BusinessMirror December 10, 2021 by BusinessMirror

Factory output grows at slower pace in Oct By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE country’s manufacturing out put continued to increase, albeit at a slower pace, in October, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday. PSA data indicated that the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) went up by 24.7 percent in October. However, this is much slower than the 123.1-percent growth registered in September. In October 2020, VoPI contracted by 25.4 percent. “ T he i nc re a se i n VoPI w a s brought about by the positive growth rates of 14 industry divisions. Of these, manufacture of

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fabricated metal products was the major contributing factor with 176.6 percent growth,” the PSA said. “On the contrary, the remaining eight industry divisions recorded decreases, led by manufacture of tobacco products with a -58.6 percent annual rate,” it added. The PSA also reported that the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector in October was slightly higher at 67 percent, from 66.6 percent in September. About one fifth (20.5 percent) of the total number of responding establishments was accounted for by those that operated at full capacity (90 percent to 100 percent). Meanwhile, 37.4 percent of the total of respondents operated at 70

to 89 percent capacity, while 42.1 percent operated below 70-percent capacity. “There were 20 out of 22 industry divisions with more than 50 percent average capacity utilization rate, led by manufacture of other nonmetallic mineral products [81.1 percent], followed by manufacture of electrical equipment [77.3 percent], and manufacture of furniture [76.5 percent],” it said.

VaPI for manufacturing

As for the Value of Production Index (VaPI) for manufacturing, PSA said it also registered an increase of 24.8 percent in October. However, this is slower than the 122.5 percent in September. In contrast, the annual growth rate for VaPI

in October 2020 was recorded at -28.9 percent. “The growth in VaPI for October 2021 was contributed by the increases in 14 of the 22 industry divisions. Among these, the top contributor was manufacture of fabricated metal products except machinery and equipment with 176.4 percent annual growth rate,” said the attached agency of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). “On the other hand, the remaining eight industry divisions recorded decreases, with the manufacture of tobacco products registering the fastest annual decline of -58.2 percent,” it added. See “Factory,” A2

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UP INFLATION RISK–BSP C ‘Bayanihan’ budgets for labor not enough–WB

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

ONTINUED supply chain disruptions could pose an upside risk to inflation next year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor said on Thursday.

HE Ph i l ippi ne gover nment’s budget under Bayanihans 1 and 2 to help the labor sector was insufficient given the millions of jobs lost due to the pandemic, according to the World Bank. In a br ief ing on T hursday, World Bank Senior Economist for Social Protection and Jobs Yoonyoung Cho said the country’s budget, its scope, and targeting were limited when it came to the labor market needs during the pandemic. Cho said the total employment and labor market interventions of the country under the two laws amounted to P69.96 billion. The bulk of the amount went to businesses (P47.48 billion) while interventions for workers amounted to P22.48 billion. “Although the policy direction was right, the budget and scope of labor market specific programs were small for the sheer magnitude and duration of the pandemic shock,” Cho said. Cho said the pandemic caused millions to lose their jobs and look for additional sources of income. Many jobs in the formal sector were also lost, prompting Filipinos to become self-employed. showsof ofproducts, products, withhosts hostsand and shows with guests providing more detailsand and Sheproviding added thatmore managerial jobs guests details givinghard testimonies, Zalora said. giving testimonies, said. were to comeZalora by while there wouldalso also helpbrands brands inwould help inwasItaItnotable increase in elemennovate onflexible flexiblesales salesthat promonovate on promotary occupations—jobs did tions, such givingdiscounts, discounts, tions, such giving not pay veryasas well. and offering offering easier easier and and attracattracand tivepayment paymentoptions optionssuch suchasasthe the tive See “Bayanihan,” A2 buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) opbuy-now-pay-later (BNPL) option,which, which,ititsaid, said,emerged emergedasas tion, themost mostpopular popularoption optionamong among the Asian shoppers. Asian shoppers. 36.0723 n EU 57.0587 n SAUDI arabia 13.4106 Source: BSP (December 9, 2021) Indonesia, for for example, example, InIn Indonesia, Google saw saw a a “10x “10x increase increase inin Google searchesfor fore-wallet e-walletservices servicesand and searches 15xrise riseininBNPL BNPLservices servicesininthe the 15x lastfive fiveyears. years.Other Otherappealing appealing last payment options options like like monthly monthly payment installments,toto00percent percentinterinterinstallments, estfees feeson oncredit creditcards, cards,provide provide est access toto quality quality products products and and talsavviness savvinessand andtaste tastefor forluxury luxury access tal serviceswhile whilealso alsoimproving improvingfi-fiandsustainability. sustainability. services and nancialinclusion. inclusion. “Thereport reportisispositioned positionedasasa a nancial “The Zalora,for forinstance, instance,offers offers21 21 referencepoint pointthat thathelps helpsZalora’s Zalora’s Zalora, reference paymentmethods methodsacross acrossthe therere900brand brandpartners partnersnavigate navigatethe the payment 900 gion, including including cash-on-delivery cash-on-delivery region’sdiversity diversityand andevolving evolvingreregion, region’s andBNPL BNPLoptions optionsacross acrossthe themarmartaillandscape,” landscape,”Zalora’s Zalora’sCEO CEOGunGunand tail kets.ItItlaunched launchedits itsfirst firstco-brandco-brandjanSoni Sonisaid. said. kets. jan creditcard cardininpartnership partnershipwith with Aside from from digital digital partners partners ededcredit Aside RCBCand andMastercard Mastercardininthe thePhilPhillike Google, Google, Mastercard, Mastercard, H&M, H&M, RCBC like ippines,the thefirst-ever first-everfashion fashionand and Lush,Paula’s Paula’sChoice, Choice,HABIB, HABIB,AtAtippines, Lush,

See “Supply,” A2

FILIPINOS JOIN LEAST MOTIVATED WORKERS’ RANKS–IMD REPORT

Online shoppingplatform platformnotes notesbehavioral behavioralshift shift Online shopping F amongconsumers, consumers,brand brandmakers makersamid amidCovid Covid among ILIPINOS are now most unmotivated workers in among the least motithe world because of Covid-19. vated workers in the The Philippines was also world due to the pandemic, the worst performer among according to the latest Globthe Asean countries included al Talent Ranking Index rein the index this year. Sinleased by the Institute for gapore ranked 12th overall, Management Development slipping three notches from ByManuel ManuelT.T.Cayon Cayon (IMD) World Competitiveits 2020 ranking; Malaysia, By ness Center. 28th, slipped three notches; Based on the 2021 report, Thailand retained its ranking t he Ph i l ippi nes sl ipped 9 at 43rd; and Indonesia, 50th, notches to 57th out of 64 slipping five notches. economies worldwide. This See “Filipinos,” A2 has made Filipinos the fourth

consumersbecome becomemore morediscerndiscernconsumers ingand andconnected, connected, weare areseeing seeing Presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte-Carpio are ing we incredible innovations happening incredible innovations happening seen at the head of a caravan in Quezon City that drew hundreds of inthe theretail retail sectorthat completely in sector completely thousands on Wednesday, inthat what organizers billed as a show of force reimagine the shopping experireimagine the experiby the tandem in Metroshopping Manila. Marcos’s chief of staff apologized for ence,” Gunjan Soni, chief executive ence,” Gunjan Soni, chief executive the traffic jams on QC’s major thoroughfares caused by the long lines the ZaloraComelec Group, toldan anplea against possible officer ofof the Zalora Group, told ofofficer vehicles and supporters. renewed its online presentation of its Trender online presentation of its Trender super-spreader events, but said it’s the health and local authorities, Report 2021. Report 2021. not Comelec, which can sanctions organizers. Story on page A2. Shedescribed describedthe the“shoppers “shoppersofof She tomorrow”asas“digital “digitaland anddiverse diverse tomorrow” across Southeast Asia.” across Southeast Asia.” UK 66.4654 n HK 6.4513 n CHINA 7.9295 n singapore 36.9712 n australia “It’s a a digital digital diaspora,” diaspora,” she she “It’s said,citing citingGoogle Googletrend trendmonitormonitorsaid, ingthat thatshows shows40 40million millionnew newInIning ternetusers userscame cameonline onlineinin2021, 2021, ternet “bringingthe theinternet internetpenetration penetration “bringing SoutheastAsia Asiatoto75 75percent.” percent.” ininSoutheast “Infact, fact,eight eightout outofof10 10InterInter“In netusers usersininthe theregion regionare aredigidiginet talconsumers. consumers.Recognizing Recognizingthis this Internetand andelectronic electroniccommunicommunital Internet shiftininadoption, adoption,brands brandsquickly quickly cationgadgets gadgetsbybytheir theirside. side.Google Google shift cation expandedtheir theironline onlinepresence presencetoto trendshows showsMalaysian Malaysianshoppers shoppers expanded trend reachthese thesenew newdigital digitalconsumconsumspendclose closetoto99hours hoursonline onlineon on reach spend ers,and andZalora Zalorareported reporteda a19-per19-peraverage,“and “andare arethe themost mostlikely likelytoto ers, average, centincrease increaseininnew newbrands brandsthat that value-driven.” cent bebevalue-driven.” joinedthe theplatform platforminin2021,” 2021,”she she Singaporean shoppers shoppers are are joined Singaporean added. mostlikely likelytotoinvest investininluxury luxurypurpuradded. most Withmore moreSoutheast SoutheastAsians Asians chases, with with Google Google search search data data With chases, browsingnow nowand andgetting gettingthemthemshowinga a21-percent 21-percentyear-on-year year-on-year browsing showing selves more more online, online, the the average average increaseininSingaporeans’ Singaporeans’searches searches selves increase

AVAOCITY—A CITY—Aleading leading AVAO onlinebrand brandretailer retailerin inAsia Asia online seeingaasharp sharpbehavioral behavioral isisseeing shiftamong among consumers consumersand andbrand brand shift makersthat thatmay mayreinvent reinventand andinnovate innovate makers approaches, especially thenlatter, latter, approaches, especially the PESO exchange rates from nfrom US 50.3030 japan 0.4426 n asdata dataanalytics—since analytics—sincethe theonset onsetof ofthe the as pandemic—indicatethe theemergence emergenceof of pandemic—indicate morediscerning discerningconsumers consumersadaptive adaptiveto to more electronic,or oronline, online,shopping shoppingexperience. experience. electronic,

For one, one, the the Southeast Southeast Asia Asia For Trender Report Report 2021 2021 byby Zalora Zalora Trender showsthat that40 40million millionAsians Asiansmade made shows theirdebut debutininInternet Internetuse useand and70 70 their millionhave havemade madetheir theirfirst firstonline online million purchasewithin withinthe the2020 2020and and2021 2021 purchase period, many many ofof them them attracted attracted period, anddrawn drawninto intoactual actualpurchase purchasebyby and productsales salespromotion promotionand anddisdisproduct countofferings. offerings. count

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higher costs of imported production inputs,” Diokno said. “Upside risks to global inflation remain, as supply chain constraints push input prices higher which may add further pressure to non-oil prices in the coming quarters. The BSP is cognizant of the upside risk to the inflation outlook,” he added.

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‘DIGITAL DIASPORA’

In a virtual briefing, the governor said the emergence of the Omicron variant may further have an effect on global supply chains as governments reimpose mobility restrictions to curb infections. “External price shocks which may emanate from shortages and persistent supply chain disruptions pose upside risks to the inflation outlook as manufacturers and retailers could pass on the

News

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A2 Friday, December 10, 2021

Supply... Continued from A1

According to the BSP, the current global supply chain disruptions emanate mainly from the weaker capacity of producers to meet pent-up demand in recovering advanced economies, due, in turn, to labor shortages and pandemicrelated mobility restrictions. In the case of the Philippines, the latest report on the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed that supplyside issues and the lack of availability of raw materials weighed on production in November. The BSP said earlier this year it expects inflation to revert to the 2 to 4 percent target range for 2022, with its latest forecast at 3.3 percent for next year. Diokno said this already factors in potential upside risks coming from supply chain disruptions. “The resulting shortages and elevated input prices reverberated throughout the global economy as value chain integration created strong links in price formation and manufacturing operations. Although the increase in prices is expected to slow in the coming years, upside risks to the inflation outlook remain as firms expect supply disruptions to persist until the second half of 2022,” Diokno said. “In view of a challenging global economic environment and amid the pandemic, the BSP stands ready to utilize its wide range of policy instruments to ensure that monetary settings remain appropriate to mitigate possible spillovers from external developments that may affect domestic inflation and growth dynamics,” he added.

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Comelec to pols: LGUs, health bodies can flag you for events By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

VEN if campaign rules are still not in effect, the Commission on Elections has warned aspiring candidates in the 2022 polls they could still be held accountable for violating minimum health standards during the pandemic, as it noted recent events of aspirants that drew huge crowds. This means, he said, it’s the local governments and health authorities, not Comelec, that can move against them.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez ex plained they currently have no jurisdiction over ongoing “campaigning activities” until the official start of the election campaign. However, he noted in a press briefing, other authorized agencies could go after aspirants

deemed to endanger the lives of their supporters. “ The [minimum health standards] is not exclusive to Comelec or during the elections. Those are common sense requirements by the law, which is being implemented by the IATF and the police,” he added.

“Right now, they are still not covered by election laws. They are not covered by campaig n rules so Comelec will not move against you. [But] we hope the relevant authorities will—not us,” Jimenez said. The issue of to what extent 2022 a spira nts c a n orga n i ze events that may later turn out to be super spreaders for Covid-19—such as rallies or caravans—was recently raised after certain aspirants drew big crowds in some events. A ppa rent ly t he big gest of such crowd draws was the caravan organized in Quezon City on Wed nesd ay by R ep. Mi ke Defensor’s group on behalf of the Bongbong-Sara UniTeam of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Mayor Sara DuterteCar pio, r unning mates under two different parties, Partido Federal and Lakas, respectively. The Marcos camp estimated the crowds to be in the “ hundreds of thousands,” and Marcos chief of staff Atty. Vic Rodriguez apologized to those inconvenienced by the traffic jams. Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who has been observed to draw crowds in

recent events, said earlier, “ hindi naman puedeng ipagbawal ang pag handshake [shaking of hands can’t be prohibited]” in reply to critics who noted him wading into crowds. Under its c a mpa ig n r u les, Comelec imposed restrictions on the number of people who cou ld accompa ny c a nd id ates during onsite election activities to ensure social distancing will be str ictly implemented. T he rule, however, will only take effect during the campaign period starting February 2022. Comelec issued the statement after some aspirants apparently started their election campaign and drew large crowds, wherein social distancing is not practiced, in the process. Jimenez admonished candidates seen to be disregarding Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) rules to consider the risk of Covid-19 infection to their supporters. “Just so you can get crowds and photo ops, you are endangering the lives of Filipinos who believe in you. Please think twice about doing that,” Jimenez said.

Factory...

that the Volume of Net Sales Index (VoNSI) also recorded a faster year-on-year increase of 13.8 percent in October, from a 7.4-percent increase in the previous month. In October 2020, VoNSI dropped by -18.3 percent. The increase in VoNSI was caused by the positive growth rates of nine industry divisions. Of these, manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products contributed the highest with 55.4-percent growth. “In contrast, the other 13 industry divisions exhibited decreases during the period, with manufacture of wearing apparel as the lowest with -23.6 percent rate,” the PSA said. The MISSI is now termed the Production Index and Net Sales Index. It is a report that monitors the production, net sales, inventories and capacity utilization of selected manufacturing establishments to provide flash indicators on the performance of the manufacturing sector.

Continued from A1

PSA data also indicated that the Value of Net Sales Index (VaNSI) accelerated at a faster rate of 13.9 percent in October compared with the 7.1 percent recorded in September. In October 2020, VaNSI dropped at an annual rate of -22.1 percent. “Of the 22 industry divisions, 12 reported positive growth, led by the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products which registered an annual increase of 85.9 percent. Meanwhile, 10 industry divisions showed downturns in October 2021, with printing and reproduction of recorded media registering the lowest rate of -24.5 percent,” the agency said. Figures from the PSA showed

Bayanihan... Continued from A1

Many women, she also said, were hit hard by the pandemic. Many of them were looking for opportunities to contribute to the household income. This became evident in the latest Labor Force Survey results which showed that over 2 million women rejoined the labor force in October. (Story here: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/12/07/2million-women-rejoined-phl-laborforce-but/). Even jobs overseas were lost. Cho said many Filipinos were repatriated, increasing labor market pressures. However, against all odds, remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were sustained during this time. “Covid-19 has shaken the labor market and many jobs were lost,” Cho said in her presentation on Thursday. “More people, especially women, are looking for jobs.”

Bring jobs back

Meanwhile, efforts to help create jobs require addressing demand and supply side as well as addressing competitiveness and productivity issues and strengthening human capital investments. Cho said in the short-term,

t he gover nment shou ld foc us on bringing jobs back. This can be done by enhancing business confidence such as easing restrictions while policy measures are undertaken for Covid-19 management. She also said there is a need to strengthen existing support for job creation and workers by customizing services, streamlined processes, clear messaging and creating digital tools. The World Bank economist also said the government needs to implement clear targeting mechanisms to help disadvantaged groups, linkage with social assistance and active labor market programs, and digital payments. In the medium-term, Cho said cited a need to address structural challenges. This can be done by enhancing a firm’s competitiveness and productivity, and exploring new or global markets and economic activities. The economist also pointed to a need to strengthen worker’s employability and skills, as well as revisit labor regulations and social protection in order to be more responsive to the changes in the world of work. In the long-term, strengthening human capital investments will lead to stronger fundamentals for the Philippines. This means investing in education and even in technical and vocational courses. Cai U. Ordinario

Filipinos... Continued from A1

“This has consequences for leadership responsibilities, as it’s clear that talent attraction and retention is no longer just a policy issue. It’s also the responsibility of senior executives who need to realize their role in boosting worker motivation, which is not just driven by external factors such as salary, safety, or quality of life, but also by the opportunities leaders can provide for workers to reskill, to work flexibly, and to have the use of the best tech at their fingertips,” said Arturo Bris, director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center, which i s b e h i nd t he rese a rc h. IMD said the index assesses the status and the development of competencies necessary for enterprises and the economy to achieve long-term value creation. There are three major ways of grouping the survey questions thrown to executives from 64 economies— Appeal, Investment and Development, and Readiness. Appeal refers to the extent to which an economy attracts foreign and retains local talent, while Investment and Development is a measurement of resources earmarked to cultivate a homegrown work force. IMD said Readiness refers to what the quality of the skills and competencies available in a country’s talent pool are like.

Brain drain

“Clearly, mobility issues throughout the pandemic have meant there is less brain drain—well-educated and skilled people leaving their country—everywhere since 2020. But there is not such a marked drop in talent-rich economies than predicted because there has been an increase in motivation,” Bris said. “Talent-weak economies, on the other hand, are suffering even more from brain drain than is consistent with the blows of the pandemic and the need to find a job anywhere,” he added. Sw it zerl a nd rema ined at the top of the index. This was followed by Sweden which improved three notches to 2nd globally in 2021; Luxembourg, which rem a i ned t h i rd over a l l ; Norway, which also saw a three-notch improvement in its ranking; and Denmark which saw a decline of three notches to close the top 5 in the index. At the bottom of the index are Venezuela, ranked 6th overall and which declined four notches from 2020; South Africa, 63rd and declined 11 notches; Peru, 62nd and slipped 11 notc hes; Mongol ia, 61st and improved two notches; and Brazil, 60th overall and declined 1 notch compared to last year. IMD is an independent academic institution with Sw i s s ro ot s a nd g l o b a l reach, founded 75 years ago by business leaders for business leaders. Based in Lausanne (Switzerl a nd) a nd Si ngapore, IMD has been ranked in the top 3 of the annual FT’s Executive Education Global Ranking for the last nine consecutive years and in the top 5 for 17 consecutive years. Cai U. Ordinario

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, December 10, 2021 A3

OWWA girds for homecoming of 80K to 100K OFWs for Christmas season By Samuel P. Medenilla

By Cai U. Ordinario

sam_medenilla

@caiordinario

HIS time, they will head home in droves for Christmas with a little bit more cheer and perhaps a little bit less worry about the virus.

Over 80,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are expected to arrive home in time for the Christmas season despite a looming threat from the Covid-19 Omicron variant, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). At a virtual news briefing last Thursday, OWWA Administrator Hans J. Cacdac projected between 80,000 and 100,000 OFWs will ret ur n to t he countr y t his month amid the noted decline in Covid-19 infection in their host countries. He noted that last year, the number of returning OFWs during the Christmas holidays plummeted as many countries still

maintained strict border controls. “Now we are seeing more or less almost the same levels [of arriving OFWs]...this is almost the same to pre-Covid levels,” Cacdac said. “It is no longer unusual [for OFWs] to go home to take their vacation as economic life abroad resumes,” he added. The returning OFWs, however, are expected to undergo stricter quarantine measures as the government tries to prevent the entry of Omicron variant in the country, which health experts warned might cause more infections than other variants. The new policy includes longer facility-based quarantine as well as getting tested for Covid-19 before

CSC reminds state workers: Keep holiday festivities safe

DOH says no Omicron variant detected in latest sequencing

HE Civil Service Commission (CSC) reminded government employees on Wednesday to keep year-end and holiday festivities safe and simple as the nation continues to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic. In a news statement, CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala said threats brought by the pandemic continue to exist despite the country’s low-risk classification, especially with the emergence of the B.1.1.529 variant or Omicron variant. She said that physical gatherings may be allowed, subject to current and applicable guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the local government, adding, “Virtual celebrations, on the other hand, are much safer and allows agencies to hold a simultaneous gathering for all their employees across the regions. It just requires a little more creativity to make it engaging and enjoyable even without face-to-face interaction.” The CSC chief added that physical gatherings still pose a huge risk and may even affect public service delivery if Covid-19 infects employees. The CSC also reminded agencies to make sure that there will be no disruption in public services. Offices may opt to conduct these activities outside office hours or ensure adequate skeletal work force to attend to their clients and other urgent matters during official business hours.

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

O Omicron variant was detected in the latest whole genome sequencing run from the 48 samples sequenced on December 8, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday. However, this result from Philippine Genome Center (PGC) does not include the samples of three travelers from South Africa, Egypt, and Burkina Faso who tested positive for Covid-19. “The samples collected from the travelers from South Africa and Burkina Faso are in PGC for sequencing. Meanwhile, the sample from the traveler in Egypt is currently being sent to PGC,” DOH said, responding to a question of the BusinessMirror. Of the 48 samples sequenced, 38 (79.17 percent) are Delta (B.1.617.2) variant cases; the rest had non-variant of concern (VOC) lineages or had no lineages detected. The latest sequencing run was composed of 12 Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and 36 local cases from areas with high-risk average daily attack rates and case clusters.

RETURNING overseas Filipino workers strike a jubilant mood on board their flight back home. PNA FILE PHOTO

they leave their host countries. “We are ready to implement the quarantine protocols because of the threat posed by the Omicron,” Cacdac said.

Of the additional 38 Delta variant cases, 31 were local cases and seven were ROFs. Two ROFs had travel histories from Turkey and one ROF each from Jordan, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, and Peru. Of the 31 local cases, six cases had indicated addresses in the Cagayan Valley Region, while five cases were from the Cordillera Administrative Region, three cases each from Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, and the National Capital Region, two cases each from Central Luzon and Calabarzon, and one case from Davao Region. Based on the case line list, one local case is still active, 27 local and all seven ROF cases have been tagged as recovered, and three local cases are currently being verified as to their outcomes. All other details are being validated by the regional and local health offices. This update brings the total Delta variant cases to 7,886. Additional ROF cases and local cases from areas with case increases or clustering will be prioritized for sequencing once these samples have been received by UP-PGC. DOH said it is currently coordinat-

Since the onset of the pandemic l a st yea r, t he gover n ment repatriated almost 820,000 OFWs, of which many were displaced due to the economic slowdown caused

ing with Covid-19 testing laboratories to expedite transport of these samples. The DOH reminded the public that the best defense against Covid-19 and its variants is by adhering to the minimum public health standards. Everyone should continue to properly wear a face mask, wash hands often, observe physical distancing, and ensure proper ventilation. Moreover, getting vaccinated against Covid-19 helps prevent severe disease and death. Local government units are urged to continuously conduct active case finding and immediately investigate clustering of cases to help stop the spread of Covid-19 in communities.

Scorecard

A total of 562 additional Covid-19 cases were logged by the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2,835,996. There were also 882 recoveries and 176 deaths. Of the 176 deaths, eight occurred in December 2021 (5 percent), 12 in November 2021 (7 percent), 60 in October 2021 (34 percent) 68 in September

by the pandemic. The said OFWs received cash aid, quarantine accommodations, food, and transportation service from the government.

2021 (39 percent) 8 in August 2021 (5 percent) 6 in July 2021 (3 percent), 2 in June 2021 (1 percent), 1 in May 2021 (1 percent), 4 in April 2021 (2 percent), 1 in March 2021 (1 percent), 4 in November 2020 (2 percent), 1 in October 2020 (1 percent), and 1 in September 2020 (1 percent). DOH said that of the total number of cases, 0.4 percent (12,169) are active, 97.8 percent (2,773,891) have recovered, and 1.76 percent (49,936) have died. Fourteen duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of these, 12 are recoveries and one is a death. In addition, 145 cases were found to have tested negative and have been removed from the total case count. These 145 were classified as recoveries. Moreover, 157 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation. Two laboratories were not operational on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. Based on data in the last 14 days, the two labs contribute, on average, 0 percent of samples tested and 0 percent of positive individuals.

Ex-DPWH chief Villar joins BBM-Sara Uniteam

RESIDENTIAL aspirant and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has confirmed that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar has been included in the senatorial slate of the BBM-Sara UniTeam. Villar is among the senatoriables who accompanied Marcos Jr. during

the UniTeam Rally event in Bacoor City, Cavite on Thursday morning. Marcos Jr. also clarified that Villar was one of the first aspirants included in their Senate slate. “Well that is not a surprise for me, because to tell you the truth, Mark Villar is one on the first of our senatorial lists because siya ang una kong nakausap,” Marcos Jr. explained.

According to Marcos Jr., he has been in talks with Villar about his plans to run as a senator. “Bago pa mag filing maliwanag ang kanyang balak na tumakbo bilang senador at magk aibigan naman talaga kami ng mga Villar dahil galing nga ako ng Nacionalista Party [NP],” said Marcos Jr. Marcos Jr. also mentioned that the

complete senatorial slate of the BBMSara UniTeam will soon be announced in the following weeks. “By the way I fully intend to announce our Senatorial line up in the next few days because medyo nabubuo na. We just have to fix the arrangement between the different parties. ’Yun na lang, mga formalities na lang ng mga grupo,” Marcos Jr. said.

