BusinessMirror December 07, 2023 by BusinessMirror

DOE to power firms: Retire coal plants early B L L @llectura

SANTA ON DUTY In Pasay City on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, traffic enforcer Ramiro Hinojas adds a festive touch to his duties by donning a Santa Claus costume while directing the flow of vehicles. Hinojas, known for his spirited approach, shares that he incorporates dancing into his routine at a bustling intersection to bring joy to commuters and pedestrians as the country kicks off the Christmas season. AP

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THE Department of Energy (DOE) strongly urged power industry stakeholders to voluntarily retire their coal power plants while assuring them that this government will help facilitate their access to climate financing. In the Philippines, ACEN Corp. has initiated a move that was applauded by the DOE. The Ayala-led power firm completed divesting its stake in the 246-megawatt (MW) South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp. (SLTEC) coal plant last year. The coal retirement was made through the energy transition

mechanism (ETM). ACEN said this groundbreaking initiative could reduce 15-25 years’ worth of emissions, given that coal plants typically operate for 40-50 years. “The Philippine DOE, therefore, strongly applauds ACEN in pioneering the voluntary retirement of its 246MW SLTEC. “This is consistent with our view that it must be voluntary and must make business sense in a power sector like the Philippines that is privately-owned, market driven and un-subsidized. “ACEN has our full support for this initiative, and we will explore ways to facilitate this program through access to climate financ-

ing,” the agency said on Wednesday. In 2020, the Duterte administration banned new coal power plant projects. DOE secretary Raphael Lotilla said the moratorium will be retained under the Marcos administration, saying this “has been set and you know I don’t believe in completely changing policies and therefore [sending] mixed signals to investors.” In the Philippines, decisions by private businesses to retire coalfired power plants and shift to full renewable energy (RE) are also purely market-driven and based on the economics of which projects will provide the most return to in-

vestors. The Philippines is also one of the few Southeast Asian countries which does not subsidize its power sector. Unlike other countries which are energy-source rich and use export revenues to subsidize their power sector, the Philippines only relies on cross-subsidy to provide support to its marginalized consumers as well as for RE incentives. “Therefore, the costs of transition, as well as the need for greater investment infrastructure, will be fully borne by our already overburdened electricity consumers if we

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CTRM WANTS TO KEEP LOW TARIFFS ON FOOD www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Thursday, December 7, 2023 Vol. 19 No. 57

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

B C U. O @caiordinario

 J E Y. A @jearcalas

HE Committee on Tariff Related Matters (CTRM) has recommended the extension of reduced tariff rates on select agriculture commodities to maintain the recent gains in inflation reduction, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the CTRM, co-chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Neda, is expected to present its recommendation to the Neda Board, chaired by the President, next week. Balisacan said Executive Order (EO) 10 was recommended for extension for another year or until December 2024. “Yes, because we have to sustain the gains in inflation reduction. Because to us, it’s so critical in ensuring that we achieve our objectives. Especially because inflation hurts the poor so S “T,” A

LOCAL LABOR, GLOBAL OUTLOOK

Engaged in the labor of transporting recyclable materials for sale at a junk shop along Kalayaan Bridge on the BGC-Ortigas Center link, a father and son find their efforts unfolding against the backdrop of broader economic trends. Notably, the World Bank envisions a decline in inflation within the government’s target range of 2 to 4 percent next year. This projection aligns with the recently released November data, revealing a continued easing of the inflation rate to 4.1 percent. NONIE REYES

PAG-IBIG FUND DIGITALIZATION BOC’s Jan-Nov collection OF TAKEOUT STARTS DEC. 7 rises 3.1% to P813.65B B R L. A @rodrik_28 Contributor

HE Home Development Mutual Fund, commonly known as the Pag-IBIG Fund, is set to embark on a major transition with the launch of Phase 1 of the digitalization of its takeout process on December 7 to address the perennial housing backlog problem in the country. This will be the first housing fund to digitalize its takeout for affordable housing in Asia and aligns with the vision to set new industry standards and revolutionize the Philippine real estate

industry. Such initiative started in December 2021, marked by 20 Technical Working Group (TWG) meetings that paved the way for discussions with Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary David Almirol, along with collaborations with MagPie. The group is targeting to deliver the initial phase of takeouts within seven days, with a vision to extend this expedited process to both Window 1 and Window 2 takeouts in collaboration with Pag-IBIG and other relevant agenS “P-IBIG,” A

B J E Y. A

@jearcalas

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) said its revenue collection in the 11 months to November has reached P813.651 billion, surpassing its programmed target during the period and providing the bureau with enough cushion to meet its full-year target. Based on the bureau’s preliminary report, Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the BOC’s January to November collection rose by 3.09 percent or by P24.405 billion from last year’s P789.246 billion. The bureau also surpassed its P795.966billion collection target for the 11-month period by 2.2 percent or by P17.685 billion, Rubio added. The BOC met its revenue collection target despite a slight dip in its collection in the month

of November alone. In November, the BOC collected P75.338 billion compared to the P75.724 billion it collected in the same month of last year. Nonetheless, the bureau still posted a surplus last month after exceeding its P74.249-billion collection target. Rubio attributed the increase in the BOC’s 11-month revenue collection to the bureau’s “more efficient” collection, particularly in assessing inbound shipments and levying the correct tariff rates. “There are certain commodities that arrive and probably we do not see the specific contents of the shipments. But today we are now inspecting them closely to see the actual content of the shipments and apply the correct codes to determine the correct values,” he told reporters on Wednesday. S “BOC,” A

PESO EXCHANGE RATES US 55.3760 ■ JAPAN 0.3763 ■ UK 69.7461 ■ HK 7.0824 ■ SINGAPORE 41.2915 ■ AUSTRALIA 36.2713 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 14.7646 ■ EU 59.7895 ■ KOREA 0.0421 ■ CHINA 7.7470 Source: BSP (December 6, 2023)

News BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Pag-IBIG... Continued from A1

cies. Spearheading this program is Proptech Consortium of the Philippines. The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) is tapped as a partner in the collaborative effort. “Our involvement in the digitalization of Pag-IBIG Fund’s take-out process is a testament to our commitment to innovation and progress in the real estate sector. We would also like to give our thanks to the Proptech Consortium of the Philippines, by pioneering this initiative alongside esteemed industry partners, we are shaping the future of housing in the Philippines, ushering in a new era of efficiency and accessibility for all,” SHDA Chairman Arlene Keh said. “We extend our sincere appreciation to SHDA and Chairman Arlene Keh for their unwavering commitment to advancing the digitalization agenda in the real estate industry. Their leadership has been crucial in making this historic launch a reality,” noted a spokesperson for the Proptech Consortium. The teamup of SHDA and other industry leaders, including the Pag-IBIG Fund, has opened a transformative shift in the housing sector. The Proptech Consortium recognizes the significant contributions of National Real Estate Association Chairperson Imelda Magtoto, SHDA President Bido Dayao, Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines Executive Director Gerwin A. Panghulan, PropTech Founding Director Jopin Romero, and PropTech Managing Director Aj Rocero—all of whom have played key roles in the initiative.

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PHL, world’s largest source of seafarers, keeps IMO seat

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

HE Philippines, the world’s top supplier of seafarers, was reelected to the executive body of United Nations’ maritime agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council.

The IMO sets the standards for the safety and security of international shipping, overseeing regulations, including labor standards. Philippine Ambassador to London Teodoro Locsin Jr. vowed to keep the seafarers at the center of the IMO’s agenda. “[Our seafaring tradition] is not about leaving some behind in any worthy field of human endeavor, but of going farther forward, as can only be done by women and

men together. For those of us who are personally descended from seafarers, the sea will always hold the perfume promise of return and the fragrance of hope,” Locsin said in his candidature speech. Locsin is also the country’s permanent representative to the IMO; thus, he will be sitting in the IMO Council. “We believe our re-election will allow us to continue contributing to the maritime industry, not just

Tariff...

year. Under Marcos’s EO 10, the lower tariff rates on imported rice, corn and pork were extended until the end of 2023. Under existing rules and regulations governing the President’s power on modifying tariff rates, the Neda is the one that will make the necessary recommendation to the President on tariff adjustments. “Encouragingly, however, inflation continues to fall—now down to 4.1 percent in November 2023, bringing us closer to our target

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much, especially food inflation, it hurts the poor. And as we have seen it, the inflation for the poorest 30 percent is higher than the [all households],” Balisacan said. He said the government intends to have the extension of the EO approved by the President before the existing one expires at the end of the

as a top provider of top-caliber seafarers, but also at promoting safe and secure shipping operations, geared towards growth, modernization, resiliency and sustainability.” Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said in his statement during the 33rd IMO Assembly. The Philippines is the top supplier of seafarers around the world, providing one-fifth of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers. The Philippines received 136 votes out of the possible 168 votes, ranking with the fourth highest number of votes among countries vying under category C. The elections were held during the 33rd IMO Assembly at the IMO headquarters in London last December 1. “This is a huge leap from the 112 votes the country received in 2021, showing the trust and confidence of IMO member-state to the maritime credential of the Philippines,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The IMO Council seat is the

highest ranking that the Philippines garnered at the IMO elections in years, the DFA added. In 2021, Philippine Ambassador Antonio Manuel Lagdameo was also elected as president of the IMO General Assembly, the highest governing body of the IMO. Category C of the IMO Council is reserved for states, which have “special interests in maritime transport or navigation.” Aside from the Philippines, other countries elected to the IMO Council under category C are Bahamas, Bangladesh, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Türkiye. Earlier in the week during the opening session of the 33rd IMO Assembly, H.E. Antonio Lagdameo, former Philippine representative to the IMO, turned over the Philippine presidency of the IMO Assembly to Saudi Arabia.

band of 2 to 4 percent and nearer to our peers in Southeast Asia,” Balisacan said in a speech at the 2024 Philippine Economic Outlook of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines on Wednesday. “Still, we remain committed to bringing inflation down further through inter-agency efforts to address its root causes in the market without relying on a monetary response from our central bank,” he added.

Tariff Commission hearing on the proposal to extend EO 10 by the economic managers. FFF also pointed out that the lower rice tariff rates diminished the national government’s possible tariff collection from rice imports that could have gone to the fund pool earmarked to local rice farmers. “[It] cost the government over a billion pesos in foregone tariffs since the tariffs were reduced in 2021, and deprived rice farmers of an equal amount in terms of supplemental support based on the RTL provision that tariff collections in excess of P10 billion a year should go to support programs for farmers. Despite this, Balisacan insists on extending the reduction,” FFF National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor said. “What is his reason? Where is the data that supports his position? If he cannot provide answers, then he is no less liable than a corrupt government official who is stealing money from the government and depriving farmers of much needed support at the same time,” Montemayor added.

Pros and cons

THE Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) urged President Marcos Jr. to adopt the recommendation of the Committee on Tariff and Related Matters to extend EO 10. “MITA applauds the courage and wisdom of the CTRM in recommending the extension of EO10 covering lower tariff on rice, corn and pork,” MITA said in a statement sent to the BusinessMirror. “The lower cost of imported rice, corn and pork will bring respite not only to consumers, but also to the livestock and poultry sector who grapple with high costs of inputs,” it added. MITA argued that African swine fever (ASF) would remain as the “biggest challenge” of the domestic hog industry in producing affordable pork products. “The experience of the developed countries, and of our Asian neighbors, testify that ASF will be extremely difficult to eradicate,” it said. “We pray [President Marcos Jr.] will adopt the recommendation and issue a new Executive Order as soon as possible,” it added. Meanwhile, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) reiterated its opposition to the extension of EO 10 arguing that it is high time to revert the tariff levied on rice imports from non-Asean countries to 50 percent since the lowered rates did not benefit consumers. FFF was one of the oppositors during the

DOE...

Continued from A1

will not find strategic ways to shift the burden,” the DOE pointed out. In line with its energy transition program, the Philippine government is encouraging a voluntary early and orderly decommissioning or repurposing of existing coal-fired power plants, while securing a stable supply and addressing the climate emergency by ramping up the country’s RE target of 50 percent share by 2040. At the same time, the DOE is encouraging “every effort” to incentivize the business owners and institutions that will participate in similar undertakings and work towards energy transition. He cited the Asian Development Bank and ACEN’s Energy Transition Mechanism concept, which leverages public and private investments with the aim of retiring coal power assets earlier, as a laudable mechanism. The DOE, however, stressed that energy transition is beyond coal retirement. It also entails expanding people’s access to electricity in remote islands, building a smart and green grid and improving the distribution systems, putting up more energy storage systems, and making energy affordable for all. “In all of these, adequate and timely access to climate financing is crucial for the Philippines

BOC...

Continued from A1

“With the more specific codes we are able to capture the values of the shipments. We also update our reference values to see if the [declared] prices are correct, which we based it on world price indices,” he added. Rubio admitted that the lower oil and coal prices impacted the BOC’s revenue collection performance. He explained that the volume of imports have dropped as well as the prices per unit of the various imported commodities. “The DBCC [Development Budget Coordination Committee] projected the prices of fuel to about $90 but we are just at $68 to $70 while the [Philippine peso] dollar [exchange rate] was pegged as high as P59 but now it is going to P55. And it has an effect [on our collection] since we base our collection in the foreign currency, the value of goods,” he explained. “So the drop in fuel prices greatly affected [our performance]. Another is coal prices which decreased this year by a great margin. Our possible revenue losses because of the drop in coal prices alone is at P45 billion [considering] that the import volume remained the same,” he added. With the latest performance of the bureau, Rubio is confident the BOC would meet its P874.2-billion collection target for the entire 2023. “What I can promise you is that I will meet the target and there will be a surplus,” he told reporters on Wednesday. Following the BOC’s end-November collection performance, the bureau will need to collect at least P60.549 billion this month to meet its full-year target. look stemming from the onset of El Niño and export ban on rice and other food items as well as the potential for a nationwide daily minimum wage hike. Maybank also noted there is also a possibility that transport costs will increase on account of the Israel-Hamas war. The OPEC also decided to cut an additional 900,000bbl/day of oil output in the first quarter of 2024. This is on top of the existing voluntary 1 million bbl/day cut implemented by Saudi Arabia. It can be noted that the Philippines remains a net oil and food importer. Inflation may have slowed in November, but local economists warned that higher rice prices as well as Christmas spending in December may keep commodity prices elevated, according to local economists. (Full story here:

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/12/06/november-inflation-slows-to-4-1-but-risks-cited/).

Given this, Maybank maintained its inflation outlook remained 6 percent in 2023 and 3.5 percent in 2024. It also said GDP growth will likely average 5.8 percent this year and 6.5 percent next year, the same forecast it made earlier in the year. However, it noted upside risks to the out-

PSA data showed that despite the slower headline inflation, certain commodities, such as rice posted an inflation rate of 15.8 percent in November, higher than the 13.2 percent posted in October 2023 and the 3.1 percent posted in November 2022. Based on the latest data, the three rice varieties being monitored by the PSA showed higher rates in November compared to the October 2023 and November 2022 rates. Regular milled rice prices increased to P46.73 per kilo in November 2023, higher than the P45.42 per kilo in October 2023 and P39.57 per kilo in November last year. Well-milled rice, meanwhile, averaged P51.99 per kilo in November 2023. This was also higher than the average of P51 per kilo in October 2023 and P43.86 per kilo in November 2022. Special rice varieties also showed higher prices at an average of P61.47 per kilo. This is higher than the P60.95 per kilo in October 2023 and P53.53 per kilo in November 2022.

to equitably and effectively pursue its energy transition,” the agency said. Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Coal to Clean Credit Initiative (CCCI), pointed out that if the world does not break its overreliance on coal, current and planned coal-fired power plants will release 273 billion tons of carbon dioxide over their operational lifetimes and trigger a catastrophe for the planet and the people living on it. “To retire coal plants and avoid those emissions, we need to create the right incentives for asset owners and communities and mobilize additional finance. This innovative CCCI agreement will pilot a coal-to-clean credit methodology in the Philippines, one critical step toward breaking that overreliance and building a better future,” said Shah. ACEN Corp., the Rockefeller foundation, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) are working together to fast-track the phaseout of coal plants in line with the Paris Agreement. They are seeking to develop the world’s first transition credit, or the coal-to-clean pilot project, that would leverage carbon finance to phase out a coal-fired power plant and replace it with RE. This first-of-its-kind project would mark a major step towards phasing out coal in line with the Paris Agreement. According to International Energy Agency (IEA), to achieve a net zero scenario by 2050, power generation from coal power plants should be reduced by around 55 percent by

2030, from 2022 level. Southeast Asia, which has the fourth largest installed coal plant capacity globally, has among the world’s youngest coal fleet with an average age of under 15 years. With strong electricity demand growth in key markets like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, reducing coal generation within the next two decades will be a major challenge. “We need to replace that with a hybridized or what we call an integrated renewable energy storage system [IRESS] which is a combination of wind farm and solar with battery storage. About 1000MW and 4 to 6 hours of battery. That’s what we hypothesized, we need to deploy, to be operational by 2030 if we are to shut down a coal plant by 2030 and that means we need to start building by 2027,” Francia said. Transition credits will enable ACEN to increase its ambition of further accelerating the transition of SLTEC coal plant to clean technology as early as 2030. Francia said it would take roughly three years to build an IRESS which would entail an investment of about $1.5 billion. “There is an affordability gap. We need to address that through transition credits. The other gap is just transition. We need to decommission the plant responsibly, makes sure that it can’t be recommissioned at some point in future. Also, the just transition of communities, workers affected. All of those have to be reflected in the transition credit,” Francia stressed.

High inflation threat

IN a separate briefing on Wednesday, Maybank Philippines said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to keep policy rates at 6.5 percent this year. Maybank said it expects headline inflation in December 2023 to be within the target range of 2 to 4 percent. In November, inflation slowed to 4.1 percent. (https://businessmirror.

com.ph/2023/12/05/inflation-slows-to-4-1-innovember-psa/).

Thursday, December 7, 2023

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

LTO probes deadly Antique bus mishap By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

& Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

HE Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have started a thorough investigation into the tragic bus accident involving a unit of Vallacar Transit Inc. in Antique, which claimed at least a dozen lives and left several injured. LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II has directed the Western Visayas Regional Office to spearhead the probe “for us to have a clear picture on what really happened and eventually obtain necessary and useful information that will assist us in coming up with more measures to prevent fatal road accidents like this.”

NTSB proposal

SENATOR Grace Poe, chairperson of the franchise-granting Senate Committee on Public Services, reiterated the push for her pending bill to create a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to be solely be responsible in investigating transportation-related incidents in air, land and sea, including railways and pipeline systems. Lamenting the deadly Antique bus crash, Poe said, “As we express our deepest sympathies to the families of the bus crash victims, we expect that all assistance will be given to tide them over this tragic incident.” “We are enraged with the loss of lives that could have been prevented,” said Poe, noting that “regrettably, crash incidents continue to happen because vehicles that are not roadworthy are still allowed to ply the highways, and some drivers get hold of the steering wheel even without rigorous training.” The senator added: “We reiterate our push for our pending bill to create a National Transportation Safety Board that will solely be responsible investigating transportationrelated incidents in air, land and sea, including railways and pipeline systems.” Moreover, Poe’s enabling bill “will cover strict inspection of public vehicles, driver’s licensing and safety measures to prevent road accidents.”

‘Death plunge’

ACCORDING to Vallacar, a Ceres bus liner, carrying 24 passengers, veered off the road and plummeted into a ravine at around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, resulting in at least 12 fatalities, including the driver, conductor, and line inspector, and injuries to the rest of the passengers. Based on a document from the LTFRB issued Wednesday afternoon, at least 16 have died from the accident. An official noted that the number could still rise, given that “there are still people in critical condition.” Vallacar has expressed deep regret and extended condolences to the families of the victims. The company has voluntarily suspended

the operations of 12 units under the same franchise as the ill-fated bus. Additionally, Vallacar has committed to providing financial support, including covering medical and burial expenses for the victims and their families. “The management has assigned personnel to be on stand-by at the hospital for further updates and assistance. Rest assured that we are doing everything that we can to make sure that this is being handled properly and carefully,” Vallacar said in a statement. On Wednesday, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III slapped a 90-day suspension on the operation of Ceres bus company. “We already issued a 90-day preventive suspension to the entire fleet, meaning to say yung mga bus na nagbabyahe ng rutang ‘yon, there are 15 of them, have already issued a preventive suspension right away,” Guadiz said. He added that the agency is looking into reports that the area was reportedly the same spot where a Ceres bus also fell killing two passengers several years ago. Aside from this, the LTFRB has started conducting a site inspection and has been coordinating with the insurance company to compensate the victims.

Roadworthiness checks

“ ANG roadworthiness AY done during the registration but it is incumbent upon the bus company na every time babiyahe ‘yan, sisiguraduhin nila na maayos yung kanilang mga bus. So that’s what I will be looking into, titingnan namin yung ledgers sa terminal kung ano yung condition bago ito umalis, and of course, we will look also into the condition of the driver, “ Guadiz added. Furthermore, Mendoza emphasized the importance of rigorous roadworthiness inspections for vehicles, especially public utility vehicles. Following the incident, Mendoza said that the LTO will further “intensify” the enforcement of the “No Registration, No Travel” policy through law enforcement operations and programs to encourage owners to re-register their vehicles, especially public utility vehicles. “The registration of vehicles is a way for our government to ensure the road worthiness of vehicles for the safety of everyone,” he said, adding that the agency is also exploring the possibility of weekly inspections for passenger buses. Vallacar noted that it is taking initiative in complying with regulations and laws. “The management guarantees the riding public that we are taking all the appropriate steps to ensure that our buses are road-worthy and well maintained,” Vallacar said. With the incident, Mendoza said the agency is collaborating with the LTFRB and the Department of Transportation to develop further road safety measures. This initiative includes outreach to bus companies and operators to reinforce safety protocols, particularly in anticipation of increased travel during the Christmas season.

UAE-bound OFWs urged to log on new app on controlled drugs

V ER SEA S Filipino work e r s (OF W ) w i l l now be able to identify the list of controlled drugs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through a new mobile application, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). In his Advisory No. 8 series of 2023, DMW Officer-in-charge Hans J. Cacdac urged OFWs bound for the UAE to make use of the app so they avoid possible sanctions. “Upon installing the mobile application, it is recommended to click on the ‘Narcotics & precursor chemicals directory’ and Drugs directory’ to verify the level of restriction of a controlled drug,” he said. The app, which was launched by the Narcotics Control Board and the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHAP), contained the list of controlled Narcotics/ Psychotropic and Controlled Drugs (CD) for medical purposes that travelers can bring to the UAE.

It can be downloaded in Apple at https://www.apps.apple.com/ ae/app/mohap/id1462565560?p latform=iphone and for Android https://play.google.com/store/ a p p s/details? id= com .gov.uae. mohap&hl=en&gl=US. Under the DMW Rules and Regulations Governing the Recruitment and Employment of Land-based Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), workers who will be found in possession or use of any prohibited drugs will face sanctions. The sanction may range from one year and one day to two years of suspension from participation in the overseas employment program. This is on top of the possible charges the erring OFW can face in UAE. UAE remains among the top destination countries for OFWs together with the Kingdom of Saudi A rabia, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Qatar, and Singapore, accord ing to d ata f rom t he Philippine Statistic Authority. Samuel P. Medenilla

House panel approves reso for suspension of operations of SMNI broadcast network By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE future of Sonshine Media Network International’s (SMNI) business operations appears to be uncertain following the approval of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend its activities. Operating under the congressional franchise granted to Swara Sug Media Corporation in August 2019, as outlined in Republic Act (RA) No. 11422, SMNI’s fate now hangs in the balance. The House Resolution (HR) 1499 was adopted by the House f r a nc h i s e pa ne l , c h a i re d b y Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting. The resolution cited numerous violations, including the a l leged dissemination of fake news and engagement in

red tagging by SMNI. PBA Party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles, the resolution’s author, cited SMNI’s failure to exercise caution in its privilege to operate in an industry with public interest. According to Nograles, SMNI, as a media entity, has a responsibility to the public not to disseminate deliberately false information, as outlined in Section 4 of RA 11422. Nograles said SMNI failed to

exercise extreme caution in exercising its privilege to operate in an industry imbued with public interest. “As we have heard in the hearing, there are several instances where SMNI peddled fake news against certain public officials. They themselves are not denying these instances,” she said. The approval of HR 1499 concluded the franchise panel’s second hearing, prompted by House Deputy Majority Leader David Suarez’s privilege speech. Suarez responded to accusations made on the SMNI program “Laban Kasama Ang Bayan” about Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez allegedly incurring P1.8 billion in travel expenses. The panel chair, Tambunting, announced plans for an upcoming third hearing. House Secretary General Reginald “Reggie” S. Velasco, however, clarified that the Office of the Speaker only spent P4.3 million from January 2023 to October 2023 for foreign trips. The franchise committee is also tack ling two resolutions

from the Makabayan bloc regarding SMNI: one on alleged fake news peddling and “ baseless” red-tagging of individuals, groups, and organizations; and another on alleged fake news peddling, baseless red-tagging, and grave threats against ACT Teac hers Rep. France Castro by for mer President Rodr igo Duterte and SMNI. In a related development, the House committee cited SMNI anchor Lorraine Badoy in contempt for allegedly lying under oath during the hearing. Badoy’s detention at the Batasan Complex was ordered until the panel completes its inquiry in the plenary. The decision was based on concerns that Badoy did not truthfully disclose details about the advertisements on her program, as well as alleged irregularities in SMNI’s documents. Lawmakers also cited in contempt SMNI anchor Jeffrey Celiz and ordered his detention at the Batasan Complex until after the adoption in the plenary of the panel’s committee report.

Pinoy volunteer farmers in Israel reminded: Work at your own risk By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

OME Filipino workers in Israel are “volunteering” to work in farms amid an acute shortage of agricultural laborers following the October 7 Hamas attacks. The Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv said it “appreciates” Filipino nationals who are “volunteering their time and labor” in support of the Israeli agricultural sector. However, the Embassy warned OFWs against venturing into conflict zones or

engaging in activities that may compromise their safety. In an earlier interview, Israeli Ambassador to Manila Ilan Fluss said that since the October 7 attacks, many foreigners, especially Thais, working in agricultural sector have left Israel. A total of 39 Thai agricultural workers in southern Israel were killed, while 32 were taken as hostage by the Hamas. Also, the Israeli agricultural ministry also withdrew work permits of Palestinians

working in Israel, many of them also in the agricultural industry. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 agricultural workers left Israel since the Hamas attacks, and half are Palestinians. Currently, many farms require laborers to harvest crops and milk cows. Many Israelis volunteer at the farms, and apparently Filipinos joined the activity. “The Embassy supports all efforts that could help Israel’s agriculture sector get back on its feet and restore the vibrancy of its food supply. The Embassy regards this

volunteer work as an admirable gesture, in keeping with the Filipino ‘bayanihan’ spirit, and a manifestation of the strong relations between the Philippines and Israel and the enduring friendship between the peoples of both countries,” the Embassy said in it’s Facebook post. OFWs are also advised to “avoid any activity that could constitute a violation of their existing employment contracts, if any, or their visa conditions while in Israel,” the Embassy added.

Navy patrol craft seizes contraband cigarettes off South Cotabato waters

HILIPPINE Navy patrol ship BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) intercepted a wooden boat carrying a load of smuggled cigarettes while patrolling in Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato waters on Sunday, December 3. Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), in a statement Wednesday, identified the cigarette smuggling boat as the M/B Queen Juhaya.

“The BRP Artemio Ricarte, under the operational control of Naval Task Force 71, was conducting territorial defense operations in the southern waters of Eastern Mindanao when this unit encountered said watercraft. PS-37 radio challenged the watercraft but was unresponsive. Instead, said watercraft increased its speed and altered its course which resulted in its interception,” it added. Upon boarding, the crew of the BRP

Artemio Ricarte saw that the M/B Queen Juhaya was carrying more or less 527 master cases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated street value of P8 million. Investigations also revealed that one of the crewmen of the intercepted watercraft was an undocumented Malaysian national. An unlicensed firearm was also confiscated. “PS-37 escorted the watercraft, along with its six Filipino crew, to Capt. Feranil Pier, Naval

Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City for proper disposition to authorities. Upon arrival, the Camp Panacan Hospital medical team administered a health checkup of the apprehended crew members,” NFEM added. The confiscated smuggled items were turned over to the Bureau of Customs District Collection II for safekeeping while the M/B Queen Juhaya was kept at IGACOS Ferry Wharf. Rex Anthony Naval

Bong Go calls for ‘swift justice’ for MSU bombing victims

ENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, in a manifestation speech at the Senate on Monday, December 4, vehemently condemned the recent terrorist attack at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, which occurred during a mass on December 3. Go stressed the importance of unity in the face of terrorism, warning against allowing such acts to fuel sectarian hatred and division among Filipinos. “We know that the function of terrorism is to terrorize people. If we allow ourselves to be terrorized, terrorists win. As such, we must remain united and should not allow this crime to trigger sectarian hatred and further animosity

among Filipino people,” said Go. He recalled the resilience of Marawi ’s citizens in recovering from the 2017 siege, despite ongoing challenges, including insufficient compensation and reconstruction efforts. “Our brothers and sisters in Marawi have already emerged from the dark ashes of the Marawi Siege,” said Go. Along with his fellow senators, Go, also vice chairperson of both the Senate Committees on National Defense and Public Order, urged law enforcement agencies to take decisive action against those responsible, calling for them to be punished to the full extent of the law.

“Moreover, acts of terrorism on educational institutions like MSU must be condemned. Ensuring the safety of students in schools from terrorist threats is a paramount priority for fostering a secure learning environment,” he said. Go expressed his heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims: “Taus-puso akong nakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng mga namatayan at nasaktan sa pag-atakeng ito.” “Masakit para sa sinumang magulang, kapatid, o anak, ang mawalan ng mahal sa buhay, lalo na kung dulot ng karahasan,” he added. Concluding his speech, the senator underscored the community’s desire for peace: “Mas marami pong

AFP favors resumption of peace gab with Reds

HE government’s decision to undertake fresh rounds of exploratory peace talks with communist insurgents and its their allied organizations is aimed at saving lives, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said on Tuesday. “What I will say is the stand of the AFP in relation to the joint statement issued by the Government of the Philippines and the

National Democratic Front. Now, what they see say here is that this resolution or the statement actually provides the vision, which is about ending armed struggle and transformation of the CPPNPA-NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front],” he said during an interview with “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon” aired by PTV-4.

He added that this initiative is in line with the AFP’s mission to defeat or neutralize the threat posed by the communist insurgents. “Now, when you talk about ending armed struggle, it is actually the end-state or the direction of our campaign plan. Because what we want here is we have to stop or we want the CPP-NPA-NDF to abandon armed struggle. We see

mga kababayan natin na gustong mamuhay nang tahimik at walang karahasan. Magtulungan po tayo.” Islamic State militants claimed responsibility in the explosion at MSU’s Dimaporo Gym. This tragic event, coinciding with the First Sunday of Advent—a day of significant importance to Catholics—resulted in at least four fatalities with approximately 45 to 50 people injured. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified a “person of interest” named Khadafi Mimbesa, believed to be a bomb expert and sub-leader of the Dawlah Islamiyah Maute Group. He allegedly used an improvised explosive device in the attack. alignment [as] there as far as the objective of our campaign is concerned,” Aguilar pointed out. He added they are also considering the farmers turned NPAs whom they want to save. “If the NDFP [National Democratic Front Philippines] will declare the cessation of armed struggle, then probably these people can go down and embrace [the] amnesty program that we are offering and, therefore, that can save lives,” Aguilar said. Rex Anthony Naval

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Economy

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • www.businessmirror.com.ph

Newly signed PPP code expected to resolve Davao economy achieves 6.7% post-pandemic growth PHL’s ₧23-T infrastructure investment gap By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

AILING it as a “new dawn” i n t he re l at ionsh ip be tween the public and private sectors, House leaders on Wednesday said that the newly signed Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines (PPP Code) would help cover the P23 trillion infrastructure investment gap in the country. House Comm ittee on Publ ic Works and Highways Chairman Romeo Momo Sr. and House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda said the code would establish a precise system, while concurrently ensuring accountability for government officials in PPP projects. “The passing of the PPP Code is a new dawn in our commitment to strengthen the relationship between the public and private sec-

tors. It shows our government’s dedication to improving the country’s infrastructure, as it would pave the way for sustainable development and bolster the private sector’s indispensable role in bringing much-needed services to the people,” he said. “I personally want to thank the President, who turned this landmark legislation into reality. It shows his understanding of the intricacies of the legal framework that encompasses our economic agendas,” Momo added. The PPP Code, or “An Act Providing for the Public-Private Partnership of the Philippines,” signed as Republic Act No. 11966, will establish a stable and predictable environment for collaboration between the public and private sectors. PPP programs seek to address the gaps in the country’s infrastructure systems, and they will also free up much-needed resources when

the private sector begins infusing their own money into projects. It would enable the government to fund other equally important projects and initiatives and allow for a more systematic approach to national development. By incorporating the best practices from implementing the BuildOperate-Transfer (BOT) Law, the PPP Code ensures that the countr y builds better infrastructure projects and mitigates risks during implementation. For his part, Salceda said the PPP code moves towards a rulesbased, transparent, and efficient PPP framework that will help cover the P23 trillion infrastructure investment gap in the country. “This measure also makes the PPP framework as open as possible. We expressly empowered any and all government agencies and instrumentalities to undertake PPPs. We raised the threshold for Neda-ICC

DTI eyes to slash documentary requirements in sea freight forwarding accreditation in ’24 By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it aims to reduce the documentary requirements as it finalizes the new rules on sea freight forwarding accreditation, which is expected to take effect early next year. At a public consultation for the

proposed Department Administrative Order (DAO) on Wednesday in Pasay City, DTI-Assistant Secretary Mary Jean Pacheco and Officer-in-Charge of the Consumer Protection Group (CPG) said the Trade department is “committed to replace and streamline the guidelines on sea freight forwarding and make it faster and easier for new and renewing freight forwarders applicant in securing accreditation.”

