

JULIE SUWANTO Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Fund Management 15.

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

ACCENTURE, INC. 7f, Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1, Pioneer St, City Of Mandaluyong

IRENE KUWEM MBAPE Tech Writing & Translation Analyst 2.

Brief Job Description: Provide language translation support services across technology programs and projects using strong verbal and written communications

Basic Qualification: 1-2 years experience in an analytical or customer service role. Strong and effective written and oral English/language communication skills. Impeccable attention to detail. Ability to multitask under pressure in an ever changing environment. Professional knowledge of android OS, IOS and mac OS desired. Ability to keep up to date in a very fast paced environment. Staying on top of policy. Procedure and workflow changes and evolution.

16.

17.

18.

Brief Job Description: To provide strategic and tactical support in areas such as defining customer service workflows.

Basic Qualification: College graduate with at least 3-5 years experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Manage Korean customer queries / complaints LIM, SUNG CHEOL Marketing Consultant

Brief Job Description: Manage the promotion and services of the company offers

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reasing and writing korean and english

20.

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

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex, Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore, Brgy. 076, Pasay City WONG, OI TUNG Investigation Specialist I 6.

Brief Job Description: Communicate with buyers, merchants and internal customers and take appropriate action to identify and help minimize the risk posted by fraud, patterns and trends. REEFLYN OCRYSAN SIJABAT Seller Onboarding Associate

Brief Job Description: Communicates effectively via live video call with our customer base - third party sellers who want to sell on Amazon in its various marketplaces

Basic Qualification: Fluency in both English and Mandarin

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

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

NGUYEN THI NGAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NGUYEN THI THUY Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

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

10.

11.

12.

ARYA ARTHANTA LUNTUNGAN Bahasa Indonesian Language-marketing Officer Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates

ROSMEI DEWIKA INDAH Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Customer Service Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer needs

WINSON Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Customer Service Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer needs AGUSTINA TANWIN Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Finance

13.

Brief Job Description: Provide information on bank transactions and managing records and receipts FENY VERONICA Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Fund Management

14.

Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds reporting requirements are met

21.

Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write in Bahasa Indonesian language

TALABTHONG, BUNPORT Thai Language-officer Customer Service Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover customer needs

Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds reporting requirements are met

Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds reporting requirements are met NGUYEN THI KIM NGAN Vietnamese Language-officer Fund Management

22.

Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds reporting requirements are met

GENG, YUMENG Mandarin Field Service Coordinator 23.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Bachelors degree in accounting finance management or any business course

Basic Qualification: Atleast 10 years of relevant experience in creative design Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write in thai language

Basic Qualification: Numerate analytical and methodical

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance management or any business course Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or any business course Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Field Service Coordinator, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company, demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

24.

Brief Job Description: To manage the daily breeding operation and maintaining optimum animal health of the hog breeder farm

Basic Qualification: With 3 years experience in hog breeding & graduate of animal science

25.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for overall affairs of CT-Technologies Inc.

Basic Qualification: Master of Science Engineering. Founder/ Owner of the company

YE, YANGLIN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 26.

Brief Job Description: Enter customer’s account data, keeping and maintaining information confidential.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer’s questions about services or products/ Excellent Mandarin communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

27.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or any business course Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

32.

JIAO, JING Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service

28.

KIM (SPOUSE OF KIM), NAMSOOK Korean Senior Marketing Consultant Brief Job Description: Help companies define and reach marketing goals

29.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for conducting periodic reviews of the fixed asset schedule to determine dispositions and supervise the work of assigned team member to ensure efficiency and effectivity

Brief Job Description: Manager Organization

33.

Brief Job Description: Planning, maintaining and coordinate the development of primary and secondary market research

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 2 years sales experience

WU, JIAZHONG International Design Specialist 34.

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

Basic Qualification: Job-relevant degree / 5-10 years supervisory / managerial experience in logistics or operations / Multilingual Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Managing International Organization, Promoting Philippine-German Business Relation, Fluent in GermanEnglish Language Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

Brief Job Description: Create new designs for new construction projects. alterations and redevelopments based on international standard.

Basic Qualification: construction knowledge and high-level drawing skills globally to design buildings that are functional, safe, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing. Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

GUANGXI HYDRO ELECTRIC CONSTRUCTION BUREAU (GHCB PHILIPPINES CORPORATION) #58, Road 1, Project 6 1, Quezon City

HE, LIKE Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst 35.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

DENG, WENHAI Mandarin General Manager 36.

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

PAN, JUAN Mandarin Human Resources Manager 37.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin General Manager, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Human Resources Manager, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

WEN, YAN Mandarin Human Resources Supervisor 38.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Human Resources Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HITACHI DIGITAL PAYMENT SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES,INC. Unit 31-d 31/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: Job-relevant degree / 5-10 years supervisory / managerial experience in logistics or operations / Multilingual

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

GOLDEN TOPPER EQUITY HOLDINGS (PHILIPPINES) INC. 12/f Cocolight Bldg., 39th St. Cor. 11th Ave., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

FLASH EXPRESS SOFTWARE (PH) CO., LTD. INC. 9th Flr. Arthaland Century Pacific Tower, 5th Avenue 30th Street Cor. 4th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig CHEN, CHENG Asset Operations Supervisor

ZIMMER, CHRISTOPHER Executive Director

SU, MEI Chinese Speaking Business Analyst

Basic Qualification: Knowledgable in managing incoming calls

FIRSTHANA CORPORATION T-square Building, 317 El Grande Avenue, B. F. Homes, City Of Parañaque

Basic Qualification: Job-relevant degree / 5-10 years supervisory / managerial experience in logistics or operations / Multilingual

GLADIOLOUS INC. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

DA PROSPERITAS HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

GERMAN-PHILIPPINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, INC. 8/f Dohle Haus Manila, 30-38 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave., San Isidro, City Of Makati

CT-TECHNOLOGIES INC. Unit 505 Coherco Financial Tower Rade St., Corner Investment Drive Mbp Brgy. Ayala, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa THORSEN, CARSTEN President And Chief Executive Officer

Brief Job Description: Sourcing, attracting, interviewing, hiring and on boarding employees.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Can handle work pressure

31.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Numerate analytical and methodical

Brief Job Description: Identify sales lead, pitch services to new clients and maintain a good working relationship with new contacts

ZHANG, ZHEN Talent Acquisition Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write in Bahasa Indonesian language

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

30.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or any business course Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YUAN, LIN Business Development Manager

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

CHIU-NICHI AGRO RESOURCES PHILS., INC. S-202 Cortijos Condominium, #25 Eisenhower St., Greenhills, City Of San Juan

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

Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write in Bahasa Indonesian language

No.

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

JIAN, CAI-ZHEN a.k.a. AMELIE JIAN Ggp Hog Breeder Farm Manager

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

CHEC CONSTRUCTION (PHILS.) CORP. Ninth Avenue Corner, 9th Street Cor. 31st St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

Basic Qualification: Fluency in Malay

Brief Job Description: Participating in client meeting

LENH SAU BINH Vietnamese Language-officer Fund Management

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

LOPEZ GASOL, CARLOS Spanish Language-Creatives Head Of Department

ROYPUTH, BOON-UA Thai Language-officer Fund Management

ALL OUT MULTI-MEDIA SOLUTIONS CORP. Unit 2302-a West Tower, Pse Centre, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig CHOI, DURI Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds reporting requirements are met

PEANMUAN, ANISA Thai Language-officer Fund Management 19.

AIRLIFE INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION #9 Indigo St., Stella Maris Subd., Maybunga, City Of Pasig

Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds reporting requirements are met YOSHE Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Fund Management

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

MEGHANI, VARUN SUNIL Operational And Customer Development Manager

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Thursday, December 2, 2021

MOHAMED HANIFFA, RAMEEZ It Technical Consultant 39.

Brief Job Description: Handling financial and banking software, transaction Management and routing C/C++ and Oracle.

Basic Qualification: Experience of banking applications (card, ATM and core banking systems) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HUBEI SHUIZONG WATER RESOURCES AND HYDROPOWER CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD. PHILIPPINES BRANCH OFFICE Unit A & B, 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

A10

BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 2, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

HUANG, SHANSHAN Mandarin Project Supervisor 40.

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

YANG, ZHENGCHUN Mandarin Project Supervisor 41.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

55.

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

JIU ZHOU TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 31/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Avenue, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

WANG, YUFEI Site Supervisor

INSTITUTIONAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, INC. 15/f Solaris One Bldg., 130 Dela Rosa St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

42.

Brief Job Description: Attend to internal/client queries and request to ensure data captured is aligned with data methodology and policy guidelines

Basic Qualification: Excellent reading comprehension and language skills in both written and oral Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor, Eight West Campus Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig LI, XINGCHAO Mandarin Customer Support Representative 43.

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

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

56.

CHO, YOUNGBAE Korean Customer Service Representative 44.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in Korean through blogs, micro blogs and forums HWANG, HUN Korean Customer Service Representative

45.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in Korean through blogs, micro blogs and forums KIM, HYUNJOO Korean Customer Service Representative

46.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in Korean through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate speak and write fluently (Korean & English) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate speak and write fluently (Korean & English) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

57.

GENG, LEI Mandarin Speaking It Specialist 58.

47.

Brief Job Description: Inspecting stocks and reporting any faulting items or inconsistencies immediately updating and maintaining records of all orders payments and received stocks

LIU, GUOZHU Mandarin Speaking Safety Officer 48.

Brief Job Description: Implement and enforce safety policies that reduce the risk of accident determine which policies are necessaries for the job site and how to enforce them

WANG, HONGXU Mandarin Speaking Safety Officer 49.

Brief Job Description: Implement and enforce safety policies that reduce the risk of accident determine which policies are necessaries for the job site and how to enforce them

WANG, BOCHONG Mandarin Structural Fitter Specialist 50.

Brief Job Description: Arrange for meeting between team members and clients. Coordinate project management activities resources equipment and information. analyze risk and opportunities

LIU, HAIQI Project Supervisor 51.

Brief Job Description: Arrange for meeting between team members and clients. Coordinate project management activities resources equipment and information. analyze risk and opportunities

ZHANG, XIAOMIN Project Supervisor 52.

Brief Job Description: Arrange for meeting between team members and clients. Coordinate project management activities resources equipment and information. Analyze risk and opportunities LI, HONGCHUN Site Supervisor

53.

Brief Job Description: Supervise and evaluate staff, complete employee reviews; keep accurate records of employee attendance and timesheets provide position direction to motivate quality performance; discipline personnel when necessary and appropriate WANG, YINGYUE Site Supervisor

54.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both in written and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both in written and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both in written and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills

59.

60.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, both written and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills

61.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With good oral and communication skills in English and Mandarin language familiar in the field of construction works Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for setting goals and developing marketing plans for the company HAN, HAO Mandarin Speaking Marketing Officer

62.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for setting goals and developing marketing plans for the company LYU, JIANWEI Mandarin Speaking Marketing Officer

63.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for setting goals and developing marketing plans for the company MU, XIAOXUE Mandarin Speaking Marketing Officer

64.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, both written and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills

Brief Job Description: Responsible for setting goals and developing marketing plans for the company

No.

73.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese mandarin, English and their respective native language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Mandarin and any other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Mandarin and any other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Mandarin and any other multilingual language

74.

75.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Mandarin and any other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Mandarin and any other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

DIXIT, KUNAL Profitability Enablement Director 65.

Brief Job Description: Extensive background in leading finance, planning and analysis teams across several regions

Basic Qualification: At least 10 yrs work experience and at least 6 yrs in a senior leadership in a BPO company supporting multiple geographies Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

76.

66.

Brief Job Description: Ensures the efficient and economic operation of the maintenance division in support of all other operating department, supplying services as required to the entire operation and maintaining equipment

Basic Qualification: Has at least 10 years experience in the field

BAI, XUE International Marketing Specialist 77.

67.

68.

69.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LUO, ENQIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires WANG, SHUAIHU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

CHEN, CHIA-WEN Chinese Customer Service Representative 78.

70.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services

LIU, HANCHUAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 71.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services

YANG, SHENGNAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 72.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions DENG, JILIANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

79.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions to their concerns LIN, KAI-DI Chinese Customer Service Representative

80.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions LIN, YU-PU Chinese Customer Service Representative

81.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions SU, DANDAN Chinese Customer Service Representative

82.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions to their concerns WANG, JIAHAN Chinese Customer Service Representative

83.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions to their concerns WU, CHIA-JU Chinese Customer Service Representative

84.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions WU, HUI-CHIN Chinese Customer Service Representative

85.

86.

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

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

87.

88.

89.

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

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions MAH YEE HANG Foreign Customer Service Representative

90.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions TAN WEI SIANG Foreign Customer Service Representative

91.

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

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions to their concerns CHAN MYAE SOE Foreign Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions to their concerns BUI THI TU Foreign Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions to their concerns ZHAN, WEI Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

ANQI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Brief Job Description: Help develop, execute and monitor marketing programs across a variety of channels

XIONG, MING Chinese Customer Service Representative Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, communications or a related field. Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

NEW WEATHER FORCES GROUP INC. 26/f The Enterprise Center Tower 2, 6766 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Brgy. 076, Pasay City LING, HAO Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NEW MOON HOLDINGS (PHILIPPINES) INC. 27th Floor High Street, South Corporate Plaza Tower 2, 9th Ave. Cor 26th St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

MAKATI SHANGRI-LA HOTEL & RESORT, INC. Cor., Ayala/makati Avenue, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati AHMED ABDELRAHMAN ABDELATTI ALI Building Area Superintendent

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services

YAO, GANG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in bi lingual language

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services

YANG, JUN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in bi lingual language

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers; give customers information about product and services

LU, BING Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese mandarin, English and their respective native language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHEN, TAO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

LIZARDBEAR TASKING INC. 17th To 20th Floors, Twenty Four Seven Mckinley Building, 24th Street And Seventh Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With good oral and communication skills in English and Mandarin language familiar in the field of construction works

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and analyzing the effectiveness of software of the company DING, FEI Mandarin Speaking Marketing Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, Both written and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and analyzing the effectiveness of software of the company HE, HAITAO Mandarin Speaking It Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English, Both written and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and analyzing the effectiveness of software of the company GONG, FEI Mandarin Speaking It Specialist

JIANGSU DIBANG CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2106-a West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig GONG, YANYAN Mandarin Purchasing Coordinator

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

KONGANBUDDIES MARKETING INC. 48/f Lower Ground Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: College graduate, can speak and write fluently (Korean, English) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

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

HSU, MING-FENG Chinese Technical Support Representative

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

J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg., #48 President Avenue, Bf Homes, City Of Parañaque

Brief Job Description: Inspecting construction site regularly to identify and eliminate potential safety hazards, supervising and structing the construction as well as the subcontractors

TSAI, REN-SHIANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

YIM, JONG MIN ESG Jr. Data Analyst-Korean Speaker

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions VONG HOA MY Foreign Customer Service Representative

92.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions to their concerns

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in other Foreign languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in other Foreign languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in other Foreign languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WILSON WONG SZE KIAT Foreign Customer Service Representative

93.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions to their concerns YONG CHUN FAI Foreign Customer Service Representative

94.

Brief Job Description: To respond to customers concerns on site and supply solutions

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

JIANG, BO Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 109.

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

95.

Brief Job Description: Oversee NURC business and spearhead product development based on market demand

110.

Basic Qualification: With 2-3 years experience in Product Development and Business Management Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

96.

Brief Job Description: Define and report key business metrics to management and influence the

111.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in writing, reading and speaking in Vietnamese Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

97.

98.

99.

100.

101.

CHEN, QIAN Chinese Project Manager Brief Job Description: Planning and defining scope of the project

112.

LIN, LIJUN Chinese Project Manager Brief Job Description: Planning and defining scope of the project

WANG, DONGDONG Chinese Project Manager Brief Job Description: Planning and defining scope of the project

WU, JIN Chinese Project Manager Brief Job Description: Planning and defining scope of the project

YANG, XIONG Chinese Project Manager Brief Job Description: Planning and defining scope of the project

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in both English and mandarin Chinese; strong public speaking skills

Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in both English and mandarin Chinese; strong public speaking skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

102.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base

DENG, JIAOJUAN Chinese Customer Service Representative 103.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base

ZAN, XIAOGANG Chinese Customer Service Representative 104.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience

114.

Brief Job Description: Assist/ help customers, give customers information about products or services ZHU, LEFAN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

115.

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

CASEY, SEAN PAUL Marketing And Business Development Consultant 116.

Brief Job Description: Advises on matters regarding business development and marketing projects, and the handling of food service centers

117.

Brief Job Description: Manage the employees & monitor the implementation programs

118.

SELMER-OLSEN, PER President/chairman And Vice President Brief Job Description: Support direct crew management marine HR operation

105.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

LI, SONGLIN After Sales Operational Associate 119.

Brief Job Description: To perform promotional activities, train staff in sales techniques, and work on product presentation and placement.

CHEN, JING Finance Associate 120.

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

Brief Job Description: Finance Associate prepares and review financial information.

TAO, YONG Management Trainee 121.

SHANZHEN HAIWEI FOOD CORP. (SHFC) 2/f & 3/f, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat, Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati MING, WEN Chinese Chef 106.

Brief Job Description: Set-up recipes (authentic Chinese cuisine) and production standards, responsible for elaborating menus.

Basic Qualification: Expert in Chinese cuisine, exemplary work ethic in a high pressure environment.

107.

SHI, NINGBING Chinese Marketing Staff Brief Job Description: To research and develop marketing strategies.

Brief Job Description: To work closely with senior personnel, learning techniques and gaining the knowledge required to run a company smoothly.

CHEN, MINGKUN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 122.

Basic Qualification: College level, fluent in both mandarin and Cantonese and can operate Chinese characters in computer Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

XIE, YANGBO Mandarin Customer Support Representative 123.

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

SUNRISE HORIZON PRIME HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

CARMEN CHOKE Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 108.

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

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

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

NGUYEN THI KHANH HUYEN Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer 125.

ZHENG, QINGHUA Mandarin Customer Support Representative 124.

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

Brief Job Description: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information PHAM THI THU TRANG Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer

126.