Pro-life advocate Atienza slams govt’s stance on population control

NPC proposes inclusion of safeguards in SIM card bill

HOUSE leader on Thursday criticized the government for making it appear that the economy will not flourish without population control. House Deputy Speaker and BUHAY Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza issued the statement after Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua cited the “crucial role of reproductive health and family planning programs” in the government’s goal of eradicating poverty by 2040. Rather than using it as an alibi for failure, Atienza said the government should realize that our growing population is the coun-

try’s greatest asset as a nation. “Instead of interfering with God’s plan, government should do its job of providing employment and livelihood opportunities for every Filipino,” Atienza, also the vice-presidential running mate of Senator and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in the May 2022 polls, said. Chua bared the government’s reproductive health and family planning programs on Monday at the International Inter-Ministerial Conference on Population and Development organized jointly by the Partners in Population and Development (PPD) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Speaking before foreign ministers and senior government officials from the 27 PPD member states, Chua shared that the Philippine government recognizes the crucial role of reproductive health and family planning programs in the pursuit of its long-term vision to eradicate extreme poverty by 2040. But Atienza said, “Once again, our economic planners are using the population bogey as an alibi for the failure of government to eradicate the real cause of widespread poverty, which is corruption. Again, they are sugar-coating population control under the guise

of sound economic policy.” Atienza, who is a staunch prolife advocate, has consistently belied the long-standing government stance of blaming population growth for the country’s poverty. “For decades now, the government has always been blaming the country’s population for its failure to curb corruption, which is the real cause of the poverty that millions of Filipinos are mired in. On the contrary, it is our population of honest, hard-working and dedicated Filipino workers abroad who have been keeping the economy afloat,” he said. “Even if there were only 100 Fili-

pinos here, but if half of them were corrupt, then the country would still be poor! Our country has also been blessed with an abundance of natural resources that only a few are utilizing and abusing, instead of being used by and providing much-needed income for our farmers and fisherfolk,” Atienza added. Atienza said the problem of severe poverty affecting a great number of Filipino families should be addressed positively by government instead of giving them massive doses of anti-life programs that would only destroy the country’s future. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

H E Nat ion a l P r i v a c y Commission (NPC) on T hursday said the final version of a proposed law requiring the registration of mobile phone cards must articulate the requirements for the data security measures that will be implemented by the entities that will handle it. T he agenc y recog nized the benefits of the SIM Card Registration Act, which includes enabling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) engaged in e-commerce and consumers to trust digital services. “[The] mandatory SIM-card registration will succeed only under a framework of guaranteed privacy protection for mobile users. At present, we have that framework in place to protect citizens’ privacy and ensure that data privacy rights of mobile users are upheld and that is the Data Privacy Act [DPA] of 2012,” the privacy body said. It added that the bill came at a time when the country has already put in place a platform for identification that can strengthen trust in the registration of SIM cards—the National ID. T he National ID is being implemented by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Based on the latest data, some 47.95 million Filipinos have completed Step 2 registration in the National ID, while 4.018 million have received their physical IDs and PhilSys Numbers as of the first week of December. Step 2 refers to the collection of biometric information while Step 3 is the actual receipt of printed National IDs. As of November, some 9.23 million Filipinos registered online for Step 1, which collects Filipinos demographic information. “ Validating identities has always been a barrier in previous SIM-card registration proposals, but which the countr y can now hurdle with PhilSys, the government’s unified, centralized form of identification for Filipino citizens and resident aliens.” The NPC also said the final version should provide sufficient time for registration to prevent mobile users from being unjustly cut off from enjoying mobile services due to a limiting SIM card registration period. The NPC will continuously perform its regulatory function and assess the potential risks of the proposed law and provide practical recommendations to mitigate these risks so mobile users can be protected. T he NPC said the bi l l includes a confidentiality clause that prohibits disclosing any information of a subscriber, unless upon subpoena or order from a court or written request from a law enforcement agency about an investigation that a particular number may had been used in the commission of a crime. Under the bill, every public telecommunication entity (PTE) or direct seller shall require the end-user to present valid identification to register a SIM. PTEs or telcos must provide the data protection citizens expect. They are required by the DPA to afford appropriate organizational, technical, and physical security measures to secure the personal data they w ill collect and prevent its unauthorized use and abuse.

A4 Friday, December 10, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug A4

Economy BusinessMirror

PHL’s Ease of Doing Business report to start in 2022–ARTA

www.businessmirror.com.ph By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

he Philippines may have its own Ease of Doing Business report before the term of President Duterte ends in June 2022, according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s (ARTA).

In the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Summit on Thursday, Undersecretary Ernesto V. Perez, ARTA Deputy Director General for Operations, said the government is already finalizing the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) that will make this possible. Once the JMC is approved, the EODB will be piloted in Quezon City and will examine at least four “crucial” indicators, namely, starting a business, trading across borders, dealing with construction permits, and registering property. “All of these things will be really operationalized before the term of this administration ends. This is precisely what we have been saying at ARTA so that whoever will be in the next administration, it will just be easier for them to continue with all the initiatives that this administration has started,” Perez said. Perez said after a year, ARTA will expand the indicators and will no longer just be implemented in Quezon City, which was the practice of the World Bank (WB) before their EODB ranking was discontinued. He said ARTA plans to expand the local report to include other cities like Manila, Parañaque, Pasig, Valenzuela, and those outside of Metro Manila. The ARTA official assured that the report will be guided by the 10 good Philippine regulatory principles (PGRP) and complemented by the report card survey. The PGRP is a set of guidelines and core principles on how to promote proportionate, consistent, accountable, and targeted regulations through effective dialogue between regulators and regulated entities to assess and monitor the quality of government reforms. “The JMC is already scheduled for signing by the participating agencies. Actually the final draft has already been distributed to all the concerned agencies for their final comment and the deadline to submit their comment was last Friday [December 3],” Perez said. The group is composed of officials from the WB Group, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Finance, Development Academy of the Philippines, Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Streamlining of Government Processes. The group also includes the University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation Inc.-Regulatory Support Program for National Development, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Budget and Management, and the two private sector representatives from the EODB-ART Advisory Council, Peter Wallace, and Allan Wong But-Loy. Apart from the Doing Business Report, Secretary Jeremiah B. Belgica, ARTA director general, said the Philippine EODB Reporting System would help foster healthy

competition between government agencies, which will lead to them striving to improve their processes. “It’s really good if we give a positive motivation for government agencies to do better by seeing the performances of their colleagues,” he said in his State of the ARTA Address. The initiative came after the WBG announced the discontinuation of its annual Doing Business (DB) report after incidents of data irregularity. The EODB-ART Advisory Council approved ARTA’s motion to create the localized DB report and technical working group in its 15th council meeting on September 20, 2021. But DB Division Chief Paul Erwen T. Parreño emphasized that ARTA is not only going for the prestige brought by high competitiveness rankings, but is after the real reforms that will be felt by the public on the ground. “The overall mission of the Authority goes beyond competitiveness ranking. We are ultimately aiming for inclusive growth and to champion ease of doing business reforms that will truly be felt by the public,” he said. Meanwhile, Belgica warned that the agency would soon publish the list of local government units and agencies that are not compliant with the creation of citizens’ charters. Belgica said administrative sanctions await leaders of agencies who are noncompliant to these rules. This sanction is fair given that the rules surrounding the creation of the citizen’s charter has been in effect since 2019. Apart from this, ARTA is also focused on the Business Process Mapping Project. This involves mapping all the permits and licenses involved in the entire business cycle and integrating it to the Central Business Portal. The CBP is a single digital platform for registering businesses in the country. This was established by DICT being monitored and in partnership with the ARTA and other key agencies. Engr. Gerald Divinagracia of MBPM explained how to start a business project through the business process management. The Business Process Mapping Project envisions a “womb-to-tomb” approach in coming out with an inventory of processes to be integrated with CBP not just from covering permits on starting a business to also include those concerning operating and closing a business. Divinagracia hailed the ingenuity of Filipinos in innovating to make the delivery of government services more efficient. He also called on government agencies to foster collaborations among each other and to not work in silos. “We need to bridge the gap between the business sector and government. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to harmonize our digitalization,” he said.

DENR shifts to digital issuance of permits for wildlife trade By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

he Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has started issuing permits for the trading of flora and fauna electronically in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The automated permit issuance through eCITESPH.com is expected to enhance global trade transparency and boost the campaign against global illegal wildlife trafficking. Through the new system, information can be accessed anywhere, thereby facilitating trade faster. The electronic permitting system will be integrated into the Philippines’s national single window system. As such, international trade of threatened animals and plants will easily be monitored and controlled, an official of the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) said in a news statement. More than 38,700 species, including 5,900 species of animals and 32,800 species of plants, are protected under the CITES, an international treaty signed by Philippines. The treaty entered into force in 1975. Each species is under any of three appendices depending on the degree of protection they need.

Each year, the BMB issues more than 1,500 permits on a tedious manual basis. The new automated permit issuance system eases the burden of manual work, and is also consistent with Republic Act 11032 of 2018 or “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery.” “The system will improve control of international trade in endangered species. Automation of CITES processes will help enforce regulations, increase transparency, and facilitate processing and electronic data exchange with customs and other agencies,” according to Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Assistant Director Amelita Ortiz. “Electronic information exchange will reduce opportunities for corruption and the use of fraudulent documents in the trading of endangered species,” she said. The DENR has been tapping information technology to enhance capacity building to produce experts in wildlife trade. Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the addition of two online learning platforms “enables the DENR to uphold its mandate of educating the people about the country’s wildlife resources despite the prevailing Covid-19 [coronavirus disease] pandemic.” BMB has introduced the eTraining Course on Basic Wildlife Law Enforcement and the Wildlife Philippines Podcast.

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, December 10, 2021 A5

SC says anti-terror law constitutional except for 2 items Continued from A12 The petitions also assailed the constitutionality of ATA’s Sections 5 (threat to commit terrorism); Section 6 (planning, training, preparing and facilitating the commission of terrorism); Section 9 (inciting to commit terrorism); Section 10 (recruitment to and membership in a terrorist organization); Section 11 (foreign terrorist); Section 12 (providing material support to terrorists); Section 26 (proscription of terrorist organizations, associations or group of persons); Section 27 (preliminary order of proscription); and Section 29 (detention without judicial warrant of arrest).

37 petitions

A TOTAL of 37 consolidated petitions were filed before the Court seeking to declare the entire ATA or some of its vital provisions unconstitutional. The ATA was enacted on July 3, 2020 and implemented 15 days later starting July 18, 2020. The Court created six clusters for the oral arguments to discuss main issues such as whether the petitioners have legal standing to sue, and if ATA should be declared unconstitutional in its entirety if the Court finds the definition of terrorism in Section 4 as well as the powers of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) are constitutionally infirm; whether facial challenge is proper and if the definition of “terrorism” in Section 4 is void for being vague and overbroad which is in violation of constitutional rights such as free speech and expression; if Section 5-14 defining and penalizing threats to commit terrorism and others are void for vagueness and overbroad and violate constitutional rights; whether the powers of the ATC are unconstitutional; whether Section 16 violates the constitutional rights to due process and against unreasonable searches and seizures, privacy of communication and freedom of speech and freedom of religion; issues on ATC’s power to detain without judicial warrant and based on mere suspicion; and

PHL 4 notches up in Global Health Security Index in ’21 Continued from A12 Based on the findings, the recommendations include allocating health security funds in national budgets and conducting assessments, using the 2021 GHS Index as a reference to developing a national plan to identify their risks and fill gaps. Further, international organizations should use the Index to identify countries most in need of additional support; the private sector should use the Index to look for opportunities to partner with governments. The report also stated that philanthropies and funders should develop new financing mechanisms and use the Index to prioritize resources. The GHS Index is designed to inform leaders of the foundational elements that are necessary to prepare their countries for future outbreaks and where they should prioritize planning and durable funding. It is not a direct predictor of performance in the face of a health emergency; as Covid-19 has demonstrated—contextual social, political, and cultural phenomena also impact how well a country responds to a biological event.

whether R A 11479 violates the Indigenous People and Moro’s rights to self-determination and self-governance under the Constitution. Petitioners against the ATA argued that the definition of terrorism under the law is “vague and overbroad” which may be used as “a weapon against constitutionally protected speech and speech-related conduct. The petitioners noted that the ATA creates the new crime of inciting to terrorism under Section 9 and then ties it to a new definition of the crime of terrorism, which is found in Section 4. Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who served as an amicus curiae (friend of the court) during the oral arguments, called on the SC to strike a balance between the protection of rights guaranteed under the Constitution and national security in resolving the 37 petitions. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has deferred giving his reaction on the SC ruling until he has read the main decision. “I’d rather wait to see the main decision. But I’ll be very happy to see a judgment that will operationalize the Anti-Terrorism Act against its true targets,” Guevarra said.

Motion for reconsideration

MEANWHILE, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) President Edre Olalia, who represented some of the petitioners, said they will file a motion for reconsideration on the other provisions that the Court declared constitutional. “W hile we are glad and assured that the Court mainly str uck dow n the qualifier in

Sec. 4 on the exercise of civil and pol it ica l r ights, t hereby sustaining our position that activism and advocacy are legitimate activities and sacred rights of the people and should not be considered as terrorism at all, we regret that all the rest of the perilous provisions like other forms of designation, warrantless arrest, prolonged detention, freezing of assets, proscription, definitions of incitement, recr uitment, membership, material support, humanitarian assistance etc. remain in the books, for now. We will certainly regroup and close ranks and file a motion for reconsideration. We will not allow the dying of the f lickering light of our basic rights,” Olalia said. Lawyer Ted Te of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), one of the petitioners, said the striking down of the qualifier in Section 4 “is an important win” which would strengthen the protections intended by the proviso considering the vague language of Section 4. “It also sustains FLAG’s position on this matter and affirms the ‘facial challenge’ mounted against it,” he said, Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares said the group welcomes the effort of the SC “to protect our civil and political rights from the overreach of such draconian and dangerous law.”

No rush to amend

MEANWHILE, senators are not rushing to amend the ATA provisions that were struck down by the SC. “Nope,” Senate President

Vicente Sotto III told BusinessMirror Thursday when asked if the Senate is moving to amend the Anti-Terror Act provisions found to be unconstitutional by the High Tribunal. The Senate leader indicated the senators see no need no rush, saying: “the provisions mentioned are not that important.” Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, for his part, said he still needs time to review the SC ruling. “Pag-aaralan ko muna po ang [I first have to study the] decision,” he said in a text message to BusinessMirror. Senator Panfilo Lacson, in a separate statement, welcomed the SC ruling. “Peace wins over terror; that much is clear,” said Lacson. Lacson, who is running for President under the Partido Reporma banner, with Senate Pres-

ident Sotto as his vice president, told reporters at their “Meet the Press” forum: “As the principal sponsor of the measure, I am happy with the decision of the Supreme Court. Senate President is the principal author of the measure. We have seen the collective wisdom of the magistrates.” Sotto hailed the Supreme Court even as Lacson noted the High Tribunal’s decision “showed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is still constitutional overall.” “The ruling is beneficial because the Supreme Court affirmed our independence as a country, that we have our own processes,” he said mostly in Filipino. Lacson added that with the high court’s ruling over at least 37 petitions lodged before it, the Philippines now has a chance to remove itself from the Global

Terrorism Index. Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said, “There is no need to amend the law. The decisions of the Supreme Court are already considered part of our laws. As such, the interpretation of the Supreme Court should guide the Executive department in impementing the provision of the Anti-terror law.” Malacañang said it is still mulling over if it will appeal the decision. As of press time last Thursday, Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo B. Nograles said they are still waiting for the official copy of the ruling. "Upon receipt of the decision, the Office of the Executive Secretary will study the ruling and, in consultation with the Office of the Solicitor General, thereafter consider the next course of action," Nograles said. With Butch Fernandez

Chris

A BusinessMirr

Friday, December 10, 2021 | www.businessmirror.com.ph

Have a safe Christmas with these government guidelines

HILE the government has loosened up quarantine restrictions, this does not mean that you should let your guard down. The Covid-19 virus is still in our midst and it is just a matter of time before Omicron, the latest variant of concern, finds its way to the Philippines.

With Christmas just around the corner, the Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), virtually launched recently the annual holiday campaign with the theme “Ligtas Christmas sa Healthy Pilipinas.”

The campaign aims to guide the public on easy and doable ways to safely celebrate the holiday season. This year, the campaign focuses on three main behaviors that will keep Filipinos healthy amidst the pandemic. The public is reminded to: 1. Practice the minimum public health standards; 2. Choose the healthier options

ENJOY the light this Christmas season when you visit McDonald’s Drive Thru. Experience Happy Land at McDonald’s Alabang West outlet.

during feasts and similar activities, and 3. Prevent fireworks-related injuries and be prepared for accidents.

Health and safety

While there has been a decreasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country, Filipinos are advised not to let their guards down and prioritize the health and safety of their families by practicing the minimum public health standards. “Patuloy nating isulong at obserbahan ang Bakuna – Airflow- Hugas – Iwas sa ating mga aktibidad ngayon kapaskuhan,” said Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III. [Let’s continue to promote and observe Vaccination – Airflow – Washing of the hands – Prevention in our activities during this holiday season.] Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the guidelines and protocols being pushed in the campaign by the DOH were recommended by experts. She reiterated though that added that so long as these protocols are followed, the risk of getting Covid-19 is low. “We are confident that these protocols will work but once we learn more about the Omnicron variant, we will have to sit down and review these protocols once more. For now, these should be followed,” she said. If companies do decide to hold in person Christmas parties, Vergeire recommended that only those who are fully vaccinated should attend. The venue should be open air,

Globe Innoverse: Non-stop innovation for customers to strengthen care and compassion

made more affordable with P300 off for 12 months.

Putting a premium on care and compassion

RINGING together all its powerful innovations, the Wonderful World of Globe presents the Globe INNOVERSE (Innovation Universe). Showcasing Globe’s transformation into The Globe Group - a digital solutions platform with a footprint in fintech, healthcare, entertainment, adtech, e-commerce, manpower, IT services, and venture capital. INNOVERSE highlights the Globe Group’s vast ecosystem of technologies made to uplift the lives of its customers. It shows how the Globe Group has reshaped the Filipino digital life, empowering people with a richer connected experience. This enables everyone to become the best versions of themselves as they navigate the new digital world. “When we started 2021, we thought we could already put the pandemic behind us. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. I think we can start having a new perspective that we will just live with this virus. And this is what the Globe Innoverse is all about a universe of non-stop innovation

to serve our customers better, make them feel valued, and with digital technologies, enable them to live a better life,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO. The Globe INNOVERSE tour looks at the new Filipino digital life and how digital solutions have solved pain points in different sectors like education, health, finance, leisure-tainment, productivity, business, and digital readiness, among others.

Life-enabling solutions

917Ventures, for instance, brings convenience and life-enabling solutions for both customers and businesses. Its e-wallet service provider GCash leads the fintech space serving 51 million users and growing. KonsultaMD has grown to be the country’s largest telehealth company, while HealthNow has developed to be the leading healthcare integrator in the Philippines. For the larger start-up community, Kickstart Ventures invests in Pre-Series A to C digital businesses to help them achieve scale

and profitability. Kickstart manages over USD 240 million dollars worth of aggregated assets.

Connectivity at home or on-the-go

Globe Mobile and Globe At Home customers also experience innovative and value-for-money plans and promos for reliable and stronger connectivity. TM, for one, celebrates its loyal customer base as it hits its 20th anniversary and Globe Prepaid rolls out its latest affordable data promos. Both Globe Prepaid and TM’s newest products can be exclusively accessed via the GlobeOne app for hassle-free top-ups and subscriptions. GlobeOne now conveniently accepts GCash, as well as credit and debit cards. Exclusive to the GlobeOne App, TM customers can check out EZ90 for ALLNET CALLS as well as ALLNET Doble FunAliw20 and 70 that comes with free content offers from apps like Facebook, Mobile Legends, YouTube, and Tiktok. Globe Prepaid on the other hand can register to their fa-

vorite Go50, Go90, and Go+99 or try UNLIGO. UNLIGO gives users unlimited access to their favorite apps whether for videos, games, or social media. Globe Postpaid also launched GPLAN Plus with bigger data allocations. Leftover GBs may also be converted to Globe Rewards points to claim perks in entertainment, wellness, and can even be donated to charitable organizations. All GPlan Plus plans also come with free unlimited 5G for 6 months along with unlimited allnet texts and calls to mobile and landline numbers. At home, families can stay connected for just P999 with the Globe At Home Prepaid WIFI. Powered by ultra-fast LTE, the home prepaid WIFI lets the whole family stay connected with promos like HOMESHARE 199 with 25GB of data that can be used for online schooling, working from home, or watching and playing their favorite movies and games. Globe At Home postpaid customers also get a holiday treat with the Globe at Home FIBER Plans

The Globe Group’s digital transformation continues and 2022 is another year for even more innovations. Alongside these are the many ways by which the group takes care of its customers and addresses their needs and concerns through various platforms. GlobeOne app now has upgraded features giving customers the flexibility to manage and monitor their accounts all in one app. Digital assistants are also in place that allows customers to send their customers and receive a call back when necessary. Globe is also expanding its community-based servicing through Viber groups per area or city, to give customers more ways to get in touch with Globe receive assistance.Aside from its digital customer service platforms, Globe also launched the EasyHub - an innovative kiosk that is simple and conveniently divided into SHOP, PAY, and CARE. It provides hasslefree ways to transact with Globe without the need to wait in line.

Securing a sustainable future

As the Globe Group secures the future of a digitally-transformed Philippines, it has also started on the journey to decrease carbon emissions and promote #OneSustainablePH. Globe is the first and so far the only Filipino company that has committed to set science-based targets in limiting global warming within the

1.5-degree scenario by 2030 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Creating a Digital Nation

The backbone of Innoverse is Globe’s network, without which people cannot connect and communicate. Globe already exceeded its 2021 target of laying down 1 million fiber lines to Filipino homes, aiming to end the year with 1.4 million lines. As of October, it has constructed 1,080 new cell sites and upgraded 12,900 4G and 5G sites nationwide. The first in Southeast Asia, Globe’s 5G technology continues to expand in areas where 5G is needed. Globe’s expanded network served up 2730 Petabytes of data traffic to its customers as of the third quarter this year, the highest so far. This is concrete proof of what the Globe network is capable of. KonekTado WiFi was also rolled out in disadvantaged communities at affordable prices ensuring inclusive access to connectivity. Likewise, Globe takes care of businesses in their digital transformation to achieve growth despite economic uncertainties. Globe Business goes beyond products by continuously empowering large corporations and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. With all these innovations coming together, The Globe Group offers a spark of hope to its customers that 2022 will be the year to rebound, recover, and regain control of their lives. The Globe Group will continue to deliver what its customers need and more.

stmas

ror Special Feature

all should be wearing face masks and observing social distancing. Buffets are discouraged.

Healthier options

Aside from being safe, the DOH also underscored the importance of choosing the healthier options during the festivities. This can be done through moderate food intake, consumption of well-balanced and nutrient-rich foods, avoiding alcohol and cessation of cigarette

smoking and vaping. To prevent firework-related injuries, the public is reminded to use safer alternatives to firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices by participating in community fireworks displays and by using other noise and light producing devices such as sound systems, light emitting devices, percussion instruments, pans, tambourines, and bells. During the virtual launch

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Friday, December 10, 2021

Supt. Warlito Daus of the DILG enjoined local government units across the country to implement the “Oplan: Iwas Paputok” campaign and to intensify the dissemination of information from their local government offices up to the community level.

Firecrackers

The public was also advised to stay away from using firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices such as pic-

colo, watusi, Judas belt, Whistle bomb. Goodbye Earth, Super Lolo and atomic big triangulo. Guidelines were also issued on how to distinguish the legal from the illegal devices. Supt. Analee Atienza of BFP reminded the public to aim for a fire-free holiday by knowing fire prevention and safety tips to prevent fire accidents and casualties. Thorny Dizon of EcoWaste Coalition pushed for the

advocacy of safe toys for kids. He mentioned the importance of choosing and buying the right kind of toys to ensure the safety and health of children citing the requirements of RA 10620 or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act. Despite the restrictions brought about by the pandemic, the DOH encourages the public to remain positive. “Gayunpaman, kahit nasa

gitna tayo ng pandemya, patuloy nating pinagtutunayan na walang matinding paghihirap ang makakasira sa diwa ng Pasko sa buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” said Director Beverly Ho of the Health Promotion Bureau. [However, even though we are in the midst of a pandemic, we continue to prove that no extreme hardship can destroy the spirit of Christmas in the lives of every Filipino.]

Foodpanda unveils newest pandapro rewards to fulfill holiday splurges

OOD, shopping, and great deals should come hand in hand. And what better time of the year to enjoy all the rewards, discounts, and deals other than the holiday season? That’s why before the year ends, foodpanda is introducing its latest lineup of perks that will enhance both new and existing subscribers’ experience that goes beyond food and groceries through pandapro.

What is pandapro?

pandapro is foodpanda’s rewards program that allows customers to enjoy exclusive access to discounts, perks, and deals! For only a Php 399 yearly or a Php50 monthly subscription, this is the season

to order tasty treats, pantry favorites, toys and tech, and self-care goodies for your family or friends! With its 40 percent off discount on restaurants plus other exclusive member benefits on pandamart, shops, and pick up, subscribers are bound to enjoy bountiful benefits the moment they sign up.

What is its latest crop of rewards and benefits?

If you’re someone who values style on top of comfort and convenience, pandapro is precise ly wh at you need to e le v ate you r e x per ience for l i fe! C hec k out t hese l atest of fer i ngs a nd get a head st a r t on you r hol id ay

shoppi ng a nd memorable e x per iences f rom pa nd apro’s pa r t ner bra nd s:

Zalora

With Zalora’s 20 percent plus five percent cashback benefit for every P1,500 worth of shopping, enjoy as much as Php1,000 worth of discount with maximum cashback worth Php 200, valid for 30 days.

Klook

Itching to travel again and on the lookout for thrilling adventures? Take advantage of the 10 percent off with a maximum Php 500 worth of discount on various Klook Philippines activities until December 31, 2021.

Viu

Binge-watch your favorite K-dramas and catch up on the hottest variety shows with a one-month free subscription only from the best online source of Asian entertainment, Viu!

KonsultaMD

Avail of a one month-free subscription from Konsulta MD, the country’s leading 24/7 telehealth service. Offer is available for both new and existing pandapro subscribers. So tap that now and sign up now with foodpanda’s pandapro, as it’s guaranteed a gift that keeps on giving. For more information, follow foodpanda Facebook and foodpanda Instagram pages today.

Friday, December 10, 2021

The World BusinessMirror

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

UK: Omicron spreading quickly; time to work from home again P

Pfizer: Covid booster offers protection against Omicron

ONDON—British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tighter restrictions Wednesday to stem the spread of the Omicron variant, urging people in England to again work from home and mandating Covid-19 passes for entrance into nightclubs and large events.