As the DTI aims to comply with the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) law or the Republic Act No. 11032, Pacheco said the number of documentary requirements will be reduced to five compared to the old rule with 22 required documents and the processing time will be reduced from three days to one day. Pacheco told reporters on the sidelines of the public consultation that the objective of this DAO is to provide “quality and more professional” rules on sea freight forwarding accreditation to avoid “fly-by-night” companies, which she said do not usually contain standards. “As I said, tandaan natin ang isang objective nitong DAO na to ay maging quality…quality, more professional, yung iniiwasan talaga natin yung mga fly-by-night na marami nagrereklamo maganda to, mas mura, yun pala….wala naman siyang standards ‘no. Hindi pala sya tunay na freight forwarder na nakakaalam ng rules,” the Trade official said. According to DTI, the proposed DAO aims to lay down the minimum standard and requirement for the recognition of the freight forward-

(National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordinating Committee) approval to P15 billion, and for local government units whose PPPs do not require any national government undertaking, the sky’s the limit,” Salceda added. “ The new PPP Code does not suffer from longstanding defects of ambiguity. It is clearly specified which undertakings are not allowed. The process is outlined. The comparative challenge process is simple. There is Original Proponent Status, good for only one year upon acceptance by agency, and a comparative challenge within 90 days to one year, with 30 days right to match,” Salceda said. Joint ventures (JV) have also been expressly defined and allowed as a PPP modality, Salceda said, “ending decades of uncertainty and a kind of anything-goes attitude in the use of JVs for PPPs.”

ers, upgrade the quality of service and capabilities of the covered firm to meet the demand of the global and domestic trade as well as curtail act and practices inimical to the fast growth of the freight forwarding sector. The DAO applies to categories such as Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), International Freight Forwarder (IFF), and Domestic Freight Forwarder (DFF). Pacheco noted that there would likely be an increase in paid-up capital in the new DAO. For the NVOCC category, minimum paid-up capital requirement will increase from P4 million to P5 million. For the International Freight Forwarder category, it will increase from P2 million to P3 million. For the Domestic Freight Forwarder category, the minimum paidup capital requirement will increase from P250,000 to P1 million. “It’s true that we imposed increase in the minimum paid-up capital requirement kasi nga para sign of the times na rin at tsaka alam natin na ang magiging freight forwarder na magsisilbi sa atin ay talagang may kakayanan na mag-conduct ng tests in that area,” Pacheco noted. DTI said there are almost 800 freight forwarders in the Philippines.

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

AVAO CITY—The domestic economy of Davao del Norte rebounded by a huge leap from a negative growth at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the latest Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) release of the Provincial Product Accounts (PPA). The province posted a growth of 6.7 percent in 2022, a further increase from the 5.1 percent growth in the previous year, PSA Davao del Norte Chief Statistical Specialist Pepito D. Amoyen said in a Philippine Information Agency dispatch this week. The successive growth allowed the province to recover what it lost at the onset of Covid-19 when it registered negative 4.5 percent in 2019-2020. At this growth last year, it was estimated that Davao del Norte has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaching P168.61 billion. In the previous decades during the heydays of small-scale mining in Diwalwal in Monkayo and Boringot in Pantukan, both of Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley), Davao del Norte was the direct beneficiary from the windfall of extracted gold because its capital city of Tagum became

a trading center for gold exchange. The province is also home to the first plantations of the exported Cavendish variety of banana. “Contrary to what most perceived of Davao del Norte as an agri-based province, the PPA of PSA shows that the services sector shared a bulk, or 49.8 percent, to the GDP of the province,” Amoyen said. Services expanded by 10.3 percent in 2022, from 6.8 percent growth in 2021, fueled by the operation of more shopping malls and motels and inns. He said the fastest-growing industries under services sector were the accommodation and food service activities, which contributed 36.0 percent, transportation and storage, 18.3 percent and other services, 15.3 percent. But the agriculture-forestry-fishing sector still came in second, with 30.2 percent. The industry sector shared a far 19.9 percent to the GDP, due to the decline of growth in mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, steam, water and waste management and construction. This sector posted a sharp decline to 3.7 percent from 12.1 percent in 2021. The agriculture sector however, rebounded to three percent from the negative 1.4 percent slump in 2021.

About 806 job applicants hired in job fair–DOLE By Patrick Miguel

TOTAL of 806 job seekers were “ hired-on-the-spot” during the first three days of the 90th founding anniversary job fairs by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). They were among the 6,138 jobseekers who trooped to the 14 job fair sites in various regions in the country, said DOLE in a news release. In the opening ceremony of the DOLE Anniversary Job Fair, Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma noted the role of local government units (LGUs) and their services in facilitating employment “at the local level.” DOLE also said there were 440 applicants referred to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for skills training, 290

were referred to the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) for livelihood assistance, and 167 were referred to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for entrepreneurship development. A total of 2,056 job seekers also availed of the services offered by government agencies namely the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Social Security System (SSS), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Pag-IBIG Fund. The job fairs were in the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Caraga on December 1, 2, and 4.

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Thursday, December 7, 2023

DepEd chief laments ‘uncomfortable truth’ about proficiency decline of Pinoy learners

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3 & Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

ICE President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte on Wednesday lamented that Filipino learners’ declining scores in global education assessment is an “uncomfortable truth” after the Philippines remained among the lowest-ranked out of 81 participating nations.

The Philippines placed 77th in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released on Tuesday. PISA measures the level of literacy of 15-year-olds every t hree yea rs in m at hem at ics, reading and science. “Comp a re d to 2018 , t he proportion of students scoring below a baseline level of proficiency [Level 2] did not change significantly in mathematics, reading and science,” the study stated. A lthough the score in mathematics increased by two points compared to 2018 results, Filipino learners’ average score is 355 points, which is way below the 472 global average points. For the score in reading literacy, the country earned 347 points, still lower than the global average reading score, which is 476 points. The Philippines also scored low in

science after it achieved 356 points, lower than the OECD average of 485 points.

At its worst state?

THE country’s dismal ranking for the second time a lar med t he Ph i l ip pi ne Bu s i ne s s for Education (PBed), saying such showing it is a clear indication that “our education system is in its worst state and much work needs to be done.” PBed stressed that the poor performance of our learners is not just a problem of education alone, but also the country as a whole. “The weaknesses in our basic education system will eventually translate into the weakness of our work force, af fect ing t he product iv it y a nd key sou rce of our economic g row th and competitiveness,” PBed said. They also urged all sectors to act. “A crisis of this magnitude requires swift action and great

effort from all sectors. As the voice of business in education reform, we hope to rally once more our partners in the industry, government, and academe to take action for education—through the window of opportunity that we have in the ongoing work of t he Second Cong ressiona l Commission on Education [EDCOM 2],” PBed added. “Nevertheless, we welcome our continuous participation in large-scale international learning assessments as this provides us measurement of the impact of the pandemic on learning. Efforts must also be made to use this assessment as guidance to improve our current situation and see the value of making data-driven decisions in education governance,” it added.

Expected

IN 2018, the Philippines joined the international assessment for the first time. “Average 2022 results were about the same as in 2018 in mathematics, reading and science,” the study added. T he low ra n k ing in PISA was already anticipated by the Department of Education (DepEd). In a recent interview with CNN Philippines’ “The Source,” DepEd spokesperson Undersecretar y Michael Tan Poa admitted that they are not expecting “good results.” “ To be honest, we’re not expecting good results. So right now, we’re really focused on learning recovery,” Poa said, even as he bared a proposal to redirect P150 million in confidential funds to the National Learning Recovery Program (NLRP) to enhance Filipino students’ competencies in reading, mathematics, and science.

DTI partners with KIAT for new digital platform to boost FTA implementation

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) have entered into a partnership to develop a digital platform to promote and increase the utilization of the Philippines-South Korea Free Trade A g reement (F TA) a nd other trade agreements which the Philippines is a party to. In a statement on Monday, t h e Tr a d e d e p a r t m e nt s a i d the signing of the Record of D i s c u s s i o n s ( R O D) f o r t h e implementation of the project was held last November 29, 2023. DTI Undersecretary for Industry Development, Trade and Investment Promotion Group (IDTIPG) Ceferino Continued from A16 The chief executive said the measure will help improve the efficiency of the country’s court system and reduce the number of persons deprived of liberty (PDL). Marcos also hopes the event will allow the country to adopt the best justice system practices of other countries. Among the proposed measures is for the granting of presidential pardon or executive clemency to qualified PDLs.

Zubiri: Important step

ON the other hand, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the summit “is an important step in recognizing a basic but often overlooked truth: that fundamental human rights apply to every Filipino, including our PDLs—no matter the crime, no matter the sentence.”

S. Rodolfo underscored that the Origin Management System for Promoting FTA is a “vital tool” for the Philippines to optimize the Philippines-South Korea FTA and all other Philippine FTAs and preferential trade arrangements. The Trade official divulged that the Korean government would fund this project. “This is the first time we have undertaken such a project— mainstreaming the use of technology and digital services to make exporting and availment of FTAs more accessible to Philippine exporters. We are grateful to the Korean government for funding this Project,” Rodolfo noted. T h e Tr a d e d e p a r t m e n t

highlighted the objectives of the said digital platform, which includes enhancing the competitiveness of Philippine small merchants in the global arena, among others. “The project aims to enhance the international competitiveness of Philippine micro, small, and medium enterprises [MSMEs], increase the utilization of existing Philippine FTAs and preferential trade arrangements, and reduce the time and costs of Philippine manufacturers and traders to comply with rules of origin requirements of FTAs and Generalized System of Preferences [GSPs],” DTI said in a statement on Wednesday. Key features of the project include the development of an Origin

Where to now?

THE Marcos government should still urgently address the education crisis and fast-track the learning recovery if it is serious about preparing a new generation of citizens and workers adept in nation-building. The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, stressed this point after the Philippines continued to post dismal performance in the 2022 round of the PISA. Despite a slight improvement (+2.66 points) in the Philippines’ average performance, Gatchalian emphasized that the government should not lose the urgency in stemming the country’s education crisis and accelerating learning recovery. Among Gatchalian’s proposed next steps is the intensification of DepEd ’s learning recover y programs and the enactment of the ARAL Program Act (Senate Bi l l No. 1604). He has been advocating for the swift passage of the ARAL Bill, which the Senate has already approved on third and final reading last March. The proposed measure seeks to address pandemic-related learning loss and ensure that learners have access to well-designed remediation plans. Gatchalian is eyeing a budget of P10 billion for the rollout of academic recovery. “Patuloy dapat nating tutukan ang pagbangon ng sektor ng edukasyon mula sa pandemya ng Covid-19 na nagdulot ng krisis. Marami pa tayong mga repormang isusulong upang matiyak ang dekalidad na edukasyon sa bawat kabataang Pilipino,” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education. Management System, which the agency said will “enable” exporters to determine whether its export productqualifiesundertherespective ROO (rules of origin) requirements of FTAs/GSPs by inputting relevant infor mation in the platfor m; and an artificial intelligence (AI)enabled [Harmonized System] HS classification tool that will enable exporters to determine the appropriate HS code/s for their products, the Trade department noted. According to DTI, the project will run for 30 months from July 2023 until December 2025. “ The Korea Trade Network [KTNET], Korean government’s desig nated trade automation business service provider, will serve as the implementing consortium for this project. On the other hand, the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau will serve as the implementing lead for the Philippines side,” DTI said. Andrea E. San Juan

PNP releases images of 2 ‘persons of interest’ in deadly MSU blast

ARSANI MEMBISA alias “Khatab

KADAPI MIMBESA alias “Engineer”

By Rex Anthony Naval

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday released the pictures that could possibly establish the identities of the two persons of interests (POI) in the deadly bombing attack at the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University (MSU) where four people were killed and at least 50 others were injured last December 3. At a media briefing, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo identified the two POIs as Kadapi Mimbesa alias “Engineer” and Arsani Membisa alias “Khatab,” “Hatab” and “Lapitos.” Fajardo said the duo are members of the local terrorist Daulah Islamiya-Maute Group. She added that Membisa was spotted carrying a bag where the bomb or an improvised explosive device could be possibly hidden. Both of have standing warrants of arrests for various crimes like murder. Fajardo said these POIs were identified based on witnesses’ descriptions. A nd si nce t he t wo h ad committed previous crimes in Mindanao, they were pinpointed through the police “rogues gallery.” “They were sighted at 6:27 a.m. heading towards the MSU gymnasium and they were seen again at MSU at around 7 a.m. via enhanced CCTV footages,” Fajardo said in Filipino. And before the explosion, the two were seen again leaving MSU premises, with one of the POI appearing to be using his cell phone, which might have triggered the explosion. After this, the two quickly left, Fajardo said. She added that it took them time to release the pictures of the POIs as they have to verify it first with the military. Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is still looking at the possibility that ISIS carried out the bloody bombing attack in MSU as the terrorist group along with its allies

Prison congestion solutions tackled at SC-led summit He noted that overcrowding of jails has exposed PDLs to violence and disease as proven during the Covid-19 pandemic. Prison and jail congestion, according to Zubiri, also leaves correction officers and workers overworked and overburdened, which keeps them away from attending to the rehabilitation needs of each PDL under their care and supervision. “Instead of having an effective correctional system that can rehabilitate our PDLs and help them rejoin society as productive individuals, we are instead cultivating an atmosphere for recidivism, with repeat offenders, falling into the correctional system all over again,” Zubiri said in his speech. For his part, House Speaker

Ferdinand Martin Romualdez viewed jail congestion as not merely a logistical or infrastructural problem but a human rights issue. “The overcrowded conditions in our detention facilities reflect upon the state of our judicial processes and the very essence of justice and humanity in our society,” Romualdez said in his speech. He added that the summit symbolizes a unified approach in dealing with complex challenges pertaining to jail congestion while respecting the autonomy of each branch of the government. The House Speaker traced the roots of the congestion problem to prolonged processes and inadequate infrastructure, which he said calls for an immediate and decision action from all stakeholders.

In his speech delivered by DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, Remulla stressed that the problem of overcrowding violates the basic human rights of PDLs. “I am confident that the collective efforts and outputs of this Summit will have a profound impact on the lives of those that we serve as crucial actors of the country’s criminal justice system,” he said. On the part of the judiciary, CJ Gesmundo said short and long-term activities to address overcrowding of correction facilities would fall under three modes which include reducing admission, increasing releases and expanding jail facilities and capacities. He stressed that success in decongesting jails would depend on close cooperation, coordination and

cooperation among the five pillars of the criminal justice system—law enforcement, prosecution, the courts, corrections and the community. “The efficiency and efficacy of any criminal justice system is measured not by how many are prosecuted and incarcerated, but rather by how many are reformed and rehabilitated,” the Chief Justice stressed. Meanwhile, Zubir i pushed for the full implementation of Republic Act No. 11928 or the Separate Facility for Heinous Crimes Act, which establishes at least three supermax prisons for high-level offenders, one in Luzon, another in Visayas, and another one in Mindanao. Zubiri believes the supermax facilities would reduce opportunities

claimed responsibility for the blast by posting through social media accounts. “Well, they posted on the social media, both the ISIS East Asia and the local terrorist group the Daulah Islamiyah [DI]-Maute claimed responsibility for the attack, we monitored this on the Dark Web, and so we are looking into the possibility that they really perpetuated this terroristic act,” AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said during an interview with CNN Philippines Tuesday. Also, the AFP chief said that they are also looking at the possibility that the attack against MSU was in response to the military’s successful campaign against local terrorist groups in Mindanao. “One possibility is that this is a retaliatory attack because in the recent past, we have been very successful in our campaign against local terrorist groups, for instance when I was brigade commander of the 103rd Brigade we were able to neutralize Abu Dar, the last remaining original commander of the Maute-ISIS and then this year we were also able to neutralize Abu Zacaria, the one who replaced Abu Dar,” he added. Also, on the first days of this month, AFP units in the Western Mindanao Command scored heavily against these local terrorist groups. “A nd i n t he recent d ays particularly December 1 we were successful in our operations against the BIFF [Bangsamoro I s l a m ic Fre e dom Fi g hte r s] operating in Maguindanao and then last Saturday, December 2, we were able to finally neutralize [Mudrizmar] Sawadjaan alias “Mundi” who was responsible for the bombing of the Jolo Cathedral in 2019…so, and then also on December 3 we were able to neutralize the DI-Maute subleader who is known as ‘Lando’ [Alandoni Macadaya Luscadatu], so all of these successes in our military operations might have led to the retaliatory attack that was perpetuated by local t e r ror i s t s ,” t he A F P c h i e f stressed. Br aw ne r a l so d i s m i s s e d reports that the military had no intelligence on the attack, adding that they are well aware that these terrorists could do such things to get even. for organized crime within the country’s prison system. The Senate president also vowed to help the DOJ improve existing facilities, including the plan to relocate the NBP complex and establish more penal facilities across the country. Romualdez said the House would carefully study several proposals from stakeholders to address the congestion problem. These include the comprehensive review of the classification of crimes as “capital” and “non-bailable.” The review, he said, will assess the deterrent effect of the said classifications and consider the decriminalization of certain offenses such as libel, abortion, and dueling. A lso up for rev iew is the enactment of a law that would also extend diversionary measures to adult offenders, not only to children in conflict with the law.

BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 7, 2023

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

66 GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC. 9th & 11th/f Ssk Building, Block 7 Lot 5 Kennedy Road Corner Mindanao Avenue, Don Galo, City Of Parañaque LAI, SHAO-HUA IT Technical Mandarin 1.

Brief Job Description: Oversee all support and clerical work within a company. NIU, YUANQING IT Technical Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Oversee all support and clerical work within a company.

Basic Qualification: Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

CHEN, WENHUI Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 13.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written

Brief Job Description: Conduct market research to identify selling possibilities and evaluate customer needs. Actively seek out new sales opportunities through cold calling, networking and social media.

14.

Brief Job Description: Manage the Sales and Marketing Team for Brand Campaign development.

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With IT expertise. Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

ZHANG, ERZHAO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 15.

Basic Qualification: Degree in Business Management or a Master’s in Business Administration. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

ALFRED CHAN CHIN YEE Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

AEON FANTASY GROUP PHILIPPINES INC. 6/f Salustiana D. Ty Tower, 104 Paseo De Roxas Cor. Perea St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati SASAKI, HIROSHI General Manager For Administration

Brief Job Description: Assist with drafting business plans, sales, pitches, presentations, reference material and other documents as required.

LINWI Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

786 PRIME COMPUTER ELECTRONIC DEVICES TRADING INC. L14 & 16 B18 Unit K, Bf Resort Drive, Bf Resort Village, Talon Dos, City Of Las Piñas KHAN, ABUZAR Pakistani Sales Executive

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

16.

Brief Job Description: Gather data and capture the information into databases.

DENG, JINPING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 17.

Brief Job Description: Gather data and capture the information into databases.

AM-PRO IMPORTS MARKETING CORP. 16e Residenza Suites, 429 Shaw Blvd., Addition Hills, City Of Mandaluyong

CHEN, ZHENWEI Warehouse Logistics Manager 5.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for ensuring that the supply chain is efficient and effective throughout their organization.

Basic Qualification: Strong understanding of warehouse operations and procedures. Excellent organizational and timemanagement skills.

Brief Job Description: Act as the primary point of contact for ad-hoc reporting. Generates new insights to help guide the strategic direction of the organization. Delivers results for key operating metrics. Works with science resources to drive statistically sound analysis and interpretations of causal impacts, correlation, and other econometric models.

18.

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 KOUTNY, FLIP DLS Process Excellence Specialist

DUONG THI THU HONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Basic Qualification: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Experience in SIX sigma, LEAN, DMAIC, Kaizen and/or statistical process control projects. Knowledge in SQL and data visualization.

HO NGOC VUONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 19.

10.

20.

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

Basic Qualification: Language proficient.

Brief Job Description: To support Multilingual Service Desk.

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

MARTIC, JOSIP Multilingual Service Desk Member

Basic Qualification: Language proficient.

Brief Job Description: To support Multilingual Service Desk.

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

MUKENDI, PATRICK MUAMBA Multilingual Service Desk Member

Basic Qualification: Language proficient.

Brief Job Description: To support Multilingual Service Desk.

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

RADIONA, ANNA Multilingual Service Desk Member

Basic Qualification: Language proficient.

Brief Job Description: To support Multilingual Service Desk.

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

CHINA CAMC ENGINEERING CO. LTD. PHIL BRANCH Unit 2104-a West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Ctr., San Antonio, City Of Pasig

11.

Brief Job Description: Manage sub-contractors by locations, evaluating and selecting sub-contractors, monitoring and controlling performance.

Brief Job Description: Gather data and capture the information into databases.

PHAM TRI THANH Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

LANDISS, NIKS Multilingual Service Desk Member

LYU, YIDAN Resident Agent

Brief Job Description: Gather data and capture the information into databases.

NGUYEN PHUC NAM Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

CGI (PHILIPPINES) INC. 2/f One World Square, Mckinley Hill, Pinagsama, City Of Taguig

Brief Job Description: Gather data and capture the information into databases.

21.

WIRAFIN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 22.

Brief Job Description: Gather data and capture the information into databases.

CAO BA THUOC Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 23.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

HO THI MINH NGUYET Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 24.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, and fluent in Mandarin & English languages both verbal and written communication. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Gather data and capture the information into databases.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

LIU, JIALU Chinese Speaking Program Designer 25.

CIMB BANK PHILIPPINES INC. 22nd Floor Bonifacio Stopover Corporate Center, 2nd Ave. Cor. 31st St. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Brief Job Description: Testing and deploying programs and systems, verify and deploy programs and systems.

YI, JIANWU Chinese Speaking Program Designer MATTO, JAIDEEP Chief Data Officer 12.

Brief Job Description: Primarily responsible for overseeing the process the Bank uses to collect, manage and store data.

Basic Qualification: At least five (5) years of experience in a leadership position in a banking role in an established financial Institution.

26.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

ZHOU, WEI Chinese Speaking Program Designer 27.

CRONYX INC. 6-12, 15-19/f Royal Peak Tower A, 485 Quirino Avenue, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Brief Job Description: Testing and deploying programs and systems, verify and deploy programs and systems.

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with other IT specialists, technicians to deliver software solutions.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. With strong organization and project management skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

No.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. With good in verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. With good in verbal and written communication skills.

LIU, GUANXIONG Manager 28.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for communication job expectation, planning, monitoring and appraising job results.

29.

30.

NGUYEN, HAO KIET Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming and outgoing calls, chats and emails. TRUONG ANH TUAN AN KHANG Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming and outgoing calls, chats and emails.

CHEE WEE CHAI Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 31.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

LIN, HENGCHENG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing HR records including resume’, applicant logs and employee forms.

HUANG, HUA Chinese Speaking HR Associate 40.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With experience in computer aided design. Good in verbal and written communication.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

HUANG, ANQI Chinese Speaking HR Associate

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With experience in computer aided design. Good in verbal and written communication.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

ZHAO, LICHENG Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With experience in computer aided design. Good in verbal and written communication.

Brief Job Description: Gather data and capture the information into databases.

DINH THI CHINH Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Brief Job Description: Gather data and capture the information into databases.

XIE, GUOLE Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Brief Job Description: Correcting errors and organizing the information in a manner that will optimize swift and accurate capturing.

ROBIN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. With good in verbal and written communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Entering and updating information into relevant databases.

RICHARD Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. With good in verbal and written communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Assist with drafting business plans, sales, pitches, presentations, reference material and other documents as required.

KONG EE LAINE Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. With good in verbal and written communication skills.

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

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

DYNAMIC STUDIO TECHNOLOGY INC. 5th To 8th/f & 10th/f Platinum Tower Building, Aseana Ave. Cor. Fuentes Street, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. With good in verbal and written communication skills.

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With at least 2 years of related work experience.

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2001-a, 2602 & 2603 20/f & 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. With good in verbal and written communication skills.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CYTS (PHILIPPINES) TOUR LIMITED INC. 7/f Finman Center, 131 Tordesillas St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: Managing HR records including resume’, applicant logs and employee forms.

DONG, KAIFENG Chinese Speaking Program Designer 41.

Brief Job Description: Document all aspects of software for ongoing maintenance and revisions.

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. With strong organization and project management skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent oral and written communication skills and be able to organize their work using tools Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. With good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. With good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. With experience working in human resources. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION JIMMY GOH Chinese Speaking Program Designer

42.

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with other IT specialists, and technicians to deliver software solutions.

LI, PEISI Chinese Speaking Program Designer 43.

Brief Job Description: Document all aspects of software for ongoing maintenance and revisions.

ZHONG, LIANG Chinese Speaking Program Designer 44.

Brief Job Description: Document all aspects of software for ongoing maintenance and revisions.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SINGH, YATENDRA Turbine Supervisor 57.

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

45.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels. NGUYEN VAN THUONG Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

46.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels.

BRIAN CHEONG KAI LIANG Core Network Specialist For Globe Core Program

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

NGUYEN, NGOC GIANG Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative 47.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels. NGUYEN, PHUONG THAO Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

48.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels. NGUYEN, QUANG NAM Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

49.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels. NGUYEN, THANH DONG DONG Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

50.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels. NGUYEN, THU HIEN Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

51.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels. TO, VAN NGUYEN Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

52.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels. VONG COC PHENH Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

53.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels. VU, DUC LUAN Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

54.

Brief Job Description: Responding to Vietnamese customer queries via email, live chat, video, phone, and social media channels.

58. Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language.

55.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for a product right from ideation and the market assessment phase to engineering, testing and marketing.

CHEONG SEOK LING Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 59.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language.

HOANG KHANH HOA Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 60.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for many clerical tasks to ensure the staff can communicate.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language.

TANG, JIAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 61.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing overall administrative support to the team he/ she will be assigned to.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language.

REN, TAO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 62.

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

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with other IT specialist, technicians, etc., to deliver software solutions.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language.

TIAN, SHANGYONG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 63.

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

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language.

ZHA, DEJUN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 64.

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

65.

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

66.

56.

Brief Job Description: Develop Process Technology Quality Plans for large size projects. Develop and oversee Process Activity Plans for moderate to intermediate size projects.

Basic Qualification: With college level education and with at least 6 months of work experience in a similar field. Excellent communication skills, specifically in ChineseMandarin language.

67.

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

68.

Brief Job Description: Collating and maintaining client information.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

SHEN, FEI-BI Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

TANG CUN SANG Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 69.

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

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

TRAN VAN QUANG Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 70.

GE POWER PHILIPPINES INC. 27th Floor, Wework Menarco Tower, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City,, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

ZHENG, CHAO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

NGUYEN VAN NHAT Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

FLUOR DANIEL, INC. - PHILIPPINES 2nd, 7th-17th/f Polaris Corporate Center, Lt 6&7 Blk 1, Spectrum Midway, Fcc, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

IRFAN SYAFII Principal Process Specialist

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with other IT Specialist, technicians, etc., to deliver software solutions.

KHONG XUONG CHINH Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

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

Basic Qualification: Chemical Engineering graduate. With at least 20 years of work-related experience in a related field.

No.

Basic Qualification: Preferably with 3 years or above of relevant working experience, proficient in analyzing and troubleshooting the signaling messages, protocols and codecs, with experience with core network technology and architecture, possess in-depth knowledge of NFV infrastructure, virtualization platforms and NFV orchestration frameworks, with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills for network issues, and with high awareness on cyber security and network safety.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

71.

72.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget. JIMMY GUNAWAN Chinese Speaking Program Designer

73.

Brief Job Description: Communicate overall design and approach to a team of programmers and create flowcharts, diagrams, other models, and programming instructions to guide programming team. LE HUY HOANG Chinese Speaking Program Designer

74.

75.

76.

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with other IT Specialist, technicians, etc., to deliver software solutions. LY TIEN BINH Chinese Speaking Program Designer

77.

Brief Job Description: Communicate overall design and approach to a team of programmers; and create flowcharts, diagrams, other models, and programming instructions to guide programming team. TRAN VAN CUONG Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with clients to determine their requirements, timescale and budget.

YUAN, CHUANYUN Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION XIAO, FUHUI Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer

INFOVINE INC. 9/f Y Tower, Moa Complex, Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal, Barangay 76, Pasay City 8th, 9th, 10th/f Aspire Corporate Plaza Bldg., Macapagal Blvd. St., Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language.

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With previous relevant experience in the installation of turbine assemblies/activities of hydropower projects. With strong verbal and written communication, decision making and analytical skills.

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

FIRSTAR INC. 33, Alabang - Zapote Rd., Pamplona Dos, City Of Las Piñas

SHEN, HONGBIN Product Manager

Brief Job Description: Responsible to plan, implement, integrate, migrate, and perform acceptance test for core network areas, to analyze network performance, resolve complex network problem, and optimize network architecture, monitor and manage project progress, share knowledge to team and provide technical assistance, documentation on the test cases and troubleshooting steps for future reference, identify potential risks and challenges before implementation on live networks, troubleshooting issues related to voice call, extend technical support to customers through remote and on-site troubleshooting and handle proof of concept testing and network design validation in lab

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing overall administrative support to the team he/ she will be assigned to.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking Vietnamese language.

Brief Job Description: Prepare detailed planning of each activity of turbine assembly and its auxiliaries within the scheduled duration with clear measurable progress parameters. Identify the resources required such as manpower, tools, consumables etc.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

EASYTECH SUPPORT INC. 9-11/f, 14/f Capella Bldg., Asean Drive Filinvest, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa HOANG, VAN QUY Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Thursday, December 7, 2023

78.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to concentrate for lengthy periods. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written.

Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication.

79.

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

INNOCONEXION TECHNOLOGIES OPC 29/f Pacific Star Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Cor. Makati Aves., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with other IT specialist, technicians, etc., to deliver software solutions.

KIM, HYUNAH Operations Analyst

Basic Qualification: College degree holder.

Brief Job Description: Manage our different product offerings.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication.

80.

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

JUBILEE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, INC. #1607, E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Pinagkaisahan, Quezon City

Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication.

WANG, MEIYU Chinese Language Trainer 81.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication.

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

82.

83.

Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

84.

Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for teaching Chinese language to four (4) sections in the Pre-school Department.

85.

86.

DOAN TRUNG HAU Customer Service Representative - Vietnamese Speaking Brief Job Description: Confirm customers’ language preferences as you assist them. DUONG, TRUNG HUY Customer Service Representative - Vietnamese Speaking Brief Job Description: Confirm customers’ language preferences as you assist them. HOANG, MINH KHOI Customer Service Representative - Vietnamese Speaking Brief Job Description: Confirm customers’ language preferences as you assist them. NGUYEN, THI NGOC Customer Service Representative - Vietnamese Speaking Brief Job Description: Confirm customers’ language preferences as you assist them. TRAN, TRUNG KIEN Customer Service Representative - Vietnamese Speaking

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

Brief Job Description: Confirm customers’ language preferences as you assist them.

Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication.

TRUONG THI NGOC ANH Customer Service Representative - Vietnamese Speaking

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With at least 2 years of working experience in a similar role. With good moral character and fluent in the Chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

KNW TECHNOLOGY INC. 103 Equinox Plaza, Sierra Madre, Highway Hills, City Of Mandaluyong

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven graphic designing experience. Good in verbal and written communication.

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

87.

Brief Job Description: Confirm customers’ language preferences as you assist them.

Basic Qualification: Vietnamese language speaking. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Vietnamese language speaking. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Vietnamese language speaking. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Vietnamese language speaking. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Vietnamese language speaking. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Vietnamese language speaking. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 7, 2023

A6 A8

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

88.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION VU THI THU HIEN Customer Service Representative - Vietnamese Speaking Brief Job Description: Confirm customers’ language preferences as you assist them.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

89.

Brief Job Description: This position requires the exercise of discretion in the application of the principles, practices and techniques related to planning and analysis, design, development and implementation, maintenance, support and management of information technology functions. CAI, JINZHU Chinese IT Specialist

90.

91.

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

102.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking).

YOUN, JOO HOON Consultant 103.

100.

101.

Brief Job Description: Provide centralized information and solution services. Assist branch employees with questions about processes and products. Provide training, coaching, development and motivation for bank personnel.

ZHANG, ZHIMIN Chinese Speaking Technical Consultant 105. Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking).

Brief Job Description: Improving system efficiency by consulting with endusers and providing innovative solutions.

FENG, JIAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 106.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for many clerical tasks to ensure the staff can communicate.

LIU, CHONGLIN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 107. Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking).