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

127.

128.

WANG, FENG Mandarin Administrative Specialist Brief Job Description: Resolves administrative problems

129.

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

ZHANG, JIAN Mandarin Administrative Specialist Brief Job Description: Resolves administrative problems

130.

131.

GUO, JING Mandarin Marketing Specialist Brief Job Description: Undertake a market analysis.

132.

133.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Manage and develop employee performance expectations

Brief Job Description: Maintain and drive program knowledge for self and team.

Brief Job Description: Maintain and drive program knowledge for self and team

LAI, TIANBING Mandarin Technical Support 134.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin speaking; preferably graduate in China or in a prestigious school in the Philippines is an advantage; knowledgeable in Chinese corporation.

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

Brief Job Description: Undertake a market analysis.

HUANG, LIANGBIN Mandarin Team Leader

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

ZHANG, HAILONG Mandarin Marketing Specialist

Basic Qualification: Proficient language skills and skills match to job Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old; College Graduate; Must know how to speak Mandarin; With good oral and written communication skills; Knowledgeable in computer applications. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Master mariner with business degree or diploma

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin speaking; preferably graduate in China or in a prestigious school in the Philippines is an advantage; knowledgeable in Chinese corporation.

Basic Qualification: Proficient language skills and skills match to job

Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old; College Graduate; Must know how to speak Mandarin; With good oral and written communication skills; Knowledgeable in computer applications.

CHEN, DONGSHEN Mandarin Team Leader

Basic Qualification: Proven professional experience

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin speaking; preferably graduate in China or in a prestigious school in the Philippines is an advantage; knowledgeable in Chinese corporation.

Basic Qualification: Proficient language skills and skills match to job

Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old; College Graduate; Must know how to speak Mandarin; With good oral and written communication skills; Knowledgeable in computer applications.

QI, BAOGUO Mandarin Supervisor

Basic Qualification: Must have masters in marketing and business administration

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

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months working experience / fluent in mandarin / English

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months working experience / fluent in Mandarin / English

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months working experience / fluent in Mandarin / English

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

WIKITECH SERVICES INC. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks.

135.

136.

Basic Qualification: Proficient language skills and skills match to job

XIANG, SHOUSHENG Mandarin Technical Support Brief Job Description: Testing and evaluating new technology

YANG, XIAOXIAO Mandarin Technical Support Brief Job Description: Testing and evaluating new technology.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old; College Graduate; Must know how to speak Mandarin; With good oral and written communication skills; Knowledgeable in computer applications. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZADDEN’S DISTRIBUTION INC. Unit No. 37 Baclaran Bagong Milenyo Plaza Bldg., F.b. Harrison St. Zone 10 District 1, Barangay 76, Pasay City CRAMER, TILL ALEXANDER Marketing Assistant 137.

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

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

SJMZ GLOBAL ENTERPRISES, OPC #117, I.t.c. Cmpd., Bagbaguin, City Of Valenzuela

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ excellent mandarin communications skills

No.

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

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

TOP ACCESS INFINITY INC. 27th Floor The Curve Building, 32nd Street Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 9-11 Flr., The Biopolis Bldg., Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City MENG, XIANGTAO Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ excellent mandarin communications skills

THOME SERVICES INC. 7/f 1753, Dian St., Palanan, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

TAIWAN FUND FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES #52, Unit 309 D.m. Guevarra, Mauway, City Of Mandaluyong TSAI, HSIAO-FEN Taiwan Specialist - Supervisor

A11

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

SUPER SHOPPING MARKET, INC. Sm Retail Headquarters Bldg., J.w. Diokno Blvd. St. Mall Of Asia Complex Subd., Barangay 76, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year customer service experience

Brief Job Description: Assist/ help customers, give customers information about products or services TRAN SY TAY Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

RIGHT CHOICE FINANCE CORP. 5e-1 Electra House Bldg., 115-117 Esteban Street, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati CHEN, YAHUI Chinese Customer Service Representative

113.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in both English and mandarin Chinese; strong public speaking skills

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

DING, HAOLIANG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in both English and mandarin Chinese; strong public speaking skills

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

VOONG A SAM Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

PHILIPPINES FIBER OPTIC CABLE NETWORK LTD., INC. Unit 2802-2803, 28th Floor, The Podium, Adb Avenue, Wack-wack Greenhills, City Of Mandaluyong Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in both English and mandarin Chinese; strong public speaking skills

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

LIENG KIM NGOC Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

NOVATECH (PASAY) LIMITED, INC. 4th Flr. W Mall Bldg., Diosdado Macapagal Ave. St., Zone 10. Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City TRAN THUC TRINH Vietnamese Speaking Product Marketing Manager

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

LE THI NHUNG Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

NISSIN-UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION 9th Flr. Tera Tower Bridgetowne, E Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Ugong Norte 3, Quezon City KINOSHITA, MASAKI Product Development Director

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Thursday, December 2, 2021

138.

Brief Job Description: Support and assist the marketing team in productions planning & monitoring

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate and fluent in English.

KAISER, CHRISTOPHER Marketing Manager Brief Job Description: Managing marketing department

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

DONG, SHAOBO Purchasing Staff 139.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English and college graduate

Brief Job Description: Assist in purchasing department reports rel. concerns/ matters.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate and Fluent in English. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Dec 1, 2021

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A12 Thursday, December 2, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Let’s prevent Omicron from entering PHL

ne week after South African authorities reported the existence of the highly mutated Omicron variant to the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24, the new variant has managed to spread in 20 countries. Brazil and Japan were the last two countries to report cases of the new variant on Tuesday, while recent findings indicate the mutant coronavirus was already in Europe a week before South Africa sounded the alarm. Latest reports said the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands found the Omicron variant in patient samples on November 19 and 23. WHO, however, clarified that while the two samples reveal Omicron was in the Netherlands earlier than thought, they do not predate the cases in Southern Africa. The variant was first found in a South African specimen collected on November 9. The spread of the Omicron variant is being monitored closely around the world. Experts are eager to learn more as soon as possible how infectious and virulent is the Omicron variant. They want to know how well do the existing vaccines work against this variant. From the Associated Press: “The World Health Organization warned Monday that the global risk from the Omicron variant is “very high” based on the early evidence, saying the mutated coronavirus could lead to surges with “severe consequences.” The assessment from the UN health agency, contained in a technical paper issued to member states, amounted to WHO’s strongest, most explicit warning yet about the new version that was first identified days ago by researchers in South Africa. It came as a widening circle of countries around the world reported cases of the variant and moved to slam their doors in an act-now-ask-questions-later approach while scientists race to figure out just how dangerous the mutant version might be.” A WHO official warned that given the growing number of Omicron cases in South Africa and neighboring Botswana, parts of southern Africa could soon see infections skyrocket. “There is a possibility that really we’re going to be seeing a serious doubling or tripling of the cases as we move along or as the week unfolds,” said Dr. Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, a WHO regional virologist. Cases began to increase rapidly in mid-November in South Africa, which is now seeing nearly 3,000 confirmed new infections per day. As countries put in place preemptive defenses and travel restrictions designed to keep the variant out, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said border control is crucial at this time to prevent the entry of the Omicron variant. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua told BusinessMirror that guarding the country’s borders will allow domestic economic activities to continue (Read, Neda chief: Border controls to cut Omicron risk vital now, in the BusinessMirror, November 30, 2021). Chua said the government has set up a color-coding system that can be used to guard the country’s borders from potential travelers that could bring in the Omicron variant. Under this system, Green List countries include those classified by the IATF as “Low Risk” countries/jurisdictions/territories while those under the Red List are classified as “High Risk” countries/jurisdictions/ territories. The Yellow List countries, meanwhile, are those countries/jurisdictions/territories classified by the IATF as “Moderate Risk.” Chua said the protocols associated with these classifications will help the country better prevent the entry of individuals who could be carriers of the Omicron variant. We commend the government for its fast action in setting up a system to guard the country’s borders and screen travelers that could bring in the Omicron variant. We need to strengthen testing requirements for international travelers entering Philippine gateways, including both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. By acting swiftly and decisively, the preemptive moves we make now will save us from another possible round of lockdowns. Let’s prevent Omicron from entering the country at all costs.

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The candidates: Not looking forward John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

ear the end of September, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said the following: “The estimated long-run total cost of the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantines for present and future generations of Filipinos is estimated at P41.4 trillion.”

“While we will recover to the prepandemic level by the end of 2022 or early 2023, it will take several more years before we converge to our original growth path. We expect the economy to converge to the pre-pandemic growth path by the 10th year.” There was one significant takeaway that caused concern—the “P41.4 trillion” number as “the present and future costs.” The Philippine economy as measured by the GDP was cranking out about P5.5 trillion every quarter. Therefore, to call for a loss of P41.4 trillion over 10 years is like saying that for the

next 10 years the Philippines would be growing at 75 percent of capacity or missing one quarter a year. That sounds catastrophic. Chua: “In 2020, we lost P4.3 trillion; in the next 10 to 40 years, we estimate that we will lose up to P37 trillion.” However, the details are more interesting than the topline number. “The estimated total loss due to lower consumption is P4.5 trillion, private investment and returns in the same period is around P21.3 trillion, and the estimated total loss due to the resulting productivity loss in human capital investment and returns

is estimated at P15.5 trillion for the next 40 years.” Note, that type of complete analysis is what we need and should expect from the man in charge of a formidable team at Neda. The press, pundits, and politicians missed the most important conclusion and if at all, included it as almost an afterthought. This is the second and most important takeaway. “While we will recover to the pre-pandemic level by the end of 2022 or early 2023, it will take several more years before we converge to our original growth path. We expect the economy to converge to the pre-pandemic growth path by the 10th year.” What Chua is telling us is that the total size of the Philippine GDP—approximately $380 billion in 2019—will be back to pre-pandemic levels “by the end of 2022 or early 2023.” That is good news. That will put our recovery ahead of countries like the US and equal to or greater than our regional neighbors with only Vietnam perhaps beating us to recovery. The unknown is the trend of Covid. Further, if “Omi” is as bad as some experts think it might be, we

will all be in the same sinking ship. Missed by almost all, what Chua is saying is that it will take some time of indeterminate length—years not months—to get back on the “original growth path” that the Philippine economy has been on for the past 15 years. The reason for that is because the pandemic devastated the businesses that created the growth path; international tourism, outsourcing/ POGO, consumer spending, and even agriculture. On November 16, “Presidential bets bare economic platforms.” All talked “Infrastructure spending.” The closest anyone came to what we should do to adapt to the new economic conditions was Moreno. “The Philippines should also move from business process outsourcing to knowledge process outsourcing.” Except that has been the goal for the past 10 years. It’s a new world out there and so far nothing solid and specific has been put on the presidentiable table. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

China basks in Covid vindication as Omicron closes borders

ountries across the world scrambled this week to impose border and travel curbs after the new Omicron variant emerged. In China, it was business as usual.

While scientists race to figure out whether the Covid-19 variant first sequenced in South Africa will pose a bigger problem than the highly infectious Delta strain, countries ranging from the UK and Israel to Japan erred on the side of caution. They put in place preemptive defenses and travel restrictions designed to keep the variant out, rather than betting on Omicron being a flash in the pan. It’s a calculus Beijing didn’t have to consider. The emergence of the highlymutated form of the virus has provided some vindication for China’s Covid Zero approach, which saw the country close its border indefinitely at the beginning of the pandemic, and intensify its stringent curbs ever since. While other places pivot to living alongside the virus, China has prioritized weeding out every last infection, saying the health of the population is its main priority —and economic benefits will follow.

Covid booster

“Omicron is a booster shot for Covid Zero,” said Huang Yanzhong, a senior fellow for global health at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations. “If Western countries are walking back on their reopening and closing borders, they’ll lose the grounds for accusing China of sticking to what they say is an unsustain-

able and incorrect approach.” Other countries embracing travel and border restrictions anew raises questions about whether China’s strategy may offer a better defense from newly emerging variants, particularly in the early days when their risk isn’t fully understood and the guarantee of an exit from the Covid pandemic is far from certain. The country’s state-backed newspaper, the Global Times, already declared China the most likely place to avoid devastation from Omicron. While the verdict is still out on whether the startling genetic changes found in Omicron justify the preemptive hunkering down, some analysts said China’s approach may offer benefits. Kinger Lau, a strategist with Goldman Sachs Group Inc., said the economic fundamentals and ongoing Covid curbs in the world’s second largest economy put it in a better position to face the new variant. Still, the zero-tolerance strategy China is clinging to has come under growing criticism from abroad and at least partly from within, and goes well beyond rigid border closures to include a growing suite of disruptive curbs. While it has shielded the world’s most populous country from the rampant infections and massive death tolls that have ravaged other

parts of the world, Covid Zero has taxed China and its people, with the weekslong quarantines and reentry procedures meaning they’re effectively locked inside the country. It’s gotten harder, and less successful, over time. The handful of Delta flareups that have emerged since May are requiring ever-more stringent measures to subdue. China is currently grappling with dozens of infections in a border town in its Inner Mongolia region, even as remnants of a previous outbreak continue to linger. After vowing to keep out Covid, China doesn’t have many options. The country’s approach is a onesize-fits-all strategy, said Nicholas Thomas, an associate professor at the City University of Hong Kong who has edited several books on foreign policy and public health. The lack of efficient vaccines gives China little room to maneuver, he said. The inactivated shots developed by the domestic firms Sinopharm and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. are less effective at preventing symptomatic infections than Western mRNA shots in studies, though they slashed hospitalization rates and deaths. Still, relatively little solid data on how these shots work against the Delta variant has been published compared to their rivals in the West. That’s one reason why China continues to double down on its zero-tolerance approach rather than rely on vaccination rates that top 75 percent of the population, cover chil-

dren as young as three, and include widespread use of booster shots. It doesn’t have much confidence in what would happen if it eased those curbs, analysts say. No countries have reinstated the same level of punishing lockdowns and curbs on personal movement that China continues to deploy, and few would try to impose the other measures in its arsenal like invasive searches and personal tracking. Even the new travel restrictions among countries trying to keep Omicron out fall far short of those China uses to isolate itself from the broader world, where Covid continues to circulate.

Unintended benefits

The mitigation measures are having benefits that go beyond Covid. A study conducted by researchers in China and Hong Kong found that lockdowns enacted in the months following the virus’s emergence in Wuhan prevented 347,000 deaths unrelated to Covid. The lower mortality rates were tied to the stringent curbs, including changes in behaviors such as maskwearing and social distancing, that led to reduced air pollution, better hygiene and fewer traffic accidents, according to the study published in the journal Nature. “The results suggest that virus countermeasures not only effectively controlled Covid-19 in China but also brought about unintended and substantial public health benefits,” the researchers said. Bloomberg/With assistance from Jinshan Hong

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

New Covid variant a litmus test to govt pandemic response

Managing the health-economic crisis: The ADB’s problematic ‘problem tree’ Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

Val A. Villanueva

Businesswise

just had a lengthy phone conversation with a dear friend who had just survived the Delta variant of Covid-19. He was fully vaccinated with Sinovac and in the pink of health before the virus struck, and with no known comorbidities. And yet, his Covid attack was so severe that he was given only an 8 percent chance to live. Due to extreme breathing complications, my friend was intubated and medically induced into a coma. His pneumonia caused his left lung to collapse, and other vital parts of his body were in severe stress.

While in the middle of his lung operation, his brain suddenly regained consciousness, but his body remained in deep state of immobility. He would learn later that he was only half comatose. This was mainly due to the fact that the anesthetics used to numb sensation or induce him into extreme unconsciousness could have only done half of what they were intended to do. His body had been paralyzed, he could not move even an inch no matter how hard he tried. He could hear voices of people around him at that time and agonized at the pain of every thrust and slice of the scalpel, the prick of the needles that bore into his body. His brain kept sending shouting signals to his body, but no sound came out of his vocal chords. The doctors and nurses in the operating room couldn’t hear him and were oblivious to the sufferings he was going through. In excruciating pain, feeling terrified and alone, he began praying, seeking the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Out of hospital now, after six debilitating weeks, he said he believes that miracles do happen. He is living proof of it. His family and friends had stormed the heavens with prayers, and with God’s grace, he was able to beat an 8 percent chance of survival. He is undergoing physiotherapy to improve his motor skills and overall well-being. I’m relating this to remind everyone that vaccines do not guarantee full and lasting protection against Covid and its ever-mutating variants. So far, this pandemic has taken the lives of five of my close friends who have been fully vaccinated. Yes, Covid vaccines train our bodies to develop defenses to the disease, and reduces our chances of hospitalization and lowers our risk of dying from Covid-19, but as to why vaccinated people still die is something science has still to fully address. Health experts explain that as more and more people in a community get vaccinated, the higher that chance of preventing the spread of the disease. They blame the number of unvaccinated people as the key reason to the emergence of coronavirus variants. This is because the virus replicates quicker in unvaccinated people and increases the chance of mutation. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Center for Disease and Control (CDC) say that aside from getting vaccinated, the best way to prevent getting sick of Covid is to observe strict health protocols. Even White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci has been advocating the use of face masks, properly worn of course; frequent handwashing, and social distancing, as still the surest way to shield us from this deadly virus. Even vaccinated people, Dr. Fauci says, should strictly adhere to this simple health protocols. The recent relaxation of the country’s health restrictions has opened the floodgates to Filipinos, young and old, who have been deprived of their mobility for almost two years—one of the longest Covid lockdowns in the world—to flock in droves to malls, beaches, and other leisure places. Just the other day, I went out to buy necessities at a nearby mall, and was aghast to see parents with their very young children in tow, sans masks and ignoring physical distancing guidance. Insensible that the virus still lurks, these irresponsible adults were creating a worrying scenario of a super spreader. A new variant, Omicron, is threatening to shut down the world once again. First detected in Botswana, Omicron has already sent Europe into high defense mode after cases were detected in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. The Czech Republic, Austria, Israel, and the Netherlands are all investigating suspected cases of the variant. Here in Asia, only Japan has reported its first Omicron case. Scientists have yet to confirm, however, whether

Omicron is more transmissible than the Delta variant. In a recent Malacañang weekly health briefing, President Duterte asked Health Secretary Francisco Duque about the probability of Omicron reaching our shores. In response, Duque said that “it is not the question of if, but when.” It was such a reckless statement and fatalistic attitude, I thought. Duque has practically thrown in the towel in our country’s fight against Covid. As the country’s health chief, Duque is supposed to provide natural leadership and play an advocacy role in pandemic preparedness and response efforts. Sadly, the leader in him is nowhere to be found. To its credit, the government on Sunday imposed a ban on inbound flights from seven more countries, on top of the earlier seven, amid growing concerns over the Omicron variant. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) added Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy to the “red list” countries from November 28 to December 15. The country earlier banned inbound flights from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique. They were placed under the red list immediately following the announcement of the detection of the new variant. President Duterte is also mulling to make mandatory in the country antiCovid vaccination for all eligible people, a move that is gaining traction among his health advisers. The IATF has warned that, should Omicron make its entry here, the country will revert to strict lockdown status. The announcement of South Africa’s health minister on Thursday of the discovery of Omicron, or the B.1.1.529 variant, which has been spreading rapidly in his country, strongly signals that the pandemic is far from over. Just hours after the announcement, several nations—including the United States and the United Kingdom—banned travel from South Africa and surrounding African countries. It is hoped that the travel restrictions, as announced by US President Joe Biden on Friday, will afford the US valuable time to learn more about the new variant. The emergence of Omicron has already raised red flags for several weeks, but it was only recently that experts found out how serious it was. Manufacturers of vaccines also raise serious concern about Omicron. For one, Moderna sees a “significant potential risk” to its Covid-19 vaccine. On a Friday news release, it said: “The recently described Omicron variant includes mutations seen in the Delta variant that are believed to increase transmissibility and mutations seen in the Beta and Delta variants that are believed to promote immune escape. The combination of mutations represents a significant potential risk to accelerate the waning of natural and vaccine-induced immunity.” The fight to prevent Omicron from setting foot in the Philippines is a great challenge to the Duterte administration in its waning months. Has the government learned its lessons from its fatal mistakes in its handling of the pandemic? Will Duque’s “crystal ball” prevail over the government’s effort to prevent Omicron’s entry into the country? As scientists around the world scramble to learn more about Omicron, I believe that wearing masks, avoiding crowded places, and getting vaccinated are still the best prevention program to follow to avoid Covid infection. With the way mutations occur rapidly, given the number of undisciplined and unvaccinated among us, the pandemic will not go away any time soon.