Johnson said it was time to impose stricter measures to prevent a spike of hospitalizations and deaths as the new coronavirus variant spreads rapidly in the community. “It has become increasingly clear that Omicron is growing much faster than the previous Delta variant and is spreading rapidly all around the world,” he said in a press conference. “Most worryingly, there is evidence that the doubling time of Omicron could currently be between two and three days.” Johnson sa id 568 c a ses of t he Omicron var iant have been confir med so far across t he UK , a nd “t he t r ue nu mber is cer t a in to be muc h h igher.” He said while there wasn’t yet comprehensive data on how dangerous Omicron is, rising hospitalization rates in South Africa, where the variant was first detected, suggested it has

the potential to cause harm. Scientists at the UK Health Sec u r it y A genc y sa id t hey expected the Omicron variant to become the dominant strain in Britain in the next two to four weeks. The agency said so far most cases were located in London and southeast England. T he t ighter rest r ic t ions will buy the government time to put booster jabs into more arms. Officials have set the t a rget of of fer i ng booster shots to all adults by the end of January. Johnson sa id beg inning next Monday, people should work from home if possible. Starting on Friday, the legal requirement to wear a face mask will be widened to most indoor public places in England, including cinemas. Next week, having a Covid-19 pass showing a person has had both vaccine doses will be manda-

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at a press conference in London’s Downing Street on December 8, after ministers met to consider imposing new restrictions in response to rising cases and the spread of the Omicron variant. Adrian Dennis/Pool via AP

tory to enter nightclubs and places with large crowds. L i v e mu s i c v e nu e s a nd nightclubs, which have long resisted vaccine passports, called the news devastating for an industr y that’s just finding its feet again after prolonged periods of closure and restrictions. The blow is particularly hard ahead of the crucial Christmas and New Year period, they said. T he Br it ish gover nment reported another 51,342 confirmed daily cases of Covid-19 as of Wednesday, with 161 more people dying. Overall Britain has seen over 146,000 deaths in the pandemic, the second-worst death tol l in Europe after Russia.

The announcement came as Johnson a nd h is gove r n me nt f a c e d i nc re a s i n g pressure to explain reports t hat Dow ning St reet st a f f enjoyed a Chr istmas part y that breached the countr y’s coronavirus rules last winter, when cases of the Delta variant soared and people were banned from holding most social gatherings. Johnson on Wednesday ordered an inquir y and said he was “ furious” about the situation. The revelations have angered many in Britain, with cr itics say ing they heav i ly undermine the authority of Johnson’s Conservative government in imposing virus restrictions. AP

fizer said Wednesday that a booster of its Covid-19 vaccine may offer important protection against the new Omicron variant even though the initial two doses appear significantly less effective. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said that while two doses may not be strong enough to prevent infection, lab tests showed a booster increased by 25-fold people’s levels of antibodies capable of fighting off Omicron. For people who haven’t yet had a booster, the companies said two doses still should prevent severe disease or death. Health authorities in the US and other countries have urged eligible people to get a third dose even before these results. “Go and get your third boost as soon as possible,” Dr. Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer, told The Associated Press. “This is comforting and a very positive message that we now have a plan that will induce immunity that is likely to protect from infection, symptomatic illness and severe disease from now across the entire winter season.” President Joe Biden said the Pfizer booster finding is “very encouraging” although he cautioned, “that’s the lab report. There’s more studies going on.” Pfizer and BioNTech tested blood samples taken a month after a booster and found people harbored levels of Omicron-neutralizing antibodies that were similar to amounts proven protective against earlier variants after two doses. For the lab tests, researchers grew samples of so-called pseudoviruses that hold the worrisome new mutations. Scientists don’t yet know how big a threat the Omicron variant really is. Currently the extra-contagious Delta variant is responsible for most of the Covid-19 cases in the US and other countries. But the Omicron variant, discovered late last month, carries an unusually large number of mutations and scientists are racing to learn how easily it spreads, whether it causes illness that is more serious or milder than other coronavirus types—and how much it might evade the protection of prior vaccinations. Pfizer’s findings, announced in a press release, are preliminary and haven’t yet undergone scientific review. But they’re the first from a vaccine maker examining whether the booster doses that health authorities are urging people to get may indeed make a key difference. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson also are testing how their vaccines may hold up, but health authorities will be closely watching for real-world evidence of how Omicron spreads in highly vaccinated populations. If it becomes dominant and causes serious illness, then regulators will

have to decide whether vaccines should be tweaked to better match Omicron— changes to the recipe that manufacturers already are beginning, just in case. Scientists have speculated that the high jump in antibodies that comes with a third dose of current Covid-19 vaccines might be enough to counter any decrease in effectiveness. Despite the large number of mutations that Omicron bears, “it is still not a complete escape variant, it is a partial escape variant,” BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said in a press conference. Antibody levels predict how well a vaccine may prevent infection with the coronavirus but they are just one layer of the immune system’s defenses. Pfizer said two doses of the vaccine should still protect against severe disease, because Omicron’s mutations don’t appear to hamper another defense—T cells that fight the virus after infection sets in. A small lab study in South Africa also concluded people may be more susceptible to breakthrough Omicron infections after just two Pfizer doses. Scientists from the Africa Health Research Institute in Durban found a sharp drop in antibody strength against Omicron compared to other variants—although they didn’t test boosters. Pfizer boosters aren’t yet available in South Africa, but health care workers are being offered extra doses of the single-shot J&J vaccine. The preliminary South African results suggested people vaccinated after an earlier bout of Covid-19 retained more protection—reflecting that initial shots are known to trigger a huge antibody jump after prior infection. Even if there are more breakthrough infections after two doses, most experts believe vaccines will still work against the Omicron variant because of the other immune defenses they trigger, said Willem Hanekom, a co-author of the South African study. “The more antibodies you can have on board, the better you will do, at least in these lab experiments,” Hanekom said. “So booster vaccines might be very important.” A US expert agreed the preliminary booster findings are encouraging although more information is needed. But if Om icron w ind s up causi ng se vere d i se a se a nd becomes common globa l ly, “ it may be muc h bet ter add ressed t hrough vacc ines t h at a re adjusted to spec if ic a l ly protect aga inst t hat va r i a nt,” sa id Dr. Jesse Good ma n of Georgetow n Universit y, a for mer Food and Dr ug Ad m inist rat ion vacc ine c h ief. Vaccine makers already are tweaking their vaccine recipes to create an Omicron-specific dose in case it’s needed. Pfizer predicted its candidate could be ready for regulators to consider in March. AP

Australia’s deputy PM tests positive for virus in the US

ELLINGTON, New Zealand—Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said Thursday he’d tested positive for the coronavirus while traveling in Washington, D.C. Joyce, who is fully vaccinated, said in a Facebook post that he’d been experiencing mild symptoms and decided to get tested. He said he would remain in isolation while seeking further advice. He said the remaining members of his traveling delegation had tested negative. It wasn’t immediately clear what variant of the virus Joyce had contracted. Before arriving in the US, he’d traveled to London and met with top officials there as part of a 10-day trip to discuss his government’s plans for regulating social media. Joyce told ABC Radio New England he was “very frustrated I’m going to be locked up in a room by myself for 10 days, but that’s part of the process.”

He joked that being alone in the room worried him more than his infection. He told the radio station that part of his job involved traveling and meeting with counterparts. “I really wanted to follow up on some of this online stuff, try to get better online protection laws and see where the United States are,” he said. “But that’s the way the cookie crumbles.” Australia has been a prominent voice in calling for international regulation of the Internet. It passed laws this year that oblige Google and Facebook to pay for journalism. Australia also defied the tech companies by creating a law that could imprison social media executives if their platforms stream violent images. Australia has also announced plans to crack down on online advertisers targeting children by making social media platforms seek parental consent for users younger than 16 years old or face hefty fines. AP

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India’s defense chief among 13 killed in helicopter crash N EW DELHI—India’s military chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat, and 12 others were killed Wednesday in a helicopter crash in southern Tamil Nadu state, the air force said. It said in a tweet that the helicopter “met with a tragic accident.” The dead included Rawat’s wife. The air force said one officer, Group Capt. Varun Singh, survived and is being treated in a military hospital. The air force said the Russian-made Mi-17V5 helicopter was on its way from an air force base to the army defense services college when it crashed near the town of Coonoor, a hill station in Tamil Nadu. The reason for the crash was not immediately known. Television images from the crash site showed plumes of smoke billowing from the debris as local residents tried to put out the fire and remove bodies from the wreckage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Rawat had contributed greatly to modernizing the country’s armed forces. “His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptional,” Modi said. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said Rawat “served the country with exceptional courage and diligence.” Archrival Pakistan’s army chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, expressed his condolences on the “tragic death” of Rawat and his wife, its government said in a tweet. The air force said an inquiry has been ordered into the accident. Rawat, 63, was the most senior official in the Indian military and the first chief of defense staff, a position created by the government in 2019. He was also an adviser to the Defense Ministry. His primary task was to overhaul the military, which has struggled to modernize and improve coordination among the army, navy and air force. He previously served as chief of

a r my st a f f a nd a lso comma nded forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir and along the frontier with China. He was a veteran of counterinsurgency operations. In 2015, Rawat oversaw Indian “surgical strikes” into neighboring Myanmar, when para-commandos entered the country to attack Naga rebels who had ambushed and killed Indian troops. In 2017, he awarded a gallantry medal to an army officer who had tied a civilian to the front of his jeep in Kashmir, where rebels are fighting Indian rule. The incident sparked controversy within India and outside, with rights groups saying the officer used the man as a human shield against stonethrowing protesters. Rawat said the officer’s actions were within the rules because the army was facing a “dirty war” in the disputed region and had to fight using “innovative” ways. Last month, he triggered another controversy by saying on television that Kashmir residents are offering to “lynch terrorists themselves” and that it was a “very positive sign.” Lynchings are illegal under Indian law. He did not provide any evidence to support his statement. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, and both claim the entire Himalayan territory. Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebels’ goal of a united Kashmir, either independent or under Pakistan rule. Rawat earlier survived a helicopter crash in 2015 in the northeast state of Nagaland. The type of military transport helicopter that crashed Wednesday, Mi17V5, is widely used in India by the army and ministers when visiting defense locations. In 2017, a n Mi-17 V5 hel icop ter crashed in northeast Arunachal Pradesh state, killing seven military personnel. AP

Myanmar govt troops burn alive 11 in retaliation attack–Reports

ANGKOK—Myanmar government troops raided a small northwestern village, rounding up civilians, binding their hands and then burning them alive in apparent retaliation for an attack on a military convoy, according to witnesses and other reports. A video of the aftermath of Tuesday’s attack showed the charred bodies of 11 victims, some believed to be teenagers, lying in a circle amid what appeared to be the remains of a hut in Done Taw village in Sagaing region. Outrage spread as the graphic images were shared on social media over what appeared to be the latest of increasingly brutal military attacks in an attempt to put down stiffening anti-government resistance following the army takeover in February. Human Rights Watch called Thursday for the international community to ensure that commanders who gave the order are added to targeted sanctions lists, and more broadly, efforts are stepped up to cut off any source of funding to the military. “Our contacts are saying these were just boys and young people who were villagers who were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time,” a spokeswoman for the group, Manny Maung, said. She added that similar incidents have been occurring regularly, but that this one happened to be caught on camera. “ This incident is quite brazen, and it happened in an area that was meant to be found, and seen, to scare people,” she said. The images could not be independently verified, but an account given to The Associated Press by a person who said he was present when they were taken generally matched descriptions of the incident carried by independent Myanmar media. The government has denied that it had any troops in the area. The military ouster of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was initially met with nonviolent street protests, but after police and soldiers

responded with lethal force, violence escalated as opponents of military rule took up arms in self-defense. The killings in Done Taw were decried by Myanmar’s underground National Unity Government, which has established itself as the country’s alternative administration in place of the military-installed government. The organization’s spokesperson, Dr. Sasa, said a military convoy had been hit by a roadside bomb and troops retaliated first by shelling Done Taw, then assaulting the village, rounding up anyone they could capture. He said victims ranged in age from 14 to 40. “Sickening scenes reminiscent of the Islamic State terrorist group bore witness to the military’s escalation of their acts of terror,” he said in a statement. “The sheer brutality, savagery, and cruelty of these acts show a new depth of depravity, and proves that despite the pretense of the relative détente seen over the last few months, the junta never had any intention of deescalating their campaign of violence,” said Sasa, who uses one name. The witness who spoke to the AP said about 50 troops marched into Done Taw village at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, seizing anyone who did not manage to flee. “They arrested 11 innocent villagers,” said the witness, who described himself as a farmer and an activist and asked to remain anonymous for his own safety, He added that the captured men were not members of the locally organized People’s Defense Force, which sometimes engages the army in combat. He said the captives had their hands tied behind them and were set on fire. He did not give a reason for the soldiers’ assault. Other witnesses cited in Myanmar media said the victims were members of a defense force, though the witness who spoke to the AP described them as members of a less formally organized village protection group. AP

A10 Friday, December 10, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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Boosting government’s booster jab campaign

irst detected in South Africa in November, the Omicron variant is now spreading around the world. As of December 6, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the variant has been detected in at least 48 countries. There is growing evidence that Omicron is capable of spreading rapidly in populations with immunity against other Covid variants, and it appears poised to cause a huge wave of new infections around the world. In the UK, the spread of the Omicron variant is doubling every two to three days, according to Professor Neil Ferguson, a member of the UK government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and head of the disease outbreak modeling group at Imperial College London. He added that Omicron could become the dominant Covid strain in the UK before Christmas, and that it could be necessary to impose new lockdowns. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday urged people in England to again work from home to stem the spread of the Omicron variant. Johnson said there’s a need to impose stricter measures to prevent a spike of hospitalizations and deaths. The British government reported another 51,342 Covid cases on Wednesday, with 161 more people dying. The UK has seen over 146,000 deaths in the pandemic, the second-worst death toll in Europe after Russia. In Australia, Queensland state scientists have found a new Omicron lineage in a traveler who arrived from South Africa. What is alarming is that this new Omicron lineage can’t be detected with typical screening, according to the state’s acting chief health officer. A Bloomberg report said the discovery of the “stealth” version of Omicron may be a setback for scientists racing to understand the full impact of the variant, including how virulent the strain is and whether vaccines are effective at reducing risk of severe disease. From the Associated Press: “New York announced three more cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus Saturday, bringing the number of state cases linked to the new variant to eight. The number of states finding the variant is growing as well, with Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington state announcing their first cases Saturday, a day after New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Maryland reported their first confirmed cases. Missouri reported its first presumed case Friday.” Initial studies on Omicron indicate that available Covid vaccines may be less powerful against the new variant. However, protection can be fortified with boosters. Studies from South Africa show that Omicron does cause a loss of immune protection, but not completely. In a study of blood plasma from people given two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, for instance, there was a 41-fold drop in levels of virus-blocking antibodies with Omicron, compared with the strain circulating at the start of the pandemic. A Bloomberg report said researchers saw reason for hope. The loss of immune protection is “robust, but not complete,” said Alex Sigal, head of research at the Africa Health Research Institute in Durban. “A good booster probably would decrease your chance of infection, especially infection leading to more severe disease,” he said. These initial studies on Omicron offer early and incomplete insight into how potentially damaging the spread of the new variant could be. The studies are small, so their findings are not conclusive. Still, the jump in cases in South Africa and in the UK following Omicron’s emergence show that the new variant has the potential to fuel surges in infections with severe consequences. Health experts see boosters as key to help fight the emergence of the Omicron variant. Pfizer said that while two doses may not be strong enough to prevent infection, lab tests showed a booster increased by 25-fold people’s levels of antibodies capable of fighting off Omicron. We urge the government to boost their booster jab campaign before the Omicron variant gets a chance to land in our shores.

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Towards a more inclusive education system Sonny M. Angara

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he Senate recently ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Inclusive Education Act, which aims to institutionalize a policy of inclusion and services for learners with disabilities (LWD) across the country’s education sector. The measure languished in the legislative mill for many years. No less than my late father, former Senate President Edgardo J. Angara, filed among the first versions of this measure during the 13th Congress (2004 to 2007). Later, Sen. Pia Cayetano re-filed the measure, continued to improve on it, and brought it to plenary discussion. For our part, we started filing versions of the measure as early as 2013, when we were elected to our first term as senator. But it was only through the able shepherding of our seatmate and Basic Education Committee Chairperson Win Gatchalian that the measure was able to pass muster and finally be transmitted to the Executive for the President’s signature. To our understanding, it took several public hearings and equally numerous technical working group meetings—not to mention repeated

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most critical juncture in our society, where the ongoing pandemic has revealed and even exacerbated many infirmities in our education sector. While it’s been well documented that students across the board faced immense difficulties in the transition to remote learning options, what didn’t get much attention is how the community quarantines have made it even more difficult for LWDs to gain access to quality education. For School Year 2019-2020, a little less than 94,000 LWDs enrolled in Department of Education (DepEd) schools, a 74-percent drop from prepandemic levels. To be clear, a lot more interventions are needed to get the learning trajectories of our LWDs back on track as the end of the Covid-19 pandemic nears. But with the approval of the Inclusive Education Act, we would be ensuring that inclusivity becomes a cornerstone of the education system that we will be building or improving in the coming years. A crisis after all is always an opportunity to build back better. And thanks to the efforts of Senator Win Gatchalian, we are closer to having an education system where indeed no one is left behind.

Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 17 years. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate. E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

Myanmar democracy in new era as Suu Kyi sidelined by army

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back-and-forth discussions between the Senate and House panels—to finally arrive upon a version that is acceptable not only to the government’s education agencies but also across the highly diverse and dynamic milieu of civil society groups, with their respective advocacies and points-of-view. An important feature of this measure is its emphasis on a sweeping policy for inclusion, that mandates all early and basic education schools—whether public or private—to ensure equitable access to quality education to every LWD. This means that no LWD could be denied admission based on whatever disability they possess. There is also the progressive establishment of a nationwide network of Inclusive Learning Resource Centers, formerly known as Special Education or SPED Centers in every school district, municipal-

ity, and city. These ILRCs will be tasked to provide free “inclusive education” programs and support services to learners with disabilities covered by their respective jurisdictions. Such programs and support services include expert diagnoses and multi-disciplinary assessments of LWDs; formulation and implementation of “individualized education plans” or IEPs which are catered to the specific needs of the learners; d evelopment of appropriate learning materials and modules; training and capacitybuilding programs for basic education teachers, administrators and other relevant staff; and among others, the operation of a referral system that allows for a meaningful whole-of-community approach to fulfilling the needs of LWDs. Another vital component is the establishment of a Child Find System (CFS) through which efforts will be undertaken to identify, locate, and evaluate LWDs not more than 24 years old who are not receiving basic education services. This provision is particularly critical given that data is sparse and outdated on the actual number and status of LWDs across the country. By finding the learners who need specialized support, such mechanism will be essential to realizing the broad objective of building a truly inclusive education system throughout the country. Indeed, the measure comes at a

By Grant Peck & Elaine Kurtenbach | Associated Press

ANGKOK—In sentencing Myanmar’s iconic democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to prison, the country’s generals have effectively exiled her from electoral politics. But that doesn’t mean the Southeast Asian nation is back to square one in its stop-start efforts to move toward democracy. In fact, a younger generation that came of age as the military began loosening its grip on politics and the economy and has tasted some freedoms is well positioned to carry on the struggle. A de facto coup on Feb. 1 pushed Suu Kyi’s elected government from power, throwing the country into turmoil. But erasing the gains of a decade of opening up has proved more difficult. People took to the streets en masse almost immediately and have continued sporadic protests since then. As a military crackdown on demonstrations grew increasingly violent, protesters moved to arm themselves. Within days, a mix of old and new guard, including elected lawmakers who were prevented from taking their seats by the takeover, announced a shadow administration

that declared itself the nation’s only legitimate government. It was very consciously assembled to be a diverse group, including representatives of ethnic minorities and one openly gay member, unusual in socially conservative Myanmar. It, not Suu Kyi, who was arrested in the takeover, has been at the forefront of the opposition—and has garnered significant support among the general population. While no foreign government has recognized the so-called National Unity Government, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met virtually with two of its representatives. And it has accomplished a kind of standoff at the UN, which delayed action on a request by Myanmar’s military government for its representative to take its seat. The country’s current delegate has declared his al-

legiance to the unity government. “The coup and its aftermath are not so much the end of a democratization process in Myanmar as they are proof that democratization has actually taken hold of the younger generation,” said Priscilla Clapp, who served as the US chief of mission in Myanmar from 1999 to 2002. “In fact, the coup may ultimately prove to be the dramatic end to the older generation of leadership in Myanmar.” The pro-democracy movement now faces the challenges of continuing to resist military rule, keeping up international pressure for restoring an elected, civilian government, and consolidating support from ethnic groups that have long fought the central government. Suu Kyi, whose pro-democracy efforts won her the Nobel Peace Prize, and her allies have played important roles in the past, even when sidelined or jailed by the generals. On Monday, the 76-year-old was convicted on charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions and sentenced to four years in prison, though that was almost immediately reduced to two. She faces other charges that could see her imprisoned for life. But the younger generation may

be better placed to carry the mantle anyway. Unlike their elders, younger people in Myanmar, especially those in the cities, have spent most of their lives without having to worry about being imprisoned for speaking their minds. They have had access to mobile phones and Facebook and grew up believing the country was moving toward greater, not less democracy. They also seem more willing to reach out to Myanmar’s ethnic minorities. Not only did the unity government include ethnic minority officials in its Cabinet, but it sought out alliances with the powerful ethnic militias, which are fighting for autonomy and rights over their resource-rich lands. “Even as they are fighting against the military takeover, they are debating among themselves to determine the outlines of a new form of a more democratic and ethnically diverse political system,” said Clapp, who is also a senior adviser to the US Institute of Peace and the Asia Society. “This did not happen with earlier rebellions against military rule before the people had experience with democratic institutions that gave the public a voice.”

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Bob Dole: The Great Political Wit

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et’s take a breather from local politics for a fresh change. Forget about Mayor Isko’s ambivalence, VP Leni’s puritanical politics, BBM’s revisionism of political history, Lacson’s positive approach in campaigning and Pacquiao’s populism and money politics. I have generously devoted many columns about the rough-andtumble game of presidential politics in the past. I hope they helped crystallize somehow the issues in this coming election. But as the former Kremlin tyrant, Premier Joseph Stalin, once said: “It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.” I know we can do better than that. So today, I have elected to write about a former US senator, former GOP vice presidential candidate in 1976 as a running mate of President Gerald Ford and former GOP presidential candidate in 1996 against reelectionist President Bill Clinton —Robert “Bob” Dole. Dole died on December 5, 2021 at the age of 98. He was definitely a distinguished American whose political odyssey was truly remarkable. Bob Dole lived for almost a century and his life is best encapsulated in President Joe Biden’s message of condolence who described him as “an American statesman like few in our history. A war hero and among the greatest of the Greatest Generation.... To me, he was also a friend whom I could look to for trusted guidance, or a humorous line at just the right moment to settle frayed nerves.” As his contemporaries would undoubtedly confirm, Dole was a great political wit with nary an equal among his peers. Incidentally, he wrote a book in 1998 after he retired from politics, entitled Great Political Wit: Laughing (Almost) all the Way to the White House. This is the book to read if you want to know politicians’ favorite anecdotes, witticisms, and reminiscences. Even his lovely second wife, Elizabeth Dole, who at some point served in the cabinets of President Ronald Reagan and President George H. W. Bush and as elected senator of North Carolina, admired her husband’s wit and humor. In her review of Bob Dole’s Great Political Wit, she recalled: “Considering that when I was Secretary of Transportation, Bob once said the Federal Highway Administration used my biscuit recipe to fill potholes, I’m tempted to give this book a bad review. But the fact is that Great Political Wit captures the Bob Dole I know and love—warm, funny, with a unique ability to laugh at himself.” And everyone seems to love Bob Dole until his death. Dole lost the vice presidency; lost the presidency, but he won the respect and admiration of many US politicians from both sides of the political aisle. Despite his monumental defeats, he did not lose sleep over them. Neither did he spend precious time brooding over his debacle and ruminating about options that could have altered the outcome. In his concession speech on the night following the election, he was honest enough to say: “Tomorrow is the first day of my life when I have nothing to do.” But he kept himself busy. Like a winner, he guested at The Late Night show with David Letterman two nights after the election. And he narrated that the host, David, asked him about President Clinton’s weight to which Bob Dole replied: “I don’t know. I never tried to lift him. I just tried to beat him.” Bob Dole proved that there is still life after losing an election. He never claimed that he was cheated like many of his Filipino counterparts. Nor did he accuse the winner of stealing the election like his notorious partymate Donald Trump. His loss to President Clinton signaled his retirement from US politics. He was 73, five years younger than President Joe Biden, his old senate colleague, when the latter was elected President. Three days before Clinton’s inauguration

Among the many gifts Dole had left to his countrymen is his resilience and tenacity forged in the crucible of many political battles he had lost and won. But that’s not the end of his colorful political saga. After his defeat and retirement from politics in 1996, he stayed on the sidelines with his sardonic wit, dry humor and bon mots and for the next quarter of a century until his death he had poked fun at political figures, including every president. as the re-elected president of the US, President Clinton awarded Dole the coveted Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian decoration of the United States. The award cited his distinguished service during World War II where he was almost mortally wounded while rescuing his fallen comrades. Through victories and defeats in politics, Clinton stressed that Dole had “turned adversity to advantage and pain to public service, embodying the motto of the state he loved and went on to serve so well: Ad astra per aspera—to the stars through difficulties.” After he was severely injured, Dole was airlifted from the battleground to a safe hospital for emergency treatment. The doctors who responded to him had given up the hope that he would live. He stayed in the hospital for three years recuperating but he had lost total use of his right arm. He eventually married his therapist who gave him a child. They eventually divorced years later. Dole throughout his life had carried the scars and injuries of the war. His right arm hung limp and deformed. In later years, he assiduously practiced the fingers of his right hand to hold a pen to prevent others from reaching for his right hand for handshake. His longtime ally and friend, President Richard Nixon, never failed to extend his left hand every time he met Dole so that the latter could grab it with his normal left hand, and Dole was forever grateful for Nixon’s gesture. In our country, politics is a joke but we don’t find the humor, wit and even the sarcasm of a Bob Dole. Even President Dwight Eisenhower whose military upbringing and serious manner seemed impervious to laughter had said: “A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.” When in the midst of a tense situation and when both sides are gearing for combat, a light banter can break the political impasse and lead to a solution or compromise. Among the many gifts Dole had left to his countrymen is his resilience and tenacity forged in the crucible of many political battles he had lost and won. But that’s not the end of his colorful political saga. After his defeat and retirement from politics in 1996, he stayed on the sidelines with his sardonic wit, dry humor and bon mots and for the next quarter of a century until his death he had poked fun at political figures, including every president. He failed to capture the White House but he had the last laugh.