Brief Job Description: Responsible for many clerical tasks to ensure the staff can communicate.

BUI CONG TUAN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 109.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking).

Brief Job Description: Responsible for many clerical tasks to ensure the staff can communicate.

YANG, MIANZHOU Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 108.

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

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

JIANG, LONG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 110.

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

LI, DAZHAO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 111.

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

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

LI, LIANGLIANG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking).

112.

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LY NHOC MAI Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 113. Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking).

Brief Job Description: Assist with drafting business plans, sales pitches, presentations, reference material, and other documents as required.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 NGUYEN TRUNG NGOC Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

PAN, ZHENG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 115.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

117.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. With previous work experience in a managerial capacity.

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

WANG, LIAN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 116.

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

Brief Job Description: identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

XU, XIANQIANG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 118.

Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in the related position, and fluent in English and Korean Hangul languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WU, HONGBING Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Brief Job Description: identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

YANG, BO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 119.

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

YANG, LONG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 120.

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 ZHANG, TAO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 121.

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

122.

123.

124.

125.

126.

127.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong organization and project management skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written.

128.

PENG, SSU-JUNG Mandarin Speaking HR Compensation And Benefits Specialist 129.

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Mandarin Speaking HR Compensation and Benefits Specialist is responsible for overseeing employee compensation and benefits, compensation databases.

Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old. With at least 6 months of work-related experience. With good verbal and written communication skills. Knowledgeable in computer applications. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg., 133 Quirino Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f Sapphire Seaview Park, Pacific Avenue, Don Galo, City Of Parañaque Sky Garage Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

LIU, LEI Chinese Customer Service 130.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

BI, XINGXIANG Chinese Customer Service 131.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written.

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with other IT specialists, technicians, etc., to deliver a software solution.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NEO TERRA SERVICE CORP. 2/f Filipino Bldg., 135 Dela Rosa Cor. Legaspi And Bolanos Sts., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written.

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with other IT specialists, technicians, etc., to deliver a software solution. LIU, YUXIANG Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Brief Job Description: Responding to HR-related queries within the company. LE THI HUE Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. Good in verbal communication and written.

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

SUN, CHAO Chinese Speaking HR Associate

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Brief Job Description: identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

ZHENG, JIANG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and able to organize their work using tools.

Brief Job Description: Identify and maintain new business opportunities and existing partners.

ZHAO, HONGJUN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

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

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking).

MACRO EXCEL CONSULTANCY INC. Unit 606 6/f Vicente Madrigal Bdg., 6793 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

114. YAN, BAOHAI Chinese IT Specialist

Brief Job Description: The consultant must have strong leadership skills to manage their teams effectively.

CHANG, TAEK JIN Branch Representative 104.

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

LOTTE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD (PHILIPPINE BRANCH OFFICE) Level 24 The Pse Tower, One Bonifacio High Street Corner 5th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking).

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

LERIB SERVICES CORPORATION U-3d Rose Industries Bldg., Choice Market Ortigas, Kapitolyo, City Of Pasig

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHANG, ZHAOGUO Chinese IT Specialist

Basic Qualification: Vietnamese language speaking.

LAN TIAN ZI XUN INC. Natividad Almeda Lopez St Unit 205 2/f Zen Tower, 1111, First District, 1000, Barangay 659, Ermita, City Of Manila CAI, FANGYUAN Chinese IT Specialist

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

CHEN, WENBIN Chinese Customer Service 132.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

CHI, JUNJIE Chinese Customer Service 133.

134.

135.

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

FENG, YUANZHI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

FU, XIANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

GAO, LINGCUI Chinese Customer Service 136.

137.

138.

139.

140.

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

GUO, HAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

GUO, HAOJIE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

HUANG, TAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

LEI, KAIXUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

LI, JUN Chinese Customer Service 141.

142.

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

LI, XIAONA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

LIU, FANGRUI Chinese Customer Service 143.

144.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

LIU, HENGYI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LIU, QINGYU Chinese Customer Service 145.

146.

147.

148.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

NIU, LINCHUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

QIU, JIAWEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

QIU, WEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate, and preferably 1 year work experience in the similar field. Speaks and write fluently in their native language.

No.

149.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QU, MENGYAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

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

150.

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

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

151.

TAN, KUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, and preferably 1 year work experience in the similar field. Speaks and write fluently in their native language.

152.

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

153.

154.

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

155.

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

156.

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

157.

158.

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

159.

160.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With relative work experience.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

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

WANG, ZUNQI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

WU, LINSEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

XIANG, KAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

XU, TONG Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, and preferably 1 year work experience in the similar field. Speaks and write fluently in their native language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WANG, JIANCHANG Chinese Customer Service

161.

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

YAN, XIAOJUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

YI, FANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

YU, MING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

ZHANG, JING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

163.

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

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

164.

ZHANG, YUECHENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ZHAO, XIAOBO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

167.

168.

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

169.

170.

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

171.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, and preferably 1 year work experience in the similar field. Speaks and write fluently in their native language.

172.

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

173.

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

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

174.

ZHENG, JIANHONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ZHENG, LINFENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ZHENG, XIAHUA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ZHONG, YUELIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ZHOU, XINGQIANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ZHOU, YUEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

LILI SURIYANI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

SILVY Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

SANDY Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

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

LUONG QUANG VINH Vietnamese Customer Service 175.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

NGUYEN THI PHUONG ANH Vietnamese Customer Service 176.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

NGUYEN THI TUYET MAI Vietnamese Customer Service 177.

178.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

DIEP HUNG DAU Vietnamese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

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

166.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

165.

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

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

162.

No.

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

ZHANG, JINLONG Chinese Customer Service

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

NGUYEN VAN TIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

PHAM, THI HOAI Vietnamese Customer Service 179.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, and preferably 1 year work experience in the similar field. Speaks and write fluently in their native language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With relative work experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With relative work experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With relative work experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With relative work experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

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

PHAM, XUAN TRUONG Vietnamese Customer Service 180.

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, and preferably 1 year work experience in the similar field. Speaks and write fluently in their native language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A10 A6 Thursday, December 7, 2023

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

181.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

TON, NU MY HUYEN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

TRAN VAN THAI Vietnamese Customer Service 182.

183.

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

TU DINH KHOI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate, and preferably 1 year work experience in the similar field. Speaks and write fluently in their native language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good verbal and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

184.

Brief Job Description: Provides financial reports and interpret financial information to managerial staff while recommending further courses of action.

LIANG, YUNZHENG Human Resources Manager 185.

Brief Job Description: Manages the staffing process, including recruiting, interviewing, hiring and onboarding.

193.

SINGH, JAY VEER Front End Web Developer 194.

195.

186.

Brief Job Description: Processes complaints and issues related to products or services, helps customers complete purchases, upgrades, and returns, and frequently provides advice and technical assistance as well.

196.

LI, PAN Multilingual Business Process Development Consultant 187.

197.

LI, ZIJIAN Multilingual Business Process Development Consultant

198.

188.

LIU, WUCHAO Multilingual Business Process Development Consultant 189.

LIU, YUN-HAN Multilingual Business Process Development Consultant 190.

200.

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

Brief Job Description: Web Designers are people who are both creative and technically inclined - and use both attributes to create new designs/redesigns for websites. SRIVASTAVA, MANISH KUMAR Web Designer

201.

Brief Job Description: Web Designers are people who are both creative and technically inclined - and use both attributes to create new designs/redesigns for websites.

HUANG, WEIZHI Mandarin Presales 202.

Brief Job Description: Identify, understand and define customer needs, objectives and business requirements, articulate the features and benefits of Sangfor solutions and products.

191.

ZHU, TAIBO Multilingual Business Process Development Consultant 192.

Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old, with at least 6 months of work experience, with good verbal and written communication skills, and knowledgeable in computer applications. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old, with at least 6 months of work experience, with good verbal and written communication skills, and knowledgeable in computer applications.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: Strong knowledge of HTML, CSS and Javascript.

CHANG, YA-TING Chinese Language Research Analyst 208.

209.

210.

211.

212.

213.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor Degree. Effective writing and communication skills in English and Mandarin languages. Good interpersonal and communication skills. With experience related to the position applying for.

203.

204.

LIN, QIANYE Assistant Manager Business Intelligence (Strategy & Projects) Brief Job Description: Assist in growing Philippines business by implementing initiative. XU, YUE Associate, Business Development (Key Account Management - Shopee Mall)

214.

Brief Job Description: Assist in growing Philippines business by implementing initiatives.

215.

205.

Brief Job Description: Duties consist of meeting with clients to discuss progress, determining manpower requirements, ensuring goals are met on deadline, reviewing budgets and contracts, and coordinating the schedules of subcontractors.

216.

LEE, JOONGHO Bilingual Marketing Operations Specialist 206.

Brief Job Description: Analyze data, assess trends and determine actions to optimize performance.

Basic Qualification: Excellent in bilingual languages. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

VCUSTOMER PHILIPPINES, INC. 3/f E-commerce Plaza Garden Road, Eastwood Cyberpark City, Bagumbayan 3, Quezon City PARK, CHUN HOON Senior Associate - Quality (Korean) 207.

Brief Job Description: Review standard quality working procedures to identify and address process gaps and raise red flags for possible risk issues.

Basic Qualification: 3 or more years of relevant previous customer service experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties.

JUSTINE Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer 217.

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties.

KHAIRUL DZIKRI HAMDANI Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer 218.

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties.

MOHAMMAD ZULKIFLI Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer 219.

Basic Qualification: Attention to detail. Excellent organization and communication skills. Working knowledge of green building practices. Ability to communicate in more than one language.

TOTAL CREST BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 26/f & 27/f Alphaland Corporate Tower, Ayala Ave. Extn. Cor. Malugay St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Conduct research on products and services as specified.

EKISTA EKA PURNAMIA FELICIA Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking in Mandarin language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZAPPORT SERVICES, INC. 22/f & 36/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

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

STC BUILDERS AND DEVELOPMENT CORP. 15th Floor, Ramon Magsaysay Center, 1680 Roxas Boulevard, Barangay 699, Malate, City Of Manila

Brief Job Description: Conduct research on products and services as specified.

WU, HSIN-JUNG Chinese Language Research Analyst

Basic Qualification: Master’s degree in Business Ad.

Brief Job Description: Conduct research on products and services as specified.

TANG, CHENG-YING Chinese Language Research Analyst

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

Brief Job Description: Conduct research on products and services as specified.

SHEN, YUN-ZE Chinese Language Research Analyst

Basic Qualification: Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress.

Basic Qualification: Must have excellent design skills. Exceptional skills in the use of Adobe Photoshop.

Brief Job Description: Conduct research on products and services as specified.

LIN, ZONG-WEI Chinese Language Research Analyst

Basic Qualification: Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress.

Basic Qualification: Must have excellent design skills. Exceptional skills in the use of Adobe Photoshop.

Brief Job Description: Conduct research on products and services as specified.

LIN, KO-WEI Chinese Language Research Analyst

Basic Qualification: Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress.

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

Brief Job Description: Conduct research on products and services as specified.

HUANG, KUAN-CHE Chinese Language Research Analyst

Basic Qualification: Strong knowledge of HTML, CSS and Javascript.

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

Brief Job Description: Conduct research on products and services as specified.

CHANG, YI-NENG Chinese Language Research Analyst

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

WISHLAND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY INC. 28/f Techzone Condo Corp., 213 Buendia Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

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

SHOPEE PHILIPPINES INC 37/f Seven/neo Net Parking Bldg., 5th Avenue E-square Crescent Park West Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

PEPSI-COLA PRODUCTS PHILIPPINES, INC. 26th Flr., Filinvest Axis Tower Two Bldg., Northgate Cyberzone, Fcc, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

Basic Qualification: Holder of a Master’s degree in Food Science and Technology. With expertise on procurement strategy and operations, cost management and supplier’s relationship management.

No.

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

YANG, CUIFENG Director/Chinese General Manager OH, KEUNHEE Multilingual Business Process Development Consultant

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

SANGFOR TECHNOLOGIES (HONGKONG) LIMITED PHILIPPINE BRANCH OFFICE Unit 7-a, 7/f Opl Bldg., 100 C. Palanca St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old, with at least 6 months of work experience, with good verbal and written communication skills, and knowledgeable in computer applications.

Brief Job Description: The quality analyst is responsible for ensuring that products such as websites, themes, and plugins conform to standards by executing test plans. SINGH, SATVEER Web Designer

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

Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old, with at least 6 months of work experience, with good verbal and written communication skills, and knowledgeable in computer applications.

Brief Job Description: The quality analyst is responsible for ensuring that products such as websites, themes, and plugins conform to standards by executing test plans. SHAIKH, MOHAMMAD ISMAIL Quality Analyst

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

Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old, with at least 6 months of work experience, with good verbal and written communication skills, and knowledgeable in computer applications.

Brief Job Description: The quality analyst is responsible for ensuring that products such as websites, themes, and plugins conform to standards by executing test plans. KUAMR, SOORAJ Quality Analyst

199.

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

Brief Job Description: The front-end developer creates interaction and user experience with scripts embedded in a site’s HTML. KASHYAP, RAM MILAN Quality Analyst

Basic Qualification: 18-55 years old, with at least 6 months of work experience, with good verbal and written communication skills, and knowledgeable in computer applications.

Brief Job Description: The front-end developer creates interaction and user experience with scripts embedded in a site’s HTML. VERMA, ANUJ KUMAR Front End Web Developer

OKKDA ASIA TECHNOLOGY INC. Unit 5b 5/f Marvin Plaza, 2153 C. Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

HAN, LIANG Multilingual Business Process Development Consultant

Brief Job Description: The front-end developer creates interaction and user experience with scripts embedded in a site’s HTML. SINGH, MANEESH PATRAP Front End Web Developer

Basic Qualification: At least 1 year experience in the position, strong analytical and problemsolving skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for leading and managing the execution of functional strategic initiatives of the Procurement function. Ensures that all Procurement activities of the company are executed compliant to business ethics and standards, operating with honesty and integrity, while maintaining the company’s competitive position.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

QUANTUM IT SYSTEMS INC. Unit 707 Avida One Park Drive, 11th Ave. Cor. 9th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Basic Qualification: At least 1 year experience in the position, strong analytical and problemsolving skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION KIM, SUNGJIN Head, Strategic Procurement & Operational Planning

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

NORTH TIDE INTERNATIONAL TRADE INC. 2nd Floor Bachrach Bldg. Ii, Corner 23rd And Railroad Streets Zone 68, Barangay 653, Port Area, City Of Manila PAN, JIANYU Financial Manager

No.

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Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties.

MUHAMAD MAULANA IBRAHIM Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer 220.

Brief Job Description: Indonesian written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer-oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties.

Basic Qualification: Indonesian language speaking and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

*Date Generated: Dec 6, 2023 In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 6, 2023, the salary range of MANAMI, NAOHISA under the company ALL ASIA AIR CENTRAL, INC., should have been read as Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 and not as published. Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE 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.

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Thursday, December 7, 2023 A11

Heavy fighting in Gaza halts most aid delivery, leaves civilians with few places to seek safety Anger among families of hostages

By Wafaa Shurafa & Samy Magdy

The Associated Press

EIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—Israeli forces battled Hamas militants across Gaza on Wednesday after expanding their ground offensive to its second-largest city, further shrinking the area where Palestinians can seek safety and halting the distribution of vital aid across most of the territory. The assault on the south threatens further mass displacement within the besieged coastal enclave, where the UN says some 1.87 million people—over 80 percent of the population—have already fled their homes. Much of the north, including large parts of Gaza City, has been completely destroyed, and Palestinians fear the rest of Gaza could suffer a similar fate as Israel tries to dismantle Hamas, which has deep roots in the territory it has ruled for 16 years. Israel says it can no longer accept a Hamas militar y presence in Gaza after the October 7 attack that triggered the war, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain open-ended security control over the territory, something opposed by the United States and much of the international community.

Heaviest fighting yet

THE Israeli military said Tuesday that its troops were “in the heart” of the southern city of Khan Younis after what it described as “the most intense day” of fighting since the start of the ground operation five weeks ago, with heavy battles in the north as well. For the past three days, aid distribution—mainly just supplies of f lour and water—has been possible only in and around the border city of Rafah, at Gaza’s southern edge, because of fighting and road closures by Israeli forces, the UN’s humanitarian aid office said. The aid group Doctors Without Borders said fuel and medical supplies have reached “critically low levels” at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah, north of Khan Younis. Up to 200 wounded people have been brought in every day since

A WOMAN mourns the bodies of her child and her husband killed in an Israeli army bombardment of the Gaza Strip, in the hospital in Khan Younis on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. AP/FATIMA SHBAIR

December 1, when a weeklong truce expired, it said. “Without electricity, ventilators would cease to function, blood donations would have to stop, the sterilization of surgical instruments would be impossible,” said Marie-Aure Perreaut Revial, the aid group’s emergency coordinator in Gaza. She said the hospital is also running desperately low on surgical supplies and external fixators to hold broken bones together. Gaza has been without electricity since early October, and Israel has severely limited fuel imports, forcing several hospitals to shut down because they cannot operate emergency generators. The war has killed more than 16,200 people in Gaza—70 percent of them women and children—and wounded more than 42,000, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which released new figures

late Tuesday. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths, but its overall tally tracks with a figure released by the Israeli military this week. The ministry says hundreds more have been killed since the cease-fire ended Friday, and many still are trapped under rubble. The military accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields when the militants operate in residential areas. But Israel has not given detailed accounts of individual strikes, some of which have leveled entire city blocks. Military Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said militants keep weapons in homes and other buildings so fighters in civilian clothes can use them to fire on troops. “Striking them requires significant use of fire, both to target the enemy but also to, of course, protect our forces,” he said Tuesday.

ISR A EL says it must remove Hamas from power to prevent a repeat of the October 7 attack, when Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took captive some 240 men, women and children after bursting through Israel’s vaunted defenses. More than 100 hostages were released during last week’s ceasefire, along with 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Family members of hostages held a tense meeting with Netanyahu and the war cabinet Tuesday in which some of them shouted at cabinet members, accusing them of having no plan to bring back the rest. Five of the released hostages shared details of their experience during the meeting. One spoke of Hamas fighters “touching” female hostages, and another said militants shaved off a male hostage’s body hair to humiliate him, according to a group representing the families. A doctor who treated some of the 110 released hostages told The Associated Press separately that at least 10 women and men were sexually assaulted or abused, without providing further details, adding to widespread allegations of rape and other atrocities committed during Hamas’ October 7 attack.

No end in sight

HAMAS’ continuing ability to fight in the north, where Israel entered with overwhelming force weeks ago, signals that eradicating the group without causing further mass casualties and dis-

placement—as Israel’s top ally, the US, has requested—could prove elusive. The military says 88 of its soldiers have been killed in the Gaza offensive. A military official said this week that at least 15,000 Palestinians have been killed, including 5,000 militants, but did not explain how the army arrived at those figures. Even after weeks of bombardment, Hamas’ top leader in Gaza, Yehya Sinwar—whose location is unknown—was able to conduct complex cease-fire negotiations and orchestrate the release of scores of hostages last week. Palestinian militants have also kept up their rocket fire into Israel. The war has been an unprecedented catastrophe for Palestinians civilians, eclipsing all four previous wars between Israel and Hamas, and their suffering is set to worsen as the offensive grinds on. After the full-scale evacuation of northern Gaza ordered by Israel early in the war, most of Gaza’s population was squeezed into 230 square kilometers (90 square miles) of central and southern Gaza. Since moving into the south, the Israeli military has ordered people out of nearly two-dozen neighborhoods in and around Khan Younis, further reducing the area where civilians can seek refuge by more than a quarter. It was not clear how many people heeded the evacuation orders, as many Palestinians say they don’t feel safe anywhere in Gaza and fear that if they leave their homes they will not be allowed to return. Magdy reported from Cairo.

Pope Francis says he’s ‘much better’ after a bout Putin to visit Saudi and UAE, of bronchitis but still gets tired if he speaks much host of COP28 climate talks By Nicole Winfield

The Associated Press

OME—Pope Francis said Wednesday he was feeling “much better” after a twoweek bout of bronchitis but again asked an aide to read his remarks. Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, told his weekly general audience that he still gets tired if he speaks too much. Francis, who turns 87 on December 17, came down with the flu on November 25 and was forced to cancel a planned trip to Dubai to participate in the UN climate

conference. He later revealed he had been diagnosed with an acute case of infectious bronchitis that made breathing difficult. It was the second time this year he has had a serious case of bronchitis; in spring he was hospitalized for three days to receive intravenous antibiotics. Francis walked onto the stage of the Vatican audience hall with his cane Wednesday and smiled broadly at the cheering crowd. He appeared in good spirits and received several prelates who came to speak to him individually at the end of the audience.

Explaining why he would ask his aide to read his remarks, he said: “I’m much better, but I get tired if I speak too much.” Francis then made a brief appeal asking for prayers for all those who are suffering from war, including people in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. “War is always a defeat,” he said. “No one wins, ever yone loses. The only ones who win are the weapons makers.” To spare him from temperature changes that might aggravate his condition, Francis has delivered his weekly Sunday blessing for the past two weekends from the Vati-

can chapel rather than the open window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square. Nevertheless, the Vatican has confirmed Francis would participate in his annual visit to pray before a statue of the Virgin Mary at Rome’s Piazza di Spagna on Friday to mark an important Catholic feast day and officially kick off the Christmas season in Rome. The Vatican said Francis is also planning to add on a visit that day, the Immaculate Conception, to Rome’s St. Mary Major basilica to pray before one of his favorite icons of Mary.

Man who fired shots before Virginia house exploded died in blast–police By Matthew Barakat & Ben Finley The Associated Press

RLINGTON, Va. — The owner of a Virginia house that exploded as police tried to execute a search warrant is believed to have died in the blast, officials said Tuesday, as details emerged about numerous grievances he expressed against neighbors and others on social media and in lawsuits. James Yoo, 56, was identified by Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn at a news conference as the person whose actions brought police to the Arlington home after he fired a “flare-type gun” from inside the house into the neighborhood more than 30 times. Penn said police responded to the house about 4:45 p.m. Monday after receiving reports of shots fired. When attempts to communicate with Yoo were largely

unsuccessful, police obtained a search warrant. As officers breached the door to enter the home, the suspect fired multiple gunshots from within the house, Penn said. He said it wasn’t clear where in the house the shots were coming from or what the suspect was firing at. Soon after that, just before 8:30 p.m., the house exploded, shooting flames and debris into the air in a blast that was felt for miles. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing, fire officials said. Police asked that anyone with photos or video of the area share them with investigators. Assistant Fire Chief Jason Jenkins said authorities turned off gas service to the home and evacuated nearby residents — including people who lived in the other part of the duplex — about 90 minutes before the explosion.

“I’m not going to speculate on cause or origin,” he said of the blast. “ The fire depar tment personnel absolutely saved lives” by evacuating residents of the neighborhood, Jenkins said. Investigators have not yet identified human remains found inside the home, but “all factors point to that it’s this individual (Yoo),” Penn said. Yoo publicly aired grievances against multiple people in his life. On LinkedIn, he recently posted paranoid rants about his neighbors and a former co-worker. He also filed federal lawsuits that were dismissed as frivolous against his ex-wife, younger sister, a moving company and the New York Supreme Court. Each of four lawsuits filed between 2018 and 2022 case were dismissed, and some were described by judges as “convoluted” or “confused.” In 2018, Yoo filed a 163-page federal

lawsuit in New York against his then-wife, younger sister and a hospital after he said he was committed against his will. Yoo alleged conspiracy and deprivation of his rights, among other crimes. The sprawling complaint included biographical details, such as who was at his wedding, and also wove in facts about who was president of the United States at the time. Yoo described how his then-wife drove him to Rochester General Hospital in November 2015 “against his will.” Yoo denied having any thoughts of suicide or prior depression. He cited hospital records that reference a suicide note that he left for his wife, which he said he never wrote. The Associated Press reporters contributing to this report were: Ben Finley, from Norfolk, Va., Michael Kunzelman, from Silver Spring, Md., and Darlene Superville, from Air Force One.

By Jon Gambrell

The Associated Press

UBAI, United Arab Emirates— Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday will visit both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as Dubai hosts the United Nations’ COP28 climate talks—despite facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over the war in Ukraine. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE has signed the ICC founding treaty, meaning they don’t face any obligation to detain Putin over the warrant accusing him of being personally responsible for the abductions of children from Ukraine during his war on the country. However, the visit comes as armed U.N. police patrol a portion of Dubai’s Expo City now considered international territory for the talks, again highlighting the Emirates’ expansive business ties to Russia that have exploded in the time since grinding Western sanctions have targeted Moscow. A readout on Putin’s trip from the state-run Tass news agency published early Wednesday offered no suggestion Putin might come to the COP28 site, instead quoting Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov saying he’d land and have a “meeting at the palace” and one-on-one talks with Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit comes after COP28 saw a parade of Western leaders including US Vice President Kamala Harris, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and others backing Ukraine speak at the summit. So did Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, long a Putin ally. The U.N.’s Framework Convention on Climate Change’s spokesperson Alexander Saier said at a press conference that he is

“not aware that Mr. Putin will come to the conference, but I would also need to check the host country with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” He declined to immediately answer whether U.N. police would be obligated to make an arrest. The Emirati organization committee for COP28 referred questions to the UAE’s Foreign Ministry, which did not immediately respond. The UAE repeatedly feted the nowdeposed Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir in the past despite an ICC warrant seeking his arrest over charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur. Putin last visited the UAE in 2019, receiving a warm welcome from Sheikh Mohammed, then the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. In the time since, however, the world has greatly changed. The Russian president isolated himself during the coronavirus pandemic. He launched an invasion targeting Ukraine in February 2022, a grinding war that continues on today and has been a topic for Ukrainian diplomats at the COP28 talks. Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas war remains a major concern for the Mideast, particularly the UAE, which reached a diplomatic recognition with Israel in 2020. Recent attacks by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels also threatens commercial shipping in the Red Sea as Iran’s nuclear program continues it rapid advances since the collapse of the 2016 nuclear deal. Putin is scheduled to meet with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday for what Ushakov has described as “a rather lengthy conversation.” The two countries have been discussing ways to get around the Western sanctions targeting them. Putin will travel onto Saudi Arabia and meet with powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the one-day trip, Ushakov said. Those discussions likely will focus on Moscow’s other major concern in the Middle East—oil.

A12 Thursday, December 7, 2023

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UN climate talks near end of first week with progress on some fronts, but fossil fuels lurk By Seth Borenstein

The Associated Press

UBAI, United Arab Emirates— Negotiators at a critical United Nations climate conference prepared Wednesday to wrap up their first week of work with moderate progress on some issues, with little time to make a bit more headway before government ministers return for a final week that will shape the planet’s path forward in the face of crisis. Wednesday’s sessions were to focus on transport, the secondleading sector for the carbon dioxide emissions warming the planet, with panels like building out EV charging infrastructure and decarbonizing urban freight transportation. Despite rapid growth of electric vehicles in some countries, oil still accounts for nearly 91 percent of

the energy used in the transport sector, according to the International Energy Agency. And it’s a sector that includes hard-to-decarbonize industries like aviation and shipping, where cutting emissions will require big ramp-ups in production of sustainable aviation fuel, for airplanes, and alternative fuels like hydrogen for ships. T he climate ta lks notched

ACTIVISTS, including Vanessa Nakate, of Uganda, right, protest against fossil fuels at the COP28 UN Climate Summit on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP/RAFIQ MAQBOOL

some measured wins in the first week when nations finalized the creation of a “loss and damage” fund to compensate countries hit by climate disasters. 50 oil companies pledged to reach near-zero methane emissions by 2030, a commitment from the industry to slash greenhouse gases, but “short of what is required,” according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Yet env i ronment a l ists a re intensely focused on obtaining

China ramps up cyberscam crackdown in Myanmar, though loopholes remain By Huizhong Wu

The Associated Press

ANGKOK—China is ramping up a crackdow n on online scams operated by criminal syndicates in border areas of military-ruled Myanmar in an effort that has included a shootout, confession videos and national TV broadcasts of arrests of high-profile suspects. But the drive has been confined to a limited area and appears unlikely to root out the kingpins behind the human trafficking and other illicit activities aimed at cheating people of their savings via phone calls and online overtures, schemes that are thought to generate tens of billions of dollars in revenue a year. Over the summer, China announced a series of joint operations with neighboring countries that led to thousands of people being returned to China, many of whom had been lured by the promise of high-paying jobs. Experts say many are victims who were forced into conducting the scams. Those campaigns did not include arrests of ring leaders in Myanmar. “As soon as we discover them, we hand them over,” said Lu Jiantang, the vice-chair of foreign affairs in Wa, whose job is ensuring that people fleeing fighting in neighboring areas do not include scammers. On November 18, China’s Ministry of Public Security announced that authorities in northern Myanmar had handed over some 31,000 suspects. Among them, police said, 63 were key players of scamming groups, the police said. “China seems to be very focused and intent on cleaning its border,” said Jason Tower, an expert on Myanmar’s cyberscam industry at the US Congress-backed think tank United States Institute of Peace said. Among those arrested are a few related to some of the most powerful people in two special administrative zones close to

China’s border with militar yruled Myanmar. The Kokang Self-Administered Zone and the Wa Self-Administered Division both share a border with China and are heavily influenced by their bigger neighbor. The people living in both places share language and culture with China. Those living in Kokang are ethnically Chinese. Wa senior politicians, who have their own Communist Party, have ties to China’s Communist Party dating back decades and run their government along lines similar to Chinese party committees. In mid-November, the Chinese police announced they had issued warrants for four people, all surnamed Ming, on suspicion of cyberscams, murder and illegal detention. The family is one of the most powerful in Kokang, with members in the government and local police, and are said to have Chinese passports. A few days later, the state broadcaster CCTV showed footage of police taking three of the four suspects across the border in southwestern Yunnan province. CC T V repor ted t hat Ming Xuechang, a family patriarch and one of the alleged leaders of a scam syndicate, died by suicide when local authorities tried to arrest him on November 15. Myanmar’s military government issued a statement saying that Ming had shot himself during the arrest. The renewed effort to stamp out the scam rings followed a violent shootout October 20 in Kokang in a compound belonging to the Ming family, according to local media. The former editor-in-chief of the Chinese state-backed news outlet Global Times, Hu Xijin, appeared to confirm that undercover police were killed in the incident. “China is determined to eradicate the poisonous cancer of cyber scams in northern Myanmar ... and this ultimately led to the demise of the Ming family, who are said to have killed four of our undercover military police,” Hu wrote

in a recent Weibo post. The Ministry of Public Security did not respond to a faxed request for comment. The Ming family is not the only powerful Kokang families caught up in the drive. A few days before the Chinese issued their arrest warrants for the Mings, Wei Qingtao, a member of another powerful Kokang family, was seen in a video circulated on Chinese social media, which is customarily censored, urging his relatives to let people forced into scamming rings go. “This time the Chinese government has made its resolution, without clearing away the cyberscams, they’ll never withdraw their police,” Wei said. Two other men appeared in similar videos. One, Liu Zhengqi, was the CEO of Fully Light Group, the biggest conglomerate in the Kokang zone. Another, Bi Huijun, is a son-in-law of Ming Xuechang. In late October, China issued arrest warrants for two men who held senior government positions in the Wa Division. One was head of the Wa Construction Ministry. The other was a county chief. A few days later, the Wa Communist Party said they had been expelled from the party. It’s unclear if they have been detained. Wa police handed 194 Chinese nationals to Chinese authorities on November 28, according to Wa’s state media, Voice of Wa State. Wa officials says such handovers are routine. Kokang has sent some 26,000 people over back to China in recent weeks, said Yin Masan, head of the Administrative office in Kokang. Of those, 16,000 went voluntarily. “Our police and authorities are cracking down.” The crackdown has become a factor in Myanmar’s conflict. On October 27, three ethnic armed groups launched a new offensive in northern Shan state against the army. Calling themselves the Three Brotherhood Alliance, they include fighters from

commitments for the world to phase out the use of coal, oil and natural gas. Climate negotiators are zeroing in on exactly how to deal with the fossil fuels that are overheating the planet. On Tuesday, negotiators produced a new draft of what’s expected to be the core document of the UN talks, something called the Global Stocktake, but it had so many possibilities in its 24 pages that it didn’t give too much of a hint of what will be agreed the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic A lliance Army, or MNDAA, and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army. The MNDAA said the offensive has two main objectives, first, to defeat government-backed forces in charge of Kokang. The second, to vanquish cyberscammers. The offensive has put pressure on Kokang’s government. “At a minimum, they understood very well which way the wind was blowing in China,” said Richard Horsey, a senior advisor for the International Crisis Group who tracks Myanmar. Others say that China is showing it won’t tolerate the scams anymore, regardless of how powerful are the people behind them. “They want to send a signal, they want to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, to quote a Chinese proverb,” said Huazong, a well-known Chinese documentary filmmaker who has covered Myanmar for over a decade. “No one is allowed to provide shelter for these people.” Still, it’s unclear how comprehensive China’s crackdown will be. Bai Suocheng, the main military commander in charge of Kokang, is also said to have been involved in scams, but none of his family are known to have been arrested. Those on the ground dispute that all the masterminds have been swept up. “Among these 31,000 people, there’s no heads of cyberscams. Before we even launched the operation, a Myanmar military helicopter lifted these people away,” said Li Kyar Wen, a spokesman for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which is one of the outfits leading the fighting. A spokesman for Myanmar’s military did not respond to a request for comment. Though it may have become harder to run the scams, the syndicates still can take advantage of instability and corruption prevailing in the border areas. “It’s gotten riskier,” said Horsey. However, “there’s a massive financial incentive to keep this going. The rewards are still there.” AP researcher Wanqing Chen contributed to this report from Beijing.

upon when the session ends next week. Whatever is adopted has to be agreed on by consensus so it has to be near unanimous. “It’s pretty comprehensive,” COP28 CEO Adnan Amin told The Associated Press Tuesday. “I think it provides a very good basis for moving forward. And what we’re particularly pleased about it is that it’s this early in the process.” That will give time for a lot of give-and-take, Amin said, particularly over the area of the future of fossil fuels, “where there’s going to be a very intensive engagement process.” Climate scientist Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, said the central issue of the meeting “is to reach a conclusion about the phasing out of fossil fuels. And unless we do that, I doubt whether we’re going to see an improvement in temperature.” The options in the draft on the future of fossil fuels range from a less-stringent “phasedown of unabated coal power” to a simple but dramatic “an orderly and just phase out of fossil fuels.” A min said since September there’s been quite a bit of

“moment um a nd c l a r it y” for a ph a s e - out of fo s s i l f ue l s. Two-and-a-half months ago he thought the requirement for all countries to agree would likely doom “phase-out” language. But that could still change. Amin said because some countries, particularly poorer ones may see phase-out as too restrictive, negotiators could even hit their thesauruses for alternatives to the much discussed phase-out or phase-down wording. Scientists who track climate action said it’s crucial to watch the language for loopholes. “We need to phase out of fossil fuels completely without a back door,” said New Climate Institute’s Nik las Hohne. “At this conference, there’s actually many back doors being proposed at the briefing table...mainly for prolonging the life of fossil fuels, and one is to talk about ‘unabated’ fossil fuels.” Including “unabated” means allowing the burning of fossil fuels if their emissions can be captured and stored, a technology that’s much talked about but really hasn’t proven to work well, Hohne and other scientists have said.