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

Thursday, December 2, 2021 A13

he Covid-19 pandemic is likely to last till 2024, or until all the 8 billion inhabitants of Planet Earth are fully vaccinated. This is the prognosis given by a number of medical experts, as new variants keep emerging. The road to medical normalcy in Europe has been reversed by the Delta variant. And now, the Omicron variant is casting a long dark shadow around the world.

How will the next Philippine administration manage the Covid containment program? Presidential aspirants need to go beyond giving the usual simplistic answer: spend more on the health sector, as if spending alone is the magic wand needed to prevent the virus from spreading around the archipelago. In this connection, it is interesting to note that the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in approving the $1.5 billion Covid loan application of the Philippines in April 2020, came up with a “sector assessment” on health. The ADB staff drew a “problem tree” (see table 1) to show the purported root cause of the Philippine health sector’s crisis. At the bottom of the tree are the different health sector “consumables” or items that need to be funded in order to strengthen the capacity of the Philippines to manage the pandemic. By looking at the problem tree and its identification of the root cause of the health sector malaise, one is immediately struck by the simplistic approach of the ADB staff in preparing the said problem tree. The staff apparently had no appreciation of the complexity of the problems hounding the health sector and their deeper root causes. To the ADB, it was all a question of lack of funding and the solution, therefore, is to mobilize financial resources to fill up the funding gap. Of course, it is difficult to quarrel with the ADB staff in the listing of the “consumables” and health items needed to be procured in order to build up the Philippines’ capacity to manage the pandemic. What is questionable is the identification of “inadequate financing” as the sole or

main root cause of the health sector crisis in the Philippines. The ADB tree failed to cite decades-long government neglect of the national health system and the lack of an upgrading/modernization plan for the system to ensure that the entire population is able to enjoy the supposed benefits due to every citizen under the Universal Health Care law, a law that was passed just before the pandemic. Additionally, such neglect and lack of upgrading plan have been compounded by health sector misgovernance/corruption and neo-liberal policies favoring the privatization and commercialization of health and other public services. Given the foregoing problems, it was not surprising that when Covid-19 hit the country in 2020, the initial response was chaotic, even anarchic. It took the government over a year before it was able to put in place the Covid-19 response and containment program suggested by experts from the World Health Organization. Today, the Philippines is the third country in Asia (after India and Indonesia) with the most number of Covid cases (Number 18 in the world odometer). The Philippines also landed last in Bloomberg’s survey in Asia of resiliency under Covid. Shortage of funds as the root problem? Yes, funds were limited. But the government did not use this as an excuse to scrimp on health sector spending. It borrowed heavily from domestic and external sources. The rate of borrowing was so heavy the debt-to-GDP ratio of 39 percent in 2019 became 60 percent middle of 2021! And to think that the 39 percent debt-to-GDP ratio was achieved

by the country after long decades (1980s-2000s) of servicing a swollen debt bequeathed by the Marcos administration in 1986. However, having funds is not enough. Having a health governance system that can insure that funds are used wisely, judiciously and fairly for the benefits of all matters a lot. Right now, there is a public uproar over the following: a) massive corruption that attended the government purchases or procurement of protective health materials, b) the unexplained losses of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., c) the unpaid payment of “risk allowance” to the health-care workers, d) the limited facilities of government hospitals, and e) the poor handling by the government’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Infectious Diseases of the series of lockdowns imposed on the country in 2020-2021. Clearly, a health crisis is not a

simple question of looking for funds to heal it. This is why the “theory of change” advanced by the ADB in justifying its Covid-lending program (Covid-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support) is simplistic. Accordingly, the overall goal of CARES is to mitigate the health, social and economic consequences of the Covid pandemic through the “ADB Approach,” that is, to provide budget support for the health, social and economic requirements of a borrowing country. Such a theory of change sounds nice except that it misses the other critical root causes of a broken health system. The failure to identify and address the other root problems is one explanation for the prolonged health agony of the Philippines. Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo is a Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines. For comments, please write to reneofreneo@ gmail.com.

Table 1. Problem tree (Philippine health sector) Root cause

Insufficient financing of health system

Core problem Inadequate healthcare system capacity for Covid-19 cases Direct effects 1. Widespread national community transmission of Covid-19 2. Limited healthcare system capacity to treat and diagnose cases. 3. Increased number of people dying from Covid-19. Intermediate problems

Limited testing capabilities, Insufficient contact tracing and active surveillance. Inadequate infection control measures. Low treatment capacity for moderate to severe cases.

Intermediate causes

Insufficient laboratory consumables and reagents for RT-PCR testing. Transport delay of samples to laboratories. Limited laboratories with PCR testing capabilities. Weak contact tracing and surveillance infrastructure. Limited number of staff to perform contact tracing. Lack of adequate training of staff on effective contact tracing, etc. Lack of information technology infrastructure for data reporting, etc. Shortages of PPE. Limited number of facilities with isolation capacity. Limited number of hospitals and polyclinic facilities Etc., etc., etc.

Source: ADB, “Sector Assessment [Health],” document attached to the Philippine loan application to ADB.

Unique effort reopens girls’ schools in an Afghan province

By Lee Keath | Associated Press

ERAT, Afghanistan—High school girls are sitting at home almost everywhere in Afghanistan, forbidden to attend class by the Taliban rulers. But there’s one major exception. For weeks, girls in the western province of Herat have been back in high school classrooms—the fruit of a unique, concerted effort by teachers and parents to persuade local Taliban administrators to allow them to reopen. Taliban officials never formally approved the reopening after the lobbying campaign, but they also didn’t prevent it either when teachers and parents started classes on their own in early October. “Parents, students and teachers joined hand in hand to do this,” said Mohammed Saber Meshaal, the head of the Herat teachers’ union who helped organize the campaign. “This is the only place where community activists and teachers took the risk of staying and talking to the Taliban.” The success in Herat highlights a significant difference in the Taliban’s current rule over Afghanistan from their previous one in the late 1990s. Back then, the militants were uncompromising in their hardline ideology, banning women from public life and work and barring all girls from education. They used force and brutal punishments to enforce the rules. This time, they appear to recog-

nize they cannot be as ruthless in an Afghanistan that has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. They have imposed some old rules but have been ambiguous about what is allowed and what is not. The ambiguity might aim to avoid alienating the public as the Taliban wrestle with a near-total economic collapse, a shutdown in international funding, an alarming rise in hunger and a dangerous insurgency by Islamic State group militants. That has left small margins where Afghans can try to push back. When the Taliban seized power in August, most schools were closed because of Covid-19. Under heavy international pressure, the Taliban soon reopened schools for girls in grades 1-6, along with boys’ schools at all levels. But they have not allowed girls in grades 7-12 to return, saying they must first ensure classes are held in an “Islamic manner.” The Taliban also barred most women from government jobs, their largest place of employment. In Herat province, however, teachers quickly began to organize. “When the Taliban came, we were very worried, because of everything before,” said Basira Basiratkhah, principal of the Tajrobawai Girls School in Herat, the provincial capital. Teachers union officials met with the Taliban governor and head of the education department. They didn’t raise issue of girls schools at first, focusing on building a relationship

until “the Taliban came to see that we represent the community,” Meshaal said. When teachers did ask for a reopening, Taliban officials balked, saying they could not allow it without an order from the government in Kabul. The teachers kept pressing. About 40 female principals, including Basiratkhah, met with senior Taliban education officials in September to address their main concerns. “We assured them that the classes are segregated, with only women teachers, and the girls wear proper hijab,” Basiratkhah said. “We don’t need to change anything. We are Muslims and we already observe everything Islam requires.” By October, the teachers felt they had the Taliban’s tacit agreement not to stand in the way. Teachers began spreading the word on Facebook pages and messaging app channels that girls’ high schools would reopen Oct. 3. Parents created a telephone chain to pass along the news, and students told classmates. Mastoura, who has two daughters attending Tajrobawai in the first and eighth grades, called other parents, urging them to bring their girls to school. Some worried the Taliban would harass the girls or that militants might attack. Mastoura and other women still escort their daughters to school daily. “We had concerns, and we have them still,” said Mastoura, who like many Afghans uses one name. “But daughters must get an education.

Without education, your life is held back.” Fadieh Ismailzadeh, a 14-year-old in the ninth grade, said she cried with happiness at the news. “We had lost all hope that schools would reopen,” she said. Not all the students showed up when the doors opened at Tajrobawai. But as parents became more confident, classes filled after a few days, Basiratkhah said. About 3,900 students are in grades 1-12. On a recent day, girls in a 10th grade chemistry class took notes as a teacher explained the elements that make up water. Lines of younger students marched through the halls to the schoolyard. Shehabeddin Saqeb, the Taliban education director for Herat province, insists the group has no problem with girls going to school. “We openly tell everyone that they should come to school,” he told The Associated Press. “The schools are open without any problem. We never issued any official order saying high-school aged girls should not go to school.” Herat is the only place where girls’ high schools are open across the province, although schools also have reopened in a few individual districts in northern Afghanistan, including the city of Mazar-e Sharif. Meshaal pointed to changes within the Taliban, saying some factions are more open. “They understand that people will resist on the subject of education.” AP correspondent Rahim Faiez contributed

A14 Thursday, December 2, 2021

BLOOMBERG RESILIENCE INDEX: PALACE LAMENTS BIAS AGAINST LOCAL DATA By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

ALAC AÑANG said on We d n e s d a y B l o o m berg showed “little consideration” for local data when it again placed the Philippines at the bottom of its Covid-19 Resilience Ranking. In a statement, Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo B. Nograles noted that Bloomberg gave emphasis to a general of criteria such a severity, flight capacity, and vaccinated travel routes in making its assessment. “There is little consideration for country-specific Covid-19 context, which in our view is imperative to objectively assess how countries manage pandemic response,” Nograles said. He said it did not give much weight on how the active local Covid-19 cases continue to fall this month, reaching only 425 active cases as of November 30, 2021— the lowest reported in 2021 after the government implemented its new Alert Level System this month.

These developments coincided with the decline in Covid-related positivity rate, fatality rate, health-care utilization as well as the increase in local vaccination coverage, he noted. The improving Covid-related indicators, he said, also translated to 7.1-percent growth in Philippine economy in the third quarter. Despite the criticism, Nograles said the Bloomberg list is still useful in evaluating local pandemic response, and will not likely affect local policies. “Our Economic Team will continue to put a greater emphasis on our country-specific conditions or context in order to craft policies that are more responsive to our people’s needs and the requisites of economic recovery,” Nograles said. In the November round of its Covid-19 Resilience Ranking, Bloomberg placed the Philippines at the bottom of the list, which assessed the Covid response of 53 countries. The Philippines was ranked 53rd on the list, the same slot it got in September.

‘$300-M NBN project would have helped PHL during pandemic’

HE Philippines should have pushed through with the National Broadband Network (NBN) project at the time it would have only cost taxpayers $300 million, according to former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s former economic advisor. In the first plenary of the virtual Arangkada Philippines Forum on Wednesday, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda said the NBN could have been the country’s most significant investment, given what came after the project was shelved. Salceda said as of the second quarter of 2020, some 12.8 million Filipinos became resellers. This was significant, considering that there were mobility restrictions and the country did not have an NBN in place. “This despite the fact that we don’t have a national broadband. Probably one of our biggest mistakes is not doing it [NBN] despite all the skepticism in 2013. [At that time] it was only $300 million,” Salceda said. In 2013, the national government shelved the NBN project due to the NBN-ZTE controversy arising from claims of bribery by Chinese contractors. The project aimed to provide broadband connectivity to remote areas nationwide but was mired in controversy. Salceda said the Philippine economy is mainly informal and may already be the “most informal economy in Asia.” Having an internet backbone would allow more Filipinos to not only log on and be connected to family and friends but also economic opportunities. The impact on jobs and livelihoods would be significant considering that informality of the Philippine economy, he said, may be almost 40 percent and this accounts for almost 62 percent of the total labor force.

Uneven access

CITIGROUP Hong Kong Johanna Chua said there is uneven access to digital platforms. Right now, those firms that already have a reach and economies of scale are the same ones able to access digital platforms—often to the detriment of the micro, small, and medium enterprises or the “mom and pop” enterprises. Those firms which do well in the digital space are currently US- and China-based firms or those in India, which have a large domestic economy that allows them to have economies of scale—leading to the growth and development of these enterprises. This makes it difficult for smaller firms to compete at a global scale.

“So I’m just very conscious that [while] there’s productivity gains, there’s this risk of uneven distribution of the productivity gains and how do we make it more equal, how we broaden it out or some regulatory kind of compensation for some of the potential anti-competitiveness [issues],” Chua said.

Digital backbone

DEVELOPING the country’s infrastructure, including the digital backbone, would also boost the growth and development of the creative economy. Salceda said “culture is very exportable” and the country has a lot to share in this regard. Salceda thinks the country can take advantage of this, since tourism already accounts for 11 percent of GDP and involves about 4.6 million Filipinos. The key to helping sectors like this to grow would be an NBN type of setup. “ The biggest thing there of course would be a national broadband, especially connectivity because it allows for your ideas to freely flow so that so when you say BBB [Build, Build, Build], actually the number one in the list is a national broadband and then of course all those other institutions that essentially promote creative industries, promote culture and promote arts and heritage,” Salceda said. Bernardo Villegas, Founder of the Center for Research and Communication (now the University of Asia and the Pacific), said Filipinos are talented and have a lot to offer. Filipino singers have won many contests abroad and some could easily rival K-Pop groups such as BTS. He said Manila could emulate the effort exerted by the Korean government in helping these artists take the world by storm. Seoul trains and organizes talent camps to hone their people’s skills and artistry. “This is where we really have to have a government that is convinced about their role in technology, in investing and so forth and the talents are there. So I’m very optimistic about the creative industries in the Philippines as long as the state will give the same support as the Korean government is giving to this sector,” Villegas said. Salceda agreed with Villegas and said the Korean government invested almost $20 billion in their creative industries. This gave birth to the K-Pop phenomenon, Korea’s largest export to date. He said this means there is support to having a Build, Build, Build program for the creative industries. Cai U. Ordinario

DOE wants bigger govt cut in Malampaya gas proceeds

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE Department of Energy (DOE) wants the government’s cut in the Malampaya royalty that is being shared with the consortium raised from the prevailing 60:40 arrangement to 80:20.

“The present sharing is 60:40 and the DOE position is starting with 80:20 and the alternative position that is being raised is 70:30,” said DOE Assistant Secretary Gerardo Erguiza during an online news briefing held Monday. Under Service Contract (SC) 38, or more known as SC Malampaya, 70 percent of the gross proceeds from the sale of natural gas would go to the contractor to recover the investment cost. The remaining 30 percent is shared by the government and the Malampaya consortium on a 60-40 basis, respectively. The latter is the sharing that DOE wants changed. The contract will expire in 2024. Once expired, the Malampaya consortium could no longer operate on the gas field even if there is still gas left. As early as 2016, Malampaya operator Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) has been asking the DOE to extend the contract. It even re-filed its application for extension due to change in administration. SC 38 was awarded to the Malampaya consortium—currently composed of UC38 LLC, a

subsidiary of Udenna Corp. (UC), 45 percent; state-owned PNOC Exploration Corp.,10 percent; and SPEX, 45 percent.