should not have shared my unusual discoveries that day or the day before. But who chances upon bird’s feather on four separate occasions? In one’s apartment, with all doors screened? The first time I saw a tiny feather, I ignored it. The second I swept into the toilet drain. The third made me think. Nothing transcendental or mystical. But then it would not stop: a fourth, rounded feather appeared on the floor. Even for a non-ornithologist, I could say it did not come from a single winged creature. My first impulse was to check the surroundings. For rats. For other creatures created to eat helpless birds. But, why I asked, would I consider birds with their natural capacity of flight to be weak and vulnerable? And why race to the conclusion of rats and mice as default murderers in a household meant for humans? Incoherent thoughts were beginning to overwhelm me. One thing for sure, nothing about the extraterrestrial or out-of-this-world was ever in my consciousness. It was time to share my find. It was meant to be for friends who would understand why I would do the quirky act, which was to post a series of photos of the feathers seemingly appearing from nowhere. Whether intended or not, the feathers became significant items. For some, they were signs of something else that, in fact, rendered my initial assessment of a rat vis-à-vis a bird encounter inherently cruel, if not unnecessary indulgence in irony. I have to admit I was just too much the “objective” one, baiting those who cared to read and view the images of a feather without the avian structure. Or was I scared of the conclusion people would reach with regard to the instability of my mind? Was I defensive of the vulner-

ability of the flightiness of this my mode of communication? Pop psychology and Jungian exercises were beginning to threaten me. Should I delete the photos? But then the responses to my presentation started to ring in like a frenzied, happy but nervous cash register: Someone is communicating with you? Angel watching over you… Lucky charms As the fourth feather appeared: Wow, you have many angels up there… Others were more specific: San Gabriel—the Archangel Contrarian: Must be from an Aswang (Witch) Channeling Dorothy Parker: Adding another feather to your cap? Pragmatic like a workshop director: Do absurd fiction! Another good friend sent in Mary Oliver’s poem, with the lines about the “feathers of some unimaginable bird/that loves us,/that is asleep now, and silent.” The feathers were assuming the power of a Rorschach inkblot test: it was not anymore the found feather but how they, my friends, looked at these objects of surprising presence. Mary Douglas the anthropologist be-

can be set aside, after all, there are only four tiny feathers in our exhibit. These powerful divine beings could have used the friendship of birds that fly around our homes. What was that old theory about man creating the gods and separating himself from the divinities only to engage the services of birds to connect him again to the fount of his soul? It can work here. Why not. Or these feathers could be a boon given to us humans when sadness and isolation that are seemingly wider and more pervasive than the sky above and greatly more earthshaking than the quakes yet to be born from the ground have become too much for us. The world need not be rational, rationality being overrated. It could be like love, tender but unrated, buried at times somewhere and floating up, a feather without the motion of flying but nevertheless able to carry one’s heart up to a place where happiness and consolation—ephemeral, imperfect—promise a break, a tentative respite, from this deep valley of tears.

hind Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo, would make sense. We have to rationalize the feather because not to do so would disturb our world of reason, order and coziness. We can look back to Douglas’s concept of “dirt” or “pollution”. She says: “If we can abstract pathogenicity and hygiene from our notion of dirt, we are left with the old definition of dirt as matter out of place.” It is not about clinical or moral impurity; it is about something that is not expected to be there. How to explain a feather inside a house that had not seen or felt any wing slicing its space? Where did it come from? The most difficult query comes last: what does it mean? The meanings are not mysterious. Easily, we could look for a dead bird. Or a lost bird. Or one whose wings had been clipped between the screened door. Or, be like me, and search for the murderous mouse or wretched rat. There are other responses, of course, and they should not be doubted upon unless we want to cast aside our faith. These are the angels. Guilt for a wingless Angel or Archangel

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Attribution error in presidential performance assessments Dr. Geoffrey M. Ducanes

EAGLE WATCH

N psychology, the Fundamental Attribution Error denotes people’s tendency to overestimate the impact of character or personality on the actions of others and to underestimate the effect of external circumstances. In political economy, such attribution error is committed when we assign full praise or blame to particular presidents for economic gains or losses during their time in office.

What is more likely true is that economic gains and losses during a presidential term occur from a combination of actions taken by the president (and his administration) and external circumstances, including global economic forces and residual effects of actions taken by previous presidential administrations. It is nearly impossible to completely tease out which portion of economic gains or losses is attributable to a sitting president and which portion to external circumstances. The best we can do is to refine the information that we have in order to reduce, to the extent that we can, the magnitude of attribution error. For example, it makes more sense to evaluate Philippine economic performance over time relative to the economic performance of its comparable Southeast Asian neighbors. Global and regional forces sometimes come into play, which constrain how much countries are able to grow in certain periods. The current pandemic, the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, and the 2008 Global Financial Crisis are good examples. A relative comparison is a way of controlling for these external forces, as illustrated below. The three neighboring countries most often compared to Philippines are Indonesia, Thailand, and Malay-

my grew higher by 1.5 percentage points per year, on average, compared to its neighbors. During the Duterte presidency (up to 2020), the country has fallen slightly behind again—by 0.3 percentage point per year—relative to its neighbors. The country did well enough from 2017 to 2019—performing better than its neighbors by about 1.7 percentage points. But when the pandemic came in 2020, the country’s economic growth lagged by 5.8 percentage points relative to its neighbors. On a year-byyear basis, this was the worst the Philippine economy has performed relative to its neighbors in 28 years. One would get a different impression if Philippine economic growth was not viewed relative to its neighbors’. Growth during the terms of President Marcos, President Ramos, and President Estrada would be almost the same, and President Arroyo’s would be noticeably better than all of them. Nevertheless, context matters, and the relative comparison illustrated here is just one way of contextualizing historical Philippine economic growth.

years of President C. Aquino’s term— a period of political instability following repeated coup attempts—were especially tough, as the country’s growth was slightly negative, whereas its neighbors grew by about 7.5 percent per year. Other idiosyncratic shocks during and around the period included the Luzon earthquake in 1990 and the Pinatubo eruption in 1991, both of which likely impacted the economy negatively. It was only during the time of President Fidel Ramos that the country was able to keep pace with the economic growth of its neighbors. During the six-year Ramos presidency, Philippine annual GDP growth was behind by only 0.2 percentage point compared to its neighbors. Philippine GDP growth fell slightly behind its neighbors during the two-year term of President Joseph Estrada, and then kept pace with them again during the 10-year presidency of Gloria Arroyo. It is worth noting that a devastating tsunami hit parts of Indonesia and Thailand during this period (in late 2004), and the catastrophic Typhoon Ondoy damaged parts of the Philippines. It was only during the time of President Benigno Aquino that the country finally surpassed the economic growth of its neighbors. From 2011 to 2016, the Philippine econo-

sia. The given table shows how the Philippine economy performed visà-vis these three countries across different presidential terms. During the 20-year Marcos rule, Philippine annual GDP growth was lower by 2.9 percentage points compared to its neighbors. Assuming a similar starting base, a difference of this magnitude in annual growth will translate to a difference of more than 70 percent in GDP level after 20 years. This was the period when the country fell far behind its neighbors. The country also did relatively poorly during the time of President C. Aquino, with annual GDP growth lower by 4.9 percentage points compared to its neighbors. The last two

Dr. Geoffrey M. Ducanes is an Associate Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics.

Real GDP Growth: Philippines and Its Neighbors Country Philippines Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia (weighted average) Difference (percentage points)

Philippine President Marcos C. Aquino (1966-1985) (1986-1992) 3.8% 3.3%

Ramos (1993-1998) 3.6%

Estrada (1999-2000) 3.7%

Arroyo (2001-2010) 4.8%

B. Aquino (2011-2016) 6.2%

Duterte (2017-2020) 2.2%

6.6%

7.9%

3.7%

4.2%

4.9%

4.7%

2.5%

-2.9

-4.6

-0.2

-0.4

-0.1

1.5

-0.3

Source: Author’s computations based on data from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators.

A12 Friday, December 10, 2021

PHL 4 notches up in Global Health Security Index in ’21

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE Philippines’s efforts to share its data on Covid-19 infections helped improve its performance in the Global Health Security Index (GHSI) in 2021.

The GHSI data showed the country ranked 57th out of 195 countries and economies, a four-notch improvesharing of genetic and biological ment from its ranking in 2019. The data and specimens with a score country’s index score improved by of 66.7 out of 100. 2.2 to 45.7 out of 100. The indicator considers fac The index was recently released tors such as a publicly available by the Nuclear Threat Initiative plan or policy for sharing genetic and the Johns Hopkins Center for data, clinical specimens and/or Health Security at the Bloomberg isolated specimens, and public School of Public Health. evidence that the country has “Only 37 percent of countries not shared samples in accordance have made a public commitment to with the Pandemic Influenza Preshare surveillance data, and only paredness (PIP) framework in the five [Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, past two years. the Philippines, and Singapore] This also considers whether made commitments to share data there is public evidence that the specifically for Covid-19,” the recountry has not shared pandemic port stated. pathogen samples during an out The country scored high points break in the past two years. under the norms category where it “Data related to epidemic and posted an overall score of 55.9 out pandemic preparedness, such as of 100. Under this category, the disease surveillance, health syscountry ranked 12th out of 195 tems, and response capacity data, countries in the commitment to should be publicly available so that

officials within and beyond country borders understand the nature and magnitude of the threat and the tools available to contain it,” the report stated. Meanwhile, the Philippines saw an almost 20-point increase in its score for the detection category. The country’s overall score for detect is 52.6 out of 100. In fact, the country ranked 1st out of 195 countries in terms of Laboratory systems strength and quality, one of the indicators under the detection category. The report explained that this indicator measured a country’s laboratory capacity for detection of priority diseases and laboratory quality systems. “[This measures] the ability to rapidly and accurately identify the pathogenic cause of an outbreak, informs disease detection, prevention and control, including the development of diagnostic testing and treatment options,” the report stated. However, the Philippines saw the lowest score of 27.7 out of 100 under the prevention category, particularly due to the decline in its performance on zoonotic diseases. The country scored only 17.3 out of 100, placing it at 93rd out of 195 countries in the category. This

considers a country’s action plans for responding to zoonotic diseases can mitigate potential spread to humans. This also takes into consideration laws and plans for risk identification and risk reduction for spillover events, as well as surveillance and control of multiple zoonotic pathogens. “It is critical to track and prevent diseases occurring at the human-animal interface in order to minimize the risk of novel and re-emerging zoonotic diseases reaching the human population,” the report said. The report stated that overall, countries were able to develop capacities to address Covid-19. However, many of these capacities may not be for the long-term or could be deemed as efforts to prepare for future pandemics. Nonetheless, the report showed there is still an opportunity to make new capacities that would be durable for the long haul. “Although evidence shows that countries built new capacities during the Covid-19 pandemic, many of them are temporary, short-term, Cov id-19 -specific measures and were therefore not given full credit by the GHS Index,” the report stated. Continued on A5

SC SAYS ANTI-TERROR LAW CONSTITUTIONAL EXCEPT FOR 2 ITEMS By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court has declared all the provisions of the controversial AntiTerrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 “not unconstitutional” except for specific portions of two of its provisions. In a vote of 12-3, the Court struck down as unconstitutional the qualifier to the proviso in Section 4 of RA 11479 which defines terrorism. The said provision states that terrorism “shall not include advocacy, protest, dissent, stoppage of work, industrial or mass action, and other similar exercises of civil and political rights which are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.”

‘Overbroad’

HOWEVER, the Court ruled that the qualified “which are not intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety” was “overbroad and violative of freedom of expression.” Also declared as unconstitutional

was the second method for designation in Section 25 (Designation of Terrorist Individual, Groups of Persons, Organizations or Associations) paragraph 2 of RA 11479. Paragraph 2 states: “Request for designations by other jurisdictions or supranational jurisdictions may be adopted by the ATC (Anti-Terrorism Council) after determination that the proposed designee meets the criteria for designation of UNSCR (United Nations Security Council Resolution) No. 1373.” The magistrates voted 9-6 to nullify the said portion for being unconstitutional. “On the basis of the current petitions, all the other challenged provisions of RA 11479 are not unconstitutional. The main ponencia and the various opinions contain interpretations of some of the provisions declared in these cases as not unconstitutional,” the SC said in a statement released by its Public Information Office (PIO). “The parties and the public are advised to await the publication and read the decision and the separate opinions for the explanation of the votes,” it added. Continued on A5

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

3M SERVICE CENTER APAC, INC. 17th, 18th, 19th Floors, Bonifacio Stopover Corporate Center, 31st Street Cor., 2nd Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, City Of Taguig

KHAOIEM, JENJIRA Service Desk L1 Associate (Thai) 1.

Brief Job Description: Answering incoming calls / chats/ web tickets and providing technical assistance following established procedures and guidelines.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor level university/ college degree is generally required. A 2-3 year technical or vocational degree in a specific field may be considered equivalent.

No.

Brief Job Description: Troubleshoots and resolves cases raised concerning the product or platform being supported and is able to mentor and guide team members to do the same

MAKIMOTO, TOSHIYA Advanced App Engineering Sr. Analyst 3.

Brief Job Description: Use modular architectures, next generation techniques, cloud-first and mobile-first mindset to provide vision to app development teams

JARRON, JORDAN PHILIPPE Risk And Compliance Specialist Brief Job Description: Leading a team and handling day to day operations

11.

Brief Job Description: Diagnosing equipment malfunctions and performing repairs

Brief Job Description: Oversee different initiatives or projects of the business.

Brief Job Description: Managing and dealing with the organization’s merchandising on a global scale

HU, YUNXIA Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

Basic Qualification: Preferably a graduate of any it-related course; fluent in both Korean and English language knowledge in MS office tools is a plus Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

12.

Brief Job Description: Managing and dealing with the organization’s merchandising on a global scale

Basic Qualification: Requires analysis and solving of increasingly complex problems Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Strong read and write skills in English and French is a must

KUO, LI-CHIANG Mandarin Software Quality Assurance Analyst

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

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

13.

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak Japanese, can act as a bridge between Japanese clients and Filipino developers.

Brief Job Description: you shall managing a team of mandarin staff including programmers, analysts and support specialists, evaluating the functionality of systems, consulting computer users to ascertain needs and to ensure that facilities meet user or project requirements, selecting and purchasing appropriate hardware and software, managing IT budgets, ensuring software licensing laws are followed, implementing and managing security or integrity and backup procedures, scheduling upgrades, providing user training, support, advice and feedback, testing and modifying systems to ensure that that they operate reliably managing secure network access for remote users, keeping up to date with new technology, designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation training new staff. Ensure software packages contain no errors by analyzing development data, regularly interpret data and analysis in Mandarin.

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

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque HUANG, JUAN Chinese Customer Service 7.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Responsible to run the Indian cuisine section of the hotel

Brief Job Description: Develops and administers human resources programs and problems.

10.

Brief Job Description: Building and sustaining long lasting relationships with new and existing customers based within an assigned sales territory of best reliable resources corp / travelling within an assigned sales territory to conduct face to face meetings with existing and potential customers

Basic Qualification: At least 1 year experience in Marketing Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

15.

Basic Qualification: you shall managing a team of mandarin staff including programmers, analysts and support specialists, evaluating the functionality of systems, consulting computer users to ascertain needs and to ensure that facilities meet user or project requirements, selecting and purchasing appropriate hardware and software, managing IT budgets, ensuring software licensing laws are followed, implementing and managing security or integrity and backup procedures, scheduling upgrades, providing user training, support, advice and feedback, testing and modifying systems to ensure that that they operate reliably managing secure network access for remote users, keeping up to date with new technology, designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation training new staff. Ensure software packages contain no errors by analyzing development data, regularly interpret data and analysis in Mandarin.

WANG, XIN Mandarin Software Quality Assurance Analyst

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

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelors degree in marketing business administration or relate a minimum of 3 years experience in crm familiar strong consultative sales skills willing to travel in every assigned region fluent in hebrew language is preferred english speaker Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

14.

Brief Job Description: You shall managing a team of mandarin staff including programmers, analysts and support specialists, evaluating the functionality of systems, consulting computer users to ascertain needs and to ensure that facilities meet user or project requirements, selecting and purchasing appropriate hardware and software, managing IT budgets, ensuring software licensing laws are followed, implementing and managing security or integrity and backup procedures, scheduling upgrades, providing user training, support, advice and feedback, testing and modifying systems to ensure that that they operate reliably managing secure network access for remote users, keeping up to date with new technology, designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation training new staff. Ensure software packages contain no errors by analyzing development data, regularly interpret data and analysis in Mandarin.

Basic Qualification: You shall managing a team of mandarin staff including programmers, analysts and support specialists, evaluating the functionality of systems, consulting computer users to ascertain needs and to ensure that facilities meet user or project requirements, selecting and purchasing appropriate hardware and software, managing IT budgets, ensuring software licensing laws are followed, implementing and managing security or integrity and backup procedures, scheduling upgrades, providing user training, support, advice and feedback, testing and modifying systems to ensure that that they operate reliably managing secure network access for remote users, keeping up to date with new technology, designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation training new staff. Ensure software packages contain no errors by analyzing development data, regularly interpret data and analysis in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: You shall managing a team of mandarin staff including programmers, analysts and support specialists, evaluating the functionality of systems, consulting computer users to ascertain needs and to ensure that facilities meet user or project requirements, selecting and purchasing appropriate hardware and software, managing IT budgets, ensuring software licensing laws are followed, implementing and managing security or integrity and backup procedures, scheduling upgrades, providing user training, support, advice and feedback, testing and modifying systems to ensure that that they operate reliably managing secure network access for remote users, keeping up to date with new technology, designing maintenance procedures and putting them into operation training new staff. Ensure software packages contain no errors by analyzing development data, regularly interpret data and analysis in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

C’EST LA VIE EVENT MANAGEMENT INC. 230, Narra Street, Marikina Heights, City Of Marikina

WANG, YINGYING Booth Fabrication Specialist Consultant 16.

Brief Job Description: Co-ordinates sub-contractors involved in the assembly stages. Ensures compliance with safety procedures and quality standards. Searches for the most efficient technical solutions.

Basic Qualification: Can coordinate and interface between fabrication/installation and pre-fabrication activities .Able to speak and communicate using Mandarin is an advantage .Must be willing to work on field Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CHINA GEO-ENG’G (PHIL.) CORPORATION Unit No. 801-b, Flr. No. 8/f, Biopolis Bldg. Macapagal Blvd., Barangay 76, Pasay City

LI, CHUAN Deputy General Manager 17.

Brief Job Description: Assist the general manager to plan, develop, implement and oversee company initiatives and projects

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in overall management and operations of the company that ensures business goals are achieved Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

CONCENTRIX DAKSH SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Bldg. F, Ayalaland, Technohub, Quezon City

18.

Basic Qualification: Graduate of a degree in culinary. Minimum of 5 years culinary management experience

Basic Qualification: Must be native Taiwanese / Chinese; fluent in English & Mandarin with credible work experience

CHANDA, ABHIJIT Associate Director, Transformation

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

BEST RELIABLE RESOURCES CORP. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg., Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

SIMHI, RYY Hebrew Outside Sales Representative

WANG, YUYANG Mandarin Software Quality Assurance Analyst

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

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write chinese language

AVANTICE CORPORATION 19/f Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

TSENG, YI-YAO Hr Manager

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Basic Qualification: At least 1 year experience in Marketing

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

ARANETA HOTELS, INC. 101 Aguinaldo Ave. Cor. Mc Arthur Ave., Araneta Center, Socorro 3, Quezon City

VEERANAN, RAJAN Master Chef Indian Cuisine

No.

BZC IT SERVICES INC. 3f Salcedo One Center, 170 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

ALYALE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 2506 The Orient Square Condo., F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

KASAHARA, NAOKI Project Manager

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

ALLIANTPRIME SERVICES INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. 4f, One Ecom Center Building, Ocean Drive St., Moa Complex Subd., District 1, Barangay 076, Pasay City CHEN, LE Mandarin Site Technical Officer

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

HONG, QIANKUN Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

A13

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

BOXER TECHNOLOGY CORP. 35/f Unit 1,2 And 4 Eco Tower Bldg., 32nd St. Cor. 9th Ave., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

LEE, SEUNGJIN ADV APP/Cloud SUPP & ENG Specialist

Friday, December 10, 2021

Brief Job Description: Value steam mapping and Scope assessment to identify the opportunity of technology infusion.

Basic Qualification: Minimum 5-8 years Contract Center experience in Staff management experience, process improvement, automation and/or consulting Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

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

CAI, YUNFEI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 19.

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

CHEN, MO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 20.

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

CUI, SHILIN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 21.

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

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

A14

BusinessMirror

Friday, December 10, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LI, JUNBO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 22.

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

XIA, KUO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 23.

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

ZHAO, YING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 24.

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

LEI, WENCHAO Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 25.

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

YU, LIMIN Chinese Speaking Program Designer 26.

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

No.

37.

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

27.

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming and outgoing calls, chats and emails

28.

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

JACQUELINE BONG SIAW JIUN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 29.

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

DENG, LINGYI Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 30.

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

HUANG, CHENG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 31.

Brief Job Description: With at least 6 months customer service experience/ Good in oral communication and written

JIA, ZHICHENG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 32.

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

LI, DUOZHI Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 33.

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

LOH JIAN HAO Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 34.

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

MOUSEMUGA Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 35.

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

QIU, YANMAN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 36.

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

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

ECHOTECH SERVICES INC. 18/f Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

38.

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

SU, XUEMEI Mandarin Field Marketing Officer

39.

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

40.

Brief Job Description: Foster Human Relationship Through Communication and Distribution of Marketing

CHEN, WEI Mandarin Site Technical Officer Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

LI, YU Mandarin Site Technical Officer Brief Job Description: Reporting Urgent Maintenance and Repair Tasks

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

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

41.

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

42.

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

43.

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

44.

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

45.

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

MA, BIN Digital Energy Delivery & Service Manager For Telecom Full Turnkey And Edge Data Center Electricity Project 52.

Brief Job Description: Manage social media campaigns for various social media platforms.

LIANG, XIAOMEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Working with the executive team; such as the marketing director or managing director, to set the marketing strategy for the business

JONG SING YEE Mandarin Accounts Staff 46.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company

LEE, YA-CHE Mandarin Technical Support 47.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Speaking Reading and Writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZHANG, HONGDA Enhanced Service Assurances (ESA) Project Delivery Manager 53.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Speaking Reading and Writing in Mandarin

48.

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

Basic Qualification: Experience playing online games and customer support.

PAN JIA LE Huawei Homerun Fiber To The Home (FTTH) Project Procurement Manager 54.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Experience playing online games and customer support. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin/ basic English

55.

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

56.

49.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in assisting customers on products and services of the company

INDRA BAKTI Multilingual Customer Service Representative 50.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in assisting customers on products and services of the company

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, mandarin and other multilingual language

57.

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 2 years managerial work experience in energy products pre-sales activities; Familiar in computing assisted design (CAD) and solar analysis; With technical skills in high level telecom power system and energy saving solution design and consultation. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: With background in application software and system management tool; Development of customized software and hardware requirements; With expertise in software development & Java programing; Knowledge in mathematical basics of artificial intelligence & algorithms

Basic Qualification: With work experience in Project procurement management; with expertise in development and enhancement in engineering procurement; with training in identifying early procurement risk for engineering project Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Has work experience in project procurement management; Has basic knowledge in finance and international business; with trainings on business negotiation and planning; Has basic knowledge in finance and international business Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction

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

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor, Eight West Campus Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

AN, JIAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 58.

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

FENG, CHENGLONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 59.

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

GONG, CHAO Mandarin Customer Support Representative 60.

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

HAN, XIAOLONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 61.

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

HUANG, BINCHAO Mandarin Customer Support Representative 62.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, mandarin and other multilingual language

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction

LIU, WEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Prepare the sourcing strategy and project procurement plan to ensure project schedule; Involves in monitoring performance of suppliers for continuous improvement in quality of goods supplied and services rendered

VU BICH NGOC Foreign Language Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, mandarin and other multilingual language

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

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

INQUICK SERVICES INC. Unit 606 6/f Itc Bldg., 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Atleast one year experience; Fluent in Mandarin

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, mandarin and other multilingual language

Brief Job Description: Understand the existing Huawei’s internal building procurement process and support the project delivery on the fiber to the home (FTTH) and outside plant (OST) project

JANICE TAM CHIA YEN Huawei Philippines Full Turn Key Project Procurement Manager

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, mandarin and other multilingual language

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

HEIGH IT SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES CORP. 20/f Zuellig Bldg., Makati Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, Urdaneta, City Of Makati

CHEN, JINQI Multilingual Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Responsible in specifying the system construction plan; Conduct weekly meeting with project delivery team; Organize routine communication with product development team and product delivery team in head office.

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

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

XUE, YONGMING Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Oversee the energy solution design and implementation; In charge of the energy project delivery, operations, management and maintenance; In charge of business operation process planning and management; Ensure the implementation and localization of the business process, local delivery strategy, local training plan and management

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

FRONTIER POINT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS INC. 29/f Techzone Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

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

Brief Job Description: Provide technical support to end user on game and other game related issues.

ZHANG, XIN Marketing Manager

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

SALEH, ALI MOHAMMED ALI Arabic-English Bilingual Customer Support-game Master

Brief Job Description: Responsible in assisting customers on products and services of the company

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Speaking Reading and Writing in Mandarin

FOKUSI CONSTRUCTION INC. #5 Carlo Drive Sta. Maria, Industrial Estate, Bagumbayan, City Of Taguig

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

51.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Speaking Reading and Writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION REN, CHENGFEI Multilingual Customer Service Representative

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

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

Brief Job Description: Reporting Urgent Maintenance and Repair Tasks

ERMAKOVA, DARIA Russian-English Bilingual Community Manager

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

YI, LEI Mandarin Site Technical Officer

No.

ELITE GLOBAL SOURCING PHIL. INC. 6/f Units 607-610 Raffles Corporate Center, F. Ortigas Jr. Ave., Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

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

DU, DAIWEI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2602 & 2603 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati TSAI, YUN-TA Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ZHAO, QIHONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

JIN, DEKUI Mandarin Customer Support Representative 63.

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

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

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION MO, GUIDE Mandarin Customer Support Representative

64.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

79.

JIU ZHOU TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. U-3401 34/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

WANG, RUEI-WEI Chinese Customer Service Representative 65.

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

WU, PIN-YI Chinese Customer Service Representative 66.

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

WANG, JUN Chinese Technical Support Representative 67.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language.

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

DENG, CHUNTING Mandarin Logistics Supervisor 80.

68.