Nato member-to-be Sweden and US sign defense agreement, saying it strengthens regional security

TOCKHOLM—On the brink of joining Nato, Sweden has signed a defense cooperation agreement with Washington that will allow the United States access to all of the military bases across the Scandinavian country, saying the deal would bolster regional security. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said the deal, signed in Washington Tuesday, “will create better conditions for Sweden to be able to receive support from the United States in the event of a war or crisis.” Jonson told Swedish broadcaster SVT that it didn’t mean that “all 17 locations will be used” but “where it is most important from a military perspective for them to be able to store defense equipment, for example.” The deal was signed at the Pentagon by Jonson and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who said that by adding the capabilities of the Swedish armed forces to Nato, “we will get even stronger.” The deal “sends a strong signal that we remain committed to addressing security challenges together,” Austin said. Sweden’s strategically important Baltic Sea island of Gotland sits a

little more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad. The United States struck a similar deal with Sweden’s western neighbor, Nato member Norway, in 2021 and is currently negotiating such an agreement with Nato members Finland and Denmark, two other Nordic countries. Sweden and its neighbor Finland decided to drop their long-standing policy of non-alignment and apply for Nato membership following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. Finland joined Nato in April. New members must be approved by all existing members of the alliance. Turkey and Hungary are the only Nato countries that have not formally approved Sweden’s accession bid. Turkey has delayed ratification for more than a year, accusing Sweden of not taking Turkey’s security concerns seriously enough, including its fight against Kurdish militants and other groups that Ankara considers to be security threats. Last week, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he told Turkey’s president that “the time has come” to let Sweden become a member of the military alliance. AP

A woman has died and 2 people have been wounded in east London shooting–police

ONDON—A woman has died and two people were wounded after a shooting in east London, British police said Tuesday. The Metropolitan Police force said three people were found with gunshot wounds after officers were called to the scene following reports of a shooting in the east London neighborhood of Hackney. A 42-year-old woman died at the scene, police said, while two others, a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, were taken to a hospital. Police said a murder investigation was launched and detectives were working to establish what

happened. No arrests have yet been made, and no other details were immediately available. D ete c t ive Sup e r i nte nde nt Vicky Tunstall described the incident as “shocking.” Gun crimes are relatively rare in London and in the United Kingdom. “I understand the community will want answers about what has happened this evening,” she said. “Gun crime has no place on the streets of London and we will do all we can to bring whoever is responsible for this despicable crime to justice.” Police said officers will remain at the scene in the coming days. AP

Thursday, December 7, 2023 A13

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Lawmakers ask DA to explain high rice prices By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

awmakers on Wednesday raised concerns over the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) “unfulfilled promise” of stabilizing rice prices after the harvest season. In a House Committee on Agriculture and Food briefing, representatives from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the National Food Authority (NFA) were called upon to explain the disparities between the “promised stabilization” and the current market prices of rice. House Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo expressed apprehensions about the unfulfilled commitment made by DA officials in July, August, and September regarding the anticipated reduction in rice prices.

The briefing followed a recent surprise visit by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tulfo to the Farmers Market in Cubao, Quezon City, to evaluate essential commodity prices and ensure compliance with suggested retail prices. Tulfo observed that despite the promised stabilization, rice prices have remained high, fluctuating between P52 and P60 per kilogram. “Whatever happened to that promise that [the price of rice] would go down because people were waiting? Why didn’t it go down?” For his part, NFA chief Roderico Bioco cited various factors contributing to the surge in rice prices, including a production shortfall between 2021 and 2022, low fertilizer uptake affecting yields, and international factors, such as Indonesia’s announcement to buy 2 million tons of rice.

‘Gender equality in rural areas essential to climate change adaptation’

n the face of escalating climate change impacts on vulnerable rural populations globally, the chief of the United Nation’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said promoting gender equality in rural communities is essential to climate change adaptation. “We call on the international community to increase investments geared towards building rural women and girls’ skills and capacity to adapt to climate change,” said Alvaro Lario, IFAD president, during an event held at the climate change conference in Dubai. IFAD’s call comes as the latest data has confirmed that the financing gap between mitigation and adaptation is widening. Despite an overall increase of climate funds, finance directed towards adaptation efforts has dropped by as much as 44 percent during 2019-2020, according to the Climate Policy Index. Rural women are persistently left out of climate finance activities despite their key role in rural economies, reinforcing existing inequalities. Official climate development assistance dedicated to gender equality as the “principal” objective represented 2.4 percent of the total during 2018-2019, according to OECD data. The concept that “climate change is not gender neutral” was a key takeaway at the event; “Untangling the nexus between gender and climate” at COP28 led by the Gender Transformative Mechanism (GTM), one of IFAD’s most innovative initiatives. Panelists recognized the challenge lies in bringing about systemic change. “This requires doing things differently,” said Lario. Climate change is amplifying gender inequalities and posing unique threats to women’s livelihoods, health, and safety. In rural settings, women often bear the responsibility for fetching food, water and fuel for their families, making them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Women are also more affected by extreme weather events, such as f loods and droughts, because of discriminatory gender norms that hinder or prevent women’s access to extension services, education, finance, land ownership and climate information needed to adapt. Given the significant role that women play in agriculture, biodiversity conservation and food security, they have the potential to actively participate and implement adaptation measures. However, rural women and gender equality issues are not often a priority for governments. Women are often underrepresented in climate policy decision-making at all levels. “Investing in the nexus of gender equality and climate change to transform the whole food value chain from farm to fork, is a unique opportunity to unlock women’s potential as drivers of socio-economic change, while we address many interconnected challenges at the same time,” said Alvaro Lario, referring to the mechanism. Lario and Fatoumata BAKO/TRAORE, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Burkina Faso, committed to working together on gender equality in the context of climate change through the GTM partnership. This initiative is currently being implemented in Burkina Faso with a budget of $5.84 million, Ethiopia ($4.5 million) and India ($5.25 million) to support a total of 1 million women across the three countries. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with $23 million since 2021, GTM is the biggest IFAD facility on gender equality. The mechanism aims to mobilize $180 million by 2030 to promote investments, skills-building and activities to achieve gender‑transformative results at scale in rural areas, and increase women and girls’ capacity and participation in climate change adaptation. Tefera Tadesse, Natural Resource Management director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia; Yvonne Pétronille YAMEOGO, Focal Point on Gender and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, Energy, Water and Sanitation, Burkina Faso; and Kehkashan Basu, Founder of Green Hope Foundation, environmental and human rights activist, also attended the event.

He said the combination of these factors, along with import parity being higher than the landed cost, has led to higher rice prices in the local market. At the hearing, House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Mark Enverga said they expect that the information presented by the DA and its attached agencies will guide the committee in taking the necessary steps to address concerns about the escalating prices of agricultural commodities, particularly rice and chicken eggs, and prevent further complications. “It is our duty to inform the consuming public of the real situation as reports vary. We know that this time of the year is one of the busiest for all of us, but please bear with us. We need to keep everyone informed,” Enverga said.

“We need correct information for us to assess the situation and help make the necessary steps to address such concerns and avoid the same mistakes.” Amid high rice prices due to external market pressures, DA Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian reported an increase in domestic rice production, leading many importers to cease importing as buying locally became more cost-effective. With the current price scenario, he noted that farmers can sell their produce at a higher margin, bringing increased income compared to the previous year when high fertilizer costs impacted their earnings. While Nueva Ecija Rep. Ria Vergara welcomed this, she raised concerns about traders manipulating prices. “I’m very happy for the farmers. They deserve that. But we cannot

also just allow the capitalists to dictate those high prices at the expense of the consumers.” She emphasized the crucial role of the NFA as a market stabilizer and proposed that it act as a buffer, setting reasonable prices to maintain equilibrium and prevent unjustifiable price hikes by capitalists. By having the NFA sell rice at a certain price, Vergara said it would discourage capitalists from selling at exorbitant rates, creating a balanced and fair environment for all stakeholders. “No one’s going to buy it because NFA is selling at P29 or P32. That way, these capitalists will buy at the right [farmgate]price, not below P19 but P22 or P23. So everyone’s happy. No one’s making absurd amounts of money.” Earlier in the hearing, Bioco said

the NFA, which is tasked with providing stability in palay prices, revealed challenges in purchasing local rice due to the government-set guaranteed floor and ceiling prices. He said that while the NFA can’t follow market prices, strategies were proposed to alleviate pressure, including expanding production and exploring alternative sources like India, which allows the exemption of 295,000 metric tons of white rice from the export ban. Meanwhile, Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez reiterated Congress’s commitment to ensuring that traders do not exploit the holiday season to increase prices of basic commodities. “The Christmas season is meant to be a time of giving and compassion, and we want to make sure that the prices of goods are affordable to a great majority of our people.”

PHL will have enough eggs during the holidays–BAI

hile the Philippine egg industry is navigating through various challenges—from disease outbreaks affecting bird populations to fluctuations in consumer demand—the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on Wednesday assured the public that there will be enough supply of eggs this holiday season. During a hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture, Paul Limson, agricultural center chief at the Bureau of Animal Industry, said there is a projected total supply of 15 billion eggs for 2023, with a total demand of 11.2 billion. He said the beginning stock for local production in the fourth quarter is estimated at 3.9 billion, versus the demand pegged at 2.8 billion. A ssuming production is increased, Limson said, this could result in a surplus, potentially spanning 130 days. However, Limson said the weekly farmgate price for medium-sized eggs as of December 1 is P7.16. This reflects a slight increase from last week’s P7.12 and the previous month’s P6.99. On the retail front, he said the price remains steady at P8, a trend observed since September 2023. As the industry prepares for the holiday season, BAI vowed to “remain vigilant” in ensuring a stable

Photo by Nonoy Lacza

and sustainable eg g market for consumers. PEB President Francis Uyehara, meanwhile, discussed the factors influencing the recent fluctuations in egg prices. He points to a drop in the quantity of layer birds due to the lingering impact of bird flu outbreaks in the past few years. “The recovery from such outbreaks typically takes around a year.” Uyehara said that by mid-year, egg prices were below cost as farmers reduced their layer bird population out of fear of bird flu. “This resulted in a supply deficit,

causing prices to gradually rise. But farmers responded to the increased demand, but the lead time for layer bird production ranges from 4 to 6 months.” Over the past six weeks, Uyehara said egg prices have stabilized, with some farmers gradually increasing production. “This is seen as a preparation for the heightened demand during the holiday season. However, we noted a decline in demand compared to December [last year].” In the same hearing, House Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo expressed concerns about escalating

retail prices of chicken eggs, which play a crucial role in many Filipino households as a breakfast staple. He said there is a need for “prompt action” to address the issue and make eggs more affordable for the public, particularly those who rely on eggs as a primar y source of morning sustenance. Tulfo said swift action in addressing both the immediate pricing concerns and long-term challenges, such as bird flu, was seen as crucial to maintaining a stable and affordable supply of eggs for Filipino consumers. Meanwhile, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the lower chamber will continue to monitor the prices of rice and other staples. “If we notice an unreasonable and unjustified increase, we will not hesitate to recommend to the President the reimposition of a price limit,” said Romualdez in a separate statement. He said the House, when necessary, would launch inquiries to address issues such as hoarding, profiteering, price manipulation, smuggling, and other practices that disrupt the value chain. He also said the House is committed to exercising its oversight power to protect the public from illegal activities. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Chocolate prices are rising everywhere as cocoa rots in West Africa

he muck from incessant rain sloshes around Nestor N’Guessan’s feet as he points to a plot of cocoa trees ravaged by rot on his farm in Ivory Coast. The 52-year-old grower can’t save those plants from black pod disease, so he’s focusing efforts on quarantining whatever healthy ones he has left. The soakings of recent months mean fewer pods on his trees, with some supporting just a handful of cocoa buds. “I had to create a boundary to prevent the rest of the plantation from being contaminated,” he said while pruning the healthy thicket. “Yields are low. The weather hasn’t helped us.” It’s a climate crisis playing out across Ivory Coast and Ghana, the heavyweights of cocoa, with consequences for global food inflation and the cost-of-living squeeze. Too much rain is lowering output and delaying harvests, with the resulting shortfall catapulting wholesale prices in New York to their highest in 46 years. The total precipitation in West Africa since the rainy season started May 1 has been more than double the 30-year average, according to Maxar Technologies Inc. The damage to yields is compounded by growers’ long struggle over pay, leaving them little money to pour back into their plots. This is the main harvest period, and the constant deluge turns dirt roads into impassable swamps, knocks flowers off before they bud and fosters breeding of a fungal infection that turns rugby ball-sized pods into black mush. Ghana’s output is expected to be the lowest in 13 years, and Ivory Coast’s the

smallest in seven, based on totals provided by traders and exporters. Together, the countries produce about 60 percent of the world’s beans, according to the International Cocoa Organization. The most-active futures are trading at the highest since 1977 in New York, soaring past $4,200 a ton. At that price, you could buy about 50 barrels of oil. “This is a bull market, and it hasn’t peaked yet,” said Fuad Mohammed Abubakar, head of government-affiliated Ghana Cocoa Marketing Co. (UK) Ltd., which sells and exports premium cocoa. “More risks lie ahead.” With sugar also reaching a decade high, consumers likely will spend more for their chocolate bars, cookies and hot cocoa as Christmas approaches. The United States Department of Agriculture forecasts prices for sugar and sweets rising 8.9 percent this year and another 5.6 percent next year, outpacing total food inflation. Citing higher supply costs, Mondelez International Inc., maker of Toblerone bars and Oreo cookies, will raise some prices next year, Chief Executive Officer Dirk Van de Put told Bloomberg Television on November 6. Nestle SA, owner of Haagen-Dazs ice cream and Quality Street candies, said it will do the same. It would be logical to conclude that farmers benefit from the bounty, but in reality they’re not—even with the $400-a-ton premium tacked onto the market price as the living income differential. The cocoa markets in Ivory Coast and Ghana are strictly controlled by the governments, and regulators typically sell

beans to foreign buyers at least 12 months in advance. That means the money being paid to farmers for this season’s crop was locked in about a year ago, when futures were about $2,500 a ton. “At current farmgate prices, farmers aren’t incentivized to go into the farms,” said Mahmoud Khayat, senior trader at Ivory Cocoa Products, a bean processing company. “If prices were high, he would swim to get the cocoa.” Right now, growers are waiting on the government’s negotiations for next season with top buyers such as Barry Callebaut AG, Cargill Inc. and Olam International Ltd. The sides are in a standoff, with the companies holding off purchases because they want a discount, according to people familiar with the matter. Typically, there would be a push to plant more seedlings to capitalize on the boom, but many growers are prisoners to the rain and can’t afford to hire more hands, use more fertilizer or buy the necessary chemicals to ward off black pod. The soil on Samuel Addo’s 12-acre plot in Suhum district, Ghana—about 65 kilometers (40 miles) north of the capital, Accra—has a sandy consistency, making it a bit more difficult to grow cocoa even in the best conditions. After a heavy downpour, nearly every tree sprouted a pod that was either rotting or turning black. The only way to tame the spread is for Addo to spray his buds, called cherelles, every two weeks, but that expense is out of reach.

“It’s never attacked my farm this bad since I started farming cocoa,” Addo, 52, said. “What I’m earning is not enough to invest back into the farm.” The El Nino weather pattern could trigger more hardship ahead as dry conditions typically set in across West Africa. Global output hasn’t met demand for the past two seasons, and it’s expected to stay that way for several more years, Abubakar said. “The supply response will not be instant,” he said. “It will take time for higher prices to boost production.” Plus, deforestation regulations coming from the European Union—a major hub for West Africa’s crop—are likely to escalate costs as beans are tracked through the supply chain. At this time of the year, processing plants in San Pedro, Ivory Coast’s main export hub, should be running at full tilt to clean, fumigate and pack the beans into 65-kilogram (143-pound) jute bags ready for shipment. Yet total port arrivals in the season that started Oct. 1 total 479,449 tons, compared with an estimated 707,200 tons a year ago. That’s a 32-percent drop. The dearth of supply forced Societe Ivoirienne de Transformation de Produits Agricoles, which can process more than 1,500 tons a day, to idle one of its machines the day a Bloomberg reporter visited. The exporter is receiving about 20 cargo trucks daily, compared with about 24-26 trucks a year ago. The artery to the cocoa basket—a rugged road to begin with—is now pocked by holes brimming with rainwater, making the journey even more treacherous. Bloomberg News

A14 Thursday, December 7, 2023 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Covid infection can’t prevent good things from happening

he best leaders don’t serve themselves; they serve the people who voted them into office. That’s the essence of the maxim, “a public office is a public trust.” A leader that can lead the nation desirably is a rare gem, and rarer still is the public servant fully dedicated and passionate about his work.

President Marcos was scheduled to lead the ceremonial signing of two landmark bills in Malacañang on Tuesday, but had to cancel the event after he tested positive for Covid-19 the night before. Following doctors’ advice to observe the mandatory five-day isolation period, the President assured the Filipino people that he will be working from home to carry out his duties and responsibilities—home being his Bahay Pangulo residence. True enough, he signed two landmark bills that will help the country’s economic development, particularly the new law that encourages investments in critical sectors to help sustain rapid and inclusive economic growth. The enactment of the PPP Code, or “An Act Providing for the Public-Private Partnership of the Philippines,” signed as Republic Act 11966, will establish a stable and predictable environment for collaboration between the public and private sectors to address the gaps in the infrastructure systems and also free up much-needed resources to enable the government to pursue other equally important projects and initiatives. The PPP Code incorporates best practices from over three decades of experience in implementing the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, ensuring that the country build better infrastructure projects and mitigate risks during their implementation. RA 11966 aims to promote PPPs for infrastructures by establishing “a stable and predictable environment for collaboration between the public and private sectors.” National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan lauded the signing of the PPP Code, saying it will help the government meet its infrastructure requirements. “The PPP Code will enable much-needed development across various sectors and accelerate the delivery of public services necessary for economic growth and socioeconomic transformation,” Balisacan said. “With its implementation, the government can harness PPPs to finance priority programs such as the Marcos administration’s Infrastructure Flagship Projects and even social infrastructure in the education and health sectors.” Balisacan said the new law encourages leveraging private-sector expertise in process innovation, resource mobilization, and high-quality service delivery. It enhances transparency in government transactions by clarifying the ambiguities in the existing BOT Law, reducing transaction costs, and improving the ease of doing business for PPPs. “To sustain rapid economic growth, generate high-quality employment opportunities, and reduce poverty sustainably, we will need massive amounts of investment in physical and human capital. Given the tight fiscal space, the private sector becomes an indispensable partner in building the foundations to propel the economy’s mediumand long-term expansion,” he said. The PPP Code aims to strengthen and institutionalize PPPs in the country, providing a unified legal framework for all PPPs at both national and local levels. It covers all types of arrangements, such as the BOT variants, joint ventures, and toll operations agreements. PPP Center Executive Director and Undersecretary Ma. Cynthia C. Hernandez expressed confidence that through the PPP Code, the government would deliver more financially viable, well-structured, and high-quality PPP projects that would significantly improve the lives of Filipinos. On the other hand, the passage of the Internet Transactions Act of 2023, signed as Republic Act No. 11967, provides the people with the mechanisms to confidently embrace the digital economy. The new law on Internet transactions highlights the government’s efforts to protect consumers and merchants, and harness e-commerce as a tool for growth and development. It also upholds fair business practices, fosters innovation, and institutes effective mechanisms for dispute resolution. RA 11967 also establishes the E-Commerce Bureau under the Department of Trade and Industry, which will spearhead the implementation of the law, as well as the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000, and the Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap. The President has shown that Covid infection can’t prevent good things from happening. “These measures show the country’s commitment and readiness to accelerate its development and to embrace the digital economy,” Marcos said after signing the two bills into law.

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IPO: I’ll call you John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

S we move to the end of 2023, I would much rather be writing about the unease I feel that something is just not right. Governments will now do whatever they can to crush dissent and oppress the truth even as the collapse in confidence of governments around the world is unfolding. Then again, you are probably tired of my moaning and raving about the state of the world. I could of course follow the lead of other local columnists and give you my brilliant ideas—after first detailing to you all of the problems —on how to “Fix The Philippines.” Not going to happen. I guess I do not feel as brilliant as they do. However, I take some comfort from not having to put my sons on an airplane to a foreign country as soon as they finished their schooling. My sons will participate, maybe become leaders, in the struggle to have the Philippines reach a higher potential. I read this recently: “If you’re still arguing over Covid you are a nitwit. Get over it. Yes, it was a giant lie and evil people hurt good people. Now it’s time to stop whining and presenting your ‘evidence’ and start making sure it can’t happen again.” Novice stock market investors should put their money in compa-

nies that they know, understand, and have a favorable view towards. Common sense. Who of the potential retail investors that the PSE wants to attract does not know—and probably is a client of—Jollibee, BPI, San Miguel, Puregold, Emperador, or Century (Tuna) Pacific Food Inc.? But the companies that should be a part of the Philippine Stock Exchange are not doing IPOs. For example. This corporation has been in business since 1946 and is now— in my opinion—the best snack food company, along with the best doughnut brand, in the Philippines. Another non-listed company makes food products that I guarantee you have at least one of in your kitchen cabinet. When Uniwide went bankrupt, this non-PSE corporation was owed multi-millions in unpaid receivables for their products and

The PSE must sensibly answer this question. “My company struggled and then became successful in the 25 years we have been in business. Why do I need the PSE?” also makes the generic brands of their products for every major supermarket chain. Conglomerates are big on the PSE. This conglomerate has business interests in hospitality, automobiles, media, and property development. But you probably have never heard of the mother company behind them all. And yet another un-IPO’d made a veritable fortune selling their products during the pandemic. When I consult with companies, I tell the owners that doing an IPO is like becoming a father. You have to think and act like a “Dad” long before “The Birth.” And that is one reason why many family-owned corporations are not interested in an IPO no matter how much money they can raise by selling a portion of their equity. It is no secret that at some point, a company starts keeping two sets of books; one that is accurate and truthful and another for the taxing authorities. Going public requires several past years of accurate, honest, complete tax returns, and therefore fully paid tax obligations. You think that might have something to do with family corporations having an aversion to going public?

Biden says he might not have sought reelection if Trump weren’t running By Justin Sink and Jordan Fabian

resident Joe Biden said he may have decided to serve just one term if Donald Trump were not seeking to return to the White House, arguing the former president poses a grave threat to American democracy. Biden, 81, has faced persistent voter doubts about his decision to seek four more years in office due to his age. The president has sought to parry those concerns in part by saying he is motivated to defeat Trump again and prevent him from holding power. “If Trump wasn’t running, I’m not sure I’d be running,” Biden told donors Tuesday at a campaign fundraiser in Massachusetts. “But we cannot let him win for the sake of our country.” The president has recently stepped up his warnings that Trump would dismantle the US’s democratic institutions, roll back laws that allow more people to access health care and push more restrictions on abortion rights. Nonetheless, his comment raised eyebrows because it played into wor-

ries about his age and lack of voter appetite for a Biden-Trump rematch. Polls have shown most Democrats do not want Biden to be their party’s nominee due to concerns about his ability to handle the job. Biden sought to downplay his remark later Tuesday. “I expect so,” Biden said when asked by a reporter at the White House if he would be running if Trump was not. “But look, he is running and I have to run.” The president also said he would not drop out if Trump does. Biden has repeatedly said Trump’s reaction to the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, encouraged him to seek the presidency in 2020, citing his predecessor’s remarks after a counter-protester was killed that there were “very fine

people” on both sides of the demonstrations. The president’s advisers have said he is the best candidate to defeat Trump a second time, backing up his decision to seek reelection. Biden, who celebrated a birthday last month, is already the oldest president in US history. Allies and people who interact with him say the focus on his age and health is unfair and that he is fit enough to serve. They point to his work schedule and exercise routines prescribed by the White House physician. The president has insisted he is able to serve another term, even as he tries to defuse concerns about his age with humor. At another fundraiser earlier Tuesday, Biden joked about being an octogenarian. “It’s hell turning 40 twice,” he said. With Trump, 77, leading the GOP field by a wide margin, Biden has increasingly targeted his predecessor, treating him as the de facto nominee. That focus also comes as polls show Biden trailing Trump in a potential head-to-head match-up, fueled in part by worries over the president’s age and voter perceptions of his han-

An IPO prospectus must show a money-making company that is growing revenues and profits. What if for the last five years, the BIR thinks your money-making has been flat? A company cannot have it both ways and it is a dilemma that most family owners do not want to face. Family corporations have enough headaches dealing with greedy second and third generation members. Shareholders justifiably believe a listed company has an obligation to help provide liquidity and help share price reflect corporate value. Last Monday, out of 282 listed stocks, 207 traded less than P100,000. Eighty-seven issues traded zero shares. Companies with little or no trading included Filinvest, Golden MV Holdings, LBC Express, PAL Holdings, and Cosco Capital, among others. The PSE must sensibly answer this question. “My company struggled and then became successful in the 25 years we have been in business. Why do I need the PSE?” Okay, I will answer it: To raise money for expansion and/or enhancement and/or to reduce debt. But honestly, going into 2024, if my family owned any of the corporations I hinted at above, my response to the PSE would be “I’ve got your number. I’ll call you. Promise.” 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.

dling of the economy. Prominent Wall Street leaders have also expressed dismay at the prospect of a Biden-Trump rematch in November and are eyeing other candidates for a potential eleventhhour push to shake up the race. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman said last week that Biden risks damaging his reputation if he seeks a second term, urging him to “step aside” and “create the opportunity for some competition.” Ackman said he was watching Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips, 54, who is pursuing a long-shot challenge against Biden for the Democratic nomination. “Biden’s done a lot of good things. But I think his legacy will not be a good one if he is the nominee,” Ackman said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said voters should support former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, 51, as an alternative to Trump for the Republican nomination. With assistance from Jennifer Jacobs and Ashleigh Carrington Fields / Bloomberg

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Israel rebuffs calls to halt Gaza war as forces move south

Opinion BusinessMirror

Why a penny budget for road care?

Of course, who among our solons will admit that they take in no less than 15 percent of any infra project funds allocated to their respective districts? Mayor Benjie Magalong explained to me that whenever he tackles the issue of infra-kotong, the solons and other officials in the audience look at their mobile phones with intent not to hear him.

By Gwen Ackerman, Augusta Saraiva & Fares Akram

sraeli leaders rebuffed mounting pressure to halt the military campaign in the southern Gaza Strip, vowing to press on until Hamas is eradicated even as the death toll rose and the United Nations warned that civilians had no safe harbor amid the bombing. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a briefing with other members of his war cabinet, said that if the rest of the world wants the war to end quickly, it must stand with Israel. He accused international organizations of ignoring what he said were “abhorrent” cases of rape by Hamas fighters during the October 7 incursion that touched off the latest violence. “Hamas is trying to tear us down and instead we are taking them apart,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israeli forces had killed half of Hamas’s battalion commanders. “We will fight until the end, until a crushing victory.” The message echoed past arguments that Netanayhu and the cabinet have made over concerns from the Biden administration and other allies, which have warned that the devastation wrought in north Gaza before a seven-day truce that ended last week must not be repeated in the south. In a post to X on Tuesday, the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, urged a new pause in the fighting. While Israel has said it’s taking increased precautions to protect the lives of civilians,theHamas-runhealth ministry said Tuesday that the death toll has risen to some 1,000 people since the truce ended, bringing the number of dead Palestinians since Israel’s counteroffensive began to more than 16,000 people. Israel announced Tuesday that seven more soldiers had been killed in the latest fighting. Israel’s government has blamed Hamas, which the US and the EU have designated a terrorist group, accusing it of using residents as human shields by operating near, or underneath, hospitals and schools. The Israeli military has encircled Khan Younis, the territory’s secondlargest city, as it seeks to wipe out Hamas, which set off the war October 7 after breaching barriers into southern Israel and killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians. The IDF believes Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif are in the city, according to a report by Axios, citing officials it didn’t identify. The UN on Tuesday expressed frustration over the civilian deaths. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the message to avoid civilian deaths “hasn’t been very successful, to be completely honest.” “There are no safe places” in Gaza, he said. “There are shelters that fly the UN flag that are sheltering thousands and thousands and thousands of people—men, women, children. Those places that fly the UN flag are not safe, either.” In his post, the EU’s Borrell said he’d been told the UN wouldn’t be able to operate in south Gaza because of the Israeli bombing. Further underscoring the international scrutiny, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with Netanyahu Tuesday and called for more aid to flow into Gaza. Sunak “expressed disappoint-

The UN on Tuesday expressed frustration over the civilian deaths. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the message to avoid civilian deaths “hasn’t been very successful, to be completely honest.” ment about the breakdown of the pause in fighting in Gaza, which had allowed hostages to be released,” his office said in a readout. The US has sought to highlight that the Israeli military has been making efforts to notify people in Gaza of operations and direct them to other areas. But Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in remarks late Tuesday in Washington, underscored the balancing act the Biden administration is trying to maintain. “We’re determined to make sure that Israel can do what is necessary to make sure that October 7 never happens again,” Blinken said. “But also, we need to make sure that we’re doing everything possible to help those who desperately need help, including the many innocent men and women and children in Gaza.” Earlier on Tuesday, an Israeli government spokesman said securing the release of all those seized by Hamas and other armed groups on October 7 remains a war goal, alongside destroying the Islamist militant group. The spokesman, Eylon Levy, said Israel said it would consider another short-term cease-fire if a deal can be reached to return more of the hostages still in captivity. “A temporary pause to get them out” would be considered, Levy said During the seven-day cease-fire that ended December 1, Hamas returned 110 of the more than 240 people taken. In exchange, about three times as many Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel. The cease-fire came to end, Israel said, when Hamas reneged on an agreement to return all women and children. Hamas still holds 138 hostages including 20 women and two children. Israel says at least 15 of the hostages taken on October 7 have died. Qatar—which helped broker the last halt to fighting—said it’s working to secure a fresh pause. That shouldn’t be seen as a “an alternative to a permanent cease-fire,” Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said in Doha. At a fundraiser in Massachusetts on Tuesday, President Joe Biden said hours had been spent working with the Qataris to broker the pause, but when Hamas ended the release of hostages, everything fell apart. “We have to get it back on track,” Biden said of the halt in fighting. Also on Tuesday, the US said it would deny visas to Israeli settlers involved in attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, a rare rebuke intended to raise pressure on Israel to tamp down violence. With assistance from Justin Sink and Iain Marlow / Bloomberg

Thursday, December 7, 2023 A15

NFRASTRUCTURE development is a priority of the Marcos administration with P1.196 trillion budget for 2023 wherein P718 billion went to the DPWH. I have no doubt on the resolve of this government in this area of budgeting because PBBM knows well its very significant role in the national economic progress.

For 2024, the DPWH will have P822.2 billion, of which P115.588 billion allocated for the maintenance of national roads and the repair of about 800 kilometers of damaged roads once it gets approved by the President. Most projects are on track, although a few of the major ones, specifically the railways from NCR to Bicol Region and the much delayed Mindanao railways, despite its projected economic benefits to the country, are not moving. Funding is the issue. The NCR-Bicol Region Railway project would have been a manna in itself, but appears to have been sabotaged by the Chinese government. Xi Jinping promised providing the funds but so-called “geo-political developments” provided the dictator an alibi to back off and derail the implementation of the long dreamed sweet long haul trip to Bicolandia.