Deal with Uy-led firm

HOWEVER, a deal was sealed between SPEX and another UC firm controlled by Davao businessman Dennis Uy. Malampaya Energy XP Pte. Ltd. had signed a deal with SPEX to sell its 45-percent operating interest in SC 38. The deal, however, is subject to approval of the DOE and consortium members, including PNOC-EC. “We are in the thick of it. It’s just a matter for us to consolidate. As soon as we have evaluation or decision of the PNOC-EC, we will be ready and come out with that approval as soon as possible because time is also very important and we are aware of that. We are doing this parallel wise with PNOC but we’re waiting for the decision of PNOCEC,” said Erguiza. The results of DOE’s review in the SPEX-Malampaya Energy deal will be issued ahead of its decision on the application for SC38 extension. “We

believe this would go independently. At the rate going on right now, we’re going to decide on the SPEX transaction first most likely,” said the DOE official. The DOE has set these parameters as basis for extending the license: the Malampaya gas reserves, a work program, decommissioning and restoration plan, assets disposal, gas price, banked gas and revenue sharing between the government and the contractor. Of these, there are two unresolved issues between the DOE and the Malampaya consortium. “These are the government sharing and the banked gas. In the negotiation with SPEX, there are eight parameters and they made a framework. The DOE will not just approve it without addressing these concerns and parameters that were agreed upon by the parties,” Erguiza said.

Gatchalian’s beef

THE DOE earlier caught the ire of the Senate Energy Committee led by Sherwin Gatchalian. “I think it’s really quite premature and unethical for Malampaya Energy to negotiate with the government. It’s too presumptuous in fact. We already laid down that DC 2007 should be applied to the transfer,” Gatchalian said, referring to Department Circular No. 2007-04-003 which sets the guidelines and procedures for the transfer of rights and obligations in petroleum service contracts as underpinned by Presidential Decree No. 87 or the Philippine Oil and Gas Law. However, Erguiza clarified that the ongoing discussion on SC 38 is with SPEX and not with the Malam-

paya Energy. He also strongly suggested that lawmakers revisit PD 87 to address the “gaps” on how the DOE can go about in transactions related to shares of sale of stocks. He was referring to the Chevron-UC38 deal, earlier approved by the DOE. “There is actually no law on transaction of shares of sale of stocks between two corporations. But because we want to protect national interest and to see to it that energy security is not put at risk, the DOE had to revisit the sale. It went out of its way to revisit the deal and we had to refer to DC. 2007-04-003 and PD 87 as these are the nearest applicable rules in the transaction,” said the DOE official. For its part, the DOE will come out with a department circular in a bid to close these gaps. “We’re calling [for a] public consultation in the next two to three weeks and we’ve made a draft already on how to address this gap. There’s a gap in the law and everybody should face it. This a matter of national urgency also, we have to address this ASAP.” Last week, the Philippine Bar Association called on the DOE to rescind the Chevron-UC38 deal. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), meanwhile, called for transparency in the transfer of shares between Chevron and UC38. Erguiza said the DOE will not rescind the contract. “The DOE position is that there is no problem with the transaction, so there is nothing for the DOE to rescind. DOE officials have been unduly maligned. Let’s settle this once and for all in the proper legal forum,” he added.

PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Bongbong Marcos and running mate Inday Sara Duterte lead a convoy of vehicles of supporters winding their way through the San Juanico Bridge on Tuesday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

UniTeam supporters join forces on San Juanico Bridge

UPPORTERS of UniTeam presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and his running mate, Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte met at the country’s longest bridge to show their strength on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. The salubong or merging of north and south was held on the San Juanico Bridge, the famous bridge connecting the province of Leyte and Samar, symbolic of the unity of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao behind the BBM-Sara UniTeam with

its theme of unifying leadership to usher in national unity, peace and progress. The entire stretch of the famous bridge was virtually painted red and green as thousands of supporters in red and green T-shirts showed up. Marcos Jr. said the historic joining of forces of supporters of BBMSara UniTeam signals the country’s triumph over the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, as he held that “only together as a unified nation shall

Filipinos be victorious during and after the pandemic” as expressed in his rallying call of “sama-sama tayong babangon muli [together we shall arise again].” The event, said the Marcos camp, also signals the continuity and enhancement of legacy programs initiated under the Duterte administration. “This is a great event because the coming together of a Marcos and a Duterte is a beautiful symbol of the countrty’s unity. I’m from the North and Inday Sara is from the

South and we met here in Eastern Samar,” he said. The Marcos camp noted how the duo “consistently tops all for ma l [met hodolog ica l] and random man-on-the-street surveys like the Kalye Survey series in the country where they enjoy outstanding lead.” The 2,200-meter San Juanico Bridge is part of the Pan-Philippine Highway project of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and was dedicated to his wife, Imelda Marcos, a well-known Waraynon.

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

CTA junks bid of PMFTC to recover ₧2.7B in taxes

By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

eading cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC) has lost its bid to recover P2.7 billion in tax refund representing excise taxes paid for cigarette packs containing less than 20 sticks for the taxable period starting January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2015. In a 24-page decision, the Court of Tax Appeals’ (CTA) Second Division junked PMFTC’s petition for review filed on July 11, 2019 assailing the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) decision denying its demand for a refund or issuance of a tax credit certificate. The CTA held that petitioner’s administrative and judicial claims were filed out of time, thus, it is no longer entitled to the claim for refund or issuance of tax credit for alleged erroneous or excessive paid excise taxes. It noted that under Sections 204(C) and 229 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (NIRC) “no credit or refund of taxes or penalties shall be allowed unless the taxpayer files in writing the Commissioner a claim for credit or refund within 2 years after the payment of the tax or penalty.” The said provisions also barred the filing of any suit or proceeding in any court for recovery of taxes alleged to have been erroneously or illegally assessed or collected. In the case of PMFTC, the CTA noted that the payment of the subject excise taxes were made from February 20, 2014 until December 15, 2015, thus, the two-year prescriptive should end on December 17, 2017 at the latest. However, PMFTC filed its administrative claim before the BIR and the judicial claim before the CTA only on June 13, 2019 and July 11, 2019, respectively. The CTA did not give merit to petitioner’s claim that the temporary restraining order

(TRO) issued by the Supreme Court in the Purisima case warrants the suspension of the two-year prescriptive period. The petitioner argued that in deference to the said TRO, it continuously paid under protest the excise taxes allegedly due to the government under the subject revenue issuances, pending the appeal filed by the Secretary of Finance. Furthermore, petitioner contends that the two-year prescriptive period must likewise be suspended to avoid unjust enrichment on the part of the government at the expense of the taxpayer. “Considering that in this case, the twoyear prescriptive period under Section 229 of the NIRC of 1997 had already elapsed before petitioner filed its administrative and judicial claims, and since such prescriptive period continues to run regardless of any supervening cause that may arise after payment, the present Petition for Review must already fail,” the CTA said. Furthermore, the CTA said the TRO issued by the Supreme Court (SC) in the Purisima case was not directed against the petitioner, but only to Philippine Tobacco Institute Inc. (PTI) , the Regional Trial Court of Las Piñas City and their representatives. “In other words, since petitioner is not one to whom the TRO is directed, the same would have no binding effect on petitioner. Moreover, the fact that petitioner is a member of PTI does not automatically mean that it is one of the latter’s representatives,” it added.

“Thus, finding that petitioner’s refund claims have prescribed, and considering that two-year prescriptive period under Section 229 of the NIRC of 1997 is not only mandatory but t is also jurisdictional, this Court has no recourse but to dismiss the present Petition for Review, for its lack of jurisdiction.”

Rates

The PMFTC sought the refund after the SC, in a decision issued on April 17, 2017, affirmed with finality the decision of the trial court which declared null and void Revenue Regulation (RR) 17-2012 and Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 90-2012 issued by then Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima for allegedly violating the Constitution and imposing tax rates not authorized by Republic Act (RA) 1035, or the Sin Tax Reform Law. The decision stemmed from the petition for declaratory relief filed by the PTI which argued that the excise tax rate of either P12 or P25 under RA 10351 should be imposed only on cigarettes packed by machine in packs of 20’s or packaging combinations of 20’s and should not be imposed on cigarette pouches of 5’s and 10’s Section 11 of RR 17-2012 imposes an excise tax on individual cigarette pouches of 5’s and 10’s even if they are bundled or packed in packaging combinations not exceeding 20 cigarettes. RMC 90-2012 provides for the initial classifications in tabular form, effective January 1, 2013, of locally-manufactured cigarette brands packed by machine according to the tax rates prescribed under RA 10351 based on the 2010 BIR price survey of these products, and the suggested net retail price declared in the latest sworn statement filed by the local manufacturer or importer. On January 16, 2013, prior to the payment of excise tax on its cigarette packs of l0’s, petitioner wrote the BIR stating that the payment was being made under protest and without prejudice to its right to question the issuances before the court. Petitioner then paid excise taxes on the 20’s cigarette packs and 2x10’s cigarette packaging combinations from February 20, 2014 until December 17, 2015.

Solar PHL unit starts share sale S

olar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. (SPNEC) started selling shares for its initial public offering (IPO) on Wednesday after the company secured a license from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The offer period will run through December 7, with a tentative listing date on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on December 17. “We thank the PSE and SEC for approving this IPO, which aims to give the public a new option to invest in RE [renewable energy] and increase the RE capacity of the Philippines. Furthermore, we are thankful for this opportunity to launch the Solar Philippines group’s first public offering, which we see as a favorable signal for future offerings,” Solar Philippines Chairman Leandro Leviste said. Solar Philippines incorporated SPNEC in 2016, and secured a service contract from the Department of Energy to develop the Nueva Ecija project in 2017. The company plans to start construction of the project before the end of 2021. Once operational, the project is intended to supplement the Luzon grid’s thin reserves and help prevent the rotating outages that affected millions of Filipinos earlier this year. SPNEC is aiming to raise some P2.7 billion by offering 2.7 billion common shares at P1 per share. The proceeds of the IPO will be used to complete the first 50 megawatt of the project and acquire land to expand the project beyond 500 MW, in support of SPNEC’s plan to develop the largest solar project in Southeast Asia. SPNEC’s solar power plant is still at the pre-operating stage. Some P1.3 billion of the proceeds will be used to fund the construction of Phase 1A of its project and the remaining P1.3 billion will be used to acquire land for future expansion. The total project cost for its first phase is P4.87 billion, a quarter of which will be funded via equity while the remaining 75 percent will be funded via debt. The total project cost of the company’s 500 megawatt solar PV power project is estimated at around P11.9 billion, inclusive of estimated financing and capitalization costs and value added taxes but are exclusive of any IPO related fees and expenses, the company said in its prospectus. The Nueva Ecija project would be the largest among the first 1 gigawatt of projects of Solar Philippines planned to be operating by 2022. Its other projects include one in Batangas with an operational 63 MW in partnership with Korea Electric Power Corp.; one in

Tarlac, which is being expanded to up to 200 MW in partnership with Prime Infra of the Razon Group; and another two in Batangas and Cavite with a combined capacity of 140 MW planned to be fully operational by 2022. Abacus Capital and Investment Corp. has been assigned as issue manager and lead underwriter and Investment Capital Corp. of the Philippines as participating underwriter for the deal. VG Cabuag

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 2, 2021

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Megaworld expects to raise EEI to hire 10K skilled workers ₧5B from Palawan assets Y

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

egaworld Corp., the property development arm of businessman Andrew Tan, on Wednesday said it is expecting some P5 billion in sales from the commercial district and boutique hotels within its sprawling 462-hectare Paragua Coastown in San Vicente, Palawan.

Located in Kemdeng, the commercial area will be called Mercato Shophouse District and hotel area as the Porto Hotel District. The company said it will offer 240 lots ranging

from 250 square meters to 599 square meters for the commercial area and 450 square meters to 1,199 square meters for boutique hotels. Both districts will be inter-

connected to each other and the company will provide walk areas by building wide sidewalks and bridges. This district is also surrounded by parks and gardens, and an esplanade along the creek. It will also have access to the Mangrove Reserve Park via a bridge. “Our eco-tourism township offers businesses and entrepreneurs such as hotel owners, restaurateurs, coffee shop and bar operators, and retail shop owners to own land in San Vicente, particularly inside our master-planned beachside development,” Javier Romeo Abustan, head of sales and marketing, Megaworld Palawan, said. “This district that we are developing in Kemdeng will have close access to the coastline of Long Beach Area of San Vicente, which has been designated as a Tourism Enterprise Zone of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority [TIEZA].” TIEZA’s Tourism Enterprise Zones have special incentives for tourism-related businesses, such as tax holidays. The Mercato Shophouse District and Porto Hotel District will have direct access to San Vicente town proper and the San Vicente airport

via the municipal and coastal roads that traverses the township. This is the first area of the Paragua Coastown that is being developed in Kemdeng. It will also have several mixed-use developments, medical and wellness facilities, church and other leisure and institutional amenities once completed. Other areas for future developments within Paragua Coastown include several town barangays, which will mostly have access to Long Beach as well. San Vicente Long Beach boasts of having the longest beach line in the country and the second longest in the entire Southeast Asia. “We will definitely have unique residential and recreational offerings inside Paragua Coastown as well. What we are building here will hopefully help San Vicente become the most popular eco-tourism spot in Palawan and the entire country. But of course, we give utmost importance to sustainable real estate because this is what everyone will be looking for when they decide to invest in Palawan,” Abustan said. Megaworld has allocated P40 billion to develop the entire eco-tourism township over the next 10 to 15 years.

PDIC aims to dispose of 807 real properties By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

tate-run Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) is targeting to dispose of 807 real properties and resolve 17,826 loan accounts in closed banks in a bid to clean up its non-cash portfolio this year. PDIC President and CEO Roberto Tan reported that since 2019 the state deposit insurer has already disposed of 2,917 real properties, 507 of which were sold as of June. Tan also told Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III during a recent executive committee meeting that they have so far resolved 66,249 loan accounts of borrowers in closed banks from 2019 to 2021. Proceeds from the disposal of PDIC’s non-cash assets go to the funds held in trust for closed banks to help increase the chances of closed-bank creditors and uninsured depositors to recover their funds. Creditors’ claims are settled by PDIC as liquidator, in accordance with the rules on concurrence and preference of credits. Tan also told Dominguez, who chairs the PDIC Board, that the state deposit insurer is also aiming to reduce its non-cash portfolio this year by adopting electronic bidding processes for properties that started on April 8. It is also implementing the Closed Bank Loan Incentive Program (CLIP), which offers easy payment and zero penalty initiative to borrowers of

banks that were ordered closed by the Monetary Board. CLIP offers substantial discounts to closed-bank borrowers with principal loan balances of P1 million and below and who will opt to pay through a one-time cash settlement. The Deposit Insurance Fund, which is the capital and funding source for payment of deposit insurance, grew by 15 percent or P30.7 billion year-on-year to P234.84 billion as of July. In the same period, the PDIC also saw its total assets rising by 3.6 percent to P302.84 billion. The growth was driven by assessment collections amounting to P29.64 billion and P6.82 billion in income on investments. Meanwhile, liabilities slid by 22.8 percent to P68 billion as of July. For the first half of the year, PDIC paid P470 million in insured deposits from four banks ordered closed by the Monetary Board, particularly Occidental Mindoro Rural Bank, Palm Tree Bank in Cagayan de Oro City, Rural Bank of Alimodian in Iloilo, and the Rural Bank of Caloocan. PDIC is also preparing to settle the claims on two other closed banks— the Rural Bank of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao and the Grand Agri Rural Bank in Lucena City, Quezon. To improve the settlement of claims, Tan said PDIC has allowed the online filing and release of payments through the Land Bank of the Philippines or through Postal Money Order or Delivery Express Mail Service.

ing the ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] lockdowns,” Dizon said. In terms of remuneration, the firm provides subsistence allowances to cover incidental expenses while on field deployment. These are on top of standard housing and accommodations while in the project sites. “We are also among the few construction companies investing in the protection of project workers through group life and accident insurance,” he said. The company said it is one of the few local construction companies that provide an array of career opportunities, both domestic and overseas, to its employees. It is a leading producer of highly skilled workers much sought after in the construction and engineering labor market. EEI earlier filed for a preferred shares offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange. The company said it plans to offer up to P4 billion as base offer, with an oversubscription option of up to P2 billion to be issued in one or more subseries: Series A Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares. RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital Corp. were picked as joint lead underwriters and joint bookrunners and RCBC Capital as sole issue manager. VG Cabuag

uchengco-led EEI Corp. on Wednesday said it is hiring some 10,000 skilled workers next year to fast-track the completion of its projects. Reynaldo Dizon, EEI vice president for human resources management, said the firm need the workers in the coming years as it participates in bidding and secures projects from the private and public sector both here and abroad. By next year, he said the company will need carpenters, masons, rebarmen, scaffolders, welders, pipe fitters, steel workers, engineers, architects, safety, quality control personnel, electricians, and civil works supervisors. “The economy is picking up and the construction industry is flexing its muscles as Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed. EEI Corp. will take advantage of this development and will go full blast next year,” Dizon said. EEI currently has 13,382 employees across different construction projects in the Philippines, some 6,909 of whom are overseas while 3,201 are in its subsidiaries. “We really take good care of our employees and their families. This has been highlighted during this pandemic when employees were housed, fed and paid their full salaries and wages despite no production dur-

mutual funds

December 1, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

229.69

5.43%

-2.59%

-0.73%

1.1%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.6714

28.97%

6.58%

4.53%

27.3%

5.65%

-6.02%

-3.49%

2.02%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7531 -2.81%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1962

-5.46% n.a.

-7.34%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.795

-0.86% n.a.

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

6.8%

5.1454

8.71%

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

0.7707

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

95.67

-0.91%

7.2%

-0.23%

1.08%

4.13%

5.55%

-2.34%

-2.63%

-5.42% n.a.

-6.08%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

47.2798

5.96%

-1%

0.92%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

493.38

5.16%

-1.07%

0.16%

0.91%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

1.1547

10.67% n.a. n.a.

5.23%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.3033

16.56%

1.61%

2.26%

11.56%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

35.9195

8.58%

-0.32%

1.52%

3.31%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9258

6.28% n.a. n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.8718

6.82%

-0.23%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

813.51

6.63%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.746

6.34%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.7108

0.94%

1.4%

1.64%

1.68%

-0.23%

1.59%

1.48%

-4.35%

-1.66%

3.77%

7.01%

-2.83%

-0.05%

2.4%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9277 6.17%

-0.58%

1.33%

1.09%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-0.41%

2.17%

2.68%

-0.01%

2.08%

3.4077

6.82%

-0.73%

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

109.4175

6.75%

1.73%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities $1.1282

-3.41%

5.73%

5.53%

-6.21%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8262

ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

13.29%

15.75%

12.19%

9.17%

0.69%

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

1.6801

3.34%

0.7%

0.19%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2535

2.13%

1.04%

0.42%

-1.4%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6824

4.88%

2.32%

2.23%

2.11%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2054

6.26% n.a. n.a.