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

CHEN, XI Mandarin Customer Service Representative 69.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company

GU, TIAOYING Mandarin Customer Service Representative 70.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company

HE, AO Mandarin Customer Service Representative 71.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in Answering customer questions about product and service of the company

LU, CHANGHUI Mandarin Customer Service Representative 72.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company

WANG, ZHIKAI Mandarin Customer Service Representative 73.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company

ZHAO, FANG Mandarin Customer Service Representative 74.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company

ZHUANG, WEIMIN Mandarin Customer Service Representative 75.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company

DASGUPTA, INDRAJEET Senior Process Automation Developer 81.

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

76.

Brief Job Description: To ensure that all key human resources tasks are carried out across all leadership levels within sea logistics department.

LUCHMUN, ADHIR Quality Manager 82.

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

83.

84.

Brief Job Description: provides extremely flexible web development services, from full stack solutions to updating existing content, ZHAO, WENPENG Multilingual Business Processing Consultant

78.

Brief Job Description: provides extremely flexible web development services, from full stack solutions to updating existing content,

Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral and written

85.

86.

87.

88.

89.

90.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral and written

91.

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

LIUGONG MACHINERY ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LTD. PHILIPPINE BRANCH Unit A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino Street, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HAN, LEGANG Chinese Customer Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Graduate of bachelor’s degree, preferably with MBA degree. With more than 10 years solid experience in a multinational + international logistics company

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the new & existing premium mass business by identifying, building & developing premium mass player

LIU, WENPENG Chinese Customer Service

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

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

LI, JINBO Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

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

95.

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

LI, YANMING Chinese Speaking Admin Associate Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

WU, LIU Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 96.

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

Basic Qualification: At least 2 years experience as Quality Specialist in Vehicles Finishing Operations of the rolling stock sector. Fluent in French language Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification: Proven experience in the VIP services and/or premium player fields, at least 1 yr experience in SALS or customer service field. Preferably in resort marketing

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

WU, YIRAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 97.

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

XIAO, XIU Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 98.

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

92.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CHU, LINPENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese Customer

LI, XIANGYANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese Customer

LIM CA LEONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese Customer

LIU, WEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

LU, RUIPAN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WEI, WENJING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

ZUO, GUANGYONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

ZHANG, SHUANG Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 99.

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

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

LEXIGENT PRIME VENTURES INC. Level 40 Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

77.

Brief Job Description: Support review of manufacturing process flow, assembly drawings, and test procedures/results

YEE YUN HENG Host, Business Development-Asia

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

93.

MELCO RESORTS LEISURE (PHP) CORPORATION City Of Dreams Manila, Aseana Ave. Cor. Roxas Blvd., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

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

ZHANG, ZHONGQIAN Multilingual Business Processing Consultant

Brief Job Description: Analyzing and understanding the business processes, Identifying and communicating the technical software requirements.

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

HOU, BINBIN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

94.

Basic Qualification: Comprehensive and evident understanding of Microsoft tech vb. Net windows internet explorer sql server web services 8 years exp fluent in english and hindi

100.

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

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin / basic English

101.

BARVE, PRIYANKA BALKRISHNA Software Lifecycle Manager 102.

103.

Brief Job Description: Leading on incident problem and release management standards and implementation ensuring we have a stable plate form at all times for loan officers and borrowers

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

Basic Qualification: 7-10 Years of experience in incident handling quality assurance release management previous experience in setting up technical service desk manage priorities ans slas Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

ZENG, LINGDA Mandarin Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Can speak mandarin

Brief Job Description: Maintains customer records by updating account info

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

HA QUOC PHONG Customer Service Representative 104.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amounts of incoming calls. Generate sales leads. Identify and assess customers’ needs. Handle customer complaints. Follow communication procedures, guidelines and policies.

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

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

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

OMNIWEALTH ENTERPRISE INC. 17th Flr. Citibank Square Bldg., No. 188 Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Eastwood City Cyberpark, Bagumbayan 3, Quezon City

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English

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

OCEANIC SYMPHONY SERVICES INC. 3/f Salcedo One Center, 170 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help customers, Give customers information about product and services

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

NEW CROSS CREDIT AND FINANCING GATE PH, INC. 16/f M1 Tower, 141 H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Taguig

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help customers, Give customers information about product and services

WANG, XINGYUE Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

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

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

LUO, PENG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

MANPOWER OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Units B & C, 21/f Strata 2000 Bldg., Don F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

KUEHNE + NAGEL, INC. 5/f 501h-507-508h, Five E-com Harbor Drive, Brgy. 076, Pasay City

AFGHANI, MOHD SAFI General Manager, Sea Logistics

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

M AND J SOLUTIONS PROVIDER INC. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg., Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

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

No.

LOGIHOME LOGISTICS INC. Unit A&b, 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

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

A15

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LIANG, ZENGZENG Mandarin Supply Chain Manager

Friday, December 10, 2021

PHAN VAN HON Customer Service Representative 105.

A16

BusinessMirror

Friday, December 10, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

TOMMY Customer Service Representative 106.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

No.

TRAN PHOI AN Customer Service Representative 107.

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

YAP CHOW YANG ANDREW Customer Service Representative 108.

118.

109.

NEEDHAM, MARK RODNEY General Operations Manager Brief Job Description: Oversee Management and all Operational duties

Basic Qualification: 5-10yrs experience in General Project or Operations, A Project Management Professional, Agile experience w/in the last 3 yrs, Proficient in Excel, Macros, & Visio Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ORICO AUTO FINANCE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 2104 21st Floor West Tower The Podium, Adb Avenue Cor. Ortigas, Wack-wack Greenhills, City Of Mandaluyong

WATANABE, KENTO Human Resources And General Affairs (hrga), Finance And Accounting Senior Manager 110.

Brief Job Description: Draw up a business plan and resolve any potential risks and issues of the human resource department and general affairs of the company

Basic Qualification: A minimum graduate or above in any discipline; collection knowledge and experience is essential; with nine years solid working experience in the financing industry Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

PANPHIL MARINE SERVICES CORP. 2626 Maytubig St., Corner P. Ocampo St., 078, Bgy. 719, Malate, City Of Manila

ZHUANG, XUEQING Chinese Marketing Manager 111.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to acquire local Chinese and Filipino marketing partners to maximize cross promotions and develop marketing strategies in the shipping line business.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable on cargo services promotion to Chinese Merchants. Familiar in ocean-going vessels in the Philippines and Mainland China. Produce valuable company insights to attract Chinese Clients. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

112.

Brief Job Description: Oversee construction projects and supervise the construction team

CAO, XUEJUN Site Supervisor

119.

113.

Brief Job Description: Oversee construction projects and supervise the construction team

CHEN, YAO Site Supervisor 114.

Brief Job Description: Oversee construction projects and supervise the construction team

120.

LI, YOULIANG Site Supervisor 115.

Brief Job Description: Oversee construction projects and supervise the construction team

LIU, JIANFENG Site Supervisor 116.

Brief Job Description: Oversee construction projects and supervise the construction team

121.

117.

Brief Job Description: Manage teams of technicians in a supervisory capacity and travel into the field to oversee workers and conduct inspection on completed works

Basic Qualification: Minimum of two years working experience in the related field; fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Speaking Reading and Writing in Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Review deals, contract preparation, contract management, answering queries from internal customers, validation, assist booking teams to ensure on time processing of customer sales orders into SAP systems.

Brief Job Description: Supply chain manager is responsible for overseeing and managing company’s overall supply chain.

Basic Qualification: Degree holder/ proven experience in logistics and operations

QUACH THI BICH DAO Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

131.

122.

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

132.

YONG SEK MOI Head Of Department 123.

Brief Job Description: Monitor the quality and productivity of the management team

133.

Brief Job Description: Call Chinese clients/ companies to remind on payments for past due accounts. Take payments and information and other pertinent data such as address and phone numbers from Chinese Client. Explain and clarify with Chinese client on non-payment and/or other service/ product issues

Brief Job Description: Ensures HR 201 files for database and personnel files for Chinese employees are well organized, maintained, kept up-to date and follows rules & regulations of the company. They assist in Chinese foreigners’ application and management. They also support ad-hoc tasks and perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by superior. Follow Mandarin Office workflow procedures to ensure maximum efficiency

Brief Job Description: Research industries, markets, demographics, trends, sales results, and other data related to the Vietnamese client’s services. Works as an independent consultant or as part of consultancy firm to provide sales expertise to Vietnamese clients. Create detailed reports with research findings and analysis to with sales strategies. NGUYEN VAN PHUNG Vietnamese Sales Consultant

134.

135.

PREM PRASAD Associate Director - Consulting Services

124.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for blockchain applications, from research and analysis to design and execution; ensure project and engagement outputs are delivered on time as well as manage client relationships and continuously build network; conduct architectural designs for new projects; handle clients and ensure elevated service levels are met with new and existing clients; develop solutions for project issues and/or risks.

ROY, PIYALI Senior Director - Consulting Services

125.

Brief Job Description: Conduct business development activities and identify strategic opportunities for the practice; prepare proposal in line with clients’ needs to be able to provide value-adding services; ensure that projects and engagements approach and methodology are aligned with ey standards and policies;ensure project and management outputs are delivered on time, of quality and in line with the identified scope, approach and methodology; identify and manage project risks and issues and avoid conflicts with clients; manage client relationships and continuously build network.

SU, TZU-TING Chinese Technical Support Representative 136.

Brief Job Description: Works with customers / employees to identify computer problems and advises them on the solution.

126.

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

JIN, XIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

137.

127.

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

LI, HUIQUN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 128.

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

LI, ZHUOLIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 129.

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

Brief Job Description: Developing suitable digital marketing strategies based on clients’ business models

138.

Basic Qualification: College graduate. preferably 6 months - 1 year as Sales consultant & Fluent in Vietnamese and English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Recruit, support and develop talent through developing policies and managing procedures

Basic Qualification: Knowledge of various HR functions such as compensation & benefits, recruitment, on coordinating, training & development etc., Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient language skills and skills to match to job.

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

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

YUSEN LOGISTICS PHILIPPINES, INC. Amvel Business Park, San Dionisio, San Dionisio, City Of Parañaque

NISHIO, YUSUKE Manager For Business Development

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

SANJOYO WIJAYA Human Resource Officer - Multilingual Speaking

139.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. preferably 6 months - 1 year as Sales consultant & Fluent in Vietnamese and English language

Basic Qualification: Sound knowledge of lead generation, digital marketing tools, social media platforms & SEO best practice

JOEL CHIANG WEI YANG Digital Marketing Consultant-mandarin Speaking

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

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

WHITERAIN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC. 20/f Zuellig Bldg., Makati Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, Urdaneta, City Of Makati

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

FU, LINLIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months-1 year as HR Staff/Admin staff; Fluent in Mandarin and English language

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

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

Basic Qualification: technology professional; must hold a master’s degree in business administration; knowledgeable in telecom domain; proficient in English language; with strong leadership and relationship-building skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Chinese Mandarin, English and their respective native language

SYCIP, GORRES, VELAYO & CO. 6760, Ayala Avenue, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Technology professional; has an experience in developing decentralized blockchain applications; must hold a master’s degree in information technology; proficient in English language; with strong leadership and relationshipbuilding skills.

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months-1 year as Collection Staff/Finance staff; Fluent in Mandarin and English language

WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. U-3501/02 35/f Pbcom Tower, Cor. Ayala Ave. & V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Fluency in English and Mandarin is Essential Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

LE THI HA Vietnamese Sales Consultant

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

SPARVA INCORPORATED 7/f Insular Life Bldg., 6781 Ayala Ave., Cor. Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

XU, WEIJIE Mandarin Human Resource Officer

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

Basic Qualification: Atleast 19 years old Ability to speak write and communicate in Chinese Mandarin

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

FU, GAOQUAN Mandarin Collection Officer

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

Basic Qualification: Minimum upperintermediate written and spoken Bahasa Indonesia and English, Minimum tertiary qualification from university or college, Preferably 1 year or more experience within bid management, process management, procurement, software licensing, contract administration, business or sales operations.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

UNITED MOTION BUSINESS CONSULTANCY INC. U-2215 22f Cityland 10 Tower 2, 154 H.v. Dela Costa Cor. Valero Sts., Bel-air, City Of Makati

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS, INC. 10/f Tower 2 Double Dragon Plaza Bldg., Edsa Corner Macapagal Ave. St., Zone 10. Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City

PHILIPPINES E-SKY COMMUNICATION INC. Unit E-1905a East Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig LI, MING Technical Supervisor

Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and operational efficiency

LUO, YINZHE Supply Chain Manager

Basic Qualification: Preferably years prior experience in supervisory roles; Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

130.

SKYWORTH (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION U-2202 & 2204 22/f Antel Corporate Centre, 121 Valero St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Preferably years prior experience in supervisory roles; Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Led business planning for the past 10 years in multinational setting especially in asia pacific region

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION SU, JINGMING Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

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

Brief Job Description: Demand Planning and supply chain leader for the Philippines Market

FLORENCIA MARLIA KUSTANDI Finance Operations Specialist (Bahasa Speaker)

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

Basic Qualification: Preferably years prior experience in supervisory roles; Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English

No.

SAP PHILIPPINES, INC. 27/f Nac Tower, 32nd St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Basic Qualification: Preferably years prior experience in supervisory roles; Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English

ROOPESH KUMAR SINGH Director, Business Operational Planning & Market Logistics Leader

ZHAO, CHUNYANG Mandarin Operations Specialist

PHILIPPINES COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK CONSTRUCTION INC. Unit E-2004a East Tower, Psec Exchange Road Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

CAO, DIMING Site Supervisor

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ORACLECMS INTERNATIONAL INC. U-11b 11/f Trafalgar Plaza, 105 H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

PROCTER & GAMBLE PHILIPPINES, INC. 10f Seven/neo, 5th Ave., Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

140.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the development and expansion of business of new and/or existing customers (especially Japanese accounts) for Airfreight Ocean Freight and Contract Logistics

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any 4-year course; With 2-year sales world experience (that deals in Japanese clients) in Japanese forwarding companies; Fluent in Japanese language (both oral and written); Excellent in computer (MS Office) Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 *Date Generated: Dec 9, 2021

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

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.

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

Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BusinessMirror

Friday, December 10, 2021

A17

A18

Friday, December 10, 2021

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Filinvest aims to raise ₧10B from fixed-rate bond offer

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

ilinvest Land Inc. (FLI) on Thursday said it is set to raise some P10 billion from the issuance of peso-denominated fixed rate bonds after it secured a permit to sell from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The debt paper consists of P8 billion in primary offering and P2 billion as its over-subscription option, with tenors ranging from four to six years. The bonds due 2025 will have an interest rate of 4.503 percent and the paper due 2027 will have a yield of 5.2579 percent per year.

This said bond issuance will be the second tranche of its P30-billion bonds registered in 2020 under the shelf-registered program of the SEC. The company issued the first tranche of the shelf registered bonds on November 18, 2020, floating some P8.1 billion.

BDO Capital and Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., East West Banking Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. were picked as underwriters and bookrunners for the offer. RCBC-Trust and Investments Group shall serve as the trustee. Filinvest REIT Corp., the Gotianun-led real estate investment trust (REIT), has entered the 20-company MSCI Philippines Small Cap Index last month. The index represents approximately 14 percent of the free floatadjusted market capitalization of the Philippine equity universe according to a recent report by global index provider MSCI. MSCI rebalances its indices semiannually and quarterly. FILRT debuted at the Philippine Stock Exchange in August

and became the country’s third listed REIT. It has a portfolio of over 300,000 square meters of the gross leasable area, consisting of 17 premium office buildings mainly occupied by global business process outsourcing firms. Most of of the 17 buildings are in Filinvest City in Alabang, and only one building is in Filinvest Cyberzone Cebu in the gateway of Cebu IT Park in Lahug, Cebu City. FLI said in June that the dividend yield of its REIT issuance will hover around 5 percent, which is on a par with that of its peers. Josephine Gotianun-Yap, president of Filinvest Land, said during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines’ forum that “the dividend will be definitely a competitive dividend rate similar to the other REITs that are around the mid-5 percent area.”

GMA hikes 2022 capex by 66% By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

MA Network Inc. is earmarking “a little less than P2 billion” for its capital expenditures (capex) for 2022, which is roughly 66 percent more than the outlays it allotted for this year. GMA Chairman Felipe L. Gozon said the group’s higher capex for next year will help the company further expand its reach, create new content, and improve its operations. This year, GMA allocated P1.21 billion for its capital outlays. “For next year, the capex earmarked is a little less than P2 billion which will be for the expansion of our digital transmission network, upgrading of our post production and content layout facilities, and

expansion of our regional network etc. We have not yet started the construction of our new building and studios. That includes investment in content and other investments,” he said during a special stockholders meeting on Thursday. Gozon added that for 2022, the television giant remains “optimistic” given the elections. “The situation about the pandemic is improving that’s why we expect the momentum in the latter part of the fourth quarter this year to continue up to next year. And next year being a presidential election year, we have reason to be optimistic. However, it still depends how far and fast our recovery will be and also whether the pandemic will surge or not next year,” he said. He noted, however, that cam-

paign ads will only account for a small portion of GMA’s revenues, as its top line is still driven by recurring advertisers. “In the last 2019 elections, political ad sales only contributed 5 percent of our total consolidated sales. With the pandemic and the Comelecimposed increase 40 percent to 50 percent discounts on published rates for political ads, we don’t think that the share of political ads will significantly change from prior elections. Our main source of revenues will still come from recurring advertisers,” Gozon said. GMA, he said, will continue to produce more content and will “invest heavily in talent management and development,” while building more digital stations “to remain number 1.”

The broadcaster is also diversifying its revenue streams. On Thursday, stockholders approved the subscription to increase the authorized capital stock of its whollyowned subsidiary GMA Ventures Inc. (GVI) to P1 billion from P50 million. Subscription shall initially be in the amount of P250 million. Payment for the said subscription is pegged at P100 million. GVI is GMA’s corporate vehicle for investments in startups. “We have already made small investments in one or two so-called startup companies but at this point we prefer not to identify them,” Gozon said. “Our diversification efforts to invest in businesses that are not related to our core business of broadcasting will be carried out by GVI.”

Cebu Landmasters grows office portfolio eSakay teams up with Mober L

anila Electric Co. (Meralco) subsidiary eSakay Inc. has partnered with tech-enabled logistics firm Mober to provide endto-end green mobility solutions in the Philippines. Under the partnership, Mober will start utilizing eSakay’s fleet of electric cargo vans to offer its same-day delivery services to its clients. The electric vans can carry up to 3,000 kilograms of parcel and can run for about 220 kilometers on a single charge. It has a top speed of 90 kilometers per hour. “We are delighted to have Mober as our strategic partner in our continuing drive to propagate electric vehicles [EV] in the country. Being an innovator in their field, this conveys a strong message and a clear example that a positive impact on climate change can be realized in our local logistics industry,” eSakay COO Jonathan G. Aguirre said. The partnership between eSakay and Mober is part of the two companies’ commitment to support the country’s transition to cleaner energy, and to promote green and sustainable transport operations. “We want to set an example in the Philippine logistics industry and do our part in reducing our carbon emissions. Our primary goal has always been to provide efficient service. Having a fleet of electric vans means that we can continue to be efficient, while reducing our carbon footprint,” Mober Founder Dennis Ng said. Lorenz S. Marasigan

eading VisMin developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) and Borromeo Brothers Estate Inc. recently marked the completion of the P1.2-billion 4-Star BERDEcertified commercial tower Latitude Corporate Center. The building increases CLI’s Gross Leasable Area (GLA) from 14,000 sqm. year-on-year to 29,000 sqm. for this year. An additional 47,000 sqm. of additional office and retail GLA currently under construction is expected to boost CLI’s leasing portfolio in the next few years. The listed company’s long-term strategy is to build its GLA to 200,000 sqm allowing its office, retail and hospitality portfolio to contribute 10 percent of the company’s growing topline in 3 to 5 years. The office building standing 24-storeys high has designated spaces for BPO offices (8th-12th floors), Enterprise offices (14th-16th floors), Executive offices (17th-24th floors) and a retail concept (first and second floors). It is strategically located in Cebu Business Park and is among the tallest buildings in the business district. Latitude Corporate Center embodies a green building design highlighting eco-features such as LED lighting, high-performance building envelope, operable windows for natural ventilation, rainwater collection system, stub-outs for fresh air provision, material recovery facility, plaza with tree sanctuary, live wall at main lobbies, 60 percent glass ratio and 20 percent vegetated green spaces. Its schematic building design follows

Latitude Corporate Center is the first project of BL CBP Ventures Inc., a joint venture between Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) and Borromeo Brothers Estate Inc. Contributed Photo

a unique “stacked building blocks” form to mirror a minimal, elegant and timeless facade. Latitude is set to attract tenants from both local and multinational companies such as banks, technology service providers, real estate, food and retail industries, especially the IT-BPO companies, according to Leechiu Property Consultants, the building’s leasing agent. “Our economy is now reopening and we see a future turnover for office spaces especially from the IT-BPO sectors. As we expand our office footprint, we also foresee our industry players slowly transition business operations back to normalcy in the coming months as we anticipate post-pandemic recovery,” said CLI Chairman and CEO Jose Soberano III. The office tower is set to offer 83 units with 35,000 sqm. of gross floor area and leasable spaces ranging from 51 sqm. up to 2,000 sqm. and 247 parking slots, ideal for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large-scale businesses. Latitude Corporate Center is the first project of BL CBP Ventures

Inc., a joint venture between CLI and Borromeo Brothers Estate Inc. The development was awarded early this year with a four-star accreditation under the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) rating system, a testament to its sustainable design tailor fit to world class standards. BERDE is a tool to assess and certify the performance of green building projects above and beyond existing national and local building and environmental laws, regulations, and mandatory standards. Latitude Corporate Center was designed by Philippine leading architectural firm, AIDEA Philippines, Inc., the same firm that helped conceptualize CLI’s premier projects 38 Park Avenue and Abaca Resort Mactan. CLI recently won a Special Recognition in ESG and Special Recognition in Sustainable Design and Construction during the 2021 PropertyGuru Philippine Property Awards. The award affirms the listed company’s commitment to manage environmental impacts across its developments through resource conservation and design innovation.

Friday, December 10, 2021

8990 Holdings sets ₧165-B sales target

This BusinessMirror file photo shows 8990's Urban Deca Homes.

ass housing bu i lder 8990 Holdings Inc. on Thursday said it is targeting P165 billion in sales from 78,352 housing units in the next 7 to 10 years. Company President and CEO Anthony Vincent S. Sotto said the company’s current landbank of 670.91 hectares, currently appraised at P41.2 billion, is poised to generate estimated sales of P165 billion during the period. In terms of appraised value, Luzon is valued at P30 billion followed by Visayas with P9.8 billion and Mindanao with P1.3 billion. “While we continue to acquire landbank, it’s very encouraging to know that with just our current landbank we can expect to see sustainable growth for 8990 as we project an estimated P165 billion in sales. Luzon is expected to bring the most with P93 billion followed by Visayas with P67 billion and Mindanao with P5 billion,” he said. For the year the company is set to post P20 billion in revenues. “Our outstanding results, both for the third quarter of 2021 and for the first nine months of the year, definitely show an increase in confidence for the future from our core market of first-time homebuyers and end users. Half of them are actually 35 years old and below,” Sotto said. As of September, the company has a total unrealized sale of 1,680 units or P2.75 billion. Most unrealized sales will be recognized in the fourth quarter.

To date, 8990 has already delivered a total of 81,700 units from 65 projects in more than a decade of operations. The roughly 324,000 residents in its various projects represent an 89-percent occupancy rate. 8990’s ongoing projects will deliver a total of 52,240 units worth an estimated P95 billion once completed. Of the total, 51 percent will come from Luzon, 38 percent from Visayas while Mindanao will deliver 10 percent of the total. “In its 17 years of existence, I’m proud to say 8990 really has shown its commitment to housing every single hard-working Filipino. When we looked at our demographic, it’s apparent that we also provide accessible housing to challenged demographic groups who are mostly single undergraduate females, living outside of metro cities, are sometimes overseas Filipino workers and earning below P55,000 a month,” Sotto said. “And this is made possible by our partnerships with institutions that make financing easier for our buyers.” Since 2016, the company has been able to migrate P17.7 billion to the Home Development Mutual Fund. Meanwhile, sale of receivables without recourse sold to financial institutions hit P28.2 billion from 2016 to September this year. The company started its endbuyer financing programs in August after it has been accredited by BPI Family Savings Bank and Security Bank. VG Cabuag

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, December 10, 2021

PHL office leasing market to recover in 2022–Colliers By VG Cabuag

@villygc

roperty consultant Colliers said the local office leasing market may rebound by next year as the economy further reopens and more employees are expected to return to their physical offices. Joey Bondoc, Colliers’ head of research, said there are positive signs for the office leasing market that signal a recovery. “Definitely 2022 w il l be a period of recovery in the office market,” Bondoc said during the topping off ceremony of Makati Commerce Tower. For January to September, office transactions in Metro Manila reached 303,000 square meters, up from the 295,800 square meters last year. In the third quarter alone, 156,600 square meters of new office space came online, double the 77,700 sq.m. a year ago. “In our opinion, occupiers should take advantage of the rental discounts of between 10 percent to 30 percent in business districts such as Makati CBD [central business district], Fort Bonifacio and

Ortigas Center and implement flight-for-quality measures. Colliers encourages occupiers to take advantage of the attractive lease rates,” it said. Makati Commerce Tower is a LEED Gold-certified building developed by Empresas Diesel Development Inc. located along Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. It will feature more than 58,000 square meters of sustainable, premium office space once completed by next year. The 36-storey building will have a total of 25 floors of office space, two floors with retail units and a dedicated food court. It will also have eight podium parking levels and two basement parking levels, with a total of 784 parking slots. The building is targeted towards business process outsourc-

Survey: Demand for data protection officers is rising By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

he d ig it i z at ion t rend spurred by the global pandemic continued to drive the demand for data protection officers (DPOs) among companies in Asia, a research firm said. In its annual survey of data protection-related jobs available in Singapore, the Data Protection Excellence (DPEX) Centre said it found a 54 percent year-on-year increase by companies advertising for the role of Data Protection Officer (DPO) this year. DPEX said an estimated 3,700 data protection-related jobs were created in 2021, amid uncertain Covid-19 conditions, new data protection laws in the region, and increasing requirements for the appointment of a DPO. Key findings of the survey also showed that 9 in 10 of the vacancies were permanent positions, and that about half of the data protection jobs were managerial positions and above. The top three industries hiring data protection expertise were Business Services (including accounting, consulting, and legal),

Banking and Financial Services, and IT-related companies. “The strong demand for data protection expertise will likely continue in the next few years as countries like China, Indonesia and Thailand roll out their new data protection laws, all of which have requirements for a data protection officer or related roles,” Straits Interactive CEO Kevin Shepherdson said in a statement. “We, therefore, expect a shortage for such expertise, aggravated by ongoing data and privacy breaches, as well as continuing Covid-19 conditions.” Overall, demand for all jobs requiring data protection expertise increased by 26 percent in 2021, compared to 106 percent in the previous year. The research firm said the strong growth in 2020 was a “knee-jerk” response by companies rushing to hire data protection roles. DPEX Centre is the research and education arm of the DPEX Network, a first-of-its-kind facility in the Asean region whose aim is to provide leadership, best practices, training, research, and support for all things surrounding data privacy from an operational perspective.

ing firms that are looking for sustainability and wellness in office spaces. “The building will become a landmark for innovation and sustainability when it officially welcomes its first tenants in the third quarter of 2022,” the property consultant said. “In keeping with its sustainable features, the Makati Commerce Tower will also boast ultraviolet systems to sanitize indoor air quality, energy-saving features that will help tenants save approximately 22 percent on electricity consumption, and double-glazed, Low-E glass facade to minimize heat in indoor spaces while allowing more natural light to come in.” Colliers said the base of the building will feature a 10-storey high living green wall to emphasize its green features while sup-

porting the local air quality. Lyndon Lim, principal at BPEA Real Estate, parent company of developer Empresas Diesel, said the Makati Commerce Tower will set a new benchmark in terms of what occupiers can expect from their office space in the Philippines. “BPEA Real Estate and the entire team behind this outstanding project have put careful thought and planning into the design and execution to future-proof this development with market leading sustainability, health and wellness features.” The Makati Commerce Tower reached its structural top last November 25. Construction of the building is expected to be completed in 2022, adding more than a third of the approximately 146,000 square meters of new office supply that will be delivered in Makati next year.