As planned, with PNR’s improved and expanded new rail track and locomotives, travel will be reduced from about 16 hours to just 4.5 hours. That’s a great leap and certainly, would push speedier national economic development, and we all look forward to its realization. Frustratingly, while the rail project remained a dream, the land travel option from the North passing through the Quezon Province (QP) segment to Bicolandia towards the Visayas and Mindanao is exasperating. Unfortunately, there isn’t any alternative route. At that 100-kilometer stretch, where the AADT or average annual daily traffic is 145,480 vehicles, North and Southbound, most motorists thought they have reached the moon already because of the unavoidable depressions, pits, craters and or potholes, everywhere. I personally experienced how

damning and punishing it is traversing that point, leading me to ask why something so important as the maintenance of a national road is left un-acted upon by our elected and appointed government officials for so long? Why isn’t there any concern to make travel comfortable and faster? Many travelers, of course, blame QP Governor Dr. Helen Tan and her son, the 4th District Rep. Atty. Keith Micah Tan, for doing nothing regarding the worst road condition of the whole leg from Pagbilao stretching up to the last Quezon town, Tagkawayan. Did I buy that? No, because Gov. Tan is a doer, responsive and one who never sleeps on the job. Instead, the Bridge sought answers to the bugging questions by talking to reliable sources. However, they requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. According to the source, for regular maintenance of the road, (the core mandate of DPWH), the 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) under DE Rodel O. Florido and most others gets P10 million budget monthly, I repeat, monthly, to ensure that the DEO has enough funds for road maintenance, which generally include drainage/canal clean up, asphalting, potholes fill

up and sectional road repairs. Well, without even using my calculator, P10 million is a penny to keep about 100 kilometers of road in real ideal road standard condition especially with the unreasonably high construction material costs. That’s on the assumption that the DEO gets the funds. But does the DPWH get the P10 million monthly maintenance money? The answer is a big NO. Congress, who holds the power of the purse, appropriates just P10 million a year or roughly P833,000 a month. Not P10 million a month, not only to QP but even for Samar-Leyter provinces and other regions. That explains why the Pagbilao-Tagkawayan road is a curse for thousands upon thousands of land travelers from the southernmost part of Mindanao to Manila or vice versa. No one else but Congress is at fault. They deny us the opportunity for a smooth, safer and speedier travel. The district representatives, we are informed by my source, would cut the maintenance budget and put the huge congressional funds for new road or infra construction projects. Of course, who among our solons will admit that they take in no less than 15 percent of any infra project funds allocated to their respective districts? Mayor Benjie Magalong explained to me that whenever he tackles the issue of infra-kotong, the solons and other officials in the audience look at their mobile phones with intent not to hear him. Well, Filipinos, indeed, need to elect honest and competent officials. Let’s pray, bless us! For comments, tweet @billyandal or e-mai l @andalbilly@yahoo.com

‘Safeguarding local communities against disasters’ Dr. Selva Ramachandran

N the past decades, climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of natural hazards across the globe. Consequently, its impacts have also exacerbated the Philippines’ vulnerability to disaster risks. Estimates gathered by the World Bank show that 60 percent of the country’s land area and 74 percent of its population are exposed to flooding, earthquake, droughts, and other hazards. In 2021 and 2022, damage due to extreme events and disasters cost the country $1.12 billion and $545.7 million affecting 3.63 million and 3.47 million families, respectively, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. In every region or province, the impacts of disasters and climate change vary across communities. Location, particularly the proximity to volcanoes, rivers, and seas, is one determining factor. The cost of disasters to this country is a massive burden on peoples’ security and well-being. Local governments and communities bear the heaviest brunt, repeatedly hitting hardest at the poor and most vulnerable. No less than the Conference of the Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at COP28 has underscored the urgency for climate action. 2023 has been the hottest year on record. The climate crisis needs accelerated response, funding, stronger partnerships, and commitments translated into concrete results, focusing on the most vulnerable.

But help comes from within. Local government units, community leaders, and civic groups serve as frontliners for response efforts, providing basic needs and the means to bring families to safety. Communities are the champions of one another. With their firm handle of the social, political, and environmental realities that will impact their safety and wellbeing, local actors know how to rise above calamities. However, they can only do so much when the threat of disasters persists. The Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities against Disasters and Climate Change or SHIELD Program recognizes the agency and the innate resilience of local actors. With support from the government of Australia and implemented by a consortium of partners with the United Nations Development

Program (UNDP) in the lead, SHIELD targets to harness the potential of the most vulnerable provinces and regions to ensure their ability to respond to and rebuild from disasters at the needed breadth and scale. Through multistakeholder partnerships, SHIELD aims to combine indigenous knowledge and on-the-ground evidence with national-level capabilities and the science of risk-informed decision making. Interventions to build local resilience under SHIELD will benefit from guidance and expertise from national agencies, with the Department of the Interior and Local Government as lead agency providing strategic direction and coordination assistance to the focus LGUs. The Department of Science and Technology will capacitate communities to generate disaster risk information to inform their development planning, while the Office of the Civil Defense will provide recommendations based on policies and protocols for disaster preparedness. One of its envisioned outcomes is helping its partner LGUs build capabilities to better assess and manage risks within their localities, and eventually, unlock available resources from both local and international climate financing facilities such as the Green Climate Fund and the country’s very own People’s Survival

Fund. Efforts will also be pursued towards innovative private sector financing, such as green bonds and microinsurance solutions. Through its partners from government, civil society, and the international community, the initiative seeks to link local governments to access supplementary funding for innovative and evidence-based response to emergencies such as early warning systems, improve the promotion of industries that create green jobs such as ecotourism, and prepare bankable proposals for disaster risk reduction and management activities. Through its consortium partners, SHIELD is also providing micro, small, and medium enterprises with knowledge on value chain analyses and business planning to ensure they continue to operate and earn even during disasters. Resilience is everyone’s business —and it is built upon strong partnerships and empowered communities. By combining their collective strengths, forging strategic partnerships, and building a solid evidence base to translate their innate capacities to action, communities have the power to lead one another towards progress that towers over vulnerabilities and, hence, excludes no one. Dr. Selva Ramachandran is the UNDP Philippines Resident Representative.

Trump declines to rule out abusing power to seek retribution if he returns to the White House By Jill Colvin | The Associated Press

EW YORK—Former President Donald Trump declined to rule out abusing power if he returns to the White House after Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity asked him Tuesday to respond to growing Democratic criticism of his rhetoric. The GOP presidential front-runner has talked about targeting his rivals—referring to them as “vermin”—and vowed to seek retribution if he wins a second term for what he argues are politically motivated prosecutions against him. As Trump has dominated the Republican presidential primary, President Joe Biden has stepped up his own warnings, contending Trump is “ determined to

destroy American democracy.” “Under no circumstances, you are promising America tonight, you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody?” Hannity asked Trump in the interview taped in Davenport, Iowa. “Except for day one,” Trump responded. “I want to close the border and I want to drill, drill, drill.” Trump then repeated his assertion. “I love this guy,” he said of the Fox News host. “He says, ‘You’re not going to be a dictator, are you?’ I said: ‘No, no, no, other than day one. We’re closing the border and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.’” Earlier in the interview, Hannity had asked Trump if he “in any way” had “any plans whatsoever, if reelected president,

to abuse power, to break the law to use the government to go after people.” “You mean like they’re using right now?” Trump replied. Trump’s campaign rhetoric and sweeping plans for a second term that include firing large swaths of the federal bureaucracy and targeting his rivals have alarmed Democrats and become a chief election argument for Biden as he prepares for a potential rematch against Trump. “Donald Trump has been telling us exactly what he will do if he’s reelected and tonight he said he will be a dictator on day one. Americans should believe him,” Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a statement. At a series of fundraisers Tuesday,

Biden again warned that Trump and his allies are out to “destroy” democratic institutions as he assailed the GOP frontrunner, who tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election and is facing criminal charges connected to those efforts. Trump, meanwhile, has tried to turn the tables on Biden and argued in a Saturday speech in Iowa that the president is the real “destroyer of American democracy” as he repeated his longstanding contention that the four criminal indictments against him show Biden is misusing the federal justice system to damage his chief political rival. Trump has promised to prosecute Biden if he wins. Hannity, a longtime Trump supporter and adviser, has often seemed to use his

interviews to coach the former president to say things that will benefit him politically. The questions Tuesday appeared to be another example of those efforts. The event had been advertised as a town hall the day before Trump’s leading rivals gather at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for the fourth GOP debate. While town halls typically feature audience questions, only Hannity asked questions of Trump on Tuesday. He taped a similar interview with Trump in July. Trump is once again planning to skip the debate and will spend the evening at a fundraiser in Florida instead. Trump has been dominating his rivals both nationally and in Iowa, which will kick off the election with its caucuses on

Jan. 15. That includes Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has staked his campaign on the first-in-the-nation contest, and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has been gaining momentum following a series of well-reviewed performances at the debates. DeSantis, who on Saturday completed his campaign promise to visit each of Iowa’s 99 counties, has repeatedly called on Trump to join the debates. “Get out of your dungeon. Get off the keyboard, stand on the debate stage and let’s go,” he said Tuesday in Florida. After the taping, Trump visited the Front Street Pub & Eatery in Davenport, where he stopped by tables and signed red “Make America Great Again” hats, according to video of the event.

A16 Thursday, December 7, 2023

ADB’S $450-M NEW LOAN WILL FUND UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE Philippines will receive a new multimillion-dollar loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance the universal health care (UHC) program. In a statement on Wednesday, the Manila-based multilateral development bank said it approved a $450-million policy-based loan to also help the Philippines strengthen health policy reforms. The new loan will be allocated for the Build Universal Health Care Program (Subprogram 2) to scale up the government’s efforts to implement key reforms under the UHC Act of 2019. “The Build UHC Program is part of ADB’s commitment to deliver long-term support to the country to ensure all Filipinos have equitable access to quality health services without exhausting their finances,” said ADB Principal Health Specialist Eduardo Banzon. “ The program will also help ensure the reforms are responsive to gender-specific health issues and the impacts of climate change on people’s health and well-being,” Banzon added. The health reforms include sustainable financing for UHC, the integrated delivery of quality health services, and the interoperability of health information systems. The new program also builds

on previous ADB support provided under Subprogram 1 and technical assistance financed by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific approved in November 2021. Under Subprogram 2, the government has adopted an updated hea lth financing strategy, a national medicine access policy, and the National Health Data Repository framework. ADB said the Green and Safe Health Facilities scheme has been implemented to ensure public health facilities are disaster-resilient, environmentally sustainable, and gender-responsive. The number of available primary care providers was increased, and primary care benefits were enhanced under the National Health Insurance Program, including the enhancements of inpatient benefits. ADB has been a partner of the Philippine government since 2016 in crafting and implementing the UHC Act, and has been supporting government efforts to boost the health system. This includes assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic via the Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Covid-19 and the Second Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Covid-19 under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility, which helped secure much-needed Covid-19 vaccines for Filipinos.

Prison congestion solutions tackled at SC-led summit

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573 & Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE heads of the three branches of the government—the judiciary, the executive and the legislative – and other stakeholders have come together in a bid to resolve the problem of overcrowding in prison and jail facilities in the country. At Wednesday’s opening of the two-day National Jail Congestion Summit, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo stressed that solving the problem of prison and jail congestion would need the cooperation of all branches of the government. The summit is an initiative of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council composed of the Supreme Court as represented by CJ Gesmundo, Department of Justice (DOJ) represented by Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and the Department of Interior and Local Government represented by Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. “The problem of congestion has been building up over the years. As

our population increases, as more laws are passed, as the enforcement of our laws become more efficient, as prosecutions result to more convictions, and as judgments are more quickly handed down, the increase in the number of prisoners is only expected,” the chief justice pointed out in his speech at the summit. “Without a corresponding expansion of our jail facilities, congestion would naturally result,” he added. At the end of the summit, the JSCC will lay out a plan of action for addressing congestion, Gesmundo said. Based on data, 70 percent of detention facilities under the Bureau

of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) are overcrowded at an average congestion rate of 386 percent. In some jails, the occupancy rate has gone as high as 2,748 percent of their standard facility. Likewise, prison facilities under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) remain overcrowded despite efforts to hasten the release of thousands of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) through the grant of pardon, parole, due to humanitarian reasons or good conduct. At the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City alone, there are 29,442 convicted prisoners as of November 2023, despite the fact that it can only accommodate more than 6,000 prisoners, or a 358 percent congestion rate. The six other prison facilities under the BuCor—Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro; San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City; Leyte, Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte; and Davao Prison and Penal Farm in Panabo, Davao Province—have a total of 51,862 PDLs, despite having a total capacity of only 12,000 PDLs. “With excessively overcrowded jails, PDLs live under extremely challenging conditions that hinder

their reformation—but hopefully not for much longer,” the chief justice said.

Marcos Jr. backing

MEANWHILE, in his speech delivered by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. welcomed the holding of the summit, which he said was in line with his administration’s priority to decongest prison and jail facilities and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of court justice system. Marcos Jr. stressed that addressing jail congestion would require a whole-of-government approach “to ensure the efficient, effective, and compassionate administration of justice in the country.” “I am, therefore, confident that the discussions in this summit will pave the way for better policies and initiatives that will address the root causes of our problems,” he said. The president said the adoption of digitalization and streamlining of processes will play a crucial role for jail decongestion. “By embracing technology and innovative practices, we can enhance our efficiency, reduce delays, and ensure swift and fair legal proceedings,” the chief executive said in his message delivered by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin. Continued on A5

Radio Control Law, now 92 yrs old, stalling PHL bid for tech-ready future

MENDING a 92-year-old law could hold the key to propelling the country into a tech-ready future, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan told reporters on Wednesday that he agreed that the Radio Control Law of 1931 is outdated and should not be allowed to celebrate its centennial in 2031. Balisacan thus thinks the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) should include this in the priority bills to be crafted by Congress. “There are so many opportunities that we are losing because of these legacy problems. Can you imagine that, radio control law?! Colonial din ’yung PSA na in-amend natin, eh. But hopefully we can get things done,” Balisacan said. Ahead of its inclusion among priority bills, Balisacan said, “I want to get more data so that we can present to the Cabinet, to the President, to the Ledac, the urgency of doing this.” USAID Better Access and Connectivity (Beacon) Consultant Scott Minehane explained that a spectrum is an electromagnetic wave comprising both electric and magnetic fields. He said it is not only related to telecommunication but also aeronautics, the maritime industry, and even microwave technology. Minehane said it is considered a national resource that is also a non-exhaustible natural resource that needs to be managed. He said it can be reused by dividing into frequencies, time, angle of arrival,

polarization, geography, and users. In a forum presentation, Minehane said that, compared to its peers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), only the Philippines has a spectrum law that is older than 1999. Apart from the amendment of the law, Minehane said the Philippines should disperse more International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum allocations intelligently and sustainably and as soon as possible. Minehane said allocating more IMT spectrum will allow the country to extend wireless connectivity such as to 6G, which is expected in 2030. An expanded IMT spectrum will allow for future allocations beyond 6G. Further, he said, there is a need to balance higher spectrum allocations through improvements in infrastructure investment. This should include geographic extension of access network reach in rural and regional areas. These reforms will pave the way for new and upcoming services beyond mobile broadband. Some of these new use cases include wearables such as smart watches, wearable medical devices, and low-end AR/VR glasses, video surveillance, industrial sensors, smart grids, etc. The National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) said the Radio Control Law of the Philippines created the Radio Control Division in the Bureau of Posts under the general supervision of the Secretary of Commerce and Communications. It was signed into law in November 11, 1931. Cai U. Ordinario

EMPOWERING THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES (From left) Lilian Salonga, Director of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Competitiveness Bureau; Nelly Nita Dillera, CESO III Executive Director of the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC); and Ma. Fe Avila, Planning Officer of PTTC, sign the memorandum of agreement for the Obra Design Masterclass for Creative Cities and the Lunsod Lunsad Creative Entrepreneurship Training. This event signifies a steadfast commitment to nurturing innovation, empowering local talent, and instigating positive change in the furniture and creative industries. The occasion took place at the PTTC in Pasay City. ROY DOMINGO

‘Vindicated’–TVJ on Eat Bulaga trademark win By Rory Visco Contributor

DAY after the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) canceled the trademark registration of Television and Production Exponents (TAPE), Inc., former Senate President Tito Sotto, his brother Vic, and Joey de Leon, all felt vindication, and said they felt they got the respect and official recognition as rightful owners of the name “Eat Bulaga” and the “EB” mark. In a press conference held at the TV5 studios in Mandaluyong City, Atty. Enrique “Buko” dela Cruz, legal counsel of the three, said Tito, Vic, and Joey could have used the name “Eat Bulaga” since the trademark registration of TAPE only covers the use of “Eat Bulaga”

for merchandise and other products but not for entertainment. “Our advice was for them to use the name ‘Eat Bulaga’ since they are the name’s creator, but they decided against it out of respect, even though it was painful for them that they are the creators of the show, and yet somebody else is using their creation.” Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon echoed Atty. Dela Cruz’s statement, but now that the IPOPHL cancelled TAPE’s trademark registration and declared Tito, Vic and Joey as rightful creators of the trademark, he said “if they show respect and if they stop using something that is not theirs, everyone will be truly happy and it will be a truly Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for all.”

Appeal

WHEN asked about TAPE appeal-

ing the decision of IPOPHL, Tito Sotto said the appeal will follow naturally since that’s part of the process, “but I know that we are standing in the right side of the fence.” For his part, Atty. Dela Cruz, when asked if Tito, Vic and Joey can now use “Eat Bulaga,” he said TAPE has the right to appeal the decision, and there is a process. “But now that the IPOPHL has already issued a decision, the question now is will TAPE respect the decision of the IPOPHL?” In a statement, the IPOPHL said the “decisions of the Adjudication Officer may be appealed to the Bureau of Legal Affairs Director within 15 days from receipt of the decision. In turn, the appellate decisions of the BLA Director may be appealed to the IPOPHL Director General within 30 days from

receipt of the copy of the BLA Director’s decisions. “If they are still not satisfied with the decision, they can file an appeal at the Court of Appeals, or even the Supreme Court,” Atty. Dela Cruz said. “Now that the government declared that Tito, Vic and Joey are the rightful owners and creators of Eat Bulaga, the other side is going to file an appeal, but they should respect the decision of the IPO and not use Eat Bulaga anymore now that their trademark registration is cancelled,” he added. As for the copyright infringement and unfair competition case filed against TAPE, Atty. Dela Cruz said it is still pending in the Marikina Regional Trial Court. “There is no decision yet on that, but we expect a decision to come out soon.”

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, December 7, 2023

offers Vista Land to refinance debt ByteDance investors a buyback using bond sale proceeds at $268B valuation

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

roperty developer Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. on Wednesday said it has raised P6 billion from the sale of Series F and G bonds. The company has earlier pegged the coupon rate for the Series F bonds at 7.5426 percent due December 2026, and at 7.6886 percent for the five-year tenor Series G, due December 2028. The company offered an initial P6 billion, with an oversubscription of up to P4 billion, which represents the first tranche of the P35-billion shelf-registered borrowing program

of the company filed early this year. “The bonds have been rated AAA by Credit Rating and Investors Services Philippines, Inc. , and PRS Aaa by the Philippine Rating Services Corp., which are both the highest ratings assigned by PhilRatings and CRISP,” the company said. The Villar-controlled company said it intends to use the net proceeds to refinance maturing obligations

and for general corporate purposes. The bonds were on sale between November 21 and November 29 and were issued on December 6. Vista Land tapped China Bank Capital Corp., SB Capital Investment Corp. and Union Bank of the Philippines as joint lead underwriters and bookrunners for the offer with China Banking Corp. Trust and Asset Management Group as the trustees. Vista Land earlier said its income in January to September was up 70 percent to P8.21 billion from last year’s P4.82 billion. As of the end of the third quarter, the company has launched 27 projects with an estimated project value of about P40 billion. “We are delighted with our results, as we remain optimistic with the industry for the rest of the year with

the strong GDP growth of 5.9 percent coupled with sustained growth in overseas Filipino remittance and revenge spending from consumers, all of which contributed to the positive performance of the group,” Vista Land Chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. said. He said the company has been launching more projects this year which was a factor in the 10-percent growth in its reservation sales to P53.1 billion for the period. The company’s consolidated revenue for the nine months rose 18 percent year-on-year to P27.4 billion. The growth of real estate revenue went up by 17 percent to P12.15 billion from the previous P10.41 billion, while rental income reached P11.83 billion, up by 15 percent from the previous year’s P10.22 billion.

‘Virtual humans market to hit $440B’ T

he market for virtual humans is projected to expand to $440.3 billion in 2031, from $11.3 billion in 2021, according to global market research firm Allied Market Research. In a report, the company said the expected size of the virtual humans market reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44.7 percent from 2022 to 2031. Virtual humans, resembling human-like characters accessible through various mediums, including speakers and computer screens, pose challenges in precise definition, blurring distinctions with terms like “artificial intelligence” (AI). “The interconnection between virtual humans, robots, androids, chatbots, conversational agents, autonomous agents, or pedagogic

agents remains ambiguous,” the company said. The increase in connection between machines and people in a variety of end-use industries, and the surge in adoption of digital avatars in various industry verticals such as retail, entertainment and educational solutions drive the growth of the virtual human’s market. “By type, avatars segment contributed to the major share in 2021. By region, Aisa-Pacific would showcase the fastest CAGR by 2031.” The company noted that surge in advanced technologies has given rise to digital avatars and enhanced video streaming experiences, influencing over-the-top (OTT) service providers to immerse users in an expansive digital reality space known as the metaverse. This technological evolution and metaverse trends have been

pivotal in propelling the growth of the virtual humans market. The United States emerged as the top revenue contributor to the avatars segment in 2021, while Japan and South Korea are anticipated to experience substantial CAGRs of 50 percent each. By type, the avatars segment held the largest share in 2021, garnering more than three-fourths of the global virtual humans market revenue and is projected to maintain its dominance by 2031. The same segment would also cite the fastest CAGR of 45.13 percent throughout the forecast period. By industrial vertical, the gaming and entertainment segment contributed to nearly one-fifth of the global virtual humans market share in 2021. The retail segment is

projected to dominate the market in terms of revenue by 2031. Geographically, Asia-Pacific claimed a significant share in the global virtual humans market, attributed to the region’s expanding wireless connectivity and escalating digitalization. China, Japan, and South Korea currently dominate the virtual humans market in the Asian region. Key drivers for market growth in this region include rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and internet of things technology. Additionally, swift urbanization and increased digital content creation and acceptance are primary factors propelling the virtual humans market across Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, and Latin America, Middle East and Africa.

VW says audit of Xinjiang site found no sign of forced labor

olkswagen AG said independent auditors found no signs of forced labor at its joint-venture plant in Xinjiang as the German automaker responds to concerns of human rights abuses in China’s far western region. Berlin-based consultancy Löning audited the facility in the city of Urumqi last month, VW said Tuesday. A subsidiary of the carmaker’s joint venture with state-backed SAIC Motor Corp. operates the facility, to which VW is contractually obligated until 2029. “We will continue to take any indications of human rights violations very seriously in the future,” Manfred Döss, a VW management board member responsible for legal issues, said in a statement. “If there are any suspicions or indications, we will investigate them.” VW has fielded uncomfortable questions about its presence in Xinjiang due to allegations by the US and others that China has pushed ethnic minorities including Muslim Uyghurs in the region into jobs programs as part of sweeping effort to force them to assimilate into the Han-dominated society. The carmaker’s connection to the Xinjiang controversy has had financial-market consequences. Volkswagen was singled out last year by the United States-based investment advisory firm MSCI Inc, which gave the company a “red flag” in a November report on ESG-related controversies involving listed companies. The downgrade forced several institutional investors to back away from VW stock.

Signage at the ByteDance Ltd. offices in Singapore, on Friday, August 4, 2023. ByteDance has primarily focused its operations on its social media apps, with most of its $80 billion annual revenue coming from what they generate in advertising. Photographer: Ore Huiying/Bloomberg

yteDance Ltd., parent of social video phenom TikTok, is offering to buy back up to $5 billion from investors, according to people familiar with the matter. The new offer, earlier reported by the South China Morning Post, is pitched at $160 per share, the same level as ByteDance offered to employees in November, the people said, asking not to be named discussing a private matter. It’s at a valuation roughly 11 percent lower than the price ByteDance offered to investors in 2022, which would still place it among the 40 most valuable public companies in the world and third in China behind Tencent Holdings Ltd. and Kweichow Moutai Co. The Beijing-based internet company has ascended to become one of China’s internet leaders, alongside Tencent and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., leveraging the popularity of its social video services to expand into e-commerce and other spheres. Its ventures into gaming and virtual reality, however, have proven unsuccessful and the company has begun winding down efforts outside its core business, which is led by TikTok and its China twin Douyin. ByteDance has long been the world’s most valuable startup, however plans for a splashy initial public offering have been hit by a series of setbacks, from a crackdown on internet firms at home in China to elevat-

ed scrutiny in key markets overseas. India, once TikTok’s biggest market by number of users, banned the app as part of a sweeping expulsion of Chinese software in 2020. TikTok’s US operations have also been the subject of fierce criticism by politicians in Washington, who see it as a potential national security threat. In Indonesia, TikTok was forced to suspend its burgeoning e-commerce business and is now working on a tieup with local partner GoTo Group. Domestic rivals in China have had varying degrees of success recovering from the crackdown and the economic fallout from Covid Zero policies. Tencent’s stock is today up 5 percent from a year ago, having returned to growth and adapted to ByteDance’s challenge with the expansion of its WeChat video service. Temu-operator PDD Holdings Inc. has dethroned Alibaba as China’s most valuable e-commerce company for the first time, as its elder rival grapples with a tumultuous reorganization. ByteDance occupies a unique position in having some of the most downloaded apps in both the United States and China, with its revenue surging 30 percent to surpass $80 billion in 2022. Its successful rollout of TikTok Shop and on-demand services in China have made the withdrawal from the games business less of an issue than it otherwise may have been. Bloomberg News

BAT writes down value of US cigarette brands

Volkswagen automobiles on the production line. Bloomberg News

Investors currently precluded from owning VW shares on governance grounds “may now buy back at least some exposure,” Citigroup analyst Harald Hendrikse said in a note, provided the audit results satisfy MSCI to remove its “red flag.” “We think this could reverse a significant proportion of the VW underperformance.” The German automaker is under pressure to defend sales in China, its biggest market, against homegrown manufacturers such as BYD Co. that are offering models geared to local tastes. VW’s sales in China have slid from a peak of 4.2 million cars in 2018 to 3.18 million vehicles last year. Löning staff visited the plant,

checked documents and conducted interviews with management and workers, the consultancy said Tuesday. It was accompanied by two lawyers from a Shenzhen-based law firm. “The employees are paid above average and have little to do,” the consultancy’s founder Markus Löning said in a statement. “We could not find any indications or evidence of forced labor among the employees.” Last year, the United Nation’s top human rights official found that China had committed “serious human rights abuses” in Xinjiang while the world body’s slavery expert determined that the forced-labor claims in the region were “reasonable.”

China has repeatedly rejected criticisms of the work programs, calling allegations of forced labor lies and defending its policies as an effort to reduce poverty and unemployment. While the Urumqi plant has been in the spotlight, it doesn’t manufacture any vehicles. Its 197 workers—24% of whom are minorities including Uyghurs—make final quality checks of already assembled vehicles that are then sent on to dealerships in the region. The facility, which at its peak employed roughly 650 workers, doesn’t get any external parts and there are no plans to resume automaking there. The plant had previously produced the New Santana model. Bloomberg News

ritish American Tobacco Plc (BAT) said it would write down the value of some its United States cigarette brands as more smokers quit, switch to cheaper brands or adopt smoking alternatives. The maker of Lucky Strike cigarettes and Vuse vapes said it would take a non-cash impairment charge of around £25 billion ($31.5 billion) related to its stable of US cigarette brands. BAT also said it expects 2023 organic revenue growth at the low end of its 3 percent-5 percent forecast at constant currencies. For 2024, the cigarette maker forecast low-single-digit revenue and adjusted profit from operations growth, on an organic basis at constant currency rates. The shares fell as much as 6.2 percent in early London trading. The stock is down about 29 percent this year, triple the decline in Marlboro maker Philip Morris International Inc. BAT’s US cigarette business has struggled as consumers look for cheaper or less harmful alternatives. The company, which also makes Velo nicotine pouches, said its alternative products business should break even in 2023 and be profitable in 2024.

Sales of alternative products will account for about half of sales by 2035. That’s about a decade behind a similar goal from bigger rival Philip Morris International. BAT last month named Soraya Benchikh as its next chief financial officer in the latest management change under the company’s new boss. The appointment followed a shakeup in June by Chief Executive Officer Tadeu Marroco, who replaced several business heads to jumpstart the company’s sluggish performance. BAT’s pod refill Vuse vapes are facing stiff competition from disposable vapes from upstart competitors, many of whom are based in China. Marroco said recently that disposables now account for more than half of the US market, the biggest market for vapes. Governments in France, the UK and the US are considering a crackdown on disposables and vape flavors amid concerns the products are targeting underage users. BAT has said it is planning a media campaign to curb underage vaping. The company sells flavored refillable e-cigarettes as well as disposables in other markets outside the US including Europe. Bloomberg News

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Alternergy: K2M will develop onshore wind power projects

By Lenie Lectura

seeing the onshore wind sector take off as well. The synergy between Alternergy’s robust development capabilities and K2 Management’s expertise are another promising early stride in the growth onshore wind energy in the region—and one which we hope to see continue, full speed ahead,” said Patrick Architta, President—Asia Pacific for K2M. Following the win under the Green Energy Auction 2 (GEA 2) for an offtake market, Alternergy has been accelerating the development of the Tanay and Alabat wind projects. Meanwhile, Alternergy and the Quezon 1 Electric Cooperative Inc. (Quezelco 1) signed an agreement to facilitate the dispatch of power to the Luzon grid. “Our cooperation with Quezelco 1 is very crucial to ensure that the renewable supply from the Alabat

@llectura

lternergy Holdings Corp. (Alternergy) has tapped K2 Management (K2M) for the development of its two onshore wind power projects—the Tanay Wind Project in Rizal and Alabat Wind Project in Quezon. In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Wednesday, Alternergy said the board approved the execution of the Owner’s Engineer (OE) contract to K2M following a competitive selection process conducted which was participated in by six companies. As OE contractor, K2M will

support Alternergy in the procurement processes within a muti-contracting framework, followed by construction management, design reviews, site management, and quality control measures. “We have been witnessing a remarkable surge in the solar sector in the Philippines, and now, we are

wind farm project will be transported and delivered to the main grid within the timeline we have committed under the GEA 2 Program,” Alabat Wind Power Corp. (AWPC) President Knud Hedeager said. AWPC is an Alternergy subsidiary and the special purpose company developing the wind project. Under the MOA, AWPC will const r uct a nd comm ission a 37-kilometer 69kV transmission line from the wind farm project to the Hondugua Substation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). For its part, Quezelco 1 will construct a 10 MVA Substation. The MOA also provides that Quezelco 1 will assist Alternergy in securing the right-of-way for the proposed transmission line to be built while Alternergy will assist the cooperative in securing financing for the proposed substation.