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

2.93%

2.42%

1.9971

3.54%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.729

1.15%

2.04%

1.24%

-1.61%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.7012

1.31%

1.88%

1.21%

-1.41%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.1044

3.29%

0.85%

1.17%

0.64%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6057 3.67%

-0.34%

0.72%

0.91%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9829

-1.12% n.a. n.a.

-3.88%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9319

1.97% n.a. n.a.

-1.82%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.9218

2.91% n.a. n.a.

-1.21%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

9.01%

5.72%

0.9385

0.46%

1.01%

3.69%

1.53%

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

$0.03765

-3.81%

2.62%

1.46%

-3.71%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0546

-6.57%

3.82%

3.53%

-6.67%

8.81%

11.37%

8.9%

5.44%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.1914 0.99%

5.86%

4.38%

-0.9%

0.66%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.7585

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

373.57

2.92%

2.59%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9229

1.31%

1.4%

0.33%

1.19%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2431

1.04%

3.11%

3.98%

0.86%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2439

-2.06%

1.8%

1.51%

-2.37%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4198 -1.16%

3.14%

1.85%

-1.36%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.3891

-5.12%

4.02%

1.65%

-5.2%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3156

-0.08%

3.75%

2.58%

-0.43%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9513

-0.75%

4.24%

2.6%

-1.24%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0242

-1.2%

4.81%

2.12%

-1.85%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1721

-0.55%

4.69%

3.37%

-1.06%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-1.35%

3.87%

2.65%

-1.94%

1.721

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

$488.46

1.26%

2.45%

0.92%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є219.48

0.42%

1.1%

0.91%

0.12%

$1.203

-5.1%

2.33%

1.81%

-6%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0259 -2.26%

1.46%

0.87%

-2.63%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0172

-6.76%

-0.22%

-0.73%

-6.68%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.4847

-1.7%

5.12%

2.69%

-2.18%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.0623797

0.45%

3.1%

2.05%

0.13%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1516 -2.04%

3.22%

1.55%

-2.23%

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

2.56%

0.93%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0569 0.94% n.a. n.a.

131.03

1.13%

0.84%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3139

1.31%

1.5%

2.86% 2.64%

2.53%

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

$1.06

0.81%

1.47% n.a.

0.61%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3351

22.22% n.a. n.a.

18.19%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a,d

$0.96

-1.03% n.a. n.a.

-2.04%

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

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

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Thursday, December 2, 2021 B3

PHL abaca output grows by 11.3% in Jan-Oct By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE country’s abaca production in January to October rose by 11.3 percent year-on-year to 57,059.26 metric tons (MT), according to the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFida). Latest PhilFida data showed that abaca output during the 10-month period was 5,776.2 MT higher than the 51,283.06 MT recorded in the same period a year ago. PhilFida Executive Director Kennedy T. Costales attributed the increase in production to the agency’s distribution of abaca seed-derived planting materials nationwide. “We have been massively distributing abaca seed-derived planting materials to our abaca farmers on a first-come, first-served basis for more than 4 years now,” Costales said in a statement. He said the industry is now seeing the benefits of the distributed planting materials since an abaca plant matures for a maximum of two years. “Our farmers are now starting to

THIS BusinessMirror file photo shows the process of grading abaca fiber.

reap its full benefits,” he said. “The second reason is the continued good weather. We again pray for good weather up to the end of the year.” Costales also said improvements in PhilFida’s monitoring of traders and the easing of Covid-19 restrictions nationwide contributed to the hike

in abaca production. He noted that buying prices by grading baling establishments (GBEs) have been “very stable” and “attractive” to abaca farmers. PhilFida data showed that four regions posted double-digit growth rates while production in three

other regions recorded single-digit growth rates. Abaca output in Northern Mindanao expanded by 84.6 percent yearon-year to 6,877.08 MT while production in Western Visayas rose by 59.2 percent to 3,290.43 MT. Data from the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture indicated that production in Eastern Visayas went up by 43.4 percent to 4,136.47 MT while output in Central Visayas expanded by 20.4 percent to 241.08 MT. The output of Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, and Caraga grew by 7.7 percent, 9.5 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively. Abaca output in Zamboanga Peninsula reached 551 MT while output in Davao Region and Caraga grew to 11,781.21 MT and 8,096.25 MT, respectively. The Bicol Region, the country’s top producer of abaca, saw output falling by 7.9 percent to 17,401.68 MT from last year’s 18,893.44 MT. The Philippines produces 85 percent of the world’s abaca fiber supply, and 1.5 million Filipinos depend on it for their livelihood.

‘Suggested retail price for fertilizers to tame food prices’ By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

EN. Francis N. Pangilinan on Wednesday backed the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) plan to adopt the suggested retail price (SRP) scheme for fertilizers to mitigate the impact of skyrocketing food prices in the world market. A former Food Security Secretary in a previous administration, the opposition lawmaker affirmed that the imposition of SRP is on option to be seriously considered “to protect the supply chain of agricultural products from farm to table.” Apart from backing an increase in farmers’ fertilizer subsidy, the senator confirms support for the SRP, saying it is

meant to “balance the needs of farmers and the interests of consumers,” even as he reminded that “nobody sells at a loss.” In a statement Wednesday, Pangilinan reported that DA officials, as well as the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), and Fertilizer Industry Association of the Philippines are “considering the imposition of SRP as a ‘preemptive measure’ together with tapping alternative sources of fertilizers, such as Iran and Brunei.” The senator affirmed that the lower cost of inputs like fertilizer will bring down the cost of food production. “Kung hindi kakayaning bumili ng mga magsasaka ng fertilizers para sa pananim, bababa ang ani; kapag bumaba ang ani, tataas ang presyo ng pagkain.”

Pangilinan added: “Ang pinakamalaking konsiderasyon ay ang stability ng food supply para sa lahat ng pamilyang Pilipino sa gitna ng pandemya. Ayaw nating lalong tumindiangmalnutrisyon, gutom,atfood insecurity ng bawat Pilipino ngayon.” Moreover, he noted that DA officials are also considering the use of local, indigenous, and bio-fertilizers to balance the country’s fertilization strategy, quoting a DA official saying: “SRPs will help pull down production cost of farmers as it will cap prices of agricultural inputs while maintaining the production yield high.” The senator noted that some 2.3 million metric tons (MMT) of the 2.6 MMT annual national fertilizer requirements of the Philippines are

imported, adding that China supplies about 18 to 20 percent of the country’s fertilizer needs. This, as he also recalled that fertilizer prices have risen to more than P1,700 per bag last November, compared with last year’s P1,000 per bag’s average price. Citing additional figures obtained by his office, Pangilinan recalled that as of November 26, prilled (dried globule) urea has the highest price at P2,154.48 per bag; di-ammonium phosphate, P2,149.59; granular urea, P2,119.77; potassium chloride, P1,621.49; complete fertilizer mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, P1,581.78; ammophos, P1,459.14; and ammosul, P1,111.12.

Crop futures plunge as global economic Bicol farmers are now agripreneurs under OVP program—Robredo problems cloud demand outlook

ARM commodities plummeted in Chicago, with soybean oil and wheat leading losses as the new virus strain stokes fresh fear of diminished demand. Most-active soybean oil and wheat futures both ended the trading day with the biggest drops since midAugust. Corn declined the most in nearly three months as equity markets slumped and crude oil slid. Along with concern that the new coronavirus strain might slow economic recovery and dent the world’s appetite for grain purchases, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell made comments about inflation no longer being viewed as “transitory.” That helped fuel the sell-off. “It’s not new news that there are inflationary problems that are more persistent than the Fed believed earlier this year, but Powell’s confirmation of it today made markets nervous,” Farm Futures analyst Jacqueline Holland said. The Bloomberg Grains Spot Subindex on Tuesday fell the most since early September. Also pressuring soy prices is Brazil’s decision to cap biodiesel content more

than expected. The move is dimming the demand outlook for soy oil, a widely used ingredient in renewable fuel. The January contract for whole soybeans, which are crushed to make the oil, ended November with a seventh straight month of losses, the longest such streak since July 1989 amid concern about excess supply. The most-active benchmark wheat contract slipped below $8 a bushel for the first time since November 10, with prices tumbling from the highest level since 2012 touched last week. The futures ended the day down 4.3 percent at $7.8725 a bushel. Even so, wheat capped November with a sixth straight month of gains, the longest stretch since 2007, amid supply concerns. While Australia, one of the world’s top wheat growers, expects record production, the country also warns that heavy flooding has hurt grain quality. That means supplies won’t ease the global shortage of bread-making wheat as much as expected. Corn futures for March settled down 2.5 percent to $5.675 a bushel. They ended the month with losses for the first time since August. Bloomberg News

ICE President Maria Leonor G. Robredo said Filipino farmers in Bicol are now “agri-entrepreneurs” as they sell produce directly to commercial establishments, such as Bigg’s Diner. During the forum “Halalan 2022 Para sa Agrikultura” organized by the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI), Robredo said there are already nine municipalities in Bicol with farming communities that are directly selling to hotels, restaurants, groceries, and supermarkets. Bicol planters have benefited from the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) livelihood program dubbed Umasenso Sa Kabuhayan. “Farmers’ transition from subsistence farming [into entrepreneurship] is gradual. But if we can show them the benefits, it is possible,” said Robredo. PCAFI held the forum to orient presidential aspirants on the needs of Filipino farmers and the fact that agriculture has been neglected for many years, according to PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto. He said the sector needs a budget of at least 10 percent of GDP which is but “fair” as agriculture contributes 10 percent to GDP. The figure goes up to 35 percent if agriculture processing industries are included. Farmers need to be aided to become businessmen as “agriculture should not be treated as a charity work but as a business,” Fausto said. The initiative with Bicol farmers started in 2018 when the OVP conducted a simultaneous survey. The survey sought to find out the top 10 produce needed by commercial establishments as well as the top 10 crops that farmers cultivate. The requirements of businessmen

are calamansi, ginger, chili pepper, lettuce, and cucumber. “We told the farmers, ‘grow calamansi, and we will provide you with the financial grants and the seedlings,’” Robredo said. Initially, the farmers were resistant since they were used to growing cash crops, such as vegetables which can be harvested in three weeks, or crops that will complete traditional Filipino meals, such as talong, ampalaya, and kalabasa. Some enterprising farmers, she noted, decided to grow the produce needed by the businessmen who committed to buy their output. Robredo said the first big buyer was Bigg’s Diner in Naga. She said these businesses usually buy produce from Baguio or Sariaya, Quezon, instead of sourcing from Bicol farmers. “We found it hard at first. But when daring farmers started becoming successful, the other farmers followed,” said Robredo. “Now we already have a lot of contracts. You just need to be focused on the program.” She also attributed the success of the initiative in Bicol to collaboration among concerned agencies— the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) assisted the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) while the Department of Agriculture (DA) assisted the non-ARBs. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provided shared service facilities for agricultural goods that cannot be bought by institutional buyers. Now there are nine municipalities with shared service facilities that allow farmers to undertake direct trading activities. The Department of Science and Technology is also ready to assist farmers if there is a need for value adding.

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Diplomat on a mission to share Israeli technology, revive tourism

Story & photo by Manuel T. Cayon

AVAO CITY—For Israel’s recently posted envoy, the primary mission is to impart his country’s technology to Filipinos. Ambassador Ilan Fluss’s advocacy is forged by his country’s experience and exigency brought about by the pandemic. He sees the need to share the “Holy Land’s” technology developed by its companies and industrial sectors to help local companies and sectors engaged in agriculture and tourism. “My vision is to bring technology in a partnership between Israel and the Philippines, because I believe these…can bring answers to the many challenges that we have,” said Fluss during his recent trip to this city. The diplomat emphasized Israel’s long commitment to this mission: from sharing his country’s technological advances in the fields of education and agriculture, for instance, which have been regular features for decades in the field of cooperation. But his advocacy is to widen these further, especially in the almost two years of difficulty wrought by the pandemic, when the application of technology has surfaced as a better way of weathering the impact of

lockdowns and economic standstill. “There are technologies developed by the 350 multinational companies in Israel that we are only glad to share and...be adapted to the local realities and conditions in the Philippines,” he said. On his official visit last week, which was his first outside Manila, Israeli companies met and discussed with members of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They provided presentations on technology, aquaculture, growing of fruits and vegetables, as well as hydroponics. The body also heard from their Filipino counterparts on what they have and need, and what Israel has to offer. “This is important, because Israeli companies have developed their technology as solutions to their challenges in [local operations, and they] have to adapt...to Philippine] conditions,” Fluss explained. Tourism is also another immediate area for Philippine-Israel cooperation, “where we, and the rest of the world, have common experiences

AMBASSADOR Ilan Fluss

of seeing [the industry as the first] to absorb the negative impact of the pandemic.” According to him, the Holy Land has already opened its doors to Filipinos, “because [it is in their bucket list without requiring a visa... On the other hand,] Philippine natural wonders, as fun and leisure destinations, will be attractive also to Israelis, as we continue to search for others.” The diplomat revealed Philippine Airlines would be fielding in April 2022 the Manila-Tel Aviv direct flight, which he hoped would increase traffic for both countries. About 30,000 Filipinos regularly fly to Israel mainly as overseas workers. Fluss said the exchanges of academics and expertise in various ar-

eas of cooperation would remain a fixture of Philippine-Israel cooperation, which got a major boost with the landmark visit of President Duterte a few years back. In the aftermath of the executive sojourn, Israel created the Economic and Trade Office to deal with domestic trade and commercial affairs in the Philippines, as well as its embassy’s defense attaché. This year it opened the honorary consulate office here, and appointed local businessman Jorge N. Marquez as consul-general. “[The Philippines share a special relationship with us, especially during World War 2, when it provided a] safe haven to Israelis,” he noted. “My mission...is to nurture [that] solid foundation.”

Netherlands honors Filipino clergyman T HE Netherlands Embassy in the Philippines and dignitaries presented on November 24 the Human Rights Tulip award to Fr. Flaviano Villanueva. A priest from the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), Fr. Villanueva received the award in recognition of his work as cofounder of PAGHILOM: a Church-based support group working with families of victims of extrajudicial killings to enable them to find a safe space to cope with grief, while they connect with others who share their experiences. PAGHILOM’s program is a vital component of the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center: a foundation that was also founded by Fr. Villanueva in 2016. He is also the first Filipino honored with the award. The Netherlands has a long tradition of protecting human-rights defenders. Among its most visible

FR. FLAVIANO VILLANUEVA (left) and Ambassador Saskia de Lang

programs is the annual Human Rights Tulip award. Every year human-rights advocates and institutions from around the world are recognized for promoting and supporting human rights in peaceful and innovative ways. This year about 74 candidates

from around the world were named as candidates. Of the number, only 10 were shortlisted—including Fr. Villanueva, who was bestowed with the first-ever local Human Rights Tulip award issued by the Netherlands’s Embassy, as it celebrates its 70th year of diplomatic

relations with the Philippines. “Father Flavie” dedicated the recognition to the memory of the thousands of lost lives, then stated that he wished that he could live in a world where he would not need to receive the award, but that he would continue helping the bereaved. The award ceremony, held at the ambassador’s residence, was attended by envoys and representatives of the global community. There, Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit of the Commission on Human Rights emphasized the importance of recognizing and supporting humanrights defenders in such a crucial time. Also in attendance were Bro. Armin Luistro, former education secretary who nominated Fr. Flaviano, and Executive Director Edgardo Ligon of Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment, or IDEALS Inc.

US, global partner improve local anti-TB service with tools donation

OR better tuberculosis (TB) services in the Philippines, the United States, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Stop TB Partnership donated a package of new tools that will also make primary care for the highly communicable disease accessible. The P130-million ($2.6 million) package of tools is part of a global initiative: Introducing New Tools Project (iNTP). “The government of the United States of America is one with the government of the Philippines in bringing TB care back on track,” said Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Heather Variava after she handed over the new tools to Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, who is the health promotions director of the Department of Health (DOH) and Mayor Rex Gatchalian at an event in Valenzuela City on November 23. The iNTP package includes eight ultra-portable chest X-ray machines, 38 portable rapid diagnostic ma-

CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES A.I. Heather Variava (left) handed over diagnostic equipment and medicines to Director Beverly Ho and Mayor Rex Gatchalian. US EMBASSY

chines, Video Observed Treatment that will benefit 19,000 TB patients, and short-course medicines for TB prevention of 30,000 adults and children. “These tools will bring TB primary care closer and more accessible to people,” Variava added. In a recorded message, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III underscored the way primary care providers have continued TB ser-

vices amid the public-health crisis: “Despite the pandemic, we have started to increase the number of new and relapse TB cases notified to DOH, through the efforts of our frontline workers.” Beginning April 2021 the said cases notified to DOH averaged 53,316 per quarter. The number rose to 74,448 average cases per three months in 2021. The donation package will sup-

port TB services in Valenzuela City and the provinces of Tarlac, Bataan, Laguna, Cebu, and South Cotabato. Meanwhile, Gatchalian received the donation on behalf of other local chief executives. He affirmed that, “With these new tools, our doctors, nurses, and medical technologists will have the chance to find more people with TB quickly, treat them effectively, and prevent infection in the timeliest manner.” The Philippines was one of seven countries selected to receive the iNTP package, along with Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nigeria, Kenya, and Congo. The World Health Organization’s 2021 Global TB Report lists the Philippines as one of 30 high TB-burden countries, with the highest TB incidence rate in Asia at 539 cases per 100,000 people. Through USAID, the US and the Philippine governments work shoulder-to-shoulder to create a healthier, more resilient society for all Filipinos. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PHL envoy invokes UN Security Council to halt weapons diversion

NI T ED NAT IONS, NEW YOR K—T he Ph i l ippi nes emphasized the critical importance of addressing the diversion of small arms and light weapons that may eventually end up in the hands of terrorists. Ambassador Ariel R. Peñaranda, who is the deputy permanent representative of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations (UN), articulated the country’s statement at the global body’s Security Council Open Debate on November 22 which focused on the impact of diversion and trafficking of arms on peace and security. Peñaranda noted that arms smuggling forms part of terrorist operations, and that the recent experience of the Philippines demonstrated the way “civilians paid a high price with dozens killed and widespread destruction of homes and property amid the ‘battle of Marawi’ that pitted the Philippine military against militants allied to [the Islamic State, or ISIS].” The envoy recommended four points upon which the security council could focus in order to combat diversion and trafficking of arms. These are improving data analysis, building capacity of states, strengthening engagement with industry stakeholders,

AMBASSADOR Ariel R. Peñaranda NYPM/UN PHOTO LIBRARY/DFA

as well as inclusion of ammunition in discussions on combating diversion and trafficking of small arms and light weapons. In his briefing, Director Robin Geiss of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research said that the diversion and trafficking of arms “destabilizes communities and exacerbates situations of insecurity, including by committing serious violations of international humanitarian law and human-rights law, as well as violence against women and children in various contexts.” Under Mexico’s presidency of the security council for November, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard led the ministerial-level open debate. He said “arms trafficking is a global issue that seriously affects the civilian population in many ways, destroying the social fabric and leading to violence, especially against vulnerable groups.”