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

December 9, 2021 NAV One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

228.16

-0.59%

-3.56%

-1.45%

0.42%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.6486

24.9%

5.42%

4.24%

25.56%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1748

-0.16%

-6.85%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7525 -7.85% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7746 1.44% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

-4.22%

1.33%

-5.7% n.a.

-7.42%

-2.5% n.a.

4.45%

5.0976

1.81%

-1.22%

0.48%

3.16%

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

0.7649

-0.77%

-3.03%

-3.15%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

96.01

-3.53%

-6.05% n.a.

-5.75%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

46.932

-0.77%

-1.89%

0.25%

0.2%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

490.06

-0.73%

-1.89%

-0.39%

0.23%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

1.1485

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.3087

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

35.7578

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.919

4.78% n.a. n.a.

4.67%

11.51%

1.04%

1.94%

12.03%

2.35%

-1.11%

0.97%

2.84%

-0.37% n.a. n.a.

0.66%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.8371

0.02%

-1.15%

0.8%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

807.69

-0.14%

-1.15%

0.75%

0.76%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7399

1.07%

-5.19%

-2.2%

2.92%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.6844

0.96%

0.97%

-3.67%

-0.81%

1.67%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9208 - 0.56%

-1.51%

0.5%

0.34%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-1.47%

1.53%

2.02%

-0.94%

1.23%

3.3856

0.94%

-1.48%

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 108.6344

0.13%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities $1.1304

-5.32%

5.49%

5.4%

-6.03%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7882

ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

9.1%

14.13%

11.58%

6.9%

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

1.6667

-0.29%

0.09%

-0.28%

-0.11%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2488

-1.88%

0.58%

0.07%

-1.6%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6663

0.65%

1.67%

1.78%

1.5%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2047 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.9895

0.76%

2.3% n.a. n.a. 2.49%

2.02%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7132

-2.34%

1.51%

0.95%

-2.03%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.6213

-2.22%

1.32%

0.86%

-1.88%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0932

-0.52%

0.28%

0.75%

0.1%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5907 0.16%

-0.92%

0.33%

0.49%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.981

-4.27% n.a. n.a.

-4.07%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9268

-3.32% n.a. n.a.

-2.36%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.9158

-2.83% n.a. n.a.

-1.85%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

4.58%

5.04%

0.9324

-0.09%

0.49%

3.33%

1.14%

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

$0.03789

-2.85%

2.71%

1.61%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0453

-8.23%

3.08%

3.15%

-3.09% -7.5%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.6983 6.03%

10.32%

8.54%

4.11%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.1868 -0.16%

5.39%

3.85%

-1.28%

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

373.61

0.89%

2.92%

2.56%

0.67%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9266

1.52%

1.3%

0.37%

1.38%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2429

1.02%

3.08%

3.95%

0.86%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2466

-2.01%

1.82%

1.67%

-2.25%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4216 -1.05%

3.15%

1.89%

-1.29%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.384

-5.27%

3.87%

1.66%

-5.31%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3166

-0.02%

3.75%

2.71%

-0.36%

December 9, 2021

Net Foreign Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Stocks 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 IREMIT MEDCO HLDG PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

43.8 123.5 92.9 25.6 9.38 51.95 19.98 57.1 20.1 117.5 106.1 1.73 4.04 0.88 0.285 204 2,698

44.4 124.9 93 25.65 9.4 52 20 57.5 20.3 118.5 106.3 1.8 4.08 0.97 0.32 213.6 2,700

43.8 121 92.6 25.6 9.43 50.55 20 57.5 18.8 117.7 101.5 1.83 4.05 0.9 0.29 205 2,698

44.4 124.9 93.4 25.65 9.5 52.4 20.05 57.5 21 118.7 107.5 1.95 4.08 0.9 0.29 206 2,698

43.8 120.6 92.6 25.55 9.38 49.8 19.94 57.1 18.8 117 101.5 1.66 4.04 0.9 0.29 204 2,698

44.4 124.9 92.9 25.65 9.38 52 20 57.5 20.3 118.5 106.1 1.8 4.04 0.9 0.29 204 2,698

5,100 2,629,810 1,769,640 194,200 56,300 9,713,810 149,600 350 57,782,900 97,260 192,770 13,756,000 31,000 80,000 20,000 1,410 5

223,440 324,626,902 164,463,427.50 4,970,500 529,834 500,567,096 2,988,520 20,005 1,091,060,610 11,492,027 20,225,481 24,800,520 125,390 72,000 5,800 288,300 13,490

INDUSTRIAL

AC ENERGY 10.54 10.56 10.4 10.66 10.14 10.56 53,830,400 565,309,042 ALSONS CONS 1.07 1.09 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.08 615,000 664,200 ABOITIZ POWER 30.7 30.75 29.5 30.85 29.5 30.75 2,647,700 80,867,025 BASIC ENERGY 0.68 0.69 0.64 0.69 0.63 0.68 28,784,000 19,318,770 FIRST GEN 28.45 28.5 28.6 28.85 28.35 28.5 365,800 10,421,385 71.95 72 72.1 72.1 71.8 71.95 180,220 12,970,440.50 FIRST PHIL HLDG 295.2 297 293.2 297.4 292.8 297 97,570 28,864,626 MERALCO 25.45 25.5 25.2 26 24.75 25.5 1,507,300 38,304,785 MANILA WATER 3.23 3.25 3.2 3.27 3.17 3.25 968,000 3,126,030 PETRON 4.1 4.27 4.1 4.28 4.1 4.1 42,000 176,800 PETROENERGY PHX PETROLEUM 10.64 11.04 10.62 11.4 10.28 11.04 2,207,700 24,455,970 PILIPINAS SHELL 20.1 20.15 20 20.2 19.96 20.15 72,000 1,440,858 SPC POWER 13.94 13.98 14 14 13.88 13.94 18,700 260,758 AGRINURTURE 3.99 4 4 4.02 3.91 4 87,000 347,780 AXELUM 2.93 2.94 2.99 2.99 2.94 2.94 7,907,000 23,356,660 61.05 69.95 61.05 61.05 61.05 61.05 100 6,105 BOGO MEDELLIN CENTURY FOOD 27 27.3 26.5 27.35 26.5 27 1,740,500 46,898,645 14.26 14.28 14.18 14.28 14.18 14.26 76,700 1,089,974 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 8.98 8.99 8.88 9.1 8.88 8.99 2,846,500 25,620,190 17.8 17.88 17.94 17.94 17.72 17.8 2,814,400 50,057,962 EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV 74.05 75 74.05 75.7 74.05 75 75,960 5,646,637.50 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.57 0.58 0.57 0.57 0.57 0.57 111,000 63,270 FRUITAS HLDG 1.22 1.25 1.22 1.25 1.22 1.25 5,256,000 6,503,310 GINEBRA 107.1 107.2 105.5 108.8 105.5 107.2 90,770 9,717,711 237.2 239.4 232 239.4 229 239.4 532,780 124,934,766 JOLLIBEE 27.25 28.2 27.15 27.15 27.15 27.15 1,400 38,010 LIBERTY FLOUR MACAY HLDG 5.42 6.6 6 6 6 6 1,600 9,600 MAXS GROUP 6.62 6.69 6.61 6.7 6.61 6.62 73,900 491,584 0.146 0.16 0.155 0.163 0.155 0.16 150,000 23,780 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 15.96 16 15.86 16.18 15.84 15.96 20,429,300 327,166,942 SHAKEYS PIZZA 8.78 8.95 8.64 8.95 8.6 8.95 302,500 2,655,117 ROXAS AND CO 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.65 0.63 0.63 1,283,000 817,540 RFM CORP 4.58 4.65 4.6 4.65 4.58 4.58 10,000 46,160 SWIFT FOODS 0.111 0.115 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.11 620,000 68,200 129.5 129.8 130.6 131.5 128.6 129.5 1,990,110 258,006,015 UNIV ROBINA 0.73 0.74 0.73 0.74 0.73 0.73 581,000 424,710 VITARICH VICTORIAS 2.42 2.5 2.42 2.5 2.42 2.5 216,000 529,920 CEMEX HLDG 1.12 1.13 1.15 1.15 1.12 1.12 4,004,000 4,541,780 14.5 14.54 14.38 14.5 14.38 14.5 245,400 3,543,332 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 6.44 6.52 6.44 6.52 6.44 6.52 31,200 201,916 HOLCIM 5.15 5.17 5.17 5.17 5.1 5.17 370,900 1,898,981 KEEPERS HLDG 1.46 1.47 1.5 1.5 1.46 1.47 22,944,000 33,862,880 MEGAWIDE 5.16 5.3 5.15 5.2 5.15 5.16 446,100 2,300,626 19.76 20.2 19.2 20.5 19.1 20.2 674,100 13,205,916 PHINMA TKC METALS 0.78 0.84 0.78 0.8 0.78 0.79 117,000 92,440 VULCAN INDL 0.94 0.95 0.94 0.94 0.92 0.94 509,000 474,470 1.7 1.74 1.74 1.74 1.7 1.74 64,000 110,920 CROWN ASIA 1.5 1.51 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 10,000 15,000 EUROMED MABUHAY VINYL 4.15 4.3 4.1 4.3 4.1 4.3 5,000 21,080 PRYCE CORP 5.66 5.76 5.76 5.76 5.66 5.66 135,100 776,142 CONCEPCION 20.1 21.5 20.55 20.55 20.5 20.5 700 14,360 GREENERGY 2.38 2.4 2.38 2.42 2.36 2.4 4,250,000 10,214,400 INTEGRATED MICR 8.15 8.24 8.22 8.29 8.15 8.15 912,400 7,486,713 0.7 0.71 0.71 0.73 0.7 0.7 297,000 208,910 IONICS 5.76 5.91 5.93 5.93 5.75 5.92 3,500 20,655 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.06 1.08 1.1 1.1 1.06 1.09 52,000 56,180 CIRTEK HLDG 3.68 3.7 3.78 3.78 3.63 3.7 795,000 2,941,760

HOLDING & FRIMS

mutual funds

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA SYNERGY GRID SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP WELLEX INDUS

0.97 5.7 867 54.8 11.84 5.91 7.33 0.9 0.4 0.41 5.09 7.87 7.6 0.27 570 3.5 56.1 6.11 0.63 2.93 9.99 0.38 3.91 2.9 1.24 14.38 950 111 0.24

0.98 5.96 876 55.4 11.86 5.96 7.4 0.92 0.425 0.45 5.1 7.91 7.7 0.29 575 3.58 56.8 6.4 0.65 3 10 0.415 3.93 3.1 1.26 14.4 953 113 0.245

0.96 5.96 840.5 52.15 11.32 5.86 7.4 0.9 0.4 0.41 5.2 8.01 7.5 0.27 560 3.58 56.5 6.2 0.64 2.95 9.9 0.39 3.9 2.86 1.16 14.6 944 111.9 0.235

0.98 5.96 876 56.05 11.96 6.04 7.4 0.91 0.4 0.41 5.2 8.05 7.6 0.27 578.5 3.58 56.8 6.4 0.67 2.95 10.12 0.39 3.93 2.95 1.27 14.6 957 113 0.24

0.94 5.7 840.5 52.15 11.3 5.76 7.32 0.9 0.4 0.41 5.1 7.86 7.5 0.27 560 3.58 55.5 6.2 0.64 2.93 9.7 0.37 3.86 2.86 1.16 14.28 936 110 0.235

0.98 5.7 876 55.4 11.86 5.91 7.33 0.91 0.4 0.41 5.1 7.87 7.6 0.27 570 3.58 56.8 6.4 0.66 2.93 9.99 0.37 3.93 2.95 1.26 14.4 950 113 0.24

5,489,000 3,200 447,160 2,662,250 11,966,000 18,022,800 23,600 102,000 50,000 100,000 527,300 6,193,400 22,100 10,000 185,800 10,000 1,957,620 15,000 49,000 7,000 5,872,600 50,000 13,646,000 10,000 130,000 9,030,300 242,270 108,220 240,000

5,304,380 19,020 386,432,965 145,787,582 139,947,074 107,215,861 173,607 92,760 20,000 41,000 2,694,779 49,135,899 166,000 2,700 106,006,840 35,800 110,201,748 95,541 32,000 20,530 58,542,861 19,300 53,317,940 29,170 163,600 130,171,310 230,008,300 12,045,546 57,150

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.62 0.63 0.62 0.63 0.62 0.63 104,000 64,500 ANCHOR LAND 6 6.48 6.06 6.06 6 6 10,800 65,020 AYALA LAND 35.5 35.6 35.35 35.75 35.3 35.5 5,435,000 192,913,975 ARANETA PROP 1 1.01 1.02 1.02 1.01 1.01 9,000 9,100 AREIT RT 46.9 47 47.25 47.25 46.8 47 590,200 27,838,645 1.34 1.35 1.35 1.36 1.33 1.36 406,000 544,980 BELLE CORP A BROWN 0.78 0.8 0.81 0.81 0.78 0.8 60,000 47,780 CITYLAND DEVT 0.75 0.76 0.74 0.75 0.74 0.75 92,000 68,990 0.101 0.106 0.107 0.107 0.101 0.101 2,390,000 242,370 CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG 6.1 6.6 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 3,400 20,740 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.8 2.81 2.87 2.87 2.8 2.81 1,109,000 3,125,110 CENTURY PROP 0.395 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.395 0.4 510,000 202,250 DOUBLEDRAGON 6.9 7 7.02 7.2 6.9 6.9 798,200 5,602,161 DDMP RT 1.78 1.79 1.8 1.8 1.78 1.79 3,211,000 5,749,910 DM WENCESLAO 6.85 6.92 6.78 6.92 6.78 6.9 34,600 238,721 0.255 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.26 1,030,000 267,800 EMPIRE EAST 0.305 0.31 0.305 0.32 0.305 0.31 4,080,000 1,271,000 EVER GOTESCO 7.54 7.55 7.59 7.6 7.55 7.55 1,731,300 13,106,272 FILINVEST RT 1.1 1.11 1.1 1.12 1.1 1.11 1,252,000 1,382,560 FILINVEST LAND 0.84 0.86 0.83 0.86 0.83 0.86 267,000 227,790 GLOBAL ESTATE 8990 HLDG 10.72 10.9 10.68 11.02 10.68 10.9 497,400 5,384,568 PHIL INFRADEV 1.16 1.18 1.18 1.19 1.14 1.18 759,000 883,290 CITY AND LAND 0.88 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.87 0.88 98,000 86,780 MEGAWORLD 3.16 3.18 3.12 3.2 3.12 3.16 27,944,000 88,246,970 0.265 0.27 0.265 0.27 0.265 0.27 5,280,000 1,403,250 MRC ALLIED MREIT RT 18.3 18.32 18.3 18.34 18.26 18.3 5,815,500 106,518,404 0.495 0.5 0.495 0.51 0.485 0.495 1,990,000 982,050 PHIL ESTATES 2 2.01 1.94 2.03 1.94 2.01 841,000 1,674,320 PRIMEX CORP RL COMM RT 7.39 7.4 7.33 7.4 7.28 7.39 3,894,500 28,636,097 ROBINSONS LAND 18.46 18.5 17.9 18.5 17.9 18.46 2,520,500 46,300,090 PHIL REALTY 0.21 0.219 0.211 0.211 0.21 0.21 540,000 113,520 ROCKWELL 1.49 1.5 1.55 1.55 1.49 1.49 8,000 12,280 SHANG PROP 2.59 2.62 2.62 2.62 2.59 2.62 36,000 93,890 STA LUCIA LAND 2.73 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 6,000 17,400 35.9 36 36.05 36.1 35.5 36 8,250,200 296,199,550 SM PRIME HLDG 3.65 3.75 3.65 3.75 3.65 3.75 5,000 18,350 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.18 1.13 1.13 2,139,000 2,433,260 VISTA LAND 3.66 3.71 3.66 3.72 3.65 3.66 404,000 1,488,780 SERVICES ABS CBN 12.82 12.88 12.96 13 12.8 12.82 100,000 1,289,268 GMA NETWORK 13.48 13.5 13.6 13.6 13.46 13.48 414,900 5,615,786 GLOBE TELECOM 3,422 3,430 3,330 3,438 3,320 3,422 56,420 192,241,530 PLDT 1,720 1,725 1,699 1,730 1,690 1,720 157,510 269,976,560 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.077 0.078 0.076 0.079 0.075 0.078 135,270,000 10,472,880 32.2 32.25 31.6 32.35 31.6 32.2 4,993,200 160,663,830 CONVERGE 2.66 2.75 2.7 2.84 2.62 2.75 536,000 1,463,160 DFNN INC 5.94 5.95 5.8 6.04 5.8 5.94 3,223,000 19,088,086 DITO CME HLDG 1.65 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 1.8 5,000 8,800 JACKSTONES NOW CORP 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.55 1.51 1.52 253,000 385,670 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.3 0.305 0.305 0.31 0.3 0.305 2,950,000 902,250 PHILWEB 1.84 1.86 1.84 1.9 1.83 1.86 133,000 245,390 2GO GROUP 7.6 7.8 7.7 7.8 7.5 7.6 9,100 69,857 ASIAN TERMINALS 13.9 14 14 14 14 14 900 12,600 CHELSEA 1.64 1.7 1.63 1.73 1.63 1.7 339,000 563,200 44.7 44.8 43.15 44.85 43.15 44.8 211,400 9,385,100 CEBU AIR 198.1 200 197 200 195.8 200 902,020 178,796,615 INTL CONTAINER 22 22.3 22 22 22 22 2,300 50,600 LBC EXPRESS LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.91 0.97 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 50,000 45,500 MACROASIA 5.47 5.48 5.41 5.51 5.41 5.47 844,600 4,630,625 METROALLIANCE A 1.24 1.3 1.23 1.23 1.23 1.23 1,000 1,230 HARBOR STAR 0.9 0.92 0.88 0.93 0.86 0.9 328,000 286,790 ACESITE HOTEL 1.41 1.45 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 9,000 12,600 DISCOVERY WORLD 1.83 1.86 1.92 1.92 1.86 1.86 228,000 433,960 0.475 0.485 0.47 0.48 0.47 0.47 440,000 207,800 WATERFRONT CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.51 6.87 6.89 6.89 6.89 6.89 500 3,445 IPEOPLE 6.98 7.47 7.48 7.49 6.96 6.96 52,700 390,690 STI HLDG 0.345 0.35 0.345 0.35 0.345 0.35 4,610,000 1,610,450 6.2 6.37 6.85 7.06 6.2 6.2 888,000 5,671,185 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 7.14 7.19 6.95 7.2 6.95 7.19 5,606,000 39,887,357 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.85 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1.95 1,000 1,950 LEISURE AND RES 1.5 1.53 1.54 1.54 1.5 1.53 529,000 814,160 MANILA JOCKEY 1.81 1.97 1.97 1.97 1.97 1.97 5,000 9,850 PH RESORTS GRP 0.81 0.82 0.83 0.83 0.82 0.82 289,000 237,190 0.43 0.44 0.43 0.44 0.43 0.435 790,000 341,450 PREMIUM LEISURE ALLDAY 0.67 0.68 0.69 0.7 0.67 0.68 88,663,000 60,232,060 10.02 10.04 10.04 10.1 9.97 10.02 1,022,800 10,251,834 ALLHOME 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.44 1.42 1.42 146,000 208,170 METRO RETAIL 38.4 38.95 39.6 39.6 38.4 38.4 6,196,700 239,671,070 PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL 65 65.2 62.1 65 62.1 65 458,090 29,376,601.50 PHIL SEVEN CORP 89.75 90 90 90 88 89.75 106,580 9,567,991 SSI GROUP 1.15 1.16 1.15 1.16 1.15 1.15 438,000 505,240 WILCON DEPOT 31.85 31.9 31.5 32.2 31.4 31.9 7,459,500 238,260,670 4.65 5.69 4.65 4.7 4.65 4.65 9,000 41,950 EASYCALL GOLDEN MV 477.2 535 525 535 525 535 1,200 638,000 IPM HLDG 7 7.04 7 7.04 7 7.04 6,300 44,212 MEDILINES 1.67 1.7 1.68 1.7 1.52 1.7 201,584,000 329,265,290 0.63 0.64 0.62 0.64 0.62 0.63 1,980,000 1,247,760 PRMIERE HORIZON SBS PHIL CORP 3.71 3.76 3.83 3.85 3.76 3.76 17,000 64,780

MINING & OIL ATOK 5.45 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.5 5.5 48,400 266,858 APEX MINING 1.34 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.33 1.34 1,392,000 1,858,770 ATLAS MINING 6.02 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.02 6.02 548,000 3,303,870 BENGUET A 5.1 5.37 5.47 5.47 5.37 5.37 6,000 32,520 Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9612 -0.26% 4.27% 2.65% -1% 4.6 4.92 5.15 5.15 4.92 4.92 43,100 213,280 DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL 2.11 2.13 2.09 2.13 2.06 2.11 933,000 1,958,120 Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0269 -0.91% 4.83% 2.15% -1.59% 0.193 0.215 0.194 0.194 0.193 0.193 310,000 60,020 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.124 0.125 0.124 0.126 0.124 0.125 1,200,000 150,170 Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1767 -0.38% 4.68% 3.54% -0.92% MANILA MINING A 0.0086 0.0088 0.0086 0.0087 0.0086 0.0087 8,000,000 69,100 MANILA MINING B 0.0091 0.0093 0.0092 0.0092 0.0092 0.0092 2,000,000 18,400 Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7229 -1.18% 3.81% 2.88% -1.83% MARCVENTURES 1.18 1.19 1.15 1.25 1.15 1.19 2,833,000 3,412,560 NIHAO 1 1.05 1 1.05 1 1 120,000 120,150 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities NICKEL ASIA 5.08 5.1 5.08 5.1 5.03 5.1 882,900 4,485,972 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.73 0.76 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 15,000 11,100 ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $488.67 1.22% 2.98% 2.48% 0.96% 4.8 4.9 4.89 4.9 4.76 4.8 482,000 2,326,400 PX MINING 21.7 21.8 21.75 22.2 21.7 21.7 489,000 10,677,545 SEMIRARA MINING ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є219.69 0.43% 1.13% 1.02% 0.21% 32.1 32.2 28.3 32.5 28 32.1 2,543,800 78,459,190 ACE ENEXOR 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 5,400,000 54,100 ORNTL PETROL A ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2024 -5.34% 2.27% 1.81% -6.05% ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.01 0.012 912,700,000 9,889,300 PHILODRILL 0.0087 0.0091 0.0089 0.009 0.0087 0.0087 15,000,000 133,500 First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0259 -2.26% 1.32% 0.87% -2.63% PXP ENERGY 6.19 6.34 6.34 6.35 6.16 6.34 170,700 1,061,578 PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0232 -6.17% -0.19% -0.6% -6.13% PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 99.2 99.6 100 100 99.2 99.2 21,800 2,171,100 Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.4964 -1.12% 5.08% 2.79% -1.72% HOUSE PREF A 100.5 101 100.5 100.5 100.5 100.5 100 10,050 AC PREF B1 520 526.5 520 520 520 520 20 10,400 Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0623353 0.2% 3.06% 2.03% 0.06% ALCO PREF D 502.5 505.5 507 507 502.5 502.5 12,180 6,159,565 AC PREF B2R 510 520 510 510 510 510 1,260 642,600 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1772 -0.68% 3.45% 1.71% -1.44% 100.6 101 100.9 101 100.6 101 16,880 1,704,285 BRN PREF A 44 44.5 44.45 44.5 44.35 44.5 54,700 2,430,465 CEB PREF Money Market Funds 102.5 103 103 103 103 103 450 46,350 CPG PREF A DD PREF 100.7 101 100.7 100.7 100.7 100.7 1,000 100,700 Primarily invested in Peso securities GTCAP PREF A 1,010 1,014 1,014 1,014 1,014 1,014 185 187,590 GTCAP PREF B 1,015 1,040 1,040 1,040 1,014 1,014 3,885 3,975,400 ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 131.07 1.1% 2.84% 2.55% 0.96% JFC PREF A 1,000 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,009 1,010 110 111,070 JFC PREF B 1,012 1,015 1,015 1,015 1,015 1,015 65 65,975 First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0572 0.95% n.a. n.a. 0.87% MWIDE PREF 2A 95 100.1 100.1 100.1 100.1 100.1 10 1,001 MWIDE PREF 2B 98.25 101 101 101 101 101 10 1,010 Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3144 2.63% 2.53% 1.35% 1.49% 98.8 100.5 98.3 100.5 98.3 100.5 900 89,154 MWIDE PREF 4 PNX PREF 3B 104.9 105 104.9 104.9 102.5 104.9 3,000 313,500 PNX PREF 4 999 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,890 1,890,000 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities PCOR PREF 3B 1,091 1,124 1,100 1,100 1,095 1,095 150 164,500 SMC PREF 2F 79.25 79.5 79.75 79.75 79.25 79.3 70,930 5,624,724.50 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0602 0.8% 1.47% n.a. 0.63% SMC PREF 2I 79.3 79.8 79.3 79.8 79.3 79.3 185,610 14,720,045.50 PREF 2J SMC 76.7 77.1 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.5 7,900 604,350 Feeder Funds SMC PREF 2K 75.6 76.4 75.6 75.6 75.6 75.6 20,000 1,512,000 Primarily invested in Peso securities PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12.2 12.28 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.2 7,300 89,060 Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3315 19.66% n.a. n.a. 17.87% GMA HLDG PDR 13.04 13.5 13.2 13.2 13.04 13.04 72,700 953,570 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.8 0.82 0.81 0.83 0.79 0.82 922,000 748,430 ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a,d $0.97 -1.02% n.a. n.a. -1.02%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

18.42 2.39 3.16 2.64

"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."