Nissan to buy engines from Renault-Geely venture MUTUAL FUNDS

December 6, 2023

NAV

One Year Three Year

Five Year

Y-T-D

per share Return*

Return

Stock Funds 0.92%

-3.45%

-4.29%

-0.84%

-1.1%

1.4089

5.18%

2.64%

-0.05%

1.38%

4.81%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.8609

ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

206.22

0.01%

-3.35%

-6.4%

-2.57%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.669

-3.18%

-6.26%

-5.88% n.a

First Metro Consumer Fund, Inc. -a

-6.39%

-6.06% n.a

-4.32%

-3.33%

-2.61%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

0.6206

-4.93%

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund, Inc. -a 4.5287-0.41% -3.18%

-0.62%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.6751-2.09% -4.34% n.a n.a

issan Motor Co. will be a major customer to Renault SA’s combustion-engine venture as the partners push on with reshaping their troubled alliance and make progress in the EV transition. The Japanese carmaker will receive gearboxes and engines for 12 of its plants, as well as half a million parts annually, the companies said Wednesday. Junior alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will also be a customer alongside multiple others in the Horse combustion-engine unit, set up with China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. The steps are part of a major revamp of working together following years of growing tensions, allowing the manufacturers to take on new partners and independent ventures. This includes Renault’s plan to list its electric-vehicle business, targeting a valuation of as much as €10 billion ($10.8 billion), with both Nissan and Mitsubishi pledging significant investments. “I am confident we can work together in new ways to realize benefits as partners,” Nissan Chief Executive Officer Makoto Uchida said during a joint press conference. The Japanese carmaker’s solid-state batteries, the potential next technology break-

through for EVs, could be licensed by Renault and Mitsubishi in future, he added. Mitsubishi said it will work with Renault on developing and making its first electric mid-size SUV through the French manufacturer’s Ampere EV unit. Earlier this year, Nissan finalized plans to invest as much as €600 million in Ampere, which has faced headwinds from an EV price war, alongside an earlier commitment of €200 million from Mitsubishi. The two companies rebalanced their 24-year-old alliance last month as they announced the creation of a French trust to which Renault transferred 28.4 percent of Nissan shares. In November, Renault Chief Executive Officer Luca de Meo said his company wants to start selling its stake in Nissan, worth about €4.3 billion, “very soon” as part of its ambitious electric-vehicle development plan. The plan to lower the stake removes a major source of tension for the partners. Among other joint projects, Renault and Nissan said in February they will invest $600 million in India to expand their car lineup, add jobs and decarbonize a manufacturing plant in Chennai. Bloomberg News

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

82.88

11.55%

-5.86%

-6.45% n.a

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 41.9494

-1.06%

-3.88%

-3.57% n.a

-2.87%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

437.77

0.42%

-3.89%

-3.56%

-0.72%

-1.49%

1.1747

-0.53%

0.09%

-1.74% n.a

-0.03%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

0.54%

-1.85%

-2.48%

1.14%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.848 2.02%

-2.77% n.a n.a

-0.09%

4.4094

-0.09%

-2.99%

-2.76%

0.9%

-1.92%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

733.78

-0.17%

-3.16%

-2.83%

0.9%

-2.02%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.6674

1.32%

-2.86%

-5.34% n.a

-0.99% -0.88%

-0.9%

-3.47%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8321-0.51%

-3.47%

-3.14% n.a

United Fund, Inc. -a

0.08%

-1.67%

3.0423

-1.6%

-3.09%

-3.21%

-3.71%

-0.95%

Philequity PSE Index Fund, Inc. -a

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2745

-4.33%

10.04%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 32.98

-1.86%

-4.69%

-2.93% -2.32%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) COL Equity Index Unitized Mutual Fund, Inc. -a 1.0328-0.42% n.a n.a n.a

-2.22%

COL Strategic Growth Equity Unitized Mutual Fund, Inc. -a,2 0.9932 n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a

0.9942

-4.03%

-2.98% n.a n.a

-4.99%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

890.63

-0.28% n.a n.a n.a

-2.08%

Exchange Traded Fund (shares) First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c99.61660.41% -2.81%

-2.51% n.a

-1.49%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) -9.09%

-12.1%

-3.74%

-1.98%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.5932

ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$0.7958

7.39%

-0.59%

5.62% n.a

-6.6% 11.88%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.4752

0.37%

-3.87%

-2.49%

-1.71%

-0.64%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.1637

5.86%

-1.83%

-0.57%

0.22%

2.77%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.4589

-0.46%

-2.37%

-0.78%

-1.04%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.1872

-1.78%

-2.12% n.a n.a

-1.86%

-3.26% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.9056

0.17%

-1.15%

0.51%

1.3%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.4968

2.81%

-2.73%

-0.44%

0.46%

1.65%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

15.3214

1.61%

-3.38%

-0.96%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0025

1.92%

-1.59%

0.12%

0.99%

1.2%

-0.83%

0.94%

0.8%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.3437

1.52%

-2.25%

-2.09%

-0.32%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8821

-0.3%

-1.27% n.a

0.36%

1.89%

0.42%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a 0.93032.85%

-3.13% n.a n.a

1.65%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a 0.82640.81%

-4.81% n.a n.a

-1.1%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a 0.8057-0.15%

-5.07% n.a n.a

-2.04%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03235

-0.68%

-6.15%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b$0.8781 -2.41%

-1.52%

-0.1% 4.54%

-0.15%

-7.88%

-1.85%

-1.36%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.122

3.88%

-2.08%

3.2%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.0028

0.88%

-4.37%

0.33% n.a

2.75%

7.18% 3.21%

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 389.37

3.36%

1.72%

2.59%

2.15%

3.01%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9061

1.77%

0.15%

0.56%

-0.05%

1.67%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.3195

2.85%

1.12%

2.31%

3.77%

3.45%

4.43%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund, Inc. -a 2.262

-0.43%

1.23%

3.51%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 2.442

2.14%

-0.06%

2.05%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.69%

0.61%

2.71%

1.12%

2.16%

-2.78%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3695

3.68%

1.32%

3.04%

1.74%

3.79%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9992

4.07%

0.24%

2.74%

1.4%

3.37%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.2524

0.33%

3.26% n.a

2.93%

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

3.2846

4.43%

1.02%

3.48%

1.95%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

1.0464

2.82%

3.65%

0.24%

2.66%

1.31%

3.51%

1.7553

2.13%

4.42%

Corporate Debt Vehicle (units) ATRAM Unitized Corporate Debt Vehicle, Inc. -a,3

1.0033 n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $492.61

2.74%

0.67%

1.95%

2.49%

2.6%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є212.73

1.26%

-0.91%

0.02%

0.79%

1.46%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b$1.02521.76%

-6.86%

-1.82%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0244 2.52%

-2.71%

-0.4% n.a

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc. -b$0.8441

-2.82%

-8.23%

-3.87%

-3.18%

-6.21%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.2365

2.35%

-3.97%

0.78%

1.65%

2.59%

1.75%

-0.72%

1.33%

1.58%

1.9%

-1.81%

-5.33%

-1.08%

0.26%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund, Inc. -a $0.0608326

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.7176

0.01%

1.57% 2.95%

-0.14%

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 136.55

2.61%

1.75%

2.53%

2.03%

2.48%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.1058 3.19%

1.83% n.a n.a

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a 1.37272.75%

2.46%

1.96%

1.99%

2.56%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 104.26

4.03% n.a n.a n.a

3.77%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0943

2.4%

1.33%

1.52% n.a

2.35%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund, Inc. -a 41.9077-4.91% n.a n.a n.a Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.3962

7.96%

-1.81%

8.27% n.a n.a

13.32% Sun Life Prosperity World Income Fund, Inc. -a,1

0.9755 n.a n.a n.a n.a n.a

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (Units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund, Inc. -a $0.7809-3.65%

-6.97% n.a n.a

-1.15%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. 1 - Launch date is August 22, 2023.

2 - Launch date is October 6, 2023.

c - Listed in the PSE.

3 - Launch date is May 25, 2023.

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

pifa. com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU.”

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

December 6, 2023

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG FILIPINO FUND IREMIT PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

1,616,620 305,821,783 148,298,553 4,455,030 177,057 539,335,472 500,138 136,487.50 2,299,700 10,643,726 19,115,649.50 74,700 258,000 41,980 27,300 11,850 666,515 13,550 47,200

51,730 -77,638,762 -23,856,133 -2,759,990 -24,395 158,669,482 -2,224,100 -1,438,546 -5,173,055 -258,000 -3,900 531,057 -45,600

INDUSTRIAL ACEN CORP 4.59 4.6 4.69 4.72 4.59 4.6 18,010,000 83,564,070 ALSONS CONS 0.54 0.55 0.58 0.58 0.55 0.55 113,000 62,950 ALTERNERGY HLDG 0.73 0.76 0.76 0.76 0.73 0.76 535,000 398,320 ABOITIZ POWER 37.35 37.5 37.35 37.55 37.25 37.5 388,400 14,532,760 RASLAG 1.16 1.2 1.2 1.21 1.15 1.2 55,000 65,910 BASIC ENERGY 0.176 0.18 0.176 0.18 0.176 0.18 700,000 123,400 FIRST GEN 16.64 16.66 16.9 16.98 16.62 16.66 597,200 9,940,430 FIRST PHIL HLDG 60 61.5 61 61.5 59.4 59.5 13,530 821,269.50 MERALCO 369.6 373 367 373 366.4 373 144,460 53,641,466 MANILA WATER 18.1 18.2 18.16 18.2 18.06 18.1 215,500 3,909,566 PETRON 3.41 3.42 3.42 3.42 3.28 3.42 663,000 2,258,950 PHX PETROLEUM 5.29 5.3 4.7 5.29 4.7 5.29 10,400 52,866 REPOWER ENERGY 6.76 6.98 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6,500 44,850 SYNERGY GRID 6.08 6.09 6.17 6.17 6.09 6.09 977,800 5,977,551 SHELL PILIPINAS 11.5 11.52 11.52 11.58 11.52 11.52 4,000 46,086 SPC POWER 7.24 7.4 7.28 7.28 7.1 7.2 62,600 454,836 SP NEW ENERGY 1.13 1.14 1.17 1.17 1.11 1.14 21,398,000 24,260,040 AGRINURTURE 1.23 1.24 1.17 1.25 1.17 1.24 3,437,000 4,215,090 AXELUM 2.28 2.3 2.24 2.32 2.24 2.3 281,000 640,930 CENTURY FOOD 32.5 32.6 31.3 32.9 31.3 32.5 3,981,600 129,282,635 DEL MONTE 7.1 7.3 7.38 7.45 7.3 7.35 6,800 50,314 DNL INDUS 6.2 6.21 6.14 6.24 6.1 6.21 2,730,400 16,824,875 EMPERADOR 20.8 20.85 20.75 20.95 20.75 20.85 1,027,300 21,408,215 SMC FOODANDBEV 48.95 49 48.9 49.45 48.5 49 44,900 2,191,555 FIGARO COFFEE 0.62 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.61 0.63 1,960,000 1,207,530 FRUITAS HLDG 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.01 1.01 715,000 726,400 GINEBRA 156.6 158 165.9 165.9 153 158 19,450 3,052,875 JOLLIBEE 240 241 244.6 244.8 239.2 241 272,550 65,625,094 KEEPERS HLDG 1.44 1.45 1.45 1.46 1.45 1.45 648,000 939,620 MACAY HLDG 6.16 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 400 2,600 MAXS GROUP 3.13 3.2 3.25 3.25 3.14 3.2 111,000 351,480 MG HLDG 0.095 0.099 0.098 0.098 0.098 0.098 90,000 8,820 MONDE NISSIN 8.11 8.2 8.35 8.36 8.07 8.2 2,070,300 16,893,492 SHAKEYS PIZZA 9.4 9.48 9.4 9.49 9.4 9.49 31,800 298,983 ROXAS AND CO 0.48 0.49 0.47 0.5 0.47 0.475 280,000 133,500 RFM CORP 2.95 2.98 2.94 2.99 2.94 2.98 37,000 110,100 UNIV ROBINA 112.2 112.4 113.8 114.8 111.2 112.4 1,119,840 125,842,743 VITARICH 0.485 0.49 0.49 0.49 0.49 0.49 200,000 98,000 VICTORIAS 3.25 3.32 3.25 3.26 3.25 3.26 7,000 22,770 CONCRETE A 40 44.55 40 40 40 40 800 32,000 CONCRETE B 38.6 47.95 48 48 48 48 50,000 2,400,000 CEMEX HLDG 0.74 0.79 0.75 0.76 0.74 0.74 194,000 145,320 EC VULCAN CORP 0.69 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.72 6,000 4,320 EEI CORP 5.72 5.78 5.79 5.79 5.78 5.78 7,100 41,058 MEGAWIDE 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.08 3.02 3.03 278,000 841,610 PHINMA 19.5 20 20 20 20 20 15,000 300,000 CROWN ASIA 1.52 1.57 1.58 1.58 1.52 1.52 28,000 42,730 PRYCE CORP 5.19 5.2 5.2 5.3 5.19 5.19 161,500 840,099 CONCEPCION 13.52 14.48 14.48 14.48 14.48 14.48 1,000 14,480 GREENERGY 0.249 0.25 0.255 0.26 0.25 0.25 16,210,000 4,115,050 INTEGRATED MICR 3.42 3.47 3.41 3.45 3.41 3.45 8,000 27,350 IONICS 1.02 1.03 1 1.04 1 1.03 496,000 506,140 SFA SEMICON 1.95 2.03 1.94 2.03 1.93 2.03 346,000 696,930 CIRTEK HLDG 1.53 1.61 1.61 1.63 1.46 1.61 1,380,000 2,134,800

221,630 -2,280 -615,455 -892,072.00 -92,264.50 30,265,828 -110,046 -118,520 -1,599,406 5,760 -113,428 10,410,300 -626,220 -160,480 14,375,805 1,447,492 -18,309,125 -511,790 -250,920 -2,721,727 -9,516,218 304,500 -294,250 8,820 -10,066,662.00 31,020 -84,500 -86,260 -24,846,114 6,520 -3,000 218,180 942,500 -13,710 21,610 -1,529,040

HOLDING & FRIMS

ABACORE CAPITAL AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP REPUBLIC GLASS SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

47 129.7 104 29.8 7.88 50.85 18.44 51.2 22.25 70.3 57 1.4 2.58 2.71 3.9 0.52 167 2,700 0.77

0.86 654 48.55 9.65 11.02 0.39 0.38 4.5 9.3 5.08 0.191 551.5 38.8 4.6 0.405 4.3 8.76 2.9 0.9 825 110.5 94.15 0.25 0.071

47.2 130 104.5 30 7.94 50.95 18.46 54.95 23 70.5 57.05 1.43 2.68 2.85 4.2 0.56 168 2,710 0.81

0.87 660.5 49 9.7 11.04 0.49 0.385 4.58 9.32 5.2 0.27 553.5 38.9 6.08 0.46 4.31 8.8 3.9 0.94 828 111 100 0.275 0.106

46.95 130.7 106 30.2 8 50.5 18.5 52.05 22.85 69.5 56.55 1.41 2.58 2.71 3.9 0.69 168 2,710 0.8

0.93 660 48.9 9.62 11 0.44 0.38 4.55 9.29 5.19 0.2 555 39 4.59 0.46 4.31 8.75 2.9 0.9 823.5 108.9 95.55 0.25 0.071

47.2 131.5 106 30.2 8 51.3 18.5 54.95 23 70.7 57.5 1.43 2.58 2.9 3.9 0.69 171.9 2,710 0.8

0.93 660.5 49 9.72 11.04 0.44 0.38 4.55 9.31 5.2 0.2 558 39 4.59 0.46 4.31 8.8 2.9 0.94 828.5 111.2 99.95 0.25 0.071

46.8 129.6 103.8 30 7.84 50.4 18.44 51.1 22.85 69.5 56.55 1.39 2.58 2.71 3.9 0.58 168 2,710 0.8

0.86 650 47.9 9.61 11 0.42 0.38 4.47 9.27 5.07 0.19 550 38.35 4.59 0.46 4.31 8.75 2.9 0.9 821 108.3 90 0.25 0.071

47.2 129.7 104.5 30 7.88 50.85 18.44 51.1 23 70.3 57.05 1.43 2.58 2.9 3.9 0.58 168 2,710 0.8

0.87 660.5 49 9.65 11.04 0.42 0.38 4.5 9.3 5.2 0.19 551.5 38.9 4.59 0.46 4.31 8.8 2.9 0.94 828 111 99.95 0.25 0.071

34,400 2,351,950 1,419,560 148,500 22,300 10,649,190 27,100 2,650 100,000 151,360 335,590 53,000 100,000 15,000 7,000 20,000 3,930 5 59,000

8,739,000 113,990 711,800 1,383,100 2,400 250,000 30,000 166,000 1,403,300 88,300 400,000 145,760 625,800 1,600 10,000 118,000 3,294,700 260,000 2,000 102,820 520,940 3,990 10,000 260,000

7,799,010 74,907,510 34,790,205 13,361,913 26,468 105,600 11,400 749,490 13,045,804 449,837 79,900 80,519,005 24,225,680 7,344 4,600 508,580 28,928,040 754,000 1,840 84,887,720 57,231,100 386,217 2,500 18,460

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.425 0.465 0.47 0.47 0.47 0.47 90,000 42,300 AYALA LAND 31.3 31.4 31.1 31.4 31 31.4 6,283,500 196,455,010 AYALA LAND LOG 1.59 1.6 1.63 1.63 1.56 1.6 157,000 251,890 ARANETA PROP 1.05 1.07 1.03 1.09 1.03 1.08 780,000 838,240 AREIT RT 31.25 31.3 31.3 31.5 30.65 31.3 1,136,600 35,464,755 A BROWN 0.61 0.65 0.61 0.65 0.61 0.65 8,000 4,920 CROWN EQUITIES 0.057 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 0.07 20,000 1,400 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.51 2.55 2.54 2.59 2.51 2.51 299,000 758,200 CENTURY PROP 0.295 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 110,000 33,000 CITICORE RT 2.54 2.55 2.55 2.55 2.53 2.55 3,063,000 7,790,680 DOUBLEDRAGON 8 8.14 8.1 8.28 8 8 201,400 1,621,645 DDMP RT 1.2 1.21 1.2 1.21 1.19 1.2 1,084,000 1,304,040 DM WENCESLAO 6.23 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 23,000 143,750 EMPIRE EAST 0.123 0.127 0.121 0.128 0.121 0.126 70,000 8,750 EVER GOTESCO 0.28 0.295 0.275 0.295 0.275 0.295 210,000 61,050 FILINVEST RT 2.77 2.78 2.78 2.78 2.75 2.77 809,000 2,241,450 FILINVEST LAND 0.54 0.56 0.56 0.56 0.54 0.54 10,017,000 5,506,980 PHIL INFRADEV 0.52 0.56 0.55 0.56 0.55 0.56 356,000 196,880 CITY AND LAND 0.75 0.77 0.77 0.78 0.75 0.77 46,000 35,010 MEGAWORLD 1.98 1.99 2 2.02 1.97 1.98 7,413,000 14,696,240 MRC ALLIED 1.37 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.38 1.4 91,000 126,370 MREIT RT 12 12.1 12.3 12.4 12 12 755,200 9,110,508 OMICO CORP 0.228 0.23 0.228 0.228 0.228 0.228 400,000 91,200 PREMIERE RT 1.52 1.54 1.52 1.54 1.52 1.54 123,000 189,080 RL COMM RT 4.72 4.79 4.8 4.8 4.72 4.72 877,000 4,174,690 ROBINSONS LAND 14.9 15.02 15 15 14.82 15 1,601,300 24,011,398 PHIL REALTY 0.149 0.16 0.158 0.16 0.158 0.16 110,000 17,560 ROCKWELL 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.39 1.35 1.38 39,000 53,060 SHANG PROP 3.65 3.69 3.65 3.69 3.65 3.69 15,000 54,790 STA LUCIA LAND 3.3 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 1,000 3,300 SM PRIME HLDG 33 33.05 33.4 33.4 32.95 33 3,471,400 114,855,595 VISTA LAND 1.61 1.64 1.63 1.64 1.61 1.61 1,336,000 2,172,800 VISTAREIT RT 1.68 1.69 1.68 1.69 1.68 1.68 222,000 374,650 SERVICES ABS CBN 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.51 14,000 49,400 GMA NETWORK 8.24 8.25 8.3 8.3 8.24 8.24 127,200 1,052,043 GLOBE TELECOM 1,718 1,730 1,727 1,736 1,711 1,718 19,185 33,035,055 PLDT 1,265 1,270 1,276 1,276 1,255 1,270 23,950 30,375,480 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.014 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.014 0.014 23,600,000 332,200 CONVERGE 8.19 8.2 8.2 8.34 8.15 8.2 3,154,300 25,941,168 DFNN INC 3.05 3.1 3.02 3.15 3.02 3.1 32,000 98,070 DITO CME HLDG 2.4 2.41 2.25 2.42 2.24 2.4 4,709,000 11,028,940 NOW CORP 1.09 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.06 1.1 954,000 1,036,800 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.132 0.146 0.132 0.148 0.132 0.148 1,050,000 151,530 ASIAN TERMINALS 15.14 15.72 15.4 15.4 15.3 15.3 2,700 41,470 CHELSEA 1.4 1.45 1.37 1.45 1.37 1.45 972,000 1,379,840 CEBU AIR 31.95 32 32.2 32.2 31.95 32 205,500 6,590,235 INTL CONTAINER 231.6 235 228.2 235 226 235 3,206,570 742,355,332 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.56 0.65 0.56 0.56 0.56 0.56 2,000 1,120 MACROASIA 4 4.01 4.09 4.16 4.01 4.01 343,000 1,384,000 PAL HLDG 5.2 5.37 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.2 3,600 18,720 HARBOR STAR 0.77 0.84 0.85 0.85 0.79 0.84 45,000 35,860 ACESITE HOTEL 1.75 1.88 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75 3,000 5,250 WATERFRONT 0.375 0.4 0.375 0.375 0.37 0.375 140,000 52,450 IPEOPLE 6.65 7.3 7.36 7.36 7.35 7.35 8,800 64,745 STI HLDG 0.465 0.47 0.465 0.47 0.465 0.465 1,070,000 498,250 BELLE CORP 1.17 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.18 50,000 59,000 BLOOMBERRY 9.61 9.64 9.57 9.65 9.5 9.64 7,296,800 70,067,439 PACIFIC ONLINE 3.1 3.14 3.14 3.14 3.14 3.14 32,000 100,480 PH RESORTS GRP 1.07 1.08 1.05 1.07 1 1.07 14,104,000 14,749,460 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.57 0.58 0.59 0.6 0.57 0.58 8,020,000 4,649,170 DIGIPLUS 6.49 6.5 6.54 6.54 6.49 6.5 114,800 746,555 PHILWEB 1.73 1.81 1.81 1.81 1.81 1.81 26,000 47,060 ALLDAY 0.159 0.16 0.158 0.162 0.157 0.16 1,550,000 247,390 ALLHOME 1.05 1.06 1.13 1.15 1.05 1.06 5,700,000 6,249,110 METRO RETAIL 1.18 1.23 1.23 1.23 1.22 1.22 23,000 28,070 PUREGOLD 27.3 27.4 27.7 28 27 27.4 1,978,900 54,085,350 ROBINSONS RTL 40.1 40.15 40.45 42 39.85 40.15 578,300 23,278,835 PHIL SEVEN CORP 76.5 79 76.5 77.5 76.5 77.5 569,020 43,530,060 SSI GROUP 2.62 2.63 2.75 2.75 2.61 2.63 399,000 1,046,470 UPSON INTL CORP 1.57 1.66 1.6 1.69 1.57 1.6 230,000 371,640 WILCON DEPOT 20.05 20.1 20.25 20.8 20.1 20.1 5,145,000 104,364,910 APC GROUP 0.22 0.228 0.226 0.228 0.224 0.224 450,000 101,280 EASYCALL 1.98 2.49 2.1 2.1 1.97 1.97 6,000 12,210 IPM HLDG 3.45 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 2,000 7,000 MEDILINES 0.325 0.33 0.325 0.325 0.325 0.325 370,000 120,250 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.169 0.17 0.169 0.17 0.169 0.169 450,000 76,070 SBS PHIL CORP 3.81 3.98 3.81 3.98 3.81 3.98 7,000 27,680 MINING & OIL APEX MINING 2.86 2.88 2.85 2.88 2.82 2.88 1,883,000 5,376,980 ATLAS MINING 3.4 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 226,000 779,700 BENGUET A 4.9 4.94 4.83 4.97 4.83 4.95 23,000 112,230 BENGUET B 4.89 5.18 4.88 5.18 4.88 5.18 13,000 66,440 FERRONICKEL 2.33 2.34 2.37 2.37 2.32 2.34 109,000 255,820 GEOGRACE 0.03 0.034 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 1,700,000 51,000 MANILA MINING A 0.0051 0.0053 0.0055 0.0055 0.0051 0.0051 3,000,000 16,100 MANILA MINING B 0.0051 0.0054 0.0051 0.0051 0.0051 0.0051 1,000,000 5,100 MARCVENTURES 1 1.01 1.04 1.04 0.98 1.01 2,301,000 2,282,060 NICKEL ASIA 5.04 5.1 5.25 5.25 5.02 5.1 876,500 4,448,652 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.63 0.68 0.64 0.68 0.61 0.68 129,000 81,390 PX MINING 3.06 3.07 3.07 3.07 3.05 3.06 561,000 1,717,400 SEMIRARA MINING 29 29.1 29.45 29.45 28.7 29 1,126,800 32,671,105 ENEX ENERGY 4.26 4.4 4.25 4.45 4.25 4.45 5,000 21,850 ORNTL PETROL A 0.0081 0.0084 0.0084 0.0084 0.0084 0.0084 15,000,000 126,000 PXP ENERGY 3.4 3.45 3.39 3.45 3.33 3.45 171,000 579,510 PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 95 97.9 97.5 97.5 97.5 97.5 2,740 267,150 ACEN PREF A 1,020 1,038 1,030 1,030 1,030 1,030 100 103,000 ACEN PREF B 1,050 1,065 1,074 1,074 1,040 1,050 10,925 11,426,170 ALCO PREF D 450 500 450 450 450 450 100 45,000 AC PREF B2R 487.4 490 487.2 487.6 487.2 487.4 8,850 4,314,440 BRN PREF A 97.2 98 98 98 98 98 100 9,800 CEB PREF 31.2 31.3 31.7 31.7 31.3 31.3 17,100 535,970 DD PREF 91.5 92 92 92.9 92 92.5 1,810 166,894 EEI PREF B 95.1 96.7 96 96.7 96 96.7 350 33,670 JFC PREF B 910 920 925 925 910 910 10,010 9,134,350 MWIDE PREF 2B 90.05 93.95 93.5 93.5 93.5 93.5 900 84,150 PNX PREF 3B 24.95 25.75 23.15 25.75 23.15 25.75 1,800 45,450 PCOR PREF 3A 970.5 980 980 980 980 980 220 215,600 PCOR PREF 3B 975 980 980 980 980 980 10 9,800 SMC PREF 2F 72 72.95 72.95 72.95 72 72 6,080 443,365 SMC PREF 2I 72 73 72 72 70.5 72 1,100 78,700 SMC PREF 2J 66.5 67.95 66.3 66.4 66.3 66.4 4,000 265,500 SMC PREF 2K 66.1 69 66.05 66.05 66.05 66.05 16,000 1,056,800 SMC PREF 2L 76.2 76.95 76.8 76.8 76.8 76.8 500 38,400 SMC PREF 2N 76.1 77 77 77 77 77 70 5,390 SMC PREF 2O 77 78 76.45 77.35 76.45 77.35 51,820 3,985,395

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

WARRANTS

TECH WARRANT

3.28 3.59 7.59 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 100

0.285

0.355

0.255

0.355

0.255

0.355

210,000

923,970 134,710 -14,175,040 -3,313,149.00 -699,440 -4,243,579 -17,550,180 4,008,015 2,159,984 900 5,765,695 16,942,263 149,925 -9,400 49,841,480 4,860 4,195,080 -30,800 -33,000 45,780 27,113 -5,240 -137,500 -1,260 1,302,100 -4,341,820 -1,295,900 -821,124 -2,558,470 21,710,140 -3,690 -15,277,830 -2,050,600 -84,000 -13,471,795 7,307,630 912,052 6,040 -702,440 157,080 4,620 -7,200 -3,606,750 320,552,568 231,110 30,000 102,750 641,345 679,740 -235,450 252,233 -1,286,390.00 -4,711,170 -5,782,605 -2,325 -346,460 70,160 -9,535,455 -3,810 91,960 -81,980 -30,000 -1,223,703 -61,000 -12,740,650 -23,940 -4,070,740 -535,970 -19,250

850

-850

64,050

SMALL, MEDIUM & EMERGING

0.43 0.435 0.43 0.435 190,000 81,800 0.77 0.77 0.75 0.75 108,000 81,020 0.97 1.01 0.97 1.01 414,000 404,620 0.68 0.68 0.65 0.67 55,000 36,960 0.054 0.054 0.054 0.054 90,000 4,860 1.03 1.04 1.02 1.02 340,000 348,760 102,750 0.182 0.189 0.182 0.189 170,000 31,640 -

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

99.7 99.7 99 99 13,510 1,339,106 17,890

BALAI FRUITAS CTS GLOBAL HAUS TALK ITALPINAS LFM PROP MERRYMART XURPAS

FIRST METRO ETF

0.42 0.75 0.97 0.66 0.051 1.02 0.182 98.9

0.435 0.77 1.01 0.68 0.054 1.04 0.188 99

www.news.businessmirror@gmail.com

Banking&Finance

Canada’s $5.3-B pledge to help ‘climate finance’ By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

ANADA has pledged $5.3 billion to help plug the country’s “climate finance gap,” Malacañang announced last Wednesday. A statement issued by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) read that the government is now coordinating with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to finalize the arrangement with Canada. The proposed fund will be used for “nature-based projects” such as promoting biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience with consideration for gender equality. Global Affairs Canada Climate Finance Executive Director Andrew Hurst was quoted in the statement as saying that the initiative has components for research and knowledge sharing. Through the collaboration, we hope to reduce poverty, address gender inequality, and provide nature-dependent communities with sustainable livelihoods, Hurst reportedly said. “It’s also looking at ways to encourage private sector both international and Philippines investors looking for opportunities to invest in these kinds of solutions,” he added. While the statement didn’t say if the commitment is a loan or grant, an article on the website of the gov-

ernment of Canada read that the international climate finance “is delivered through a mix of funding mechanisms that respond to the unique needs of different development contexts.” “The $5.3-billion climate finance commitment consists of 40 percent grants and contributions, and 60 percent unconditionally repayable contributions (URCs), an innovative finance instrument akin to concessional loans.” The article added that URCs “are contributions that must be repaid according to the specific repayment terms negotiated with the partner, and are used to incentivize muchneeded private sector investments in low-carbon activities, primarily in middle-income and lower-middleincome countries.” While the finance commitment from Canada will end in 2026, Hurst said they may provide additional climate finance and bilateral aid to the country in the succeeding year. “To the extent that good things come out of this project, then the results that are generated will continue to look for opportunities to build on and also work together in the future,” he added. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier said the country is pushing for more international funding to help in the adaptation and mitigation initiatives for countries, including the Philippines, which are vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

Unionbank bags ₧18.168B after fixed-rate bond float

BOITIZ-led publicly-listed bank Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has raised P18.168 billion from its pesodenominated fixed rate bonds issued via a dual tranche offering. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), UnionBank said this is the largest bond issuance by UnionBank from its P50 billion Bonds Program. “Fuelled by our passion to address the needs of our customers, we introduced the Bond Exchange program to provide a reinvestment option for existing investors,” said Johnson L. Sia, treasurer and head of Global Markets. “We are grateful for the support of our investors as their confidence in the Bank allowed us to raise our largest Peso bond issuance to date,” he added. The 1.5-year Series F Bonds that are due in 2025 raised a total of P10.3385 billion and carried an interest rate of 6.5625 percent per annum. The 3-year Series G Bonds that are

due in 2026 raised a total of P7.8295 billion and carries an interest rate of 6.68 percent per annum. UnionBank also implemented the country’s first public non-sovereign bond exchange which extended to the holders of its P8.115 billion 2.75 percent Fixed Rate Series C Bonds due in December 9, 2023 (the “Exchangeable Bonds”) the option to sell to UnionBank such Exchangeable Bonds in exchange for subscription to any of the New Bonds (the “Bond Exchange”). The Bond Exchange settlement date is on December 4, 2023, with P236.7 million of Exchangeable Bonds to be exchanged with the New Bonds. The New Bonds will be issued and listed on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. on December 5, 2023. ING Bank N.V., Manila Branch and Standard Chartered Bank are the Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners for the New Bonds. They are also the Selling Agents for the offering of the New Bonds together with UnionBank. Cai U. Ordinario

BusinessMirror

@brownindio

OMEGROWN technology firm Thepack Solutions Inc. (Packworks) and microfinance business 1Sari Financing Corp. has inked an agreement “to provide access to secure, reliable and affordable inventory financing services” to more than 270,000 unbanked sari-sari stores across the Philippines. In a statement issued last Monday, Packworks explained that under the partnership, sari-sari stores will be able to access a starting credit line amount of P2,500 (about $45.23) through 1Sari’s inventory financing product. The latter will be made available as an in-app service for Packworks’s partner stores. Sari-sari stores can use the credit to purchase goods and bolster their inventory, ensuring they’re well-stocked and ready for customer demands. There will also be a prompt pay-

ment rebate scheme to promote good paying habits for borrowers. Stores can get a rebate of as much as P75 if they pay their dues on time and in full, which they can use for their next availment of inventory financing, according to the Filipino startup. According to Packworks, the services they would offer are particularly timely as the Christmas season approaches, known to be the busiest time for businesses. By granting sari-sari stores the ability to tap into crucial financial resources, they can proactively stock up and prepare to meet the heightened demand for various items during this festive period. This not only ensures that they can meet customer needs but also harness the full potential of the season’s commercial opportunities. Packworks Co-founder and Chief Platform Officer Hubert Yap was quoted in the statement as saying that he sees the partnership as “another step forward to tapping the immense potential of over 1.3 million

Insurance premiums swell, usher rise in sector income

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE insurance industry’s net income in the third quarter rose by 9.37 percent to P38.28 billion from P35 billion last year as premiums collected by life and non-life insurance firms continued to expand, the Insurance Commission (IC) said. The IC said the combined net income of life and non-life insurance companies as well as mutual benefit associations (MBAs) expanded by P3.28 billion during the July to September period. The IC attributed the increase to expansion in the net income posted by life and non-life insurance sec-

tors, outpacing the decline in the net income of mutual benefit associations (MBAs). “The increase in net income of the insurance industry could be attributed to the increase in premium collection by both life and non-life insurance companies,” the IC said in a statement on Wednesday.