Putting gender equality first EU High RepresentativeVice-President Josep Borrell, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen, and 24 EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Development

HE European Union (EU) has made it clear that its future development assistance will bank on the respect for human-rights norms—including those for women and girls. We will continue supporting them globally, sticking to our values and beliefs. Human rights, freedom and democracy, as well as equality represent core values that make the EU what it is. They enrich our societies and strengthen resilience. Gender equality is key for peace, security, economic prosperity and sustainable development. That is why working on all levels to promote and safeguard progress on gender equality is a political priority and objective for the EU. Its Gender Action Plan III and the new external action budget provide a roadmap for global action toward a gender-equal world. We work closely together with multilateral, regional and bilateral partners, including civil-society organizations, to achieve those objectives. We still have a long way to go; there is no room for complacency. In many countries, the pandemic has exacerbated existing gender inequalities across different areas: education, vocational training, health, security and safety, sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as economic opportunities. In addition, pandemic-related lockdowns have often led to an increase in gender-based violence—in particular, those domestic in nature. At the same time a significant part of the care burden has fallen on women and girls. Workers in the informal economy and in low-skilled jobs (most of whom are women), migrants, and those belonging to minorities, have been more at risk and face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Moreover, school closures have exposed girls to an increased risk of sexual exploitation, early pregnancy, child labor, and forced marriage. The Malala Fund estimates that 20 million more girls risk dropping out of school, adding up to a total of 150 million— equivalent to a third of the EU population—without educational prospects. According to a recent UN report, military spending in 2020 still outpaced the worldwide expenses on health, even in a year that was dominated by the corona pandemic. For a sustainable recovery from it, we need to redouble our efforts to promote gender equality.

Time to do more

THIS challenge now requires a global

response, when we are building the future we wish for our children and grandchildren to grow up in a postpandemic world that is more equal, more diverse, and where equal opportunities are a reality. We need to address the root causes of inequality and discrimination in order to achieve sustainable change. The EU and its member-states, as well as the European financial institutions, have stood with the women and girls of the world throughout the pandemic. As Team Europe, we have already mobilized €46 billion in support of over 130 partner countries, with a particular focus on women and youth. Worldwide, the EU-United Nations Spotlight Initiative has helped 650,000 women and girls prevent or address violence against them, and educated 880,000 men and boys on positive masculinity, nonviolent conflict resolution and parenting. Still, to meet the growing challenges, we need to do more. That is the purpose of the Gender Action Plan III. It promotes leadership and meaningful participation of women, girls and young people in political, economic, social and cultural life, as well as in all matters related to peace and security.

Human development on track

WE are making this plan a reality with the help of the new €79.5-billion NDICI-Global Europe instrument that will support the EU’s external action for the next seven years. Support for education, particularly for girls, will have a central role. Just as we support education in emergencies, the EU has worked with partnercountries throughout the pandemic to minimize its impact on children, and to facilitate a safe return to school. We already provide more than half of all global aid to education as Team Europe. But we will increase funding further, to promote gender equality through quality education at all levels. Our joint €1.7-billion pledge to the Global Partnership for Education in July to transform education for girls and boys in up to 90 countries and territories is part of this new beginning. We are multiplying our efforts: from supporting women and girls’ education and economic opportunities, to improving their access to sexual and reproductive health services. By 2025 85 percent of all the EU’s new external actions across all sectors will contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment. This is now being finalized with our partner-countries based on close consultation with civilsociety organizations, women’s rights activists, and youth. We need to put human development back on track and reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, leaving no one behind. It is crucial we get it right.

Parentlife BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, December 2, 2021

‘Kidspirations’ for finance

AST week, I was so proud of my aunt, Anabelle Lim Chua, who was awarded the 2021 ING-FINEX CFO of the Year. This award recognizes CFOs who possess the four major qualities as a strategist, catalyst, steward and operator. She serves as PLDT’s senior vice president, chief financial officer and chief risk management officer. She is also a director of Meralco and the Philippine Stock Exchange. I remember when she topped the CPA exam when I was still a young girl, and she became such a huge inspiration to everyone in our family. I used to stay a lot at their place because my Grand Aunt “Dikopo” was a teacher in Chiang Kai Shek, where I attended pre-nursery. I grew to admire her more through the years because she is so hardworking, kind, admired by many, and I always felt she broke through many norms in the field of finance. That is why when I learned about her award, I immediately forwarded it to my daughter, Meagan, who also admires her from all the stories she heard from me. A few months back, I also had a good chat with a longtime friend of my daughter, Benedict Dizon, when he visited Meagan. I was amazed at how a 15-yearold boy could talk and ask so many questions about

finance. I know how intimidating math and finance is for many kids so I was curious how Ben developed his interest. I asked him if he could write about his inspirations. Below are his thoughts. “For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to become like my dad, Reinier Dizon. He is currently vice president of Business Strategy and Development at Republic Cement, and previously held the position as CFO and controller of companies in the Philippines and abroad. But when I was a kid, all I saw was a man who took care of his family with a smile on his face. Not only did my brother and I see what my dad does for a living, we also grew up sharing a genuine interest in his job. My brother is currently a student at DLSU taking up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. I grew up surrounded by people who are either interested in business or in the industry, and through them I myself have gained an interest in finance and business. This interest was fostered and especially inspired by my dad, a man who has taught me how numbers can change the world. “My family comes from a long line of finance people and accountants, my dad being one of them. He has a BS Accountancy degree from University of Santo Tomas, a Certified Public Accountant license, and an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management. As I got older, I became more interested in what he does for a living and began to find out what exactly a finance person does. He told me that throughout all the companies and corporations he has worked for, he has been responsible for directing the company’s financial objectives and budgets in order to provide the best return to the company and its shareholders, which at the end of the day is the goal of every corporation. He also has to assess and manage associated risks that come with decisions made by the company as a whole, he leads cash flows

CRAVINGS Chocolate Caramel Cake

management and looks after the balance sheet of the company. This, in a nutshell, is the job description of a CFO. Although this may seem boring to most people my age, I love to learn as much as I can about business and finance. “As I met more and more of my dad’s friends and colleagues, or the parents of my friends, I would always ask them what they do for a living. There are three of them that I remember quite well. First of all, there is my ninong, Tito Romy, who is an executive of International Container Terminal Services Inc. Group. Essentially, he manages ports and cargo that carries various products. He has also been expatriated in a number of subsidiaries of ICTSI as general manager/ CEO. My other ninong, Tito Robert, is the CFO of McDonalds in the Philippines, who when I asked would tell us how successful a new product has been, specifically the BTS Meal. Finally, there is Tita Maye, who is the mother of my good friend, Meagan. Tita Maye, I believe, is the chief operating officer at Richwell Philippines Inc., a company that provides quality products that help enrich the lives of many families across the Philippines. “All these people are seasoned professionals in finance and controlling, goal/results-oriented executives with strong skills in leadership, teamwork and organization building. They are competent in strategic planning, risk management, supply chain management, and commercial contracts review. What all these people have in common is that they love their jobs. I remember hearing somewhere that if you’re not making a difference in your job, it’s not a job worth having. On the contrary, these people not only are able to support their families and enjoy what they do, but their positions in their respective companies, whether as CFO, CEO or COO, allow them to make decisions in these big corporations that can create a difference in our world.” ■

CRAVINGS S'mores

CRATE and Barrel’s unique Union Table set tucks a round stool at both ends of an oval table. It’s a fun way to add seating to small spaces.

FLITCH Wood End Table with Storage in bleached oak has a playful design that hides its storage options.

Home feels so good GLOBAL lifestyle brand Crate and Barrel (www. crateandbarrel.com.ph)—with stores in SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier and SM Makati—brings a feelgood feeling to your home with new arrivals full of irresistible, touchable textures, and a warmth that make your senses come alive. There are curves you want to trace with your fingertips, fabrics you want to press to your cheeks, details so full of life you can’t look away. Crate and Barrel’s fresh arrivals are warm, curated and simply stunning. These are fresh takes on design of stylish and functional furniture pieces that transform the way you live. The Anaise Cane Bench, Vander Storage Coffee Table, Union Nesting Coffee Table, and Flitch Table Collection are just a few pieces that play with chic shapes and sculptural lines. Other pieces also highlight a modern mix of materials with new ways to refresh your home, like the Wells Fabric Sofa, Pose Accent Chair, Phlox Live Edge Mirror, Morado & Valona Cowhide Pillow Covers and Faux Pampas Grass.

Make holidays joyfully sweeter CELEBRATIONS are not complete if there is no good food on the table—from hearty meals to as many sides as we can fit on our plates. But the main event is always the desserts. Don’t worry if you don’t have the time to bake as popular sweet destination Cravings has prepared a variety of enjoyable goodies from its bakery that will make your families and guests ask for more treats. Get ready to enjoy Cravings two Christmas-themed cakes that have garnishes to make your holiday feast joyful: Chocolate Caramel, a dense chocolate cake with homemade caramel frosting; and Devil’s Food Cake, a rich dark cake with light coffee custard layer and swatched in

marshmallow icing. For the Holiday Special Cakes, Cravings recommends the Bibingka Soufflé Cake, a light coconut-based cake with fluffy salted egg custard, topped with shavings of queso de bola and slices of salted egg. It comes with salted egg cream sauce for drizzling to your liking. For fruit lovers, try there’s Mango Cashew Torte that is made of cashew cookie crust, cashew meringue cake, whipped cream, and fresh mangoes. For chocolate lovers, the Toasted Marshmallow Devil’s Food Cake is the one for you. Cravings is still offering its Classic Cakes over the holidays, starting with its chocolate collection featuring Chocolate Caramel Cake,

Devil’s Food Cake, and Double Chocolate. There’s also the Frozen Dessert Collection: Banoffee Cheesecake and Chocolate Caramel Frozen Dessert. Share it with your loved ones, or finish it in one sitting. Cravings has also prepared Holiday Bars that are perfect for gifts and deliveries to your Christmas gift list. An assortment of brownies, from Fudge Walnut Brownies, Mango Butterscotch, Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies, and Peanut Butter Revel Bars are available. You can order single flavors or opt for assorted, because why not? More information is available at www. cravingsbakeshop.com.

MODERN, sophisticated and undeniably inviting, the Wells sofa tucks plump cushions onto a slim frame supported by sustainably sourced solid wood legs with a natural finish.

No babies in Parliament: UK lawmakers outraged by infant ban LONDON—Several British politicians demanded a change in parliamentary rules on Wednesday after a lawmaker was told she couldn’t bring her threemonth-old baby into the House of Commons. Labour Party legislator Stella Creasy said she had received a letter from Commons authorities after she took her infant son Pip to a debate. She said she had previously taken both Pip and her older daughter to Parliament without problems, but had been told the rules had changed in September. Members of Parliament are now advised that they “should not take your seat in the chamber when accompanied by your child.” Creasy said the rule undermined efforts to make politics more family-friendly. “There are barriers to getting mums involved in politics, and I think that damages our political debate,” she told the BBC. Britain’s Parliament, once known for its boozy, macho culture and late-night hours, has changed in recent years. One of the building’s multiple bars was converted into a nursery for the children of politicians and staff.

Lawmakers are entitled to maternity, but without the ability to have someone cover their job while they are away, most can take only a short time off. Green Party lawmaker Caroline Lucas said the baby ban was “absurd.” She said babies were “far less disruptive than many braying backbenchers.” House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said he had asked Parliament’s procedure committee to review the rules, and noted that there were “differing views on this matter.” “The advice given yesterday...correctly reflects the current rules. However, rules have to be seen in context and they change with the times,” he said. “It is extremely important that parents of babies and young children are able to participate fully in the work of this House.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman, Max Blain, said the government wanted to see “further improvements” to make Parliament more familyfriendly. “We want to make sure that all workplaces are modern, flexible and fit for parents,” he said. “The exact way that operates is rightly a matter for the House.” AP

THE Pose chair’s solid ash frame tilts back with cantilever angles for a comfortable recline, showcasing the wood’s beautiful grain and natural color.

B6 Thursday, December 2, 2021

Decathlon opens its first store in the North

Take home holiday happiness from Richmonde Hotel Ortigas

T’S Christmas once more and this 2021, it promises to be the most wonderful time of the year again after a long while. To celebrate this joyous season, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas is offering an assortment of delectable creations lovingly prepared by the hotel’s kitchen team headed by Executive Chef Tristan Galang. These Yuletide sweets, treats, and savory meals are great for gifting and even better for indulging at home during your holiday lunches and dinners with family and friends. For your Christmas and New Year’s feasts, serve up a platter of Salmon en Croute good for 3 to 4 persons and priced at PhP 2,680. It comes with potatoes au gratin and warm broccoli salad and is packed in a selfheating Hotbox so you can warm it up with ease before serving. For your traditional Christmas ham, Richmonde offers its perfectly cured Canadian Bacon with sidings of oatmeal loaf and herbed butter. Buy it vacuum packed with all its flavors and seasonings sealed in, for only PhP 1,830, good for 5 persons. Planning a plated dinner affair at home? Impress your guests with Richmonde’s special Bento Hotbox specials for individual meals that are filling, tasty, and hassle-free with zero preparation needed. Choose between the Low and Slow Brisket (PhP 1,150) and Pistachio-crusted Salmon and “Buro” Risotto (PhP 1,250) for your meat- and seafood-loving party guests. Make the holidays brighter

ORDER Richmonde’s salmon en croute with potatoes au gratin for delectable and hassle-free feast good for sharing. and yummier as you savor and share Richmonde’s tasty and decadent baked goodies. Also available are Richmonde’s signature year-round hits: the Richmonde Ensaymada which comes in four variants—plain, ube, and the limited edition holiday flavors of salted egg, and quezo de bola—and two sizes—the oversized regular and minis which come in boxes of 4 and 9 pieces. Those extra dear to you will surely love the specially curated Christmas Crates of Happiness that consist of an assortment of Richmonde’s freshly baked breads and homemade spreads packed in a wooden crate. Santa’s Box of Cheer (PhP 1,980)

is big and brimming with six types of breads—Richmonde ensaymada, pretzel loaf, cranberry babka, salted swirl bread, pistachio cream cheese bread, and cruffin— plus 30g jars of mango & orange jam, bacon jam, and herbed butter. The Holly Jolly Bundle (PhP 1,380) contains pretzel bread, a baguette, and two mini ensaymadas, with the same three jars of jam and butter. For hassle-free purchases, all holiday goodies are available for pickup and delivery until January 9, 2022, with advance orders and prepayment. For inquiries and orders, call (632) 8638-7777 or 0917 534 4352 or email sales@richmondeortigas.com.

Lung Center of the Philippines opens smoking cessation clinic medications, which include various forms of nicotine replacement products.” “It is our hope that with this clinic and the continuation of our smoking cessation program, we can reduce the number of tobacco-related mortalities in the country.”

Helping smokers quit for good

THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY WAS LED BY, FROM LEFT: Dr. Glynna Ong-Cabrera, Program Director, Smoking Cessation Program and National Quitline; Chie Mabolos, Dietitian for the Nutrition Clinic of Lung Center of the Philippines; Dr. Vincent Balanag, executive director of Lung Center of the Philippines; Dr. Enrique Tayag, director of the Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service of the Department of Health; and Dr. Erwin Benedicto, head of Medical Affairs of Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc.

HE country has made progress on tobacco control in recent years, but there are still millions of Filipinos who continue to smoke with over 80,000 reported deaths due to tobacco-related diseases annually. To help curb the tobacco prevalence, Lung Center of the Philippines opened a smoking cessation clinic to accelerate smoking cessation efforts by providing greater support for smokers that will improve their ability to quit the habit and stay nicotine-free. The smoking cessation clinic was launched on November 18 with important stakeholders in attendance including representatives from the Department of Health, Lung Center of the Philippines, and Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc.

Making smoking cessation a public health priority

ASIDE from nicotine contained in tobacco being highly addictive, tobacco use itself harms nearly every organ in the body. Quitting smoking can result in immediate health benefits and can add years to life expectancy.