FIRST METRO ETF

109.5

1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

-139,387,876 11,246,380 294,150 -7,962,490 -6,418,414.50 9,752,132 2,465,945 -373,940 -95,680 577,883 23,980 -2,899,475 -4,293,962 4,009,772 -1,129,028.50 4,698,847 11,954,124 19,227 -66,701,850 -314,290 -286,020 -18,600 37,400 -107,338,166 113,960.00 3,347,724 -375,324 90,120 -1,083,827 -3,760 88,740 12,088 10,250 262,170 2,356,067 8,400 -279,350 788,850 41,114,285 -11,434,029 68,759,538 -32,193,043 74,063 487,648 -14,485,568 -637,960 -35,800 -14,823.50 -6,518,836 4,899,990 -1,160 9,309,256 28,715,185 -4,791,271 -38,587,660 2,936,145 -11,990 -20,130 23,290.00 -43,450 -308,202 370,530 -244,400 -312,500 5,705,545 -824,520 95,352 354,100 3,520 60,101,650 -45,127,176 -10,000 7,252,153 136,284 12,600 72,980,455 -635,310 30,982,580 62,029,540 457,100 -39,829,515 263,460 2,439,137 5,320 -78,620 854,200 38,963,685 971,977 -278,700.00 -13,284,325 783,500 10,041,160.00 3,091,166 -35,750 -16,850,655 -2,937,437 6,537 56,878,155 551,120 122,960 120,500 771,730.00 -1,200 1,114,803 3,700 -53,500 75,205 14,432,525 - -50,700 -50,450 1,276,055 -80,800 13,557.50 - -375,832 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART

75,152,058 -59,961,492 -95,886 -104,828,266.50 -649,414 -1,012,617,285 -3,088,565 -2,518,166 -205,650 -71,100 -

18.98 2.4 3.3 2.65

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

110

18.5 2.35 3.15 2.75

19.06 2.47 3.3 2.75

18.4 2.35 3.11 2.61

18.96 2.39 3.3 2.65

74,100 1,902,000 14,000 6,040,000

1,395,198 4,577,380 44,280 16,145,770

5,822 -178,100 9,330 1,491,430

109 110 108.5 110 8,260 903,016 80,673

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance

AIIB vows support to states in climate financing projects By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

HE Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) vowed to support its members, including the Philippines, in achieving their respective low-carbon energy transition commitments. In a letter to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, AIIB President Jin Liqun acknowledged that “a lot more needs to be done” to mobilize private sector investments in climate adaptation and mitigation projects.” Jin said in the letter that the AIIB is committed to “further scaling up and pivoting private investments for climate through public-private partnerships and the use of innovative financial instruments including blended finance.” Dominguez said the letter dated November 30 was in response to his earlier proposal for the World Bank Group (WBG), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the AIIB to catalyze the flow of private sector capital that developing countries need to meet their objectives on fighting global warming. Dominguez, who serves as a governor for the Philippines in the boards of AIIB, the WBG and the ADB, said this could be done by adopting a harmonized set of guidelines for vetting climate adaptation and mitigation projects. The finance chief also said multilateral development banks (MDBs) can also set the standards of transparency and accountability in monitoring the climate change initiatives of developing countries to further assure private investors of the prudent use of the funds they have invested in these projects. As its Nationally-Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement, the Philippines

has committed to a projected greenhouse gas emission reduction and avoidance of 75 percent from 2020 to 2030 for the sectors of agriculture, wastes, industry, transport and energy despite being among the countries with the smallest carbon footprints. Jin expressed his “sincere appreciation” to Dominguez’s “active leadership in bringing together a collective proposal among MDBs to incentivize capital flows to achieve climate change goals in developing countries.” “[The] AIIB is committed to positioning itself as Asia’s Climate Finance Partner to support its members in achieving their respective lowcarbon energy transition and climate pledges made in both domestic and international fora including the Paris Agreement,” Jin said. The AIIB official added he looks forward “to benefitting further from Dominguez’s guidance” as the China-led MDB and the Philippines “continue to build on their strong ties.” He also noted that the AIIB has undertaken several key initiatives in helping its members fight climate change, including its commitment to ensure that at least 50 percent of its overall approved financing by 2025 will be directed toward climate finance and its operations aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement by July 1, 2023; and its pioneered approaches to demonstrate proof-of-concept of climate investments in bonds, private equity and other segments of the financial markets in Asia. The AIIB has also been actively participating in the joint MDB climate working groups to address several issues, including developing the common definition on climate mitigation and adaptation finance and its annual reporting, among other concerns, Jin said. He estimates that AIIB’s cumulative climate finance approvals would be $50 billion by 2030.

BSP to enhance financial setup responsive to PWDs

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expressed commitment to promote a financial system responsive to the needs of Persons with Disability (PWDs) as part of its financial inclusion agenda. In its weekly virtual briefing last Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said the central bank is in constant dialogue with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA). He added that the BSP, in coordination with the NCDA, also conducts information sessions catering to the PWD sector. “PWDs represent a key segment of our financial inclusion agenda considering the unique barriers and challenges they face when conducting financial transactions,” Diokno said. “By fostering a PWD-friendly financial sys-

tem, more Filipinos will be in a position to overcome restrictions brought about by the pandemic and to take advantage of opportunities in the post-Covid economy,” he added. The central bank has earlier issued regulations on non-discriminatory practices by BSPsupervised financial institutions. The BSP also issued a risk-based customer acceptance and identification policy to make account opening simpler for PWDs. Last year, the central bank also incorporated additional tactile marks to banknotes for easier identification of different denominations by the visually-impaired. There are 9.24 million Filipinos with disabilities, the BSP said using a base of 77 million Filipino adults in 2020. Bianca Cuaresma

Building back differently

OU might have heard the phrase

to work together for the common good. As Michelle puts it, “association leaders need “building back to be flexible and gracious in better.” with people.” This strategy, aimed at Association World dealing Innovation. Building a reducing risk to people in the culture of innovation is every Octavio Peralta wake of future disasters and organization’s dream as innoshocks, was first officially vation creates a new mindset and ways of doing described in the United Nations (UN) Sendai things; simply put, innovation is doing things Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction docudifferently. Associations need to experiment, ment at the third UN World Conference on Diundertake research and data analysis which saster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, in 2015. can change along the way, and go beyond thinkThis phrase is again being used in the context ing that it can instantly solve a long-standing of governments’ initiatives to recover from the problem with a “silver bullet.” As Mike says, “inimpact of the global pandemic. novation is people-driven and that association In the recent IBTM World 2021 Association leaders need people skills.” Knowledge Programme in which I participated, Sustainability. The pandemic has not one of my co-panelists, Jeffers Miruka, the dampened the organizations of today’s will to president of the African Society of Association protect the planet. Associations are also doing Executives (AfSAE), used the phrase “building their part. Citing the recent COP 26 where parback differently.” ticipating 197 countries agreed to a new deal Our session, “Inspire: Presidents Talk,” known as the “Glasgow Climate Pact,” Jeffers delved into the drivers for change for associacited the role of African associations in mititions, where associations must focus and ingating climate change—from carbon offset vest in, and the future of events. Moderated by programs to advocacy in holding sustainable ITBM program curator, Stylianos Filopoulos, events. Sustainability actions and case studies the panel discussion also had American Society abound worldwide from associations, profesof Association Executives (ASAE) President and sional conference organizers, event venues, and CEO Michelle Mason and European Society of destinations. Association Executives (ESAE) President Mike Collaboration. For me, the underlying facMorrissey. tor of building back differently for associations Below is my take on our panel discussion on is anchored on collaboration among associations, areas associations need to focus on to build back nationally and globally. Associations are in the differently post-pandemic: same storm but not necessarily in the same boat. People. An organization is only as good Through working together, associations can be as its people, its main resource. In the assoin the same boat to weather the storm. ciation world, people include the governing board, management, members and volunteers. The column contributor, Octavio “Bobby” Peralta, is the Research shows that diverse, equitable, and founder and CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and inclusive associations have survived and even Association Executives. The purpose of PCAAE—the “associathrived during the pandemic and are expected tion of associations”—is to advance the association manageto do better beyond it. There is also room to ment profession and to make associations well-governed and create an atmosphere of trust to build mutual sustainable. E-mail: obp@adfiap.org respect among people so confidence can set in

BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, December 10, 2021

BIR chided for lack of info on franchise applicants

By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

EN. Grace Poe reprimanded the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) last Thursday for failing to provide Senators information on whether or not franchise applicants were fulfilling their responsibility with the bureau, specifically if they have been diligently paying their taxes “on time and in full.”

Poe, presiding over the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services Committee, aired concerns over the BIR’s lack of preparation. The agency’s unpreparedness is seen to delay the lawmakers’ action on pending franchise applications under evaluation by the committee. These applications include 16 from telecommunications companies, a dozen for broadcast franchise and the franchise renewal of Air Philippines Corp. The Senator clarified that “before we give a franchise to a company, we have to make sure

that they have no liabilities.” “Eh kung may utang sa inyo?” Poe asked the BIR officials. [What if they owe government?]. The Senator reminded BIR officials that “this is the best way you can collect from them because they are applying for a franchise.” At the same time, the Poe-chaired Senate panel tasked to review franchises required the attendance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)

and the BIR during the hearing to vet the applicant’s performance and inform the panel on its compliance with regulations, as well as violations. As a rule, franchise applications of those with violations of regulations of the SEC, NTC and others are put on hold until their issues are resolved, the senator clarified. Reminding that “the Senate is about to go on a break next week,” Poe, however, assured that “as much as possible, we would like to finish our committee reports and hopefully take them up on the floor next week.” The Senator confirmed that “invitations for the hearing were sent out three weeks ago and resource persons were provided a list of the information that the committee would need.” At the same time, Poe aired hopes that “the BIR is taking our hearings seriously.” “I expect more participation and respect from the BIR because this is an actual public hearing,” the senator added. “They should be able to assist the legislative because this is one of their functions.” Poe recalled that last year, she already “called out the BIR over the absence of its ranking officials at the committee hearing on the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Act that the executive itself was also pushing for.”

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

The All-New Kaicene CX70 Arrives in the Philippines

ERJAYA Auto Asia Inc. (BAAI), the exclusive distributor of Kaicene commercial vehicles and parts in the country, introduces an all-new seven-seater SUV designed to empower its customers to move. The All-New Kaicene CX70 is the latest family and business mover designed to deliver the power, space and reliability needed to safely achieve life’s goals. Whether for business or pleasure, the All-New Kaicene CX70 is ready to be the strong and dependable partner families and entrepreneurs can bank on. “BAAI and Kaicene Philippines are proud to introduce a brand new model that not only enhances our core essence of being a value-laden commercial vehicle provider, but also opens up our brand to families who espouse togetherness in the journey of life. The AllNew Kaicene CX70 not only empowers families to move together, it also does so by being more affordable and more feature-rich than the competition. The All-New Kaicene CX70 is a seven-seater SUV that is truly worth the Filipino families’ hard-earned peso,” said Japheth Castillo, President of BAAI.

All the space you’ll need

There is no shortage of real-estate when it comes to the All-New Kaicene CX70. With a total length of 4,705mm, width of 1,800mm and height of 1,775mm, the CX70 is the longest, widest and tallest seven-seat SUV in its class. The space it affords with its 2,780mm wheelbase and 3,810 liters of overall cargo space is easily the largest among its peers.

Power on demand

At the heart of the All-New Kaicene CX70 is a 1.5-liter Turbocharged gasoline engine. Outputting 150 ps and 230 N-m of torque, the engine is more than able to carry a full load over long distances.

With an advanced six-speed automatic transmission transferring power through a Rear-Wheel Drive layout, the All-New Kaicene CX70 is configured to combine the smooth operation of a fuelefficient engine with the strength and power expected from a multi-role SUV. Separating the driving load from the front wheels ensures the equal distribution of load throughout the vehicle.

Technology at your fingertips

An eight-inch Touchscreen Audio System with Bluetooth connectivity provides the needed entertainment over six speakers strategically located inside the cabin. The use of touch-sensitive shortcut buttons lessens the amount of time to access specific functions and features of the infotainment system. The touch panel also eliminates the use of separate buttons for the airconditioning controls. And to round up the CX70’s extensive list of creature comforts, 12-volt power outlets are made available in the front and third row seats. This is ideal for those times you need to operate a charger, a tool or an appliance on the go.

Full-on safety

Dual airbags add a welcome layer of supplemental protection for the driver and front passenger. While an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) along with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) come standard. Traction Control System (TCS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) both aid vehicle stability in varying road and driving conditions. Hill Hold Control makes it easier for the driver to negotiate inclines and dips by holding the brake system for an extra few seconds until the driver can regain control of the accelerator or brake pedal. Kaicene Philippines is introducing the All-New Kaicene CX70 with a price of P879,000.

Friday, December 10, 2021 • Editor: Tet Andolong

Suzuki opens BGC satellite branch

Story by Randy S. Peregrino

OR Autohub Group of Companies, the timing is just right as it recently opened its newest and addition to its multi-brand auto dealerships—the Suzuki Auto BGC Satellite. Fulfilling the promise of Suzuki in uplifting the “Filipino’s Way of Life” combined with Autohub’s superb automotive experience, this partnership is long-awaited for both sides.

During the recently concluded virtual launch event, Suzuki Auto BGC president Willy Tee Ten excitedly announced, “It is with great pride and honor to finally have the Suzuki Brand in the Autohub Group’s roster of automotive dealerships. The Autohub Group shares Suzuki Philippines’s vision to be the preferred brand and the automotive group of choice. Providing innovative solutions, quality and trendsetting products, and of course, reliable services for our clients so we can ensure the best interests and returns for all our stakeholders.”

The new Suzuki Auto BGC Satellite Showroom situates on a 629-sq.m floor area with a two-car display section. It also has a dedicated space for Suzuki Philippines CI for sales and service reception. Moreover, there are two dedicated service work bays with parts warehouse. Since this is the first foray of the Suzuki Dealership in Taguig City, the premier business city in the metro, indeed would be seeing a lot of the brand’s various models such as the Swift, S-Presso, Jimny, and Vitara all over the streets of Global City. Meanwhile, during the event, there was none other than Suzuki vice president and General Manager of Automobile Division Keiichi Suzuki. “Let me be the first to extend Suzuki’s appreciation to Zoomhub Inc. [Suzuki Auto BGC] for your continued support in our efforts in making Suzuki products and services more widely accessible to our Filipino brothers and sisters. With this first dealership under your group, I firmly believe that this will go a long way because of your vast experience and at the same time with the strong support of our partners who are here with us now,” he said.

The newly opened Suzuki BGC satellite branch. Photos by Suzuki Philippines

The reception area.

The new branch’s service bay area.

“With all the support from Suzuki Philippines and Autohub Group’s 23 years of automotive experience, I am very positive that we can contribute to the promise of Suzuki in uplifting the ‘Filipino’s Way of Life.’ I would like to thank Suzuki Philippines, headed by Keiichi-San, for embracing Autohub as their newest dealer. Together, We Will Serve as One,” Tee Ten concluded. Suzuki Auto BGC Satellite is located at Block 15 Rizal Drive, Crescent Park, West Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For sales inquiries, please call 09178150762.

Zeroing in on Volvo, Honda & SeaOil

S it true that Volvo Philippines leads in the country’s race for the best-in-class plug-in hybrids? It is a resounding yes from Paolo Ella, a top gun from Volvo’s marketing division. “As the first luxury automotive group to launch a line of plug-in hybrids in the country, Volvo Philippines continues its dedication to the local market with safe and sustainable mobility options,” said Ella, singling out the Volvo XC60, XC90 and S90 variants as pioneers in this aspect. Available locally in T8 Twin Engine powertrains, Ella says a Volvo plug-in hybrid can deliver over 407 hp and 640 Nm. “These Plug-in vehicles provide not only safe breathing space for their occupants but also an environment where everyone can enjoy the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable, and safe way,” Ella said. Do I hear an interpellation from the competition?

Honda deals

HONDA’s “Dream Deals” gig continues up to December 31, with displays on December 9 to 15 set at SM Mall of Asia, said Colene Jalalon, who added the Odyssey can be had at a whopping P150,000 discount.

Other mouth-watering discounts include the City 1.5 at P90k, BR-V at P30k, Brio at P10k, CR-V at P30k, All-New City Hatchback at P15k, Jazz 1.5 at P20k, HR-V at P10K and Accord at P60k. The City’s twin 1.5 variants entitle buyers to five months’ and two months’ free monthly amortization all-in financing, at 20 percent down payment and a 60-month payment term, said Jalalon. Also, Honda’s “Teen Smart” road safety workshops for senior high school students are also on as Honda continues to demonstrate its commitment to “Safety for Everyone” advocacy. Inspired by that “Safety for Everyone” mantra, the program aims to strengthen the youth’s consciousness on the concept of road safety, and enhance their understanding of human-vehicle-environment relationships that would empower them in the crusade to have safer roads. The ongoing online learning sessions will run up to May 2022. Visit www.hondaphil.com for more details.

SeaOil-STP tie-up

TWO heavyweights in the fuel/lubricant sector have recently merged

featuring SeaOil and STP. The partnership brings together SeaOil ’s tested lubricant product line in unison with STP’s worldrenowned fully synthetic Extreme Mako engine oil. SeaOil ’s famed variants include its gasoline and diesel engine oil, GEO Supreme and DEOMA X diesel engine oil. As the first fuel company in Asia to partner with industry giant STP, SeaOil takes pride in allowing STP’s additives entry into its Grade-A fuels, namely Extreme 97, Extreme U, Extreme 95 and Exceed Diesel. “Our customers will now appreciate all the more the improved protection and maintenance from SeaOil lubricants,” said SeaOil CEO Francis Glenn Yu. STP, in the oil business for more than 50 years, is a Nascar racing fi xture and the No. 1 supporter of Nascar Hall of Famer Richard Petty. “We’re excited to be at the starting line with SeaOil lubricants and looking forward to winning the race with customers,” said Scott Meczkowski, senior manager of STP marketer, Energizer Holdings. STP-powered SeaOil lubricants are available in 600 stations nationwide and at Shopee and Lazada through 09998855449.

PEE STOP MG Philippines will stage

the “Salubong” concert on December 10-11. Performing, among others, are CLR, Sponge Cola and Aegis. Broadcasting is live on KTX.ph, said Chino Subido…Thanks again to my dear buddy, Toyota’s Rey Oben, for extending a helping hand to an esteemed friend of mine (Ariel Garcia) “badly” in need of an FJ Cruiser. Cheers, Podner!... Happy wedding anniversary today (December 10) to Ricky & Malaya Sadiwa! Mabuhay!

BusinessMirror

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Friday, December 10, 2021

GAC Motor PH unveils 2nd-gen of GS4 1.5L 270T More power, technology, fuel efficiency, and stylish compact SUV protecting the occupants of the vehicle from an intense collision impact. For better stability at high speeds, the GS4 is equipped with Bosch’s latest ESP 9.3

AC Motor Philippines officially launched the All-New GAC GS4, the second generation of the multi-awarded compact SUV, now updated with a more sporty and sleeker look and added technologically advanced features.

Exterior

The new GAC GS4 has a redesigned look from front to back. It features sleek LED headlights with LED daytime running lights. It looks more muscular due to its bolder front grille, and sharper edges to further highlight the silver-finished grille and brand emblem. To complete its modern look, the rear has been equipped with new dynamic LED taillights, a metal chrome on the tailgate, and slimmer turn signal lights. It is also equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and comes with a panoramic sunroof with jam protection. When it comes to dimensions, the new GAC GS4 is 4,545mm in length, 1,856mm in width, 1668mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,680mm. This second-generation model is wider, taller, but has a lower ground clearance compared to its outgoing year model.

Interior

The 2022 GAC GS4 dashboard is inspired by a light prism dual-star design to make it more appealing to the younger generation of customers. The dashboard is equipped with a 3.5-inch instrument panel display, and an 8-inch LCD infotainment display, with Bluetooth and Apple Carplay connectivity. It also has a 6-speaker system, a multi-functional steering wheel, with audio and cruise control. Unlike its predecessor, the new GS4 is now available with either two-tone (black and caramel brown) or black leatherette seats. The front is equipped with 6-way and 4-way manual adjustable sport-inspired leatherette seats, with lumbar support for a more comfortable driving experience. Meanwhile, the rear seats have central armrests with cupholders and three independent adjustable headrests. The interior is made up of high-quality and ecofriendly raw materials such as low-odor water-based PVC leather, and low-odor polypropylene plastics, to help in eliminating the sources of

unpleasant odor. The 2022 GS4 also has a high-performance air-conditioning filter with PM1-level filtration that keeps clean and refreshing air in the cabin. It also filters over 99.7% of smaller dust particles, common dust, and pollen.

Engine

The 2022 GAC GS4 is powered by GAC Motor’s selfdeveloped 3rd-generation of Euro 5-compliant 1.5L turbocharged engine that is mated to a 6-speed automatic Aisin gearbox capable of producing 166 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, and 270 Nm of torque between 1,700 to 4,000 rpm. It enables the vehicle to produce smooth power output, better fuel economy, and lesser carbon emissions to the environment. The vehicle also offers three driving modes: economic mode, manual mode, and sport mode. The GS4’s strong power output and fuel efficiency are brought by Bosch’s 2ndgeneration high-pressure system; a single-cycle triple injection technology that ensures high combustion efficiency; and a low-inertia turbocharger that gives a faster response and earlier peak torque.

Safety Features

For the occupants’ safety, the 2022 GAC GS4 is equipped with dual and side airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), a traction control system (TCS), a rear parking camera, parking sensors, electronic parking brake, three-point seatbelts with alarm, ISOFIX child seat anchors, brake hold assist, engine immobilizer with anti-theft alarm, and window jam protection, and tire pressure monitoring system. The GS4 is built on a highstrength steel-safe chassis that does a great job in eliminating vehicle vibration and

that corrects oversteering at sudden cornering and sudden lane change. It also has a 14-in-1 active safety system that provides uphill and down-

hill assistance. The 2022 GAC GS4 1.5L 270T GB is now available at an SRP of Php 1,098,000 in five colors: Lightning

Blue, Rosefinch Red, Benite Gray, Ivory White, and Elegant Black. The unit also comes with a 5-year or 150,000kms warranty, whichever comes first.

B6 Friday, December 10, 2021

Study shows more women suffer from verbal abuse

Are you G to be protected? Here are tips to spot phishing scams to protect yourself

VER experience that moment when you get a text message early in the morning and you excitedly jump out of bed thinking it’s crush-laloo greeting you, only to find out it’s some random SMS with bad grammar asking for your personal details? That inisfactor you’re feeling for these scammers — yes we’ve all been there, we feel you! It doesn’t just stop there though. Nowadays, with the convenience of being able to buy anything with just a pa-“mine” comment at a live selling session or order that flash sale item with a tap of our fingers, come new levels of scam tactics. A common one is called phishing, where scammers send fake SMS, Emails, or links designed to trick people into giving away sensitive information such as personal information, banking details, and passwords. Scammers are getting more and more creative that we have to be G to be informed about what’s going on. Knowing the different ways they work is the first step in protecting ourselves. We all give in to certain types of "budol" as we call it—wherein we willingly fall for irresistible discounts or all-in-one bundles, or when you know you don't need a new phone case but you purchase it anyway because it's cute. To buy your wants and needs is okay, especially that you've been working hard for it. What is not okay is when you get yourself into types of budol that actually robs you of all your hard-earned money. Are you G to be protected? Here are some common phishing scams and ways to protect yourself especially as we enter the merriest season of the year: A popular method for scammers is to pretend to be an authorized customer representative on different platforms by appropriating company logos and a person’s profile picture. In social media, this can happen if you post your complaints publicly. They send a direct message and pretend to offer help with your concern. In emails, they use what seem to look like official addresses and create a sense of urgency to pressure you into following the steps they have outlined, otherwise, you will lose access to your account

or incur possible charges. While in SMS, they send suspicious messages and links that will prompt you to install an app or require you to input your MPIN or OTP for many reasons: you’ve won a contest, have expiring rewards to claim, or that you need to update your contact information. Sometimes they’ll even call you. How do you spot scammers? Start by checking the sender. Is the text or call from a random phone number? Does the email look credible or does it look like it came from a sketchy free platform? Always check the source. Second, did they send you a link? GCash, for example, will NEVER send you an email asking to click a link. Scammers have become clever to make sure they no longer have typos on their message alerts. They used to misspell words like GAcsh or replace letters with numbers like GC4sh, but they've leveledup to replicating official web pages by using the same visuals or actual promos to phish details from users. Their goal is to get your One Time PIN (OTP) so they can link their device to your account, and your MPIN so they can login. If they can’t get your MPIN, they will try to ask for more OTPs in order to reset your MPIN. If you’ve been saving money for your pending bills and you don’t want to wake up as a player in Squid Game, never give out your MPIN and the OTPs that you receive on your phones. However, scammers have found creative ways to sneakily get these info so it’s important to expose them and get

to know their methods. Here are some examples: Hiram mobile phone - they borrow your phone for a variety of excuses but their real intent is to request OTPs to be sent to your phone so they can reset the MPINs themselves without you knowing. Shoulder surfing - from the name itself, they spy over your shoulder to steal personal information that might help them in hacking your account. Live selling sessions - this usually happens to online sellers when they broadcast what’s on their phones. Scammers just need good timing to initiate the OTP, display it on your screen for all to see, and therefore compromise your account. If you find yourself on the receiving end of any of these suspicious instances or if you have concerns with any of the GCash services, the best way to address them is through the Help Center accessible within the app only. The Christmas season and mega-sales online are happening soon so it’s important to remember this GChecklist: (1) check the sender or credibility of any website where you are being redirected (2) never share your MPIN or OTP (3) only do actions within the GCash app. Once you tick off everything on this list, make sure you’re G to share this so your friends and family can protect themselves, too. For your holiday hauls, don’t forget: magpa-budol wisely! For more information, visit gcash.com.