IC data released last Wednesday showed that the net income of the life insurance companies rose by 10.32 percent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to P28.79 billion from P26.1 billion last year. The life insurance companies accounted for the bulk or about 75 percent of the total net income of the country’s insurance industry, based on IC data. The net income of the non-life insurance companies grew by 15 percent to P5.48 billion from P4.76 billion. Only the MBAs sector experienced a 3.05-percent decline in its net income Y-o-Y due to a “significant increase in total underwriting expenses,” according to the IC. The net income of the MBAs declined to P4.01 billion from P4.14 billion last year, based on IC data. IC said the MBA sector’s underwriting expenses rose by 32.72 percent on an annual basis to P9.64 bil-

lion in the third quarter of the year. In terms of premium collections, life insurance companies have collected a total of P229.89 billion in the third quarter with P46.57 billion of which being considered as a new business. “Non-life insurance companies registered total net premiums written of P48.21 billion as of the said period, which is 15.56 percent higher than total net premiums registered during the same period last year,” the IC said. “Even MBAs registered higher total contributions of P11,494.4 billion, which is 7.43-percent higher than figures during the same period last year,” the industry regulator added. IC data also showed that the insurance industry’s total assets in the third quarter rose by almost 10 percent to P2.23 trillion from P2.028 trillion last year.

City Savings Bank backs disaster readiness for LGUs

HE City Savings Bank Inc. (CSBI) announced it partnered with Singapore-based Komunidad Global Pte Ltd. (KGPL) in a data-collection tack using earlywarning systems in the municipalities of Caramoran, Catanduanes, and Dinapigue, Isabela. A statement issued by the lender explained that KGPL, through its Climate Action Center, would grant access to one global positioning system (GPS) location per local government unit (LGU). The firm also threw in access to a portal containing KGPL’s site analysis dashboard that features five data parameters.

The lender, which did not say how much it is funding the partnership with KGPL, said the LGUs were also provided with 5,000 “early warning alert credits,” delivered via SMS or the Viber portal of Rakuten Inc. The reports, both event-triggered and scheduled daily, will be sent to five identified recipients, the lender’s statement read. In return, the LGUs commit to utilizing the information garnered from KGPL’s decision support tools “to enhance their disaster preparedness and climate adaptation programs.” This includes incorporating KGPL’s climate adaptation suite into their

local disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) plans for project adoption and sustainability. Training sessions on climate and weather systems, decision support tools, and digital platforms were also part of the support provided to LGU DRRM officers and key persons, the lender said. To promote knowledge-sharing and capacity-building, relevant information will be disseminated to other communities and stakeholders. KGPL and the LGUs will jointly conduct information, education, and communication campaigns to increase awareness among end-users

and community members, further expanding the reach of our services. CSBI said the initiative aims to “enhance” the knowledge and capacity of local DRRM teams. “The bank is optimistic that this initiative will inspire more LGUs, communities and industries to join in the “Early Warnings For All Movement,” contributing to better disaster preparedness, saving more lives, and building a more resilient and empowered future.” The thrift subsidiary of Aboitizled Union Bank of the Philippines, CSBI has more than 140 branches nationwide. Rizal Raoul Reyes

AXA Reit promises access to global real estate mart

XA Life Insurance Corp. (AXA PHL) announced the inclusion of its Global Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and Property Income Fund (GREIT-PIF) to its portfolio of incomepaying funds (IPFs). According to AXA Philippines Chief Marketing Officer Fernando Villar, the firm’s new product gives high-net-worth investors “substantial returns” as they stand to gain monthly cash payouts of up to 5 percent per annum “while providing potential gains in capital appreciation according to market conditions.” The GREIT-PIF also allows them to tap into diverse global real estate sectors, including residential, hotel and resorts, retail, communication infrastructures, data centers, industrial, and healthcare spaces, “which is a good way to diversify one’s portfolio,” Villar added. What’s more, they are given at least

125-percent protection for their legacy while ensured of a seamless wealth transfer to their heirs, according to AXA PHL. “Because the fund is linked to an insurance product, one has guaranteed life insurance coverage for as long as he or she maintains the policy,” Villar said. According to the insurer, the move would give Filipinos a chance to bet on REIT funds, which continuously have become in-demand due to the funds’ growth potential. It added that the market capitalization of REITs increased to $1.9 trillion, representing an estimated 17 percent growth annually. Ownership of such prime investments in the world puts investors at the forefront of profitable property opportunities and passive income-generating assets, according to AXA PHL. Capitalizing on the GREIT PIF has more benefits to investors, as per Dex-

Tech firm, microfinance biz eye unbanked sari-sari stores By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Thursday, December 7, 2023

sari-sari stores nationwide.” “By reaching the unbanked and underbanked, we’re championing the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our nation forward,” Yap said adding that their collaboration with 1Sari “ensures that even the smallest establishments have the tools and resources they need to thrive.” The partnership aims to address the lack of access to crucial financial tools and support for sari-sari stores, the B2B firm Packworks said. It cited the World Bank as having identified restricted financing access as one of the primary impediments to the growth and development of MSMEs. “This is despite the Department of Trade and Industry reporting that the MSMEs make up 99 percent of all business enterprises in the Philippines and are responsible for 65 percent of the nation’s employment,” the company said. The challenges stem from various factors. Stringent requirements from traditional financial institutions often categorize many MSMEs

as high-risk borrowers. Given that many of these enterprises are either unbanked or underbanked, they find themselves excluded from vital loan capital, according to Packworks. Additionally, many MSMEs also lack knowledge about available financial services and how to access them. The lack of access to regulated credit and financing programs also forces them to operate strictly with the cash they have on hand, unable to get loans when they need them, which limits their growth potential. “Collaborating with Packworks supercharges the expansion and funding of well-deserving, creditworthy sari-sari stores,” 1Sari Cofounder and Chief Finance and Risk Officer Dindo T. Velasquez was quoted in the statement as saying. “Through their cutting-edge tech platform, we gain the power to deliver inventory financing to previously underserved micro-enterprises with unparalleled efficiency, revolutionizing their financial prospects.”

ter Agcaoili, product category head for unit-linked funds. “Investing in REITs is a smart move for investors looking to generate passive income without the burdens of direct ownership. REITs offer a unique opportunity to diversify portfolios and invest in real estate without worrying about illiquidity, property management, and upfront costs,” Agcaoili said. In a brief, Maybank Investment Banking Group Philippines noted that the local property and REIT sectors posted 37 percent and 13 percent yearon-year (YoY) profit growth in the nine months of the year and came in-line with MIBG’s fiscal year (FY) 2023 estimates at 78 percent and 76 percent, respectively. The MIBG said it maintains its positive outlook “given our projected 16 percent/18 percent YoY and 13 percent/15 percent FY 2024 estimated revenue/net

income growth for property and reits, respectively.” AXA PHL has been offering IPFs such as the “Global Assets Income Paying,” or “Gain,” Fund to support customers in building a diverse global investment portfolio and maximizing wealth growth. The firm said its GREIT PIF further enriches the insurer’s IPF portfolio by offering customers a specialized real estate investment option, granting exposure to a promising global market. “We are happy to offer top holdings consisting of the largest global REITs to Filipino investors. These include prominent industrial REITs serving clients like Amazon and Walmart, as well as data center REITs catering to major technology giants such as Google and Apple, among others,” Agcaoili said. Roderick L. Abad

briefs

➜ Unionbank inks deal with Puregold

ABOITIZ-led Union Bank of the Philippines announced it inked an agreement with Puregold Price Club Inc., operator of the S&R membership shopping club, for a cobranded credit card. The publicly-listed lender didn’t disclose the value and terms of the agreement. The lender said use of the credit card would redound to rebates. The bank added it will not charge annual credit card fees while a membership fee will be automatically charged to the card on the month of the membership anniversary. The lender offers discounts, vouchers, special offers and free products to entice cardholders to spend more using the cards. Rizal Raoul Reyes

➜ BIR officer among top bar passer

Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. announced extending congratulations to Revenue Officer Paulo Batulan for placing eighth in the 2023 Philippine Bar Examinations. Lumagui, also a topnotcher of the 2005 Bar Exams, is proud to welcome another bar topnotcher into the BIR, a statement from the agency read. The BIR chief said Batulan would “bring pride and glory to all of the men and women of the BIR.” “This is a testament to our program of integrity and professionalism of the BIR and its employees,” he added. From 2018 when Batulan joined the revenue service, he was transferred to RDO 80 Mandaue City in 2021.

➜ MBT named Bank of the Year

THE Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (PSE: MBT) announced it was named 2023 Best Bank of the Year award for the second consecutive year by the “The Banker,” a financial publication that is part of the Financial Times group. MBT said through a statement that the publication noted the lender “has enjoyed its most successful year to date in 2022–its 60th anniversary year–with all-time high earnings of P32.8 billion ($590 million), on the back of strong demand for retail and corporate loans, healthy fee income, subdued operating expense growth, and lower provisions on stable asset quality. MBT President Fabian S. Dee was quoted in the statement as saying the recognition is most timely given the challenging economic prospects that the world faces today.”

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

B4 Thursday, December 7, 2023

Tobacco products still being sold, marketed near schools–study By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

he proximity of stores, shops, street vendors and kiosks that sell tobacco and nicotine products contribute to the wide availability of these products and leave Filipino youth exposed to tobacco marketing strategies. This was the finding of an observational study conducted by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health which was released in September 2023. The same study added that tobacco and nicotine product sale and advertising persist within the proximity of schools in the Philippines, despite regulations prohibiting the sale, displays, advertisements, and promotions of tobacco products within 100 meters. The study monitored the sale and marketing of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products (HTPs) at 6,617 retailers within 200 meters of 353 schools in urban and rural areas of nine cities/regions, during the months of December 2022 to January 2023. In violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, the study observed 2,070 cigarette, 43 e-cigarette, and 33 HTP retail locations within 100 meters of the majority of schools. RA 9211 prohibits the sale and distribution of tobacco products within 100 meters of schools, playgrounds, and other places often visited by minors.

Smoking ban The law also prohibits smoking in public places including schools, elevators, stairwells, hospitals, and public transportation stations, among others. Furthermore, tobacco advertisements on television, radio, and cinemas as well as sponsorships have been banned. Outdoor advertising of tobacco is also prohibited except inside point-ofsale retail stores. Parents Against Vape (PAV) has strongly condemned this practice of marketing tobacco products near schools, adding that this can lead to youth tobacco initiation and reinforce use among those who currently use these products. PAV said that the Department of Education (DepEd) and local government units (LGUs) should ensure that no person should smoke or vape whether inside or outside of the school premises at any time of day. “Like cigarettes, vapes contain nicotine. Nicotine, in any form, is harmful to our child’s grow-

ing brain. We, should take efforts to reduce the exposure of our young children to e-cigarettes,” PAV said. “The tobacco industry must stop misleading people. Vaping is far from being safe.”

PAV expands nationwide Meanwhile, an alliance between parents and Baguio City universities is taking shape against the “vapedemic” as PAV-Baguio is determined to end the scourge. The University of Baguio and the University of the Cordilleras opened their doors to concerned parents, offering a transformative learning tour on policies and strategies in combating the vape menace. The Smoke-Free Baguio Task Force led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong was elated over the support that the city’s smoke-free and vape-free campaign has been eliciting from the different sectors. “It is exciting to see that PAV’s campaign strategy is brewing, fueled by passion on this first day of the parents’ convergence. Together, we can create a brighter, smoke-free and therefore healthier generation,” the task force said. A group of parents in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna is also organizing themselves to establish Parents Against Vape-Laguna. Laguna is part of Region 4-A, the biggest region in the Philippines in terms of the number of voters. PAV was founded and launched in Davao City in 2019.

Susceptible to effects of point-of-sale marketing According to the study, young people and adolescents can be particularly susceptible to the influential effects of point-of-sale marketing such as strategically located product displays, sales of single stick cigarettes (which make cigarettes more affordable), and prominent advertising, including those at children’s eye level. Findings show that despite policies requiring signage indicating that sales are prohibited to people under 21 years of age, only 11 percent of cigarette retailers, four percent of e-cigarette retailers, and 48 percent of HTP retailers had the requisite signage visible. Likewise, 98 percent of cigarette retailers sold single stick cigarettes, and indoor and outdoor advertising (e.g., graphic printed signage/posters) were common across all retailer types.

Flavored tobacco, nicotine products Flavored tobacco and nicotine products were

also commonly available across retailers, including 90 percent of cigarette retailers and 98 percent of e-cigarette and HTP retailers. Flavors can expand product appeal by masking the harsh taste of tobacco. Flavored products are also linked to increased product appeal and initiation among young people. A World Health Organization (WHO) report on the global tobacco epidemic in 2021 stated that there are about 16,000 unique flavors available in some markets, of which more than half appeal to children and adolescents. According to Jennifer Brown, a scientist from the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health and the study investigator, “Stricter enforcement of existing policies prohibiting sales and advertising of tobacco products within 100 meters of schools and implementation of a national comprehensive policy on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship can protect the well-being of Filipino youth and reduce the rate of tobacco-caused death and disease in the Philippines.” According to the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), one in five Filipinos aged 15 years and older currently use tobacco. The 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, meanwhile, shows that 12.5 percent of students aged 13 to 15 in the Philippines are current tobacco users. This is equivalent to around 762,000 students who smoke cigarettes and other types of tobacco. But more alarming is the rise in the use of electronic cigarettes among young people. In the age group 13 to 15 years old, electronic cigarettes recorded the highest prevalence compared to other tobacco products. It is estimated that 14.1 percent of students in this age group are current users of electronic cigarettes. On the other hand, the percentage of those who have tried electronic cigarettes increased from 11.7 percent in 2015 to 24.6 percent in 2019. The use of electronic cigarettes is especially high among boys. From 15.7 percent in 2015, boys who have tried electronic cigarettes have more than doubled to 35.2 percent in 2019. About 77 percent of those who smoke bought products from stores, kiosks, or street vendors, contrary to laws prohibiting sales to youth. Implementing a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is one of the most cost-effective and high-impact ways that countries can reduce demand for tobacco, and the WHO Framework Convention.

HMO start-up committed to providing better healthcare access for SMEs By Rory Visco Contributor

n 2017, around 54.5 percent of total health payments of Filipinos came from their own pockets, generally for medicines. Due to the high cost of these medicines, it will drive out-of-pocket expenditures up, thereby forcing over 1.5 million Filipinos to become poorer because of these health shocks. This, while less than 10 percent of the population has access to health plans beyond PhilHealth. That is why many Filipinos who seek employment nowadays choose employment in companies that will offer a substantial healthcare insurance coverage. Many companies spend a substantial amount in order to provide healthcare insurance to their employees with the hopes of attracting and retaining valuable workforce. However, since 99 percent of businesses in the Philippines are Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), offering a comprehensive healthcare insurance coverage to employees will be a challenge because it will entail expenses.

Healthcare for all HIVE Health, a full-stack digital health insurer, offers hassle-free, comprehensive HMO health plans for SMEs and startups. The company offers outpatient, inpatient, emergency, and dental care through an extensive nationwide network of 1,700 hospitals and clinics, and over 60,000 doctors across the country. This digital health insurance start-up, founded in Harvard and Stanford Universities in 2021, was created with the mission to make healthcare more accessible in the Philippines and in many other developing countries where there are limitations in social safety nets. “Our goal is to leverage technology and data to make quality healthcare more affordable and easier to use, especially for the underserved SME segment,” said the Stanford and Harvard-educated Jiawen Tang, President and cofounder of Hive Health. When asked by BusinessMirror if their focus is just on the SME market or for every Filipino, Camille Ang, cofounder and CEO of Hive Health, who also has degrees from Harvard (MBA, Harvard Business School, and MPAInternational Development, Harvard Kennedy School), said their current focus is on the SME market. “We realize

the pain is felt most there but the SME market is such a big ocean that we can start with, but we are not closing our options,” she said. With regards to the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law in the Philippines, Tang, who said they did their Masters thesis on healthcare financing in the Philippines, said that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are three pillars to UHC: population coverage or how many people are covered; service coverage, or what medical services can be covered, like medicines, mental health, maternity, which some governments may not be able to provide; and financial coverage, or how much of these benefits can the government provide. “Hive Health can help by being a supplemental partner to PhilHealth and UHC programs.” Tang added that personally, she would like to add a fourth pillar, which is accessibility. “You can have all these coverages provided on paper, whether the number of people, the number of services, and the financial coverage, but unless it is accessible, unless you have reliable systems, you have a service model, you have the techenabled solutions to make these accessible and easy to reach by patients, then we’re not giving them the most out of all the resources available. Hive Health thus sees itself as a partner and supporter of UHC,” Tang explains.

Health-care service made digital ACCORDING to Ang, Hive Health’s digital platform allows patients and even their dependents to manage their own care with hardly any effort. This includes particularly tedious tasks such as requesting for Letters of Approval (LOAs), which can now be done within minutes so that patients won’t have to worry about queueing in long lines in hospitals, viewing plan benefits, finding nearby providers, scheduling annual physical exams, and accessing medical records. Being digital, Ang said all these can now be done either from their phone or computer. “We’re also proud of our one-of-a-kind vertically integrated telehealth and care coordination model that bridges virtual and in-person care. Patients can book on-demand video teleconsultations with our team of Hive doctors, who use our in-house electronic medical records system to enable patients to get more accurate diagnoses and access the right care whenever they need it,” Tang pointed out. Additionally, Ang also emphasized that Hive Health

promotes inclusivity for groups such as the LGBTQIA+ and domestic partners, and also offers essential benefits in the areas of mental health, medicines, preventive care, and maternity care. With regards to SMEs and Human Resource managers, Ang said they need not be bothered by cumbersome paperwork since everything at Hive Health is digital. “Hive Health’s HR dashboard simplifies onboarding and offboarding, streamlines invoicing, and empowers business owners and HR to encourage employee engagement and wellness.”

Transforming health-care access JUST recently, Hive Health pushed the button to transform healthcare access for Filipinos when it acquired Health Plan Philippines, Inc. (HPPI), one of the pioneering HMOs in the country. “We have just begun the hard work of making healthcare radically more accessible. The goal is for all Filipinos to feel secure that their health is taken care of, and to give employers a sustainable way to take part in making that happen,” according to Ang. “Hive Health’s journey to date, especially with the acquisition of HPPI, marks a significant milestone, not just for our company but also for the Philippine startup landscape. It underscores the potential of startups like Hive Health to shrink the change and make an impact on intractable problems.” With this bold but strategic move, Ang and Tang said Hive Health will be able to share its technology and data-driven innovations with HPPI’s existing members, including integrating HPPI’s nationwide provider network and institutional knowledge built across 37 years with its core capabilities to further redefine the patient experience across virtual and in-person care. “Hive Health has been a valued partner of HPPI given our shared missions. I have seen how the team is able to deliver changes to improve the patient experience much faster than I would have expected, and how they genuinely care about making health-care accessible to more Filipinos. We are excited for the journey ahead as Hive Health and HPPI join forces,” says Natasha Reyes, CEO of HPPI. With a steadfast commitment to making quality health-care accessible to all, the two young business leaders are definitely on a mission, which is to ensure that all Filipino employees receive the best possible care, starting with their groundbreaking health plans.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Pinoys told to reflect, feel fulfilled, help fight hunger this Christmas By Roderick L. Abad | Contributor

S Yuletide is fast approaching, Save The Children Philippines has launched the “Tayo ang Pasko” campaign, which seeks to illuminate the complex challenges of child hunger while highlighting the intricate web of factors contributing to its existence. This initiative enjoins everyone to come together with a shared mission to not just spread joy during this festive time of the year, but also to reflect and feel fulfilled. And what better way to do this than by being united in the spirit of giving and compassion to those in need. With this in mind, the leading independent children’s organization urges the people to think not merely about food but also to look further than its distribution as a way to spread Christmas cheer. Hence, the traditional gift-giving should go “Beyond the Bowl.” This encourages everybody to recognize and break the root cause of hunger. Figuratively, the bowl symbolizes the perennial problem of youth hunger in the country. Beyond this, it calls for a collective response to not just provide for their urgent need for food but also to extend support to producers of what’s on the table, who themselves are hungry as well. “With this campaign, we aim to ignite a conversation, a narrative of change, where every participant becomes a co-actor. The bowls not only foster creativity but will also serve as a tangible commitment to filling them, ensuring that our children and farmers see brighter, more secure tomorrows,” Save The Children Philippines President Atty. Alberto Muyot said during their debut of the campaign held at The Manila Clock Tower Museum in Manila City Hall last November 23.

Face of hunger

“THE youth is the hope of the nation.” This famous quote of Dr. Jose Rizal means that children are the lights of the future and the bearers of hopes and dreams of Filipinos, yet their potential remains constrained when hunger becomes a barrier, hindering their path to education, destroying their aspirations, and slowing down their contribution to the progress of society. Starvation has been a major problem the country has been facing since time immemorial. One of its grave effects is malnutrition, the main culprit to stunting among the youngsters. Malnutrition is a condition that develops when the body is deprived of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it requires to maintain healthy tissues and organ function. It is evident in people who are either undernourished or overnourished. Stunting is largely an irreversible result of insufficient nutrition and repeated bouts of infection during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. A child who is shorter than the average height for his age will grow up with impaired cognitive and learning ability, as well as memory and intellect, while unable to reach full mental and physical potential. According to Muyot, malnutrition currently stands at more than 30 percent in the Philippines. In fact, one in three Filipino kids aged five years old and below is

severely malnourished, manifested in stunting. The worst case scenario shows that 95 Filipino children die each day from malnutrition. Addressing such concerns, for him, can’t be done by the government alone. “It has to be the concerted efforts of everyone if we are going to really come up with solutions,” he told reporters in a sideline interview. “So it’s about time that we really come together and put all of our resources together to address this issue of hunger and its effects.”

Two-pronged program

SAVE The Children Philippines is doubling its effort to promote the spirit of sharing this holiday season. It does not only count on the participation of every individual, but also the corporate citizens. “Tayo ang Pasko: Beyond the Bowl” initiative has two programs reinforcing a message that each participant plays a pivotal role in filling the lives of Filipino children with hope, nourishment, and a brighter future. First of which is the Fulfillment Band, which serves as a symbol of hope and collective effort in the campaign. “It’s not only a beautiful bracelet for you and your loved ones’ wrists. It shows that you’re part of a movement with unwavering commitment to addressing the food crisis and child hunger gripping the country, which I think people tend to forget, like there really is a problem. And with countless children attending school on empty stomachs, the mission remains clear: no child should be left behind,” said Ria Atayde, actress and ambassadress of Save The Children Philippines. The second component is Give to Save project, a gifting drive for companies in line with their corporate social responsibility. The handwoven box contains a mug, pop socket for phones and gadgets, bandana, and notebook. Citing an article published in Forbes magazine, she said that corporate gifts are an intangible representation of what an organization stands for. Atayde added: “This is the most important job of building relationships with your clients that although you may not have a big budget set up for outreach, you do have a budget for Christmas gift giving. And this is a way for you to hit two birds with one stone.” Live the essence of Christmas through “Tayo ang Pasko: Beyond the Bowl” aimed at solving the pressing issue of hunger due to abject penury while uniting Filipinos to create a brighter future for children and farmers who deserve the warmth and joy of the Yuletide season. “Here in the Philippines, we don’t have a typical war, but we have a war on poverty,” child actress Xia Vigor, who is also the organization’s ambassadress, pointed out. “Maybe some of us don’t realize that there are other people and children who will never know it’s Christmas. How sad is that? Because they’re busy just finding ways to survive every single day of their life. We all need each other to end this kind of war. Through our campaign, we can help them.” For more information, contact Save The Children Philippines at 8852-7283 or visit https://www.savethechildren.org.ph/.

A Catalyst of Change: Honoring the Legacy and Life of Dr. George S.K. Ty

n celebration of the life and work of the late philanthropist and Filipino business tycoon Dr. George S.K. Ty, companies under the Metrobank Group, Manila Doctors Hospital, Manila Tytana Colleges, Metrobank Foundation, Inc., and GT Foundation, came together for a series of inspiring and commemorative events and activities that tackled the legacy and honor of the late Metrobank Group Founder and Chairman, five years since his passing.

Healthcare and education in one, every step of the way

Honoring Dr. Ty’s vision and contribution to healthcare in the country, Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) spearheads a scholarship grant to selected 4th year Nursing students of Manila Tytana Colleges (formerly Manila Doctors College). In his continuing legacy, GT Foundation Inc. will provide P5 million funding to Manila Doctors Hospital to support the BSN scholars from Tytana and MDH’s Nursing Assistants to registered nurse scholarship through the hospital’s Bridge Program. The GTFIMDH Scholarship Program is a manifestation of the hospital’s thrust to improve the quality of healthcare with the sustained availability of healthcare professionals in partnership with the academic community. Apart from the launch of the scholarship program, MDH will also complete the second phase of last year’s dedication of the newly renamed Dr. George S.K. Ty Medical Tower through the unveiling of his bust. In 2022, MDH commemorated his legacy with a dedication ceremony for the hospital’s new and modern 21-storey building. The newest medical tower is the fruition of the late Chairman’s dream for MDH to be one of the top hospitals in the country providing safe, comprehensive, and accessible health care to anyone in need.

Advancement in academic landscape

Manila Tytana Colleges, the educational arm of the Metrobank Group, will provide the platform to sharpen the minds and imbue the values of humanitarian and philanthropic works of the late Chairman

through the school’s series of activities dubbed “Pagyabong: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. George S.K. Ty,” with the theme, “Para sa Tytana, Para sa Bayan.” The Student Symposium aims to showcase proposals from Tytana Formation students about their advocacies and other projects that would benefit the community. Some of the projects include hygiene education among grade school students, promoting culture and arts, and championing mental health. Tytana also conducted a Community Food Sharing program. The beneficiary for this year are 120 grade school students from Tambo Elementary School Unit I, Paranaque City. Aside from the donation from the school, the College and Senior High School Student Councils of Tytana also contributed to this weeklong initiative. In its fourth year, Tytana will once again hold the Pagyabong Essay Writing and Video Making Competitions. The competitions aspire to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Ty through stories of service and kindness.

Paying it forward–the GSKT way

Carrying the philanthropic and humanitarian values of the late Chairman, the GT Foundation will once again implement a food augmentation program called PaGTitipon. Launched in 2021, this program has already reached 20,000 families nationwide. On its 3rd-year, GTFI will conduct series of activities, distribution of food baskets, and in-kind donations to select marginalized beneficiaries nationwide. GT Foundation has partnered with select institutions like Childhope Philippines, Caritas Philippines, Tulong Para sa Walang Tahanan, and DSWD-accredited Residential Care Facilities to reach the nearly 7,000 beneficiaries nationwide. A ceremonial event happened at Childhope Philippines Paco Manila on November 24, while the program implementation will last until July 27, 2024. The Metrobank Foundation, on the other hand, will conduct a solemn yet meaningful internal commemoration activities for family members and selected close friends.

Parentlife BusinessMirror

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • Thursday, December 7, 2023

What is mindful gift-giving?

5 creative ways to make after-school activities more fun KIDS spend most of their weekdays in school. From classes to extracurricular activities, they deserve a fun treat when they get home, especially after a long day. This is the perfect opportunity for parents to get creative with after-school activities as a reward for kids doing an awesome job in their classes and finishing their assignments on time. If you need ideas to make your kids’ after-school routine more fun and rewarding, here are some suggestions: n Get crafty and make a calming jar. A calming jar is a sensory item that can help relax anyone who shakes it. You can easily make this with your kids by pouring glitters, hand soap, and watercolor in a clear jar—then mix. This will create a shimmery mixture that can be compared to a snow globe when shaken. This is a great artsy activity that you can do in just a few minutes. n Sing your heart out. Music can uplift anyone’s mood. Once your kids are done with their homework, you can play their favorite songs on Spotify or put on lyric videos on YouTube to have a videoke party in your sala as a treat to them. To make it more fun and exciting, dress up as your favorite singers, so you’ll really feel like you’re in their shoes. Dancing is also highly encouraged. n Get active and create new games at the park. Nothing beats park dates after school. Take your kids to a nearby park where you can spend time at the playground before going home. You can also organize a scavenger hunt but with a twist where kids are challenged to find as many items in different colors as they can. And by the end of a timer, the one with the most number of items wins. This can help kids de-stress and feel recharged before they start on their assignments and go back to school the next day. n Whip up a fun, yummy drink. Chocolate is always a great reward after a long day or week in school. An easy recipe that you and your kids can do at home is the Funtasy Mallows Fudge Freeze, a colorful shake made with Swiss Miss Funtasy Mallows. The product is made with premium chocolate and real milk, topped with colorful marshmallows. Turn the day around and level up the fun with this snack time drink. Here’s what you need to make a Funtasy Mallows Fudge Freeze: Ingredients (good for two servings): 2 packs Swiss Miss Funtasy Mallows ½ cup water 2 cups vanilla ice cream 1 cup ice marshmallows whipped cream (optional) Instructions: Dissolve two Swiss Miss Funtasy Mallows in 1/2 cup water. Add 2 cups ice cream, 1 cup ice, and Swiss Miss Funtasy Mallows mixture in a blender. Add marshmallows in a glass. Pour Funtasy Mallow Fudge Freeze mixture in glass. Add toppings. n Indoor movie nights made fun. Watching a movie together at home is a great bonding activity for the whole family. Decorate your sala with fairy lights and movie posters to add more ambiance for the best indoor movie experience. Get your snacks and Funtasy Mallow Fudge Freeze, and get cozy on the couch while enjoying your chosen movie. This is a fun way to reward your kids with an exciting viewing experience after school days.

HE year truly went by so quickly this 2023. I felt the “Christmas wind” was a bit slower this year. Due to the effects of inflation, and the uncertainty borne of the conflicts in the world, I have heard friends and family holding back a bit from their usual urge to splurge on Christmas gifts. However, as December kicks in, I found myself saying: Christmas is here and I still want the people I care about to know how much I appreciate them in my life. I still want my nephews, nieces and godchildren to enjoy opening their Christmas toys and gifts. This is how I discovered my new path to mindful giftgiving. Cambridge Dictionary defines “mindful” as “deliberately aware of your body, mind, and feelings in the present moment, in order to create a feeling of calm.” I decided to find gifts that hopefully help my loved ones find more peace. I picked nice books like Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles. For my friends with children, I hope to find gifts that help the child and the whole family to be more present and less screen-driven. The long hours spent on screen time has become one of the top issues of parents today. As early as 2018, Alice G. Walton from www.forbes.com shared in her article “How Too Much Screen Time Affects Kids” that “strong research has been coming in over the last several years, suggesting that looking at screens for hours a day can have some serious health and mental health consequences.” There was an infographic developed by Nowsourcing that explains these consequences quite simply. There are three key points that I gathered from the infographic. First, our brain’s frontal cortex, which controls our impulses, is greatly affected by the release of “feel good” substance, dopamine. Second, physically screen time may cause computer vision syndrome (CVS, a.k.a. digital eye strain) resulting in blurred vision, difficulty focusing, headaches, sensitivity to light, as well as dry eye syndrome. This is caused by staring at devices and blinking 60 percent less than normal. If untreated, eye damage and even vision loss can occur. Last point—the infographic shares very practical tips on putting your phone away at mealtimes, encouraging books and games, taking

breaks every 20 minutes of screen time, and setting up optimal computer screen viewing workstations for your child. I was alarmed even more when I was advised by a very reputable developmental pediatrician that a recent study shows too much screen time causing children to develop ADHD. That’s why I believe even more that we as gift-givers play a bigger role to protect and equip children in their highly complex and challenging world. As much as children may hear their parents’ reminder on reducing screen time, I think there might be a more positive nudge if it comes from their favorite “tito” [uncle], “tita” [auntie], “ninong” [godfather], or “ninang” [godmother]. Some of my top screen-free gift suggestions include (for infants and toddlers) Tiny Love Takealong mobile, Learning Resources All Ready Toddler Set and Halilit Drum Set; (for preschoolers ) Melissa & Doug Dentist and Salad Making Set, Learning Resources; All Ready Preschool Set, The Learning Journey Upper & Lower Case Letter Puzzle Set, Headu Little Goards Read and Write Reusable Flash Cards; (for grade school kids) Crayola Create n Carry ARt Case, Learning Resources Reading Rods and Math Links. I also highly recommend socio-emotional learning (SEL) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) gifts like Learning Resources Pineapple Feelings Toy, Crayola Color & Erase Mat and the

National Geographic Volcano and Science Kits. As a parent and licensed teacher, my children’s mental and emotional health have always been my main priority. I felt early on that patiently building “body-mind-heart” blocks for my children were equally if not more important than academic achievement. This became even more important when I found out in 2018 from a talk I attended in New York that according to the World Health Organization, depression will be the No.1 health issue by 2030. I studied how my children could be prepared for the complexities of emotions they might encounter, especially during their adolescent and teenage lives. Now that my kids are 17 and 14, I have seen that children can be supported best by the warmth and security of family love and what I call happy learning memories. Many of these happy family memories involve lots of play and adventures. I have seen how play promoted that sense of achievement, focus, “trial and error” mindset, self-regulation, and was a great way for my kids to relax. As gift-givers, let us also try to give the gift of this information to our family, friends and relatives. My younger sister, who does not have her own children, takes her gift-giving role quite seriously. She often asks me what can help her godchildren of a certain age. Next week, let me share the new must-haves of play.