“While 98% of Filipinos have expressed their desire to quit, only 4% were successful in doing so,” said Director IV of the Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service of the Department of Health, Dr. Enrique Tayag. “Further assistance is needed in the form of either counseling or firstline medications to ensure success as it is difficult to resist nicotine cravings by relying on willpower alone.” Lung Center Philippines’ new Smoking Cessation Clinic is a big step in helping smokers quit through medical intervention. The facility offers a comprehensive program which includes cessation counseling and access to nicotine replacement therapy products like Nicorette. “The smoking cessation clinic is a crucial milestone in our plans to promote the early prevention of various respiratory diseases among smokers,” said Executive Director IV of Lung Center Philippines, Dr. Vincent Balanag. “Aside from individual counseling by our Pulmonary Fellows to understand the root of nicotine use, the clinic will also offer smokers viable options for quitting such as behavioral therapies and FDA-approved

QUITTING smoking can be a long and difficult process. A smoking cessation program, which includes the use of pharmacologic treatment options like nicotine replacement therapy, is advised to help the body gradually adjust to the reduction of nicotine until it can manage without it. This will make the process of quitting more manageable, sustainable, and achievable overall. “We at Johnson & Johnson are committed to changing the trajectory of health for humanity,” said the head of Medical Affairs of Johnson & Johnson (Philippines), Inc., Dr. Erwin Benedicto. “Across the global network, the company is helping alleviate disease areas that continue to cause high mortality rates, such as lung cancer wherein the number one risk factor is smoking.” “One of our key priorities this year is to help more people quit smoking by making nicotine replacement therapy products such as Nicorette more accessible to smokers. At the same time, we are strengthening smoking cessation programs through partnerships that will equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to help smokers quit for good.” “Through our partnerships, we aim to open more smoking cessation clinics like the one here in Lung Center Philippines to provide effective intervention for smokers and reverse the damaging effects of nicotine in their body.” If you want to quit smoking and are in need of professional help, visit Lung Center Philippines’ newly opened smoking cessation clinic or call the DOH Quitline at 1558.

ECATHLON North Edsa opened a door to a 1400-square-meter store that caters 70 sports under one roof. The store also marks the starting line to Decathlon's more modern concept stores. Equipped with a purpose to make sports accessible for the many, Decathlon first opened in the Philippines through their flagship store located in Festival Mall, Alabang, and e-commerce platform, decathlon.ph in 2017. This was followed by stores in Cavite and Pasig in 2018. By 2019, DECATHLON opened its first standalone store in Masinag, Antipolo. “We want Decathlon to be the favorite sports brand of Filipinos.” says Hans Iff, CEO of Decathlon Philippines. “Thanks to the innovation and unbeatable value of our in-house brands, we can deliver top quality products to guarantee customer satisfaction,” shares Iff. The Brand plays to win the hearts of Filipinos by offering over 5000 high-quality sports products for over 70 sports, and unbeatable customer service offers like lifetime warranties, and competitive return and exchange policies. Decathlon also caters to more advanced levels of play and innovation in sports.

New sports playgrounds in North Edsa and Pasay

WITH a long-term partnership with SM Supermalls, Decathlon ventured into the areas of North Edsa and Pasay to build and enter the sporting community. “We want to be THE next sports platform.” Shares Elijah CEA, store manager of Decathlon North Edsa. “One where every and future sports lover would meet and connect with each other and the sports they love.” Cea also shared that customers can look forward to more online and physical sports events in line with the lightened

COVID-19 restrictions. The new store promises seamless digital services. Customers can enjoy next-day delivery and click-and-collect thanks to the integration of the store to Decathlon's website. Membership will also be free for everyone. Cea also shared that selfcheckout will be available soon. “We want users to spend less time in line to have more time playing sports.” shared Cea.

Sustainable playing

“WE want more people to practice sports to be a better version of themselves.” says Cea “Filipinos deserve more success stories thanks to sports. Sustainability is a key to accessibility for us. Our customers will have access to Eco-designed sports products, items that are produced with lesser negative environmental impact, and Second Life items which are used sports items that are still in baseline working condition. Together with the whole team, we’ll come up with more sustainable solutions to engage our customers to this mindset.” Visit Decathlon North Edsa at L2, North Towers, SM North Edsa. Decathlon Pasay, which will be located at SM Mall of Asia Entertainment Mall, is scheduled to open on the third week of December 2021.

CCP opens curtains with ‘A Christmas Celebration’

FTER almost two years of not performing live, the Filipino dance artists return to the CCP Main Theater stage with “A Christmas Celebration,” a special performance that will surely usher in the yuletide spirit, on December 12, 2021, 7pm, with matinee at 2pm. The Artists of the Cultural Center of the Philippines presents a brand new restaging of Divertissement from “Sleeping Beauty” and “Tuloy Ang Pasko”: The 2020 Filipino Holiday Dance Celebration. The performance would be one of the very first live performances after pandemic restrictions shut down theatre productions. In cooperation with BP Alumni Association, the production will be the finale production for the Professional Dance Support Program (PDSP), a special program initiated by the CCP to support the professional dance in the Philippines. It aims to arrest the probable deterioration of skills, techniques and performance excellence of the Filipino dancers, while providing them with continued artistic employment and discouraging their shift to other occupations due to absence or reduced opportunities in dance. The holiday dance presentation brings to life selected dances from the classical ballet Sleeping Beauty. Highlighting the performers’ artistry and mastery over classical ballet technique, it features a colorful divertissement of dances including the Garland Waltz, Little Red Riding Hood with The Wolf, Black Cat with Puss in Boots, Princess Florine and the Bluebird, The Jewel Fairies, and the ethereal Lilac Fairy.

With enchanting music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and restaged choreography by Victor Ursabia and Eugene Obille, the ballet also features the Grand Pas De Deux with Princess Aurora and her Prince. The ballet culminates in a grand finale with all of the performers sharing the stage. Meanwhile, “Tuloy Ang Pasko” is the all-original Filipino dance production that was created, filmed, and premiered online in 2020. Born amidst the pandemic, this production celebrates Paskong Pinoy complete with Christmas lights, caroling, simbang gabi, putobumbong, and bibingka. Set against the backdrop of 70’s Manila and featuring well-loved Christmas carols, it tells the story of five old friends who reminisce, over Zoom, the Christmases of their youth. This production is a celebration of Filipino song and dance presented - for the first time live on stage. The production features music composed by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab, National Artist Levi Celerio, Felipe de Leon, Juan Silos Jr., Serapio Ramos, Andrei Dionisio, and Jose Javier Reyes. With musical arrangements by NA Ryan Cayabyab, “Tuloy Ang Pasko” features choreographic creations by Erl Sorilla, John Ababon, Lester John Reguindin, Bonifacio Guerrero, AL Abraham, and Ronelson Yadao. Tickets for the show are available at the Ticket World and the CCP Box Office. To ensure that everyone will have a safe theater experience, please read CCP’s new normal health protocol at http://bit.ly/ CCPNewNormalProtocol.

ARTISTS OF CCP DANCE WORKSHOP, FROM LEFT: Monica Gana, EJ Arisola, John Ababon, Erl Sorilla, and Jessa Tangalin in Tuloy Ang Pasko (Photo by Lester Reguindin)

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Patients turn to ‘Kumusta Dok’ for remote medical consults By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

ith the staggering number of deaths f rom non - com municable diseases in the country, the health-care sector turned to innovative channels to keep communication lines open to patients to provide them medical attention and care. This prompted the creation of the “Kumusta Dok” initiative that provides remote clinical services amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on a report by the Philippine Statistics Authority, in 2020 alone 100,000 Filipinos died from heart disease, over 60,000 from cancer, almost 40,000 from diabetes, roughly around 35,000 from pneumonia, and 25,000 from hypertension. During a recent webinar, Dr. Patrick Moral, Associate Professor, Department of Medical Ethics, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, admitted that performing a physical examination was a challenge. “When we examine patients via telemedicine, we have limitations. For example, we cannot examine them physically. But one advantage of teleconsulting is that we can now see their surroundings and who they live with,” Dr. Moral said during the webi-

Papa Sweet Sarap Banana Ketchup now fortified with B vitamins

apa Sweet Sarap Banana Ketchup is here to bring an innovative new ketchup formula to the classic sweet sarap taste Filipino kids know and love. The new Papa Sweet Sarap Banana Ketchup contains vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and B6 (pyridoxine), part of the B-complex of vitamins that perform vital tasks in the body. B1 helps release energy from the food we eat, making it extremely important for active kids. B2 is also essential in giving the body energy as it converts the food we eat into glucose to give us energy, and B6, a vitamin that is essential for the healthy functioning of the nervous system, boosts kids’ immune systems, protecting them from common childhood ailments and other health issues. This is especially important, as some Filipino kids still suffer from malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies in Vitamins B1, B2, and B6—the same vitamins Papa is proud to fortify their new ketchup formula with. With their new ketchup formula, Papa hopes to make every Filipino meal time healthy through B-vitamin fortification, as well as more delicious through the sweet sarap taste. Papa says that combined with a balanced food spread, the banana ketchup can solidify every “Pinggang Pinoy” as a delicious and healthy meal for every Filipino kid. Papa’s decision to enrich its ketchup formula with B vitamins comes amid the spate of new Covid-19 infections across the country, making immunization a top priority for Filipino parents across the board. This is part of the reason Papa is proud to have a new ketchup formula that not only tastes good but is sure to boost kids’ energy and immunity. Papa understands that even if staying healthy can be very tricky, every Filipino mom deserves the opportunity to keep their kids effortlessly healthy. Papa Sweet Sarap Banana Ketchup fortified with B vitamins is available in supermarkets nationwide.

nar titled “Kumusta Dok: Healthcare Beyond Covid-19” with representatives from the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPI), the Philippine Alliance for Patient Organization (PAPO), St. Luke’s Medical Center, and UST.

coming out about the growing number of Filipino doctors and patients adopting telemedicine, as well as the likelihood of the technology remaining in demand even after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reconnecting

RECENTLY, the public noted the easing of restrictions, the decreasing number of Covid-19 cases, combined with the efforts from health-care facilities to put in place a host of safety measures that would contribute to building the confidence of Filipinos to go back to health-care facilities for consultation. A ccord i ng to L i r io, t hese i nclude setting up separate waiting areas exclusively for non-Covid-19 patients, mandatory screening for Covid-19 symptoms, completion of a declaration form prior to entering hospitals, and frequently sanitizing high-contact areas like door handles, railings, and benches. Patients are also encouraged to set an appointment with their doctors before heading to the hospital or clinic to prevent overcrowding and to maintain physical distancing. “With the safety measures healthcare professionals have been put in place, immediate and regular consultations are possible even though Covid-19 is still around,” Lirio said.

KUMUSTA Dok is an initiative that aims to empower patients to reconnect with their doctors during the new normal. It also helps increase the awareness to identify risk factors, signs and symptoms, of the top causes of death among Filipinos, including heart diseases, cancer, stroke, pneumonia, and diabetes. The program also gives tips and updates on the channels available for patients to strengthen their partnership with doctors throughout the health seeking journey. It shares efforts being done by health-care facilities to ensure the safety of patients and health-care staff while delivering appropriate care. “Our doctors and facilities also had to adapt to the unprecedented situation that the pandemic threw everyone into and to find new ways in order for them to continue serving our patients,” PHAPI Corporate Secretary Richard Lirio said. Lirio noted that reports have been

Easing of restrictions

“The best time to see their doctor is now.”

COPD

“ THERE have been far fewer Covid-19 fatalities than any of these non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, a nd c hronic obstr uct ive pu lmo nary disease (COPD), but the fear of getting Covid-19 has prevented or discouraged many patients suffering from other serious ailments from getting the medical attention and care they need at a timely manner,” PAPO representative Leyden Florido said. Flor ido stressed the need “to get people back to taking charge of their health, especially those with these serious non-communicable diseases before they get worse.” “Prevention is a lways better than cure,” Florido said, emphasizing that the earlier the patients consult and seek medical attention, the better for everyone especially true during the pandemic. “ Timely management of medical conditions will lessen the potential for these diseases to worsen to the point of becoming an emergency. This is one way of alleviating our emergency services that attend to both Covid-19 and non- Covid-19 patients,” she furthered.

Is antibiotic overuse and abuse the next global health threat?

he World Health Organization (WHO) has likened antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to a slow-moving tsunami that is crumbling down the pillars of modern medicine, giving an ever-increasing threat to global public health. Recently, the Philippine InterAgency Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (ICAMR) and national partners kicked off the celebration of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) to enjoin the public to be AMR Awareness Champions with a High-level media forum to highlight the leadership and support of all relevant sectors at the global (development partners) and national (national agencies) levels in the country’s fight against AMR. With the local theme “Kaalaman ay dagdagan, antimicrobial resistance sa gitna ng Covid-19 pandemya ay labanan,” stakeholders across all relevant sectors and the general public are engaged to raise awareness on AMR. This is also to increase recognition of the important roles that they play to encourage behavior change towards the responsible and rational use of antimicrobials, in order to mitigate the unintended long-term consequences associated with antibiotic overuse during the pandemic and to avoid a future pandemic of AMR.

Multifaceted problem

Recognizing that AMR is a multifaceted problem that requires multipronged solutions, the ICAMR partnered with the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN), Philippine One Health University Network (PhilOHUN), and development partners, WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), to enjoin all relevant sectors in organizing activities in celebration of the WAAW this year and to encourage a multidisciplinary approac h for broadened act ions against this complex phenomenon amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The WAAW celebration also aimed to expand the reach of the AMR Advocacy Campaign across all relevant sectors and up to the communities.

The UN Tripartite emphasized the challenges of misuse of antimicrobials in all sectors. “Inappropr iate use of antimicrobials exacerbates selection of naturally occurring resistant microorganisms and is therefore clearly a driver for the emergence of resistance strengths,” said Dr. Ronello Abila, Sub-regional Representative in South-East Asia, World Organization of Animal Health. The Department of Agriculture (DA) also warned the public against the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in animals, especially food-producing animals. “Antibiotics are one of the most important tools in our efforts to safeguard human health, improve food production, and alleviate the plight of the poor. The threat of antimicrobial resistance is both far-reaching and profound. The careless and excessive use of antibiotics in food-producing animals can result in resistant bacteria not only in livestocks but also in the people who consume meat and poultry products,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar. AMR also affects the environment, Undersecretary Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Field Operations and Environment said. “Important policy measures that target specific high risk environments with elevated concentrations of antibiotics such as waste-water treatment plants, hospitals, healthcare facilities, and pharmaceutical industries are of utmost importance. It is worth reiterating that no sole government agencies or independent organizations can tackle this issue alone. The emergent issue of antibiotic residues and antimicrobial resistance is a complex phenomenon that requires collaborative approaches and efforts from the government, relevant organizations and stakeholders,” Cuna said. He also expressed his support and continuous collaboration by working together and engaging all relevant stakeholders in establishing a sustainable multi sectoral partnership

towards a stronger antimicrobial action in the country.

Develop strategies

For his part, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the slowgrowing nature of AMR offers a unique opportunity to proactively develop strategies and interventions to mitigate its impact. “This year’s PAAW theme calls us to not let the ongoing pandemic arrest our efforts to spread awareness on the public health threat of AMR. Instead, we should take stock of lessons learned and opportunities found to examine how global communities can better respond to and prepare for the growth of AMR as a potential global health emergency,” Duque said. Duque also stressed the need to raise awareness about this looming threat among the families, workplaces, institutions, and communities. “In order to mitigate the unintended long-term consequences associated with antibiotic overuse and avoid a future AMR pandemic, we must act upon our responsibilities in promoting behavior change towards the prudent and rational use of antimicrobials,” Duque said. AMR has multi-sectoral impacts and thus, each and every member of the society has an important role to play to address this issue. Meanwhile, W HO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe echoed the call of the ICAMR and the UN Tripartite on the public to be AMR Awareness Champions. “We recognize that everyone can be an antimicrobial resistance awareness champion. We urge you to become champions. Just like Covid-19, antimicrobial resistance is a health security crisis that is most silent within populations and knows no boundaries. To preserve the health gains of the past century, we will need to take collective and coordinated action. We must act now to prevent drug-resistant infections from becoming the next global public health emergency,” Dr. Abeyasinghe said. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Marcos calls for strict border control to prevent Omicron entry

residential aspirant Bongbong Ma rcos ca l led on t he government to strengthen the country’s border control to prevent the entry of Omicron, the new Covid-19 variant. In a statement, Marcos said the country is once again being threatened by a new variant but he is confident

that together, the virus can be beaten. “Don’t be disheartened. We have been there. We have survived all of Covid-19’s earlier variants,” he said, adding that he himself had survived the virus even if the process was painful. In addition to strengthening the border, Marcos said Filipinos should continue observing the minimum

health protocols and to get vaccinated at the soonest possible time. “As a unified country, we will survive Omicron. We can still prevent it. Border control must be strengthened with health protocols maintained and we must speed up mass vaccinations to achieve herd immunity fast. The sooner, the better,” he said.

He added that it is important for the country to preempt the Omicron variant so that the gains that have been made will not go to waste. “Our recovery as a country, although slow as it is, must not be compromised. The safety of the entire population is paramount,” Marcos said.

Thursday, December 2, 2021 B7

The hidden pandemic of domestic violence, abuse vs women, children By Rory Visco Contributor

HILE t he whole world g rappled with an infectious disease, it was not just the infection that people had to deal with. The pandemic forced many to stay at home to be safe from a debilitating virus and to control its spread. However, being at home and preventing social interaction brought about not only mental stress; women and children became easy targets for abuse and many forms of violence because of mobility restrictions. It seems that there is a new epidemic in our midst, something many, including health professionals, were not prepared to deal with. Many cases of domestic violence and abuse happened regardless of economic and social strata, with many cases unreported and sadly, victims do not get enough support, if there is any at all.