Get ready for MG Live! Salubong: The Christmas Concert

HIS Christmas, MG Philippines brings the finest OPM acts to the comfort and safety of your home with a special online edition of MG Live! entitled Salubong: The Christmas Concert, which will be broadcasted online over KTX.ph on December 10 and December 11, 2021. MG Live! Salubong will feature top local musical acts including urban/hip-hop star CLR, rock quartet Sponge Cola, and the legendary Aegis band rounding off this roster extraordinary artists. Music is a cornerstone of MG’s brand identity and, since its launch in October 2018, MG Philippines has always championed and celebrated Original

Pilipino Music (OPM) through its MG Live! concert series. This Christmas, MG Philippines brings the musical celebration straight to your home with this extraordinary online concert and the very first MG Live! Online concert event. The health and safety of all remain as MG Philippines’ top priority during these times, but the British heritage car brand nonetheless finds ways to usher in the holiday spirit and cheer through music while upholding a safe and secure event. “MG continues to bring extraordinary musical experiences to Filipinos and we are proud to present MG Live! Salubong: The Christmas concert, in celebration of the holiday season. We hope to bring

cheer and warmth into every home through this online concert event, which we dedicate to Filipino families here and abroad,” says Atty. Alberto B. Arcilla, President and CEO of MG Philippines. “MG has been associated with music since day one, and we are truly happy and excited to be able to stage Salubong—a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas concert—in cooperation with our partners, for the enjoyment of all Filipinos this December.” Salubong is an extraordinary musical experience that promises more than just great tunes. Beyond the power of the music, enjoy loads of fun content like behind-the-scenes exchanges with the musical artists, and a sing-along complete with lyrics onscreen; and you can even send shout-outs to anyone anywhere in the world. If you have a member of your family working abroad this holiday season, send them a personalized greeting via Salubong using the event’s Salu-Salo Social Wall comment and share board. Make your loved ones feel the warmth of home this December with MG Live! Salubong: The Christmas Concert! MG Live! Salubong: The Christmas Concert is brought to you by MG Philippines, in cooperation with Praxis and The Filipino Channel (TFC.) Salubong is staged with topnotch technical production at ABSCBN’s ASAP Studio 10, and the program is conceptualized by the best Filipino musical production minds under director Paul Alexei Basinillo.

EW research from global beauty company, Avon, and the NO MORE Foundation, reveals that more than a third of women (35%) have been affected by degrading comments made by an intimate partner. The research surveyed over 8,300 women in eight countries, including the UK, Poland, and the Philippines. The study found that nearly two in every five respondents aged 25-34 are subjected to constant verbal abuse within their relationships–the highest among demographics. The civil society-led campaign 16 days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence is an international movement that commences on November 25: to get to know the signs; for victims feeling isolated, to know they are not alone; and for those experiencing abuse, to seek necessary help. Upon being asked if they know where to get help, 1 in 10 (11%) of the respondents reported that they do not know what to do or are too scared to do anything about their predicament. These factors contribute in the victims being stuck in abusive relationships.

Words Hurt Just as Much

ALMOST half (47%) of respondents have shared that the negative comments usually stem from their general appearance, with 1 in 5 (19%) experiencing this within the last month. Other reasons allude to their partners degrading their intelligence (43%), career (44%), weight (50%), or what they wear (50%). This trend becomes more common for those aged 25-34 compared to those aged 55+ which is only 10%. More than half (55%) of the women also reported that their partners have deflected criticism against friends and family, which is a common tactic done by abusers to manipulate their victims to alienate them from other people outside the relationship. “Verbal abuse is a serious, prevalent issue that takes a huge and often long-lasting toll on the self-esteem and confidence of

those who experience it,” shares NO MORE Foundation’s Global Executive Director, Pamela Zaballa.

Breaking the Cycle

OF those subjected to verbal abuse, about 16% had sought support, with 30% seeking help from a family member, and 26% reaching out to a friend. Interestingly, a small fraction have also acquired support from beauty therapists or hairdressers (2%), as well as their Avon Representatives (2%). These individuals, who are often outside of the influence of abusers, have become a critical lifeline for the victims. This is why it became an initiative for Avon to offer special training to its 5 million Representatives worldwide, by providing them a toolkit with access to prevention, bystander, and support resources especially if they notice signs of verbal abuse within their communities.

More than a Woman’s Issue

MOST women (81%) around the world believe that more should be done in educating young men regarding their beliefs and attitudes towards women. The beauty brand and charity are encouraging people to sign a pledge to end verbal abuse. This can be signed by saying ‘Alexa, open the NO MORE skill’ to an Alexa device or online via the NO MORE Foundation website. Avon PH has also launched a range of fundraising products. Proceeds from the products will be donated to local NGOs that support women overcoming abuse including Luna Legal Center, Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation (GWAVE), Ing Makababaying Aksyon (IMA) Foundation, and Women’s Care Center, Inc. Avon CEO, Angela Cretu, comments: “Over the last 15 years Avon has made it our mission to end violence against women and break down the wall of silence. To take your pledge, visit nomoreverbalabuse.org

Travel hacks and must-haves in the new normal

S we slowly ease in to normalcy with restrictions being lifted, travel is making its much-awaited comeback in our lives. All of a sudden, travel photos are suddenly popping up in our social media feeds. Foremost, arm yourself with information before traveling. Make sure you are updated with the COVID-19 data, travel requirements, and protocols in your destination. Whether you are going local or international, making sure you have the necessary documents or testing results will save you time and effort. Wherever you go, bring your own sunshine. Make sure you have a cheerful attitude with you as you go out there and conquer. After all, that is what vacations are for! Just in case the almost two-year wait has made you forget what it was like to explore the world outside, here are some helpful hacks from former showbiz hopeful-turnedlicensed pilot Mann Ed Demalata. Travel light. Check your schedule and count the number of clothes you will be needing. Save yourself from the extra baggage weight by planning your outfits beforehand. The extra space will leave you room for some pasalubong. Use the restroom at the airport departure area. This will help minimize the need to use the inflight lavatory. Aside from sanitary reasons, we all know the struggle of having to excuse ourselves from strangers to get to the lavatory if we’re assigned the window seat! Upon check-in, ask the agents to place a “fragile” sticker on your baggage even if

CAPT. Mann Ed Demalata

the items inside are not breakable. This is to ensure extra protection for your luggage especially if you are carrying designer brands. Always bring fully charged power banks or portable chargers for your devices like camera, mobile phone, and tablet. Capturing pictureperfect moments and making emergency calls are priceless. Bring a noise cancellation headset or ear buds. Keep yourself entertained during lull times by streaming your favorite series or jamming with your customized playlist. Additionally, snorers and crying infants are unavoidable so save yourself from the inconvenience. Board as early as possible so that overhead bins will be available closest to your seats. It would be a lot easier when you can readily get your luggage out for deplaning. Bring a basic medicine and first aid emergency kit. This will come in handy in case any of you feel sick or encounter an accident. Do not forget to include your vitamins and supplements! Always have rubbing alcohol with you. Carry a tightly-sealed bottle (one with a nozzle seems easy to use!) to avoid spillage. Bring a maximum of 100ml as a handcarry item and just place more in your check-in luggage so you can refill later. Aside from flying, Capt. Demalata dedicates some time to sharing his travel experiences on social media. Get more travel tips or just personal updates from the pilot-on-call by following him on Instagram @pilotoncall.

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Show BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, December 10, 2021

Guilty (reading) pleasure: Gore Vidal’s ‘Palimpsest’ HIS PROBLEM

THE young actor is not yet a household name but his name already rings a bell in certain circles. First, he’s very good-looking. Second, he’s talented. Unfortunately, the actor can’t go all out because he has a mental health problem. He was diagnosed to be bipolar and this is what prevents his management from pitching him for magazine covers and features, endorsements and ambassadorships. Until the young actor is okay with going public with his mental health issue, his management will do everything to protect him. Meanwhile, management is serious in looking for projects which could showcase the young actor’s looks and talent.

ORE Vidal was never a writer in my small writing universe. The reason had nothing to do with his genius or pedigree; it had to do with my non-in depth knowledge of the man. He was, I may admit, there on the society pages of the late 1960s and 1970s more but as a celebrity, not a literary man. Until I came across an old paperback, Julian, in a second-hand bookshop. Written in 1964, Julian is a historical fiction about the life of the Roman emperor Flavius Claudius Julianus. He was popularly known as Julian the Apostate. The account begins some 20 years after the demise of Julian, with the book incorporating the correspondence between Libanius, who is considering writing a biography of Julian, and Priscus, who has Julian’s personal memoir. At this point in historical time, Christianity is the official religion of the Roman Empire. Even when the narrative of Julian takes the center, Priscus and Libanius appear with their comments, their positions sometimes contradicting the perspectives of the emperor. This is history assuming a bit of a gossip column. Assassinations, the Nicene Creed (it has historicity) and Christianity labeled as a “death-cult” (you know, the Crucifixion) and churches seen as “charnel houses” for their obsession with bones as sacred relics, proliferate in this depiction of a period as exciting as our contemporary periods of political intrigues, backstabbing and corruption. I was hooked. The name “Gore Vidal” became for me the ultimate in intellectual seduction. Overnight, literary and archival scholarship was transformed into a sensual exercise, not the somber, dull discipline universities had made of the past civilizations. Thus, I began my diggings into anything that had to do with Gore Vidal. And where else do we locate the wellspring of a person but in his biography or autobiography. Was I lucky to get hold of Vidal’s memoir, a form he defined as “how one remembers one’s own life, while an autobiography is history, requiring research dates, facts double-checked.” And knowing how this writer promised to share with us facts that are not checked at all is more promising than daunting. Which supports what writer Susan Cheever has said of memoirs being “the novel of the 21st century.” Fiction. Gore Vidal begins his memoir by defining the title he gives it: Palimpsest. Listen to him: “I have just now looked up the earliest meaning of palimpsest. It is even more apt than I thought: ‘Paper, parchment, etc., prepared for writing on and writing out again, like a slate’ and a parchment, etc., which has been written upon twice; the original writing having been rubbed out.” Vidal continues: “This is pretty much what my kind of writer does anyway. Starts with life; makes a text; then a re-vision—literally, a second seeing, an afterthought, erasing some but not all of the original while writing something new over the first layer of text.” This ready promise of the tentative and the possibility of future erasures assured those who were

SLACKER

YOU would think the starlet would have already learned her lesson after she was exposed as an academic slacker but it seems she is still at it. Her classmates in certain subjects attest that the starlet’s behavior is still the same as far as academics are concerned. As a team player, she still doesn’t pull her weight. The starlet is confident about her behavior not only because she is popular but also because her family is well-connected.

PHOTO BY NATALIA KUZINA ON UNSPLASH

at the end of Vidal’s withering wit and wise cracks. No one was spared. Not even the family. And family for Gore Vidal, as we all well know, included John and Jackie Kennedy. Of a marriage in a family, Vidal wrote: “The marriage of Nini and Newt was, of course, a disaster. Family tradition must be observed.” Vidal quoted his favorite writer, Montaigne: “Lying is an accursed vice.” This line led to more lines about lies: “There are, of course, liars and liars. There are those who must lie constantly for expediency, like the Kennedys and their apologists.” Of all the women writers, Vidal, it seemed, had reserved the vile for Anaïs Nin. In Mexico, the diarist secretly dated a young man who was there to see Vidal. A long tirade followed this tale: “She [Anais Nin] should have known by then that sexual jealousy was—and is—an emotion denied me. I calculated, at 25, that I had had more than a thousand sexual encounters, not a world record [my near contemporaries Jack Kennedy, Marlon Brando, and Tennessee Williams were all keeping up] but not, considering that I never got a venereal disease like Jack and Marlon or suffered from jealousy like Tennessee.” For the coup de grace, Vidal wrote: “But Anaïs could not resist intrigue; in fact, I now think that deception was more important to her than sex.”

A whole chapter of Gore Vidal’s memoir is devoted to Tennessee Williams, who became his friend despite their protean temper and ego ex aequo. That chapter is called “Rome and the Glorious Bird,” for Vidal called Williams “Bird.” Of the playwright, Vidal spoke of an artist who was so compulsive that “he would have the play produced so that he could, at relative leisure, like God, rearrange his original experience into something that was no longer God’s and unpossessable but his.” Of the name he had given Tennessee Williams, Vidal remembered: “I had long since forgotten why I called him the Glorious Bird until I came to read his stories for a preface that I would write. The image of the bird is everywhere in his work.” Vidal went on: “In his last story, written at 71, The Negative, he wrote of a poet who can no longer assemble a poem. ‘Am I a wingless bird?’ he writes; and soars no longer.” Gore Vidal had many enemies, or experienced knowing writers and critics who considered him their enemy. His dislike of Truman Capote, however, was legendary. If an insult can qualify as a literary genre, then Gore Vidal had developed put-downs he applied to Capote that are mordant masterpieces. Read this one: “After Rome, I saw him only once again, in 1968, when, without my glasses, I mistook him for a small ottoman, and sat down on him....” ■

EXPECTING TROUBLE

HOW true is the rumor that the actress is pregnant with her second child? There’s nothing wrong with this as the actress has long been legally separated from her husband, who already has a new family. Relations between the actress and her ex and his family are cordial. The issue is that the actress’s boyfriend, an actor, has an ex who would create a scene once she confirms the pregnancy. Relations between the actor and his ex are far from cordial and the latter resents the actress’s presence in his life. Even before the actor and the actress got together, his relationship with his ex was already tumultuous.

GHOSTING

THE actor and actress have recently made their relationship official. A lot of people are happy for them because they’ve been friends for a long time, and it seems like a relationship is made in heaven. But some are wondering what happened to the actor’s longtime girlfriend. Well, a source said the actor realized he was in love with the actress while in a relationship with his girlfriend. When this happened, he just stopped communicating with the latter. So, yes, he ghosted her. The source said the ex GF is confident the actor will come to his senses and come back to her.

GMA’s ‘24 Oras’ wins grand prize at 2021 Asian Academy Creative Awards GMA Network’s flagship newscast 24 Oras represented the Philippines and was named as the Grand Final Winner in the Best News Program category at the 2021 Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA’s). Besting entries from 16 Asian countries and territories, the network’s top-rating multi-awarded news program was recognized for its Special Coverage of Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) that struck Luzon in November 2020. Amid the combined perils of cyclones and the pandemic, GMA news teams bravely went to severely hit areas. 24 Oras reported on families— among them young children—trapped on their rooftops. The news teams served as the lifeline to authorities for many who needed rescue and other assistance. The show’ nationwide coverage provided viewers information and public service at a time when they needed it the most. It showed raw images of not just

the typhoon’s strength but also the Filipinos’ even stronger bayanihan spirit. GMA senior vice president for News and Public Affairs Marissa L. Flores expressed her gratitude to the Asian Academy Creative Awards for the recognition. “This is another testament to Filipino excellence. I am particularly proud of my team for fulfilling GMA’s commitment to ‘Serbisyong Totoo’ no matter the circumstance and situation,” said Flores. “The stories of the everyday Filipinos will always be our motivation. We share this recognition with every Filipino. We thank you for giving GMA News the honor and privilege to serve.” 24 Oras anchors Mel Tiangco, Mike Enriquez, and Vicky Morales likewise dedicated the award to the Filipino people. “It is our honor to tell the stories of Filipino resiliency, vigor and heart, of bravery and survival, and the will to surmount hardships brought about

by calamities, and the series of typhoons that hit the Philippines every year,” shared Tiangco in her acceptance speech on behalf of 24 Oras and GMA Network. The program remains the country’s leading prime-time newscast as it continues to deliver news and information to viewers and netizens through the coverage of GMA News and GMA Regional TV’s stable of reporters. Joining Tiangco, Enriquez and Morales are Kim Atienza, Nathaniel Cruz, and Iya Villana-Arellano. Further, the newscast’s report on Typhoon Ulysses Marikina Rescue was also the Philippines’s representative for the Best Single News Story/ Report category in this year’s AAA’s. Held annually, the

AAA’s recognizes the excellence of programs and personalities that represent and promote Asian content and creativity.

FROM left: 24 Oras anchors Vicky Morales, Mike Enriquez and Mel Tiangco.

Sports

PHL bags first-ever win in beach volley worlds

BusinessMirror

| Friday, December 10, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

t Estonia. s fort agains ld ho A AY IR ALEXANDER

FUEL MASTERS RIDE OUT DYIP By Josef Ramos

HOENIX Super LPG topped a 17-point deficit to outlast Terrafirma, 103-100, on Thursday in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. Down 50-67 late in the third quarter, the Fuel Masters went to Matthew Wright who initiated a 23-4 run in the pivotal fourth quarter to bring his team in front, 96-94, under two minutes remaining. “Coach Topex [Robinson] told us just to keep battling it through,” Wright said. “It’s not just the same Terrafirma before, but we just played defense and stayed positive all the time.” Wright scored 13 of his 17 points in the payoff frame in addition to 10 assists, six rebounds and two steals. Import Paul Harris tallied a team-high 24 points and 15 rebounds for the Fuel Masters, who joined Alaska and NLEX in the early lead. “He [Harris] likes to involve the locals and he’s the perfect import for us,” Wright said. Jason Perkins added 18 points and eight rebounds while Chris Banchero also had 18 points and six assists also for Phoenix. “We just kept on playing, we just kept on grinding,” Robinson said. “We just don’t want to give up, take our chances. It went down to our defense and it helped our offense.” Import Antonio Hester scattered 28 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Dyip. Alex Cabagnot, meanwhile, suffered the same fate as fellow former San Miguel Beerman Arwind Santos. Now a Dyip, Cabagnot had 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The spitfire point guard

HE Philippines made history in the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships after rising stars Jayrack De la Noche and Alexander Iraya rallied from a set down to beat Estonia’s Karmo Saviauk and Kaur Erik Kais, 1621, 21-15, 15-12, at the end of the pool rounds on Thursday in Phuket, Thailand. After two tough losses, De la Noche and Iraya showed steely resolve in beating Saviauk and Kais to give the country its first-ever win in any world championship-level beach volleyball competition. The Philippines had a chance to secure a spot in the Round of 24 after Australia’s Jack Pearse and Lucas Josefsen outlasted Thailand’s Narakorn Chumaphai and Veerayut Sopati, 17-21, 21-17, 15-7. The Filipinos were actually tied with the Thais with a 1-2 win-loss record and were also level in points with four, but Narakorn and Veerayut clinched the third and last round-

Weightlifters gather valuable experience in Tashkent worlds NEWLY-ACQUIRED Alex Cabagnot of Terrafirma goes for a get away lay-up as Phoenix import Paul Harris looks on.

was traded to Terrafirma for Simon Enciso. Juami Tiongson added 20 points also for the Dyip. Santos debuted for NorthPort on opening day Wednesday and also suffered his first defeat as a Batang Pier despite an allaround effort

TIGER MAKES

COMEBACK T

EN months after his right leg was badly damaged in a car crash, Tiger Woods is returning to competition next week with 12-year-old son Charlie in the PNC Championship. “Although it’s been a long and challenging year, I am very excited to close it out by competing in the PNC Championship with my son Charlie,” Woods tweeted. “I’m playing as a Dad and couldn’t be more excited and proud.” It will be his first competition, even in a tournament Woods described last week as the “hit-andgiggle” variety that he can play, since he and his son tied for seventh a year ago in the unofficial event that pairs family members. The tournament was holding a spot for Woods, and he fueled speculation he might play the December 18 and 19 event at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club Orlando when he took full swings with driver on Saturday and Sunday during his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “We have been liaising with Tiger and his team for some time and are delighted that he has now decided to make his return to competitive golf at the PNC Championship,” said Alastair Johnston of IMG, the executive chairman of the event. Woods was driving to a Los Angeles course for a television shoot on February 23 when police say he was driving about 85 mph along a winding, coastal suburban road. The SUV crashed through a median and plunged down a hill.

of-24 slot in Pool H by virtue of superior set ratio—4-4 to 2-5. Estonia joined Australia in the knockout stage. De la Noche and Iraya were very much in the game in the second set before losing to Narakorn and Veerayut, 15-21, 19-21, on opening day and put up a gallant stand in the opening set before dropping a 20-22, 9-21 decision to Pearse and Josefsen. The Negrense pair will also compete in the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships slated December 14 to 19 also in Phuket. Currently ranked No. 351 in the world, De la Noche and Iraya made a historic run to the quarterfinals of the Fourth Asian U21 Championships in Nakhon Pathom last July. The Filipinos were fielded in the tournament by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Rebisco, Asics and Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

TIGER WOODS is returning to competition at the PNC Championship next week. AP Doctors said he shattered the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg in multiple locations. Those were stabilized by a rod in the tibia. A combination of screws and pins were used to stabilize additional injuries in the ankle and foot. Woods said last week that amputation was considered. He declined to discuss specifics of the crash, saying only “you can read about all that there in the police report.” The PNC Championship was formerly known as the Father-Son Challenge until it changed the title to be more inclusive of family members. For the first time in its 24 years, the tournament has a current No. 1 player in the field, Nelly Korda, who will be playing with her father Petr, a former Australian Open tennis champion. Lee Trevino is playing again and has never missed the tournament since it began in 1995. Justin Thomas returns as the defending champion with his father, Mike, a longtime PGA professional. Still, this becomes all about Woods inside the ropes, hitting shots that count toward a score. A year ago, it was his last event before a fifth back surgery, not as serious as the previous ones. Toward the end of the second round, he was not hitting some tee shots because his son played from a forward tee and was getting it out there farther than Woods could have hit it. AP

HREE Filipino athletes fell short of a podium finish but gained loads of experience in the International Weightlifting Federation World Championships on Wednesday at the Uzbekistan Sports Complex in Tashkent. Mary Flor Diaz couldn’t flash the form that earned her three silver medals at the Asian version of the competition last April and crashed out of the medals’ race along with Fernando Agad and Ellen Rose Perez. Diaz, 22, finished last among the 10 weightlifters in the women’s 45

of 23 points with seven rebounds, three steals and four blocks. NLEX and Alaska, meanwhile, shoot for their second straight victories at the resumption of games on Friday in the same venue. NLEX, which beat San Miguel Beer, 114-102 on Wednesday night, takes on NorthPort (0-2) at 3 p.m.,

while Alaska, 87-85 winner over NorthPort also on opening day, faces San Miguel Beer at 6 p.m. Fans are still not allowed in the arena although the league hinted at the possibility of allowing the crowd at 50 percent capacity when the games are played at the Mall of Asia Arena.

National chessfest unwraps

HE Philippine National Chess Championship got going on Thursday at the Solea Hotel and Resort in Mactan, Cebu, with Grandmasters (GMs) Joey Antonio and Darwin Laylo emerging as pretournament favorites. At stake in the championship is a spot on the national team to the 2023 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and a cash pot of more than P200,000. Only the top 10 Filipino players are seeing action in the single-round robin tournament. The others are International Masters (IMs) Ronald Dableo, Paulo Bersamina, Daniel Quizon and Jem Garcia. Also seeing action are IMs Ricky de Guzman, John Marvin Miciano, Michael Concio, Jr. and Joel Pimentel, Allan Pason and Woman

GM Janelle Mae Frayna. Antonio, 59, will be gunning for his 14th title while Laylo, 41, is after his fourth crown. Besides a slot to the AIMAG in Bangkok and Chonburi in 2023, a champion’s purse worth P80,000 and P50,000 and P25,000 to the second and third placers, respectively, will be up for grabs, according to National Chess Federation of the Philippines CEO GM Jayson Gonzales. Antonio faced Bersamina and Laylo battled Dableo on Thursday. Other pairings pit Pimentel against Pason, de Guzman against Concio, Garcia against Frayna and Miciano against Quizon.

Curry closes in on career 3s as Warriors outhustle Blazers

AN FRANCISCO—Sure, Stephen Curry would have loved to set the career threepointer record at home, even if it would have been one heck of a feat. He tried mightily to do it. Curry scored 22 points and moved within nine 3s of tying Ray Allen’s record, and the Golden State Warriors held off the injury-depleted Portland Trail Blazers for a 104-94 win Wednesday night. “To make that many 3s in one game obviously has never been done before, so it was just a routine night,” coach Steve Kerr said of the 16 Curry needed coming into the game to top Allen. “He made six, which is nothing for him. I don’t think I ever did that in my entire career one time.” The reigning National Basketball Association (NBA) scoring champion shot 6 of 17 from beyond the arc,

missing his initial four 3-point tries before connecting at the 5:55 mark of the first quarter. Curry went 4 of 12 in the first half on 3s as Golden State held a 47-45 edge at the break. Norman Powell scored 26 points but went 1 for 7 from deep, and the Blazers made just 8 of 30 on three-pointers. Portland missed injured star guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. AP STEPHEN CURRY moves to within nine 3s of tying Ray Allen’s record. AP

The six-day event is bankrolled by National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Chess Movement Inc. chairman Dr. Ariel Potot and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office vice chairman and general manager Royina Garma and Atty. Roel Canobas.

kgs class dominated by Thanyathon Sukcharoen of Thailand, while Perez was eighth among 11th contestants in the women’s 49 kgs. Agad, 19, also ended up eighth in a 10-man field in the men’s 55 kgs category. Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) President Monico Puentevella said the results were expected from the young and experiencingwanting team. “They went there for the experience just like Hidilyn [Diaz]. Hidilyn also suffered in the beginning and most of them are first timers in the international event,” Puentevella told BusinessMirror. “This is how you promote and develop champions.” Competing later in the championships are Tokyo Olympian Erleen Anne Ando, Vanessa Sarno, and 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Kristel Macrohon. John Febuar Ceniza competed in the men’s 61 kgs division, while Dave Lloyd Pacaldo vied in the men’s 67 kgs on Friday. Margaret Colonia will compete on Sunday in women’s 64 kgs, while John Dexter Tabique will take his turn on Monday in the men’s 96 kgs. Josef Ramos

Obstacle sports in PSC’s ‘Rise Up’

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) puts the spotlight on obstacle sports racing in a dedicated episode of “Rise Up Shape Up” on Saturday. The episode is entitled “No Obstacle is Unbeatable,” and will be headlined by coaches and development specialists to expound on obstacle sports as a competitive sport and to deepen insights on how sports can help people overcome life’s obstacles. “Competing means you have to beat and win over opponents, it’s a lesson that we can apply to realworld obstacles,” PSC Women in Sports oversight Commissioner Celia Kiram said. “We need to overcome and survive obstacles in life to come out strong and win in life.” Kiram will also share a brief and interesting trivia on obstacle sports in her “K-Isport” segment. Coach Patricia Puzon, founding director and coach of MAC’s CrankIt Tennis Academy in Australia, will open the episode starting at 10:30 a.m. Puzon will be joined by Karen TanchancoCaballero, president of the Pilipinas Sepak Takraw Federation Inc., and the Deputy Secretary General of the Philippine Olympic Committee; Nerza del Rosario-Manalastas, former Philippine Dragonboat national team co-captain; Marry Ann Crisostomo, Far Eastern University wellness and recreation specialist; and Dr. Ligaya Gina Sarmiento, Director of Sports Development and Management Office of Tarlac State University.