❶ THE day began

when the Senate Spouses and kids enjoyed an early lunch at Wendy’s before going on to their shopping spree. Shown seated at left: Maricel Tulfo, Tootsy Angara, Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. president Audrey Zubiri, and Gladys Cruz. At right are Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, Neil Llamanzares, SM’s Millie Dizon, and Nancy dela Rosa.

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Everything is merry with Neil Llamanzares and the kids.

❸ Taguig Mayor

Lani Cayetano shops for shoes with the kids assigned to her.

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KIDS with their bags of cheer from Gladys Cruz, wife of Sen. Joel Villanueva.

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Senate spouses play Santa at The SM Store Christmas came early for the children of the Tahanang Mapagpala Center in Caloocan City when the Senate Spouses Foundation Inc. (SSFI) treated them to a day of shopping fun in their annual Christmas in November event at The SM Store Megamall. A joint project of the SSFI and The SM Store, the day began with an early lunch at Wendy’s, after which they happily proceeded to the store to shop. Led by SSFI president Audrey Zubiri, the spouses played Santa to the 60 kids as they shopped for clothes, shoes, accessories, and toys. Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, Tootsy Angara, Neil Llamanzares, Nancy de la Rosa, Gladys Cruz (wife of Sen. Joel

Villanueva), Atty. Emmeline Villar, and Maricel Tulfo (daughter of Sen. Raffy Tulfo) took time from their busy schedules to take the kids around the store to shop for their little heart’s desires. The office of Sen. Bong Go also donated volleyballs and basketballs; and Jollibee treated them to delicious food packages. The delighted kids then serenaded the spouses with Christmas carols, thanking them and SM for making Christmas really special today. Christmas in November has been a joint project of SSFI and The SM Store since 1998 to bring holiday joy to less fortunate children. Among their beneficiaries are the kids from the Tahanang Mapagpala Center, which SSFI supports.

❺ SM’s Millie

Dizon with Atty. Emmeline Villar and Nenet Gumabay of the Senate Spouses

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Thursday, December 7, 2023

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DOUBLEDRAGON’S DRAGON8 MALL IN DIVISORIA HITS WEEKEND 3-YEAR-HIGH CUSTOMER FOOT TRAFFIC

OUBLEDRAGON’S Dragon8 Mall in Divisoria, Manila hit its highest weekend customer foot traffic of 67,136 last December 2 and 3, 2023 and is expected to further increase in the coming days. Daily customer foot traffic is expected to exceed 200,000 once the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project is completed. The customer volume in DD’s portfolio is expected to further increase in

the coming weeks as the holiday rush continues to build up. The six-storey Dragon8 Mall is located in the prime corner location of Recto Avenue and Dagupan Street, at the heart and busiest main center of Divisoria Manila. Dragon8 Mall-Divisoria houses 405 operating tenants and top food choices such as Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Highlands Coffee and Chowking. T he foot br idge that connects straight to the 3rd Floor of Dragon8

Mall-Divisoria was built to make it more convenient for train commuters given the expected completion of the MalolosTutuban rail project next year, which is ex pected to carr y 200,000 commuters daily w ith a projected travel time of 35 minutes. The Tutuban Manila to Malolos Bulacan rail project forms part of the 163-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) urban rail transit system from Calamba, Laguna to Clark in Central Luzon. The completion of the NSCR urban rail transit project is expected to become a major catalyst to further liven up the economic activity in the Divisoria, Manila area. Dragon8 While many of the commercial complexes in the area sit on a leased land, DoubleDragon’s six-storey prime commercial land where Dragon8 Mall sits is on its titled land. DoubleDragon’s Total Assets stands at P163 billion and has so far completed 1.3 Million Square Meters of GFA portfolio. To date, DoubleDragon has over hundred hectares of usable vacant prime titled land spread out in strategi DoubleDragon’s nationw ide Philippine portfolio of titled hard assets footprint strategically located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, is ex pected to fully mature by 2025 and ex pected to exceed over P250 Billion asset value by 2030 (excluding DoubleDragon’s overseas asset portfolio).

Dive into the Season of Joy at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati H

OLIDAY Inn and Suites Makati is glowing as bright as the deep blue sea as the holte takes its guests on the joy of the underwater feast this Christmas season. Let this Christmas fill every heart with endless happiness that is bursting with waves of joy. The Holiday Season Room Packages start at P7,800 nett per night inclusive of a buffet breakfast for two adults and two children below 12 years old, as well as a single entry to the Grand Christmas Raffle Draw per stay. Get a chance to win a roundtrip ticket for two via Cebu Pacific with a two-night stay at Holiday Inn Express Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Other prizes include a two-night stay at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, Holiday Inn & Suites Saigon Airport, Holiday Inn Pattaya, and Holiday Inn Cebu City. Bask in a perfect Christmas festivity and elevate your dining experience with a plethora of mouthwatering dishes for a Yuletide feast. The Christmas Eve Dinner is a sumptuous festive feast at Flavors with its signature carvery of Roasted U.S. Prime Rib, Marinated Tom Turkey and Flavors Lechon and savor the special day for Christmas lunch or dinner buffet and indulge in delectable cuisines for P2,888 nett per person. Enjoy an unforgettable night with family and friends and usher in 2024 with an ultimate buffet feast, a live band entertainment, party favors and a round of sparkling mocktail. Plus, exciting prizes for a chance to WIN a raff le prize at the New Year’s Eve countdown party at Flavors Restaurant for P3,588 nett per person. Start the year right

and celebrate a bountiful New Year’s Day lunch with loved ones for P2,888 nett per person featuring a carvery of Marinated U.S. Sirloin, Roasted Lamb Leg and Baked Salmon Fillet. A celebration would not be complete without a fill of merrymaking. Enjoy a gastronomic feast at home with delicious and heartwarming festive platters of Roast Beef with Black Pepper Sauce, Flavors Crispy Lechon Belly, Lengua Estofado, Callos and more. Each platter is good for eight to 10 persons. (24 hours advance order is required.) You may order online at https:// bit.ly/HISMOnlineStore. Make it special and delight your senses with Holiday Inn and Suites Makati’s Christmas goodies with delectable cakes, breads and sweets. The delightful treats are not limited to its festive flavors, but also prove to be a feast for the eyes—especially true about the Chocolate confectionery of Christmas bells, Santas, penguins, and Christmas trees. What’s more? Get an early bird discount of 20 percent in all the Yuletide buffet promos until December 20, 2023. The buffet vouchers are available at https://bit.ly/HISM_OnlineVouchers. Not yet an IHG One Rewards member? Sign up at https://bit.ly/IHGOneRewards®2023 or simply approach the reception at Flavors Restaurant. Join for free! To know more about the promos and offerings, visit https://ihg.com/holidayinn/makati. To order, call +63 2 75068132 or Viber +63 9175968897 and like and follow Facebook and Instagram at HolidayInnMakati.

FACADE of Merienda by Pan de Manila in Rockwell Santolan

Experience natural joy with Pure Bliss essential oil blends

URE Bliss Essential Oil Blends by SkinStation had its formal launch at the Elite branch in BGC on November 29, 2023. Consisting of nine a l l-natura l essentia l oi l blends, the initial Pure Bliss line was developed and imported from France. As many as 20 ingredients went into

each bottle of the blends, based on research by experts and specialists in essential oils from the world ’s leading supplier of natural ingredients. Dubbed “Experience Natural Joy,” guests enjoyed a blissful and aroma-filled afternoon—unveiling each essential oil blend ’s health and wellness benefits.

Pure Bliss essential oil blends are now available at all 107 SkinStation branches nationw ide. Clients/customers may buy one (15ML) bot t le for P1,500 or buy three (w ith a box) for only P3,500. #ExperienceNaturalJoy #PureBliss #PureBlissEssentialOils

Nutella Spreads Love the Filipino Way this 2023 Holiday Season

HE most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner and Nutella is giving us the keys to exciting holiday activities. Ready your hearts because the world of Nutella will open its doors for all the Nutella lovers out there through the Food Gift Factory in Noel Bazaar (Filinvest Tent Alabang) on December 8 to 10, 2023. You may now experience warmth and cheer as you share goodies to those who are not fortunate enough to spend the holidays with their loved ones. Sharing the love is made easy with three steps; Step 1 is to visit the Nutella stall in the Noel Bazaar to buy Nutella pastries and bundles. Step 2 is to take your family portrait and turn it into your personalized holiday gift card. Lastly, Step 3 is using the official hashtag

#SpreadTheNutellaLove with your posts online to encourage more people to visit the booth. It is so Filipino coded to not only celebrate the holiday season as early as the

ber months started, but to prepare gifts as well to show love and sincerity towards other people. It is through a long list of gifts to give where you find out which gifter personality you have. You will discover whether you should join the boat of the traditiona lists, who have a strong hold for culture, or maybe the emotional gifters, who value relationships and memories. T he Safe Players are also a quirky and fun way to identif y yourself, just as much as being a Bargain Hunter. If you are chill enough, then you belong in the LastMinute Gifters. Picking the best gift for your family is also what everyone is looking forward to during these times, which is why Nutella vows to empower the Filipino creativity for gift ideas this year.

Merienda by Pan de Manila opens the Door Today to the Memories of Yesterday

ID you know that Pan de Manila, renowned for baking the nation’s favorite pandesal, has a restaurant cafe? As the Paskong Pilipino season unfolds, Merienda by Pan de Manila extends a warm welcome to families seeking not just a meal but an experience that encapsulates the nostalgic essence of a true Pinoy Christmas. Made for families desiring a shared feast reminiscent of home-cooked meals, Merienda by Pan de Manila presents timeless classics like crispy beef tapa and palabok espesyal, alongside culinary innovations such as lumpiang embutido and lechon belly batchoy. Radiantly illuminated, adorned with classic wood moldings, and featuring the iconic capiz, Merienda by Pan de Manila aims to evoke feelings of reminiscing the past, providing both the generations of yesterday and today with a sense of comfort. Accompanied by a steaming mug of Café con Leche or the enticing aroma of melted butter on puto bumbong and the sweet taste of coconut on bibingka—nothing beats a good Merienda. Merienda by Pan de Manila envisions a space where the scents and flavors of the food stir memories of heartfelt conversations at your grandparents’ homes during merienda. Pan de Manila aspires to create an environment where local patrons can savor classic Filipino meals and treats, elegantly served in a warm and cozy Pinoy setting. Nostalgia meets excitement as Merienda by Pan de Manila serves up lovingly prepared

meals from scratch. They have curated as well the finest f lavors from different provinces, making them accessible to city dwellers. Upon stepping inside, the familiar scents of various Filipino dishes being cooked transport you to afternoons eagerly awaited—the delightful aroma of arroz caldo and garlic Lucban longganisa envelops your senses; the rich aroma of coconut cream in a traditional palayok as ginataan is prepared, or the first sip of tablea tsokolate made from freshly ground cacao on the batirol soothes your soul. Christmas favorites like puto bumbong and bibingka are also on the menu year-round. Why merienda? The key to any Filipinos’ heart (and stomach) lies in these afternoons reserved for sumptuous snacks like arroz caldo and suman with cocojam and muscovado. Recall helping your grandmother in her kitchen preparing these delectable treats. For Pan de Manila, Merienda is not just a snack; it is a ritual that strengthens family bonds—a time for stories and lighthearted conversations with loved ones. Merienda by Pan de Manila invites everyone to pause, savor, and relive the warmth of childhood days. Let the familiar f lavors of Filipino food transport you back to cherished memories of home. Visit any of these Merienda by Pan de Manila branches: Rockwell Ortigas, Rockwell Sheridan, Santolan Town Plaza, Four E-com Center Pasay, SM City Batangas, and Ayala Center Bloc Cebu. Follow them on Instagram: @meriendamanila.

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Thursday, December 7, 2023

strengthens DOH’s Defense secretary, French minister Japan cold chain mgmt, logistics tackle Indo-Pac. security concerns

EFENSE chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and French Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu on December 2 discussed current regional security issues during the latter’s visit.

The “landmark visit” to the Philippines by a French defense minister, according to the Embassy of France, covered concerns in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe, as both officials underscored the rules-based international order, then called for the peaceful resolution of disputes. Consistent with the security and defense interests of the Philippines and the French Indo-Pacific Strategy, they highlighted their shared positions supporting a free, open, inclusive, and stable region. Regarding the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea, both sides expressed their governments’ adherence to the spirit and provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

(UNCLOS) and its primacy thereof, as they recalled the 2016 Arbitral Award on the WPS/SCS. The ministers welcomed the positive trajectory of PhilippineFrench defense and military cooperation, demonstrated by the regular convening of bilateral defense dialogues, visits by defense and armed forces delegations, continuous educational exchanges, port visits, as well as naval and disaster-response training activities. Teodoro and Lecornu reaffirmed their determination to work for a stronger long-term partnership in the maritime, land, aerial, and information domains. Along this line, they renewed their commitment to deepen the bilateral defense relations between the Philippines and France through

MINISTER Daisuke Nihei (second from left) and Secretary Teodoro Herbosa (second from right)

LECORNU (left) and Teodoro X: @FRENCHEMBASSYPH

the signing of a Letter of Intent, wherein both sides expressed their willingness to raise the level of interaction and consolidate their exchanges through practical cooperation. This includes strengthening the legal framework of the bi-

lateral defense relationship by initiating discussions on defense agreements covering the consideration of a status of visiting forces agreement, enhancing defense and military activities, plus capability development and joint defenseindustry cooperation.

Palestinian envoy acknowledges youth groups’ support for truce By Roderick L. Abad

EPRESENTATIVES of local youth groups have pushed for the peaceful resolution of the ongoing war in the Middle East, as they recently delivered a Letter of Solidarity to Ambassador Saleh Asa’ad Fhied Mohammad of Palestine. The diplomat welcomed the young leaders who represented different youth organizations and student councils during their visit at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in the Philippines at Chatham House in Makati City on November 23. “We, the undersigned youth and student organizations, networks, and movements from the Philippines, express our wholehearted support for the worldwide call for an immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian truce in Palestine,” read the letter, which had 89 signatory organizations. The youth organizations back calls for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine, amid the Philippine

AMBASSADOR Saleh Asa’ad Fhied Mohammad (third from left) receives National Coordinator John Lazaro (third from right) during Spark’s visit to the Embassy of Palestine.

government’s refusal to join 127 countries that voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution passed in the United Nations General Assembly on October 27. “We are moved by our common humanity and our desire for sustainable peace in our generation to...assure you and the people of

Palestine that, while our government as of yet does not take an unequivocal stance in support of a ceasefire leading toward peace talks, we—[the] youth of the Philippines—do,” they stated in their correspondence. During their visit to Mohammad, the group leaders discussed

with him the long-standing conflict in Palestine, which is deeply rooted from its past, as well as the nationals’ right of return to their homes and lands. They underscored the pivotal role of the Filipino youth in standing in solidarity with Palestine, especially the young ones. “Over half of the Palestinian population is under the age of 20; in other words, the youth comprise the majority of [the said citizens],” stated John Lazaro, national coordinator of Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan or Spark, and one of the youth leaders present at the embassy. “We assert that everyone, most especially the youth, has the right to live free [from] constant fear of blockades, bombardments, and the constant threat of death.” On the same day of their visit to the embassy, the group also participated in a solidarity march organized by the Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development in the University of the PhilippinesDiliman campus.

Aussie volunteers return for local community work

USTR ALIAN Volunteers have returned to the Philippines to work with local communities in Manila and Camarines Sur. Their comeback is the first incountry deployment since March 2020, when the program shifted to remote volunteering because of the pandemic. The Australian Embassy’s deputy head of mission Dr. Moya Collett welcomed the new volunteers. She commented that her country “has a long history of volunteering in the Philippines, with over 800 [Australians] deployed since 2000. I am excited that we have resumed our deployment.” Peng-Sim Eng will volunteer at the Centre for Excellence in Special Education Foundation Inc., or Steppingstone Foundation, as a behavior management coach who will mentor Filipino teachers in developing plans for children with special needs. Meanwhile, Judith Berghan will share her skills with the Development Action for Women

DEPUTY Executive Director Ela Victoria F. Sarmago and Deputy Head of Mission Dr. Moya Collett (from left), with Socioeconomic Assistant Secretary Greg Pineda (rightmost) and some of the volunteers.

Network, or DAWN, a nongovernment organization that assists returned migrant workers, especially distressed women and their children. Berghan will help develop the NGO’s strategic plan. For her part, Lydia Jovero will work in Canaman, Camarines Sur as a sustainable livelihood officer.

Born in the Philippines, she is being deployed for the third time to help develop the local government unit’s sustainability projects. An Australian government initiative, the Australian Volunteers program supports global volunteering by matching skilled “Aussies” with Philippine organizations

to help the latter achieve their goals. The approach is aligned with its new “International Development policy,” which aims to aid locally led development, said the embassy. The program works closely w ith the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), which coordinates international and local groups providing volunteer services. “Over the years, our partnership with the Australian Embassy, through the Australian Volunteers program, has seen lives improve and communities transformed,” said Deputy Executive Director Ela Sarmago of PNVSCA. Socioeconomic Planning Assistant Secretary Greg Pineda also joined the welcome ceremony for the volunteers, as he hoped that “through collaboration and sharing of valuable skills and knowledge, [they] can help our Philippine organizations foster an environment of cultural sensitivity and understanding.”

INISTER Daisuke Nihei of Japan’s Economic Affairs graced the turnover rites for the Department of Health (DOH)’s “Programme for Covid-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support.” During the Covid-19 public health crisis, the Japanese government quickly responded as it provided various assistance, according to the Embassy of Japan. Among its notable contributions was a grant of about ¥700 million, or P260 million, to bolster the Philippines’s cold-chain management and logistics. It included the procurement of eight refrigerated vans, 17 delivery vans, 17 pickup trucks, 18 wing-van trucks, 500 biothermal packaging systems, and 140 ice pack freezers. The support was designed to fortify the country’s capacity in effectively responding to existing and future health crises.

Nihei lauded the Philippine government’s efforts, especially DOH’s, and the entire national health work force that effectively responded to the contagion. He also hoped that the lessons from the pandemic will serve as catalysts to better prepare for future health crises, then emphasized the importance of stakeholders’ cooperation at all levels in ensuring a safe and healthier environment for all. Overall, Japan has provided more than $100 billion in comprehensive support versus Covid-19 to the Philippines, which included vaccines, medicines, equipment, technical assistance, budgetary support, food, and livelihood, among others. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa as well as other DOH officials led the event, with Japan International Cooperation Agency Phils. representative Takema Sakamoto in attendance.

PHL, US forge civil nuke pact

HE United States and the Philippines signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, commonly known as a “123 Agreement,” during the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in San Francisco. Upon entry into force, the agreement will facilitate and enhance the two countries’ cooperation on clean energy security and strengthen their alliance, the US State Department said, as relayed by the US Embassy. The signing marks the successful culmination of the negotiation process launched by Vice President Kamala Harris during her trip to the Philippines in November 2022. Said agreement lays out a comprehensive framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation between the Philippines and US based on a mutual commitment to nuclear nonprolifera-

tion and is required by US law to allow for the transfer of nuclear equipment and material for peaceful uses. The US and the Philippines, with access to the former’s material and equipment, will be able to work together to deploy advanced recent technologies—including small modular reactors—to support climate goals as well as critical energy security and national baseload power needs. The pact also establishes nonproliferation criteria that both governments must uphold, such as observing specific standards for covered items used in civil nuclear-energy programs covering International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards; physical protection of covered items; and limitations on enriching, reprocessing, and transferring specific items without the other party’s consent.

EU provides €300K to aid flood survivors

HE European Union (EU) has made available €300,000, or more than P18 million, as a response to widespread flooding which has wreaked havoc across many parts of the Philippines since mid-November. Said humanitarian aid will address the urgent needs of the most affected families in some of the hardest-hit districts in the eastern region of Visayas. “[Floods] have caused massive destruction that affects hundreds of thousands of people in the Philippines,” said Arlynn Aquino, who oversees the EU’s humanitarian programs in the Philippines. “To help, the [union immediately channeled funding to support our partners, so that they could] scale up their efforts in delivering essential aid to the affected families.” The assistance will support the bloc’s humanitarian partners already on the ground delivering vital aid to those most in need. Such includes food and livelihood support, access to clean water supplies, sanitation facilities, and education.

Since mid-November, large parts of the Visayas have witnessed aboveaverage rainfall, which resulted in widespread flooding that rapidly submerged houses, inundated rice fields, and damaged public facilities. According to the Philippine government’s data released on November 22, close to 880,000 Filipinos have so far been affected—more than 74,000 of whom were displaced. More than 130 evacuation centers have been set up across the five affected regions to accommodate those who have lost their homes, as floodwaters also contaminated natural water sources in the affected areas. The government declared a state of calamity on November 21. The EU funding is being made available via the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, or ECHO, of the European Commission. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year, helping the most vulnerable based on humanitarian needs.

Sports

Sisters Rosegie, Rose Jean book modest showing in Doha tourney

BusinessMirror

B8 | T

hursday, December 7, 2023 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

MAPUA A WIN SHY OF NCAA TITLE

APUA found a way to disarm San Beda’s gunners and went to Clint Escamis in the clutch to score a 68-63 victory on Wednesday and moved a win away from clinching its first National Collegiate Athletic Association seniors basketball title in 32 years at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The Cardinals made life difficult for Jacob Cortez, who had only 12 points after a scoreless first half, and the Red Lions’ shooters, who were held to just five triples out of the 32 attempts they took. It was in stark contrast to San Beda’s 13 three-pointers in each of its two Final Four victories over Lyceum of the Philippines University that sealed the Red Lions a spot to the Finals. “We know San Beda’s deadly from the three-point zone, so we stopped them from sniping,” Mapua captain Warren Bonifacio said. Bonifacio faced media during the post-game press conference in lieu of head coach Randy Alcantara who apologetically begged off after feeling dizzy late in the game. “We prepared for days defending their three-point shots,” said the 25-year-old Bonifacio, who’s playing his fifth and final year. Season Most Valuable Player Escamis bucked cramps midway the third quarter and drained a thunderous triple and sank two pressure-packed

free throws to help seal the win for Mapua. “I had cramps in the third quarter, but managed my time and poured all I’ve got in the final period,” Escamis said. Game 2 is set Sunday also at the MOA Arena with the Cardinals targeting to win their first crown since 1991 and seventh overall in the league. A Game 3, if necessary, is set on December 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Bonifacio warned they still have a lot of work to do. “We’re glad we won the first game in the series, but the job’s not done yet,” Bonifacio said. “San Beda will surely try to come back in Game 2 and we’ll have to prepare hard.” The Red Lions led by eight, 29-21 in the second period, but the Cardinals fought off Finals jitters and unleashed a 15-2 salvo to go up 36-31 at halftime. That was the spark Mapua needed in mounting a 16-point lead. Cortez, shadowed and shackled by revelation Ryle Rosillo most of the game, came alive by draining that miraculous threepointer almost from mid-court before the end of the third canto.

MAPUA’S Clint Escamis drives against San Beda’s Jomel Puno. COURTESY RUDY ESPERAS

HE Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers Inc. (AFAD) is not merely an exposition of firearms but a strategic step towards transforming the annual gathering into a true sporting event. This, the AFAD emphasized as the organization opens the four-day second edition of the Sporting Arms Show: A Fusion of Sport, Advocacy and Policy Thursday at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. “It is time to make our annual event into something else. Very soon, beginning this year, we shall be known not just as individual gun enthusiasts but a unified industry,” AFAD President Aric Topacio said. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, an advocate for responsible gun ownership and sports shooting, leads guests from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and relevant agencies in the opening ceremony at 10 a.m. What sets this edition apart, according to Topacio, is AFAD’s dual role of not only as a catalyst for showcasing the latest in firearms but also as a significant player in shaping policy and promoting responsible gun ownership.

Megahit UAAP Finals NO matter what the outcome of Game 3 of the Finals of Season 86 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on Wednesday night, we know for sure it was a genuine blockbuster, a megahit. Tickets have been hard to come by in the usual outlets— online sources, campuses of the two protagonist schools and at the game venue of this decider game, the Smart

THE Union of European Football Associations trophy is seen in front of a scoreboard showing the final draw, except the play-off winners, for the finals in Hamburg, Germany. AP

UEFA vows at UN strong support for human rights, discrimination G ENEVA—European soccer body Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA, went to the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday pledging to do more to promote human rights and protect women from abuse in the sport. At Champions League games next week, messages will be broadcast on television and social media for the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis said at a sports conference in the UN’s European headquarters. Theodoridis committed UEFA to “strengthen our fight against discriminations in all their forms” and “admitting your mistakes when you make them.” “This shows leading by example,” he said, citing UEFA ordering a security review of the chaotic and poorly policed 2022 Champions League final it organized in Paris that put Liverpool and Real

Sporting arms show opens

GUN enthusiasts are expected to come in droves in the gun show. Araneta Coliseum. Campus-based websites of De La Salle University reported a great demand and a corresponding lack of available tickets, so much so that only General Admission tickets were still available for fans to buy as of Monday this week. Over at the University of the Philippines (UP) campus, long, snake-lines of students, alumni and fans have been constantly present at and around the Varsity Training Center where tickets are being sold. For the same Gen Ad tickets, they’ve been queuing and waiting round-the-clock, all the way to midnight and as early as 3 a.m.—this one UAAP Finals that has gripped the attention of both hardcore and casual fans. Why so? Probably because the two teams—UP Fighting Maroons and De La Salle Green Archers—have been so well-matched all season long. Finishing first and second, respectively, they have also both lost to and won over each other in equal measure in the eliminations. In this Finals, they are tied again, 1-1—both games won handily over the other. UP won by 30 in Game 1 with a record-setting 30-points—the biggest since the league inaugurated its Final Four era. DLSU exacted payback in Game 2, hitting UP exactly

Madrid fans at risk. “It was a near-miss, I have to say,” Theodoridis acknowledged. UEFA now consults more closely with the fan group Football Supporters Europe ahead of major games. The event Tuesday was hosted by the Geneva-based Centre for Sport & Human Rights, UEFA’s risk adviser for the 2024 European Championship in men’s soccer which it wants to be inclusive and tackle discrimination. “Human rights should be inherent in everything we do,” Theodoridis said, “in how we treat people and how we listen to them and how do we deliver on our mission in a way that respects and upholds the fundamental dignity of all people.” UEFA made a joint human rights declaration in Berlin last month with German organizers of Euro 2024 that included a promise that all fans can “exercise their freedom of speech during the tournament.” At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, fans wearing or carrying rainbow symbols in support of the LGBTQ community became a cultural flashpoint in the conservative emirate. Theodoridis said the commitment of Euro 2024 organizers to deliver an inclusive tournament would be shared at all levels including

HE Shakey’s Super League (SSL)—for the second straight season—raised a huge sum of proceeds through its Collegiate PreSeason Championship games to be shared by all the participating schools for the benefit of their respective athletic programs. The SSL, through the Super League Bundle of its patrons dedicated to the schools, amassed a whopping donation of P11,983,800 this season after raising more than P8 million for its inaugural tournament last year. The collection came from patrons of Shakey’s Pizza nationwide, who in every order of Super League Bundle all year long will have P50 of the P1,499 feast

thousands of volunteers. “We will also work to make sure that the rapid growth in the women’s game is joined by greater efforts to prevent harassment, abuse and violence against women,” he told delegates at the UN. In September, Luis Rubiales resigned as both president of the Spanish soccer federation and a vice president of UEFA three weeks after he forcibly kissed national-team player Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the Women’s World Cup trophy presentation. World soccer body FIFA later suspended Rubiales from soccer for three years. AP

By Josef Ramos

ISTERS Rosegie and Rose Jean delivered modest performances on Wednesday in the İnternational Weightlifting Federation Grand Prix II at the Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence in Doha, Qatar. Rosegie, protégé of Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo who turns 20 on December 15, wound up fourth overall in the women’s 49-kg category to improve on her previous performances while Rose Jean, 18, bagged three silver medals in the 45kg class, which, unfortunately, is not in the Paris 2023 Olympics program. “It’s an improvement for Rosegie and we’re expecting her to also improve in her world ranking,” Samahang Weightlifting Association secretary-general Patrick Lee told BusinessMirror via internet call Wednesday. Rosegie is currently No. 9 in her weight class, well inside the top 12 for qualification for Paris. The two-time Asian junior champion lifted 88 kgs in snatch and 103 kgs in the clean and jerk for a 191-kg total for fourth place—a good 3-kg improvement on her lift at the world championships last September in Riyadh where she finished in seventh place. China’s Huihua Jiang bagged the 49-kg gold medal with 96 kgs in snatch, 120 kgs in clean and jerk and 216 kgs total lift, while North Korea’s Song Gum Ri copped silver (93, 120 and 213). Another Chinese, Zhihui Hou, settled for the bronze medal on 96 kgs in snatch, 113 kgs in clean and jerk and 209 kgs total lift. Rose Jean, on the other hand, hounded North Korean’s Hyon Sim Won, who swept the 45-kg class. The Zamboanga weightlifter lifted 70 kgs in snatch, 85 kgs in clean and jerk for a 155-kg total. Won was unbeatable in her 82 kgs in snatch, 99 kgs in clean and jerk and 181 kgs total lift. Lovely Inan, silver medalist in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games last May, couldn’t sustain her second place-finish in Group B action in the women’s 49-kg class and wound up ninth overall with a 182-kg total lift. The Doha tournament is the fourth of the six qualifiers for Paris.

Volleyball league fulfills objective to raise funds for schools’ programs

SHAKEY’S president and CEO Vic Gregorio (seated, second from left) with (from left) Shakey’s general manager Jorge Concepcion and Athletic Events and Sports president Dr. Ian Laurel and director Ariel Paredes with representatives from the 16 participating schools of the Shakey’s Super League. promo dedicated to their chosen school. From the 16 participating colleges, SSL fourth-placer Adamson University received the most donations amounting to P1,390,200, while ack-to-back champions National University, Jose Rizal University and Arellano University had more than P900,000 each. Lyceum of the Philippines University got more than P800,000; Ateneo, bronze-medalist Far Eastern University and Emilio Aguinaldo College more than P700,000 apiece; and Mapua, University of the East and silver-medalist University Santo Tomas more than P600,000 each. University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Letran, San Sebastian

where the Green Archers got hit and won by 22. In Game 3, the odds seem too close to call. The Unknown is bigger than it’s ever been. Unpredictability is the name of the game. Before Season 84 (the earlier part of 2022), the ultimate outcome of UAAP championships—and even its Finals cast— had already been largely conceded. Since the Tab Baldwin era of the Ateneo Blue Eagles began in 2015, Ateneo had been on top of the league as multiple champions, and every season since then was dominated by Hail Mary Blue. But in Season 84 Ateneo received the first challenge to its dominance when the Carl Tamayo-led UP Fighting Maroons wrested the championship trophy away from the Eagles and brought it to the other side of Diliman. The Blue Eagles quickly flipped the switch in Season 85 and lifted the trophy up again to their aerie. This year, in what UAAP watchers hoped would be the third chapter of the Katipunan Trilogy—the basketball gods wrote a different script. For the first time since 2015, Ateneo failed to make it to the UAAP Finals. Their place under the bright lights was taken instead by their OG arch-rivals, the Green Guys from Taft. And now, another new rivalry has taken shape between the Maroon and Green.

College-Recoletos, College of Saint Benilde and San Beda University were given more than P500,000 each. Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. president and CEO Vic Gregorio personally handed on Tuesday at the Shakey’s Magallanes the cash checks to the schools’ representatives. “We made a commitment to ourselves that we’ll help volleyball no matter what,” said Gregorio, who was joined by general manager Jorge Concepcion with Athletic Events and Sports president president Dr. Ian Laurel and director Ariel Paredes. “We’re lucky and privileged to be of help but all these came from you, Shakey’s patrons.”

UP and De La Salle have not been rivals in the mold of Blue vs. Green. But things have been seething under the surface for these two teams for quite some time. UP has been contra-pelo to La Salle since September 25, 2019. Frustration mounted in the Final Four of Season 84 when UP ousted La Salle from the finals via a late rally. De La Salle finally broke the spell in Season 85 (November 20, 2022) when it beat UP in the elims. But again, came the pre-season of 2023, UP stole the Filoil EcoOil Pre-Season Cup from the Kevin Quiambao-led Archers who had stayed perfect throughout the eliminations. Now, things have really come to a head. And the crowds are loving it. The SM Mall of Asia Arena swelled with 17,129 fans in Game 1 last November 29. The 16,500-capacity Smart Araneta Coliseum burst at the seams with 20,863 screaming fans in Game 2 last December 3. We’re guessing Game 3 yesterday brought those numbers even higher, with SRO tickets being lapped up like regular tickets. No matter who won—the team trying to build a dynasty, or the team trying to recapture lost glory— the UAAP is having a basketball season like no other. Now, we’ll just have to wait nine more months for another season.