The Philippine situation

Dr. Bernadette Madrid, the head of the Child Protection Unit of the UP Philippine General Hospital, in her talk at the recent episode of the UPTV webinar titled “Stay Safe. Stay Home Daw: Domestic Violence and Abuse during the Covid-19 Pandemic,” she cited the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children done in 2016, way before Covid-19, which bared that violence, whether physical, psychological or sexual, against children were already very high. It noted that three out of five Filipino children have experienced physical or psychological violence, and one out of five experienced sexual violence. “Bullying had been very high and since many children are online, we expect this to become higher since cyber-violence, even before Covid, was already high at 44 percent, while witnessing physical and psychological violence at home or domestic violence is also very high,” Dr. Madrid noted. The same study, she said, noted that many of these forms of violence happen at home where it becomes at its highest. She also pointed to another study that estimated the anticipated effect of Covid-19 on violent discipline at home in countries like Nigeria, Mongolia and Surinam. Results revealed that a “high restriction” scenario resulted to a 35 to 46 percent increase in violent discipline in the countries mentioned, while “lower restriction” merited only a low 4 to 6 percent increase in violent discipline. But in the Philippines, the Women and Children Protection Units (WCPUs) revealed that instead of seeing increased reporting of domestic violence during the early severe lockdowns, they noticed a very big drop in the reporting of cases by more than 50 percent. Dr. Madrid said, however, that a drop in the number of cases being reported does not necessarily mean decreased incidence. Many WCPUs shifted to Covid-19 response work and social workers became busy with the Social Amelioration Package (SAP) distribution. Schools were closed so teachers were not in physical contact with children. There was no transportation and people did not go to hospitals for fear of contracting Covid-19. The perpetrators of domestic v iolence and abuse, on the other hand, were at home w it h t heir victims who had no way of seeking help. In a review of the studies

done, Dr. Madrid said there was a reduction in the number of police reports and referrals to child protection services, mixed reports were found in relation to the number of calls to police or domestic violence hotlines, but the number of child-related injuries being treated in hospitals increased.

Suicides, online child sexual abuse

She also noted that suicidal behavior was rampant among among abused youth during the pandemic. Every day, she said, in the Child Protection Unit (CPU) of the PGH, many abused adolescents haf suicidal tendencies. On top of the abuse, the teens also had to cope with the effects of Covid. “This is the most we’ve seen in all our 24 years at the PGH,” Dr. Madrid revealed. For online child sexual abuse and exploitation, the Department of Justice, on May 25, 2020, noted that reports of online sexual exploitation of children increased by 265 percent. The United Nations even labeled the Philippines as the “epicenter of livestreamed sexual abuse of children.”

What has been done so far?

Dr. Madrid said that the problem cannot be solved but many lessons have been learned. As such, the UP-PGH Covid-19 Bayanihan Operations Center came up with innovative ways to provide services and to reach out to children who are at home. They expanded the reach of the UP-PGH Covid helpline to include child abuse. They are also working with UNICEF to develop child helplines for all WCPUs in the country so that they can have their own helplines for women and children to call so that they know what to do and what services they can avail of. Right now, Dr. Madrid said they have already reached 60 out of the 113 WCPUs in the country. She said they have also d ig ita lized their ser v ices at the PGH-CPU with telemedicine since face-to-face consultations are not allowed yet. “We had to expand our mental health services since we saw the rise in cases related to mental health like those who are at risk of suicide,” Dr. Madrid said. The CPU social workers, she said, also became innovative since physical visits are not yet allowed so follow ups are made via cellphone, and they even lent cellphones to high-risk patients so that they can be followed up at home. They also came up with the Masayang Pamilya (MAPA) parenting program in collaboration w ith the Ateneo de Manila University, Oxford University and UNICEF were parenting tip sheets are provided to parents and are printed in Filipino and seven other Philippine dialects. Part of this was the creation of “MaPa Chat” where social media is used to deliver an evidence-based parenting prog ram. A not her of the PGH-CPU’s projects is to capacitate the barangays through Tele-CPU to deliver services and be easily reached by abuse victims and survivors, particularly in telemedicine. It is a project where they aim to reach 55 barangays in 13 cities by the end of the year. “We foresee this service to continue even beyond Covid-19 because the reach of these centers is more than what we have now. The vision is to reach the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas as long as they have internet connectivity.”

Sports BusinessMirror

| Thursday, December 2, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

20-year-old Fil-Am student dies in ‘charity’ Vegas boxing match By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

20-YEAR-OLD FilipinoAmerican student died after participating in an amateur boxing “fight night” in Las Vegas. The victim is identified as Nathan Tyler Valencia, a student of University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Valencia collapsed five minutes after the fight with his opponent, Emmanuel Aleman, in what was dubbed as the main event for the “Kappa Sigma Fight Night” at the Sahara Events Center. Four days later, he died. The Nevada State Athletic Commission, the organization that regulates boxing in Las Vegas, said it has launched an investigation on the boxing event staged as a charity fundraiser fraternity Kappa Sigma Fraternity last November 19. The Clark County Coroner’s office ruled his death as homicide, due to blunt force trauma to the head. The family and their lawyers cried for justice. “We intend to hold someone or multiple parties responsible,” lawyers for Nathan Valencia’s family said. They pointed out that there was no medical staff on standby who could have helped Valencia immediately after he collapsed. The referee overseeing the fight is also not a professional who could have stopped the fight when Valencia turned his back on his opponent, the lawyers said. A video of the event, aired by KLAS 8 TV in Las Vegas, showed that the referee appeared to be drinking beer during the match. The parents also told CNN they have video showing that even the judges were drinking during the match. “Our preliminary investigation reveals mistakes were made and safety precautions overlooked. We will be completing a full investigation to determine how UNLV and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity could allow and promote an event like this to take place. College students should not be placed in a situation where they are pitted against each other

for combat,” the family said in a statement released by their lawyers. Las Vegas media tried to get hold of the fraternity for reaction but were only given this statement. “Kappa Sigma Fraternity is greatly saddened by the loss of Nathan Valencia at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers are with the Valencia family and the entire UNLV community,” the statement said. UNLV president Keith Whitfield wrote to the campus community saying UNLV is “committing all available resources to review the incident and determine how offcampus events like these can be as safe as possible.” Valencia’s mom, Cynthia, told CNN that she tried to dissuade her son from joining the match because she knows he is not trained for boxing. “I told him, ‘You have to back out.’ and he said ‘No mom, this is for charity. So I kept asking him, ‘Are you gonna be protected? Are you gonna wear a head gear? ‘He said,’ Yes, of course. This is for charity,’” Cynthia told CNN. “So he kept on saying, ‘Mom you worry, too much. This is just a charity event.’ Then I come to find out that he is gonna be the main event, so I was like ‘How this happened?’ and he kept telling us that this is for people who have no prior boxing experience coz he was never a boxer,” Cynthia added to CNN. Michael Valencia, the father of the victim, said his son should have turned 21 last November 27 had it not for the negligence of the organizers in following the protocol in holding boxing events. The Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, which has jurisdiction in Nevada, said they monitored this case from the media in the US and made inquiries. “So far, we have not received any reports yet about the incident,” Consul General Edgardo Badajos said. “We are waiting for further information from our contacts in Las Vegas.”

HARMIE CONSTANTINO is having fun in the first round.

ARMIE CONSTANTINO proved a lot better than the rest in an exacting day at Langer as she tamed the challenging par-71 layout with a 70 to wrest a three-stroke lead over Chihiro Ikeda after 18 holes of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Riviera Ladies Championship on Wednesday in Silang, Cavite. Constantino showed grit and poise in tackling the hazard-laden

But Ikeda is right behind at 73, a 38-35 round marred by a double bogey on No. 9 and two three-putt miscues against a tap-in birdie on par-5 No. 5. But the Fil-Japanese, who tied for second in the last two Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) stops at Highlands and Couples, birdied the first two holes at the back to close in on Constantino, only to reel back with another missed green mishap on the 14th. “I thought I scored higher, so a two-over card is quite okay on this course,” said ikeda. Daniella Uy stayed within reach despite a double-bogey on the fifth hole as she birdied Nos. 8 and 14 against two more bogeys. But the former Junior World champion still in search for an LPGT breakthrough bogeyed the last hole to fall to third with a 74. “I struggled with my tee shots, but hopefully, I’ll settle down tomorrow [today] and hit more fairways,” said Uy, who double bogeyed No. 5, gained a stroke on the eighth but bogeyed Nos. 11 and 12. She, however, hit a chip-in birdie on No. 14 but yielded the stroke on the last for a 36-38. Chanelle Avaricio, who sizzled with a birdie-eagle feat in the

By Josef Ramos

OKYO Olympians Carlo Paalam and Irish Magno are back in training camp with 23 other national team members in Baguio City as they prepare for at least three major international competitions in 2022. “We have to sustain our impressive performance in the Tokyo Olympics for next year’s big events,” Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) Head Coach Pat Gaspi told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “It’s back to basic, back to fundamentals and conditioning for the boxers.” Paalam clinched the men’s flyweight silver medal while Magno became the first Filipina to qualify for the Olympics but only reached the flyweight quarterfinals in Tokyo.

Tokyo Olympics featherweight silver medalist Nesthy Petecio, according to Gaspi, is expected at the camp on December 5. Men’s middleweight bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, on the other hand, will be flying to the US to resume his pro career as soon as his wife Princess Marcial secures her US visa. The three Olympians were together in Baguio City recently to receive scholarship privileges at the University of Baguio as part of their incentives for clinching medals in Tokyo. Gaspi said that tops in the priorities of Abap, now headed by Ed Picson, are the Women’s World Championships in Turkey in March, Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games in May and the Huangzhou 19th Asian Games in September. Gaspi said Paalam is undergo-

ing therapy in his left shoulder but expects to be back in top shape soon. Already in the Teachers Camp bubble are male boxers Mark Lester Durens, Flint Jara, Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista, Marvin Tabamo, Mario Fernandez, Junmilardo Ogayre, Jere Samuel de la Cruz, Paul Bascon, James Palicte, John Paul Panuayan, Norlan Petecio, Marjon Piañar, Billy Naelgas and Ernie John Garcia. The women’s team is composed of Josie Gabuco, Ma. Alexandra Tinosan, Mary IC Sinadjan, Aira Villegas, Krystal Malecdan, Darlene Literal, Maricel de la Torre and Risa Pasuit. The coaches are Roel Velasco, Ronald Chavez, Gerson Nietes, Mitchel Martinez, Reynaldo Galido and Joegin Ladon with training director Australian Don Abnett.

PBA partners with East Asia Super League

PHILIPPINE Basketball Association (PBA) Chairman Ricky Vargas (fourth from left) shakes hands with East Asia Super League (EASL) co-founder Matt Beyer. With them are (from left) Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio (EASL) co-founder Henry Kerins and and PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.

NE is the so-called Golden Boy of the Philippines. Another is the first 100 million-yen-a-season basketball player in Japan. The East Asia Super League (EASL) is set to launch next October featuring some of the region’s biggest domestic clubs. It’s banking on Asia’s homegrown talent to grow from an invitational event to the world’s third-biggest basketball league. Anything is possible—Asia offers a vast audience.

Players like Terrence Romeo (aka Golden Boy) and the 5-foot-6 point guard Yuki Togashi, the Japanese league’s first million-dollar man and reigning finals MVP for Chiba Jets, already have big and growing followings. The 2022-2023 season will start out with the winners and runners-up from each of the Japan, South Korea and Philippines leagues, plus the P. League champion from Taiwan and a Hong Kong-based club called the Bay Area Chun Yu Phoenixes, featuring free-agent players from across the

region including mainland China, as the Greater China representatives. In the Philippines, EASL sealed a multi-year partnerships with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) through league chairman Ricky Vargas and Commissioner Willie Marcial and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio. EASL co-founders and top executives Matt Beyer and Henry Kerins formalized the partnership recently with the Philippine basketball top brass. The EASL offers a $1 million prize money. The home-and-away format will be applied and there will be a total of 24 games—staged every Wednesday night—during the group stage set from October 2022 to February 2023. The eight teams will be split into two groups of four and will play a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Final Four and play in sudden death semifinals and championship matches in March 2023. Ex-National Basketball Association stars Metta World Peace, Baron Davis and Shane Battier are on board as brand ambassadors. And each club will be allowed two foreign

DASMA, MANILEÑO, GLOBAL IN SEMIFINALS

EAM Dasmariñas, VNS Manileño Spikers and Global Remit all won on Wednesday to complete the semifinals cast of the men’s Champions League of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League on Wednesday at the Aquamarine Recreational Center in Lipa City. Team Dasmariñas completed a three-match sweep of Pool A with a 25-20, 25-21, 25-23 victory over Sabong International Spikers (SIS), VNS Manileño Spikers nailed a 25-17, 25-22, 25-23 win over the Basilan Steel Spikers

final round at Couples to dominate last week for her first pro diadem, struggled trying to recall her form, hobbling with four bogeys at the front and dropping two more strokes against a birdie in the last nine holes. She wound up with a 76, six strokes off Constantino. While Constantino, Ikeda and Uy lived up to the hype, amateur Mafy Singson, who figured in the title chase the last three tournaments, faltered big-time, making the turn at 40 blemished by a double bogey on No. 4 and finishing with a far worse 45 marred by a triple bogey on No. 11 and a double bogey on the last. The three-straight low amateur winner wobbled with an 85 and fell to 14th, 15 shots off the pace. Sarah Ababa, a former LPGT leg winner, and Marvi Monsalve matched 77s while Highlands leg champion Sunshine Baraquiel recovered from a frontside 42 with two birdies against two bogeys at the back for a 78. Arnie Taguines matched that seven-over card on a pair of 39s as she grabbed the lead in the low amateur race she ruled at Eagle Ridge Norman last July with Singson too far behind and Eagle Ace Superal groping for an 85.

Olympians Paalam, Magno in Baguio City training camp

Face-to-face chess juniors tournament gets going Friday ACE-TO-FACE chess action returns on Friday with the Philippine National Juniors Championships set at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) building along Mindanao Ave., Quezon City. Fide Master Alekhine Nouri and Vic Glysen Derotas are players to watch in the 20-strong field—10 boys and 10 girls—that made the nine-round tournament via online qualifiers. Completing the boys’ section are Jeremiah Luis Cruz, Karlycris Clarito, Jr., Khent Darylle Delig, Adrian Othniel Yulo, Jarvey Labanda, Christian Marcelo Olaybal, Israelito Rilloraza, Johnmari Joseph Lu and Ronald Canino. Making up the girls’ side are Ma. Eliza Villa, Rinoa Mariel Sadey, Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, Bea Mendoza, Jarel Renz Lacambra, Lexi Grace Hernandez, Precious Eve Ferrer, Ruelle Canino and Darlyn Villanueva. The winners will qualify for the Philippine National Championships and get the chance to play in the Asian and World Juniors Championships next year. They will also receive cash prizes in the four-day event supported by Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez, National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Philippine Olympic Committee POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Chess Movement Inc. chairman Dr. Ariel Potot.

layout and upstaging the other bidders, seizing control with a birdie on the first hole and staying in command despite a two-bogey, one-birdie game in the next 13 holes. She birdied the par-5 16th to spike a pair of 35s and gain a big opening round cushion in the 54-hole championship held under bubble setup and strict health and safety measures. “I played pretty steady although I missed a couple of short putts,” said Constantino, seeking a third victory in her rookie pro season after sweeping the Eagle Ridge-Aoki legs last March and five weeks ago. She actually missed making it last week after squandering a second round lead and ending up tied at second with Ikeda at the adjacent Couples course. But with a fine showing coupled with her rivals’ shaky starts, the former national champion could be on her way to sustaining her dominant run in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.-organized circuit put up by ICTSI. “Try to make less mistakes as much as possible,” she added when asked of her game-plan in the next two days.

Amin-Anak Mindanao to bag the remaining semifinals berth in Pool A and Global Remit beat MRT-Negros, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, to join Go for Gold-Air Force in the semifinals on Friday. Go for Gold-Air Force topped the three-team Pool A with five points, followed by VNS with four points—with Basilan losing both its matches. In the four-team Pool B, Team Dasmariñas had eight points on a 3-0 card, followed by Global Remit with four points and SIS also with four points and MRT-Negros with two points.

The tie break had to be applied in

Pool B for the second qualifier with Global Remit earning the semifinals berth via the sets ratio. Global Remit had 6-6, while SIS only had 5-7 after the tiebreak was applied. The classification matches between Basilan and MRTNegros are set at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday while the semifinals schedule on Friday pits Go for Gold against Global Remit at 1:30 p.m. and Team Dasmariñas against VNS Manileño Spikers at 4 p.m. The final is on Saturday. Josef Ramos

imports plus an extra Asian import in 12-man rosters for each EASL game. But there’ll be a big emphasis on tapping local talent. The debut season will feature eight clubs playing home and away and run concurrently with the domestic leagues. There are plans for expansion to a 16-team competition in season three. And the Chinese Basketball Association is in close proximity. “To date, we’ve never seen a regional club to club league, such as EASL,” the league’s CEO, Beyer, told The Associated Press. “And so, we believe that this is really the start of exposing a larger amount of players to this type of a larger platform. “Our mission is to be East Asia’s premier basketball league, with a vision to be one of the top three leagues globally by 2025 in terms of fan base and commercial revenue.” Hong Kong-based Beyer said “Asian fans go crazy over competition with their regional rivals,” which was the inspiration in 2017 to launch a single site event at Macau. By the 2019 edition, he said, the event had 117 million viewers on 36 broadcast and digital networks. With AP

RYAN ONG ALONZO poses with the Guinness World Records certificate.

‘Skipman’ gets spot in Guinness World Records

YAN ONG ALONZO got an early Christmas present when his extraordinary feat was finally recognized by the Guinness World Records on November 26 and joined an elite club of world achievers. This came almost two months since the 34-year-old businessman beat the Guinness world record for the double under skips during the Jump to Greater Heights event at Ayala Malls Circuit Makati. “This is one of the best early Christmas gifts I received. This is sweet,” said Alonzo, who dedicated his latest achievement to wife, Therese, and one-year-old son, Rio. Fondly called “Skipman,” the Kumori Japanese Café co-owner bettered the previous high of 20,000 double skips when he made 21,327 double in six hours. Despite battling cramps, OngAlonzo went on to establish a new world mark of 40,980 skips after six more hours paving the way to his entry to the club of incredible achievers. In jump rope, a double under means a participant needs to jump up higher than usual while swinging the rope twice under his feet. In establishing the Guinness record, Alonzo cited the valuable help provided by Team OngAlonzo, especially coach Gadric Chusenfu and Benzi Yang. Chusenfu said Alonzo trained like a marathoner as he went through strength, speed and endurance workouts just to make sure that he is physically ready for the challenge.

VNS Manileño Spikers’ Benedict San Andres breaks the defense put up by Basilan Steel Spikers’ Aldren Banaag and Razzel Palisoc.